cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comorbidities of overweight and obesity: current evidence and research issues

Purpose: The evidence with regard to the relationship of obesity with medical comorbidities was assessed and priority research issues identified. Methods: The existing literature in English was surveyed. Results: The evidence is overwhelming on the association of obesity to a number of medical conditions. These include: insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, arthritis, hyperuricemia, gall bladder disease, and certain types of cancer. The independent association of obesity seems also clearly established for coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, and menstrual irregularities. The relationship between central (or upper body) obesity and the above conditions is positive for most of them but with a lesser number of studies. Most of the fat distribution studies have been done using anthropometric measurements rather than the more accurate magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomographic scans. Priority research issues include the following: more definitive data on the relation of central fat to comorbidities; the proportional importance of subcutaneous versus visceral fat in producing comorbidities; the relationship between obesity and psychiatric disease; the genetics of the relationship between obesity and each of the comorbidities; the independent contribution of diet and of sedentariness to the development of each of the comorbidities: the impact of gender, race, intensity, and duration on these associations. Conclusions: The evidence for the relationship of obesity to a number of comorbidities is strong, though the strength of the relationship varies with the condition. Much more research is necessary on causation and on what other factors may play an interactive role.
Parental Involvement in Reading Remediation with Young Children.

In an era of increasing educational need and decreasing resources, school psychologists must be aware of alternatives to school-based learning. This article reviews research on the effectiveness of parental involvement in improving elementary school-aged children's reading skills. Studies have shown that parents can contribute to the remediation and maintenance of children's reading ability, but that parents want and need training in specific methods of reading with their children. Direct Instruction and Paired Reading are presented as viable methods to teach parents of poor readers. The authors issue a call for further research comparing various home reading methods. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An automated microcomparator for ultracentrifuge interference fringe measurements.

Abstract An automated device for reading the fringe patterns produced by interference optics in an analytical ultracentrifuge has been designed and tested. The device significantly reduces the time and work required to read these photographs while improving the precision over manual reading. Fringe edges are detected by a differential system and fringe centers estimated from the edge positions. Both semiautomatic and automatic modes of operation are described. In the latter, the device has been interfaced to a PDP-7 minicomputer.
Long-term Recall of Sponsorship Sources: An Empirical Investigation of Stadium and Sport Cafe Audiences

Abstract This paper examines the long-term unaided recall and aided recognition of a collegiate basketball team's sponsors. Based on a sample of 222 individuals, it was found that respondents had trouble recalling sponsorship sources, and confounded sponsors and advertisers. Individuals who were involved in basketball were the most likely to recognise sponsors.
A numerical study of larval fish retention along the southeast Florida coast

Abstract The possibility that the eggs and larvae of southeast Florida fishes can be retained by local hydrodynamic processes is examined using simple idealizations of the local currents, oceanic turbulence, Ekman drift, horizontal larval swimming and larval mortality. The simulated settling rates were greatly affected by the interaction between the hydrodynamics and the degree of spatial heterogeneity in the mortality fields. In the presence of an onshore Ekman drift, for example, settling rates tended to increase unless the mortality rate over the reef was much higher than elsewhere. Overall, the simulations suggest that the meanders, eddies and gyres associated with the Florida current front can retain between 0.07 and 41% of the larvae with planktonic life spans on the order of 1 month. However, only a recirculating gyre enabled large numbers of larvae to settle within a few kilometers of their birth place. Assuming the mortality rate near the reef is 20–90% per day, but lower offshore, between 0.1 and 7% of the larvae retained are likely to settle. This implies that southeast Florida reef fish populations should be able to replenish themselves without relying on upstream sources of recruitment, provided they exhibit normal fecundities. The simulations also suggest that natural levels of variation in the mortality field or local currents can both cause large fluctuations in recruitment.
Wavelet domain analysis of EEG data for emotion recognition: evaluation of recoursing energy efficiency

In this paper, we evaluate the feature extraction technique of Recoursing Energy Efficiency on electroencephalograph data for human emotion recognition. A protocol has been established to elicit five distinct emotions (joy, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise, and neutral). EEG signals are collected using a 256-channel system, preprocessed using band-pass filters and Laplacian Montage, and decomposed into five frequency bands using Discrete Wavelet Transform. The Recoursing Energy Efficiency (REE) is calculated and applied to a Multi-Layer Perceptron network for classification. We compare the performance of REE features with conventional energy based features.
Phorbol ester regulation of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene in GnRH-secreting cell lines: a molecular basis for species differences.

Phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) regulation of the GnRH gene was studied in two mouse GnRH neuronal cell lines, Gn11 and NLT. TPA treatment of NLT cells grown in low serum conditions did not alter endogenous mouse GnRH mRNA levels, indicating that the endogenous mouse gene is not regulated by phorbol esters under these conditions. This result is confirmed in transfection studies in which TPA treatment did not change expression of a mouse GnRH-luciferase reporter gene construct. In contrast, TPA treatment stimulated expression of a human GnRH-luciferase reporter construct, correlating with the expression of the protoon-cogenes c-fos and c-jun. TPA stimulation of the human GnRH gene is mediated by a consensus AP-1 site located at -402 to -396 bp, TGACTCA, which specifically binds c-fos and c-jun in Gn11 and NLT cells and recombinant c-jun in gel mobility shift studies. In contrast, the rodent GnRH genes, when aligned for maximum homology, contain a DNA sequence with a 1-bp differenc...
Influence of Temperature on Lizard Testes

Incorporation of tritiated thymidine in organ culture shows that the temperature at which testicular cells begin to degenerate differs between two species of lizards. These differences parallel the differences in the preferred body temperature of the species.
Psychometric High-risk Paradigm, Perceptual Aberrations, and Schizotypy: An Update

The psychometric high-risk strategy represents a useful methodologic adjunct to the traditional genetic high-risk research approach in the study of the etiology and development of schizophrenia. During the past 15 years, considerable research activity has focused on psychometrically identified individuals hypothesized to be en route to schizophrenia (i.e., putative schizotypes). The Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) has figured prominently in such prediction-oriented psychometric high-risk work. This report examines research using the PAS completed since 1987 that has established the instrument as a valid index for detecting liability for schizophrenia (or schizotypy) and as, arguably, the schizotypy index of choice for research. These results are presented and interpreted in light of Meehl's theoretical framework of schizotypy. Other measures of and assessment devices for schizotypy (schizophrenia-related liability) are identified. Of these other measures, the Chapmans' Magical Ideation Scale and the schizophrenia liability index of Moldin and colleagues are particularly well established. Methodologic suggestions for future psychometric high-risk and other work using objective measures of schizotypic psychopathology are offered. It is strongly recommended that future studies of schizotypy (or those in the planning stages, relying on psychometric detection methods use multiple psychometric indices to tap schizotypy or use a psychometric index in association with other promising biobehavioral markers of schizophrenia liability (e.g., sustained attentional deficits, eye movement dysfunction) for maximum efficiency in both location and definition of schizotypes.
Three-dimensional simulations of impact induced damage in composite structures using the parallelized SPH method

Abstract To address the strain-rate dependent behavior of unidirectional composites in Air Force and Navy military systems subjected to impact loading, a one-parameter visco-plasticity composite material model was developed and incorporated into the MAGI code which was parallelized for this study. This code is based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. The strain-rate dependent composite model is applied here to investigate the high-velocity impact induced damage of armored composite plates which consisted of eight graphite/epoxy (Gr/Ep) layers with a lay-up of [±45/0/90]s. The face sheets consisted of two different materials (either aluminum or boron carbide) of variable thickness. The effects of face sheet position, face sheet material types, and impact velocity on the detailed damage of the laminate are presented.
Spiking and LFP activity in PRR during symbolically instructed reaches

The spiking activity in the parietal reach region (PRR) represents the spatial goal of an impending reach when the reach is directed toward or away from a visual object. The local field potentials (LFPs) in this region also represent the reach goal when the reach is directed to a visual object. Thus PRR is a candidate area for reading out a patient's intended reach goals for neural prosthetic applications. For natural behaviors, reach goals are not always based on the location of a visual object, e.g., playing the piano following sheet music or moving following verbal directions. So far it has not been directly tested whether and how PRR represents reach goals in such cognitive, nonlocational conditions, and knowing the encoding properties in various task conditions would help in designing a reach goal decoder for prosthetic applications. To address this issue, we examined the macaque PRR under two reach conditions: reach goal determined by the stimulus location (direct) or shape (symbolic). For the same goal, the spiking activity near reach onset was indistinguishable between the two tasks, and thus a reach goal decoder trained with spiking activity in one task performed perfectly in the other. In contrast, the LFP activity at 20–40 Hz showed small but significantly enhanced reach goal tuning in the symbolic task, but its spatial preference remained the same. Consequently, a decoder trained with LFP activity performed worse in the other task than in the same task. These results suggest that LFP decoders in PRR should take into account the task context (e.g., locational vs. nonlocational) to be accurate, while spike decoders can robustly provide reach goal information regardless of the task context in various prosthetic applications.
A fuzzy c-means variant for the generation of fuzzy term sets

