cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Precolonial State in West Africa: Building Power in Dahomey

This volume incorporates historical, ethnographic, art historical, and archaeological sources to examine the relationship between the production of space and political order in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey during the tumultuous Atlantic Era. Dahomey, situated in the modern Republic of Benin, emerged in this period as one of the principal agents in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and an exemplar of West African state formation. Drawing from eight years of ethnohistorical and archaeological fieldwork in the Republic of Benin, the central thesis of this volume is that Dahomean kings used spatial tactics to project power and mitigate dissent across their territories. J. Cameron Monroe argues that these tactics enabled kings to economically exploit their subjects and to promote a sense of the historical and natural inevitability of royal power.
Abnormal Cerebral Blood Flow in Childhood Autism

Brain-perfusion single photon emission computed tomography was used to determine regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 23 children with infantile autism and 26 non-autistic controls, evaluated at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira City, Tokyo, Japan.
Topical Versus Systemic Ocular Drug Delivery

The eye is a very complex sensory organ consists of numerous structures function to coordinate sight properly. Several diseases related to eye include: (a) common inflammation and allergic reactions due to bacterial, viral, fungal or chemicals such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and allergic rhinitis; (b) inflammatory and autoimmune disease such as scleritis and uveitis; (c) ocular neovascularization such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR); and (d) retinal vein occlusion that can cause blindness if untreated or treated improperly. For years, ophthalmic formulations have been one of the most important, widely developed and challenging as pharmaceutical companies try to develop innovative drugs. Due to the complicated anatomical structure and a small absorptive surface of the eye, it is difficult to reach the eye compartment properly. Ophthalmologists still face challenges in treating different diseases of the anterior and posterior segments. Systemic, intraocular, and other methods of drug delivery are explained below with major emphasis on topical deliveries.
Parents' spontaneous evaluations of children and symbolic harmful behaviors toward their child.

Abstract Parents’ evaluations of children are believed to be a cognitive contributor to their subsequent child-directed harsh or physically abusive behaviors. The current research examined whether parents’ ( N = 100) evaluations of children were moderated by either (a) the child behavior on which the evaluation was based and (b) parents’ measured risk for child physical abuse. The study also explored whether parents’ evaluations of children were related to their tendencies to symbolically harm their child. The current study also used a novel method to indirectly assess parents’ evaluations of children: A modified Affect Misattribution Procedure. Contrary to a priori expectations, negative evaluations of children were stronger for parents who were at low risk, relative to high risk, for child physical abuse. Nonetheless, we observed that high-risk parents were more likely than low-risk parents to inflict symbolic harm onto their child. In an exploratory analysis we observed that parents who formed more overall negative evaluations of children engaged in more symbolic harm to their child. Although high-risk parents were more likely to symbolically harm their child than low-risk parents, this effect does not seem to be due to high-risk parents’ negative child evaluations from negative child behaviors.
Effect of antiangiogenic therapy on tumor-associated macrophages in recurrent glioblastoma.

2010 Background: Antiangiogenic therapy is associated with increased radiographic responses in glioblastoma (GBM), but tumors invariably recur. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) have been proposed as a mechanism of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in preclinical models. To examine the role of TAMs in recurrent GBM, we analyzed autopsy specimens from patients with or without history of antiangiogenic therapy. Methods: We compared autopsy brain specimens from 17 recurrent GBM patients who received anti-angiogenic treatment and chemoradiation (AAT+) to 7 patients who received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy without anti-angiogenic therapy, or no treatment (AAT-). TAMs were morphologically and phenotypically identified with flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with CD68, CD11b, CD14, and CD163 markers. All specimens were obtained from the Department of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital and clinical information gained through review of the patients’ records. Results: Using flow cytom...
Fluorescence properties of doxorubicin in PBS buffer and PVA films

We studied steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of an anticancer drug Doxorubicin in a saline buffer and poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) film. Absorption of Doxorubicin, located at blue-green spectral region, allows a convenient excitation with visible light emitting diodes or laser diodes. Emission of Doxorubicin with maximum near 600nm can be easily detected with photomultipliers and CCD cameras. Both, absorption and fluorescence spectra in polymeric matrix show more pronounced vibronic structures than in solution. Also, the steady-state anisotropy in the polymer film is significantly higher than in the saline solution. In PVA film the fluorescence anisotropy is about 0.30 whereas in the saline buffer only 0.07. Quantum efficiencies of Doxorubicin were compared to a known standard Rhodamine 101 which has fluorescence emission in a similar spectral region. The quantum yield of Doxorubicin in PVA film is more than 10% and about twice higher than in the saline solution. Similarly, the lifetime of doxorubicin in PVA film is about 2ns whereas in the saline solution only about 1ns. The fluorescence anisotropy decays show that Doxorubicin molecules are freely rotating in the saline buffer with a correlation time of about 290ps, and are almost completely immobilized in the PVA film. The spectroscopic investigations presented in this manuscript are important, as they provide answers to changes in molecular properties of Doxorubicin depending changes in the local environment, which is useful when synthesizing nanoparticles for Doxorubicin entrapment.
ANALISIS KONSEP GREEN PRODUCT SEBAGAI PELAKSANAAN ETIKA BISNIS PADA PERUSAHAAN

