cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of the operational definition for first‐episode psychosis

Aim: Given the growing interest in the study of first-episode psychosis, clinical and research programmes would benefit from a conceptual clarification of how to operationalize ‘first-episode psychosis’. We review the variety of definitions in use and discuss their relative merits with respect to both clinical (e.g. early treatment) and research (e.g. obtaining meaningfully homogeneous populations) agendas. Methods: We completed a selective review of the literature to investigate how first-episode psychosis was operationally defined. Results: Operational definitions for ‘first-episode psychosis’ fall largely into three categories: (i) first treatment contact; (ii) duration of antipsychotic medication use; and (iii) duration of psychosis. Each definitional category contains a number of underlying assumptions that contribute to the strengths and weaknesses of the definition. Conclusions: The term ‘first-episode psychosis’ as used within clinical and research settings is misleading regardless of which operational definition is used. This term is typically used to refer to individuals early in the course of a psychotic illness or treatment rather than individuals who are truly in the midst of a first ‘episode’ of illness. The alternative of ‘recent-onset psychosis’ with related definitions based on ‘duration of psychosis’ is proposed. Based on this review, we provide suggestions with regard to the overarching pragmatic consideration of setting up a clinical service that can attract and assemble a population of early psychosis patients for the related purposes of treatment and research.
Alternative Firm Strategies for Signaling Quality in the Food System

Dynamics in the global food system, coupled with rapid advance in agricultural biotechnology, have resulted in additional demands for capturing information and sharing information vertically within the supply chain. Food safety and quality characteristics are a cornerstone of this information demand. Events such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), genetic engineering and animal welfare concerns have laid the foundation for additional information need. Managers of private firms within the food supply chain must decide how to respond to the situation. A crucial component of the problem is what and how to provide information to downstream customers as well as stipulate what and how information is received from upstream suppliers. Alternative signaling mechanisms abound. The choice among these alternative signals, or combination of alternatives, has both short- and long-run implications for the reputation of the firm, its products or services, and the efficiency with which it conducts its business. The signaling problem in the supply chain is bidirectional and has three critical dimensions: information asymmetry, incentive asymmetry, and arduous measurability. From a broad perspective, the choice set for signaling includes: strategies that rely on third-party protocols and procedures; differentiation through branding and reputation; indemnification strategies such as insurance, warranties, and bonding; and coordination strategies such as strategic alliances and vertical integration (intemalization). Each mechanism for signaling differentially influences the three dimensions of the signaling problem. No globally optimal strategy solution exists. Differentiation through branding and reputation mitigate the signaling problem relatively well compared with the other alternatives.
Abstract 2389: PTEN localizes to the nucleus and interacts with Rad52 in response to DNA damage

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA PTEN is a tumor suppressor with a dual phosphatase activity. Mutations of PTEN gene has been associated with many sporadic cancers and heritable neoplastic syndromes. PTEN also exhibits nuclear localization. However, the exact function of nuclear PTEN remains unclear. Here we show that PTEN exhibits a time-dependent nuclear translocation after DNA damage, co-localizing with DNA damage foci on chromatin, and that the nuclear translocation of PTEN is closely associated with its phosphorylation on S366/T370. Deletional analysis reveals that C2 domain of PTEN is responsible for its nuclear translocation after exposure to genotoxin. Both casein kinase 2 and GSK3β are involved in the phosphorylation of S366/T370, as well as PTEN's association with chromatin during DNA damage response. Significantly, PTEN specifically interacts with Rad52 and positively regulates its sumoylation. Taken together, these observations strongly suggest that PTEN may mediate DNA damage repair through interacting with and regulating Rad52 in the nucleus. Citation Format: Byeong Hyeok Choi, Wei Dai. PTEN localizes to the nucleus and interacts with Rad52 in response to DNA damage. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2389. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2389
Mechanisms of the initiation of protein synthesis: in reading frame binding of ribosomes to mRNA.

The various mechanisms proposed to describe the initiation of protein synthesis are reviewed with a focus on their initiation signals. A characteristic feature of the various mechanisms is that each one of them postulates a distinct initiation signal. The signals of the Shine–Dalgarno (SD), the scanning and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) mechanisms are all located exclusively in the 5′ leader sequence, whereas, the signal of the cumulative specificity (CS) mechanism includes the entire initiation site (IS). Computer analysis of known E. coli IS sequences showed signal characteristics in the entire model IS consisting of 47 bases, in segments of the 5′ leader and of the protein-coding regions. The proposal that eukaryotic translation actually occurs in two steps is scrutinized. In a first step, initiation factors (eIF4F) interact with the cap of the mRNA, thereby enhancing the accessibility of the IS. In the second step, initiation is by the conserved prokaryotic mechanism in which the ribosomes bind directly to the mRNA without ribosomal scanning. This binding occurs by the proposed process of in reading frame binding of ribosomes to mRNA, which is consistent with the CS mechanism. The basic CS mechanism is able to account for the initiation of translation of leaderless mRNAs, as well as for that of canonical mRNAs. The SD, the scanning and the IRES mechanisms, on the other hand, are inconsistent with the initiation of translation of leaderless mRNAs. Based on these and other observations, it is deemed that the CS mechanism is the universal initiation mechanism.
Optically Gated Capillary Electrophoresis of o-Phthalaldehyde/β-Mercaptoethanol Derivatives of Amino Acids for Chemical Monitoring

