cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statehood and the Governance of the District of Columbia: An Historical Analysis of Policy Issues

In November 1990 voters in the District of Columbia elected two “shadow” United States senators (one of whom is former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson) and one “shadow” representative to lobby for statehood. Statehood bills have been introduced in Congress regularly since 1982 and committee hearings on statehood were held in the fall of 1991 and the spring of 1992. Although only recently has there been serious discussion about District statehood, the issue of the proper relationship of the national government to the federal city has been a matter of debate since 1787. This article provides a historical analysis of statehood and alternative policy options and aruges that the relationship between the federal government and the District has always mirrored national polit.
Ultraviolet mutagenesis in strains of E. coli deficient in DNA polymerase.

CERTAIN mutations in Escherichia coli which cause increased sensitivity to ultraviolet light (UV) drastically change the UV mutability of the sensitive strain. Strains lacking the ability to excise pyrimidine dimers, for example, exhibit greatly increased UV mutability, producing induced mutations at doses of UV far smaller than those required to induce mutations in wild type strains1, 2. Mutants owing their UV sensitivity to reduced ability to perform genetic recombination, on the other hand, show reduced mutability in response to UV compared with the wild type and some (recA or exrA strains, for example) are stable to UV, producing no detectable induced mutations at any dose3–5. Analysis of UV mutagenesis in such strains has led to the hypothesis that most UV-induced mutations in E. coli are errors in the recombinational repair of gaps in the daughter-strand which are located opposite unexcised pyrimidine dimers6, 7.
A heliangolide from Chromolaena glaberrima

Abstract The investigation of Chromolaena glaberrima afforded, besides the known heliangolide chromolaenide, a new 4-dehydrochromolaenide. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.
Epidemiology and Clinical Course of 41 Patients Treated for Pulmonary Disease Due to Unclassified Mycobacteria

SUMMARY Forty-one patients attending the New Orleans Tuberculosis Clinic were treated for pulmonary disease due to unclassified Mycobacteria during the five years from 1958 through 1962. There was a close clinical and epidemiologic relationship with pulmonary tuberculosis. About one-half of the patients responded to antituberculosis chemotherapy, isoniazid, paraaminosalicylic acid and, in most cases, streptomycin. Their signs, symptoms and the roentgenographic appearance of their pulmonary lesions were indistinguishable from those of other adults with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Without exception, the upper lobes of the lungs were involved; several patients had bilateral pulmonary disease; cavitary lesions were common; and four patients had extensive exudative infiltrates. One-third of the patients with unclassified Mycobacterial disease either had had pulmonary tuberculosis or gave a history of contact with tuberculosis. Different groups of unclassified Mycobacteria were identified in the sputum of five patients, while in four others Mycobacterium tuberculosis appeared in an occasional early sputum sample. An investigation of close contacts disclosed a series of persons harboring different Mycobacteria, suggesting an environmental source of infection. Certainly, there appears to be clinical evidence supporting the hypothesis that some strains of unclassified Mycobacteria are mutations.
Consumption Patterns of Sugar-Sweetened Carbonated Beverages Among Children and Adolescents

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have been strongly implicated in the development of obesity and cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents. Among SSBs, carbonated beverages (regular soda) have been the focus of education and public policy efforts to limit consumption. The purpose of this paper is to provide detailed information about regular soda consumption patterns among children and adolescents, which can be used to inform current public policy and educational strategies. A systematic review of papers published between 2004 and 2014 was completed. Two authors independently reviewed all selected papers and abstracted key findings. All measures of consumption of regular soda were considered (i.e., frequency, volume, proportion of consumers, calories from regular soda). In addition, data from The NPD Group's National Eating Trends(R) survey for the years 2006–2011 were analyzed. The primary outcome was consumption of regular soda over a 2-week period. Covariates included demographic, health (BMI, chronic illness), and lifestyle (dieting and exercise). Descriptive and univariate comparative statistics were used to summarize consumption patterns. Multiavariate analysis was used to identify characteristics associated with lower and higher consumption frequency. Several findings were consistent between the systematic review and our analysis of NET data. Regular soda consumption increases with age into adolescence. Consumption is higher among children and adolescents in families of lower income and education levels. Lower levels of exercise are associated with higher consumption of regular soda. Our systematic review did not support an association between regular soda consumption and overall weight status across all age groups. From the review, positive associations between regular soda consumption and a number of unhealthy child and family habits emerged, including high levels of TV viewing, high fast-food consumption, low vegetable intake, adolescent cigarette smoking, and daily consumption by parents of regular soda. For our NET analysis, data was available for 8982 children ages 2–18, 19.8 % of whom were obese. Roughly 71.2 % consumed at least one regular soda in the 2-week survey period. Obesity, Hispanic ethnicity, lower household income, household size ≤4, female head of household with ≤high school education, and exercising <3 days/week were associated with higher consumption frequency. Food allergy and lactose intolerance were associated with lower consumption frequency. The relationship between obesity and higher consumption frequency emerged between ages 6 and 8 and persisted through ages 9–12. Regular soda consumption among children and adolescents is associated with a number of household factors, including lower income and lower levels of education. Regular soda consumption is part of a larger cluster of unhealthy behaviors. Efforts to curb consumption should target economically disadvantaged families with a focus on children under 6.
Ultimate uplift capacity of model rigid metal piles in clay

