cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Incidence, Morbidity, and Mortality in Human Coronavirus NL63 Associated with ACE Inhibitor Therapy and Implication in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Background The endemic human coronavirus NL63 strain (HCoV-NL63) employs angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors on cell surfaces to infect hosts in the same manner as SARS-CoV and the novel SARS-CoV-2. It has been proposed that patients on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) therapy infected with SARS-CoV-2 have a higher mortality rate due to over-expression of ACE-2 receptors. Aim We sought to evaluate the impact of ACE-I/ARB on infectivity of various endemic coronavirus strains, hypothesizing that rates of ACE-I use among patients with HCoV-NL63 would be higher compared to other endemic coronavirus strains that do not utilize the ACE-2 receptor. Design/methods A retrospective cohort study was designed to evaluate a total 466 subjects with a positive respiratory pathogens panel for one of the endemic coronavirus strains. Rate of ACE-I/ARB use among each coronavirus strain and clinical outcomes from the 88 HCoV-NL63 positive subjects was collected. Results Analysis revealed a higher rate of ACE-I (p=0.006) use among the HCoV-NL63 positives compared to the other three endemic coronavirus strains. The rate of invasive mechanical ventilation (p=0.007) and 90-day mortality (p=0.045) among HCoV-NL63 positives on ACE-I therapy was higher compared to those HCoV-NL63 positives not on ACE-I therapy. Conclusion Concurrent therapy with an ACE-I was associated with an increased rate and severity of infection with the HCoV-NL63. This association was not found in infected patients on concurrent ARB therapy. These findings support the importance of further evaluation in patients on these therapies who are infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Whalen, Brett Edward, The Two Powers: The Papacy, the Empire, and the Struggle for Sovereignty in the Thirteenth Century

Stories of tension between the papacy and emperors pervade the Middle Ages, and one of the high points of this conflict came in the first half of the thirteenth century, when church power was at it...
G-Banded Karyotyping of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Cultures

Acquired chromosomal abnormalities may occur during the reprogramming and culture of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Therefore, it is required that regular testing of genetic integrity be conducted. G-banded karyotyping is a widely used genetic assay that is capable of detecting chromosomal abnormalities. Karyotyping of hPSC cultures can be a challenging undertaking for inexperienced investigators; here, we provide detailed procedures for karyotyping, including sample preparation and analysis, as well as the interpretation of hPSC karyotype results.
Data-Driven Contract Design for Multi-Agent Systems with Collusion Detection.

In applications such as participatory sensing and crowd sensing, self-interested agents exert costly effort towards achieving an objective for the system operator. We study such a setup where a principal incentivizes multiple agents of different types who can collude with each other to derive rent. The principal cannot observe the efforts exerted directly, but only the outcome of the task, which is a noisy function of the effort. The type of each agent influences the effort cost and task output. For a duopoly in which agents are coupled in their payments, we show that if the principal and the agents interact finitely many times, the agents can derive rent by colluding even if the principal knows the types of the agents. However, if the principal and the agents interact infinitely often, the principal can disincentivize agent collusion through a suitable data-driven contract.
Teaching Business Communication Skills: A Clarion Call

English is an international business communication tool and it transcends cultures. The teaching of business English is different from that of General English in the sense that it is neither teaching just the four macro-skills nor enhancing mere business vocabulary. In fact, business English is taught on the assumption that general English language skills have already been acquired. Business English learners are prospective entrepreneurs, managers and leaders of industries at national and international levels and teachers face a huge challenge of helping them acquire an international communication skill-set through English as the medium. Most people who use business English are non-native users of English. They use it frequently not only among themselves, but use it occasionally with native speakers as well. Native speakers of English, of course, control world economy, science and technology, and trade and commerce. Moreover, business English is fast moving from the planet Earth to other planets since it is the only communication tool for international space research that involves billions of dollars from across the globe in its competition to explore other planets. Thus business English is used in different cultural environments and does not represent one culture that is often tied to it nationally or internationally. It transcends cultures and at the same time it respects them all. Hence, business English teachers need to recognize the paradigm shift in its cultural metamorphosis, to design trans-cultural English language learning materials, to identify communication skill-set, and to adopt appropriate teaching- learning methods. This paper interrogates constituent parts of international communication skill-set and argues that a task-based approach of ‘learning by doing’ is the need of the hour since it exploits essential and result-oriented andragogy and heutagogy of self-directed and self-determined learning processes lifelong.
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Pathological Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (TFP-N)

