cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Claimed self-handicaps and the self-handicapper: The relation of reduction in intended effort to performance

Abstract Two studies were conducted to examine the hypothesis that individuals who claim lack of effort as a handicap in anticipation of an unsuccessful performance will perform poorly to be consistent with the claim. Subjects who scored high or low on the Self-Handicapping Scale ( Jones & Rhodewalt, 1982 ) were led to believe that they were about to take a test that was either important or trivial (high or low ego-relevance) and that they would either perform well or poorly (high or low expected difficulty). They then indicated in private how hard they intended to try and subsequently took the test. In both studies, high self-handicapping subjects who anticipated a difficult test indicated that they would withhold effort on the test and displayed poorer performance than subjects in all other conditions. These findings were obtained regardless of the level of importance of the test. Study 2 demonstrated additionally that the effects of self-handicapping were independent of the subject's level of self-esteem. Study 2 also found that high self-handicapping subjects who expected a difficult test reported experiencing more distracting cognitions while taking the test than did other subjects. The results are discussed with regard to the effects of anticipatory self-protective behavior on performance outcomes.
Factors Influencing the Etiology of Cribra Orbitalia in Prehistoric Nubia

Abstract The present research represents an attempt to explain the occurrence of cribra orbitalia in Nubian skeletal remains associated with Meroitic, X-Group and Christian cultural horizons. The distribution of cribra orbitalia among 285 crania examined revealed a concentration of lesions among infants and aged individuals. While earlier studies have suggested cribra orbitalia may reflect the occurrence of abnormal hemoglobins such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, a consideration of the environmental context in which the lesions occurred makes an alternative hypothesis more likely. Particularly in Nubia (past and present), where parasitic infection is high, the diet is poor in iron, weanling diarrhea is frequent and multiparity is the norm, chronic iron deficiency anemia is a more likely causal factor. This interpretation is also compatable with clinical observations of cribra orbitalia among modern individuals suffering from chronic iron deficiency anemia.
The new hypertension guidelines from JNC 7: is the devil in the details?

It isa major risk factor for myocardial infarction, heart failure,stroke, dementia, kidney disease, and progressive athero-sclerosis. In May 2003, the National High Blood PressureEducation Program (NHBPEP) Coordinating Committeepublished an “express” version of the Seventh Report ofthe Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection,Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7).
Market information and price dispersion: Unlisted stocks and NASDAQ

Abstract Two methodologically distinct tests strongly support the hypothesis that the extent of price dispersion in a market is an economic decision based on the costs and benefits of price information. In the markets for unlisted common stocks, the implementation of the NASDAQ system was a discrete event that raised the marginal value and reduced the marginal cost of price information. A controlled comparison of dispersion before and since NASDAQ shows that NASDAQ reduced dispersion among price quotations by one-quarter to one-third. In the underlying cross-sectional regression for unlisted stocks, the estimated parameters also support the hypothesis.
Effect of a lateral head-turning stimulus on the approach of Gunn rat dams.

Abstract In a 2-choice situation it was investigated whether Gunn rat dams would approach wooden models of rat pups that were lateral head-turning, head-lifting, or motionless. Dams most often approached the lateral head-turning stimulus. Because previous research indicated that jaundiced Gunn rat pups lateral head-turn more often than their nonjaundiced littermates, it was suggested that lateral head-turning serves as a signal for the approach of the mother.
Evidence for strong paleoearthquakes along the Talas-Fergana Fault near the Kök-Bel Pass, Kyrgyzstan

Paleoseismological study along the Talas-Fergana Fault near the Kok-Bel Pass in the central Western Tien Shan allows us to estimate the rate of late Holocene horizontal offset at 13–14 mm/yr, as well as the radiocarbon age of the strong earthquakes that occurred here about 300, 2400, and 5000 yr ago.
Measurement and analysis of corner reflector backlobe levels

Pattern range and real world measurements have been made on a corner reflector antenna to determine the effect the environment has on the back lobe protection. Side and back lobe augmentation can be implemented which provides 37 dB average front-to-back protection on the pattern range. Without augmentation, the average front-to-back protection on the pattern range was 25 dB, and in the real world it was 24 dB. Analysis of these measurements and other data which will be presented permits us to conclude that scattering objects in the main lobe of the antenna when on a good site in the real world limit the average front-to-back protection to about 33 dB. Therefore, the scatterers do not present a limitation when the augmentation techniques are not used, but do set a limit on the ultimate protection which can be provided.
Dimensional regularization and the massive Wess-Zumino model

Abstract It is shown that two- and three-point functions of the massive Wess-Zumino model, when calculated at the two-loop level by means of the ordinary dimensional regularization, satisfy the sypersymmetry Ward identities.
Methanol formation on zirconium dioxide

