cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
No Retaliation in Kind: Japanese Chemical Warfare Policy in World War II

This essay examines Japan’s Chemical Warfare (CW) policy in World War II as revealed in interrogations of high-ranking military officers conducted by United States military intelligence after the war. Based upon these interrogations and an examination of recorded incidents of chemical weapons use, it may be concluded that Japanese CW policy permitted use of chemical weapons in China where the enemy did not possess the capacity to retaliate in kind, but largely prohibited their use in the Pacific against the Allies, whom they feared could respond in kind with overwhelming force. Thus, the threat of retaliation in kind served as a successful deterrent to CW employment in the Pacific Theater. For its part, the US refrained from using poison gas largely due to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s moral abhorrence of chemical weapons, but also because it was not in a position logistically to engage in CW on a large scale until late in the conflict, at which time the use of nuclear weapons made the issue moot.
Recent advances in vesicular stomatitis virus-based oncolytic virotherapy: a 5-year update.

Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy is an anti-cancer approach that uses viruses that preferentially infect, replicate in and kill cancer cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV, a rhabdovirus) is an OV that is currently being tested in the USA in several phase I clinical trials against different malignancies. Several factors make VSV a promising OV: lack of pre-existing human immunity against VSV, a small and easy to manipulate genome, cytoplasmic replication without risk of host cell transformation, independence of cell cycle and rapid growth to high titres in a broad range of cell lines facilitating large-scale virus production. While significant advances have been made in VSV-based OV therapy, room for improvement remains. Here we review recent studies (published in the last 5 years) that address ‘old’ and ‘new’ challenges of VSV-based OV therapy. These studies focused on improving VSV safety, oncoselectivity and oncotoxicity; breaking resistance of some cancers to VSV; preventing premature clearance of VSV; and stimulating tumour-specific immunity. Many of these approaches were based on combining VSV with other therapeutics. This review also discusses another rhabdovirus closely related to VSV, Maraba virus, which is currently being tested in Canada in phase I/II clinical trials.
Reassessing the Personal Registers and Anti-Illusionist Imperatives of the New Formal Film of the 1960s and ‘70s

In the late 1960s and early ‘70s, Anglo-American experimental cinema pursued a shift of artistic strategies marked by an increased foregrounding of filmic materials, a minimization of referential c...
Cold Microsecond Spark Discharge Plasma Production of Active Species and Their Delivery into Tissue

Mechanisms of the Plasma Medicine techniques, first of all plasma ­sterilization and healing of wounds, are immediately related to the effects of ­reactive neutral and charged species produced by plasma and delivered to the treated object. Here we report experimental results on measurement of production of reactive ­oxygen species in liquid media and their delivery into tissue by microsecond spark discharge plasma. We also show that a simple agarose gel model may closely mimic physicochemical characteristics of tissue.
Measuring and Counting: More Boundaries

In an ideal science every concept would have a sharp edge—a boundary. I cannot confidently imagine what such an ideal science would be like, or even whether the notion itself is wholly unobjectionable. But undeniably, complete precision in locating the boundaries of its central concepts is a goal of modern science, whether or not that goal is logically attainable.
The damage signal IL-33 promotes a focal protective myeloid cell response to Toxoplasma gondii in the brain

An intact immune response is critical for survival of hosts chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii. We observe clusters of macrophages surrounding replicating parasite in brain tissue, but the initial cues which instruct focal inflammatory reactions in the central nervous system (CNS) are not well understood. One potential mechanism of broad relevance is host cell damage. Here we find that IL-33, a nuclear alarmin, is critical for control of T. gondii parasites in the brain. IL-33 is expressed by oligodendrocytes and astrocytes during T. gondii infection, and a loss of nuclear IL-33 staining is observed in association with replicating T. gondii in infected mouse and human brain tissue, suggestive of IL-33 release. IL-33 signaling is required for induction of chemokines in astrocytes, including focal CCL2 production as visualized using CCL2-mCherry reporter mice. Bone marrow chimera experiments support the hypothesis that IL-33 could be acting directly on astrocytes, as the relevant IL-33-responding cell is radio-resistant. In alignment with CCL2 induction, IL-33 signaling is required for the infiltration of CCR2+ myeloid cells that express anti-parasitic iNOS locally. These results expand our knowledge of alarmin signaling in the brain, an environment which is unique from the periphery and demonstrates the importance of a single damage signal in focal control of T. gondii infection in the CNS.
Rectifier Transformer Saturation on Commutation Failure

The rectifier transformer's service differs from the power transformer's service because of the rectifier load. Under certain fault conditions, such as a commutation failure, d.c. magnetization may...
DNA, RNA, and Protein Metabolism

>DNA has long been recognized to be involved in heredity. Metaphorically, it is the instruction manual for cell duplication, construction, and the operation of its components. Because of the efforts of Rosalind Franklin [1] and Watson and Crick [2], and many other scientists, we have an understanding of how genetic information is transferred from one generation to the next with extraordinarily high fidelity.
Orthogonal agents in modeling and simulation

