cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current Status and Prospects for Vaccines Against Malaria.

Malaria is a parasitic disease that affects humans. It is caused by four Plasmodium species: Plasmodium fakiparum, l? vivax, l? ovale, and P. malariae. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genera individuals can limit the development of the parasite in nonimmune children: After all the work performed by scientists and physicians, why don't we have a malaria vaccine? Anopheles, which is associated with warm climates. The parasite is thus present in many tourist areas of the world, including Africa, Asia, and South America. Known since 2700 BC in China, malaria has been controlled by medicinal plants or drugs. This was until drug resistance occurred, which started in the 1960s in Asia with chloroquine. Resistance to chloroquine spread quickly all over the world. Today, the malaria drug situation is critical and has lead to the appearance of the virulent and deadly P. fakiparum strains that are difficult to control. In addition, the number of cases of malaria increases, the spread being increased by another flying vector, the plane, which carries infected travelers and sometimes mosquitoes. For example, more than 1000 cases of imported malaria were reported in 1992 in the United States, where malaria has been eradicated, but not the mosquito vectors.
Is research effort allocated efficiently for conservation? Felidae as a global case study

Some species face greater anthropogenic threats than others, and have increased need for scarce conservation resources. Yet how resources are allocated for conservation remains little known. I examined the distribution of research effort, an index of resource allocation, across Felidae (the cat family), a diverse, widely-distributed, and threatened taxon. I performed complete searches of the published literature for all cat species from 1986 to 2007, collecting a total of 2,462 papers, of which 926 represented in situ studies. Threat status, as ranked by a World Conservation Union report in 1996, was significantly correlated with geographical range size, with narrowly distributed species tending to be more at risk. Unlike in many other taxa, threat status was not correlated with body size. The number of total and in situ publications (“research effort”) per species was significantly and positively related to body size, but not to threat status or geographical range size. Research effort, rather than being distributed according to actual threat status, is highly skewed towards large species. However, the ratio of the number of studies on the 10 smallest cat species to the number on the 10 largest species has increased significantly since 1986. Yet many species remain severely understudied; I identify 14 cat species that are threatened and have <10 in situ publications each. These species critically require a greater share of the conservation research effort.
Habitat Associations of Secretive Marsh Birds in Iowa

Drastic losses of wetland habitats across North America over the past century have resulted in population declines of many marsh birds therefore emphasizing the need for proper management of remaining wetlands for the conservation of marsh birds. Our objective was to evaluate the probability of site occupancy of secretive marsh birds in Iowa in response to habitat variables at multiple scales. We conducted call-broadcast surveys for eight species of marsh birds at wetlands in Iowa from 16 May–15 July 2009 and from 20 April–10 July 2010. We utilized occupancy models in Program MARK to estimate site occupancy probability based on habitat covariates for four species with the most detections (Pied-billed Grebe [Podilymbus podiceps], Least Bittern [Ixobrychus exilis], Virginia Rail [Rallus limicola], and Sora [Porzana carolina]). Wetland size had a positive effect on site occupancy for Least Bitterns, water depth positively affected site occupancy for Pied-billed Grebes and Least Bitterns, and percent cover of cattail positively affected site occupancy for Virginia Rails. Knowing habitat associations of secretive marsh birds in Iowa will allow us to provide guidance on wetland restoration and management decisions that will aid the conservation of these birds.
Histological markers of neuronal, axonal and astrocytic changes after lateral rigid impact traumatic brain injury

The model of lateral, rigid impact traumatic brain injury is widely used but remains relatively poorly characterized by comparison with fluid percussion injury models. Thus, whilst the gross morphological changes that occur over the short- and long-term post-injury have been described, more subtle measures of neuronal injury and activation, and markers of axonal and glial reactions have not been investigated, complicating interpretation of data from this model. To address this issue, a variety of neurohistological markers were examined in adult male rats which had been subjected to open brain, lateral rigid impact injury. A piston device was unilaterally driven 3.0 mm into the somatosensory cortex at a speed of 3.2 m/s. Neuronal activation evidenced by Fos-like immunoreactivity showed a complex pattern at 3 h after injury which appeared to be related both to proximity to the impact site and cortical efferent connectivity. At 24 h after injury, acid fuchsin staining demonstrated dying neurons in the margin of the injury and in ipsilateral hippocampus and dorsal thalamus. Injured cells identified by heat-shock protein immunoreactivity showed a similar distribution. Axonal injury demonstrated with 68 kDa neurofilament immunoreactivity was more widely distributed. Less axonal damage was found with increasing distance from the injury site. At 7 days post-injury, glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive astrocytes were prolific in the ipsilateral thalamus, hippocampus and striatum and throughout the injured cortex. In general, controlled, lateral rigid impact injury provides a more focused injury than is seen with lateral fluid percussion which may have implications for the behavioral deficits seen in this injury model.
Image restoration based on the fast marching method and block based sampling

