cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impulsive Aggression in Personality Disorder Correlates With Tritiated Paroxetine Binding in the Platelet

Background: To examine the relationship between binding parameters of the platelet central serotonergic (5-HT) transporter and measures of aggression and impulsivity in adult human subjects. Methods: Maximal number of platelet tritiated paroxetine binding sites (Bmax) and dissociation constant (Kd) values were measured in patients with personality disorder (n=24) and healthy volunteers (n=12). Measures of aggression and impulsivity included the total score and aggression subscale of the Life History of Aggression, the Motor Aggression factor and the assault subscale of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and the total score and motor impulsivity subscale of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Results: The Bmax, but not Kd, values of platelet tritiated paroxetine binding was inversely correlated with the Life History of Aggression total score and aggression score and with the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory assault score in patients with personality disorder but not in healthy volunteer subjects. This relationship was independent of influences of factors related to depression, global function, or history of alcoholism or drug abuse. Conclusions: Reduced numbers of platelet 5-HT transporter sites may covary with life history of aggressive behavior in patients with personality disorder. This may represent another abnormality in 5-HT function in individuals with personality disorder and aggressive behavior.
New conversion formulae for light-skinned populations using photovolt and E.E.L. reflectometers.

Recent research in Belize revealed that published conversion coefficients for use between the two most commonly used reflectance spectro-photometers were inadequate when applied to dark-skinned populations. New research in Ireland shows that the published conversion coefficients for light-skinned populations are also inadequate. A total of 320 school children from Longford, Ireland were measured for skin reflectances at the upper inner arm site with the Photovolt Model 670 and the E.E.L. Reflectance Spectrophotometers. Six and nine filters respectively were used to sample the visible spectrum. Multiple regression techniques were then used to estimate new conversion coefficients which accurately predict readings for one instrument by using some or all of the measurements from the other. Double cross-validation techniques showed the inadequacy of the old (1967) formulae and the very high accuracy of the new ones. Some problems encountered in this study, but not in the one which produced new formulae for dark-skinned populations, suggest further work may be necessary. Additional independently sampled light-skinned populations have not been measured on both machines, so conclusive cross-validation of the new coefficients must remain tentative. Despite this drawback, the new formulae presented here are almost certainly an improvement over the old ones. These new conversion formulae may allow previously impossible comparisons of worldwide data on similar populations.
Clinical utility of natural killer cells in cancer therapy and transplantation

Natural killer (NK) cells recognize deranged cells that display stress receptors or loss of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. During development, NK cells become "licensed" only after they encounter cognate human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I, leading to the acquisition of effector function. NK cells can be exploited for cancer therapy in several ways. These include targeting with monoclonal antibodies alone or combined with ex vivo and in vivo NK cell activation to facilitate adoptive immunotherapy using donor-derived NK cell products to induce graft-vs-tumor effects. In the adoptive transfer setting, persistence and in vivo expansion requires lymphodepleting chemotherapy to prevent rejection and provide homeostatic cytokines (such as IL-15) that activate NK cells. IL-15 has the advantage of avoiding regulatory T-cell expansion. Clinical applications are currently being tested. To enhance in vivo expansion, IL-2 has been used at low doses. However, low dose administration also leads to the stimulation of regulatory T cells. Monoclonal antibodies and bispecific killer engagers (BiKEs) may enhance specificity by targeting CD16 on NK cells to tumor antigens. Inhibition of CD16 shedding may also promote enhanced cytotoxicity. Future strategies include exploiting favorable donor immunogenetics or ex vivo expansion of NK cells from blood, progenitors, or pluripotent cells. Comparative clinical trials are needed to test these approaches.
Complicated grief and the trend toward cognitive-behavioral therapy

Recently, considerable attention has been given to the cognitive processes entailed in mourning. There has been a growing understanding that the death of a loved one forces individuals to restructure and rebuild previously held assumptions about the self and the world. On the basis of this conceptualization of grief as a period of meaning reconstruction, cognitive-behavioral therapy seems a fitting intervention mechanism for treating individuals with complicated grief. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the theory, intervention mechanisms, and research on the application of cognitive-behavioral therapy to grief, in general, and to non-normative grief, in particular.
Hillslope hydrology under glass: confronting fundamental questions of soil-water-biota co-evolution at Biosphere 2