We consider a class of agent-based systems of autonomous self-governed agents with purpose-specific behavior. Agents of this class contribute most to the overall performance if they have an unobstructed (transparent) access to the environment. Many examples of such systems can be found in swarm technologies and asynchronous simulation of discrete and continuous systems.A distance function for a multi-agent system operating within a given environment is proposed as a dot product of the system's characteristic time-vectors. It is shown that the smaller the scalar product between a time vector of resources demand and a time vector of resources availability the better the efficiency of the agent's actions. In some cases, the better efficiency of individual agents translates into improvement of the overall performance of the system. This observation is postulated as principle of orthogonality. Most well studied examples include discrete-continuous physical, financial, control and other multi-agent models. Some experimental results are presented. More general observations are made in the context of natural decomposition.
The Remains of the Dam: What Have We Learned from 15 Years of US Dam Removals?

Important goals for studying dam removal are to learn how rivers respond to large and rapid introductions of sediment, and to develop predictive models to guide future dam removals. Achieving these goals requires organizing case histories systematically so that underlying physical mechanisms determining rates and styles of sediment erosion, transport, and deposition are revealed. We examine a range of dam removals predominantly in the western US over the last decade, and extract useful lessons and trends that can be used to predict the response of rivers to future removals.
Nephron-Specific Disruption of Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 Causes Hypertension and Impaired Salt Excretion.

Background In vitro studies suggest that nephron nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) modulates tubule Na+ transport. Methods and Results To assess nephron NOS3 relevance in vivo, knockout (KO) mice with...
A Comparison of Burn Cycle Options for Tokamak Reactors

Consideration of burn cycle options for commercial tokamaks shows that there is substantial motivation to achieve steady state operation. This is partly due to longer replacement periods for first ...
Executive function and somatic problems in adolescents with above target glycemic control.

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes may be at elevated risk for somatic problems. This study used cross-sectional, baseline data from an intervention to examine if problems with executive function (EF) were associated with greater somatic problems independent of poor adherence and disease severity in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and above target glycemic control. In addition, it examined whether certain types of EF skills, that is, metacognitive and behavior regulation, accounted for variance in somatic problems. Ninety-three adolescents completed a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) blood test and parents completed adherence, somatic problems, and EF questionnaires, which measured metacognitive, behavior regulation, and global EF. Greater somatic problems had significant bivariate associations with greater global (r = 0.42, P < 0.01), metacognitive (r = 0.43, P < 0.01), and behavior regulation EF problems (r = 0.31, P < 0.01), worse adherence (r = -0.39, P < 0.01), and poorer metabolic control (r = 0.26, P < 0.05). However, when adherence, metabolic control, and EF subscales were examined together in the same model, only greater global EF problems (b = 0.15, P < 0.01) and metacognitive EF problems (b = 0.16, P < 0.01) were independently associated with greater somatic problems; behavior regulation EF problems were not independently associated with greater somatic problems when controlling for adherence. Metacognitive EF problems may predict somatic problems in adolescents with above target glycemic control above and beyond physical symptoms related to disease management, underscoring the importance of proper assessment and treatment of these distinct somatic problems.
Design and analysis of composites manufacturing tooling for rapid heating and cooling

Abstract Simple analytical models for designing rapid heating (via electric resistance or fluid flow in conformal channels) and cooling (via fluid flow in conformal channels) capabilities for composites manufacturing tooling are presented and demonstrated. The electric resistance heating and conformal channel cooling models are implemented for design purposes through spreadsheets and experimentally validated for a test mold designed for the Specialized Elastomeric Tooling out-of-autoclave process. Considering the modeling assumptions made, the rapid heating model provides very reasonable estimates of time versus mold surface temperature behavior. However, the rapid cooling model over-predicts the cooling time, although sensitivity to flow conditions (laminar vs. turbulent) is quite evident. Both models allow a designer to quickly vary design parameters to determine how production performance (e.g., cycle time) is affected. Finally, the model for rapid heating via conformal channels is demonstrated for a test mold. The high flow rates of heating oil required in this example as predicted by the model demonstrate the compromises a designer must make in tooling development.
Dish Stirling High Performance Thermal Storage FY15Q4 Quad Chart

This is a summary of the performance objectives and outcomes for fiscal year 2015, quarter 4.
Disrupted plasma membrane protein homeostasis in a Xenopus laevis model of retinitis pigmentosa

