cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Firm to Networked Systems

Because of Alfred D. Chandler Jr.'s widely influential books and arti cles, historians of management an of business have often taken a firm, especially a manufacturing firm, as their unit of analysis. Despite its usefulness as an organizing concept, the firm-based approach does not take into consideration the management of networked systems, which have spread widely and posed major managerial challenges in re cent decades. In the following essay, I shall compare the firm and the networked-systems approaches, but first I should stress that I am not dealing with networked systems in general, which are numerous and vary greatly in form. My attention, instead, is focused upon networked electric power systems. Besides arguing that the management of networked, electric-power systems is worthy of attention, I am also contending that their manage ment deeply influenced managerial practices in general between the two world wars. My remarks, therefore, are not a special plea for histo rians to give more attention to electric-power history; I am proposing, instead, that it is the management of networked electric-power systems, more than manufacturing firms, that has generally shaped twentieth century management. I hasten to add that a similar claim might be made for networked telephone systems.1 Before turning to my survey of networked systems, I will discuss my use of the concept of "networks." Engineers' concept of networks has pro foundly shaped mine. They usually conceive of a network as the intercon necting infrastructure of a system. A telephone network, for example, consists of the wiring, or, today, wireless, infrastructure of the telephone system, a system that includes nodes, such as exchanges and switches, and organizations, such as operating companies. A railroad network is best thought of as the tracks of a railroad system. High-voltage transmis sion lines are the infrastructure of an electric-power system.
Stability of utility-maximization in incomplete markets

Abstract The effectiveness of utility-maximization techniques for portfolio management relies on our ability to estimate correctly the parameters of the dynamics of the underlying financial assets. In the setting of complete or incomplete financial markets, we investigate whether small perturbations of the market coefficient processes lead to small changes in the agent’s optimal behavior, as derived from the solution of the related utility-maximization problems. Specifically, we identify the topologies on the parameter process space and the solution space under which utility-maximization is a continuous operation, and we provide a counterexample showing that our results are best possible, in a certain sense. A novel result about the structure of the solution of the utility-maximization problem, where prices are modeled by continuous semimartingales, is established as an offshoot of the proof of our central theorem.
An attentional blink for nontargets

In a typical attentional blink experiment, viewers try to detect two target items among distractors in a Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP): processing of the first target impairs participants' ability to recall a subsequent target at short stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). However, little is known about whether target detection interferes with memory for nontarget items. To answer this question, in two experiments, we employed a novel dual-task procedure: participants searched for a word target (e.g., “a four-footed animal”) and then were tested for recognition of nontarget words. Detection of the target word, which was present on half the trials, produced a standard attentional blink effect on memory for nontarget words, with lag 1 sparing followed by an attentional blink at longer lags. This result shows that target processing has a generalized effect on processing of later events, not only other targets.
Theoretical Description of Structural and Electronic Properties of Organic Photovoltaic Materials

We review recent progress in the modeling of organic solar cells and photovoltaic materials, as well as discuss the underlying theoretical methods with an emphasis on dynamical electronic processes occurring in organic semiconductors. The key feature of the latter is a strong electron-phonon interaction, making the evolution of electronic and structural degrees of freedom inseparable. We discuss commonly used approaches for first-principles modeling of this evolution, focusing on a multiscale framework based on the Holstein–Peierls Hamiltonian solved via polaron transformation. A challenge for both theoretical and experimental investigations of organic solar cells is the complex multiscale morphology of these devices. Nevertheless, predictive modeling of photovoltaic materials and devices is attainable and is rapidly developing, as reviewed here.
Toward coherent neutrino detection using low-background micropattern gas detectors

The detection of low energy neutrinos ( 1 kg) are not sensitive to sub keV nuclear recoils like those expected from this channel. The advent of micropattern gas detectors (MPGDs), new technologies originally intended for use in high energy physics, may soon put an end to this impasse. We present first tests of MPGDs fabricated with radioclean materials and discuss the approach to assessing their sensitivity to these faint signals. Applications are reviewed, in particular their use as a safeguard against illegitimate operation of nuclear reactors. A first industrial mass production of gas electron multipliers (GEMs) is succinctly described.
Big Bang nucleosynthesis with a stiff fluid

