cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypoactive Thalamic Crh+ Cells in a Female Mouse Model of Alcohol Drinking After Social Trauma.

Abstract Background Comorbid stress-induced mood and alcohol use disorders are increasingly prevalent among female patients. Stress exposure can disrupt salience processing and goal-directed decision making, contributing to persistent maladaptive behavioral patterns; these and other stress-sensitive cognitive and behavioral processes rely on dynamic and coordinated signaling by midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. Considering the role of social trauma in the trajectory of these debilitating psychopathologies, identifying vulnerable thalamic cells may provide guidance for targeting persistent stress-induced symptoms. Methods A novel behavioral protocol traced the progression from social trauma to the development of social defensiveness and chronically escalated alcohol consumption in female mice. Recent cell activation—measured as cFos—was quantified in thalamic cells after safe social interactions, revealing stress-sensitive corticotropin-releasing hormone–expressing (Crh+) anterior central medial thalamic (aCMT) cells. These cells were optogenetically stimulated during stress-induced social defensiveness and abstinence-escalated binge drinking. Results Crh+ aCMT neurons exhibited substantial activation after social interactions in stress-naive but not in stressed female mice. Photoactivating Crh+ aCMT cells dampened stress-induced social deficits, whereas inhibiting these cells increased social defensiveness in stress-naive mice. Optogenetically activating Crh+ aCMT cells diminished abstinence-escalated binge alcohol drinking in female mice, regardless of stress history. Conclusions This work uncovers a role for Crh+ aCMT neurons in maladaptive stress-induced social interactions and in binge drinking after forced abstinence in female mice. This molecularly defined thalamic cell population may serve as a critical stress-sensitive hub for social deficits caused by exposure to social trauma and for patterns of excessive alcohol drinking in female populations.
Machine-Learning Classification of Soil Bulk Density in Salt Marsh Environments.

Remotely sensed data from both in situ and satellite platforms in visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared (VNIR–SWIR, 400–2500 nm) regions have been widely used to characterize and model soil properties in a direct, cost-effective, and rapid manner at different scales. In this study, we assess the performance of machine-learning algorithms including random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting machines (XGBoost), and support vector machines (SVM) to model salt marsh soil bulk density using multispectral remote-sensing data from the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) platform. To our knowledge, use of remote-sensing data for estimating salt marsh soil bulk density at the vegetation rooting zone has not been investigated before. Our study reveals that blue (band 1; 450–520 nm) and NIR (band 4; 770–900 nm) bands of Landsat-7 ETM+ ranked as the most important spectral features for bulk density prediction by XGBoost and RF, respectively. According to XGBoost, band 1 and band 4 had relative importance of around 41% and 39%, respectively. We tested two soil bulk density classes in order to differentiate salt marshes in terms of their capability to support vegetation that grows in either low (0.032 to 0.752 g/cm3) or high (0.752 g/cm3 to 1.893 g/cm3) bulk density areas. XGBoost produced a higher classification accuracy (88%) compared to RF (87%) and SVM (86%), although discrepancies in accuracy between these models were small (<2%). XGBoost correctly classified 178 out of 186 soil samples labeled as low bulk density and 37 out of 62 soil samples labeled as high bulk density. We conclude that remote-sensing-based machine-learning models can be a valuable tool for ecologists and engineers to map the soil bulk density in wetlands to select suitable sites for effective restoration and successful re-establishment practices.
ReapIoT: Reliable, Energy-Aware Network Protocol for Large-Scale Internet-of-Things (IoT) Applications

A new era is emerging where buildings, vehicles, factories, and appliances, among many other entities will communicate with each other over the Internet, with limited or no human interaction. Collectively known as the Internet of Things (IoT), these systems share a common technology foundation. They are built on wireless communication between stationary or mobile large-scale electronic sensor and actuator networks. For the vast majority of IoT applications, energy-efficient operations are a critical requirement since they will use battery-powered devices. Another requirement is communication reliability, due to unattended network operations. We introduce ReapIoT , reliable energy-aware protocol for IoT WSNs. ReapIoT is an energy-efficient network communication protocol that considers reliability as a design parameter and as a constraint. The protocol introduces message classification based on reliability. This is used to implement new energy saving techniques. The protocol also introduces the individualized link power settings algorithm, and the link rating parameter. They are used to optimize the network clusters formation and for intracluster communication, under reliability constraint. Consequently, the protocol optimizes energy consumption while providing a reliable data delivery network.
Ethics, politics, and democracy : from primordial principles to prospective practices

This volume examines continuities and change in the normative underpinnings of both ancient and modern practices of political governance, public duties, private virtues, and personal responsibilities. As such, it stands at the cross-disciplinary intersection between the practice of democratic citizenship and the exercise of political ethics. Contributors address law and morality in history, from Ancient Mesopotamia and Enlightenment Europe to modern America and the new millennium's scientific and technological transformations; the links among different systems of belief; and complex ethical issues in domestic and international democratic governance in the context of today's globalized world.
Capsicum tovarii, a new member of the Capsicum baccatum complex

