cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predation on lizard eggs by ants: species interactions in a variable physical environment.

One explanation for long-term fluctuations in population density is that the intensity of interactions between species is variable. A population can experience variation in the intensity of a species interaction if (1) the density of species with which it directly interacts changes and/or (2) the strength of the interaction (i.e., per capita effects) changes. At Barro Colorado Island, Panama, the tropical lizard Anolis limifrons exhibits wide annual fluctuations in density. Previous studies have indicated that (1) the density of A. limifrons is negatively correlated with the amount of wet-season rainfall, (2) fluctuations in density are related more to variation in egg mortality than to variation in lizard mortality or to fecundity, and (3) most egg mortality is the result of predation by Solenopsis ants. We hypothesized that the amount of wet-season rainfall indirectly alters the density of A. limifrons by producing variation in the intensity of egg predation by Solenopsis. Additionally, we also wanted to determine if variation in the amount of egg mortality was influenced more by variation in the density of Solenopsis, or by variation in the rate of predation. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating litter moisture on experimental plots to simulate the wettest (HW) and driest (LW) wet seasons in the last 20 years, and then monitoring the density of Solenopsis, amount of egg mortality, and rate of predation. The amount of egg mortality was greater on the HW than on the LW treatment and all egg mortality resulted from predation by Solenopsis. ANCOVA indicated that the amount of egg mortality was significantly higher on plots with a greater density of Solenopsis. Treatment effects, however, explained more of the variation in the amount of egg mortality than did Solenopsis density. Our water manipulations did not change the density of Solenopsis, but Solenopsis found and attacked eggs faster on the HW than on the LW treatment. This suggests that moisture during the wet season modified the strength of the interaction between Solenopsis and A. limifrons, supporting the hypothesis that annual variation in the amount of wet-season rainfall indirectly produces parallel variation in annual density of lizard populations by modifying the rate of ant predation on eggs.
Leaving home and leaving the State: evidence from the United States

Leaving the parental home is an important first step in a long-term housing career. We extend the previous research on this topic by examining the impact of housing market factors on the risks of leaving with or without a partner in the United States. We also re-examine the role of the income of the young adult leavers in nest-leaving, and extend the previous work by studying local versus interstate movement when leaving home. We ask: does the parental housing context have an impact on the likelihood of leaving home, and to what extent is this impact different for those leaving to marry or cohabit and for those leaving to live alone? We find that although housing factors play a role, they are much less important than the young adult's own income, and that there are complex interactions with the marital status of the child. The findings on leaving and moving greater distances show that there are important differences related to leaving with or without a partner, and that this is further differentiated by education, both of the child and the father. More income and greater education lead to a greater likelihood of interstate movement coincident with leaving the parental home. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A review of measles virus

Measles virus is an epidemic disease with a worldwide distribution. Since the development of the live attenuated vaccine, the incidence of reported measles cases has declined by greater than 99% in the United States. Measles causes a systemic illness manifested by a characteristic prodrome and pathognomonic rash. Although usually a self-limited disease, measles can cause severe complications, especially in adults and the immunocompromised. We discuss a vaccination schedule for preschool and school-aged children. Recent research has demonstrated clinical benefit in patients with severe measles virus infections that are treated with ribavirin and vitamin A supplementation.
Development of a multizone model for direct injection diesel combustion

AbstractDiesel engines have attracted considerable attention in recent years because of the increasingly restrictive ‘engine-out’ emission standards being adopted by regulatory agencies. The cutting-edge technologies of emissions reduction in engines fall into three categories: preprocessing, improved combustion processing and post-processing. An engine cycle simulation was developed to investigate and, thus, find possible avenues of reducing emissions through modifying the combustion process. This simulation includes models for fresh air charging, fuel and air mixing, wall heat transfer, diesel droplet evaporation, ignition delay and mixture combustion with species equilibrium reactions. These models, together with a thermo-dynamic analysis of the cylinder gas, yield instantaneous cylinder conditions, overall indicated engine performance and a prediction of the engine-out NOx and soot emissions.The engine parameters and operating conditions used in the work presented here were chosen to be representative...
Does the Wind Control the Import and Export of the South Atlantic

Abstract A different way of examining the meridional flux of warm and intermediate water (σθ < 27.50) from the Southern Ocean into the South Atlantic is proposed. The method considers the Americas to be a “pseudo island” in the sense that the continent is entirely surrounded by water but has no circulation around it. It is shown that, although the northern connection between the Atlantic and the Pacific (via the Bering Strait) is weak, it imposes severe limitations on the sea level in the Atlantic basin: so much so that it allows one to compute the meridional transport without finding the detailed solution to the complete wind–thermohaline problem. The method employs an integration of the linearized momentum equations along a closed contour containing the Americas, Greenland, the Atlantic, and parts of the Arctic Ocean. First, an idealized rectangular model involving three layers, an active continuously stratified upper layer containing both thermocline (σθ < 26.80) and intermediate water (26.80 < σθ < 27...
A qualitative assessment of first graders' retelling of expository text

