cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positive Youth Development and Relational-Developmental-Systems

Interests in the strengths of youth, the plasticity of human development, and the concept of resilience coalesced in the 1990s to foster the development of the concept of positive youth development (PYD). As discussed by Hamilton (1999), the concept of PYD was understood in at least three interrelated but nevertheless different ways: (1) as a developmental process; (2) as a philosophy or approach to youth programming; and (3) as instances of youth programs and organizations focused on fostering the healthy or positive development of youth. We use concepts drawn from relational developmental systems theories and the tripartite conception of PYD suggested by Hamilton as frames to review the literature on (a) the different theoretical models of the PYD developmental process; (b) philosophical ideas about, or conceptual approaches to, the nature of youth programming with a special emphasis on the model of PYD with the most extensive empirical support, the Five Cs Model of PYD; and (c) key instances of programs aimed at promoting PYD. We also discuss the conceptual and practical problems in integrating these three facets of PYD scholarship, and conclude by explaining why understanding complex development requires multimethod integration as well as an integration of ideographic and nomothetic perspectives. Keywords: embodiment; multimethod integration; positive youth development; relational developmental systems theories; resilience; youth programs
Arc3D: a 3D obfuscation architecture

In DRM domain, the adversary has complete control of the computing node – supervisory privileges along with full physical as well as architectural object observational capabilities. Thus robust obfuscation is impossible to achieve with the existing software only solutions. In this paper, we develop architecture level support for obfuscation with the help of well known cryptographic methods. The three protected dimensions of this architecture Arc3D are address sequencing, contents associated with an address, and the temporal reuse of address sequences such as loops. Such an obfuscation makes the detection of good tampering points infinitesimally likely providing tamper resistance. With the use of already known software distribution model of ABYSS and XOM, we can also ensure copy protection. This results in a complete DRM architecture to provide both copy protection and IP protection.
Plasma osteopontin as a marker for future organ damage in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Purpose Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoprotein functioning in monocyte and T cell adhesion and migration. Expression of OPN in alternatively-activated macrophages has been implicated in post-inflammatory fibrosis of lung and kidney. In our previously conducted cross-sectional study of 72 pediatric SLE patients (pSLE; age of onset 1 (p = 0.0007 and 0.001, respectively), although there was no association with SLEDAI. We therefore propose that OPN is a marker for pSLE disease progression, and that increased cOPN levels may predict the development of organ damage. Methods 17 pSLE patients have been followed for at least 6 months with cOPN measured by ELISA at baseline and at 6 month intervals. Serum Cr, urine protein/creatinine and GFR were recorded at baseline and every 6 months. SLEDAI was recorded at 3 month intervals, and at disease flare, and SDI at every 6 months. Cumulative disease activity (adjusted-mean SLEDAI, or AMS) was calculated by finding the area under the curve of serial SLEDAI measurements. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t test, Pearson’s correlation, and Fisher’s exact test. Results 6 of the 17 longitudinal subjects accumulated damage as per an increase in SDI during the course of the study (3 in the renal portion, 1 peripheral vascular, 1 pulmonary hypertension, 1 avascular necrosis). 5 of the 6 patients who accumulated damage had high cOPN levels (cOPN in the top quartile) in at least 1 of the previous 2 visits prior to the increase on SDI. 80% of subjects with a high cOPN had an increase in SDI, whereas only 11% of subjects with a cOPN in the bottom three quartiles had an increase in SDI, indicating an increase in SDI was more likely in those patients with a preceding high cOPN (p = 0.01). Cumulative disease activity (AMS) was associated with an increase in SDI scores (p < 0.0001) in this cohort, and was correlated with cOPN levels (Spearman r = 0.46, p = 0.02). Conclusion cOPN is correlated with cumulative disease activity and may be a potential marker for future organ damage in pSLE. The rapid and/or early accrual of organ damage in patients with SLE has been associated with poorer outcomes, therefore a marker of risk for irreversible damage could be a critical component for guiding treatment decisions in pSLE. Disclosure
A Potential Game Changer in E-Commerce Taxation

In this essay, we evaluate recent legislative proposals for Congress to authorize state taxation of e-commerce. We argue that these proposals contain a potential game-changing innovation — the requirement that states provide remote sellers with “adequate software” for calculating use tax due within the state. Properly implemented, we explain how this innovation could force states to internalize the compliance costs of levying tax collection obligations on remote sellers, thereby incentivizing the states to simplify their sales and use tax statutes and resolving concerns about states overburdening interstate commerce.
1996-2006 autonomous robots

The "fifth decade of Artificial Intelligence", the period from 1996 to 2006, has been a decade of success for AI. Computers beat the residing world chess champion. AI companies like Google and Yahoo! have been taking over the world. And AI research changed forever the nature of other scientific fields, like biology and cognitive science. So how could this happen? In my humble opinion, the fifth decade of AI has been the decade of data and statistics. Data has been available for many years, but somehow the amount of available data exploded in the past decade. The advent of the World Wide Web made huge numbers of documents, images, and videos available online. Hundreds of AI researchers refocused their energy on the Web. AI systems were developed for learning people's browsing patterns, for raking online music, for finding and parsing job advertisements, and for making search more effective. Out of this grew a billion-dollar industry, with Google being the most significant example.
Context aware web search using dynamically weighted information fusion

