cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of menstrual phase and nicotine abstinence on nicotine intake and on biochemical and subjective measures in women smokers: a A preliminary report

Nicotine intake, menstrual and smoking withdrawal symptomatology, and baseline cortisol and MHPG were assessed in nine women smokers under conditions of ad lib smoking and overnight abstinence in three menstrual phases (early follicular, mid-to-late follicular, and late luteal). A trend towards higher nicotine intake (p < 0.10) was observed in the mid-to-late follicular phase. Although menstrual symptomatology was not significantly elevated during the smoking abstinence condition overall, abstinence appeared to prevent the normal reduction in symptomatology during the mid-to-late follicular phase that occurred under conditions of ad lib smoking. Menstrual and withdrawal symptoms were highly correlated, and both were most pronounced during the late luteal/abstinence condition. The smoking-specific item "craving" reflected this pattern, though in attenuated form, suggesting that the observed exacerbation of withdrawal symptomatology was not simply due to generalized dysphoria, as queried in both instruments. MHPG was significantly elevated in the late luteal phase, whereas cortisol was significantly higher during ad lib smoking than during abstinence and tended to be highest in the mid-to-late follicular phase. Further investigation will be needed to determine the functional significance of these findings for understanding and treating smoking in women.
Determination of total strain from faulting using slip measurements

IN the past twenty years it has become commonplace in seismology to sum seismic moments for large earthquakes to determine the contemporary fault slip rate1 or regional strain rate produced by earthquakes2. The method has several drawbacks: it often greatly underestimates deformation rates predicted from plate tectonics, either because the seismic history is of insufficient length or a substantial amount of fault slip is aseismic. Also, it can be used to calculate only current deformation rates, and cannot be applied to earlier geological eras or to estimate total strain. These problems can be overcome by applying the same methods to geological measures of fault displacement. Complete fault data sets, however, are generally not available. Here we show that faults obey general scaling laws in their size frequency distribution and in the relation between displacement and fault length. Combining these scaling relations, we demonstrate that the calculation of strain can be successfully applied to sparse geological data sets, because most strain is produced by the largest faults so that the data set need not be complete for small fault sizes.
A well conditioned check sum scheme for algorithmic fault tolerance

Abstract The weighted checksum scheme has been proposed as a low-cost fault tolerant procedure for parallel matrix computations. To guarantee multiple error detection and correction, the chosen weight vectors must satisfy some very specific properties about linear independence. However, previous weight generating methods that fulfill the independence criteria have troubles with numerical overflow. We will present a new scheme that generates weight vectors via Chebyshev polynomials to meet the requirements about independence and to avoid the difficulties with overflow.
A Single Amino Acid Change in the Yeast Vacuolar Metal Transporters Zrc1 and Cot1 Alters Their Substrate Specificity

Iron is an essential nutrient but in excess may damage cells by generating reactive oxygen species due to Fenton reaction or by substituting for other transition metals in essential proteins. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae detoxifies cytosolic iron by storage in the vacuole. Deletion of CCC1, which encodes the vacuolar iron importer, results in high iron sensitivity due to increased cytosolic iron. We selected mutants that permitted Δccc1 cells to grow under high iron conditions by UV mutagenesis. We identified a mutation (N44I) in the vacuolar zinc transporter ZRC1 that changed the substrate specificity of the transporter from zinc to iron. COT1, a vacuolar zinc and cobalt transporter, is a homologue of ZRC1 and both are members of the cation diffusion facilitator family. Mutation of the homologous amino acid (N45I) in COT1 results in an increased ability to transport iron and decreased ability to transport cobalt. These mutations are within the second hydrophobic domain of the transporters and show the essential nature of this domain in the specificity of metal transport.
Strain- and stress-based continuum damage models—II. Computational aspects

Abstract In Part I of this work we developed continuum isotropic and anisotropic elastoplastic-damage models, formulated either in strain space on the basis of the effective stress concept, or in stress space and employing the dual notion of effective strain. In Part II we consider in detail the variational formulation and subsequent numerical implementation of these models. The former relies crucially on the notions of maximum plastic and maximum damage dissipation. The latter makes systematic use of the operator splitting methodology to derive unconditionally stable algorithms for the numerical integration of the elastoplastic-damage equations of evolution. Appropriate extensions to treat the proposed rate-dependent (viscous) damage are also presented. For stress-based damage models, our numerical treatment relies on a new three-step operator split. The algorithms developed lead to simple and efficient stress update procedures suitable for large-scale finite element calculations. Application is made to a class of inviscid and rate-dependent cap models with an isotropic strain-based damage mechanism. Remarkably good agreement with existing experimental data that includes complicated stress paths is obtained. Numerical examples are also presented that demonstrate the good performance of the proposed algorithms.
Long-term operation of ground-based atmospheric sensing systems in the tropical Western Pacific