Laboratory model test results for estimation of the ultimate uplift capacity of rigid metal piles embedded in a compacted near-saturated clayey soil are presented. The length-diameter ratio of the piles was varied from 10 to 15. The direction of the uplift load on the pile was varied from 0 to 50°. Based on the present test results and the results of existing model studies, an empirical relationship for estimating the pile uplift capacity has been presented.
Ultrasonic hyperspectral imaging based oil detection in sea water via spectral fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation

This paper presents a novel method of oil detection in sea water from ultrasonic hyperspectral imagery (UHI) using spectral fringe adjusted joint transform correlation (SFJTC). An UHI is generated using ultrasound attenuation coefficients of different materials. Using pure target (oil) and background (sea water) signatures and linear mixing, we have developed a SFJTC-based novel technique for oil detection in sea water using the UHI technique. We have randomly inserted targets (oil) into a sea water UHI scene with different levels of spectral variability to explore the performance of the SFJTC algorithm for different scenarios. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated via receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and the area under the ROC (AUROC). Test results confirm that the proposed scheme shows good results despite the presence of a large amount of noise in the data.
Treatment of urethral diseases with neodymium:Yag laser

Abstract Over a thirty-month period, a wide variety of common urethral problems were treated on an ambulatory basis, with the neodymium: yttrium-aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser. When used discriminately, laser treatment appears to be an effective modality for the management of selected urethral strictures. Thus far, excellent results have been obtained in 30 of 31 cases of short strictures where laser urethrotomy was performed as the first stricture procedure (average follow-up 10 months). Furthermore, in a series of 36 cases of secondary bladder neck contractures, all of the evaluated patients responded well (average follow-up 7 months). Good results were obtained in only 11 of 48 complicated strictures (average follow-up 14 months). However, while most of these extensive strictures were not eradicated, laser therapy generally produced a documented clinical improvement, comparable to urethrotomy or dilatation, in 15 of these cases. A series of 24 condylomata involving the urethra were treated satisfactorily, with no recurrences (average follow-up 13 months). Laser treatment also has been used successfully for the management of several urethral caruncles, urethral polyps, two meatal hemangiomas, one urethral carcinoma, and a distal duplicated urethra. Recently, the Nd:YAG laser has been applied to the prostatic urethra with vaporization of obstructing median bar hyperplasia. Favorable results have been achieved in 5 of 6 cases treated with a newly developed technique that utilizes direct laser contact. Retrograde ejaculation has not been encountered in these patients (average follow-up 6 months). All of these procedures have been accomplished in the office, largely without urethral catheterization. Lidocaine jelly occasionally supplemented with intravenous sedation provided satisfactory anesthesia.
Intimate Femicide A National Demographic Overview

This exploratory study identifies intimate femicide as a missing link in social science research on violence against women. This study examines women killed in the United States. Results indicate that approximately four women were killed by intimate partners every day during 1980, 1981, and 1982. Information is presented on the age of the victims and offenders, the weapons used to kill female intimate victims, the situation and circumstances surrounding the homicide, and the racial and ethnic backgrounds of victims. It is suggested that intimate femicide is a social problem that merits informed discussion, as well as additional research to explore in more depth the killing of women by male intimate partners.
A Severe Frontal Rainband. Part I. Stormwide Hydrodynamic Structure

Abstract A narrow cold frontal band of intense precipitation is examined by means of triple Doppler radar and supporting observations. As the band passed through the Central Valley of California, it was accompanied by strong gusty winds, electrical activity, tornadoes and pressure jumps. Part I delineates the stormwide kinematic and thermodynamic structure. A highly two-dimensional pre-frontal updraft of 15–20 m s−1 results primarily from intense planetary boundary layer forcing of a low-level jet by the gravity-current propagation mechanism. Maximum updraft speed occurs at 2.1 km and the maximum radar echo depth is 6.6 km. Diabatic cooling, due to melting hydrometers, is proposed as a likely mechanism for control of gravity current depth and maintenance of density contrast together with synoptic-scale cold air advection. Available convective potential energy is shown to be small and kinetic energy of the environmental vertical wind shear is proposed as a likely source of energy on the updraft scale. Torn...
Corruption: Causes, effects and deterrents