Abstract For many years, literacy experts have assumed that young children were incapable of comprehending expository text. Recent research, however, suggests otherwise. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the extent to which 20 first graders were able to comprehend expository text as measured through an oral retelling of a children's information trade book. Twenty preservice elementary teachers read aloud the children's trade book, How Kittens Grow, to 20 first graders. After listening to the book, each child drew a picture based upon the book and then retold the information contained therein by using their drawing, the book itself, or their memory. Each retelling was audiotaped, transcribed and assigned a score from 1–5 as indicated by an adapted version of the Irwin & Mitchell (1983) Richness of Retelling Scale. Each paper was scored three times. Eighteen of the 20 children obtained scores of 3 or better on the scale, thus confirming Pappas’ (1991) findings that even young children are...
A heuristic dynamic programming based power system stabilizer for a turbogenerator in a single machine power system

Power system stabilizers (PSS) are used to generate supplementary control signals for the excitation system in order to damp the low frequency power system oscillations. To overcome the drawbacks of conventional PSS (CPSS), numerous techniques have been proposed in the literature. Based on the analysis of existing techniques, a novel design of power system stabilizer (PSS) based on heuristic dynamic programming (HDP) is proposed in this paper. HDP combining the concepts of dynamic programming and reinforcement learning is used in the design of a nonlinear optimal power system stabilizer. The proposed HDP based PSS is evaluated against the conventional power system stabilizer and indirect adaptive neurocontrol based PSS under small and large disturbances in a single machine infinite bus power system setup. Results are presented to show the effectiveness of this new technique.
FACTORS CONTROLLING GROWTH OF ARTERIAL CELLS FOLLOWING INJURY

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is a key event in the development of arterial lesions. In experimental models, loss of arterial endothelium followed by platelet adherence does not necessarily stimulate smooth muscle cell proliferation. Furthermore, using animals deficient in platelets, smooth muscle cell proliferation was induced to an equal extent as in control animals following injury with a balloon catheter. Modulation of the smooth muscle response, however, was achieved by totally denuding arteries with a technique which did not traumatize medial cells. These data suggested that injury and cell death might induce proliferation of cells by release of endogenous mitogen. Basic FGF is present in the arterial wall and addition of this mitogen to denuded arteries was found to cause a highly significant increase in smooth muscle cell proliferation. These studies suggest that smooth muscle cell proliferation could be induced by factors present in the arterial wall and does not require exogenous factors. Smooth muscle cell proliferation following balloon catheter injury is significantly reduced by administration of calcium antagonists. Repeated administration of nifedipine caused a significant reduction in intimal lesion size induced by injury. The anti-proliferative effect was not observed in other tissues. Influx of Ca++ ions into medial smooth muscle cells may therefore be an obligatory step for replication.
Simplified Screening Procedures for Primary Aldosteronism. Studies on the Mechanism of the Hyper-Responsiveness to Furosemide and Standing

Screening tests for primary aldosteronism were compared in 22 patients with this disorder and 140 hypertensive controls. Adequate (93-100%) sensitivity and specificity were not provided by single tests ((1) serum K, (2) furosemide-stimulated PRA, or (3) plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) after furosemide, or (4) after 2 liters 0.9% NaCl)), but were provided by combinations: (2) + (1) or (3); (2) + (1) or (4); and by a pressor response to saralasin + (3) or (4). Mechanism of the observed excessive rise in PAC "stimulated" by furosemide and standing for 2 h was studied in the same patients. The rise in "stimulated" PAC was (a) associated with a low PRA and not reproducible by angiotensin II infusions; (b) associated with a slight but significant rise in plasma cortisol and was reproducible by ACTH infusions. It is, therefore, attributed to the effects of slight ACTH release acting on adrenal tissue with super-sensitivity of aldosterone response to ACTH.
Participation in High Energy Physics at the University of Chicago

This report covers research at the University of Chicago in theoretical high energy physics and its connections to cosmology, over the period Nov. 1, 2009 to April 30, 2013. This research is divided broadly into two tasks: Task A, which covers a broad array of topics in high energy physics; and task C, primarily concerned with cosmology.
The impact of assistive technology on occupational performance and quality of life among employee with disability

The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of assistive technology on occupational performance and quality of life among employee with disability. The subjects were 50 impaired workers who had worked in Seoul and Gyeonnggi area companies in Korea. Canadian Occupational Performance Measure(COPM) and Satisfaction with Life Scales(SWLS) are used for outcome measurement of assistive technology. The following are the analyzed results of the study. First, the t-test showed that there were differences in occupational performance and quality of life after assistive technology use. Second. Moderate correlation was found between the COPM performance score and SWLS score. But COPM satisfaction score has no association of the SWLS score According to the study results, assistive technology influence on occupational performance and quality of life with disability worker. In future studies, outcome measurement method and assistive technology service should be developed.
Interactions of nonprotic organic solvents with [val5]angiotensin in water.

