cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emotional Understanding: Examining Alexithymia as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Empathy

The positive mental health correlates of mindfulness have become increasingly well-established. Recent literature has documented an association between the present-moment awareness and attention that is characteristic of mindfulness, and the capacity to adopt the emotions, cognitions, and perspectives of another individual, as displayed in empathy. The mechanisms underlying this relationship, however, are still poorly understood. This study aimed to examine alexithymia—or the difficulty identifying, labeling, understanding, and processing one’s own emotions—as a mediator of the relationship between five facets of dispositional mindfulness (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreacting) and empathy in a sample of 616 undergraduate college students. Results revealed that alexithymia mediated the relationships between the describing and acting with awareness domains of mindfulness and cognitive empathy, while accounting for the effects of the other mindfulness subscales and participant sex. These findings suggest that the relationship between specific mindfulness skills and greater understanding of another individual’s emotional and cognitive experiences may be explained in part by one’s emotional self-awareness.
Marking a Transition

ABSTRACTThis issue of Journal of Library Administration marks a transition of editorship for “Global Perspectives.” This column will provide a retrospective of past contributions under the founding Editor, Jim Agee. It will look briefly at the landscape of libraries and library organizations worldwide from a variety of sources, and conclude with a call for future submissions, with updated and expanded parameters.
GRIK1 and GABRA2 Variants Have Distinct Effects on the Dose‐Related Subjective Response to Intravenous Alcohol in Healthy Social Drinkers

Background The heritable risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is expressed partly through alterations in subjective alcohol response. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2 AUD-risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, GABRA2 rs279858 and GRIK1 rs2832407, on the subjective response to alcohol administered intravenously to healthy social drinkers in a laboratory setting. Methods In total, 93 self-identified European American social drinkers underwent 3 blinded laboratory sessions in which they received intravenous infusions of ethanol at 3 target blood alcohol levels (0.00 mg%, 40 mg%, and 100 mg%) using a “clamp” procedure. The self-reported Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) stimulation and sedation subscales were the primary outcome measures. We examined the effects of these 2 genetic variants on subjective response to alcohol. Results For the BAES stimulation subscale scores, adjusting for age, baseline scores, and time effects, individuals with 2 copies of the GABRA2 rs279858 C “risk” allele for AUD exhibited the greatest stimulant responses to high-dose alcohol compared to the other risk allele counts (dose-by-allele count interaction effect, p = 0.001, post hoc contrast for C-allele, p = 0.012). For the BAES sedation subscale scores, adjusting for the same covariates, we detected a dose-by-allele count interaction effect (p = 0.0044) such that subjects with 2 copies of the GRIK1 C “risk” allele reported the greatest sedative response to the higher alcohol dose. Conclusions This study suggests that gene variants contributing to the risk for AUD may alter features of the alcohol dose–response relationship in specific ways. GABRA2 rs279858*C enhances stimulant responses to higher levels of alcohol, while the GRIK1 rs2832407*C-allele increases sedative responses. In summary, GRIK1 and GABRA2 variants have distinct effects on the dose-related subjective response to intravenous alcohol in humans.
Ḥamīd al-Dīn Kirmānī on the Human Soul and Knowledge

After reviewing the historical, intellectual, and ideological fabric of the age of the Fatimid imam/caliph al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh, the chapter explains the highlights of Kirmānī’s cosmology against both the Greek and Islamic backgrounds. In discussing Kirmānī’s theory of the soul, the chapter highlights his use of an evolutionary narrative of the soul. For Kirmānī the rational soul is the perfection of the lower stages of one and the same spiritual substance. The analysis of Kirmānī’s theory of the soul and knowledge formation shows that while it is strongly influenced by Aristotelian and Neoplatonic discourses, his adoption of Neoplatonic narratives in his cognitive psychology is best understood in light of the Shīʿī discourse of the epistemic authority of the imam and the ranks below him within the Fatimid institution.
Spinning String Theory from a Modern Perspective

The spinning string theory can be regarded as a locally supersymmetric theory in a superspace with ten Bose and sixteen Fermi dimensions. By making six of the Bose dimensions compact in a space of suitable topology, a four-dimensional theory with N=4 extended supersymmetry is obtained. The possibility that such a scheme could provide a unified description of all interactions is discussed.
Cell-Free Systems for Analysis of Cytoplasmic mRNA Turnover