Abstract The adsorption and reaction of CO, CO2, H2, CH3OH, HCOOH, H2CO, and HCOOCH3 were studied over oxygen-treated ZrO2. Temperature-programmed techniques were used in the presence of a flowing gas which always contained H2. Infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the species formed upon H2CO adsorption; oxymethylene, H2CO2−, is proposed to form. Methanol formed at two temperatures, ca. 125 and 600 °C. The mechanisms for formation are discussed; low-temperature methanol formed by hydrolysis of methoxide and high-temperature methanol formed by hydrogenolysis of a methyl formate-like surface species.
Live oral vaccines against cholera: An update

One hundred years elapsed between the first (live, parenteral) cholera vaccine that entered clinical trials in 1885 and the field trials of two oral inactivated cholera vaccines undertaken in Bangladesh in the mid-1980s. The oral inactivated vaccines advanced the art by establishing, convincingly, that oral vaccines could protect (although multiple doses were required) and that (at least in adults) protection could last 3 years. Attenuated Vibrio cholerae O1 strain CVD 103-HgR (deleted of the cholera toxin A subunit gene and harbouring a gene encoding resistance to Hg++) constitutes another significant advance. This live oral vaccine is well tolerated and highly immunogenic in adults and children and highly protective (in adult volunteer challenge studies) following ingestion of of a single dose.
The capillary mercury lamp as an oscillograph light source

With the capillary mercury lamp as a light source, oscillograms may be recorded on bromide paper at speeds up to 50 feet per second
Ten Points on War

This article is a highly distilled summary of conclusions from three decades of research on war, involving examination of tribal societ­ ies, ancient states, recent civil wars, archaeology, biology and culture, and primatology. The key points are the following: (1) our species is not biologically destined for war; (2) war is not an inescapable part of social existence; (3) understanding war involves a nested hierarchy of con­ straints; (4) war expresses both pan-human practicalities and culturally specific values; (5) war shapes society to its own ends; (6) war exists in multiple contexts; (7) opponents are constructed in conflict; (8) waT is a continuation of domestic politics by other means; (9) leaders favor war because war favors leaders; (10) peace is more than the absence of war. Each point is applied to the contemporary wars of the United States.
Guest Editorial: Cultivating the Vital Element of Youth Mentoring

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital ele...
Mitogenesis in human lymphocytes following brief exposure to hyperthermia.

Abstract Whole blood obtained from normal human donors was incubated in vitro at temperatures ranging from 37°C to 51°C for 30 min. Immedlately following this incubation, whole blood cultures were established for assaying lymphocyte transformation in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and concanavalin A (Con A). These cultures were maintained throughout the remainder of the experiment at 37°. Mitogenesis was minimally affected with pretreatment at 41°, significantly impaired at 43°, and totally abolished following brief exposure to temperatures in excess of 44°. In contrast, lymphocyte viability by trypan blue exclusion remained >99 % after a 30 min exposure to temperatures as high as 47° and was approximately 50% after 30 min at 53.5°. The length of exposure time (within the range of 30–120 min) became a critical variable at threshold temperatures at which impairment of mitogenesis was detectable with this assay system. This threshold temperature appears to pie within a very narrow range, similar to that in which tumor cell damage occurs. The necessity for accurate monitoring of both intratumor and core temperatures during treatment is apparent from these data. The response of heat-treated and control lymphocytes to optimal mitogen concentrations was compared to the response to sub-optimal (50% of optimal) concentrations. No differential effects of time (30, 60 min) and temperature (41°, 43°) were evident with the suboptimal concentrations.
Snowmelt onset over Arctic sea ice from passive microwave satellite data: 1979–2012

Abstract. An updated version (Version 3) of the Snow Melt Onset Over Arctic Sea Ice from SMMR (Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer) and SSM/I-SSMIS (Special Sensor Microwave/Imager-Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder) Brightness Temperatures data set is now available. The data record has been reprocessed and extended to cover the years 1979–2012. From this data set, a statistical summary of melt onset (MO) dates on Arctic sea ice is presented. The mean MO date for the Arctic Region is 13 May (132.5 DOY – day of year) with a standard deviation of ±7.3 days. Regionally, mean MO dates vary from 15 March (73.2 DOY) in the St. Lawrence Gulf to 10 June (160.9 DOY) in the Central Arctic. Statistically significant decadal trends indicate that MO is occurring 6.6 days decade−1 earlier in the year for the Arctic Region. Regionally, MO trends are as great as −11.8 days decade−1 in the East Siberian Sea. The Bering Sea is an outlier and MO is occurring 3.1 days decade−1 later in the year.
Whole plant based treatment of hypercholesterolemia with Crataegus laevigata in a zebrafish model.

