cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Millet Preference, Effects of Planting Date on Infestation, and Adult and Larval Use of Proso Millet by Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The interaction between millet and European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), was investigated to gain insight into whether millet could serve as a refuge or trap crop for O. nubilalis management. In 1995, 1996, and 1999, millet selection studies were conducted in North Dakota and New York with four millet species. Proso millet, Panicum milliaceum L., had the highest infestation and widest distribution of O. nubilalis developmental stages, indicating the presence of both univoltine and bivoltine ecotypes. Siberian foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) Beauvois, harbored the greatest number of adults, followed by German foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) Beauvois. These two millets appeared to serve as better aggregation sites than proso millet. In North Dakota in 1997, proso millet planting date studies showed later planting dates were more heavily infested than earlier dates; in 1998, this trend was reversed. The change in trends between years was probably a result of differences in the respective growing seasons and subsequent differences in O. nubilalis flights. Adult sampling showed that both old and young females aggregated in proso millet during the day; however, at night, it appeared that young females moved out of millet to oviposit, whereas old females remained in millet. Egg masses were detected in proso millet over a 7-d period in 1997 and a 4-d period in 1998. Larval sampling showed planting proso millet between late May and mid-June may maximize the presence of individuals from both O. nubilalis ecotypes. Once the optimal combination of planting date, plant density, and millet type is found, millet may serve as an effective refuge or trap crop for O. nubilalis management.
Decreased Sensitivity of Photoionization Detector Total Organic Vapor Detectors in the Presence of Methane

The reduction in sensitivity of the Photoyae TIP, TIP-1, and the H-NU101 total organic vapor analyzers equipped with photoi-onization detectors (PID) to toluene and gasoline in the presence of methane (0.5–5.0% v/v) was examined. The results showed an exponential decrease in detector sensitivity, with a reduction of about 30% for 03% methane and 90% for 5% methane. A Photovac TIP (PID), a Century OVA equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID), and a Photovac 10S50 portable gas chromatograph (PID) were used in a soil gas survey to map the areal extent of gasoline contamination. The survey area was paved, and comparison of FID and PID response showed that methane was widespread under the asphalt, including areas where gas chromatography showed no gasoline contamination. Two soil gas samples analyzed in the laboratory showed concentrations of 0.23% and 0.99% methane by volume. Because high concentrations of biogenic methane are found in the environment, this loss of sensitivity may be important when PID...
R-phycoerythrins having two conformations for the same aggregate

Abstract The visible circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of an R-phycoerythrin ( Porphyra tenera ) is composed of several positive bands. The protein in aqueous buffer very slowly exhibits changes in the CD spectrum of its chromophores, a band at 489 nm undergoes an increase in intensity and a red shift. When the band reached a 493 nm maximum, the spectrum became very stable. The aggregation state of the protein did not change during this spectral conversion. The chromophore CD spectrum was also obtained in the presence of a low concentration of urea or sodium thiocyanate, and the identical change in the CD was noted, but the change was much faster. The visible absorption and CD in the far UV spectra were unaffected by urea. Unchanged visible absorption and protein secondary structure (61% α helix) contradicted by comparatively salient alterations in the visible CD spectra suggested very subtle structural changes are influencing some of the chromophores. For a second R-phycoerythrin ( Gastroclonium coulteri ), the CD of the chromophores had a negative band on the blue edge of the spectrum. This is the first negative CD band observed for any R-phycoerythrin. Treatment of this protein with low concentrations of urea produced a change in the visible CD with the negative band being completely converted to a positive band. Fluorescence studies showed that the treatment by urea did not affect energy migration. Deconvolution of the CD spectra were used to monitor the chromophores. The results demonstrated that the same aggregate of each R-phycoerythrin could exist in two conformations, and this is a novel finding for any red algal or cyanobacterial biliprotein. The two forms of each protein would differ in tertiary structure, but retain the same secondary structures.
Hastily formed networks

The ability to form multi-organizational networks rapidly is crucial to humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and large urgent projects. Designing and implementing the network's conversation space is the central challenge.
VALIDITY OF APPROXIMATION TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING ITEM BIAS

The purpose of this research was to recommend an item bias procedure when the number of minority examinees is too small to use preferred three-parameter IRT methods. The chi-square, Angoff delta-plot, andpseudo-IRT indices were compared with both real and simulated data. For the real test data a criterion of known bias had been established by cross-validated IRT-3 results. The findings from the Math Test and the simulated test were consistent. The pseudo-IRT approach was best (measured by both correlations and percent agreement) in delecting criterion bias. The chi-square was close in accuracy to the pseudo-IRT index. The Angoff delta-plot method was found to be inadequate on both heuristic and empirical grounds. In extreme cases it even identified items as biased against whites that were simulated to be biased against blacks. However, a modified Angoff index, where p-value differences were regressed on item point biserials (and the residualized values used as the index), was nearly as good as the chi-square in identifying known bias. A final caution was offered regarding the use of item bias techniques. The statistical flags should never be used mechanically to discard items; rather they should be used to inspect items for possible differences in meaning.
The legal framework for river use in the United States