Interspecific hybrid performance and meiotic chromosome behavior of F1 hybrids were studied to elucidate the genetic relationship between C. tovarii and the other Capsicum species. C. tovarii was hybridized, as a female and a male parent, to C. annuum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. chacoense, C. galapogense, C. baccatum, C. praetermissum, C. cardenasii, C. eximium and C. pubescens. When the hybridization of C. baccatum × C. tovarii was performed, F1, F2 and backcross progenies were successfully obtained. In addition, a successful hybridization of C. praetermissum × C. tovarii was also obtained. A cytological investigation of F1 hybrids of C. baccatum × C. tovarii revealed that most meiotic chromosomes paired as bivalents. However, multivalents, chromosome bridges, and chromosome lags were observed. These results suggest that C. baccatum differs from C. tovarii by at least a chromosomal reciprocal translocation. Crosses of C. tovarii to C. chinense and C. frutescens produced plump seeds, but none of the seeds germinated. Hybridizations of C. tovarii to C. pubescens, C. eximium and C. cardenasii did not produce seed. These hybridization results indicate that C. tovarii is genetically more closely related to the C. baccatum complex than to the C. annuum complex or the C. pubescens complex.
Carcinoma of the lungs causing enlarged kidneys

Bilateral enlarged kidneys can be caused by a number of conditions. Renal metastasis is included in the differential diagnosis. We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with a 6-month history of productive cough and unintentional weight loss. Cavitary pulmonary lesions and bilateral enlarged kidneys were noted on imaging studies. Hematuria, azotemia, and proteinuria were present. Renal biopsy showed squamous carcinoma cells invading normal-appearing glomeruli and atrophic tubules. The invasive squamous cells stained negative for CK7 and CK 20. Lung biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Our case shows that in patients with renal enlargement, even with the absence of a focal mass, renal metastasis should be considered, especially in those with suspected or diagnosed malignancy elsewhere.
Impaired transitional B cell maturation in Flt3-ligand deficient mice. (LYM6P.775)

The production of naive B cells in bone marrow (BM) is critical for maintaining a diverse peripheral B cell pool to fight infection and establish lifelong immunity. The generation of naive B cells is impaired in Flt3-ligand (FL-/-) mice contributing to reductions in splenic B cells. The goal of this study was to determine the consequence of FL-deficiency on splenic B cell maturation. We found significant reductions in numbers of transitional (TS) and follicular (FO), but not marginal zone (MZ) B cells in FL-/- mice. Mixed BM chimeras revealed that the reduction in TS B cells was cell extrinsic, linking microenvironmental signals to TS B cell maturation. FL administration into FL-/- mice restored the deficiency in TS B cells that do not express Flt3, suggesting that a FL responsive component of the microenvironment is critical for TS maturation. Intracellular Ki67 revealed a significant decrease in the proliferative capacity of TS cells in FL-/- mice. Expression of a Bcl2 transgene did not rescue TS cells, uncoupling FL-deficiency to Bcl2-regulated survival pathways. BAFF-R expression and serum levels of BAFF were comparable in WT and FL-/- mice, supporting BAFF-independent regulation of TS cells. These observations support an integral indirect role for Flt3 signaling in regulation of TS B cell maturation in the spleen.
Role of Outpatient Care Centers, Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories, and Other Ambulatory Care Services in the Economy of Centre County

The outpatient services industry involving outpatient care centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and other ambulatory care services is an important part of the history and economy of Centre County in Pennsylvania. The industry creates jobs.
A Hybrid Global Optimization Algorithm Involving Simplex and Inductive Search

We combine the recently proposed inductive search and the Nelder-Mead simplex method to obtain a hybrid global optimizer, which is not based on random searches. The global search is performed by line minimizations (Brent's method) and plane minimizations (simplex method), while the local multidimensional search employs the standard and a modified simplex method. Results for the test bed of the Second International Competition of Evolutionary Optimization and for another larger test bed show remarkable success. The algorithm was also efficient in minimizing functions related to energy of protein folding.
Electrocardiogram in anterior mid-ventricular Takotsubo syndrome variant

To the Editor: I enjoyed reading the report by Demirelli et al., published in the May, 2015 issue of the Intractable & Rare Diseases Research, pertaining to a 59 year old woman with emotional stress-induced anterior mid-ventricular Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) variant (1). The authors described the electrocardiogram (ECG) as showing T-wave inversions (TWI) in leads V1–V4. A recent paper reported an ECG correlate of TTS consisting of transient low voltage QRS (LVQRS) complexes (2). These ECG changes have been attributed to TTS-induced myocardial edema (ME), as detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) (2). Also TWI has been attributed to apicobasal ME gradient, as detected by cMRI (3). The present patient had a cMRI 4 weeks after her discharge, which confirmed the absence of chronic scar changes, compatible with TTS, but such late cMRI would not be suitable for the detection of ME, an early feature of TTS. Transient LVQRS often impacts the limb ECG leads (2), while affects leads I and aVL in patients with the midventricular TTS variant (4,5). Did this patient show transient LVQRS in the V1-V4 leads, which showed TWI? Also if serial ECGs were recorded, and if there was an ECG of this patient recorded prior to her admission with TTS, and at her 4 week follow-up, were there any transient LVQRS ECG changes, and in which leads?
Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice.