Models that lead to a cosmological stiff fluid component, with a density ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$ that scales as ${a}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$, where $a$ is the scale factor, have been proposed recently in a variety of contexts. We calculate numerically the effect of such a stiff fluid on the primordial element abundances. Because the stiff fluid energy density decreases with the scale factor more rapidly than radiation, it produces a relatively larger change in the primordial helium-4 abundance than in the other element abundances, relative to the changes produced by an additional radiation component. We show that the helium-4 abundance varies linearly with the density of the stiff fluid at a fixed fiducial temperature. Taking ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S10}$ and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{R10}$ to be the stiff fluid energy density and the standard density in relativistic particles, respectively, at $T=10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$, we find that the change in the primordial helium abundance is well-fit by $\ensuremath{\Delta}{Y}_{p}=0.00024({\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S10}/{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{R10})$. The changes in the helium-4 abundance produced by additional radiation or by a stiff fluid are identical when these two components have equal density at a ``pivot temperature,'' ${T}_{*}$, where we find ${T}_{*}=0.55\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$. Current estimates of the primordial $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ abundance give the constraint on a stiff fluid energy density of ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S10}/{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{R10}l30$.
An Exploratory Investigation of the Effect of Ethical Culture in Activating Moral Imagination

Moral imagination is a process that involves a thorough consideration of the ethical elements of a decision. We sought to explore what might distinguish moral imagination from other ethical approaches within a complex business simulation. Using a three-component model of moral imagination, we sought to discover whether organization cultures with a salient ethics theme activate moral imagination. Finding an effect, we sought an answer to whether some individuals were more prone to being influenced in this way by ethical cultures. We found that employees with strong moral identities are less influenced by such cultures than employees whose sense of self is not defined in moral terms.
Intragenomic variation in the ITS rDNA region obscures phylogenetic relationships and inflates estimates of operational taxonomic units in genus Laetiporus

Regions of rDNA are commonly used to infer phylogenetic relationships among fungal species and as DNA barcodes for identification. These regions occur in large tandem arrays, and concerted evolution is believed to reduce intragenomic variation among copies within these arrays, although some variation still might exist. Phylogenetic studies typi- cally use consensus sequencing, which effectively conceals most intragenomic variation, but cloned sequences containing intragenomic variation are becoming prevalent in DNA databases. To under- stand effects of using cloned rDNA sequences in phylogenetic analyses we amplified and cloned the ITS region from pure cultures of six Laetiporus species and one Wolfiporia species (Basidiomycota, Polyporales). An average of 66 clones were selected randomly and sequenced from 21 cultures, producing a total of 1399 interpretable sequences. Significant variation ($ 5% variation in sequence similarity) was observed among ITS copies within six cultures from three species clades (L. cincinnatus, L. sp. clade J, and Wolfiporia dilatohypha) and phylogenetic analyses with the cloned sequences produced different trees relative to analyses with consensus sequences. Cloned sequences from L. cincinnatus fell into more than one species clade and numerous cloned L. cincinna- tus sequences fell into entirely new clades, which if analyzed on their own most likely would be recog- nized as ''undescribed'' or ''novel'' taxa. The use of a 95% cut off for defining operational taxonomic units (OTUs) produced seven Laetiporus OTUs with consensus ITS sequences and 20 OTUs with cloned ITS sequences. The use of cloned rDNA sequences might be problematic in fungal phylogenetic analyses, as well as in fungal bar-coding initiatives and efforts to detect fungal pathogens in environmental samples.
IEDs in the Dark Web: Genre classification of improvised explosive device web pages

Improvised explosive device web pages represent a significant source of knowledge for security organizations. These web pages exist in distinctive genres of communication, providing different types and levels of information for the intelligence community. This paper presents a framework for the classification of improvised explosive device web pages by genre. The approach uses a complex feature extractor, extended feature representation, and support vector machine learning algorithms. Improvised explosive device web pages were collected from the Dark Web and two classification models were examined, one using feature selection. Classification accuracy exceeded 88%.
Temporal scaling of physiological responses from gas exchange to tree rings: a gender-specific study of Acer negundo (Boxelder) growing under different conditions

Summary 1. Plant responses to water availability may change over time due to seasonality, interannual variation and developmental changes. Our past investigations demonstrated that male and female Boxelder ( Acer negundo ) exhibit differences in their responses to water availability. Here we use the genders as a model system to: (1) examine if cultural conditions have an effect on instantaneous gas exchange and time-integrated carbon isotope discrimination ( ∆ ); (2) compare these physiological responses across a range of temporal scales (seasonal, annual, interannual); and (3) describe the responses of the genders at different ages to water availability. 2. Under well watered conditions, differences in instantaneous leaf gas exchange and ∆ were observed between the genders at all developmental stages. Within a gender, ∆ was similar throughout the growing season and between years, indicating a conserved physiological set-point despite changing growth conditions. When water stress was imposed, females exhibited greater reductions in photosynthetic rate and higher stomatal limitations to photosynthesis than males. 3. For well watered plants, a strong correlation existed between time-integrated intercellular leaf [CO 2 ] calculated from ∆ ( \ i ) and c i obtained from instantaneous gas exchange. However, when drought was imposed this correlation weakened in males and was non-existent in females. 4. This study indicates that instantaneous gas exchange and integrated ∆ values can be used to characterize leaf-level responses to water availability when growth conditions are relatively constant. However, when water availability fluctuates, care must be taken in equating these measurements because changing conditions may decouple responses integrating different time-scales, and the degree of this decoupling may vary even at the subspecies (gender) level.
A Novel Caries Risk Test

