cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Semi-empirical formulas for heavy-ion stripping data

All available charge state measurements for heavy ions in dilute gases and carbon foils at equilibrium or near-equilibrium conditions were analyzed to improve semi-empirical formulas for the distribution parameters. Each experimental distribution was fit to an asymmetric function F/sub q/ = F/sub m/C x exp (-0.5 t/sup 2//(1 + epsilon t)), where t = (q - q/sub 0/)/rho and q/sub 0/ is the maximum intensity charge value. Subsequent fits of the resultant distribution parameters q/sub 0/, rho, and epsilon to empirical functions of projectile charge and velocity yielded rms deviations of about 0.5 for q/sub 0/, 4 percent for q/sub 0//Z, 5 to 7 percent for rho, and 0.03 for epsilon/rho. The asymmetric distribution gives substantial improvement over previous expressions for prediction of small F/sub q/ values for heavy ions in dilute gases.
Controlled and complete release of a model poorly water‐soluble drug, prednisolone, from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose matrix tablets using (SBE)7m‐β‐cyclodextrin as a solubilizing agent

Abstract Sustained‐release formulations such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)‐based hydrophilic matrix tablets of poorly water‐soluble drugs often result in incomplete release because of the poor solubility and dissolution rate of the drug in the hydrophilic matrix. Sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrins ((SBE) 7M ‐β‐CDs) have been known to improve the solubility of such drugs by forming inclusion complexes. The present paper deals with the modification of drug release from an HPMC‐based matrix tablet of a sparingly water‐soluble drug, prednisolone (PDL), using (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD as a solubilizing agent. Tablets were prepared by direct compression of a physically mixed PDL, (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD, and polymer. On exposure to water, an in situ PDL:(SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD complex was formed in the gel layer, and enhanced drug release relative to a control formulation was observed (lactose used as the excipient instead of (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD ). Other possible changes due to the incorporation of (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD in the formulation were also probed. Incorporation of (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD lead to a higher water uptake relative to the control (lactose) formulation. For a fixed total tablet weight, polymer type, and loading, the drug release rate appeared to depend on the molar ratio of (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD to PDL and not the absolute amount of (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD present in the matrix tablet. This work shows that incorporation of (SBE) 7M ‐β‐CD into the matrix tablets could be considered in designing a sustained‐release tablet of poorly water‐soluble drugs. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:807–816, 2001
Does the Precision of Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry for Bone Mineral Density Differ by Sex?

Given larger bone size in men, bone mineral density (BMD) precision might differ between sexes. This study compared dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry BMD precision of 3 International Society for Clinical Densitometry-certified technologists in older men and women. Each technologist scanned a cohort of 30 men and 30 women (total n = 180) by using a Lunar iDXA densitometer (GE Healthcare, Madison, WI). Each volunteer had 2 lumbar spine and bilateral hip scans with repositioning between examinations. BMD least significant change was calculated. Age and body mass index did not differ between men and women. Mean height and weight were greater in men, 174.6 cm ± 6.9 and 81.6 kg ± 11.1 respectively, (p 0.05). In conclusion, statistically significant male/female differences in BMD precision were observed at the mean total femur and left femoral neck. Given the small magnitude of difference in g/cm(2) and inconsistent pattern, that is, no right femoral neck difference, there is virtually no clinical difference in BMD precision between sexes. These data do not support a need for sex-specific precision analyses.
Repetitive prenatal glucocorticoid therapy reduces oxidative stress in the lungs of preterm lambs

Repetitive courses of maternal prenatal glucocorticoids are often used in high-risk pregnancies with threatening preterm labor to induce lung maturation, but the effects on the cellular oxidant-antioxidant balance in the fetal lung have not been evaluated. We investigated the effect of repetitive treatment with glucocorticoids, beginning early in gestation, on oxidative stress in the preterm ovine lung. Pregnant ewes were randomized to receive one, two, three, or four doses of 0.5 mg/kg betamethasone or saline placebo at 7-day intervals on 104, 111, 118, and 124 days gestation (n = 11 for each group). All lambs were delivered preterm at 125 days gestation, and lung tissue was assayed for antioxidant enzymes, lipid hydroperoxides, and carbonyl proteins. Lung manganese superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity increased after 1 dose of betamethasone given at 104 days gestation, whereas copper-zinc superoxide dismutase activity increased after 2 doses given at 104 and 111 days gestation. The activity of all four antioxidant enzymes further increased with additional doses and was maximal after four doses of betamethasone. Lung lipid hydroperoxide levels and carbonyl protein content decreased stepwise after each dose of betamethasone and were lowest after four doses. Repetitive prenatal glucocorticoid therapy increases antioxidant enzyme activity and reduces oxidative stress in the lungs of preterm lambs, and these effects begin early in gestation and persist for 2-3 wk.
Religion and Politics in Germany since 1945: The Evangelical and Catholic Churches

