cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Realizing the Promise: Government Information Systems and the Fourth Generation of Information Technology

Interoperability is more than “digital plumbing”—making sure that computers talk so that bits of data flow properly. Fundamentally, interoperability is people talking and sharing information. Sharing information reduces the “paperwork burden”on the citizen, streamlines work processes, and enriches the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policy. Building on prior theory and research, this research has developed empirically derived, practical findings and recommendations to support thedevelopment of appropriate interoperable systems.
A fresh perspective on the Cordilleran Ice Sheet

The fate of Earth’s cryosphere in the coming decades to centuries is a current topic of great debate within the climate science community and wider public arena. The advance and retreat of past ice sheets can shed new light on our understanding of the cyrosphere. The response of a temperate ice mass, like the Cordilleran Ice Sheet (CIS), to climate forcing contributes important clues to what scenario best fi ts the future. One such scenario involves the potential role of melting ice sheets (namely the Greenland Ice Sheet) injecting freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean, leading to deep-water shutoff and a frigid eastern North America and Europe. This scenario occurred repeatedly during the last glacial interval. Evidence has been easy to fifor these freshwater events in the Atlantic, in the form of ice-rafted debris (IRD) layers and anomalous negative δ
Modeling of low-pressure gas discharges

In the first part of this paper, the ionization-balance and excitation-balance equations for low-pressure self-sustained rare-gas discharges are used to derive the scaling relationship that E/P is a constant for a constant I P^{3}R^{2} product. Comparison with experiment shows that this is a fair to good approximation for argon, neon, and helium discharges over a wide range of conditions. In the second part, the inclusion of two electron energy-conservation equations, based on the Vriens two-temperature model for the electron-energy distribution function, provides a simple and accurate method of predicting discharge parameters from first principles. Predicted values of E/P and excited-state density as a function of electron density and current in helium show very good agreement with experiment.
Long-Term Treatment With Rosiglitazone and Metformin Reduces the Extent of, but Does Not Prevent, Islet Amyloid Deposition in Mice Expressing the Gene for Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Islet amyloid deposition in type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced beta-cell mass. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing islet amyloid formation may help preserve beta-cell mass in type 2 diabetes. Rosiglitazone and metformin act by different mechanisms to improve insulin sensitivity and thereby reduce beta-cell secretory demand, resulting in decreased release of insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), the unique constituent of islet amyloid deposits. We hypothesized that this reduced beta-cell secretory demand would lead to reduced islet amyloid formation. Human IAPP (hIAPP) transgenic mice, a model of islet amyloid, were treated for 12 months with rosiglitazone (1.5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), n = 19), metformin (1 g.kg(-1).day(-1), n = 18), or control (n = 17). At the end of the study, islet amyloid prevalence (percent islets containing amyloid) and severity (percent islet area occupied by amyloid), islet mass, beta-cell mass, and insulin release were determined. Islet amyloid prevalence (44 +/- 8, 13 +/- 4, and 11 +/- 3% for control, metformin-, and rosiglitazone-treated mice, respectively) and severity (9.2 +/- 3.0, 0.22 +/- 0.11, and 0.10 +/- 0.05% for control, metformin-, and rosiglitazone-treated mice, respectively) were markedly reduced with both rosiglitazone (P < 0.001 for both measures) and metformin treatment (P < 0.001 for both measures). Both treatments were associated with reduced insulin release assessed as the acute insulin response to intravenous glucose (2,189 +/- 857, 621 +/- 256, and 14 +/- 158 pmol/l for control, metformin-, and rosiglitazone-treated mice, respectively; P < 0.05 for metformin vs. control and P < 0.005 for rosiglitazone vs. control), consistent with reduced secretory demand. Similarly, islet mass (33.4 +/- 7.0, 16.6 +/- 3.6, and 12.2 +/- 2.1 mg for control, metformin-, and rosiglitazone-treated mice, respectively) was not different with metformin treatment (P = 0.06 vs. control) but was significantly lower with rosiglitazone treatment (P < 0.05 vs. control). When the decreased islet mass was accounted for, the islet amyloid-related decrease in beta-cell mass (percent beta-cell mass/islet mass) was ameliorated in both rosiglitazone- and metformin-treated animals (57.9 +/- 3.1, 64.7 +/- 1.4, and 66.1 +/- 1.6% for control, metformin-, and rosiglitazone-treated mice, respectively; P < 0.05 for metformin or rosiglitazone vs. control). In summary, rosiglitazone and metformin protect beta-cells from the deleterious effects of islet amyloid, and this effect may contribute to the ability of these treatments to alleviate the progressive loss of beta-cell mass and function in type 2 diabetes.
Chemical sensing of plant stress at the ecosystem scale

