cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychiatric and Psychological Predictors of Self-Reported Health of African Americans With Severe Mental Illness

Objective: Persons with severe mental illness do not receive adequate general medical health care, and African Americans are at greater risk of poor-quality care than their European-American counterparts. Services for patients with mental illness should include an assessment of health status. Self-report is the most efficient means of obtaining health information but may be susceptible to bias. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of psychiatric symptoms, psychological factors, and demographic variables on the global self-reported health of African-American psychiatric patients. Methods: Study participants were a sample of 151 African-American psychiatric patients who received an orally administered screening interview of self-report scales, including measures of paranoia, lack of trust, need for approval, and self-esteem. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate the effects of demographic characteristics (gender, age, and education), psychological factors (distrust, need for approval, cultural mistrust, and self-esteem), and psychiatric symptoms (subjective and objective measures of psychosis) on global self-reported health. Results: The best-fitting SEM model excluded demographic variables and indicated that the latent construct for psychological factors (β=.63) had a much stronger influence than psychiatric symptoms (β=.37) on the self-reported health status of these patients. Conclusions: Physicians’ assessments of medical complaints by patients with severe mental illness should consider the effects of nonclinical psychological factors on patients’ reporting. Psychological factors associated with attitudes in the larger African-American community toward health care providers are also present in the segment with severe mental illness. (Psychiatric Services 61:669–674, 2010)
A Versatile Enantioselective Synthesis of Azabicyclic Ring Systems: A Concise Total Synthesis of (+)-Grandisine D and Unnatural Analogues

Azabicyclic ring skeletons are common structural subunits present in numerous alkaloid natural products and serve as important scaffolds in biologically active and pharmaceutically significant compounds.[1] Of particular interest in our lab (Figure 1), are the indolizidine 1, pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine 2, and pyrrolo[1,2-a]azocine 3 azabicyclic systems,[1] that are found in a number of natural products such as the indolizidine alkaloid, serratezomine (4),[2] the stemona alkaloid, stemonine (5),[3] and the manzamine alkaloid, nakadomarin A (6),[4] to highlight but a few representative examples. Other related natural products contain the corresponding lactam moiety, such as 7–9.[5–7] More recently, these azabicyclic cores are key pharmacophores of HTS hits from our MLPCN probe discovery efforts,[8] requiring robust methodology to rapidly access the parent azabicyclic ring sytems as well as flexiblity to incorporate structural diversity for analogue synthesis.[9]
Nucleotide-mediated inhibition of alveolar fluid clearance in BALB/c mice after respiratory syncytial virus infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants and children worldwide. Intranasal infection of BALB/c mice with RSV strain A2, but not ultr...
Reply to Alexander and Musgrave

I. The notion of a well-ordered society, 633. — II. The role of the original position, 637. — III. The first pair-wise comparison: two principles of justice vs. the principle of utility, 639. — IV. Alexander on the conflation problem: choice of parameter presupposes underlying conception, 643. — V. Second pair-wise comparison: interpretation of maximin, and risk aversion as a consequence, not as an assumption, 646. — VI. The contract condition and the strains of commitment, 650. — VII. Musgrave on leisure trade-off: maximin not merely second best, 653.
Discovering factors that influence the success of community-based marine protected areas in the Visayas, Philippines

Community-based marine protected areas have become a popular coastal resources management method advocated in many projects and programs. While many case studies have been written about factors contributing to project success, few empirical studies using quantitative methods have been employed. A study was conducted of 45 community-based marine protected areas in Philippines. Several success measures were developed and analyzed in relation to a number of independent variables categorized as contextual or project intervention factors. Correlations between individual factors and the dependent variables are discussed. Stepwise multiple regression was used to determine the most important predictors of success. These included: population size of the community, a perceived crisis in terms of reduced fish populations, successful alternative income projects, high levels of participation in community decision making, continuing advice from the implementing organization and inputs from local government. The implications of these results for policy makers and project managers are discussed.
Simulations testing the performance of three product pricing rules when applied using data on past operations

This paper describes the performance of learning, markup and pseudo-maximizing pricing rules when applied using data on past operations in simulated environments. Performance is evaluated on (1) average last profit achieved after ten periods of experimentation with alternative prices and (2) total profit achieved over ten periods. The pseudo-maximizing rule performs at least as well as other feasible rules when the demand and cost curves are both deterministic and when the demand curve is deterministic and the cost curve is linear, but stochastic. In all other settings, the markup rule performs at least as well as other feasible rules.
Modeling Small Oscillating Biological Networks in Analog VLSI