Abstract. Recent studies have called for a new unifying hydrological theory at the hillslope and watershed scale, emphasizing the importance of coupled process understanding of the interactions between hydrology, ecology, pedology, geochemistry and geomorphology. The Biosphere 2 Hillslope Experiment is aimed at tackling this challenge and exploring how climate, soil and vegetation interact and drive the evolution of the hydrologic hillslope behavior. A set of three large-scale hillslopes (18 m by 33 m each) will be built in the climate-controlled experimental biome of the Biosphere 2 facility near Tucson, Arizona, USA. By minimizing the initial physical complexity of these hillslopes, the spontaneous formation of flow pathways, soil spatial heterogeneity, surface morphology and vegetation patterns can be observed over time. This paper documents the hydrologic design process for the Biosphere 2 Hillslope Experiment, which was based on design principles agreed upon among the Biosphere 2 science community. Main design principles were that the hillslopes should promote spatiotemporal variability of hydrological states and fluxes, facilitate transient lateral subsurface flow without inducing overland flow and be capable of supporting vegetation. Hydrologic modeling was used to identify a hillslope configuration (geometry, soil texture, soil depth) that meets the design objectives. The recommended design for the hillslopes consists of a zero-order basin shape with a 10 degree overall slope, a uniform soil depth of 1 m and a loamy sand soil texture. The sensitivity of the hydrologic response of this design to different semi-arid climate scenarios was subsequently tested. Our modeling showed that the timing of rainfall in relation to the timing of radiation input controls the spatiotemporal variability of moisture within the hillslope and the generation of lateral subsurface flow. The Biosphere 2 Hillslope Experiment will provide an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses, observe emergent patterns and advance the understanding of interactions.
Deformation and tracking of bituminous sealants in summer temperatures: pseudo-field behaviour

The bituminous sealants used in the maintenance of roadways sometimes fail because of the excessive deformation or flow under the shearing action of tires in summer temperatures. This issue has yet to be studied and no data on sealant deformation and flow are available. To address this issue, a small-scale tracking test was developed and applied to 21 sealants held at temperatures between 46 and 82°C, typical pavement temperature maximums in North America. It was found that sealant shear deformation increased linearly or non-linearly with temperature, and that past a temperature threshold, sealants deformed excessively and tracked. The tracking failure temperature was readily identified. Some sealants showed a tracking failure at fairly low temperatures, 46–64°C, but most only failed at 76°C or beyond. The sealant flow characteristics, acquired under pseudo-field conditions, provide the basis for developing a performance-based method to assist in the selection of sealants with resistance to tracking.
THE NATURE AND PROCESSING OF RIBOSOMAL RIBONUCLEIC ACID IN A DINOFLAGELLATE

Certain features of the dinoflagellate nucleus suggest that it represents a primitive form of eukaryotic nucleus. For this reason, it was of interest to characterize dinoflagellate ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and its mode of synthesis to determine if it also deviated from typical eukaryotic patterns. Gyrodinium cohnii was chosen for this examination. Gyrodinium ribosomal RNA species are 16 and 25s as judged by their sedimentation velocities in isokinetic sucrose gradients. These values are typical of higher plants. In addition, the RNA cosedimented precisely with rRNA from the ciliate Tetrahymena. Nucleotide ratio analyses revealed a GMP + CMP content of 46% for both species of rRNA. The kinetics of incorporation of a radioactive precursor into ribosomal RNA have also been studied, and it seems likely that the maturation of rRNA starts with the synthesis of a 38s molecule. This serves as precursor to the 16s species, and, after a 27s intermediate, the 25s ribosomal component. The process is similar to that in other eukaryotes. The structure of the nucleolus has also been examined, and is seen to be typically eukaryotic.
Historical Trends in Biological and Medical Investigations of Reading Disabilities: 1850–1915

The theoretical roots of neuropsychological research lie in the case studies of reading disability completed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This article reviews the methods, technologies, and operating tenets of these studies. The results suggest that the assumptions of anatomical and functional modularity for cortical processes became guiding principles for diagnosing and correcting reading difficulties. The advent of neuron doctrine shifted the focus of neuropsychological explanations of reading difficulties from gross neuroanatomical studies to investigations of the microstructure of the central nervous system. Early definitions of reading disabilities are interpreted across the dimensions of focal lesions, autonomous cognitive processes, comorbidity with other symptoms and syndromes, etiology, and permanence.
A new blind equalization algorithm using higher order statistics in a decision feedback structure

The authors present a novel adaptive blind equalization algorithm named POTEA (power cepstrum and tricoherence equalization algorithm) using a nonlinear structure. It is based on the combined use of second- and fourth-order statistics of the received sequence. A nonlinear decision-feedback equalization (DFE) structure is proposed for equalizing nonminimum-phase channels with severe distortion, since a linear equalizer does not perform well in cases of channels with deep spectral nulls in their amplitude characteristics. The direct-form structure of the DFE consists of a feedforward T-spaced filter with an all-pass mixed phase transfer function, and a feedbackward T-spaced filter with a minimum phase one. The performance of POTEA for linear and decision-feedback equalizers is tested for the cases of 16-QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) and 64-QAM. >
Changes in the Interaction between Tropical Convection, Radiation, and the Large-Scale Circulation in a Warming Environment

