cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Anatomical Course of the Neurovascular Bundles in Epispadias

References on the anatomical course of the neurovascular bundles of the penis in epispadias are rare. We studied the anatomy of the neurovascular bundles in 5 patients undergoing primary epispadias repair and 13 adolescents undergoing correction of erectile deformities. In all primary cases the neurovascular bundles were truly lateral as they ran along the distal and middle portions of the corporeal bodies, and became anterolateral only proximally. The bundles were identified in only 5 of 13 secondary cases and were in the same position as in the primary cases. Knowledge of this anatomy is important to protect these structures from surgical injury in cases of epispadias and exstrophy.
Applying Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) to the study of fear and anxiety: a critical comment

The goal of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is to develop an interdisciplinary science of psychopathology, forming a template for research and disconnecting conceptual and empirical questions from traditional diagnostic entities. In this article, we review some of the challenges in the implementation of this framework within the field of pathological fear and anxiety, specifically commenting on the article by Hamm and colleagues (2016). The study of pathological fear and anxiety has had considerable, yet stalled, success in its understanding of underlying mechanisms, prevention, and treatment. With a shift toward RDoC, it is unclear what to do with the existing diagnostic labels, and the importance of defining and measuring phenotypes becomes paramount. Additional concerns include the role of psychological constructs and mechanisms, the use of self-report measures, the examination of replication and clinical utility, and the measurement of the role of the environment. Though a laudable and potentially necessary shift in focus, it remains to be seen whether new overall insights into psychopathology will emerge from focusing on small units of analyses and piecing them together and whether these insights will directly translate into the prevention of psychopathology, more efficacious treatments, and improved lives of patients.
Credit Management as a Marketing Function

The supposed antithesis of credit and marketing management has hindered the development and integration of both.Through the application of newer concepts of management to credit management, the author believes that ways are open for achievement of broader marketing objectives.
The Editor's Field—Cover Crop Versus Rotation

I read something recently that stated, loosely paraphrased, that a vegetable crop followed by an over-winter cover crop was not in a rotation. It seems to me that if two dissimilar crops follow eac...
Learning and inference for hierarchically split PCFGs

Treebank parsing can be seen as the search for an optimally refined grammar consistent with a coarse training treebank. We describe a method in which a minimal grammar is hierarchically refined using EM to give accurate, compact grammars. The resulting grammars are extremely compact compared to other high-performance parsers, yet the parser gives the best published accuracies on several languages, as well as the best generative parsing numbers in English. In addition, we give an associated coarse-to-fine inference scheme which vastly improves inference time with no loss in test set accuracy.
Driving forces and pathways for H+ and K+ transport in insect midgut goblet cells

In the midgut of larval lepidopteran insects, goblet cells are believed to secrete K+; the proposed mechanism involves an electrogenic K+/nH+ (n > 1) antiporter coupled to primary active transport of H+ by a vacuolar-type ATPase. Goblet cells have a prominent apical cavity isolated from the gut lumen by a valve-like structure. Using H(+)- and K(+)-selective microelectrodes, we showed that electrochemical gradients of H+ and K+ across the apical membrane and valve are consistent with active secretion of both ions into the cavity and that the transapical H+ electrochemical gradient, but not the transapical pH gradient, is competent to drive K+ secretion by a K+/nH+ antiporter. We used 10 mmol l-1 tetramethylammonium ion (TMA+) as a marker for the ability of small cations to pass from the gut lumen through the valve to the goblet cavity, exploiting the high TMA+ sensitivity of 'K(+)-sensitive' microelectrodes. These studies showed that more than half of the cavities were inaccessible to TMA+. For those cavities that were accessible to TMA+, both entry and exit rates were too slow to be consistent with direct entry through the valves. One or more mixing compartments appear to lie between the lumen bathing solution and the goblet cavity. The lateral intercellular spaces and goblet cell cytoplasm are the most likely compartments. The results are not consistent with free diffusion of ions in a macroscopic valve passage; mechanisms that would allow K+ secreted into the goblet cavity to exit to the gut lumen, while preventing H+ from exiting, remain unclear.
Seeing through Camouflage: Abbott Thayer, Background-Picturing and the Use of Cut-Out Silhouettes

In the first decade of the twentieth century, while researching protective coloration in nature, artist-naturalist Abbott H. Thayer (1849–1921), working with his son, Gerald H. Thayer (1883–1939), hypothesized a kind of camouflage that he called “background-picturing.” It was his contention that, in many animals, the patterns on their bodies make it seem as if one could “see through” them, as if they were transparent. This essay revisits that concept, Thayer’s descriptions and demonstrations of it, and compares it to current computer-based practices of replacing gaps in images with “content-aware” digital patches
Undermining intrinsic interest from the standpoint of a behaviorist