In this article, we provide an overview of transference-focused psychotherapy for patients with pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (TFP-N). In TFP-N we have modified and refined the tactics and techniques of TFP, an evidence-based treatment for borderline personality disorder, to meet the specific challenges of working with patients with narcissistic personality pathology whose retreat from reality into an illusory grandiosity makes them particularly difficult to engage in treatment. We first describe a model of narcissistic pathology based on considerations of psychological structure stemming from object relations theory. This model provides a unifying understanding of the core structure of narcissistic pathology, the pathological grandiose self, that underlies the impairments in self and interpersonal functioning of those with narcissistic pathology across the levels of personality organization (from high functioning to borderline to malignant). We then delineate the clinical process of working with patients with pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. Starting with the assessment process, using a detailed clinical example, we guide the reader through the progression of TFP-N as it helps the patient move from the distorted, unintegrated sense of self underlying the narcissistic presentation to the more integrated, realistic sense of self that characterizes healthier personality functioning. In TFP-N the focus on the disturbed interpersonal patterns of relating in the here and now of the therapeutic interaction is the vehicle to diminish grandiosity and improve relatedness, thereby effecting enduring changes in mental representation and real-world functioning.
Uranium Adsorption on Three Nanohydroxyapatites Under Various Biogeochemical Conditions

Uranium is a naturally occurring trace element and radionuclide. Uranium is introduced in the environment during industrial activities and nuclear energy accidents involving nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons tests, ore mining, and manufacturing, which may lead to the contamination of groundwater and soil. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a natural mineral with a high affinity for uranium in water. Groundwater often contains high carbonate concentrations that may affect uranium removal due to the formation of uranyl carbonate complexes. In order to understand the process of uranium removal, uranium adsorptions on three nano-HAPs were conducted under various biogeochemical conditions. Results showed that the fastest U adsorption occurred onto nano-HAP and U adsorption was strongly affected by biogeochemical conditions such as pH and the presence of carbonates, but less affected by temperature. The current study indicates that the presence of carbonates at pH’s above the neutral range in groundwater may inhibit U removal with nanohydroxyapatites.
Flexural load-rating of slab-on-girder bridges by nonlinear proxy finite-element analysis

The proxy finite-element analysis (PFEA) technique is significantly extended to improve its utility and its predictions of bridge ultimate capacity are verified. Refinements and extensions to the m...
Neural Indicator of Altered Mismatch Detection Predicts Atypical Cognitive-Perceptual Experiences in Psychotic Psychopathology.

BACKGROUND Atypical auditory processing (AAP) in psychotic psychopathology is evident in early (N1), mid-latency (P2/N2/mismatch negativity), and late (P3) neural responses. The influence of attention on AAP, and how temporal stages of AAP are associated with phenomenology of psychotic psychopathology are not well understood. METHODS We used a directed attention oddball task to characterize stages of AAP in psychosis and to examine the influence of selective attention. Ninety patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), 53 patients with bipolar disorder (BP), 90 healthy controls and 72 first-degree relatives of SCZ (SREL) were studied. We used principal components analysis to decompose average-reference 64-channel subject-level ERPs. RESULTS Altered attentional modulation was evident in SCZ at early (N1 factor) and late (P3 factor) stages of AAP, but not at mid-latency P2 factor. Irrespective of condition, N1 and P3 were reduced in SCZ, which predicted greater psychopathology and schizotypal personality traits. Diminished mid-latency mismatch detection (P2 factor) was evident in SCZ, BP, and SREL and was associated with greater positive symptoms of psychosis as well as self-reported atypical cognitive-perceptual experiences. CONCLUSIONS Attentional modulation of early N1, and later P3 neural responses was atypical in patients, but the degree of attentional modulation did not relate to symptom severity or schizotypal traits. Our findings suggest the link between mid-latency mismatch detection and atypical cognitive/perceptual experiences is not driven by attentional deficits alone and point to the promise of mid-latency mismatch detection as a candidate endophenotype and intervention target.
Considerations in prescribing preflight aerobic exercise for astronauts

The physiological effects of prolonged exposure to weightlessness are discussed together with the effects of aerobic exercise on human characteristics affected by weightlessness. It is noted that, although early data on orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight led to a belief that a high level of aerobic fitness for astronauts was detrimental to orthostatic tolerance on return to earth, most of the data available today do not suport this contention. Aerobic fitness was found to be beneficial to cardiovascular function and to mental performance; therefore, it may be important in performing extravehicular activities during flight.
Review of using gallium nitride for ionizing radiation detection