In this dissertation, a novel image restoration method is described, validated and compared with other available image restoration methods. The presented image restoration method combines the advantages of High Accuracy Fast Marching Method and non-parametric texture synthesis. The technique described from the method can handle both homogeneous and non-homogeneous natural images. The algorithm for the method can be elaborated in two sections. The first section of the algorithm is based on the High Accuracy Fast Marching Method to decide the filling order of the pixels in the target regions. The second section of the algorithm implicitly assumes a Markov random field model for textured image regions and blocks of texture are produced through an efficient searching process. The algorithm is easy to implement and requires only searching range of sample textures and a block size as user inputs. It restores the target regions with visually plausible quality equal to or better than those produced by previous techniques, with much less execution cost.
Sub-Domains of Ricin’s B Subunit as Targets of Toxin Neutralizing and Non-Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies

The B subunit (RTB) of ricin toxin is a galactose (Gal)-/N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNac)-specific lectin that mediates attachment, entry, and intracellular trafficking of ricin in host cells. Structurally, RTB consists of two globular domains with identical folding topologies. Domains 1 and 2 are each comprised of three homologous sub-domains (α, β, γ) that likely arose by gene duplication from a primordial carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), although only sub-domains 1α and 2γ retain functional lectin activity. As part of our ongoing effort to generate a comprehensive B cell epitope map of ricin, we report the characterization of three new RTB-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). All three mAbs, JB4, B/J F9 and C/M A2, were initially identified based on their abilities to neutralize ricin in a Vero cell cytotoxicity assay and to partially (or completely) block ricin attachment to cell surfaces. However, only JB4 proved capable of neutralizing ricin in a macrophage apoptosis assay and in imparting passive immunity to mice in a model of systemic intoxication. Using a combination of techniques, including competitive ELISAs, pepscan analysis, differential reactivity by Western blot, as well as affinity enrichment of phage displayed peptides, we tentatively localized the epitopes recognized by the non-neutralizing mAbs B/J F9 and C/M A2 to sub-domains 2α and 2β, respectively. Furthermore, we propose that the epitope recognized by JB4 is within sub-domain 2γ, adjacent to RTB's high affinity Gal/GalNAc CRD. These data suggest that recognition of RTB's sub-domains 1α and 2γ are critical determinants of antibody neutralizing activity and protective immunity to ricin.
Zones in the Cerebellar Cortex: the Adventures of One Participant in the Unfolding Story

Prior to the late 1960s, a variety of studies suggested that a general zonal pattern existed within the cerebellar cortex. The hypothesis proposed by Voogd, based on the organization of the subcortical white matter, indicated that this pattern may be very detailed, and he noted that “a further analysis of the corticonuclear projection is still necessary.” This brief paper chronicles the approach used by the author to formulate a plan, initiate a large series of experiments (over 250), and follow the sometimes confusing results to finally arrive at an understanding of the details of cerebellar corticonuclear projections. It was discovered that a series of mediolateral cortical zones were present that were topographically related to the underlying cerebellar nuclei, and within each zone, the cortex projected in a rostrocaudal sequence to a specific cerebellar nucleus. The hypothesis proposed by Voogd was fundamentally proven.
Evaluating genetic relationships in seed impatiens, Impatiens walleriana, using AFLP profiling

Although seed impatiens is the leading bedding plant in the US, little work has been conducted on evaluating the genetic variability present in this crop. In this study, amplified fragment length polymorphism technology was utilized to determine the level of polymorphism present across 20 commercial cultivars of seed impatiens, to assess their genetic variability, and to investigate their genetic relatedness. A total of eight EcoRI and MseI primer combinations were used for polymerase chain reaction amplification. Fluorescence-labelled amplification products were subjected to electrophoresis and then analysed using an automated sequencer. High levels of polymorphism were detected among all 20 cultivars for all primer combinations tested. Gower's Genetic Dissimilarity estimates for the entire set of cultivars ranged from 1.000 to 0.316. The dendogram generated from these dissimilarity data revealed a number of groupings, including one major division which placed all of the cultivars into one of two groups. The implications of these results on genetic variability, genotypic relationships and genetic diversity in seed impatiens is discussed.
Injectable chitosan microparticles incorporating bone morphogenetic protein-7 for bone tissue regeneration.