The proposition that the use of contingent, “extrinsic” reinforcement undermines the rate at which “intrinsically interesting” behaviors occur is examined from a behavior-analytic viewpoint. Review of the literature suggests that environmental stimuli control the rates of behaviors rather than interest intrinsic to the organism. Reduced rates of behavior typically attributed to the undermining of intrinsic interest are more objectively accounted for by environmental stimuli functions, including instructional control and by Herrnstein’s (1970) matching law. When the hypothetical version of intrinsic motivation is contrasted with a physiological version of intrinsic motivation, the hypothetical version makes the opposite prediction of every effect that occurs. Recommendations based on the concept of undermining intrinsic interest are flawed and possibly dangerous.
Sex Differences in the Epidemiology of New-Onset In-Hospital Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Atrial Fibrillation: A Large Multicenter Study.

Background— New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is associated with increased morbidity and poorer long-term survival. Although many studies show differences in outcome in women versus men after CABG, little is known about the sex-specific incidence and characteristics of post-CABG AF. Methods and Results— Overall, 11 236 consecutive patients without preoperative AF underwent isolated CABG from 2002 to 2010 at 4 US academic medical centers and 1 high-volume specialty cardiac hospital. Data routinely collected for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database were augmented with details on new-onset post-CABG AF events detected via continuous in-hospital ECG/telemetry monitoring. Unadjusted incidence of post-CABG AF was 29.5% (3312/11 236) overall, 30.2% (2485/8214) in men, and 27.4% (827/3022) in women. After adjustment for Society of Thoracic Surgeons–recognized risk factors, women had significantly lower risk for post-CABG AF (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]=0.75 [0.64–0.89]), shorter first, longest, and total duration of AF episodes (mean difference [95% confidence interval]=−2.7 [−4.7 to −0.8] hours; −4.1 [−6.9 to −1.2] hours; −2.4 [−2.5 to −2.3] hours, respectively). At 48 hours, AF-free probabilities were 77% for women and 72% for men ( P <0.001). Number of episodes ( P =0.18), operative mortality ( P =0.048), stroke ( P =0.126), and discharge in AF ( P =0.234) did not differ significantly by sex. Conclusions— These novel data on sex-specific characteristics of new-onset AF after isolated CABG show that women had lower adjusted risk for post-CABG AF and experienced shorter episodes. Investigation of sex-specific impacts on outcomes is needed to identify optimal strategies for prevention and management to ensure all patients achieve the best possible outcomes.
Overtraining Syndrome: Causes, Consequences, and Methods for Prevention

Exercise has the potential to improve the fitness level of an individual if he or she is able to optimally recover from the training stress. If unable to recover fully, the individual runs the risk of developing overtraining syndrome (OTS). Overtraining syndrome is a complex occurrence in the body, which can result from several training and non-training factors. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid the development and detrimental effects of OTS. This article outlines the causes, consequences, and methods for prevention for OTS.
Abstract 75: Chronic Treatment With At2 Receptor Agonist Rescues High Fat Diet-induced Obesity in Female Mice.

Obesity in itself is a disease condition and a major risk factor in the development of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. Therefore, successful strategies for improving obesity and related metabolic risk factors are needed. Role of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Recently, we have shown that AT2R knock-out in female mice caused a greater body weight gain and hyperinsulimia in response to high fat diet (HFD). In the present study, we hypothesize that AT2R activation rescues diet-induced obesity in females. To test this hypothesis, we injected AT2R non-peptide agonist C21 (0.3mg/kg/day i.p) in C57BL6 female mice on HFD for 12 weeks. C21-treatment did not affect the HFD calorie intake (HFD: 937±18 Kcal; C21HFD: 886±37 Kcal) but caused lesser body weight gain compared to control (HFD: 4.4± 0.4g; C21HFD: 3.06± 0.4g). Similar to the body weight gain pattern, gonadal fat weight and adipocyte size were decreased significantly in C21-treated mice on HFD compared to control HFD group (HFD: 4.4± 0.4 g; C21 HFD: 3.06± 0.4g) and (HFD: 6404±161.6μm2 ; C21HFD: 3874±103.2μm2 ) respectively. Moreover, the C21-treated females on HFD had lower levels of plasma insulin, improved glucose tolerance, and decreased plasma free fatty acids and hepatic triglycerides. Western blot revealed that phospho-Ser79-acetyl CoA carboxylase (p-Ser79-ACC-1) was reduced, an index of increased lipogenic activity and decreased β-oxidation process, in both adipose (Adi) and hepatic (Hep) tissues of HFD fed groups (Adi: 86% and Hep: 73% of 100% controls); C21-treatment revered the decrease in p-ser79-ACC-1 in Adi (104% of control) and caused an increase in Hep (122% of control) respectively. The HFD feeding lowered the estradiol level (ND: 38.8±2.6 vs HFD:11.3±1.2ng), which was modestly reversed by C21 treatment (C21HFD:17.4± 1.5ng) in HFD mice. Our results strongly suggest that stimulation of AT2R in female mice positively contribute, predominantly independent of estrogen, to rescue body weight gain and adipocyte size increase in response to HFD. We propose reduced lipogenesis and enhanced lipid β-oxidation as potential mechanisms linked to AT2R action in reducing obesity and its related metabolic disorders in females.
The Effects of Prolactin and Divalent Ions on the Permeability to Water of Fundulus Kansae

