cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Synthesis, Regulation and Modification of Lignocellulosic Biomass as a Resource for Biofuels and Bioproducts

Most of the plant biomass is cell wall and therefore represents a renewable carbon source that could be exploited by humans for bioenergy and bioproducts. A thorough understanding of the type of cell wall being harvested and the molecules available will be crucial in developing the most efficient conversion processes. Herein, we review the structure, function, and biosynthesis of lignocellulosic biomass, paying particular attention to the most important bioresources present in the plant cell wall: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. We also provide an update on key improvements being made to lignocellulosic biomass with respect to utilization as a second-generation biofuel and as a resource for bioproducts.
Bacterial contamination of platelets for transfusion: strategies for prevention

Platelet transfusions carry greater risks of infection, sepsis, and death than any other blood product, owing primarily to bacterial contamination. Many patients may be at particular risk, including critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. This narrative review provides an overview of the problem and an update on strategies for the prevention, detection, and reduction/inactivation of bacterial contaminants in platelets. Bacterial contamination and septic transfusion reactions are major sources of morbidity and mortality. Between 1:1000 and 1:2500 platelet units are bacterially contaminated. The skin bacterial microflora is a primary source of contamination, and enteric contaminants are rare but may be clinically devastating, while platelet storage conditions can support bacterial growth. Donor selection, blood diversion, and hemovigilance are effective but have limitations. Biofilm-producing species can adhere to biological and non-biological surfaces and evade detection. Primary bacterial culture testing of apheresis platelets is in routine use in the US. Pathogen reduction/inactivation technologies compatible with platelets use ultraviolet light-based mechanisms to target nucleic acids of contaminating bacteria and other pathogens. These methods have demonstrated safety and efficacy and represent a proactive approach for inactivating contaminants before transfusion to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections. One system, which combines ultraviolet A and amotosalen for broad-spectrum pathogen inactivation, is approved in both the US and Europe. Current US Food and Drug Administration recommendations advocate enhanced bacterial testing or pathogen reduction/inactivation strategies (or both) to further improve platelet safety. Risks of bacterial contamination of platelets and transfusion-transmitted infections have been significantly mitigated, but not eliminated, by improvements in prevention and detection strategies. Regulatory-approved technologies for pathogen reduction/inactivation have further enhanced the safety of platelet transfusions. Ongoing development of these technologies holds great promise.
Pre-Existing Renal Failure Increases In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Abstract Background To determine the clinical outcome for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients with pre-existing renal failure in the United States. Methods We analyzed the data from Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2008-2012) for all ICH patients with or without pre-existing renal failure. Patients were identified using the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Baseline characteristics, in-hospital complications, and exposure to invasive procedures were compared between groups. Discharge outcomes (mortality, minimal disability, and moderate-to-severe disability) were compared between the two groups, before and after adjusting for the presence of other medical comorbidities, in-hospital complications, and exposure to invasive procedures. Results Of the 328,728 patients with ICH, 36,067 (11.8%) had pre-existing renal failure as a comorbidity. There were higher rates for in-hospital complications like myocardial infarction (3.5% versus 1.9%, P ≤ .0001), sepsis (5.4% versus 3.0%, P ≤ .0001), pneumonia (7.1% versus 5.3%, P ≤ .0001), deep venous thrombosis (1.6% versus 1.2%, P = .0041), urinary tract infections (16.9% versus 15.1%, P = .0101), and gastrointestinal bleeding (0.4% versus 0.2%, P ≤ .0154), longer hospital stay (9.4 ± 14.4 versus 7.7 ± 11.4; P Conclusions Patients with ICH, who present with pre-existing renal failure, have higher rates of in-hospital mortality but not for disability, the difference remained significant after adjusting for the presence of other medical comorbidities, in-hospital complications or exposure to invasive procedures.
Opioid use patterns and risk characteristics among injured patients.

AbstractBackground: Injured patients are at risk for prolonged opioid use after discharge from care. Limited evidence exists regarding how continued opioid use may be related to opioid medication m...
An Examination of Reward Preferences for Sales Managers

AbstractThis article examines the reward preferences for 174 sales managers. Higher-order rewards were found to be preferred over lower-order rewards, and distinct groups were found to exist with significantly different reward preference patterns. The groups were characterized by different stages in the career life style. The findings have some interesting implications for the design of managerial reward and motivations systems for sales managers.
The volume-outcome relationship in robotic protectectomy: does center volume matter? Results of a national cohort study.

