cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in single or small groups of preimplantation bovine embryos

The objectives of this study were to develop techniques to detect BVDV associated with single or small groups of bovine embryos contained in small aliquots of medium using either virus isolation (VI) or real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR) assays. In vivo-derived and in vitro-produced bovine embryos at 7 d post-fertilization were exposed to SD-1, a high affinity strain of BVDV, for 2 h and then processed according to the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) guidelines prior to testing. Groups of five or two in vivo-derived embryos, and single in vivo-derived embryos, were VI positive for BVDV 100, 50, and 33% of the time, and were RT-QPCR positive 100, 75, and 42% of the time, respectively. The virus was detected by the VI technique in all of the groups of five or two in vitro-produced embryos and in all of the single in vitro-produced embryos, and it was detected in 100, 80, and 50%, using RT-QPCR. Techniques for RT-QPCR were sufficiently sensitive to detect 10 copies of viral RNA in a sample and to detect BVDV associated with single embryos. Application of this new technology, RT-QPCR, will facilitate additional studies to further assess the risk of transmission of BVDV through embryo transfer.
Changes in nonlinear signal processing in rat hippocampus associated with loss of paired-pulse inhibition or epileptogenesis.

Summary: Purpose: To study acute and chronic physiological effects of perforant path stimulation using paired-pulse and nonlinear signal analysis techniques (Wiener kernel analysis). Methods: Two to 3-month-old Wistar rats were implanted with stimulating electrodes in the perforant path and recording electrodes in the granule cell layer. Loss of paired-pulse inhibition was produced with 2 Hz continuous and 20 Hz (10 s/min) intermittent stimulation for periods of 1–15 min (0.1 ms, 20 v pulses). Some animals received 30–60 min of stimulation, a model for status epilepticus/epileptogenesis. Responses to paired-pulse or white noise inputs were recorded sequentially. Results: Loss of inhibition with brief 1–3 min of stimulation, measured by increase paired-pulse ratio (P2/P1 ISI 40 ms) from 0.25 (±0.27) pre- to 1.02 (±0.18) post-stimulation (p < 0.001), lasted 43 (±15) min. For 30–60 min of stimulation, the paired-pulse ratios were 0.088 (±0.11), 1.59 (±0.036), 0.06 (±0.11), 0.82 (±0.22) for pre-, immediate post-, 1 week post-, and 1 month poststimulation, respectively (p < 0.025). Compared to prestimulation values, Wiener kernel amplitudes for immediate, 1 week, and 1 month poststimulation were 24% (±13%), 72% (±17%), and 31% (±21%), respectively (p < 0.05). Wiener kernels 1 month poststimulation showed response prolongation with increased opportunity for excitatory interactions of inputs (particularly those separated by 4 ms). Conclusions: Brief perforant path stimulation causes sustained loss of inhibition in the dentate, possibly an early event in the transition to status epilepticus. Stimulation for 30–60 min causes chronic changes in paired-pulse and white noise (Wiener kernel) responses. Transient recovery occurs by 1 week, but later new features appear (including delayed/late inhibition and potential excitatory cross-talk) that might favor epileptic seizures.
Studies on the cyclophorase system XV the malic oxidase

Abstract A comparison has been made between the properties of the conjugated malic oxidase as it exists in the cyclophorase system and of the same oxidase after it has been converted to the dissociated state.
In vitro tropic action of ACTH upon adrenocortical cyclic nucleotide (cAMP, cGMP) production and corticosterone output in blue (Prionace glauca Linnaeus) and in mako (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque) sharks.

Abstract The evolutionary origin of the ACTH-cyclic nucleotide-adrenocorticoid relationship was investigated in vitro . The adrenocortical production of cAMP and cGMP as well as corticosterone output in response to ACTH were examined in the blue ( Prionace glauca ) and the mako ( Isurus oxyrinchus ) sharks. Basal (control) cAMP levels remained relatively constant in both species, but were higher in the blue shark adrenal. Initially undetectable basal cGMP levels were increased with incubation time. A basal level of corticosterone output was present in both species. Porcine ACTH significantly increased shark adrenocortical cAMP and cGMP levels. Increased cGMP levels preceded cAMP elevation. Elevation of both cyclic nucleotides preceded increased steroid output. The mako shark adrenal corticosterone response to a given ACTH dose was 100% greater than that of the blue shark. The steroid response was inversely related to the total amount of cAMP generated and the temporal duration of the cAMP response. Both cyclic nucleotides may participate in the events preceding and ultimately determining the duration of the steroid response. The results indicate that the ACTH-cyclic nucleotide-steroid output relationship is established early in the evolution of adrenocortical tissue.
Origins of the pretectal and tectal projections to the central lateral nucleus in the cat

