cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid B1+ mapping using a preconditioning RF pulse with TurboFLASH readout

In MRI, the transmit radiofrequency field (B(1)(+)) inhomogeneity can lead to signal intensity variations and quantitative measurement errors. By independently mapping the local B(1)(+) variation, the radiofrequency-related signal variations can be corrected for. In this study, we present a new fast B(1)(+) mapping method using a slice-selective preconditioning radiofrequency pulse. Immediately after applying a slice-selective preconditioning pulse, a turbo fast low-angle-shot imaging sequence with centric k-space reordering is performed to capture the residual longitudinal magnetization left behind by the slice-selective preconditioning pulse due to B(1)(+) variation. Compared to the reference double-angle method, this method is considerably faster. Specifically, the total scan time for the double-angle method is equal to the product of 2 (number of images), the number of phase-encoding lines, and approximately 5T(1), whereas the slice-selective preconditioning method takes approximately 5T(1). This method was validated in vitro and in vivo with a 3-T whole-body MRI system. The combined brain and pelvis B(1)(+) measurements showed excellent agreement and strong correlation with those by the double-angle method (mean difference = 0.025; upper and lower 95% limits of agreement were -0.07 and 0.12; R = 0.93; P < 0.001). This fast B(1)(+) mapping method can be used for a variety of applications, including body imaging where fast imaging is desirable.
Programming Heterogeneous Systems

Various specialized hardware designs, such as Cell, GPGPUs, and MIC, have gained traction as alternative hardware designs capable of delivering higher flop rates than conventional designs. However, a drawback of these accelerators is that they simultaneously increase programmer burden in terms of code complexity and decrease portability by requiring hardware specific code to be interleaved throughout application code. The structure of the application code itself typically requires modification when targeting accelerators. Further, balancing the application workload across the cores becomes problematic, especially if a given computation must be split across a mixture of core types with variable performance characteristics. Our research aims to address the complications that arise in heterogeneous systems by understanding how the application build process and underlying runtime system can assist the programmer in developing parallel programs that target such platforms. We are developing a unified programming model that can be used for all cores, host and accelerator alike. We discuss the modifications we have made to the runtime system, along with discussing future modifications. We have demonstrated a simple molecular dynamics (MD) program executing on a mixture of x86 and Cell processors without requiring hardware specific code within the application code.
Democracy against Parties? Party System Deinstitutionalization in Colombia:

This article argues that in Colombia, decentralization and electoral reforms adopted in the late 1980s and in the 1991 Constitution – designed to improve democratic quality – brought about a gradual deinstitutionalization of this country’s traditional party system as an unintended consequence. Building upon resource-based theories of party configuration, we contend that in developing countries, where resources are usually crucial for party aggregation, “democratizing” reforms designed to distribute power and resources in the political system can reduce local candidates’ incentives to join and remain loyal to political parties, particularly when those parties’ reputations are weak. In Colombia, these reforms (i) reduced the power of intermediate-level party leaders over the distribution of selective incentives, making these leaders less important for local politicians, and (ii) gave more political and financial autonomy to local candidates, reducing their need to join parties in order to advance their electoral goals. As a result, party cohesion and discipline become difficult to maintain, and the party system gradually deinstitutionalizes.
Inhibition of DPP-4: a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACTBackground: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP‑1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are hormones secreted by the enteroendocrine cells of the gut in response to the ingestion of nutrients. These incretin hormones, so called because they increase insulin secretion, are key modulators of pancreatic islet hormone secretion and, thus, glucose homeostasis. The glucoregulatory effects of incretins are the basis for new therapies currently being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Drugs that inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP‑4), a ubiquitous enzyme that rapidly inactivates both GLP-1 and GIP, increase active levels of these hormones and, in doing so, improve islet function and glycemic control in T2DM.Scope: In this review, we briefly describe (1) the role of pancreatic islet dysfunction in the onset and progression of T2DM, (2) the rationale for developing drugs that enhance incretin activity, (3) the evidence that inhibition of DPP‑4 is effective in ameliora...
Processing Effects in the Sol–Gel Preparation of PZT Dried Gels, Powders, and Ferroelectric Thin Layers

This paper reports on infrared spectroscopy that was used to monitor and characterize solutions used in the preparation of PZT 53/47 powders, dried gels, and thin layers deposited on platinized silicon substrates. It was found that careful control of the chemistry of the precursor solutions, in particular the control of the formation of esters and their elimination, resulted in reproducible solutions which could be used to prepare thin layers with superior properties. In addition, it was found that phase development and microstructure were related to the precursor chemistry. Single-phase perovskite layers with uniform microstructures resulted from ester-free solutions and were suitable for ferroelectric applications (P[sub r] [approximately] 22 [mu]C/cm[sup 2], E[sub c] [approximately] 80 kV/cm, K [approximately] 800, tan [delta] [approximately] 0.01).
Constraints: a uniform approach to aliasing and typing