Abstract. Significant ecosystem-scale emissions of methylsalicylate (MeSA), a semivolatile plant hormone thought to act as the mobile signal for systemic acquired resistance (SAR), were observed in an agroforest. Our measurements show that plant internal defence mechanisms can be activated in response to temperature stress and are modulated by water availability on large scales. Highest MeSA fluxes (up to 0.25 mg/m2/h) were observed after plants experienced ambient night-time temperatures of ~7.5°C followed by a large daytime temperature increase (e.g. up to 22°C). Under these conditions estimated night-time leaf temperatures were as low as ~4.6°C, likely inducing a response to prevent chilling injury. Our observations imply that plant hormones can be a significant component of ecosystem scale volatile organic compound (VOC) fluxes (e.g. as high as the total monoterpene (MT) flux) and therefore contribute to the missing VOC budget. If generalized to other ecosystems and different types of stresses these findings suggest that semivolatile plant hormones have been overlooked by investigations of the impact of biogenic VOCs on aerosol formation events in forested regions. Our observations show that the presence of MeSA in canopy air serves as an early chemical warning signal indicating ecosystem-scale stresses before visible damage becomes apparent. As a chemical metric, ecosystem emission measurements of MeSA in ambient air could therefore support field studies investigating factors that adversely affect plant growth.
Bringing Ideology Back In: Chinese Labor Studies in a Time of Transformation

During the last thirty years, market reforms have turned China into an economic behemoth as the country moves deeper and deeper into capitalist development. The study of Chinese labor owes its dynamism in recent years to this dramatic economic and social transformation. Scholars are intrigued by two parallel historical transformations: On the one hand, millions of peasant migrants have been transformed into urban industrial and service workers; on the other hand, millions of former state-owned enterprise employees have lost their lifelong “iron rice bowl” job security and other benefits that they enjoyed under the Maoist socialist system. The new directions of labor studies about China reflect the unique trajectories of these important institutional and social changes. If earlier discussions mainly focused on the harsh labor conditions in sweatshops and despotic management in all kinds of factories, recent research and writing have explored a variety of emergent questions, from the impact of the new labor laws and institutional arrangements to the formation of a new working class and its relation to Chinese workers' recently highlighted legal rights and resistance. These studies have already contributed greatly to our knowledge of what is going on with Chinese workers and their labor movements in the twenty-first century.
ACCURACY OF EXTERNAL FORCE MEASUREMENTS BASED ON PARTICLE TRACKING VELOCIMETRY

In microfluidic systems external forces are frequently applied to fluids or colloidal suspensions in order to accomplish or enhance mass transport tasks. The complexities of microscale geometries and material properties, however, can cause discrepancies between theoretical predictions and the actual values of the applied force. Therefore a calibration experiment is necessary to validate the actual magnitude of the applied force. One method of such in vivo calibration is through observations of tracer particle motions using particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). In microfluidic applications, the tracer particles of choice are typically submicron in diameter and therefore undergo significant Brownian motion. Further complicating the matter is the presence of the solid channel boundaries whose presence can lead to hindered Brownian motion and position-dependent hydrodynamic drag. In this paper we present a Langevin simulation study of the effects of normal and hindered Brownian motions, and the time between image acquisitions on the accuracy of external force measurements based on PTV. It is found that the relative strength between the random forces that cause Brownian motion and the applied external force plays a critical role in measurement accuracy. We also found that hindered Brownian motion and the associated sampling trajectory biases contribute additional force measurement inaccuracies when PTV is conducted in the vicinity of a solid boundary.© 2009 ASME
Common binding site for disialyllactose and tri‐peptide in C‐fragment of tetanus neurotoxin

Clostridial neurotoxins are comprised of botulinum (BoNT) and tetanus (TeNT), which share significant structural and functional similarity. Crystal structures of the binding domain of TeNT complexed with disialyllactose (DiSia) and a tri-peptide Tyr-Glu-Trp (YEW) have been determined to 2.3 and 2.2 A, respectively. Both DiSia and YEW bind in a shallow cleft region on the surface of the molecule in the β-trefoil domain, interacting with a set of common residues, Asp1147, Asp1214, Asn1216, and Arg1226. DiSia and YEW binding at the same site in tetanus toxin provides a putative site that could be occupied either by a ganglioside moiety or a peptide. Soaking experiments with a mixture of YEW and DiSia show that YEW competes with DiSia, suggesting that YEW can be used to block ganglioside binding. A comparison with the TeNT binding domain in complex with small molecules, BoNT/A and /B, provides insight into the different modes of ganglioside binding. Proteins 2005. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction: role of ion channels.