The level of mRNA available for protein synthesis is dependent not only on the rates of transcription, processing, and transport, but also on the rates of mRNA turnover. Cytoplasmic mRNA turnover is an important component of gene expression in many different organisms (reviewed in Peltz et al. 1991; Sachs 1993; Beelman and Parker 1995) with abnormal changes in cytoplasmic mRNA turnover potentially leading to developmental defects or various diseases (Carter and Malter 1991; Schiavi et al. 1992). Thus it is important to understand how mRNA decay is regulated and to identify the cis and trans elements of this regulation. One method for studying cytoplasmic mRNA turnover is the use of cell-free decay systems. The study of mRNA turnover using cell-free systems can be extremely useful for determining mechanisms of mRNA decay, thereby elucidating properties of the factors comprising the decay machinery. Here we present a brief introduction to cell-free mRNA decay, then present an overview of specific uses of cell-free decay systems and recent advances in the study of mRNA turnover for a number of different organisms.
Applications of Neutron Scattering to Interstitial Alloys

There is an extensive literature on the effect of hydrogen (and deuterium) in metals as well as a variety of studies of the effects of other interstitial species. It is not possible to comprehensively review this literature, but references to some of the review papers will be given. In addition, examples will be derived from many sources, in order to give a flavor for the type of problem successfully investigated with neutrons. These will cover the full range of techniques discussed in a previous chapter. It will be clear that the versatility of the neutron probe has led to a broad range of investigation, which has had a profound impact on our understanding of these technologically important systems. These examples may suggest experiments to help clarify outstanding questions.
Three Essays in Taxation.

This paper analyzes the effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on non-labor income, particularly investment income. Policy-makers have devoted substantial time and resources toward increasing the saving rate of low-income households with programs like the Saver’s Credit and Individual Development Accounts. Yet the EITC—the largest federal cash transfer program in the U.S.—provides a substantial disincentive for individuals to save and realize investment income because EITC benefits decline as investment income rises over certain income ranges. I find a significant response of investment income to these disincentives both when I semi-parametrically estimate the change in investment income in the region in which non-labor income begins being taxed, and also when I estimate the parameter parametrically using differences in tax rate changes between taxpayers with differing numbers of dependents for identification. A one percent increase in the after-tax return to saving causes a 3.05 percent increase in investment income. Nearly 40 percent of the decline over the last two decades in the fraction of EITC recipients with savings in income-bearing accounts can be explained by changing EITC incentives.
Krylov implicit integration factor discontinuous Galerkin methods on sparse grids for high dimensional reaction-diffusion equations

Abstract Computational costs of numerically solving multidimensional partial differential equations (PDEs) increase significantly when the spatial dimensions of the PDEs are high, due to large number of spatial grid points. For multidimensional reaction-diffusion equations, stiffness of the system provides additional challenges for achieving efficient numerical simulations. In this paper, we propose a class of Krylov implicit integration factor (IIF) discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods on sparse grids to solve reaction-diffusion equations on high spatial dimensions. The key ingredient of spatial DG discretization is the multiwavelet bases on nested sparse grids, which can significantly reduce the numbers of degrees of freedom. To deal with the stiffness of the DG spatial operator in discretizing reaction-diffusion equations, we apply the efficient IIF time discretization methods, which are a class of exponential integrators. Krylov subspace approximations are used to evaluate the large size matrix exponentials resulting from IIF schemes for solving PDEs on high spatial dimensions. Stability and error analysis for the semi-discrete scheme are performed. Numerical examples of both scalar equations and systems in two and three spatial dimensions are provided to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the methods. The stiffness of the reaction-diffusion equations is resolved well and large time step size computations are obtained.
Hand-held multi-wavelength spatial frequency domain imaging for breast cancer imaging

During neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, little information is available on the response or non-response of the tumor to the treatment. Pathologic complete response is correlated with survival, but patients and clinicians both must wait until after the patient undergoes surgery and the resected tissue is analyzed in order to assign pathologic response. Because structural imaging modalities and clinical palpation are poor predictors of pathologic response, there is need for an inexpensive imaging method which is sensitive to the changing physiology of the tumor. Such a method should be noninvasive, to permit frequent monitoring during therapy. Near-infrared optical imaging has already shown promise for monitoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with measurement of hemodynamics providing additional information over baseline chromophore concentrations. These contrasts rely on the highly vascularized nature of most breast tumors, as well as the abnormal vasculature, which can produce a different response to perturbations than healthy tissue. Here we describe the development of a new held-held spatial-frequency domain imaging (SFDI) device, to be used for measuring the response of breast tissue to local compression. Device design is described, as well as validation on optical phantoms, and in vivo. Compression studies were performed in soft optical phantoms containing stiff, tumor-mimicking inclusions, which indicate the potential for compression to be used to bring stiff lesions within a depth which can be measured with SFDI. Additionally, the hemodynamic response of pressure cuff venous occlusion is described, measured on the forearm, and this response is contrasted with the hemodynamic response to local tissue compression.
Organic quantum chemistry—XIV