Rhodopsin mislocalization is frequently observed in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. For example, class I mutant rhodopsin is deficient in the VxPx trafficking signal, mislocalizes to the plasma membrane (PM) of rod photoreceptor inner segments (ISs), and causes autosomal dominant RP. Mislocalized rhodopsin causes photoreceptor degeneration in a manner independent of light-activation. In this manuscript, we took advantage of Xenopus laevis models of both sexes expressing wild-type human rhodopsin or its class I Q344ter mutant fused to Dendra2 fluorescent protein to characterize a novel light-independent mechanism of photoreceptor degeneration caused by mislocalized rhodopsin. We found that rhodopsin mislocalized to the PM is actively internalized and transported to lysosomes where it is degraded. This degradation process results in the downregulation of a crucial component of the photoreceptor IS PM: the sodium-potassium ATPase α-subunit (NKAα). The downregulation of NKAα is not because of decreased NKAα mRNA, but due to cotransport of mislocalized rhodopsin and NKAα to lysosomes or autophagolysosomes. In a separate set of experiments, we found that class I mutant rhodopsin, which causes NKAα downregulation, also causes shortening and loss of rod outer segments (OSs); the symptoms frequently observed in the early stages of human RP. Likewise, pharmacological inhibition of NKAα led to shortening and loss of rod OSs. These combined studies suggest that mislocalized rhodopsin leads to photoreceptor dysfunction through disruption of the PM protein homeostasis and compromised NKAα function. This study unveiled a novel role of lysosome-mediated degradation in causing inherited disorders manifested by mislocalization of ciliary receptors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Retinal ciliopathy is the most common form of inherited blinding disorder frequently manifesting rhodopsin mislocalization. Our understanding of the relationships between rhodopsin mislocalization and photoreceptor dysfunction/degeneration has been far from complete. This study uncovers a hitherto uncharacterized consequence of rhodopsin mislocalization: the activation of the lysosomal pathway, which negatively regulates the amount of the sodium-potassium ATPase (NKAα) on the inner segment plasma membrane. On the plasma membrane, mislocalized rhodopsin extracts NKAα and sends it to lysosomes where they are co-degraded. Compromised NKAα function leads to shortening and loss of the photoreceptor outer segments as observed for various inherited blinding disorders. In summary, this study revealed a novel pathogenic mechanism applicable to various forms of blinding disorders caused by rhodopsin mislocalization.
Machine Learning in the Detection of the Glaucomatous Disc and Visual Field

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Early detection is of utmost importance as there is abundant evidence that early treatment prevents disease progression, preserves vision, and improves patients' long-term quality of life. The structure and function thresholds that alert to the diagnosis of glaucoma can be obtained entirely via digital means, and as such, screening is well suited to benefit from artificial intelligence and specifically machine learning. This paper reviews the concepts and current literature on the use of machine learning for detection of the glaucomatous disc and visual field.
Runaway Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication correlates with systemic IL-10 levels.

Abstract KSHV-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS) is caused by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). KICS is associated with high-level, systemic replication of KSHV. This study characterized the clinical and virologic features of a KICS patient over time. Additionally, it compared the cytokine profiles of the KICS case to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) (n = 11) and non-KS (n = 6) cases. This KICS case presented with elevated levels of KSHV and IL-10, as expected. Surprisingly, this case did not have elevated levels of IL-6 or human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). Nevertheless, treatment with anti-IL6 receptor antibody (tocilizumab) reduced KSHV viral load and IL-10. The KSHV genome sequence showed no significant changes over time, except in ORF24. Phylogenetic analysis established this isolate as belonging to KSHV clade A and closely related to other US isolates. These findings suggest IL-10 as potential biomarker and therapy target for KICS.
Mary's role in the repudiation of their beliefs of Pagans, Jews and Moors

The Cantigas de Santa Maria of Alfonso X, king of Castile and Leon (1252-1284) contains 420 miracles and praise songs for the Virgin Mary. We have identified 41 with Jewish protagonists, 51 with Moors and 5 with pagans. Ten of these − three with Jews, 6 with Moors and one with a pagan − have been selected for treatment as they involve conversions to Christianity. Side by side, the actions of these miracle narrations are supported by what Alfonso declared to be their treatment in his law code, the Siete Partidas. There, laws regarding how non-Christians are to be treated along with specific laws about their conversion to the Christian law of the land are taken into account. Members of their religions may not impede conversions under penalty of death by fire. Both the Cantigas and the Siete Partidas reflect one another faithfully.
Urban and Regional Planning and Development: Introduction and Overview

This book is a festschrift in honor of Frank James Costa, a distinguished urban planner. The volume considers the urban and regional planning and development practice and experience in the twentieth century and ways in which it is being transformed in the first few decades of the twenty-first century. This volume considers the big question—what are some of the factors affecting planning dynamics globally and locally? With the push to adopt market paradigm in land development and infrastructure, the relationship between resource management, sustainable development, and the role of governance has transformed. Centralized planning is giving way to privatization not only in the traditional regions, but also in the newly emerging regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. There is an attempt to get planning decision making closer to the people who are most affected by it. This volume engages in this conceptual discussion and intends to be a collection of studies from scholars around the world highlighting recent advances in the field.
Impacts of Bovine Trace Mineral Supplementation on Maternal and Offspring Production and Health.