Intermolecular solvent―solute nuclear Overhauser effects have been used to explore interactions of the organic component of acetonitrile―water, acetone― water, and dimethyl sulfoxide―water mixtures with the peptide hormone [val 5 ]angiotensin. As reported by the NOEs, many cross relaxation terms for interactions of these organic cosolvents are adequately accounted for using a hard spheres interaction model in which encounters of peptide and cosolvent molecules take place by mutual diffusion. However, there are indications of localiaed solvent―peptide interactions that are not well described by this model. In dimethyl sulfoxide―water at 0 °C, organic solvent near the C-terminal Phe8 residue and the Val3 residue produce strongly enhanced cross-relaxation terms. NOEs for all peptide N―H protons and the protons of the Tyr4 aromatic ring were significantly more positive than expected in 33% acetone―water (v/v) at 0 °C, while those for most side-chain protons were dose to predictions of the hard sphere model. All peptide―organic solvent NOEs in 35% acetonitrile water (v/v) at 0 °C are consistent with the hard spheres interaction model.
Near-Arbitrary Polarization from Tunable Crossed End-Loaded Dipoles

Previous work has employed crossed dipoles with properly designed dimensions to radiate circularly polarized waves. Placing tunable elements on the dipoles allows dynamic reconfiguration of their impedance characteristics, thus enabling control of the polarization without the need for phase shifters. The antenna reported herein allows for either left- or right-handed circular polarization, as well as linear in various orientations. The operating frequency of the antenna can be tuned from below 240 MHz to more than 290 MHz.
Municipal Professionalism: More Than Just a Job in Government?

Although professionalism remains important to the study and practice of public administration, its features have remained unclear. Whether public managers share a professional identity has yet to b...
The Gospel of Keynesian Reality, Development and Application of Modigliani’s Model, 1944–2003,The Realm of Stabilization Policies

Prior to the Great Depression, John Maynard Keynes embraced the cyclical mechanisms that are the bedrock of full employment analysis in his monetary studies. Around 1923, Keynes recognized that “the problem of stabilization has several sides.”1 Inflation and deflation attracted paramount attention, relating to the problem of devaluation of exchange rates, and restoration of the Gold Standard.
Mechanism of inhibition by methacholine of norepinephrine-stimulated ANP secretion

We have previously reported that methacholine inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP-IR) secretion by 65% in vitro. In the present study, we examined the ...
Autism Symptoms Exist but the Disorder Remains Elusive

The ratio of 2.5 to 4 males to 1 female diagnosed with autism is likely to be a composite ratio, based on the male to female ratios for many different environmental and genetic risk factors. Despite the accumulated evidence for heterogeneity, most autism research has continued to search for unifying features and single predictors for autism. Three inferential problems for autism research are the lack of validity of the diagnosis, the segregation of co-occurring non-autism symptoms as comorbid disorders, and a lack of theory synthesis and data reconciliation. The lack of evidence for autism as a single disorder, combined with the evidence for global brain disruption generated by autism risk factors, suggests that autism is a set of symptoms of brain impairment, not a stand-alone disorder or spectrum of disorders. Documenting autism symptoms without defining autism as a disorder, and studying the neurobiological mechanisms of brain impairment will advance research.
A Perspective of One Important Risk Factor of Type 2 Diabetes in Hispanic and Asian Minorities

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a rising problem worldwide. Sugar has been previously implicated. The current work presents evidences from multidisciplinary published studies to implicate wheat (gluten). The data used include comparing wheat consumption in different countries worldwide. That Hispanics and Asians, who have come to the USA recently, have higher incidences of T2DM and come from countries where wheat is not the number one grain staple is significant. There is a big change in the wheat (gluten) consumption of Hispanics and Asians. That wheat has been scientifically linked to over 200 autoimmune diseases is very significant. The facts introduced with evidence in the current work have shown that wheat and wheat products (containing gluten) are probably an important risk factor in T2DM.
Adorno’s Aesthetic Theory

This chapter examines Theodor Adorno’s Aesthetic Theory, a theoretical discourse, or a collection of essays written over an extended period of time, on the relationship between authentic art and a critical theory of society. Adorno believed that the relationship between authentic art, truth and morality can lead to a form of praxis freed up from both the totalized and reified world. Addressing authentic arts’ truth potential, Adorno strives to understand and explain how a perspective on art can clarify how the world is and how we can conduct ourselves in it. His aesthetic critique, the chapter argues, is an allegorical and reconstructed view of politics (as theory) and the meaning of the political in a work (of art). For Adorno, critical theory, and praxis itself, should consider the relationship that exists between authentic art and the individual coming to terms with this relation. Adorno considered aesthetics and art in an historical context, arguing that to understand art and to seek the meaning of art is to answer the question of the authentic meaning of history.
Carbon Cycling: The Dynamics and Formation of Organic Matter

