cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of different litter substrates and induced molt on production performance and welfare quality parameters of white Leghorn hens housed in multi-tiered aviary system

More than 90% of the commercial egg production in the United States is pledged to be in cage-free systems by 2025. Management practices like induced molting and litter area management have come under scrutiny because of the housing system change. The aim of this study was to determine the welfare and production implications of different litter substrates and also evaluate induced molting of hens in a cage-free system. Bovan White hens were housed in a multi-tier aviary system with daily access to open litter area of either Astroturf (AT), wood shavings (SH), or straw (ST) and bare concrete floor (CO) serving as control. At 68 wk of age, molt was induced in half of the hens whereas the other half continued without molting to 116 wk. Production and welfare parameters were measured periodically throughout first and second cycles. Litter substrate did not influence hen-day production and case-weight measurements. However, CO had the lowest total number of eggs produced during the first cycle (P < 0.05). Hen-day percentage was approximately 14% greater in molted hens during the second cycle with egg case weight being heavier in non-molt hens toward the end of second cycle (P < 0.05). The only welfare parameter influenced by litter substrate during the first cycle was a greater crop feather loss in AT than ST at mid-lay (P < 0.05). Keel deformations increased with age irrespective of the litter substrate with 91.5% of palpated hens having keel deformations at the end of first cycle (P < 0.05). Molting did not influence the keel palpation and footpad scores whereas frequency of moderate comb wound was greater in molt hens during molt (P < 0.05). Severe feather loss was seen in non-molt hens during the second cycle (P < 0.05). Litter substrate does not affect production and physical parameters of welfare of hens in a multi-tier aviary system. Additionally, induced molting can be successfully carried out in the multi-tier cage-free system.
Sigma (σ) Receptors as Potential Therapeutic Targets to Mitigate Psychostimulant Effects

Many psychostimulants, including cocaine and methamphetamine, interact with sigma (σ) receptors at physiologically relevant concentrations. The potential therapeutic relevance of this interaction is underscored by the ability to selectively target σ receptors to mitigate many behavioral and physiological effects of psychostimulants in animal and cell-based model systems. This chapter begins with an overview of these enigmatic proteins. Provocative preclinical data showing that σ ligands modulate an array of cocaine and methamphetamine effects are summarized, along with emerging areas of research. Together, the literature suggests targeting of σ receptors as an innovative option for combating undesired actions of psychostimulants through both neuronal and glial mechanisms.
Comparative Histopathology of Androgenetic Alopecia, Diffuse Alopecia, and Senescent Alopecia

Diagnosis of senescent alopecia Onset after 60 years of age Possible family history of balding Diffuse thinning over the scalp Reduced hair number and diameter Miniaturized hairs frequent, but not invariable Inflammatory changes not always significant
Evidence of dysfunction of a prefrontal-limbic network in schizophrenia: a magnetic resonance imaging and regional cerebral blood flow study of discordant monozygotic twins.

Objective: The authors previously reported that in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia the affected twin almost invariably had a smaller anterior pes hippocampus, measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and invariably had less regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the dorsolateralprefrontal cortex duringperformance ofthe Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The present study was an investigation ofthe relationship between hippocampalpathology and prefrontal hypofunction in the same twin pairs. Method: Nine pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia underwent MRI scanning for determination of anterior hippocampalvolume andxenon-inhalation rCBF testingfor determination of prefrontal physiological activation associated with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results: The differences within twin pairs on the MRI and rCBF measures were strongly and selectively correlated. Specifically, the more an affected twin differed from the unaffected twin in left hippocampal volume, the more they differed in prefrontal physiological activation during the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In the affected twins as a group, prefrontal activation was strongly related to both left and right hippocampal volume. These relationships were not found in the group ofunaffected twins. Conclusions: This finding is consistent with the notion that schizophrenia involves pathology ofand dysfunction within a widely distributed neocortical-limbic neural network that has been implicated in, among other activities, the performance ofcognitive tasks requiring working memory. (Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149:890-897)
More Than a Feeling: Applying a Data-Driven Framework in the Technical and Professional Communication Team Project