The central question examined in this address is, “Do children's crimes make them adults?” I begin by focusing on the concept and history of adolescence in our society, I then examine the development and philosophy of the juvenile justice system. Adolescent development and juvenile justice are brought together around the concepts of maturity, judgment, and competence, followed by a brief introduction to some current research that we are engaged in regarding the issues of adjudicatory and culpability competence. I conclude with suggested directions for future work.
Abstract 11738: AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Mediates the Cardioprotective Effect of Antithrombin Against Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury

Introduction: Antithrombin (AT) is an endogenous protein of the serpin superfamily involved in regulation of the proteolytic activity of the serine proteases of the coagulation system. In addition to its anticoagulant function, AT also exhibits an anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective function when it binds to distinct heparin sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) on vascular endothelial cells. The energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to play an important cardioprotective role during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Hypothesis: The cardioprotective function of AT may be through activation of AMPK by which modulates the substrate metabolism. Methods: The cardioprotective activities of wild-type (WT) AT and its two recombinant derivatives one having high affinity and the other no affinity for heparin were evaluated in an acute in vivo regional ischemia/reperfusion (30 min/24 hours) injury model in which the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded and released. The...
Efficiency issues related to probability density function comparison

The CANDID project (Comparison Algorithm for Navigating Digital Image Databases) employs probability density functions (PDFs) of localized feature information to represent the content of an image for search and retrieval purposes. A similarity measure between PDFs is used to identify database images that are similar to a user-provided query image. Unfortunately, signature comparison involving PDFs is a very time-consuming operation. In this paper, we look into some efficiency considerations when working with PDFS. Since PDFs can take on many forms, we look into tradeoffs between accurate representation and efficiency of manipulation for several data sets. In particular, we typically represent each PDF as a Gaussian mixture (e.g. as a weighted sum of Gaussian kernels) in the feature space. We find that by constraining all Gaussian kernels to have principal axes that are aligned to the natural axes of the feature space, computations involving these PDFs are simplified. We can also constrain the Gaussian kernels to be hyperspherical rather than hyperellipsoidal, simplifying computations even further, and yielding an order of magnitude speedup in signature comparison. This paper illustrates the tradeoffs encountered when using these constraints.
Characterizing individual SnO2 nanobelt field-effect transistors and their intrinsic responses to hydrogen and ambient gases

Abstract The intrinsic electrical properties of individual single-crystalline tin dioxide nanobelts, synthesized via catalyst-free physical vapor deposition, were studied and correlated to the surface oxygen deficiency with the presence of various ambient gases, especially hydrogen. Four-terminal field-effect transistor (FET) devices based on individual SnO2 nanobelts were fabricated with SiO2/Si as back gate and RuO2/Au as contacts. Four-probe I–V measurements verify channel-limited transistor characteristics and ensure that the hydrogen gas sensing reflect electrical modification of the nanobelt channel. The demonstrated results of the intrinsic SnO2 nanobelt based hydrogen sensor operating at room temperature provide useful information on the synthesis of room temperature chemo-resistive gas sensors with good sensitivity and stability. To evaluate the impact of surface gas composition on the electrical properties of SnO2 nanobelts, their temperature-dependent resistivity (ρ), effective carrier mobility (μeff) and effective carrier concentration (ne) were determined under different oxygen concentrations.
Coal gasification condensate water: Thermodynamic modeling of gas quench effluent

The partial oxidation products from a coal gasification process may contain substantial quantities of tars, phenols, ammonia, H2S, CO, CO2, H2, and water vapor. Cooling below the dew point produces condensate water which must be treated before it can be reused or discharged into the environment. A rigorous computer model based on equilibrium thermodynamics has been developed to predict gas and condensate composition for one or more quench steps. Recycle as well as addition of fresh water to one or more stages has been included. Condensate quantities and composition as a function of quenching temperature are calculated for three gasification conditions. A flow diagram for multi-stage effluent treatment before reuse or discharge is proposed. Les produits d'oxydation partielle, provenant d'un procede de gazeification de charbon, peuvent contenir des quantites substantielles de goudrons, phenol, ammoniac, H2S, CO, C02, H2 et de vapeur d'eau. Le refroidissement au-dessous du point de rosee produit un condensat aqueux qu'il est necessaire de traiter avant de le reemployer ou de le decharger dans I'environnement. On a etabli un modele rigoureux de calcul sur ordinateur base sur I'equilibre thermodynamique dans le but de prevoir la composition du gaz et du condensat apres une ou plusieurs trempes. On a inclus un recyclage et une addition d'eau dans les systemes a un ou plusieurs etages. On a calcule les quantites et les compositions du condensat en fonction de la temperature de trempe dans trois conditions de gazeification. On propose un schema de procede pour un traitement d'effluent a etages multiples, avant recyclage ou decharge
Vestibulo-ocular reflexes in the adult sea lamprey