We have used analog VLSI technology to model a class of small oscillating biological neural circuits known as central pattern generators (CPG). These circuits generate rhythmic patterns of activity which drive locomotor behaviour in the animal. We have designed, fabricated, and tested a model neuron circuit which relies on many of the same mechanisms as a biological central pattern generator neuron, such as delays and internal feedback. We show that this neuron can be used to build several small circuits based on known biological CPG circuits, and that these circuits produce patterns of output which are very similar to the observed biological patterns.
A Nomogram for the Prediction of Kidney Stone Recurrence

In the 1980s, Ljunghall and Danielson reported a prospective study of renal stone recurrences.[1][1] Among a group of 54 patients with their first episode of renal colic, 53% of the patients developed recurrences within an 8-year period, with the highest number of recurrences taking place during the
Fourier-transform method of phase-shift determination

A new phase-shifting interferometry analysis technique has been developed to overcome the errors introduced by nonlinear, irregular, or unknown phase-step increments. In the presence of a spatial carrier frequency, by observation of the phase of the first-order maximum in the Fourier domain, the global phase-step positions can be measured, phase-shifting elements can be calibrated, and the accuracy of phase-shifting analysis can be improved. Furthermore, reliance on the calibration accuracy of transducers used in phase-shifting interferometry can be reduced; and phase-retrieval errors (e.g., fringe print-through) introduced by uncalibrated fluctuations in the phase-shifting phase increments can be alleviated. The method operates deterministically and does not rely on iterative global error minimization. Relative to other techniques, the number of recorded interferograms required for analysis can be reduced.
a Possible Description of Multiplicity Distribution at High Energies

It is shown that the parameters of two negative binomials describing the multiplicity distribution of secondary charged particles are connected with the mechanisms of generations and decays of two-body resonances.
The relationship between the field-shifting phenomenon and representational coherence of place cells in CA1 and CA3 in a cue-altered environment

Subfields of the hippocampus display differential dynamics in processing a spatial environment, especially when changes are introduced to the environment. Specifically, when familiar cues in the environment are spatially rearranged, place cells in the CA3 subfield tend to rotate with a particular set of cues (e.g., proximal cues), maintaining a coherent spatial representation. Place cells in CA1, in contrast, display discordant behaviors (e.g., rotating with different sets of cues or remapping) in the same condition. In addition, on average, CA3 place cells shift their firing locations (measured by the center of mass, or COM) backward over time when the animal encounters the changed environment for the first time, but not after that first experience. However, CA1 displays an opposite pattern, in which place cells exhibit the backward COM-shift only from the second day of experience, but not on the first day. Here, we examined the relationship between the environment-representing behavior (i.e., rotation vs. remapping) and the COM-shift of place fields in CA1 and CA3. Both in CA1 and CA3, the backward (as well as forward) COM-shift phenomena occurred regardless of the rotating versus remapping of the place cell. The differential, daily time course of the onset/offset of backward COM-shift in the cue-altered environment in CA1 and CA3 (on day 1 in CA1 and from day 2 onward in CA3) stems from different population dynamics between the subfields. The results suggest that heterogeneous, complex plasticity mechanisms underlie the environment-representating behavior (i.e., rotate/remap) and the COM-shifting behavior of the place cell.
Semi-Supervised Learning with Adversarially Missing Label Information

We address the problem of semi-supervised learning in an adversarial setting. Instead of assuming that labels are missing at random, we analyze a less favorable scenario where the label information can be missing partially and arbitrarily, which is motivated by several practical examples. We present nearly matching upper and lower generalization bounds for learning in this setting under reasonable assumptions about available label information. Motivated by the analysis, we formulate a convex optimization problem for parameter estimation, derive an efficient algorithm, and analyze its convergence. We provide experimental results on several standard data sets showing the robustness of our algorithm to the pattern of missing label information, outperforming several strong baselines.
Effects of e–mail availability on the informal network

Electronic mail is becoming more and more common in organizations. Despite the technological sophistication of e–mail, questions remain regarding the value of the innovation for organizations. The assumption that the presence of electronic mail, in and of itself, obviates internal communication problems is clearly inaccurate and insidiously problematic. Researchers need to examine electronic mail in terms of what it can actually do to help employees manage information. This paper reports the findings of a study that assessed the effects of e–mail availability on the activity of the informal network and on the dissemination of upward and 'human' messages in a classroom setting.
On the temperature variation of threshold voltage of GaAs MESFETs