A constraint is a relation among program variables that is maintained throughout execution. Type declarations and a very general form of aliasing can be expressed as constraints. A proof system based upon the interpretation of Hoare triples as temporal logic formulas is given for reasoning about programs with constraints. The proof system is shown to be sound and relatively complete, and example program proofs are given.
A note on the hamming weighting of linear-FM pulses

For rectangular linear-FM pulses with time-bandwidth product less than about 170, Hamming weighting (of a matched-filter receiver) produces lower largest range sidelobes if applied in the time domain rather than the frequency domain.
Thyroid enlargement probably induced by cobalt. A report of 3 cases.

Summary Three cases of thyroid enlargement presumably induced by an iron-coblat preparation are presented. One case demonstrated hyperplasia at autopsy and 2 had enlargement of the gland that regressed upon discontinuation of the medication. The probable retion between cobalt and the appearence of goiter is discussed. A warning is voiced against the use of cobalt in the treatment of anemia.
Foster Children Paying for Foster Care

This Article examines the legality and policy concerns of state foster care agencies using children's Social Security benefits as a state funding stream. The practice requires foster children who are disabled or have deceased or disabled parents to pay for their own care. Often with the assistance of private consultants under contingency fee contracts, agencies look for children who are eligible for Social Security benefits and interject themselves as the children's representative payees. Rather than using the benefits to serve the children's unmet needs, the agencies use their fiduciary power to access the children's benefits and apply the funds to reimburse foster care costs for which the children have no legal obligation. Although the practice was upheld by the Supreme Court in Washington State Dep't. of Social and Health Services vs. Guardianship Estate of Keffeler, the decision was limited and legal and policy questions remain unresolved. This Article provides a framework for renewed policy discussions and expanded litigation strategies in the wake of Keffeler. The Article investigates agency practices, weighs the policy concerns, analyzes several possible legal challenges that remain after Keffeler, and concludes with concrete suggestions for reform.
Getting More from Morphology in Multilingual Dependency Parsing

We propose a linguistically motivated set of features to capture morphological agreement and add them to the MSTParser dependency parser. Compared to the built-in morphological feature set, ours is both much smaller and more accurate across a sample of 20 morphologically annotated treebanks. We find increases in accuracy of up to 5.3% absolute. While some of this results from the feature set capturing information unrelated to morphology, there is still significant improvement, up to 4.6% absolute, due to the agreement model.
Mocking the Myth of Freedom: Pakistan Views America

What about the First Amendment? Does it permit laughing? And what about secret detentions? Are they permitted now? And why are they bugging the mosques in America?
Regulatory Crosstalk Analysis of Biochemical Networks in the Hippocampus and Nucleus Accumbens

This chapter describes mathematical modeling of neuronal biochemical pathways, especially for pathological and non-pathological features of molecular and cellular mechanisms in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens. We modeled both types of neurons with a variety of techniques: dynamic equations, constraint-based modeling, and complex network analysis. The last two approaches are called static modeling. In this chapter, we introduced these 3 methods to model the process of signal transduction, metabolism, ion fluxes, and gene regulation in a neuron, and their recent applications to the pathological characterization of the system. (1) The first one is a model of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 neurons, which is thought to be relevant for learning and memory. We selected a constraint-based approach to model the cell, which uses constraint conditions in models from the stoichiometry matrix of chemical reactions in the absence of kinetic data. (2) The second model focuses on hippocampal signaling pathways in Alzheimer’s disease, including neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity and neuronal death. This is an application of complex network analysis to biological networks, with a particular emphasis on the k shortest path and the k-cycle. (3) The synaptic plasticity in medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens is the main topic of the third model, which is thought to be relevant for reward system. An approach to reveal the dynamic properties of the model is a conventional ordinary differential equation-based modeling and perturbation analysis. Finally, brief concluding remarks appear in Sect. 4.5.
Evaluation of Aluminum and Iron Addition during Conditioning and Dewatering for Odor Control