Introduction: Group projects are a common pedagogical tool for technical and professional communication courses. These projects provide students with valuable learning experiences that they would not otherwise receive working individually. However, student group projects come with some unique challenges, such as unequal distribution of work, unequal levels of learning, and perceptions of fairness. Situating the case: While many instructor-led resources and strategies exist for facilitating group projects, fewer student-empowering strategies exist. Data provide one potential way to empower students to take ownership of their team experience and make more informed decisions throughout the teamwork process. About the case: This teaching case was born out of a response to the many teamwork problems that are outlined in the literature and that the author has observed as an instructor. This teaching case describes the implementation and outcomes of a data-driven framework for decision making called collect, analyze, triangulate, and act (CAT) that the author developed. After they learned about the CATA framework, the students completed a series of data-driven exercises during the team formation, team functioning, and team evaluation stages of the team project. Perceptions of CATA's effectiveness were collected after the project ended. Methods: A mixed-methods approach, which included a survey and a series of interviews, was used to gain insights into how both team members and team leaders perceived the CATA framework. Results: Survey results indicated that students found the CATA framework helpful in many team contexts. Students expressed particularly strong opinions about how CATA aided in the fairness and accuracy of peer evaluations, was helpful for self-reflection, and was useful for making informed arguments to convince team members of a decision. Interviews with team leaders revealed that appealing to data using the CATA framework was helpful in managing the team but had limited capacity to aid in managing conflict. Conclusions: Students realized many benefits from the CATA framework, and some team leaders even felt empowered in certain instances by appealing to data. However, instructors should still consider scaffolding data literacy and teamwork skills for students to be fully prepared for successful teamwork.
Heller's Scapegoats

In the United States, a psychiatric diagnosis, or involuntary civil commitment to a psychiatric ward — which is considered treatment in the medical context — almost always leads to quasi- criminalization in the legal context. After such diagnosis or treatment, you are rendered, automatically and permanently, a member of one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations and stripped of rights based on your status. In no area is the U.S. populace in greater agreement over this stripping of rights than in the areas of gun control and civil commitment, especially in our apparently new “era of spree-killings.” When it comes to stripping gun rights and involuntarily treating people with psychiatric disabilities (“PPDs”), politicians and pundits on the left and the right are eerily aligned. This Article provides an answer as to why: PPDs are our society’s scapegoats, the tool we use to externalize our fear of the unpredictable violence of what appears to be the rise of spree-killings. Involuntary civil commitment and gun control work together to scapegoat PPDs: often the response to an act of otherwise unexplainable violence is for pundits and politicians on the left and the right to discuss ways to involuntarily commit PPDs and ways to prevent PPDs from getting their hands on guns.
Unrolling Post-Mortem 3D Fingerprints Using Mosaicking Pressure Simulation Technique

Post-mortem fingerprints are a valuable biometric used to aid in the identification of a deceased individual. However, fingerprints from the deceased undergo decomposition leading to indefinite structure when compared to ante-mortem fingerprints. Moreover, the performance of the existing two-dimensional (2D) fingerprint recognition systems is still below the expected potential. These problems arise because fingerprints are generally captured by manipulating a finger against a plane. In post-mortem fingerprint recovery, the decedent's finger must go through several reconditioning processes to prevent the rapid onslaught of decomposition. To address these deficiencies associated with the 2D systems, three-dimensional (3D) scanning systems have been employed to capture fingerprints. The 3D technology is still in its transient phase and is limited primarily by 1) the lack of existing 3D databases; 2) the deficiency of 3D-to-2D fingerprint image mapping algorithms, 3) the incapacity to model and recreate the 2D fingerprint capturing procedure to improve 3D-2D fingerprint verification; and 4) the inability to apply traditional fingerprint unrolling techniques on post-mortem 3D fingerprints. This paper presents a novel method to perform post-mortem 3D fingerprint unrolling and pressure simulation to produce fingerprint images that are compatible with 2D fingerprint recognition systems. The thrust of this paper strives to: 1) develop a correspondence between 3D touchless and contact-based 2D fingerprint images; 2) model fingerprints with deformities to provide a viable fingerprint image for matching and; 3) develop a mosaic pressure simulation (MPS) algorithm to recreate the effects of 2D fingerprint capturing procedure.
Conference Presentation of Jeffrey Kahn

This short essay is based on remarks given at the Kennan Institute at the conference ‘The Russian Constitution at Fifteen: Assessments and Current Challenges to Russia’s Legal Development’. A central focus of these remarks is the undoing of the federal system described in the 1993 Constitution.
A 16nm 25mm 2 SoC with a 54.5x Flexibility-Efficiency Range from Dual-Core Arm Cortex-A53 to eFPGA and Cache-Coherent Accelerators

This paper presents a 25mm2 SoC in 16nm FinFET technology targeting flexible acceleration of compute intensive kernels in DNN, DSP and security algorithms. The SoC includes an always-on sub-system, a dual-core Arm A53 CPU cluster, an embedded FPGA array, and a quad-core cache-coherent accelerator cluster. Measurement results demonstrate the following observations: 1) moving DSP/cryptography kernels from A53 to eFPGA increases energy efficiency between 5.5x–28.9x, 2) the use of cache coherency for datapath accelerators increases throughput by 2.94x, and 3) accelerator flexibility-efficiency (GOPS/W) range spans from 3.1x (A53+SIMD), to 16.5x (eFPGA), to 54.5x (CCA) compared to the dual-core CPU baseline on comparable tasks. The energy per inference on MobileNet-128 CNN shows a peak improvement of 47.6x.
Detection of colonic neoplasia in vivo using near-infrared-labeled peptide targeting cMet.