Use and development of rivers takes place within a complex legal framework that guides the actions of interested parties holding conflicting values. One of the major components of this legal framework is state water allocation law. This law takes several forms among the states, but its basic function is to establish rules for water use by assigning property rights in water. Another component of the legal framework for river use addresses the public access issue. The primary focus here is establishment of the boundary between the exclusive rights of landowners and the rights of the general public to use the surface and underlying beds of waterways. A third component consists of governmental controls over water use and development. These controls restrict the exercise of private property rights in the resource. From an initial focus of protecting the public right of navigation, this law has expanded to include protection of water quality and a variety of other environmental values. The current legal framework provides a relatively sound basis for balancing competing values and interests, but problems exist. For example, the division of water management responsibilities between the federal and state levels of government sometimes results in conflict, and existing procedures for managing conflict related to proposals for water transfer do not appear to be adequate. Therefore, the current framework will not remain static; it must continue to evolve in order to operate more effectively and to incorporate future increases in knowledge and the associated changes in values and management needs.
Reliability Evaluation of Composite Power Systems Using Markov Cut-Set Method

In power system reliability evaluation, usually component failures are assumed independent and reliability indices are calculated using methods based on the multiplication rule of probabilities. But in some cases, for instance when the effects of fluctuating weather are considered, the previous assumption is invalid. Generally, two kinds of methodologies are adopted to solve this problem, namely analytical and simulation. This paper proposes a DC-OPF based Markov cut-set method (DCOPF-MCSM) to evaluate composite power system reliability considering weather effects. The proposed method uses DC-OPF approach to determine minimal cut sets (MCS) up to a preset order and then uses MCSM to calculate reliability indices. In the second step, Markov process is applied, at a time, to the components of the determined MCS (and their unions) instead of the entire system. Since enumerating all MCS (and their unions) of a power system is impractical and unnecessary, this paper proposes an algorithm to calculate the bounds of reliability indices and it can automatically generate transition rate matrix (TRM) of the determined MCS (and their unions). The proposed method is tested on the modified IEEE Reliability Test System (RTS) and the results are compared with those of the next-event sequential simulation (NESS). The implementation demonstrates that the proposed method is effective and efficient and can conveniently incorporate more system operational considerations.
Studies of Morphological Instability and Dislocation Formation in Heteroepitaxial Si1−xGex Thin Films Via Controlled Annealing Experiments

Heteroepitaxial Si1−x Gex thin films deposited on silicon substrates exhibit surface roughening via surface diffusion under the effect of a compressive stress which is caused by a lattice mismatch. In these films, surface roughening takes place in the form of ridges aligned along either or directions depending on the film thickness and composition. In this paper, we compare the relaxation behaviour of capped and uncapped heteroepitaxial Si1−xGex thin films containing 22% Ge, with surface roughening being inhibited in films with a capping layer. Films with 50 nm thickness were deposited on bare silicon substrates in a LPCVD reactor. Annealing experiments were conducted in a Hydrogen atmosphere in the reactor chamber. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy have been used to study the surface morphology and microstructure of these films. XRD measurements were conducted to determine the amount of relaxation in these films. In-situ transmission electron microscopy/annealing experiments have been performed on uncapped Si1−x Gex/Si structures to study the dynamics of surface roughening and defect formation in a vacuum ambient. Finally, we compare surface morphologies and defects in samples subjected to annealing in vacuum and H2 ambients.
The copolymer of 2-methyl-3-n-butyl-1,3-butadiene and styrene

Homopolymers of 2-methyl-3-n-butyl-1,3-butadiene having inherent viscosities of 0.63 to 0.77 have been prepared. These contain 97% of the diene in the 1,4 structure based on perbenzoic acid titration. A compounded and cured 75/25 copolymer of this diene with styrene was found to have very poor properties as an elastomer.
High-dose, brief intravenous streptokinase early in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract An acute thrombus at the proximal border of a high-grade atherosclerotic obstruction is the usual cause of myocardial infarction. Although intracoronary thrombolysis is potentially an exciting new therapy for reducing the extent of myocardial infarction by lysing coronary clot, a number of major difficulties limit its widespread application. It is a complex procedure requiring intracoronary visualization and infusion within a few hours of onset of symptoms. Since intravenous streptokinase could be widely applied if effective, we and others have wondered whether high-dose, brief-duration intravenous streptokinase infusion given early in myocardial infarction would lyse coronary clots without bleeding. To date we have treated 13 patients within 6 hours of onset of symptoms and with ECG and angiographic evidence of typical myocardial infarction caused by coronary clot. Clot lysis and angiographically proved coronary reperfusion were achieved in 6 patients within 1 hour of starting a systemic intravenous infusion of 850,000 IU of streptokinase. Schroeder et al., 21 in Berlin, West Germany, achieved angiographically proved coronary reperfusion in 11 of 21 patients with acute myocardial infarction following a 30-minute intravenous streptokinase infusion of 500,000 IU. Neuhaus et al., 22 in Gottingen, West Germany, achieved angiographically proved coronary reperfusion in 24 of 39 similar patients within 48 minutes by intravenous infusion of 1,700,000 IU of streptokinase. In these three studies, no serious bleeding occurred; left ventricular function was improved in patients who achieved coronary reperfusion. We conclude that rapid intracoronary clot lysis and coronary reperfusion can be achieved early in myocardial infarction by brief-duration systemic intravenous infusion of high-dose streptokinase without a high incidence of serious bleeding.
Numerical simulation of reactive injection molding in a radial flow geometry