Nutritional status can have major implications for animal health and production. Energy balance is easily determined using a body condition scoring system. This allows producers to readily adjust diets to meet an animal’s needs. Far less obvious is an animal’s trace mineral status, which is typically not assessed until an animal’s performance falls below expectation or illness is detected. Trace mineral toxicities and deficiencies can manifest as reduced thriftiness and/or poor reproductive performance, resulting in economic consequences for producers. Maternal mineral status not only impacts dam heath, but also the health of subsequent offspring. Both the oocyte and embryo are susceptible to changes in maternal mineral status. This susceptibility is maintained throughout fetal development via placental control of nutrient transfer to the fetal system. Furthermore, maternal mineral status continues to impact offspring health via colostrum and milk quality. Herein we discuss the roles of trace minerals in bovine reproductive performance, maternal health, colostrum and milk quality, and offspring health.
Retrospective analysis of adverse events with dupilumab reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases and has aesthetic, physical, and emotional-social sequelae when left untreated. Objective To classify the most common adverse reactions associated with dupilumab treatment in patients with AD. Methods The United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting (FAERS) database was analyzed for common adverse reactions associated with dupilumab, topical pimecrolimus, and topical tacrolimus. Phase III clinical trial data were used to compare the rate of herpes infections between the treatment group and placebo group. Results The most common adverse reaction associated with dupilumab was ocular complications. Herpes infections were extremely rare in the patients with AD being treated with dupilumab. Limitations Prescribing information for dupilumab, topical pimecrolimus, and topical tacrolimus is not available. Adverse effects are reported by patients, health care providers, and pharmaceutical companies, they have not been corroborated. Conclusions Ocular complications are the most common complication associated with dupilumab. The rate of herpes infection is low in patients being treated with dupilumab, topical pimecrolimus, and topical tacrolimus. There is no significant difference for the rate of herpes infection between, placebo, dupilumab, topical pimecrolimus, and the topical tacrolimus treatment group, suggesting that dupilumab does not affect herpes infection rates.
Strong associations among PTSD, pain, and alcohol and drug use disorders in VA primary care patients.

Abstract Aims PTSD, pain, and alcohol and drug use disorders (AUD and DUDs) are prevalent, debilitating, and costly. Clinicians benefit from understanding the co-occurrence among these conditions, especially cocaine and opioid use disorders. This is the first study to examine (1) the odds of having one condition in the presence of one of the other conditions, and (2) the extent to which having PTSD, pain, or an AUD raises the odds of having a DUD in VA primary care patients. Methods We used cross-sectional archival data from 1283 primary care patients recruited in VA primary care clinics. Pain was measured by the numeric rating scale. PTSD, AUD, and DUDs (i.e., cannabis, opioid, cocaine, and any drug use disorder) were measured by the Mini International Diagnostic Interview. We conducted logistic regression analyses to examine the odds of having one condition in the presence of other conditions. Results A total of 14.9 % of patients had PTSD, 52.8 % of patients had moderate or severe pain, 12.8 % had an AUD, and 10.4 % had any DUD. Patients who had one condition (PTSD, pain, AUD, or DUD) were highly likely to have one or more of the other conditions, with or without controlling for demographic variables. Conclusions VA Patients who had PTSD, moderate or severe pain, or an AUD were highly likely to have an opioid or cocaine use disorder, and therefore should be screened for DUDs in VA primary care.
Use of Pressure Mapping to Compare Two Operating Room Surfaces in the Supine With Bent Knees Position and the Supine in Lithotomy Position

Introduction Hospital-acquired pressure ulcer/injury (HAPU/I) often occurs postoperatively despite preventative interventions. The authors recently found an increasing incidence of HAPU/I in patients having prolonged operating room (OR) procedures in both the bent knee and lithotomy positions. Objective The aim of this study was to measure and compare 2 different OR surfaces in both the supine with bent knees position and the supine in lithotomy position. The authors sought to identify the most effective pressure redistribution surface in different positions to prevent HAPU/I in surgical patients. Materials and methods Using a pressure mapping device, the authors measured and compared 5 volunteers on the standard OR surface and on the standard surface with the static, air-filled cushion on top. Results Use of the static, air-filled seat cushion placed on top of the standard OR surface resulted in lower peak pressures and higher skin contact surface area than the standard OR surface alone. Conclusions This study showed that use of the static, air-filled seat cushion on top of the standard OR surface resulted in superior pressure redistribution properties in both the supine with bent knees position and supine in lithotomy position compared with the standard OR surface alone.
Precarious work in the 21st century: A psychological perspective