The objectives of this research were to investigate the factors impacting the effectiveness of metal salts in reducing the production of volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) in biosolids, with the goal of developing recommendations for applying metal salt addition in the field for odor reduction. The research examined a number of factors which could impact the effectiveness of metal salt addition which included chemical dosage, types of chemicals, location of the addition point, the shear applied to the solids, and different biosolids sources. The results showed that metal salt addition can reduce VOSC production, but their effectiveness is especially impacted by the shear applied to the biosolids. Greater amounts of shear resulted in greater dosages required to achieve VOSC reduction. Comparison of different metals including, alum, polyaluminum chloride, sodium aluminate, ferric chloride, ferrous chloride, ferric sulfate, ferrous sulfate, zero-valent iron and magnesium chloride showed that all could reduce VOSC production, and some worked slightly better than others, but none were vastly superior to the others. In special cases where a biosolids produced higher quantities of hydrogen sulfide, addition of iron based chemicals generally had lower hydrogen concentrations than aluminum based chemicals, likely due to iron-sulfide precipitation. However, addition of sodium aluminate also reduced hydrogen sulfide, mainly due to the increased pH above which hydrogen sulfide volatilizes. Little differences were found when comparing the chemical addition points during conditioning, either before, with, or after the polymer. Addition directly to the cake was also effective. The addition of metal salts can be applied to reduce the production of odorants, although it is difficult to predict the dosage that will be required without laboratory and possibly pilot testing. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series . ISBN: 9781843392842 (Print) ISBN: 9781780403540 (eBook)
Constraint-Based Models of Lexical Borrowing

Linguistic borrowing is the phenomenon of transferring linguistic constructions (lexical, phonological, morphological, and syntactic) from a “donor” language to a “recipient” language as a result of contacts between communities speaking different languages. Borrowed words are found in all languages, and—in contrast to cognate relationships—borrowing relationships may exist across unrelated languages (for example, about 40% of Swahili’s vocabulary is borrowed from Arabic). In this paper, we develop a model of morpho-phonological transformations across languages with features based on universal constraints from Optimality Theory (OT). Compared to several standard— but linguistically naive—baselines, our OTinspired model obtains good performance with only a few dozen training examples, making this a cost-effective strategy for sharing lexical information across languages.
The Political Economy of Paraguay and the Impoverishment of the Missions

Located at the extreme periphery of the Spanish Empire, Paraguay suffered from its political role as a buffer state against the rival Portuguese colony of Brazil and the hostile Indian nations. Accordingly, during the late colonial period, extended tours of military duty contributed to the province's severe labor shortage. But of even greater consequence were the combined effects of Paraguay's monocrop economy and its economic dependency within the Imperial commercial capitalist system. Best described as a chain-like structure officially beginning in Spain and extending to the remote province via Panama, Lima, and Buenos Aires, this system served to depress Paraguay's economy and appropriate a great portion of its wealth, leaving the majority of the people in dire poverty.
Do as I Say and as I Do: The Effects of Consistent Parental Beliefs and Behaviors Upon Religious Transmission

Previous research suggests that when mothers and fathers belong to the same religious denomi nation andlor they are equally religious, they are better able to transmit their religious behaviors and attitudes to their children. Instead of focusing on religious consistency between parents, our research explores the effect of consistency between a parent's attitudes and behaviors. When parents send a consistent message to children regarding religion, by teaching them that religion is important and by attending church frequently, religious transmission should be more likely to occur. When parents send mixed messages to their children, i.e. when their religious behaviors are incongruent with their atti tudes about religion, the extent of religious transmission should be diminished. Our results indicate that adolescents are most religious when their parents attend church and believe religion is important. When parents are inconsistent, importance of religion has more of an effect on religious transmission than church attendance.
High-speed deposition of graded-index fiber by the multiflame vapor axial deposition method

The high-speed deposition of VAD porous preform has become economically possible by utilizing the multiflame VAD method.1 In high-speed VAD of graded-lndex fibers, It is important to improve on the yield percentage of raw material and the controllability of the refractive-index profile. Graded-index fibers were fabricated at a deposition rate of 3–5 g/min by utilizing the multiflame VAD method. A raw material yield of 70% and high bandwidth of more than 1 GHz · km were achieved.
Osteogenic Differentiation of Pre-Osteoblasts on Biomimetic Tyrosine-Derived Polycarbonate Scaffolds

The osteogenic potential of biomimetic tyrosine-derived polycarbonate (TyrPC) scaffolds containing either an ethyl ester or a methyl ester group combined with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) was assessed using the preosteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1. Each composition of TyrPC was fabricated into 3D porous scaffolds with a bimodal pore distribution of micropores <20 μm and macropores between 200 and 400 μm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization suggested MC3T3-E1 cell attachment on the TyrPC scaffold surface. Moreover, the 3D TyrPC-containing ethyl ester side chains supported osteogenic lineage progression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OCN) expression as well as an increase in calcium content compared with the scaffolds containing the methyl ester group. The release profiles of rhBMP-2 from the 3D TyrPC scaffolds by 15 days suggested a biphasic rhBMP-2 release. There was no significant difference in bioactivity between rhBMP-2 releasate from the scaffolds and exogenous rhBMP-2. Lastly, the TyrPC containing rhBMP-2 promoted more ALP activity and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells compared with TyrPC without rhBMP-2. Consequently, the data strongly suggest that TyrPC scaffolds will provide a highly useful platform for bone tissue engineering.
InteGuard: Toward Automatic Protection of Third-Party Web Service Integrations.