1. Measurements have been made of the rate of exchange of tritiated water in both intact and hypophysectomized Fundulus kansae in a variety of media. 2. Hypophysectomy reduces the rate of exchange in fresh water. 3. Low doses (30 mu) of ovine prolactin stimulate water turnover in hypophysectomized fish in fresh water. 4. The rate of exchange declines in both intact and hypophysectomized animals with increasing salinity. 5. Experiments with synthetic solutions show that the decline in the rate of exchange in sea water and in higher salinities is due mainly to the effects of calcium ions. 6. Fishes maintained in synthetic sea water containing a low concentration of calcium have both a higher rate of exchange of tritiated water and a higher drinking rate than fish in normal sea water.
DIY Hosting for Online Privacy

Web users today rely on centralized services for applications such as email, file transfer and chat. Unfortunately, these services create a significant privacy risk: even with a benevolent provider, a single breach can put millions of users' data at risk. One alternative would be for users to host their own servers, but this would be highly expensive for most applications: a single VM deployed in a high-availability mode can cost many dollars per month. In this paper, we propose Deploy It Yourself (DIY), a new model for hosting applications based on serverless computing platforms such as Amazon Lambda. DIY allows users to run a highly available service with much stronger privacy guarantees than current centralized providers, and at a dramatically lower cost than traditional server hosting. DIY only relies on the security of container isolation and a key manager as opposed to the large codebase of a high-level application such as Gmail (and all the Google teams using Gmail data). With attestation technology such as SGX, DIY's execution could also be verified remotely. We show that a DIY email server that sends 500 messages/day costs $0.26/month, which is 50x cheaper than a highly available EC2 server. We also implement a DIY chat service and show that it performs well. Finally, we argue that DIY applications are simple enough to operate that cloud providers could offer a simple "app store" for using them.
A Minimum Variance Clustering Approach Produces Robust and Interpretable Coarse-Grained Models.

Markov state models (MSMs) are a powerful framework for the analysis of molecular dynamics data sets, such as protein folding simulations, because of their straightforward construction and statistical rigor. The coarse-graining of MSMs into an interpretable number of macrostates is a crucial step for connecting theoretical results with experimental observables. Here we present the minimum variance clustering approach (MVCA) for the coarse-graining of MSMs into macrostate models. The method utilizes agglomerative clustering with Ward’s minimum variance objective function, and the similarity of the microstate dynamics is determined using the Jensen–Shannon divergence between the corresponding rows in the MSM transition probability matrix. We first show that MVCA produces intuitive results for a simple tripeptide system and is robust toward long-duration statistical artifacts. MVCA is then applied to two protein folding simulations of the same protein in different force fields to demonstrate that a different...
Understanding Human Perception of Bus Fullness: An Empirical Study of Crowdsourced Fullness Ratings and Automatic Passenger Count Data:

Bus fullness, namely bus crowding level, is one of the most critical metrics used to quantify public transportation service quality and consumer satisfaction. Often it is simply represented by the ...
I Like Them…Will They Like Me? Evidence for the Role of the Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex During Mismatched Social Appraisals in Anxious Youth.

Abstract Objective: Socially anxious adolescents report distress during social decision-making, wherein their favorable view of peers directly conflicts with their expectation to be viewed negative...
A Systematic Review of Dating Violence Risk Factors Among Undergraduate College Students