The authors have investigated the temperature dependence of the threshold voltage of depletion-mode GaAs MESFETs with epitaxially grown n channels. An approach to threshold shift analysis that allows direct comparison with threshold measurement is taken. The contributions from various temperature-dependent effects to the threshold-voltage shift were studied, including the built-in voltage of the Schottky barrier, deep-level transients, capping layer effects, the substrate-channel built-in voltage, and the k factor which is related to channel mobility. A quasi-DC method for threshold voltage measurement, which enables threshold voltage to be measured as a function of temperature with minimum deep-level transient effect is reported. A method has also been developed to measure the temperature dependence of built-in voltage which is completely free from transient effects. The results show that the major contributors to the temperature variation of threshold voltage are the temperature dependence of the Schottky barrier built-in voltage and the effect of the capping layer. >
Utility of MRI in the Characterization of Indeterminate Small Renal Lesions Previously Seen on Screening CT Scans of Potential Renal Donor Patients

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MRI could more confidently characterize indeterminate small renal lesions (< 15 mm) previously seen on CT scans of potential renal donor patients and whether such characterization could impact surgical management and donor candidate status. MATERIALS AND METHODS. After dedicated contrast-enhanced renal CT examinations of a population of renal donor patients identified indeterminate small renal lesions (< 15 mm), dedicated renal MRI examinations were performed for 55 of those patients. Two radiologists used consensus reading of established MRI characteristics to characterize indeterminate small lesions as simple cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, angiomyolipomas, or solid renal masses. RESULTS. A total of 94 indeterminate small renal lesions were detected on CT. MRI was able to confidently diagnose 93 of those lesions, including 83 cysts, eight hemorrhagic cysts, and two angiomyolipomas. MRI directly affected the surgical management of four of the patien...
Human Papillomavirus Genotype 31 Does Not Express Detectable MicroRNA Levels during Latent or Productive Virus Replication

It has recently become clear that several pathogenic DNA viruses express virally encoded microRNAs in infected cells. In particular, numerous microRNAs have been identified in a range of human and animal herpesviruses, and individual microRNAs have also been identified in members of the polyoma- and adenovirus families. Although their functions remain largely unknown, it seems likely that these viral microRNAs play an important role in viral replication in vivo. Here we present an analysis of the microRNAs expressed in human cells during the latent and productive phases of the human papillomavirus genotype 31 (HPV31) replication cycle. Although over 500 cellular microRNAs were cloned and identified, not a single HPV31-specific microRNA was obtained. We therefore concluded that HPV31, and possibly human papillomaviruses in general, does not express viral microRNAs.
Viral capsid mobility: a dynamic conduit for inactivation.

Abstract Mass spectrometry and fluorescent probes have provided direct evidence that alkylating agents permeate the protein capsid of naked viruses and chemically inactivate the nucleic acid. N-acetyl-aziridine and a fluorescent alkylating agent, dansyl sulfonate aziridine, inactivated three different viruses, flock house virus, human rhinovirus-14, and foot and mouth disease virus. Mass spectral studies as well as fluorescent probes showed that alkylation of the genome was the mechanism of inactivation. Because particle integrity was not affected by selective alkylation (as shown by electron microscopy and sucrose gradient experiments), it was reasoned that the dynamic nature of the viral capsid acts as a conduit to the interior of the particle. Potential applications include fluorescent labeling for imaging viral genomes in living cells, the sterilization of blood products, vaccine development, and viral inactivation in vivo.
Storytelling as cultural assessment.

Abstract This article describes how story was used to teach cultural assessment to baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in clinicals in long-term care facilities. Class sessions focused on learning to elicit and listen to patients' stories and use story as an assessment tool in clinical practice. With their peers, students learned to listen in a nonjudgmental, contextual way to the values and beliefs of the storyteller. They learned that all people, even those from the dominant mainstream culture, have stories to tell, and that stories build bridges between nurses and clients.
Proceedings of the 2002 ACM symposium on Document engineering

Welcome to the ACM Symposium on Document Engineering (DocEng) 2002, the second in a series of meetings on the emerging area of document engineer-ing, which investigates, from the perspective of computer science, systems for creating, managing, and maintaining documents in any form and in all media.DocEng'02 is the second in what we hope will be a long series of meet-ings. The first of the series, DocEng'01, was held in Atlanta, GA during November of 2001. The symposium continues the tradition of several other con-ferences, including the long series of biennial Electronic Publishing (EP) confer-ences and Principles of Document Processing workshops, the 2000 Digital Documents and Electronic Publishing conference, the 1988 ACM Conference on Document Processing Systems, and the 1981 ACM Symposium on Text Manipulation.DocEng'02 once again joins with the ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM) to present this symposium. We wish to thank the CIKM organizing committee for their assistance.The technical program results from the efforts of the Program Committee and additional reviewers. Each paper received at least three reviews. We thank the PC and reviewers for their careful reviews and prompt efforts, especially as our review schedule coincided with many committee members' vacation schedules. Forty-six papers were submitted and the committee selected twenty-one papers for presentation at DocEng'02.We hope you will agree with us that the Symposium's papers reflect a broad and dynamic area of research, and share with us our excitement over the directions and activities presented here.
Evaluating computing education programs against real world needs