Examining the nature of political opposition on the part of Chris tian ecclessiastical bodies in the twentieth century demonstrates that while churches have adapted to a variety of political systems, no church can compromise with the state when its "mission" is at stake: those factors which are minimally essential for its survival. These would in clude the liberty of priests, nuns, and other clerics to carry out their sacerdotal tasks, the preservation under church control of its facilities, control of the contents of its own theology, and the ability to enforce adherence to the core sexual-marital ethics of the religious body. While everything else may be open to negotiation—as the case of Lu theran Church policy under Bishop Zoltan Kaldy in socialist Hungary makes clear1—when a state infringes on these core interests, church resistance is sharp, as the Nazis discovered in 1937 when Pope Pius XI issued his encyclical, "Mit Brennender Sorge." The pontiff condemned the regime for the establishment of the German Christian Movement with its neo-pagan trappings and racist ideology, the wholesale arrest of Catholic priests, and the closure of Catholic schools, and declared: Whoever raises race or nation or state or state form or the agents of state authority or other values of human communal life—which within the terrestrial order have an essential and honorable place—to the highest norm of all, taking it out of the
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Message Isoforms in Human Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

The rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is comprised of neurons that contain gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) colocalized with one or more peptides. In the present study, the authors employed in situ hybridization histochemistry to determine whether the human SCN also contains GABA neurons using synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to sequences of two isoforms of the GABA-forming enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65, and GAD67. Most, if not all, SCN neurons appear to express both GAD65 mRNA and GAD67 mRNA with the content of GAD67 greater than GAD65. Both isoforms also are expressed in some neurons of the anterior hypothalamic area, in small neurons of the paraventricular nucleus but not in the supraoptic nucleus. These data indicate that neurons in the human SCN, like those in rodents, use GABA as a neurotransmitter.
THE PERFORMANCE OF STOCKS RECOMMENDED ON THE BASIS OF INSIDER TRADING ACTIVITY

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether abnormal returns could have been earned by an investor who concentrated solely on the stocks listed in the Consensus of Information (COI) monthly newsletters. Using residual-based techniques, the authors find that (1) stocks listed in the COI newsletters were characterized by excess positive returns over the four months immediately preceding listing and that (2) users of the COI's recommendations could have earned moderate excess returns by systematically acquiring shares of these companies and holding them over a twelve-month period starting in the month the newsletter is published or one month hence. Given that the recommendations yielding the largest abnormal returns to noninsiders were based on a mixture of open market purchases and exercised stock options, definitive conclusions with respect to the predictive implications of exercised stock options cannot be drawn.
Comparative brain transcriptomic analyses of scouting across distinct behavioural and ecological contexts in honeybees.

Individual differences in behaviour are often consistent across time and contexts, but it is not clear whether such consistency is reflected at the molecular level. We explored this issue by studying scouting in honeybees in two different behavioural and ecological contexts: finding new sources of floral food resources and finding a new nest site. Brain gene expression profiles in food-source and nest-site scouts showed a significant overlap, despite large expression differences associated with the two different contexts. Class prediction and ‘leave-one-out’ cross-validation analyses revealed that a bee's role as a scout in either context could be predicted with 92.5% success using 89 genes at minimum. We also found that genes related to four neurotransmitter systems were part of a shared brain molecular signature in both types of scouts, and the two types of scouts were more similar for genes related to glutamate and GABA than catecholamine or acetylcholine signalling. These results indicate that consistent behavioural tendencies across different ecological contexts involve a mixture of similarities and differences in brain gene expression.
Stabilization of cotton fibers during mechanical cutting.

The mechanical stress energy used to process cotton in a cutter is sufficient to induce homolytic scission of C2 and C3 bonds and chain scission of C1—O—C4 glycosidic bonds, i.e., to reduce the degree of polymerization (DP), of cellulose molecules. The formation of carbon and alkoxy mechanoradicals at these locations was identified by an electron spin resonance study. The incorporation of nonylated phenol phosphite, hindered amine, and milled wood lignins of red oak and white oak was effective in inhibiting the reduction of the DP of cellulose. In addition, the incorporation of an alkylary phosphite mixture, hindered phenol, ditridecyl thiodipropionate and dialutyl thiodipropionate, milled wood lignin of loblolly pine and white oak, and lignosulfonate of spruce and red oak was useful in inhibiting the oxidative ageing of cut cotton fiber. Of the stabilizers used, only milled wood lignin of red oak was the most effective in preventing loss of the DP of cellulose during mechanical cutting and oxidative agei...
Positive reinforcement and punishment in “Sesame Street” and “Mister Rogers”

(1975). Positive reinforcement and punishment in “Sesame Street” and “Mister Rogers”. Journal of Broadcasting: Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 143-151.
Distribution-Calibrated Hierarchical Classification