The pretectal and tectal projections to the thalamic intralaminar nuclei in the cat were studied following horseradish peroxidase injections centered in the central lateral nucleus. Retrogradely labeled neurons were found in both the pretectum and the superior colliculus, ipsilateral and, to a lesser extent, controlateral to the injection site. Labeled pretectal neurons were found throughout all pretectal nuclei; the densest concentrations were in the medial pretectal nucleus, the anterior pretectal nucleus and the nucleus of the posterior commissure. The major source of tectal projections were the small neurons in the stratum griseum intermediate.
A Call for a New Connectivity

"Twisting the Lion's Tail" is a valuable and timely contribution to the literature on the need to break down silo thinking and acting. If we stay within a narrow silo by suggesting that researchers generate knowledge, practitioners use the knowledge and then researchers evaluate the results, we will not get to the system thinking view articulated in the lead paper. The author hopes his observations presented in this commentary add to the conversation.
Splicing regulation: from a parts list of regulatory elements to an integrated splicing code.

Alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs is a major contributor to both proteomic diversity and control of gene expression levels. Splicing is tightly regulated in different tissues and developmental stages, and its disruption can lead to a wide range of human diseases. An important long-term goal in the splicing field is to determine a set of rules or ‘‘code’’ for splicing that will enable prediction of the splicing pattern of any primary transcript from its sequence. Outside of the core splice site motifs, the bulk of the information required for splicing is thought to be contained in exonic and intronic cis-regulatory elements that function by recruitment of sequence-specific RNA-binding protein factors that either activate or repress the use of adjacent splice sites. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge of splicing cis-regulatory elements and their context-dependent effects on splicing, emphasizing recent global/genome-wide studies and open questions.
Hospitalization for Major Depression Among Older Americans

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to report the pattern of hospitalization for major depression among older Americans and to examine correlates of those hospitalizations. We sought to investigate the hypothesis that hospitalization for major depression would be more common among those respondents with declining functional status whose ability to adapt to this decline was impaired by inadequate social support systems or economic stressors. METHODS The data were taken from Version 5 of the Longitudinal Study on Aging (LSOA), which includes 7,527 subjects who were aged 70 and older in 1984. We identified all subjects with any hospitalizations for which major depression was a discharge diagnosis (ICD9-CM codes 296.2, 296.3, 300.4, and 311), and all subjects for whom depression was the primary discharge diagnosis. Only patients with a first-listed discharge diagnosis of depression were considered to have been hospitalized for major depression. RESULTS The yearly incidence of hospitalization for which depression was the primary discharge diagnosis was 0.1%. The mean length of stay was 14.6 days and the mean hospital charge was $6,742. Length of stay and charges did not vary by hospital type (general vs psychiatric), but both charges and length of stay were significantly longer when major depression was the primary discharge diagnosis rather than a secondary diagnosis. Patients with a hospitalization for major depression had more hospitalizations, longer total lengths of stay, and greater total hospital charges over the seven-year period as compared to patients with at least one hospitalization for any other reason. These differences in hospital resource use dissipated when hospitalizations for depression were excluded. Hospitalization for major depression was not associated with gender, race, education, or social support. Hospitalization for major depression was independently associated with a forced residential move, a history of nursing home stays, decline in household activities of daily living, younger age, and perceived health rated as less than excellent. CONCLUSIONS One older American per thousand is hospitalized each year with a primary discharge diagnosis of major depression. These individuals did not have evidence of greater total hospital resource use if episodes of hospitalization for depression are eliminated. Hospitalization for major depression was more common among those with a loss of independent living.
Endogenous ADP-ribosylation in brain: initial characterization of substrate proteins.

Cholera and pertussis toxin-mediated ADP-ribo-sylation has been used extensively to study regulation of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) in the nervous system, but much less is known about possible endogenous ADP-ribosylation of G proteins in brain. The present study demonstrates endogenous ADP-ribosylation, in the absence of cholera and pertussis toxins, of four predominate proteins in homogenates of rat cerebral cortex. These proteins showed apparent molecular masses of 20, 42, 45, and SO kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 42- and 45-kDa proteins comigrated precisely with the major cholera toxin-labeled bands. Furthermore, the endogenous ADP-ribosylated and cholera toxin-ADP-ribosylated bands yielded identical 32p-labeled peptide fragments by one-dimensional peptide mapping, indicating that they are probably the same proteins, presumably the α-subunits of Gs. In contrast, peptide maps of the 50-kDa protein, which migrated close to a 48-kDa cholera toxin-labeled band, demonstrated that this protein is distinct from the toxin-labeled band and from Gsα. Levels of endogenous ADP-ribosylation activity showed regional heterogeneity in brain, with a nearly threefold variation observed among the brain regions examined. Chronic administration (7 days) of corticosterone significantly increased overall levels of endogenous ADP-ribosylation, indicating that components of this system may be under hormonal control in vivo. Attempts to identify neurotransmitters or second messenger systems that regulate endogenous ADP-ribosylation activity in brain have so far been unsuccessful with one exception. Sodium nitroprusside, which increases the formation of nitric oxide, dramatically stimulated the endogenous ADP-ribosylation of a 36-kDa protein, as reported previously by others, and, under certain conditions, also stimulated ADP-ribosylation of the 42-, 45-, and 50-kDa proteins, although to a lesser extent than the 36-kDa protein. These findings demonstrate that GSα and additional, as yet unidentified, proteins are ADP-ribosylated in brain in the absence of bacterial toxins and suggest that such endogenous covalent modification may regulate the functional activity of these proteins in vivo.
Vibration-based terrain classification using surface profile input frequency responses