This paper explores the response of the tropical hydrologic cycle to surface warming through the lens of large-domain cloud-system-resolving model experiments run in a radiative‐convective equilibrium framework. Simulations are run for 55 days and are driven with fixed insolation and constant sea surface temparatures (SSTs) of 298 K, 300 K, and 302 K. In each experiment, convection organizes into coherent regions of large-scale ascent separated by areas with relatively clear air and troposphere-deep descent. Aspects of the simulations correspond to observed features of the tropical climate system, including the transition to large precipitation rates above a critical value of total column water vapor, and an increase in convective intensity with SST amidst weakening of the large-scale overturning circulation. However, the authors also find notable changes to the interaction between convection and the environment as the surface warms. In particular, organized convection in simulations with SSTs of 298 and 300 K is inhibited by the presence of a strong midtropospheric stable layer and dry upper troposphere. As a result, there is a decrease in the vigor of deep convection and an increase in stratiform precipitation fraction with an increase in SST from 298 to 300 K. With an increase in SST to 302 K, moistening of the middletroposphere and increase in lower-tropospheric buoyancy serve to overcome these limitations, leading to an overall increase in convective intensity and larger increase in upper-tropospheric relative humidity. The authors conclude that, while convectiveintensity increases with SST, the aggregate nature of deep convection is strongly affected by the details of the thermodynamic environment in which it develops. In particular, the positive feedback between increasing SST and a moistening upper troposphere found in the simulations, operates as a nonmonotonic function of SST and is modulated by a complex interaction between deep convection and the environmental relative humidity and static stability profile. The results suggest that projected changes in convection that assume a monotonic dependence on SST may constitute an oversimplification.
New Set of Algorithms to Create 3D Images of Cellular Structures using Light Microscopy

Our goal in this paper is to develop a practical, low-cost method for 3-dimensional volumetric imaging of cellular structures using a common light microscope. We have developed several algorithms that use 2-dimensional images obtained at different focus levels to construct a 3-dimensional image of the object by cleaning other layers' data from focused layer as much as possible. To extract clean raw images with eliminating point spread function's effects we used maximum likelihood and the Wavelet based hybrid regularization algorithm. We propose to map this 3D object extracted from deconvoluted images to a virtual space for high resolution viewing. This has the potential of greatly enhancing the viewing process and expose visual information which is otherwise hidden. Furthermore, with 3-D models available, the viewing process can be made more interactive allowing the scientists to study the specimens at different angles, cross-sections, zooming in/out, rotating the objects etc. The results illustrate that 3D object-from-focus imaging of translucent objects can be produced using light microscope and it is possible to effectively map that data to a virtual environment for enhanced user interactions.
Rampage school shooters: A typology

A number of researchers have sought to identify the features that school shooters have in common in terms of family life, personalities, histories, and behaviors. This article examines the cases of 10 rampage school-shooters in an effort to find out not only how they are alike, but also how they differ. Based on available information, these youths are categorized into three types: traumatized, psychotic, and psychopathic. Out of the 10 shooters discussed, three were traumatized, five were psychotic, and two were psychopathic. The three traumatized shooters all came from broken homes with parental substance abuse and parental criminal behavior. They all were physically abused and two were sexually abused outside of the home. The five psychotic shooters had schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, including schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder. They all came from intact families with no history of abuse. The two psychopathic shooters were neither abused nor psychotic. They demonstrated narcissism, a lack of empathy, a lack of conscience, and sadistic behavior. Most people who are traumatized, psychotic, and psychopathic do not commit murder. Beyond identifying the three types of rampage shooters, additional factors are explored that may have contributed to the attacks. These include family structure, role models, and peer influence.
Measuring online service availability using twitter

Real-time micro-blogging services such as Twitter are widely recognized for their social dynamics--how they both encapsulate a social graph and propagate information across it. However, the content of this information is equally interesting since it frequently reflects individual experiences with a broad variety of real-time events. Indeed, events of broad interest are commonly revealed in correlated spikes of semantically-related posting activity. In this paper, we explore one such application this of phenomenon: using Twitter data to infer on-line Internet service availability. We show that simple techniques are sufficient to extract key semantic content from "tweets" (i.e., service X is down) and also filter out extraneous noise. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach at identifying a range of large-scale service outages in 2009 for popular services such as Gmail, Bing and PayPal.
Shifting the Breadwinning Boundary The Role of Men’s Breadwinner Status and Their Gender Ideologies