Abstract The structure and UV spectrum of cyclobutadiene have been studied theoretically by a modification of the Pariser-Parr method, which explicitly includes the effect of the sigma system in determining molecular geometry. It was concluded that the ground state is probably a triplet with the geometry of a regular square. The UV spectrum for the actual triplet molecule is predicted to show a strong absorption band at about 363 mμ, and the compound should be colored, probably yellow. The lowest singlet state has a rectangular geometry, and it is predicted to show no allowed transitions above 200 mμ, but because of forbidden transitions at 439 and 487 mμ, should appear red in color.
The Effectiveness of Professional Development in Overcoming Obstacles to Effective Online Instruction in a College of Education

The growth of online learning has placed a strain on K-12 schools and universities to provide students with qualified instructors. It is especially important that colleges of education provide their pre- and in-service teachers with skilled online instructors so they can experience quality online instruction first-hand as students. This case study examined the effectiveness of a 6- to 7-week professional development course designed to improve faculty members’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions required to teach online effectively in a college of education. Faculty participants were also given the opportunity to earn up to seven digital badges for demonstrating specific skills during the course. Analysis of 18 faculty interviews, surveys, and discussion board comments found that course content and assignments improved faculty members’ knowledge and skills, but the ways the course was delivered and the online teaching methods modeled by the course instructor appeared to have a larger impact on perceptions and attitudes towards online learning. As a result, online teaching professional development may have its greatest impact when it models the types of online courses the college would like faculty to actually design and facilitate. Faculty also appeared to be more motivated to earn digital badges than they had originally anticipated but were confused what to do with the badges once they were earned.
Protecting the Public Interest in Leveraged Buyouts

This article examines the growth of tender offers and leveraged buyouts in the 1970s and 1980s and argues there should be some review before they may be effective to determine if they serve the public interest.
Vectors and matrices

A matrix is a rectangular array of numbers arranged in rows and columns. As we shall see, a matrix is a convenient device for organizing data that would otherwise require several pages. In addition, many mathematical problems can be expressed much more concisely and solved much more easily using matrix notation and matrix operations. For example, a system of 10 linear equations with 10 unknowns can be expressed as a simple matrix equation A·X=B, and solved by a matrix equation X=A−1·B. For reasons such as these, matrix algebra has become a required topic for students of business administration and many branches of science and engineering. In this chapter, we will concern ourselves with some of the basic theory of matrix algebra and explore the use of APL in working with vectors and matrices. In the next two chapters, we will consider some applications of matrices. As we shall see, APL is very well suited for handling arrays such as vectors and matrices.
Optimization of Information Gain in Multifidelity High-Speed Pressure Predictions

The objective of multifidelity modeling is to achieve both accurate and efficient predictions by combining high- and low-fidelity models. A flexible approach considering additive, multiplicative, a...
On Implicit Regularization in $β$-VAEs

While the impact of variational inference (VI) on posterior inference in a fixed generative model is well-characterized, its role in regularizing a learned generative model when used in variational autoencoders (VAEs) is poorly understood. We study the regularizing effects of variational distributions on learning in generative models from two perspectives. First, we analyze the role that the choice of variational family plays in imparting uniqueness to the learned model by restricting the set of optimal generative models. Second, we study the regularization effect of the variational family on the local geometry of the decoding model. This analysis uncovers the regularizer implicit in the $\beta$-VAE objective, and leads to an approximation consisting of a deterministic autoencoding objective plus analytic regularizers that depend on the Hessian or Jacobian of the decoding model, unifying VAEs with recent heuristics proposed for training regularized autoencoders. We empirically verify these findings, observing that the proposed deterministic objective exhibits similar behavior to the $\beta$-VAE in terms of objective value and sample quality.
Resource-Seeking Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions and Growth: Industry-level Analysis

While the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth at the aggregate level is ambiguous, recent studies at the sector level suggest that this could be due to aggregation. And yet...
Arguing over texts: the rhetoric of interpretation: Arguing Over Texts: The Rhetoric of Interpretation. By Martin Camper. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. xiii + 187. $78.00 (Paperback), ISBN: 9780190677121

While many in the fields of rhetoric and communication studies are familiar with Greco-Roman argumentative system known as stasis theory, which divides issues by sets of common disputes, such as wh...
Thermochemical Analyses of Interface Reactions in Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Glass Matrix Composites