Acute hypoxia induces pulmonary vasoconstriction and chronic hypoxia causes structural changes of the pulmonary vasculature including arterial medial hypertrophy. Electro- and pharmacomechanical mechanisms are involved in regulating pulmonary vasomotor tone, whereas intracellular Ca2+ serves as an important signal in regulating contraction and proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Herein, we provide a basic overview of the cellular mechanisms involved in the development of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Our discussion focuses on the roles of ion channels permeable to K+ and Ca2+, membrane potential, and cytoplasmic Ca2+ in the development of acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and chronic hypoxia-mediated pulmonary vascular remodeling.
In vitro production of equine embryos: state of the art.

Contents In vitro embryo production is possible in the horse both clinically and for research applications. Oocytes may be collected from excised ovaries post-mortem, or from either immature follicles or stimulated pre-ovulatory follicles in the live mare. In vitro maturation of immature oocytes typically yields approximately 60% mature oocytes. As standard in vitro fertilization is not yet repeatable in the horse, fertilization is performed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Embryo culture requires medium with high glucose, at least during blastocyst development, and rates of blastocyst development similar to those for cattle (25% to 35%) may be obtained. Pregnancy rates after transfer of in vitro-produced blastocysts are similar to those for embryos recovered ex vivo.
Statistical inference to advance network models in epidemiology

Contact networks are playing an increasingly important role in the study of epidemiology. Most of the existing work in this area has focused on considering the effect of underlying network structure on epidemic dynamics by using tools from probability theory and computer simulation. This work has provided much insight on the role that heterogeneity in host contact patterns plays on infectious disease dynamics. Despite the important understanding afforded by the probability and simulation paradigm, this approach does not directly address important questions about the structure of contact networks such as what is the best network model for a particular mode of disease transmission, how parameter values of a given model should be estimated, or how precisely the data allow us to estimate these parameter values. We argue that these questions are best answered within a statistical framework and discuss the role of statistical inference in estimating contact networks from epidemiological data.
Protocol conversion between complex protocols

Formal techniques for synthesizing a converter by inserting synchronization points into two given protocols are presented. Each synchronization point consists of a pair of asynchronous communication operations PUT and GET. The PUT operation inserts a message into a non-FIFO buffer, and then the GET operation retrieves and converts the message in the buffer. The PUT and GET operations may create some problems for the buffer: (1) channel overflow, that is the number of messages stored in the buffer exceeds its capacity; (2) improper termination, that is, the protocol terminates with some message left over in the buffer. Therefore, the resultant converter must be validated so that it is free from such protocol errors as channel overflow and improper termination. Several techniques for optimizing the computing time and space spent in validating a converter are proposed. >
Fasting-induced changes in ECL cell gene expression

Gastric enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells release histamine in response to food because of elevation of gastrin and neural release of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP). Acid se...
Wild-type SOD1 overexpression accelerates disease onset of a G85R SOD1 mouse

Approximately 10% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are familial (FALS), and approximately 25% of FALS cases are caused by mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1). Mutant (MT) SOD1 is thought to be pathogenic because it misfolds and aggregates. A number of transgenic mice have been generated that express different MTSOD1s as transgenes and exhibit an ALS-like disease. Although one study found that overexpression of human wild-type (WT) SOD1 did not affect disease in G85R transgenic mice, more recent reports claim that overexpression of WTSOD1 in other MTSOD1 transgenic mice hastened disease, raising a possibility that the effect of WTSOD1 overexpression in this FALS mouse model is mutant-specific. In order to clarify this issue, we studied the effect of WTSOD1 overexpression in a G85R transgenic mouse that we recently generated. We found that G85R/WTSOD1 double transgenic mice had an acceleration of disease onset and shortened survival compared with G85R single transgenic mice; in addition, there was an earlier appearance of pathological and immunohistochemical abnormalities. The spinal cord insoluble fraction from G85R/WTSOD1 mice had evidence of G85R-WTSOD1 heterodimers and WTSOD1 homodimers (in addition to G85R homodimers) with intermolecular disulfide bond cross-linking. These studies suggest that WTSOD1 can be recruited into disease-associated aggregates by redox processes, providing an explanation for the accelerated disease seen in G85R mice following WTSOD1 overexpression, and suggesting the importance of incorrect disulfide-linked protein as key to MTSOD1 toxicity.
Precautionary Constitutionalism in Ancient Athens