The chapter examines the global carbon cycle with an emphasis on soil organic matter (SOM). The most up-to-date information on its formation, structure, and function is presented. It is now recognized that SOM is composed primarily of microbial products consisting of aliphatic substances, carbohydrates, and nitrogen containing compounds dismissing the previous notion of significant aromatic content. SOM formation relies on the interaction of individual compounds with mineral surfaces and bridging metals, particularly iron to form colloids with micellar features that exhibit hydrophobic properties. The hydrophobic properties explain the sorption of nonpolar pesticides and pollutants. Once stabilized, SOM has a varying turnover rate depending on fraction from less than a year to thousands of years. SOM influences many soil processes, particularly the production and consumption of greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide. Rising carbon dioxide and temperatures will influence the turnover of SOM and its influence on biogeochemical processes globally.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to investigate the influence of strategic leadership on the implementation of strategy in the commercial banks in Kenya. The seven critical components of strategic leadership studied were strategic direction, core competencies, human capital, social capital, corporate culture, ethical practices and strategic controls. More specifically, the study investigated the influence of these components on the implementation of strategy in the commercial banks in Kenya.Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative research design whose target population was the top management team in the commercial banks in Kenya. The instrument of data collection was tested for reliability using the Cronbach alpha test and for validity using the KMO and Bartlett’s test. Statistical analysis was then carried out on the data collected.Findings: The study finds that there is a positive statistically significant relationship between effective implementation of strategy with only two of the strategic leadership actions which are ‘determining strategic direction’ and ‘establishing balanced organization controls’. The study recommends that the leadership and in particular the CEO to focus his energies on providing the strategic direction of the organization if it is to achieve its strategic objectives of remaining competitive in the market. Similarly establishing a balance between strategic and financial controls has a direct influence on the implementation of strategy. A strategic leader creates wealth by striking a balance between the constraining influence of financial controls and the long term focus of the strategic controls.
Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides in the Olfactory Pathway of the Sphinx Moth Manduca Sexta

Like other animals, insects have many and diverse chemical “messengers” in their nervous systems. A growing list of synaptic neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, neuropeptides, and neurohormones -- collectively “transmitters” -- prompts efforts to seek physiological roles and mechanisms of action for these substances. An improved understanding of these chemical messengers in the insect nervous system promises to reveal key regulatory mechanisms, novel and accessible targets for pharmacological agents, and phyletic differences that can be exploited in new approaches to the manipulation of insect behavior and the selective destruction of harmful populations of insect pests and disease vectors. Toward such goals, we study the biochemistry, cellular distribution, and physiological actions of transmitter candidates in an experimentally favorable insect “model”, the sphinx moth Manduca sexta. In contrast with significant advances that have been made in many laboratories investigating peripheral neural and neuromuscular systems, relatively much less is known about chemical signalling in the insect central nervous system (CNS). With this in mind, and building upon substantial previous and ongoing studies of the anatomy, physiology, and development of the insect CNS in many laboratories including our own, we focus on the cellular neurochemistry of the CNS in Manduca. In particular we are exploring the olfactory pathway in the brain, for which we have accumulated much information about the types of neurons and their functional organization and development (e.g. see recent reviews: Hildebrand, 1985; Hildebrand and Montague, 1986; Christensen and Hildebrand, 1987).
TMEM173 variants and potential importance to human biology and disease

TMEM173 gene encodes the protein STING (stimulator of interferon genes), a key player in host defense against pathogens. Mutations in the human TMEM173 gene cause a life-threatening auto-inflammatory disease called SAVI (STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy). Human STING is also a promising therapeutic target for cancers and infectious diseases. Recently, Aduro Biotech and Novartis announced a $250M-plus initiative to develop STING-targeting cancer immunotherapies. Thus, understanding the genetics of the human TMEM173 gene is important for both basic and translational research. The human TMEM173 gene has great heterogeneity and population stratification. R232 of STING is the most common human TMEM173 allele. However, >50% of Americans are not R232/R232. HAQ (R71H-G230A-R293Q) is the second most common human TMEM173 allele. While R232/R232 is the dominant TMEM173 genotype in Europeans, R232/HAQ is the most common TMEM173 genotype in East Asians. Importantly, recent studies suggested that HAQ and H232 are likely loss-of-function TMEM173 alleles. In all, ~30% of East Asians and ~10% of Europeans are HAQ/HAQ, HAQ/H232, or H232/H232. Here, we reviewed human TMEM173 alleles, mutations and their potential impact on human health and medicine.
Effect of Light Intensity Adjusted for Species-Specific Spectral Sensitivity on Live Performance and Processing Yield of Male Broiler Chickens