While many advances have already been made in hierarchical classification learning, we take a step back and examine how a hierarchical classification problem should be formally defined. We pay particular attention to the fact that many arbitrary decisions go into the design of the label taxonomy that is given with the training data. Moreover, many hand-designed taxonomies are unbalanced and misrepresent the class structure in the underlying data distribution. We attempt to correct these problems by using the data distribution itself to calibrate the hierarchical classification loss function. This distribution-based correction must be done with care, to avoid introducing unmanageable statistical dependencies into the learning problem. This leads us off the beaten path of binomial-type estimation and into the unfamiliar waters of geometric-type estimation. In this paper, we present a new calibrated definition of statistical risk for hierarchical classification, an unbiased estimator for this risk, and a new algorithmic reduction from hierarchical classification to cost-sensitive classification.
Is it necessary to follow patients after resection of a benign pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

Background Little is known about the risk of subsequently developing a new or progressive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) after partial pancreatic resection of a noninvasive IPMN. Study Design One hundred thirty patients with more than 1 year of follow-up after resection were included in this analysis. Results At a median follow-up of 38 months, 22 (17%) developed imaging evidence of a new or progressive IPMN. Eleven (8%) underwent completion resection. Three of the 11 patients had invasive adenocarcinoma. Two other patients developed metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and did not undergo resection. All 5 patients (4%) with cancer had negative margins at initial operation. Sixteen of 100 patients (16%) with negative margins for IPMN at the initial operation developed a new IPMN vs 6 of 30 patients (20%) with margins positive for IPMN (p = ns). Five of 22 patients (23%) with a new IPMN had a family history of pancreatic cancer, while 8 of 108 patients (7%) without a new IPMN had a family history (p Overall, the chances of developing a new IPMN at 1, 5, and 10 years after the initial surgery were 4%, 25%, and 62%, respectively, and of requiring surgery were 1.6%, 14%, and 18%, respectively. The estimated chances of developing invasive pancreatic cancer were 0%, 7%, and 38% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Conclusions Patients who have undergone resection for noninvasive IPMN require indefinite close surveillance because of the risks of developing a new IPMN, of requiring surgery, and of developing cancer. A family history of pancreatic cancer, but not margin status or degree of dysplasia, is associated with a risk of development of a new or progressive IPMN.
High heat flux thermal management of microfabricated upper millimeter-wave vacuum electronic devices

Computations of operating temperatures in microfabricated upper-millimeter-wave sheet beam traveling wave structures are provided. The studies include the effects of different cooling techniques and construction materials. The scaling of output power capability vs. frequency, as constrained by thermal limits, is also presented.
Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies of erythrocyte origin within hepatocytes in a hepatic allograft.

Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies with an unusual immunohistochemical profile, histologically similar to α1 antitrypsin globules and megamitochondria, were seen within hepatocytes in a liver allograft biopsy. Electron microscopy revealed that these structures were erythrocytes in various stages of degradation. Their appearance following an episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia suggests a possible relationship between bouts of hypoxia and erythrocyte entry into hepatocytes.
Two-Arm Archimedean Spiral with Filter-Based Reactive Loading

A new technique to increase the operating bandwidth of a two-arm Archimedean spiral antenna is presented in this paper. Unlike other conventional solutions, including absorbent cavity backing and resistive loading, this method incorporates the concept of low-pass filtering with the two-wire transmission line behavior of the spiral antenna. The reactive loading from the integrated low-pass filter design improves the impedance match at lower frequencies providing a greater bandwidth than the basic spiral design.
Detection of antibodies to a recombinant Cryptosporidium parvum p23 in serum and feces from neonatal calves.

Passive transfer of maternal antibodies via colostrum is important to protect newborn ruminants against microbial pathogens. In this study, 10 sets of calf serum, a sample of the colostrum fed to the calf, and serial fecal samples through the first 6 days after birth were collected from arbitrarily selected newborn Holstein heifers. A recombinant Cryptosporidium parvum p23, termed rC7, was used to determine whether anti–C. parvum antibodies can be detected in clinically normal neonates. The results demonstrated that serum, the associated colostrum, and fecal samples contained anti-rC7 antibodies. IgM and IgG1 anti-rC7 tended to be present in highest titers. The presence of specific antibodies to C. parvum was confirmed using Western blots of purified sporozoite membranes probed with serum and colostral whey. Collectively, the results indicated that neonatal calves had antibodies to C. parvum as early as 1 day after birth and suggested that the antibodies were passively transferred.
Modified winkler determination of oxygen in dimethylformamide: oxygen solubility as a function of partial pressure

Abstract Dissolved oxygen concentrations in dimethylformamide were determined by a modified Winkler method with small sample sizes and no special control of ambient temperature and pressure. The concentrations measured covered a range 0.008–2.59 m M with a relative deviation of less than 1%. Both the oxygen concentrations determined by this method and polarographic diffusion currents were linear functions of the mole fraction of oxygen; therefore a polarographic reduction of oxygen can be used for rapid determination of oxygen in this solvent.
BEI'S DRIVER SKILL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (D-SEP): BRIEF REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL MINI-PROGRAM AND CONCLUSIONS