White light colonoscopy is widely used to detect colorectal polyps, but flat and depressed lesions are often missed. Here, we report a molecular imaging strategy to potentially improve diagnostic performance by developing a fluorescently-labeled peptide specific for cMet. This 7mer is conjugated to Cy5.5, a near-infrared (NIR) cyanine dye. Specific binding to cMet was confirmed by cell staining, knockdown, and competition assays. The probe showed high binding affinity (kd = 57 nM) and fast onset (k = 1.6 min) to support topical administration in vivo. A mouse model (CPC;Apc) that develops spontaneous adenomas that overexpress cMet was used to demonstrate feasibility for real time in vivo imaging. This targeting ligand showed significantly higher target-to-background (T/B) ratio for polypoid and non-polypoid lesions by comparison with a scrambled control peptide. Immunofluorescence staining on human colon specimens show significantly greater binding to tubular and sessile serrated adenomas versus hyperplastic polyps and normal mucosa. These results demonstrate a peptide specific for cMet that is promising for endoscopic detection of pre-malignant lesions and guiding of tissue biopsy.
The Role of Nrf2 in Primary Human CD4 T Cell Activation and Differentiation

The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 like-2 (Nrf2) responds to cell stress such as reactive oxygen species, electrophilic xenobiotics, and heavy metals. In response to such s...
Datos sobre la tiamina

La tiamina es una de las vitaminas del grupo B. Es tambien llamada B1. Nosotros necesitamos tiamina para utilizar los carbohidratos que comemos. La tiamina ayuda a transformar los carbohidratos en energia para el cuerpo. El cuerpo tambien necesita tiamina para usar algunos de los aminoacidos que componen las proteinas. This 2-page fact sheet was written by R. Elaine Turner and Wendy J. Dahl and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1342
The Effect of Financial Constraints on Energy-Climate Scenarios

In this paper,we discuss the implications of financing constraints for future energy and climate scenarios. Aspirations to improve energy access and electrification rates in developing countries, while simultaneously reducing green house gas emissions, can be seriously hindered by the availability of flow-cost capital for the necessary investments.We first provide a brief description of the theoretical foundations for financing constraints in the energy sector. Then, using a broad range of alternate assumptions we introduce capital supply curves to an energy system model for Sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific focus on the power sector. Our results portray the effect of capital cost on technology selection in electricity generation ,specifically how limited capital supply decreases investments to capital-intensive zero-emission technologies. As a direct consequence, the emission price required to meet given emission targets is considerably increased when compared to case that disregards the capital constraints. Finally, we discuss possible policy instruments for resolving the constraints.
Randomized Trial of Ivabradine in Patients With Hyperadrenergic Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

Abstract Background Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a complex, multifaceted disorder that impairs functional status and quality of life. Current pharmacological treatments are limited. Objectives This study investigated the effect of ivabradine (selective blocker of the Ifunny channel in the sinoatrial node) on heart rate, quality of life (QOL), and plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels in patients with hyperadrenergic POTS defined by plasma NE >600 pg/ml and abnormal tilt table test. Methods In total, 22 patients with hyperadrenergic POTS as the predominant subtype completed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with ivabradine. Patients were randomized to start either ivabradine or placebo for 1 month, and then were crossed over to the other treatment for 1 month. Heart rate, QOL, and plasma NE levels were measured at baseline and at the end of each treatment month. Results The average age was 33.9 ± 11.7 years, 95.5% were women (n = 21), and 86.4% were White (n = 23). There was a significant reduction in heart rate between placebo and ivabradine (p Conclusion Ivabradine is safe and effective in significantly improving heart rate and QOL in patients with hyperadrenergic POTS as the predominant subtype.
Moral dynamics: Grounding moral judgment in intuitive physics and intuitive psychology.