A diagnostic test is particularly beneficial if it reveals the level of susceptibility prior to onset of a disease process. In the case of childhood caries, such a diagnostic test affords the opportunity for preventive measures to be implemented before caries begins. Salivary glycoproteins contain a wealth of individually specific oligosaccharide motifs. Depending on microbial compatibilities and individual genotypes, the glycoproteins that form the pellicle coating of teeth may provide attachment sites that foster colonization leading to cariogenesis. Alternatively, certain oligosaccharides, when present in nonpellicle glycoproteins, can interact with planktonic bacteria and lower their ability to interact with the tooth surface. We have found that in young adults the ratio of the two classes of oligosaccharides present in resting saliva exhibits a strong correlation with caries history (DFT: number of decayed and filled teeth). Oligosaccharide moieties associated with the test are quantitated in dried spots of whole saliva on nitrocellulose using commercially available biotinylated lectins with a variety of reporters. A combination of multiple linear regression and neural net analyses were used to develop the algorithms that describe the relationship between oligosaccharide patterns and DFT. During test development several different groups of adults and children have been studied. The correlation algorithms routinely exceed an R(2) (coefficient of determination) of 0.96. When the test is applied to the saliva of children, it yields a projection of their future caries history. Modifying the test result metric to reflect the groups of teeth with caries in young adults, the test identifies those teeth at risk for future caries in children. This test outcome can then be accompanied with suggested specific preventive measures for each tooth group-based risk level.
On Transverse Vibrations of Functionally Graded Rotating Hollow Disk

We studied the stress field and vibration characteristics of functionally graded rotating disks by solving the governing equation of motion using the finite difference scheme. The material was assumed to have a constant Poisson’s ratio with the elastic modulus varying as a power law function of the disk radius. Such a material could be developed by using particle reinforced composites with various reinforcements or reinforcement volume fraction. The results show that the first critical speed of the rotating disk could be increased by using FGMs. The first critical speed is greater for disks having higher elastic modulus at the outer radius. However, the disk may be unstable for certain distribution functions.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Introduction to Facet Theory and its Applications

Although facet theory has roots in Guttman's writings as early as the 1950s (cf. Guttman, 1954), frequent applications of facet analysis did not begin to appear until around the 1970s. Guttman first applied his theoretical perspective to problems in the area of the structure of intelligence (e.g. Guttman, 1957; 1965). In the years that have followed since those early publications, empirical research using facet theory has flourished in countries on several continents and in a wide variety of content areas in the social and behavioural sciences. This introduction first briefly reviews the basic principles underlying facet theory. Then it introduces the six papers that follow in which facet theory is applied to research in psychology.
The Reference Frame Effect: An Intergroup Perspective on Language Attitudes

Invoking self-categorization and social identity theories, this study predicted that ingroups would be evaluated more favorably than outgroups, but that ingroup membership would change as a function of reference frame. Using the matched-guise technique, moderate and broad American Southern English accented guises were presented to Californian listeners (N = 175). These were paired either with a Californian-accented (interregional reference frame) or Punjabi-accented English speaker (international reference frame). Listeners reported a stronger sense of connection with the Southern-accented guises, perceived their accents as more similar, and upgraded them on solidarity traits when reference frame was international (i.e., ingroup categorization) rather than interregional (i.e., outgroup categorization). Reference frame had no effect on status ratings. Implications of this reference frame effect are discussed.
Angiomyolipoma with vascular invasion during pregnancy.

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a rare, benign tumor composed of fat cells, smooth muscle cells, and blood vessels. They are commonly found in the kidney but have also been reported to occur in the liver, ovary, fallopian tube, spermatic cord, palate, and colon. Most often, they are discovered as an incidental finding on computed tomography scan and remain inconsequential; however, certain characteristics such as size, presence of aneurysms, and location can transform this disease process into a life-threatening entity. Here, we describe the case of a 30-year-old pregnant woman with bilateral renal AMLs in which there was invasion of the right renal vein and extension of the tumor into the inferior vena cava. The patient was believed to be at significant risk of hormone-mediated rapid expansion, embolization, and life-threatening pulmonary embolus during the pregnancy and was taken to the operating room for right nephrectomy and removal of the tumor from the vena cava. We report the first case of elective nephrectomy with the removal of the tumor from vena cava complicating pregnancy. The major risks of rupture, spontaneous hemorrhage, renal failure, and tumor thrombus were avoided, thereby demonstrating that despite pregnancy, successful surgery can be performed during the second trimester for the management of complicated AMLs.
HIV Sexual Risk-Reduction Interventions for Youth: A Review and Methodological Critique of Randomized Controlled Trials:

The authors review and provide a methodological critique of randomized controlled studies of HIV risk reduction interventions that measured sexual risk behavior outcomes with adolescents. Studies conducted in school, community, and health care settings were reviewed. Overall, 13 of 23 interventions (57%) were effective in reducing sexual risk behavior. Methodological strengths of extant studies included an emphasis on a theoretical framework, evaluation of both individualized and group-intervention formats, use of multiple assessments of risk behavior (including biological outcomes), and inclusion of efficacy and effectiveness trials. Methodological limitations included limited evaluation of theoretical mediators of risk reduction, failure to report effect sizes, and lack of sustained findings. Inconsistencies were found in data analytic procedures and reporting, including how nested designs, skewed data, and attrition were addressed. Recommendations for designing methodologically rigorous interventions are provided.
Plant genotypic diversity reduces the rate of consumer resource utilization

While plant species diversity can reduce herbivore densities and herbivory, little is known regarding how plant genotypic diversity alters resource utilization by herbivores. Here, we show that an invasive folivore--the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)--increases 28 per cent in abundance, but consumes 24 per cent less foliage in genotypic polycultures compared with monocultures of the common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). We found strong complementarity for reduced herbivore damage among plant genotypes growing in polycultures and a weak dominance effect of particularly resistant genotypes. Sequential feeding by P. japonica on different genotypes from polycultures resulted in reduced consumption compared with feeding on different plants of the same genotype from monocultures. Thus, diet mixing among plant genotypes reduced herbivore consumption efficiency. Despite positive complementarity driving an increase in fruit production in polycultures, we observed a trade-off between complementarity for increased plant productivity and resistance to herbivory, suggesting costs in the complementary use of resources by plant genotypes may manifest across trophic levels. These results elucidate mechanisms for how plant genotypic diversity simultaneously alters resource utilization by both producers and consumers, and show that population genotypic diversity can increase the resistance of a native plant to an invasive herbivore.
Association of Taf14 with acetylated histone H3 directs gene transcription and the DNA damage response

The YEATS domain, found in a number of chromatin-associated proteins, has recently been shown to have the capacity to bind histone lysine acetylation. Here, we show that the YEATS domain of Taf14, a member of key transcriptional and chromatin-modifying complexes in yeast, is a selective reader of histone H3 Lys9 acetylation (H3K9ac). Structural analysis reveals that acetylated Lys9 is sandwiched in an aromatic cage formed by F62 and W81. Disruption of this binding in cells impairs gene transcription and the DNA damage response. Our findings establish a highly conserved acetyllysine reader function for the YEATS domain protein family and highlight the significance of this interaction for Taf14.
Theoretical Methods and Approximations

This chapter describes the theoretical approaches and approximations used in standard first principles calculations. First, the Born Oppenheimer approximation is stated. Next, an overview of the basic formulation of density functional theory (DFT) is given, underlying its merits in describing various materials and their properties, but also pointing out the aspects which need further improvements. The Kohn–Sham ansatz, which provides a means of calculating properties of many-body system using independent-particle methods, is presented along with practical schemes for solving the resulting Kohn–Sham equations. Finally, the DFT+U method and its implementation within a pseudopotential-plane wave framework are introduced.
Are American black bears in an agricultural landscape being sustained by crops

Human-altered landscapes are thought to reduce habitat quality for many forest-dependent species, but some omnivorous, opportunist species take advantage of human-related food sources, such as garbage and crops. It is unknown, however, whether anthropogenic foods can sustain populations in areas with relatively little natural habitat. We studied (2007–2012) a population of American black bears ( Ursus americanus ) at the western periphery of their range in Minnesota, in a landscape that was heavily impacted by agriculture (~50%). We estimated the dietary contributions of corn and sunflowers (2–4% of the landscape) versus seasonally available natural foods (spring vegetation, ants, deer, fruit, and nuts) with stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) of 110 hair samples from 51 bears. We identified associations between diet and sex, age, body size and condition, reproductive status, space use, habitat connectivity, and natural food abundance. At the population level, adult males and adult females without cubs consumed considerable crops in fall (95% credible intervals: males = 19–46% of diet, females = 10–40%), but females with cubs and juvenile bears rarely consumed crops. Individual estimates of crop consumption were positively correlated with the proportion of GPS-collar locations in crop fields. Females, but not males, decreased crop consumption in years with high availability of natural fall foods. Further, the degree of crop consumption was more closely tied to local crop availability and landscape composition in females than in males. Weight and fat were positively correlated with crop use for both sexes, and males’ use of crops also increased with their physical stature, suggesting that crops provided substantial caloric benefits to bears and that social dominance may have influenced foraging decisions. However, a large segment of this bear population (44% of sampled bear–years) made little use of crops, and crops accounted for more than half the fall diet for only 14% of the population. Whereas some bears clearly benefited from consumption of crops, we conclude that a population of bears could be sustained in this largely agricultural region even without crops as a food source.
A Courageous, Creative, Though Cautionary, Tale: Commentary on Dr. Lauren Levine’s Paper, “A Mutual Survival of Destructiveness and Its Creative Potential for Agency and Desire”