The BEI Driver Skill Enhancement Program (D-SEP) had its beginnings in a local group meeting to provide input to the White House Commission on Aging about 6 years ago. At this meeting, the author became acutely aware of the problems older people had with driving. Building on the author's 25 years of activities with driver education programs on high-speed road tracks, he started a research program which continues today. Research was initiated into other driving schools and their methods, and study of the fundamental elements of driving (from may sources). The research was supplemented by data gathering on the "process of driving" (by discussions with many experts). There is general agreement that driving is a combination of several skills; and there are three basic elements of driving: (a) information gathering, primarily visual; (b) cognitive processing, during which the large amount of data obtained visually is sifted to separate out what is crucial for the driving experience; and (c) physical activities of the arms and legs, to carry out the decisions reached in the cognitive process. This process is repeated continuously as one drives, since driving is a "dynamic" process. The BEI program is based on two premises: (1) P + A = a good driver. P is Preparation: what the drivers, in their cars, can actually do. A is Anticipation: the visual-cognitive process which buys time to carry out the physical activities involved in making a car perform. Anticipation is usually not consciously practiced, although carried out in some form for all driving. (2) "Training and practice" will, in most cases, considerably enhance the skills required for driving.
Ovarian Steroids Modulate the Release of Dopamine into Hypophysial Portal Blood and the Density of Anterior Pituitary [3H]Spiperone-Binding Sites in Ovariectomized Rats

The concentrations of dopamine (DA) in pituitary stalk plasma and the number of DA D-2 receptor sites in the anterior pituitary gland were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated for 48–78 h with estradiol (E2) or vehicle and for 2–30 h with progesterone (P) or vehicle. Only the combined administration of E2 for 72–78 h and P for 24–30 h altered the release of DA into pituitary stalk blood and the number of dopaminergic binding sites in the anterior pituitary gland. The DA concentrations in pituitary stalk plasma 72 h after initiation of treatment were 1.9 ± 0.3 (mean ± sem), 2.6 ± 0.2, and 2.4 ± 0.3 ng/ml in OVX rats treated with vehicle, E2, and P alone, respectively, and were increased significantly to 4.3 ± 0.4 ng/ml in E2- and P-treated rats. The binding of [3H]spiperone to DA D-2 receptors was measured by a single point assay in homogenates of the individual anterior pituitary glands obtained from the same rats. Anterior pituitary tissue was incubated with 0.4 nm [3H]spiperone in the presence...
Effects of Prerecorded Sight Words on the Accuracy of Tutor Feedback

Six kindergarten students at risk for reading difficulties were taught to tutor each other and provide accurate feedback with the use of a prerecorded sight word model. Students were taught the components of reciprocal peer tutoring and were asked to tutor each other on unknown, phonetically irregular sight words. An A-B-A-B reversal design embedded within a multiple baseline design showed that prerecorded sight words increased students' accurate feedback during peer tutoring and testing. In addition, most students' word identification scores increased from pre- to posttests.
The effect of digitization errors on detection of weak signals in noise

A common method of detecting weak signals in the presence of noise is to digitize samples of the signal and average the samples to reduce the effect of noise. It is shown that errors in the digitizer can affect this process even if they are much smaller than the noise variance.
Canceling of Pursuit and Saccadic Eye Movements in Humans and Monkeys

The countermanding paradigm provides a useful tool for examining the mechanisms responsible for canceling eye movements. The key feature of this paradigm is that, on a minority of trials, a stop si...
Structures of two distinct conformations of holo-non-ribosomal peptide synthetases

Many important natural products are produced by multidomain non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). During synthesis, intermediates are covalently bound to integrated carrier domains and transported to neighbouring catalytic domains in an assembly line fashion. Understanding the structural basis for catalysis with non-ribosomal peptide synthetases will facilitate bioengineering to create novel products. Here we describe the structures of two different holo-non-ribosomal peptide synthetase modules, each revealing a distinct step in the catalytic cycle. One structure depicts the carrier domain cofactor bound to the peptide bond-forming condensation domain, whereas a second structure captures the installation of the amino acid onto the cofactor within the adenylation domain. These structures demonstrate that a conformational change within the adenylation domain guides transfer of intermediates between domains. Furthermore, one structure shows that the condensation and adenylation domains simultaneously adopt their catalytic conformations, increasing the overall efficiency in a revised structural cycle. These structures and the single-particle electron microscopy analysis demonstrate a highly dynamic domain architecture and provide the foundation for understanding the structural mechanisms that could enable engineering of novel non-ribosomal peptide synthetases.
Charitable Sporting Events as a Context for Building Adolescent Generosity: Examining the Role of Religiousness and Spirituality

Previous research demonstrates an association between religiousness, spirituality, and generosity in adolescents, but few studies have tested the mechanisms by which religion might facilitate the development of generosity in real-world contexts. In this paper, a theoretical model is presented describing the potential mechanisms by which engagement in transformational contexts (i.e., participating in charity marathon training) may lead to the development of generosity in adolescents. Participation in charity sporting events is theorized to increase generosity through both higher-order mechanisms, such as sanctification and the development of transcendent identity, and lower-order mechanisms, such as increased entitativity, positive emotions, and dissonance reduction. An empirical strategy for testing the model is presented; suggested methods for inquiry are longitudinal mixed method designs incorporating observations, questionnaires, and qualitative interviewing. Additionally, a case study of ongoing research on adolescents running with Team World Vision is described as an application of the model to an actual research context.
Studies on the characterization of the sodium-potassium transport adenosine triphosphatase.