A web application today often utilizes web APIs to incorporate third-party services into its functionality. Such API integration, however, is full of security perils: recent studies show that popular web sites using high-profile web services, such as PayPal/Amazon checkouts and Facebook/Google single-sign-on (SSO) services, are riddled with logic flaws, enabling a malicious party to shop for free or log into a victim’s account. To address this new threat, techniques need to be developed to facilitate secure integration of third-party web services. To answer this urgent call, we present in this paper InteGuard, the first system that offers security protection to vulnerable web API integrations. InteGuard operates a proxy in front of the service integrator’s web site, performing security checks on a set of invariant relations among the HTTP messages the integrator receives during a transaction (e.g., a checkout from a web store or a web SSO). These invariants link multiple HTTP sessions to a transaction and capture their security-critical relations. They also characterize transactionrelated communication the proxy cannot directly observe, which happens between the client and the service provider. InteGuard includes a suite of novel techniques that automatically extract such invariants from a variety of communication channels adopted by diverse integrations and achieve effective false positive control in this process. Our evaluation shows that InteGuard can defeat complicated exploits on high-profile web services, with little impact on their normal operations.
Problems in the Evaluation of Results from Replantation Surgery

SUMMARY “Success” or “failure” of reattachment surgery cannot be equated with the successful repair of any one of the tissue types operated upon. A replant operation is not a success simply if a fracture heals or if sensibility returns. Similarly, it is not a success if the vessel functions. These are complex composite injuries for which success must be measured only by function defined in global terms for each individual patient and function of the hand as a whole rather than by any single type of tissue repaired. For the individual patient, tissue survival may be correlated with excellent functional recovery, or the replanted part may survive only as a parasite and actually be a detriment to function. The functional results of the care of patients with amputations treated with reattachment must be assessed realistically. This evaluation is essential if we as physicians are to select carefully the proper patients for replantation and avoid the all-too-common pitfall of “the triumph of hope over reason.” An evaluation scheme for results must above all be related to the patient and such a system is proposed (see Table 1). It is a most difficult problem and surely even better systems of evaluation will evolve, as all involved in this work recognize its importance. The functional result from a reattachment effort must be compared with and related to the anticipated results from reconstruction of the remaining hand without replantation, not the normal hand. An oft quoted goal for physicians is, “To cure occasionally, to relieve often, to comfort always.” In caring for our amputation/ replantation patients we must remember, “To regain normal function occasionally, to regain good function often, to rehabilitate to maximum possible function always.”
Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ASD and ADHD): DSM-5, ICD-10, and ICD-11

Neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have undergone considerable diagnostic evolution in the past decade. In the United States, the current system in place is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), whereas worldwide, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) serves as a general medical system. This review will examine the differences in neurodevelopmental disorders between these two systems. First, we will review the important revisions made from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) to the DSM-5, with respect to ASD and ADHD. Next, we will cover the similarities and differences between ASD and ADHD classification in the DSM-5 and the ICD-10, and how these differences may have an effect on neurodevelopmental disorder diagnostics and classification. By examining the changes made for the DSM-5 in 2013, and critiquing the current ICD-10 system, we can help to anticipate and advise on the upcoming ICD-11, due to come online in 2017. Overall, this review serves to highlight the importance of progress towards complementary diagnostic classification systems, keeping in mind the difference in tradition and purpose of the DSM and the ICD, and that these systems are dynamic and changing as more is learned about neurodevelopmental disorders and their underlying etiology. Finally this review will discuss alternative diagnostic approaches, such as the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, which links symptom domains to underlying biological and neurological mechanisms. The incorporation of new diagnostic directions could have a great effect on treatment development and insurance coverage for neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide.
Distal airway epithelial progenitor cells are radiosensitive to High-LET radiation

Exposure to high-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation occurs in a variety of situations, including charged particle radiotherapy, radiological accidents, and space travel. However, the extent of normal tissue injury in the lungs following high-LET radiation exposure is unknown. Here we show that exposure to high-LET radiation led to a prolonged loss of in vitro colony forming ability by airway epithelial progenitor cells. Furthermore, exposure to high-LET radiation induced clonal expansion of a subset of progenitor cells in the distal airway epithelium. Clonal expansion following high-LET radiation exposure was correlated with elevated progenitor cell apoptosis, persistent γ-H2AX foci, and defects in mitotic progression of distal airway progenitors. We discovered that the effects of high-LET radiation exposure on progenitor cells occur in a p53-dependent manner. These data show that high-LET radiation depletes the distal airway progenitor pool by inducing cell death and loss of progenitor function, leading to clonal expansion. Importantly, high-LET radiation induces greater long-term damage to normal lung tissue than the relative equivalent dose of low-LET γ-rays, which has implications in therapeutic development and risk assessment.
Effect of errors in the system matrix on iterative image reconstruction