Two trends in recent years have produced situations that should attract the attention of computer science (CS) educators. A drop in the number of incoming college students who declare computer science as a major and an increasing demand by potential employers for graduates who have received a more "holistic" education has created an environment in which an insufficient number of unsuitably educated graduates may soon be sent forth into the workforce. A recent survey conducted by Texas A&M University -- Corpus Christi has shown that, indeed, computer science programs need to address the issue of how they educate their graduates in preparation for entering the workforce.
Middle-ear and inner-ear contribution to bone conduction in chinchilla: The development of Carhart's notch.

Abstract While the cochlea is considered the primary site of the auditory response to bone conduction (BC) stimulation, the paths by which vibratory energy applied to the skull (or other structures) reaches the inner ear are a matter of continued investigation. We present acoustical measurements of sound in the inner ear that separate out the components of BC stimulation that excite the inner ear via ossicular motion (compression of the walls of the ear canal or ossicular inertia) from the components that act directly on the cochlea (cochlear compression or inertia, and extra-cochlear ‘third-window’ pathways). The results are consistent with our earlier suggestion that the inner-ear mechanisms play a large role in bone-conduction stimulation in the chinchilla at all frequencies. However, the data also suggest the pathways that conduct vibration to the inner ear via ossicular-motion make a significant contribution to the response to BC stimulation in the 1–3 kHz range, such that interruption of these path leads to a 5 dB reduction in total stimulation in that frequency range. The mid-frequency reduction produced by ossicular manipulations is similar to the ‘Carhart's notch’ phenomenon observed in otology and audiology clinics in cases of human ossicular disorders. We also present data consistent with much of the ossicular-conducted sound in chinchilla depending on occlusion of the ear canal.
Microstructure and dielectric properties with CuO additions to liquid phase sintered BaTiO 3 thin films

The refractory nature of BaTiO3 leads to limited densification and grain growth for films processed at low temperatures and a modest nonlinear dielectric response due to a marked sensitivity to physical scale and material quality. Adding liquid-forming sintering aids, common in bulk ceramics, to thin films enhances mass transport, leading to enhanced grain growth at lower temperatures. This work explores the effectiveness of a sputtered CuO buffer layer with BaO–B2O3 (BBO) fluxes to engineer the microstructure of BaTiO3 films. Grain size and homogeneity increase in the presence of even a ∼1 nm CuO layer. In general, grain size increases from 75 to 370 nm with an addition of 2.2% BBO and 8 nm CuO. Room temperature capacitance in fluxed films increases by a factor of 5 over pure films, and ferroelectric phase transitions are clearly observable in dielectric measurements. CuO–BBO proves effective on (0001) Al2O3 and (100) MgO substrates, although all microstructures are notably finer for the latter.
Describing the evolution of mobile technology usage for Latino patients and comparing findings to national mHealth estimates

Objectives Describe the change in mobile technology used by an urban Latino population between 2011 and 2014, and compare findings with national estimates. Materials and Methods Patients were surveyed on medical history and mobile technology use. We analyzed specific areas of mobile health capacity stratified by chronic disease, age, language preference, and educational attainment. Results Of 2144 Latino patients, the percentage that owned a cell phone and texted were in-line with Pew estimates, but app usage was not. Patients with chronic disease had reduced access to mobile devices ( P < .001) and lower use of mobile phone functionalities. Discussion Prior research suggests that Latinos can access mHealth; however, we observed lower rates among Latino patients actively seeking heath care. Conclusion Published national estimates do not accurately reflect the mobile technology use of Latino patients served by our public safety-net facility. The difference is greater for older, less educated patients with chronic disease.
Dynamic near-field optical interaction between oscillating nanomechanical structures

Near-field optical techniques exploit light-matter interactions at small length scales for mechanical sensing and actuation of nanomechanical structures. Here, we study the optical interaction between two mechanical oscillators—a plasmonic nanofocusing probe-tip supported by a low frequency cantilever and a high frequency nanomechanical resonator—and leverage their interaction for local detection of mechanical vibrations. The plasmonic nanofocusing probe provides a confined optical source to enhance the interaction between the two oscillators. Dynamic perturbation of the optical cavity between the probe-tip and the resonator leads to nonlinear modulation of the scattered light intensity at the sum and difference of their frequencies. This double-frequency demodulation scheme is explored to suppress unwanted background and to detect mechanical vibrations with a minimum detectable displacement sensitivity of 0.45 pm/Hz1/2, which is limited by shot noise and electrical noise. We explore the demodulation scheme for imaging the bending vibration mode shape of the resonator with a lateral spatial resolution of 20 nm. We also demonstrate the time-resolved aspect of the local optical interaction by recording the ring-down vibrations of the resonator at frequencies of up to 129 MHz. The near-field optical technique is promising for studying dynamic mechanical processes in individual nanostructures.
Recommendations for Implementing Sustainability in New Product Development for Supply Chain Management

