cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relapse during continuation pharmacotherapy after acute response to ECT: a comparison of usual care versus protocolized treatment.

Background. ECT, an effective treatment for major depression, is associated with a high relapse rate. Roughly half of all responders during the acute treatment phase relapse during continuation treatment. Recent literature has pointed out an “efficacy-effectiveness gap” in outcomes of patients enrolled in study protocols when compared to “care as usual.” This study compares the effectiveness of usual care versus protocolized pharmacotherapy in preventing relapse following ECT. Methods. One hundred twenty-six depressed patients responded to acute ECT. Seventy-three were randomized to continuation pharmacotherapy consisting of nortriptyline, nortriptyline-plus-lithium, or placebo. The 53 patients that refused to participate in the randomized trial were followed naturalistically for 6 months or until depression relapse in usual care settings. Results. All but one “usual care” patient received pharmacotherapy following ECT; 27 (51%) relapsed within 6 months. Only one usual care patient received continuation ECT as a first-line treatment. The “usual care” relapse rate was intermediate to the relapse rates of the patients receiving protocolized nortriptyline (60%) and nortriptyline-plus-lithium (39%), but superior to placebo (84%). Conclusions. The relapse rate associated with usual care following ECT was comparable to that of protocolized pharmacotherapy. This suggests that high relapse rates following ECT are not due solely to an “efficacy-effectiveness gap.”
Expression of Human Prostatic Acid Phosphatase Correlates with Androgen-stimulated Cell Proliferation in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Androgen plays a critical role in regulating the growth and differentiation of normal prostate epithelia, as well as the initial growth of prostate cancer cells. Nevertheless, prostate carcinomas eventually become androgen-unresponsive, and the cancer is refractory to hormonal therapy. To gain insight into the mechanism involved in this hormone-refractory phenomenon, we have examined the potential role of the androgen receptor (AR) in that process. We have investigated the expression of AR and two prostate-specific androgen-responsive antigens, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), for the functional activity of AR in LNCaP and PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells. Our results are as follows. (i) Clone 33 LNCaP cells express AR, PAcP, and PSA, and cell growth is stimulated by 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Stimulation of cell growth correlates with decreased cellular PAcP activity. (ii) In clone 81 LNCaP cells, the expression of PAcP decreases with a concurrent decrease in the degree of androgen stimulation of cell growth, whereas the expression of PSA mRNA level is up-regulated by DHT, as in clone 33 cells. Conversely, in PAcP cDNA-transfected clone 81 cells, an additional expression of cellular PAcP correlates with an increased stimulation by androgen, higher than the corresponding control cells. (iii) PC-3 cells express a low level of functional AR with no detectable PAcP or PSA, and the growth of PC-3 cells is not affected by DHT treatment. Nevertheless, in two PAcP cDNA-transfected PC-3 sublines, the expression of exogenous cellular PAcP correlates with androgen stimulation. This androgen stimulation of cell growth concurs with an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a phosphoprotein of 185 kDa. In summary, the data indicate that the expression of AR alone is not sufficient for androgen stimulation of cell growth. Furthermore, in AR-expressing prostate cancer cells, the expression of cellular PAcP correlates with androgen stimulation of cell proliferation.
A low-volume, single pass in-vitro system of high shear thrombosis in a stenosis

Abstract Introduction Arterial thrombosis leading to heart attack and stroke requires the rapid accumulation of millions of platelets under pathologically high shear. Previous in vitro systems studying platelets typically use endpoints that emphasize platelet-surface effects rather than large-scale platelet-platelet accumulation that precedes occlusion. Further, most platelet tests do not recreate shear rates present during arterial occlusion. We present an alternative flow system to study large thrombus formation under pathologic shear conditions in an anatomic stenosis with reasonable volumes of human blood. Materials and Methods An in-vitro system using a syringe pump was created to subject low volume ( 3,500 s- 1) through a stenosis. Thrombus was quantified using an optical microscope from initial deposition to large scale accumulation. Images were taken using a high definition camera in real time. Results and Conclusions Occlusive thrombus blocks the collagen-coated lumen with millions of platelets using human whole, heparinized blood. Rapid Platelet Accumulation rates in human blood are 4.5 ± 2.4 μm3/μm2/min (n = 21). There is an initial lag time of 7.4 ± 3.8 min (n = 21) before the onset of large scale thrombosis. The rates of platelet accumulation in vitro are consistent with the clinical timescale of coronary or carotid artery occlusion. Porcine blood has a faster accumulation rate of 9.6 ± 6.1 μm3/μm2/min (n = 7, p
The Role of Complement in Periodontal Diseases