SUMMARY Adoption of alternative lighting systems to replace traditional incandescent light sources offers the opportunity to tailor lighting systems according to spectral sensitivity needs of different species. Providing a lighting environment that accounts for poultry vision may improve bird welfare and production efficiency. This study examined live performance and carcass yield in male broilers reared to 56 d of age exposed to each of 2 LED light sources (red-supplemented vs. un-supplemented) adjusted to either human spectral sensitivity (lux) or poultry spectral sensitivity (clux) arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial. Body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and mortality were not different among treatments. The data herein illustrate that broad spectrum lighting sources should not be expected to improve live performance or processing yields and design of lighting systems and programs is primarily an economic decision driven by capital and operation costs.
Abstract 17152: Identification and Site-Specific Quantification of Novel Phosphorylated Residues in Cardiac Troponin I: Implications for Heart Failure

Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI), a key regulatory and inhibitory myofilament protein, is known to be phosphorylated at six residues (Ser23/24, Ser42/44, Thr143, Ser150) by PKA, PKC, PKD, PKG and PAK etc. Although it is known that phosphorylation levels are altered in heart failure (HF) the exact sites involved are yet to be determined. Using the state-of-the-art targeted proteomic technique-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) assay, we aimed to develop multiplex quantification in failing and non-failing human LV samples for all sites. Myofibril cTnIs were purified and identified from the banked end-stage HF with Ischemic Heart Disease (ISHD) and Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy (IDCM) patients and compared with non-failing hearts (n=30). Overall, we identified 12 phosphorylation sites including 6 novel sites: Ser4/5, Try26, Ser77, Ser166, Thr181 and Ser199. To quantify phosphorylation status of each site, total 30 assays and 145 transitions were designed for each mono or di-phosphorylated and the corresponding non-phosphorylated sequence and analyzed by 4000 Qtrap nano-LC-MS/MS in triplicate. Status on sites Ser4/5, Try26and Ser24 was significantly reduced in ISHD (↓42.2±0.7%; ↓67.2±0.6%, p<0.005) and IDCM (↓49.4±0.5%, p<0.001; ↓88.3±0.2%, p<0.005) patients compared with non-failing donors. However, phosphorylation in HF was higher on novel sites Ser77(ISHD ↑48.9±1.9% and IDCM ↑38.4±1.5, p<0.005); Ser166(ISHD ↑34.4±0.3% and IDCM ↑206.3±0.5%, p<0.01); Thr181(ISHD↑35.0±0.3% and IDCM ↑32.9±0.2%, p<0.001), Ser199 (ISHD ↑167.7±0.1%, p<0.005 and IDCM ↑133.3±0.1%, p<0.001) and the known Ser42 (ISHD ↑40.8±0.8% and IDCM ↑49.1±0.7%, p<0.005) and Thr143 (ISHD ↑10.1±0.8% and IDCM ↑11.7±0.7%, p<0.001) as compared to donor heart. In summary, this study provides the first identification and quantification of 6 novel phosphorylated sites. With HF there is i) a shift in the phosphorylation from PKA to PKC sites; ii) importantly shift with decreased in the N-terminal residues Ser4/5, 24 and Try26 and increased with the middle Ser77, Ser166, Thr181 and C-terminal Ser199. Thus, dynamic and selective alterations occurred to individual residues of cTnI most likely reflecting changes in the upstream signaling cascades eg. imbalance in kinase/phosphatase activity.
Selected Aspects of Enzyme Regulation in Parasites

Carbohydrate has been shown to be the major energy reserve in parasitic helminths. The details of carbohydrate degradation have been studied in a number of helminths (Bueding and Saz, 1968; Saz, 1970, 1971). It is clear from these studies that carbohydrate catabolism results in the production of acid end products which are persistent under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Carbohydrate catabolism in these helminths follows the conventional glycolytic sequence to phosphoenol-pyruvate (PEP) which may then be acted upon by pyruvate kinase (2.7.1.40, ATP: Pyruvate phosphotransferase) to yield pyruvate and subsequently, lactate and acetate, or by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (4.1.1.32, GTP: oxalacetate carboxylase) to yield oxaloacetate, malate, and ultimately succinate (Saz 1970, 1971).
Improving student learning of ratio, proportion, and percent: A replication study of schema-based instruction.

The purpose of this replication study was to provide replication evidence not currently available of the effects of a research-based mathematics program, schema-based instruction, on the mathematical problem-solving performance of 7th-grade students. The replication was implemented in 36 schools in 5 districts; 59 mathematics teachers and their students (N = 1,492) participated in the study. Multilevel hierarchical linear analyses revealed statistically significant differences between conditions on proximal and distal measures of mathematics problem solving, with effects sizes similar to those reported in Jitendra et al. (2015). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)
Infrastructure of South Korean Electric Power System and Potential Barriers for the Implementation of Smart Grid:A Review

The day by day increase in Electrical Power demand is making the traditional power grid unable to fulfill this intensive need of energy and humans are in a constant search of alternatives to resolve this problem. In this article different power system architectures of South Korea have been discussed by reviewing the smart grids, integration of Micro-girds, the implementation of energy management system in the current power architecture seems the best possible solution. By monitoring all the business goals and to overcome all the basic hurdles, smart grid concept will implement successfully by the end of 2030.
Schizophrenia as a diagnosis and disease process. A theoretical overview.