This study investigates the influence of the controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) from cross-linked chitosan microparticles on pre-osteoblasts (OB-6) in vitro. BMP-7 was incorporated into microparticles by encapsulation during the particle preparation and coating after particle preparation. Chitosan microparticles had an average diameter of 700 µm containing ∼10-15 ng of BMP-7. The release study profile indicates that nearly 98% of the BMP-7 coated on the microparticles was released in a period of 18 days while only 36% of the BMP-7 encapsulated in the microparticles was released in the same time period. Cell attachment study indicated that the BMP-7 coated microparticles have many cells adhered on the microparticles in comparison with microparticles without growth factors on day 10. DNA assay indicated a statistical significant increase (p < 0.05) in the amount of DNA obtained from BMP-7 encapsulated and coated microparticles in comparison with microparticles without any growth factors. A real-time RT-PCR experiment was performed to determine the expression of a few osteoblast specific genes—Dlx5, runx2, osterix, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein. The results thus suggest that chitosan microparticles obtained by coacervation method are biocompatible and helps in improving the encapsulation efficiency of BMP-7. Also BMP-7 incorporated in the microparticles is being released in a controlled fashion to support attachment, proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts, thus acting as a good scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 4276–4289, 2014.
Health Care Needs of Children With Tourette Syndrome

To document the impact of Tourette syndrome on the health care needs of children and access to health care among youth with Tourette syndrome, parent-reported data from the 2007-2008 National Surve...
Picture perception: Toward a theoretical model.

J. J. Gibson's new theory of picture perception is described, and a program of research within his framework is outlined. An analysis of pictorial information is proposed in which a systematic investigation of the structural components of pictures and their varying effects on perception is seen as preliminary to the postulation of hypothetical pickup mechanisms. The basic components of pictures are described, and literature is reviewed in the problem areas of distorted and impoverished information, observation from the wrong station point, coexisting flatness and depth information, and the ambiguity of .the source of a single projection. The feasibility of the Gibsonian enterprise is demonstrated, and further avenues for research into a structural analysis of pictorial information are pointed out. A picture is a delimited surface with markings on it that represent something. This article is concerned with pictures in the Western post-Renaissance mode; namely, that attempt to represent, by means of structural equivalence of some order, the layout of surfaces in the world. Alternative modes of representation, perhaps requiring alternative analyses, are beyond the scope of this article. By what means can a picture be said to represent, to bring clearly before the mind, the segment of the world pictured? The aim of this article is to demonstrate the feasibility of extending J. J. Gibson's theory of perception via motion-generated information to an adequate theory of frozen pictorial information and to explicate the problems that must be dealt with in any comprehensive theory of the perception of pictures. The problems to be dealt with herein are the use by artists of modified linear perspective, caricature, impoverishment of information in outline drawings and black-and-white photographs, the coexistence of flatness and depth information, observation from the wrong station point, and the ambiguity of a single projection (i.e., the same projected form can arise from an infinite variety of shapes).
Sick-Visit Immunizations and Delayed Well-Baby Visits

OBJECTIVE: Giving recommended immunizations during sick visits for minor and acute illness such as acute otitis media has long been an American Academy of Pediatrics/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice recommendation. An addition to the American Academy of Pediatrics policy in 2010 advised considering whether giving immunizations at the sick visit would discourage making up missed well-baby visits. This study quantifies the potential tradeoff between sick-visit immunizations and well-baby visits. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort analysis with a case-control component of sick visits for acute otitis media that supplanted normal well-baby visits at age 2, 4, or 6 months. Infants were stratified for sick-visit immunization, no sick-visit immunization but quick makeup well-baby visits, or no sick-visit immunizations or quick makeup visits. Immunization rates and well-baby visit rates were assessed through 24 months of age. RESULTS: For 1060 study cases, no significant difference was detected in immunization rates or well-baby visits through 24 months of age between those with or without sick-visit immunizations. Thirty-nine percent of infants without a sick-visit shot failed to return for a quick makeup well-baby visit; this delayed group was significantly less likely to be up-to-date for immunizations (relative risk: 0.66) and had fewer well-baby visits (mean: 3.8) from 2 through 24 months of age compared with those with sick-visit shots (mean: 4.7). CONCLUSIONS: The substantial risk that infants will not return for a timely makeup well-baby visit after a sick visit should be included in any consideration of whether to delay immunizations.
Ca2+-calmodulin binds to the carboxyl-terminal domain of dystrophin.

The unique COOH-terminal domain of dystrophin (mouse dystrophin protein sequences 3266-3678) was expressed as a chimeric fusion protein (with the maltose-binding protein), and its binding to calmodulin was assessed. This fusion protein, called DysS9, bound to calmodulin-Sepharose, bound biotinylated calmodulin, caused characteristic changes in the fluorescence emission spectrum of dansyl-calmodulin, and had an apparent affinity for dansyl-calmodulin of 54 nM. Binding in each case was Ca2⁺-dependent. The maltose-binding protein does not bind calmodulin, and thus binding resides in the dystrophin-derived sequences. Deletion mutation experiments further localize the high affinity calmodulin binding to mouse dystrophin protein sequences 3293-3349, and this domain contains regions with chemical characteristics found in the calmodulin-binding sequences in other proteins. The COOH-terminal domain provides sites of attachment of dystrophin to membrane proteins, and calmodulin binding may modulate these interactions.
The control of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) activity in mammalian cells: a pre-molecular view.