Abstract Incubation of a partially purified beef brain NaK ATPase preparation which is estimated to be 25–50% pure with protease-free phospholipase A led to a considerable loss in turbidity of the preparation and about a 90% inactivation of the NaK ATPase. Inactivation was retarded by Na and ATP. The secondary ester bonds were cleaved almost quantitatively. Evidence is presented that the inactivation of the NaK ATPase by phospholipase A was not due to the lysophosphatides which were liberated. If phospholipase A treatment was carried out in the presence of defatted serum albumin, almost complete reconstitution of enzyme activity could be achieved with a commercial preparation of soybean phosphatides—Inosithin. The specific activity of the reconstituted enzyme was one to two orders of magnitude higher than that reported in most of the earlier studies. Sixty to 80% reconstitution could be achieved with any one of the following phosphatides: phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, or didodecylphosphate. Mixtures of these various phosphatides were no more effective than any one phosphatide alone. Conditions for reconstitution were examined in some detail. Reconstitution was more effective at 0 than at 37 °C, appeared to be almost instantaneous, was not affected by Na, K, Mg, or ATP and was rather insensitive to pH (optimum pH ranged from 6.0 to 7.5). After phospholipase A treatment, the reconstitutable protein was found to reside in the sedimentable fraction of the NaK ATPase preparation even though one-third to one-half of the protein had been solubilized by the phospholipase A treatment. At certain stages of purification of the NaK ATPase the phosphatidylserine content of the enzyme was enriched, the sphingomyelin disappeared and the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine contents remained the same. Within the limits of sensitivity of the methods no phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidic acid could be detected in the most purified enzyme preparation. The evidence suggests that phosphatidylserine may be the phosphatide whose removal is responsible for the loss of NaK ATPase activity on incubation with phospholipase A but that other acidic phosphatides can substitute for phosphatidylserine.
Bifactor structure of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence—Fourth Edition.

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence--Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV; Wechsler, 2012) represents a substantial departure from its predecessor, including omission of 4 subtests, addition of 5 new subtests, and modification of the contents of the 5 retained subtests. Wechsler (2012) explicitly assumed a higher-order structure with general intelligence (g) as the second-order factor that explained all the covariation of several first-order factors but failed to consider a bifactor model. The WPPSI-IV normative sample contains 1,700 children aged 2 years and 6 months through 7 years and 7 months, bifurcated into 2 age groups: 2:6-3:11 year olds (n = 600) and 4:0-7:7 year olds (n = 1,100). This study applied confirmatory factor analysis to the WPPSI-IV normative sample data to test the fit of a bifactor model and to determine the reliability of the resulting factors. The bifactor model fit the WPPSI-IV normative sample data as well as or better than the higher-order models favored by Wechsler (2012). In the bifactor model, the general factor accounted for more variance in every subtest than did its corresponding domain-specific factor and the general factor accounted for more total and common variance than all domain-specific factors combined. Further, the domain-specific factors exhibited poor reliability independent of g (i.e., ωh coefficients of .05 to .33). These results suggest that only the general intelligence dimension was sufficiently robust and precise for clinical use.
Behavioral Characterization of the Effects of Cannabis Smoke and Anandamide in Rats

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the world. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the main psychoactive component of cannabis and its effects have been well-studied. However, cannabis contains many other cannabinoids that affect brain function. Therefore, these studies investigated the effect of cannabis smoke exposure on locomotor activity, rearing, anxiety-like behavior, and the development of dependence in rats. It was also investigated if cannabis smoke exposure leads to tolerance to the locomotor-suppressant effects of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide. Cannabis smoke was generated by burning 5.7% Δ9-THC cannabis cigarettes in a smoking machine. The effect of cannabis smoke on the behavior of rats in a small and large open field and an elevated plus maze was evaluated. Cannabis smoke exposure induced a brief increase in locomotor activity followed by a prolonged decrease in locomotor activity and rearing in the 30-min small open field test. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist rimonabant increased locomotor activity and prevented the smoke-induced decrease in rearing. Smoke exposure also increased locomotor activity in the 5-min large open field test and the elevated plus maze test. The smoke exposed rats spent more time in the center zone of the large open field, which is indicative of a decrease in anxiety-like behavior. A high dose of anandamide decreased locomotor activity and rearing in the small open field and this was not prevented by rimonabant or pre-exposure to cannabis smoke. Serum Δ9-THC levels were 225 ng/ml after smoke exposure, which is similar to levels in humans after smoking cannabis. Exposure to cannabis smoke led to dependence as indicated by more rimonabant-precipitated somatic withdrawal signs in the cannabis smoke exposed rats than in the air-control rats. In conclusion, chronic cannabis smoke exposure in rats leads to clinically relevant Δ9-THC levels, dependence, and has a biphasic effect on locomotor activity.
ID: 109: PARKIN MEDIATES ENDOTHELIAL PRO-INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES IN ACUTE LUNG INJURY