Terrain variations can greatly influence autonomous ground vehicle (AGV) performance. However, if the terrain is properly identified, the AGV control systems can be adjusted to better suit the terrain. Current terrain classification techniques are largely based on vision and terrain dependent vehicle reactions. But at this time both methods have limitations. Visual methods can easily be fooled by fallen leaves or other superficial ground coverings, whereas response-based methods yield poor results when the AGV speed is significantly different from the training speeds. In addition, current response-based methods are not capable of identifying the multiple terrains that a vehicle may simultaneously traverse, e.g., when one subset of wheels is on-road and one is off-road. This paper proposes a response-based method called terrain input classification to solve the issue of speed dependency and multiple terrain traversal. This method is dependent upon knowing the vibration transfer function of the AGV. The method has been verified through terrain-based simulation results and is ready for experimental testing.
The use of furfural for the determination of acetone bodies in biological fluids.

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of acetone plus acetoacetate, and total acetone bodies in blood and urine is described. It is based upon the condensation of acetone and furfural in the presence of a strong base to form difurfurylidene–acetone, which develops a red to violet color in strong acid. A standard Thunberg tube, which is heated and cooled in a water bath, is used as a microrefluxing and a microdistillation unit. The effective range is from 1 to 6 μg of acetone per sample. The average standard deviation, based on recoveries of added material, was 5%. When the method was applied to determinations of blood and urine of several species, the results agreed with those reported by others.
Academics in Japan's Advisory Council System

Against the background of increasingly knowledge-intensive policymaking in post-industrial society, this study attempts to explain both the purpose of the extensive participation of academics in Japanese government policymaking and the uncertain significance of the practice. The ambiguity and danger surrounding this uncertainty are the function of a number of critical cultural and institutional factors that persist in the higher civil service and academe.
A Bulla of Otto III in America

THE seals of Otto iII are of interest not only because of their rarity, but because of their place in the development in Europe of the typical royal 'Great Seal,' or Seal of State. It is, of course, true that it is not to the mediaeval Empire, but to France that we must look for the connecting link between the Roman use of seals to authenticate documents and the continuance of the custom during the Middle Ages; but it was in the Empire that the type was first developed which was to be adopted and used for centuries by the chanceries of Europe. In both France and the Empire the early royal seals usually bore the head or bust of the reigning sovereign, as in the Roman seals, encircled by a legend giving his name alone, or name and title. In the late tenth century, however, a step was taken toward the development of the future 'Great Seal,' when the Emperor Otto ii (d.983) and very soon after him the French king, Hugh Capet used instead of a head or bust, a half-length seated figure, bearing in its hands the royal insignia.' Otto iII went a step further when, directly after his coronation as emperor in 996, he used a new wax seal which showed him at full length, standing, and holding orb and lance2 (see Plate I). It remained for his successor, Henry ii (1002-1024), only to amalgamate these designs of the Ottos, and so complete the device of the typical royal seal, showing the full length figure of the monarch, seated 'enthroned in majesty.' This was promptly adopted by the French king Henry i (1031-1060), as well as by his contemporary in England, Edward the Confessor, and became the recognized device for later royal seals. Meantime, the final step in the evolution of the form of the 'Great Seal' had also been taken by Otto iII. In 998 he had revived the Byzantine-Italian use of pendant metal seals, usually of lead, instead of the wax seal affixed en placard to the face of the document.3 For the device on these coin-like metal seals, or bullae, Otto had returned to the use of the bust portrait, and since this pendant type of seal offered two sides to be adorned with inscription and device, he used for the reverse of most of his bullae the legend, RENOVATIO IMPERII ROMANORUM,
Net Clinical Benefits of Guidelines and Decision Tool Recommendations for Oral Anticoagulant Use among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Background The 2012 American College of Chest Physicians' Evidence-Based Clinical Practice (CHEST), the 2012 European Society of Cardiology, and the 2014 American Heart Association guidelines and published decision tools by LaHaye and Casciano offer oral anticoagulant (OAC) recommendations for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of our study was to compare the net clinical benefit (NCB) of OAC prescribing that was concordant with these decision aids. Methods A cohort study of the 2001-2013 LifeLink claims data was used. NCB in concordance with each decision aid was defined as adverse events (thromboembolic and major bleed events) prevented per 10,000 person-years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the relative risk of AF adverse events associated in concordance with each decision aid adjusted for potential confounders. Findings The study included 15,129 patients with AF, contributing 33,512 person-years. The NCB of the CHEST guidelines was the highest (NCB = 30.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 28.66, 31.49) and the European Society of Cardiology guidelines the lowest (NCB = 7.38; 95% CI = 5.97, 8.80). Significant unadjusted decreases in the risk of AF adverse events associated with concordant OAC use/nonuse were found for the CHEST guidelines (hazard ratio [HR] = .825; 95% CI = .695, .979), Casciano tool (HR = .838; 95% CI = .706, .995), and LaHaye tool (HR = .841; 95% CI = .709, .999); however, none were significant after multivariate adjustment. Conclusion Concordant OAC use with any of the decision aids except for the aggressive LaHaye tool led to a positive NCB. The decision aids based on the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc algorithm did not consistently improve the NCB compared to CHADS 2 -based aids. Recommending OAC use when CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score = 1 resulted in a lower NCB when all other factors guiding recommendations were held constant.
HEALTH PROMOTION BEHAVIORS OF RURAL WOMEN WITH HEART FAILURE