The radial flow of a chemically reactive fluid between two parallel circular disks during the process of Reactive Injection Molding (RIM) has been simulated in a decelerative, non-isothermal, transient flow environment. The effects of key operating and system parameters (feed temperature, volumetric flow rate, reaction rate, and cavity thickness) on velocity, conversion, and temperature profiles which occur in this decelerative flow environment were determined. A catalyzed, unfilled polyurethane RIM system was modeled by a linear step polymerization scheme using average literature values for the reaction rate, and thermodynamic and constitutive parameters. The numerical solution was achieved using the method of lines and upwind approximations of the spatial derivatives. The geometry studied (two parallel, center gated circular disks) models flow patterns in commercial RIM processes more realistically than the rectangular flow between two parallel surfaces (studied by previous workers) in which the average velocity is constant along the length of the mold. This simulation predicts the accumulation of high polymer near the entrance to the mold and near the outer edge of the cavity in fast reactive systems. The accumulation of material near the gate results in viscous heat generation and a maximum in temperature in the region immediately downstream from the restriction.
Baldness and Ischemic Heart Disease in a National Sample of Men

A weak positive association between male pattern baldness and ischemic heart disease has been suggested previously. The authors examined this issue by using data from the Epidemiologic Follow-up Study of the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. As part of the baseline medical examination between 1971 and 1975, the presence and degree of male alopecia (none, minimal, moderate, and severe) were recorded for a subset of participants. Among 3,932 men aged 25-76 years who had complete data, 378 deaths and 939 incident events from ischemic heart disease occurred during an average follow-up period of 14 years. Among 2,019 men who were younger than age 55 years at baseline (61 deaths and 239 incident events of ischemic heart disease), severe baldness was positively associated with ischemic heart disease mortality (rate ratio = 2.51, 95 percent confidence interval 1.01-6.24) and somewhat less associated with ischemic heart disease incidence (rate ratio = 1.72, 95 percent confidence interval 0.96-3.08). No dose-response relation with degree of baldness was seen. Although these findings are tempered by the absence of information concerning the type of baldness (frontal or vertex), they provide support for earlier studies that indicate male pattern baldness that occurs before age 55 years may be by some mechanism related to ischemic heart disease.
File caching in data intensive scientific applications on data-grids

We present some theoretical and experimental results of an important caching problem which arises frequently in data intensive scientific applications that are run in data-grids. Such applications often need to process several files simultaneously, i.e., the application runs only if all its needed files are present in some disk cache accessible to the compute resource of the application. The set of files requested by an application, all of which must be in cache for the application to run, is called a file-bundle. This requirement introduces the need for cache replacement algorithms that are based on file-bundles rather then individual files. We show that traditional caching algorithms such as Least Recently Used (LRU) and GreedyDual-Size (GDS) are not optimal in this case since they are not sensitive to file-bundles and may hold in the cache non-relevant combinations of files. We propose and analyze a new cache replacement algorithm specifically adapted to deal with file-bundles. Results of experimental studies of the new algorithm, using a disk cache simulation model under a wide range of conditions such as file request distributions, relative cache size, file size distribution, and incoming job queue size, show significant improvement over traditional caching algorithms such as GDS.
Adaptive signal processing in subbands using sigma-delta modulation technique

In this paper, a sigma-delta modulated subbanded adaptive interference/noise cancellation system is proposed. The filter bank is fully modulated, and the adaptive filter is partially modulated. Maintaining the modulated signal representation throughout results in considerable savings in complexity. By computer simulations, the system performance is compared to the non-modulated case regarding complexity, convergence speed and steady-state error. The effect of the oversampling rate used in modulation as well as the quality of the demodulator are also considered. The paper concludes by highlighting the tradeoffs between the hardware complexity reduction and the overall system performance. >
Natural regulatory T cells and parasites: a common quest for host homeostasis.