Corruption is a cosmopolitan problem. However, its adverse effects on less-developed countries are perhaps more profound due to the fact that it has greatly affected the potential for governments in such countries to meet the basic needs and expectations of the common people. There is, therefore, a pressing need for a sustained effort to nip the seemingly elusive problem of corruption in the bud, so to speak. This study endeavours to conceptualise the nature, causes, and effects of the scourge. The author begins by defining the term 'corruption' and its practices, followed by an assessment of how a number of developing countries measure this phenomenon within their national borders. The focus then narrows to exploring corruption within an African context, and the causes and viable means of curbing the problem. The article closes on a positive note, with examples of success stories in the fight against corruption.
Attitudes Versus Actions: The Relationship of Verbal and Overt Behavioral Responses to Attitude Objects.

Gordon Allport (1954) has described the attitude concept as "the primary building stone in the edifice of social psychology [p. 45]," and the extensive attitude literature in the past 20 years supports this contention. Stimulated primarily by the cognitive consistency theories, thousands of pages have been written recently on attitude formation and change. One possible reason for the popularity of the attitude concept is that social psychologists have assumed that attitudes have something to do with social behavior. Cohen (1964), in the concluding chapter of his book. Attitude Change and Social Influence, states:
A selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor decreases proteinuria and retards progressive renal injury in rats

A selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor decreases proteinuria and retards progressive renal injury in rats. Background We have previously shown that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is low in the renal cortex of adult rats, but is increased in macula densa/cortical thick ascending limb and in glomerular podocytes after subtotal renal ablation. Methods To evaluate the functional consequences of this increased COX-2 expression, male rats were subjected to subtotal renal ablation and divided into four groups: ( 1 ) treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor SC58236, ( 2 ) treatment with vehicle, ( 3 ) treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril, and ( 4 ) treatment with enalapril + SC58236. The administration of drugs was begun on the third day after ablation and continued for 6 to 10 weeks. Results Within one week after ablation, vehicle-treated rats developed hypertension. Although enalapril led to significant reductions in blood pressure, either alone or in combination with the COX-2 inhibitor, SC58236 alone did not significantly alter ablation-induced hypertension. However, the SC58236-treated animals exhibited levels of proteinuria at six weeks after ablation that were comparable to those seen with enalapril (vehicle, 47 ± 4; enalapril, 27 ± 2; SC58236, 30 ± 2 mg/day; N = 7, P N = 6, P N = 6, P Conclusions These studies indicate that chronic treatment with a specific COX-2 inhibitor may retard the progression of progressive renal injury, and suggest that such compounds can be used in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Further studies are required to determine the mechanism by which COX-2 inhibition is renoprotective.
Solvent effect on ageing of silica gels

The structure of silica gels derived from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with molar compositions of TEOS∶H2O∶HNO3=1∶10∶0.4 and then aged in various solvents, was studied. The effect of various solvents having different physical properties on the gel structure, as well as the relationship between the solvent properties and the dried gel structure, were investigated. The density, surface area and pore-size distribution were measured. The results of the pore structure and SEM showed the aged gels to have a slit-shaped micropore, narrow pore-size distribution, and homogeneous microstructure. The density, surface area, pore size and pore volume of dried gels changed as the gels were subjected to ageing in various solvents. The surface area could be related to the polarity parameter of the ageing solvent.
3-D Integration of Continuum Generation and Carving on a Silicon Chip

An attempt at creating a multi-wavelength silicon light source is reported. Self phase modulation is used to broaden the spectrum of an off-chip seed pulse. The spectrum is filtered into discrete channels using vertically-coupled microresonators.
Solvent accessibility of protein surfaces by amide H/2H exchange MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