The purpose of this study was to predict the influence of socioecological factors, including social support, barriers to HPB, perceived health status, and demographic variables on the health promotion behaviors (HPB) of rural women with heart failure (HF). A descriptive correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 45 older rural women with HF. Instruments to assess social support, barriers to health promotion, perceived health, and demographic data were utilized. Multiple regression was used to identify sociological influences on HPB, indicating that a significant variance in HPB was predicted by two variables: (1) New York Heart Association classification level (negative association), and (2) a history of diabetes mellitus (DM). Measures of social support, barriers to HPB, and perceived health status were not found to be predictive of HPB.
Normal Conduction Intervals and Responses in Sixty-One Patients Using His Bundle Recording and Atrial Pacing

In the present study, His bundle electrograms (H) were recorded in 61 patients without evidence of conduction disease on the surface electrocardiogram, in order to establish the normal range of conduction intervals. The conduction intervals (in msec) were as follows (mean ± 2 SD): P-H 119 ± 119 ± 38; P-A 27 ± 18; A-H 92 ± 38 and H-V 43 ± 12. Atrial pacing was performed in 45 patients. Thirty patients developed Wenckebach periods proximal to H at a mean rate of 146/min; the others maintained intact A-V conduction up to a maximum paced rate of 160 to 200/min. Sinus node recovery time (SRT) was also measured in 34 of the patients and found to be 988 ± 692 msec (mean ± 2 SD). None of the measurements was significantly different when males were compared to females, or when patients above and below age 45 years were compared. The values reported will be of use in assessing patients with suspected cardiac conduction disease.
Conceptualizing adhd as a contextual response to parental attachment

Abstract This article suggests that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is frequently misdiagnosed, even overdiagnosed, and provides an alternative way of viewing such problem behaviors in children. It presents a framework, based on systems and attachment theory, that views children's behaviors within the context of the parent-child attachment patterns, and it suggests interventions that shift the focus from the child to the parent-child interaction.
Mechanistic Understanding of Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Olefin Isomerization: Metal-Hydride Insertion-Elimination vs. π-Allyl Pathways

Mechanistic aspects of olefin isomerization through an alkyl chain are discussed in this review. The mechanism primarily has been categorized in two pathways: (1) metal-hydride insertion-elimination pathway; and (2) π-allyl pathway. Different mechanistic features of the two pathways are elaborated here. These features often vary among different reaction systems. Several types of experiments, such as 1,3 or 1,2-H/D exchange, crossover experiments, and other techniques, are explained. The results from different experiments are logically discussed to elucidate the mechanism for olefin isomerization.
Respiratory Symptoms and Farming Practices in Farmers Associated With an Acute Febrile Illness After Organic Dust Exposure

Study objective To conduct a preliminary study of occupational respiratory complaints in farmers who have experienced organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS) symptoms. Design Cross-sectional. Setting An agricultural trade show. Intervention None. Measurement and results Two hundred ninety-seven people (204 men, 93 women) completed a questionnaire about agricultural practices, respiratory health (including history of febrile episodes while handling grain), and use of respirators. Spirometry was also performed. ODTS symptoms were described by 107 of the people (36%). A strong significant association was found between ODTS and cough or chest tightness after handling grain (odds ratio [OR], 7.5; 95% confidence ratio [CI], 4.2 to 13.5). People who experienced cough or chest tightness after handling grain were more likely to report handling grain sorghum than people who had not experienced cough or chest tightening after handling grain (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.5). The strong association seen between ODTS and frequent use of a respirator while working in grain bins (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 9.4) may indicate that farmers began using respirators after respiratory symptoms developed. Conclusions Having a history consistent with ODTS exposure was very common in the farmers surveyed. Farmers who had a history consistent with ODTS were more likely to report cough or chest tightness with handling grain. Exposure to grain sorghum was more likely to be associated with respiratory symptoms than was exposure to other types of grain. There is a need for additional studies to further examine the relationship between ODTS and respiratory symptoms with grain dust exposure in farmers.
Neural Plasticity Part 3. Responses to Lesions in the Peripheral Nervous System