Consumers are increasingly turning to plant-based complementary and alternative medicines to treat hypercholesterolemia. Many of these treatments are untested and their efficacy is unknown. This multitude of potential remedies necessitates a model system amenable to testing large numbers of organisms that maintains similarity to humans in both mode of drug administration and overall physiology. Here we develop the larval zebrafish (4–30 days post fertilization) as a vertebrate model of dietary plant-based treatment of hypercholesterolemia and test the effects of Crataegus laevigata in this model. Larval zebrafish were fed high cholesterol diets infused with fluorescent sterols and phytomedicines. Plants were ground with mortar and pestle into a fine powder before addition to food. Fluorescent sterols were utilized to optically quantify relative difference in intravascular cholesterol levels between groups of fish. We utilized the Zeiss 7-Live Duo high-speed confocal platform in order to both quantify intravascular sterol fluorescence and to capture video of the heart beat for determination of cardiac output. In this investigation we developed and utilized a larval zebrafish model to investigate dietary plant-based intervention of the pathophysiology of hypercholesterolemia. We found BODIPY-cholesterol effectively labels diet-introduced intravascular cholesterol levels (P < 0.05, Student’s t-test). We also established that zebrafish cardiac output declines as cholesterol dose increases (difference between 0.1% and 8% (w/w) high cholesterol diet-treated cardiac output significant at P < 0.05, 1-way ANOVA). Using this model, we found hawthorn leaves and flowers significantly reduce intravascular cholesterol levels (P < 0.05, 1-way ANOVA) and interact with cholesterol to impact cardiac output in hypercholesterolemic fish (2-way ANOVA, P < 0.05 for interaction effect). The results of this study demonstrate that the larval zebrafish has the potential to become a powerful model to test plant based dietary intervention of hypercholesterolemia. Using this model we have shown that hawthorn leaves and flowers have the potential to affect cardiac output as well as intravascular cholesterol levels. Further, our observation that hawthorn leaves and flowers interact with cholesterol to impact cardiac output indicates that the physiological effects of hawthorn may depend on diet.
Deregulation of Listeria monocytogenes virulence gene expression by two distinct and semi-independent pathways

Expression of the major virulence cluster in Listeria monocytogenes is positively regulated by the transcription factor PrfA and is influenced by several environmental factors, including the presence of readily metabolized carbohydrates such as cellobiose and glucose. Although little is understood about the mechanisms through which environmental factors influence expression of the PrfA regulon, evidence for structural and functional similarities of PrfA to the CRP-FNR family of regulatory proteins suggests the possibility that PrfA activity could be modulated by a small molecule ligand. The identity of components of the PrfA-associated regulatory pathway was sought through the isolation of mutants that exhibit high levels of PrfA-controlled gene expression in the presence of cellobiose or glucose. Here are described the properties and preliminary genetic analysis in two different genetic loci, gcr and csr, both unlinked by general transduction to the major virulence cluster. A mutation in gcr deregulates the expression of PrfA-controlled genes in the presence of several repressing sugars and other environmental conditions, a phenotype similar to that of a G145S substitution in PrfA itself. A mutation in the csr locus, within csrA, results in a cellobiose-specific defect in virulence gene regulation. Gene products encoded by the csr locus share homology with proteins involved in the sensing and transport of β-glucosides in other bacteria. Mutations in both gcr and csr are required for full relief of cellobiose-mediated repression of the PrfA regulon. These results suggest the existence of two semi-independent pathways for cellobiose-mediated repression and further reconcile conflicting reports in previous literature concerning the repressive effects of carbohydrates on virulence gene expression in L. monocytogenes.
Compensatory Regulation of RIα Protein Levels in Protein Kinase A Mutant Mice

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme is assembled from regulatory (R) and catalytic (C) subunits that are expressed in tissue-specific patterns. Despite the dispersion of the R and C subunit genes to different chromosomal loci, mechanisms exist that coordinately regulate the intracellular levels of R and C protein such that cAMP-dependent regulation is preserved. We have created null mutations in the RIβ and RIIβ regulatory subunit genes in mice, and find that both result in an increase in the level of RIα protein in tissues that normally express the β isoforms. Examination of RIα mRNA levels and the rates of RIα protein synthesis in wild type and RIIβ mutant mice reveals that the mechanism of this biochemical compensation by RIα does not involve transcriptional or translational control. These in vivo findings are consistent with observations made in cell culture, where we demonstrate that the overexpression of Cα in NIH 3T3 cells results in increased RIα protein without increases in the rate of RIα synthesis or the level of RIα mRNA. Pulse-chase experiments reveal a 4-5-fold increase in the half-life of RIα protein as it becomes incorporated into the holoenzyme. Compensation by RIα stabilization may represent an important biological mechanism that safeguards cells from unregulated catalytic subunit activity.
Innovative lab experiences for introductory electrical engineering students