This study examined the role of men’s breadwinner status and their gender ideologies in shifting the breadwinning boundary. Data come from a 3-wave panel survey of 522 married men in 1980, 1983, and 1988. A strong effect of men’s breadwinner status on their ideologies is foundin 1983 but notin 1988, whereas the reversed pattern holds for the impact of ideology on status. The direction of their impact on each other is consistent with the hypothesis that men with a lower breadwinner status are more likely to embrace egalitarian ideology. Similarly, egalitarian believers are more likely to engage in the equal sharing of breadwinning. The lack of a significant effect of ideology on status in 1983 and status on ideology in 1988 is largely attributable to the changing family stages of childrearing. The study suggests that, although a decline in men’s breadwinning status is likely to promote egalitarian ideology, men’s egalitarian ideology cannot effect a structural change in breadwinning without the diminution ...
Nonlinear network dynamics under perturbations of the underlying graph

Many natural systems are organized as networks, in which the nodes (be they cells, individuals or populations) interact in a time-dependent fashion. The dynamic behavior of these networks depends on how these nodes are connected, which can be understood in terms of an adjacency matrix and connection strengths. The object of our study is to relate connectivity to temporal behavior in networks of coupled nonlinear oscillators. We investigate the relationship between classes of system architectures and classes of their possible dynamics, when the nodes are coupled according to a connectivity scheme that obeys certain constrains, but also incorporates random aspects. We illustrate how the phase space dynamics and bifurcations of the system change when perturbing the underlying adjacency graph. We differentiate between the effects on dynamics of the following operations that directly modulate network connectivity: (1) increasing/decreasing edge weights, (2) increasing/decreasing edge density, (3) altering edge configuration by adding, deleting, or moving edges. We discuss the significance of our results in the context of real life networks. Some interpretations lead us to draw conclusions that may apply to brain networks, synaptic restructuring, and neural dynamics.
Generalized topological derivative for the Navier equation and inverse scattering in the time domain

Abstract In this work, the concept of generalized topological sensitivity, developed recently to deal with inverse elastodynamic scattering by penetrable obstacles in the frequency domain, is extended to permit non-invasive defect reconstruction and material characterization by means of transient elastic waves. This quantity, which signifies the first-order perturbation of a given cost functional due to nucleation of an infinitesimal elastic defect in the reference (defect-free) solid, is intended to be used as an obstacle indicator though an assembly of interior sampling points where it attains pronounced negative values. From an asymptotic analysis of the transient scattered field emanating from a defect with vanishing size in the reference elastic solid, the expression for topological sensitivity, explicit in terms of (i) the Green’s function and (ii) the free (i.e. incident) field for the reference domain, is obtained by employing the so-called direct approach and a convolution-based boundary integral representation of the featured elastodynamic wavefields. For generality, the proposed formula is recast in terms of its adjoint-field counterpart that caters for general reference domains where the Green’s function may not be available. Through numerical simulations, it is shown that the generalized topological sensitivity in the time domain provides an effective preliminary tool for the 3D reconstruction and material identification of discrete internal heterogeneities. The results also demonstrate that the defect “illumination” by transient elastic waveforms results in a higher quality of reconstruction relative to its time-harmonic (monotonal) counterpart.
Three dynamic problems in robot force control

Three dynamic problems which arise in robot systems are discussed: rigid-body bandwidth; dynamically noncolocated flexible modes; and dynamically colocated flexible modes. These effects combine to set the closed-loop bandwidth achievable in the individual joint control loops. Simple models of robot systems are presented to illustrate these three dynamic effects. Some laboratory data are then presented and analyzed in these terms. Finally, the implications for robot system design is discussed in the hope that these issues will be considered in the development of the next generation of robot systems and machine tools. >
Minimal Fixturing of Frictionless Assemblies: Complexity and Algorithms

In many assembly tasks it is necessary to ensure the stability of a subcollection of contacting objects. To achieve stability, it is often necessary to introduce fixture elements (also called ``fingers'' in some work) to help hold objects in place. In this paper the complexity of stabilizing multiple contacting bodies with the fewest number of fixture elements possible is considered. Standard fixture elements of the type explored in previous single-object grasping work are considered, along with a generalized variant of fixture elements. Both form-closure (complete immobility of the assembly), and first-order stability (stability of an assembly in the neighborhood of a specific external force and torque on each body) are considered. The major result is that for three of the four combinations of fixture element varieties and stability considered, achieving an optimal solution (that is, finding a smallest set of fixture elements yielding stability) is NP-hard. However, for many fixturing problems it seems likely that suboptimal, yet acceptably small solutions can be found in polynomial time, and some candidate algorithms are presented.
Acquired Binocular Horizontal Diplopia