Three semi-autonomous atmospheric sensing systems were installed in the tropical western Pacific region. The first of these Atmospheric Radiation and Cloud Stations (ARCS) began operation in 1996. Each ARCS is configured as a system-of-systems since it comprises an ensemble of independent instrument systems. The ARCS collect, process, and transmit large volumes of cloud, solar and thermal radiation, and meteorological data to support climate studies and climate-modeling improvements as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric and Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program. Data from these tropical ARCS stations have been used for satellite ground-truth data comparisons and validations, including comparisons for MTI and AQUA satellite data. Our experiences with these systems in the tropics led to modifications in their design. An ongoing international logistics effort is required to keep gigabytes per day of quality-assured data flowing to the ARM program’s archives. Design criteria, performance, communications methods, and the day-to-day logistics required to support long-term operations of ground-based remote atmospheric sensing systems are discussed. End-to-end data flow from the ARCS systems to the ARM Program archives is discussed.
Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Antiviral Drug Development

Viral diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and the few available drugs to treat these diseases often come with limitations. The key obstacle to the development of new antiviral agents is their delivery into infected cells in vivo. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short peptides that can cross the cellular lipid bilayer with the remarkable capability to shuttle conjugated cargoes into cells. CPPs have been successfully utilized to enhance the cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of antiviral molecules, and thereby increase the inhibitory activity of potential antiviral proteins and oligonucleotide analogues, both in cultured cells and in animal models. This review will address the notable findings of these studies, highlighting some promising results and discussing the challenges CPP technology has to overcome for further clinical applications.
Nonionic nucleic acid analogs. Synthesis and characterization of dideoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonates

A series of dideoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonate analogues, dNpN and dNpNp, which contain a nonionic 3'--5' methylphosphonyl internucleoside linkage were prepared. The two diastereoisomers, designated isomers 1 and 2, of each dimer differ in configuration of the methylphosphonate group and were separated by column chromatography. The diastereoisomers of each dimer have different conformations in solution as shown by ultraviolet hypochromicity data and their circular dichroism spectra. For example, dApA isomer 1 is more highly stacked than isomer 2, although both isomers are less stacked than the dinucleoside monophosphate, dApA. The circular dichroism spectrum of isomer 1 is very similar to that of dApA, while the CD spectrum of isomer 2 shows a loss of molecular ellipticity, [theta], at 270 nm and a greatly diminished [theta] at 250 nm. These results suggest that the stacked bases of dApA isomer 1 tend to orient in an oblique manner, while those in isomer 2 tend to orient in a parallel manner. This interpretation is verified by the 1H NMR study of these dimers (L. S. Kan, D. M. Cheng, P. S. Miller, J. Yano, and P. O. P. Ts'o, unpublished experiments). Both diastereoisomers of dAaA form 2U:1A and 2T:1A complexes with poly(U) and poly(dT), respectively. The higher Tm (Tm of poly(U)--isomer 1, 15.4 degrees C; Tm of poly(U)--isomer 2, 19.8 degrees C; Tm of poly(dT)--isomer 1, 18.7 degrees C; Tm of poly(dT)--isomer 2, 18.4 degrees C) values of these complexes vs. those of the corresponding dApA--polynucleotide complexes (Tm of poly(U)--dApA, 7.0 degrees C; Tm of poly(dT)--DApA, 9.2 degrees C) result from decreased charge repulsion between the nonionic dimer backbone and the negatively charged polymer backbone. The difference in conformations between dApA isomer 1 and dApA isomer 2 is reflected in the Tm of the isomer 1-poly(U) complex which is 4.4 degrees C lower than that of the isomer 2-poly(U) complex. Since these nonionic oligonucleotide analogues are taken up by cells in culture, they show promise as molecular probes for the function and structure of nucleic acids inside living cells.
Natural antibodies and complement modulate intimal thickening after arterial injury

Immune factors are involved in modulating neointimal response to arterial wall injury, but the role of individual immune effectors in this response remains unclear. Using a carotid cuff injury model in mice, we tested the role of immunoglobulin isotypes in modulating intimal thickening by using adoptive transfer of splenocytes from WT mice, or the direct administration of IgG or IgM into immune-deficient Rag-1−/− [Rag-1 knockout (Rag-1KO)] mice. The direct role of complement was also tested by depletion of complement. Splenocytes from WT mice were isolated and adoptively transferred to Rag-1KO mice subjected to carotid cuff arterial injury. Transfer of splenocytes to Rag-1KO mice resulted in increased serum IgM and IgG within 48 h and were comparable to WT levels by 21 days after injury. Splenocyte transfer in Rag-1KO decreased intimal area by 40% compared with Rag-1KO mice without cell transfer. To further differentiate the relative contribution of IgM or IgG in reducing intimal thickening, additional groups of Rag-1KO mice were subjected to injury and given intravenous injections of pooled mouse IgG or IgM. Both IgG and IgM treatment significantly reduced intimal thickening compared with untreated Rag-1KO mice. Immunoglobulin treatments modified serum complement C3 profile and decreased C3 presence in injured arteries. Depletion of C3 using cobra venom factor in Rag-1KO mice significantly decreased intimal thickening. Our results identify the direct role of natural IgG and IgM, and complement in the modulation of neointimal response to arterial injury.
TRAIL and KILLER Are Expressed and Induce Apoptosis in the Murine Preimplantation Embryo

TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) and KILLER are a death-inducing ligand and receptor pair that belong to the TNF and TNF-receptor superfamilies, respectively. To date, only one apoptosis-inducing TRAIL receptor (murine KILLER [MK]) has been identified in mice, and it is a homologue of human Death Receptor 5. Whereas the expression of other death receptors, such as Fas and TNF receptor 1 have been documented in mammalian preimplantation embryos, no evidence currently demonstrates either the presence or the function of TRAIL and its corresponding death receptor, MK. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and confocal immunofluorescent microscopy, we found that both TRAIL and MK are expressed from the 1-cell through the blastocyst stage of murine preimplantation embryo development. These proteins are localized mainly at the cell surface from the 1-cell through the morula stage. At the blastocyst stage, both TRAIL and MK exhibit an apical staining pattern in the trophectoderm cells. Finally, using the TUNEL assay, we demonstrated that MK induces apoptosis in blastocysts sensitized to TRAIL via actinomycin D. Taken together, these data are the first to demonstrate the presence and function of TRAIL and MK, a death-inducing ligand and its receptor, in mammalian preimplantation embryos.
Global mesospheric tidal winds observed by the high resolution Doppler imager on board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

This paper presents preliminary results of a study of mesospheric and lower thermosphedc diurnal tidal winds obtained with the High Resolution Doppler Imager (HI) on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Zonal averages of the meddional and zonal wind fields are performed at fixed local times. These analyses reveal tidal structures in the mean meridional wind field during the months of February and March 1992. Results are presented for a typical day in February 1992. The observed maximum amplitude of meridional wind is approximately 75 m s -1. The observed vertical wavelength is about 20 km, with amplitudes increasing linearly with height. In addition to the tides, the zonal wind field reveals many features of the mesospheric
Digital Image Hidden in an Image Using n-Graylevel Encoding

This paper proposed an n-graylevel encoding method to hide digital images. First of all, transform every pixel value of a covert image into n-graylevel codes, and then these n-graylevel codes are embedded into a host image with a specific encoding rule. The proposed method use n-graylevel encoding method can hide digital images into a host image to form an overt image with n-graylevel codes. All pixel elements of the overt image can be found into five categories, which are respectively as identification codes, image graylevel codes, dimension codes, n-graylevel codes, and information codes. The proposed method can hide digital images, good security, fast calculation, saving space, and the overt image is almost the same as the host image. The covert image can be directly decoded from the overt image not using the host image, and then the decoded covert image and the original covert image are all the same.
Small sample properties of some parametric bioassay estimators of the LD 90

Abstract Bioassay experiments are frequently conducted with small sample sizes, but the literature offers little comparative information for small sample sizes among the analytical procedures. A computer simulation study was performed to compare several traditional analytical procedures for estimating the LD 90 . These estimation procedures include probit analysis with maximum likelihood estimation, logit analysis with maximum likelihood, and minimum χ 2 estimation methods. The simulation results indicate the conditions under which each analytical method appears most useful. Recommendations are tentatively made for minimally adequate designs for bioassay studies where an LD 90 is to be estimated.
Effective Use of Autoantibody Tests in the Diagnosis of Systemic Autoimmune Disease

Screening for disease-specific autoantibodies may be useful in asymptomatic ANA-positive individuals as a means of evaluating the risk of developing a systemic autoimmune disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), scleroderma (SSc), Sjogren's syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in the future. In patients with known or suspected systemic autoimmune disease, a panel of disease-specific markers may help to establish a diagnosis and to assess the prognosis. The great strides in autoantibody testing over the last 20 years make it feasible to use specific autoantibody markers to improve diagnostic accuracy in systemic autoimmune disease. New technology enabling screening for multiple autoantibodies may further enhance the clinical usefulness of autoantibody testing, making it possible to diagnose autoimmune disease in its earliest stages and to intervene before serious end organ damage occurs.
Steeplechase Barriers Affect Women Less than Men