Green Product not just produce goods and services but involves all aspects of business activities started production processes, product offer and distribution of environmentally friendly products to consumers. Activity-based business environment, a new development in the production of goods and services, is a potential and strategic opportunities that have the double advantage (multiplier effect) both businesses and the community. This discussion aims to assess the application of the concept of green product that is closely related to business ethics, that every business activity must preserve the environment, has a concern for the environment, by applying environmental impact assessment, as the law requires environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the granting ecolabel label on every product in accordance with ISO14020 and ISO14024 standards. Assessment using a qualitative approach and examine the implementation of green management is done according to the law firm business ethics. From the results of studies in recent decades many companies are already implementing green product in productivity activities. The stakeholders have awareness of business ethics implement one consciousness produce environmentally friendly and healthy products. Moral motive that individual businesses can be the motor of the application of ethics in a business organization. Keywords: Green Product, business ethics
Forbidden Properly Edge-Colored Subgraphs that Force Large Highly Connected Monochromatic Subgraphs

We consider the connected graphs G that satisfy the following property: If $$n \gg m \gg k$$ are integers, then any coloring of the edges of $$K_{n}$$ , using m colors, containing no properly colored copy of G, contains a monochromatic k-connected subgraph of order at least $$n - f(G, k, m)$$ where f does not depend on n. If we let $$\mathscr {G}$$ denote the set of graphs satisfying this statement, we exhibit some infinite families of graphs in $$\mathscr {G}$$ as well as conjecture that the cycles in $$\mathscr {G}$$ are precisely those whose lengths are divisible by 3. Our main result is that $$C_{6} \in \mathscr {G}$$ .
Functional physical training improves women's military occupational performance.

Abstract The U.S. Armed Forces have recently approved full integration of women into combat roles. Physical fitness demands for executing Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) are substantial; thus lifting and load carriage capability improvements are desirable. Objectives To determine if a specially-designed physical conditioning program could lessen the gap between the performance of male and female Soldiers in lifting and load carriage and thereby enable women to meet the requirements of most, if not all, Army MOSs. Methods Forty women participated in a 24-week physical training program, which included resistance training, long-distance running, backpacking, and specialized drills. Pre- and post-tests of occupational and physical performance measures were conducted before and after training. Repeated measures analysis of variance were used to determine statistically significant differences among the pre-, mid- and posttests. Results Women increased maximal occupational lifting strength 12–20 kg, added 9–34 repetitions in lifting endurance, increased 0.23 m in jumping performance, added 46 repetitions in local muscular endurance, and decreased load carriage for time by 3.7–8.6 min. Women scored within 82–94% of untrained male scores for aerobic capacity and muscular endurance after training. Conclusion Women’s ability to perform physically-demanding military occupational tasks was significantly improved following 6 months of concurrent training, with emphasis on load carriage and lifting. The percentage of women that qualified for current “heavy” and “very heavy” MOSs was initially 24%, but increased to 78% after training. A resistance training program of 6+ months can adequately prepare women for “heavy” to “very heavy” MOS’s.
How States Exploit Jihadist Foreign Fighters

ABSTRACTJihadist foreign fighters are frequently described as non-state actors whose prominence challenges the traditional, state-dominated international system and our understanding of it. In practice, however, foreign fighters rely heavily on the very states they reject. Some of the most important foreign fighter movements in the world today receive massive and explicit state support, while still others rely on states to tolerate their fund-raising, transit, recruitment, and other core activities. Yet the scope, scale, and nature of this reliance varies tremendously, as does its overall impact. To stop or at least limit these flows, it is vital to change the policies and capacities of these state backers.
Effect of cultivar susceptibility and planting date on narrow brown leaf spot progression in rice

Abstract Narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS) of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is caused by Cercospora janseana (Racib). O. Const. (Synonyms: Cercospora oryzae Miyake, Passalora janseana Racib. U.). Experimental studies were conducted in Louisiana to study NBLS progression in resistant to very susceptible cultivars at different planting dates. The very susceptible cultivars CL131 and Cheniere, susceptible CL111, moderately susceptible CL151, and resistant cultivars, Della and Presidio were planted in mid-April and mid-May plantings. Weekly disease assessments began at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and the final disease assessments were done at 109 DAS. Results revealed that AUDPC and final NBLS severity were greater in very susceptible and susceptible cultivars as compared to resistant cultivars. The AUDPC for mid-May plantings were greater for all cultivars. AUDPC increased with increasing susceptibility rating in the mid-April planting. Early onset of NBLS was observed in very susceptible and susceptible cultivars regardless of planting date. Significant interactions were detected between cultivar and planting date for AUDPC and final disease but were non-significant for apparent infection rate. Apparent NBLS infection rate was greatest in the highly susceptible Cheniere and CL131 in the mid-May planting. Apparent infection rates were less in the susceptible and moderately susceptible cultivars and least for the resistant cultivars in both plantings.
Matrix resconstruction: Skeleton decomposition versus singular value decomposition