Binocular horizontal diplopia is an important symptom that may foretell or help localize and characterize various neurologic and neuromuscular disorders. An appropriate evaluation requires a careful and complete neuro-ophthal-mic history and examination. This review focuses on the differential diagnosis of binocular horizontal diplopia.
Effect of a current-sensing resistor on required MOSFET size

The effect of a current-sensing resistor used in current-mode control of pulsewidth modulator (PWM) converters on required MOSFET aspect ratio, the ratio of channel width to channel length generally known as W/L, is studied. The results can also be applied to the effect of source parasitic resistance in a power MOSFET. These resistances require a significant increase in aspect ratio to achieve a desired maximum current capability. Experimental results are presented verifying the validity of the theoretical results.
On the electromagnetic fields produced by marine frequency domain controlled sources

SUMMARY In recent years, marine controlled source electromagnetics (CSEM) has found increasing use in hydrocarbon exploration due to its ability to detect thin resistive zones beneath the seafloor. Although it must be recognized that the quantitative interpretation of marine CSEM data over petroleum-bearing formations will typically require 2-D surveys and 2-D or 3-D modelling, the use of the 1-D approximation is useful under some circumstances and provides considerable insight into the physics of marine CSEM. It is the purpose of this paper to thoroughly explore the 1-D solutions for all four fundamental source types—vertical and horizontal, electric and magnetic dipole (VED, HED, VMD and HMD)—using a set of canonical reservoir models that encompass brine to weak to strong hydrocarbon types. The paper introduces the formalism to solve the Maxwell equations for a 1-D structure in terms of independent and unique toroidal and poloidal magnetic modes that circumscribe the salient diffusion physics. Green’s functions for the two modes from which solutions for arbitrary source current distributions can be constructed are derived and used to obtain the electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by finite VED, HED, VMD and HMD sources overlying an arbitrary 1-D electrical structure. Field behaviour is analysed using the Poynting vector that represents the time-averaged flow of energy through the structure and a polarization ellipse decomposition of the triaxial seafloor EM field that is a complete field description. The behaviour of the two EM modes using unimodal VED and VMD sources is presented. The paper closes by extending these results to the bimodal HED and HMD sources.
THE INDEPENDENT AND INTERACTIVE ROLES OF PROCEDURAL, DISTRIBUTIVE, AND INTERACTIONAL JUSTICE IN STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

This study extends research on strategic alliances by exploring independent and combined effects of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice in these alliances. An integrated framework l...
Usage and Flight Loads Analysis of King Airs in USFS Service

Flight data of Beechcraft King Airs being used as Aerial Supervision Modules by the USFS is analyzed. The operational conditions experienced by the airplanes are studied, as well as the magnitude of the vertical loads. The airplanes are flown in four different types of missions in USFS operation. These missions consist of 10 different flight phases. Data from 1853 flights and 7 aircraft is presented. In addition the flight loads are separated into those due to gusts and those due to maneuvers using the two-second rule. The gust and maneuver loads exceedance charts are presented for the entire flight for various MSL altitudes. In addition, the combined loads are presented and compared to existing data and FAR 23.
Heart Rate, Temperature and Respiration Rate of the Short-Tailed Shrew in Captivity

The heart rate, respiration rate and body temperature of the short-tailed shrew were recorded from a colony of 52 shrews captured alive in the vicinity of Stowe, Vermont, and maintained in the laboratory. The mean heart rate of 20 shrews under pentobarbital sodium anesthesia was 760 beats per minute, and for 10 shrews under ether anesthesia it was 740 beats per minute. The mean body temperature of 25 shrews taken rectally at four different periods of the day was 38.5° C. The mean respiration rate for 5 shrews recorded during twelve separate runs under controlled conditions of temperature and oxygen was 164 per minute.
A Transonic Laminar-Flow Wing Glove Flight Experiment: Computational Evaluation and Linear Stability

The Flight Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University has proposed conducting both natural laminar flow and passive laminar flow control flight test experiments through NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation program in partnership with the Dryden Flight Research Center and the Langley Research Center. The flight test program will further explore discrete roughness element technology and demonstrate its effectiveness at extending laminar flow beyond the natural transition location. Texas A&M has completed a wing glove design, designated TAMU-06-05, that will be installed on a Gulfstream III testbed aircraft. Detailed analysis on the wing glove design effectiveness is given, focusing on flowfield behavior and boundary-layer stability characteristics near the glove using fullaircraft CFD calculations.
Monitoring a Building Using Deconvolution Interferometry. II: Ambient‐Vibration Analysis