Schizophrenia is reviewed as an historical and nosological entity along with some aspects of the controversy concerning its origins. A theoretical model of schizophrenia is presented involving genetically determined disturbances of perception and cognition which lead to uncertainty and anxiety in the face of incoming stimuli. Restitutive attempts which aim to provide a lessening of confusion and anxiety constitute the non-genetic protion of the clinical picture. The impossibility of assigning responsibility to discrete neuroanatomic areas is discussed.
E-Cigarette Availability, Price Promotions and Marketing at the Point-of Sale in the Contiguous United States (2014-2015): National Estimates and Multilevel Correlates

Abstract Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) sales and use have increased rapidly, yet point-of-sale e-cigarette availability and marketing is understudied. We estimated changes in e-cigarette availability and marketing among tobacco retailers in the U.S., and associations with neighborhood characteristics. A national sample of tobacco retailers in the Contiguous U.S. was audited in 2014 and 2015 (n = 1,905 and n = 2,126, respectively) to observe e-cigarette availability and marketing (signs, ads, displays and promotions) and generate national prevalence estimates. Store, neighborhood and state level correlates of 2015 e-cigarette availability, price promotions and exterior advertising were analyzed using multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear models. E-cigarettes were sold at 72.0% of retailers in 2014 and at 79.2% in 2015. Price promotions increased from 11.9% to 20.2% of retailers. Among retailers that did not previously sell e-cigarettes in 2012, availability in 2015 was greater for retailers in neighborhoods with the highest proportion of Black residents (vs. lowest). E-cigarette price promotions were more prevalent in neighborhoods with more Hispanic residents, while exterior e-cigarette marketing was more prevalent in neighborhoods with more Black residents. State smoking prevalence was positively associated with e-cigarette availability, promotions and advertising. E-cigarette point-of-sale availability and marketing increased between 2014 and 2015 and expanded to neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Black residents between 2012 and 2015. Retailers located within states with high smoking prevalence appear to be targeted by e-cigarette marketing. As e-cigarettes become the target of more regulations, understanding changes in the e-cigarette retail environment is critical to inform potential policies regulating their sale and marketing.
Diabetes, insulin resistance, and asthma: a review of potential links.

Purpose of review Disorders of glucose metabolism, including insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes, have been identified as risk factors for worsened asthma. This review summarizes emerging evidence for their role as modifiable risk factors in asthma, including the potential benefit of diabetes medications on asthma outcomes. Recent findings Experimental studies show that hyperinsulinemia associated with insulin resistance is associated with airway smooth muscle proliferation and promotes contractility. Epidemiologic studies have identified a higher prevalence of glycemic dysfunction among those with severe and uncontrolled asthma, and longitudinal studies have associated prediabetes and diabetes with higher risk of asthma exacerbations. The potential benefits of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, and metformin being investigated in asthma, but thus far interventional studies of TZDs have reported null results. On the contrary, observational studies have inconsistently controlled for relevant confounders which leaves conclusions vulnerable to misattribution of relationships due to corelated metabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia. Summary Developing evidence suggests that disorders of glucose metabolism may be associated with worsening asthma. However, these conditions arise within a network of obesity-related metabolic diseases that may themselves worsen asthma. Few interventional trials have not identified a benefit, but data have been limited. Additional research is needed to define the potential independent impact of disorders of glucose metabolism in asthma.
Temperature and Supply Voltage Monitoring with Current-mode Relaxation Oscillators

This paper presents a new family of temperature and supply voltage sensors based on an improved current-mode relaxation oscillator. The proposed sensor circuit overcomes the finite input impedance of earlier current-mode relaxation oscillators, and it is paired with a novel opamp-free bandgap current reference. Two examples are presented: a $V_{DD}$ - controlled oscillator, and a temperature-controlled oscillator. The temperature-controlled oscillator operates at 11.3 MHz and consumes ${11.14 u\mathrm{W}}$ while reaching a temperature nonlinearity error less than ${+0.85/-0.94^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}}$ , a resolution figure of merit of 11.5 ${\mathrm{pJ}\cdot \mathrm{K}^{2}}$ , and an efficiency of 240 pJ/conv. The $V_{DD}$ -controlled oscillator has a nonlinearity error less than ${+28.7/-30.0\mathrm{mV}}$ from ${1.2-1.8 \mathrm{V}}$ after two-point calibration.
Freeman, Carl, American Presidents and Oliver Stone: Kennedy, Nixon and Bush between History and Cinema