Utilization of robotic proctectomy (RP) for rectal cancer has steadily increased since the inception of robotic surgery in 2002. Randomized control trials evaluating the safety of RP are in process to better understand the role of robotic assistance in proctectomy. This study aimed to characterize the trends in the use of RP for rectal cancer, and to compare oncologic outcomes with center-level RP volume. 8107 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent RP were identified in the National Cancer Database (2010–2015). Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between center-level volume and conversion to open proctectomy, margin status, lymph node yield, 30- and 90-day post-operative mortality, and overall survival. The utilization of RP increased from 2010 to 2015. On multivariate regression, lower center-level volume of RP was associated with significantly higher rates of conversion to open, positive margins, inadequate lymph node harvest (≥ 12), and lower overall survival. The present study was limited by its retrospective design and lack of information regarding disease-specific survival. This series suggests a volume–outcome relationship association; patients who have robot-assisted proctectomies performed at low-volume centers are more likely to have poorer overall survival, positive margins, inadequate lymph node harvest, and require conversion to open surgery. While these data demonstrate the increased adoption of robot-assisted proctectomy, an understanding of the appropriateness of this intervention is still lacking. As with any new intervention, further information from ongoing randomized controlled trials is needed to better clarify the role of RP in order to optimize patient outcomes.
Highly permeable polyethersulfone substrates with bicontinuous structure for composite membranes in CO2/N2 separation

Abstract Substrate morphology has a significant effect on the CO2 transport performance of a thin-film composite (TFC) membrane. In this study, a new mixed solvent comprising 2-pyrrolidone (2-PD) and 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) was used to prepare polyethersulfone (PES) substrates with bicontinuous structure by water vapor-induced phase separation, followed by immersion in water as nonsolvent. Compared with the commonly used solvent, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), the 2-PD/2-ME mixed solvent is more hydrophilic and can decrease the thermodynamic stability of the casting solution significantly. As a result, the phase separation was induced via the spinodal decomposition mechanism. The open morphology bestowed the optimized substrate with a very high CO2 permeance of 133,226 ± 3870 GPU (1 GPU = 10–6 cm3(STP) s–1 cm–2 cmHg–1 = 3.3464 × 10-9 kg-mol s–1 m–2 Pa–1), which was 5 times more permeable than the baseline substrate synthesized with NMP. By using this new substrate, the prepared TFC membrane containing amines showed an increased CO2 permeance of 908 ± 8 GPU at 57 °C, which was 48 GPU higher than that with the baseline substrate. Meanwhile, the CO2/N2 selectivity was retained at 162 ± 4 at 57 °C. In addition, the good scalability of the new PES substrate was demonstrated by roll-to-roll fabrication of a 50′ long scale-up PES substrate with a width of 21ʺ.
The moderating role of positive peers in reducing substance use in college students.

Young adulthood (18–25) is the peak age for substance use, but friends who engage in positive behaviors may be protective. The present study examined the direct relation between positive peer affil...
Developmental consequences of emotional abuse and neglect in vulnerable adolescents: A multi-informant, multi-wave study.

Abstract Background Extant research and theory posit that emotional abuse and emotional neglect-exposure is uniquely harmful during adolescence. Yet, these findings are mostly based on mono-informant, retrospective studies with unselected adults that examine emotional maltreatment in the aggregate. This prevents inferences concerning the unique, prospective risk emotional abuse and neglect, as reported by multiple informants, may confer within at-risk, adolescent samples. Objective In response, the present study examined how emotional abuse and emotional neglect-exposure in adolescence uniquely related to psychological symptoms and social impairment. Participants and Setting Our aims were tested in a child welfare system (CWS)-involved sample of adolescents (N = 657; AgeM = 12.49 at baseline) who were participating in a longitudinal study. Methods A multi-informant approach was used to assess emotional abuse/neglect and mental health. Physical abuse and lifetime CWS contact represented covariates in growth curve models. Results Emotional abuse predicted symptoms within informant, such that youth-reported emotional abuse predicted youth-reported internalizing, β = 0.21, p = .001, and externalizing, β=0.35, p = .001, symptoms while parent-reported emotional abuse predicted parent-reported externalizing, β=0.30, p Conclusions This study shows the importance of distinguishing between these maltreatment subtypes in adolescence and provides measurement recommendations for future maltreatment research. The manuscript concludes by discussing adolescent emotional abuse and neglect-exposure as a maintenance, as opposed to causal risk, factors.
A Two-Stage Automotive LED Driver With Multiple Outputs