College students are a vulnerable population for dating violence (DV) because of the social environment in which they live and interact with other students. Campus climate surveys are considered best practice for gathering information about the severity and cause of college DV; however, there are still unanswered questions as to why DV remains an alarming public health concern among college students. The aim of this systematic literature review was to examine DV risk factors specific to college students with a special focus on methodological factors and gaps in the literature. Databases EBSCO, Scopus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, and PubMed were searched for articles published between 2006 and 2016, resulting in 23 articles that met inclusion criteria for this review. Very few studies were conducted at private universities (n = 4). Most researchers used descriptive cross-sectional surveys (n = 22), while only one utilized a mixed-methods approach. Measurement scales used to collect DV rates were similar across studies, yet the definition of DV was inconsistent. Types and severity of DV varied across studies, but overall, females were more likely to perpetrate and/or experience DV than males. Individual risk factors (e.g., substance use, risky sexual behaviors) were identified more often than family risk factors (e.g., intergenerational violence) and peer and social risk factors (e.g., Greek-life or athletic team membership, relationship type). A better understanding of new college relationships is critical to identify modifiable risk factors for DV. Recommendations for future practice and research are also discussed.
Halogenated quinolines bearing polar functionality at the 2-position: Identification of new antibacterial agents with enhanced activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Abstract Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and surface-attached biofilms continue to play a significant role in human health and disease. Innovative strategies are needed to identify new therapeutic leads to tackle infections of drug-resistant and tolerant bacteria. We synthesized a focused library of 14 new halogenated quinolines to investigate the impact of ClogP values on antibacterial and biofilm-eradication activities. During these investigations, we found select polar appendages at the 2-position of the HQ scaffold were more well-tolerated than others. We were delighted to see multiple compounds display enhanced activities against the major human pathogen S. epidermidis. In particular, HQ 2 (ClogP = 3.44) demonstrated enhanced activities against MRSE 35984 planktonic cells (MIC = 0.59 μM) compared to MRSA and VRE strains in addition to potent MRSE biofilm eradication activities (MBEC = 2.35 μM). Several of the halogenated quinolines identified here reported low cytotoxicity against HeLa cells with minimal hemolytic activity against red blood cells. We believe that halogenated quinoline small molecules could play an important role in the development of next-generation antibacterial therapeutics capable of targeting and eradicating biofilm-associated infections.
The Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Inflammation Among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting up to 350,000 people in the United States (Anderson et al., 1992; Jacobson et al., 1997; Noonan et al., 2002). As with many autoimmune diseases, it affects women at roughly twice the rate of men, and the prevalence appears to be increasing (Cooper and Stroehla, 2003; Jacobson et al., 1997). Common symptoms include, but are not limited to, loss of function or feeling in limbs, loss of bowel or bladder control, sexual dysfunction, debilitating fatigue, blindness due to optic neuritis, loss of balance, pain, cognitive dysfunction, and emotional changes (Mohr and Cox, 2001). There is a growing literature suggesting that stress may affect risk of exacerbation in patients with MS (Mohr et al., 2004). This chapter will briefly review pathology and pathogenesis of MS, examine the literature on stress in MS, describe the laboratory studies on response to stress, and propose three hypothesized mechanisms by which stress might affect risk of MS exacerbation.We will also briefly review the literature on psychosocial mediators of the relationship between stressful life events and MS inflammation and discuss future directions for research in humans.
Facilitated Diffusion of CO2 and Carbonic Anhydrase Activity

If the rate of transport of a reactive permeant through an immobilized liquid layer is facilitated by reversible chemical reactions catalyzed by an enzyme contained within the layer, then measurement of the permeant flux can be used to determine kinetic properties of the enzyme. As opposed to conventional kinetic methods, the quantity measured is a steady-state flux rather than a transient change in concentration. Equations governing the flux can be solved analytically for first-order kinetics and kinetic parameters can be determined from straight-line plots of the data. In this study of CO2 transport and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, the flux was measured using tagged 14 CO2. The results indicate a constant specific activity for CA over an 80-fold range in concentration extending to 4 mg/ml. Aspects of this study have previously been discussed in Donaldson (1974) and Donaldson and Quinn (1974, 1975).
Mining Co-locations under Uncertainty

A co-location pattern represents a subset of spatial features whose events tend to locate together in spatial proximity. The certain case of the co-location pattern has been investigated. However, location information of spatial features is often imprecise, aggregated, or error prone. Because of the continuity nature of space, over-counting is a major problem. In the uncertain case, the problem becomes more challenging. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic participation index to measure co-location patterns based on the well-known possible world model. To avoid the exponential cost of calculating participation index from all possible worlds, we prove a lemma that allows for instance centric counting, avoids over-counting, and produces the same results as using possible world based counting. We use this property to develop efficient mining algorithms. We observed through both algebraic analysis and extensive experiments that the feature tree based algorithm outperforms uncertain Apriori algorithm by an order of magnitude not only for co-locations of large sizes but also for datasets with high level of uncertainty. This is an important insight in mining uncertainty co-locations.
Stream Flow Measurement by an Inert Tracer Pulse Technique

A technique is described and demonstrated for the determination of volumetric flow rates in open streams which consists of introducing an inert tracer concentration as an undefined pulse, sampling ...
Physiological characteristics of NG2-expressing glial cells.