Abstract Converging forces have led to an increase in precarious work, which threatens the health and well-being of workers globally and in the United States. Scholars in many fields are studying the implications of precarious work, and work psychologists have contributed to this literature by studying constructs such as job insecurity, underemployment, and decent work. In this article, we summarize the literature on precarious work and offer a psychological framework of work precarity to connect this psychological research with the existing precarious work literature. In the work precarity framework, social and economic marginalization and economic conditions and policies influence who has precarious work, which subsequently leads to three psychological states of work precarity: precarity of work (i.e., uncertainty related to the continuity of one's work), precarity at work (i.e., unpredictability in work due to discrimination, harassment, and unsafe working conditions), and precarity from work (i.e., uncertainty from holding a job that does not meet one's basic needs). These psychological states then result in poorer job attitudes, poorer mental health, and disrupted identity. We also provide future directions for research in this area and identify areas where work psychologists can contribute and advance the literature.
Do behavioral base rates impact associated moral judgments

Abstract In a series of studies, we ask whether and to what extent the base rate of a behavior influences associated moral judgment. Previous research aimed at answering different but related questions are suggestive of such an effect. However, these other investigations involve injunctive norms and special reference groups which are inappropriate for an examination of the effects of base rates per se. Across five studies, we find that, when properly isolated, base rates do indeed influence moral judgment, but they do so with only very small effect sizes. In another study, we test the possibility that the very limited influence of base rates on moral judgment could be a result of a general phenomenon such as the fundamental attribution error, which is not specific to moral judgment. The results suggest that moral judgment may be uniquely resilient to the influence of base rates. In a final pair of studies, we test secondary hypotheses that injunctive norms and special reference groups would inflate any influence on moral judgments relative to base rates alone. The results supported those hypotheses.
Inelastic Neutron Scattering Observation of Plasma-Promoted Nitrogen Reduction Intermediates on Ni/γ-Al2O3

Plasma-assisted catalysis is an emerging technology for the atmospheric pressure and low bulk gas temperature synthesis of ammonia from molecular nitrogen and hydrogen. Direct evidence for plasma-i...
COVID-19 Lessons: Compassion and Flexibility are Critical to Equitable Learning

It is not hyperbole to say that the major national and global events of the last 12 months have disrupted life for everyone. Of course, I am speaking primarily of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the massive civil unrest that followed the murders of Breonna Taylor, Daniel Prude, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Jacob Blake. As we are all aware, higher education made unprecedented adjustments and tried to give a semblance of continuity and stability to students. But it is clear that the events of 2020 referred to here, affected and continues to affect students in different ways, and to hugely different extents. On one side, some students are actually thriving with more time to focus on their work and fewer distractions that are sometimes part of campus life. On the other side, we have students who have had family members die, have been separated from family, live in fear of being in a vulnerable population. Students have lost their jobs, struggled to pay for food, been scared to walk alone, have been attacked for simply who they are. Mental health crises in this already vulnerable population increased significantly. The achievement gaps that we all knew existed before 2020, have widened and continue to do so. What can we as educators do to eliminate, or more realistically perhaps, minimize these achievement gaps? Here, I show data from Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 classes showing that 93% and 88%, respectively, of the assignments that were summited more than 5 days late were from students who voluntarily disclosed that they were experiencing a significant life event, general stress, anxiety, or other illness. The overall number of late assignments over these periods was increased by more than 500% compared to the same periods in 2019. Having grade penalties up to and including refusal to accept any late work is not unusual in higher education. Furthermore, time- and project-management are certainly valuable and critical skills we should impart on our students to help prepare them for success after graduation. However, I propose that imposing such standards during times of high stress (even acknowledging the increased stress we educators are also operating under), is ineffective at best, and unethical in many instances. I will discuss alternate strategies for maintaining academic rigor, including peer-evaluations, involving students in their own grading/assessment, and allowing students creative and flexible ways to demonstrate learning outcomes.
Clinical characteristics and lifestyle behaviors among individuals with arthritis: an analysis of 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data.

Context The combination of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affects nearly one-fourth of Americans. Many of the risk factors for arthritis are lifestyle related, such as obesity, physical activity, dietary behaviors, and alcohol and tobacco use. Objective To analyze lifestyle behaviors of patients with vs. those without arthritis. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data was conducted on patients with and without a history of arthritis. Physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, and dietary behaviors were extracted. Logistic regression models were constructed to calculate adjusted risk ratios (ARRs). All confidence intervals (CIs) were reported at 95%. Results The median response rate for the 2017 BRFSS survey was 45.1% (sample n=292,808; population N=118,751,156). The overall prevalence of arthritis was 44% (n=128,850). Respondents with arthritis were significantly more likely to be physically inactive than nonarthritic respondents, with a significant gender interaction (male absolute risk reduction [ARR], 1.2 [CI, 1.15-1.25]; female ARR, 1.29 [CI, 1.24-1.33]). Those with arthritis were also more likely to be current smokers (ARR 1.1; CI, 1.05-1.15) and less likely to have attempted to quit smoking in the last 12 months (ARR, 0.91; CI, 0.87-0.96). Finally, men with arthritis were more likely to drink alcohol heavily (ARR, 1.14; CI, 1.02-1.27]). Conclusion Patients with arthritis were more likely to be women, White, current smokers, and physically inactive, and to have poor mental health, lower education levels, and difficulty paying for healthcare and medications than those without arthritis. Further efforts should be made to address these findings through resource allocation in the care of patients with arthritis. Practitioners should also seek increased understanding of the psychological, social, and economic impacts of physical activity and smoking in patients with arthritis.
A Comparison of Hints vs. Scaffolding in a MOOC with Adult Learners.