Abstract Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) can have a range of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) activities. PBLs from some individuals may have almost no MGMT activity. Such individuals have most often been subject to malignancy or to immunodeficiency disease. Long-term lymphoblastoid lines (LCLs) prepared from PBLs of normal subjects by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation have MGMT activities which are in general somewhat higher than the PBLs from which they derive. Such cultures are therefore generally MGMT-positive. Only in rare cases, and generally from patients with low MGMT activity, are freshly obtained lines with very low activity obtained. There is however a 4-fold range of MGMT activity over which multiple lines derived from the same PBL sample can be found. Long-term cultivation can lead to LCLs with low activity as well as to lines of high activity. On rare occasions an MGMT-positive line may, within a few divisions, give a negative line. Some (but not all) MGMT-negative (or very low) lines have been known to gain (some) activity. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines are in general very low in MGMT activity. Lines of higher activity can be selected by treatment with mutagenic crosslinking alkylating agents. Chinese hamster lines with high MGMT activity can be obtained by transfection with human DNA from MGMT-positive cells. Lines with significant activity can also be obtained by transfection of CHO cells with human DNA from MGMT-negative (or very low) cells. Resistance to MNNG treatment can be acquired without the acquisition of significant MGMT activity. Crosses of lines of high and low MGMT activity give equivocal results. Hybrids of low × low activity have no activity. Crosses of positive × positive strains give varied results. It has not been possible to identify MGMT-positive hybrids as including one particular chromosome by this type of experiment. There is no evidence for a general adaptive effect on MGMT synthesis greater than the variation within the cell cycle.
Computer-Based Attention Training in the Schools for Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Preliminary Trial

Objective. This study examined the efficacy of 2 computer-based training systems to teach children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to attend more effectively. Design/methods. A total of 41 children with ADHD from 2 middle schools were randomly assigned to receive 2 sessions a week at school of either neurofeedback (NF) or attention training through a standard computer format (SCF), either immediately or after a 6-month wait (waitlist control group). Parents, children, and teachers completed questionnaires pre- and postintervention. Results. Primary parents in the NF condition reported significant (P < .05) change on Conners's Rating Scales-Revised (CRS-R) and Behavior Assessment Scales for Children (BASC) subscales; and in the SCF condition, they reported significant (P < .05) change on the CRS-R Inattention scale and ADHD index, the BASC Attention Problems Scale, and on the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). Conclusion. This randomized control trial provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of computer-based interventions for ADHD and supports the feasibility of offering them in a school setting.
Acquisition of oral microbes and associated systemic responses of newborn nonhuman primates.

ABSTRACT The acquisition and development of the complex oral microbiome remain ill defined. While selected species of oral bacteria have been examined in relation to their initial colonization in neonates, a more detailed understanding of the dynamics of the microbiome has been developed only in adults. The current investigation used a nonhuman primate model to document the kinetics of colonization of the oral cavities of newborns and infants by a range of oral commensals and pathogens. Differences in colonization were evaluated in newborns from mothers who were maintained on an oral hygiene regimen pre- and postparturition with those displaying naturally acquired gingivitis/periodontitis. The results demonstrate distinct profiles of acquisition of selected oral bacteria, with the transmission of targeted pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, being passed on primarily from mothers with gingivitis/periodontitis. This colonization resulted in defined patterns of systemic antibody responses in the infants. The significant relative risk measures for infection with the pathogens, as well as the relationship of oral infection and blood serum antibody levels, were consistent with those of the newborns from mothers with gingivitis/periodontitis. These findings indicate that the early acquisition of potentially pathogenic oral bacterial species might impact the development of mucosal responses in the gingiva and may provide an enhanced risk for the development of periodontitis later in life.
The effects of superphysiologic hyperinsulinemia on glucose and lipid metabolism in glucose-tolerant offspring of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)

First-degree relatives of patients with NIDDM manifest severe insulin resistance despite normal glucose tolerance test. To examine the mechanisms underlying the normal glucose tolerance, we evaluated the serum glucose/C-peptide/insulin dynamics and free fatty acid (FFA) as well as substrate oxidation rates and energy expenditure (EE) (indirect calorimetry) in nine young offspring of NIDDM patients (mean +/- SEM age 30 +/- 2.3 years, body mass index 24.2 +/- 1.2 kg/m2). Nine age-, sex- and weight-matched, normal subjects with no family history of diabetes served as the controls. Metabolic parameters were measured before, during and after a two-step glucose infusion (2 and 4 mg/kg.min) for 120 min. Mean basal serum glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were similar in both groups. During 2 mg/kg.min glucose infusion, mean serum insulin and C-peptide rose to significantly (P less than 0.05-0.02) greater levels in the offspring vs. controls, while serum glucose levels were similar. With the 4 mg/kg.min glucose infusion, mean serum glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were significantly (P less than 0.02-0.001) greater in the offspring at 100-120 min. Isotopically-derived (D[3-3H]glucose), basal hepatic glucose output (HGO) was not significantly different between the offspring vs. controls (1.86 +/- 0.30 vs. 1.78 +/- 0.06 mg/kg.min). During glucose infusion, basal HGO was partially suppressed by 66% at 60 min and by 100% at 120 min in the offspring. In contrast, HGO was completely (100%) suppressed at both times in the controls. Following cessation of glucose infusion, HGO rose to 1.64 +/- 0.12 mg/kg.min in the offspring and 1.46 +/- 0.05 mg/kg.min in the controls (P less than 0.05) between 200 and 240 min. These were 88% and 82% of the respective basal HGO values. At low glucose infusion (t = 0-60 min), the mean absolute, non-oxidative glucose disposal remained 1.5-fold greater in the offspring while at higher glucose infusion, nonoxidative glucose metabolism was not different in both groups. Throughout the study period, oxidative glucose disposal rate was not significantly different in both groups. The mean basal FFA was significantly greater in the offspring vs. controls (865 +/- 57 vs. 642 +/- 45 microEq/l). It was appropriately suppressed during glucose infusion to a similar nadir in both groups (395 +/- 24 vs. 375 +/- 33 microEq/l). The mean basal lipid oxidation was also significantly greater in the offspring than controls (1.06 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.75 +/- 0.04 mg/kg.min, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
What's Special about the State?