Optically gated capillary electrophoresis (CE) of amino acids derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde/β-mercaptoethanol (OPA/β-ME) was explored as a means to monitor amino acids with high temporal resolution. In agreement with a theoretical model described herein, 98% of a given concentration of OPA/β-ME derivatives can be photobleached by a few milliwatts of the 350-nm line of an argon ion laser with just 0.7-ms exposure times in 5-μm-i.d. capillaries. The low background from such high photobleaching efficiency allows detection limits in the low-nanomolar range for all amino acids tested. The short injection times possible with optical gating allow separation efficiencies of nearly 200 000 plates to be achieved in less than 1 s under ideal conditions. Under mock in vivo conditions, separations were slower and had lower efficiency due to reduced electroosmotic flow associated with the high salt content. To demonstrate chemical monitoring, the optically gated CE system was interfaced to two different sampling pr...
Customized architectures for faster route finding in GPS-based navigation systems

GPS based navigation systems became popular in dedicated handheld devices, and are now also found in modern cell phones, and other small personal devices. A key element of any navigation system is fast and effective route finding, and this depends heavily on Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm. Dijkstra's algorithm is serial in nature; prior efforts to accelerate it through parallel processing have had almost no success. In this paper, we present a practical approach to extract small-scale parallelism by shifting priority queue operations to a secondary tightly-coupled processor. We obtain a substantial speedup on real-world graphs (in particular, road maps), allowing the development of navigation systems that are more responsive, and also lower in total power consumption.
Effects of the nature of coke on the activity and stability of the hybrid catalyst used in the aromatization of ethylene and n-butane

Abstract In the aromatization of light hydrocarbons, hybrid catalysts containing Zn or Ga supported co-catalysts showed much better performance and on-stream stability than the parent ZSM-5 zeolite. This was attributed to the beneficial effect of the co-catalyst on the nature of the coke formed in the zeolite particles. In fact, with both Zn and Ga hybrid catalyst systems, it was observed that the coke species formed were ‘light’ coke having a paraffinic nature, in contrast with the more aromatic ‘heavy’ coke produced by the parent zeolite. Particularly with n -butane feed, it was the nature of the coke formed which determined the activity and stability of the catalyst since both catalysts produced nearly equal amounts of coke under the same reaction conditions. As a general result of this study, the lighter the coke formed, the more aromatic the product stream and the higher the on-stream catalyst stability.
The anatomic basis for the superior acetabular roof notch "superior acetabular notch".

Radiographic discontinuity of the acetabulum is a frequently encountered entity which has been described by various authors. We have been unable to find an explanation of the nature of this discontinuity in the literature. By correlating dried skeletal specimens with their radiographic appearances, we found the anatomic basis for this phenomenon was an accessory fossa in the apex of the acetabulum.
Antigen-presenting cells are targets of regulatory T cells similar to those that mediate anterior chamber-associated immune deviation

Purpose: To identify the means by which in-vitro-generated regulatory T cells, similar to those in anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID), suppress antigen-specific T-cell responses. Methods: T regulators (T regs), generated by stimulating ovalbumin (OVA)-specific Tcr transgenic DO11.10 T cells with OVA-pulsed, TGF-β2-treated peritoneal exudates cells (PEC), or their supernatants were added to OVA-pulsed PEC that were used to activate DO11.10 T cells in vitro or to suppress OVA-specific delayed hypersensitivity (DH) induction in vivo. Results: OVA-pulsed PECs exposed in vitro to TGF-β-producing T regs or their supernatants failed to activate DO11.10 T cells in vitro, and suppressed DH in mice immunized with OVA plus adjuvant. Conclusion: T cells exposed to TGF-β2-pretreated, antigen-pulsed PECs secrete soluble factors, including active TGF-β that regulate OVA-specific responses by forcing antigen-presenting cells to promote deviant T-cell activation in vitro and in vivo.
Role of fatty acids in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Insulin resistance is defined as the reduced responsiveness to normal circulating levels of insulin. It is the basic condition of type 2 diabetes mellitus, in which both experimental animals and humans accumulate lipids intracellularly in skeletal muscle and liver. Measurement of these lipids in humans, using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy after lipid infusion, indicated they could cause inhibition of the glucose transporter GLUT4, thereby suppressing glucose entry into cells and inhibiting glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis in muscle. Furthermore, it is known that the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase2 (ACC2) suppresses the oxidation of fatty acids by inhibiting the entry of fatty acids into mitochondria. Further support for the lipocentric hypothesis of the pathogenesis of insulin resistance was provided by knocking out the gene coding for ACC2 in mice; this led to greater fatty acid oxidation, reduced fat mass and, in consequence, greatly enhanced insulin sensitivity. These studies suggest that a specific inhibitor of ACC2 would have therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
A novel, reduced rating active filter for 3-phase, 4-wire loads

