cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of source and the factors audiences rely on in evaluating credibility of health information

Abstract In the wake of public relations crises of credibility such as FEMA's staged press conference in response to the California wildfires, source credibility merits increased scholarly and practitioner scrutiny in order to maximize the effectiveness of the information practitioners release, particularly when the objective is to promote action vital to public health and well-being. Through a random national telephone survey ( n = 400), this research analyzes how the source itself moderates credibility as well as the criteria important to audience evaluations of credibility. Results indicate practitioners are perceived as credible sources of health information and that audiences take a rather mindful route in their evaluations of source credibility.
Advances of LOC-Based Particle Manipulation by AC Electrical Fields

This article presents recent patents and advances on electrical methods for particle manipulation in a microfluidic environment. At microscale, electric fields have unique advantages in performing analytical functions such as manipulation of biological molecules and cells. The advent of AC electrokinetics in recent years further promotes the development of laboratory on a chip, providing versatility and flexibility to interface with many current methods and technologies in multiple biological, chemical and physical disciplines. This article gives an overview of AC electrical principles and their applications, with an emphasis on particle manipulation by electric fields.
Inhibition of Trimeresurus flavoviridis phospholipase A2 by lung surfactant protein A (SP-A)

Abstract A marked sequence homology has been noted between lung surfactant protein A (SP-A) and an inhibitor of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) isolated from the serum of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Habu snake). This study evaluated the effect of SP-A on PLA 2 activity from several sources. SP-A was isolated from bovine or rat lung surfactant by extraction with 1-butanol and octyl β- d -glucopyranoside. The addition of SP-A produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of T. flavoviridis PLA 2 that indicated non-competitive kinetics with K i 5 μg/ml. Inhibition was reversed by heat inactivation, disulfide bond reduction or alkylation of SP-A, or by the presence of anti-SP-A antibody. Treatment of SP-A with endoglycosidase F or the presence of various monosaccharides or lectins did not alter SP-A inhibition. Binding of PLA 2 to SP-A was shown by ultrafiltration and was abolished by SP-A alkylation or the presence of SDS. The SP-A/PLA 2 complex recovered from the ultrafilter had essentially no enzymatic activity, but activity was restored by treatment with mercaptoethanol. SP-A had no effect on activity of PLA 2 from Naja naja , Crotalus atrox , or bovine pancreas. These results indicate that surfactant protein A selectively inhibits Trimeresurus phospholipase A 2 activity and suggest that binding to the enzyme is the mechanism for inhibition.
Examining Youth and Program Predictors of Engagement in Out-of-School Time Programs

Prior research suggests that youths’ engagement in out-of-school time programs may be a crucial factor linking program participation to positive outcomes during adolescence. Guided by the theoretical concept of flow and by stage-environment fit theory, the present study explored correlates of engagement in youth programs. Engagement was conceptualized as the extent to which youth found the program activities enjoyable, interesting, and challenging. The current study examined how program content, monetary incentives, and youth demographic characteristics were linked to youth engagement among a sample of primarily low-income middle and high school youth attending 30 out-of-school programs (n = 435, 51 % female). Results from multilevel models suggested that program content and staff quality were strongly associated with youth engagement. Youth who reported learning new skills, learning about college, and learning about jobs through activities in the program were more engaged, as were youth who found the staff caring and competent. Results demonstrated that the link between learning content for the future and engagement was stronger for older youth than younger youth. In addition, there was a trend suggesting that providing a monetary incentive was associated negatively with youth engagement. Taken as a whole, these findings have important implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in understanding the characteristics of out-of-school time programs that engage older youth.
Approximate relations for the analysis of single-step stress-relaxation data in uniaxial extension from experiments involving a finite step time

Abstract In the determination of single-step stress-relaxation behaviour, a finite time is required to reach the desired strain. As a result, an uncertainty is introduced into the observed behaviour at the early times. In the region of linear behaviour, an approximation has previously been derived which can be applied to shear stress-relaxation experiments. In the present work, approximate relations are derived which can be applied to uniaxial extension experiments in the region of non-linear behaviour. The derivations are based on the assumption that, under the set of strain histories considered, one can use the Bernstein, Kearsley and Zapas theory as a one-dimensional description. To demonstrate the validity of the approximate relations, we have obtained data on a linear low-density polyethylene copolymer under conditions of a varied step time and strains well into the region of non-linear behaviour.
Good life, good death, and the right to die: Ethical considerations for decisions at the end of life