With the largest band gap energy of all commercial semiconductors, GaN has found wide application in the making of optoelectronic devices. It has also been used for photodetection such as solar blind imaging as well as ultraviolet and even X-ray detection. Unsurprisingly, the appreciable advantages of GaN over Si, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), SiC, amorphous SiC (a-SiC), and GaAs, particularly for its radiation hardness, have drawn prompt attention from the physics, astronomy, and nuclear science and engineering communities alike, where semiconductors have traditionally been used for nuclear particle detection. Several investigations have established the usefulness of GaN for alpha detection, suggesting that when properly doped or coated with neutron sensitive materials, GaN could be turned into a neutron detection device. Work in this area is still early in its development, but GaN-based devices have already been shown to detect alpha particles, ultraviolet light, X-rays, electrons, and neutrons. Furthermo...
Algorithms for Optimizing Rheology and Loading Forces in Finite Element Models of Lithospheric Deformation

Lithospheric deformation results from dynamic interplay of tectonic driving forces (loading) and lithospheric properties (rheology and structure). Unlike engineering problems, in lithospheric dynamics both the loading conditions and lithospheric properties are often hard to constrain, forcing many computer models to oversimplification. These simplified models usually cannot take the full advantage of the fast growing observational constraints. In this article, we present algorithms that help to seek optimal loading conditions and rheological parameters in models of lithospheric deformation. In particular, we use genetic algorithms to iterate for the optimal rheological structure, and a regression algorithm for optimizing tectonic loading. We illustrate these algorithms in two models: a plate flexure and a viscous three-dimensional lithospheric deformation. In both cases these algorithms utilize the observational constraints to obtain the optimal driving forces and lithospheric rheology. The results significantly improve over those derived from traditional approaches.
SARM — succinct association rule mining: an approach to enhance association mining

The performance of association rule mining in terms of computation time and number of redundant rules generated deteriorates as the size of database increases and/or support threshold used is smaller. In this paper, we present a new approach called SARM — succinct association rule mining, to enhance the association mining. Our approach is based on our understanding of the mining process that items become less useful as mining proceeds, and that such items can be eliminated to accelerate the mining and to reduce the number of redundant rules generated. We propose a new paradigm that an item becomes less useful when the most interesting rules involving the item have been discovered and deleting it from the mining process will not result in any significant loss of information. SARM generates a compact set of rules called succinct association rule (SAR) set that is largely free of redundant rules. SARM is efficient in association mining, especially when support threshold used is small. Experiments are conducted on both synthetic and real-life databases. SARM approach is especially suitable for applications where rules with small support may be of significant interest. We show that for such applications SAR set can be mined efficiently.
An Exploratory Study of Factors that Relate to Burnout in Hobby‐Jobs

Using the Job Demands-Resources model as a theoretical foundation, we explored the relationships among job demands, internal resources, and burnout in a unique population of workers—individuals with hobby-jobs (i.e. jobs created from a hobby). We examined four job demands (i.e. variety, constraints, time spent on hobby, hobby/job similarity) as antecedents of the three dimensions of burnout (i.e. emotional exhaustion, cynicism, professional efficacy) and moderating effects of internal resources (i.e. conscientiousness, emotional stability) on these relationships. We found that all four demands predicted emotional exhaustion. Further, variety and constraints related to cynicism and variety was associated with diminished professional efficacy. Conscientiousness and emotional stability moderated some of these relationships, indicating that these traits may indeed act as internal resources. Our findings suggest that individuals in hobby-jobs are affected by job demands as in other jobs, but may also face unique demands. Personality traits and behaviors consistent with those traits may help individuals pursuing hobby-jobs by protecting them from burnout.
Optimization of contrast-enhanced digital breast tomosynthesis

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a tomographic technique in which individual slices through the breast are reconstructed from x-ray projection images acquired over a limited angular range. In contrast-enhanced DBT (CE-DBT) functional information is observed by administration of an radiographic contrast agent. The uptake of iodine in the breast is very small and causes changes in x-ray transmission that are smaller than 5%. This presents significant technical challenges if quantitative assessment of contrast agent concentration in tissue is desired. We modeled CE-DBT acquisition by simulating x-ray spectra from 40 to 49 kV. Comparison of attenuation data of our simulated and measured spectra were found to agree well. We investigated the effect of patient motion and scatter on iodine uptake. These parameters were evaluated by means of experiments and theoretical modeling.
Alternativen für den Einsatz der EDV in der Ausbildung von Industriekaufleuten bei VW

Seit 1985 wird bei Volkswagen im Rahmen eines Modellversuches daran gearbeitet, die Ausbildung fur Industriekaufleute zukunftsorientiert zu gestalten.
Growing Stem Cells: The Impact of Federal Funding Policy on the U.S. Scientific Frontier