Abstract When holding others morally responsible, we care about what they did, and what they thought. Traditionally, research in moral psychology has relied on vignette studies, in which a protagonist's actions and thoughts are explicitly communicated. While this research has revealed what variables are important for moral judgment, such as actions and intentions, it is limited in providing a more detailed understanding of exactly how these variables affect moral judgment. Using dynamic visual stimuli that allow for a more fine-grained experimental control, recent studies have proposed a direct mapping from visual features to moral judgments. We embrace the use of visual stimuli in moral psychology, but question the plausibility of a feature-based theory of moral judgment. We propose that the connection from visual features to moral judgments is mediated by an inference about what the observed action reveals about the agent's mental states, and what causal role the agent's action played in bringing about the outcome. We present a computational model that formalizes moral judgments of agents in visual scenes as computations over an intuitive theory of physics combined with an intuitive theory of mind. We test the model's quantitative predictions in three experiments across a wide variety of dynamic interactions.
Implementation Leadership in School Nutrition: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Objective This paper identifies implementation leadership characteristics in the school nutrition setting and places findings in the context of implementation leadership literature. Methods Fourteen interviews were conducted with school district leadership/staff in an urban school district. Modified grounded theory was employed. Results Four themes emerged: (1) understanding of technical/operational intervention details; (2) ability to proactively develop and communicate plans; (3) supervisory oversight; and (4) intervention framing. Themes were consistent with 4 of the 5 dimensions comprising the Implementation Leadership Scale: knowledgeable, proactive, perseverant, and distributed leadership. The supportive domain was not a major finding. An additional domain, how leaders message the intervention to staff, was identified. Conclusions and Implications Implementation leadership in school nutrition appears similar, but not identical, to leader behaviors present in the Implementation Leadership Scale. School nutrition leaders might consider involving staff early in implementation planning, incorporating technical expertise, and clearly communicating the intervention purpose to support successful implementation. Future research might explore the interplay between leadership and implementation outcomes.
Secure Distributed Human Computation

In Peha’s Financial Cryptography 2004 invited talk, he described the Cyphermint PayCash system (see www.cyphermint.com), which allows people without bank accounts or credit cards (a sizeable segment of the U.S. population) to automatically and instantly cash checks, pay bills, or make Internet transactions through publicly-accessible kiosks. Since PayCash offers automated financial transactions and since the system uses (unprotected) kiosks, security is critical. The kiosk must decide whether a person cashing a check is really the person to whom the check was made out, so it takes a digital picture of the person cashing the check and transmits this picture electronically to a central office, where a human worker compares the kiosk’s picture to one that was taken when the person registered with Cyphermint. If both pictures are of the same person, then the human worker authorizes the transaction.
Differentiation with respect to parameters of solutions of nonlocal boundary value problems for difference equations

For the n-th order difference equation, Δnu=f(t,u,Δu,…,Δn−1u,λ), the solution of the boundary value problem satisfying Δi−1u(t0)=Ai,1≤i≤n−1, and u(t1)−∑j=1maju(τj)=An, where t0,τ1,…,τm,t1∈ℤ, t0<⋯<t0+n−1<τ1<⋯<τm<t1, and a1,…,am,A1,…,An∈ℝ, is differentiated with respect to the parameter λ.
New Directions in Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) Systems

The technology of integrated computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has been developing very rapidly in the last decade, with increasingly greater impact on the way that the world’s durable goods are produced. No one can predict exactly each step that will be taken in future. But a survey of the current state of CAD/CAM and the developmental needs arising in current applications does indicate the general course the industry will take to meet those needs. Detailed examples of current applications are taken from five General Electric Company projects that illustrate the challenges encountered in trying to implement CAD/CAM systems.
The Effects of Seductive Details in an Inflatable Planetarium

Astronomy is becoming a forgotten science, which is evident by its relatively low enrollment figures compared to biology, chemistry, and physics. A portable inflatable planetarium brings relevance back to astronomy and offers support to students and educators by simulating realistic astronomical environments. This study sought to determine if learning is improved in an inflatable planetarium by adhering to the design principles of the cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML), specifically the coherence principle, in an authentic classroom. Two groups of 5th grade students of similar ability were purposefully assigned using a 1-teacher-to-many-students format with mean lesson lengths of 34 minutes. The experimental group was differentiated with seductive details, defined as interesting but irrelevant facts that can distract learning. The control group ( n = 28), with seductive details excluded, outperformed the experimental group (n = 28), validating the coherence principle and producing a Cohen's effect size of medium practical significance (d = 0.4). These findings suggest that CTML, when applied to planetarium instruction, does increase student learning and that seductive details do have a negative effect on learning. An adult training project was created to instruct educators on the benefits of CTML in astronomy education. This study leads to positive social change by highlighting astronomy education while providing educators with design principles of CTML in authentic settings to maximize learning, aid in the creation of digital media (astronomical simulations/instructional lessons for planetariums) and provide valuable training for owners of inflatable planetariums with the eventual goal of increasing student enrollment of astronomy courses at the local level.
Disabling amnestic syndrome following stereotactic laser ablation of a hypothalamic hamartoma in a patient with a prior temporal lobectomy