This article presents a two-stage automotive LED driver architecture delivering independently regulated output currents to multiple LED strings. The system consists of a multiphase noninverting buck–boost front-end stage, which allows for a wide battery voltage range, followed by high-frequency immittance-network-based LCL-T resonant converters, which operate as current sources over wide output voltage ranges. The two-stage buck–boost + resonant (BB+resonant) architecture takes advantage of the buck and boost capability of both stages, and the flexibility in setting the intermediate bus voltage to minimize losses. Advantages of the BB+resonant architecture include the use of lower voltage rated devices and soft switching in the resonant stage, leading to reduced losses and size. Experimental results are provided for a prototype consisting of a 250-kHz two-phase front-end stage and 2-MHz LCL-T resonant stages delivering independently regulated 1 A currents to four LED strings with $N = 1$ $-$ 18 LEDs. The measured system efficiency is greater than 88% over wide input (8 $-$ 18 V) and output (3–50 V) voltage ranges, with a peak efficiency of 93%.
Institutional Conditions that Matter to Community College Students’ Success

Based on the shift in higher education from providing access to improving student outcomes, the purpose of this study was to examine institutional conditions community college students perceived as...
The Benchmark Lottery.

The world of empirical machine learning (ML) strongly relies on benchmarks in order to determine the relative effectiveness of different algorithms and methods. This paper proposes the notion of "a benchmark lottery" that describes the overall fragility of the ML benchmarking process. The benchmark lottery postulates that many factors, other than fundamental algorithmic superiority, may lead to a method being perceived as superior. On multiple benchmark setups that are prevalent in the ML community, we show that the relative performance of algorithms may be altered significantly simply by choosing different benchmark tasks, highlighting the fragility of the current paradigms and potential fallacious interpretation derived from benchmarking ML methods. Given that every benchmark makes a statement about what it perceives to be important, we argue that this might lead to biased progress in the community. We discuss the implications of the observed phenomena and provide recommendations on mitigating them using multiple machine learning domains and communities as use cases, including natural language processing, computer vision, information retrieval, recommender systems, and reinforcement learning.
Kinesin-3 mediated axonal delivery of presynaptic neurexin stabilizes dendritic spines and postsynaptic components

The functional properties of neural circuits are defined by the patterns of synaptic connections between their partnering neurons, but the mechanisms that stabilize circuit connectivity are poorly understood. We systemically examined this question at synapses onto newly characterized dendritic spines of C. elegans GABAergic motor neurons. We show that the presynaptic adhesion protein, neurexin/NRX-1, is required for stabilization of postsynaptic structure. We find that early postsynaptic developmental events proceed without a strict requirement for synaptic activity and are not disrupted by deletion of neurexin/nrx-1. However, in the absence of presynaptic NRX-1, dendritic spines and receptor clusters become destabilized and collapse prior to adulthood. We demonstrate that kinesin-3/UNC-104 delivers NRX-1 to presynaptic terminals and show that ongoing delivery is required for postsynaptic maintenance in mature animals. By defining the dynamics and temporal order of synapse formation events in vivo, we describe a mechanism for stabilizing mature circuit connectivity through neurexin-based adhesion.
The Defense: ABM/SDI/BMD/NMD

The United States spent over $100 billion on anti-ballistic missile research, development and deployment since President Reagan’s 1983 speech. Annual BMD budgets are about $10 billion/year in 2012. Attempts to develop defenses against strategic missiles began almost at the time of their creation. Defenses have gone from antiballistic missile (ABM), to Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), to ballistic missile defense (BMD), to national missile defense (NMD), to global, regional defenses. The Soviets started to deploy the first significant ABM system, the Galosh, around Moscow in 1962, which continues today in a modified version. The original Galosh used 2–3 Mton nuclear warheads with a kill radius of 300 km at four sites, located 135 miles north-west of Moscow. The Soviets started building the radar system in 1964 and began limited service in 1967. These facts were known to President Johnson when he met in Glasboro, NJ in 1967 with Soviet Premier Kosygin. In 1968, the U.S. considered an attack on Galosh with at least 100 Minuteman missiles and 6 Polaris SLBMs, to attack 17 facilities. Sixteen 1–Mt warheads were aimed at each of the four interceptor sites. The Galosh defense was intended to protect Moscow, but it made Moscow much more vulnerable because of the large US response. This has always been true, if the defense looks somewhat promising, then the offense will build more of an offense, which is usually the cheaper thing to do.
Mass Loss and Cepheid Pulsation

Two purposes are served: to discuss the latest improvements in nonlinear pulsation theory indicating the ability to resolve features such as the ''Christy bump'' on the light curves and to show from the results of a bump model and recent observations that mass loss is one of the possible explanations for the mass discrepancy problem between evolutionary and pulsation theories. Recent observations by Sanford and Gow of Los Alamos and Bernat (McDonald Observatory) show that extensive mass loss has occurred in the evolution of the M supergiant ..cap alpha.. Orionis.
Design of a smart workpiece holder (SWH) to extend the useful life of micro-tools