This paper articulates a citation-based approach to science policy evaluation and employs that approach to investigate the impact of the United States’ 2001 policy regarding the federal funding of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. We evaluate the impact of the policy on the level of U.S. hESC research, the U.S. position at the knowledge frontier, and the strategic response of U.S. scientists. Consistent with recent research on the science of science and innovation policy, we employ a difference-in-differences approach using bibliometric data with the aim of analyzing the causal impact of the policy on cumulative research. Our estimates suggest that in the aftermath of the 2001 policy, U.S. production of hESC research lagged 35 to 40 percent behind anticipated levels. However, this relative decline was largely concentrated in the years 2001 to 2003 and ameliorated over time. The rebound in U.S. hESC research after 2003 was driven by contributions by researchers at elite U.S. institutions and U.S. researchers who collaborated with international partners. The results suggest that scientists respond strategically to research funding restrictions and that modest science policy shifts can have a significant influence on the within-country composition of research and the pattern of global research collaboration.
An adaptive derived data manager for distributed databases

Cacti is a distributed system designed to support derived data in distributed database environments. A series of novel access and optimization policies are used to reduce I/O costs, support the transparent distribution of data, automatically migrate and replicate data, execute computations in parallel, cluster or reblock data, and perform speculative evaluation of derived data. The behavior of the system is dynamically modified on the basis of heuristics, predictive metrics, and user-supplied hints which form a central theme of self-adaptive optimization. In general, Cacti alters its behavior — both locally at a single node and globally across the distributed system — according to the current usage of resources, and typical usage patterns over time.
Simplified fluorometric method for the determination of plasma glycerol.

A simplified method for determining plasma glycerol is described. This assay utilizes the fluorometric measurement of the reduced adenine dinucleotide, NADH2 which is formed when glycerol is oxidized by glycerol dehydrogenase. Only three pipettings are necessary for each reaction tube, and a large number of samples can be included in each assay.
Marketing Educator Internet Adoption in 1998 versus 2000: Significant Progress and Remaining Obstacles

Two separate surveys were conducted over a 2-year period to gauge how marketing educators’ use of the Internet changed between 1998 and 2000. Respondents were found to have made significant strides in their adoption of electronic technology and appeared satisfied with their efforts. While most were not expected by their institutions to have Web sites, many did so out of personal motivation. Both those with and without administrative duties see the same significant obstacles to increased adoption: time to learn, execute, and maintain faculty Web sites. Despite the use of Marketing Educators’ Association members as the sample frame, study findings provide an excellent benchmark on which individual marketing faculty and administrators can gauge their own efforts and design future plans.
Stimulation of rat colonic mucosal prostaglandin synthesis by calcium and carbamylcholine: relationship to alterations in cyclic nucleotide metabolism.

Abstract The present study examined the relationships between prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and cyclic nucleotide metabolism in rat colonic mucosal slices. Ca2+, Ca2+ plus A23187 and carbamylcholine all increased [14C]-arachidonate release from prelabeled slices and stimulated production of PGE. Actions of A23187 and carbamylcholine required Ca2+ and were suppressed by tetracaine or mepacrine, whose known actions include inhibition of acyl hydrolase activity. Exogenous arachidonate or linoleate stimulated PGE synthesis in the absence of Ca2+ or in the presence of the inhibitors, suggesting a role for Ca2+ dependent acyl hydrolase activity in the mediation of the actions of Ca2+, A23187 and carbamylcholine on PGE synthesis. Accumulation of both cAMP and cGMP in colonic mucosal slices was enhanced by carbamylcholine, Ca2+, Ca2+ plus A23187, arachidonate or linoleate. Stimulatory actions of each of these agents on PGE production and cyclic nucleotide accumulation were inhibited by O2 exclusion or indomethacin (100 μg/ml). The results support a role for local PG production in the mediation of carbamylcholine and Ca2+ actions on cyclic nucleotides. Endogenous ionic, neurohumoral and dietary factors may modulate colonic mucosal PG synthesis and cyclic nucleotide content, and thereby influence the physiologic expression of the actions of these putative local cellular regulators.
Psychogenic Cough in an Asthmatic Child: Case Report with Unusual Findings

A 9-year-old girl with known mild intermittent asthma presented with a persistent cough. Her cough exhibited a four-beat staccato rhythm, was nonproductive, and persisted only while awake. On physical examination, she displayed several unique findings not previously described. An extensive yet non-diagnostic medical workup coupled with absence of aggressive medical treatment for the more usual causes of cough lead to psychologic investigation and intervention with subsequent cough resolution. The appropriate use of psychologic consultation, testing, and success with supportive reinforcement therapy confirmed a psychogenic etiology. Extended medical follow-up of the patient concerning cough reoccurrence remains uneventful.
PROCEDURE FOR ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MINUTE AMOUNTS OF PHENOLIC ACIDS USING PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY AND INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY.