This article examines a range of ethically related concerns and considerations that must be addressed by health professionals and society as they grapple with how to make decisions about the type and degree of treatment to provide to patients at the ends of their lives. These considerations include (1) medical and nursing indications; (2) patient desires; (3) patient interests, including benefit/burden analysis and quality-of-life considerations; (4) family wishes and interests; and (5) costs. The article elaborates the ethical warrants and justifications for why these concerns need to be addressed in clinical decision making and in the development of a national health care policy. A substantial bibliography of current ethics literature on these issues is included.
Chaotic Combustion of Solids and High-Density Fluids near Points of Strong Resonance

The loss of stability of steady, planar combustion waves propagating through solids and high-density fluids occurs via Hopf bifurcation for sufficiently large values of a parameter related to the activation energy of the reaction. Near multiple eigenvalues corresponding to points of strong resonance, the dynamical behaviour of an asymptotic model derived from the original set of conservation equations is governed by an ordinary dynamical system for the amplitudes of the eigenmodes of the linearized problem. An analysis of these amplitude equations then completely determines the local bifurcation structure. It is shown that in certain parameter regimes, these equations admit finite-amplitude, chaotic solutions following the loss of stability of a secondary bimodal solution branch of entrained time-periodic combustion waves. Thus, in contrast to direct numerical integration of the original system of conservation equations far above the neutral stability boundary that marks the transition from steady to non-steady burning, it is shown that multi-dimensional chaotic flame propagation can be predicted from nonlinear stability theory in the neighbourhood of a multiple bifurcation point.
Emotion Regulation Factors as Mediators Between Body Dissatisfaction and Bulimic Symptoms in Early Adolescent Girls

Research suggests that negative affect is an important mediator in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms. This study examines the mediational role of specific emotion r...
Repeatability and Reproducibility of Biometry and Keratometry Measurements Using a Noncontact Optical Low-Coherence Reflectometer and Keratometer

Purpose To evaluate the repeatability, reproducibility, or both of the biometry and keratometry measurements obtained by a new optical low-coherence reflectometer and keratometer (Lenstar LS 900, version 1.10; Haag-Streit). Design Prospective, comparative, observational study. Methods setting: Private practice, Lynwood, California, and Santa Monica, California. study population: The measurements of the second eye to be operated on of 37 patients between October 2010 and January 2011 were analyzed. observation procedure: The axial length, central corneal thickness, aqueous depth, anterior chamber depth, crystalline lens thickness, white-to-white corneal diameter, as well as the keratometric readings at the flattest meridian, the steepest meridian, the average K, the amount of astigmatism, and the minus astigmatic cylinder axis were measured before surgery on the patient's first eye and were repeated 1 month later before the second eye surgery. main outcome measures: The repeatability and reproducibility of the biometry and keratometry measurements. Results Intrasession repeatability and intersession reproducibility were excellent with a very low coefficient of variation and high interclass correlation coefficients for all measured parameters. Bland-Altman plots show good correlation for axial length measurements (95% limits of agreement ranging from −0.056 to +0.04 mm), anterior chamber depth (−0.22 to +0.18 mm), crystalline lens thickness (−0.21 to +0.27 mm), corneal diameter (−0.28 to +0.24 mm), average keratometric readings (−0.56 to +0.47 diopters), and amount of astigmatism (−0.58 to +0.40 diopters). Conclusions The precision of the measurements obtained by the new optical reflectometer and keratometer is extremely high.
Pulmonary and heart rate responses to wearing N95 filtering facepiece respirators

Background Filtering facepiece respirators are the most common respirator worn by US health care and industrial workers, yet little is known on the physiologic impact of wearing this protective equipment. Methods Twenty young, healthy subjects exercised on a treadmill at a low-moderate (5.6 km/h) work rate while wearing 4 different models of N95 filtering facepiece respirators for 1 hour each, 2 models of which were equipped with exhalation valves, while being monitored for physiologic variables. Results Compared with controls, respirator use was associated with mean 1 hour increases in heart rate (range, 5.7-10.6 beats per minute, P P P P > .05). Conclusion The pulmonary and heart rate responses to wearing a filtering facepiece respirator for 1 hour at a low-moderate work rate are relatively small and should generally be well tolerated by healthy persons.
A TIN2 dyskeratosis congenita mutation causes telomerase-independent telomere shortening in mice