The complement system has been implicated as both a pathogenic mechanism and a means of protection in periodontal diseases. It is well known that bacteria activate complement; such activation can initiate a number of events, including bacterial opsonization and killing, release of inflammatory agents, and modulation of other immune reactions. Cleavage of complement proteins has been observed in gingival fluids from individuals with periodontal disease and some investigators have observed complement deposition in diseased gingival tissues. Furthermore, a number of bacteria from individuals with periodontal diseases have been found to activate complement in vitro; some of these organisms appear to have the capacity to evade opsonization due to their proteolytic capacity. However, concrete evidence is not yet available that indicates that complement activation occurs in human periodontal disease and is important in either its pathogenesis or in protection against bacterial virulence factors.
Chemical Modification Patterns of Active and Inactive as Well as Procapsid-Bound and Unbound DNA-Packaging RNA of Bacterial Virus Phi29

Abstract During replication, the lengthy genome of dsDNA viruses is translocated with remarkable velocity into the limited space within the preformed procapsid. We previously found that a viral-encoded RNA (pRNA) played a key role in bacterial virus phi29 DNA translocation. Design of mutant pRNA sets containing two and three inactive mutant pRNAs, respectively, led to the conclusion that the stoichiometry of pRNA in DNA packaging is the common multiple of 2 and 3. Together with studies using binomial distribution of mutant and wild-type pRNA, it has been confirmed that six pRNAs of phi29 form a hexagonal complex to drive the DNA translocating machine. These findings have brought about commonality between viral DNA packaging and other universal DNA/RNA-riding processes including DNA replication and RNA transcription. Chemical modification was used to compare the structures of active and inactive as well as free and procapsid-bound pRNA. Our results explain why certain pRNA mutants are inactive in DNA packaging while remaining competent in procapsid binding, since the mutations were located in a domain involved in DNA translocation that is dispensable for procapsid binding. A mutant pRNA that had reduced procapsid binding was revealed to have a structural alteration within the procapsid-binding region that may account for the binding deficiency. Chemical probing of procapsid-bound pRNA revealed a large area of protection, while a 3-base bulge, C 18 C 19 A 20 , was accessible to chemicals. A pRNA with a deletion of this 3-base bulge was fully competent to form dimers, bind procapsids, and inhibit phi29 virion assembly in vitro; however, its activity in DNA packaging and virion assembly was completely lost. The results suggest that this bulge is not involved in procapsid binding but may interact with other DNA-packaging components. A computer model showing the location of the CCA bulge was presented.
Folliculin regulates cell–cell adhesion, AMPK, and mTORC1 in a cell‐type‐specific manner in lung‐derived cells

Germline loss-of-function BHD mutations cause cystic lung disease and hereditary pneumothorax, yet little is known about the impact of BHD mutations in the lung. Folliculin (FLCN), the product of the Birt–Hogg–Dube (BHD) gene, has been linked to altered cell–cell adhesion and to the AMPK and mTORC1 signaling pathways. We found that downregulation of FLCN in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells decreased the phosphorylation of ACC, a marker of AMPK activation, while downregulation of FLCN in small airway epithelial (SAEC) cells increased the activity of phospho-S6, a marker of mTORC1 activation, highlighting the cell type–dependent functions of FLCN. Cell–cell adhesion forces were significantly increased in FLCN-deficient HBE cells, consistent with prior findings in FLCN-deficient human kidneyderived cells. To determine how these altered cell–cell adhesion forces impact the lung, we exposed mice with heterozygous inactivation of Bhd (similarly to humans with germline inactivation of one BHD allele) to mechanical ventilation at high tidal volumes. Bhd +/ mice exhibited a trend (P = 0.08) toward increased elastance after 6 h of ventilation at 24 cc/kg. Our results indicate that FLCN regulates the AMPK and mTORC1 pathways and cell–cell adhesion in a cell type–dependent manner. FLCN deficiency may impact the physiologic response to inflation-induced mechanical stress, but further investigation is required. We hypothesize that FLCN-dependent effects on signaling and cellular adhesion contribute to the pathogenesis of cystic lung disease in BHD patients.
Update on a comparison of cesium fountain primary frequency standards

An update to a previous long term frequency comparison of cesium fountain primary frequency standards [1] has been made. This update covers the approximate three year interval from March 2008 to March 2011 and also includes two new standards. Also, simulated data have been used to estimate the biases and standard deviation of the Birge ratio as a function of the degrees of freedom.
Structural Basis for Pharmacology of Voltage-Gated Sodium and Calcium Channels