Scaffolding and providing feedback on problem-solving activities during online learning has consistently been shown to improve performance in younger learners. However, less is known about the impacts of feedback strategies on adult learners. This paper investigates how two computer-based support strategies, hints and required scaffolding questions, contribute to performance and behavior in an edX MOOC with integrated assignments from ASSISTments, a web-based platform that implements diverse student supports. Results from a sample of 188 adult learners indicated that those given scaffolds benefited less from ASSISTments support and were more likely to request the correct answer from the system.
Transformational Leadership Practices and Organizational Commitment: Higher Educational Institutions’ (HEIs) Public Image

The main objective of this research paper is to analyze the transformational leadership practices of administrators and organizational commitment of the faculty in relation to the public image of higher educational institutions. Specifically, the study was to analyze the four transformational practices of administrators and three areas of organizational commitment of faculty and how they were related to the public image of the higher educational institutions. This study made use of descriptive co-relational survey research design to find out the relationships of the variables. Survey questionnaires were used to gather the needed data. Respondents of the study were from ten selected private higher educational institutions in Region 12. Findings revealed that the relationship between transformational leadership practices of administrators and the organizational commitment of faculty, shows a moderate correlation between the administrators’ transformational leadership practices and that of faculty organizational commitment but statistically not significant. On the other hand, in terms of the correlation between organizational commitment of faculty and the public image of HEIs, data have shown that the organizational commitment of faculty and the public image of HEIs are found to have a very strong correlation and statistically significant.
The cabled observatory vent imaging sonar deployed on the Ocean Observatories initiative’s cabled array

The Cabled Observatory Vent Imaging Sonar (COVIS) was installed on the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Cabled Array observatory at ASHES hydrothermal vent field on Axial Seamount in July 2018. Diffuse hydrothermal flows are identified by maps made using the standard deviation of thephase change between pings separated in time by fractions of 1 s. The results demonstrate significant influences of ocean tides and bottom currents on diffuse hydrothermal discharge. The same data are used to estimate diffuse heat flux, providing two-dimensional maps of heat flux density at a rate of one per day. Sonar data are also used to generate three-dimensional backscatter images of the buoyant plumes above major sulfide structures. These backscatter images show substantial changes in plume bending in the presence of ambient currents and potentially the variations of outflow fluxes. The intensity of acoustic backscatter decreases significantly for highly bent plumes as compared to nearly vertical plumes, reflecting enhanced mixing of plume fluids with seawater driven by ambient currents. A forward model of acoustic backscatter from a buoyancy driven plume yields a reasonable match with the observation, paving the way for inversely estimating the source heat flux of a hydrothermal plume. [Work sponsored by NSF.]
Circular beam scanning power system for isotope production upgrade

To increase the production of medical isotopes, an upgrade to the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP) facility is now being designed and constructed. Currently, the ion beam strikes the isotope producing target in a single spot. With this upgrade, the ion beam will be directed to hit the target in circular patterns, distributing the heat of collision over a bigger area on the target. The power system to create the circular patterns requires orthogonal dipole magnets with sinusoidal currents which are ninety degrees apart from each other. This paper describes the design concept for powering the magnets and the control system that produces the correct waveforms despite component variations.
Evolutionary Lifestyle and Mental Health

Some have suggested that psychological distress may be lower if individuals adopt a lifestyle more similar to our evolutionary past. In this study, we assessed relationships between distress and si...
Medication noncompliance in adolescents with psychiatric disorders

The purpose of the study was to estimate prevalence of medication noncompliance among adolescents, following discharge from hospital. A second purpose was to identify predictors of such noncompliance. Seventy-one adolescents, who had been prescribed a medication during psychiatric hospitalization, were interviewed by telephone, 6-8 months post-hospitalization. Medication noncompliance was defined as discontinuing medication without the recommendation of the treating physician. Twenty-four subjects (33.8%) were noncompliant with medication. Age, race, gender, SES, diagnosis, type and number of medications, severity of depression, and family living arrangement did not predict noncompliance. We concluded that noncompliance with psychotropic medications was relatively common and difficult to predict in adolescents who had been hospitalized to a psychiatric inpatient unit; the majority of them suffered from depression. Clinicians should be aware that medication noncompliance may be common and a relatively unpredictable phenomenon.
Fully Nonlinear Elliptic Equations