Abstract Application of deconvolution interferometry to earthquake data recorded inside a building is a powerful technique for monitoring parameters of the building, such as velocities of traveling waves, frequencies of normal modes, and intrinsic attenuation. In this study, we apply interferometry to ambient‐vibration data, instead of using earthquake data, to monitor a building. The time continuity of ambient vibrations is useful for temporal monitoring. We show that, because multiple sources simultaneously excite vibrations inside the building, the deconvolved waveforms obtained from ambient vibrations are nonzero for both positive and negative times, unlike the purely causal waveforms obtained from earthquake data. We develop a string model to qualitatively interpret the deconvolved waveforms. Using the synthetic waveforms, we find the traveling waves obtained from ambient vibrations propagate with the correct velocity of the building, and the amplitude decay of the deconvolved waveforms depends on both intrinsic attenuation and ground coupling. The velocities estimated from ambient vibrations are more stable than those computed from earthquake data. Because the acceleration of the observed earthquake records varies depending on the strength of the earthquakes and the distance from the hypocenter, the velocities estimated from earthquake data vary because of the nonlinear response of the building. From ambient vibrations, we extract the wave velocity due to the linear response of the building.
The Effect of Floor Type on the Development of Breast Blisters and Feather Follicle Infections in Broilers

Abstract The effect of floor types on the incidence of feather follicle infection and breast blisters in caged broilers was investigated in two trials. Broilers were reared on corn-soybean meal diets with warm-room brooding. Floor types included litter (control), wire, wire covered with various types of plastic mats, and wire woven with surgical tubing. In trial 1, the effect of a coccidiostat (monensin, 120 mg/kg of feed) was investigated for broilers not on litter, and in trial 2, the effect of supplemental zinc was investigated. Broilers were processed in the laboratory processing plant when they were 51 (trial 1) and 53 days old (trial 2). Carcasses were evaluated for the occurrence of fleshing downgrades, crooked keels, feather follicle infection, and breast blisters. Incidence of feather follicle infection was low for broilers on litter or wire floor and high for broilers reared on plastic mats. Breast blister incidence was low for broilers on litter and plastic mats and was high for broilers on the wire floor. Overall carcass quality for litter (control) was superior to any of the cage treatments. Neither the coccidiostat nor supplemental zinc affected the incidence of breast blisters or feather follicle infection.
Allosteric modulation in spontaneously active mutant γ-aminobutyric acidA receptors in frogs

Tryptophan substitutions were made in the second transmembrane domain of the γ-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor α and β subunits and the resulting mutant receptors, containing α2(S270W) and/or β1(S265W), were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Mutation of either or both subunits resulted in receptors that exhibited enhanced sensitivity to agonist and were spontaneously active in the absence of GABA. The spontaneous activity was blocked by picrotoxin or bicuculline. The enhancement of GABA-induced currents by pentobarbital, by the neurosteroid 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one, and by the benzodiazepine flunitrazepam was dramatically reduced in the mutant receptors. These results are consistent with the idea that a mutation that promotes gating behavior in a ligand-gated ion channel will also show reduced effects of all positive allosteric modulators in a generalized manner, even when these modulators act at distinct sites on the receptor.
Understanding Quantum Plasmonics from Time-Dependent Orbital-Free Density Functional Theory

Using time-dependent orbital-free density functional theory, we perform quantum mechanical simulations to understand plasmonic responses in sodium nanoparticle dimers and trimers. The electronic structure, optical absorption, electric field enhancement, and photoinduced tunneling current are examined. For dimers, the maximum field enhancement is reached at a gap distance of 6 A, below which a conductive channel is formed. The tunneling current peaks at the resonant energy of the charge-transfer plasmon (CTP). One such CTP is formed in symmetric linear trimers, and it splits into two in asymmetric linear trimers—one corresponds to a “global” and the other a “local” oscillation as a result of constructive and destructive interferences between the CTPs of the corresponding dimers. The interference leads to “nanofocusing” where the intensity of the “global” mode reaches its maximum while the “local” mode is quenched completely. Similarly, the electric field can be tuned to be localized at one of the two gaps ...
A Closer Look at Media Openness: From Institutional Democracy to Media Openness?

Among the four factors introduced in this book, media openness has emerged as preeminent at the dyadic level in its association with avoiding MIDs. The effects of media openness supersede those from the other components of the foreign policy decision-making model as well as Oneal and Russett’s (1999c) three neo-Kantian peace variables (i.e., democraticness, economic interdependence, and joint membership in international organizations). These persistent and important findings encourage more in-depth assessment of media as a component of democracy in direct comparison with Polity-based democracy. In particular, the institutional elements from the quasistandard Polity Index might be re-examined when compared with media openness with regard to explanation of MIDs and related phenomena. Thus, the present chapter presents (a) more refined theoretical linkages between media and conflict and (b) additional empirical tests for the longer period from 1950 to 1992, which corresponds approximately to the Cold War era.1
On the measurement of skew of tapered roller bearings