Vestibulo-ocular reflexes were elicited in isolated preparations of small adult sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus). Mechanical stimulation of the labyrinths or electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerves produced stereotyped, conjugated eye movements (Table 1) and appropriate electrical activities in individual extraocular muscles (Fig. 1). No inhibition of discharges in motor nerves was observed during stimulation of opposing reflexes. Likewise, nystagmus was never seen during continued stimulation. The primitive eye reflexes of the lamprey probably correspond to the simple excitatory pathways from single ampullae to individual eye muscles of higher vertebrates.
Limitations of the polymer two phase system for detection of viruses.

The aqueous polymer two phase technique has been evaluated in the detection of seven types of enteroviruses. Using primary monkey kidney cells as the host system, the two phase technique was found to be a significant aid to detection of each of the poliovirus types, Coxsackie virus type B-3, and, in the presence of fluid maintenance medium only, Coxsackie virus type A-9. The method was found to be worse than no treatment of samples containing Coxsackie virus type B-2 and ECHO virus type 6. The lower phase, into which the viruses concentrate, is strongly inhibitory to these two agents and to influenza A (PR 8) virus, suggesting that the effect might extend to other viruses as well. Users of this procedure in environmental virology studies should be aware that their results may be biased significantly by the selective action of the dextran sulfate employed in this technique.
Characterization of human chemotactic lymphokine production induced by mitogens and mixed leukocyte reactions using a new microassay

Quantification of lymphokine production in vitro can be a useful tool in the evaluation of delayed hypersensitivity in various disease states. A micro-method for the measurement of chemotactic lymphokine production by human mononuclear leukocytes (MNL's) has been developed. MNL's are isolated on Ficoll-Hypaque gradients and cultured without plasma in microtiter plates. Culture supernatants are harvested through glass fibre filter paper under vacuum in a semi-automatic harvester. Chemotactic lymphokine activity in the supernatants is quantified in miniaturized Boyden chambers using human monocytes as responder cells. The production of chemotactic activity can be initiated by mixed leukocyte reactions as well as by soluble antigens or mitogens, and therefore may be a useful adjunct in tissue typing. Studies of lymphokine production in normal individuals indicate that these methods are quantitative, reproducible, and readily applicable to the study of this parameter of immune function in human disease.
Trans-trans-3,11-tridecadiene-5,7,9-triyne-1,2-diol, an antifungal polyacetylene from diseased safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

Abstract Safflower plants ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) were wound-inoculated with Phytophthora drechsleri Tucker, a fungus which incites a root and stem-rot disease of cultivated safflower. Extracts of diseased hypocotyls were highly toxic to the linear growth of the pathogen. The major toxic compound was isolated from the extracts and identified with the aid of u.v., i.r. and mass spectroscopy as trans-trans -3,11-tridecadiene-5,7,9-triyne-1,2-diol.
A High-Voltage, Medium-Power Rectifier

A high-voltage germanium p-n junction rectifier resulting from improved materials and techniques is described. Its characteristics are briefly delineated. A method of rating based upon distribution of internal losses emphasizes versatility of this rectifier.
Female subjective and pupillary reaction to nude male and female figures.

Summary Pupillary responses were recorded for 22 females viewing slides of two male and two female models in sequential degrees of dress and nudity. Subjective reports of sexual arousal were correlated with pupillary reactions to the male models. Dilation was found to be generally in accord with the direction and intensity of subjectively perceived sexual arousal. Dilation to the male models was found to increase in direct relation to the increasing level of exposure. Pupillary response to female models demonstrated no such linear trend. Dilation to the male models was significantly greater than dilation to the female models. The results of the study suggest that pupillary dilation may be a sensitive index of arousal.
Print-and-peel fabricated passive micromixers.

Advection driven mixing is essential for microfluidics and poses challenges to the design of microdevices. Force transducers or complex channel configurations provide means for, respectively, active or passive disrupting of laminar flows and for homogenizing the composing fluids. Print-and-peel (PAP) is a nonlithographic fabrication technique that involves direct printing of masters for molding polymer components of microdevices. PAP, hence, allows for facile and expedient preparation of microfluidic devices, without requiring access to specialized microfabrication facilities. We utilized PAP for fabrication of microfluidic devices capable of turning, expanding, and contracting microflows. We examined the mixing capabilities of these devices under flow conditions of small Reynolds numbers (0.2−20) and large Peclet numbers (260−26 000), under which advection is the dominant mode of mass transfer. We focused on mixing channels with arched shapes and examined the dependence of the mixing performance on the t...
Molecular Modulation of Intestinal Epithelial Barrier: Contribution of Microbiota