In an effort to improve the learning experience of sophomore electrical engineering students, innovative lab exercises have been developed at Western New England College. The traditional lab experiments utilize passive and active elements in prescribed manners to teach students fundamental concepts. The concepts range from simple voltage division to high-order active filter circuits. This paper describes innovations in the laboratory portion of a two-semester introductory electrical engineering course. The new experiments introduce students to design with light and temperature sensors, motors, tachometers, and music equalizers. Projects include open-ended design with passive and active circuits. Furthermore, the projects are designed to enhance the students' ability to achieve ABET outcomes C (design for realistic constraints) and I (life-long learning). In the project and lab reports, students are required to address the aspects of cost, sustainability, manufacturability, environmental impact, and safety. The laboratory experiments and projects are described in this paper along with the assessment of those projects.
Reading: A psycholinguistic guessing game

In phonic centered approaches to reading, the preoccupation is with precise letter identifi cation. In word-centered approaches, the focus is on word identifi cations. Known words are sight words, precisely named in any setting.
Legal Indicators: The Power of Quantitative Measures of Law

Legal indicators, sometimes known as rule of law indicators, governance indicators, or indicators of public service performance, are quantitative measures of the performance of legal systems. They are used both as sources of knowledge about societies and as means of governing them (technologies of governance). As a result, these indicators have begun to attract considerable attention from scholars, policy makers, and other actors. Key issues include the following: When, why, and by whom are various kinds of legal indicators produced? Are they reliable and valid? How influential are they? Given their influence, should they be regulated, and if so, how? This article reviews recent efforts to answer these questions. The overarching theme is that all of these questions are related to one another.
Computed tomography-derived cardiovascular risk markers, incident cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality in nondiabetics: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis:

AimWe assess the improvement in discrimination afforded by the addition of the computed tomography risk markers thoracic aorta calcium (TAC), aortic valve calcification (AVC), mitral annular calcification (MAC), pericardial adipose tissue volume (PAT), and liver attenuation (LA) to the Framingham risk score (FRS) + coronary artery calcium (CAC) for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and incident cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in a multiethnic cohort.Methods and resultsA total of 5745 participants were enrolled, with 2710 at intermediate Framingham risk, 210 CVD events, and 155 CHD events). Over 9 years of follow up, 251 had adjudicated CHD, 346 had CVD events, and 321 died. The data were analysed using Cox proportional hazard, receiver operator curve (ROC), and net reclassification improvement (NRI) analyses. In the whole cohort and also when the analysis was restricted to only the intermediate-risk participants, CAC, TAC, AVC, and MAC were all significantly associated with incident CVD, incident CHD, a...
Quantitation of Brown Adipose Tissue Perfusion in Transgenic Mice Using Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging:

Brown adipose tissue (BAT; brown fat) is the principal site of adaptive thermogenesis in the human newborn and other small mammals. Of paramount importance for thermogenesis is vascular perfusion, which controls the flow of cool blood in, and warmed blood out, of BAT. We have developed an optical method for the quantitative imaging of BAT perfusion in the living, intact animal using the heptamethine indocyanine IR-786 and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent light. We present a detailed analysis of the physical, chemical, and cellular properties of IR-786, its biodistribution and pharmacokinetics, and its uptake into BAT. Using transgenic animals with homozygous deletion of Type II iodiothyronine deiodinase, or homozygous deletion of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) 1 and 2, we demonstrate that BAT perfusion can be measured noninvasively, accurately, and reproducibly. Using these techniques, we show that UCP -1/-2 knockout animals, when compared to wild-type animals, have a higher baseline perfusion of BAT but a similar maximal response to beta 3-receptor agonist. These results suggest that compensation for UCP deletion is mediated, in part, by the control of BAT perfusion. Taken together, BAT perfusion can now be measured noninvasively using NIR fluorescent light, and pharmacological modulators of thermogenesis can be screened at relatively high throughput in living animals.
Beyond LDL Cholesterol Reduction

Within the past decade, clinical trials of LDL-C reduction have convincingly demonstrated that LDL-C reduction in primary and secondary prevention trials can significantly reduce clinical cardiac events.1 Arteriographic investigations have demonstrated that LDL-C reduction can significantly reduce the rate of arteriographically defined disease progression.1 Despite the success of LDL-C reduction, close examination of the trial results reveals that a substantial number of subjects who received treatment and achieved significant LDL-C reduction still had a clinical event or evidence of arteriographic progression (Table 1⇓). In the LRC-CPPT, for example, there was a 17% reduction in clinical events, which was made up of 187 events in the control group and 155 in the treatment group (32 fewer events). In SSSS, there was a 30% reduction in clinical events, which was composed of 622 events in the placebo group and 431 in the treatment group (191 fewer events). Although the reduction in clinical events is gratifying and laudable, it was not enough for the 155 subjects in the LRC-CPPT or the 431 subjects in SSSS who received treatment yet still had an event. The reason for such a large number of poor responders may lie in the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities linked to atherosclerosis that are not detected on routine laboratory tests and hence are not adequately treated with just LDL-C reduction.2 3 This issue also involves the concept of monotherapy, which takes on added importance with the report that multifactorial risk reduction reduces clinical events significantly more than single therapy.4 View this table: Table 1. Clinical Cardiovascular Events Reported in Several Large Trials in Control and Treatment Groups These disorders have a strong familial inheritance pattern, and CAD can be considered a genetic disease attributable to multiple gene-environment interactions.5 The Figure⇓ illustrates the approximate prevalence of well-recognized lipoprotein disorders along …
Molecular analysis of the Haemophilus influenzae type b pilin gene.