The Athenian democracy developed striking institutions that, taken together and separately, have long engaged the attention of theorists in law, politics, and history. We will offer a unifying account of the major institutions of the Athenian constitutional order, attempting both to put them in their best light and to provide criteria for evaluating their successes and failures. Our account is that Athenian institutions are best understood as an illustration of precautionary constitutionalism: roughly, the idea that institutions should be designed to safeguard against political risks, limiting the downside and barring worst-case political scenarios, even at the price of limiting the upside potential of the constitutional order. We use this framework to illuminate some of the distinctive features of the Athenian democracy: selection of officials by lot, rotation of office, collegiality, ostracism, and the graphe paranomon (the procedure for overturning an unconstitutional decree). Under some circumstances, precautionary constitutionalism is a useful strategy of institutional design. Under other circumstances, however, precautionary constitutionalism can go wrong in characteristic ways – by perversely exacerbating the very risks it seeks to prevent, by jeopardizing other values and thereby imposing excessive costs, or simply by creating futile precautions that fail the test of incentive-compatibility. We evaluate the precautionary institutions of the Athenian democracy in this light, and suggest that some failed while others succeeded. While selection by lot, rotation, and collegiality proved to be enduring and incentive-compatible institutions, ostracism perversely exacerbated the risks of tyranny and political domination it was intended to prevent, and the graphe paronomon collapsed into futility.
The Short-War Illusion Resurrected: The Myth of Economic Warfare as the British Schlieffen Plan

AbstractNicholas Lambert argues that in 1912 Britain believed it had developed an economic warfare strategy that promised a quick and bloodless victory in the event of war against Germany. This article scrutinises this argument and demonstrates that its evidential and methodological flaws render it untenable.
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Produces a Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor

Cell extracts from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis induced multinucleation in HEp-2 cells in a manner similar to the effect caused by Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF). The activity was not dependent on the Yersinia 70-kb virulence plasmid, and the activity was not inhibited by antibodies capable of neutralizing E. coli CNF type 1. The nucleotide sequence of the Yersinia cnf gene was 65.1% identical to the E. coli cnf gene.
Assessment of ELL Written Language Progress in Designated ESL Noncredit Courses at the Community College Level

Assessment of the effect of targeted instruction of functional language skills for English language learners (ELL) enrolled in community college basic skills classes is important as community colleges continue to offer noncredit courses for ELL students designed to improve English skills. The Foundations Skills Committee at a community college in a rural setting in Northern California received a State of California grant to provide basic skills instruction, specifically grammar and sentence structure, to ELL. The present study evaluates the effect of Supplemental Instruction (SI) on improving functional skills in writing. A review of the literature reveals that community college instructors need to understand and evaluate English as a Second Language (ESL) progress and performance. Accuracy in one’s written language production is important as ESL students develop concrete skills in improving form and function in written language production. Community college students on three campuses participated in the study. The ESL director constructed a questionnaire to measure student proficiency in specific written language skills and administered it to students to establish baseline data at the beginnng of a specially designed course. The questionnaire was administered a second time at the conclusion of the course to evaluate student proficiency at the end of the semester. Results of the study indicated that ESL students’ improvement in their functional language skills was mixed. It was difficult to determine if students’ functional language skills improved as a result of targeted instruction with the use of tutors, or other factors. Variables that influenced the results included geographic location, training of teachers and tutors, and initial language proficiency of ESL.
Pornography Consumption as a Threat to Religious Socialization

Although pornography consumption has become increasingly pervasive in the USA, few studies have considered the impact that more frequent pornography use may have on the health and character of American religion. This article examines how more frequent consumption of pornography among parents might influence their religious socialization of their children and how this effect might vary across mothers and fathers. Analyses of 2006 Portraits of American Life Study data reveal that pornography consumption is negatively associated with the time parents spend talking or reading about religion with their children, net of relevant religious and sociodemographic characteristics. Moreover, interactions demonstrate that pornography consumption diminishes the positive effects of other religious factors on time spent religiously socializing one’s children. Splitting the sample by gender reveals that these effects apply primarily to fathers. Findings suggest that increased pornography consumption itself might threaten the transmission of religious heritage from parents (and particularly fathers) to children.
Wake Structure and Performance of Finite Aspect-Ratio Flapping Foils

Most wings and fins found in nature tend to be of low or moderate aspect-ratio. However, most experimental and numerical studies in this area of bio-hydrodynamics have focused on examining large or infinite aspect-ratio flapping foils. In the current study, an efficient, finite-difference based immersed boundary solver for computing flows with moving immersed boundaries has been developed to explore the wake structures and hydrodynamic performance of finite aspect-ratio flapping foils. The results of these numerical simulations indicate that the wake topology of these relatively low aspect-ratio foils is significantly different from that observed for infinite/large aspect-ratio foils. The simulations also allow us to investigate the effect of the foil aspect-ratio, Strouhal number, Reynolds number, and pitch-bias on the wake topology and foil performance.
The Role of Copolymer Architecture on the Interfacial Structure of a Ternary Polymer Blend

The role of copolymer sequence distribution on the interfacial characteristics of a ternary polymer blend containing 2 homopoiymers and a copolymer in the phase separated state are examined using Monte Carlo Simulation. The copolymer does migrate to the biphasic interface in the phase separated regime while the configuration and expansion of the copolymer at the interface is a function of sequence distribution within the copolymer. This effect is interpreted in terms of the efficiency of the copolymer to strengthen the biphasic interface. These results suggest that block, alternating, and block-ran structures show promise as interfacial modifiers, while the purely random and alt-ran copolymers will be less efficient as an interfacial strengthener. It is also found that a variation of the sequence distribution away from a purely random structure can dramatically effect the ability of the copolymer to modify the interface. As most polymers which are not block nor alternating are termed ‘random’, this differentiation may have an effect on experimental studies of ‘random’ copolymers as compatibilizers in polymer blends.
Nonlinear combining of laser beams