This paper presents an invertor-based active power harmonics filter with reduced ratings for three-phase, four-wire loads. The analytical calculations are verified by means of simulations. A comparative evaluation with other schemes shows that the proposed topology has the lowest kVA rating. >
Causes and Consequences of Displacement Decision-making in Banhine National Park, Mozambique

Around the world, decision-making is looming regarding the displacement of people resident in and reliant on the natural capital in protected areas. While policies such as the World Bank's safeguard policy on involuntary resettlement guides decisions about the potential displacement of people in protected areas, there are often political and other obstacles to implementation. In the case of displacement decision-making in Banhine National Park (BNP), Mozambique, district-level government officials promoted the displacement of BNP-area residents and their resettlement into villages outside the park in a manner that was inconsistent with the World Bank safeguard policy. The decision to displace park residents was influenced by communication and capacity challenges, pressures for political decentralisation, the local-level operationalisation of international poverty reduction and development agendas, and a national-level agenda to concentrate or villagise dispersed rural populations. Ideas regarding inhabited versus uninhabited protected area models only influenced how displacement and resettlement occurred and not whether it occurred. Protected area displacement debates that do not account for broader and more powerful political forces may be of little significance to real decisions regarding displacement.
Genetic parameters for first lactation milk yields at three levels of herd production.

Abstract A multivariate linear model was used to estimate sire variance and covariance components and residual variance components for first lactation milk yield and logarithms of yield at three herd production levels using Restricted Maximum Likelihood with the Expectation-Maximization algorithm. Data for four separate analyses were 305-d, mature equivalent first lactation milk records from cows sired artificially in the northeastern United States that freshened in 1970, 1971, 1976, and 1984. Respective numbers of records for each year were 42,618, 40,207, 33,581, and 34,196. Corresponding numbers of sires were 298, 289, 305, and 313. Herd production level was defined by mean yield of all cows freshening in same herd-year-season. For untransformed records sire and residual components of variance increased as mean increased, both within and between years. Correlations between sire effects at different production levels were all above .85. Heritabilities increased as production level increased. These results indicate that it may be necessary to account for heterogeneous genetic and environmental variance in sire evaluations. For logarithms of yield, sire components of variance were similar for each of the three production levels within a year. Residual components for logarithms decreased as production level increased. Change in variance from one production level to another was considerably more for logarithms than for untransformed yields.
Virus of Spontaneous Encephalomyelitis Found in Intestines of Normal Wild Gray Mice

Conclusions(1) Wild gray house-mice are as susceptible to intracerebral introduction of Theiler's virus as are albino mice. (2) Apparently normal gray mice trapped in an animal house in which almost all adult albino mice are carriers of Theiler's virus, reveal this virus in their intestines and not in their brains. (3) The virus is indistinguishable from that obtained from the intestines of normal albino mice. (4) The number of gray mice shown to be carriers of Theiler's virus, while considerable, appears to be lower than that of carriers found among the albino strain.Preliminary tests to the present time have failed to indicate that the virus is demonstrable in gray house and field mice trapped at a distance from the laboratory. This subject is still under investigation.
Comprehensive assessment of the healthy gravida.

A prenatal assessment guide which will assist in the synthesis of data collected from the physiological, psychosocial, and experience realms of the healthy gravida is presented. The guide can be used by antepartum nurses working in a variety of nonacute settings.
Vesicular transport is not required for the cytoplasmic pool of cholera toxin to interact with the stimulatory alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric g protein.