The progressive bone marrow failure syndrome dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is often caused by mutations in telomerase or the factors involved in telomerase biogenesis and trafficking. However, a subset of DC patients is heterozygous for mutations in the shelterin component TIN2. To determine how the TIN2-DC mutations affect telomere function, we generated mice with the equivalent of the TIN2 K280E DC allele (TIN2DC) by gene targeting. Whereas homozygous TIN2DC/DC mice were not viable, first-generation TIN2+/DC mice were healthy and fertile. In the second and third generations, the TIN2+/DC mice developed mild pancytopenia, consistent with hematopoietic dysfunction in DC, as well as diminished fecundity. Bone marrow telomeres of TIN2+/DC mice shortened over the generations, and immortalized TIN2+/DC mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) showed telomere shortening with proliferation. Unexpectedly, telomere shortening was accelerated in TIN2+/DC mTR−/− mice and MEFs compared with TIN2+/+ mTR−/− controls, establishing that the TIN2DC telomere maintenance defect was not solely due to diminished telomerase action. The TIN2DC allele induced mild ATR kinase signaling at telomeres and a fragile telomere phenotype, suggestive of telomere replication problems. These data suggest that this TIN2-DC mutation could induce telomeric dysfunction phenotypes in telomerase-negative somatic cells and tissues that further exacerbate the telomere maintenance problems in telomerase-positive stem cell compartments.
Lizards infected with malaria: physiological and behavioral consequences

In northern California, western fence lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis, are frequently parasitized by Plasmodium mexicanum, which causes malaria. Animals with this naturally occurring malarial infection are anemic: immature erythrocytes in peripheral blood become abundant (1 to 30 percent), and blood hemoglobin concentration decreases 25 percent. Maximal oxygen consumption decreases 15 percent and aerobic scope drops 29 percent in infected lizards; both correlate with blood hemoglobin concentration. Running stamina, but not burst running speed, is reduced in malarious lizards. There is a hierarchical relation between infection with malaria and effects on hematology, physiological function, and behavioral capacity. The results suggest that malarial infection may have significant effects on the ecology of lizard hosts.
APPLICATION OF COMPARISON THEOREMS TO DETERMINATION OF THE RESPONSE OF NONLINEAR SYSTEMS

Abstract This paper describes methods of obtaining approximate information about the response of nonlinear systems governed by second order differential equations. The solutions of certain related linear equations provide upper and lower bounds on the phase plane for the solution of the corresponding nonlinear equation. Examples are given including a level control system with PI control. The method may be useful in designing controllers for nonlinear systems.
Common blood flow changes across visual tasks: I. increases in subcortical structures and cerebellum but not in nonvisual cortex

Nine positron emission tomography (PET) studies of human visual information processing were reanalyzed to determine the consistency across experiments of blood flow increases during active tasks relative to passive viewing of the same stimulus array. No consistent blood flow increases were found in cerebral cortex outside of the visual system, but increases were seen in the thalamus and cerebellum. Although most tasks involve increases in arousal, establishing an intention or behavioral goal, setting up control structures for sequencing task operations, detecting targets, etc., these operations do not produce blood flow increases, detectable with the present methods, in localized cortical regions that are common across tasks. Common subcortical regions, however, may be involved. A left cerebellar and a medial cerebellar focus reflected motor-related processes. Blood flow increases in these regions only occurred in experiments in which the subject made an overt response and were largest when the response was made in the active but not passive condition. These motor-related processes were more complex than simple motor execution, however, since increases were still present when the response was made in both the active and passive conditions. These cerebellar increases may reflect processes related to response selection.Blood flow increases in a right cerebellar region were not motor-related. Increases were not modulated by the presence or absence of motor responses during either the active or passive conditions, and increases were sensitive to within-experiment variables that held the motor response constant. Increases occurred in both language and nonlanguage tasks and appeared to involve a general nonmotor process, but the nature of that process was difficult to specify. A right thalamic focus was sensitive to variables related to focal attention, suggesting that this region was involved in attentional engagement. Right thalamic increases were also correlated over conditions with increases in the left and medial cerebellum, perhaps reflecting additional contributions from motor-related nuclei receiving cerebellar projections. Blood flow increases in a left thalamic focus were completely uncorrelated over conditions with increases in the right thalamus, indicating that it was involved in different functions. Both the left thalamus and right cerebellum yielded larger blood flow increases when subjects performed a complex rather than simple language task, possibly reflecting a language-related pathway. Blood flow increases in the left thalamus were also observed, however, during nonlanguage tasks.
The effect of antenna loss on superdirectivity in MIMO systems

This paper has demonstrated that under certain conditions, supergain impacts MIMO system capacity. Modified capacity formulations have been derived that allow capacity computation when the effect of supergain is limited for practical considerations. Application of the framework to representative examples has quantified the impact of supergain on the achievable MIMO performance.
Logic per Track Devices