Summary: This review discusses the roles played by natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (natural Tregs) during parasitic infections. Natural Tregs may limit the magnitude of effector responses, which may result in failure to adequately control infection. However, natural Tregs also help to limit collateral tissue damage caused by vigorous antimicrobial immune responses. We discuss the hypothesis that parasites have evolved means to manipulate the host's natural Treg population, thereby generating conditions that secure survival in their vertebrate host for an extended period of time.
Initial assessment on the impact of crystalloids versus colloids during damage control resuscitation

Abstract Background High ratios of fresh frozen plasma:packed red blood cells in damage control resuscitation (DCR) are associated with increased survival. The impact of volume and type of resuscitative fluid used during high ratio transfusion has not been analyzed. We hypothesize a difference in outcomes based on the type and quantity of resuscitative fluid used in patients that received high ratio DCR. Methods A matched case control study of patients who received transfusions of ≥ four units of PRBC during damage control surgery over 4 1/2 y, was conducted at a Level I Trauma Center. All patients received a high ratio DCR, >1:2 of fresh frozen plasma:packed red blood cells. Demographics and outcomes of the type and quantity of resuscitative fluids used in combination with high ratio DCR were compared and analyzed. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was computed among four groups: colloid (median quantity = 1.0 L), 6 L crystalloid. Results There were 56 patients included in the analysis (28 in the crystalloid group and 28 in the colloid group). Demographics were statistically similar. Intraoperative median units of PRBC: crystalloid versus colloid groups was 13 (IQR 8-21) versus 16 (IQR 12–19), P = 0.135; median units of FFP: 12 (IQR 7–18) versus 12 (IQR 10–18), P = 0.440. OR for 10-d mortality in the crystalloid group was 8.41 [95% CI 1.65–42.76 (P = 0.01)]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated lowest mortality in the colloid group and higher mortality with increasing amounts of crystalloid (P = 0.029). Conclusions During high ratio DCR, resuscitation with higher volumes of crystalloids was associated with an overall decreased survival, whereas low volumes of colloid use were associated with increased survival. In order to improve outcomes without diluting the survival benefit of hemostatic resuscitation, guidelines should focus on effective low volume resuscitation when high ratio DCR is used. A multi-institutional analysis is needed in order to validate these results.
Coordinated control of a solar and battery system in a microgrid

This paper investigates the control strategies of a Li-Ion battery group with a PV array within a microgrid. In the grid-connected mode, the battery and the PV array operate at power control mode, while in the autonomous mode the battery provides voltage and frequency control instead. This paper presents a detailed model of battery including state of charge (SOC) modeling, analysis of short-time and long-time transient characteristics, and analysis of a detailed PV array model. This paper also presents effective control strategies for a battery with the PV array system to operate at both the grid-connected and the autonomous modes. The paper presents results from a test microgrid consisting of a voltage source converter (VSC) interfaced battery, a PV array, passive loads and an induction machine which is built using power systems simulation software. The paper presents results from simulations that demonstrate the proposed control strategies, which could assist in the coordination of independent distributed generation.
Deliberation, Preference Uncertainty, and Voting Rules

A deliberative committee is a group of at least two individuals who first debate about what alternative to choose prior to these same individuals voting to determine the choice. We argue, first, that uncertainty about individuals' private preferences is necessary for full information sharing and, second, demonstrate in a very general setting that the condition under which unanimity can support full information revelation in debate amounts to it being common knowledge that all committee members invariably share identical preferences over the alternatives. It follows that if ever there exists an equilibrium with fully revealing debate under unanimity rule, there exists an equilibrium with fully revealing debate under any voting rule. Moreover, the converse is not true of majority rule if there is uncertainty about individuals' preferences.
Expression of AtPRP3, a proline-rich structural cell wall protein from Arabidopsis, is regulated by cell-type-specific developmental pathways involved in root hair formation.

The tightly regulated expression patterns of structural cell wall proteins in several plant species indicate that they play a crucial role in determining the extracellular matrix structure for specific cell types. We demonstrate that AtPRP3, a proline-rich cell wall protein in Arabidopsis, is expressed in root-hair-bearing epidermal cells at the root/shoot junction and within the root differentiation zone of light-grown seedlings. Several lines of evidence support a direct relationship between AtPRP3 expression and root hair development. AtPRP3/β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression increased in roots of transgenic seedlings treated with either 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) or α-naphthaleneacetic acid (α-NAA), compounds known to promote root hair formation. In the presence of 1-α-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl)glycine (AVG), an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis, AtPRP3/GUS expression was strongly reduced, but could be rescued by co-addition of ACC or α-NAA to the growth medium. In addition, AtPRP3/GUS activity was enhanced in ttg and gl2 mutant backgrounds that exhibit ectopic root hairs, but was reduced in rhd6 and 35S- R root-hair-less mutant seedlings. These results indicate that AtPRP3 is regulated by developmental pathways involved in root hair formation, and are consistent with AtPRP39s contributing to cell wall structure in Arabidopsis root hairs.
Synthesis of deuterium labelled penicillamine and its use for the assignment of the 1H NMR spectra of two cyclic enkephalin analogs