Introduction Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe form, the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), are serious conditions resulting from direct or indirect lung injury that occur in critically ill patients and are associated with an unacceptable mortality of up to 40%. A key biological event in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS is the dysfunction of the lung endothelium (EC), which is triggered by a variety of inflammatory insults leading to damaged EC, vascular leak, and excessive inflammation. Recently, we demonstrated that an Abl family tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib, protects against LPS-induced endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting c-Abl kinase through mechanisms that remain largely unknown. In the present study, we identified parkin, a novel c-Abl substrate, as a critical mediator of endothelial dysfunction in ALI. Methods In vitro Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (EC) were transfected with siRNA for parkin and then challenged with LPS (1 µg/ml, 3 hrs). Inflammatory mediators were determined in cell lysates and supernatants by Western blotting and ELISA respectively. In vivo C57BL/6 (WT) and parkin deficient (PARK2 KO) male mice (8–12 wks, n=5–8) were subjected to LPS (intratracheally, 1 mg/kg) or PBS (controls), and allowed to recover prior to harvest 18 hrs later. Leakage of proteins into the alveolar space was assessed by measuring the protein levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). To assess lung inflammation, neutrophil cell counts, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and IL-6 levels were determined in BAL. Results In human lung EC, down-regulation of parkin by siRNA reduces LPS-induced VCAM-1 expression (adhesion molecule involved in neutrophil adhesion to EC) (by 35%, p Conclusion These results suggest that endothelial parkin mediates EC activation and neutrophil adhesion/migration after LPS, and therefore it may represent a new potential therapeutic target in ALI/ARDS.
Blame Their Mothers: Public Opinion About Maternal Employment as a Cause of Juvenile Delinquency:

Juvenile justice reformers and practitioners have long blamed mothers for juvenile delinquency, identifying maternal employment as a key cause of youthful offending. The current study uses data from registered voters (N = 10,144) to examine public views about whether maternal employment in two-parent households promotes juvenile delinquency. The results show that only a small minority of citizens blame working mothers for youth crime. The findings also reveal that views about the criminogenic consequences of maternal employment for children are predicted by factors that are strongly associated with gendered self-interest and exposure to nonegalitarian narratives. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Future aerosol reductions and widening of the northern tropical belt

Observations show that the tropical belt has widened over the past few decades, a phenomenon associated with poleward migration of subtropical dry zones and large-scale atmospheric circulation. Although part of this signal is related to natural climate variability, studies have identified an externally forced contribution primarily associated with greenhouse gases (GHGs) and stratospheric ozone loss. Here we show that the increase in aerosols over the twentieth century has led to contraction of the northern tropical belt, thereby offsetting part of the widening associated with the increase in GHGs. Over the 21st century, however, when aerosol emissions are projected to decrease, the effects of aerosols and GHGs reinforce one another, both contributing to widening of the northern tropical belt. Models that have larger aerosol forcing, by including aerosol indirect effects on cloud albedo and lifetime, yield significantly larger Northern Hemisphere (NH) tropical widening than models with direct aerosol effects only. More targeted simulations show that future reductions in aerosols can drive NH tropical widening as large as greenhouse gases, and idealized simulations show the importance of NH midlatitude aerosol forcing. Mechanistically, the 21st century reduction in aerosols peaks near 40°N, which results in a corresponding maximum increase in surface solar radiation, NH midlatitude tropospheric warming amplification, and a poleward shift in the latitude of maximum baroclinicity, implying a corresponding shift in atmospheric circulation. If models with aerosol indirect effects better represent the real world, then future aerosol changes are likely to be an important—if not dominant—driver of NH tropical belt widening.
Cybertroc: A barter system for the Information Society

Barter — or troc in French — is the exchange of goods or services for other goods or services. It is the oldest form of commerce and continues to have an important role in even the most highly developed societies. Not least it is highly valuable for developing social capital among a community. The Information Society brings to barter both a new meaning for “community” and new mechanisms for exchange. In particular it may be a key motivator for bridging the digital divide, but providing a tangible, understandable purpose for joining the Information Society. The goal of CyberTroc — or Internet-based barter — is to connect people with needs to other capable of satisfying these needs. The Internet is an ideal means for facilitating barter, since it can provide a transactional capability at extremely low cost and since it can bring together communities that may be highly localized or may be very scattered.
Cellular and Molecular Features of Developmentally Programmed Genome Rearrangement in a Vertebrate (Sea Lamprey: Petromyzon marinus).