Publisher Summary In the past five years, the cost of a small solid-state signal switch has gone down by more than a factor of 10, while the mean time among failures has gone up at least by the same amount. A few innovations in computing systems have, however, resulted. This chapter describes a system that could not exist and would not even be worth thinking about (because many are needed) in the absence of cheap highly reliable electronic parts. Head per track disks are now state-of-the-art. The available units have a preamplifier associated with each head and share postamplifiers to a greater or lesser degree for two reasons: they are expensive and there is no need in most systems for transfer rates beyond those that can be achieved with a small number of postamplifiers. The cost of random access memory (primary computer storage) has not been going down as rapidly as most buyers would wish, and there is within sight no technique for making a primary memory that would achieve an order of magnitude cost reduction. Speeds are increasing (thin films and semiconductors), but applications that require the quantity of storage still suffer in performance as a result of the necessity for frequent transfer between primary and secondary storage. Therefore, it makes sense to consider systems that achieve high performance on file-oriented problems by combining the cheap high-capacity storage provided by rotating devices linked appropriately to a significant number of small signal switches. This chapter describes a system that associates with every track or pair of tracks on a disk between one hundred and a few thousand transistors.
Dynamic Structured Model Selection

In many cases, the predictive power of structured models for for complex vision tasks is limited by a trade-off between the expressiveness and the computational tractability of the model. However, choosing this trade-off statically a priori is sub optimal, as images and videos in different settings vary tremendously in complexity. On the other hand, choosing the trade-off dynamically requires knowledge about the accuracy of different structured models on any given example. In this work, we propose a novel two-tier architecture that provides dynamic speed/accuracy trade-offs through a simple type of introspection. Our approach, which we call dynamic structured model selection (DMS), leverages typically intractable features in structured learning problems in order to automatically determine' which of several models should be used at test-time in order to maximize accuracy under a fixed budgetary constraint. We demonstrate DMS on two sequential modeling vision tasks, and we establish a new state-of-the-art in human pose estimation in video with an implementation that is roughly 23× faster than the previous standard implementation.
Sorption of Hydrogen and Deuterium in a Glassy Pd-Si Alloy by a Bendingcantilever Method

The dilatation caused by the sorption of H and D in amorphous samples of melt-spun Pd82Si18 and sputter-deposited Pd81Si19 has been measured at room temperature for ambient charging pressures P up to 760 torr. By comparison with the strength of the Gorsky relaxation, it is concluded that (a) the dilatations per hydrogen and deuterium atom are identical and independent of concentration and (b) the non-linearity of the dilatation vs. P1/2 isotherms is due solely to a deviation from Sieverts’ law. The isotherms exhibit a distinct isotope-dependence, of a similar nature to that for crystalline Pd. A sputter-deposited film is found to dissolve more H or D than a melt-spun ribbon, due possibly to a less structurally-relaxed configuration.
Studies on bone marrow histogenesis: Morphometric and autoradiographic studies of regenerating marrow stroma in extramedullary autoimplants and after evacuation of marrow cavity

The marrow cavity of the rat tibia was mechanically evacuated and autoimplanted to the subcutaneous tissue. The regenerative process which restored the integrity of marrow stroma and hemopoiesis, was morphometrically evaluated in whole mount of tibia. Following evacuation, the clot filled the cavity. The granulation tissue then appeared and expanded, penetrating and replacing the clot. The fibroblasts of the granulation tissue differentiated into osteoblasts forming osteoid bone. Within its interstices, the primordial marrow consisting of loose connective tissue and vascular sinuses appeared and hemopoiesis resumed. Expansion of hemopoiesis resulted in the resorption of bone and within three weeks the tibial cavity was restored to the pre-evacuation state. Autoradiography indicated that the labeling index was initially high in fibroblasts and osteoblasts but was subsequently reduced while it increased in osteocytes, cells of Haversian canals, stromal and hemopoietic cells of marrow. The finding is in disagreement with the view that the regenerative process originates from the Haversian canal. When the label was introduced on day 4 post-operatively, it subsequently appeared in osteocytes, cells of Haversian canal, stromal elements of the marrow, but not in the hemopoietic cells. This indicates complete dissociation of marrow stroma and hemopoietic stem cell.
Effect of technology-enhanced continuous progress monitoring on math achievement

We examined the extent to which use of a technology-enhanced con- tinuous progress monitoring system would enhance the results of math instruc- tion, examined variability in teacher implementation of the program, and com- pared math results in classrooms in which teachers did and did not use the system. Classrooms were randomly assigned to within-school experimental and control groups. Participating students were pre- and post-tested using two standardized, nationally normed tests of math achievement. When teachers implemented the continuous progress monitoring system as intended, and when they used the data from the system to manage and differentiate instruction, students gained signif- icantly more than those for whom implementation was limited or nil. Failure to take into account intervention integrity would have made it look like continuous progress monitoring did not enhance math results.
Functional analysis of the transcription factor ER71 and its activation of the matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter

The ETS transcription factor family is characterized by a conserved ETS DNA-binding domain and its members have been implicated in a plethora of biological processes, including development, cell transformation and metastasis. ER71 is a testis-specific ETS protein that is not homologous to any other protein outside its ETS domain, suggesting that it fulfills a unique physiological role. Here, we report that ER71 is a constitutively nuclear protein whose intracellular localization is dependent on a portion of the ETS domain, namely ER71 amino acids 276-315. Furthermore, the DNA binding activity is intramolecularly regulated, as the N-terminus of ER71 has a negative effect on DNA binding while the C-terminus dramatically enhances this activity. We also demonstrate that ER71 possesses an extremely potent N-terminal transactivation domain comprised of amino acids 1-157. Finally, we show that ER71 is capable of directly activating both an E74 site-driven and the matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter. Altogether, these data represent the first functional characterization of ER71, which may perform important functions in the developing and adult testis as well as in testicular germ cell tumorigenesis.
Correlation Functions and Power Spectra in Variable Networks

The problem considered in this paper is that of establishing a relation between the correlation functions and also the power spectra of the input and output of a linear varying-parameter network (variable network) whose transmission characteristics are random-periodic functions of time. The notion of the correlation function of such a network is introduced and the following theorem is established: The correlation functions of the input and output of a variable network N may formally be regarded as the input and output of a variable network N whose system function is the correlation function of the system function of N. This theorem has many practical applications, particularly in connection with the determination of the correlation functions and power spectra of various random-periodic wave forms.
Temperament, Cognitive Ability, Emotion Knowledge, and Adaptive Social Behavior

Few studies have related emotion knowledge to positive behavioral outcomes in middle childhood, and none of these included both temperament and cognitive ability in the analysis. In the present study of 166 seven-year-old children from economically disadvantaged families, we show that temperamental inhibition, cognitive ability, a traditionally studied index of emotion knowledge (emotion recognition), and emotion memories contribute to the concurrent prediction of adaptive social behavior. We also found that temperament and cognitive ability relate significantly to emotion recognition which, in turn, partially mediates the relations of inhibition and cognitive ability to adaptive social behavior. Emotion memories relate significantly to the behavioral outcome after removing the variance due to inhibition, cognitive ability, and emotion recognition. We argue that compared to memories tagged simply as good (pleasant) or bad (unpleasant) events, discrete emotion memories have greater adaptive value because t...
Mutant NG108-15 cells (NG-CR72) deficient in GM1 synthase respond aberrantly to axonogenic stimuli and are vulnerable to calcium-induced apoptosis: they are rescued with LIGA-20.

The neuroblastoma × glioma NG108-15 hybrid cell line, a widely used model for the study of neuronal differentiation, contains a variety of gangliosides including GM1 and its sialosylated derivative, GD1a. To investigate the role of these a-series gangliotetraose gangliosides in neuritogenesis, we have obtained a mutated subclone of NG108-15 that is deficient in that family of gangliosides. NG108-15 cells were grown in the presence of cholera toxin, which killed the large majority of cells, and from the cholera-resistant survivors we isolated a clone, NG-CR72, that lacks GM1 and GD1a in the plasma and nuclear membranes. GM2 concentration was significantly higher in the plasma membrane. Enzyme assay indicated deficiency of UDP-Gal:GM2 galactosyltransferase (GM1 synthase), which was confirmed by incorporation studies with [3H]sphingosine. These cells resembled wild-type NG108-15 in extending dendritic processes in response to dendritogenic agents (retinoic acid, dibutyryl cAMP) but responded aberrantly to axonogenic stimuli (KCl, ionomycin) by extending unstable neurites that showed the cytoskeletal staining characteristic of dendrites. Moreover, mutant cells treated with the Ca2+-elevating axonogenic agents underwent apoptosis over time, attributed to dysfunction of Ca2+ regulatory mechanisms normally mediated by GM1. Such agents caused dramatic and sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+ in mutant cells, in contrast to modest and temporary elevation in wild-type cells. Exogenous GM1, inserted into the plasma membrane, had no discernable protective effect on NG-CR72 cells whereas LIGA-20, a membrane-permeant derivative of GM1 that entered both plasma and nuclear membranes, blocked apoptosis, permitted extension of stable neurites, and attenuated the abnormal elevation of intracellular Ca2+.
Victorian naturalists in China: science and informal empire