This paper describes some of the remarkable recuperative responses that neurons of the peripheral nervous system have to injury of their axons. The initial response is a sealing of the cut ends of the axons, followed by orderly degenerative and phagocytic events in the segments lying distal and proximal to the lesion. The chromatolytic changes occurring in the cell body are adaptive responses involving the morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of the neuron. The cell loses dendrites and synapses, its electrophysiological properties are altered, and its biochemistry is altered to prepare the neuron for synthesizing proteins needed for formation of growth cones and regeneration of the axon. During this period, the denervated muscle undergoes dramatic atrophic changes that not only modify the electrical nd chemical properties of its membrane but also reduce the diameter and weight of its fibers. This denervation atrophy of muscle is reversible if reinnervation occurs before muscle material has been replaced by connective tissue. Responses to injury of sensory axons depend on the site of the lesion. Cutting a dorsal root causes Wallerian degeneration of the primary afferents' central processes. Collateral sprouts from neighboring uncut root fibers are thought to take over the vacant synapses on the second-order neurons in the dorsal horn. Cutting a sensory axon peripherally eliminates the receptive field of the primary afferent initially, but in time, collaterals from neighboring skin afferents provide the second-order neurons with a new receptive field. Synaptic reclamation and receptive field reorganization are but two dramatic examples of neuronal plasticity that lead to "rewired" neural circuitry.
Field observations of mating, oviposition, and feeding behavior of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a soybean field.

The temporal occurrence and frequency of mating, oviposition, and feeding of wild velvetbean caterpillar moths, Anticarsia gemmatalis,in a soybean field (Glycine max)were documented. Mating occurred predominately during the first 4 h after sunset and primarily on leaflet bottoms. Oviposition was concentrated within the first 6 hr after sunset. Eggs were laid singly, and in areas of high trichome density, on leaflets, pulvini, and petioles. Feeding occurred primarily at night, with most males feeding during the first half of the night and females during the second half. Males and females shared some food sites but others were visited strictly by males.
Flowable Fill for Rapid Pavement Repair

The federal, state, and local highway authorities in the United States invested $3.9 billion in the rehabilitation of roughly 8,000 mi of pavement in 2008. This significant investment emphasizes the importance of ensuring that rehabilitation techniques perform well to help reduce the high annual cost for repairs. The repair of pavement base layers with compacted lifts of crushed aggregate requires specialized labor and equipment, contributes significantly to total construction time, is very difficult to perform—particularly in restricted access areas—and often results in a poorly constructed repair and loss in performance. Flowable fill technology has shown some success when used for backfilling patches and utility cut repairs. The purpose of this paper is to present performance and cost advantages of using preblended flowable fill for rapid repair of damaged areas in highway and airfield pavements. Eleven commercially available flowable fill blends were evaluated with laboratory and field testing methods...
Design and implementation of a web mining system for organizing search engine results: Research Articles

We present the design and implementation of a web mining system that creates a hierarchical clustering of web documents retrieved by commercial web search engines. The cluster hierarchy is produced by a novel method called the Cluster Hierarchy Construction Algorithm (CHCA) and it can be used to explore the topics of interest related to the search query and their relationships. We discuss important design issues for our system, including stemming and dimensionality reduction, as well as some implementation details. We show examples of system results, compare them with results from similar systems, and analyze the responses to a survey of the system's users. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 20: 607–625, 2005.
Adherence to Medical Advice: Processes and Measurement

Much of the research of the past few decades has approached adherence from a global perspective. The multiple processes underlying adherence to medical advice have not been examined for the identification of phase-specific covariates or for the identification of phase-specific interventions. This chapter reviews the multiple processes that underlie adherence including the phases of adoption through continuance, the influence of measurement and analysis strategies, as well as the impact of a global approach on the identification of predictors and interventions. It is recommended that future research examine more specifically each phase in the process of adhering using sensitive measures and analytic approaches appropriate to the measures and the distribution of data.
Abstract TP28: Combining Clinical with Radiographic Criteria to Select Patients for Endovascular Therapy in Acute Stroke