Statistically based iterative image reconstruction is widely used in emission tomography. One important component in iterative image reconstruction is the system matrix, which defines the mapping from the image space to the data space. Several groups have demonstrated that an accurate system matrix can improve image quality in both SPECT and PET. While iterative methods are amenable to arbitrary and complicated system models, the true system response is never known exactly. In practice, one also has to sacrifice the accuracy of the system model because of limited computing and imaging resources. This paper analyzes the effect of errors in the system matrix on iterative image reconstruction. We derived a theoretical expression for calculating artifacts in a reconstructed image that are caused by errors in the system matrix. Using this theoretical expression, we can address the question of how accurate the system matrix needs to be. Computer simulations were conducted to validate theoretical results.
Buchanan on increasing returns and anticommons

This article discusses Buchanan’s work on increasing returns and anticommons. The two topics have externality as a common element. And size matters in both cases. Increasing returns is a case of positive externalities, the anti-commons is a case of negative externalities. Buchanan demonstrated that a work ethic generates economy-wide benefits in a setting of generalized increasing returns. In contrast, unanimity (in anticommons) can make it more difficult to address other externality problems in analyzing work ethic and moral community. This article provides an overview of both these areas of research.
Persistent blooms of surf diatoms along the pacific coast, U.S.A.: I. Physical characteristics of the coastal region in relation to the distribution and abundance of the species

The surf diatom populations at thirteen beaches along the Oregon and Washington coast were studied from June 1977 through August 1978. Chaetoceros armatum T. West and Asterionella socialis Lewin & Norris, the two species responsible for the blooms, were present in the surf along beaches between Point Grenville, Washington, and Cape Blanco, Oregon. On the basis of the cell densities of these two species, the beaches were arranged into four distinct groups. Discriminant analysis showed that the four groups could also be completely separated by three discriminant functions composed of four physical variables: offshore bottom slope, per cent chlorite, per cent montmorillonite and beach length. The absence of surf diatoms at two beaches south of Cape Blanco can probably be explained by the unsuitable physical conditions along the coast south of the Cape.
Hypoxia driven glycation: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Tumor masses are deprived of oxygen and characterized by enhanced glucose uptake followed by glycolysis. Elevated glucose levels induce non-enzymatic glycosylation or glycation of proteins which leads to accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGE). These AGE molecules bind to their respective receptors called the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and initiate several aberrant signaling pathways leading to onset of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis, heart failure and cancer. The role of AGE in cancer progression is being extensively studied in recent years. As cancer cells are hypoxic in nature and adapted to glycolysis, which induces glycation, its effects need to be understood in greater detail. Since AGE-RAGE signaling is involved in cancer progression, inhibition of AGE-RAGE interaction could be a potential therapeutic target. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of AGE-RAGE interaction in hypoxic cancer cells.
A Mathematical Model for Evaluation of Hydraulic Controlled Cold Rolling Mills

Abstract This paper describes the development of a new mathematical model useful for evaluating the dynamics of four high cold rolling mill stands when controlled with hydraulic drives. A new control approach using roll gap rather than roll force control is suggested and evaluated using simulation tech-niques. Qualitative comparisons showed that the model predicts and describes the fundamental modal behavior of a roll mill stand when compared with limited experimental data found in the literature. The simulation results show that cold rolling mills with hydraulic drives and inner loop roll gap control can have position response times of 50 to 200 milliseconds. This response is considerably faster than comparable electric-motor screw position response with roll force control. This improved response enhances mill productivity and can reduce the quantity of out-of-gauge strip for high-speed operating conditions.
New Trends in the Treatment of Schizophrenia.

Objectives This article are to describe current trends in the treatment of schizophrenia and the most interesting new approaches to optimizing outcome and fostering the development of new schizophrenia treatments. Results Increasing utilization of diverse types of atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPDs), e.g. clozapine- type serotonin (5-HT)2A and weak dopamine (DA) D2 antagonist, amisulpride, a D2/D3/5-HT7 antagonist, and cariprazine, a D3 partial agonist with additional neurotransmitter targets, is occurring as their advantages in efficacy, especially for cognitive impairment and mood symptoms, and side effects are becoming appreciated. Typical APDs, e.g. haloperidol, are diminishing in favor because of their EPS, especially, tardive dyskinesia (T D) and appreciation that reducing D2 receptor stimulation is not the only means to treat psychosis. Some of the mechanisms inherent in various AAPDs, e.g. 5-HT2A inverse agonism, and D3 receptor partial agonism, are now recognized as effective treatments for psychosis. A new focus on treating the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) has emerged via mechanisms such as stimulation of acetyldraline receptor with muscarinic and nicotinic receptor agonists, but demonstrating their efficacy in trials is proving elusive. Pharmacogenetic strategies which may lead to personalized treatment of schizophrenia are emerging but have not yet succeeded in being widely reimbursable. Transcranial stimulation and cognitive enhancement therapy are more common but more evidence for their efficacy is needed. Conclusion The heterogeneity of the pathophysiology of the various domains of schizophrenia requires a diversity of treatments that are best met by the expert use of AAPDs at the current time. Pharmacogenetic efforts are consistent with new evidence that multiple genes are involved in the risk for schizophrenia and the effectiveness of AAPDs.
Feeding live invertebrate prey in zoos and aquaria: Are there welfare concerns?