One advantage of detecting amide H/2H exchange by mass spectrometry instead of NMR is that the more rapidly exchanging surface amides are still detectable. In this study, we present quench-flow amide H/2H exchange experiments to probe how rapidly the surfaces of two different proteins exchange. We compared the amide H/2H exchange behavior of thrombin, a globular protein, and IκBα, a nonglobular protein, to explore any differences in the determinants of amide H/2H exchange rates for each class of protein. The rates of exchange of only a few of the surface amides were as rapid as the “intrinsic” exchange rates measured for amides in unstructured peptides. Most of the surface amides exchanged at a slower rate, despite the fact that they were not seen to be hydrogen bonded to another protein group in the crystal structure. To elucidate the influence of the surface environment on amide H/2H exchange, we compared exchange data with the number of amides participating in hydrogen bonds with other protein groups and with the solvent accessible surface area. The best correlation with amide H/2H exchange was found with the total solvent accessible surface area, including side chains. In the case of the globular protein, the correlation was modest, whereas it was well correlated for the nonglobular protein. The nonglobular protein also showed a correlation between amide exchange and hydrogen bonding. These data suggest that other factors, such as complex dynamic behavior and surface burial, may alter the expected exchange rates in globular proteins more than in nonglobular proteins where all of the residues are near the surface.
Technology assessment of thin-film cascade photovoltaic modules

Abstract Cascade solar cell configurations, where photons wasted by a top cell are absorbed by a second cell, potentially have higher efficiencies than single junction cells. The technology for thin-film flat-plate cascade modules is discussed, and advantages and disadvantages of several materials combinations are evaluated. Economics of monolithic and mechanically stacked cascade modules are analyzed, showing that mechanically stacked cascade modules have expected production costs leading to cost per kilowatt hour about the same as that for single-junction modules, while monolithic cascades lead to potentially lower costs.
On-Probe Solid-Phase Extraction/MALDI-MS Using Ion-Pairing Interactions for the Cleanup of Peptides and Proteins

Samples originating from biological sources often contain a complex mixture of inorganic salts, buffers, chaotropic agents, surfactants/detergents, preservatives, and other solubilizing agents. However, the presence of these contaminants virtually ensures the failure of any subsequent analysis of the sample by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Sample cleanup procedures, therefore, must be performed prior to MALDI-MS analysis. This paper reports a probe-surface derivatization method that greatly simplifies this sample preparation process. MALDI probes possessing self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated with ionic functional groups can rapidly extract peptides/proteins via ionic interactions from ≤1-μL volumes of sample solutions placed directly on their surface. We have found that MALDI probes modified in this manner are a practical solution for analyzing very small volumes of peptide/protein solutions contaminated with high levels of inorganic salts, buffers, det...
Cost–Utility Analysis of Chemotherapy Regimens in Elderly Patients with Stage III Colon Cancer

Background Chemotherapy prolongs survival for stage III colon cancer patients but community-level evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of treatment for elderly patients is limited. Comparisons were between patients receiving no chemotherapy, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and FOLFOX (5-FU + oxaliplatin).
Studying psychotherapy using the one-with-many design: The therapeutic alliance as an exemplar.

Most psychotherapy research uses a one-with-many design, in which each therapist (the one) treats multiple clients (the many), which raises the challenge of nonindependent data. We present a statistical model for analyzing data from studies that use a one-with-many design. This model addresses the problems associated with nonindependence and can address theoretically relevant questions. To illustrate this model, we analyzed data in which 65 therapists and their 227 clients rated their therapeutic alliance. The primary finding was that both therapist and client alliance ratings were largely relational (i.e., specific to the unique therapist-client combination). There was little consensus among clients treated by the same therapist about the quality of the therapeutic alliance, although some therapists reported forming stronger alliances than other therapists. There was substantial dyadic reciprocity, indicating that if a therapist reported an especially good alliance with a particular client (better than with his or her other clients), then that client was also likely to report an especially good alliance (better than those reported by the therapist's other clients).
Sex therapy and penectomy

Abstract A 65-year-old man, having undergone a penectomy operation that spared the ejaculatory apparatus and some erotically responsive areas, experienced a spontaneous orgasm, with ejaculation, upon being touched in the perineal area during a massage. Unable to duplicate the experience, he (and later his wife) entered sex therapy, which resulted in his being able to have orgasms during lovemaking. The course of the therapy is described, as are certain issues arising from the therapy. Regaining of the man's orgasmic ability was accompanied by a striking improvement in the intrapsychic and interpersonal functioning of the couple, and this is taken to be an example of the “ripple effect” of successful sex therapy. The implications for this therapeutic approach for the rehabilitation of other penectomy patients and their spouses are discussed. Finally the question of surgical penile reconstruction in such cases is explored.
Altered angiotensin II sensitivity of neurons in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis region of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Abstract Using in vitro hypothalamic brain slices, differences in angiotensin II (AII) sensitivity of neurons in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis (OVLT) region were compared between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). AIIm the AII competitive antagonist saralasin, and l -glutamate were micropressure-applied onto OVLT neurons. AII excitation of SHR neurons was blocked or antagonized by simultaneous application of saralasin, evoked at significantly lower thresholds and displayed exaggerated periods of postactivity compared to OVLT neurons in preparations taken from WKY controls. Neuronal responses to l -glutamate were similar between the two rat strains. Differences in neuronal sensitivity to AII may be causally linked to hypertension in SHR.
Considering just noticeable difference in assessments of physical accommodation for product design