Antibodies against the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan NG2 label a subpopulation of glial cells within the CNS, which have a small cell body and thin radiating processes. Physiological recordings from these small cells in acute brain slices have revealed that they possess unique properties, suggesting that they may comprise a class of glial cells distinct from astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, or microglia. NG2-expressing glial cells (abbreviated as “NG2 cells” here) have a moderate input resistance and are not dye- or tracer-coupled to adjacent cells. They express voltage-gated Na+, K+and Ca2+conductances, though they do not exhibit regenerative Na+or Ca2+action potentials due to the much larger K+conductances present. In addition to voltage-gated conductances, they express receptors for various neurotransmitters. In the hippocampus, AMPA and GABAAreceptors on these cells are activated by release of transmitter from neurons at defined synaptic junctions that are formed with CA3 pyramidal neurons and GABAergic interneurons. These rapid forms of neuron-glial communication may regulate the proliferation rate of NG2 cells or their development into mature oligodendrocytes. These depolarizing inputs may also trigger the release of neuroactive substances from NG2 cells, providing feedback regulation of signaling at neuronal synapses. Although the presence of Ca2+permeable AMPA receptors provides a pathway to link neuronal activity to Ca2+dependent processes within the NG2 cells, these receptors also put these cells at risk for glutamate-associated excitotoxicity. This vulnerability to the sustained elevation of glutamate may underlie ischemic induced damage to white matter tracts and contribute to cerebral palsy in premature infants.
The Cardinal’s Frogs: Constructing Animal Imagery in Two Fourteenth-Century Curial Sermons

Animals had a prominent place in the medieval symbolic imagination. A variety of sources, including scripture, classical and medieval naturalists, and bestiaries, helped to inform the construction ...
A Dynamic Speaker Model for Conversational Interactions

Individual differences in speakers are reflected in their language use as well as in their interests and opinions. Characterizing these differences can be useful in human-computer interaction, as well as analysis of human-human conversations. In this work, we introduce a neural model for learning a dynamically updated speaker embedding in a conversational context. Initial model training is unsupervised, using context-sensitive language generation as an objective, with the context being the conversation history. Further fine-tuning can leverage task-dependent supervised training. The learned neural representation of speakers is shown to be useful for content ranking in a socialbot and dialog act prediction in human-human conversations.
Twisted Kitaev bilayers and the moiré Ising model

In recent years, there have been numerous examples of twisted bilayer systems that host remarkable physical properties that are not found in their untwisted counterparts. Motivated by this, we study the properties of twisted bilayers of the Kitaev honeycomb model in the Abelian spin-liquid phase. We show that for strong, short-ranged, interlayer interactions, a superlattice of non-Abelian defects forms in the twisted bilayer system. These non-Abelian defects are wormhole-like genons that allow anyons from one layer to tunnel to the other layer. We find that when a magnetic field is applied to the system, the low-energy dynamics of the twisted bilayer system can be mapped onto four quantum Ising models arising from the degrees of freedom localized on the genon defects. At small twist angles the Ising models are in a trivial paramagnetic phase, and at large twist angles they are in a ferromagnetic phase.
Mechanisms and moderators of intervention efficacy for soldiers with untreated alcohol use disorder.

OBJECTIVE This research evaluates changes in perceived military and civilian drinking norms as mechanisms of the effects of a motivational enhancement therapy (MET) intervention on changes in alcohol consumption among active-duty military personnel with a substance use disorder. We also evaluate the value of providing tolerance and family history risk-related personalized feedback by testing whether those receiving feedback indicating higher risk reduce their drinking more than those receiving feedback indicating lower risk or receiving no feedback. METHOD Participants (N = 242; Mage = 28 years; 92% male; 59% Caucasian) completed a baseline questionnaire and were randomly assigned to a MET or educational control condition. Both conditions were single session and took place over the telephone. Outcomes were assessed 3 and 6 months later. The study was preregistered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01128140). RESULTS We found evidence that reductions in perceived norms for other military personnel, but not for civilians, mediated intervention efficacy on reductions in alcohol use. Further, the MET intervention was successful at reducing drinking among soldiers who reported higher levels of baseline tolerance and family history risk, but not succuessful at reducing drinking among those who reported low or medium levels of risk. CONCLUSIONS Systematic evaluation of whether and how individual intervention components contribute to efficacy is a promising approach for refining and improving interventions. This research suggests that MET interventions may wish to target focal perceived norms and provides support for discussion of feedback indicating elevated risks due to tolerance and family history. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Risk of thrombotic events after inpatient intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange for neurologic disease: A case‐crossover study

Introduction Our aim in this study was to determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or plasma exchange (PLEx) for treatment of neurologic disease is a trigger for thrombotic events. Methods Using administrative data from 2005 to 2014, we identified index admissions for thrombotic events. We performed case-crossover analyses for these admissions with previous admissions for neurologic disease with IVIg or PLEx using exposure periods of between 7 and 120 days. Results We identified 1.9 million admissions for venous thrombosis embolism, myocardial infarction, or acute ischemic stroke. The odds ratio for venous thrombosis embolism within a 30-day window after exposure to IVIg was 3.33 (1.34-8.30, P = .0097) and for PLEx was 4.29 (1.88-9.76, P = .0005). Myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke admissions were not associated with exposure to either therapy. Discussion Patients admitted for venous thrombosis embolism (but not acute ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction) were more likely exposed to either IVIg or PLEx during previous admission for neurologic disease.
Framing action in a youth climate change filmmaking program: hope, agency, and action across scales

This article presents a mixed methods investigation of discourse about action on climate change and other socioenvironmental challenges in the context of an informal climate change and film educati...
Bailey, Jeremy D. The Idea of Presidential Representation: An Intellectual and Political History : Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2019. 272 pages. $34.95 (hardcover).