Voltage-gated sodium channels initiate action potentials in nerve, muscle, and other electrically excitable cells. Voltage-gated calcium channels are activated by depolarization during action potentials, and calcium influx through them is the key second messenger of electrical signaling, initiating secretion, contraction, neurotransmission, gene transcription, and many other intracellular processes. Drugs that block sodium channels are used in local anesthesia and the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, and cardiac arrhythmia. Drugs that block calcium channels are used in the treatment of epilepsy, chronic pain, and cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension, angina pectoris, and cardiac arrhythmia. The principal pore-forming subunits of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels are structurally related and likely to have evolved from ancestral voltage-gated sodium channels that are widely expressed in prokaryotes. Determination of the structure of a bacterial ancestor of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels at high resolution now provides a three-dimensional view of the binding sites for drugs acting on sodium and calcium channels. In this minireview, we outline the different classes of sodium and calcium channel drugs, review studies that have identified amino acid residues that are required for their binding and therapeutic actions, and illustrate how the analogs of those key amino acid residues may form drug-binding sites in three-dimensional models derived from bacterial channels.
Amount of Dietary Fat and Type of Soluble Fiber Independently Modulate Postabsorptive Conversion of β-Carotene to Vitamin A in Mongolian Gerbils

Current dietary guidelines recommend a decrease in fat intake and an increase in fiber consumption. Decreased bioavailability (BV) of carotenoids is thought to be associated with both of these recommendations. A 2 x 4 factorial design was used to test the effects of dietary fat level at 10 or 30% of total energy and fiber type using no fiber, silica, citrus pectin or oat gum (7 g/100 g) on beta-carotene (betaC) BV in 4- to 5-wk-old Mongolian gerbils. We assessed BV as both accumulation of betaC and bioconversion of betaC to vitamin A (VA) in tissues. A VA- and betaC-deficient diet was fed for 1 wk followed by one of eight isocaloric, semipurified diets supplemented with carrot powder [ approximately 1 microgram betaC, 0.5 microgram alpha-carotene (alphaC)/kJ diet] for 2 wk (n = 12/group). Increasing dietary fat resulted in higher VA (P: = 0.074) and lower betaC (P: = 0.0001) stores in the liver, suggesting that consumption of high fat diets enhances conversion of betaC to VA. The effect of soluble fiber on hepatic VA storage was dependent on fiber type. Consumption of citrus pectin resulted in lower hepatic VA stores and higher hepatic betaC stores compared with all other groups, suggesting less conversion of betaC to VA. In contrast, consumption of oat gum resulted in hepatic VA and betaC stores that were higher (P = 0.012) and lower (P = 0.022), respectively, than those of citrus pectin-fed gerbils. The level of dietary fat consumed with soluble fiber had no interactive effects on hepatic VA, betaC or alphaC stores. Results demonstrate that betaC BV is independently affected by dietary fat level and type of soluble fiber, and suggest that these dietary components modulate postabsorptive conversion of betaC to VA. This study confirms the negative effects of citrus pectin on betaC BV, and suggests that oat gum does not adversely affect betaC BV.
Effect of Treating Apple Trees with Acibenzolar-S-Methyl on Fire Blight and Expression of Pathogenesis-Related Protein Genes.

Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM, Actigard 50 WG), a synthetic inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, was evaluated for the control of fire blight on apple trees in the field and for PR protein gene expression in apple seedlings in the greenhouse. Expression of putative genes related to SAR induction was elevated in ASM-treated apple seedlings 2 to 7 days after treatment; levels of PR-1 and PR-8 RNA were increased 10-fold and PR-2 RNA was increased 100-fold in ASM-treated seedlings over levels in untreated seedlings. Spurs and shoots on Jonathan trees sprayed with ASM at 75 mg a.i./liter at pink and at weekly intervals thereafter had significantly less fire blight than untreated trees, both from natural infection and following artificial inoculation with the pathogen. Less fire blight was observed on trees sprayed weekly with ASM than on trees sprayed biweekly. The severity of fire blight on inoculated shoots of Fuji apple decreased with increasing rates of ASM (0 to 300 mg a.i./liter), and ASM combined with streptomycin showed enhanced activity over ASM at 75 mg a.i./liter alone. In general, ASM was not superior to streptomycin for fire blight control, but integrating a weekly schedule of ASM, preferably at 150 mg a.i./liter, with a schedule of streptomycin designed for blossom blight control appears promising for overall improvement in fire blight control.
Microcatheter retrieval device for intravascular foreign body removal

A microcatheter foreign body retrieval device is described and its first two clinical applications are presented. The device functions identically to larger loop snare retrievers. It permits access to small vessels and was successful in its first clinical applications.
Adhesion, Barrier, and Passivation Characteristics of Plasma Polymerized Organic Thin Films