Cholera toxin (CT) moves from the cell surface to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by retrograde vesicular transport. The catalytic A1 polypeptide of CT (CTA1) then crosses the ER membrane, enters the cytosol, ADP-ribosylates the stimulatory α subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein (Gsα) at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane, and activates adenylate cyclase. The cytosolic pool of CTA1 may reach the plasma membrane and its Gsα target by traveling on anterograde-directed transport vesicles. We examined this possibility with the use of a plasmid-based transfection system that directed newly synthesized CTA1 to either the ER lumen or the cytosol of CHO cells. Such a system allowed us to bypass the CT retrograde trafficking itinerary from the cell surface to the ER. Previous work has shown that the ER-localized pool of CTA1 is rapidly exported from the ER to the cytosol. Expression of CTA1 in either the ER or the cytosol led to the activation of Gsα, and Gsα activation was not inhibited in transfected cells exposed to drugs that inhibit vesicular traffic. Thus, anterograde transport from the ER to the plasma membrane is not required for the cytotoxic action of CTA1.
Dynamic primary-secondary spectrum sharing with cellular systems

This paper considers primary-secondary spectrum sharing when the primary is a cellular system. Sharing is allowed if primary communications can withstand additional interference, rather than if there are no primary communications. We consider cases when primary and secondary systems cooperate (cooperative sharing) and when they do not (coexistent sharing). For coexistent sharing, we have devised novel mechanisms that allow secondaries to determine whether they can transmit and at what power without causing harmful interference to the primary by querying a sensor network rather than communicating with the primary system. A sensor network observes a primary's downstream communications to estimate upstream communications, and thus when additional interference would be tolerable. We show that even in highly utilized spectrum like a cellular band, a significant amount of communications among secondaries is possible. Moreover, if primary power consumption is a consideration, coexistent sharing is roughly as effective as cooperative sharing.
Possible Interaction between Warfarin and Lycium Barbarum L.

OBJECTIVE:To describe a patient who was stabilized on warfarin and developed an elevated international normalized ratio (INR) after drinking a concentrated Chinese herbal tea. Additionally, to determine the effect of the tea on CYP2C9, the isoenzyme responsible for the metabolism of S-warfarin.CASE SUMMARY:An elevated INR of 4.1 was observed in a 61-year-old Chinese woman, previously stabilized on anticoagulation therapy (INR 2–3). With no changes in her other medications or lifestyle, a review of her dietary habits revealed four days of drinking a concentrated Chinese herbal tea made from Lycium barbarum L. fruits (3–4 glasses daily) prior to her clinic visit. Warfarin was withheld for one day and then resumed at a lower weekly dose. She discontinued the tea, while maintaining consistency with medications and dietary habits. A follow-up INR seven days later was 2.4, and seven subsequent INR values were in the 2.0–2.5 range.DISCUSSION:L. barbarum L. (family Solanaceae) is a commonly used Chinese herb cons...
Evaluation of a Social-Emotional Learning Program in Conjunction With the Exploratory Application of Performance Feedback Incorporating Motivational Interviewing Techniques

The prevention of and early intervention with internalizing problems are vital to children's overall health and development. Schools are strongly considered a venue where these services can be provided. The Strong Kids program was developed to increase youths' resiliency. This study examined the efficacy of Strong Kids with middle school students in terms of knowledge of healthy social-emotional behaviors, reduction in internalizing symptoms, and the exploratory use of performance feedback with features of motivational interviewing. Students who participated in the program significantly increased their knowledge. Negative symptoms did not change. Teachers implemented the program with strong fidelity. It is unclear at this time the extent to which it is necessary to use performance feedback with features of motivational interviewing to improve the implementation of highly structured social-emotional learning programs.
Political Theory, Political Science, and the End of Civic Engagement

Within a span of fifteen years civic engagement has become a cottage industry in political science and political theory, but the term has now outlived its usefulness and exemplifies Giovanni Sartori's worry about conceptual “stretching.” This article traces civic engagement's ascension as a catch-all term for almost anything that citizens might happen to do together or alone, and illustrates the confusion that its popularity has occasioned. It proposes that civic engagement meet a well-deserved end, to be replaced with a more nuanced and descriptive set of engagements: political, social, and moral. It also examines the appeal of engagement itself, a term that entails both attention and energy. Attention and energy are the mainsprings of politics and most other challenging human endeavors. But they can be invested politically, or in associative pursuits, or in moral reasoning and follow-through, and those types of engagement can, but need not, coincide. We should be asking which kinds of engagement—which kinds of attention and energetic activity—make democracy work, and how they might be measured and promoted.
Real-Time Estimation of Origin-Destination Matrices with Partial Trajectories from Electronic Toll Collection Tag Data

The origin-destination (O-D) matrix of a traffic network is usually estimated from link traffic counts combined with a sample survey. Partially observed vehicle trajectories obtained with vehicle reidentification or automatic vehicle identification techniques such as electronic tags provide a new data source for real-time O-D matrix estimation. However, because of incomplete sampling, accurate estimation of O-D matrices from these data is not trivial. A statistical model was developed for such data, and an unbiased estimator of the O-D matrix was derived based on the method of moments. With further exploitation of the sound statistical model, the bootstrap standard error estimate of the O-D matrix estimator was also developed. The algorithm can be computed quickly and performs well under simulation compared with simpler estimators. Applied to data from vehicles with electronic toll collection tags in the San Francisco Bay Area, the algorithm produces a realistic time series of the hourly O-D matrix. The r...
Disinhibitory Psychopathology and Delay Discounting in Alcohol Dependence: Personality and Cognitive Correlates