This paper discusses the research of British naturalists in China during the period between the Opium War and the collapse of the Qing dynasty (1839-1911). China was defeated in the Opium War and forced to open treaty ports for trade with the Westerners. The foreign powers, particularly Britain, imposed upon the Qing government treaties, concession leases, favourable trade conditions, legal privileges and so on to reduce its political autonomy. In the shadow of the informal empire, not only did the British have more freedom to travel in China, first at the treaty ports and later in the interior, but they successively established diplomatic , commercial and missionary institutions in dozens of Chinese cities. The most important of them - the British Consular Service, the Chinese Maritime Customs and the Protestant missionary organizations - provided the talent and infrastructure for natural historical research and became networks for scientific information. The research into China's natural history epitomized the characteristics of British research on China in general: it engaged in collecting and circulating an ever-increasing amount of information and aimed at producing 'factual' and 'useful' knowledge about China. The paper modified current literature on scientific imperialism, which has dealt primarily with the colonial context, by examining the role of nineteenth-century British imperial science in the context of informal empire.
Ethnic Identity and Subjective Well-Being of Bully Participants

Relationships among bully victimization, bully perpetration, ethnic identity, and subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect) were examined in a group of urban, ethnically diverse early adolescents. Indices of subjective well-being correlated with participants' scores on bully victimization and perpetration measures but bully perpetration was not significantly related to negative affect. The authors used cluster analysis to determine participants' status as either bully-victims, perpetrators, non-participants, or victim-perpetrators. They found significant analysis of variance differences on the variables of interest between bully participants vs. non-participants. This article discusses implications for bully prevention efforts with ethnic minority youth.
An investigation of the thermal behavior of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate

Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) was heated to temperatures from 55 to 300 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed struvite was stable at 55 °C, partially decomposed to dittmarite (MgNH4PO4·H2O) at 100–200 °C, and formed an amorphous phase at 250–300 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed sample mass loss consistent with dittmarite formation at 100–200 °C and evolution of all volatiles at 250–300 °C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy detected the ν4 NH 4 + band in 55–200 °C solids, as expected for struvite and dittmarite. This band decreased in intensity at 250 °C, and was not evident at 300 °C, confirming loss of NH 4 + (s) at these temperatures. FTIR spectra also showed changes in the vibrations of the ν3 PO 4 3− band. At 55 °C, splitting in the band indicated destabilization of the PO 4 3− (s) group despite no change in mineralogy. Vibrations at 100–200 °C were associated with dittmarite and MgHPO4, and at 250–300 °C, MgHPO4 and Mg2P2O7. Analysis of acid-digested solids indicated the presence of P other than P–PO4 at 200–250 °C, confirming Mg2P2O7 formation. Overall, heat treatment of struvite produces several decomposition products, complete identification of which requires the use of multiple approaches. Temperature-induced phase transformations along with emission of NH3(g) have implications for use of struvite in multiple applications.
Shades of Race How Phenotype and Observer Characteristics Shape Racial Classification

Although race-based discrimination and stereotyping can only occur if people place others into racial categories, our understanding of this process, particularly in contexts where observers categorize others based solely on appearance, is limited. Using a unique data set drawn from observers’ assessments of photos posted by White, Black, Latino, and multiracial online daters, this study examines how phenotype and observer characteristics influence racial categorization and cases of divergence between self-identities and others’ classifications. I find that despite the growth in the multiracial population, observers tend to place individuals into monoracial categories, including Latino. Skin color is the primary marker used to categorize others by race, with light skin associated with Whiteness, medium skin with Latinidad, and, most strongly, dark skin with Blackness. Among daters who self-identify as Black along with other racial categories, those with dark skin are overwhelmingly placed solely into a Bla...
Bone tissue substitutes and replacements.

Purpose of reviewA host of synthetically engineered materials have come to market in the past three decades, changing the way surgical reconstruction is performed. Although tissue engineering holds the promise of true tissue replacement, this technology is years away from true clinical use. In the i
Duels in the European Novel: Honor, Reputation, and the Limits of a Bourgeois Form

The emergence of market society in Europe prompted a major change in the social measurement of individual worth. The formal system of aristocratic honor culture was gradually supplanted by a bourge...
Meta-Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Plus Chemotherapy in Treatment of Postoperative Gastric Cancer

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in treating postoperative gastric cancer.We searched CNKI,VIP,WanFang(2001 to 2010) for randomized control trials about traditional Chinese medicine plus chemotherapy in the treatment of postoperative gastric cancer.Trial screening,quality assessment of included trials,and data extract were conducted.Statistical analysis was conductedby using RevMan 5.0 software.A total of 21 randomized controlled trials were included,meta analysis showed,① KPS score has 10 RCTs.5 RCTs of classification variables no heterogeneity,KPS score2.35,95%CI(1.78,3.10),P0.01],5 RCTs of continuous variables no heterogeneity,KPS score,the differences are significant.② Immune function 5 RCTs have heterogeneity and use random effects model.CD3CD4,CD4/CD8.The differences are significant.③ Survival 3 RCTs have no heterogeneity,and use fixed effects model.One year survival rate is,2 year survival rate,3 year survival rate.The differences are significant.④ Gastrointestinal reaction 5 RCTs have no heterogeneity,and use fixed effects model.Bad appetite above Ⅱ degrees is,Nausea and vomiting above Ⅱ degrees are.The differences are significant.⑤ Blood toxicity 7 RCTs have no heterogeneity,and use fixed effects model.Leucopenia reduce above Ⅱ degrees,HB reduce above Ⅱ degrees,PLT reduce above Ⅱ degrees.The differences are significant.Traditional Chinese medicine plus chemotherapy is effective in curing postoperative gastric cancer.It can improve KPS score,immune function and survival rate,and reduce gastrointestinal reaction and blood toxicity.But the quality of studies is low,more large-scale multi-center randomized trials are needed.
Development and Application of Automatic Calibration System for Digital Multifunction Standard Verification Equipment