Plasma polymerization is not a means of polymerizing monomers, and materials formed by plasma polymerization (plasma polymers) are not polymers in the conventional sense. Because of very strong interactions which take place between the substrate surface and the depositing reactive species during the plasma polymerization/deposition process, extremely good adhesion of a thin plasma polymer film to substrate surfaces such as metal, glass, and ceramic, to which it is difficult to achieve good adhesion of (conventional) polymer films, can be obtained. Furthermore, a plasma polymer can be utilized as a primer to create water-insensitive adhesion of conventional polymers to other materials. Because of the unique advantage that other plasma treatments and reactions can be used in the pretreatment of substrate surfaces and/or the post-treatment of deposited plasma polymers in an essentially one step process coupled with their excellent barrier characteristics, plasma polymerization can be utilized to obtain remarkable levels of corrosion protection of metal surfaces. Adhesion, barrier, and passivation characteristics of plasma polymerization are reviewed.
A Genetic Test for Whether Pairs of Hermaphrodites Can Cross-Fertilize in a Selfing Killifish

Kryptolebias marmoratus, a small killifish that lives in mangrove habitat from southern Florida to Brazil, is one of the planet's only known self-fertilizing hermaphroditic vertebrates. Generation after generation, hermaphroditic individuals simultaneously produce sperm and eggs and internally self-fertilize to produce what are, in effect, highly inbred clones of themselves. Although populations are composed primarily of hermaphrodites, they also contain some true males. The frequency of males in a population varies geographically, from <2% in Florida to as high as 25% in Belize. Males are known to mate occasionally with hermaphrodites, thereby releasing genetic variation that has profound consequences for population genetic structure. However, it is unknown whether hermaphrodites can or do sporadically mate with each other also. Here, we test whether hermaphroditic individuals of the killifish Kryptolebias marmoratus are capable of crossing with one another, in addition to their much more common habits of self-fertilization and occasional outcrossing with pure males. We employ an experimental design in which replicate hermaphrodite pairs were housed together and allowed to reproduce naturally. Among 173 embryos screened at diagnostic microsatellite loci, all were found to result from selfing (i.e., no embryos were the product of a hermaphrodite cross). We thus conclude that hermaphrodite pairs are unlikely to cross, or do so exceedingly rarely.
Rio+20 and Biodiversity: What Next? The International and Brazilian Perspectives, Rio+20 and Biodiversity: Assessing the Future We Want

Extended written remarks of the oral panel presentation by Professor Nicholas A. Robinson at the international colloquium in tribute to Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo do Machado on Rio+20 and Biodiversity: Assessing the Future We Want. Presented as part of the Inaugural Panel, held in the Senate Chamber of Brazil in Brasilia on 26 April 2013 and televised nationally.
Picosecond studies of the solvation of photogenerated Cr(CO) 5

Picosecond absorption spectroscopy has been used to examine the photodissociation of Cr(CO)6 in a variety of solvents. In alkane solutions, photodissociation results in loss of a CO followed by solvent coordination within 1 ps of excitation. In the series of n-alcohols, n-nitriles, and n-alkyl bromides, rapid dissociation is also observed. However, in these solvents, the time-resolved spectra indicate that following photolysis, primary intermediates are formed which are comprised of a distribution of complexes involving the coordination of different moieties of the solvent molecules to the vacant site on the metal.
Exploring Composite Panels Using Multi-Objective Optimization and Varying Load Conditions

Composite materials are excellent candidates for structural optimization, as the best stacking sequence and fiber orientation varies with respect to loading condition. Typical aerospace applications experience multiple scenarios in flight, making it difficult to design a single “best” panel. While past research has explored individual cases – composite ply configuration, multiple load scenarios, and multiple performance objectives – there has been limited work addressing the interactions between these factors. This work builds upon previous efforts by constructing a Finite Element model and using multi-objective optimization techniques to explore the robustness of a composite across multiple load scenarios when considering a large number of angle orientations and competing objectives.
Alcohol and coronary heart disease: can we learn more?

Research on the association between alcohol consump? tion and coronary heart disease has spanned more than 3 decades. Over 100 studies, including ecological, casecontrol, and cohort studies, have addressed this complex relationship. There has also been an almost equal num? ber of reviews, editorials, meta-analyses, and letters.1-6 The excessive use of alcohol is linked to cirrhosis, aerodigestive cancers, motor vehicle deaths, and is frequently implicated in homicides and domestic disputes. Nevertheless, the evidence supporting an inverse asso? ciation between moderate alcohol consumption and cor? onary heart disease is overwhelming and consistent. With the exception of the link between smoking and lung cancer, few other associations are so uniformly reported in the literature despite diverse population sam? ples, varying exposure and outcome measurements, and inconsistent control for confounding. In this issue of Epidemiology, Brenner et al report a substantial reduction in risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) associated with alcohol consumption.7 These results from Germany are similar to those reported in China, Japan, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, to name a few.8-13 A long-term, large-scale clinical trial of alcohol and coronary heart disease would be difficult to conduct. Thus, guidelines and clinical advice must be based on evidence from these types of non-experimental studies and from our understanding of the effect of short-term administration of alcohol from experimental studies. A summary of this body of data suggests strongly that abstaining from alcohol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease; yet, advice to abstainers to drink alcohol in moderation is generally not prudent on a population level but may be on an individual basis. If the evidence is so strong in favor of an inverse association between alcohol and coronary heart disease, what can we learn from new research in this area? If alcohol (ethanol) were always consumed in the same manner and as part of the same beverage, there would be less to learn; however, recent evidence indi? cates that drinking patterns (including beverage choice), other dietary constituents, and even genetic predisposi? tion to ethanol metabolism may modify the underlying association between moderate alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease.14-18 Beverage preference has re-
Outcome and evaluation of anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve for cubital tunnel syndrome