Multiple laser beams are combined into a diffraction-limited beam by beam self-focusing (collapse) in Kerr medium. Beams with total power above critical are combined in near field and propagated through optical fiber. Random fluctuations during propagation trigger strong self-focusing event producing diffraction-limited beam with the critical power.
A Note on End-Sets

(1971). A Note on End-Sets. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 516-518.
The Laws They are A-Changing: Watching the 2016 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly

This piece is a short guide for lawyers to the upcoming session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The article discusses the typical events in the legislative calendar for the sixty-day session; explains various constitutional limitations on the drafting and passage of legislation; and provides advice on how researchers can find new laws that will become legally effective before they show up in legal databases or printed statutes.
Palbociclib Commercial Manufacturing Process Development. Part II: Regioselective Heck Coupling with Polymorph Control for Processability

A three-step commercial manufacturing route has been developed for palbociclib, a highly selective, reversible inhibitor of CDK 4/6. The second step, which utilizes a Heck coupling to install the enol ether side chain, is described. A highly regioselective catalyst was identified for this transformation along with reaction conditions that ensure robustness upon scale-up. Effective removal of palladium was accomplished via filtration of insoluble metal and an extractive chelation step. Finally, efficient isolation of coupled product 3 was achieved through careful polymorph control via seeding and an optimized cooling protocol that avoids nucleation of a kinetically favored, slow-filtering polymorph.
Abstract A09: Notch signaling couples with Kras or PI3K to drive EGFR independent pancreatic acinar to ductal metaplasia

Almost all reported cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common form of pancreatic cancer, harbor an oncogenic Kras mutation. Recently, targeting oncogenic Kras to specific cell types in the adult pancreas has shown the acinar compartment to be more susceptible to neoplastic transformation than ductal cells. Acinar to ductal metaplasia (ADM) is a phenomenon where acinar cells undergo a morphological change and begin expressing markers normally found only in ductal cells while losing markers typical of acinar cells. ADM is highly proliferative with the potential to develop into pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias, a precursor lesion to pancreatic cancer. Acinar cells harvested from mice expressing mutant Kras undergo spontaneous ADM when embedded in 3D collagen cultures, however, we and others have found the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is required for ADM induced by mutant Kras expression in vitro. Activation of EGFR by treatment of WT collagen embedded acinar cell explants with the EGFR ligand TGF-α has also been shown to induce ADM in a manner requiring Notch pathway activation. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that expression of Notch2 intracellular domain (N2ICD) is sufficient to induce ADM in WT acinar cells. To directly investigate the relationship of the EGFR, Kras, and Notch signaling pathways in ADM, we examined the effect of Notch signaling in acinar cells harvested from EGFRf/f; Ptf1a+/Cre (EKO) mice, which harbor a pancreas specific deletion of EGFR. Surprisingly, we found that expression of N2ICD failed to induce ADM in acinar cells from EKO mice. We also observed that co-expression of a constitutively active p110α mutant or mutant Kras with N2ICD was able to rescue ADM in acinar cells from EKO mice, though neither was sufficient to drive ADM in the absence of N2ICD. Additionally, treatment of acinar cells from WT mice with either the p110α inhibitor Pik75 or the expression of a dominant negative mutant of the PI3K downstream target Rac1 reduced Erk1/2 phosphorylation, whereas expression of constitutively active p110α increased the level of Erk1/2 phosphorylation. These results demonstrate the importance of EGFR signaling in ADM, and identify the need to determine the mechanism of crosstalk between the PI3K and MAPK pathways in acinar cells. Citation Format: Christopher J. Halbrook, Howard C. Crawford. Notch signaling couples with Kras or PI3K to drive EGFR independent pancreatic acinar to ductal metaplasia. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A09. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-A09
Autonomous Linear Dynamical Systems

This chapter discusses autonomous linear dynamical systems. It explains how to find symbolic solutions to two dimensional linear dynamical systems. These systems are closely related to the second order one dimensional differential equations. The chapter explains why the second order equation is equivalent to a two dimensional system. It also explains how to use exponentials e rt to solve the scalar equation. The solutions to linear systems give rise to a dynamical system microscope.
Parvitermes (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) in Central America: Two new termite species and reassignment of Nasutitermes mexicanus