In this insightful book, Carl Freedman, a professor of English at Louisiana State University, examines the three presidential films of Oliver Stone—JFK (1991), Nixon (1995), and W. (2008). Freedman...
Antisense-induced downregulation of major circadian genes modulates the expression of histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) and CREB-binding protein (CBP) in the medial shell region of nucleus accumbens of mice exposed to chronic excessive alcohol consumption

Circadian genes in the medial accumbal shell (mNAcSh) region regulate binge alcohol consumption. Here, we investigated if antisense-induced knockdown of major circadian genes (Per1, Per2, and NPAS2) in the mNAcSh of mice exposed to intermittent access 2-bottle choice (IA2BC) paradigm, modulate the expression of histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) and CREB-binding protein (CBP), key epigenetic modifiers associated with withdrawal-associated behaviors such as anxiety. Adult male C57BL/6J mice (N = 28), surgically implanted with bilateral guide cannulas above the mNAcSh, were chronically (4 weeks) exposed to alcohol (20% v/v) or saccharin (0.03%) via IA2BC paradigm. In the fourth week, a mixture of antisense (AS-ODNs; N = 14/group) or nonsense (NS-ODNs; N = 14/group) oligodeoxynucleotides against circadian genes, were bilaterally infused into the mNAcSh. Subsequently, alcohol/saccharin consumption and preference were measured followed by euthanization of animals and verification of microinjection sites by visual inspection and the expression of HDAC-2 and CBP by using RT-PCR along with the verification of antisense-induced downregulation of circadian genes in the mNAcSh. As compared to NS-ODNs, AS-ODNs infusion significantly attenuated the alcohol-induced increase in HDAC-2 and reduction in CBP expression in the mNAcSh along with a significant reduction in alcohol consumption and preference. No significant effect was observed on either saccharin consumption or preference. Our results suggest that circadian genes in the mNAcSh may have a causal to play in mediating epigenetic changes observed after chronic alcohol consumption.
Design, Development, and Testing of an Automated Laparoscopic Grasper with 3-D Force Measurement Capability

Advancements in robotics have led to significant improvements in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. The use of these robotic systems has improved surgeon dexterity, reduced surgeon fatigue, and made remote surgical procedures possible. However, commercially available robotic surgical systems do not provide any haptic feedback to the surgeon. Just as palpation in open procedures helps the surgeon diagnose the tissue as normal or abnormal, it is necessary to provide force feedback to the surgeon in robot-assisted minimally invasive procedures. Therefore, a need exists to incorporate force feedback in laparoscopic tools for robot-assisted surgery. This paper describes our design of a laparoscopic grasper with tri-directional force measurement capability at the grasping jaws. The laparoscopic tool can measure grasping forces and lateral and longitudinal forces, such as those forces encountered in the probing of tissue. Initial testing of the prototype has shown its ability to accurately characterize artificial tissue samples of varying stiffness.
What If Seeds Were Not Patentable

In 2001, the United States Supreme Court held that seeds were patentable subject matter - a decision, I assert, of much discussion and little impact. Protection of agricultural intellectual property through private ordering, used both to expand the protection available through public ordering and to circumvent the restrictions public ordering places on owners of intellectual property, has provided the incentives necessary to promote investment and innovation in seeds. It has not been the patentability of seeds that has led to agricultural advances, but rather the profitability of licensing agricultural intellectual property. What if seeds were not patentable? So what if they are. Innovation in seed has been neither promoted nor incentivized by the extension of patent protection, but rather by private ordering and free markets.
Developing Students’ Identities as Legal Apprentices Through Interaction with Lawyers and Judges in a First Year Legal Writing Course

This short essay discusses several ways that legal writing professors can create opportunities for students to interact with lawyers and judges as part of a first year writing course in order to encourage students to think of themselves as lawyers in training and clarify to the students that the writing, research, citation, advocacy and professionalism skills that they learn in class will be applied in practice. Developing this apprenticeship identity as a first year law student is a critical step to reforming legal education and graduating practice-ready lawyers. By bringing lawyers and judges to the students, and by sending the students out to see lawyers and judges in practice, the students realize early on that they are embarking on an apprenticeship in law school.
Participation of Aminoacyl Transfer Ribonucleic Acid in Aminoacyl Phosphatidylglycerol Synthesis II. SPECIFICITY OF ALANYL PHOSPHATIDYLGLYCEROL SYNTHETASE