Many of us think that we have duties of distributive justice towards our fellow citizens that we do not have towards foreigners. Is that thought justified? This article considers the nature of the state's relationship to distributive justice from the perspective of utilitarianism, a theory that is barely represented in contemporary philosophical debates on this question. My strategy is to mount a utilitarian case for state-specific duties of distributive justice that is similar in its basic structure to the one that is standardly mounted for special duties towards the near and dear. I begin with a discussion of whether or not the co-citizen relationship can be justified in terms of its welfare consequences. I then consider what the answer to that first question implies concerning the duties of distributive justice that arise within that relationship.
Hypothermia preserves function and signaling for mitochondrial biogenesis during subsequent ischemia

Hypothermia is known to protect myocardium during ischemia, but its role in induction of a protective stress response before ischemia has not been evaluated. As cold incites stress responses in oth...
Decision procedure for indefinite hypergeometric summation

Abstract Given a summand an, we seek the “indefinite sum” S(n) determined (within an additive constant) by [Formula: see text] or, equivalently, by [Formula: see text] An algorithm is exhibited which, given an, finds those S(n) with the property [Formula: see text] With this algorithm, we can determine, for example, the three identities [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and we can also conclude that [Formula: see text] is inexpressible as S(m) - S(0), for any S(n) satisfying Eq. 2.
UTP-dependent and -independent pathways of mRNA turnover in Trypanosoma brucei mitochondria.

Although primary transcripts are polycistronic in the mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei, steady-state levels of mature, monocistronic RNAs change throughout the parasitic life cycle. This indicates that steadystate RNA abundance is controlled by posttranscriptional mechanisms involving differential RNA stability. In this study, in organello pulse-chase labeling experiments were used to analyze the stability of different T. brucei mitochondrial RNA populations. In this system, total RNA and rRNA are stable for many hours. In contrast, mRNAs can be degraded by two biochemically distinct turnover pathways. The first pathway results in the rapid degradation of mRNA (half-life [t1/2] of 11 to 18 min) and is dependent upon the presence of an mRNA poly(A) tail. Remarkably, this pathway also requires the addition of UTP and therefore is termed UTP dependent. The second pathway results in slow turnover of mitochondrial mRNA (t1/2 of ;3 h) and is not dependent upon the presence of an mRNA poly(A) tail or the addition of exogenous UTP. In summary, these results demonstrate the presence of a novel, UTP-dependent degradation pathway for T. brucei mitochondrial mRNAs and reveal an unprecedented role for both UTP and mRNA polyadenylation in T. brucei mitochondrial gene expression.
Brief report on experiential avoidance and valuing in at-risk adolescents.

Approximately 20% of youth in the US have academic or behavioral difficulties that interfere with their daily lives, and some data indicate that these problems may be exacerbated by experiential avoidance (EA). While avoiding unpleasant experiences, youth preclude learning opportunities and contact with potential successes. Therefore, it has been theorized that the relationship between EA and adaptive, value-consistent behavior is tenuous. This correlation, however, had not been tested. Thus, seven participants, aged 11 and 12, were recruited to examine the relationship of EA and behavioral inconsistency with values as measured by the Acceptance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth and the Bull’s Eye Values Assessment, respectively. All participants met criteria for ADHD and/or an LD. Several participants were diagnosed with disruptive behavior disorders as well. Given the small sample size, statistical significance was not reached; however, approximately 22% of the variance was accounted for by the relationship between EA and values (r(5) =.47, p = .143).
Advantages of latent trait measurement in language testing

Solutions to a number of important problems in language test develop ment not resolved by classical measurement theory are to be found in latent trait measurement theory. An ESL reading comprehension test is analysed first using classical measurement procedures and then with Rasch Model latent trait procedures. The advantages gained through use of the latter are demonstrated and discussed.
Effect of methamphetamine on cognition and repetitive motor behavior of mice deficient for dopamine D2 and D3 receptors.