BACKGROUND: Patient selection is emerging as an important aspect of interventional treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The baseline CT scan and NIHSS can be performed very quickly to identify those patients who will have proximal arterial occlusions (PAOs) amenable to endovascular therapy. Hyperdense arteries (HDAs) identified on thin-slice reconstruction (0.625 mm slice) CT have been shown to predict PAOs on CT Angiography. We sought to determine whether the combination of clinical (NIHSS strata) and radiographic (standard 5mm slice non-contrast head CT) criteria could better identify ideal candidates for endovascular therapy. METHODS: We reviewed IMS I and II subjects who were treated with IV tPA for an anterior circulation stroke, and had a baseline standard head CT followed by a digital subtraction angiogram (DSA; n = 144 of the 161 patients in IMS I and II). Stroke severity (NIHSS 10-19, or ≥20), presence of a HDA on baseline CT (either in the ICA terminus or M1 branch of the MCA), and the location of arterial occlusions (either partial or complete) on DSA were determined. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and the positive predictive value (PPV) of stroke severity and a HDA for the presence of a PAO (ICA, M1 or M2 branches of MCA). RESULTS: 64 of 144 patients (44%) had a NIHSS ≥20. 74 of 144 patients (51%) had a HDA on CT (39 patients or 49% with NIHSS 10-19; 35 patients or 55% with NIHSS ≥20). After IV tPA, a PAO was seen on DSA in 105 (73%) of patients. DSA showed distal or no occlusion in 39 patients (13 of whom had a HDA on CT). The PPV of a HDA for a PAO was 82% (95%CI = 72-90%; sens = 58%, spec = 67%), whereas the PPV of NIHSS ≥20 for a PAO was 78% (95%CI = 66-87%; sens = 48%, spec = 64%). In patients with a HDA, consideration of stroke severity (NIHSS ≥20) only improved the PPV for a PAO to 86% (95%CI = 70-95%; sens = 60%, spec = 31%). In those with a HDA and a less severe stroke (NIHSS 10-19), PPV was 79% (95%CI = 63-91%; sens = 56%, spec = 68%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke, adding stroke severity does not appear to significantly improve the predictive value of a hyperdense artery on baseline standard CT for the presence of a proximal arterial occlusion after IV t-PA. Further study is needed to identify patients who are candidates for endovascular therapy.
Cost-effective techniques for user-session-based testing of web applications

Increased use of web-based applications by businesses, government and consumers to perform their daily operations has led to the need for reliable, well-tested web applications. A short time to market, large user community, demand for con tinuous availability, and frequent updates motivate automated cost-effective testing strategies. One promising approach to testing the functionality of web applications leverages user-session data collected by web servers. This approach, called user-session-based testing, avoids the problem of generating artificial test cases by capturing real user interactions---rather than tester interactions---and utilizing the user sessions as representative of user behavior. The user sessions provide test data not anticipated during initial stages of testing. User-session-based testing focuses testing on parts of the application frequently used by the user. However, test preparation and execution quickly become impractical with a large number of captured sessions, which is typical in a frequently used application. This dissertation presents automated cost-effective testing strategies for web-based applications developed by applying a mathematical technique called concept analysis (with varying input parameters) to cluster user-session data. The proposed testing strategies are applicable in the beta/maintenance testing phases of the lifecycle of the application. The proposed strategies are particularly useful in the absence of traditional testing requirements and specifications. The research applies concept analysis to cluster user sessions. To avoid processing large user session data sets, a set of heuristics for test suite selection are applied and incremental test suite update is performed on-the-fly in the presence of an evolving application and evolving user sessions. The clustering techniques and selection heuristics are motivated by analyzing user sessions. User sessions are also analyzed to understand the longitudinal usage of the application which assists in focusing maintenance efforts. In addition, an automated testing framework to effectively test web applications is developed. The effectiveness of the reduced suites is evaluated with several empirical studies to determine their program coverage and fault detection effectiveness.
The effect of desktop illumination realism on a user's sense of presence in a virtual learning environment

The application of virtual reality is becoming ever more important as technology reaches new heights allowing virtual environments (VE) complete with global illumination. One successful application of virtual environments is educational interventions meant to treat individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) since VEs induces pretense and presence, without the social fear of failing in the real world. Pretense and presence improves the user's ability to learn social skills and enhances perception-taking capabilities. Because of the lack of conclusive research of improving presence of individuals with ASD in a VE, this study evaluated ways of enhancing presence to improve a VE intervention for individuals with ASD. In the field of computer science visual realism, new research has surfaced linking illumination realism to presence. Since this research was limited to Neurologically Typical (NT) individuals (those without ASD), and because generalization is particularly important to individuals with ASD, this study targeted these individuals. Further, since head mounted displays (HMD) are impractical for widespread delivery of a VE intervention application and since the literature is inconclusive about the effect of VEs without HMDs on presence, this study used standard desktop displays. This work measured the extent to which visual realism induces the presence of a VE intervention, enumerated the specific characteristics of rendering that promote the sense of presence and the ability to generalize, and statistically verified the enhanced outcomes from using these techniques. After conducting a between-group study with 24 individuals with ASD, illumination realism was found to have a positive effect (effect size=0.6) on the presence felt by these individuals. This work contributes to the field of visualization and special education by providing empirical evidence supporting the claim that illumination realism increases the presence felt by users with ASD when interacting with a PVE.
Social Status and Minority Corruption in the Western Balkans