Abstract A simple procedure for obtaining good infrared spectra of compounds eluted from paper chromatograms has been described. As little as 25 μg of many phenolic acids may be isolated, characterized, and identified from paper chromatograms.
Examining the impact of computer-mediated social networks on individual consumerism environmental behaviors

Abstract Researchers have begun to examine the impact that information technology (IT) can have on the environmental behavior of individuals, organizations, environments and markets. Computer-mediated social networks (CMSNs) create a multi-nodal social environment where individual behavior is virtually impacted, and subsequently, physically modified. Human–computer interaction researchers have begun to study the impact that IT has on environmental sustainability. Interest has arisen around the influence on non-verbal cues in impacting social norms and encouraging consistent environmentally conscious behavior. Extant research has not yet considered the social interactions that occur within a CMSN and how such interaction might further facilitate the adoption of environmental behaviors. Using survey results of 234 individuals, this study examines the impact that CMSNs have on environmental consumerism, where individuals purchasing and consumption habits take one’s environmental impact into consideration.
The category effect in visual selective attention

The effects of extended practice on the development of the category effect were assessed in a two-part study. Four groups were trained on within- and between-category search, using a detection task similar to that used by Jonides and Gleitman (1972). These groups then received extended testing requiring both detection and identification of opposite-category items. One, two, and three target-category items and a variable number of opposite-category items were presented on each trial. Evidence was found for partially selective processing based on category membership. Both the number of within-category items and the number of between-category distractors influenced response latency. The results indicate that practice as well as the density of items within the visual array is critical to the development of the category distinction.
An evaluation of modified R 2-change effect size indices for single-subject experimental designs

The current study describes modification of change in R 2 (ΔR 2) indices used to describe a treatment's effect on the level and linear growth in outcome measures in single-subject experimental designs. A description of how to calculate each index, its standard error and associated test statistic is provided. A small simulation study was conducted to evaluate the Type I error rates of the ΔR 2 indices under various manipulated conditions, including sample size and ratio, autocorrelation, and the magnitude of the baseline phase's trend. Results are discussed and recommendations provided for researchers interested in using indices to aggregate single-subject experimental designs. Source of funding: Preparation of this article was supported by a grant from the Institute of Eduction Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. However, the opinions expressed do not express the opinions of this agency.
Residual stress and thermal expansion of graphite epoxy laminates subjected to cryogenic temperatures

In composite structures understanding and quantifying the existence of residual stresses is a very important issue. The presence of these residual stresses can lead to unexpected failure of structures as seen in the fuel tank of the X-33 reusable launch vehicle. A study into the development of residual stresses as a function of temperature was performed to help provide insight into this situation. A recently developed optical technique, the cure reference method, and a modification of traditional strain gage techniques were used in this pursuit. Diffraction gratings and strain gages were applied to IM7/977-2 composite panels of differing stacking sequences. Strains were measured under no load while temperature was varied. Consequently stresses developed between the plies and a method to calculate them was proposed. Residual stress levels were dependent on stacking sequence and quasi-isotropic laminates perform poorly when exposed to cryogenic temperatures. Laminates should be optimized to account for both mechanical and thermal loading.
Neuroimmune Pharmacology as a Sub-discipline of Medical Neuroscience in the Medical School Curriculum

The emerging field of neuroimmune pharmacology (NIP) is the confluence of three distinct disciplines: neuroscience, immunology, and pharmacology (Gendelman and Ikezu 2008). NIP was born from the realization that inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS) plays a crucial role in many neurological pathologies and as such offers a rich array of novel pharmacological targets as potential therapeutics. As this field is likely to have a major impact in medical science, educating future physicians on this area will help increase awareness and may potentially inspire them to pursue careers in the field of NIP. However, a key challenge for medical educators, is how best to incorporate new material on emerging fields, such as NIP, into the medical school curriculum, specifically in the context of a medical neuroscience course. We propose the addition of two 50-min lectures plus an additional optional 2-h lab module to the standard first year medical neuroscience class curriculum. Lecture 1 will focus on how the CNS and the immune system inter-communicate with one another with emphasis on neuroanatomical features and chemical signal transduction between the two systems. Lecture 2 provides an introduction to inflammation in the CNS and provides a series of clinical correlates to describe how CNS inflammation contributes to the disease process. The lab module provides detailed visual examples of how CNS inflammation influences disease processes and provides two examples of how application of an immunomodulatory pharmacological agent can modify disease processes.
International Wheat Agreements and Problems, 1949–56