The termite genus Parvitermes is now recognized on the Central American mainland to include Parvitermes mexicanus, new combination (previously in Nasutitermes) and two new species, Parvitermes mesoamericanus sp. n. and Parvitermes yucatanus sp. n., herein described from soldiers and workers. These three species, nine West Indian Parvitermes, and Antillitermes subtilis all share characteristic enteric valve spines that orientate against intestinal flow. All species are subterranean nesters and cellulose feeders. Evidence is mounting that generic-level endemicity may be completely absent among the West Indian nasutitermitine fauna and that its origins stem from Central America.
A naturalistic, multi-site study of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for depression

Abstract Background Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was approved in 2008 in the United States, and there are relatively few studies describing its use in regular clinical practice since approval. Methods From April 2011 to October 2014, ten sites within the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) provided data on 62 evaluable patients with a depressive episode. Treatment was determined naturalistically. Response was assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, Self-Report (QIDS-SR) as the primary outcome, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the clinician-rated Clinical Global Impression (CGI) as secondary depression measures. Results Enrolled patients exhibited significant treatment resistance, with 70.2% reporting more than 4 prior depressive episodes. Most patients received treatment with standard parameters (10 Hz over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), although 22.6% of the patients received 1 or 5 Hz stimulation at some point. Over 6 weeks of treatment, response and remission rates were 29.4% and 5.9%, respectively, for the QIDS-SR; 39.2% and 15.7%, respectively, for the PHQ-9; and 50.9% and 17.9%, respectively, for the CGI. Moderator analyses revealed no effect of prior depressive episodes, history of ECT or gender, although early life stress predicted a better response to rTMS therapy. Limitations The study was an open-label, registry trial, with relatively coarse clinical data, reflecting practice only in academic, depression-specialty centers. Because of the relatively small size and heterogeneity of the sample, type 2 errors are possible and positive findings are in need of replication. Conclusion rTMS demonstrates effectiveness in clinical practice within the NNDC, although remission rates appear slightly lower in comparison with other recent naturalistic studies.
A Statutory Analysis of State Regulation of Security Guard Training Requirements

Security guards outnumber police by almost three to one, and they perform many of the same functions as police officers and many even carry a firearm, but to what extent do states regulate the private security industry? Prior research has examined state statutes regulating security guard hiring requirements; this article builds on this research by examining state statutes regulating security guard training requirements. This article compares the change in state regulation of security guard training since 1999. We are interested in determining what threshold requirements the states have seen fit to establish for training in the security industry and whether these threshold requirements provide adequate protection for the public.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SILANE-TREATED GLASS FILLED COMPOSITE

ABSTRACT This report investigates the mechanical properties of BIS-GMA (2,2 bis, p-2 hydroxy-3-methacryloxy-propoxy phenylenepropane) and TEGDMA (triethylene glycol dimethancrylate) systems. The effects of component proportions and either silane-treated or untreated glass fiber filler percentage on the physical properties of the system is determined.
Hemodynamic parameters predict adverse outcomes following biventricular conversion with single-ventricle palliation takedown

Abstract Objective Patients with a borderline left ventricular hypoplasia in the hypoplastic left heart syndrome variant or an unbalanced atrioventricular canal who undergo initial single-ventricle palliation may be candidates for biventricular (BiV) conversion following left ventricle (LV) recruitment procedures. We investigated associations among preoperative parameters and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing BiV conversion. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent BiV conversion to determine variables associated with clinical outcomes. Predictor variables included cardiac diagnosis, age and weight, LV dimension, LV end diastolic volume, LV mass, preoperative LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and preoperative left atrial pressure. Primary outcome was a composite of death, heart transplant, or BiV takedown. Results Of 51 patients, 11 experienced primary outcome (22%). Patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome variant were more likely to experience primary outcome than those with an unbalanced atrioventricular canal (30% vs 6%; P = .03). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that preoperative LVEDP had good predictive accuracy in classifying patients with and without the primary outcome (area under the curve, 0.757; 95% confidence interval, 0.594-0.919; P = .012). The Youden J -index indicated a cutoff of LVEDP ≥ 13 mm Hg as optimal for predicting the primary outcome. Multivariable Cox regression demonstrated that LVEDP ≥ 13 mm Hg (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.00; P = .037) and postoperative right ventricle pressure > 3/4 (adjusted hazard ratio, 21.75; P Conclusions Elevated preoperative LVEDP is a risk factor for suboptimal postoperative hemodynamic parameters and adverse outcome following BiV conversion from single-ventricle palliation.
Essentials of essential oils.