Introduction Preliminaries Viscosity solutions of elliptic equations Alexandroff estimate and maximum principle Harnack inequality Uniqueness of solutions Concave equations $W^{2,p}$ regularity Holder regularity The Dirichlet problem for concave equations Bibliography Index.
Barometric Leveling Analysis

Barometric leveling, a fast and relatively inexpensive surveying technique used for determining elevations of ground stations to an accuracy of ± 3-5 ft, is a valuable tool for use in reconnaissance surveys or other similar surveys where great accuracy is not required. Elevation data were gathered for preselected ground stations using four different barometric leveling techniques, single base, double base, triple base, and leap frog. The main differences in these four methods lie only in the amount of time and equipment required and in the sophistication of the field procedures used. The data collected are analyzed to determine whether the increases in office and field time is rewarded by a corresponding increase in the accuracy of the results obtained. Figures and graphs indicate that the more sophisticated methods do indeed yield more accurate results, but that the slight increases in accuracy may not compensate for the added time and equipment required to obtain them.
Rasquache aesthetics in Alex Rivera’s “Why Cybraceros?”

This paper studies Rivera's 12-year-old spoof outsourcing website, with particular attention to the 4.5 minute 1997 video that served as its original point of departure (he is now best know for his 2008 feature film, "Sleep Dealer."). Rivera’s work in general involves a practice he calls a “rasquache aesthetic” of filmmaking. In a recent interview he defines this concept more precisely, commenting on how Latinos/as channel the creativity that responds to necessity, as people with limited resources turn to repurposing and recycling for their original work. In the hands of Latino/a artists associated with rasquachismo, like Guillermo Gomez Pena, Lalo Alcaraz and Coco Fusco, all of whom have influenced Rivera profoundly, this practice of collage becomes a conscious and conscientious cultural practice. In a parallel manner, in Rivera’s work, the tearing apart and rebuilding of cultural images adds texture and depth, and both his fiction and documentary films include stock footage, rough animation, public domain google map images, and a variety of other materials.
Alzheimer’s Presenilin Mutation Sensitizes Neural Cells to Apoptosis Induced by Trophic Factor Withdrawal and Amyloid β-Peptide: Involvement of Calcium and Oxyradicals

Most autosomal dominant inherited forms of early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) are caused by mutations in the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene on chromosome 14. PS-1 is an integral membrane protein with six to nine membrane-spanning domains and is expressed in neurons throughout the brain wherein it is localized mainly in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The mechanism or mechanisms whereby PS-1 mutations promote neuron degeneration in AD are unknown. Recent findings suggest links among deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta), oxidative stress, disruption of ion homeostasis, and an apoptotic form of neuron death in AD. We now report that expression of the human PS-1 L286V mutation in PC12 cells increases their susceptibility to apoptosis induced by trophic factor withdrawal and Abeta. Increases in oxidative stress and intracellular calcium levels induced by the apoptotic stimuli were exacerbated greatly in cells expressing the PS-1 mutation, as compared with control cell lines and lines overexpressing wild-type PS-1. The antiapoptotic gene product Bcl-2 prevented apoptosis after NGF withdrawal from differentiated PC12 cells expressing mutant PS-1. Elevations of [Ca2+]i in response to thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the ER Ca2+-ATPase, were increased in cells expressing mutant PS-1, and this adverse effect was abolished in cells expressing Bcl-2. Antioxidants and blockers of calcium influx and release from ER protected cells against the adverse consequences of the PS-1 mutation. By perturbing cellular calcium regulation and promoting oxidative stress, PS-1 mutations may sensitize neurons to apoptotic death in AD.
Three Decades of Production of Historical Knowledge at Dar es Salaam . By I. N. K IMAMBO . Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press, 1993 [publ. 1994]. Pp. v + 23. $6.95; £3.75 ( ISBN 9-9766-0180-8). (Distributed by African Books Collective.)

This brief but welcome pamphlet is Professor Kimambo's ‘Exit lecture’ (his term) from the University of Dar es Salaam, where he was a senior lecturer in the Department of History from 1965 to 1969, became a full professor in 1970, spent the next thirteen years as Chief Academic Officer, and returned to History in 1983. It replaces the professorial Inaugural Lecture he never had time to prepare while CAO.
Stereoscopic depth perception from after-images

Abstract The apparent stereoscopic difference in distance of two after-images in the two eyes induced by two long narrow gas discharge tubes mounted vertically was measured by comparison with suitably arranged illuminated beads. The subject could have no knowledge of the actual difference in distance of the tubes prior to their being discharged. Data were obtained for induction of the after-images (a) in the two eyes at the same time and (b) successively in each eye separately. Results showed a high correlation for simultaneous exposures and a fair correlation for successive exposures.
OBDD-based function decomposition: algorithms and implementation

