cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stepping Up, Sticking Together: Military Adolescents’ Support of Their Civilian Parents and Concurrent Depression Symptoms

The purposes of this study were to assess the ways adolescents in active-duty military families provide emotional and instrumental support to civilian mothers and to investigate the implications of such support for their own symptoms of depression. Eighty adolescents from active-duty military families provided self-report ratings of emotional and instrumental support rendered to their civilian mothers. Mother-adolescent dyads engaged in a 10-min discussion of military experiences, which was coded for adolescents' emotional validation of their mothers. Path analyses showed that adolescents who provided more instrumental support and showed more emotional validation reported fewer symptoms of depression. However, adolescents' instrumental support to the mother was not inversely associated with their depression symptoms when the mothers reported high depression symptoms. Recent military demands did not moderate associations between adolescent support and depression symptoms. In this, the first study to our knowledge assessing youth-to-parent support provision among military adolescents, results suggest that emotional validation and instrumental support given at will by adolescents to their civilian mothers are associated with lower levels of adolescent depressive symptoms. Results also underscore the impact of maternal depression on family processes and emphasize the importance of careful assessment of support processes within military families.
The Outlook for Land Utilization in the United States

The outlook for the utilization of agricultural land in the United States is affected primarily by four groups of factors: I. Extent of the land resources and rate of depletion. II. Technical progress in utilization of these resources and trends in agricultural production. III. Population trends, changes in diet, and other factors that affect the consumption of farm products. IV. Competition by agricultural products from other countries, both in the United States and abroad. Each of these four groups of factors is worthy of a morning's discussion, and to include all four in a 50-minute talk requires that the statements be brief and broad, and some may seem bold. May I ask you to remember that little supporting evidence can be presented within the time limits.
Real cohomology and the powers of the fundamental ideal in the Witt ring

Let A be a local ring in which 2 is invertible. It is known that the localization of the cohomology ring H et∗(A, ℤ∕2) with respect to the class (−1) ∈ H et1(A, ℤ∕2) is isomorphic to the ring C(sperA, ℤ∕2) of continuous ℤ∕2-valued functions on the real spectrum of A. Let In(A) denote the powers of the fundamental ideal in the Witt ring of symmetric bilinear forms over A. The starting point of this article is the “integral” version: the localization of the graded ring ⊕ n≥0In(A) with respect to the class 〈〈−1〉〉 := 〈1,1〉∈ I(A) is isomorphic to the ring C(sperA, ℤ) of continuous ℤ-valued functions on the real spectrum of A. This has interesting applications to schemes. For instance, for any algebraic variety X over the field of real numbers ℝ and any integer n strictly greater than the Krull dimension of X, we obtain a bijection between the Zariski cohomology groups HZar∗(X,ℐn) with coefficients in the sheaf ℐn associated to the n-th power of the fundamental ideal in the Witt ring W(X) and the singular cohomology groups Hsing∗(X(ℝ), ℤ).
Low Temperature Effects on Development, Mortality, Fecundity, and Viability of the Ectoparasitoid Catolaccus grandis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

The low temperature threshold for development of Catolaccus grandis (Burks) was 12°C for eggs, 11.5°C for larvae, and 9.5°C for pupae. The developmental time for male or female parasitoids increased by 4.6 to 5.3 times and the preovipositional period of females increased from 2.2 to 9.3 days when the temperature was reduced from 30°C to 15°C. The number of degree-days to complete development was 225.6 for females and 197.2 for males. The mean duration of emergence for C. grandis ranged from 2.6 days at 27°C - 30°C to 5.7 days at 20°C. Reduction of the temperature from 25°C to 15°C increased the death rate of C. grandis 2.3 times and reduced emergence of parasitoid females by 77.8%. The percentage of emergence of females from pupae with the black thorax-yellow abdomen held at temperatures lower than 15°C for 20 days or more and pupae with yellow color held at 5°C for 10 or more days decreased significantly compared with females from pupae held at 25°C. Storage of pupae at 20°C or lower resulted in adult fe...
Modeling Rover Communication Using Hierarchical State Machines with Scala

We demonstrate the application of a new domain-specific language (DSL) for modeling Hierarchical State Machines (HSMs) to the software that manages communications for the Curiosity Mars rover.
Extended Versus Short-Course Corticosteroid Taper Regimens in the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations in Critically Ill Patients.