Purpose Information to guide clinicians in educating and advising patients using or intending to use essential oils for self-administered aromatherapy or other medicinal purposes is presented. Summary The term essential oils refers to highly concentrated, aromatic oils extracted from plants by steam distillation, hydrodiffusion, or pressure. Market reports indicate strong growth in the use of essential oils in the United States in recent decades. Therapeutic claims made in the marketing of essential oils have led the Food and Drug Administration to caution a number of suppliers. Along with rapid growth in sales of essential oils to consumers there has been an increase in the amount of published evidence regarding aromatherapy and essential oils; the annual number of relevant articles indexed using Medical Subject Headings terminology has doubled since 2004. In order to help ensure proper application and safe use of essential oils as a self-care modality, healthcare professionals can benefit from a general knowledge of the terminology and foundational concepts of medicinal use of essential oils, as well as resources to facilitate evaluations of appropriateness of use. Conclusion Because of the increasing popularity of essential oils and the prevalence of essential oil–based self-care practices targeting a wide variety of ailments in the United States, healthcare professionals must be prepared to address concerns about the agents’ safety and efficacy. Proper literature evaluation requires the ability to discern the quality of an oil, the safety of administration, and the validity of its use.
Wet years have more caterpillars: interacting roles of plant litter and predation by ants.

Climate is widely recognized as an important factor that affects temporal and spatial patterns of occurrence and abundance of herbivorous insects, although the ecological mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. We found that precipitation and standing water were positively correlated with locations and years of high abundance of caterpillars of the ranchman's tiger moth, Platyprepia virginalis. We analyzed 30 years of survey data and found that the number of large rainfall events was a better predictor of caterpillar abundance than total annual accumulation. We considered three ecological mechanisms that could drive this relationship and conducted observations and manipulative experiments to evaluate these mechanisms. (1) Rainfall facilitates more plant growth, although we found no evidence that increased food quality or quantity was causing the positive association between precipitation and caterpillar abundance. (2) Large rainfall events cause predatory ground-nesting ants to be less abundant and we found that the number of ants that recruited to local sites was negatively associated with survival and abundance of caterpillars. (3) We found that litter from wet sites provided a refuge from ant predation; litter from wet sites was not beneficial to caterpillars in the absence of ants. Both abiotic factors (precipitation) and biotic factors (predatory ants) affected the temporal and spatial abundance of caterpillars directly and interactively. Climate models predict that rainfall will become more variable, suggesting that populations of this caterpillar may also become more variable in the future.
Space Use in the Commons: Evaluating a Flexible Library Environment

Abstract Objective – This article evaluates the usage and user experience of the Herman B Wells Library’s Learning Commons, a newly renovated technology and learning centre that provides services and spaces tailored to undergraduates’ academic needs at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB). Methods – A mixed-method research protocol combining time-lapse photography, unobtrusive observation, and random-sample surveys was employed to construct and visualize a representative usage and activity profile for the Learning Commons space. Results – Usage of the Learning Commons by particular student groups varied considerably from expectations based on student enrollments. In particular, business, first and second year students, and international students used the Learning Commons to a higher degree than expected, while humanities students used it to a much lower degree. While users were satisfied with the services provided and the overall atmosphere of the space, they also experienced the negative effects of insufficient space and facilities due to the space often operating at or near its capacity. Demand for collaboration rooms and computer workstations was particularly high, while additional evidence suggests that the Learning Commons furniture mix may not adequately match users’ needs. Conclusions – This study presents a unique approach to space use evaluation that enables researchers to collect and visualize representative observational data. This study demonstrates a model for quickly and reliably assessing space use for open-plan and learning-centred academic environments and for evaluating how well these learning spaces fulfill their institutional mission.
“The Name Says It All, It’s Saraybostan”: Low-Income Kurdish Migrant Women’s Experiences with Life in a Poverty-Impacted Urban Neighborhood

ABSTRACTAs part of a larger ethnographic study on low-income Kurdish mothers’ reconstruction of their lives after rural-to-urban migration, this article explored how they experienced life in a poverty-impacted neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey. Twenty-seven Kurdish mothers were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through demographic surveys, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and participant observations. Women’s narratives focused primarily on three aspects, namely financial challenges, crime, and neighbor relations. Participants discussed both challenges and coping strategies pertaining to each aspect. Study findings underlined similarities and differences in life experiences of families living in poverty-impacted urban communities across the global context.
Phase Space Warping

The concept of phase space warping is used to develop a general method for damage evolution tracking and failure prediction. After outlining the basic theory and describing its algorithmic implementation, a nonlinear vibrating beam experiment is described in which a crack propagates to complete fracture. Our method is shown to give real-time estimates of the current damage state, and remaining useful life is accurately predicted well in advance of actual failure.
Thermodynamic mixing energy and heterogeneous diffusion uncover the mechanisms of radiation damage reduction in single-phase Ni-Fe alloys