The daunting task required of the gut-barrier to prevent luminal pathogens and harmful substances from entering into the internal milieu and yet promoting digestion and absorption of nutrients requires an exquisite degree of coordination between the different architectural units of this barrier. The complex integration and execution of these functions are superbly carried out by the intestinal mucosal (IM) surface. Exposed to trillions of luminal microbes, the IM averts threats by signaling to the innate immune system, through pattern recognition receptors (PRR), to respond to the commensal bacteria by developing tolerance (hyporesponsiveness) towards them. This system also acts by protecting against pathogens by elaborating and releasing protective peptides, cytokines, chemokines, and phagocytic cells. The IM is constantly sampling luminal contents and making molecular adjustments at its frontier. This article describes the topography of the IM and the mechanisms of molecular adjustments that protect the internal milieu, and also describes the role of the microbiota in achieving this goal.
Microearthquake analysis for hydraulic fracturing process

The hydraulic fracture technique is widely applied in the enhancement of petroleum and natural gas productions and in the development of geothermal energy. This technique is also used to create an underground fracture zone system for disposal of solid and liquid wastes. This is the most recent development in the application of industrial techniques to environmental protection scientific problems. Knowledge of mechanical properties and geometrical parameters of a hydraulic fracture zone is important for both energy resource development and safe disposal of waste. Hydraulic fracturing often induces many microearthquakes. Analysis of the spatial-temporal distribution of the induced seismicity yields the geometry of a hydraulic fracture zone, and kinetic and dynamic parameters associated with the fracture growth process. Applying a waveform correlation analysis and a space-time grid search method, we precisely determined hypocentral locations for 157 microearthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing. Spatial distribution of the induced seismicity clearly shows the dimension and orientation of a hydraulic fracture zone. Variation of the seismicity distribution in time and space was used to infer the growth rate and direction of the fracture zone. An empirical Green’s function (EGF) method was applied to earthquake doublets to retrieve relative source time functions (RSTF’s) and to estimate source parameters, such as seismic moment, source radius, and stress drop, for larger microearthquakes. Azimuthal variation of the RSTF of a master event indicates that the source ruptured to the northwest, which aggrees with the fracture zone growth direction. Large variation of stress drops for these induced earthquakes reflects the significant heterogeneity of mechanical properties in the hydraulic fracture zone.
Permittivity and attenuation of wet snow between 4 and 12 GHz

The permittivity and attenuation of prepared samples of wet snow are measured and curves presented showing the dependence of these quantities on snow wetness and frequency. Equations are given that express the experimentally determined relation between attenuation per unit length and volume‐percent wetness at any frequency between 4 and 12 GHz. Additional equations are given for the calculation of permittivity from the snow density, attenuation per unit length, and frequency. Water retention characteristics of snow are described. Some applications of the techniques, such as runoff forecasting from mountain snowpacks, are proposed.
Florence Nightingale in Absentia: Nursing and the 1893 Columbian Exposition

In 1893, Chicago hosted the Columbian Exposition. This event showcased America's social, cultural, and scientific advances and its growing cultural parity with Western Europe. This was the first major exposition in which women played a prominent role. Integral to the fair was a series of Congresses that provided an international platform for discussion of social issues. The Congress on Hospitals, Dispensaries, and Nursing, a section of the International Congress of Charities, Correction, and Philanthropy, particularly focused on health care issues. Nursing leaders from Europe and North America participated. Although Florence Nightingale provided a major paper that was read at the Congress, she was unable to attend the event. The intent of this article is to examine the issues and themes debated at the 1893 Congress and identify how the influence of Nightingale effected these discussions and the development of Western nursing for the next half-century.
Oxidation of Silicone Elastomer Finger Joints

Purpose We analyzed the oxygen content of 19 retrieved implants and 6 packaged implants to further understand the mechanism of degradation of silicone elastomer finger joints while in vivo . Methods Nineteen Swanson (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, TN) silicone elastomer finger joints were retrieved at revision surgery at an average of 7 years of use. Six packaged and expired implants (5 years after the expiration date) along with the retrieved implants were studied with an elemental analyzer for the total percentage (by weight) of oxygen content. Results The retrieved implants showed a mean total oxygen content of 0.41% ± 0.35%, whereas each of the packaged specimens showed less than 0.1% total oxygen content. Eight of the 19 retrieved implants remained unoxidized. There was no correlation between implant fracture and the oxygen content of the retrieved implants. Conclusions Our results suggest that silicone elastomers are oxidized in vivo . Although such oxygen embrittlement may have implications in compromising silicone elastomer material mechanics during in vivo use, our data indirectly suggests that mechanical factors also have an important role in the final fracture of the silicone elastomer implant.
A revision of the ant genus Octostruma Forel 1912 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