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) represents one of the few vertebrate species known to undergo large-scale programmatic elimination of genomic DNA over the course of its normal development. Programmed genome rearrangements (PGRs) result in the reproducible loss of ~20% of the genome from somatic cell lineages during early embryogenesis. Studies of PGR hold the potential to provide novel insights related to the maintenance of genome stability during the cell cycle and coordination between mechanisms responsible for the accurate distribution of chromosomes into daughter cells, yet little is known regarding the mechanistic basis or cellular context of PGR in this or any other vertebrate lineage. Here we identify epigenetic silencing events that are associated with the programmed elimination of DNA and describe the spatiotemporal dynamics of PGR during lamprey embryogenesis. In situ analyses reveal that the earliest DNA methylation (and to some extent H3K9 trimethylation) events are limited to specific extranuclear structures (micronuclei) containing eliminated DNA. During early embryogenesis a majority of micronuclei (~60%) show strong enrichment for repressive chromatin modifications (H3K9me3 and 5meC). These analyses also led to the discovery that eliminated DNA is packaged into chromatin that does not migrate with somatically retained chromosomes during anaphase, a condition that is superficially similar to lagging chromosomes observed in some cancer subtypes. Closer examination of “lagging” chromatin revealed distributions of repetitive elements, cytoskeletal contacts and chromatin contacts that provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying the programmed loss of these segments. Our analyses provide additional perspective on the cellular and molecular context of PGR, identify new structures associated with elimination of DNA and reveal that PGR is completed over the course of several successive cell divisions.
Picosecond pulse amplification using pulse compression techniques

In the laser field, scientists working in amplification of picosecond and femtosecond pulses have been confronted with an issue similar to the one faced by scientists in the radar field 30 years ago. Because of peak power limitations, short pulses could not be amplified efficiently. In the radar field this problem was circumvented by chirping and stretching the input pulse before amplification.1-5 The amplification being done at a much lower peak power, more efficient extraction could be done. After amplification the pulse was compressed to a value c* 1/AF, where AF is the total frequency chirp.
Soybean Aphid Management in South Dakota with Foliar Applied Insecticdes, 2014

The Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, can be a serious problem of soybean, Glycine max L., production in South Dakota. The economic threshold is 250 soybean aphids on 80% of plants sampled. When the threshold is reached it may warrant an insecticide treatment to prevent potential yield loss through early R5 soybean development stage. During the 2014 growing season, we conducted a field study near Brookings, South Dakota using foliar applied insecticides for control …
Die Baustoffe der Erde: Minerale und Gesteine

In Kap. 2 haben wir kennen gelernt, wie sich mit dem System Plattentektonik die globalen Strukturen und die Dynamik der Erde beschreiben lassen. Die enorme Vielfalt an Materialien, die in den verschiedenen plattentektonischen Positionen auftreten, haben wir bisher jedoch nur kurz gestreift. In diesem Kapitel betrachten wir nun diese Materialien: die Minerale und Gesteine.
Differing Perceptions of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

The extent to which drivers’ attitudes toward the use of autonomous vehicle systems can be influenced by various driver factors (e.g., driver age, experience with the systems, etc.) has yet to be f...
Larval fish abundance in relation to environmental variables in two Texas Gulf Coast rivers

ABSTRACTPhenology of fish spawning in lotic ecosystems depends on interactions between species life history strategies and patterns of environmental variation related to hydrology and seasonality. To further study these relationships, we examined patterns of larval fish abundance in relation to discharge and other environmental variables in the Brazos and Trinity rivers, Texas. From March 2013 to March 2014, environmental data and larval fishes were collected twice each month using drift nets. Multivariate analyses indicated that, at both study sites, water temperature was the primary mechanism driving temporal and taxonomic variation in larval fish assemblage structure at the family level. However, in the Trinity River, assemblage structure was significantly associated with discharge, albeit to a lesser degree than with water temperature. Cyprinid protolarvae dominated catches in both rivers and did not seem to be constrained by any aspect of the flow regime, as evidenced by their high abundance througho...
Uncertainty in the Era of Precision Medicine

Far from ushering in an age of diagnostic and prognostic certainty, precision-medicine tools will demand a greater tolerance of uncertainty and greater facility for calculating and interpreting probabilities than we have been used to as physicians and patients.
3D processing and characterization of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) energetic thin films

This study examined processing and characterization of an energetic material synthesized with a binder that is extensively used in existing additive manufacturing methods. Aluminum (Al), molybdenum trioxide (MoO3), and potassium perchlorate (KClO4) are suspended in a solvent–binder system composed of acetone solvent and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) binder. The concentration of ABS is varied from 10 to 50 wt% and the mass of acetone is correspondingly varied to ensure a slurry with constant volume percent solids. Three-dimensional films are cast with 1 mm thickness for all ABS concentrations tested. Rheological results show that all slurries exhibit non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior for viscosity as a function of shear rate such that negligible extrudate swell (i.e., die swell) is produced. Investigation into the viscoelastic properties of the slurries revealed them to be highly elastic such that thin sections in the film that cause crack formation can be induced. These results combine to show that 20 wt% ABS is a minimum threshold for ABS to provide a matrix capable of supporting the energetic materials and the elastic nature of the slurry contributes to crack formation below this threshold. Flame speed characterization showed that at and above 40 wt% ABS, the volatiles produced from the thermal degradation of the polymer cause burning above the surface of the film excluding the energetic materials from the reaction. Polymer concentrations of 20 wt% (i.e., 80 wt% energetic material loading) exhibited the highest flame speeds of 1.21 cm/s with an energy density estimated as 5737 kJ/kg. Optimal energetic composites processed using additive manufacturing are achieved if binder concentration can be minimized, as shown here.
A MILP formulation for utility scale optimal demand side response