A 19-year-old man with cortical dysplasia and intractable focal seizures underwent a right temporal lobectomy. A hypothalamic hamartoma was subsequently recognized, and he then underwent MRI-guided stereotactic laser ablation. Unfortunately, he sustained damage to the bilateral medial mammillary bodies and suffered significant memory loss. We review laser ablation therapy for hypothalamic hamartomas and the anatomy of the memory network. We postulate that his persistent memory disorder resulted from a combination of the right temporal lobectomy and injury to the bilateral medial mammillary bodies.
Weekly fluctuations in nonjudging predict borderline personality disorder feature expression in women.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) features have been linked to deficits in mindfulness, or nonjudgmental attention to present-moment stimuli. However, no previous work has examined the role of fluctuations in mindfulness over time in predicting BPD features. The present study examines the impact of both between-person differences and within-person changes in mindfulness. 40 women recruited to achieve a flat distribution of BPD features completed 4 weekly assessments of mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire; FFMQ) and BPD features. Multilevel models predicted each outcome from both 1) a person’s average levels of each facet and 2) weekly deviations from a person’s average for each facet. Average acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreactivity predicted lower BPD features at the between-person level, and weekly deviations above one’s average (i.e., higher-than-usual) nonjudging predicted lower BPD feature expression at the within-person level. Within-person fluctuations in the nonjudging facet of mindfulness may be relevant to the daily expression of BPD features over and above dispositional mindfulness.
A Uniform Management Approach to Optimize Outcome in Fetal Growth Restriction

A uniform approach to the diagnosis and management of fetal growth restriction (FGR) consistently produces better outcome, prevention of unanticipated stillbirth, and appropriate timing of delivery. Early-onset and late-onset FGR represent two distinct clinical phenotypes of placental dysfunction. Management challenges in early-onset FGR revolve around prematurity and coexisting maternal hypertensive disease, whereas in late-onset disease failure of diagnosis or surveillance leading to unanticipated stillbirth is the primary issue. Identifying the surveillance tests that have the highest predictive accuracy for fetal acidemia and establishing the appropriate monitoring interval to detect fetal deterioration is a high priority.
A COMPARISON OF MATCH-TO-SAMPLE AND RESPONDENT-TYPE TRAINING OF EQUIVALENCE CLASSES

Throughout the 25-year history of research on stimulus equivalence, one feature of the training procedure has remained constant, namely, the requirement of operant responding during the training procedures. The present investigation compared the traditional match-to-sample (MTS) training with a more recent respondent-type (ReT) procedure. Another consistent feature of the equivalence paradigm is the apparent stipulation that both training and testing must occur before equivalence emerges. In this respect, a more idiosyncratic measure of class acquisition would be desirable. Multidimensional scaling, as a class of exploratory techniques, is introduced as a possible addition to the stimulus equivalence paradigm. Results from 35 subjects in 3 experiments suggest that while the respondent-type training method can be an effective procedure, the operant-based match-to-saimple method was clearly more effective in tests for symmetry, equivalence, and extended equivalence. The addition of a scaling procedure proved valuable and showed that both training methods facilitated the emergence of derived relations to varying degrees. Results are evaluated in relation to the importance of broadening the necessary and sufficient training conditions and response requirements for the emergence of stimulus equivalence.
Clearance rates and prey selectivity of the predaceous cladoceran Polyphemus pediculus

Littoral plankton communities have rarely been included in food web dynamics and predator/prey behavior studies of planktonic communities of fresh water ecosystems. Polyphemus pediculus, a typically littoral predaceous cladoceran, is common in lakes and ponds throughout the northern temperate zone.
A Sea Change in Political Methodology

The past decade has witnessed a sea change in political science methodology. Conventional quantitative methods are now the focus of even sharper criticism. The tools of qualitative analysis are being further refined and legitimated in ways that addresses some of these failings. Qualitative tools certainly have their own problems and limitations, but real progress is being made. Natural experiments, notwithstanding their limitations, likewise show promise, and in the spirit of multi-method work they are far more valuable when basic choices about design and analysis are built on deep qualitative knowledge of cases and context. Correspondingly, an eclectic practice of methodology is the most promising avenue to pursue.
The norepinephrine transporter and its regulation.

For many years, the norepinephrine transporter (NET) was considered a ‘static’ protein that contributed to the termination of the action of norepinephrine in the synapse of noradrenergic neurons. The concept that the NET is dynamically regulated, adjusting noradrenergic transmission by changing its function and/or expression, was considered initially in the mid 1980s. Since that time, a plethora of studies demonstrate that the NET is regulated by several intracellular and extracellular signaling molecules, and that phosphorylation of the NET is a major pathway regulating its cell surface expression and thereby its function. The NET is a target of action of a number of drugs that are used long-term therapeutically or abused chronically. This has driven numerous investigations of how the NET and its function are regulated by long-term exposure to drugs. While repeated exposure to many drugs has been shown to affect NET function and expression, the intracellular mechanisms for these effects remains elusive.
Autism-like Deficits in Shank3-Deficient Mice Are Rescued by Targeting Actin Regulators