A thermochemical analysis of localized equilibria was used to model the interface reactions which may occur during the processing of carbon-fiber reinforced glass matrix composites. The influence of glass composition upon the course of the reactions and the interface reaction products was of primary interest. In the case of simple sodium-borosilicate glass, the calculations show that initial contact between the glass and carbon fibers leads to the generation of CO-gas and SiC at the interface. This reaction is limited by mass transport of CO and SiO gaseous reaction products away from the interface. The oxygen activity at the interface must be reduced to 10–20% of its initial value before the formation of B4C and Na(metal) can occur. The effects of adding fractional concentrations of aluminum oxide, molybdenum oxide and niobium oxide to the base sodium-borosilicate glass were also evaluated. The reduction of MoO3 to MoC is favored over the formation of SiC — even in the initial stages of the reaction when the interfacial oxygen activity is high. In the case of Nb2O5, the formation of NbC is also favored over the reduction of SiO2 to SiC, but is limited to some extent by the equilibrium pressure of CO-gas. In contrast, the formation of interfacial A14C3 is not predicted even when all of the SiO2, B2O3 Na2O have been reduced. These data are being used to design new matrix compositions where interface reactions and/or chemical bonding at the interface can be tailored to enhance strength retention in glass matrix composites.
Glioma-induced peritumoral hyperexcitability in a pediatric glioma model

Epileptic seizures are among the most common presenting symptom in patients with glioma. The etiology of glioma-related seizures is complex and not completely understood. Studies using adult glioma patient tissue and adult glioma mouse models, show that neurons adjacent to the tumor mass, peritumoral neurons, are hyperexcitable and contribute to seizures. Although it is established that there are phenotypic and genotypic distinctions in gliomas from adult and pediatric patients, it is unknown whether these established differences in pediatric glioma biology and the microenvironment in which these glioma cells harbor, the developing brain, differentially impacts surrounding neurons. In the present study, we examine the effect of patient-derived pediatric glioma cells on the function of peritumoral neurons using two pediatric glioma models. Pediatric glioma cells were intracranially injected into the cerebrum of postnatal days 2 and 3 (p2/3) mouse pups for 7 days. Electrophysiological recordings showed that cortical layer 2/3 peritumoral neurons exhibited significant differences in their intrinsic properties compared to those of sham control neurons. Peritumoral neurons fired significantly more action potentials in response to smaller current injection and exhibited a depolarization block in response to higher current injection. The threshold for eliciting an action potential and pharmacologically induced epileptiform activity was lower in peritumoral neurons compared to sham. Our findings suggest that pediatric glioma cells increase excitability in the developing peritumoral neurons by exhibiting early onset of depolarization block, which was not previously observed in adult glioma peritumoral neurons.
Efficient excimer-based white OLEDs with reduced efficiency roll-off

A tetradentate Pt(II) complex, Pt2O2-p2m, which exhibits both efficient monomer and excimer emission, was synthesized. Through rational device design to broaden the recombination zone, an OLED device employing Pt2O2-p2m demonstrated an impressively high peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.5% and a warm white emission with a color rendering index of 71 and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage coordinates of (0.409, 0.458). Moreover, a reduced efficiency roll-off was also observed to retain high EQE values of 20% EQE at 1000 cd/m2 and 17% EQE at 5000 cd/m2, and an LT70 (time to 70% initial luminance) was estimated to be over 150 h at 1000 cd/m2 under constant operation at accelerated driving conditions.
Ion Diffusion in Chemically Amplified Resists

The acid-catalyzed deprotection of glassy polymer resins is an important process in semiconductor lithography. Studies have shown that the reaction kinetics in these materials is controlled by slow...
Molecular Dynamics Free Energy Simulations Reveal the Mechanism for the Antiviral Resistance of the M66I HIV-1 Capsid Mutation.

While drug resistance mutations can often be attributed to the loss of direct or solvent-mediated protein−ligand interactions in the drug-mutant complex, in this study we show that a resistance mutation for the picomolar HIV-1 capsid (CA)-targeting antiviral (GS-6207) is mainly due to the free energy cost of the drug-induced protein side chain reorganization in the mutant protein. Among several mutations, M66I causes the most suppression of the GS-6207 antiviral activity (up to ~84,000-fold), and only 83- and 68-fold reductions for PF74 and ZW-1261, respectively. To understand the molecular basis of this drug resistance, we conducted molecular dynamics free energy simulations to study the structures, energetics, and conformational free energy landscapes involved in the inhibitors binding at the interface of two CA monomers. To minimize the protein−ligand steric clash, the I66 side chain in the M66I−GS-6207 complex switches to a higher free energy conformation from the one adopted in the apo M66I. In contrast, the binding of GS-6207 to the wild-type CA does not lead to any significant M66 conformational change. Based on an analysis that decomposes the absolute binding free energy into contributions from two receptor conformational states, it appears that it is the free energy cost of side chain reorganization rather than the reduced protein−ligand interaction that is largely responsible for the drug resistance against GS-6207.
Hearts Beating for Liberty: Women Abolitionists in the Old Northwest

Review of: "Hearts Beating for Liberty: Women Abolitionists in the Old Northwest," by Stacey M. Robertson.
Could Our Species Usefully Become Social Psychiatry's 21st Century Scientific Concern?