Introduction, 217. — I. Terms and objectives of the current Agreement, 217. — II. The IWA in the world wheat economy, 220. — III. Basic objectives unfulfilled, 232. — IV. The world's real wheat problems and more appropriate objectives, 241.
Type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices for very long wavelength infrared detectors

Abstract Type-II superlattices (SLs) can be designed for semiconductor band gaps as large as 400 meV down to semimetallic. This flexibility in design makes them an excellent candidate for infrared photodiodes with cut-off wavelengths beyond 15 μm . There are relatively few options for high-performance infrared detectors to cover wavelengths longer than 15 μm , especially for operating temperatures above 15 K . In the past few years, excellent results have been obtained on photoconductive and photodiode samples designed for infrared detection in the very long wavelength infrared (VLWIR) range (λ>15 μm ) . There is a variety of possible designs for these SLs which will produce the same narrow band gap by adjusting individual layer thicknesses, or indium content, in the InGaSb layer. Several of these different design options have been grown and characterized. These designs often require monolayer control per layer over hundreds of repeats in the SL. Photoresponse spectra for type-II SLs are compared to show how the design choices not only change the band gap but also the band structure, as reflected in features observed in the spectra. Theoretical modeling results are used to interpret the photoresponse spectra. SLs with cut-off wavelengths ranging from 15 to 25 μm are covered.
Sexual competition explains patterns of individual investment in territorial aggression in western bluebird winter groups

In central California, western bluebirds, Sialia mexicana, live year-round on their breeding territories, feeding extensively on mistletoe berries through the winter. In spring, they usually breed as pairs and occasionally have helpers, whereas in winter they live in groups of up to 13 birds including family members and unrelated immigrants. Individuals of both sexes and all ages defend the winter territory against conspecifics. We presented caged male and female decoys to free-living groups of western bluebirds to test predictions of two hypotheses for adaptive variation in individual investment in winter territorial defence: kin value (kin selection) and reproductive competition (future breeding success). We found that individual investment in defence did not increase with kin value (the number of offspring equivalents that an individual had in the group) but varied as predicted by reproductive competition. Females spent more time on cages of female decoys than they did on cages of male decoys, but they did not differ in their frequency of aggressive displays (hops, wing flicks) towards intruders of either sex. In contrast, males spent equivalent periods on the cages of decoys of both sexes, but they hopped more frequently on cages of males. Although the form of aggression differed for males and females, aggression for both tended to be more pronounced towards same-sex conspecifics. The persistent effect of group size as a negative covariate indicates that group living enables individuals to reduce time spent in active territory defence. Members of large groups were able to reduce their investment while maintaining the same level of response to intruders as did members of smaller groups. Patterns of response to caged intruders provide novel support for the hypothesis that sexual competition is important in territorial defence outside the breeding season.
Towards predictable large-scale real-time delivery

To support predictable large-scale real-time delivery on the future Internet is critical to many emerging applications such as large-scale Cyber Physical Systems (CPSs). In this paper, we address this important issue by exploiting the synchronized global time and develop a scalable predictable real-time delivery framework. We introduce the key ideas of the proposed framework, and our initial simulation results show its potentials to significantly reduce delay variations.
Temporal dynamics and response to fogging or fumigation of stored-product Coleoptera in a grain processing facility

Stored-product Coleoptera were monitored continuously over 22 months using pitfall traps at an operating food mill and adjacent warehouse in Kansas. Mill management practiced conventional pest management, including monthly crack and crevice applications of a residual insecticide and semi-annual fumigation with methyl bromide in the mill, and application of dichlorvos+pyrethrin (commonly called fogging) in the warehouse. The dynamic temporal changes in insect captures and effect of the global interventions on insect captures were analyzed. Data show that more Trogoderma variabile individuals were captured in the warehouse than any other species, but Tribolium castaneum was captured with greater frequency. Trogoderma variabile captures inside the warehouse tended to mirror outside captures suggesting immigration from the outside. The food mill was infested year round with T. castaneum but developed substantial populations of Typhaea stercorea during the warm months from May through October. Stored-product insects were nearly always captured during the first trapping interval following methyl bromide or dichlorvos+pyrethrin applications, but it was not clear if the insects were surviving inside the structure or if they were rapidly recolonizing after treatment. Population increases immediately following fumigation or fogging occurred only in fungus-feeding species in late spring or summer. The most successful fumigation was conducted late in the autumn when environmental conditions prevented insect activity outside. Information contained in this study provides data that could be used to improve insect management programs for milling and processing facilities.
The effect of prophylactic topical antibiotics on bacterial resistance patterns in endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prophylactic topical antibiotics on bacterial resistance patterns in endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) medications.
Co-occurrence of DSM-IV personality disorders in the United States: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the co-occurrence of 7 of the 10 Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision ( DSM-IV-TR ) personality disorders (PDs) in the US population. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 43093 respondents in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a nationally representative survey of the US population. Odds ratios were calculated to determine associations among PDs. All associations among PDs were positive and statistically significant. PDs were significantly associated with other PDs within the same cluster, in addition to being highly associated with PDs of other DSM-IV PD clusters. Co-occurrence between DSM-IV PDs is pervasive in the US general population. Future research is needed on the creation of dimensional representations of DSM-IV PDs as an adjunct to categorical diagnoses.
Talking cop shop? A case‐study of police community consultative groups in transition