Background:Previous literature has suggested that a short course of corticosteroids is similarly effective as an extended course for managing an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary ...
A general analytic framework for spectrally modulated, spectrally encoded signals

This paper presents a general analytic framework which mathematically incorporates the waveform adaptivity and diversity found in spectrally modulated, spectrally encoded (SMSE) signals. It is envisioned that waveforms of future fourth generation (4G) radios will cognitively adapt to changing channel conditions, traffic loads, interfering signals, and spectrum availability. Some proposed 4G architectures are considering SMSE techniques as the key enabler for cognitive communication. Hence, it is instructive to develop a framework from which SMSE signals can be derived, analyzed, and implemented for both single-channel and multi-channel systems. This paper presents a concise mathematical model which generally, accurately, and completely describes the characteristics of SMSE signals. As developed, the model is easily implementable using software defined radio (SDR) techniques. To demonstrate the model's utility, examples are provided for three current SMSE techniques, including OFDM, MC-CDMA, and the TDCS.
FSH Receptors in Rat Testes: Chemical Properties and Solubilization Studiies

The interaction of protein hormones with specific receptors is believed to initiate a series of events at the molecular level leading ultimately to a physiologically significant response. We have previously demonstrated the presence luteinizing hormone (LH) specific receptors in Leydig cell homogenates (1, 2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) specific receptors in seminiferous tubule homogenate (3) of mature rat testes. These studies allowed development of tissue receptor assays for hLH (2, 4) and hFSH (5) suitable for measurement of gonadotropin activities in pituitary fractions as well as for various types of structure-function studies. We have extended our earlier binding studies with FSH (3) and in this report describe our recent observations on the interaction of 125I-hFSH with testicular receptors as well as preliminary studies on the chemical properties of the receptor and attempts directed towards its solubilization.
Propagation of Bulk Waves

This Chapter describes the propagation characteristics of bulk waves in fluid and solid media. Plane waves, spherical waves, and Gaussian beams will be considered. In Chap. 8 these types of waves will be used to describe the sound beams generated by ultrasonic transducers. The spherical waves will also be useful in describing the waves scattered by flaws considered in Chap. 10.
An improved ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantitation of dexmedetomidine in small volume of pediatric plasma.

Dexmedetomidine (Dex), a highly selective α2 -adrenergic agonist, is used primarily for the sedation and anxiolysis of adults and children in the intensive care setting. A sensitive and selective assay for Dex in pediatric plasma was developed by employing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with d4-Dex as an internal standard. Dex was extracted from 0.1 mL of plasma by micro-elution solid-phase extraction. Separation was achieved with a Waters XBridge C18 column with a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min using a mobile phase comprising 5 mm ammonium acetate buffer with 0.03% formic acid in water and methanol-acetonitrile (50:50, v/v). The intra-day precision (coefficient of variation) and accuracy for quality control samples ranged from 1.32 to 8.91% and from 92.8 to 108%, respectively. The inter-day precision and accuracy ranged from 2.13 to 8.45% and from 97.0 to 104%, respectively. The analytical method showed excellent sensitivity using a small sample volume (0.1 mL) with a lower limit of quantitation of 5 pg/mL. This method is robust and has been successfully employed in a pharmacokinetic study of Dex in neonates and infants postoperative from cardiac surgery.
Validity of ICD-10-CM codes for determination of diabetes type for persons with youth-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Objective Diagnosis codes might be used for diabetes surveillance if they accurately distinguish diabetes type. We assessed the validity of International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes to discriminate between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among health plan members with youth-onset (diagnosis age Research design and methods . Diabetes case identification and abstraction of diabetes type was done as part of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. The gold standard for diabetes type is the physician-assigned diabetes type documented in patients’ medical records. Using all healthcare encounters with ICD-10-CM codes for diabetes, we summarized codes within each encounter and determined diabetes type using percent of encounters classified as T2DM. We chose 50% as the threshold from a receiver operating characteristic curve because this threshold yielded the largest Youden’s index. Persons with ≥50% T2DM-coded encounters were classified as having T2DM. Otherwise, persons were classified as having T1DM. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy overall and by demographic characteristics. Results According to the gold standard, 1911 persons had T1DM and 652 persons had T2DM (mean age (SD): 19.1 (6.5) years). We obtained 90.6% (95% CI 88.4% to 92.9%) sensitivity, 96.3% (95% CI 95.4% to 97.1%) specificity, 89.3% (95% CI 86.9% to 91.6%) positive predictive value, 96.8% (95% CI 96.0% to 97.6%) negative predictive value, and 94.8% (95% CI 94.0% to 95.7%) accuracy for discriminating T2DM from T1DM. Conclusions ICD-10-CM codes can accurately classify diabetes type for persons with youth-onset diabetes, showing promise for rapid, cost-efficient diabetes surveillance.
The acute effects of edge‐to‐edge percutaneous mitral valve repair on the shape and size of the mitral annulus and its relation to mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND The effects of edge-to-edge percutaneous mitral valve repair on the shape and size of the mitral annulus and its relation to mitral regurgitation (MR) have not been well characterized. We evaluated acute changes in mitral annular shape and dimensions, and their effect on MR severity, in patients with functional and degenerative MR following MitraClip® . METHODS Patients that underwent MitraClip® between January 2013 and May 2016 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. EXCLUSIONS inadequate images, prior mitral valve repair, and rapid atrial fibrillation. Intra-procedure TEE 3D images acquired prior to and after implantation of MitraClip® were analyzed using software to model the mitral valve apparatus. RESULTS Of seventy-eight patients that underwent MitraClip® procedure, 60 were eligible. Mean age was 78.3 ± 11 years. Severe MR (4+) was present in 37 patients, moderately/severe MR (3+) in 23. All patients achieved MR reduction to ≤2. 3D annular circumference, bicommissural diameter, and anteroposterior diameter had a significant size reduction after MitraClip® . None of the mitral annular measures had significantly different mean change between the large and small MR change groups at the 0.05 significance level. CONCLUSIONS In patients with functional or degenerative MR, the MitraClip® significantly affect mitral annular dimensions; however, these changes do not correlate with the immediate MR reduction.
It’s the EU immigrants stupid! UKIP’s core-issue and populist rhetoric on the road to Brexit:

The 2016 vote to leave the European Union was one of the biggest developments in recent United Kingdom political history. Only one political party was wholly united for Brexit – the United Kingdom ...
Fish Oil and Cardiometabolic Diseases: Recent Updates and Controversies

Fatty acids derived from fish oil are long-chain omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids. The important polyunsaturated fatty acids of fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. For decades, there has been a debate about the use of omega-3 fatty acids and their benefits on cardiovascular health. The more recent trials including the JELIS, VITAL, STRENGTH, and ASCEND trials, addressed the paucity of data of omega-3 fatty acids on primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events and the risk-benefit balance of these supplements. Prior to these studies, many large randomized controlled trials have shown conflicting results on the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with prior coronary artery disease, stroke, or major vascular events. These inconsistent results warrant a better understanding of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the subtypes of cardiovascular diseases, and their use in primary and secondary prevention. More recently, icosapent ethyl showed a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality and ischemic events in patients with elevated triglyceride (TG) and established cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The REDUCE-IT trial paved the way to further reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with high TG despite being on a maximally tolerated statin. The aim of this review is to discuss these recent updates on the use of various forms of fish oil, including prescription form and supplement in cardiometabolic diseases, and their surrounding controversies.
(Hetero)arylboration of alkynes: a strategy for the synthesis of α,α-bis(hetero)arylketones

A method for (hetero)arylboration of alkynes is presented. The reaction allows for the synthesis of densely functionalized tetrasubstituted alkenes with control of regioselectivity and diastereoselectivity. The conversion of the products to the corresponding α,α-bis(hetero)arylketones is also shown.
THAI SECONDARY TEACHER ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study was to examine Thai secondary teacher attitudes towards inclusion of students with learning disabilities in general education classrooms. Methodology: The researcher collected quantitative data using a questionnaire with 28 Likert-type scale questions, adapted from the Opinions Relative to Integration of Students with Disabilities (ORI) as well as information related to training in special education, experience, and workload. The participants were comprised of a representative group of 370 secondary teachers from all regions of Thailand. Most participants indicated that they were female general education teachers and had a Bachelor’s degree. Main Finding: Through multiple linear regression, the findings showed that Thai secondary teachers generally held a positive attitude towards the inclusion of students with learning disabilities into general education classrooms. All three independent variables (hours of training, years of teaching experience, and hours of workload) were significant predictors of teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive classrooms, though the hours of workload was the strongest predictor. Applications: The study was conducted to better understand the variables that are meaningful to teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion.
Isomeric Co(II) paraCEST agents as pH responsive MRI probes

A newly discovered isomer of Co(II) (1,4,8,11-tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane = CCRM) produces four highly paramagnetically shifted chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) peaks. The 1,8-pendants of the complex are bound in a trans-arrangement to produce a Co(II) complex of increased kinetic inertness. The isomers have a stabilized Co(II) center (E1/2 of 540 to 550 mV versus SHE). Both the 1,8 and the 1,4-isomer are excellent pH probes in solution and in tissue homogenate by virtue of their highly paramagnetically shifted amide protons. These isomers produce both a ratiometric pH readout as well as amide proton exchange rate constants that correlate to pH.
Applying a Prediction Model for Vaginal Birth after Cesarean to a Latina Inner-City Population.