As search has become a cornerstone tool for nearly everyone with Internet access, users are often frustrated with not being able to find what they need as quickly as possible. Our thesis is that if we can determine what a user is doing at the time of the search request, we can customize the results based on their context and will provide that user with more accurate answers. Our innovation is in three main areas: type of context, query enhancement, and information fusion. For context, we are investigating the use of personal calendar/PIM information to help determine what a user is currently doing, their physical location, personal preferences, personal vocabulary, and recommendations gathered from coworkers. Query enhancement is taking the user's intended query and enhancing it with relevant contextual information to create a more focused query. Lastly, information fusion is how we manipulate the results returned from the search engine again with the contextual data. Our thesis is that the marriage of these three techniques will result in a search experience that is more valuable than current tools. We examine the results produced through a case study. The results collected through this study support our hypothesis.
Cryopreservation of dog platelets with dimethyl sulfoxide: Therapeutic effectiveness of cryopreserved platelets in the treatment of thrombocytopenic dogs, and the effect of platelet storage at −80 °C☆

Dog platelets were frozen with 6% dimethyl sulfoxide at 2–3 °C per minute in a −80 °C mechanical freezer. The frozen platelets were stored at −80 °C for as long as 39 months. After storage at −80 °C for less than 1 year, platelet in vitro freeze-thaw-wash recovery values were 70%, and in vivo survival values 1 to 2 hr after transfusion were 40% those of fresh platelets. After 2 years or longer storage, in vitro freeze-thaw-wash recovery values were 60%, and in vivo survival values 1 to 2 hr after transfusion were 20% those of fresh platelets. These results indicate that significant deterioration of the dog platelets occurred between the first and second year of storage at −80 °C. Platelets that were stored frozen at −80 °C for less than 1 year and washed before transfusion into lethally irradiated thrombocytopenic dogs were hemostatically effective.
Relationship between bubble size distributions and chord-length distribution in heterogeneously bubbling systems

Abstract The probability relationships between bubble sizes and chord lengths in an heterogeneously bubbling system have been analyzed. A forward transform of chord length distribution for a given bubble size density distribution affecting the probe under a heterogeneously bubbling condition has been demonstrated. Three backward transform techniques, an analytical, a general, and a numerical, have been developed to infer bubble sizes from the chord length data in heterogeneously bubbling system. Both the analytical and the general backward transforms were based on the representation of the bubble population density function as a product of two functions which depend on bubble size and chord length. The techniques were tested and compared using Monte-Carlo simulations.
Measurements of OH, H2SO4, and MSA during Tropospheric Ozone Production About the Spring Equinox (TOPSE)

[1] Data from OH, H2SO4, and MSA measurements performed during Tropospheric Ozone Production About the Spring Equinox (TOPSE) are presented. Model simulations of OH results made at solar zenith angles of 60° or less showed a tendency of the model to overestimate OH concentrations. This overestimation was a factor of 1.7 at the lower latitudes ( 57°N) the model tended toward agreement and ultimately an underestimation of OH concentrations by a factor of 0.7. Comparisons of measurements and model showed the model underestimates OH concentrations at solar zenith angles greater than 70°. The results of the present study are discussed in the context of previous studies. Possible model discrepancies are discussed. Measurements of H2SO4 showed the highest concentrations at the lowest altitudes ( 107 molecule cm−3) were found in layers and were accompanied by other compounds such as NOx and NOy indicating MSA may also have an industrial source.
Randomized controlled trials to assess therapies for multiple sclerosis.

MS poses formidable challenges to clinical investigators. Obstacles to the study of MS therapies include disease chronicity, an unpredictable clinical course, radiologic and pathologic heterogeneity, and limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide a means to assess therapeutic efficacy while reducing the risks of study bias and confounding factors that influence interpretation of results. RCTs have demonstrated that type 1 interferons and glatiramer acetate alter the short-term natural history of MS and have served as the basis of approval for the marketing of these treatments. Improvements and optimization of trial methodology may hasten the discovery of effective therapies and facilitate better comparisons of the results of individual drug trials. The most urgent need is for improved surrogate end points for clinical outcome with predictive validity for long-term disability. Even if RCT methodology is optimal, however, several limitations inherent to MS trials threaten to impede further progress, including obstacles to long-term studies (e.g., costs), patient withdrawal, and escalating sample size requirements to detect partial therapeutic benefit. There is a crucial need to develop alternative investigative methods, possibly through enhanced collaboration across centers and with industry, and by exploring innovative techniques to use existing RCT and natural history databases to greater advantage.
World Ocean Circulation Experiment generates wealth of data