This paper begins with a critical review of three major criminological perspectives on ‘community policing’ and police/community consultation arrangements in Britain. It is noted that all three accounts link these policing policy developments back to the ‘Thatcherite’ agenda of the 1980s although with important differences which I discuss. In the second part of the paper the findings from my own case‐study of a Police Consultative Committee (PCC) ‘in transition’ are discussed. Although my local research confirms much of the earlier work on PCCs, this paper concentrates on some potentially significant and neglected developments of late in the work and membership of PCCs. In particular I outline the views of a politicised minority of ‘key players’ whose agenda accords closely to that shared by most academic critics. It is, however, argued that it is unclear yet to what extent this development is related to a growth in local democratic participation in policing policy rather than an emergent inter‐agency cor...
KAPOSI'S SARCOMA: A REVERSIBLE HYPERPLASIA

Abstract Kaposi's sarcoma has many unusual features: for example, the pronounced male preponderance; its appearance in "crops" rather than as primary tumour with metastases; a substantial rate of spontaneous remission; the predictability of involved sites; the lack of aneuploidy, and the strong association with immunodeficiency. These features and other evidence suggest that it is not a malignant neoplasm but a benign, potentially controllable and reversible hyperplasia.
Adaptation of the modified Bouc–Wen model to compensate for hysteresis in respiratory motion for the list-mode binning of cardiac SPECT and PET acquisitions: Testing using MRI

Purpose: Binning list-mode acquisitions as a function of a surrogate signal related to respiration has been employed to reduce the impact of respiratory motion on image quality in cardiac emission tomography (SPECT and PET). Inherent in amplitude binning is the assumption that there is a monotonic relationship between the amplitude of the surrogate signal and respiratory motion of the heart. This assumption is not valid in the presence of hysteresis when heart motion exhibits a different relationship with the surrogate during inspiration and expiration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the novel approach of using the Bouc–Wen (BW) model to provide a signal accounting for hysteresis when binning list-mode data with the goal of thereby improving motion correction. The study is based on the authors’ previous observations that hysteresis between chest and abdomen markers was indicative of hysteresis between abdomen markers and the internal motion of the heart. Methods: In 19 healthy volunteers, they determined the internal motion of the heart and diaphragm in the superior–inferior direction during free breathing using MRI navigators. A visual tracking system (VTS) synchronized with MRI acquisition tracked the anterior–posterior motions of external markers placed on the chest and abdomen. These data were employed to develop and test the Bouc–Wen model by inputting the VTS derived chest and abdomen motions into it and using the resulting output signals as surrogates for cardiac motion. The data of the volunteers were divided into training and testing sets. The training set was used to obtain initial values for the model parameters for all of the volunteers in the set, and for set members based on whether they were or were not classified as exhibiting hysteresis using a metric derived from the markers. These initial parameters were then employed with the testing set to estimate output signals. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient between the abdomen, chest, average of chest and abdomen markers, and Bouc–Wen derived signals versus the true internal motion of the heart from MRI was used to judge the signals match to the heart motion. Results: The results show that the Bouc–Wen model generated signals demonstrated strong correlation with the heart motion. This correlation was slightly larger on average than that of the external surrogate signals derived from the abdomen marker, and average of the abdomen and chest markers, but was not statistically significantly different from them. Conclusions: The results suggest that the proposed model has the potential to be a unified framework for modeling hysteresis in respiratory motion in cardiac perfusion studies and beyond.
c-Flip confers resistance to fas-mediated apoptosis in anaplastic large cell lymphoma