Increased discounting of delayed rewards may reflect a decision bias that contributes to excessive use of alcohol and more generally, to an impulsive, disinhibitory predisposition that is characterized by a preference for immediate over long-term rewards. The current study examined the association between delay discounting of rewards and the covariation among several types of disinhibitory problems that are often comorbid with alcohol dependence (AD). Lifetime problems with alcohol, marijuana, other drugs, childhood conduct disorder, and adult antisocial behavior were assessed in a sample of 426 young adults, 257 of whom had a lifetime diagnosis of AD. Higher delay discounting rates were associated with the covariation among all domains of disinhibitory problems and were not uniquely associated with any one domain. Higher delay discounting rates also were associated with lower intelligence, lower working memory capacity, and higher trait impulsivity. The results suggest that increased delay discounting of rewards may reflect aspects of a general vulnerability to externalizing, disinhibitory disorders.
Aging of natural and acquired immunity of mice. II. Decreased T cell responses to syngeneic tumor cells and parental-strain spleen cells.

Cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) functions were compared in mice between the ages of 2 and 30 months. The stimulator cells were H-2 allogeneic spleen or tumor cells, parental-strain spleen cells, or syngeneic tumor cells. Effector cells capable of lysing syngeneic tumor cells were shown to be T cells and not NK cells. The cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) responses by spleen cells of aged mice were near normal against H-2 allogeneic spleen or tumor cells but were defective against syngeneic tumor cells or parental-strain spleen cells. The defective syngeneic tumor CML response was observed at various re-sponder:stimulator ratios and at various days of incubation. The defect was in the nonadherent, and not in the adherent, fraction of spleen cells. Suppressor cells were detected in spleens of 30 month, but not of 18 month old mice. Aged mice were more susceptible than young mice to small inocula of syngeneic C57BL EL-4 lymphoma cells. The immunogenicity of irradiated spleen cells of old mice had not changed for ...
The Ethics of Personal Integrity in Leadership and Mentorship: A Nursing Theoretical Perspective:

Mentorship has been rediscovered in the professional nursing literature. It is viewed as an integral relationship to be fostered between members of a discipline for the purpose of developing future nurse leaders. Inherent in the relationship are desired qualities or attributes that are to be taught and practiced by professional nurse leaders for the purpose of developing innovative institutional partnerships between healthcare agencies and schools of nursing. In this column, a unique definition of mentorship will be explicated from the human becoming school of thought. Ethical implications of the concept will be explored.
Error analysis of an enhanced DtN-FE method for exterior scattering problems

In this work we analyze the convergence of the high-order Enhanced DtN-FEM algorithm, described in our previous work (Nicholls and Nigam, J. Comput. Phys. 194:278–303, 2004), for solving exterior acoustic scattering problems in $${\mathbf{R}^{2}}$$. This algorithm consists of using an exact Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) map on a hypersurface enclosing the scatterer, where the hypersurface is a perturbation of a circle, and, in practice, the perturbation can be very large. Our theoretical work had shown the DtN map was analytic as a function of this perturbation. In the present work, we carefully analyze the error introduced by virtue of using this algorithm. Specifically, we give a full account of the error introduced by truncating the DtN map at a finite order in the perturbation expansion, and study the well-posedness of the associated formulation. During computation, the Fourier series of the Dirichlet data on the artificial boundary must be truncated. To deal with the ensuing loss of uniqueness of solutions, we propose a modified DtN map, and prove well-posedness of the resulting problem. We quantify the spectral error introduced due to this truncation of the data. The key tools in the analysis include a new theorem on the analyticity of the DtN map in a suitable Sobolev space, and another on the perturbation of non-self-adjoint Fredholm operators.
The climate velocity of the contiguous United States during the 20th century.

Rapid climate change has the potential to affect economic, social, and biological systems. A concern for species conservation is whether or not the rate of on-going climate change will exceed the rate at which species can adapt or move to suitable environments. Here we assess the climate velocity (both climate displacement rate and direction) for minimum temperature, actual evapotranspiration, and climatic water deficit (deficit) over the contiguous US during the 20th century (1916–2005). Vectors for these variables demonstrate a complex mosaic of patterns that vary spatially and temporally and are dependent on the spatial resolution of input climate data. Velocities for variables that characterize the climatic water balance were similar in magnitude to that derived from temperature, but frequently differed in direction resulting in the divergence of climate vectors through time. Our results strain expectations of poleward and upslope migration over the past century due to warming. Instead, they suggest that a more full understanding of changes in multiple climatic factors, in addition to temperature, may help explain unexpected or conflicting observational evidence of climate-driven species range shifts during the 20th century.
Sex and strain differences in the developmental activity profile of the rat tested over clean vs home cage bedding.