Haploinsufficiency of the Shank3 gene, which encodes a scaffolding protein at glutamatergic synapses, is a highly prevalent and penetrant risk factor for autism. Using combined behavioral, electrophysiological, biochemical, imaging, and molecular approaches, we find that Shank3-deficient mice exhibit autism-like social deficits and repetitive behaviors, as well as the significantly diminished NMDA receptor (NMDAR) synaptic function and synaptic distribution in prefrontal cortex. Concomitantly, Shank3-deficient mice have a marked loss of cortical actin filaments, which is associated with the reduced Rac1/PAK activity and increased activity of cofilin, the major actin depolymerizing factor. The social deficits and NMDAR hypofunction are rescued by inhibiting cofilin or activating Rac1 in Shank3-deficient mice and are induced by inhibiting PAK or Rac1 in wild-type mice. These results indicate that the aberrant regulation of synaptic actin filaments and loss of synaptic NMDARs contribute to the manifestation of autism-like phenotypes. Thus, targeting actin regulators provides a strategy for autism treatment.
Does it Pay to Realize Tax Losses at the Year-End?

Motivated by the widely touted practice, we examine the effects of realizing tax losses at the year-end on simulated stock portfolios. Our results indicate that the timing of portfolio formation, the cutoff that triggers the loss realization, the length of an investor’s holding period, and to a lesser extent, the timing of the tax benefits, all affect the probability that the tax-loss strategy outperforms a simple buy-and-hold strategy. Collectively our findings support the tax-loss strategy in general, but they also suggest that factors other than an investor’s applicable tax rate affect the effectiveness of this strategy as well.
Ligand Acidification by Nonadherent Cells

The goal of methods for ligand acidification by nonadherent cells is to obtain nearly continuous measurements of the pH to which a receptor-bound ligand is exposed after endocytosis. The protocols presented below are based on the method developed by Sipe and Murphy [1] for adherent (BALB/c3T3) cells and modified by Sipe et al. [2] for nonadherent (K562) cells. Reviews of acidification of endocytic compartments [3, 4] and flow cytometric methods for analysis of endocytosis [5, 6] may be consulted for additional background. The protocols below describe analysis of transferrin (Tf) acidification, but they may be easily modified for use with a different ligand.
Ontogenetic behavior, migration, and social behavior of pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus, and shovelnose sturgeon, S-platorynchus, with notes on the adaptive significance of body color

We conducted laboratory studies on the ontogenetic behavior of free embryos (first life interval after hatching) and larvae (first feeding interval) of pallid and shovelnose sturgeon. Migration styles of both species were similar for timing of migration (initiation by embryos on day 0 after hatching and cessation by larvae on days 12–13 at 236–243 cumulative temperature degree units), migration distance (about 13 km), life interval when most distance was moved (embryo), and diel behavior of embryos (diurnal). However, the species differed for two behaviors: movement characteristics of embryos (peak movement rate of pallid sturgeon was only one-half the peak rate of shovelnose sturgeon, but pallid sturgeon continued the lower rate for twice as long) and diel behavior of larvae (pallid sturgeon were diurnal and shovelnose sturgeon were nocturnal). Thus, the species used different methods to move the same distance. Migrating as poorly developed embryos suggests a migration style to avoid predation at the spawning site, but moving from spawning habitat to rearing habitat before first feeding could also be important. Migrants of both species preferred bright habitat (high illumination intensity and white substrate), a behavioral preference that may characterize the migrants of many species of sturgeon. Both species were remarkably similar for swimming height above the bottom by age, and day 7 and older migrants may swim far above the bottom and move far downstream. A migration of 12 or 13 days will probably not distribute larvae throughout the population's range, so an older life interval likely initiates a second longer downstream migration (2-step migration). By day 2, individuals of both species were a black-tail phenotype (light grey body with a black-tail that moved conspicuously during swimming). Aggregation behavior suggests that black-tail is a visual signal used for group cohesion.
Two-Dimensional Shock-on-Shock Inter action Problem

The unsteady, inviscid flowfield that results when a supersonic vehicle strikes a planar oblique shock wave, though difficult to simulate experimentally, is quite easy to model and compute numerically. The complicated flowfield, which contains multiple shock wave interactions, is determined using a second-order, shock-capturing, finite-difference approach which solves the time-dependent Euler equations under a self-similar transformation. A series of numerical results for a simple two-dimensional wedge is presented which describes the entire disturbed region, including the wave structure, and shows good agreement with the available two- and three-dimensional experimental data.
Changes in the Frequency and Intensity of Extreme Temperature Events and Human Health Concerns