Background The Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network developed a prediction model for calculating the likelihood of successful vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in patients undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). In this prediction model, Latina ethnicity is considered a negative predictive factor for successful VBAC. Subsequent studies have found mixed results regarding VBAC success in Latina ethnicity. Objective Our aim was to compare the predicted chance of successful VBAC (as calculated using the MFMU prediction model) to actual TOLAC outcomes in a large Latina sample. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of Latinas who underwent TOLAC at our institution from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. The MFMU prediction model was used to calculate each participant's predicted success, and the participants were then categorized into three groups based on predicted success: low ( 65%). The predicted success rates versus actual outcomes were compared among the three groups. Results A total of 567 Latinas met inclusion criteria. Successful VBAC occurred in 476 patients (84%). VBAC was achieved in 65.3% of the low predicted success group, 84.4% of the moderate predicted success group, and 91.7% of the predicted high success group. Actual VBAC success rates exceeded the predicted success rates for the low and moderate groups. Conclusion Our results question whether Latina ethnicity should continue to be considered a negative predictive factor for VBAC success. Our results also suggest that Latinas with a low predicted VBAC success should not necessarily be discouraged from attempting TOLAC.
Compact setup for SIMO measurements of slab interconnects and correlation with PEDOT:PSS nanostructure morphology

We demonstrate a compact, portable and reliable, poor-man’s 8-channel interconnect and measure, in the 50- 100MHz VHF radiofrequency range, the path-dependent voltage transfer function across drop-cast poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). The setup may be inexpensively deployed for single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) self-sensing materials with computational impedance tomography algorithms. We test our setup with PEDOT:PSS samples that are dried in a static magnetic field. These samples exhibit anisotropic electrical conductivities and nanostructure morphologies. Voltages across the sample vary 2dB as a result of this anisotropy. This processing-dependent anisotropy of PEDOT:PSS may be useful in future efforts aimed at deconvolving the path-dependent electrical tomography measurements, as necessary for such a sensing system.
Synthesis and evaluation of tiaprofenic acid-derived UCHL5 deubiquitinase inhibitors.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in maintaining protein homeostasis by degrading intracellular proteins. In the proteasome, poly-ubiquitinated proteins are deubiquitinated by three deubiquitinases (DUBs) associated with 19S regulatory particle before degradation via 20S core particle. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L5 (UCHL5) is one of three proteasome-associated DUBs that control the fate of ubiquitinated substrates implicated in cancer survival and progression. In this study, we have performed virtual screening of an FDA approved drug library with UCHL5 and discovered tiaprofenic acid (TA) as a potential binder. With molecular docking analysis and in-vitro DUB assay, we have designed, synthesized, and evaluated a series of TA derivatives for inhibition of UCHL5 activity. We demonstrate that one TA derivative, TAB2, acts as an inhibitor of UCHL5.
Assessing quality of care in the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage testicular cancer: A critical review and summary.

Abstract Objective To review the current literature on quality of care in the diagnosis and management of early-stage testicular cancer. Methods PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies on quality of care in testicular cancer diagnosis and management from January 1980 to August 2018. Major overlapping themes related to quality of care in the diagnosis and management of TGCT were identified and evidence related to these themes were abstracted. Evidence 62 studies were included in the review. A number of themes were identified including (1) trends in survival and outcomes, (2) management patterns, (3) adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines, (4) delays in care, (5) treatment complications and toxicities, (6) sociodemographic factors, (7) volume of patients treated, (8) gaps in provider knowledge and medical errors, and (9) multidisciplinary approaches to care. Evidence Summary As survival for patients with testicular cancer improves, there has been a greater emphasis on other components of quality of care, such as reducing treatment toxicity and minimizing delays in diagnosis. Efforts to meet these goals include encouragement of adherence to evidence-based guidelines, greater utilization of surveillance, and promotion of multidisciplinary team-based care. Although outcomes have improved, social determinants of health, such as insurance status, race, and geographical residence all may influence survival and cancer-related outcomes. Additionally, qualitative review indicates patients who receive care at high-volume institutions appear to experience better outcomes than those treated at smaller centers. Conclusions As outcomes and survival improve for patients with testicular cancer, quality of care has become an important consideration. Future avenues of research on this topic include identifying an appropriate balance between centralization of care and expanding access to underserved areas, minimizing delays in care, ensuring greater adherence to clinical guidelines, and addressing sociodemographic and racial disparities in outcomes.
Exploring the Stable and Changing Beliefs of Middle Class Urban Hindu Couples in New Delhi about Opposite Sex Marriage

This study explores the beliefs of middle class urban Hindus (MCUHs) about the meaning and purpose of the institution of heterosexual marriage. The intention was to develop a foundation for assessment tools valid for India’s population. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted in the homes of 32 MCUH in New Delhi who had been married for at least seven years. Qualitative methodology along with the constant comparison method was used to analyze the data. This sample conceived of marriage, both as a noun and a verb, differently than the theoretical models underlying Western assessment tools. To these MCUH, marriage is a sacred, inescapable, socially-sanctioned, developmental stage in which pragmatic collectivist rationales exclude romantic motives. Accordingly, the researchers found probes about marital “satisfaction” to be largely unfruitful. Some MCUH described minor changes driven by formal education, Western thinking, and technological development. Implications for family clinicians and future research are given.
Linear polarization–direction correlations in $$\gamma $$ γ -ray scattering experiments