Objective To study the surgical treatment and prognosis of cubital tunnel syndrome. Methods Thirty - one patients of cubital tunnel syndrome were treated from 1994 to 2002. All were treated by anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve, 12 of them got decompression of neurilemma simultaneously. Results 25 cases with same grade by McGowan's staging system were followed up from 6 months to 8 years after surgical treatments complete resolution of symptoms happened in 11 cases,9 got general resolution, 5 improved, none of them got worse. Conclusions Patients of cubital tunnel syndrome should have surgical treatments early when there are persistent symptoms after con- servative treatments, and the subcutaneous ulnar nerve transposition with decompression of neurilemma can be a success- ful technique and can get satisfactory results.
Several Frequent Methods In The Research Of Oil-Well Cement Hydration

This paper introduced the application of the IR spectrum,the DTA,the X-Ray Diffracation method and the Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) in the research of cement hydration reaction,to determine the cement hydration advancement,the hydrated speed and degree as well as the composition,structure of hydrated product in the cement research.Explained that these four methods are rule the effective methods in study the cement hydration reaction.
Evidence that adenosine contributes to Leao’s spreading depression in vivo:

Leao's spreading depression of cortical activity is a propagating silencing of neuronal activity resulting from spreading depolarization (SD). We evaluated the contributions of action potential (AP) failure and adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) activation to the depression of evoked and spontaneous electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity after SD in vivo, in anesthetized mice. We compared depression with SD-induced effects on AP-dependent transmission, and synaptic potentials in the transcallosal and thalamocortical pathways. After SD, APs recovered rapidly, within 1-2 min, as demonstrated by evoked activity in distant projection targets. Evoked corticocortical postsynaptic potentials recovered next, within ∼5 min. Spontaneous ECoG and evoked thalamocortical postsynaptic potentials recovered together, after ∼10-15 min. The duration of ECoG depression was shortened 20% by systemic (10 mg/kg) or focal (30 µM) administration of A1R competitive antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). ECoG depression was also shortened by focal application of exogenous adenosine deaminase (ADA; 100 U/mL), and conversely, was prolonged 50% by the non-competitive ADA inhibitor deoxycoformycin (DCF; 100 µM). We concluded that while initial depolarization block is brief, adenosine A1R activation, in part, contributes to the persistent secondary phase of Leao's cortical spreading depression.
1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3 REGULATES CALBINDIN-D28K EXPRESSION AT THE TRANSCRIPTIONAL LEVEL

This chapter presents the results of the study to analyze if 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 [l,25(OH) 2 D 3 ] regulates calbindin-D 28K expression at the transcriptional level. Vitamin D-deficient chicks (3–4 week old) were dosed intramuscularly with 6.5 nmoles l,25(OH) 2 D 3 . At various times, afterward nuclei were isolated from the duodenal mucosa to measure l,25(OH) 2 D 3 receptor occupancy levels by an exchange assay and calbindin-D 28K gene transcription by nuclear run-off. Steady-state levels of calbindin-D 28K gene transcription in vitamin D-deficient and vitamin D-replete chicks, and in vitamin D-replete chicks 1 hour following a dose of 600 μg cycloheximide, were also measured. The time course of l,25(OH) 2 D 3 receptor occupancy in vitamin D-deficient chicks following a dose of 6.5 nmoles of l,25(OH) 2 D 3 showed that binding of the hormone to its receptor occurred very quickly and reached a peak at l–2 h. A similar response profile was observed in the rate of calbindin-D 28K gene transcription following the same dose of l,25(OH) 2 D 3 . These data support the hypothesis that the mechanism of action of l,25(OH) 2 D 3 is like that of other classical steroid hormones, exerting its effects by the initiation of transcription of the calbindin-D 28K gene through a receptor-mediated mechanism.
The Foundation and Completion of the EU's Internal Energy Market

This paper discusses the history and current development of the EU Internal Energy Market. It notes the relative strengths and weaknesses of the current system, grounded in the Treaty of Lisbon.
Undergraduate STEM Majors’ Understanding of Slope