Summary A Haemophilus influenzae DNA library was prepared in the vector lambda EMBL3, and recombinant phage were screened for the pilin gene (pil) using a synthetic oligonucleotide. Southern blot analysis of the positive clones revealed a 2.5kb Pstl/Pvul fragment that hybridized with the oligonucleotide probe. This fragment was subcloned into pBR322 and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence disclosed an open reading frame of 653 bases. The deduced amino acid sequence corresponded with the known amino acid sequence of the purified pilin protein. Primer extension analysis using total RNA from piliated H. influenzae cells delineated a start site for the gene, -10 and -35 promoter regions, and a ribosome-binding site. No transcripts were seen with the RNA derived from a non-piliated strain. Southern blots of DNA from a number of H. influenzae strains revealed homology with the pil structural gene. DNA from a non-piliated strain of H. influenzae also hybridized with the pil probe. Transcriptional and translational studies were performed in Escherichia coli with plasmids containing: (i) the pil gene on the 2.5kb Pstl/Pvul fragment, (ii) the pil gene fused to the phoA gene, and (iii) the pil gene present on a 12.2 kb insert containing extensive H. influenzae DNA flanking the pil gene. The results suggest that the H. influenzae pil gene is expressed in Escherichia coli, but from a promoter other than the one used in H. influenzae.
Energy confinement studies in the tandem mirror experiment (TMX): Power balance

The power balance in the Tandem Mirror Experiment (TMX) is studied for several days of operation. Between them, these days typified the operating range of TMX. Examining the power balance on axis, it is found that 60% to 100% of the power is carried to the end walls by escaping central‐cell ions. Globally, these calculations account for 70% to 100% of the input power on each of the days studied. Based upon the power balance, the energy confinement times of the particle species are calculated. The end‐cell ion energy confinement time is similar to that achieved in the 2XIIB single‐cell magnetic mirror experiment, whereas the electron energy confinement in TMX was 10 to 100 times better. The central‐cell ion energy confinement in the central flux tube was determined by axial particle loss. At the central‐cell plasma‐edge radial particle transport and charge exchange with the fueling gas are important processes.
The epidemiology and control of rabies.

AbstractThe significance of rabies as an arctic, temperate zone and tropical disease is reviewed. Vaccination programs and other control measures are discussed.
Comparison of Esterases Between Life Stages and Sexes of Resistant and Susceptible Strains of German Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Esterase activity between the resistant Crawford and susceptible CSMA strains of German cockroach, B/(lttel/a gennanica (L.), was compared with the substrates a- and {3-naphthyl act'tate across sex and nymphal age classes. Esterase isozyme analysis with native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis also was conducted to identify quantitative and qualitative differences between strains, sexes, and age classes. The Crawford strain was highly resistant to cypermethrin, propoxur, and perlllethrin with a resistant ratio (RR) of 17.26,15.75,and 13.53,respectively, and mildly resistant to chlorpyrifos (RR 5.62). The a-NA and {3-NAesterase activities in the Crawford strain were significantly higher than those activities in the CSMA strain in both nymphal and adult stages. In the Crawford strain, the enzyme activity in nymphs was significantly higher than that in adults, but such difft'rencl's were not observed in the CSMA strain. The mobile isozymes a and c stained more intt'nsely than others in every developmental stage and sex of both strains but showed greater intensity in the Crawford strain. Another intensely stained isozyme b was observed only in the homogenates from the Crawford strain. The combination of isozyme b and the overproduced isozyme II and c in the Crawford strain seems to be responsible for the difference in total esterase activity between the CSMA and Crawford strains.
Supported Membrane Composition Analysis by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry with High Lateral Resolution

The lateral organization of lipid components within membranes is usually investigated with fluorescence microscopy, which, though highly sensitive, introduces bulky fluorophores that might alter the behavior of the components they label. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy performed with a NanoSIMS 50 instrument also provides high lateral resolution and sensitivity, and many species can be observed in parallel without the use of bulky labels. A tightly focused beam (∼100 nm) of Cs ions is scanned across a sample, and up to five of the resulting small negative secondary ions can be simultaneously analyzed by a high-resolution mass spectrometer. Thin layers of 15N- and 19F-labeled proteins were microcontact-printed on an oxidized silicon substrate and imaged using the NanoSIMS 50, demonstrating the sensitivity and selectivity of this approach. Supported lipid bilayers were assembled on an oxidized silicon substrate, then flash-frozen and freeze-dried to preserve their lateral organization. Lipid bilayers were analyzed with the NanoSIMS 50, where the identity of each specific lipid was determined through detection of its unique secondary ions, including 12C1H−, 12C2H−, 13C−, 12C14N−, and 12C15N−. Steps toward obtaining quantitative composition analysis of lipid membranes that varied spatially in isotopic composition are presented. This approach has the potential to provide a composition-specific analysis of membrane organization that compliments other imaging modalities.
Tuning schema matching software using synthetic scenarios