There is not much serious argument that the current American presidency is far removed from any kind of office that the framers of the Constitution could possibly have envisioned. The current occup...
The Tragic Death of a Utah Goblin: Conservation and the Problem of Abiotic Nature

Biocentric (life-centered) and ecocentric (ecosystem-centered) ethics offer a rich discourse on protecting biotic communities – defending conservation with inherent value tied to life. A problem ar...
Privatization and Entrepreneurial Performance in an Emerging Market: The Moderating Effect of Institutional Quality

We explore how institutional quality moderates the effectiveness of privatization on entrepreneurs’ sales performance. To do this, we blend agency theory and entrepreneurial cognition theory with insights from institutional economics to develop a model of emerging market venture performance. Using data from the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey of entrepreneurs in China, our results suggest that private-owned enterprises (POEs) outperform state-owned enterprises (SOEs) but only in environments with high-quality market institutions. In environments with low-quality market institutions, SOEs outperform POEs. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of privatization on entrepreneurial performance is context-specific, which reveals more nuance than previously has been attributed.
Dynamic Remodeling of In-Group Bias during the 2008 Presidential Election

People often favor members of their own group, while discriminating against members of other groups. Such in-group favoritism has been shown to play an important role in human cooperation. However, in the face of changing conflicts and shifting alliances, it is essential for group identities to be flexible. Using the dictator game from behavioral economics, we demonstrate the remodeling of group identities among supporters of Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. After Clinton's concession in June 2008, Democrats were more generous toward supporters of their own preferred candidate than to supporters of the other Democratic candidate. The bias observed in June persisted into August, and disappeared only in early September after the Democratic National Convention. We also observe a strong gender effect, with bias both appearing and subsiding among men only. This experimental study illustrates a dynamic change in bias, tracking the realignment of real world conflict lines and public efforts to reconstitute group identity. The change in salient group identity we describe here likely contributed to the victory of Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
PIWI-mediated control of tissue-specific transposons is essential for somatic cell differentiation

Summary PIWI proteins are known as mediators of transposon silencing in animal germlines but are also found in adult pluripotent stem cells of highly regenerative animals, where they are essential for regeneration. Study of the nuclear PIWI protein SMEDWI-2 in the planarian somatic stem cell system reveals an intricate interplay between transposons and cell differentiation in which a subset of transposons is inevitably activated during cell differentiation, and the PIWI protein is required to regain control. Absence of SMEDWI-2 leads to tissue-specific transposon derepression related to cell-type-specific chromatin remodeling events and in addition causes reduced accessibility of lineage-specific genes and defective cell differentiation, resulting in fatal tissue dysfunction. Finally, we show that additional PIWI proteins provide a stem-cell-specific second layer of protection in planarian neoblasts. These findings reveal a far-reaching role of PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in stem cell biology and cell differentiation.
Recentralizing state power in decentralized small drinking water system governance in New Mexico, USA

We study the role of the state in small drinking water system governance in New Mexico, USA. Using interviews and demographic data, we develop a grounded theory of the political economy of public a...
Liposome uptake by human leukocytes: Enhancement of entry mediated by human serum and aggregated immunoglobulins

The entry of immunoglobulin-coated liposomes into human leukocytes bearing Fc receptors was evaluated using two methods: (i) the cellular association of liposomal markers (3H-labelled phosphatidylcholine, lipid phase; [14C]inulin, aqueous phase), and (ii) the ultrastructural cytochemistry of cells following incubation of cells with liposomes containing a cytochemical marker (horseradish peroxidase) in the aqueous spaces. The entry of liposomes into a cell population composed predominantly of neutrophils was linear for 10–15 min and was mediated by an active process that appeared to be both energy- and surface-dependent. This uptake could be largely inhibited by incubation at 0°C, and by exposure to glutaraldehyde, iodoacetamide, N-ethylmaleimide, and an excess of aggregated immunoglobulins. Entry into cells of multilamellar liposomes was saturable, displaying affinity constants of 1.1 and 1.7 mM. Ultrastructural analysis of the heterogeneous leukocyte population showed that monocytes took up liposomes more actively than neutrophils and lymphocytes. Moreover, liposomes were almost always found within the leukocytes, rather than adherent to the outer plasma membrane. The relative avidity of monocytes was confirmed by comparing the uptake of radiolabelled liposomes by a ‘pure’ neutrophil population, a ‘mixed’ neutrophil population, and a ‘mononuclear cell’ population. Precoating liposomes with high molecular weight aggregates of human immunoglobulin G resulted in enhanced serum-independent uptake. The fraction of aggregated immunoglobulin G which was most effective in provoking uptake of coated liposomes also stimulated the greatest amount of lysosomal enzyme secretion. These data suggest that the interaction (precoating) of liposomes with either high molecular weight aggregates of immunoglobulin G or with human serum enhances their subsequent uptake by human
Genetic heterogeneity in families with hereditary multiple exostoses.