This discussion lauds the richness and in-depth nature of Lauren Levine’s clinical work, including the efficacy of a much needed consultation with a colleague. The analytic work is viewed in light of concerns raised by senior relational analysts in a previous issue of Psychoanalytic Dialogues. Additional thoughts stimulated by the presentation are offered by the discussant.
Half the Battle Social Support Among Women With Cancer

In this article, I explore the function of social support among women with breast or gynecologic cancers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who received services from a community...
Suprarenal Cortex and Temperature Regulation

The presence of the suprarenal cortex is necessary for proper temperature regulation in the rat. Wyman and turn Suden1 found that suprarenalectomized rats having gross masses of cortical tissue, transplanted or accessory, maintained their body temperature as well as normal rats during 2 hours in a moderately cold room (40° to 500 F), but that rats having cortical insufficiency suffered a decline in body temperature and did not recover their original temperatures in a warm room so soon as those having cortical tissue. It was suggested that a disturbance in physical heat regulation, i. e., increased heat loss, as well as metabolic disturbance might account for this disability. Hartman, Brownell and Crosby2 found that the administration of cortin enabled suprarenalectomized rats to produce heat and maintain their temperature in a cold environment almost as well as normals, and suggested that inadequate heat production is responsible for the disability of suprarenalectomized animals.The importance of the symp...
Non-cloth-covered caged-ball prostheses: The second decade

The Starr-Edwards Models 6120 mitral and 1200/60 aortic valves are caged-ball prostheses with cloth-covered sewing rings and bare-metal struts. Introduced in 1965, they have been in continuous clinical use longer than any other currently available heart valve prostheses. Late results with this valve are analyzed and compared with recent series employing other current valve prostheses. One hundred thirty-four mitral 6120 prostheses were inserted at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center from 1965 through 1977, with 118 operative survivors followed for a mean of 5.4 years. Twelve-year survival rate (±standard error) was 50 (±8) percent. Twelve percent of late deaths were valve related. Eighty-eight (±5) percent of valves were still in place at 12 years. The embolic rate was 5.8 (±1.0) percent per patient-year for all emboli and 2.2 (±0.6) percent per patient-year for serious emboli. Two hundred forty-nine operative survivors among 282 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement during the same period of time were followed for a mean of 4.3 years. Twelve-year survival was 61 (±6) percent and the removal-free rate was 92 (±5) percent. Six percent of late deaths were valve related. Embolic rates were 5.0 (±.7) percent and 1.8 (±.4) percent per patient-year for all emboli and serius emboli, respectively. Structural failure, specifically ball variance, was not encountered with this prosthesis. Ninety percent of 10 year survivors are in N.Y.H.A. Functional Class I or II. There was one anticoagulant-related death in 1,698 patient-years of follow-up. The current non-cloth-covered caged-ball valves provide unquestionable durability and well-documented results into their second decade of use. They provide a base line for comparison with newer prostheses and offer a valid, current choice for both aortic and mitral valve replacement.
Support Vector Machine Classification Trees

Proteomic and metabolomic studies based on chemical profiling require powerful classifiers to model accurately complex collections of data. Support vector machines (SVMs) are advantageous in that they provide a maximum margin of separation for the classification hyperplane. A new method for constructing classification trees, for which the branches comprise SVMs, has been devised. The novel feature is that the distribution of the data objects is used to determine the SVM encoding. The variance and covariance of the data objects are used for determining the bipolar encoding required for the SVM. The SVM that yields the lowest entropy of classification becomes the branch of the tree. The SVM-tree classifier has the added advantage that nonlinearly separable data may be accurately classified without optimization of the cost parameter C or searching for a correct higher dimensional kernel transform. It compares favorably to a regularized linear discriminant analysis, SVMs in a one against all multiple classifier, and a fuzzy rule-building expert system, a tree classifier with a fuzzy margin of separation. SVMs offer a speed advantage, especially for data sets that have more measurements than objects.
Linguistically Informed Pedagogical Applications