Women began contesting the 3000 m steeplechase during the 1990’s using barriers of different dimensions than men. Whenever a new event is introduced for women, consideration should be taken as to whether different technique or training methods should be utilized. This study investigated three aspects of hurdling technique: 1) Differences in the ratio of the landing step to the penultimate step between men and women around each non-water jump steeplechase barrier, 2) differences in step lengths between the four non-water jump barriers, and 3) changes in the step lengths around the barrier throughout the race. The step lengths around the 28 non-water jump barriers of the top seven men and women at the 2003 USA Track and Field Championships were measured using a two-dimensional analysis. A t-test determined any differences between men and women for the ratio of the landing to penultimate steps. A 2x4 repeated measures ANOVA tested for differences between the four non-water jump barriers. Linear regression tested for changes in step lengths throughout the race. Men exhibited a smaller ratio between the lengths of the landing to penultimate steps than women (0.73 ± 0.09 and 0.77 ± 0.10 for men and women respectively, p = 0.002). No step length differences were observed between the four barriers in the step lengths around each barrier (p = 0.192 and p = 0.105 for men and women respectively). Athletes gradually increased the total length of all steps around the barriers throughout the race (R 2 = 0.021, p = 0.048 and R 2 = 0.137, p < 0.001 for men and women respectively). The smaller ratio between landing to penultimate steps shows that the barriers affect women less than men. There may be a need to train men and women differently for the non-water jump barriers in the steeplechase or slightly alter racing strategy.
Protein kinase A phosphorylation activates Vpr-induced cell cycle arrest during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes an inexorable depletion of CD4 + T cells. The loss of these cells is particularly pronounced in the mucosal immune system during acute infection, and the data suggest that direct viral cytopathicity is a major factor. Cell cycle arrest caused by the HIV-1 accessory protein Vpr is strongly correlated with virus-induced cell death, and phosphorylation of Vpr serine 79 (S79) is required to activate G 2 /M cell cycle blockade. However, the kinase responsible for phosphorylating Vpr remains unknown. Our bioinformatic analyses revealed that S79 is part of a putative phosphorylation site recognized by protein kinase A (PKA). We show here that PKA interacts with Vpr and directly phosphorylates S79. Inhibition of PKA activity during HIV-1 infection abrogates Vpr cell cycle arrest. These findings provide new insight into the signaling event that activates Vpr cell cycle arrest, ultimately leading to the death of infected T cells.
Design of a variable S-band fiber-optic delay line

This paper describes the design of a variable S-band delay line based on fiber-optic technology. A combination of a switched-RF configuration and switched-fiber configuration has resulted in improved performance with reduced costs compared to previously reported delay line systems. The reported delay line provides variable delays programmable from 0 nsecs to 9.55 /spl mu/secs in 50 nsec increments and may be switched as quickly as 600 nsecs. The delay line achieved a worst case output noise floor 60 dB/MHz with the input signal at the 1 dB compression level of 6.6 dBm, a gain linearity </spl plusmn/2 dB, a power dissipation <43 watts, and an infinite capture time.
Origination, Extinction, and Mass Depletions of Marine Diversity

In post-Cambrian time, five events—the end-Ordovician, end-Frasnian in the Late De- vonian, end-Permian, end-Triassic, and end-Cretaceous—are commonly grouped as the ''big five'' global intervals of mass extinction. Plotted by magnitude, extinction intensities for all Phanerozoic substages show a continuous distribution, with the five traditionally recognized mass extinctions located in the upper tail. Plotted by time, however, proportional extinctions clearly divide the Phan- erozoic Eon into six stratigraphically coherent intervals of alternating high and low extinction in- tensity. These stratigraphic neighborhoods provide a temporal context for evaluating the intensity of extinction during the ''big five'' events. Compared with other stages and substages in the same neighborhood, only the end-Ordovician, end-Permian, and end-Cretaceous extinction intensities appear as outliers. Moreover, when origination and extinction are considered together, only these three of the ''big five'' events appear to have been generated exclusively by elevated extinction. Low origination contributed more than high extinction to the marked loss of diversity in the late Fras- nian and at the end of the Triassic. Therefore, whereas the ''big five'' events are clearly times when diversity suffered mass depletion, only those at the end of the Ordovician, Permian, and Cretaceous periods unequivocally qualify as globally distinct mass extinctions. Each of the three has a unique pattern of extinction, and the diversity dynamics of these events differ, as well, from the other two major diversity depletions. As mass depletions of diversity have no common effect, common cau- sation seems unlikely.
Reframing Multimodal Composing for Student Learning: Lessons on Purpose from the Buffalo DV Project

In a study of urban secondary teachers moving out of professional development and into their classrooms, the research team documented the learning processes of teachers and student groups during their digital video composing to make sense of the curriculum. Taken together, these ethnographic case studies provide evidence that digital video composing can be a potent literacy tool that leads to increased student engagement and learning. Important to English educators is this finding: Learning to use and to teach digital composing can induce changes in teachers’ epistemology and social practices that promote changes in their teaching and student learning. In this article, a framework for a multimodal literacy pedagogy is elaborated, generated from these analyses of teachers changing over time. Teachers who have transformed themselves and their classrooms to enact student multimodal composing on curricular concepts have these transacting principles in common: They (a) design social spaces for mediating students’ multimodal composing activities; (b) co-construct with students authentic purposes for these composing activities about curricular concepts; (c) focus explicit attention to multimodal design and critique of multimodal texts; and (d) persistently open opportunities for students to draw on their identities and “lifeworlds” (Holland, Lachicotte, Skinner, & Cain, 2001).
Ultrastructural deformation studies on biological membranes