The authors have carried out a linkage analysis on 11 families segregating gene(s) for hereditary multiple exostoses (EXT). Four highly informative, short tandem-repeat (STR) markers that have been physically mapped to an interval surrounding the Langer-Giedion chromosomal region (8q24.11-q24.13) were used in a multipoint linkage analysis. Significant evidence for linkage of EXT with genetic heterogeneity was found. A model of heterogeneity with linkage of the disease gene to the STR markers in 70% of the families (with a 95% confidence interval of 26%-96%) produced a maximum LOD score of 8.11, with the most likely position of EXT between D8S85 and D8S199. Thus there are at least two genes that are capable of causing hereditary multiple exostoses, one in the Langer-Giedion region and one at another, unlinked location. 20 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
Globalization, Globalisation: Trade, Technology, and Wages (Second Version)

This paper addresses a complex of globalization issues: the effect of globalization on the skill premium; the effect of globalization on unemployment; the relative importance of globalization and exogenous technical change; the effect of globalization on the ability of national governments to conduct independent social policies. Thinking about these topics has been dominated by a large empirical literature concluding that trade has played a relatively minor role in the rise of the skill premium, while exogenous skill-biased technical change has played a major role. This paper replaces the focus on intersectoral substitution at the heart of the Stolper-Samuelson theorem with attention to intra-sectoral relations between inputs. Specifically, I assume that out-sourcing and unskilled labor are highly substitutable and that equipment and skilled labor are complementary, that production methods are flexible, and that the country undertaking out-sourcing has a significantly different structure from that providing it. Globalization then offers a simple and immediate possible explanation for the prominent stylized facts regarding the emergence of the skill premium and for the presence of skill-biased technical change. Trade vs. technology remains as an empirical issue, though, because exogenous neutral technological change offers an alternative possible explanation.
Dynamical supersymmetry breaking in intersecting brane models

We present a simple mechanism by which supersymmetry can be dynamically broken in intersecting brane models, naturally generating an exponentially small scale. Rather than utilize either non-Abelian gauge dynamics or D-instantons, our mechanism uses world sheet instantons to generate the small scale in a hidden sector.
From Four‐ to Five‐Dimensionalism

Philosophers have long noticed the similarity of identity over time and identity across worlds. Despite this similarity, analogous views on these matters are not always taken equally seriously. Four-dimensionalism is one of the most well-known accounts of identity over time. There is a clear modal analogue of four-dimensionalism, on which objects are modally extended and their trans-world identity is a matter of having distinct modal parts located in different possible worlds. Yet this view, which we might call ‘five-dimensionalism,’ is rarely discussed or defended, in comparison to its temporal counterpart. I argue that five-dimensionalism is at least as plausible as four-dimensionalism and deserves serious consideration as an account of trans-world identity. The strategy is to show that arguments typically used in defence of four-dimensionalism can be adapted to defend five-dimensionalism as well. A powerful consideration in favour of four-dimensionalism is the fact that it provides an elegant and unified solution to a variety of puzzles concerning material coincidence. I show that such puzzles come in equally troubling modal varieties and that five-dimensionalism provides an equally unified and elegant solution to them.1
TANDEM MIRROR PHYSICS AND TMX

The Tandem Mirror Experiment (TMX) is being built at Livermore to test the principles of the new tandem mirror reactor concept. In this concept the fusion plasma is confined in a long solenoid terminated at each end by mirror machines of the magnetic-well type. High density plasmas are maintained in each of the mirror end cells by neutral injection at high energies (up to 1 MeV in a high Q reactor). The usual positive ambipolar potential that automatically develops in each mirror cell serves as an electrostatic barrier that confines ions in the solenoid for many collision times, and the very stable plasmas in these end cells ''anchor'' each flux tube, thereby assuring MHD stability of the system up to betas of order unity in the solenoid. The TMX will test these main features of the tandem mirror idea and will also investigate optimum means of suppressing loss cone instabilities in the end cells based on methods demonstrated in the 2XIIB experiment. The end cells will be similar in size and injected power to 2XIIB, but some injectors will operate at 40 kV. Expected parameters are n tau approximately 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/ sec at ion energies of 20 keVmore » in the end plugs and n tau approximately 1 to 3 x 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/ sec in the solenoid at ion temperatures up to 2 keV if auxiliary beam heating is applied to the solenoid. The solenoid field will be variable up to about 4 kG and the length is 5 meters. The facility is nearing completion (18 months construction time) and experiments are expected to begin early in 1979.« less
Racial/ethnic considerations in making recommendations for vitamin D for adult and elderly men and women