In this work, Skeleton Decomposition (SD) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) are compared and evaluated for reconstruction of data matrices whose columns come from a union of subspaces. Specifically, an original data matrix is reconstructed from noise-contaminated version of it. First, matrix reconstruction using SD iteratively is introduced and alternative methods for forming SD-based reconstruction are discussed. Then, through exhaustive simulations, effects of process parameters such as noise level, data size, number of subspaces and their dimensions are evaluated for reconstruction performance. It is also shown that SD-based reconstruction is more effective when data is drawn from a union of low dimensional subspaces compared to a single space of the same dimension.
Bio-Inspired Oxidation Chemistry of a Cu(II)-Fluoride Cryptate with C3-Symmetry

Abstract Three copper complexes with an N-methylated cryptand, LTEA, bearing a tris(2-aminoethylamine moiety have been synthesized and compared. Two copper(II)-chloride complexes, [LTEACuCl](SbF6)(MeOH) and [LTEACuCl2](MeCN) were characterized in solution and solid state by UV/Vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Both had square-based geometries with C1-symmetry and no encapsulation of the chloride ion. A copper(II)-fluoride complex, in which the ligand is protonated, [LTEAHCuF](BF4)2(MeCN)0.5, adopted C3-symmetry with complete encapsulation of the coordination sphere as characterized by UV/Vis, EPR and X-ray crystallography. Reactivity of the complexes with H2O2/Et3N was explored using UV/Vis and CSI-MS. Only the fluoride complex was found to form a Cu(II)-hydroperoxo intermediate.
Development of Multiple Aortic Mycotic Aneurysms After Cardiac Catheterization.

A 71-year-old male with a past medical history of coronary artery bypass surgery developed multiple, infected pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta and aortic root 1 year after cardiac catheteriza...
Transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with advanced kidney disease: A propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative for surgically inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis. Advanced kidney disease may significantly affect outcomes in patients treated with TAVR and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). HYPOTHESIS TAVR is associated with better in-hospital outcomes compared with SAVR in patients with advanced kidney disease. METHODS We identified our sample from the National Inpatient Sample between 2012 and 2014, using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. We included patients with chronic kidney disease stages IV and V and end-stage renal disease as advanced kidney disease patients. We excluded patients with acute kidney injury on admission and patients on dialysis. RESULTS After propensity matching, 2485 patients were included in each group. The primary outcome of in-hospital mortality (12.9% vs 6.2%; P < 0.01) was higher with SAVR as compared with TAVR. Patients who underwent SAVR reported higher acute kidney injury (50.3% vs 33%; P < 0.01) and dialysis requirements (26.8% vs 20.1%; P < 0.01). Other secondary outcomes including blood transfusion, atrial fibrillation, iatrogenic cardiac complications, pericardial complications, perioperative stroke, perioperative infections, and postoperative shock were more common with SAVR. With SAVR, the length of hospitalization and hospitalization costs were significantly higher; however, permanent pacemaker placement was more common with TAVR compared with SAVR. CONCLUSIONS In patients with advanced kidney disease, SAVR was associated with higher mortality and higher periprocedural complications, as compared with TAVR. Thus, benefits of TAVR could be extended in patients with advanced kidney disease who cannot undergo surgery.
Police Use of Force by Ethnicity, Sex, and Socioeconomic Class

AbstractObjective: Disparities in police responses to Black and White people have received significant research and public attention in recent years. This study examines self-reported accounts of exposure to and perceptions of police use of force among Black and White ethnic groups by sex and income level. Method: Using bivariate and multivariate approaches, we analyzed data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2011 Police–Public Contact Survey, a measure administered to a nationally representative sample of U.S. residents. Participants were asked a series of questions about their most recent contact with police during a 12-month period. Our analyses were limited to Black (n = 59; mean age 28.8 years) and White (n = 366; mean age 34.6 years) participants whose most recent involuntary contact with police included a street stop. Results: For Black residents, being male and having an income under $20,000 significantly increased the risk for exposure to police use of force during a street stop. For White res...
Impact of topical fluorouracil cream on costs of treating keratinocyte carcinoma (nonmelanoma skin cancer) and actinic keratosis