Deployment this summer of a series of U.S. profiling floats in the tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic Ocean essentially ended the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) field program, bringing to a close 8½ years of international effort. In January 1990, the German research vessel Meteor left Punta Arenas, Chile, on WOCE's first cruise. Since then, scientists from more than 20 countries have amassed a wealth of data that is now becoming available to oceanographers, meteorologists, and other climate investigators. Previous global oceanographic programs included the Geochemical Ocean Sections Study (GEOSECS) expeditions in the 1970s and research during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957–1958. WOCE, however, is the first to include extensive observations from both in situ platforms and satellites. It is also much larger than previous global studies. For example, in the final tally, WOCE will have collected about 9000 deep hydrographic stations, almost three times the number taken during IGY and a factor of about 20 higher than those taken during GEOSECS (Figure 1).
Gender practice as political practice: cancer, culture, and identity

In the early 1990s, breast cancer activists scored major political victories: they formed a powerful new interest group, attracted attention from President Clinton, and secured allies in Congress w...
Model selection and sequencing in decision support systems

A crucial problem confronting users of decision support systems (DSS) is the identification of an appropriate model or a sequence of models that may be used to solve a particular problem. This paper develops a procedure for model sequencing that permits the construction of ad koc model chains. The proposed solution procedure limits the user's interaction with the DSS to conceptualizing the problem in terms of input/output requirements and overall problem objectives. A core of meta-knowledge is constructed around the model base which effectively shields users from the technical aspects of model implementation. If a single model in the model base cannot satisfy user requirements, the solution procedure seeks to obtain a string of models such that some performance measure (model processing cost or time) is minimized. A prototype system incorporating the model selection and integration methodology is described.
Hydrolysis of organic and inorganic phosphorus compounds added to soils

The rates of hydrolysis of seven organic and two inorganic phosphorus compounds applied to soils at a rate of 500 ppm P and incubated at 20°C for various times under aerobic and waterlogged conditions were studied. Monomethyl phosphate, β-glycerophosphate, and α-D-glucose-1-phosphate were hydrolyzed at similar rates in the three soils used, but the rates were somewhat faster under aerobic than under waterlogged conditions. Organic P compounds in which two hydrogens of the orthophosphoric acid are replaced (e.g., diphenyl phosphate) were hydrolyzed at slower rates than those in which one hydrogen is replaced (e.g., phenyl phosphate). The rate of hydrolysis of diphenyl phosphate was lower than that of bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Of the two inorganic P compounds studied, ammonium tetrametaphosphimate did not hydrolyze in soil, and the rate of hydrolysis of phosphonitrilic hexaamide was very small (6–13% hydrolyzed in 7 days) compared with those of the organic phosphates (30–98%).
Cut mutant Drosophila auditory organs differentiate abnormally and degenerate.

The Drosophila antenna is a sophisticated structure that functions in both olfaction and audition. Previous studies have identified Homothorax, Extradenticle, and Distal-less, three homeodomain transcription factors, as required for specification of antennal identity. Antennal expression of cut is activated by Homothorax and Extradenticle, and repressed by Distal-less. cut encodes the Drosophila homolog of human CAAT-displacement protein, a cell cycle-regulated homeodomain transcription factor. Cut is required for normal development of external mechanosensory structures and Malphigian tubules (kidney analogs). The role of cut in the Drosophila auditory organ, Johnston's organ, has not been characterized. We have employed the FLP/FRT system to generate cut null clones in developing Johnston's organ. In cut mutants, the scolopidial subunits that constitute Johnston's organ differentiate abnormally and subsequently degenerate. Electrophysiological experiments confirm that adult Drosophila with cut null anten...
Time-averaged coarse variables for multi-scale dynamics

Given an autonomous system of Ordinary Differential Equations without an a priori split into slow and fast components, we define a strategy for producing a large class of ‘slow’ variables (constants of fast motion) in a precise sense. The equation of evolution of any such slow variable is deduced. The strategy is to rewrite our system on an infinite dimensional “history” Hilbert space X and define our coarse observation as a functional on X.
Principles of biological membrane structure: Alteration of the physical state of one side of the membrane by modulation of the physical state of the op☆

Abstract Although synthetic membrane technology has been and continues to be exploited in separation processes, there is great need for a new generation of synthetic membranes with the properties of specificity and selectivity that are common to biological membranes. One means by which these properties may possibly be conferred onto synthetic membranes is by the judicious incorporation of biological molecules. However, in order to design synthetic membranes with specific biological properties and/or function(s), greater understanding of the structure and properties of biological membranes themselves is needed. Accordingly, this report briefly summarizes some concepts of biological membrane structure that need to be appreciated by those who use synthetic membranes. Further, this report illustrates one important characteristic of biological membranes that is relevant to process control utilizing synthetic membranes: transmembrane signaling mechanisms by which modulation of the physical state of one side of a membrane leads to alterations in the physical state of the opposite side of the membrane.
Glycogen storage disease type Ia: Linkage of glucose, glycogen, lactic acid, triglyceride, and uric acid metabolism