The ant genus Octostruma is restricted to the Neotropics, where it is an inhabitant of forest leaf litter and soil. The genus is reviewed, with an emphasis on the fauna of the MesoAmerican corridor. A total of 34 species are recognized, of which 19 are described as new. A key to species is provided, and the following new species are described: O. ascrobicula Longino, sp. nov., O. ascrobis Longino, sp. nov., O. convallis Longino, sp. nov., O. convallisur Longino, sp. nov., O. cyrtinotum Longino, sp. nov., O. excertirugis Longino, sp. nov., O. gymnogon Longino, sp. nov., O. gymnosoma Longino, sp. nov., O. leptoceps Longino, sp. nov., O. limbifrons Longino, sp. nov., O. megabalzani Longino, sp. nov., O. montanis Longino, sp. nov., O. obtusidens Longino, sp. nov., O. pexidorsum Longino, sp. nov., O. planities Longino, sp. nov., O. schusteri Longino, sp. nov., O. triquetrilabrum Longino, sp. nov., O. triangulabrum Longino, sp. nov., and O. trithrix Longino, sp. nov. Octostruma lutzi (Wheeler) and O. amrishi (Makhan) are removed from synonymy with O. balzani (Emery). Queens are newly associated with workers for O. amrishi (Makhan), O. rugiferoides Brown & Kempf, and O. wheeleri (Mann).
Two Distinct Regimes of Integrin Molecular Forces

Forces transmitted by integrins activate focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and regulate cell adhesion, spreading and migration. However, the magnitudes and sources of the molecular forces involved with these mechanical regulations remain largely unknown. Here we discovered two distinct regimes of integrin molecular forces generated by cell membrane and actomyosin, respectively, and that they govern different cellular functions. Using integrin ligands linked with tension gauge tether (TGT), we showed that TGT with 54 pN tension tolerance (Ttol) is specifically ruptured at focal adhesions (FA) in CHO-K1 cells or central regions of cell-substratum contact area in neutrophil-like dHL-60 cells, indicating that remarkably strong forces can be applied to a single integrin. This force is abolished by blebbistatin treatment which inhibits myosin II, suggesting that this >54 pN integrin force is generated by actomyosin. However, blebbistatin treatment does not abolish the rupture of TGT with Ttol of 33 pN and lower, consistent with the previously reported ∼40 pN integrin force generated by cell membrane during cell adhesion. FAK activation and cell spreading beyond initial adhesion also require ∼ 40 pN integrin force. dHL-60 cells were poorly polarized and migration rate was significantly reduced on 54 pN TGT but not on unrupturable TGT or fibronectin coated surfaces. Collectively, our results demonstrated that cell membrane generates ∼40 pN molecular force on integrins and this force activates FAK and mediates cell initial adhesion and spreading, while actomyosin generates a >54 pN force to single integrins and this force mediates neutrophil-like cell polarization and migration. The discovery and decoupling of these two regimes of integrin forces was enabled by TGT which measures molecular forces and also regulates cellular functions by restricting integrin molecular forces under a designed level, providing a global molecular force control for cell mechanics study.
Juvenile hormone levels in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) foragers: foraging experience and diurnal variation.

Abstract A rising blood titer of juvenile hormone (JH) in adult worker honey bees is associated with the shift from working in the hive to foraging. We determined whether the JH increase occurs in anticipation of foraging or whether it is a result of actual foraging experience and/or diurnal changes in exposure to sunlight. We recorded all foraging flights of tagged bees observed at a feeder in a large outdoor flight cage. We measured JH from bees that had taken 1, 3–5, or >100 foraging flights and foragers of indeterminate experience leaving or entering the hive. To study diurnal variation in JH, we sampled foragers every 6 h over one day. Titers of JH in foragers were high relative to nurses as in previous studies, suggesting that conditions in the flight cage had no effect on the relationship between foraging behavior and JH. Titers of JH in foragers showed no significant effects of foraging experience, but did show significant diurnal variation. Our results indicate that the high titer of JH in foragers anticipates the onset of foraging and is not affected by foraging experience, but is modulated diurnally.
Paleotrichius dominicanus n. gen., n. sp. (Coleoptera; Cetoniidae), a flower beetle in Dominican amber

A new genus and species of flower beetle, Paleotrichius dominicanus, n. gen., n. sp. (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae: Trichinae) is described from Dominican amber. The new taxon is distinguished from all other New World trichines by the combination of the shape of the clypeus, pronotum, protibia, the femoral and tibial armature, the mesosternal process separating the middle coxae, the distinct strial pattern on the elytra and the approximate claws. The beetle may have been quite colourful and a strong flyer attracted to flowers. The larvae most likely developed in decaying hardwoods in the Dominican amber forest. This is the first amber representative of the family Cetoniidae.
A lower bound on the minimum Euclidean distance of trellis-coded modulation schemes

A lower bound on the minimum free Euclidean distance of trellis-coded modulation (TCM) is derived that guarantees the existence of good TCM codes of any complexity. The bound is used to compare trellis codes combined with phase-shift keying, pulse amplitude modulation, and quadratic amplitude-shift keying modulation. This random coding bound is the first lower bound on the free distance of trellis codes, is tighter than any upper bound for large constraint lengths, and predicts the asymptotic performance of TCM when the complexity of the code becomes large. The bound can be used with any code rate and any modulation scheme and shows that the free distance increases linearly with the constraint length for large values of the constraint length. >
The Ozarks Elementary Curriculum Project