Invertebrates constitute more than 90% of all species on earth, however, as a rule, humans do not regard invertebrates as creatures that can suffer and they are generally seen as creatures that should be eliminated. As a result, the importance of their welfare may be grossly unappreciated. For instance, the feeding of live food is often viewed as a good method of enrichment and invertebrates are commonly used as live prey in many zoological facilities. As a result, zoos may send mixed messages to their patrons in that welfare is considered only for the invertebrates that are part of their zoological collection and not necessarily for the invertebrates used as feed. Research indicates that many invertebrates possess nociceptors, opioid receptors, and demonstrate behavioral responses indicative of pain sensation. In addition, in some taxa, there may be evidence of higher cognitive functions such as emotions and learning, although studies in this area of research are preliminary and sparse. Therefore, the possibility for suffering exists in many invertebrate species and as such, zoological facilities have an ethical responsibility to take their welfare into consideration. This paper discusses the current research regarding invertebrates’ capacity for suffering and discusses methods facilities can use to improve the welfare of their invertebrate live prey.
Calibrated steganalysis of mp3stego in multi-encoder scenario

Abstract Experimenting with different mp3 encoders shows subtle differences in their outputs indicating they have been implemented differently. If this characteristic is not addressed properly, it could degrade performance of mp3 steganalysis. Additionally, calibration is a powerful technique which has not found its true potential in mp3 steganalysis. This paper tries to fill these gaps. First, we propose a new set of calibrated features based on quantization step. To that end, we show that quantization steps of mp3 bit stream and steganography-induced noise are respectively band-limited and wide-band signals. We use this observation and apply a low pass filter on quantization steps of mp3 bit stream and then use the result for calibrating of features. Then, we present our analysis on different encoders and show that their statistical properties are quite dissimilar for all fields of mp3 bitstream. We use this observation and propose an encoder classifier that have near-perfect accuracy. This accuracy is achieved after testing a wide range of feature selection methods and finally using genetic algorithm due to its superior performance. Our simulations show that the proposed method achieved accuracy of 95.8% and 95.2% at 3.12% of maximum embedding rate in the single and multi-encoder scenarios, respectively.
Conflicting effects of atazanavir therapy on atherosclerotic risk factors in stable HIV patients: A randomized trial of regimen switch to atazanavir.

Bilirubin acts as a potent endogenous antioxidant, with higher concentrations associated with lower rates of CVD; the antiretroviral drug atazanavir (ATV) increases bilirubin levels but may also increase von Willebrand factor levels. We tested the hypothesis that increasing endogenous bilirubin using ATV would improve cardiometabolic risk factors and vascular function in older patients with HIV. Ninety participants were enrolled in two study protocols. In protocol 1, we evaluated markers of inflammation, thrombosis, and conduit artery endothelial function in subjects on non-ATV containing regimens. Participants were randomly assigned to continue baseline treatment or switch to an ATV-based regimen. Measurements were made at baseline and 28 days. In the protocol 2, we enrolled 30 subjects who received atazanavir for more than one year and were compared to the aim 1 protocol subjects at baseline. 60 subjects were enrolled in the first protocol (mean age 53, +/- 6 years), with 31 randomized to ATV and 29 continuing baseline treatment. Atazanavir significantly increased serum total bilirubin levels (p<0.001) and acutely but not chronically plasma total antioxidant capacity (p<0.001). An increase in von Willebrand Factor (p<0.001) and reduction in hs-CRP (p = 0.034) were noted. No changes were seen in either flow-mediated endothelium-dependent or vasodilation. In cross-sectional analysis (second protocol), similar findings were seen in the baseline attributes of non-atazanavir-based and long-term atazanavir users. Increasing serum bilirubin levels with atazanavir in subjects with HIV reduces hs-CRP, temporarily reduces oxidative stress, but increases von Willebrand Factor. Atazanavir does not improve endothelial function of conduit arteries. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03019783.
The TcEG1 beetle ( Tribolium castaneum) cellulase produced in transgenic switchgrass is active at alkaline pH and auto-hydrolyzes biomass for increased cellobiose release