Background It is unknown whether treatment costs for keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) and actinic keratosis (AK) can be lowered by spending more on chemoprevention. Objective To examine the impact of 1-course treatment with topical fluorouracil (5-FU) on the face and ears on KC and AK treatment costs over 3 years. Methods The Veterans Affairs Keratinocyte Carcinoma Chemoprevention trial compared the efficacy of topical 5-FU 5% with that of vehicle control cream for reducing KC risk. Trial data and administrative data on costs and utilization were analyzed to measure postrandomization encounters and treatment costs for KC and AK care. Adjusted models were used to test for statistically significant differences between treatment arms for number of treatment encounters and costs. Results One year after randomization, the control arm had a higher mean number of treatment encounters for squamous cell carcinoma (0.04) than the intervention arm (0.01) ( P P = .02). After 3 years, the intervention arm incurred a cost of $771 less per patient. Limitations Care not provided or paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs was not included. Results may not be generalizable to other payers. Conclusion We found significant cost savings for patients treated with 5-FU.
Zebrafish as a Model for Understanding Retinal Diseases: Pde6, Apoptosis, and the Bystander Effects

Despite many models of retinal degeneration, it is still not possible to completely describe the molecular cascade causing cell death in these disorders or prevent the degenerative process. Zebrafish offer distinct advantages over other genetically tractable systems in that they develop rapidly ex utero, and can be maintained transparent allowing visualization of the retina in live larvae in real time. This provides the opportunity to image morphological and biochemical changes in diseased photoreceptors with cellular and subcellular resolution. Here, we describe two mutations in the zebrafish cone phosphodiesterase that result in retinal degeneration. These mutants provide a unique opportunity to learn more about the biochemistry of photoreceptor cell death.
The Carbon Isotope Composition of Plants and Soils as Biomarkers of Pollution

The spatial distribution of plant isotopes in urban areas provides information about pollutants and their effects on plant physiology. The radiocarbon content of plants in urban areas reflects uptake of fossil fuel derived CO2, since fossil fuels contain no radiocarbon by virtue of their age. The stable carbon isotope composition of plants reflects both pollutant uptake as well as the physiological effects of pollution on plant gas exchange. By mapping these isotopes, we can obtain information about the spatial distribution of CO2 and other pollutants in cities. While this method has not yet been widely used in urban ecology and geography, we discuss the basis for interpreting isoscapes of stable carbon and radiocarbon isotopes, and review the studies that have been conducted to date. Plant carbon isoscapes clearly have great potential for studies of pollutant distributions and greenhouse gases in cities, and may be used as integrated pollution and CO2 proxies.
Linguistic Ideologies of Language Revitalization

This chapter sums up the argument that Native American language revitalization has been shaped (and misguided) by the official model of language standardization, resulting in a grammar and dictionary (often recognized by a tribal council) from which foreign language teaching materials are derived and neglected after they prove to be of little interest and impetus for them in the classroom. Along the way, we have talked about alternatives, and factors influencing the possible outcomes of revitalization and revival projects. These factors, cast here as “Laws” of Language Revitalization, are summed up in Chap. 6.
How to Understand the International Students with Whom You Work

Are international students needy? Are they intractable? Do they plagiarize? Are they inefficient in writing? Do they negotiate grades? Are these ontological questions? Is everything they do a manifestation of their being international students? Or is there a way to understand, first, the students as human beings? Perhaps what they do is not because they are international students. Let’s face it: Internationals are strong. They are not here to receive our tender love and care. What they do need from us, fairly, is one thing, and that is understanding. It is important for college and university officials who work with international students to try to understand their students. Recognizing the international students as human beings like local students is the first step, one that goes a long way. Ask this question to yourself: what would a domestic student do in a similar situation? If the domestic student would do the same, then do not say that the international student did such and such because he or she is an international student. It’s because he is a human being.
How should I treat acute agitation in pregnancy

A cute agitation in the pregnant patient should be treated as an obstetric emergency, as it jeopardizes the safety of the patient and fetus, as well as others in the emergency room. Uncontrolled agitation is associated with obstetric complications such as preterm delivery, placental abnormalities,
Association of disease prognostic model (PM) with baseline quality of life (QOL) in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