In the first of two experiments, CD rat litters were used to characterize activity patterns obtained in a size-adjustable, single photodetector chamber. Beginning on postnatal Day 10 or 12, pups were tested repeatedly over clean bedding (C) or over bedding removed from each pup's home cage (HC). In C rats of both sexes and in HC females, short-term activity levels peaked on Day 16. However, HC males displayed and earlier and even greater elevation in activity from Day 12 to 16. This overall pattern was found in rats tested either every second or every fourth day. In the second experiment, Long-Evans pups were assigned to each testing condition (C vs HC) and activity measured beginning on Day 12. Peak levels were seen in all Long-Evans rats on Day 16 and only females showed significant alterations as a function of bedding condition. When overall activity levels of the two strains were compared, significant differences were found on Days 12, 24, 30, and 120 in males, and 12, 24, and 30 in females. Significant differences between strains in activity as a function of bedding condition were found in males on Days 12, 20, 24, and 120 and in females on Days 12, 30, and 60. These data confirm the generality of a developmental hyperactivity phase in isolated juvenile rats. However, different patterns of hyperactivity were found in male vs female rats across strains. CD males were more active in the presence of HC olfactory cues, while in Long-Evans rats, female activity was affected more by bedding condition.
Measurement of energy contrast of amplified ultrashort pulses using cross polarized wave generation and spectral interferometry

We interfere an amplified output pulse with a copy that has been converted using third-order cross-polarized wave generation. The ASE pedestal shows as a background in the interference, yielding the short-pulse/ASE energy contrast.
Calcium-mediated mechanisms of cystic expansion

In this review, we will discuss several well-accepted signaling pathways toward calcium-mediated mechanisms of cystic expansion. The second messenger calcium ion has contributed to a vast diversity of signal transduction pathways. We will dissect calcium signaling as a possible mechanism that contributes to renal cyst formation. Because cytosolic calcium also regulates an array of signaling pathways, we will first discuss cilia-induced calcium fluxes, followed by Wnt signaling that has attributed to much-discussed planar cell polarity. We will then look at the relationship between cytosolic calcium and cAMP as one of the most important aspects of cyst progression. The signaling of cAMP on MAPK and mTOR will also be discussed. We infer that while cilia-induced calcium fluxes may be the initial signaling messenger for various cellular pathways, no single signaling mediator or pathway is implicated exclusively in the progression of the cystic expansion. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Virtual electrode polarization in the far field: implications for external defibrillation.

We recently suggested that failure of implantable defibrillation therapy may be explained by the virtual electrode-induced phase singularity mechanism. The goal of this study was to identify possib...
Globalization, Neoliberalism, and the Spread of Economic Violence: The Framework of Civilizational Analysis

There have been various claims to universal civilization, but modern globalization is phrased in terms of a direction and purpose that benefits all humanity. At one level of modern Western globalization, there is a conjunction of two civilizations—the Mid-Eastern and the Western scientific enlightenment. Their conjunction and identity is premised on the metaphysics of the will, regardless of the interpretation that any articulation of this conjunction might assume. Yet, two major interpretations are relevant for the analysis of globalization: the first is the Mid-Eastern theocratic civilization, where the world and the human result from a creative edict by the will of a solitary paternal figure. Nothing can escape this will. As we will see later, this tradition also has variants that flow from Persian divine autocracy through Byzantine empire Russian autocracy renamed as Marxism–Leninism, and varieties of fascisms. These articulations of civilization are all imagined to “save the world” from a fallen state that is due to the cunning of evil persons who deviate from the laws and edicts of an absolute authority.
Numerical Investigation of Transitional Flow Through a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade

Subsonic transitional flow through a low-pressure turbine cascade is investigated numerically by a comprehensive series of computations. Large-eddy simulations are performed at an inlet Mach number of 0.06 for a range of Reynolds numbers. The calculations employ a fourth-order compact scheme to represent spatial derivatives, which is used in conjunction with a sixth-order low-pass Padetype non-dispersive filter operator. A time-implicit approximately-factored finite-difference algorithm is utilized, and Newton-like subiterations are applied to achieve second-order temporal and fourth-order spatial accuracy. The computational domain is partitioned into a series of zones which were distributed on individual processors of a massively parallel computing platform. Solutions were obtained for chord inlet Reynolds numbers of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0× 10. Features of the flowfields are examined, and large-eddy simulations are compared with twodimensional computations, and with experimental data.
BALLISTIC IMPACT RESISTANCE OF GRAPHITE COMPOSITES WITH SUPERELASTIC SMA AND SPECTRA™ HYBRID COMPONENTS