Most recent schema matching systems assemble multiple components, each employing a particular matching technique. The domain user must then tune the system: select the right component to be executed and correctly adjust their numerous "knobs" (e.g., thresholds, formula coefficients). Tuning is skill- and time-intensive, but (as we show) without it the matching accuracy is significantly inferior.We describe eTuner, an approach to automatically tune schema matching systems. Given a schema S, we match S against synthetic schemas, for which the ground truth mapping is known, and find a tuning that demonstrably improves the performance of matching S against real schemas. To efficiently search the huge space of tuning configurations, eTuner works sequentially, starting with tuning the lowest level components. To increase the applicability of eTuner, we develop methods to tune a broad range of matching components. While the tuning process is completely automatic, eTuner can also exploit user assistance (whenever available) to further improve the tuning quality. We employed eTuner to tune four recently developed matching systems on several real-world domains. eTuner produced tuned matching systems that achieve higher accuracy than using the systems with currently possible tuning methods, at virtually no cost to the domain user.
A Confirmatory Approach to Understanding the Four Factor Structure of the Adolescent Drinking Index: Evidence for a Brief Version

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the original version of the Adolescent Drinking Index (ADI), and to examine the fit of a series of confirmatory factor analysis models to arrive at an abbreviated version that can be easily administered in settings with limited time for assessment. These aims were examined in a sample of 740 adolescents (Mage=15.26; 58.5% males) who completed the ADI during an emergency department visit. RESULTS suggested that the four-domain design did not fit the data adequately. RESULTS, however, demonstrated good fit for an 8-item adapted version with a four-factor structure: interpersonal, social, psychological, and physical indicators. This abbreviated version was also associated with outcomes such as hangover, alcohol withdrawal, and substance use. FINDINGS from this study provide support for the use of an abbreviated version of the ADI for screening adolescents and referring them to appropriate interventions. Language: en
VeryIDX - A Privacy Preserving Digital Identity Management System for Mobile Devices

The combined use of the Internet and mobile technologies is leading to major changes in how individuals communicate, conduct business transactions and access resources and services. In such a scenario, digital identity management (DIM) technology is fundamental for enabling transactions and interactions across the Internet. In this demo, we demonstrate VeryIDX, a system for the privacy-preserving management of users' identity attributes on mobile devices.
Repair of the tRNA-Like CCA Sequence in a Multipartite Positive-Strand RNA Virus

The 3′ portions of plus-strand brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNAs mimic cellular tRNAs. Nucleotide substitutions or deletions in the 3′ CCA of the tRNA-like sequence (TLS) affect minus-strand initiation unless repaired. We observed that 2-nucleotide deletions involving the CCA 3′ sequence in one or all BMV RNAs still allowed RNA accumulation in barley protoplasts at significant levels. Alterations of CCA to GGA in only BMV RNA3 also allowed RNA accumulation at wild-type levels. However, substitutions in all three BMV RNAs severely reduced RNA accumulation, demonstrating that substitutions have different repair requirements than do small deletions. Furthermore, wild-type BMV RNA1 was required for the repair and replication of RNAs with nucleotide substitutions. Results from sequencing of progeny viral RNA from mutant input RNAs demonstrated that RNA1 did not contribute its sequence to the mutant RNAs. Instead, the repaired ends were heterogeneous, with one-third having a restored CCA and others having sequences with the only commonality being the restoration of one cytidylate. The role of BMV RNA1 in increased repair was examined.
Visualizing Motion Data in Virtual Reality: Understanding the Roles of Animation, Interaction, and Static Presentation

We present a study of interactive virtual reality visualizations of scientific motions as found in biomechanics experiments. Our approach is threefold. First, we define a taxonomy of motion visualizations organized by the method (animation, interaction, or static presentation) used to depict both the spatial and temporal dimensions of the data. Second, we design and implement a set of eight example visualizations suggested by the taxonomy and evaluate their utility in a quantitative user study. Third, together with biomechanics collaborators, we conduct a qualitative evaluation of the eight example visualizations applied to a current study of human spinal kinematics. Results suggest that visualizations in this style that use interactive control for the time dimension of the data are preferable to others. Within this category, quantitative results support the utility of both animated and interactive depictions for space; however, qualitative feedback suggest that animated depictions for space should be avoided in biomechanics applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Dialogue on Species-Specific Rights: Humans and Animals in Bioethics