General Purpose: To identify evolved human social traits that undermine effective interventions against social, environmental, and other threats to health, wellbeing, and survival of individuals and our species. Methods: To identify destructive individual and group social behaviors, the author surveyed 21st century interpretations of behavioral issues raised in primatologists studies of chimpanzees and bonobos. Drawing from a wide range of physical and social sciences, he then selected specific issues regarding health, wellbeing, and survival for study in humans. To test functionality, concepts were challenged for implications. To explore practicality, applications were identified and models for possible clinical and policy use were developed. Results: Analyses identified specific impediments to effective human responses to threatening or otherwise challenging circumstances and their implications. Using two models for psychiatric interventions, the author explored potentials for intervention against the involved dysfunctional behavioral traits. Conclusions: An evolutionary biological phylogenetic focus clarifies why humans experience dysfunctional traits as a result of evolution. This provides a broader, important grounding for further psychiatric research and development of interventions.
Evaluación de tratamientos para la propagación de ceiba barrigona ( Cavanillesia chicamochae ), morfología y fenología de la semilla

The tropical dry forest (bs-T) is one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, because of anthropic pressure. The subxerophytic enclave of the Chicamocha canyon is inhabited by Cavanillesia chicamochae, an endemic and threatened species that has little survival of its seedlings, affecting the regeneration of its populations. In the present study, the germination of C. chicamochae was evaluated with fruits, seeds, and cuttings, using three different substrates. Three treatments were used, which consisted of different substrates: T1: river sand; T2: black earth; T3: mix 3/4 soil -1/4 rice husk and fruits, bare seeds and cuttings were used. A completely randomized design was implemented with three substrates including fruits and seeds and four replicas were performed. The variables analyzed were subjected to an ANOVA, when the differences were significant (p < 0.05), in addition an analysis of means was developed using Duncan's multiple range test. The germination percentage per seed and fruit showed significant differences (p < 0.05), the treatment with the highest efficiency was T1 (71%-seeds and 54%-fruits). Seeds stored under ambient conditions lost their viability after four months. The mucilage presented an adequate bromatological value for the feeding of ruminants and important contents in secondary metabolites, with potential uses in the pharmaceutical area being an added value for the species. Water stress selects water conservation characteristics to guarantee the survival of species over time, a better understanding of these strategies will help predict responses to future droughts.
Robust Torque Predictions From Electromyography Across Multiple Levels of Active Exoskeleton Assistance Despite Non-linear Reorganization of Locomotor Output

Robotic exoskeletons can assist humans with walking by providing supplemental torque in proportion to the user's joint torque. Electromyographic (EMG) control algorithms can estimate a user's joint torque directly using real-time EMG recordings from the muscles that generate the torque. However, EMG signals change as a result of supplemental torque from an exoskeleton, resulting in unreliable estimates of the user's joint torque during active exoskeleton assistance. Here, we present an EMG control framework for robotic exoskeletons that provides consistent joint torque predictions across varying levels of assistance. Experiments with three healthy human participants showed that using diverse training data (from different levels of assistance) enables robust torque predictions, and that a convolutional neural network (CNN), but not a Kalman filter (KF), can capture the non-linear transformations in EMG due to exoskeleton assistance. With diverse training, the CNN could reliably predict joint torque from EMG during zero, low, medium, and high levels of exoskeleton assistance [root mean squared error (RMSE) below 0.096 N-m/kg]. In contrast, without diverse training, RMSE of the CNN ranged from 0.106 to 0.144 N-m/kg. RMSE of the KF ranged from 0.137 to 0.182 N-m/kg without diverse training, and did not improve with diverse training. When participant time is limited, training data should emphasize the highest levels of assistance first and utilize at least 35 full gait cycles for the CNN. The results presented here constitute an important step toward adaptive and robust human augmentation via robotic exoskeletons. This work also highlights the non-linear reorganization of locomotor output when using assistive exoskeletons; significant reductions in EMG activity were observed for the soleus and gastrocnemius, and a significant increase in EMG activity was observed for the erector spinae. Control algorithms that can accommodate spatiotemporal changes in muscle activity have broad implications for exoskeleton-based assistance and rehabilitation following neuromuscular injury.
Teaching and Translation

FALSE CHOICES ABOUT TEACHING If you are looking for a cutting edge diagnosis of contemporary debates over teaching, we recommend John Dewey’s Child and Curriculum (written in 1902!). Talk of teaching today reveals a pronounced case of the dichotomous thinking that troubled Dewey: on the one side, there is the principled refusal to teach in the name of the creativity and initiative of students; on the other side, there is the teacher who is monologically trying to impose a body of knowledge on passive students. We see this sort of argument in one way, in Paulo Freire; in another way, in Jacques Ranciere. Like Dewey, we argue that there is a third way that avoids the false choice between imposing a teacher’s point of view or granting privilege to the student’s point of view. It is not the third way of dialogue, or at least not dialogue the way it is sometimes presented: each learning from the other, or a Socratic leading of the student to the teacher’s intended conclusions. Rather, we find the ideas of translation and third space to be potentially productive here.
Direct hierarchical symbolic transient analysis of linear circuits