The synthesis of D,L-[4,4′-2H6]penicillamine (D,L-[2H6]Pen) and its incorporation into the cyclic, disulfide-containing peptides, [D-Pen2,D-[2H6]Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and [D-Pen2,L-[2H6]Pen5]enkephalin (DPLPE), both highly δ opioid receptor-selective analogs, are described. The deuterium-labelled peptides allowed the assignment of the four Pen methyl group resonances in each of the corresponding unlabelled peptides to specific Pen residues.
Percutaneous Renal Cryoablation: Local Control at Mean 26 Months of Followup

Purpose: We retrospectively determined the efficacy of percutaneous renal cryoablation based on a mean followup of more than 2 years.Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approval was o...
Digital Dermatitis in Cattle: Current Bacterial and Immunological Findings

Globally; digital dermatitis is a leading form of lameness observed in production dairy cattle. While the precise etiology remains to be determined; the disease is clearly associated with infection by numerous species of treponemes; in addition to other anaerobic bacteria. The goal of this review article is to provide an overview of the current literature; focusing on discussion of the polybacterial nature of the digital dermatitis disease complex and host immune response. Several phylotypes of treponemes have been identified; some of which correlate with location in the lesion and some with stages of lesion development. Local innate immune responses may contribute to the proliferative, inflammatory conditions that perpetuate digital dermatitis lesions. While serum antibody is produced to bacterial antigens in the lesions, little is known about cellular-based immunity. Studies are still required to delineate the pathogenic traits of treponemes associated with digital dermatitis; and other host factors that mediate pathology and protection of digital dermatitis lesions.
Effect of streptomycin on growth of rickettsiae in eggs.

SummaryStreptomycin in amounts of from 0.5 to 2.0 mg injected into infected embryonated eggs has a definite slight inhibitory action on the growth of R. prowazeki. In the case of R. rnooserl, 2.0 mg of streptomycin had a. small but significant effect. With R. orientalis, a dose of 2.0 mg per egg appeared to have no significant effect on the multiplication of the rickettsiae. By contrast, appropriate doses of PABA (5.5 mg per egg for R. prowazeki, and 11.0 mg per egg for R. mooseri and R. orientalis) produced a striking inhibition of growth, reducing the numbers of viable rickettsiae by 10,000 to over 10,000,000 times as compared with untreated controls.
Ritual and Rhyme: Alevi-Bektashi Interpretations and Translations of the Qur'an (1953–2007)

Abstract This article explores the forays of Alevi and Bektashi writers into the genres of Qur'anic interpretation and translation. A sizeable religious minority in Turkey, Alevi and Bektashi authors are relative newcomers to these fields and their cultivation of contemporary Qur'anic literature resembling that of their Sunnī counterparts is a significant development. This study examines how their treatments relate to shifting political and religious environments in Turkey and, furthermore, considers their style, sources, and arguments. It contends that interpreting and translating the Qur'an have become integral to Alevi-Bektashi participation in broader public debates over religious practice, freedom, and identity in modern Turkey.
The IPPMC and Case Materials

The IPPMC prototype curriculum was designed and developed by the PPIPM project team during the period 1975–1977 as part of an overall strategy to develop, test, and refine both the curriculum and supporting resource materials. A primary objective of the strategy was to design a curriculum that would view planning, design, and implementation as parts of a total process.1 In addition, the outstanding problems in project management training was believed to be a lack of innovative instructional programs that increase the capacity for both analytical thinking and practical implementation skills.2 Clearly, the PPIPM project team was committed to the task of closely examining the managerial role in projects.
Stability of aqueous suspensions of disulfiram

The stability of disulfiram in aqueous suspension is reported. Aqueous suspensions of disulfiram were prepared from bulk powder and from disulfiram tablets. Acacia and sodium benzoate were present in the suspension, the final concentration of which was 25 mg/ml disulfiram. Suspensions were stored in amber bottles under fluorescent light at 24 degrees C for 178 days (tablets) and 295 days (bulk powder). Samples were taken at various intervals during storage and assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a modified NF method. Both types of suspension were stable. Potency remained constant, and no new peaks appeared in the chromatograph. Physical integrity of the suspensions was maintained. The suspension made from tablets contained less foam and air than the one made from bulk powder; both types were easily dispersible. A degradation product of disulfiram, diethyldithiocarbamic acid, did not interfere with the assay. The HPLC assay method was more reproducible than the modified NF method. Aqueous suspensions of disulfiram are stable at room temperature for the indicated time periods, and the HPLC assay method for disulfiram is reproducible and accurate.
Entropy Minimization in an Evaporating Thin Liquid Film in Capillary Tubes

An analysis has been provided for the entropy generated for the micro/nano scale heat and mass transfer in a capillary tube in terms of the gradients of velocity, temperature and concentration as well as the physical properties of the fluid. The heat and mass transfer rates are assumed to be uniform on the surface of the capillary tube. The optimum tube diameter that corresponds to the minimization of entropy generated and minimization of fluid flow resistance is about one millimeter. We have applied the method of thermodynamic optimization to capillary driven systems.© 2007 ASME
Exercise DVD improves exercise expectations in cardiovascular outpatients.