Configuring products or environments for the size of their human users requires the consideration of several characteristics of the target user population, including body dimensions (anthropometry) and preferred interaction. Users are both adaptable and imperfect observers, which often makes it difficult for them to distinguish between candidate designs. This insensitivity is described by a concept called ‘just noticeable difference’, or JND. This paper presents an implementation of JND modelling and demonstrates how its use in the sizing of products or environments for target user populations can improve expected performance. Two facets of this problem are explored: (1) how experimental measures of JND for dimensional optimisation tasks may be obtained, and (2) how measures of JND may be included in models of user–device interaction for both adjustable and discretely sized products and the assumptions required. A case study demonstrating the collection and modelling of JND for a simple univariate problem...
A look-ahead heuristic for scheduling jobs with release dates on a single machine

Abstract The paper explores how limited look-ahead improves the performance of on-line heuristics. In particular, we consider the NP-complete single machine scheduling of independent jobs with release dates to minimize the total completion time. We present an on-line with look-ahead algorithm which foresees the next in-coming job. We study its worst-case behavior and prove that it outperforms most on-line and off-line heuristics.
Full engagement of liganded maltose‐binding protein stabilizes a semi‐open ATP‐binding cassette dimer in the maltose transporter

MalFGK2 is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that mediates the uptake of maltose/maltodextrins into Escherichia coli. A periplasmic maltose-binding protein (MBP) delivers maltose to the transmembrane subunits (MalFG) and stimulates the ATPase activity of the cytoplasmic nucleotide-binding subunits (MalK dimer). This MBP-stimulated ATPase activity is independent of maltose for purified transporter in detergent micelles. However, when the transporter is reconstituted in membrane bilayers, only the liganded form of MBP efficiently stimulates its activity. To investigate the mechanism of maltose stimulation, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study the interactions between the transporter and MBP in nanodiscs and in detergent. We found that full engagement of both lobes of maltose-bound MBP unto MalFGK2 is facilitated by nucleotides and stabilizes a semi-open MalK dimer. Maltose-bound MBP promotes the transition to the semi-open state of MalK when the transporter is in the membrane, whereas such regulation does not require maltose in detergent. We suggest that stabilization of the semi-open MalK2 conformation by maltose-bound MBP is key to the coupling of maltose transport to ATP hydrolysis in vivo, because it facilitates the progression of the MalK dimer from the open to the semi-open conformation, from which it can proceed to hydrolyze ATP.
A strategy for species introduction into evolving model ecosystems

Abstract Using a recently developed technique, a realistic method of introducing species into an evolving ecosystem simulation model is presented. A single unit, preemption strength, provides an index which combines strictly preemptive and strictly head-of-the-line colonization strategies. An optimization of priority strategies is presented. The relevance of the realistically evolving model to the stability-complexity problem is emphasized.
Simulations of long time scale dynamics using the dimer method

We have carried out long time scale simulations where the “dimer method” [G. Henkelman and H. Jonsson, J. Chem. Phys. 111, 7010 (1999)] is used to find the mechanism and estimate the rate of transitions within harmonic transition state theory and time is evolved by using the kinetic Monte Carlo method. Unlike traditional applications of kinetic Monte Carlo, the atoms are not assigned to lattice sites and a list of all possible transitions does not need to be specified beforehand. Rather, the relevant transitions are found on the y during the simulation. An application to the diffusion and island formation of Al adatoms on an Al(100) surface is presented.
The substrate as a skeleton: ground reaction forces from a soft-bodied legged animal

SUMMARY The measurement of forces generated during locomotion is essential for the development of accurate mechanical models of animal movements. However, animals that lack a stiff skeleton tend to dissipate locomotor forces in large tissue deformation and most have complex or poorly defined substrate contacts. Under these conditions, measuring propulsive and supportive forces is very difficult. One group that is an exception to this problem is lepidopteran larvae which, despite lacking a rigid skeleton, have well-developed limbs (the prolegs) that can be used for climbing in complex branched structures and on a variety of surfaces. Caterpillars therefore are excellent for examining the relationship between soft body deformation and substrate reaction forces during locomotion. In this study, we devised a method to measure the ground reaction forces (GRFs) at multiple contact points during crawling by the tobacco hornworm ( Manduca sexta ). Most abdominal prolegs bear similar body weight during their stance phase. Interestingly, forward reaction forces did not come from pushing off the substrate. Instead, most positive reaction forces came from anterior abdominal prolegs loaded in tension while posterior legs produced drag in most instances. The counteracting GRFs effectively stretch the animal axially during the second stage of a crawl cycle. These findings help in understanding how a terrestrial soft-bodied animal can interact with its substrate to control deformation without hydraulic actuation. The results also provide insights into the behavioral and mechanistic constraints leading to the evolution of diverse proleg arrangements in different species of caterpillar.
Review of the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea

Native to China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) was first detected in the United States in the mid-1990s. Since establishing in the United States, this invasive species has caused significant economic losses in agriculture and created major nuisance problems for home and business owners, especially in the mid-Atlantic region. Basic and applied questions on H. halys have been addressed in its native range in Asia since the mid-1900s and the research outcomes have been published in at least 216 articles from China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. In Asia, H. halys is described as an occasional or outbreak pest of a number of crops such as apple, pear, persimmon, and soybeans. This species is considered a nuisance pest as well, particularly in Japan. This review summarizes 100 articles primarily translated from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean to English. The content of this review focuses on the biology, ecology, and management of H. halys in Asia, with specific emphasis on nomenclature, life history, host range, damage, economic importance, sampling and monitoring tools, and management strategies. This information from the native range of H. halys provides greater context and understanding of its biology, ecology, and management in North America.
Effects of social development intervention in childhood 15 years later

OBJECTIVE: To examine the long-term effects of a universal intervention in elementary schools in promoting positive functioning in school, work, and community, and preventing mental health problems, risky sexual behavior, substance misuse, and crime at ages 24 and 27 years. DESIGN: Nonrandomized controlled trial. SETTING: Fifteen public elementary schools serving diverse neighborhoods including high-crime neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington. PARTICIPANTS: Sex-balanced and multiracial/multiethnic sample of 598 participants at ages 24 and 27 years (93% of the original sample in these conditions). INTERVENTIONS: Teacher training in classroom instruction and management, child social and emotional skill development, and parent workshops. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reports of functioning in school, work, and community and of mental health, sexual behavior, substance use, and crime, and court records. RESULTS: A significant multivariate intervention effect across all 16 primary outcome indices was found. Specific effects included significantly better educational and economic attainment, mental health, and sexual health by age 27 years (all P < .05). Hypothesized effects on substance use and crime were not found at ages 24 or 27 years. CONCLUSIONS: A universal intervention for urban elementary schoolchildren, which focused on classroom management and instruction, children's social competence, and parenting practices, positively affected mental health, sexual health, and educational and economic achievement 15 years after the intervention ended. Language: en
Minimum Probability of Error Image Retrieval

We address the design of optimal architectures for image retrieval from large databases. Minimum probability of error (MPE) is adopted as the optimality criterion and retrieval formulated as a problem of statistical classification. The probability of retrieval error is lower- and upper-bounded by functions of the Bayes and density estimation errors, and the impact of the components of the retrieval architecture (namely, the feature transformation and density estimation) on these bounds is characterized. This characterization suggests interpreting the search for the MPE feature set as the search for the minimum of the convex hull of a collection of curves of probability of error versus feature space dimension. A new algorithm for MPE feature design, based on a dictionary of empirical feature sets and the wrapper model for feature selection, is proposed. It is shown that, unlike traditional feature selection techniques, this algorithm scales to problems containing large numbers of classes. Experimental evaluation reveals that the MPE architecture is at least as good as popular empirical solutions on the narrow domains where these perform best but significantly outperforms them outside these domains.
Relaxin Levels in the Maternal Plasma of Pigs Before, During, and After Parturition and Before, During, and After Suckling

Relaxin concentrations in peripheral plasma have been measured at frequent intervals before, during, and after parturition and before, during, and after suckling in maternal pigs. Relaxin concentrations rose steadily from 2.7 ng/ml at 0400 hon Day 110 to 158 ng/ml at 2400 hon Day 112 of pregnancy. During the 2 days which preceded parturition, there was a marked increase in relaxin levels. In nearly all pigs this prepartum elevation in relaxin levels consisted of two or three sustained surges which lasted for 10 to 20 h. Maximal relaxin concentrations, which ranged from 42 to 257 ng/ml, were obtained approximately 15 h before parturition. This maximum was followed by a sustained decrease in plasma retaxin levels to a mean of 0.4 ng/mI by 37 h after partuntion. During parturition relaxin levels were relatively constant and did not exceed those observed immediately before parturition. Relaxin was not detected before, during, or after suckling in the plasma of any of the seven maternal pigs examined on Days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of lactation. Only in four of these pigs was relaxin detected on Day 3 of lactation, and in these cases relaxin levels were only 0.1 to 0.4 ng/ml and were not influenced by suckling,
Application of a Heterogeneous Reconfigurable Architecture to OFDM Wireless Systems