Using survey and focus group data from Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia, the paper finds that ethnic minorities are more likely to consider bribery acceptable in societies where minorities have lower social status. Ethnic minorities are also more likely to bribe or use contacts to find jobs. Several explanations account for this variation in bribery beliefs and behaviors among minority and majority respondents. First, faced with state discrimination and neglect, minorities tend to “try harder” than majority citizens, in order to compensate for their disadvantaged status. Second, war legacies and postwar lawlessness in particular border regions where minorities reside contribute to corruption. Finally, clientelist practices contribute to corruption in decentralized municipalities where public officials belong to the ethnic minority group.
Search for 4n contributions in the reaction 14Be(CH2,X)10He

A previously published measurement of the ground state resonance of 10 He, populated by a reaction of a 59 MeV/u 14 Be beam on a deuterated polyethylene target, was further analyzed to search for 4 n emission resulting from 2p removal. No evidence for 4n events was found. A lower limit of about 1 MeV was determined for a possible resonance in 12 He.
Techniques for Shipping Large Numbers of Adult Horn Flies

Techniques were developed for shipping large numbers of Haematobia irritans (L.) from Kerrville, Tex., to Molokai, Hawaii, for release in a pilot sterile-male program. Both O2 depletion and CO2 accumulation were found to be critical factors in the survival of the flies. Chilled, marked, irradiated flies were packaged in perforated paper bags which were then stored in the lower compartment of an insulated shipping container. Frozen eutectic material in the upper compartment maintained the flies in the chilled (<5°C) immobile state to reduce energy expenditures. A CO2 absorber and O2 were added before the container was scaled for shipment. With these methods, we delivered flies with an average 85% survival over the 30–36 h time from packaging to release.
Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Box

One-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates have been produced in an optical box trap. Integrated with single atom detection capability, the box trap paves the way for studies of quantum atom statistics.
Pivotal Strategies of Coordinated Optimization Between Electric Grid Operation and Automatic Control Function of Hydropower Plants

Based on the dynamic coordinated control method between electric grid operation and automatic control function in hydropower plants,two pivotal strategies are presented,such as the concrete algorithm of front/back vibration zone in automatic generation control,double-object control logic for harmonizing voltage and reactive power in automatic voltage control.These strategies can make automatic control of hydropower plant coordinate with dispatch instruction and prevent hydropower units from spanning vibration zone frequently.In the meantime they can also harmonize electric grid requirements and equipment safety by receiving both voltage and reactive power control object.Finally,the application of automatic control of Hongjiadu hydropower plant is presented as an example,and the results prove the strategies are feasible.
Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm and Pancreas Divisum: Two Cases

Abstract Background: Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are a subset of ductal cell tumors with potential for malignancy. Because it is difficult to predict whether and when they will become malignant, management and resection are widely debated. Case 1: A 70-year-old male with a 1-year history of epigastric pain was found to have pancreas divisum with a dominant 2.4 cm multicystic uncinate process lesion communicating with the main pancreatic duct and associated uncinate duct dilation. Case 2: An 83-year-old male with pancreas divisum had a 7.3 cm uncinate cystic lesion with mural nodularity that had increased in size from 2.1 cm in 2008. Conclusion: Management of patients with IPMNs can be challenging and may require resection to prevent malignant transformation.
Electron microscopic identification of the gastrin cell of the human antral mucosa by means of immunocytochemistry.

The human antral gastrin cell was identified and characterized by light and electron microscopy, using γ G-immunoglobulins-containing antibodies to human gastrin I labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The gastrin cells identified by this method were shown to be the identical cells as those previously described using fluoresceinated antibodies to human gastrin I. The gastrin cells contained specifically stained round, cytoplasmic granules 150 to 200 m μ in diameter. The other endocrine-like cells of the human antrum were identified and ultrastructural criteria were established for distinction of these cells from the gastrin cells.
To Defer or Not to Defer: Why Chief Justice Roberts Got it Right in City of Arlington v. FCC