A female presented in infancy with hypotonia, undetectable serum glucose, lactic acidosis, and triglycerides >5000 mg/dL. The diagnosis of type 1A glycogen storage disease was made via the result of a liver biopsy, which showed increased glycogen and absent glucose-6-phosphatase enzyme activity. The patient was treated with dextrose administered orally, which was replaced by frequent feedings of cornstarch, which resulted in an improvement of her metabolic parameters. At age 18 years of age, she had marked hypertriglyceridemia (3860 mg/dL) and eruptive xanthomas and was treated with fenofibrate, atorvastatin, and fish oil. At age 29 years she was noted to have multiple liver adenomas, severe anemia, and hyperuricemia. Aggressive cornstarch therapy was commenced with a goal of maintaining her blood glucose levels >75 mg/dL and lactate levels 75 mg/dL is critical in the management of this disease.
Reliability of Circulatory and Neurologic Examination by Telemedicine in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Objective To test the hypothesis that telemedicine can reliably be used for many aspects of circulatory and neurologic examinations of children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Study design A prospective, randomized study in a 14-bed PICU in a tertiary care, academic-affiliated institution. Eligible patients were >2 months or Results One hundred ten data collection forms were completed. For many aspects of the circulatory and neurologic examinations, outcomes showed substantial to perfect agreement between the in-person and telemedical care providers (kappa = 0.64-1.00). However, assessments of muscle tone had a kappa = 0.23, with a kappa = 0.37 for skin color. Conclusions Telemedicine can reliably identify normal and abnormal findings of many aspects of circulatory and neurologic examinations in PICU patients. This finding opens the door to further studies on the use of telemedicine across other disciplines.
Cadmium Alteration of Root Physiology and Potassium Ion Fluxes

Segments of oat ( Avena sativa L.) roots which had been exposed to 1 millimolar CdSO 4 in quarter-strength Hoagland No. 1 solution exhibited decreased respiratory rates, ATP levels, membrane-bound ATPase activity, and reduced K + fluxes. Respiration and ATP levels were decreased after a 2-hour treatment with 1 millimolar CdSO 4 to 65 and 75%, respectively, of control rates. A membrane-bound, Mg 2+ -dependent, K + -stimulated acid ATPase was rapidly inhibited to 12% of control activity in the presence of 1 millimolar CdSO 4 . Potassium uptake into root segments was inhibited to 80% of control values after 30 minutes in the presence of CdSO 4 . A 2-hour pretreatment of root segments with CdSO 4 inhibited K + uptake to 15% of control values. Cytoplasmic K + efflux was inhibited with 1 millimolar CdSO 4 . The rates and the degree of Cd 2+ inhibition of the parameters listed above suggest that one of the first sites of Cd 2+ action is the plasmalemma K + carrier (ATPase) in oat roots.
Continuous culture ofEscherichia coli for extracellular production of recombinant amylase

A recombinantEscherichia coli, grown in continuous culture, expressed aBacillus stearothermophilus α-amylase at 100-fold higher activities than theB. stearothermophilus itself. Excretion of the α-amylase to the supernatant was shown and found to be independent of the growth rate of the organism. Eleven to eighteen percent of the α-amylase was found in the supernatant. Dilution rates, or cell growth rates, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 hours−1 were shown not to affect the compartmentation of the amylase and β-galactosidase.
Roles of beta-arrestin1/2 in prostaglandin-mediated signaling and tumor development

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 manifest its biological activity by signalling via four G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) identified as EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4. GPCRs represent the most numerous class of receptors in the mammalian genome. Ligand binding to the GPCR results in the activation of the Gα subunit and disassociation of the Gα and Gβγsubunits. Early on the binding of β-arrestin1 or 2 to the GPCR was thought to terminate GPCR signalling by preventing further G protein interaction and to cause receptor internalization/desensitization. However, recent studies have indicated that the GPCR/β-arrestin1 or 2 interactions can actually provide a mechanism for GPCR-mediated signalling. In the research to be presented, the signalling pathways activated by butaprost, an EP2 agonist, and EP2’s contributions to keratinocyte replication and skin tumor development are described. Butaprost stimulation of EP2 led to the activation of PKA and down stream effectors. In addition, butaprost stimulation of EP2 led to EP2-β-arrestin1 complex formation with subsequent Src activation and transactivation of EGFR and down stream effectors. The necessity for β-arrestin1 in the activation of Src/EGFR was indicated by the significantly decreased activation of Src/EGFR and down stream effectors in β-arrestin1-/- mouse skin. In addition, selective inhibition of PKA, EGFR or the use of β-arrestin1-/- mice significantly reduced mouse skin tumor formation. Thus, the data indicate that the PGE2 receptor, EP2, plays an important role in skin tumor formation; and that both G protein dependent and β-arrestin1 dependent signalling pathways are involved.
The role of endothelin converting enzyme inhibition during group B streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn piglets.