e16579Background: PM’s in mCRPC accurately predict survival, but little is known about their association with QOL. We hypothesize that pre-treatment QOL is inversely correlated with PM derived scor...
Improved Clinical and Functional Outcomes in Crouch Gait Following Minimally Invasive Hamstring Lengthening and Serial Casting in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND Serial extension casting represents a novel solution for addressing residual knee flexion contractures following hamstring lengthening in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to investigate postoperative changes in patients following hamstring lengthening with a serial casting protocol. METHODS Measures from preoperative and postoperative gait analyses were reviewed retrospectively for 19 patients with cerebral palsy who underwent hamstring lengthening followed by serial extension casting. Postoperative changes in clinical, functional, and kinematic parameters were assessed using paired parametric methods. RESULTS Improvements were measured in popliteal angle, knee contracture, peak stance phase knee extension, sagittal plane range of motion of the knee during walking, Gait Deviation Index, and pediatric outcomes data collection instrument Global score. Nearly 80% of the cohort (15/19 patients) demonstrated a significant or moderate response to the intervention, whereas 20% demonstrated no improvement. Of note, significantly increased anterior pelvic tilt was also observed. CONCLUSIONS Hamstring lengthening combined with a serial casting protocol was associated with significant postoperative improvements in a range of clinical (eg, knee contracture), functional (eg, pediatric outcomes data collection instrument Global), and kinematic (eg, knee extension in stance) parameters. Improvements following this minimally invasive surgery were comparable to outcomes from procedures with higher complication rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE This is a Level III Therapeutic Study (retrospective study investigating the results of a treatment).
Are They Worth Reading? An In-Depth Analysis of Online Trackers’ Privacy Policies

We analyzed the privacy policies of 75 online tracking companies with the goal of assessing whether they contain information relevant for users to make privacy decisions. We compared privacy policies from large companies, companies that are members of self-regulatory organizations, and nonmember companies and found that many of them are silent with regard to important consumer-relevant practices including the collection and use of sensitive information and linkage of tracking data with personally-identifiable information. We evaluated these policies against self-regulatory guidelines and found that many policies are not fully compliant. Furthermore, the overly general requirements established in those guidelines allow companies to have compliant practices without providing transparency to users. Few companies disclose their data retention times or offer users the opportunity to access the information collected about them. The lack of consistent terminology to refer to affiliate and non-affiliate partners, and the mix of practices for firstparty and third-party contexts make it challenging for users to clearly assess the risks associated with online tracking. We discuss options to improve the transparency of online tracking companies’ privacy practices.
Patient Safety Escape Room: A Graduate Medical Education Simulation for Event Reporting.

Introduction Although residents are on the front lines of patient care, they enter few formal patient safety reports on the adverse events and near misses they witness. Demonstrating the rationale ...
Competency-based medical education for the clinician-educator: the coming of Milestones version 2

Competency-based medical education is emphasized by institutions overseeing medical school and postgraduate training worldwide. The high rate of preventable errors in medicine underscores this need. Expanding physician competency beyond the domains of patient care and medical knowledge towards goals that emphasize a more holistic view of the healthcare system is one aspect of this emphasis. The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which oversees postgraduate training programs in the USA, has recently expanded to oversee training programs internationally. The original ACGME Milestones effort unveiled in 2013 was met with skepticism. Nevertheless, other outcomes-based education programs worldwide, including the CanMEDS framework (Canada), Tomorrow's Doctor (UK), and Scottish Doctor (Scotland), have suggested that milestones do offer advantages. Missing from the milestone rollout, however, was collaborative buy-in from multiple stakeholders such as from clinician-educators. Consequently, Milestones version 2 is in development. Specifically, these will address the need for specialty-specific milestones, and the usage of harmonized milestones. A concise history of the push towards outcomes-based medical education is presented and contextualized for physicians who must embrace the transition from teacher-based to learner-based outcomes.
Detection of Aspiration, Penetration, and Pharyngeal Residue During Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES): Comparing the Effects of Color, Coating, and Opacity

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of color, coating, and opacity on the detection of aspiration, penetration, and residue during flexible endoscopic evaluations of swallowing (FEES). Thirty dysphagic adults underwent FEES while swallowing five 5 mL thin liquid boluses (1 × each, randomized): white water, blue water, white milk, blue milk, and barium water. To assess the effects of color, blue milk was compared to white milk. To assess the effects of coating, barium, white water, and white milk were compared to each other. To assess the effects of opacity, blue milk was compared to blue water. Videos were blindly analyzed and judged for the presence of pharyngeal residue, penetration, and aspiration. Repeated measures analyses were used to assess differences in the frequency of detection across bolus types. Pharyngeal residue was detected more frequently for liquids that were blue, had a coating effect, or were opaque (p 0.05). Coating appears to be the most important factor detecting thin liquid residue, penetration, and aspiration during FEES. Given these findings, standardized use of boluses that possess a coating effect (e.g., white-dyed water or barium) is highly recommended to enhance the sensitivity of identifying impairments in swallowing safety and efficiency during FEES.
AKT Ser/Thr kinase increases V-ATPase–dependent lysosomal acidification in response to amino acid starvation in mammalian cells

The vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is an ATP-dependent proton pump that is essential for cellular homeostasis. V-ATPase activity is controlled by the regulated assembly of the enzyme from its component V1 and V0 domains. We previously reported that amino acid starvation rapidly increases V-ATPase assembly and activity in mammalian lysosomes, but the signaling pathways controlling this effect are unknown. In testing inhibitors of pathways important for controlling cellular metabolism, we found here that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor H89 increases lysosomal V-ATPase activity and blocks any further change upon starvation. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor dorsomorphin decreased lysosomal V-ATPase activity and also blocked any increase upon starvation. However, CRISPR-mediated gene editing revealed that PKA and AMPK are not required for the starvation-dependent increase in lysosomal V-ATPase activity, indicating that H89 and dorsomorphin modify V-ATPase activity through other cellular targets. We next found that the AKT Ser/Thr kinase (AKT) inhibitor MK2206 blocks the starvation-dependent increase in lysosomal V-ATPase activity without altering basal activity. Expression of AKT1 or AKT3, but not AKT2, was required for increased lysosomal V-ATPase activity in response to amino acid starvation in mouse fibroblasts. Finally, HEK293T cells expressing only AKT1 responded normally to starvation, whereas cells expressing only AKT2 displayed a significantly reduced increase in V-ATPase activity and assembly upon starvation. These results show that AKT is required for controlling the rapid response of lysosomal V-ATPase activity to changes in amino acid availability and that this response depends on specific AKT isoforms.
Dither-free stabilization of CO 2 lasers for far infrared pumping: A photoacoustic approach

A method based on the photoacoustic technique is described for dither-free frequency stabilization of the optical pump in a CH 3 OH laser operating at 119 μm. Heterodyne measurements on two independently locked FIR lasers indicate excellent long term frequency and power stability. This stabilization scheme should be applicable to all optically pumped FIR lasants.
High Order Coherence Functions and Spectral Distributions as Given by the Scully-Lamb Quantum Theory of the Laser

We propose and demonstrate a method for measuring the time evolution of the off-diagonal elements ρ(n,n+k(t)) of the reduced density matrix obtained from the quantum theory of the laser. The decay rates of the off-diagonal matrix element ρ(n,n+k(t)) (k=2,3) are measured for the first time and compared with that of ρ(n,n+1(t)), which corresponds to the linewidth of the laser. The experimental results agree with the Scully-Lamb quantum theory of the laser.
Bowling Together: Community Social Institutions Protective Against Poor Child Mental Health.

Social capital is widely recognized as health bolstering and more recently as playing a central role in family and community disaster response and recovery. Community social institutions may be con...
Efficacy of mid-summer doramectin pour-on application for parasite control in spring calving cow-calf herds in the Northern Great Plains

One-hundred-twenty cow-calf pairs grazing native pasture in southcentral North Dakota were used in a prospective study to evaluate efficacy of mid-summer topical doramectin application for control of lice compared to non-treated controls. Pairs were allocated to one of two treatment groups and placed on eight separate pastures. On day -40, cows were weighed and body condition score (BCS) evaluated. On day 0 (day of treatment) pairs allotted to the treatment group were treated topically with 227 mcg/lb of doramectin in mid-July. Cows were examined for lice monthly from day 134 through day 238. Fecal samples collected from cows and calves were examined for parasite eggs, and horn fly counts were taken on selected cows in each replicate. Weights and BCS (cows only) were taken for cows and calves. Steer calves were committed to a finishing program to evaluate effect of doramectin on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Percentage of cows positive for lice in the doramectin-treated group was lower on days 161-162, 184-185, 210-211 and 238-239 than non-treated cows. Doramectin-treated cows and calves had lower fecal egg counts on days 21 and 42 than non-treated controls. Mid-summer application had no effect on cow BCS, cow body weight, calf average daily gain or steer carcass characteristics. Mid-summer application of doramectin was effective for control of lice through the winter. Internal parasite load in this study may not have been high enough to detect a difference in performance in spring calving cow-calf pairs.
Does age affect the test performance of secondary sonographic findings for pediatric appendicitis

Secondary sonographic findings of appendicitis can aid image analysis and support diagnosis with and without visualization of an appendix. We sought to determine if age affected the test performance of secondary findings for pediatric appendicitis. We performed a medical record review of emergency department patients younger than 19 years of age who had a sonogram for suspected appendicitis. Our primary patient outcome was appendicitis, as determined by pathology or by image-confirmed perforation/abscess. Our primary analysis was test performance of secondary sonographic findings as recorded by sonographers on the final diagnosis of appendicitis stratified by age (<6 years, 6 to <11 years, 11 to <19 years). A total of 1,219 patients with suspected appendicitis were evaluated by ultrasound, and 1,147 patients met the criteria for analysis. Of the 1,147 patients, 431 (37.6%) had a final diagnosis of appendicitis. Across all age groups, echogenic fat was the most accurate secondary finding (92.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 91.0, 94.0]) and free fluid was the least accurate secondary finding (54.7% [95% CI: 51.8, 57.5]). There was no significant difference in the age-stratified test performance of secondary sonographic findings except that (1) appendicolith was a more accurate predictor in patients <6 years old than in the middle group (P<0.001) or the oldest group (P<0.001), and (2) free fluid was a more accurate predictor in the middle group than in the oldest group (P=0.02). There are no significant differences in the age-stratified test performance of secondary sonographic findings in the prediction of pediatric appendicitis except that appendicolith is more predictive in younger patients.
The Eden Homeland Security Project: Educational Opportunities in Food and Agrosecurity