As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of the landmark decision of Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., we are reminded of its continued vitality in modern administrative law, as well as the polarizing effect it has on judges, commentators, and practitioners alike. While most applaud the Chevron decision for introducing simplicity to the deference rules, others have called for terminating the doctrine altogether. Not startling, then, is the Supreme Court’s recent decision in City of Arlington v. FCC, which presented a fractured decision concerning the applicability of the Chevron framework. This Essay has three primary tasks. The first, which is the subject of Part II, is to synthesize cogently the law regarding judicial deference to agency interpretations of statutory ambiguities. The second task, which is the subject of Part III, is to provide an analysis of each of the opinions in the City of Arlington decision. Finally, in Part IV, I conclude that Chief Justice Roberts’ dissenting opinion offers a more realistic approach than that offered by the majority that is also consistent with the Court’s precedent, and more faithful to the separation of powers doctrine.
A review of mortality associated with elongate mineral particle (EMP) exposure in occupational epidemiology studies of gold, talc, and taconite mining

Background Mining of gold, taconite, and talc may involve exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMP). The involved EMPs are typically non-asbestiform, include dimensions that regulatory definitions exclude, and have been less studied. Methods A review of the literature was undertaken for this exposure and occupational epidemiological studies that occur in gold, talc, and taconite mining. Results Quantitative EMP exposure information in these industries is incomplete. However, there are consistent findings of pneumoconiosis in each of these types of mining. A recent case-control study suggests a possible association between this exposure and mesothelioma. Lung cancer is inconsistently reported in these industries and is an unlikely outcome of non-asbestiform EMP exposure. There is evidence of cardiovascular mortality excess across all of these types of mining. Conclusions Non-malignant respiratory disease and cardiovascular mortality have been consistently increased in these industries. Further investigation, including additional insights for the role of non-asbestiform EMP, is warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fragile Sites, Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion, and the Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile sites are chromosomal regions that show breaks when cells are exposed to certain drugs or grown in media with a deficiency of folate. The more than 80 common fragile sites can be induced in anyone, while rare fragile sites are seen in only a small proportion of individuals and are inherited in a Mendelian fashion. Fragile sites appear as unstained or stretched regions in the chromosomes (Figs. 20.1 and 22.2). Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase, induces common fragile sites in a small percentage of cells, while camptothecin, an inhibitor of topoisomerase I, enhances the percentage of cells showing them. Lack of folic acid or thymidine in the culture medium induces folate-sensitive rare fragile sites, such as FRAXA and FRAXE on the X chromosome, while BrdU induces other rare fragile sites, such as FRA10B and FRA16B on chromosomes 10 and 16, respectively. Distamycin A, a peptide that binds in the minor groove of AT-rich DNA, induces some fragile sites, including FRA16B. Mostrare fragile sites, even in the homozygous condition, have no phenotypic effects. The exceptions are FRAXA, the fragile site at Xq27.3, which is responsible for the fragile X mental retardation syndrome, and the nearby FRAXE at Xq28, which is sometimes associated with mild mental retardation.
Monolithic injection locking for enhanced bandwidth in coherently coupled, phased vertical cavity laser arrays

Vertical cavity laser arrays are modeled using coupled rate equations. Experimental modulation response as a function of resonance detuning, phase, and field distribution is compared with theory and shows qualitative agreement. Biasing conditions and device design parameters are analyzed for enhanced modulation bandwidth.
ANALGESIA AND ADDICTION.

Pain is a common experience of man and usually serves the very useful purpose of alerting him to physical danger. However, continued pain or pain produced by procedures performed intentionally for the palliation or cure of disease is undesirable and should be suppressed. It is for this purpose that the ‘pain killing’ or analgesic drugs are employed widely in modern therapy. It is an unfortunate fact that the potent1) drugs which produce analgesia are concomitantly addicting, i.e. that they produce physical and psychic dependence as well as exhibiting the phenomenon of tolerance development. After many years of concentrated search, pharmacology and medicine still seek a reliable analgesic without these undesirable side effects.
Altered metabolites in newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension.

There is an emerging evidence that pulmonary hypertension is associated with amino acid, carnitine, and thyroid hormone aberrations. We aimed to characterize metabolic profiles measured by the newborn screen (NBS) in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) Nested case–control study from population-based database. Cases were infants with ICD-9 code for PPHN receiving mechanical ventilation. Controls receiving mechanical ventilation were matched 2:1 for gestational age, sex, birth weight, parenteral nutrition administration, and age at NBS collection. Infants were divided into derivation and validation datasets. A multivariable logistic regression model was derived from candidate metabolites, and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) was generated from the validation dataset. We identified 1076 cases and 2152 controls. Four metabolites remained in the final model. Ornithine (OR 0.32, CI 0.26–0.41), tyrosine (OR 0.48, CI 0.40–0.58), and TSH 0.50 (0.45–0.55) were associated with decreased odds of PPHN; phenylalanine was associated with increased odds of PPHN (OR 4.74, CI 3.25–6.90). The AUROC was 0.772 (CI 0.737–0.807). In a large, population-based dataset, infants with PPHN have distinct, early metabolic profiles. These data provide insight into the pathophysiology of PPHN, identifying potential therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers to assess the response.