The Ozarks Elementary Curriculum Project, sponsored by Southwest Missouri State University and funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, created a regional studies curriculum package designed for use in elementary schools throughout the Ozark highlands. Produced in the 1980s by a multidisciplinary team of educators, geographers, and an anthropologist, the curriculum package covers the physical geography, history, and cultural traditions of the region. The packet emphasizes multicultural education by systematically exploring ethnic diversity and developing an understanding of cultural adaptation.
Introducing First Aid Skills to Pre-Clerkship Medical Students While Reinforcing Basic Science Concepts

The benefit of exposing medical students throughout their medical training to emergency medicine concepts, including basic first aid knowledge, has been established [1]. The American College of Emergency Physicians (2008) called for introduction and integration of basic first aid skills throughout the 4 years of medical school [2]. Teaching clinical skills to preclinical students has the benefit of enhancing learning by providing meaningful clinical relevance to basic science learning, is motivating for learning, and is beneficial for reviewing and reinforcing basic science concepts [3]. It is often assumed that entering medical students have knowledge and skills to provide essential medical care; however, many are unfamiliar with even very basic first aid skills. A 2-hour workshop to teach first aid procedures was developed and presented to 25 volunteer first (M1) and second year (M2) students at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). The workshop covered procedures for wound care, hemorrhage control, and treatment of burns. Relevant basic science content (musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology, microbiology of tetanus and skin infections, and antibiotic pharmacology) was presented, followed by demonstrations and hands-on practice sessions. The practice sessions included procedures for applying direct pressure to a wound, dressing a wound, and wrapping burns with sterile gauze. Workshop evaluations via pre and post-surveys measured knowledge acquisition, comfort in providing first aid, and overall effectiveness of the session. Evaluation results were very positive. The mean score (12 questions) of first aid knowledge increased from 38.3 % to 81.7 % (p<0.001). On a Likert scale measuring student comfort in providing care to a bleeding patient (1=very uncomfortable to 5=very comfortable), scores increased from 2.68 to 4.36 (p<0.001); comfort for providing burn care increased from 2.28 to 4.48 (p<0.001). On additional posttest Likert scale questions (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree), students also responded very positively to the integration of basic science content (4.72), hands-on practice sessions (4.58), usefulness of information (4.76), and interest level and quality of presentation (4.76). There were no significant differences between M1 and M2 students; at least one semester of medical school basic science material is recommended. Based on this initial success, another workshop about limb injuries and cervical spine injury care is being developed as another optional student experience, and will include both basic science correlations and hands-on practice sessions.
Is random close packing of spheres well defined

Despite its long history, there are many fundamental issues concerning random packings of spheres that remain elusive, including a precise definition of random close packing (RCP). We argue that the current picture of RCP cannot be made mathematically precise and support this conclusion via a molecular dynamics study of hard spheres using the Lubachevsky-Stillinger compression algorithm. We suggest that this impasse can be broken by introducing the new concept of a maximally random jammed state, which can be made precise.
Two-subband transport: A conundrum in scattering.

We present new data concerning the problem of two-subband transport in a two-dimensional electron gas. We find that the ratio of the mobilities of electrons in the two subbands depends on the details of the confinement potential, while the ratio of the relaxation times determined from the Shubnikov-de Haas effect does not. In all samples studied the relaxation time determined from the amplitude of quantum oscillations in the magnetoresistance is longer for electrons in the upper subband. In addition, we see evidence for the repulsion of quantum levels and the inhibition of spin-flip transitions between quantum levels.
Hypothermia for open heart surgery.

Abstract 1. (1) For open intracardiac operations to repair atrial septal defects under hypothermia the patient's body temperature has been lowered by surface cooling to approximately 29 °C (84.5 ° F). Sixty-five patients with atrial septal defects have been operated upon by the technic described and five minutes of cardiac inflow occlusion has been sufficient to repair most of the defects. 2. (2) Hypothermia also provides an effective method for operating on a few other intracardiac defects such as isolated pulmonary stenosis and aortic stenosis under direct vision. 3. (3) Some of the advantages and disadvantages of hypothermia are discussed.
Accuracy of preoperative endometrial sampling diagnosis of FIGO grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma

Abstract Objective To evaluate the ability of a preoperative diagnosis of FIGO grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma and intraoperative depth of myoinvasion (DOI) to predict low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) final uterine pathology. Methods We reviewed 1423 consecutive cases of endometrial cancer treated at our institution between 1/1/93 and 5/31/06 to identify cases with a preoperative endometrial biopsy demonstrating FIGO grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma. All cases were pathologically reviewed at our institution and underwent surgical therapy at our institution. We excluded equivocal preoperative biopsies as well as those with serous or clear cell histology. Final uterine pathologic findings were grouped into low- and high-risk. Chi-square and Fisher-exact tests were used as appropriate. Results We identified 490 cases with a median age of 60 years (range 29–90 years). In 482 cases in which final pathologic grade was assessable, FIGO grade was greater in 71 (14.7%) cases; (66 [13.7%] were grade 2, and 5 [1%] were grades 2–3/3). Serous or clear cell histology was diagnosed in 6 (1.2%) additional cases. HR final uterine pathology was seen in 86 (18.5%) cases. Frozen section assessment of DOI, when performed, was associated with HR pathology ( p Conclusions Preoperative FIGO grade 1 diagnosis correlates with final post-hysterectomy grade in 85% of cases. The rate of HR uterine pathology based on preoperative grade 1 alone is 18.5%. Frozen section may help further stratify for the risk of final HR uterine pathology but is not entirely accurate. The rate of HR uterine pathology is 4% if no cancer or myoinvasion is identified on frozen section and 18% if myoinvasion up to 50% is identified.
High-energy magnon dispersion in the half-filled Hubbard model: A comparison with La 2 CuO 4

We use quantum Monte Carlo methods and the single-mode approximation to study the magnon dispersion in the two-dimensional (2D) half-filled Hubbard and phonon-coupled Heisenberg models. We find that in the Hubbard model with $U/tl8,$ the high-energy magnon dispersion is similar to that observed in inelastic neutron scattering experiments in ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}.$ On the other hand, our studies of a 2D Heisenberg model coupled to dynamic optical bond phonons fail to reproduce the experimental dispersion. These results can be interpreted as evidence of intermediate $U/t$ and charge fluctuations in the cuprate materials.
Race, racism, and mental health: elaboration of critical race theory's contribution to the sociology of mental health

Critical race theory provides a much‐needed framework for improving the study of race and racism's influence on psychological health and illness. Implicating the mundane and extraordinary, critical race theory explains how racism determines lifestyles and life chances. It also clarifies the individual and institutional nature of racism. Such clarification should be meaningful to sociologists of mental health, especially those interested in how race‐related inequality alters the distribution of psychological health and illness. Towards improving research linking race and racism with mental health, the present essay exposes five weaknesses in the sociology of mental health literature: (1) misspecification of perceived discrimination; (2) neglect of the psychological wages of Whiteness; (3) conflation of race and ethnicity; (4) assumption of mental health measurement invariance; and (5) disregard for narratives about how racism hurts mental health. These weaknesses and the strategies for overcoming them are ...
PATHOLOGY TEACH AND TELL: PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

The patient is a 9-year-old Hispanic male immigrant who was diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma of the right adrenal gland at the age of 6 years. He subsequently underwent a right adrenalectomy. Foll...
Effects of phthalate esters on plant seedlings and reversal by a soil microorganism

Phthalate esters have been widely used in industrial nations as plasticizers, in cosmetics, insect repellants, and munitions. Due to the abundance of plastic materials in use, it has been estimated that 51 million pounds of phthalate esters leach into the environment annually. Very little has been reported concerning the effects of phthalate esters on green plants. Certain phthalate esters are known to be natural constituents of some plants, but in significantly lower concentration than that which may be encountered due to contamination. The authors have examined the effects of four common phthalate esters- dimethylphthalate (DMP), diethylphthalate (DEP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), and di-(2-ethyl)hexylphthalate (DEHP)- added to the soil of developing spinach and pea seedlings. Two of the esters- DMP and DEP- caused significant inhibition of development.
First Isolation of Cryptococcus uzbekistanensis from an Immunocompromised Patient with Lymphoma

Cryptococcus species are known agents of opportunistic infections in healthy and immunocompromised hosts. Here we describe the first case of Cryptococcus uzbekistanensis causing bone marrow infection in an elderly Asian man with undiagnosed T cell lymphoma presenting with fever of unknown origin, pancytopenia, and exposure to chicken manure.
Perceived Social Status and Learning Experiences in Social Cognitive Career Theory.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test a model based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994) that placed perceived social status as an antecedent of career-related learning experiences, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations. Gender was included in the present model and results indicated that gender related as expected to differential exposure to career-related learning experiences in Holland's (1997) RIASEC domains. After controlling for the effects of gender, results demonstrated that perceived social status related positively to learning experiences in the Investigative, Enterprising, and Conventional areas among 380 college students. Further, these enhanced learning experiences mediated the relationships between perceived social status and self-efficacy, and between perceived social status and outcome expectations, for the Investigative, Enterprising, and Conventional areas. These findings highlight the importance of perceived social status as a predictor of exposure to different types of career-related learning experiences that subsequently shape students' self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and (presumably) interests in particular RIASEC areas. Results are discussed in terms of exposure to career-related learning experiences in RIASEC domains with differing levels of prestige and implications of these results for developing interventions to enhance the learning experiences of students who report lower levels of perceived social status are presented.