The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Homeland Security Project provides research, materials, and education courses to enhance Extension's abilities to deliver disaster and emergency management education. This article offers an overview of those efforts, provides insight into key issues, and information on who helped EDEN Homeland Security information and educational products. Eden reduces the impact of disasters through education and provides Extension nationwide with a network of specialists and a shared database of educational tools. Since 1993, EDEN, as a collaborative multistate effort, has improved delivery of services to citizens affected by disaster. EDEN primarily functions as a network of professionals with more than 75 subject matter specialties, ranging from human development to crop and livestock development. Keywords: Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN); children; livestock; terrorism; education; courses; agroterrorism; mission
Density functional theory total energies and equilibrium volumes of La2CuO4 and La1.5Sr0.5CuO4

The authors have calculated the total energy and equilibrium volumes of La2CuO4 and La1.5Sr0.5CuO4 using the local density approximation to density functional theory (DFT). The calculations were performed using the ASA LMTO method under the constraint of a fixed c/a ratio. The calculated equilibrium volumes are in good agreement with experiment indicating that DFT provides a useful starting point for a discussion of the energetics of this class of superconductor. In the strontium compound they find local charge redistributions that result in holes in the p band of the out-of-plane oxygen atoms. These local charge rearrangements invalidate the use of the rigid band and virtual crystal models for describing alloying.
DIMES: an iterative emulation platform for Multiprocessor-System-On-Chip designs

DIMES (Delaware Iterative Multiprocessor Emulation System) is a new FPGA based hardware emulator for large logic systems incorporating a number of identical functional modules such as a Multiprocessor-System-On-Chip or a cellular architecture. It aims to provide both logic verification and early software development environments with dramatically improved cost performance. Under our iterative emulation technology, a part of FPGA resource will be time-shared among several identical modules of the target design and iteratively used to emulate them in multiple steps. The representation of the identical modules in the FPGA consists of (1) a single module copy and (2) a storage block holding all the states of the modules during iterative emulation. On a first implementation of DIMES-called DIMES/P, we have implemented a multiprocessor-system-on-chip design of the IBM Cyclops architecture as a case study. We report our preliminary results and experience of exploiting the iterative emulation technology in Cyclops emulation.
Single-limb force data for two lemur species while vertically clinging.

Objectives Vertical clinging and climbing have been integral to hypotheses about primate origins, yet little is known about how an animal with nails instead of claws resists gravity while on large, vertical, and cylindrical substrates. Here we test models of how force is applied to maintain posture, predicting (1) the shear component force (Fs) at the hands will be higher than the feet; (2) the normal component force (Fn) at the feet will be relatively high compared to the hands; (3) the component force resisting gravity (Fg) at the feet will be relatively high compared to the hands; (4) species with a high frequency of vertical clinging postures will have low Fg at the hands due to relatively short forelimbs. Materials and Methods Using a novel instrumented support, single-limb force data were collected during clinging postures for the hands and feet and compared across limbs and species for Propithecus verreauxi (N = 2), a habitual vertical clinger and leaper, and Varecia variegata (N = 3), a habitual above-branch arboreal quadruped. Results For both species, hand Fs were significantly higher than at the feet and Fn and Fg at the feet were significantly higher than at the hands. Between species, P. verreauxi has relatively low Fg at the hands and Fn at the feet than V. vareigata. Discussion These results support previous models and show that hindlimb loading dominance, characteristic of primate locomotion, is found during clinging behaviors and may allow the forelimbs to be used for foraging while clinging. These findings provide insight into selective pressures on force distribution in primates and primate locomotor evolution. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:463–474, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gain spectra of quantum wires with inhomogeneous broadening

The effects of fabricational variations on the gain spectra of quantum wires are calculated within the limits of first-order perturbation theory. Gain spectra and density of states for 50-AA-radius and 150-AA-radius cylindrical quantum wires are calculated and plotted for several different fabrication tolerances. The wave functions for a finite, cylindrical potential are calculated and a quasicritical radius, below which the carriers are weakly confined by the potential, is established. This sets a lower limit on quantum wire size. Upper limits on the size of quantum wells, quantum wires, and quantum boxes are also discussed. The threshold current and differential gain of quantum-wire lasers and quantum wire array lasers are calculated. These calculations indicate a possible reduction in threshold current of one to two orders of magnitude as compared to the best quantum-well lasers. >
Behavior Patterns and Sexual Identity of Bisexual Males