Vitamin D is acquired through diet and skin exposure to ultraviolet B light. Skin production is determined by length of exposure, latitude, season, and degree of skin pigmentation. Blacks produce less vitamin D3 than do whites in response to usual levels of sun exposure and have lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in winter and summer. Blacks in the United States also use dietary supplements less frequently than do whites. However, blacks and whites appear to have similar capacities to absorb vitamin D and to produce vitamin D after repeated high doses of ultraviolet B light. There is a growing consensus that serum 25(OH)D concentrations of at least 75-80 nmol/L are needed for optimal bone health, on the basis of studies of older white subjects living in Europe and the United States. The studies show that increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations to this level decreases parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, decreases rates of bone loss, and reduces rates of fractures. Among US blacks, low 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with higher concentrations of PTH, which are associated with lower bone mineral density. Vitamin D supplements decrease PTH and bone turnover marker concentrations among blacks. These findings suggest that improving vitamin D status would benefit blacks as well as whites. On the basis of studies conducted in the temperate zone, the intake of vitamin D3 needed to maintain a group average 25(OH)D concentration of 80 nmol/L in winter is approximately 1000 IU/d. Broad-based vitamin D supplementation is needed to remove vitamin D insufficiency as a contributing cause of osteoporosis.
Perceiving and Claiming Discrimination

This chapter reviews social psychological theory and research examining the extent and conditions under which people perceive themselves as victims of discrimination and/or publicly claim that they have been discriminated against. Evidence indicates that perceptions of discrimination directed against the self vary widely, and depend on characteristics of the person, the situation, and the social structure. People who do perceive themselves as victims of discrimination are often reluctant to make this claim publicly. This reluctance occurs in part because individuals who claim they are victims of discrimination are viewed negatively by others even when the claim is well justified. Discussion highlights the complexity involved in detecting prejudice and the social costs associated with claiming discrimination.
Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Versus Fine-Needle Capillary Sampling Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules Does Technique Matter?

Objectives Both fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and fine-needle capillary (FNC) sampling of palpable thyroid nodules have been advocated. The appropriate technique for biopsy of nonpalpable nodules now sampled under ultrasound guidance has not been assessed. The objective of this study was to determine cytologic adequacy rates of ultrasound-guided FNA and FNC sampling. Methods Ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy was performed on 180 thyroid nodules. Nodules were measured and characterized (mixed cystic-solid or solid) on diagnostic sonography. The technique used for biopsy (FNA versus FNC sampling) alternated sequentially per patient. Four 25-gauge fine-needle samples were obtained from each nodule. The sampling adequacy and cytopathologic diagnoses were recorded. The significance of differences in cytologic adequacy rates between techniques was then assessed with a repeated measures logistic regression model. Results Fine-needle aspiration and FNC sampling biopsies were performed in 88 and 92 nodules, respectively. Fine-needle aspiration was diagnostic (ie, satisfactory) in 78 (89%) of 88 nodules and nondiagnostic (less than optimal or unsatisfactory) in 10 (11%) of 88 nodules; FNC sampling was diagnostic in 80 (87%) of 92 nodules and nondiagnostic in 12 (13%) of 92 nodules. Fine-needle aspiration sampling was diagnostic in 38 (86%) of 44 solid nodules and 40 (91%) of 44 mixed cystic-solid nodules; FNC sampling was diagnostic in 48 (81%) of 59 solid nodules and 32 (97%) of 33 mixed cystic-solid nodules. These percentages were not significantly different. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided FNA and FNC sampling result in comparable diagnostic cytologic adequacy rates. Equivalent diagnostic yields and the technical ease of capillary sampling may prompt adoption of FNC sampling at high-volume endocrine/radiology practices.
Neurotoxicity of glutamate at the concentration released upon spinal cord injury

Abstract Damage caused by administering glutamate into the spinal cord was characterized histologically. Glutamate destroyed neurons for several hundred micrometers around the administering microdialysis fiber. At 24 h after treatment, significant (P=0.036) loss of neurons was observed (75%) relative to control (47%) near the fiber when glutamate was administered for 1 h at a concentration outside the fiber approximating the maximum glutamate released upon spinal cord injury. Significant loss of neurons (P=0.006, 0.022) was also caused by administering a combination of glutamate at about its average concentration released upon injury over the 1 h period of administration in combination with the maximum aspartate concentration released upon injury. This work provides a direct demonstration that the concentrations of excitatory amino acids released upon spinal cord injury are neurotoxic. The destruction of neurons by exposure to excitatory amino acids when there is also substantial loss of neurons simply from the presence of the microdialysis fiber may reflect sensitization of neurons to excitotoxicity by stress.