A fuzzy c-means (FCM) variant is proposed for the generation of fuzzy term sets with ½ overlap. The proposed variant differs from the original mainly in two areas. The first modification ensures that two end terms take the maximum and minimum domain values as their centers. The second modification prevents the generation of non-convex fuzzy terms that often occurs with the original algorithm. The optimal number of terms and the optimal shape of the membership function associated with each term are determined based on the mean squared error criterion. The exponential weight, m, used in the algorithm is found to greatly affect the shape of the membership function. The effect of data size used for the generation of fuzzy terms is also discussed. A generalized π-shaped function with a tunable parameter along with its complement is developed to fit all term sets generated by the FCM variant using various m values.
The geomorphology of planetary calderas

Abstract Satellite-derived observations of the geomorphology of calderas on Earth, Mars and Venus can be used to learn more about shield volcanoes. Examples of terrestrial basaltic volcanoes from the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, and the Comoro Islands show how these volcanoes contrast with examples found on Mars and Venus. Caldera structure, degree of infilling, and the location of vents on the flanks are used to interpret each volcano's recent history. The geometry of the caldera floor can be used to infer some of the characteristics of the magma storage system, and the orientation of the deep magma conduits. The formation of benches within the caldera and the effects of the caldera on the distribution of flank eruptions are considered, and it is evident that most calderas on the planets are/were dynamic features. Presently, deep calderas, with evidence of overflowing lavas and ponded lavas high in the caldera wall, show that these calderas were once shallow. Similarly, shallow calderas filled with ponded lavas are evidence that they were once deeper. It is probably a mistake, therefore, to place great significance on caldera depth with regard to the position, shape, or size of subsurface plumbing.
On asymptotic convergence of the stochastic least squares algorithm

The asymptotic convergence of the least-squares (LSs) algorithm is investigated for stochastic inputs. It is shown that, when a forgetting factor is applied to the past data, the convergence is bounded exponentially, and prediction coefficients fluctuate around the LS coefficients in the steady state. A small forgetting factor increases the convergence rate, but results in a larger fluctuation. It is also shown that if there is no data forgetting, the convergence is O(1/T) and the coefficient fluctuation vanishes as T to infinity . >
Immunomodulation of intestinal transplant with allograft irradiation and simultaneous donor bone marrow infusion.

PASSENGER LEUKOCYTES. normal constituents of all organs. migrate after transplantation and produce persistent multilineage microchimerism. which modulates the recipient immune system and is suggested to have an important role in inducing graft acceptance after transplantation.1.2 Leukocytes in the intestine have been shown to have inferior tolerogenic qualities compared with bone marrow (BM) cells; in addition. leukocytes have a lineage profile predisposed to graft-versus-host disease (GYHD).3 We hypothesized that intestinal allograft alteration with ex-vivo irradiation will eliminate mature lymphoid elements from the graft without degrading the function of the epithelial components. Furthermore. we hypothesized that the replacement of irradiated graft passenger leukocytes with simultaneous donor BM infusion will improve the result of intestinal transplantation (SITx). This possibility was examined using the rat model of SITx.
A simple all MOS continuous-time multiplier/divider cell and its applications in VLSI signal processing

A novel, simple, all-MOS continuous-time multiplier/divider parameterized cell is presented. The cell uses only four MOS depletion FETs and two operational amplifiers (op-amps) or one fully balanced output op-amp. The resulting circuit is fully integrable in MOS technology. The cell is highly reconfigurable, versatile, extremely simple to design, and its output is conveniently programmed via DC control voltages. Some of the applications of the cell in analog VLSI signal processing include analog multiplication, signal squaring, division, signal inversion, amplitude modulation, RMS-to-DC conversion, and sensor linearization. Moreover, the new circuit is easily extendible to achieve analog vector multiplication, and hence lends itself naturally to the analog MOS VLSI implementation of feedback/feedforward neural networks. >
Physical Activity and the Achievement Gap among Urban Minority Youth.