We hypothesized that inhibition of the FAS-mediated apoptosis pathway by FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) may contribute to oncogenesis in ALK+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). Treatment with increasing concentrations of CH-11 (CD95/FAS agonistic antibody) had no effect on cell viability of 2 ALK+ ALCL cell lines, Karpas 299 and SU-DHL1, each expressing high levels of c-FLIP. However, inhibition of endogenous c-FLIP expression by specific c-FLIP siRNA in Karpas 299 and SU-DHL1 cells treated with CH-11 resulted in FAS-mediated cell death associated with increased annexin V binding, apoptotic morphology, and cleavage of caspase-8. In 26 ALK+ ALCL tumors, assessed for expression of DISC-associated proteins, CD95/FAS and c-FLIP were commonly expressed, in 23 (92%) of 25 and 21 (91%) of 23 tumors, respectively. By contrast, CD95L/FASL was expressed in only 3 (12%) of 26 ALCL tumors, although it was strongly expressed by surrounding small reactive lymphocytes. Our findings suggest that overexpression of c-FLIP protects ALK+ ALCL cells from death-receptor-induced apoptosis and may contribute to ALCL pathogenesis. (Blood. 2006;107:2544-2547)
Morphology and kinematics in clusters of galaxies

The existence of subclustering, infall, and the morphology-local density relation suggest that there should be differences in the kinematics of different morphological populations in clusters. From published data, we compile a sample of galaxy redshifts and types in six rich clusters of galaxies: A548, A1060, A1644, A1656, A2l51, and DC 2048 - 52. In three clusters, the velocity distribution of spiral galaxies is different from those of other morphological populations: (1) spirals and ellipticals differ in A1656 and A2151, and (2) spirals and S0s differ in DC 2048 - 52. The differences in the distributions result primarily from differences in the mean velocities. The results are consistent with a picture in which a cluster irregularly accretes clumps of mostly spiral galaxies from the field, causing the combined velocity distribution to be asymmetric. These clumps might infall within the plane of a wall like the Great Wall of galaxies. Recent dynamical simulations show that the asymmetries may persist until after the clumps have merged with the central mass concentration.
Interpreting Assays with Control Flow on Digital Microfluidic Biochips

BioCoder is a Cpp library developed at Microsoft Research, India, for the unambiguous specification of biochemical assays. This article describes language extensions to BioCoder along with a compiler and runtime system that translate and execute assays specified using BioCoder on a software simulator. The simulator mimics the behavior of laboratories-on-a-chip (LoCs) based on a droplet actuation technology called electrowetting on dielectric (EWoD). To date, prior compilers targeting similar EWoD devices are limited to assays specified as directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) and cannot handle arbitrary control flow or feedback from the LoC. The framework presented herein addresses these challenges through dynamic interpretation, thereby enlarging the space of assays that can be compiled onto EWoD devices.
The Role of the Geneticist and Genetic Counselor in an ACHD Clinic.

Abstract There is a growing population of adults surviving with congenital heart disease due to the advancements in surgical repair and medical management. At the same time, the understanding of the genetic basis of both syndromic and isolated congenital heart disease has grown tremendously and is being rapidly translated into changes in clinical care, resulting in an increasing need for incorporation of genetic expertise into the care of adult congenital heart disease patients. Here we review the importance of delivery of genetic information to the adult congenital heart disease population and highlight the shared and distinct roles of clinical geneticists and genetic counselors in provision of services. The adult congenital heart disease patient population has unique needs and clinical geneticists and genetic counselors can play an important role in the diagnostic evaluation and assessment of these patients to provide an accurate etiologic diagnosis and to counsel regarding genetic testing, recurrence risk, family screening, and prenatal diagnosis.
The Unified Model and Evolution of Active Galaxies: Implications from a Spectropolarimetric Study

We extend the analysis presented in Paper I of a spectropolarimetric survey of the CfA and 12 lm samples of Seyfert 2 galaxies (S2s). We confirm that polarized (hidden) broad-line region (HBLR) S2s tend to have hotter circumnuclear dust temperatures, show mid-IR spectra more characteristic of Seyfert 1 galaxies (S1s), and are intrinsically more luminous than non-HBLR S2s. The levels of obscuration and circumnuclear star formation, however, appear to be similar between HBLR and non-HBLR S2 galaxies, based on an examination of various observational indicators. HBLR S2s, on average, share many similar large-scale, presumably isotropic, characteristics with S1s, as would be expected if the unified model is correct, while non-HBLR S2s generally do not. The active nuclear engines of non-HBLR S2s, then, appear to be truly weaker than HBLR S2s, which in turn are fully consistent with being S1s viewed from another direction. There is also evidence that the fraction of detected HBLRs increases with the radio power of the active galactic nucleus. Thus, all S2 galaxies may not be intrinsically similar in nature, and we speculate that evolutionary processes may be at work. Subject headings: galaxies: active — galaxies: Seyfert — polarization On-line material: color figures