Common Core Mathematics Standards (CCMS) is a major effort at revamping the US K-12 mathematics education. Using the CCMS criteria, this chapter presents findings on investigating the understanding of the concept of slope among a group STEM majors who were enrolled in an undergraduate experimental teacher preparation program as a window through which to address the issue of content training of mathematics teachers in general. Data suggest that even among these students, there are holes in their conceptual understanding of slope and of the connection between linear equation and its graph. These weaknesses could pose challenges for their preparedness to teach the slope concept consistent with the rigor that CCMS calls for. Taking courses that specifically address the K-12 mathematics topics is helpful.
Gross Misbehavior and Wickedness: A Notorious Divorce in Early Twentieth Century America: Elson, Jean Philadelphia: Temple University Press 325 pp., $30.89, ISBN: 978-1439913901 Publication Date: June 2017

In 1897, Nina Chinn and James Walker married in a lavish ceremony reported in the national society pages. Twelve years later, Nina left home with her four children and the family silver. Nina claim...
Helicopter Parenting, Self-regulatory Processes, and Alcohol Use among Female College Students

Alcohol use, which is often associated with other problems in well-being, is a persistent problem among college students. Helicopter parenting, defined as parental overinvolvement, is an emerging parenting behavior that could be associated with alcohol use among college students. This study of 473 female undergraduate students investigated the association between helicopter parenting and alcohol use through psychological needs satisfaction and self-control. Structural equation modeling suggested that helicopter parenting was associated with higher levels of alcohol use through lower levels of psychological needs satisfaction and self-control. The implications for college students, parents of college students, educators, and university administrators are also discussed.
Predation by Spitting Spiders: Elaborate Venom Gland, Intricate Delivery System

Spitting spiders (Araneae: Scytodidae) subdue prey by entangling them at a distance with a mixture of silk, glue, and perhaps venom. All of the components of this mixture originate in the venom glands, a pair of relatively elaborate structures consisting of five histologically distinct regions, the anterior three producing venom and the posterior two, comprising the largest lobe of the gland, producing silk and glue. The venom gland and its products anchor a suite of tightly linked adaptations that constitute the predatory system of these remarkable spiders. The spitting requires considerable metabolic expenditure both in the form of maintenance of impressively large venom glands and in the form of the biosynthesis of the proto-silk and the glue that are the primary constituents of the spit. Sensory input allowing identification and localization of the potential prey and neural coordination of the spit ejection itself also must occur. It may be that an important part of expectoration, the oscillations of the fangs (contributing to the zigzag pattern of spit that effectively covers a prey item), once triggered, does not require further neural input, but that possibility remains to be confirmed. The chemical, physical, and microfluidic properties of the proto-silk and glue mixture are also crucial for the proper functioning of the spitting system; at the moment, these properties are poorly understood except insofar as they may be similar to the analogous properties of the proto-silk and glue produced in the opisthosomal silk glands of spiders.
Operators on L∞-spaces

Abstract It is shown that the space of bounded linear operators on certain L ∞ -spaces is non-separable. These spaces include the spaces of J. Bourgain and F. Delbaen and spaces constructed by S.A. Argyros and R. Haydon.
A Statistical Comparison of Galactic SNRs and Galactic Giant HII Regions

In order to examine the quality of the evidence, we test the hypothesis that all supernovae in the Galaxy lie in narrow spiral arms. The distributions in longitude of 138 SNRs and 100 giant HII regions are presented, and compared with a simple Monte Carlo model in which 140 supernovae are distributed either along arms according to a density wave model, or uniformly in the plane. The model is intended to give a statistical measure of the ratio of Type II (spiral arms) to Type I (disk) supernovae in the Galaxy. We wish to compare the distributions in galactic longitude of supernova remnants (SNRs) with those predicted by our model in order to allow a comparison which is independent of the computed distance to the SNR. The observed SNR distribution seem to correlate with that of the giant HII regions and hence with the spiral arms.
Why Do People Eat (So Much) Meat?—And How Can We Eat (Much) Less?

First paragraphs: Humans eat a lot of meat! According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the annual consumption of meat globally in 2013 was 106 lbs. (48 kg) per capita, up from 56 lbs. (25 kg) in 1961 (FAO, 2018). This amount is projected to increase by between 75% and 145% by 2050 (Godfray et al., 2018), due to the strong correlation between increasing per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) and increasing per-capita meat consump­tion (Tilman and Clark, 2014). And to provide this meat (along with other animal products), there are about 30 billion livestock animals in the world at any given time—four times the number of humans; over 160 billion livestock are slaughtered annually, half of these poultry (FAO, 2018). No wonder that meat’s impact on our planet and our lives is so large. The implied question permeating Wilson Warren’s book is “Why do we eat so much meat?” The title suggests one answer—the belief that Meat Makes People Powerful—and the text makes clear that this is in terms of health, culture, and economics. The final chapters ask a further question—How can we stop eating so much meat? They describe the major role that meat is playing in anthropogenic climate change and environmental pollution in general, as well as in the current global noncommunicable disease pandemic. They also discuss the over­whelm­ingly negative effects of meat consumption on animal welfare and on social equity. . . .
THE “SICK” RACIST: Racism and Psychopathology in the Colorblind Era