Extreme temperature events (ETEs), both hot and cold, have received much attention in the literature because of their adverse impacts upon society, in particular human health. Under scenarios of climate change, substantial changes in the frequency and intensity of ETEs are projected. Here, we review literature from the last few years that have assessed recent changes and projected future ETEs, along with projected impacts on human health. Regarding the impacts on health, we pay particular attention to the many dimensions of uncertainty in making these assessments.
Community pharmacy managers' perception of computerized drug-drug interaction alerts.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine community pharmacists' attitudes toward computerized drug—drug interaction (DDI) alerts and identify factors associated with more favorable perceptions of these alerts. Design Cross-sectional postal survey. Setting 18 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States. Participants 3,000 community pharmacy managers. Interventions 34-item survey instrument designed to collect data about the pharmacy including demographics, workload issues, handling of DDIs, and pharmacists' attitudes toward computerized DDI alerts. Main Outcome Measure Responses to items concerning community pharmacy managers' attitudes toward DDI alerts and factors associated with more favorable attitudes toward these alerts. Results A total of 736 usable surveys were returned (25.3% response rate). Pharmacy managers generally disagreed that DDI alerts were a waste of time (mean ± SD, 2.1 ± 1.1 on a scale of 1, strongly disagree, to 6, strongly agree). However, they were not completely confident that their computer systems provided them with meaningful DDI alerts (mean ± SD, 4.5 ± 1.2). They were confident in their ability to identify DDIs (mean ± SD, 4.9 ± 0.9) and discuss DDIs with physicians (mean ± SD, 5.2 ± 0.7). Pharmacy software that provided detailed DDI information as well as the ability to customize DDI alerts were associated with more favorable perceptions of DDI alerts. Conclusion Despite being presented with a large proportion of clinically unimportant alerts, community pharmacy managers did not believe DDI alerts were meaningless or a waste of time. Incorporation of features that streamline DDI alerts may improve their effectiveness in community pharmacy practice.
Arylaminoethyl carbamates as a novel series of potent and selective cathepsin S inhibitors

We report a novel series of noncovalent inhibitors of cathepsin S. The synthesis of the peptidomimetic scaffold is described and structure-activity relationships of P3, P1, and P1' subunits are discussed. Lead optimization to a non-peptidic scaffold has resulted in a new class of potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable cathepsin S inhibitors.
Experience-dependent immediate early gene expression in the adult central nervous system: evidence from enriched-environment studies.

Here I discuss evidence from our group's work that implicates the immediate early genes NGFI-A and arc as possible regulators of neuronal plasticity. The enriched environment (EE) paradigm has been demonstrated to induce neural plasticity in both developing and mature mammals. Others and we have recently demonstrated that adult rats placed within an enriched environment underwent central nervous system-wide increases in the expression levels for the IEGs NGFI-A and arc. The relationships between the altered expression profiles for both genes in response to an EE exposure, and their putative role in orchestrating network restructuring in response to enhanced environmental complexity are discussed
An ecological approach to examine lung cancer disparities due to sexual orientation

Summary Objectives To determine whether there is an association between geographical areas with greater sexual minority density, defined as gay and lesbian individuals, and incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer. Study design As individual surveillance data on sexual orientation are not available, this study used an ecological approach to examine the link between sexual minorities and lung cancer. Methods Population-based surveillance data on the incidence of and mortality due to lung cancer from 1996 to 2004 were used from 12 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries and 2000 Census data on same-sex-partnered households for the geographical area covered by SEER 12. Using multiple regression models, the county-level association of sexual minority density with incidence or mortality rates for lung cancer was examined. Results A significant positive association was found between both incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer and areas with a higher density of sexual minority men, and a significant negative association was found between both incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer and areas with a higher density of sexual minority women. Conclusions In the absence of surveillance data, this novel methodological strategy approximates population-level lung cancer disparities for sexual minority populations at the aggregate level.
Progress of Pharmacist Collaborative Practice: Status of State Laws and Regulations and Perceived Impact of Collaborative Practice

Objectives To determine the current status and features of states' laws on pharmacist collaborative practice, barriers and facilitators to the passage of such laws, pharmacists' satisfaction with present regulations, and pharmacy leaders' perceptions regarding the impact of collaborative practice on pharmacist-physician relationships and on patients' perceptions of pharmacists. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting United States. Participants Executives of state pharmacy organizations and officers of state pharmacy boards. Main Outcome Measures Presence and features of collaborative practice law, perceptions regarding effects of collaborative practice on pharmacist-physician relationships, and patients' perceptions of pharmacists. Results Of 48 states responding to the survey, 32 (66%) had existing pharmacist collaborative practice laws; 23 states (48%) allowed pharmacists to initiate and modify therapy, whereas 9 (19%) allowed only modification of therapy. Dependent collaborative practice was permitted in 31 states (65%). Most state laws applied to hospital, long-term care, and community settings. Five of the 32 states with pharmacist collaborative practice laws had made changes to broaden the provisions since the original laws were enacted. Nine states out of 16 that did not have collaborative practice laws indicated plans to pursue passage of such laws. Overall, collaborative practice was viewed as having a positive effect on pharmacist-physician relationships and a slightly positive effect on patients' perceptions of pharmacists. Respondents believed that pharmacists currently involved in collaborative practice were mostly satisfied with present laws, although some respondents mentioned the need for further revisions to the laws. Conclusion Significant progress has been made in passing and implementing laws on pharmacist collaborative practice. As positive experience is gained, good opportunities exist to broaden current laws and increase pharmacists' involvement in collaborative practice.
Fullerides of Pyrrolidine-Functionalized C60