Abstract Understanding and predicting radiation damage is of central importance to develop radiation-tolerant structural materials for current and next-generation nuclear systems. Single-phase solid solution alloys constitute attractive choices due to their promising mechanical properties and radiation tolerance. Here, by examining radiation-induced defect production and evolution in single-phase Ni-Fe alloys, we show that radiation damage resistance directly correlates with thermodynamic mixing energy and heterogeneity of defect diffusion. We found that radiation damage in materials decreases linearly with lowering mixing energy, and the relationship holds true for all studied Ni-Fe compositions. The damage reduction with varying composition is further ascribed to the increasing heterogeneity of point defect migration across a complex potential energy landscape that enhances defect recombination. This new insight into the dynamical evolution of radiation defects points to a thermodynamic criterion for designing radiation-tolerant materials.
Working with Nucleic Acids

This chapter deals almost entirely with DNA methodology. Most of the methods, however, also apply to RNA and will be useful background for the latter half of Chapter 6, which describes a number of procedures that use RNA.
The Use of an Oral Opiate Antagonist in Schizophrenia

Opiate receptor antagonists of the “pure” type include the parenterally administered naloxone and the orally effective naltrexone (Martin et al., 1973; Resnick et al., 1974). An early report suggested that the former decreased hallucinations in schizophrenic patients (Gunne et al., 1977). The latter is the subject of this review since it, like naloxone, competes with endorphins for opioid receptor sites (Greenstein et al., 1978). Naltrexone acts for approximately 72 hr (Martin et al., 1973) and seems to be particularly free of side effects and toxicity (Greenstein et al., 1976, 1978; Bradford and Kaim, 1977). This drug is rapidly and completely absorbed with peak plasma levels of parent compound in 1 hr and of active metabolite (β-naltrexol) in 2 hr without accumulation (Verebey et al., 1976). The use of naltrexone in schizophrenic patients was primarily an attempt to evaluate the role of endorphins and opiate cells in mental illness.
Lymph Node Ratio in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma After Preoperative Chemotherapy vs. Preoperative Chemoradiation and Its Utility in Decisions About Postoperative Chemotherapy

Single-center studies in pancreatic adenocarcinoma have suggested that preoperative chemotherapy (PCT) is associated with higher lymph node ratio (LNR) than preoperative chemoradiation (PCRT). The association of postoperative chemotherapy with overall survival (OS) in patients treated with PCT and PCRT remains unclear. Our objectives were to investigate whether (1) PCT is associated with higher LNR than PCRT and (2) postoperative chemotherapy is associated with longer OS after PCT and PCRT in LNR-stratified cohorts. A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with PCT or PCRT followed by resection between 2006 and 2014 in the National Cancer Database. Temporal trends were evaluated with Cuzick’s test. OS was evaluated with multivariable Cox regression and inverse probability weighted (IPW) Cox regression. Of 4187 patients, 1993 (47.6%) received PCT. PCT rates were stable at approximately 30% in 2006–2010 (p = 0.33) but increased to 64.9% by 2014 (p < 0.001). Node positivity rates were higher after PCT than PCRT (62.7 vs. 41.8%, P < 0.001) and mean LNR was higher (0.10 [95% CI 0.096, 0.11] vs. 0.058 [95% CI 0.052, 0.063], P < 0.001). Postoperative chemotherapy was associated with longer OS in patients with LNR 0.01–0.149 after PCT by univariate analysis (median OS 34.5 vs. 26.5 months, P = 0.002), multivariable Cox regression (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.48, 0.84), and IPW Cox regression (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55, 0.94). Postoperative chemotherapy was not associated with longer OS for patients who were node-negative or who had LNR ≥ 0.15 after PCT or for any patient subgroups after PCRT. PCT is associated with a higher LNR and higher rates of node positivity than PCRT. Postoperative chemotherapy is associated with longer OS than observation in patients with a LNR of 0.01–0.149 after PCT.
Activation of the Rostral Intralaminar Thalamus Drives Reinforcement through Striatal Dopamine Release.

Glutamatergic projections of the thalamic rostral intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus (rILN) innervate the dorsal striatum (DS) and are implicated in dopamine (DA)-dependent incubation of drug seeking. However, the mechanism by which rILN signaling modulates reward seeking and striatal DA release is unknown. We find that activation of rILN inputs to the DS drives cholinergic interneuron burst-firing behavior and DA D2 receptor-dependent post-burst pauses in cholinergic interneuron firing. In vivo, optogenetic activation of this pathway drives reinforcement in a DA D1 receptor-dependent manner, and chemogenetic suppression of the rILN reduces dopaminergic nigrostriatal terminal activity as measured by fiber photometry. Altogether, these data provide evidence that the rILN activates striatal cholinergic interneurons to enhance the pursuit of reward through local striatal DA release and introduce an additional level of complexity in our understanding of striatal DA signaling.
The Postcolonial World

Reading The Postcolonial World is a global experience, as its essays address the “re-emerging conditions of postcolonialtity” in Asia, Africa, South America, and parts of Europe. One of the most im...