OFDM communication systems are widely used in today's wired and wireless system such as ADSL, IEEE 802.11a/g, and DVB-T/H. Current OFDM systems are built on custom ASIC which suffers from a tedious and costly design cycle. In this work we first present an overview of HERS, a heterogeneous reconfigurable system. HERS is a flexible and programmable software defined radio platform and is comprised of a set of heterogeneous reconfigurable engines connected using a high speed bus. Each reconfigurable engine is a specialized reconfigurable processor designed for a class of algorithms and is highly optimized for power and performance. Next, we report on implementation of the most computationally intensive constituent algorithms of IEEE 802.11a/g and DVB-T/H standards.
Silanization of inner surfaces of nanoelectrospray ionization emitters for reduced analyte adsorption

During the course of nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) of substance P, an unusual type of signal reduction was observed with flow rates <10 nL/min. This reduction in signal appears to be induced by the adsorption of positively charged analytes onto negatively charged free silanol groups on the inner surface of emitters; analytes with higher pI values (such as substance P) exhibit greater tendency for adsorption. Support for this hypothesis is demonstrated by the decrease in signal reduction in the presence of concentrated salts or for emitters whose internal silanols have been covalently silanized. Emitters treated with hexamethyldisilazane or 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane showed higher analyte signals for substance P than untreated emitters, suggesting a reduction of analyte adsorption onto the inner walls of silanized emitters. The efficacy of reduced peptide adsorption was demonstrated for emitters silanized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane using a simple peptide mixture as well as a more complex peptide mixture (a tryptic digest of horse hemoglobin).
Patented small molecule inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase: a 10-year saga

Validation of integrase as a suitable therapeutic target for the development of drugs against HIV infection; discovery of diketo acid derivatives as bona fide inhibitors of integrase and the recent news of Phase II clinical trials with S-1360 are major findings fuelling the recent surge of interest in the development of integrase inhibitors. Herein, the first review of the entire patent literature for small molecule intergrase inhibitors is presented. The emphasis is based on compounds with potential to serve as leads, therefore, no attempts are made to include: antibodies, oligonucleotides or polypeptides.
Progressive Decrease in Serum Triiodothyronine Concentrations with Human Aging: Radioimmunoassay Following Extraction of Serum

ABSTRACT. Most published radioimmunoassay methods to determine triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations in serum depend on addition prior to the assay of chemical compounds designed to release T3 bound to thyroid hormone binding proteins (TBP). Instead, the present method has employed denaturation of TBP by simple extraction with 95% ethanol for this purpose, followed by radioimmunoassay. Serums from 127 seemingly healthy subjects aged 5 to 93 showed a statistically significant, progressive decrease for both sexes in T3 concentration with advancing age, amounting to 5.1 ng/dl per decade. Mean T3 concentrations followed the regression line reasonably closely. However, the mean, 108.6 ng/dl, in the 15 to 19 year group, was probably skewed significantly. Mean concentrations reached a high, 140.8 ng/dl in the 5 to 9 yr group, low, 92.2 ng/dl in the 80 to 93 yr group, with the overall mean 119 ± 6.3 (SE) ng/dl. The normal mean and the means for hypothyroid, 46 ng/dl (range < 20–92), and hyperthyroid 353 ng/dl (ran...
Relations among gender, violence exposure, and mental health: the national survey of adolescents

Using a nationally representative sample of 4,008 adolescents, this study examines gender differences in violence exposure, major depressive episode (MDE) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and characteristics of violence incidents. It was hypothesized that there would be gender differences in the types of violence exposure reported as well as the prevalence of MDE and PTSD; and that gender would moderate the relationship between violence exposure and mental health outcomes. Results indicated significant gender differences in rates of violence exposure, PTSD and MDE. Additionally, gender was a moderating variable in the relation between sexual assault and PTSD, but not in the other violence exposure-mental health relations examined. It thus appears that the pathways for developing PTSD may be different for male and female victims of sexual abuse. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed.
Gaze following, temperament, and language development in 6-month-olds: A replication and extension

Abstract This study examined the age of onset of the capacity to align with direction of gaze, and the relations between individual differences in this capacity, temperament and language acquisition. Infants demonstrated the capacity to match mother’s direction of gaze, and individual differences in this capacity were related to temperament and vocabulary development.
Recent developments in near-infrared Hadamard transform Raman spectrometry