Micro-tools have been widely used in industry primarily by biomedical and electronic equipment manufacturers. The wear and tool breakage mechanism of the micro-tools are very different than conventional tools. The life of these miniature cutting tools is extremely unpredictable and much shorter than conventional tools. Smart structures have monitoring, decision making and response capabilities. The response time of smart structures can be extremely shortened by using piezo-electric actuators. In this study, a smart structure was developed by using a piezo-electric actuator to extend the tool life in micro-machining applications. The structure measures the cutting force by using a dynamometer and moves the tool according to a selected pattern to remove the small chips from cutting area. The main advantages of the system are very fast responses and the accuracy of the generated displacement pattern.
Re-vegetation with native species does not control the invasive Ruellia simplex in a floodplain forest in Florida, USA

Question Planting or seeding native species after control of invasive species can limit re-invasion and hasten establishment of native species. Ruellia simplex (Mexican petunia) invades floodplain forests in Florida, and is controlled with glyphosate herbicide. Will herbicide application used to control this weed allow establishment of native vegetation and limit R. simplex? Location Floodplain forest altered by stormwater run-off, Lake Jesup Conservation Area, Sanford, FL, US. Methods We evaluated re-vegetation following herbicide application to control R. simplex. For re-vegetation, we planted or seeded native species (Andropogon glomeratus, Juncus effusus, Panicum longifolium, Solidago fistulosa) and measured stem density, percentage cover, above-ground biomass and species richness for 1 yr. We compared the results to those from control plots (i.e. no herbicide, no re-vegetation) and plots where R. simplex was sprayed with herbicide but not planted or seeded with native species. Results Unassisted re-colonization (i.e. plots where R. simplex was sprayed but not planted or seeded with native species) did not result in native plant restoration. Re-vegetation treatments (i.e. plots where R. simplex was sprayed and planted or seeded with native species) did not restore native vegetation; nor did re-vegetation treatments reduce R. simplex stem density, percentage cover or biomass compared to control plots. However, total species richness, including native and exotic species richness, increased in plots planted with a native plug mix compared to control plots (i.e. no herbicide, no re-vegetation). Native species failed to germinate in all seeding treatments. Plugs had adequate survival (2–57% depending on species) but did not prevent re-invasion of R. simplex. Re-invasion of R. simplex occurred in plots despite application of glyphosate herbicide and re-vegetation treatments. Conclusions Re-vegetation by seeding or planting did not establish native vegetation in the first year, instead, R. simplex reinvaded. Abiotic and biotic site conditions, e.g. invasive species propagule pressure and altered soil nutrients, may have limited seed germination and survival of planted seedlings. More research is necessary to determine if a reduction in invasive species propagules through repeated herbicide application coupled with planting native species results in native plant restoration in the longer term.
The changing face of computer utilization in social work settings

Abstract This paper describes survey results from 103 human service agencies serving as MSW training sites. The survey concerned: (a) Their current and projected computer utilization for direct and indirect practice activities; and (b) perceived issues, benefits, and emerging training needs regarding responsible and effective use of the computer. These findings' implications for curriculum planning, for practicum development, and for reconceptualizing computer literacy are explored.
Hybridization between multiple fence lizard lineages in an ecotone: locally discordant variation in mitochondrial DNA, chromosomes, and morphology

We investigated a hybrid zone between two major lineages of fence lizards (Sceloporus cowlesi and Sceloporus tristichus) in the Sceloporus undulatus species complex in eastern Arizona. This zone occurs in an ecotone between Great Basin Grassland and Conifer Woodland habitats. We analysed spatial variation in mtDNA (N = 401; 969 bp), chromosomes (N = 217), and morphology (N = 312; 11 characters) to characterize the hybrid zone and assess species limits. A fine-scale population level phylogenetic analysis refined the boundaries between these species and indicated that four nonsister mtDNA clades (three belonging to S. tristichus and one to S. cowlesi) are sympatric at the centre of the zone. Estimates of cytonuclear disequilibria in the population closest to the centre of the hybrid zone suggest that the S. tristichus clades are randomly mating, but that the S. cowlesi haplotype has a significant nonrandom association with nuclear alleles. Maximum-likelihood clinefitting analyses suggest that the karyotype, morphology, and dorsal colour pattern clines are all coincident, but the mtDNA cline is skewed significantly to the south. A temporal comparison of cline centres utilizing karyotype data collected in the early 1970s and in 2002 suggests that the cline may have shifted by approximately 1.5 km to the north over a 30-year period. The recent northward expansion of juniper trees into the Little Colorado River Basin resulting from intense cattle overgrazing provides a plausible mechanism for a shifting hybrid zone and the introgression of the mtDNA haplotypes, which appear to be selectively neutral. It is clear that complex interactions are operating simultaneously in this contact zone, including the formation of hybrids between populations within S. tristichus having diagnostic mtDNA, morphology, karyotypes, and dorsal colour patterns, and secondary contact between these and a distantly related yet morphologically cryptic mtDNA lineage (S. cowlesi).
Mice Deficient in Cellular Glutathione Peroxidase Show Increased Vulnerability to Malonate, 3-Nitropropionic Acid, and 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridine

Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) is a critical intracellular enzyme involved in detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to water. In the present study we examined the susceptibility of mice with a disruption of the glutathione peroxidase gene to the neurotoxic effects of malonate, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Glutathione peroxidase knock-out mice showed no evidence of neuropathological or behavioral abnormalities at 2–3 months of age. Intrastriatal injections of malonate resulted in a significant twofold increase in lesion volume in homozygote GSHPx knock-out mice as compared to both heterozygote GSHPx knock-out and wild-type control mice. Malonate-induced increases in conversion of salicylate to 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, an index of hydroxyl radical generation, were greater in homozygote GSHPx knock-out mice as compared with both heterozygote GSHPx knock-out and wild-type control mice. Administration of MPTP resulted in significantly greater depletions of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and homovanillic acid in GSHPx knock-out mice than those seen in wild-type control mice. Striatal 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) concentrations after MPTP were significantly increased in GSHPx knock-out mice as compared with wild-type control mice. Systemic 3-NP administration resulted in significantly greater striatal damage and increases in 3-NT in GSHPx knock-out mice as compared to wild-type control mice. The present results indicate that a knock-out of GSHPx may be adequately compensated under nonstressed conditions, but that after administration of mitochondrial toxins GSHPx plays an important role in detoxifying increases in oxygen radicals.
Effects of light reduction on growth of the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria americana and the community of root-associated heterotrophic bacteria☆

Abstract A shading experiment was conducted over a growing season to measure the effects of light reduction on Vallisneria americana in Perdido Bay on the Florida–Alabama border and to determine the response of heterotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere. Plants subjected to 92% light reduction showed the most pronounced effects in chlorophyll a concentration, above- and below-ground biomass, and leaf dimensions. These results further suggested that the V. americana life cycle, as exhibited in temperate waters, was impaired. Heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated and identified (i) from the roots and sediments of fully illuminated plants and from unvegetated sediments at three intervals and (ii) from the roots of plants that have been subjected to 92% light reduction for 3 months. Up to two orders of magnitude greater numbers of bacteria were enumerated from root samples than sediment samples on a dry weight basis. Bacteria enumerated from the roots of plants subjected to light reduction (1.3±1.1×10 8 CFU g −1 ) were significantly higher than numbers of bacteria enumerated from the roots of fully illuminated plants (4.8±1.8×10 7 g −1 in the summer) or sediment samples (1.4±0.03×10 6 g −1 ). This suggests the roots of seagrasses stressed by light reduction provided more nutrients for bacterial growth. Higher percentages of Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from roots (up to 85% in the fall) than sediments (0–15%). Examination of isolates for traits characteristic of rhizosphere bacteria (siderophore production, formation of the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid, and antifungal activity) did not show a clear distinction between root-associated and sediment isolates. Taxonomic identifications of root-associated bacteria based on MIDI analysis of fatty acid methyl esters were consistent with bacteria known to be associated with other plants or found at oxic–anoxic interfaces. In addition, the bacterial identifications showed most species were associated with only roots or only sediments. These results support studies suggesting seagrass rhizospheres harbor distinct bacterial communities.
The design of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area surveys. The control and measurement of error.

• Several methods are used to minimize and measure error in the NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area program. Sampling methods involve the inclusion of group quarters such as prisons, nursing homes, and mental hospitals in the sample frame and the use of probability sampling throughout. Interviewing, methods include use of identical diagnostic interview protocols, centralized training of interview supervisors, standard instructions to interviewers, and reinterview of a subsample by clinicians. In the area of completion, the methods include a 75% to 80% respondent completion rate, a 95% or greater completion rate for individual questions, use of informant interviews where necessary, and statistical adjustments to correct for low completion rates in some subgroups. Analytic methods include use of a computerized diagnostic algorithm, common estimation formulas on identically formatted data files, and estimation of exact variances that take account of the multistage sample design.
Transcriptional activation of cloned human β-globin genes by viral immediate-early gene products