Six recommendations remain relevant to incorporate sustainability into New Product Development for Supply Chain Management. With respect to sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line, the current literature highlights economic sustainability issues, with a growing wealth of knowledge in the environmental area, and a significant lack of research in social sustainability for New Product Development–Supply Chain Management. Research continues to highlight the importance of evaluating the end customers’ sustainability requirements and what the end customer is willing 58 The BRC Academy Journal of Business Vol. 6, No. 1 to pay for with respect to sustainability. Areas for future research are highlighted.
The Impact of Regionalization of Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer in North Carolina since 2004

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) carries a significant risk. High-volume centers (HVCs) provide improved outcomes and regionalization is advocated. Rapid regionalization could, however, have detrimenta...
The status of gerontology in baccalaureate social work education

Labor force projections indicate that additional personnel will be needed to serve the growing number of older people. However, the current number of social workers trained in gerontology is inadequate, and estimates suggest that the gap between supply and demand of trained practitioners will continue to increase. Since many of the available positions are appropriate for baccalaureate‐level practitioners, the Virginia‐Louisiana Curriculum Project conducted research on the current status of gerontology in undergraduate education to determine if students are adequately prepared to work with the elderly. Findings in the area of curriculum, faculty expertise, and program / university resources suggest that many programs do not have sufficient content and educational resources related to older persons.
Evaluating alternative methods for biophysical and cultural ecosystem services hotspot mapping in natural resource planning

Data for biophysically modeled and Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS)-derived cultural ecosystem services have potential to identify natural resource management synergies and conflicts, but have rarely been combined. Ecosystem service hot/coldspots generated using different methods vary in their spatial extent and connectivity, with important implications. We map biophysically modeled and PPGIS-derived cultural services for six U.S. national forests using six hot/coldspot delineation methods. We evaluate the implications of hotspot methods for management within and outside of designated wilderness areas. We used the ARIES and SolVES modeling tools to quantify four biophysically modeled and 11 largely cultural ecosystem services for six national forests in Colorado and Wyoming, USA. We mapped hot/coldspots using two quantile methods (top and bottom 10 and 33 % of values), two area-based methods (top and bottom 10 and 33 % of area), and two statistical methods (Getis-Ord Gi* at α = 0.05 and 0.10 significance level) and compare results within and outside wilderness areas. Delineation methods vary in their degree of conservatism for hot/coldspot extents and spatial clustering. Hotspots were more common in wilderness areas in national forests near the more densely populated Colorado Front Range, while coldspots were more common in wilderness areas in more urban-distant forests in northwest Wyoming. Statistical hotspot methods of intermediate conservatism (i.e., Getis-Ord Gi*, α = 0.10 significance) may be most useful for ecosystem service hot/coldspot mapping to inform landscape scale planning. We also found spatially explicit evidence in support of past findings about public attitudes toward wilderness areas.
Experimental Research on Shooter Bias: Ready (or Relevant) for Application in the Courtroom?

Police officers are charged with protecting the public, and they must make difficult life-or-death decisions in tense circumstances. High-profile instances of officers shooting innocent Black people led to a flurry of shooter bias research, which examines how race influences split-second shooting decisions. We give an overview of the evidence in this literature to date, to evaluate the robustness of the evidence related to shooter bias and police officers. The extant experimental evidence from police officer samples is mixed, and does not allow us to make any strong inferences about the role of race in officers’ shooting decisions. We then discuss whether the questions asked by shooter bias research are even relevant to the decisions jurors must during cases of officer-involved shootings.
From Positivism to Critical Theory: School-Community Relations toward Community Equity Literacy.