The rolling elements in roller bearings can skew as they orient themselves to achieve dynamic equilibrium. In this process traction forces develop and the roller load can change, thus affecting bearing performance. This paper addresses the measurement of roller skew in a tapered roller bearing. The measurement involves the use of two contact potential difference probes. It is shown that roller skew increases with load initially and then levels off to a constant.
Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Water Storage, Soil Moisture and Surface Waters

Comprehensive monitoring of terrestrial water is critical for characterizing changes in water availability, hydrologic extremes, to determine human impacts on the water cycle, and more generally, for enhanced predictive understanding of regional and global water cycles and their interactions within the Earth system. In this paper, the current and near-future capabilities of remote sensing of terrestrial water are assessed, with a focus on liquid water. The potential for GRACE observations of time-variable gravity to monitor monthly and longer changes in total water storage for regions greater than 200,000 km 2 is discussed. Near-future AMSR observations of surface soil moisture at 60 km resolution with 2-day repeat are described, as is the future HYDROS mission. Current and future capabilities of altimetric observations of terrestrial surface waters are reviewed. An important perspective of this paper is that the current and near-future sensors described in this paper will offer unprecedented opportunities for monitoring terrestrial hydrology, and that their joint use will enable new, simultaneous views of both the lateral and vertical distribution of water on land that have not been previously possible.
Coronin 1B serine 2 phosphorylation by p38α is critical for vascular endothelial growth factor-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Coronin 1B is an actin-binding protein that regulates various cellular processes including cell motility. However, the role of coronin 1B in vascular cell migration remains controversial. Here, we examined the function of coronin 1B in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and investigated the mechanism by which coronin 1B regulates this cellular process. We found that depletion of coronin 1B increased the VEGF-induced migration of HUVECs. VEGF phosphorylated coronin 1B at Ser2 and stimulated its translocation to the leading edge of stimulated cells. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of wild-type coronin 1B or a phosphodeficient coronin 1B S2A mutant decreased VEGF-induced transwell migration of HUVECs. Treatment with the p38 inhibitor SB203580 or depletion of p38α by small interfering RNA transfection decreased VEGF-induced coronin 1B phosphorylation. In vitro binding and kinase assays revealed that active p38α directly binds to and phosphorylates coronin 1B at Ser2. In addition, VEGF induced active p38α binding to coronin 1B in HUVECs. VEGF disrupted the interaction between coronin 1B and the actin-related protein (Arp)2/3 complex and p38α depletion prevented this VEGF-induced dissociation. These findings suggest that coronin 1B plays an inhibitory role in VEGF-induced migration of HUVECs and that VEGF-activated p38α phosphorylates coronin 1B at Ser2 and activates the Arp2/3 complex by liberating it from coronin 1B.
Roads as edges: effects on birds in forested landscapes.

Numerous studies have documented that forest edges affect habitat use and reproductive success of forest birds, but few studies have considered edges created by narrow breaks in the forest canopy. We compared predation rates on artificial nests placed within forest habitat along edge transects, 10 m from unpaved roads, and along interior transects, 300 m from forest-road boundaries. Local factors, such as nest concealment, and landscape factors, such as the degree of forestation in surrounding areas, were accounted for when testing for edge effects on nest predation. We conducted fixed-radius point counts to compare relative abundance of 34 bird species on edge and interior transects. Also, seven study plots were established adjacent to unpaved roads to map the distribution of bird territories within edge areas, 0-150 m from unpaved roads, and interior areas, 150-300 m from roads. Rates of nest predation on artificial nests did not differ between edge and interior transects, but the distribution of forest birds was influenced by unpaved roads. Four of 18 forest-interior species had lower relative abundance or territory density adjacent to roads, while four of six species categorized as edge nesters had higher relative abundance on edge transects. Our results suggest that narrow openings within forested landscapes may affect habitat use but not nest predation levels, emphasizing the need to frame definitions of edge effects within the context of multiple ecological processes.
Detecting Apoptotic Blocks and Sensitvity to ABT-737 and Conventional Chemotherapy Via BH3 Profiling.