Bisexuality may be measured in terms of bisexual behavior or bisexual self‐identity. The relationship between the two is poorly understood. Data from a 1982 survey of readers of Playboy magazine are used to examine the identity and behavior of 6,982 men who acknowledged adult sexual experiences with both men and women. Of these, 29 percent described themselves as bisexual, 2 percent as homosexual, and 69 percent as heterosexual in identification. Those with a bisexual identity were more likely to have had homosexual experiences as adolescents and to describe their adult sexual behavior as predominantly or sometimes homosexual rather than predominantly heterosexual. The sexual behaviors reported by bisexual men would place them at intermediate risk of acquiring or transmitting sexually transmitted diseases—higher than exclusively heterosexual but lower than exclusively homosexual men. Results suggest that a definition of bisexuality based exclusively on identity would fail to capture most men with adult bi...
A case study of urban heat islands in the Carolinas

Abstract Urbanization tends to aggravate the negative effects of climate. The objective of this research is to aid in the understanding of the spatial variation of urban heat islands within selected cities in North and South Carolina. This understanding will help guide efforts to cool cities in order to increase human comfort, conserve energy and resources, and reduce air pollution in both of these states.
Progressive loss of messenger RNA and delayed neuronal death following transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils

Abstract We examined mRNA, cytoplasmic RNA and structural damage in the hippocampus of the gerbil brain after transient ischemia by in situ hybridization, Acridine orange histochemistry and immunohisto-chemistry. Progressive decline of mRNA became visible in the CA1 region after reperfusion for 3 h and loss of cytoplasmic RNA and emergence of structural damage in 3 days. Reduction of mRNA in the CA3-CA4 region was transient. The findings suggested positive correlation between progressive loss of mRNA and delayed neuronal death.
First-principles calculations of the temperature dependence of the band gap of Si nanocrystals

The temperature dependence of the band gap of hydrogen-passivated Si nanocrystals of radius $R=0.7$ and $1.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ has been calculated from first principles using constant-temperature molecular-dynamics simulations. The band-gap change with temperature $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{E}_{g}(R,T)={E}_{g}(R,T)\ensuremath{-}{E}_{g}(R,0)$ is obtained by averaging over the configurations sampled during the molecular-dynamics simulation. We find that $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{E}_{g}(R,T)$ depends strongly on the nanocrystal size. At room temperature, the calculated $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{E}_{g}(R,T)$ is approximately $\ensuremath{-}150\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ for $R=1.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ nanocrystals, and $\ensuremath{-}210\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ for $R=0.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ nanocrystals, significantly larger in magnitude than in the case of bulk Si. We also find that in Si nanocrystals the band-gap deformation potential is positive, but smaller than in bulk Si.
Liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma. The American experience.

The current role of liver transplantation in treating malignant tumors of the liver is uncertain, except for select histologic types. Pooled data on the results of liver transplantation in 12 children with hepatoblastoma is presented here. One half of the children are alive 24 to 70 (44 ± 19) months after transplantation with no evidence of recurrence. Three patients (25%) died of tumor recurrence and three (25%) died of other causes. Unifocal and intrahepatic tumors were associated with better prognosis compared to the multifocal tumors and tumors with extrahepatic spread (p = 0.04 and 0.13). Microscopically vascular invasion and the predominance of embryonal and/or anaplastic epithelium were associated with a poor prognosis compared to the tumors with no vascular invasion and with predominantly fetal epithelium (p = 0.08 and 0.1). It is concluded that continued efforts to treat unresectable hepatoblastomas by liver transplantation is justified and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in improving the results needs to be better defined.
Vers une théorie unifiée de la royauté et de l'aristocratie

Le titre de cet article devoile un projet d'une ambition si vaste, pour ne pas dire demesuree, que je me sens oblige, des l'abord, de presenter un certain nombre de justifications et d'avertissements. Je n'ai pas la pretention d'exposer integralement, dans l'espace dont je dispose, tous les aspects et toutes les interactions complexes de ces deux phenomenes « politiques » que sont la royaute et l'aristocratie, non plus que de refuter toutes les objections, pertinentes ou non, que peut soulever l'utilisation pour un tel projet de theories et de techniques extra-historiques et transdisciplinaires. Tout au plus defendrai-je d'entree l'architecture theorique de mon etude — le concept de « theorie unifiee » — de la facon suivante : le roi et le noble representent deux modes primaires d'expression de l'energie, de la puissance, de la force vitale qui marquent la conduite des hommes. Ils s'enracinent tous deux dans une zone ou domine le pouvoir sacre, et, par « pouvoir sacre », j'entends ici un agglomerat de concepts attaches a cette aura de puissance extra-personnelle qui entoure l'homme en societe.