OBJECTIVES: To outline the prevalence and disparities of physical activity among school-aged urban minority youth, causal pathways through which low levels of physical activity and fitness adversely affects academic achievement, and proven or promising approaches for schools to increase physical activity and physical fitness among youth. METHODS: Literature review. RESULTS: A large proportion of youth is insufficiently physically active. Estimates of population-wide levels of physical activity indicate that Black and Hispanic youth are less physically active than White youth, with disparities particularly evident for females. The population segments of youth with lowest levels of physical activity and fitness also have least access to school-based physical activity opportunities and resources. Physical activity affects metabolism and all major body systems, exerting powerful positive influences on the brain and spinal cord and, consequently, on emotional stability, physical health, and motivation and ability to learn. The cornerstone of school-based physical activity programs should be a high-quality physical education program based on national standards. Such programs are strongly recommended by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services as a way to increase physical activity and physical fitness among youth. CONCLUSIONS: Physical inactivity is highly and disproportionately prevalent among school-aged urban minority youth, has a negative impact on academic achievement through its effects on cognition, and effective practices are available for schools to address this problem. Increasing students' physical activity and physical fitness can best be achieved through a comprehensive approach that includes physical education, wise use of recess and after-school times, co-curricular physical activity opportunities, and bicycling or walking to and from school.
High Capacity Pouch-Type Li–Air Batteries

The performance of pouch-type Li-air batteries operated in ambient conditions is reported in this work. The batteries use a heat-sealable plastic membrane to function simultaneously as the package material, an O 2 diffusion membrane, and a moisture barrier. The large variation in the internal resistance of the batteries related to unstable contacts between electrodes and separators is stabilized by a modified separator that can bind the cell stack together. Cells using the modified separators show improved and repeatable discharge performance. We have also found that 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) as a co-solvent in the electrolyte plays an important role in increasing the discharge voltage of these pouch-type cells. However, an overly large amount of DME co-solvent in the electrolyte may lead to decreased capacity due to the eventual loss of DME through the diffusion membrane. Pouch-type Li-air batteries with the modified separator and the optimized electrolyte have demonstrated specific capacities of 2711 mAh g -1 based on carbon weight and specific energies of 344 Wh kg -1 based on the complete battery weight, including the package.
Presynaptic Regulation of Isolated Neonatal Rat Carotid Body Type I Cells by Histamine

The type I cells are the chemoreceptive elements of the carotid bodies and are critical in defining the ventilatory response to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Recent evidence has suggested that histamine is released by the carotid body in response to hypoxia and acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter. Here we use isolated neonatal rat type I cells to assess the presynaptic actions of histamine and define the receptor subtypes that mediate them. All four histamine receptor subtypes are expressed on the type I cells, however activation of these receptors with histamine or selective agonists caused no rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) and histamine did not augment calcium entry or modulate macroscopic currents evoked in type I cells. Thus activation of histamine receptors on type I cells is unlikely to provide a presynaptic positive feedback mechanism during chemotransduction and any excitatory role attributed to the actions of histamine is likely to come from a postsynaptic effect on the carotid sinus nerve (CSN).
Caregiver education to promote appropriate use of preventive asthma medications: what is happening in primary care?

AbstractObjective: To describe actions taken by providers at primary care visits to promote daily use of preventive asthma medication, and determine whether patient or encounter variables are associated with the receipt of asthma medication education. Methods: As part of a larger study in Rochester, NY, caregivers of children (2–12 years old) with asthma were approached before an office visit for well-child, asthma-specific or other illness care from October 2009 to January 2013. Eligibility required persistent symptoms and a prescription for an inhaled asthma controller medication. Caregivers were interviewed within two weeks to discuss the health care encounter. Results: We identified 185 eligible children from six urban primary care offices (27% Black, 38% Hispanic, 65% Medicaid). Overall, 42% of caregivers reported a discussion of appropriate preventive medication use, fewer than 25% received an asthma action plan, and 17% reported “ideal” medication education (both discussing proper medication use an...
Measuring Intramolecular Charge Transfer via Coherent Generation of THz Radiation