Abstract When the human β-globin gene is transfected into Hela cells, no β-globin RNA is detected unless the gene is linked to a viral transcription enhancer. In this paper we show that trans -acting adenovirus and herpesvirus (pseudorabies) transcriptional regulatory proteins can circumvent this enhancer requirement for detectable β-globin transcription in transient expression assays. The viral gene products can be provided by constitutively expressed, integrated viral genes in established cell lines, by viral infection of permissive cells, or by transfection of cells with bacterial plasmids carrying the viral immediate-early genes. These results demonstrate the utility of transient expression assays for studying regulatory mechanisms involving trans -acting factors. Analysis of β-globin promoter mutants indicates that between 75 and 128 bp of sequence 5′ to the mRNA cap site is required for enhancer-dependent transcription in Hela cells. In contrast, β-globin transcription in the presence of viral immediate-early gene products requires only 36 bp of 5′-flanking sequence, which includes the TATA box. Thus both cis and trans -acting viral factors activate β-globin gene transcription in transient expression experiments, but the mechanisms by which they act appear to be fundamentally different.
Distribution of immunoreactive mesotocin and vasotocin in the brain and pituitary of chickens

The distribution of vasotocin and mesotocin in the pituitary and central nervous system in male chickens was determined using radioimmunoassays. Neither peptide was detected in the pineal. Mesotocin, but not vasotocin, was detected in the cerebellum. Both peptides were found in the septal area, archistriatum, paleostriatum, optic lobe, anterior, medial and posterior hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, and the anterior and posterior pituitary. Equal amounts of the 2 peptides were present in the septal area, archistriatum and anterior hypothalamus whereas vasotocin was more abundant (2- to 10-fold) in the paleostriatum, optic lobe, midbrain, and pituitary. The amount of mesotocin was about twice that of vasotocin in the medulla oblongata and the medial and posterior hypothalamus. The wide distribution of vasotocin and mesotocin in extrahypothalamic sites in the central nervous system suggests that the peptides may, as in mammals, have a role in a variety of autonomic and endocrine regulatory processes in chickens.
The Animal Research War

If you work with animals, or even work for an institution that works with animals, you know the feeling—you’re at a party and, after proper introductions, someone asks you what you do for a living. You tell him that you’re a scientist studying hormone regulation in several animal species. Awkward silence ensues for a second or two that seems like minutes. Time enough for you to hear in your head his accusation of animal cruelty and to rehearse your defense about IACUCs, about the time you spend justifying the value of each study, about the care that is taken to prevent pain and suffering in biomedical laboratories. He is speaking now, and you are snapped back into real time. “Well, let’s not talk about that at dinner time.” What can you say? You are at loss for words that won’t sound defensive. Fortunately, another guest cuts in to get his reaction to the sale of the local NBA team franchise. What a relief! As a scientist perhaps you’ve already done the experiment that inspired us: we went to the local bookstore and found 34 inches of books (measured across the spines) on animal rights—a lucrative topic for publishers . . . but not one book that was supportive of animal research! It’s not just that the stories about good things coming from research don’t sell too well, but that we scientists have difficulty in explaining what we do to the general public. Animal right activists do not share our difficulty in communicating. They have made people laugh by putting up billboards encouraging children to drink beer instead of milk; they pose near-naked women with body parts that are marked like a beef cow; and they promote contraception to keep the deer population low. They even gained media attention by writing to convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh urging him to stop the killing at his dinner plate by requesting a vegetarian dinner for his last meal. They attract news coverage with their poor taste when equating the Holocaust of World War II with raising broiler chickens and suggesting that circus animals are comparable to human slaves. Then there is this curious candor from a “Senior Scholar” of the Humane Society of the United States, “The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration.” It isn’t hard to wave that silliness away. But we are at risk for personal safety, if we choose to ignore these statements from animal extremists:
Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) with bimetallic Pt-Pd electrode

The characteristics of Ionic polymer metal-composites, containing bimetallic Pt-Pd electrodes which had been prepared by an electroless chemical reduction method on a polymer membrane, were investigated. Bimetallic Pt-Pd electrodes with various compositions (Pt:Pd weight ratios) were compared with those of monometallic Pt and Pd electrodes that had been prepared under similar conditions. The surface compositions of the Pt and Pd on the electrodes were compared using an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The crystal structures of the electrodes were investigated by an X-ray diffraction (XRD); surface morphologies were also compared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which depends on the palladium amounts. The optimal composition of the Pt and Pd affects not only surface morphology, but also the improvement of the actuation and associated relaxation phenomena of IPMCs.
Semantic control systems

Definitions of “control” and their consequences are considered in the context of cybernetics and systems science, semiotics, Meta‐System Transition (MST) Theory, and the Powers school of control theory. First systems, meta‐systems, and their properties are defined in terms of cardinal and dimensional distinctions, variety, and constraint. Two senses of control are discussed and contrasted. A number of results are derived: that standard control results in the active maintenance of a subsystem in a stable, dynamic equilibrium; that this equilibrium is at a distinct hierarchical level; and that it is maintained in the face of disturbances from a variable environment. It is asserted that control requires semantic relations within the control system in the form of controller actions which are “appropriate” for the maintenance of “good control.” Semantic relations are discussed in relation to negative feedback, modeling functions, information, codes, meaning, and life. We conclude with a discussion of some cons...
Sibling influence, gender roles, and the sexual socialization of urban early adolescent girls.