This paper presents algorithms for disjunctive and nondisjunctive decomposition of Boolean functions and Boolean methods for identifying common subfunctions from multiple Boolean functions. Ordered binary decision diagrams are used to represent and manipulate Boolean functions so that the proposed methods can be implemented concisely. These techniques are applied to the synthesis of look-up table based field programmable gate arrays and results are presented.
Syntheses and Structures of Five-Coordinate Zirconium Alkyl Complexes Supported by Diketiminate Ligands

An alkane elimination reaction generates the diketiminate compound (TTP)Zr(CH2Ph)3 (1) from Zr(CH2Ph)4 and TTPH (TTPH = 2-p-tolylamino-4-p-tolylimino-2-pentene). The molecular structure of 1 was so...
150 EFFECT OF MATERNAL OBESITY ON PERICONCEPTION FERTILITY AND BLASTOCYST GENE EXPRESSION IN THE MOUSE MODEL

Obesity is frequently associated with infertility in humans and domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to study the effect of diet-induced obesity on oestrus cyclicity, ovulation rate, pre-implantation embryo development and blastocysts gene expression. Twenty-one NIH Swiss female mice were divided in 2 groups: one fed with a control diet (C, n = 9) and the other with a diet high in fat (F, n = 12) for 12 weeks. Dams were naturally bred and killed 3.5 days post-coitum. Bodyweight, numbers of corpora lutea and embryos and days required to breed the dams were recorded. Blastocysts were recovered and snap frozen in groups representing the individual dams. Expression of 10 candidate genes was analysed relative to H2afz. Data (means ± standard error of the means) were analysed by ANOVA (P < 0.05, significant). Five mice in the F group failed to breed during 20 days. These acyclic animals were significantly heavier than the other 7 of the F group (53.8 ± 3.8 vs 41.6 ± 0.9 g), with 4 weighting over 50 g. The seven cyclic animals in the F group showed a higher weight (41.6 ± 0.9 vs 31 ± 0.8 g) and higher number of days to mate (7.3 ± 1.6 vs 2.9 ± 0.5) compared with group C, but ovulation rates did not differ and reflected final blastocyst recovery. The expression level of 5 genes (Insr, Igf1r, Igf2r, Adipor1 and Adipor2) encoding for receptors of hormones related to metabolism regulation did not differ among groups. Two genes with roles in glucose (Scl2a1) and lipid transport (Ldlr) were down-regulated in the F group compared with the C group (Scl2a1: 1 ± 0.1 vs 1.38 ± 0.1; Ldlr: 1 ± 0.1 vs 1.24 ± 0.1); however, there were no differences in expression of the genes Gapdh (which encodes an essential glycolytic enzyme), Cpt1a (whose product catalyzes the rate limiting step of β-oxidation) and Sod2 (which encodes the mitochondrial isoform of superoxide dismutase). These results suggest that diet-induced obesity in the mouse model reduces fertility through oestrus cyclicity, blocking or prolonging the oestrus cycle, but there was no effect on ovulation rate or embryo development in those females that ovulated. The down-regulation of 2 genes related to nutrient uptake (Slc2a1 and Ldlr) in the F group suggests a protective mechanism to abate the excess of nutrients. Such protection may be effective, as the expression of genes for key metabolic markers for anaerobic glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism and oxidative stress remained unaltered. Supported by Lalor Foundation to P. Bermejo-Alvarez, HD21896 to R. M. Roberts and RC1 ES018195 to C. S. Rosenfeld.
Seasonal Variation in Violent Victimization: Opportunity and the Annual Rhythm of the School Calendar

This study draws on an underused source of data on seasonality—victim surveys—to assess whether violent crime occurs with greater frequency during summer months or whether it simply becomes known to police more often, and to examine the extent to which seasonal patterns in violent crime are differentiated based on victim characteristics and location of crime. Data used come from the 1993–2008 National Crime Victimization Survey. Time series regression models are estimated to describe seasonal differences in violent crime victimization and reporting rates. Seasonal trends in youth violence stand in contrast to the trends for young and older adults, primarily due to their high risk of victimization at and near school. No evidence of seasonality is found in the extent to which serious violence becomes known to the police. However, simple assault is significantly more likely to come to the attention of the police during the summer months, primarily due to increases in the reporting of youth violence. Our findings confirm some of the previous work on seasonal patterns in violent crime, but also show that these patterns vary across age groups, locations, and type of violence.
Conquest of the Sierra: Spaniards and Indians in Colonial Oaxaca

Conquest of The Sierra: Spaniards and Indians in Colonial Oaxaca. John K. Chance. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1989. xvii. 233 pp., appendices, glossary, notes, bibliography, index, tables. $34.50 (cloth). ISBN 0-8061-2222-6.