This paper presents a new direct and hierarchical symbolic transient analysis method for linear circuits. Three integration models were implemented symbolically with the trapezoidal method being the most efficient in terms of number of operations. An evaluation algorithm was implemented with a step sizing method based on estimation of truncation error. Test results show the success of the implementation and illustrate the automatic step reduction process necessary to retain numerical evaluation accuracy. >
An approximate de bruijn graph approach to multiple local alignment and motif discovery in protein sequences

Motif discovery is an important problem in protein sequence analysis. Computationally, it can be viewed as an application of the more general multiple local alignment problem, which often encounters the difficulty of computer time when aligning many sequences. We introduce a new algorithm for multiple local alignment for protein sequences, based on the de Bruijn graph approach first proposed by Zhang and Waterman for aligning DNA sequence. We generalize their approach to aligning protein sequences by building an approximate de Bruijn graph to allow gluing similar but not identical amino acids. We implement this algorithm and test it on motif discovery of 100 sets of protein sequences. The results show that our method achieved comparable results as other popular motif discovery programs, while offering advantages in terms of speed.
LIM domain recognition of a tyrosine-containing tight turn

Endocytosis of cell surface receptors requires sequence "codes" consisting of tight turn structures with an essential Tyr or Phe residue. To determine mechanisms through which cells recognize this information, we utilized exon 16 of the human insulin receptor in the two-hybrid system to isolate a novel 455-amino acid cytoplasmic protein that contains two LIM domains within its carboxyl terminus. Mutational analyses indicate that one of the Cys-rich Zn2+ binding LIM domains specifically recognizes active but not inactive endocytic codes contained in exon 16. These findings suggest that LIM domain structures in proteins provide molecular recognition of Tyr-containing tight turn structures.
Some Properties of Streptomyces viridochromogenes Spores

Dry spores of Streptomyces viridochromogenes exhibited no endogenous metabolism when tested by the sensitive radiorespirometric technique. Wetting the spores resulted in a sharp increase in endogenous respiration followed by a gradual decrease to a constant level, whereby 0.02% of the spore carbon was respired to CO(2) per h. The rate of endogenous metabolism increased slowly as unactivated and heat-activated spores germinated in a defined germination medium, reaching rapid rates only after germination was completed. Components of the defined germination medium, adenosine, l-alanine, and l-glutamic acid, were oxidized to CO(2) at appreciable rates only after germination was complete. The QO(2) (microliters of O(2) uptake per hour per milligram [dry weight] of spores) values for endogenously respiring spores were 3.9 for unactivated and 7.8 for activated spores. Various sugars, amino acids, and organic acids were oxidized only slowly or not at all by unactivated and activated spores. The dry spores contained 5.2 x 10(-2) mumol of ATP per g (dry weight). The ATP content of spores increased approximately 4-fold after suspension in buffer and approximately 11-fold after heat activation. During germination, the ATP level increased to a level of 1 mumol of ATP per g (dry weight) and remained constant. Germination was accompanied by excretion from the spores of approximately 8 and 12% of the total spore carbon from unactivated and activated spores, respectively. A potent germination inhibitor was released from the germinated spores. The germination inhibitor had no effect on heat-activated spores or spores which had begun germination for as short a time as 5 min.
Pacifying Effects of Nonnutritive Sucking on Term and Preterm Neonates During Heelstick Procedures

Behavioral state, heart rate, and respiration were monitored during heelstick procedures in samples of healthy, term neonates (N = 48) and preterm neonates treated in minimal care (N = 48) and intensive care (N = 48) nurseries. The treated infants who were given pacifiers spent significantly less time fussing and crying during and following the heelstick procedures. Physiologic arousal was monitored in both preterm groups but was attenuated only in the preterm infants who received pacifiers (minimal care group). As similar amounts of sucking were observed in both preterm groups, the inconsistency in treatment effects on behavioral and physiologic arousal was interpreted as a lack of cardiac-somatic coupling in the neonate in intensive care. Results suggest that nonnutritive sucking during heelstick procedures may attenuate behavioral distress in all neonates and physiologic arousal in neonates with less severe postnatal complications.
Branch selectivity at a pitchfork bifurcation in the presence of noise.