OBJECTIVE To assess impact of exercise education intervention on exercise frequency and attitudes. METHODS Cardiovascular outpatients (N=509) were randomized to receive an education DVD or standard care. Outcome measures (baseline and 6 weeks) assessed exercise frequency and cognitive variables. RESULTS There was no difference between groups on exercise frequency change from baseline, but DVD group reported greater exercise outcome expectations than control group (P=0.01). There was a greater increase in relapse-prevention behavior in the DVD group, compared to control, for those with low relapse-prevention behavior at baseline (P=0.02). CONCLUSION A minimal intervention improves outcome expectations for exercise.
Klinefelter’s Syndrome and Mediastinal Germ Cell Neoplasms

AbstractWe describe 2 patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome in whom mediastinal germ cell neoplasms developed. This association also has been noted in the literature in 6 other cases. The pathogenesis of these otherwise rare neoplasms probably is related to the genetic abnormality and the abnormal hormonal status in Klinefelter’s syndrome. Patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome appear to have an increased risk of development of extragonadal mediastinal germ cell neoplasms and should be followed closely, while patients with mediastinal germ cell neoplasms should have karyotypes performed.
Neuropathic pain resulting from pelvic masses.

Cancer patients can expect to suffer pain, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease. Optimal pain control is an essential part of cancer management from the time of diagnosis, as pain can interfere with cancer therapy, limits patient function, and negatively impacts quality of life.
Nucleotide structure and characterization of the murine gene encoding the endothelial cell protein C receptor.

The nucleotide sequence of the entire gene encoding the murine endothelial cell receptor for activated protein C (EPCR) has been determined. A total of 5303 bp of DNA was sequenced that included 4 exons and three introns, which constituted the coding region of the gene, as well as 393 bp upstream of the first exon and 841 bp downstream of the last exon. From the locations of the introns in this gene and analysis of the exon structures, it is clear the EPCR gene is a member of the CD1 class of multiple histocompatibility proteins, and its cDNA sequence is nearly identical to that of CCD41, a centrosome-associated protein. All elements needed for RNA polymerase II-based transcription are predicted to exist in the 5’ uncoded region of the gene, and potential 3’ regulatory sequences for efficient polyadenylation have been located at their optimal locations. A variety of highly probable transcription factor binding sites have been located in the 5’ region of the gene. These data suggest that the EPCR gene is under efficient transcriptional control, and support the finding that this gene product may be involved in the inflammatory pathway.
Notes on reproduction in three species of sphenomorphus squamata: Scincidae) from papua new guinea

S is a large genus of skinks ranging across much of southeastern Asia and the Papuan region, comprising New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, and adjacent smaller islands. Lizards referred to the same genus are also present in Central America (Savage, 2002). Approximately 45 species are known from the Papuan region (Papuan Herpetofauna, 2007) and dozens more await formal description. Of these species, S. granulatus ranges throughout the Southeast Peninsula from Milne Bay Province to the Huon Peninsula and also occurs on the adjacent D’Entrecasteaux Islands (Zweifel, 1980; Mys, 1988; Kraus & Allison, 2004). Sphenomorphus jobiensis (the largest species we studied) ranges widely across most of New Guinea and also occurs on New Britain, New Ireland and the Admirality, D’Entrecasteaux and Louisiade Islands (Mys, 1988; Kraus & Allison, 2004). It is known to be a complex of closely related species (Donnellan & Aplin, 1989) that is currently undergoing revision (G. Shea pers. comm.), but an updated taxonomy is not currently available. Sphenomorphus minutus (the smallest species we studied) has a spotty distribution across the northern versant and central mountains of New Guinea (Mys, 1988) and also occurs in the D’Entrecasteaux and Louisiade islands of Misima and Sudest (Kraus & Allison, 2004; Kraus & Shea, 2005). To our knowledge, there are no published accounts regarding reproduction in these species and little reproductive information exists for any other Papuan Sphenomorphus. The purpose of this paper is to report information on the reproductive cycle of the three species listed above from a histological examination of museum specimens collected by FK. This is part of an ongoing series of studies on the reproduction of lizards from Papua New Guinea. METHODS Sphenomorphus skinks from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea were examined from the herpetology collection housed at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), Honolulu, Hawaii (see Appendix). Skinks were collected from 2002 to 2004 and were studied from a geographically constrained region so as to allow for examination of seasonal reproductivity without inadvertently introducing confounding geographic variation. The left testis or ovary was removed, processed by standard histological techniques and stained with Harris’ hematoxylin followed by eosin counterstain (Presnell & Schreibman 1997). Male maturity was established via evidence of spermiogenesis in progress. Female maturity was recognized via evidence of yolk deposition. Female clutch size was determined by counting enlarging follicles (> 4 mm) or oviductal eggs. Lizard snout-vent length (SVL) was measured to the nearest millimeter after euthanization, just prior to preservation.
Probiotic Treatment of Colitis in Animal Models and People