An endothelin-converting enzyme mediates the conversion from low-potency pro-endothelin to potent endothelin-1 (ET-1). Increased ET-1 levels have been observed in pulmonary hypertension of various etiologies in infants. We hypothesized that increased ET-1 levels induce pulmonary hypertension during group B Streptococcus (GBS) infusion, and this can be attenuated by the administration of an endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ECEI). Twenty-two unanesthetized, chronically instrumented newborn piglets received a continuous infusion of GBS (3.5 x 10(8) colony-forming units/kg/min) while exposed to 100% O2. They were randomly assigned to receive a placebo (PL) or an ECEI (phosphoramidon, 30 mg/kg i.v.) 15 min after sustained pulmonary hypertension. Comparison of hemodynamic measurements and arterial blood gases at baseline and over the first 210 min from the onset of pulmonary hypertension was performed between groups. GBS infusion caused significant increases in mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and PVR/SVR, and significant decreases in cardiac output, pH, and base excess. After the administration of ECEI, a significant reduction in pulmonary artery pressure (p < 0.0001), PVR (p < 0.001), and PVR/SVR (p < 0.01) and an improvement in cardiac output (p < 0.01) were observed during GBS infusion. The decrease in pH (p < 0.001) and base excess (p < 0.001) during GBS infusion was less marked after the administration of ECEI compared with the PL. Plasma ET-1 levels were obtained in 20 additional piglets; levels were significantly lower in the ECEI compared with PL after 3 h of GBS infusion (p < 0.02). All animals in the ECEI group survived the study period as opposed to 25% survival in the PL group (p < 0.001). These data suggest that the increased circulating ET-1 levels mediate, in part, the GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension.
Ozone deposition to a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) field: stomatal and surface wetness effects during the California Ozone Deposition Experiment

Removal of tropospheric ozone from polluted airbasins by deposition to vegetation may be an important determinant of regional air quality. The physiological and physical processes that determine the magnitude of deposition, and the relative contributions of uptake by photosynthetic tissues versus ozone destruction on plant and soil surfaces, are not well understood. The California Ozone Deposition Experiment (CODE) demonstrated substantial deposition of ozone to several vegetated surfaces in the San Joaquin Valley. Using data collected during CODE, we examine the roles of stomatal conductance and leaf wetness from dew in mediating ozone deposition to an extensive field of irrigated cotton. Stomatal conductance, photon flux density, leaf area index (L), leaf wetness, ozone deposition, and canopy photon extinction coefficient (K) were measured. Single leaf measurements were scaled to canopy values of stomatal conductance to ozone (gc). Deposition velocity (Vd) and surface conductance (gsurf) were strongly positively correlated with gc. Under dry canopy conditions gc < < gsurf indicating a significant residual conductance of a non-stomataL pathway for ozone deposition (gr), possibly reflecting reaction of O3 with nitric oxide emitted from fertilized soil. Dewfall reduced ozone deposition and eliminated gr. However, gr may actually have been increased by dew in amphistomatous cotton, as it was in hypostomatous grape during CODE. If so, canopy wetness reduced the stomatal pathway (gc) by occlusion of adaxial pores sufficiently to offset both the nitric oxide titration and the true wetness enhancement of gr. We conclude that ozone deposition to cotton is largely controlled by stomatal responses. Stomatal responses may readily be modelled, potentially providing sufficient information to infer ozone deposition. In contrast to the case for hypostomatous grape, ozone uptake (particularly by the stomatal pathway) is reduced by leaf surface wetness in amphistomatous cotton. Alternative models of single leaf stomatal conductance and expected errors of ± 20% in model parameters did not affect these conclusions.
Modeling of chemical vapor deposition of large-area silicon carbide thin film

A two-dimensional mathematical model of transport processes for the deposition of large-area silicon carbide thin film in a cylindrical vertical cold wall reactor is developed by considering transp...
Absolute response calibration of a transfer standard cryogenic bolometer

A cryogenic bolometer has been developed for use as a transfer standard in an ambient temperature infrared detector response comparator facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Issues affecting calibration of the bolometer response were studied and a calibration procedure was developed. These issues included frequency dependence, stability, repeatability, and spectral flatness. The relative spectral response was determined from the reflectance of the bolometer absorber and the transmittance of the bolometer window. The bolometer calibration has been tied to the NIST primary standard high accuracy cryogenic radiometer using a silicon trap detector and a pyroelectric detector.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Medical students with low self-efficacy bolstered by calling to medical speciality