The problem of branch (or state) selection, initiated by a slowly changing external parameter in a bifurcating system has wide applications to far-from-equilibrium processes in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In macroscopic systems such as laser and fluid dynamic transitions, bifurcating chemical reactions and possibly some selection processes in certain biological applications, for example, state selection always takes place in the presence of noise and a nonzero (though possibly quite small) symmetry breaking field. We consider a quite general representation of a transition from a monostable to a bistable state, driven by a linearly time varying control parameter in the presence of additive, Gaussian, white noise with a nonzero (though small compared to the noise variance) mean. We have constructed an electronic analog of this system, and developed methods for measuring the time evolution of its statistical densities (the first such measurements on a physical system). The probabilities of branch selection are extracted from these measurements and are compared to the predictions of a recent theory with applications to the problem of prebiotic selection of molecular chirality.
Knowing-Wh and Embedded Questions

Do you know who you are? If the question seems unclear, it might owe to the notion of ‘knowing-wh’ (knowing-who, knowing-what, knowing-when, etc.). Such knowledge contrasts with ‘knowing-that’, the more familiar topic of epistemologists. But these days, knowing-wh is receiving more attention than ever, and here we will survey three current debates on the nature of knowing-wh. These debates concern, respectively, (1) whether all knowing-wh is reducible to knowing-that (‘generalized intellectualism’), (2) whether all knowing-wh is relativized to a contrast proposition (‘contrastivism about knowing-wh’), and (3) whether the context-sensitivity of knowing-wh is a semantic or purely pragmatic phenomenon (‘contextualism vs. invariantism about knowing-wh’).
Surface-Water Nutrient Conditions and Sources in the United States Pacific Northwest

Wise, Daniel R. and Henry M. Johnson, 2011. Surface-Water Nutrient Conditions and Sources in the United States Pacific Northwest. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(5):1110-1135. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00580.x Abstract: The SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model was used to perform an assessment of surface-water nutrient conditions and to identify important nutrient sources in watersheds of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States (U.S.) for the year 2002. Our models included variables representing nutrient sources as well as landscape characteristics that affect nutrient delivery to streams. Annual nutrient yields were higher in watersheds on the wetter, west side of the Cascade Range compared to watersheds on the drier, east side. High nutrient enrichment (relative to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended nutrient criteria) was estimated in watersheds throughout the region. Forest land was generally the largest source of total nitrogen stream load and geologic material was generally the largest source of total phosphorus stream load generated within the 12,039 modeled watersheds. These results reflected the prevalence of these two natural sources and the low input from other nutrient sources across the region. However, the combined input from agriculture, point sources, and developed land, rather than natural nutrient sources, was responsible for most of the nutrient load discharged from many of the largest watersheds. Our results provided an understanding of the regional patterns in surface-water nutrient conditions and should be useful to environmental managers in future water-quality planning efforts.
The Erectile Performance Anxiety Index: Scale Development and Psychometric Properties

Introduction. Erectile dysfunction is a highly publicized and prevalent condition with marked adverse effects on men’s social, emotional, and quality of life. Although several instruments have emerged for assessing erectile dysfunction and its impact on men’s quality of life, none of the existing instruments provide a specific assessment of men’s erectile performance anxiety. Aim. This article reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of the Erectile Performance Anxiety Index (EPAI)—a 10-item self-report scale designed to fill an important gap in the assessment of male erectile dysfunction. Methods. A total of 207 men ranging in age from 18 to 79 took part in the study. All subjects completed an online battery consisting of the EPAI, along with measures of related sexual functioning, social anxiety, state anxiety, and depressive symptoms. A small subset of study participants (N = 42) completed the EPAI a second time for determining test–retest reliability. Main Outcome Measure. Test–retest reliability was determined by Pearson’s product–moment correlations. Internal reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Factor validity was evaluated by a maximum likelihood factor analysis with oblique rotation. Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed by comparing the strength of association between the EPAI and measures varying in their hypothesized shared variance with the construct of erectile performance anxiety. Results. The EPAI demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93 and excellent test– retest reliability (r = 0.85) over an average period of 3.5 weeks. Results of an exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor solution that accounted for 63% of the total variance. Preliminary evidence supports the convergent and discriminant validity of the EPAI. Conclusion. Results support the use of the EPAI as a reliable, valid, and efficient instrument for the assessment of erectile performance anxiety. Potential research and clinical applications are discussed. Telch MJ and Pujols Y. The Erectile Performance Anxiety Index: Scale development and psychometric properties. J Sex Med 2013;10:3019–3028.
Premature Constriction of the Ductus Arteriosus

Prostaglandin synthetase inhibition in the fetus may induce constriction of the ductus arteriosus. Clinical experience is now accumulating that proves that this potential complication is reversible and that it is easily diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography.
Self-image disparity and attachment to ethnic subculture.