At the end of the most violent century in human history, it is good to take stock of our commitments to human and other life forms, as well as to examine the rights and the duties that might flow from their biological makeup. Professor Thomasma and Professor Loewy have held a long-standing dialogue on whether there are moral differences between animals and humans. This dialogue was occasioned by a presentation Thomasma made some years ago at Loewy's invitation at the University of Illinois, Peoria, Medical Center. During that presentation, Thomasma argued that human beings are sufficiently distinct from other animals genetically and otherwise to justify a moral difference in rights and obligations. In effect, he argued that there are species-specific rights. This essay will pick up the threads of that dialogue.
Comparison of Laboratory Colonies and Field Populations of Tamarixia radiata, an Ectoparasitoid of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Using Internal Transcribed Spacer and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I DNA Sequences

The genetic diversity of Tamarixia radiata Waterston (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) laboratory colonies derived from collections in China, northern Vietnam, Pakistan, and a mixed colony from Taiwan and southern Vietnam was evaluated using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region 1, ITS-2, and the 5′ end of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. The strains share the same ITS sequence, consistent with the morphological hypothesis that the collections represent a single species. The COI marker was variable and could distinguish the northern Vietnam and Pakistan colonies from each other and from the other colonies. Comparison of COI sequences from field-collected populations of Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Texas indicates that Florida is not a likely source of the introduction into Puerto Rico but is a likely source of the introduction into Texas.
FDA Policy and Cardiovascular Medicine

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is among the oldest agencies in the federal government. Its origins can be traced back to 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln appointed a chemist, Charles M. Wetherill, to serve in the Department of Agriculture.1 One of the key early pieces of legislation that initiated the evolution of the FDA into its modern form was the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, which prohibited interstate commerce in misbranded drugs, thereby giving the FDA its first regulatory oversight over medical product labeling.2 The transformation of the FDA took another major step forward in 1938 with passage of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which gave the FDA authority to require evidence of safety before new drugs could be marketed.3 Finally, in the 1962 Kefauver-Harris Amendments, the FDA’s drug regulatory authority was expanded to require the FDA to certify drug efficacy and safety before marketing.4 The Medical Device Amendments in 1976 gave the FDA similar authority to certify the effectiveness and safety of high-risk medical devices before their approval.5 Each of these points in the FDA’s early history represented a broadening of its authority and occurred in the context of public health crises related to widely promoted unsafe or ineffective drugs or medical devices, justifying the need for greater government oversight. For example, the Kefauver-Harris Amendments were designed to address the proliferation of medications with poorly documented efficacy and the occurrence of severe side effects caused by some drugs, the most noteworthy example of which was the sedative-antinauseant thalidomide.6,7 The 1976 legislation was passed after >100 deaths of young women from a widely promoted, but largely untested, implantable intrauterine contraceptive device.8 Currently, the FDA describes its responsibilities as ensuring the safety, efficacy and security of the medical …
The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Appendiceal Perforation in Pediatric Appendicitis

Objective To assess the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on pediatric appendicitis outcomes using the validated Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) SES Index and incorporating block-group data. Study design We reviewed all patients Results Of 1501 patients, 510 (34%) had perforated appendicitis. On bivariate analysis, components of the SES Index associated with an increased perforation rate included lower household income, lower percentage of adults with college education, and higher percentage of adults with P Conclusions This study used the AHRQ SES scoring system to evaluate SES and its influence on appendiceal perforation. Among our cohort of pediatric patients, the risk of perforation was multifactorial, and younger age and public insurance were stronger predictors of perforation than SES.
Feet of Clay: The Impaired Dermatologist

Dr. L is a senior partner in a large practice associated with an academic center and a professor of dermatology at the local medical school. Though not currently chair of the department, he has served in that role in the past. At a recent Christmas celebration for the department, he was observed to drink heavily throughout the evening. As the evening wore on, he became louder, more belligerent and began to slur his words. He was somewhat incoherent when he tried to provide a toast to the assembled group. Later, he drove himself home in his car. No one at the event confronted him or attempted to keep him from getting into his car at the end of the evening. A few days later, one of his partners tried to broach the evening’s events with Dr. L, saying that he was concerned about him. Dr. L became angry and defensive. He could not remember all the details of his behavior at the dinner, but was aware that he had “probably had a little too much” and “may have said some inopportune things.” He insisted he had just “had a good time like everyone else.” Nevertheless, he reluctantly agreed to apologize to some of his colleagues. When approached by Dr. L, they each quickly “let him off the hook,” laughing with him and dismissing his behavior as just “blowing off some steam.”
Efficient Inner-to-outer Greedy Algorithm for Higher-order Labeled Dependency Parsing

Many NLP systems use dependency parsers as critical components. Jonit learning parsers usually achieve better parsing accuracies than two-stage methods. However, classical joint parsing algorithms significantly increase computational complexity, which makes joint learning impractical. In this paper, we proposed an efficient dependency parsing algorithm that is capable of capturing multiple edge-label features, while maintaining low computational complexity. We evaluate our parser on 14 different languages. Our parser consistently obtains more accurate results than three baseline systems and three popular, off-the-shelf parsers.
Raising a Hand: Notes from an ASIS&T Volunteer