Genetically engineered biofuel crops, such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), that produce their own cell wall-digesting cellulase enzymes would reduce costs of cellulosic biofuel production. To date, non-bioenergy plant models have been used in nearly all studies assessing the synthesis and activity of plant-produced fungal and bacterial cellulases. One potential source for cellulolytic enzyme genes is herbivorous insects adapted to digest plant cell walls. Here we examine the potential of transgenic switchgrass-produced TcEG1 cellulase from Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle). This enzyme, when overproduced in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, efficiently digests cellulose at optima of 50 °C and pH 12.0. TcEG1 that was produced in green transgenic switchgrass tissue had a range of endoglucanase activity of 0.16–0.05 units (µM glucose release/min/mg) at 50 °C and pH 12.0. TcEG1 activity from air-dried leaves was unchanged from that from green tissue, but when tissue was dried in a desiccant oven (46 °C), specific enzyme activity decreased by 60%. When transgenic biomass was “dropped-in” into an alkaline buffer (pH 12.0) and allowed to incubate at 50 °C, cellobiose release was increased up to 77% over non-transgenic biomass. Saccharification was increased in one transgenic event by 28%, which had a concurrent decrease in lignin content of 9%. Histological analysis revealed an increase in cell wall thickness with no change to cell area or perimeter. Transgenic plants produced more, albeit narrower, tillers with equivalent dry biomass as the control. This work describes the first study in which an insect cellulase has been produced in transgenic plants; in this case, the dedicated bioenergy crop switchgrass. Switchgrass overexpressing the TcEG1 gene appeared to be morphologically similar to its non-transgenic control and produced equivalent dry biomass. Therefore, we propose TcEG1 transgenics could be bred with other transgenic germplasm (e.g., low-lignin lines) to yield new switchgrass with synergistically reduced recalcitrance to biofuel production. In addition, transgenes for other cell wall degrading enzymes may be stacked with TcEG1 in switchgrass to yield complementary cell wall digestion features and complete auto-hydrolysis.
La etnia en las políticas de población de la frontera norte: reflexiones sobre un tema poco explorado y una agenda de investigación

Este trabajo considera el papel de la etnia en la formulacion de politicas de poblacion para la region fronteriza entre Mexico con Estados Unidos. Se presentan dos tipos de reflexion de caracter teorico-metodologico: la identificacion de los grupos etnicos que se encuentran en ambos lados de la frontera y la insercion de la etnia como variable de control en el proceso de formulacion de politicas de poblacion. Se propone una agenda de investigacion que enfatiza la integracion economica y social de la region fronteriza y la necesidad de reconceptualizar las politicas publicas, incluyendo las de poblacion, pasando de un nivel nacional a un nivel regional trasnacional. ABSTRACT This study examines ethnicity as a factor in the formulation of population policies in the U.S. -Mexico border region. The author presents two types of theorethical-methodological reflections: (1) the identification of the ethnic groups that reside on both sides of this border, and (2) the impact of ethnicity as a control variable in the development of population policies. The research agenda proposed stresses the economic and social integration of the border region and the need to reconceptualize public policies, including population policies, moving from a national level to a transnational regional level.
Abstract 14503: Loss of Wnt5a Disrupts Endothelial-Pericyte Interaction During Pulmonary Angiogenesis

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disorder characterized by impaired angiogenesis, progressive small vessel loss and occlusive vasculopathy. Pericyte recruit...
Selecting and managing fluid therapy. Colloids versus crystalloids.

This article describes the outcomes of fluid therapy in relation to colloid and crystalloid intravenous solutions. A discussion of the actions of colloids and crystalloids in general is followed by tables describing the solutions in more detail. Both sides of the colloid versus crystalloid controversy are presented, along with a discussion about the enigmatic effect that 5% dextrose has on the tonicity of crystalloid fluids.
Effects of reward and response cost on the performance and motivation of children with ADHD

This study examined the effects of reward and response cost on the performance and motivation of 40 children with ADHD and 40 controls. Participants completed an arithmetic task under one of three (reward, response cost, and no contingency) conditions. Dependent variables included pretest attributional measures, direct performance measures, self-rated performance and motivation, and a postcontingency “free-choice” behavioral motivation measure. Relative to controls, children with ADHD reported a less adaptive attributional style and differed in their attributions for predicted good and poor performance. For children with ADHD, response cost improved accuracy on the arithmetic task relative to reward and resulted in higher motivation in the second half of the behavioral motivation measure; however, reward had a relatively more salutory effect on self-rated motivation. No negative effects of either reward or response cost on perceived performance or willingness to do the task again, or the behavioral motivation measure, were found for either group.
FRET and BRET-Based Biosensors in Live Cell Compound Screens