This study was performed to understand the degree to which medical students’ self-efficacy (SE) moderates the influence of calling on students’ speciality commitment, emphasizing the need to understand variables that predict primary care specialization. The researchers hypothesized that students who perceived their career as a calling would be more committed to their speciality, especially when students had high SE. Medical students (Years 1–4; N = 152) completed an online survey to rate their calling, speciality commitment, and SE. Calling was measured by the Brief Calling scale (Dik et al., J Career Assess 20:242–263, 2012), while speciality choice was measured by Hollenbeck et al. (J Appl Psychol 74:18–23, 1989) measure of commitment. SE was measured by the Jerusalem and Schwarzer's general SE scale (see Scholz et al., Eur J Psychol Assess 18:242–51, 2002). Calling (r = 0.24, p < 0.01) and SE (r = 0.20, p < 0.05) were found to moderately correlate with speciality commitment, thus emphasizing the possibility that they may have an interaction. The interaction of calling and SE significantly predicted speciality commitment (β = −0.20, t(148) = −2.55, p < 0.05) and explained a significant proportion of variance in speciality commitment (R2 = 0.12, F(3, 148) = 6.875, p < 0.001). Students with a high presence of calling may have high speciality commitment, despite low SE.
5-HT2C receptor RNA editing in the amygdala of C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and BALB/cJ mice

Abstract Post-transcriptional RNA editing of the G-protein coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine-2C (5-HT 2C ) receptor predicts an array of 24 receptor isoforms, some of which are characterized by reduced constitutive activity and potency to initiate intracellular signaling. The amygdala is integral to anxiety, fear, and related psychiatric diseases. Activation of 5-HT 2C receptors within the amygdala is anxiogenic. Here, we describe the RNA editing profiles from amygdala of two inbred mouse strains (BALB/cJ and DBA/2J) known to be more anxious than a third (C57BL/6J). We confirmed the strain anxiety differences using light ↔ dark exploration, and we discovered that BALB/cJ and DBA/2J are each characterized by a higher functioning RNA editing profile than C57BL/6J. BALB/cJ and DBA/2J exhibit a roughly two-fold reduction in C site editing, and a corresponding two-fold reduction in the edited isoform VSV. C57BL/6J is characterized by a relative decrease in the unedited highly functional isoform INI. We estimated the heritability of editing at the C site to be approximately 40%. By sequencing genomic DNA, we found complete conservation between C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, DBA/2J and 37 other inbred strains for the RNA edited region of Htr 2 c , suggesting Htr 2 c DNA sequence does not influence variation in Htr 2 c RNA editing between inbred strains of mice. We did, however, discover that serotonin turnover is reduced in BALB/cJ and DBA/2J, consistent with emerging evidence that synaptic serotonin levels regulate RNA editing. These results encourage further study of the causes and consequences of 5-HT 2C receptor RNA editing in the amygdala of mice.
Pityriasis rubra pilaris--an autoradiographic study.

SUMMARY A flash labelling index (FLI) was determined in involved skin and in an ‘uninvolved’ island in five patients with acute adult-onset pityriasis rubra pilaris. Involved skin had a high FLI (9.65±1.3). The islands gave a FLI of 5.56±1.5. This was 70% greater than the normal controls (3.85±0.8) and the islands therefore cannot be regarded as normal skin. These values are less than those found in psoriasis.
The Educational and Economic Value of Online Learning for Museums.

AbstractGiven the increasingly interactive, dynamic, and cost-effective online learning platforms that are available, as well as studies that demonstrate the efficacy of online and blended learning, museums should consider how these new formats may complement their existing educational programs. Besides offering new possibilities for education, online learning also offers new streams of revenue and may reduce direct costs of in-person programs. Museums should consider both the educational and economic value of online learning, and how these 21st century approaches may help support their goals and mission.
Activity of Initiation Factor F3 in Dissociating Escherichia coli Ribosomes

Pure initiation factor F3 dissociates 70S ribosomes into 30S and 50S subunits in a way which suggests that in vivo interaction with runoff ribosomes is responsible for their dissociation into subunits.
The Development of Progress Plans Using a Performance-Based Expert Judgment Model to Assess Technical Performance and Risk

Systems engineers are routinely tasked with facilitating the delicate balance between cost, schedule, and technical performance in acquisition programs that are continuously subjected to various outside influences. While there are several quantitative methods to estimate acquisition program cost and schedule performance as well as identify their risks e.g., Earned Value Management, the estimation of technical performance and technical risk is generally heuristic in nature. In order to monitor the progress of the technical aspects of an acquisition program, the systems engineering discipline utilizes the process of tracking Technical Measures to gain insight into the design and development, to assess risks and issues, and to evaluate the likelihood of realizing objectives. However, with the diversity of so many technical programs, the estimation and risk analysis of technical performance in technology acquisition programs rely on the opinions of experts because the identification and application of relevant quantitative data for constructive modeling is not practical. The Expert-weighted Technical Risk Index methodology proposed in this article introduces a well-established method for mathematically combining expert judgment into the realm of systems engineering to develop predictive progress plans for technical performance estimation and risk analysis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 17
Contemporary Economics and Policy Issues in the U.S.