AbstractIn recent years, research on urban school–community relations has emerged with renewed vigor and a myriad of suggestions for how to best approach the topic. While most of these suggestions are anchored in positivist and interpretive epistemologies, a growing number of scholars are applying more critical approaches to school–community relations that center issues of equity and unequal power relations. However, these approaches are often perceived as being too impractical for educational leaders to implement. This article thus situates approaches to school–community relations across three epistemologies: positivism, interpretivism, and critical theory to make these ideas more accessible for educational leaders. With a focus on developing educational leaders to work equitably across school and community contexts, this article provides an operating framework for each approach that delineates assumptions, goals, views of families, strategies, and types of leadership. Finally, this article provides an e...
Perioperative Patient Management of Adult Lumbar Scoliosis

Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery requires significant interventions as have been outlined in the previous chapters. With these larger surgeries, attention to detail and pre- and postsurgical planning are critical. The spinal surgeon must preemptively intervene to minimize the risks of commonly occurring complications. In this chapter we will try to delineate the interventions that are undertaken in the perioperative period that have been shown through literature or personal experience to minimize complications.
CHAPTER 147 – PTEN/MTM Phosphatidylinositol Phosphatases

PTEN is a member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily of enzymes characterized by the invariant Cys-X 5 -Arg (CX 5 R) active site motif. However, unlike other PTP superfamily enzymes, PTEN utilizes the lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) as its substrate. This places PTEN as a negative regulator of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. PTEN has been reported to regulate signaling through Akt/PKB, PDKl, SGKl, and Rho GTPases and therefore as a modulator of a broad range of cellular processes. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) was first identified as a tumor supressor gene localized on chromosome 10q23. PTEN mutations are found at high frequencies in certain tumors, including endometrial carcinomas, gliomas, and breast and prostate cancers. Furthermore, germline mutations in the PTEN gene are found in the related autosomal disorders Cowden disease and Lhermitte-Duclos and Bannayan-Zonana syndromes. Biochemical and genetic analyses of PTEN and its role in these diseases have placed it in a group of gatekeeper genes essential for controlling cell growth and development.
Observations on the chemosensory responses of the midget faded rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor): discrimination of envenomated prey in a type II venom species

Rattlesnakes use prey chemical cues for ambush site selection and for relocating envenomated (E) prey following a predatory strike. The ability to discriminate between E and non-envenomated (NE) prey cues has been widely studied in rattlesnake species that produce type I venoms, which show high levels of snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) activity and low lethal toxicity [lethal dose which kills 50% of test animals (LD50) >1.0 µg/g]. However, E vs. NE prey discrimination studies have not been conducted on rattlesnake species that produce a type II venom that consists of low SVMP activity and high lethal toxicity (LD50 <1.0 µg/g). In the current study, long-term captive Crotalus oreganus concolor, which produce a type II venom, were tested for their ability to discriminate between chemical cues of natural (Sceloporus undulatus and Peromyscus maniculatus) and non-natural (Hemidactylus frenatus and Mus musculus) prey cues, as well as for their ability to discriminate between E and NE mouse carcasses, when prey envenomation occurred by a conspecific. Snakes showed significant levels of tongue flicking towards the chemical extracts of P. maniculatus and M. musculus, suggesting that C. oreganus concolor exhibit both innate and experience-based plasticity in response to prey chemical cues. In addition, C. oreganus concolor were able to discriminate between E and NE prey sources, when envenomation occurred by a conspecific, indicating that a type II venomous species can also discriminate between E and NE chemical cues.
Food Service Lease Use Clauses

To effectively negotiate use and exclusive clauses in a food service lease, the lawyers for both landlord and tenant must understand the nature of the food service industry, the potential overlap between food sales and food service tenants and among various food service tenants, and the parties’ purposes in entering into a food service lease. This Article examines various types of use clauses in the context of the food service industry and suggests factors to be considered during a lease negotiation. The author illustrates the need for careful drafting by surveying the historical and practical distinctions between the many different types of food service establishments.
Religion, Spirituality, Mental Health, and Mental Illness

In some situations, it can be difficult to determine whether a client’s behavior reflects religious/spiritual belief or is indicative of mental illness. It may also be challenging to determine whether the advice that a client received from a trusted spiritual or religious authority may be harmful or helpful to his or her mental health. This chapter provides some considerations to help for distinguish between religious/spiritual experience and mental illness and between helpful and harmful religious/spiritual interventions for mental illness symptoms. Clinical examples are provided.
Exposure to male sexual scents (androstenone) influences women’s drinking.