The effect of adding small amounts of high strain hybrid components on the impact resistance of graphite epoxy composites subjected to projectiles traveling at ballistic velocities (greater than 900 ft/sec) has been studied. The hybrid components tested include superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) and a high performance extended chain polyethylene (ECPE) known as Spectra™. From testing 1.2% volume fraction superelastic SMA fiber layers embedded on the specimens front, middle, and backface, it was concluded that the backface was the most suitable location for a high strain hybrid component since the hybrid component is not restricted from straining by surrounding graphite material. However, no significant increases in energy absorption were found when two perpendicular SMA layers were tested on the backface. In all cases, the embedded SMA fibers were pulled through the graphite without straining to their full potential. It is believed that this is due to high strain rate effects coupled with a strain mismatch between the tough SMA and the brittle epoxy resin. However, a significant increase in energy absorption was found by adding ECPE and ECPE/SMA layers to the backface of the composite. With a 12% increase in total composite mass, a 99% increase in energy absorption was observed.
Study of Water Soluble Organic Corrosion Inhibitors for Mild Steel. II.

The inhibitive properties of sodium or amine salts of monobasic and dibasic acids for mild steel specimens have been examined in humidity cabinet at 40°C or 50°C and relative humidity 95100%The monobasic and dibasic acids used were monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic, alkylphosphoric, dialkylthiophosphoric, n-octylphosphonic and n-octylmalonic acids, etc. About the almost same length of carbon chain, the sodium salts of dibasic acids with polar group at both ends have most inhibitive efficiency and those of no branched monobasic acids have more efficiency than those of dibasic acids with two polar groups near one end or those of branched monocarboxylic acids. It seems that the inhibitors with the chain length of about 8 carbon atoms are most effective among the homologous series. The influence of pH in sample solution on corrosion greatly increased with increase of pH, especially more than pH 10.Results of indoor exposure test for mild steel indicate that sodium salts of n-octylphosphonic and n-octylphosphonic acid have good inhibitive property, and do not correlate always with results of humidity cabinet test.
Mechanobiology of Chromatin and the Nuclear Interior

The view of the cell nucleus has evolved from an isolated, static organelle to a dynamic structure integrated with other mechanical elements of the cell. Both dynamics and integration appear to contribute to a mechanical regulation of genome expression. Here, we review physical structures inside the nucleus at different length scales and the dynamic reorganization modulated by cellular forces. First, we discuss nuclear organization focusing on self-assembly and disassembly of DNA structures and various nuclear bodies. We then discuss the importance of connections from the chromatin fiber through the nuclear envelope to the rest of the cell as they relate to mechanobiology. Finally, we discuss how cell stimulation, both chemical and physical, can alter nuclear structures and ultimately cellular function in healthy cells and in some model diseases. The view of chromatin and nuclear bodies as mechanical entities integrated with force generation from the cytoskeleton combines polymer physics with cell biology and medicine.
Ontologically and Graphically Assisted Media Authoring with Multiple Media Types.

A prototype system for authoring interactive cross-media presentations is supported by an ontological inference engine and a scalable GUI. This prototype provides a context to explore the development of a scalable reference structure for fine calibration of multimedia information extraction (MMIE) and ontological query. Ontologies are structured as graphs of concept nodes with edges for subclass-superclass relationships and edges for asserted non-taxonomic relationships. Authoring is implemented as path-planning in ontological space; path members are concept nodes that generate queries and return media resources coupled to real-time displays. Real-time feedback enables users to fine tune their resource exploration and to annotate the paths. Ontological organization enables users to author and explore media resources by concept-based navigation rather than by resource type; exploration and path-authoring is facilitated by a graphical interface representing concept graph space. We assert this approach entails two merits: 1. query induced fluid cross-media display replaces the representation of individual media types arranged in time-linear track-like formats derived from conventions of non-digital media; 2. concept formation takes a significant role in authoring processes and media resources explorations. Introduction: Authoring and multiple media
Establishment of TEST-yolk buffer enhanced sperm penetration assay limits for fertile males.

TEST-yolk buffer has been shown to enhance sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs. Review of sperm penetration assay (SPA) data from a fertile population was undertaken to determine a normal range for SPA with TEST-yolk buffer enhancement. Thirty-eight intrauterine insemination patients and 4 artificial insemination donors who had successfully initiated a pregnancy within 18months of SPA analysis were examined. All 42 enhanced SPAs demonstrated penetration of >10%, and 37 of these (88%) yielded SPA values of ≥20%. Thirty-three percent (14/42) of these individuals achieved 0% penetration in the SPA without TEST-yolk buffer. The SPA performed with the TEST-yolk modification has fewer false negatives than the assay done with the original methodology.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Elderly