Publisher Summary Animal models of colitis, which mimic human colitis conditions to a certain degree, provide a platform for testing the efficacy of novel pharmacological agents. There is compelling evidence from animal models of inflammatory colitis and from clinical observations of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease that bacterial factors play a prominent role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Various rodent models of inflammatory colitis have evolved over the past 20 years, which have provided an opportunity to test new therapeutic agents that may have efficacy in management of IBD. At the present time, despite positive data from rodent colitis models, adequate evidence for use of probiotics in IBD exists only for preventing pouchitis and maintaining remission from pouchitis exacerbations. Continued development and study of probiotics in rodent models and humans appear rational, given the role that bacteria seem to play in the underlying etiology of IBD. The possibility of using probiotic bacteria as a drug delivery tool has only begun to be explored. Additional preclinical and clinical studies will shed more light on this intriguing treatment option.
18 – Disorders of Ventilatory Control

Chapter 18 builds on Chapter 17 and addresses disorders of ventilatory control. Hyperventilation, most frequently due to an acute disorder of the central nervous system, to a variety of pulmonary diseases, or to hormonal stimulation, is discussed. The primary mechanism leading to hyperventilation is either unknown or appears to be an increased sensitivity or stimulation of the central chemoreceptors or other receptors providing input to the respiratory generator. Hypoventilation disorders, including primary alveolar hypoventilation and congenital central hypoventilation, are reviewed. The pathophysiology of Cheynes-Stokes respiration, an abnormal breathing pattern characterized by cyclic hyper- and hypoventilation, is examined. Finally, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) and mixed syndromes are addressed. OSA is more common than CSA. Clinical features of sleep apnea include disordered respiration during sleep, hypersomnolence, morning headaches, and cardiovascular complications. Diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.
A Plane Economy of Space Surfaces From the Concepts of Einstein and Euclid

A unification of the sciences is attempted. The “concept”, conceptual structuring of the world, is accounted for as the perceptual product of the means in which the world is actually actively structured as difference states of an energy-energy or energy-matter conversion product whose continually becoming state bears perceptual and cognitive reality born of the objects of sensation, and who present (verses becoming) state is unwitnessible by virtue that it is also the means of mental as well as physiological processes (i.e. is not visible to itself). Hierarchy in conceptual ordering, in model, is an active and flexible reflection of an unwitnessible state as the delivering agent of a constantly becoming state, i.e. the experienced environment; the value of temporally enduring constancy in the former as the agent of the same in the latter: the concept is an ordered set of differences of processes involved in the making of the world. A contrast is drawn between actual (in the frame of nature) and apparent (in the frame of witness) emergences, (the logical verses the illogical respectively) in light of a redefined notion of proximity to the senses in which the actual physical/temporal paths of emergences rather than perceptual senses of closeness, reach-ability or experimental reach-ability are measures of distance. The theory of relativity, reflecting in its’ conceptual construction common interpretations of proximity, is claimed to be overlapped with respect to the physical and the conceptual in a manner in which its’ empirical meaning/realization exaggerates the real size of volumes of space.
Advancing a New Critical Framework for Transfer Student Research: Implications for Institutional Research

This chapter explores how critical lenses can be used to conduct transfer research and proposes a new methodological approach to understand the complex experiences and success of diverse transfer students.
El huso en el centro del universo: el entrelazamiento cuántico en la poesía visual de Cecilia Vicuña

La produccion cultural de Cecilia Vicuna presenta la materialidad como un proceso dinamico cuyo impetu energetico surge de las relaciones que constituyen todos los fenomenos del universo. A partir del conocimiento proveniente de las ciencias naturales, las epistemologias indigenas y las tradiciones poeticas, en los poemas visuales de Instan (2002) e i tu (2004) Vicuna explora la materialidad desde el mundo microscopico de las particulas subatomicas hasta el nivel macroscopico del cuerpo y las galaxias. En una poesia visualmente sofisticada, la poeta chilena reconceptualiza la relacion entre materia y significado y el impacto de la materialidad en la experiencia humana. Este ensayo incorpora perspectivas teoricas provenientes del movimiento interdisciplinario que Stacy Alaimo y Susan Hekman nombran el “giro material” en el feminismo del siglo XXI, el cual critica el imperativo cartesiano de relegar la materialidad a los margenes de la cultura y, al contrario, considera la materia como una fuerza activa que participa en la configuracion material-discursiva del universo. La poesia visual de Vicuna, tanto en su forma como en su tematica, revela una ontologia relacional que reconoce las relaciones internas como el origen de toda la energia generativa que permea el universo en su constante transformacion. ( Ensayo ganador del Annual FemUn—Feministas Unidas Prize for Graduate Student Essay, submitted 2015).
Alternate Management Structures : The Case Study of a Corporate Executive Turned into a Strategic Partner