To the low efficiency problem of instrument calibration equipment and digital multimeter verification by manpower,an automatic calibration system for digital multifunction standard verification equipment is developed based on Delphi 7 and Visual Studio.The system is consist of data communication,software process and database,which can not only realize the automatic calibration of basic error,output stability,measurement repeatability,three-phase unbalance factor and waveform distortion,but also add functions like automatic setting of source output stable time and automatic assessment of uncertainty.The system has advantages of high measurement accuracy,high calibration efficiency,easy operation and thus has stronger engineer applicability.
Prostacyclin production in vitro by rabbit aortic endothelium: correction for unstirred diffusional layers.

The degree of mixing in fluid layers immediately adjacent to the endothelial surface is a major variable in assessment of prostacyclin (PGI2) production by cultured endothelial cells or intact vessel endothelium in vitro. Lack of adequate mixing should lead to underestimation of true production because PGI2 immediately adjacent to endothelium would be only poorly sampled upon buffer collection. Thoracic aortas from 38 New Zealand white rabbits were therefore excised, opened longitudinally, and mounted endothelial side uppermost in a buffer-filled chamber which excluded cut tissue edges from study. Production of PGI2 under unstirred and magnetically stirred conditions was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. For animals pretreated with the combination of papaverine and heparin (see below), unstimulated and arachidonate-stimulated 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased with stirring rate toward limits of 2.9 and 28.5 ng/cm2/min, respectively. Unstimulated and stimulated 6-keto PGF1 alpha measured at 650 rpm, for example, were greater than their values at 0 rpm by factors of 3.5 (2P less than .01) and 3.7 (2P less than .001), respectively. The process of vessel excision, however, produces another variable: degree of injury to endothelium caused by such factors as secondary vessel contraction and thrombin generation. Vessel contraction and thrombin generation can be minimized, respectively, by the use of a smooth muscle relaxant and heparin administered prior to killing of the animals. The rabbits were, therefore, grouped according to intravenous (IV) treatment, prior to killing, with saline, papaverine (4 mg/kg), heparin (200 U/kg) or the combination of papaverine and heparin (same doses). As compared with pretreatment with saline, papaverine alone, or heparin alone, pretreatment with the combination of papaverine and saline led to increases in stimulated 6- keto-PGF1 alpha of 1.6- to 2.8-fold. By transmission electron microscopy, endothelium from animals pretreated with saline showed ultrastructural changes, including disruption of cytoplasm, separation without detachment of most endothelial cells from subendothelium, and focal areas of denudation. In contrast, ultrastructural integrity of endothelium was preserved in aortas of animals pretreated with combined papaverine and heparin. These results support the hypothesis that unstirred diffusional layers lead, in vitro, to underestimation of PGI2 production, especially when vessels are protected from excisional injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Remote Killing and the Ethics of Drone Warfare

This chapter considers the ethical aspects of remote killing with drones through the just war doctrine, the psychology of distance and killing, the role of machines in warfare, and public consent to the covert use of force. American counter-terrorism against al Qaeda that includes the tactical use of drones generally follows the just war doctrine, but the vast distance between combatants and ease of sending in unmanned and robotic instruments lends itself to the increasing willingness to use force without public or legislative participation in overseas military operations. Many also fear the decline of martial virtues with the advent of remote controlled warfare and a video game mentality, though the current U.S. military practice is strict on the rules of engagement and lethal action.
Building collective belief in badges: designing trust networks