Scattering measurements with incident linearly polarized $$\gamma $$ rays provide information on spins, parities, and $$\gamma $$ -ray multipolarity mixing coefficients, and, therefore, on the nuclear matrix elements involved in the transitions. We present the general formalism for analyzing the observed angular correlations. The expressions are used to compute three-dimensional radiation patterns, which are important tools for optimizing experimental setups. Frequently, $$\gamma $$ -ray transitions can proceed via two multipolarities that mix coherently. In such cases, the relative phases of the nuclear matrix elements are important when comparing results from different measurements. We discuss different phase conventions that have been used in the literature and present their relationships. Finally, we propose a basic experimental geometry consisting of detectors located at four different spatial locations. For this geometry, we present the measured anisotropies of the emitted $$\gamma $$ rays in graphical format as an aid in the data analysis.
Assessment of the Association of HIV Infection with Hepatic Steatosis or Fibrosis: a Cross-Sectional, Case-Control Study

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy have been associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but few studies have evaluated whether HIV infection is an independent risk factor for the development of hepatic steatosis and advanced liver fibrosis. To study the prevalence and severity of hepatic steatosis and advanced fibrosis in people living with HIV and control outpatients. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of relevant data from 875 pairs of individuals belonging to an HIV-dedicated outpatient clinic and an adult primary care clinic of an inner-city hospital. Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) and FIB-4 index were calculated as non-invasive measures of steatosis and fibrosis, respectively. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of steatosis and advanced fibrosis. The prevalence of hepatic steatosis, determined by HSI ≥ 36, was higher in HIV-negative subjects (71.5% vs. 65.4%, p = 0.006). The prevalence of advanced fibrosis, determined by FIB-4 index ≥ 3.25, was higher in the HIV-positive group (7% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis did not identify HIV infection to be an independent risk factor for hepatic steatosis (p = 0.068) and advanced fibrosis. In this cohort, hepatic steatosis was more prevalent in non-HIV infected patients, while advanced fibrosis had a higher prevalence in people living with HIV. HIV infection was not found to be an independent risk factor for either hepatic steatosis or fibrosis.
Design and implementation of a low-level image segmentation architecture — LISA

The main focus of this paper is on the architectural and implementation issues of a prototype of a low-level image segmentation architecture (LISA). LISA performs real-time (20 Mpixels/sec) gray-level image segmentation, i.e., assignment of image pixels to a few user-selected classes. A decision-theoretic pattern-recognition approach is used, which is divided into a feature extraction part and a decision analysis part. The feature extraction part is based on extracting local and global descriptions for all of the image pixels. In the decision analysis part we designed a novel no-cross-term classifier, which significantly reduced the hardware complexity. The LISA prototype has been built with custom and off-the-shelf VLSI chips. Some measured results will also be reported.
PPARα agonist WY-14,643 induces adipose atrophy and fails to blunt chronic ethanol-induced hepatic fat accumulation in mice lacking adipose FGFR1.

Abstract Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is mainly regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in liver. The PPARα-FGF21 axis protects against alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). FGF21 exerts its effect via FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1). However, liver specific FGFR1 abrogation had no effect on ALD. Adipose tissues highly express FGFR1. When adipocyte specific FGFR1 knockout (fgfr1adipoQ-cre) mice and corresponding normal control (fgfr1fl/fl) mice were fed with Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet for 3 weeks, liver triglyceride (TG) accumulation was increased in the fgfr1fl/fl mice to a greater extent than in the fgfr1adipoQ-cre mice. When PPARα agonist WY-14,643 was added in the liquid ethanol diet at 10 mg/L, the ethanol-induced liver TG accumulation was blunted in the fgfr1fl/fl mice but not in the fgfr1adipoQ-cre mice. There was no significant difference in WY-14,643-induced fatty acid oxidation, ethanol metabolism, and oxidative stress between the fgfr1fl/fl and fgfr1adipoQ-cre mice. Interestingly, adipose atrophy was induced by WY-14,643 in the fgfr1adipoQ-cre mice but not in the fgfr1fl/fl mice. Serum free fatty acid was also decreased by WY-14,643 in the fgfr1adipoQ-cre mice but not in the fgfr1fl/fl mice. These results suggest that WY-14,643 inhibits alcoholic fatty liver and regulates adipose tissue mass and fat mobilization from adipose tissues to liver in an adipocyte FGFR1-dependent manner.
Designing for Interactive Exploratory Data Analysis Requires Theories of Graphical Inference