This study examined whether older siblings influence early adolescent girls' sexual socialization. Participants were 180 girls, 12 to 14 years old, from predominantly ethnic minority backgrounds. T...
Rapid melting apparatus for studying thermal denaturation of polynucleotides.

Abstract A spectrophotometer attachment is described which allows complete thermal denaturation of heating/cooling cycles (0 to 90 to 0°C) of polynucleotides to be obtained in less than 5 min. Solutions with a wide range of optical densities (0.15 to 500) can be studied and several examples are given to demonstrate the performance and application of the device.
A unified model for the structure of polymers in semidilute solution

Abstract A model is developed to analyse the concentration dependence of the range ξϱ of the monomer pair correlation function. In semidilute solution, three concentration regimes are found for semiflexible molecules and the crossover points between the various regimes are predicted in terms of the characteristic ratio of the chains in dilute solution and in terms of the Flory interaction parameter χ. A simple physical interpretation is given which explains the concentration dependence of ξϱ based on binary contacts initially and then ternary contacts at higher concentration. Temperature-concentration diagrams are developed for several common polymer-solvent systems.
Knowledge creation in marketing: the role of predictive analytics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of predictive analytics, summarize how it is impacting knowledge creation in marketing, and suggest future developments in marketing and predictive analytics for both organizations and researchers.Design/methodology/approach – Survival in a knowledge‐based economy is derived from the ability to convert information to knowledge. To do so, researchers and managers increasingly are relying on the field of predictive analytics. Data mining identifies and confirms relationships between explanatory and criterion variables. Predictive analytics uses confirmed relationships between variables to predict future outcomes. The predictions are most often values suggesting the likelihood a particular behavior or event will take place in the future.Findings – Data mining and predictive analytics are increasingly popular because of the substantial contributions they can make in converting information to knowledge. Marketing is among the most frequent applicati...
High-precision identification of contextual information in location-aware engineering applications

This paper presents research that investigated algorithms for high-precision identification of contextual information in location-aware engineering applications. The primary contribution of the presented work is the design and implementation of a dynamic user-viewpoint tracking scheme in which mobile users' spatial context is defined not only by their position (i.e., location), but also by their three-dimensional head orientation (i.e., line of sight). This allows the identification of objects and artifacts visible in a mobile user's field of view with much higher accuracy than was possible by tracking position alone. For outdoor applications, a georeferencing based algorithm has been developed using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and magnetic orientation tracking devices [5] to track a user's dynamic viewpoint. For indoor applications, this study explored the applicability of wireless technologies, in particular Indoor GPS, for dynamic user position tracking in situations where GPS is unavailable. The objectives of this paper are to describe the details of the three-stage-algorithm that has been designed and implemented, and to demonstrate the extent to which positioning technologies such as GPS and Indoor GPS can be used together with high-precision orientation trackers to accurately interpret the fully-qualified spatial context of a mobile user in challenging environments such as those found on construction sites. The obtained results highlight the potential of using location-aware technologies for rapidly identifying and retrieving contextual information in engineering applications.
Phase transition thermal expansion measurement technique using a modified Michelson interferometer

A methodology for measuring the expansion of materials at the solid to liquid phase transition is presented. Using methods common to interferometry, a continuous experimental procedure is used in both the solid and liquid states. Previous methods have dealt with the expansion of the material within a single phase in separate experiments. A modified Michelson interferometer is used to detect the change in volume of a sample through the phase transition. The sample is placed in a closed system with an inert, high index of refraction gas such as xenon (Xe). The sample is heated to a temperature just below melting. Measurements are taken of the index of refraction of the gas via a fringe count. The sample is then heated to a liquid and maintained at a temperature just above melting. Another index of refraction measurement is then made. The change in volume of the sample from solid to liquid results in a density change of the enclosed gas. This change in density causes a change in the index of refraction. The recorded fringe counts are then used to determine the volume change of the sample using equations derived from first principles and do not rely on the choice of an equation of state. This procedure lends itself to a variety of applications including, but not limited to, the determination of other thermophysical properties of materials (not necessarily near phase transitions) and optical properties of gases, such as index of refraction.
Neurocognitive functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome

Although substantial research has been conducted on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) over the past decade, the syndrome remains poorly understood. The most recent case definition describes CFS as being characterized both by disabling fatigue and by subjective reports of difficulty with concentration and "short-term" memory. However, research into the neurocognitive and psychological functioning of individuals with CFS has provided mixed objective results. The current paper reviews studies that have examined the neurocognitive and/or psychological functioning of individuals with CFS. Changes in research design and instruments employed to study individuals with CFS are suggested.
Lasting Effects of a Behavioral History of Low-Rate Responding in Rats