Mice deficient for dopamine D 2 and D 3 receptors exhibit blunted D 1 -receptor responses to agonist stimulation. This blunted D 1 -receptor activity is prominent in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and results in a significantly impaired performance of the mutants in a test for spatial working memory. A single dose of methamphetamine (METH; 5 mg/kg i.p.), however, elicits a long-lasting increase in agonist-stimulated D 1 receptor activity in the mPFC. In D 2 mutants, this increase reaches wild-type levels, and the working memory of METH-treated mutants is completely rescued. In D 3 mutants, however, the METH-induced increase in D 1 -receptor activity remains below wild-type levels and does not result in improved working memory performance. D 2 and D 3 mutants also differ in their locomotor responses to METH. Repeated administration of this drug (5 mg/kg administered three times at 2-h intervals) leads to a transition from horizontal hyperlocomotion to excessive orofacial stereotypy (taffy pulling) only in wild type and D 3 mutants. In both genotypes, this transition is accompanied by a change in the relative ratios of striatal neuronal activation in two neurochemically distinct compartments, with striosomal neuronal activation exceeding that of the striatal matrix during stereotypy. Both the stereotypic response to METH and the associated predominant activation of neurons located in striosomes require D 2 -receptor expression. These studies indicate a differential requirement for D 1 - and D 2 -like receptor activation in mediating the effects of METH on cognitive and motor function.
ERRATUM: “CHAOS IN THE TEST PARTICLE ECCENTRIC KOZAI-LIDOV MECHANISM” (2014, APJ, 791, 86)

The Astrophysical Journal, 802:71 (1pp), 2015 March 20 doi:10.1088/0004-637X/802/1/71 © 2015. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. ERRATUM: “CHAOS IN THE TEST PARTICLE ECCENTRIC KOZAI-LIDOV MECHANISM” (2014, APJ, 791, 86) Gongjie Li 1 , Smadar Naoz 2 , Matt Holman 1 , and Abraham Loeb 1 Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, The Institute for Theory and Computation, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; gli@cfa.harvard.edu Department of Physics & Astronomy, Division of Astronomy and Astrophysics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA Received 2015 February 5; accepted 2015 February 11; published 2015 March 24 The following corrections should be made to the published version of our article. A typographical error occurred in Equations (1) and (2) in the published paper. The rest of the paper is unaffected. The correct equations are F quad ( J , , J z , Ω ) ) J J )( 1 F oct ( J , , J z , Ω ) 11 J z 5 J z 2 15 J z 3 J J 2 J 3 11 J z 5 J z 2 15 J z 3 J J 2 J 3 J J 2 J 2 ) cos (2 cos ( cos ( J z J z 2 J z 3 J J 2 J 3 J z J z 2 J z 3 J J 2 J 3 J 2 J z 2 2 J J z 2 J 2 J z 2 J 2 cos (3 cos (3
The Use of Microwave Radiometry to Determine a Cloud Seeding Opportunity.

Abstract A ground-based combination microwave radiometer-satellite receiver operating at 28.5 GHz (wavelength = 1.05 cm) was employed to measure liquid water in clouds during the 1979-80 field season of the Sierra Cooperative Pilot Project (SCPP) in northern California. We report upon the ability of the instrument to detect small amounts (∼0.1 g m−3) of liquid water in non-precipitating clouds which may not be observed by other remote sensing systems. A successful cloud seeding experiment, performed after cloud liquid was detected by the instrument, is described.
Nicotine stimulates DNA synthesis and proliferation in vascular endothelial cells in vitro

Nicotine is a major component of cigarette smoke and has been postulated to play an important role in atherogenesis and malignancy. Endothelial cell growth may be regulated by nicotine, yet operati...
Towards Unbiased Portfolio Daily Returns

This paper describes a new method to generate unbiased equal-weighted portfolio daily returns by removing the impacts of bid-ask bounce and non-synchronous trading. For example, for the CRSP daily equal-weighted market index over 1964 to 1993 (EWRETD), the annual bias of the time series generated by our method is 0.05%, considerably smaller than 6% as reported by Canina et al. (1998). In addition, we also discuss the research impact by using both biased and unbiased daily EWRETD on beta, alpha, volatility and event study. The paper concludes that the new method should be applied for future estimation of portfolio daily returns which can be either equal-weighted or value-weighted.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma

The model of the subject with reflexion allows us to propose a new approach to the well-known prisoner’s dilemma, reflecting one of the paradoxes inherent in the theory of rational choice (Lefebvre, 2000). Here is the essence of the paradox (see Rapoport & Chamah, 1965). Two individuals are arrested as suspects in a serious crime. They are kept in separate cells and cannot communicate. Each of them can plead either ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’. If both plead ‘guilty’, each will be imprisoned for three years. If both plea ‘not guilty’, each will be imprisoned for two years. If one of them pleads ‘guilty’, and the second one ‘not guilty’, then the first one will be sentenced for one year, and the second one for 50 years. These conditions are shown in the following matrix:
Economic Globalization and the Rise of Efficient Systems of Global Private Lawmaking: Wal-Mart as Global Legislator