Live cell compound screening with genetically encoded fluorescence or bioluminescence-based biosensors offers a potentially powerful approach to identify novel regulators of a signaling event of interest. In particular, compound screening in living cells has the added benefit that the entire signaling network remains intact, and thus the screen is not just against a single molecule of interest but against any molecule within the signaling network that may modulate the distinct signaling event reported by the biosensor in use. Furthermore, only molecules that are cell permeable or act at cell surface receptors will be identified as “hits,” thus reducing further optimization of the compound in terms of cell penetration. Here we discuss a detailed protocol for using genetically encoded biosensors in living cells in a 96-well format for the execution of high throughput compound screens and the identification of small molecules which modulate a signaling event of interest.
Late fall phytoplankton dynamics in three lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park

We studied phytoplankton population dynamics during the month preceding formation of ice cover in three small subalpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, U.S.A. The outflow from Emerald Lake, which is surrounded by talus, flows into Dream Lake, which is surrounded by sub-alpine forest. Nymph Lake is a lower seepage lake with abundant macrophytes in summer. The major ion concentrations in the three lakes were similar during the study, although Emerald and Dream Lakes had higher concentrations of nitrate and silica than Nymph Lake. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the phytoplankton in Emerald and Dream Lakes were distinct from the phytoplankton in Nymph Lake. The species composition changed in each lake during the late fall. The patterns of change in Emerald and Dream Lakes were similar on the PCA diagram despite the greater abundance of diatoms in Dream Lake and the decreasing flow from Emerald Lake into Dream Lake during the fall. In Nymph Lake, a progressive shift in species distribution occurred with a decrease in the most abundant chlorophyte, Chlamydomonas sp., and increases in several species, including two chrysophytes and the diatom Eunotia sp. The marked change in species composition in all three lakes suggests that phytoplankton populations are influenced by changes in water temperatures and incident solar radiation that occur during the late fall. We also compared these data with phytoplankton data for two fall periods from two other hydrologically connected Rocky Mountain lakes. PCA analysis showed that the difference between years was greater than the change during the fall and that the fall species composition in these two lakes was distinct from that in Emerald and Dream Lakes or in Nymph Lake. Studying phytoplankton dynamics in alpine and sub-alpine lakes may offer clues as to how these ecosystems may respond to projected climate changes in the Rocky Mountain region, such as warmer temperatures and later formation of ice-cover.
The Antimicrobial Properties of A Vinegar-based Ingredient on Salmonella Typhimurium and Psychrotrophs Inoculated in Ground Chicken Breast Meat and Stored at 3±1°C for 7 days

SUMMARY One of the most effective approaches for reducing consumer risk of foodborne illness in poultry is to utilize effective antimicrobials. The objectives of this study were to determine antimicrobial properties of a United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Services-approved vinegar-based ingredient (VBI) on Salmonella Typhimurium inoculated (105 CFU/g) ground chicken breast meat, and to ascertain effects of VBI on total psychrotrophic bacteria and meat pH during storage. Ground chicken was treated with 0% VBI (negative control), 0% VBI-plus inoculum (positive control), and inoculum plus 1, 2, and 3% VBI. Samples were packaged, stored at 3±1°C, and analyzed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 for total psychrotrophs, Salmonella, and pH. Meat treated with 1, 2, and 3% VBI had lower (P
Implicit bias toward cervical cancer: Provider and training differences.

Abstract Objective Implicit prejudice and stereotyping may exist in health care providers automatically without their awareness. These biases can correlate with outcomes that are consequential for the patient. This study examined gynecologic oncology care providers' implicit prejudice and stereotyping toward cervical cancer. Methods Members of professional gynecologic oncology organizations were asked to complete two Implicit Association Tests to determine if they implicitly associate cervical cancer with feelings of anger (prejudice) and beliefs about culpability for the disease (stereotypes), compared to ovarian cancer. Linear models and Student t-tests examined average levels of implicit bias and moderators of the implicit bias effects. Results One-hundred seventy-six (132 female, 43 male, 1 nonresponse; X ¯ age = 39.18 years, SDage = 10.58 years) providers were recruited and the final sample included 151 participants (93 physicians and 58 nurses, X ¯ age = 38.93, SDage = 10.59). Gynecologic oncology providers showed significant levels of implicit prejudice, X ¯ = 0.17, SD = 0.47, 95% CI: (0.10, 0.25), toward cervical cancer patients. They also showed significant levels of implicit stereotyping of cervical cancer patients, X ¯ = 0.15, SD = 0.42, 95% CI: (0.08, 0.21). Whereas physicians did not demonstrate significant levels of implicit bias, nurses demonstrated greater levels of implicit prejudice and implicit stereotyping. Providers without cultural competency/implicit bias training demonstrated greater bias than those who had completed such training (p Conclusions This study provides the first evidence that gynecologic oncology providers hold implicit biases related to cervical cancer. Interventions may be designed to target specific groups in gynecologic oncology to improve interactions with patients.