Abstract This study examined the effects of a history of responding under a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 60-s schedule on subsequent responding under a fixed-ratio 10 schedule in rats. Additionally, the effects of a fixed-ratio 10 history on responding under a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 60-s schedule were investigated. The most prominent finding was that a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedule history resulted in rats emitting significantly lower response rates and longer post-reinforcement pauses under the subsequent fixed-ratio schedule. These effects lasted for at least 35 sessions. In contrast, a history of responding under the fixed-ratio 10 schedule produced only a transient (15 sessions) elevation in the rate of responding when the rats subsequently responded under the differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate 60-s schedule, relative to rats without a history of responding under the fixed-ratio 10. These data demonstrate that responding maintained under ratio contingencies is susceptible to long-lasting influence by historical factors. The magnitude and longevity of these effects are, in many cases, more potent than those previously obtained with fixed-interval schedules. This challenges the notion that ratio performance is relatively less sensitive than interval performance to historical factors.
Arthritis Patient Education Studies, 1987-1991: A Review of the Literature

Abstract Arthritis is a chronic disease that is estimated to affect 14.5% of the American population and is the leading cause of functional dependency in the activities of daily living (ADLs) and the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in all persons over the age of 65 years. Clinical studies have shown that medical care, including the use of medications, can offer a 20–50% improvement in reported arthritis symptoms. Data from patient education studies suggest that a further improvement of 15–30% is attainable through patient education interventions. This literature review has been completed to update the reviews of patient education studies by Lorig and Riggs in 1983 and Lorig, Konkol, and Gonzalez in 1987. More specifically, the objectives of this review are: (1) to provide a summary of arthritis patient education studies published or presented since 1987; (2) to summarize the findings concerning the effectiveness of arthritis patient education studies which attempt to change knowledge, behavior, psychosocial status, and health status; (3) to discuss shifting trends in observed outcomes of arthritis patient education studies; and (4) to discuss implications for the future.
Comparative modelling of water, saline and myocardium dielectric properties in the microwave spectrum

A two dimensional prototype of a quasi real-time microwave tomographic imaging system was constructed [Semenov, et al. (1)]. In order to correlate reconstructed microwave images with physiological changes of the tissue, theoretical analysis of the tissue dielectric properties have to be conducted. Theoretical modelling of the dielectric properties of deionized water, saline and myocardium is described. Analysis was performed at a frequency range from 0.2 to 6.0GHz and In temperature range between 32°C and 48°C. Dielectric properities of water were described on the basis of the Debay theory of relaxation as a one compound relaxation process. An ion conduction component was added to the imaginary part of the Debay equation for saline dielectric properties modelling. In addition to this, free water, bound water and protein components with correspondent volume fractions were added into the dielectric relaxation model of the myocardium. Water, saline and myocardium models were compared on the basis of experimental data fitting. The deviation between our model and experimental data was about 1.5% for both e' and e" for deionized water. Corresponding values for saline was about 2.0% and for myocardium was about 2.5%. These models were tested in various experiments with saline, diluted saline and myocardium. Information about the biophysical parameters of the samples was theoretically determined by our models. These parameters correlated with independently measured physiological data which allowed us to utilize the model for experimental data analysis at a frequency range from 0.2GHz to 6.0GHz.
Unicity in an Inverse Problem for an Unknown Reaction Term in a Reaction-Diffusion Equation

In this paper we consider an inverse problem in which we seek to deter- mine an unknown source or reaction term in a reaction-diffusion equation from overspecified data measured on the boundary of the spatial region where the equation applies. The analysis is based on the observation that the overspecified data depends monotonically on the unknown source term in the equation. Here we use this monotonicity to establish a type of unicity result for the inverse problem. The attractiveness of the monotonicity methods illustrated here lies in their versatility. Surveying the rapidly expanding literature devoted to the topic of inverse problems, one finds a considerable variety of ad hoc approaches. Methods which apply to a general class of problems seem to be few. Monotonicity methods, however, apply to a variety of inverse problems involving partial differential equations of parabolic or elliptic type. This paper is organized as follows. In Section 1 we formulate the direct initial boundary value problem (IBVP) and state assumptions on the data and a priori assumptions on the unknown source term. Several properties of the solution to the direct problem are derived. In Section 2 the principal monotonicity estimates are established and in Section 3 these are applied to the inverse problem to prove a type of unicity result for the solution to the inverse problem. In particular, it is a Corollary of Theorem 3.2 that in the class of analytic source terms, the solution of the inverse problem is unique. The problem of identifying an unknown source term in a heat equation 155