The ultrastructural deformation technique has been used to study various membranes, including several claimed to show subunit structure. With localized deformation fibers ca. 100-300 A in diameter and up to 4,000 A long were found extending across the cracks parallel to the draw direction in all membranes. Lipid extraction and proteolytic enzyme (papain) treatment of membranes has shown that the fibers are protein in nature. Deformation of membranes while still wet showed no significant change in the appearance of the fibers compared with those obtained from deformation of membranes after air drying, indicating that formation of fibers is not an artifact due to dehydration. There must be extensive interaction between the protein molecules and thus we indicate that the results do not agree with current suggestions that membranes are composed of individual protein subunits immersed in a lipid bilayer.
Complexity-simplicity: I. Preference for symmetry and rejection of complexity

Previous research had suggested that Ss respond favorably to symmetrical shapes, and are unlikely to choose complexity. Two studies were carried out in order to extend these findings. In Study 1 it was found that Ss preferred symmetrical shapes, Ss rejected complexity to a highly significant extent, although they did not necessarily prefer the simplest shapes.
Religion in the Face of Uncertainty: An Uncertainty-Identity Theory Account of Religiousness

The authors characterize religions as social groups and religiosity as the extent to which a person identifies with a religion, subscribes to its ideology or worldview, and conforms to its normative practices. They argue that religions have attributes that make them well suited to reduce feelings of self-uncertainty. According to uncertainty-identity theory, people are motivated to reduce feelings of uncertainty about or reflecting on self; and identification with groups, particularly highly entitative groups, is a very effective way to reduce uncertainty. All groups provide belief systems and normative prescriptions related to everyday life. However, religions also address the nature of existence, invoking sacred entities and associated rituals and ceremonies. They are entitative groups that provide a moral compass and rules for living that pervade a person’s life, making them particularly attractive in times of uncertainty. The authors document data supporting their analysis and discuss conditions that transform religiosity into religious zealotry and extremism.
Laser Generation of Rayleigh and Lamb Waves for Ultrasonic Nondestructive Testing

Laser ultrasonics has been the focus of several research efforts over the last two decades. The main advantage of the technique is its noncontact nature which alleviates the problem of sensor coupling inherent in conventional techniques. However, laser ultrasonics has some limitations When operated in the thermoelastic regime, where no damage is inflicted on the surface of the specimen, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is very small, particularly when compared with conventional piezoelectric generation.[1] Several authors have proposed increasing the SNR by producing a source with spatial periodicity designed to enhance a particular wavelength. Royer and Dieulasaint [2] have used a periodic mask, Wagner et al [3] have used a lenticular array, Vogel [4] and Berthelot and Jarzynski [5] have used an array of optical fibers. Cielo et al. [6] increased the SNR by increasing the displacement by geometrical focusing. They detected the displacement of surface waves at the center of an anular source and demonstrated that it was 20 times greater than that of a spot source.
THE ALLURE OF THE TRANSNATIONAL: Notes on Some Aspects of the Political Economy of Water in India

Over the past decade, environmental and social justice activists have increasingly focused their attentions and energies on the privatization of water resources around the globe. Many of the debates and oppositional struggles surrounding this issue have focused on what has been termed the “corporate theft” of water resources. Opposition to transnational corporations like Suez, Vivendi, The Coca-Cola Company, among others, has focused on a range of issues from privatization and price gouging to bottling groundwater and environmental contamination. In this article, I focus on one small struggle for water rights in Plachimada, Kerala, India. I use the Plachimada example to argue that corporate control of resources in India must be located and analyzed within a framework that is not restricted to neoliberal globalization and transnational corporations. I suggest that the struggle of communities like Plachimada should be analyzed as part of the unfolding agrarian crisis in India. Corporate and government strategies to privatize water, along with other goods and services, have especially had a devastating effect on peasants and farmers in rural India and provide new avenues for the reconfigurations of intra- and interclass conflicts between and across the rural–urban divide in neoliberal India. As academics and activists, we face the important task of combining “old” and “new” conceptual or theoretical and political concerns as we confront the exigencies and emergencies wrought by neoliberal globalization.
The Double Bind of Redevelopment: Camden During Receivership