This paper outlines a variety of contemporary policy issues facing the U.S. economy. These issues include impediments to sustained economic growth and reduced unemployment, such as tax uncertainty and ill-conceived federal income tax policies. In addition, it provides an overview of four studies that deal with such topics as budget deficits and reduced economic freedoms, the implications of raising property taxes as a source of funds for revenue-starved local governments, the regional impacts of the world-wide recession for a specific locality in the U.S., namely, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the relationship between yield curve inversion and the incidence of recession.
Prediction of Fatigue Performance in Aluminum Shape Castings Containing Defects

Fatigue properties of cast aluminum components are controlled by maximum defect size in the material. The larger the maximum defect size, the lower the fatigue strength and life. In the presence of casting defects, crack initiation can be ignored and fatigue life is mainly spent in crack propagation. Therefore, fatigue life of aluminum castings can be predicted by long or short crack growth models. The main problem is defining a starting defect size from readily available data, such as twodimensional (2-D) pore size measurements on metallographic sections. In this article, an extremevalue statistics (EVS) method was used to estimate the maximum defect size in 319 castings from conventional metallographic data. The maximum defect size predicted by EVS agrees quite well with the initiation defect sizes measured from fracture surfaces, and the predicted fatigue life is in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.
Eco-Apps: Design to Influence Environmentally Friendly Behavior

The search for mechanisms to encourage pro-environmental behavior has ranged from marketing to community events. This study continues the search by exploring how the language and features programmed into mobile social networking applications influence users to experience nature and share those experiences. To guide data analysis, the study uses the social influence network theory and adapts components of influence from the field of online social networking. One hundred posts, spanning almost two years, were analyzed from the Sierra Club's mobile Facebook page, Foursquare's Outdoors Raleigh search, and #Litterati's Instagram feed. Results point to the language and features that can help mobile application developers, government agencies, and environmental advocates to better design mobile apps for pro-environmental behavior. The author concludes with a call for more novel data uploading options outside of text, such as uploading video, creating music to represent nature experiences, or use of external sensors with mobile devices.
Mapping of surface UV over Antarctica using satellite observations

Two methods have been investigated to map UV surface irradiance over Antarctica and the adjacent oceans using satellite remote sensing and ground truth radiometer measurements. Both methods are based on radiance observations from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). Surface albedo and cloud optical depth are estimated from visible and infrared AVHRR data, and ozone concentration is derived from TOMS data. Radiative transfer models are applied to retrieve geophysical parameters from satellite data but also to compute the surface UV irradiance. The two methods differ in: (1) the derivation of cloud optical depth, and (2) the type of radiative transfer model used. Preliminary results from both methods are presented and compared with ground measurements made at Palmer Station, Antarctica.
Functional properties of multiple synaptotagmins in brain.

Summary At least four forms of synaptotagmin are expressed in neurons. Of these, synaptotagmin I has an essential function in mediating Ca 2+ -triggered neurotransmitter release at hippocampal synapses, but the functional implications of multiple synaptotagmins are unknown. Synaptotagmins I-III exhibit a strikingly differential distribution between synapses, with most neurons coexpressing either synaptotagmins I or II with III. Synaptotagmin IV is present uniformly throughout the brain at low levels. Synaptotagmins III and IV are both coexpressed with synaptotagmin I in hippocampal synapses, suggesting that these synaptotagmins are not functionally redundant. The first C 2 domains of synaptotagmins I-III exhibit similar Ca 2+ affinities in phospholipid-binding assays, whereas that of synaptotagmin IV is unable to bind Ca 2+ . All synaptotagmins tested bind the clathrin-adaptor protein AP-2 with high affinity. Our results suggest that different synaptotagmins serve distinct but overlapping functions in neuronal membrane traffic, with synaptotagmins I and II representing alternative Ca 2+ sensors in exocytosis and all synaptotagmins functioning as AP-2 receptors in endocytosis.
Enhanced Homing Permeability and Retention of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells by Noninvasive Pulsed Focused Ultrasound

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) have shown significant promise in the treatment of disease, but their therapeutic efficacy is often limited by inefficient homing of systemically-administered cells, which results in low numbers of cells accumulating at sites of pathology. BMSC home to areas of inflammation where local expression of integrins and chemokine gradients are present. We demonstrated that non-destructive pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) exposures that emphasize the mechanical effects of ultrasound-tissue interactions induced local and transient elevations of chemoattractants (i.e., cytokines, integrins, and growth factors) in the murine kidney. pFUS-induced upregulation of cytokines occurred through approximately 1 day post-treatment and returned to contralateral kidney levels by day 3. This window of significant increases in cytokine expression was accompanied by local increases of other trophic factors and integrins that have been shown to promote BMSC homing. When BMSC were administered intravenously following pFUS treatment to a single kidney, enhanced homing, permeability, and retention of BMSC was observed in the treated kidney versus the contralateral kidney. Histological analysis revealed up to 8 times more BMSC in the peritubular regions of the treated kidneys on days 1 and 3 post-treatment. Furthermore, cytokine levels in pFUS-treated kidneys following BMSC administration were found to be similar to controls, suggesting modulation of cytokine levels by BMSC. pFUS could potentially improve cell-based therapies as a noninvasive modality to target BMSC homing by establishing local chemoattractant gradients and increasing expression of integrins to enhance tropism of BMSC toward treated tissues.
A Conductometric Indium Oxide Semiconducting Nanoparticle Enzymatic Biosensor Array