A detailed mathematical model for optimal utilization of demand side response is formulated. Formulations for constrained controllable load (dependent load) is modeled, whose operation is dependent on certain other loads completing their schedule prior to the constrained controllable load's start time. In addition, several other types of load models, including electric vehicles (EV), adjustable and constant power loads are modeled. The ensuing problem is that of mixed integer linear programming (MILP) type. Using the developed MILP formulation optimal solution to utility scale demand response (DR) scheme is obtained in real-time (duration between dispatches). In particular, the work is aimed at reliability based DR schemes used by independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs). Applicability to utility scale DR schemes is shown by formulation and solution of large problems with more than one million variables - solved in real-time.
Sickle RBCs Stimulate Human Monocyte Cytokine Expression.

Sickle red cells (SS RBCs) express numerous adhesion molecules, including LW, CD44, CD47, and Lutheran (LU) proteins, as well as phosphatidylserine. Proadhesive SS RBCs bind to endothelial cells, leading to their activation. Sickle monocytes have also been shown to express increased surface CD11b, as well as the cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), indicating their activated state. Chronic inflammation and high plasma levels of IL-1β can stimulate leukocyte proliferation and leukocytosis. An association between leukocytosis and increased morbidity and mortality of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been observed. However, the mechanism of monocyte activation in SCD is still unknown. We therefore sought to determine if SS RBCs played a role in monocyte activation. Blood samples were obtained from six normal adult volunteers, and SS RBCs were obtained from 12 adult patients homozygous for hemoglobin S. Plasma and buffy coat were removed, and 6 μl of SS RBCs were washed with sterile phosphate-buffered saline. After incubation with one million cells of the human promonocytic cell line U937 for 2 hours at 37°C, RBCs were lysed and total U937 RNA was isolated. Following reverse transcription, real-time PCR was performed using 200 nM primers for IL-1β, IL-6 or TNF-α, 50 ng cDNA and 12.5 μl of SYBR green 2× Super Mix in a 25 μl reaction volume. The amplification reaction was carried out over 40 cycles (10 min at 95°C, followed by a two-step cycling program of 15s at 95°C and 30s at 60°C). GAPDH was analyzed in parallel as an internal control. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α U937 mRNA was significantly up-regulated after incubation with SS RBCs vs incubation with normal RBCs (relative to control without RBCs, relative mRNA levels: IL-1β: 2.77 ± 1.79 vs 0.82 ± 0.19, p=0.012; IL-6: 2.17 ± 0.94 vs 0.74 ± 0.34, p=0.003; and TNF-α: 3.01 ± 1.30 vs 1.09 ± 0.17, p=0.003). To identify the adhesion molecules involved in the interaction between SS RBCs and monocytes, 10 μg/ml soluble recombinant Lutheran (srLU) was incubated with U937 cells at 37°C for 2h. After incubation, total RNA was isolated from untreated and treated U937 cells. Real time PCR results showed that srLU treatment activated U937 cell TNF-α expression, (relative mRNA level 1.63 ± 0.02 vs 1.00 ± 0.01, p
The Obote Regime and Political Violence, 1962–1971

When Obote received the instruments of judicial legitimacy on October 9, 1962, he faced more problems than other leaders in the region. Similarly, K. Ingham observed that “Obote began the run-up to independence with greater political problems than were faced by most of the leaders of other African states.... In lieu of a sense of nationhood, however, most of the newly independent countries had an undisputed leader who brought them through the travails of the independence struggle and now provided a focus for their loyalties..... Obote…had never had… an unassailable position.”
NETWORKING PROTOCOLS AND STANDARDS FOR INTERNET OF THINGS

This chapter highlights Internet of Things (IoT) protocols that are operating at different layers of the networking stack, including Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, network layer, and session layer. Generally, the most widely used standards in IoT are Bluetooth and ZigBee. IEEE 802.11ah, on the other hand, is the easiest to be used due to the existing and widely separated infrastructure of IEEE 802.11 which is the most used infrastructure in other wireless applications. The chapter discusses some standard and non‐standard protocols that are used for routing in IoT applications. Low‐Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) is the most commonly used routing protocols in IoT. Cognitive RPL (CORPL) is a non‐standard extension of RPL that is designed for cognitive networks. Security is an aspect of IoT applications which is critical and can be found in all almost all layers of the IoT protocols. The chapter also discusses the security mechanisms built in the IoT protocols.