Chetan S Sankar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management, Auburn University, USA. Many companies measure the worth of their managing directors by the number of people they manage; the more the number, the tougher the job is supposed to be. The pay also proportionally increases. Particularly in the Indian context, there is a preference for " administrators"and "executives" over "entrepreneurs" (Aga, 1994). This case study describes how Mr Sampath Kumar, an executive of a company, left that job to work under an alternate management structure, that of forming strategic alliances, so that there are no direct employees. He states that the profitability exists to the same extent in both management structures, but, the partnership structure requires three hours per day, whereas the corporate structure consumed more than 12 hours a day. The career growth and changes made by Mr Sampath Kumar are used in this study to compare the alternate management structures.
The Birational Geometry of Moduli Spaces

The purpose of these lecture notes is to introduce the basics of the birational geometry of moduli spaces to students who have taken an introductory course in algebraic geometry. We concentrate on a few key ideas and examples. We define the cones of ample and effective divisors, compute them for a few examples such as the blowup of \(\mathbb{P}^2\) at one or two points. Then we discuss the ample and effective cones of the Hilbert scheme of points on \(\mathbb{P}^2\). Finally, in the last section, we give a guide to the literature on other moduli spaces. These are the notes for two lectures that I delivered at the CIMPA/TUBITAK/GSU Summer School on Algebraic Geometry and Number Theory in Istanbul in 2014.
Just Turn on the Faucet: A Content Analysis of PSAs About the Global Water Crisis on YouTube

Water is essential for human life, yet safe drinking water is a limited resource. Critical to fighting the global water crisis are public awareness campaigns, including Public Service Announcements...
Pre-germination Seed Treatments and Stratification Affect Germination of Montezuma Cypress

Abstract Taxodium distichum (L.) Richard var. mexicanum Gordon (syn. T. mucronatum), Montezuma cypress, is a valuable ornamental tree species tolerant of a wide range of cultural conditions. However, little is know about the propagation requirements of this species. The objectives of this study were 1) to determine the effect of previously recommended seed treatments for baldcypress (T. distichum (L.) Richard var. distichum) or pondcypress (T. distichum (L.) Richard var. imbricarium (Nutt.) Croom; syn. T. ascendens, T.d. var. nutans) on Montezuma cypress seeds, and 2) to determine the effects of stratification in combination with pre-germination treatments on germination of Montezuma cypress seeds. Open pollinated seeds were collected from a single tree in Southmost, TX (25° 52.576’ N, 97° 27 .083’ W, elevation 4.5 m, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b). Seven pre-germination treatments and three stratification periods were applied to the seeds. If immediate germination of ripe seed is desired, then the best tr...
Axial propulsion with flapping and rotating wings, a comparison of potential efficiency

Interest in biological locomotion and what advantages the principles governing it might offer in the design of manmade vehicles prompts one to consider the power requirements of flapping relative to rotary propulsion. The amount of work performed on the fluid surrounding a thrusting surface (wing or blade) is reflected in the kinetic energy of the wake. Consideration of the energy in the wake is sufficient to define absolute minimum limitations on the power requirement to generate a particular thrust. This work applies wake solutions to compare the minimum inviscid propulsive power requirement of wings flapping and in rotation at wing loading conditions reflective of hover through a state of lightly-loaded cruise. It is demonstrated that hovering flapping flight is less efficient than rotary wing propulsion except for the most extreme flap amplitude strokes ([Formula: see text] > 160°) if operating at large wake wavelength. In cruise, a larger range of flap amplitude kinematics ([Formula: see text] > 140°) can be aerodynamically more energy efficient for wake wavelengths reflective of biological propulsion. These results imply, based on the observed wing kinematics of continuous steady flight, that flapping propulsion in animals is unlikely to be more efficient than rotary propulsion.
One-Third of Patients with Anxiety Disorder Will Relapse When Antidepressant Treatment Stops.

Lumbar fusion for degenerative spinal disease appears to be most beneficial for patients undergoing the procedure for spondylolisthesis, but it is of little clear benefit for patients with other indications, such as spinal stenosis or chronic back pain.
Low dose radiation, inflammation, cancer and chemoprevention

Purpose: Recently, new studies have brought to light the potential risks of low dose radiation (LDR) in cancer. In this review, we discuss in detail the detrimental effects of LDR in some model org...
Nonelastic and Kinesio Tex Tapes Improve Perceived Stability But Not Postural Control in Participants With Chronic Ankle Instability

The development of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is common following a lateral ankle sprain. Taping using nonelastic and Kinesio Tex (KT) tapes remain popular treatment strategies. The purpose of...
On Integrating Stiff Multibody Dynamics with Contact and Friction

We present a complementarity-based time-stepping method for rigid multibody systems with contact and friction that accomodates stiffness through a linear implicit technique. The method is consistent whenever the stiff forces originate in springs and dampers. When the stiffness parameters increase towards infinity the subproblem to be solved in one step approaches the one where the stiff elements are replaced by joints, under the assumption that the friction cone of the limit system is pointed.