Two well established methods for performing optical spectrometry are dispersive spectrometry (DS) and Fourier transform spectrometry (FTS). A third alternative is Hadamard transform spectrometry (HTS), which is a marriage of dispersive and multip1exin techniques and possesses some of the desirable features of both DS and FTS . The general features o[3the Hadamard transform (HT) spectrometer are3dscribed in the literature as are the specifics of our HT spectrometer . The theory and practical examples of the most efcient way to carry out a multiplexing technique such as HTS are available '
Dynamic refinement of table summarization for M-commerce

Table summarization is important in mobile commerce as many diverse small devices, such as smart phones and personal digital assistants, are being equipped with applications that can access corporate databases. It is difficult to effectively present a large table of information on small devices as they tend to have limited display and processing capabilities. Hence, large tables need to be reduced and summarized in order to be properly displayed on small devices. Due to updates in the databases, device capabilities and personal preferences, a summarized table based on a previously defined specification may not be satisfactory anymore and requires further refinements. In this paper we present a flexible and lightweight implementation of dynamic refinement of table summarization. With a GUI tool or a browser the user of a small device in M-commerce can dynamically and interactively refine a summarized table until he/she is satisfied. Not only the summarized table output but also the corresponding specification are refined. Individual refined specifications are flexibly and efficiently maintained for subsequent table summarization.
A Class of Membrane Proteins Shaping the Tubular Endoplasmic Reticulum

SUMMARY How is the characteristic shape of a membrane bound organelle achieved? We have used an in vitro system to address the mechanism by which the tubular network of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is generated and maintained. Based on the inhibitory effect of sulfhydryl reagents and antibodies, network formation in vitro requires the integral membrane protein Rtn4a/ NogoA, a member of the ubiquitous reticulon family. Both in yeast and mammalian cells, the reticulons are largely restricted to the tubular ER and are excluded from the continuous sheets of the nuclear envelope and peripheral ER. Upon overexpression, the reticulons form tubular membrane structures. The reticulons interact with DP1/Yop1p, a conserved integral membraneproteinthatalsolocalizestothetubular ER. These proteins share an unusual hairpin topology in the membrane. The simultaneous absence of the reticulons and Yop1p in S. cerevisiae results in disrupted tubular ER. We propose that these ‘‘morphogenic’’ proteins partition into and stabilize highly curved ER membrane tubules.
Developmental changes in the feeding-induced stimulation of translation initiation in muscle of neonatal pigs.

The rapid gain in skeletal muscle mass in the neonate is associated with a marked elevation in skeletal muscle protein synthesis in response to feeding. The feeding-induced response decreases with ...
Aspirin and proton-pump inhibitors: interpreting the interplay

This editorial refers to ‘Proton pump inhibitor use by aspirin-treated coronary artery disease patients is not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events’, by L.A. Fortuna et al . doi:10.1093/ehjcvp/pvv036 Aspirin has a well-established role in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, but increases gastrointestinal bleeding, especially when used in high-risk patients. Unfortunately, gastrointestinal bleeding in patients after acute coronary syndrome portends poor prognosis and is independently associated with increased risk for adverse cardiovascular events and mortality.1 Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been shown to effectively reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients requiring dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)2 and may improve aspirin adherence due to reduction in dyspepsia.3,4 Multidisciplinary consensus guidelines thus recommend the prophylactic use of PPIs in high-risk patients requiring antiplatelet therapy.5 However, there has been growing interest in possible adverse drug interactions between aspirin and PPIs compromising the antiplatelet efficacy of aspirin. Early preclinical data have supported a potential pharmacologic interaction between these widely-prescribed agents, but limited clinical data have substantiated this theoretical posit. Prior work had suggested that PPIs may attenuate gastric absorption of aspirin based on preclinical data. Co-administration of PPIs with aspirin in rat models increased gastric pH, reduced the lipophilicity and oral bioavailability of aspirin, and enhanced inactivation of aspirin to salicylate metabolites.6 Two subsequent ex vivo platelet function studies provided …
Information Sources for Trust Judgments in Managerial Relationships over Time: A Conceptual Analysis

This article presents a conceptual analysis concerning which factors influencing interpersonal trust are subject to change in their informational utility over the course of a managerial relationship and which factors are more likely to remain salient. Based on existing literature, the authors examine the utility of social categories, trustors’ moods and emotions, third party influences, direct experiences, and shared perspectives as sources of trust-related data over time. A set of propositions are formulated to encourage future intellectual dialogues on trust development in vertical dyads and render a framework for empirical research in this area.