Abstract A particulate enzyme from Clostridium welchii catalyzes the synthesis of alanyl phosphatidylglycerol from alanyl-transfer RNA and phosphatidylglycerol. In order to investigate the specificity of alanyl phosphatidylglycerol synthetase toward alanyl-tRNA, a variety of derivatives of alanyl-tRNA have been prepared. N-Acetylalanyl-tRNA and lactyl-tRNA were found to be unsuitable substrates for alanyl phosphatidylglycerol synthesis. Inasmuch as control experiments indicated that the inactivity of these potential substrates could not be ascribed to modifications of the polyribonucleotide chain of the tRNA during the preparation of these derivatives, it was concluded that the synthetase has a recognition site for the aminoacyl group of alanyl-tRNA. In order to determine whether the enzyme also manifests specificity toward the polyribonucleotide chain, alanyl-tRNAcys was prepared and tested as a substrate for alanyl phosphatidylglycerol synthetase. The finding that this compound was inactive as substrate in aminoacyl lipid synthesis, despite the fact that it was active in a poly UG-dependent polypeptide-synthesizing system, indicated that alanyl phosphatidylglycerol synthetase also has a recognition site for at least a portion of the polyribonucleotide chain of alanyl-tRNA. Further support for this conclusion was obtained by experiments with a large molecular weight fragment of alanyl-tRNA produced by limited digestion with T1 RNase. The fragment was found to be inactive as a substrate in alanyl phosphatidylglycerol synthesis.
Online resource allocation using decompositional reinforcement learning

This paper considers a novel application domain for reinforcement learning: that of "autonomic computing," i.e. selfmanaging computing systems. RL is applied to an online resource allocation task in a distributed multi-application computing environment with independent time-varying load in each application. The task is to allocate servers in real time so as to maximize the sum of performance-based expected utility in each application. This task may be treated as a composite MDP, and to exploit the problem structure, a simple localized RL approach is proposed, with better scalability than previous approaches. The RL approach is tested in a realistic prototype data center comprising real servers, real HTTP requests, and realistic time-varying demand. This domain poses a number of major challenges associated with live training in a real system, including: the need for rapid training, exploration that avoids excessive penalties, and handling complex, potentially non-Markovian system effects. The early results are encouraging: in overnight training, RL performs as well as or slightly better than heavily researched model-based approaches derived from queuing theory.
Biological Risk for the Development of Problem Behavior in Adolescence: Integrating Insights From Behavioral Genetics and Neuroscience

Adolescence is a time of increasing engagement in a variety of problem behaviors, including substance use and delinquency. Genetic risk for problem behavior increases over adolescence, is mediated partially by individual differences in sensation seeking, and is exacerbated by involvement with deviant peers. In this article, we describe how findings from behavioral genetic research on problem behavior intersect with research from developmental neuroscience. In particular, the incentive-processing system, including the ventral striatum, responds increasingly to rewards in adolescence, particularly in peer contexts. This developmental shift may be influenced by hormonal changes at puberty. Individual differences in the structure and function of reward-responsive brain regions may be intermediary phenotypes that mediate adolescents' genetic risk for problem behavior. The study of problem behavior can be enriched by interdisciplinary research that integrates measures of brain structure and function into genetically informed studies.
Accelerating multicore reuse distance analysis with sampling and parallelization

Reuse distance analysis is a well-established tool for predicting cache performance, driving compiler optimizations, and assisting visualization and manual optimization of programs. Existing reuse distance analysis methods either do not account for the effects of multithreading, or suffer severe performance penalties. This paper presents a sampled, parallelized method of measuring reuse distance profiles for multithreaded programs, modeling private and shared cache configurations. The sampling technique allows it to spend much of its execution in a fast low-overhead mode, and allows the use of a new measurement method since sampled analysis does not need to consider the full state of the reuse stack. This measurement method uses O(1) data structures that may be made thread-private, allowing parallelization to reduce overhead in analysis mode. The performance of the resulting system is analyzed for a diverse set of parallel benchmarks and shown to generate accurate output compared to non-sampled full analysis as well as good results for the common application of locating low-locality code in the benchmarks, all with a performance overhead comparable to the best single-threaded analysis techniques.
Stress and changes in the blood of newts, Notophthalmus viridescens , during early regeneration

During the summers of 1984 and 1985, adult red-spotted newts,Notophthalmus viridescens, were maintained in the laboratory at 23°±0.5°C under natural photoperiods. From each of the experimental animals, the right forelimb was amputated just proximal to the elbow. Control newts were not manipulated surgically. Eight, 15, and 22 days after the time of amputation, equal numbers of regenerating and control animals were sacrificed, and blood smears of each individual were prepared with Wright's stain. Mean differential counts of leukocytes of the two groups of newts indicated that the relative number of neutrophils increased and the relative number of lymphocytes decreased in the regenerating animals as compared to their controls (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). Earlier studies had shown that lymphopenia and neutrophilia occur in red-spotted newts treated with hydrocortisone or with ACTH or subjected to environmental stress (Bennett and Daigle 1983). Consequently, it is suggested that amputation and/or early regeneration may stimulate the increased production of hormones associated with stress in vertebrates, which may, in turn, influence regeneration, itself, and that the detailed study of the distribution of leukocytes inNotophthalmus viridescens may provide an assay with which to study the regulation of regeneration in this species.