This essay focuses on Wal-Mart's role in an important emerging phenomenon: the development of efficient systems of private law making by non-governmental organizations that sometimes supplement, and sometimes displace traditional legal systems. These emerging global systems of private law making are spearheaded by an important group of large multinational corporations like Wal-Mart. It arises in the shadow of, parallel with, and in response to the less successful attempts by national and international bodies to regulate economic behavior on a global scale. These systems are grounded in private law, contractual and business connections between the great multi-national corporations and the many entities with which they have business relationships. This essay concentrates on one aspect of those connections - supplier or supply chain agreements involving multinational corporations. It examines the way Wal-Mart is able to use those contractual relationships to legislate behavior among its suppliers with respect to product quality, working conditions for the suppliers' employees, ethical conduct, and similar matters. The particulars of those behaviors reflect Wal-Mart's perception of the tastes and expectations of its consumers, investors and the financial community. Those tastes and expectations, in turn, are formed by elements of civil society and spread by elements of the media. Civil society elements serve not only to form consumer tastes, but also to develop Wal-Mart's specific set of behavior norms and then independently monitor compliance by Wal-Mart and its suppliers with their obligations. The media independently serves as the source of legitimacy and the conduit through which the results of civil society monitoring efforts, and the efforts of Wal-Mart to correct these breaches are transmitted. The media also serves as a forum through which consumer and investment tastes in behavior are developed. Together, multinationals, elements of civil society, the media, and the consumer-investor community constitute the elements of an autonomous system for the efficient regulation of economic behavior on a global scale that may contribute to the development of functionally differentiated and partial global systems of common law beyond the state.
Granulocyte growth factor use in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the United States: adherence to guidelines and comparative effectiveness

The efficacy of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) among elderly patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) receiving CHOP-based chemotherapy has been demonstrated in clinical trials, and G-CSFs are recommended in guidelines. We studied guideline adherence and the effectiveness of G-CSFs in the general population. We used inpatient and outpatient claims from nationally representative databases linked to cancer information from tumor registries. Patients (N = 5884) diagnosed with NHL between 2001 and 2007 who were older than 65 years and who received CHOP-based chemotherapy were included. Adherence to guidelines was measured as the use of G-CSFs within 7 days of the first dose of chemotherapy. The measures of effectiveness were fever, infection, and death during cycle 1 of chemotherapy and time to cycle 2. Multiple-variable models of these outcomes were developed using logistic regression, controlling for demographic, clinical, and provider factors. G-CSF use increased from 32 % in 2001 to 72 % in 2007. Patients who received G-CSFs were significantly less likely to have outpatient encounters for infection than those who did not receive early G-CSFs (35 vs 47 %; p < 0.0001). Inpatient encounters for infection were similarly prevalent among patients who did or did not receive early G-CSFs (5 vs 4 %; p = 0.2). There was no association between G-CSF use and death during cycle 1. Adherence to guidelines increased after publication of clinical trials and exceeded 70 % after publication of guidelines. G-CSFs were effective in preventing outpatient encounters for fever or infection, but not inpatient encounters or deaths during cycle 1.
Posthuman agency : Between theoretical traditions

With his recent introduction of posthumanism, a decentered variant of constructivist sociology of science, Andrew Pickering advertises novel conceptual resources for social theorists. In fact, he tenders nothing less than a fundamental reordering of social thought. By invoking the concept of material agency, Pickering seeks to redefine the relationship between Nature and Society, while dismissing the humanist bias inherent in sociological inquiry. However, for all its ambition and good intentions, posthumanism delivers only analytical inconsistencies, the consequences of an uneasy synthesis of pragmatist and poststructuralist influences. When translated into the language of conventional sociological theory, these problems surface as an inadequate treatment of human agency. The works of the original pragmatists, particularly C.S. Peirce and G.H. Mead, illustrate how the objectives of posthumanism can be achieved without decentering, suggesting a renewed appreciation of humanist sociologies
Photoelectrochemical Properties of CH3-Terminated p-Type GaP(111)A

The photoelectrochemical properties of p-type gallium phosphide (GaP) (111)A electrodes before and after a two-step chlorination/Grignard reaction sequence have been assessed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated both a change in the flat-band potential in water and decreased sensitivity of the band edge energetics toward pH for GaP(111)A surfaces following modification. Separate stability tests were performed to gauge the susceptibilities of unmodified and CH3-terminated p-GaP(111)A photoelectrodes toward reductive degradation under illumination. The steady-state photoelectrochemical results showed modification of GaP(111)A with −CH3 groups significantly enhanced p-GaP stability. Separately, sub-bandgap photocurrent measurements were collected to assess relative changes in surface states acting as recombination centers. In the absence of any dye, the sub-bandgap photocurrent from trapping/detrapping of charge carriers in surface states was higher for unmodified p-GaP photoelectrodes than for ...
Hitting the Curve Ball: Risk Management in Private Equity