Research and development in computer science and statistics have produced increasingly sophisticated software interfaces for interactive and exploratory analysis, optimized for easy pattern finding and data exposure. But design philosophies that emphasize exploration over other phases of analysis risk confusing a need for flexibility with a conclusion that exploratory visual analysis is inherently “model free” and cannot be formalized. We describe how without a grounding in theories of human statistical inference, research in exploratory visual analysis can lead to contradictory interface objectives and representations of uncertainty that can discourage users from drawing valid inferences. We discuss how the concept of a model check in a Bayesian statistical framework unites exploratory and confirmatory analysis, and how this understanding relates to other proposed theories of graphical inference. Viewing interactive analysis as driven by model checks suggests new directions for software and empirical research around exploratory and visual analysis. For example, systems might enable specifying and explicitly comparing data to null and other reference distributions and better representations of uncertainty. Implications of Bayesian and other theories of graphical inference can be tested against outcomes of interactive analysis by people to drive theory development.
The Paradox at the Heart of Modernity: The Carbon Efficiency of the Global Economy

As the threat of global climate change grows increasingly dire, we are faced with the challenge of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) (the leading greenhouse gas) emissions to the atmosphere. There is much debate about what are the most effective strategies for meeting this challenge. In this debate, one prominent question centers on whether reducing the carbon intensity of the economy (CO2 emissions per dollar of gross domestic product) will help reduce total CO2 emissions. Some argue that improvements in the carbon efficiency of the economy will allow us to reduce CO2 emissions even in the face of economic growth. Others suggest that improving carbon efficiency may not only be insufficient to counter the effects of economic growth, it may actually spur the expansion of production and consumption, and thereby lead to an escalation of CO2 emissions. Here, I address this issue by examining trends in carbon intensity and total CO2 emissions in the world as a whole and in the five nations that emit the most CO2: ...
Integrated Pest Management of Pest Mole Crickets with Emphasis on the Southeastern USA

There are at least 70 species of mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae). Some are rare, others are innocuous, and a few are important pests. These soil-dwelling pests damage underground parts of a long list of cultivated plants. Although tillage and flooding are used successfully in some situations to bring these pests to the soil surface and expose them to vertebrate and other predators, chemical pesticides are widely used against them. Knowledge of their life history is used to time application of chemical treatments to save money, but is not used as widely as it might be. Classical biological control has been used against immigrant mole crickets in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the southern USA. In Florida, three Scapteriscus species from South America cause major damage to pastures and turf and are targets of a classical biological control program. Population levels of two of the pest species have been reduced substantially in Florida by establishment of a tachinid fly (Ormia depleta) and a steinernematid nematode (Steinernema scapterisci) from South America. The nematode also functions as a biopesticide. Managers of pastures and turf in Florida have thus far derived benefit from these classical biological control agents without understanding their function: use of chemicals is reduced when mole cricket populations are lower due to action of these organisms. Future enhancement of the action of O. depleta and of a sphecid wasp (Larra bicolor, which also was introduced from South America) probably will demand deliberate planting of nectar sources for adults of these biological control agents, and the advantage will be to managers who adopt such a strategy. Chemical pesticide use is strongly promoted by a large chemical industry, whereas biopesticidal use has thus far been little promoted and sales have been few. Even managers who do not change their simple strategy of pesticide use in response to damage by mole crickets, and have no knowledge of the differing life cycles of the three Scapteriscus species or of the presence and action of the classical biological control agents, will derive benefit as these biological control agents (and a predatory beetle which has not yet been released) increase their distribution.
Energy Coupling of the β-Methylgalactoside Transport System of Escherichia coli

Abstract Energy coupling for the concentrative uptake of galactose via the β-methylgalactoside transport system occurs via an intermediate produced during oxidative phosphorylation but before ATP formation. The membrane-bound ATPase, necessary for ATP formation during oxidative phosphorylation, is not obligatory for energy coupling of transport but can, under anaerobic conditions, accomplish energy coupling by ATP hydrolysis. These conclusions are supported by the following findings: (a) galactose uptake in intact cells can be stimulated by substrates of the respiratory chain and inhibited by inhibitors of the respiratory chain and by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation; (b) cells made anaerobic for the transport assay are fully transport active; (c) a mutant defective in the membrane-bound ATPase has lost transport activity unless supplied with exogenous d-lactate, and the additional presence of arsenate completely blocks the stimulation by d-lactate; (d) a mutant defective in the respiratory chain due to a defect in ubiquinone biosynthesis still exhibits transport activity, which cannot be stimulated by d-lactate.
'Mediation Only' Filings in the Delaware Court of Chancery: Can New Value Be Added by One of America's Business Courts?