Open digital badges are statements of trust used to vouch that people are who they say they are, and have the qualities they claim to have. Proponents argue that the full potential of badges will be realized when they circulate as credentials. Research on badges suggests that open badges need to be valued by college admissions and employers if they are to be valued by earners. Yet, while the technical standards exist in the open badge infrastructure (OBI) to support badges as a medium of exchange, only a small percentage of badge earners are displaying and sharing them. This chapter explores the complex design challenge of building collective belief to increase their perceived value, focusing on two approaches: credential markets and reputation economy. The first section discusses the limited research on the circulation and acceptance (i.e. perceived value) of badges. The second section examines alternative currencies and how they scale. The third section discusses credentials and credential markets. The fourth section explores ways to build collective belief in badges. The final section discusses how badges can be scaled as reputation and the importance of metadata to this task.
TOLERANCE AS THE ONLY SIGN OF WITHDRAWAL IN OPIATE DEPENDENT CHICK FETUSES

Tolerance is not evident in opiate-dependent chick fetuses unless they are first treated with a dose of naloxone (Nx) which doesn't block the acute depressant action of 1-α-noracetylmethadol (NLAAM) in controls nor increase motility in dependent subjects (withdrawal abstinence).
Against the New Fictionalism: A Hybrid View of Scientific Models

ABSTRACTThis article develops an approach to modelling and models in science—the hybrid view—that is against model fictionalism of a recent stripe (the ‘new fictionalism’ that takes models to be imaginary entities that are analogous to works of fiction). It further argues that there is a version of fictionalism about models to which my approach is neutral and which makes sense only if one adopts a special sort of antirealism (e.g. constructive empiricism). Otherwise, my approach strongly suggests that one stay away from fictionalism and embrace realism directly.
GW-SEM: A Statistical Package to Conduct Genome-Wide Structural Equation Modeling

Improving the accuracy of phenotyping through the use of advanced psychometric tools will increase the power to find significant associations with genetic variants and expand the range of possible hypotheses that can be tested on a genome-wide scale. Multivariate methods, such as structural equation modeling (SEM), are valuable in the phenotypic analysis of psychiatric and substance use phenotypes, but these methods have not been integrated into standard genome-wide association analyses because fitting a SEM at each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) along the genome was hitherto considered to be too computationally demanding. By developing a method that can efficiently fit SEMs, it is possible to expand the set of models that can be tested. This is particularly necessary in psychiatric and behavioral genetics, where the statistical methods are often handicapped by phenotypes with large components of stochastic variance. Due to the enormous amount of data that genome-wide scans produce, the statistical methods used to analyze the data are relatively elementary and do not directly correspond with the rich theoretical development, and lack the potential to test more complex hypotheses about the measurement of, and interaction between, comorbid traits. In this paper, we present a method to test the association of a SNP with multiple phenotypes or a latent construct on a genome-wide basis using a diagonally weighted least squares (DWLS) estimator for four common SEMs: a one-factor model, a one-factor residuals model, a two-factor model, and a latent growth model. We demonstrate that the DWLS parameters and p-values strongly correspond with the more traditional full information maximum likelihood parameters and p-values. We also present the timing of simulations and power analyses and a comparison with and existing multivariate GWAS software package.
The Master Plan: ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Jihadi Strategy for Final Victory

In The Master Plan: ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Jihadi Strategy for Final Victory, Brian Fishman provides an analytical narrative of the development of ISIS’s grand strategy. Utilizing indispensable qu...
CATEGORY FORMATION IN SELF-ORGANIZING EMBODIED AGENTS

In this paper, I describe the implications for a general theory of category formation of a set of experiments in which embodied artificial agents are evolved for the ability to accomplish simple tasks. In particular, I will focus on how categories might emerge from the dynamic interaction between an agent and its environment, and on the relation between categories and behavior. Finally, I will introduce and discuss the notion of action-mediated categories, i.e., internal states that provide indirect and implicit information about the external environment and/or the agent/environment relationship generated through the execution of a behavior.
Use of Transcranial Direct Stimulation in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disease that affects approximately 1% of the population. Negative symptoms are among the major determinants of the functional impairment and a significant proportion of patients with negative symptoms will continue to experience these symptoms despite antipsychotic medications. There are promising results in the application of brain stimulation, particularly transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), for the reduction of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, findings are still controversial. This is a selective review of the literature published between 2011 and 2017 on use of tDCS in treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. We included only randomized controlled trials where schizophrenia and negative symptoms were assessed using any psychometrically validated scale (eg, Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale or Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms). Studies of participants with neurological conditions were excluded, as were those that did not report any symptom outcome variables. Only 5 studies are included. Three studies showed a decrease of negative symptoms. The other studies did not show any therapeutic effects of tDCS in the severity of positive and negative symptoms compared to controls. Our findings suggest that negative symptoms in schizophrenia can be treated with tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, but results are affected by several factors, such as the electrode montage, the concomitant medication, the homogeneity of the sample, the intensity of the tDCS treatment. Further randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled studies in large samples are still needed to establish the effectiveness of the tDCS in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, but there is the potential for tDCS to become a useful complementary treatment option in this population.