This working paper finds that successful redevelopment efforts in Camden, New Jersey, under state receivership were able to build on groups’ existing capacities and their past work in neighborhoods, were marked by more effective participatory dynamics and the limited use of eminent domain, and benefited from good relationships with the State of New Jersey and with private-sector partners. It concludes that attempts to build public capacity to revitalize cities may need to be complemented by efforts to build civic capacity, or the ability to solve problems in coordination with major partners.
Enhanced detection of infectious salmon anaemia virus using a low‐speed centrifugation technique in three fish cell lines

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA), caused by ISA virus (ISAV), is a serious disease of farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Recently, molecular- and immunofluorescent-based techniques have become powerful diagnostic tools for ISAV detection, but culture-based techniques remain the gold standard. A disadvantage of ISAV culture is that the incubation time required before cytopathic effect (CPE) is observed in cell monolayers. To decrease time until CPE is observed, a low-speed centrifugation technique was applied to existing standard operating procedures for ISAV culture in three fish cell lines. Time until CPE observation was compared in CHSE, SHK and ASK cells, treated or not treated with low-speed centrifugation after inoculation with ISAV. Low-speed centrifugation treatment significantly enhanced observable cell infection. Compared to control cells, the length of time until ISAV CPE observation decreased in centrifuged ASK and CHSE cells. Low-speed centrifugation was also incorporated into a modified clinical shell vial assay. At 48 h post-inoculation with approximately 20 viral particles, ISAV was detected by an immunofluorescence antibody test in treated ASK and SHK1 cells but not in control cells. Finally, this enhanced viral adsorption assay performed in ASK cells demonstrated higher sensitivity than a real-time RT-PCR assay performed on RNA isolated from ISAV-spiked salmon kidney homogenates.
Comparison of two accelerators for Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations, Nvidia Tesla M2090 GPU and Intel Xeon Phi 5110p coprocessor: A case study for X-ray CT imaging dose calculation

Abstract Hardware accelerators are currently becoming increasingly important in boosting high performance computing systems. In this study, we tested the performance of two accelerator models, Nvidia Tesla M2090 GPU and Intel Xeon Phi 5110p coprocessor, using a new Monte Carlo photon transport package called ARCHER-CT we have developed for fast CT imaging dose calculation. The package contains three components, ARCHER-CT CPU , ARCHER-CT GPU and ARCHER-CT COP designed to be run on the multi-core CPU, GPU and coprocessor architectures respectively. A detailed GE LightSpeed Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scanner model and a family of voxel patient phantoms are included in the code to calculate absorbed dose to radiosensitive organs under user-specified scan protocols. The results from ARCHER agree well with those from the production code Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX). It is found that all the code components are significantly faster than the parallel MCNPX run on 12 MPI processes, and that the GPU and coprocessor codes are 5.15–5.81 and 3.30–3.38 times faster than the parallel ARCHER-CT CPU , respectively. The M2090 GPU performs better than the 5110p coprocessor in our specific test. Besides, the heterogeneous computation mode in which the CPU and the hardware accelerator work concurrently can increase the overall performance by 13–18%.
Ancient hybridization and mitochondrial capture between two species of chipmunks

Models that posit speciation in the face of gene flow are replacing classical views that hybridization is rare between animal species. We use a multilocus approach to examine the history of hybridization and gene flow between two species of chipmunks (Tamias ruficaudus and T. amoenus). Previous studies have shown that these species occupy different ecological niches and have distinct genital bone morphologies, yet appear to be incompletely isolated reproductively in multiple areas of sympatry. We compared data from four sequenced nuclear loci and from seven microsatellite loci to published cytochrome b sequences. Interspecific gene flow was primarily restricted to introgression of the T. ruficaudus mitochondrial genome into a sympatric subspecies of T. amoenus, T. a. canicaudus, with the four sequenced nuclear loci showing little to no interspecific allele sharing. Microsatellite data were consistent with high levels of differentiation between the species and also showed no current gene flow between broadly sympatric populations of T. a. canicaudus and T. ruficaudus. Coalescent analyses date the mtDNA introgression event from the mid-Pleistocene to late Pliocene. Overall, these data indicate that introgression has had a minimal impact on the nuclear genomes of T. amoenus and T. ruficaudus despite multiple independent hybridization events. Our findings challenge long-standing assumptions on patterns of reproductive isolation in chipmunks and suggest that there may be other examples of hybridization among the 23 species of Tamias that occur in western North America.
Introductory American Government Textbooks: An Anatomical Analysis

The Fall, 1973, PS contained a remarkable exchange. Stephen Stephens charged that Irish and Prothro's Politics of American Democracy panders to youthful radical chic proclivities, while the beseiged authors responded with dark hints that Stephens is a closet conservative. In this enlightened age, such an embarrassing, albeit stimulating and entertaining, foray is a kind of academic streaking. The time has come for this subject of textbooks to begin to be clothed with systematic empirical data.Introductory textbooks assume a new level of dramatically increased significance because, as shrewd academic entrepreneurs have observed, “teaching political science” is clearly a growth stock. What with more and more association panels devoted to “teaching,” a special APSA committee, and the new journal Teaching Political Science, we have a wonderful ironic new subject to employ as the discipline continues to pursue what continues to count—publishing. Will the forthcoming articles on intro texts meet the rigorous standards we demand in other fields of political science or will they be of the Stephens—Irish and Prothro variety? In hopes that the former rather than the latter will prevail, herein is offered preliminary research which seeks to put the matter in a proper punctilious perspective.
Phase and Morphology in Mixed CuO-WO3 Films for Chemical Sensing

Semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) chemiresistive sensors are highly sensitive toward a broad range of hydrocarbons. To develop a gas phase sensor with selectivity toward organophosphorus compounds, such as chemical warfare agents and pesticides, we have developed dosimeters based upon a poisoning mechanism. Here, we report the growth and characterization of WO 3 thin films, modified with Cu 2 O. XPS data show that exposure to phosphonate compounds leads to accumulation of phosphate on the surface, together with dramatic changes in the surface segregation of copper. We present XRD and XPS results to characterize the phase changes following growth, annealing, and exposure to phosphonate compounds. The correlation between sensor response and phosphorous accumulation shows that the highest activity occurs at intermediate coverages of Cu 2 O, in the15–25 A range, on 500 A WO 3 films.
Recapturing Information Rents through Partial and Gradual Privatization

Rather than completely privatizing all firms at once, most governments start by selling only some firms and/or by selling only a fraction of each firm. We show that both approaches increase privatization revenues by publicly revealing information on firm profitability to prospective buyers. Selling only a partial share of each firm allows the state to sell the remaining share once the firm has begun restructuring and the long-term profitability of the firm is more clear. Similarly, selling only some firms initially allows the remaining firms to be sold once the post-privatization performance of firms sold earlier has already been observed. In either case the extra information makes bidding more competitive, reducing buyer information rents and raising privatization revenues. The state therefore faces a tradeoff between privatizing rapidly to reveal more information about firm performance to buyers, and privatizing slowly to avoid giving away information rents before the information is revealed. Partial privatization and gradual privatization are able to balance these objectives so as to maximize revenues.
Study on the Pollution Situation of Enterobacter Sakazakii in Infant Formula Milk Powder

Objective To study the molecules of Enterobacter sakazakii in infant formula milk power.Method Enterobacter sakazakii of infant formula milk powder were detected according to the food microbiology detection part of national standard about foods safety( GB4789. 30- 2010). Result There were10 samples having Enterobacter sakazakii in all 73 samples,The positive rate was 13. 7%. Conclusion Enterobacter sakazakii in powder is the vital opportunistic pathogens,which can lead to baby foodborne disease and death. The detecting of Enterobacter sakazakii in infant formula milk powder has great significance on children healthy and food safety.
Knowledge-based quality control systems

Abstract The majority of Statistical Quality Control (SQC) microcomputer systems/packages are based on the idea of storing data and producing results such as QC charts from which a user may be able to make inferences regarding Quality. The selection of the type of control charts (e.g. charts for variables vs. charts for attributes) and interpretation of the results are usually left to the user. This is mainly due to the fact that SQC packages are generic systems while interpretations may be product specific. Presented in this paper is a system which tries through dialogue with the user to direct him to the proper chart(s) in the package. An analysis component for each chart determines statistical phenomena (both good and bad) and provides general explanations. Another component in the system accesses an accompanying knowledge database (DB) — keyed by phenomena — which provide possible explanation as well as advise. The user may add to the knowledge base at any time assisted by the statistical DB Management Subsystem. The elements of the system are the IIE Microsoftware Statistical Quality Control package and a number of “add-on” routines supporting DB creation and the inference engine.
Neuroendocrine Control of Reproduction in Amphibians

Publisher Summary The chapter provides an overview of the development, anatomy, and function of several reproductively relevant neuroendocrine systems. Further, their influences on the reproductive brain, pituitary gonadotropin (GTH) secretion, and peripheral organs such as the gonad are also discussed. It explains that the neurohormones secreted by the brain serve as important intermediaries that transduce environmental signals to peripheral tissues for reproductive regulation. The emerging evidence states that in mammals, the neuroendocrine regulation of amphibian reproduction is achieved principally through the actions of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) system. The chapter also discusses the ontogeny, function, and regulation of the amphibian GnRH systems. Additional roles of GnRH in peripheral reproductive regulation are also explored. Examining the neuroendocrine basis of amphibian reproduction provides an important means for understanding how disruption of the reproductive brain could occur under perturbed environmental conditions, leading to impaired fertility and declining population.
Conversion of PSS®E models into RSCAD models: Lessons learned