In a demonstration of a heretofore unknown motivational pathway for alcohol consumption, we recently showed that exposure to scents emitted by human females during the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle could increase men's drinking. The current study examined the reverse: whether exposure to male sexual scents (androstenone) would increase women's drinking. One hundred three female participants were primed with either androstenone or a control prime (plain water) camouflaged as a men's "cologne." They then completed a laboratory assessment of beer consumption and related measures. (Nonalcoholic beer was used for methodological and safety reasons.) Results indicated that females exposed to the androstenone prime drank significantly more than those exposed to the control prime. Social and sexual expectancies taken subsequent to drinking (to avoid unwanted manipulation influences) were correlated with drinking in the primed group but not in the neutral group, supporting the idea that information-processing pathways related to alcohol use had been engaged in the primed group. Few females were ovulating, precluding assessment of the effects of fertility on this process. Because of the centrality of sexual signaling to fundamental evolutionary/biological forces, these results indicate a potentially powerful influence on alcohol consumption that calls for continued investigation. (PsycINFO Database Record
Far, yet so Near: Normativity in Japan's Diplomacy with the Central Asian Republics

Japan has been playing a steady and pivotal role in Central Asia since the fall of the Soviet Union, but to presume Tokyo's engagement is predicted on strategic interests that compete with other po...
Diversity in Community Psychology

What does diversity mean for community psychology? What has it meant in the past, what should it mean in the future? Community psychology has always held as an ideal a focus on the rich variability of individual behaviors in diverse community and cultural contexts; however, a focus on diversity in community psychology research often has fallen short of this ideal. Beyond its meaning as an analysis of individual differences or sociodemographic classifiers, diversity in community psychology has taken on a more complex contemporary meaning. We begin this discussion with an examination of how the definition of diversity has evolved, and how it has been represented in community psychology research.
Finite End Intervals in Definable Quotients of ε

It will be shown that in a factor lattice of the lattice of c.e. sets under inclusion with respect to a special congruence relation, there exists a finite end interval which is not a Boolean algebra.
A data-driven framework for sparsity-enhanced surrogates with arbitrary mutually dependent randomness

Abstract The challenge of quantifying uncertainty propagation in real-world systems is rooted in the high-dimensionality of the stochastic input and the frequent lack of explicit knowledge of its probability distribution. Traditional approaches show limitations for such problems, especially when the size of the training data is limited. To address these difficulties, we have developed a general framework of constructing surrogate models on spaces of stochastic input with arbitrary probability measure irrespective of the mutual dependencies between individual components of the random inputs and the analytical form. The present Data-driven Sparsity-enhancing Rotation for Arbitrary Randomness (DSRAR) framework includes a data-driven construction of multivariate polynomial basis for arbitrary mutually dependent probability measures and a sparsity enhancement rotation procedure. This sparsity enhancement method was initially proposed in our previous work (Lei et al., 2015) for Gaussian density distributions, which may not be feasible for non-Gaussian distributions due developed a new data-driven approach to construct orthonormal polynomials for arbitrary mutually dependent randomness, ensuring the constructed basis maintains the orthogonality/near-orthogonality with respect to the density of the rotated random vector, where directly applying the regular polynomial chaos including arbitrary polynomial chaos (aPC) Oladyshkin and Nowak (2012) shows limitations due to the assumption of the mutual independence between the components of the random inputs. The developed DSRAR framework leads to accurate recovery, with only limited training data, of a sparse representation of the target functions. The effectiveness of our method is demonstrated in challenging problems such as partial differential equations and realistic molecular systems within high-dimensional ( O ( 10 ) ) conformational spaces where the underlying density is implicitly represented by a large collection of sample data, as well as systems with explicitly given non-Gaussian probabilistic measures.
Shakespeare, Alienation, and the Working-Class Student

Much scholarship focused on teaching at working-class universities assumes that professors should not “alienate” their students. As much as it would seem unethical for professors to seek to alienate working-class students, a pedagogy of alienation is precisely what this essay encourages. Drawing on the work of Walter Kaufmann, this essay suggests that the best humanist pedagogies strive to create a culture shock in which students must reappraise their own ways of thinking face-to-face with a challenging other. Despite how counterintuitive it may seem, professors who strive to reduce alienation unwittingly reduce the quality of their students’ education. If elite institutions provide a better education through a selective alienation of students to the objects of their studies, it is unethical to teach working-class students from a watered-down form of pedagogy simply because the educator believes they cannot cope with unadulterated form of teaching.
Designing sustainable online support: Examining the effects of design change in 49 online health support communities

Online social support communities can significantly improve health outcomes for individuals living with disease. Although they are well studied in the literature, little research examines how sociotechnical design changes influence the sustainability of support communities for different medical conditions. We compare the impact of a single design change on 49 disease‐specific health support forums hosted on the WebMD platform, a popular online health information service. A statistical analysis showcases changes in posting patterns before and after the design intervention; a subsequent interpretive examination of forum content reveals how the design change affected members' perceived affordances of the platform. Our findings suggest that, despite differences between communities, the design change triggered a common set of cascading effects: it made it difficult for core users to create and maintain relationships, that led them to ultimately leave the site, and, in turn, reduced the activity drawing newcomers to the platform. Using these findings, we argue that the design of sustainable and robust online communities must account for systemic, sociotechnical dynamics.
Nanopolysaccharides in Barrier Composites