Since the early 1960s, there has been a movement among activists, scholars, and policymakers to redefine racism as a psychopathological condition, identifiable and treatable through psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions. This development reflects, and is reflected by, the popular framing among mass media and ordinary social actors of racism and racist events as individual pathology rather than as a social problem. This shifting perspective on racism, from a social problem and a system to an individual pathology, has increasingly become a part of academic and psychiatric discourse since Jim Crow. In this article, we have two aims: first, to trace the emergence of “psychopathological racism”; second, to illustrate the relationship between “psychopathological racism” and “colorblind racism” in the post-Civil Rights era. We argue that the psychopathological view of racism compliments colorblindness in that larger structural issues are dismissed in favor of individual pathos. Furthermore, psychopathological explanations for racism dismiss socio-political contexts, eschewing the contributions of well over fifty years of social scientific research in the process.
A team-based deployment approach for heterogeneous mobile sensor networks

Abstract This paper presents a distributed algorithm for deploying teams of heterogeneous agents to cover multiple regions of interest. A team-based approach is proposed here to minimize a locational cost function, defined with respect to various regions of interest, while each region is covered by intended agents. The main region is first partitioned into smaller regions among teams using the so-called Power diagram in such a way that larger regions are assigned to those teams that have higher capabilities. The immediate consequence of the difference between heterogeneous teams is an additional term that appears in control laws of their corresponding agents, which is determined by some calculations along their boundaries. The teams’ assigned regions are then partitioned among their members by the so-called multiplicatively-weighted (MW) Voronoi diagrams with guaranteed collision avoidance. A distributed control law is developed based on partitioning in team and agent levels to guarantee the convergence of agents to locally optimal positions. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed team-based weighted partitioning methods that enable distributed deployment of teams of heterogeneous agents.
Apis: Architecture for Federated Power Management

Internet of Things (IoT) devices have been limited in application by constraints posed by batteries. Batteries add size, weight, and upkeep costs, and limit the lifetime of devices preferred to be small, lightweight, and long-lasting. We present Apis, a software and hardware toolkit for federated power management in energy harvesting applications. By replacing batteries with rapid charging storage capacitors, circuitry to control federated energy storage, and software support to make this architecture accessible to developers, embedded devices can potentially run indefinitely with limited maintenance. We present the Apis hardware for controlling federated energy storage, supporting software, and experiments performed to validate the Apis model.
Critical Analysis of 12 recent title VII research reports

AS I REVIEW AND CRITICIZE (sometimes sharply) the present Title VII research reports, I hope my reader will not construe this as an attack on these particular researchers or on those persons in the U.S. Office of Education who were responsible for giving the grants. Instead, I am trying to raise questions for all of us to ponder in our efforts to improve research for the improvement of education. I cannot honestly begin a specific analytical review of these reports until I have raised some broad, basic questions. Spread out on the desk beside me are several pounds of Title VII research reports, representing many thousands of research dollars. They bring to mind the picture of social science researchers, new media producers, subject matter specialists, and educational administrators scurrying to develop proposals before the next deadline, the discussions of production problems and research designs, the hopeful waiting after the proposal is in, the excitement as the grant is received, etc. Somehow, the research report seldom seems to be half as intriguing as those ideas which set the project in motion. The researcher finds that he gets no significant differences where he was reasonably sure that he would. The new media producer finds that the questions he thought the project would clarify for him are left almost as muddled as before. He suspects that there must be something wrong with research which does not prove that the thing he produced worked better than some
Blocker-Tolerant RF-to-Digital Linearization With a Very Nonlinear Auxiliary Path

This paper introduces a new linearization technique based on signal-component cancellation to remove the thirdorder lumped nonlinearities from the entire receiver chain using a nonlinear auxiliary path. The paper shows that the solution performance improves when the auxiliary path becomes more nonlinear, a rather counter-intuitive property of the proposed technique with several practical implications. The signal-component cancellation uses two coefficients that are found adaptively with a novel two-step LMS algorithm in the digital domain. In contrast with previous prominent approaches based on an auxiliary path, the proposed linearization has two significant advantages: 1) it does not estimate the signal nonlinearities used in other techniques for cancellation, and 2) upon convergence of the adaptive algorithm, the digital solution is input-signal independent and therefore is static in steady-state.
Progressive long-term spatial memory loss following repeat concussive and subconcussive brain injury in mice, associated with dorsal hippocampal neuron loss, microglial phenotype shift, and vascular abnormalities.