Much of this book identifies recurring linguistic features of first-year (FY) and expert academic writing and considers why such analysis is rare and valuable: Chapters 1 and 2 contextualize the lack of linguistic attention in studies of FY writing; and Chapters 3, 4, and 6 discuss analysis of FY linguistic and rhetorical patterns that contrast expert writing and that are related to prompt cues.
Poetry and History

As the biographical perspective views a poem in its relationship to its author, so the historical sees it in terms of the social, political, and cultural context from which it emerges. Indeed, few poems are likely to be without indications of the period in which they were written, though the evidence—language, theme, allusions—may be more or less prominent in a given work.
Neuron-specific SUMO knockdown suppresses global gene expression response and worsens functional outcome after transient forebrain ischemia in mice

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) conjugation (SUMOylation) plays key roles in neurologic function in health and disease. Neuronal SUMOylation is essential for emotionality and cognition, and this pathway is dramatically activated in post-ischemic neurons, a neuroprotective response to ischemia. It is also known from cell culture studies that SUMOylation modulates gene expression. However, it remains unknown how SUMOylation regulates neuronal gene expression in vivo, in the physiologic state and after ischemia, and modulates post-ischemic recovery of neurologic function. To address these important questions, we used a SUMO1-3 knockdown (SUMO-KD) mouse in which a Thy-1 promoter drives expression of 3 distinct microRNAs against SUMO1-3 to silence SUMO expression specifically in neurons. Wild-type and SUMO-KD mice were subjected to transient forebrain ischemia. Microarray analysis was performed in hippocampal CA1 samples, and neurologic function was evaluated. SUMOylation had opposite effects on neuronal gene expression before and after ischemia. In the physiological state, most genes regulated by SUMOylation were up-regulated in SUMO-KD compared to wild-type mice. Brain ischemia/reperfusion significantly modulated the expression levels of more than 400 genes in wild-type mice, with a majority of those genes upregulated. The extent of this post-ischemic transcriptome change was suppressed in SUMO-KD mice. Moreover, SUMO-KD mice exhibited significantly worse functional outcome. This suggests that suppression of global gene expression response in post-ischemic brain due to SUMO knockdown has a negative effect on post-ischemic neurologic function. Together, our data provide a basis for future studies to mechanistically link SUMOylation to neurologic function in health and disease.
Tools and techniques for test-driven learning in CS1

Test-Driven Development is a design strategy where a set of tests over a class is defined prior to the implementation of that class. The goal is to use the tests to exercise the class being developed, to provide immediate feedback of the overall quality of the code, and to identify and correct bugs as they are written. Testing is usually performed with automated testing tools, such as JUnit, which give clear feedback about the status of the tests1. The test-first approach requires students to think about the problem, identify corner cases, analyze ways their code may fail, and evaluate the goodness of their design. This paper presents a tool for teaching CS1 using a "Test-First" approach that will allow students to construct their tests using a simple GUI interface. The goal is to give CS1 students the ability to do test-driven development independently.
Pharmacokinetic analysis of thymol, carvacrol and diallyl disulfide after intramammary and topical applications in healthy organic dairy cattle.

ABSTRACTMastitis is among the most costly concerns for dairy producers whether cattle are managed conventionally or organically. Unfortunately, there are no USFDA-approved mastitis treatments that allow dairy cows in the United States to maintain organic dairy status. We investigated the plasma pharmacokinetics of three organic mastitis products currently used by organic producers and organic dairy veterinarians. Those products include intramammary, topical and intravaginal preparations, each dosed at two levels. Additionally, tissue data were collected for kidney, liver and fat in order to estimate a withholding time for each of the products. The lower limit of quantification (LOQ) and lower limit of detection (LOD) were 0.001 and 0.0005 µg ml–1, respectively, in plasma and all tissues except fat for both thymol and carvacrol. Fat had an LOQ of 0.01 µg ml–1 and an LOD of 0.005 µg ml–1 for thymol and carvacrol. Diallyl disulfide had an LOQ of 0.005 µg ml–1 and LOD of 0.001 µg ml–1 in all tissues. For dial...
The incidence and impact of poor nutrition in gastrointestinal malignancies.

e20549 Background: The impact and significance of malnutrition in gastrointestinal oncology is understudied. The Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) is a validated clinical tool to assess nutritiona...
Distractibility and Distracting Stimuli: Inconsistent and Contradictory Results

An examination of a portion of the research literature on distractibility and distracting stimuli revealed a myriad of inconsistent and contradictory results. Differences in subject population, experimental stimuli, task(s) used, and the dependent measures recorded were cited as sources of the variability. The review suggested a lack of experimental evidence to support the classification of any single diagnostic population as distractible. In addition, no given stimulus event was shown to produce a reliable decrease in performance which would suggest that it could be considered a distracting stimulus. Implications for educational practices drawn from the review were also discussed.
A Set-Theoretic Approach to Bayesian Process Tracing:

This article develops a set-theoretic approach to Bayes’s theorem and Bayesian process tracing. In the approach, hypothesis testing is the procedure whereby one updates beliefs by narrowing the ran...
Effect of Vitamin D on Falls and Physical Performance

Recent understanding has highlighted the importance of extraskeletal role of vitamin D. Despite numerous observational and interventional studies over the last two decades, the apparent divergent clinical findings have intensified the controversy regarding this role of vitamin D in older adults. This article reviews the existing literature and summarizes the current knowledge of vitamin D status and vitamin D supplementation on falls and physical performance, describes the putative mechanisms underlying this association, and reflects on the controversy surrounding vitamin D recommendations in older adults.
A tale of two wildfires; testing detection and prediction of invasive species distributions using models fit with topographic and spectral indices

Developing species distribution models (SDMs) to detect invasive species cover and evaluate habitat suitability are high priorities for land managers. We tested SDMs fit with different variable combinations to provide guidelines for future invasive species model development based on transferability between landscapes. Generalized linear model, boosted regression trees, multivariate adaptive regression splines, and Random Forests were fit with location data for high cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) cover in situ for two post-burn sites independently using topographic indices, spectral indices derived from multiple dates of Landsat 8 satellite imagery, or both. Models developed for one site were applied to the other, using independent cheatgrass cover data from the respective ex situ site to test model transferability. Fitted models were statistically robust and comparable when fit with at least 200 cover plots in situ and transferred to the ex situ site. Only the Random Forests models were robust when fit with a small number of cover plots in situ. Our study indicated spectral indices can be used in SDMs to estimate species cover across landscapes (e.g., both within the same Landsat scene and in an adjacent Landsat scene). Important considerations for transferability include the model employed, quantity of cover data used to train/test the models, and phenology of the species coupled with the timing of imagery. The results also suggest that when cover data are limited, SDMs fit with topographic indices are sufficient for evaluating cheatgrass habitat suitability in new post-disturbance landscapes; however, spectral indices can provide a more robust estimate for detection based on local phenology.
New advances in amblyopia therapy I: binocular therapies and pharmacologic augmentation

Amblyopia therapy options have traditionally been limited to penalisation of the non-amblyopic eye with either patching or pharmaceutical penalisation. Solid evidence, mostly from the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, has validated both number of hours a day of patching and days per week of atropine use. The use of glasses alone has also been established as a good first-line therapy for both anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia. Unfortunately, visual acuity equalisation or even improvement is not always attainable with these methods. Additionally, non-compliance with prescribed therapies contributes to treatment failures, with data supporting difficulty adhering to full treatment sessions. Interest in alternative therapies for amblyopia treatment has long been a topic of interest among researchers and clinicians alike. Incorporating new technology with an understanding of the biological basis of amblyopia has led to enthusiasm for binocular treatment of amblyopia. Early work on perceptual learning as well as more recent enthusiasm for iPad-based dichoptic training have each generated interesting and promising data for vision improvement in amblyopes. Use of pharmaceutical augmentation of traditional therapies has also been investigated. Several different drugs with unique mechanisms of action are thought to be able to neurosensitise the brain and enhance responsiveness to amblyopia therapy. No new treatment has emerged from currently available evidence as superior to the traditional therapies in common practice today. But ongoing investigation into the use of both new technology and the understanding of the neural basis of amblyopia promises alternate or perhaps better cures in the future.
Sacroiliac luxation in small animals: treatment options

The term sacroiliac luxation-fracture (SIL/F) denotes traumatic separation of the ilial wing from the sacrum. This injury typically results from a traumatic event (most commonly a road traffic accident) and consequently is often seen with concomitant pelvic and/or other orthopaedic injuries. When indicated, the method of choice for SIL/F repair is lag screw fixation, which can be achieved via open reduction and internal fixation or minimally invasive osteosynthesis. The prognosis is in part affected by proper orientation of the iliosacral screw and adequate screw purchase into the sacral body. While conservative management may yield good outcomes, pain associated with nerve damage as well as chronic instability of the SIL, along with concomitant orthopedic and soft tissue injuries, should be thoroughly considered when choosing this option.
Designing clinically useful substitutes for the extracellular matrix

Abstract: This chapter focuses on design criteria for FDA-approvable and affordable matrices for cell delivery. We first describe the challenges for translational biomaterials; next, we define the scientific and real-world design criteria to be considered. Most important is to use a material that allows seamless transition from preclinical studies to use in human clinical trials. Next, we focus on chemically modified hyaluronic acid as a building block for creating semi-synthetic ECMs. Finally, we describe the use of the sECMs to incorporate biological cues and accomplish the delivery of cells and growth factors in vivo.
The Drug Discovery Process