The purpose of a barrier layer or film in a packaging product is to slow down or essentially eliminate the progress of oxygen, water vapor, or other molecules, thereby extending the shelf life, safety, and maybe also the taste of products—especially in the case of foods. This chapter discusses progress in the preparation of barrier composite films that include nanopolysaccharides, such as nanochitin, nanostarch, and nanocellulose. The reviewed research shows that these eco-friendly components in the resulting films often can improve barrier properties. While nanocellulose has attracted more research attention, nanostarch particles can be prepared under less aggressive chemical conditions, and particles related to chitin might possibly be preferred when one of the goals is to achieve antimicrobial effects. Nanopolysaccharides are also likely to find future applications in barrier films containing montmorillonite clay (nanoclay) and in multi-layer barrier film systems.
BJPsych Open fifth anniversary editorial: history, accomplishments, trajectory and passion

BJPsych Open has come of age. This editorial celebrates the journal's fifth anniversary by reviewing the history of BJPsych Open, what we have accomplished, where we strive to go (our planned trajectory) and the passion of being an Editor-in-Chief.
Urothelial Carcinomas with Trophoblastic Differentiation, including Choriocarcinoma: Clinicopathologic Series of 16 Cases

Trophoblastic differentiation (including choriocarcinoma) arising in urothelial carcinoma has been described in numerous case reports, but never in a single series. We present a series of these tumors, describing the morphologic spectrum, applying traditional and novel immunohistochemical stains, and characterizing clinical follow-up. We identified 16 cases, arising predominantly in the bladder (N=14), but also the ureter (N=1) and prostatic urethra (N=1). Six of our cases (38%) contained invasive urothelial carcinoma with admixed syncytiotrophoblasts, 8 cases (50%) consisted of invasive urothelial carcinoma with choriocarcinoma, 1 case (6%) showed urothelial carcinoma in situ with associated choriocarcinoma, and 1 case (6%) consisted of pure choriocarcinoma. Other subtypes of variant morphology were seen in 5 of our cases (31%) and included squamous, glandular, lipoid, chordoid/myxoid, and sarcomatoid features. Given the limited specificity of human chorionic gonadotropin immunohistochemistry, we also studied the expression of a novel specific trophoblastic marker, hydroxyl-δ-5-steroid dehydrogenase, as well as Sal-like protein 4. Human chorionic gonadotropin expression was seen in nearly all cases (93%) but was often not limited to the trophoblastic component, staining the urothelial component also in 85% of the cases. Expression of hydroxyl-δ-5-steroid dehydrogenase was more sensitive and more specific, staining 100% of the cases and limited to trophoblasts in all but 1 case. Sal-like protein 4 expression was variable, staining trophoblast in only 50% of cases and staining the urothelial carcinoma component in 43% of those positive cases. Most of our tumors presented at a high stage and were associated with poor clinical outcomes, with at least muscle-invasive disease (pT2) in 10 of the 14 bladder tumors (71%), periureteric fat invasion in the ureter tumor (pT3), distant metastases in 7 of 16 cases (44%) and death of disease in 3 of the 15 patients with follow-up (20%). Our study describes a series of urothelial carcinomas with trophoblastic differentiation, demonstrating the morphologic spectrum of this entity, its frequent association with other subtypes of variant morphology, its characteristic immunoprofile, and its aggressive clinical behavior.
Gold nanorods enable noninvasive longitudinal monitoring of hydrogels in vivo with photoacoustic tomography.

Abstract Longitudinal in vivo monitoring is essential for the design and evaluation of biomaterials. An ideal method would provide three-dimensional quantitative information, high spatial resolution, deep tissue penetration, and contrast between tissue and material structures. Photoacoustic (PA) or optoacoustic imaging is a hybrid technique that allows three-dimensional imaging with high spatial resolution. In addition, photoacoustic imaging allows for imaging of vascularization based on the intrinsic contrast of hemoglobin. In this study, we investigated photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) as a tool for longitudinal monitoring of an implanted hydrogel in a small animal model. Hydrogels were loaded with gold nanorods to enhance contrast and imaged weekly for 8 weeks. PACT allowed non-invasive three-dimensional, quantitative imaging of the hydrogels over the entire 8 weeks. Quantitative volume analysis was used to evaluate the in vivo degradation kinetics of the implants which deviated slightly from in vitro predictions. Multispectral imaging allowed for the simultaneous analysis of hydrogel degradation and local vascularization. These results provide support for the substantial potential of PACT as a tool for insight into biomaterial performance in vivo.