EDITOR'S SUMMARY In accepting the 2015 James M. Cretsos Leadership Award, Karen Miller recalled her path from first tentatively raising her hand to volunteer as a SIG program coordinator at her first ASIS&T Annual Meeting. Miller soon came to realize the critical importance of engaged and dedicated volunteers throughout many of the Association's operations. The organization benefits from the time invested in innumerable volunteer efforts, all of which further goals and education efforts, while each volunteer benefits by building experience, growing a professional network and mentoring others. With volunteers making time in their personal schedules for Association activities, regular communication is crucial to help a team solidify and get tasks accomplished. Communication extends to recruiting and training volunteers to assure smooth leadership transitions. With the Association heavily dependent on volunteer activity, change may evolve slowly, suggesting the need for additional volunteer help. Miller encourages all to deepen their engagement with the Association by volunteering time, knowledge and talent.
Intracellular and Intranuclear Localization of Discoidin I in Aggregating Cells of Dictyostelium Discoideum

The endogenous lectin of Dictyostelium discoideum, discoidin I, is primarily intracellular and its appearance coincides with the acquisition of mutual cohesiveness by the cells. Subcellular localization ofthe lectin in intact cells by immunocytochemistry has been hampered by the fact that fixation with glutaraldehyde renders it antigenically inactive. A fixation protocol has been developed that both preserves morphology adequately and maintains antigenicity. Thin sections of aggregating cells were indirectly immunolabelled using the protein A-colloidal gold method. The lectin is distributed throughout the cytosol and is not specifically located inside any endomembrane compartment except the nuclei and some mitochondria. Gold particles were counted over nuclei and cytoplasm and areas determined for each. Discoidin I is concentrated in nuclei about twice that found in the cytoplasm.
Laboratory Biologies of Bagous affinis and B. laevigatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attacking Tubers of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae)

Adults of Bagous affinis Hustache imported into quarantine from India fed on all parts of the submersed aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle that were exposed to air. The preferred oviposition site was moist, waterlogged wood, although eggs were also laid in soil and hydrilla stems. Mean fecundity was 231.7 eggs per female. A larvae usually developed in one tuber, but often tubers were attacked by more than one larva. Pupae were found inside tubers and in soil. Total developmental period at 27°C was 18-29 d, with a mean of 21.9 d. B. affinis was released in Florida in 1987. The biology of Bagous laevigatus O'Brien & Pajni was similar to that of B. affinis, but mean fecundity was only 70.4 eggs per female. In addition to developing on hydrilla tubers, larvae of this species readily developed on tubers of sago pondweed, Potamogeton pectinatus L. B. laevigatus was destroyed in quarantine.
Chinese Medicine Treatment of Precocious Puberty Research Progress

This paper expounded the pathogenesis of precocious puberty from the aspect of traditional Chinese medicine,And point out,Shugan Jieyu Yin invigorating spleen and eliminating dampness,this disease was the main treatment method.The main therapeutically methods were nourishing yin to lessen fire,disperse the depressed liver-energy,invigorate the spleen and deprive the evil wetness.As the application of Chinese Herbs was increasing in precocious puberty in recent years,the study on the pathogenesis also went deepening.This paper analyzed and summarized the current situation of traditional Chinese medicine in precocious puberty,and offered some suggestion in the therapy improvement.
Unique Toll-Like Receptor 4 Activation by NAMPT/PBEF Induces NFκB Signaling and Inflammatory Lung Injury

Ventilator-induced inflammatory lung injury (VILI) is mechanistically linked to increased NAMPT transcription and circulating levels of nicotinamide phosphoribosyl-transferase (NAMPT/PBEF). Although VILI severity is attenuated by reduced NAMPT/PBEF bioavailability, the precise contribution of NAMPT/PBEF and excessive mechanical stress to VILI pathobiology is unknown. We now report that NAMPT/PBEF induces lung NFκB transcriptional activities and inflammatory injury via direct ligation of Toll–like receptor 4 (TLR4). Computational analysis demonstrated that NAMPT/PBEF and MD-2, a TLR4-binding protein essential for LPS-induced TLR4 activation, share ~30% sequence identity and exhibit striking structural similarity in loop regions critical for MD-2-TLR4 binding. Unlike MD-2, whose TLR4 binding alone is insufficient to initiate TLR4 signaling, NAMPT/PBEF alone produces robust TLR4 activation, likely via a protruding region of NAMPT/PBEF (S402-N412) with structural similarity to LPS. The identification of this unique mode of TLR4 activation by NAMPT/PBEF advances the understanding of innate immunity responses as well as the untoward events associated with mechanical stress-induced lung inflammation.