This chapter puts the role of pharmacology into the perspective of modern methods employed in the drug discovery and development process. Target-based vs system-based strategies are contrasted as well as the role of screening and libraries. Finally, discussion of the clinical testing of new drugs is highlighted.
Friction and Load on Well Defined Surfaces Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic Friction Force Microscopy AFM FFM Friction is measured on surfaces including mica, gold films with self assembled monolayers and cleaved crystals in UHV. Factors that affect quantitative measurements such as tip radius, scan direction and environmental conditions are evaluated.
Passing Gas: Policy Implications of Leakage From Geologic Carbon Storage Sites

Publisher Summary Increasing attention is being given to injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) into geologic reservoirs as a management technique to reduce releases of greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere. Among the many issues that need to be resolved for geologic carbon storage to be an effective GHG management technique is the leak-rate performance of the system. Storage sites must be designed to avoid sudden releases, which could pose acute risks of asphyxiation. The more complex challenge is to structure a design strategy and oversight system that not only has the goal of limiting slow leaks to the atmosphere to a de minimis level but also is robust if we, or future generations, encounter less than perfect performance in real-world operation. To be effective as a carbon mitigation strategy, geologic storage systems must not leak more than trivial amounts over time spans of hundreds of years. While individual sites can have varying slow leak rates without undermining effectiveness, the system as a whole must be close to leak-free. One might think at first blush that the choice of a stabilization target for GHG would be the strongest driver of the maximum permissible long-term leak-rate from the storage system. However, annual global GHG budgets for stabilization targets between 450 and 750 ppm tend to converge at low levels within two to three hundred years. This means the cumulative amount of carbon stored during this period has a major influence on the required performance of the storage system, regardless of the stabilization target selected.
A Life-cycle Comparison of Clothes Washing Alternatives

Several clothes washing alternatives are investigated with a specific emphasis on characterizing the benefit, if any, associated with servicizing a washing machine product. The pay for use alternative will consider a laundromat, in which people wash their clothes and pay a fee for that service. Another alternative is selling washing machines for home use. The alternatives are evaluated in terms of their economic costs and environmental impacts to provide a quantitative comparison of the alternatives. The environmental evaluation is obtained using SimaPro 7.0. Specific measures of performance that are considered include costs, energy, and water usage.
Exploring a Civil Resistance Approach to Examining U.S. Military Base Politics: The Case of Manta, Ecuador

U.S. troops withdrew from the forward operating location (FOL) in Manta, Ecuador, in 2009 after a decade of presence. The withdrawal was celebrated not only by Ecuadorian activists, who had protested the FOL since it was established in 1999, but also by anti-U.S. military base movements around the world, which became connected through the transnational “No Bases” network and considered this a “people’s victory.” To advance our understanding of the role of such movements and their agency in U.S. military base politics, I borrow from civil resistance literature that holds a pluralistic view of power and examine the campaign to close the FOL in Manta through the lens of this conceptual framework, which revealed some limitations to the approach. I discuss areas that require further improvements in order for the framework to offer more rigorous explanations of anti-U.S. military base campaigns and their outcomes.
Detective Effort Among Complainant and Suspect Racial and Ethnic Dyads: An Exploration

The gap between citizen perceptions and the realities of police work is most pronounced among detective work: Little, for example, is known about how detectives use their investigative discretion. ...
Summer- and Wintertime Variations of the Surface and Near-Surface Urban Heat Island in a Semiarid Environment

AbstractThis paper examines summer- and wintertime variations of the surface and near-surface urban heat island (UHI) for the Phoenix metropolitan area using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro...
Fungal conservation in the United States: current status of federal frameworks

There are currently two major federal frameworks through which fungi are directly protected in the United States: the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines of the Northwest Forest Plan (SMNFP). While both of these provide protection to fungi, the former is legally ambiguous with regard to fungi and the latter is currently the subject of litigation that may render it less effective. Though two lichens are listed as endangered under the ESA, the Act does not explicitly provide protections to fungi, leaving the legal status of these listed species unclear. The SMNFP implements comprehensive adaptive management for many lichenized and non-lichenized fungi, as well as other poorly studied organisms (e.g. bryophytes). In recent years, however, the SMNFP has been impeded by ongoing conflicts between federal agencies, logging interests, and environmental activists. Given the importance of fungi to the biosphere and the increasing interest in fungal conservation worldwide, addressing oversights and obstacles such as these is a crucial step towards effective protection and management of fungi.