Summary In an effort to investigate the effects of attachment to the dominant culture and of developmental level on the self-concept, 62 male Lebanese-Americans of first, second, or third generation of residence in America completed two forms (questionnaire and adjective checklist) of an instrument designed to measure self-image disparity. A series of questions was used to measure extent of attachment to the Lebanese subculture, and a social competence index was employed as the measure of developmental level. No effects associated with self-image disparity emerged for generation of residence or developmental level. However, subjects who were strongly attached to the Lebanese culture showed less disparity on the questionnaire than those who were detached from it. Some support was provided for the developmental position, since Low Competence Ss made larger numbers of extreme responses on the questionnaire than the High Competence S.
Metal/dendrimer nanocomposites for enhanced optical breakdown: Acoustic characterization and initial targeted cell uptake study

Metal/dendrimer nanocomposites (DNCs) uniquely combine the properties of metallic clusters and the biofriendly polymer host in a nanosized hybrid particle. DNCs can biochemically target tissues and locally reduce femtosecond optical breakdown thresholds, making highly precise and selective photodisruption possible. In this study, we have used high-frequency acoustic monitoring of bubble production dynamics to investigate how DNC properties, solution concentration, and optical parameters affect threshold reduction, actual waiting time, and mechanical characteristics of breakdown. Breakdown is defined here as bubble production with an onset of less than 20 seconds after laser exposure. DNC properties varied include metal content (silver, gold) and terminal group (amino-NH2, glycidol-OH, and carboxyl- COOH) which determine pH values. Results indicate that DNC metal content markedly influences solution threshold reduction, while DNC terminal group (and thus net surface charge) and solution concentration influence the details of breakdown at these reduced threshold fluences. {Ag(0)} DNCs reduce breakdown threshold fluence 1-2 orders of magnitude more than {Au(0)} DNCs. Furthermore, concentrated DNC solutions and DNCs carrying a net negative charge (carboxyl terminal groups) increase bubble production up to four times and shorten waiting time for breakdown from seconds to milliseconds. Increasing laser fluence for a given DNC solution concentration also shortens breakdown waiting time. Lastly, utilizing the fluorescence properties of silver nanocomposites, we use confocal microscopy to examine KB cell uptake of folate targeted silver DNCs. Cells incubated with folate targeted silver DNCs exhibit a measurable increase of intracellular fluorescence compared to control cells (no DNC incubation). However, while we observe a threshold reduction in KB cells incubated with 500nM folate-targeted DNC solution, there is no threshold reduction in cells incubated with 50nM folate-targeted DNC solution. This suggests that a specific minimum DNC concentration may be required for localized reduced-threshold breakdown to occur.
Pentobarbital differentially inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate and kainate-stimulated [3H]noradrenaline overflow in rat cortical slices.

Abstract 1. 1. This study examined the ability of pentobarbital to inhibit NMDA and kainate-stimulated [ 3 H]noradrenaline ([ 3 H]NA) overflow in rat brain cortical slices. 2. 2. Pentobarbital inhibited NMDA-evoked [ 3 H]NA overflow at 100 μM and greater and inhibited kainate-evoked [ 3 H]NA overflow at 10 μM and greater. 3. 3. The ability of pentobarbital to inhibit concentration-response curves for NMDA and kainate-evoked overflow of [ 3 H]NA were also examined. Pentobarbital (300 μM) caused a 20% reduction in NMDA and a 50% reduction in kainate-induced maximal responses.
Issues and Trends in Academic Engaged Time of Students

How time is used in schools has emerged as a topic of considerable importance for educators and researchers alike. The purpose of this article is to examine the research on academic engaged time from the perspective of the special services provider. The first section describes theoretical views of time and learning. The second reviews the major empirical studies of time and learning, with emphasis on research documenting the relationship between academic engaged time and student achievement. Finally, the third section addresses the implications of this research for providers of special services, offering suggestions for increasing academic learning time among students.
The effects of financial management strategies on quality of family life in remarriage

A conceptualization of financial management behavior in remarriage forwarded by Fishman (1983) is refined and used to study 91 remarried couples. Couples are categorized into three financial management strategy groups: those having only joint accounts, only separate accounts, and a combination of joint and separate accounts. The different groups' demographic characteristics and satisfaction and happiness regarding family life are compared. Overall few differences between groups are found on the demographic characteristics, and no differences are found on satisfaction or happiness.
International gross capital flows: New uses of balance of payments data and application to financial crises

Abstract Most studies of international financial openness and crises link economic performance to either the net inflow of capital or the gross inflow (outflow) defined as the change in foreign (domestic) holdings of domestic (foreign) assets over a period. In this paper we decompose the net inflow into four rather than two components. We show that the four-way decomposition provides a better understanding of six recent financial crises and predicts sudden stops better than a standard two-way decomposition. We conclude that four-way decompositions can be more informative than either the net capital inflow or two-way decompositions of the net inflow.