The spectral characteristics of the fulleride(1−) anions of pyrrolidine-functionalized C60 derivatives have been investigated in order to assess the degree to which the parent C60 moiety retains it...
D-Erythro-sphingosine Lowers 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Activity in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Abstract D-Erythro-sphingosine lowered the levels of HMG-CoA reductase activity in CHO-K1 cells. Significant suppression of reductase activity was observed at 5 μM, 10 μM, and 15 μM concentrations of the sphingolipid base and ∼50% lowering was found at 10 μM. In contrast, L-threo-sphingosine had no effect on the levels of reductase activity under the conditions studied. Direct addition of D-erythro-sphingosine, at concentrations up to 100 μM, to rat liver microsomes had no effect on the levels of HMG-CoA reductase activity. The concentrations of D-erythro-sphingosine required to lower reductase activity in CHO-K1 cells correspond to reported levels of sphingosine in mammalian cells.
Crystal structures of three protozoan homologs of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase

Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS) is an essential enzyme that is recognizably conserved across all forms of life. It is responsible for activating and attaching tryptophan to a cognate tRNA(Trp) molecule for use in protein synthesis. In some eukaryotes this original core function has been supplemented or modified through the addition of extra domains or the expression of variant TrpRS isoforms. The three TrpRS structures from pathogenic protozoa described here represent three illustrations of this malleability in eukaryotes. The Cryptosporidium parvum genome contains a single TrpRS gene, which codes for an N-terminal domain of uncertain function in addition to the conserved core TrpRS domains. Sequence analysis indicates that this extra domain, conserved among several apicomplexans, is related to the editing domain of some AlaRS and ThrRS. The C. parvum enzyme remains fully active in charging tRNA(Trp) after truncation of this extra domain. The crystal structure of the active, truncated enzyme is presented here at 2.4A resolution. The Trypanosoma brucei genome contains separate cytosolic and mitochondrial isoforms of TrpRS that have diverged in their respective tRNA recognition domains. The crystal structure of the T. brucei cytosolic isoform is presented here at 2.8A resolution. The Entamoeba histolytica genome contains three sequences that appear to be TrpRS homologs. However one of these, whose structure is presented here at 3.0A resolution, has lost the active site motifs characteristic of the Class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase catalytic domain while retaining the conserved features of a fully formed tRNA(Trp) recognition domain. The biological function of this variant E. histolytica TrpRS remains unknown, but, on the basis of a completely conserved tRNA recognition region and evidence for ATP but not tryptophan binding, it is tempting to speculate that it may perform an editing function. Together with a previously reported structure of an unusual TrpRS from Giardia, these protozoan structures broaden our perspective on the extent of structural variation found in eukaryotic TrpRS homologs.
Diffusion competition between solvent and nonsolvent during the coagulation process of cellulose / ammonia / ammonium thiocynate fiber spinning system

Synopsis An investigation of the diffusion competition between solvent and nonsolvent in a coagulation bath is presented for the formation of a new cellulosic fiber by wet-spinning. The system consisted of the spinnable cellulose solution with a mixture of liquid ammonia/ammonia thiocynate as the solvent and low-molecular-weight alcohols as the nonsolvents. The diffusion competition between solvent and nonsolvent was quantitatively characterized in terms of their mass transfer rate differences. The measurements of this rate difference were performed on the model filament shaped from gelled cellulose solutions. Results revealed that an increase in molecular size of coagulant, bath temperature, and coagulant concentration in the bath enhanced preferential diffusion of solvent from cellulose solution. Fiber spinning experiments showed that a higher value of the initial modulus of the fiber was attained with a coagulation condition providing a lower value of mass transfer rate difference. The importance of mass transfer rate difference was also shown in the influence of the fiber cross-sectional shapes.
Philanthropic choice and donor intent: Freedom, responsibility, and public interest

Ensuring adherence to donor intention for philanthropic endowments over time requires substantial thought, careful planning, and significant effort by the donor, as well as fidelity of the trustees.