There is considerable concern about the long-term deleterious effects of repeat head trauma on cognition, but little is known about underlying mechanisms and pathology. To examine this, we delivered four air blasts to the left side of the mouse cranium, a week apart, with an intensity that causes deficits when delivered singly and considered "concussive," or an intensity that does not yield significant deficits when delivered singly and considered "subconcussive." Neither repeat concussive nor subconcussive blast produced spatial memory deficits at 4 months, but both yielded deficits at 14 months, and dorsal hippocampal neuron loss. Hierarchical cluster analysis of dorsal hippocampal microglia across the three groups based on morphology and expression of MHCII, CX3CR1, CD68 and IBA1 revealed five distinct phenotypes. Types 1A and 1B microglia were more common in sham mice, linked to better neuron survival and memory, and appeared mildly activated. By contrast, 2B and 2C microglia were more common in repeat concussive and subconcussive mice, linked to poorer neuron survival and memory, and characterized by low expression levels and attenuated processes, suggesting they were de-activated and dysfunctional. In addition, endothelial cells in repeat concussive mice exhibited reduced CD31 and eNOS expression, which was correlated with the prevalence of type 2B and 2C microglia. Our findings suggest that both repeat concussive and subconcussive head injury engender progressive pathogenic processes, possibly through sustained effects on microglia that over time lead to increased prevalence of dysfunctional microglia, adversely affecting neurons and blood vessels, and thereby driving neurodegeneration and memory decline.
Evaluation of esmolol for heart rate control in patients with acute aortic dissection.

Purpose Acute aortic dissection is a serious and life-threatening condition that requires prompt, effective management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of esmolol for heart rate control in patients with acute aortic dissection in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods This was a retrospective, descriptive analysis of patients treated for type A or type B acute aortic dissection in the ED at an academic medical center. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving strict (≤60 bpm) or lenient (≤80 bpm) heart rate control within the first 60 min of therapy at the study site. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure of Results Of 266 patients screened, 40 patients met inclusion criteria. Thirty-three patients (82.5%) attained lenient rate control within the first 60 min of esmolol therapy. Eleven patients (27.5%) achieved a strict heart rate goal within the first 60 min of esmolol therapy. Five patients (12.5%) experienced an episode of hypotension during the first 3 h of esmolol therapy. Conclusion In patients treated with esmolol infusion for acute aortic dissection, a lenient HR goal was achieved in most patients. In contrast, esmolol was not associated with attainment of strict HR control in most patients included in this sample. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the exact role of esmolol in acute aortic dissection in a larger patient population.
The Organization as a Mixed Martial Artist: A Metaphor for Environmental Uncertainty

Infamous boxing legend Mike Tyson once declared, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit.” Simply put, even the best laid plans often come up short in the heat of the battle. Organizations are not exempt from these realities. Although it seems unorthodox on the surface, research suggests that organizations have a lot in common with combat athletes such as the mixed martial artist. One could argue that organizations that are prepared to overcome environmental uncertainty share three qualities with mixed martial artists: flexibility, adaptability, and reliability. This chapter explains how in the same way that mixed martial artist must prepare for the unknown of the combat environment, organizations must also strategically prepare for disruptions and change. For the organization, preparation involves both an offensive and defensive approach to change. The metaphor presented in this chapter serves as a conceptual bridge between organizational theory, the Christian scriptures, and organizational practice.
A model of state-dependent monetary policy

Abstract In the presence of occasionally binding borrowing constraints, the responses of output to monetary policy shocks depend on the Euler equation of unconstrained households. Conversely, the set of unconstrained households depends on the responses of output. I show analytically that this equilibrium interaction creates state-dependent and asymmetric output responses. When stockholders’ incomes are more pro-cyclical than non-stockholders’, output responds less to monetary policy in recessions, and contractionary monetary policy is more powerful than expansionary policy. These results are consistent with the empirical evidence.
Sensory system development influences the ontogeny of trace eyeblink conditioning.

A rate-limiting factor in the ontogeny of auditory eyeblink conditioning (EBC) is the development of sensory inputs to the pontine nucleus. One possible way to facilitate the emergence of EBC would be to use a conditioned stimulus (CS) that activates an earlier-developing sensory system. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether using a vibration CS would facilitate the ontogeny of delay EBC relative to an auditory CS. Rat pups received six sessions of delay EBC or unpaired training using either a tone or vibration CS on postnatal day (P)14-15, 17-18, 21-22, or 24-25. Conditioning with a vibration CS resulted in rapid learning as early as P17-18, whereas conditioning with a tone CS did not result in rapid conditioning until after P17-18. Control experiments verified that the differences in EBC were due to CS-specific sensory properties. The results suggest that the ontogeny of EBC depends on sensory system development.