The use of real time digital simulation of large power systems is widely spreading due to its high precision result and increasing computing capability. However, in many cases, especially when large power system networks are to be modeled, the interconnection data and parameter data are available in flies which are used as input to simulation programs. Most transmission utilities use dynamic studies using PSS®E, PSLF or similar type of tools. Since most of the system data are available in PSS®E data format, it will be easier to develop an electromagnetic transient model if those data files can be used without putting much effort. Considering the benefit in huge savings in time, RTDS® Technologies Inc. has developed a conversion routine to generate transient model of power system network using the data files available in PSS®E. This paper discusses the conversion process and uses two test cases to verify the accuracy of the conversion tool. IEEE 39 bus test system and a notional 311 bus system were used for this purpose. Both steady state and transient test results of PSS®E and RSCAD model are then compared with each other. This paper also discusses the limitations and challenges of the conversion process, as well as potential solutions. In essence, this study evaluates the accuracy of model conversion from PSS®E to RSCAD for large power systems and highlights the lessons learned from the whole exercise.
Use of a comparative database to identify excessive hematology/medical oncology hospital days and readmissions.

131Background: Reducing length of stay and readmissions are important goals to improve healthcare quality and decrease costs. We identified diagnostic categories accounting for excessive hospital days and readmissions on our hematology/medical oncology (HO) service. Methods: We used a third-party comparative clinical database (Vizient Inc, Clinical Data Base/Resource Manager) to identify discharges from our HO service in 2015. Cases were categorized by All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR DRG), and we calculated excess hospital days attributed to each using the number of cases and their observed/expected length of stay. We also collected 30-day readmission rates for each APR DRG on our HO service and hospital wide. Readmission rates were compared using Fisher exact tests. Results: We identified 1,361 discharges from our HO service with 134 APR DRG codes and 880.5 excess hospital days. Fourteen APR DRGs accounted for over 80% of the excess hospital days. Readmission rates ranged from 0% to 66...
Data Safety Monitoring Board: Composition and Role

A clinical data safety monitoring board (DSMB) is an independent group of individuals with pertinent expertise that reviews on a regular basis accumulating data from one or more ongoing clinical trials. The DSMB advises the study sponsor regarding the continuing safety of trial subjects and those yet to be recruited to the trial. The DSMB periodically reviews the scientific integrity, studies safety results, evaluates the critical efficacy endpoints and intervals, considering the clinical events committee’s adjudications of events, determines whether the basic trial assumptions remain valid, and makes recommendations to the sponsor. Typically, a charter is drafted for each study and constitutes the anticipated procedures of the DSMB as it relates to the safety and protection of trial participants and critical efficacy endpoints of the research.
The Effectiveness of a Mental Health Court in Reducing Recidivism in Individuals with Severe Mental Illness and Comorbid Substance Use Disorder

The current study examined the efficacy of a specialized mental health court in reducing recidivism for severely mentally ill defendants with comorbid substance use disorders. There is a wealth of research supporting the efficacy of mental health courts in reducing recidivism for those with severe mental illness; however, the benefit of these courts for individuals with severe mental illness and comorbid substance use disorders has received limited empirical attention. Participants were 514 defendants enrolled in either a traditional adversarial court or a specialized mental health court. Recidivism was assessed across different outcome variables, including frequency of reoffending, severity of new offenses, and length of time to reoffend. When compared to participants in the traditional adversarial court, enrollment in mental health court was associated with a greater length of time to rearrest and fewer participants were rearrested in the mental health court than the traditional court. Group differences between those with and without comorbid substance use disorders who were enrolled in the mental health court were not found across recidivism outcome metrics. Results of the current study are particularly promising given that defendants with substance use disorders are at a greater risk for reoffending.
Using experience sampling to examine links between compassion, eudaimonia, and pro-social behavior.

Objective Compassion has been associated with eudaimonia and pro-social behavior, and it has been regarded as a virtue, both historically and cross-culturally. However, the psychological study of compassion has been limited to laboratory settings and/or standard survey assessments. Here, we use an experience sampling method (ESM) to compare naturalistic assessments of compassion with standard assessments, and to examine compassion, its variability, and associations with eudaimonia and pro-social behavior. Method Undergraduate students (n = 200) took a survey that included standard assessments of compassion and eudaimonia. Then, over 4 days, they were repeatedly asked about their level of compassion, eudaimonia, and situational factors within the moments of daily life. Finally, pro-social behavior was tested using the Dual Gamble Task and an opportunity to donate task winnings. Results Analyses revealed within-person associations between ESM compassion and eudaimonia. ESM compassion also predicted eudaimonia at the next ESM time point. While not impervious to situational factors, considerable consistency was observed in ESM compassion in comparison with eudaimonia. Further, ESM compassion along with eudaimonia predicted donating behavior. Standard assessments did not. Conclusions Consistent with virtue theory, some individuals' reports were indicative of a probabilistic tendency toward compassion, and ESM compassion predicted ESM eudaimonia and pro-social behavior toward those in need.