Cancer cells require blocks in apoptosis to survive despite many abnormalities that should trigger apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that BH3 profiling is an effective tool for the systematic investigation of the types of blocks in apoptosis for which cancer cells select. BH3 profiling can segregate lymphoma cell lines into three different classes based on the type of apoptotic block each exhibits. In one class, cells are kept alive via expression of anti-apoptotic proteins of the BCL-2 family. When BCL-2 itself is detected by BH3 profiling as the protein keeping the cell alive, the cell is sensitive to ABT-737, a BCL-2 antagonist compound. Sensitivity to ABT-737 correlates highly with abundance of pro-apoptotic BIM complexed to BCL-2. Knockdown of BIM reduces sensitivity to ABT-737. We describe such cancer cells that maintain survival based on tonic sequestration of large amounts of pro-death molecules by anti-apoptotic proteins like BCL-2 as “primed for death”. “Primed” lymphoma cell lines are more sensitive than “unprimed” cancer cells to conventional agents killing via apoptosis like vincristine, adriamycin, and etoposide. It is important to note that, in general, non-malignant cells are unlikely to be “primed”. Hence “priming” may be an important determinant of the therapeutic window between normal and malignant cells. These results suggest that the degree to which a cell is “primed” can influence sensitivity to chemotherapy agents targeting distinct cellular targets. Therefore, BH3 profiling is a tool potentially useful not only for predicting sensitivity to agents targeting antiapoptotic BCL-2 proteins, but also to conventional cytotoxic agents that use the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway to kill.
On-filter direct amplification of Legionella pneumophila for rapid assessment of its abundance and viability.

Abstract Guidelines and regulations to control Legionella pneumophila in cooling water systems of large buildings are evolving due to the increasing number of outbreaks. Rapid, on-site, simple, and sensitive quantification methods that are also able to assess viability may be extremely useful in monitoring and control. Culture-based methods for measuring L. pneumophila may take 4–10 days and qPCR-based methods are also slow, requiring at least a day from sample to result, albeit mainly due to the need for sample transport to a centralized laboratory. This study reports a rapid isothermal amplification method for L. pneumophila concentration and detection with live/dead differentiation under field conditions. Using an on-filter direct amplification (i.e., amplification of cells without DNA extraction and purification) approach with propidium monoazide (PMA), and a real time isothermal amplification platform (Gene-Z), L. pneumophila could be detected in 1–2 h at ∼1 cfu/100 ml of tap water. Signature sequences from 16S rRNA and cadA genes were used as genetic markers for L. pneumophila and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers were designed using Primer Explorer V4. Result were also compared with direct amplification of cells spiked into distilled, tap, and cooling water samples as well as extracted DNA by qPCR. This method may be useful to managers of cooling water systems in large buildings for rapid detection of L. pneumophila . The overall approach of on-site sample concentration, on-filter amplification, and live/dead differentiation may be extended to other organisms where analytical sensitivity and speed are equally important.
Effects of different storage solutions on renal ischemia tolerance after kidney transplantation in mice.

storage is the most prevalent method for graft preservation in kidney transplantation (KTX). The protective effects of various preservation solutions have been studied extensively in both clinical ...
Direct-acting antivirals do not increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after local-regional therapy or liver transplant waitlist dropout.

Whether direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after tumor-directed therapy is controversial. We sought to determine the impact of DAA therapy on HCC recurrence after local-regional therapy (LRT) and waitlist dropout among liver transplant (LT) candidates with HCC. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 149 LT candidates with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCC at a single center from 2014 through 2016. Cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence post-LRT and waitlist dropout was estimated by the DAA group. Factors associated with each outcome were evaluated using competing risks regression. A propensity score stabilized inverse probability weighting approach was used to account for differences in baseline characteristics between groups. The no DAA group (n = 87) had more severe cirrhosis and lower rates of complete radiologic tumor response after LRT than those treated with DAA (n = 62) but had similar alpha-fetoprotein and tumor burden at listing. Cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence within 1 year of complete response after LRT was 47.0% in the DAA group and 49.8% in the no DAA group (P = 0.93). In adjusted competing risk analysis using weighted propensity score modeling, risk of HCC recurrence was similar in the DAA group compared to those without DAA (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-1.42; P = 0.67). Patients treated with DAAs had lower risk of waitlist dropout due to tumor progression or death compared to the no DAA group in adjusted weighted analysis (HR, 0.30; 95% CI 0.13-0.69; P = 0.005). Conclusion In LT candidates with HCV and HCC with initial complete response to LRT, DAA use is not associated with increased risk of HCC recurrence but rather is associated with reduced risk of waitlist dropout due to tumor progression or death. (Hepatology 2018).
Overcoming Drug Resistance by Phytochemicals

Cancer drug resistance is a major cause of treatment failure. Various cancer chemopreventive phytochemicals can sensitize chemoresistant and radioresistant cancer cells. From in vitro tissue culture and in vivo xenograft studies with drug-resistant human cancer cell lines, synergistic effects have been shown between cancer therapeutics and molecules isolated from the spice turmeric, the beverages such as green tea and red wine, other sources of dietary fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as herbal medicine. However, concerns on safety and bio-accessibility must be addressed further, and the proof-of-concept clinical data, to date, are still missing.