We report a conductometric nanoparticle biosensor array to address the significant variation of electrical property in nanomaterial biosensors due to the random network nature of nanoparticle thin-film. Indium oxide and silica nanoparticles (SNP) are assembled selectively on the multi-site channel area of the resistors using layer-by-layer self-assembly. To demonstrate enzymatic biosensing capability, glucose oxidase is immobilized on the SNP layer for glucose detection. The packaged sensor chip onto a ceramic pin grid array is tested using syringe pump driven feed and multi-channel I–V measurement system. It is successfully demonstrated that glucose is detected in many different sensing sites within a chip, leading to concentration dependent currents. The sensitivity has been found to be dependent on the channel length of the resistor, 4–12 nA/mM for channel lengths of 5–20 μm, while the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant is 20 mM. By using sensor array, analytical data could be obtained with a single step of sample solution feeding. This work sheds light on the applicability of the developed nanoparticle microsensor array to multi-analyte sensors, novel bioassay platforms, and sensing components in a lab-on-a-chip.
Induced covalent bond theory of chemisorption

Abstract The theory of the induced covalent bond mechanism for free radical chemisorption on a metal surface is developed as a hybrid between the molecular orbital for the substrate and the Heitler-London scheme for the adsorbate. Both weak and strong chemisorption are treated as limiting cases. The theory is applied to a simple model of hydrogen chemisorption on the (100) surface of a simple cubic s-band solid. Binding curves are obtained for symmetric binding sites for several ratios of adsorbate and substrate atomic size.
Structure of the barotropic mode in layered ocean models

Abstract We present a near-exact analytic solution of the vertical modes in a hydrostatic ocean model in Lagrangian coordinates that is particularly well suited to studying the structure of vertical modes in layered models. In particular, we do not make the common approximation of incompressibility that is usually invoked in vertical mode analysis. This allows us to perform a study of the vertical mode errors in this approximation as well as in the common Boussinesq approximation. We find that the barotropic mode is not very sensitive to model assumptions and is vertically uniform to within about 0.03% for the case of the Levitus (1994) global mean data. The baroclinic modes, on the other hand, deviate substantially from the exact case for the incompressible case, but not for Boussinesq approximation. Most ocean models rely on an approximate mode splitting to separate the barotropic from the baroclinic modes. We find that the approximation of the velocity barotropic mode by a mass-weighted vertical average, as is usually done in layer models, is extremely good and considerably better than the corresponding approximation by the depth-average in z -coordinate Boussinesq models. Layer models have the additional task of approximating the barotropic layer thickness distribution. We find that the usual assumption that layer thickness varies in proportion to the nominal layer thickness distribution is viable but not as good as might be desired because the proportionality “constant” varies with depth by about 2%.
A clipped latent variable model for spatially correlated ordered categorical data

We propose a model for a point-referenced spatially correlated ordered categorical response and methodology for inference. Models and methods for spatially correlated continuous response data are widespread, but models for spatially correlated categorical data, and especially ordered multi-category data, are less developed. Bayesian models and methodology have been proposed for the analysis of independent and clustered ordered categorical data, and also for binary and count point-referenced spatial data. We combine and extend these methods to describe a Bayesian model for point-referenced (as opposed to lattice) spatially correlated ordered categorical data. We include simulation results and show that our model offers superior predictive performance as compared to a non-spatial cumulative probit model and a more standard Bayesian generalized linear spatial model. We demonstrate the usefulness of our model in a real-world example to predict ordered categories describing stream health within the state of Maryland.
PREPARATION OF A LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT COMPONENT WITH LACTOGENIC ACTIVITY FROM A LIMITED CHYMOTRYPTIC DIGEST OF OVINE PROLACTIN.

THE limited digestion of ovine pituitary lactogenic hormone by chymotrypsin has recently been investigated in this laboratory1,2. It was found that preparations of prolactin showed lactogenic activity even after 50 per cent digestion with the enzyme. Ultracentrifugation investigations revealed that the prolactin core contained a component3 which had a sedimentation coefficient close to that of the non-treated hormone. The digest also contained another protein fraction which sedim nted more slowly than the bulk of the material3. This communication is concerned with the purification and properties of this latter low-molecular-weight component.
Stress-dependent dispersion of corneal birefringence: A proposed optical technique for intraocular pressure measurement

Abstract The measurement of intraocular-pressure by a purely optical technique is not yet feasible. If such a method is developed, it most likely will make use of the stress-dependence of the birefringence of the corneal lamellae. Classical photoelastic techniques have been inadequate because of the structure of the corneal tissue and the manner of loading. A new approach, which lacks the shortcomings of the classical method, relies on the existence of stress-dependent dispersion of birefringence. The new technique is shown to be valid in theory, and an experimental investigation is proposed.