This essay advocates a new role for the Delaware Court of Chancery - the handling of "mediation only" business cases. Mediation only cases are matters submitted to the court solely for the purpose of invoking the services of a member of the Court of Chancery as a mediator to help the parties resolve a business dispute through a mediated settlement. The judicial-mediator would have no adjudicative role in the traditional sense, but would solely act to facilitate a mutually acceptable resolution.In the essay, the author identifies the possible utility of this concept - which was recently enacted into law - and its consistency, in broad terms, with the historic role of the Delaware Court of Chancery in filling "gaps" in corporate instruments and commercial contracts.
[5] Class I and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules

Publisher Summary The goal of the immune system is to establish and maintain separation of self and nonself. Invasion of otherwise sterile tissues by nonself in the form of microorganisms is harmful on a local basis. Such infections can be superficial, such as cellulitis, or deep, such as osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, or pyelonephritis. When microorganisms disseminate systemically, infection can be life threatening because bacteremia and clinical sepsis. Alternatively, infection of key organs leading to severe organ dysfunction or failure can also lead to death. Examples of this situation include viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic pneumonia leading to respiratory failure; carditis, endocarditis, or valvulitis producing heart failure; or encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, or meningitis leading to cerebral death.
Efficient direct user level sockets for an Intel/spl reg/ Xeon/spl trade/ processor based TCP on-load engine

Intel Labs has continued development of the embedded transport acceleration (ETA) software prototype that uses one of the Intel/spl reg/ Xeon/spl trade/ processors in a multi-processor server as a packet processing engine (PPE) that is closely tied to the server's core CPU and memory complex. We have further developed the prototype to provide support for user-level, asynchronous interface for sockets. The direct user socket interface (DUSI) allows user-level applications to interface directly to the PPE using familiar socket commands and semantics. The prototype runs in an asymmetric multiprocessing mode, in that the PPE does not run as a general computing resource for the host operating system. We describe the prototype software architecture, the DUSI application interface, and detail our measurement and analysis of some micro-benchmarks. In particular, we measure throughput for transactions and end-to-end latency as the key metrics for the analysis.
Enhanced behavioral response to repeated-dose cocaine in adolescent rats

Most lifelong drug addiction in humans originates during adolescence. Important structural and functional changes in the brain occur during adolescence, but there has been little direct study of how this impacts on drug abuse vulnerability. An emerging literature suggests that adolescents exhibit different behavioral responses to single doses of several addictive drugs, including ethanol, amphetamine, and cocaine. However, few studies have explored behavioral responses to the repeated dosing that is characteristic of human abuse of these substances. We have investigated age-related behavioral responses to acute “binge” cocaine treatment between adults and adolescents. Adolescent rats displayed an exaggerated behavioral response to cocaine administered in two different binge patterns. Total locomotion after cocaine administration was the same in adolescents and adults. However, adolescent rats engaged in more intense stereotypic behaviors, including paw treading, head weaving, and focused sniffing than adult rats. These differences were observable following a modest dose of cocaine and became more robust following subsequent doses within a binge. Cocaine blood and brain levels were not significantly different between age groups during any of the exposure sessions. These findings suggest that equivalent tissue concentrations of cocaine produce a greater behavioral response in young rats, and that adolescent animals display an apparent form of intrabinge sensitization.
VASCULAR CELL ATTACHMENT AND PROCOAGULANT ACTIVITY ON METAL ALLOYS

The attachment and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells on biomaterials used as components of devices implanted in the vascular space may influence the biocompatibility of such materials. The nat...
Sensitivity of total strain energy of a vehicle structure to local joint stiffness

This paper discusses how the total strain energy of a vehicle structure is affected by local joint stiffness. By using the principle of virtual work and the minimum strain energy theorem, a closed-form expression for the sensitivity coefficient has been derived. The insensitivity of the total strain energy of a vehicle structure to a particular joint, when its stiffness exceeds a certain value (or threshold value), has been proved mathematically. In order to investigate the sensitivity of the structure to the joint stiffness, a "stick" model has been created and its results have been compared to the test data for accuracy. Some data on joint stiffness of tested vehicles are also presented.
Understanding age and technology experience differences in use of prior knowledge for everyday technology interactions

Technology designers must understand relevant prior knowledge in a target user population to facilitate adoption and effective use. To assess prior knowledge used in naturalistic settings, we systematically collected information about technologies used over 10-day periods from older adults with high and low technology experience and younger adults. Technology repertoires for younger adults and high technology older adults were similar; differences reflected typically different needs for kitchen and health care technologies between the age groups. Technology repertoires for low-technology older adults showed substantial technology usage in many categories. Lower usage compared to high-tech older adults for each category was limited primarily to PC and Internet technologies. Experience differences suggest preferences among low-technology older adults for basic technology usage and for working with people rather than technologies.Participants in all groups were generally successful using their everyday technologies to achieve their goals. Prior knowledge was the most common attribution for success, but external information was also commonly referenced. Relevant prior knowledge included technical, functional, strategy, and self knowledge. High tech older adults did not report more problems than younger adults, but they did attribute more problems to insufficient prior knowledge. Younger adults attributed more problems to interference from prior knowledge. Low-tech older adults reported fewer problems, typically attributing them to insufficient prior knowledge or product/system faults. We discuss implications for further research and design improvements to increase everyday technology success and adoption for high-tech and low-tech older adults.
Redox-dependent structural differences in putidaredoxin derived from homologous structure refinement via residual dipolar couplings.