Inflammatory bowel disease exhibits a bimodality in age-specific incidence rates, with the second peak occurring from 60 to 70 years of age. In the elderly, both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease tend to involve the left side of the colon. The course of disease and the basic principles of management in geriatric populations do not differ from those in younger patients; however, elderly patients do pose distinct problems in differential diagnosis and in therapy choice.
An Archimedean spiral antenna loaded with superstrate and backed by 3D printed ground structure for directional patterns

This paper presents a wideband Archimedean spiral antenna under superstrate loading and backed by a 3D printed novel shape ground structure which provides directional radiation pattern with acceptable axial ratio and gain characteristics.
Genetic analysis of teat number in pigs reveals some developmental pathways independent of vertebra number and several loci which only affect a specific side

Number of functional teats is an important trait in commercial swine production. As litter size increases, the number of teats must also increase to supply nutrition to all piglets. Therefore, a genome-wide association analysis was conducted to identify genomic regions that affect this trait in a commercial swine population. Genotypic data from the Illumina Porcine SNP60v1 BeadChip were available for 2951 animals with total teat number (TTN) records. A subset of these animals (n = 1828) had number of teats on each side recorded. From this information, the following traits were derived: number of teats on the left (LTN) and right side (RTN), maximum number of teats on a side (MAX), difference between LTN and RTN (L − R) and absolute value of L − R (DIF). Bayes C option of GENSEL (version 4.61) and 1-Mb windows were implemented. Identified regions that explained more than 1.5% of the genomic variation were tested in a larger group of animals (n = 5453) to estimate additive genetic effects. Marker heritabilities were highest for TTN (0.233), intermediate for individual side counts (0.088 to 0.115) and virtually nil for difference traits (0.002 for L − R and 0.006 for DIF). Each copy of the VRTN mutant allele increased teat count by 0.35 (TTN), 0.16 (LTN and RTN) and 0.19 (MAX). 15, 18, 13 and 18 one-Mb windows were detected that explained more than 1.0% of the genomic variation for TTN, LTN, RTN, and MAX, respectively. These regions cumulatively accounted for over 50% of the genomic variation of LTN, RTN and MAX, but only 30% of that of TTN. Sus scrofa chromosome SSC10:52 Mb was associated with all four count traits, while SSC10:60 and SSC14:54 Mb were associated with three count traits. Thirty-three SNPs accounted for nearly 39% of the additive genetic variation in the validation dataset. No effect of piglet sex or percentage of males in litter was detected, but birth weight was positively correlated with TTN. Teat number is a heritable trait and use of genetic markers would expedite selection progress. Exploiting genetic variation associated with teat counts on each side would enhance selection focused on total teat counts. These results confirm QTL on SSC4, seven and ten and identify a novel QTL on SSC14.
Public Administration in the Social Reform Movement

At the start of the 20th century, social reform competed with structural reform for the hearts and minds of urban reformers. Public administration scholarship has long recognized P A's roots in the structural reform tradition. In contrast, P A's rela­tionship to the social reform tradition has remained obscure. This exploration in the history of ideas shows that social reform rejected many principles upon which public adminis­tration now rests, and advanced many alternative concepts in their stead.
Stealth Taxes and Their Effect on Marginal Federal Income Tax Rates

Professors Sidney J. Baxendale and Alan S. Levitan quantify the effect of stealth taxes on the federal marginal tax rate.
Control Theory in the 80s: Trends in Feedback Design

ABSTRACT To convey the richness of content and diversity of style of the feedback renaissance of the 80's this talk briefly discusses four recent approaches: linear robust multivariable control, adaptive control, nonlinear composite control, and external linearization design.
The interaction of apolipoprotein-alanine (apoC-III) with lipids: study of structural features required for binding.

The plasma very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) are the major vehicle for the transport in human blood of endogenously synthesized triglycerides. VLDL particles contain about 50% triglyceride, 20% cholesterol, 20% phospholipid, and 10% protein, by weight (1). The plasma of subjects with Type IV or V hyperlipoproteinemia (2) is rich in VLDL and is a convenient source of these lipoproteins. After the delipidation of VLDL with mixed organic solvents such as chloroform-methanol (2:1) or diethyl ether-ethanol (3:1), the resulting lipid-free apoproteins can be separated on Sephadex G-150 into two major fractions (3). The protein(s) that elutes at the void volume is identical in many respects to the major apoprotein(s) of LDL (4). The other fraction, which is not excluded from the gel, contains a mixture of several apoproteins which can be fractionated on DEAE-cellulose (Figure 1) and have been referred to collectively as the C-proteins (5), the D-peptides (6) or Fraction V (7a). One of these apoproteins, apoLP-Ala (apoC-III), has been studied extensively. It exists as a linear polypeptide containing 79 amino acids (Figure 2) and has a calculated molecular weight of 8751, excluding carbohydrate (8, 9).