Recent experience has reminded us that a private equity program cannot be viewed in isolation. What really matters is understanding just how the program might succeed or fail in contributing to broader, portfolio-wide investment objectives in the ways originally intended. A risk framework should distinguish benign regimes from volatile regimes, ideally ringing an alarm bell before the onset of trouble. Investors should first consider the places from which risks may emerge in a private equity program. Broadly speaking, these include the unrealized companies (individually and in aggregate, as a portfolio), the remaining unfunded commitments, the manager’s organization, and the investor’s private equity program itself. Importantly, risk assessment should not be guided by the structure and labels of a particular fund—it must focus instead on underlying components and the ways they interact with each other, inside and outside of the private equity portfolio. Such a granular focus allows risk managers to identify the key variables and, in turn, map them to broader risk factors, permitting dynamic insights into the behavior of the portfolio under different scenarios. This component-level analysis can be complemented by a top-down approach using public-market proxies, appropriately adjusted and tailored. These approaches pierce traditional fund classifications, invite interesting hypothesis testing, and offer a mechanism for integrating with the entire investment program. The authors argue that active management should be a critical part of risk management in private equity. Simply approving or disapproving new additions to the portfolio is insufficient. Investors should consider changes that rebalance exposures and re-shape risks, working across all asset classes and availing themselves of mechanisms like the secondary market.
Analysis on Active Power Fluctuation Characteristics of Large-Scale Grid-Connected Wind Farm and Generation Scheduling Simulation Under Different Capacity Power Injected From Wind Farms Into Power Grid

It is very important for the guidance of power grid operation and management to analyze the characteristics of active power of large-scale grid-connected wind farm and find out its variation law. Based on the recorded real-time operation data of large-scale wind farm connected with Inner Mongolia power grid in past two years and utilizing the methods of probabilistic statistical analysis and time series analysis, the fluctuation characteristics of active power generated by wind farm is analyzed, and its variation law as well as various factors impacting power grid operation are searched. According to the results from research and analysis, the key factors impacting the wind power capacity injected into power grid are found, and active power characteristics of power grid, which reveal after injecting different capacity of wind power into power grid, are summarized.
Health risk appraisal and serum cholesterol nutrition education: an outcome study.

Records of 59 U.S. Army service members identified as at-risk for coronary heart disease were reviewed. Soldiers were divided into groups that completed and did not complete cholesterol nutrition education classes. Differences in the means of repeated cholesterol measures were compared within each group. Results showed statistically significant declines in total cholesterol, with t(35) = 2.94, p < 0.01 for the class completion group and t(22) = 2.18, p < 0.05 for the dropout group. Similar results were noted for low-density lipoprotein measures. However, cholesterol differences in the means between the two groups were not statistically significant. Results indicate that decreases in serum cholesterol may occur due to at-risk reactive behavior, but that full compliance with the current nutrition education program does not appear to further reduce cholesterol levels to any appreciable degree.
Waging Trans-epistemological Warfare

Winning the War of Ideas against al Qaeda requires discrediting the al Qaeda movement by exposing its doctrinal hypocrisy and internal inconsistencies, ideologically inoculating those populations who might be most susceptible to its message using a variety of engagement strategies, ensuring that those populations who are not currently susceptible to al Qaeda’s ideology remain that way by working closely with partner nations, and bolstering support at home for the aforementioned activities through transparent and open communication.1
Clinical Case of the Month:A 54 Year-Old Woman With Fever and Chills of Four-Days Duration.

CASE REPORT A 54 year-old woman with diabetes mellitus type two and end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis presented to the emergency department with a four day history of generalized malaise, fever, and chills. Her symptoms were also associated with occasional dyspnea without a cough. She reported intermittent chronic diarrhea with hemodialysis which was currently unchanged. On the day of admission, she could not tolerate hemodialysis due to her symptoms. Over the past year she admitted to night sweats and a 40 pound weight loss. She denied having palpitations, chest pain, hemoptysis, lymph node swelling, sick contacts, or recent travel. The remainder of the review of systems was negative.
De novo synthesis of alkyne substituted tryptophans as chemical probes for protein profiling studies.

De novo synthesis of alkynylated tryptophan moieties as chemical probes for protein profiling studies, via an unexpected synthesis of Michael acceptor 12 is reported. Friedel Craft's alkylation of 12 and alkyne substituted indoles gave alkynylated tryptophan moieties, which act as chemical probes by incorporating into actively translating Escherichia coli cells, whereby the alkyne moiety enables multimodal analyses through click chemistry mediated attachment of reporting groups.