Structural differences in the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin, putidaredoxin (Pdx), from the camphor hydroxylation pathway of Pseudomonas putida have been investigated as a function of oxidation state of the iron cluster. Pdx is involved in biological electron transfer to cytochrome P450cam (CYP101). Redox-dependent differences have been observed previously for Pdx in terms of binding affinities to CYP101, NMR spectral differences, and dynamic properties. To further characterize these differences, structure refinement of both oxidized and reduced Pdx has been carried out using a hybrid approach utilizing paramagnetic distance restraints and NMR orientational restraints in the form of backbone 15N residual dipolar couplings. Use of these new restraints has improved the structure of oxidized Pdx considerably over the earlier solution NMR structure without RDC restraints, with the new structure now much closer in overall fold to the recently published X-ray crystal structures. We now observe better defined relative orie...
Nonlinear Heating of a Magnetoplasma: Temperature of the Ionosphere

Results of the theoretical study of nonlinear heating of a multicomponent magnetoplasma (of the ionosphere) under the action of an electric field E = Eoeiut are considered in this paper. All of the kinds of collisions between the constituents of the plasma (electrons, ions, neutral particles) and their velocities are taken into account. In some cases the self-consistent solution of the corresponding systems of equations is studied. Numerical results characterize altitude, frequency, and angle dependencies of the temperatures of the ionosphere's constituents in the altitude range Z = 100-1000 km, in the frequency band F = 1-104 Hz, and angles 6 = 0-90 deg. The temperature of all of the particles increases very quickly with altitude. At Z > 150 km, the temperatures in the discussed frequency range become larger than the ionization potential, even when the amplitude of the electric field EQ - 1-2 mV/m.
ISOLATION OF A SULFOQUINOVOSYL MONOACYLGLYCEROL FROM BRYOPSIS SP. (CHLOROPHYTA): IDENTIFICATION OF A FACTOR CAUSING A POSSIBLE SPECIES‐SPECIFIC ECDYSIS RESPONSE IN GAMBIERDISCUS TOXICUS (DINOPHYCEAE)1,

A bioactive compound that induced ecdysis (thecal loss) in Gambierdiscus toxicus Adachi et Fukuyo (Dinophyceae) cultures was isolated from a host macroalga, Bryopsis sp. (Chlorophyta). The ecdysis factor was identified by spectroscopic methods as 1-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(6′-sulfo-α-d-quinovopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (PSQG). From our results, PSQG induced ecdysis at a high frequency and appeared not to inhibit the growth of G. toxicus cultures. The induction of ecdysis followed a dose-dependent saturation curve from 4 to 8 μM PSQG. To determine specificity of PSQG, the effects of palmitoyl-l-α-lysophosphatidylcholine (PLPC) were observed. Because PLPC contains a lipophilic palmitoyl moiety and hydrophilic phosphatidyl choline group, the compound possesses a detergent-like amphiphathic property similar to PSQG. Our results demonstrate that PLPC induced ecdysis at a high frequency in G. toxicus cultures and generated a similar dose–response curve as PSQG. The ecdysis activity observed in PSQG and PLPC may correlate with the detergent-like amphiphathic property of both compounds. Although PLPC induced a similar ecdysis response as PSQG, PLPC appeared to inhibit the growth of G. toxicus cultures. Preliminary results on the effects of PSQG on the dinoflagellates Prorocentrum lima (Ehrenberg) Dodge and Coolia monotis Meunier did not parallel the results observed in G. toxicus. This study demonstrated the existence of a factor from Bryopsis sp. that elicited a possible species-specific ecdysis response in G. toxicus cultures. This is the first report of a compound that induced ecdysis in G. toxicus or in any dinoflagellate.
Corporate planning in major Japanese enterprises

The practice of organized corporate planning in major Japanese enterprises is more sophisticated, further developed, and better accepted than most Westerners recognize. Just as we can learn from Japanese management, we can also learn from Japanese corporate planning. Our research reveals that formal planning was started in Japan before most American or European managers embraced the concept, that the best Japanese practices represent the forefront of the state of the art, and that the current emphasis in Japanese planning is highly entrepreneurial and strategic. As of the mid‐1970s, corporate planning in Japan is very popular, well integrated into the Japanese managerial system, and highly geared to diversification strategies at home and resource‐ and market‐based strategies internationally (see Appendix A). The so‐called Japanese challenge may have abated in traditional form. A study of current corporate planning practices, however, suggests that Western managers would make a mistake in discounting the challenge altogether.