We report the direct measurement of intramolecular electron transfer by detecting the electromagnetic (EM) waveform that is emitted during this process. It is detected in the time domain via free-space electro-optic sampling and then related to the dynamics of the charge-transfer event. Electromagnetic pulse generation from two systems, Betaine-30 in chloroform and DMANS in toluene, are studied to illustrate this technique. A finite-difference time-domain calculation with a time-dependent polarization is used to model the EM generation and propagation through the solution. This method is very general, since the movement of charge itself generates the EM waveform, and is sensitive to charge transfer occurring on a 0.1-10 ps time scale.
Salt tolerance of the coastal salt marsh grass, Sporobolus virginicus (L.) kunth

summary Growth responses, leaf water and osmotic relations, and tissue ionic and organic solute contents of Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth, grown under solution culture in salinities of up to 450 mM NaCl, were studied. Shoot growth was stimulated by intermediate salt levels, concurrent with both an accumulation of Na+ and Cl− in shoots and a slight increase in shoot succulence. Root growth was stimulated at salinities of up to 450 mM NaCl, Osmotic adjustment of shoots was predominantly due to Na+, Cl−, and soluble carbohydrate accumulation, though a slight reduction in shoot succulence may have played a minor role at high salinity. Shoot Na+ and Cl− accumulation was tightly controlled, not exceeding levels required for osmotic adjustment, due in part to ion secretion by leaf salt glands. Shoots were selective for K+ over Na+, maintaining fairly constant K+ concentrations with increasing salinity, resulting in relatively high K+/Na+ ratios at high salinity. Increasing NaCl stimulated the accumulation of K+ in roots, which may have acted as a reservoir of K+ for shoots at high salinity. Glycinebetaine, and to a lesser extent proline and trigonelline, accumulated in shoot tissues with increasing salinity, though trigonelline concentrations were insufficient to be osmotically significant. Accumulation was closely associated with increases in shoot sap osmolality. It is proposed that glycinebetaine may act as a compatible solute in S. virginicus, as levels were sufficiently high to effect total osmotic adjustment of the cytoplasm at high salinity.
Essential role of NF-E2 in remodeling of chromatin structure and transcriptional activation of the epsilon-globin gene in vivo by 5' hypersensitive site 2 of the beta-globin locus control region.

Much of our understanding of the process by which enhancers activate transcription has been gained from transient-transfection studies in which the DNA is not assembled with histones and other chromatin proteins as it is in the cell nucleus. To study the activation of a mammalian gene in a natural chromatin context in vivo, we constructed a minichromosome containing the human epsilon-globin gene and portions of the beta-globin locus control region (LCR). The minichromosomes replicate and are maintained at stable copy number in human erythroid cells. Expression of the minichromosomal epsilon-globin gene requires the presence of beta-globin LCR elements in cis, as is the case for the chromosomal gene. We determined the chromatin structure of the epsilon-globin gene in both the active and inactive states. The transcriptionally inactive locus is covered by an array of positioned nucleosomes extending over 1,400 bp. In minichromosomes with a (mu)LCR or DNase I-hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) which actively transcribe the epsilon-globin gene, the nucleosome at the promoter is altered or disrupted while positioning of nucleosomes in the rest of the locus is retained. All or virtually all minichromosomes are simultaneously hypersensitive to DNase I both at the promoter and at HS2. Transcriptional activation and promoter remodeling, as well as formation of the HS2 structure itself, depended on the presence of the NF-E2 binding motif in HS2. The nucleosome at the promoter which is altered upon activation is positioned over the transcriptional elements of the epsilon-globin gene, i.e., the TATA, CCAAT, and CACCC elements, and the GATA-1 site at -165. The simple availability of erythroid transcription factors that recognize these motifs is insufficient to allow expression. As in the chromosomal globin locus, regulation also occurs at the level of chromatin structure. These observations are consistent with the idea that one role of the beta-globin LCR is to maintain promoters free of nucleosomes. The restricted structural change observed upon transcriptional activation may indicate that the LCR need only make a specific contact with the proximal gene promoter to activate transcription.
The arterioportal fistula syndrome: clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, and therapy.

Background & Aims: Arterioportal fistulas (APFs) are rare vascular disorders of the mesenteric circulation. The aim of this study was to determine the etiology, anatomical location, and main symptom at presentation of APFs, and analyze the various modes of treatment, Methods: The etiology, clinical presentation, radiographs, and treatment of 12 patients with APFs are reported in detail, and another 76 cases published since. 1980 are reviewed, Results: APFs result from trauma (n = 25, 28%), iatrogenic procedures (n = 14, 16%), congenital vascular malformations (n = 13, 15%), tumor (n = 13, 15%), aneurysm (n = 12, 14%), and other causes (n = 11, 12%). The origin of APFs is the hepatic artery in the majority of patients (n = 56, 65%). The main symptoms at presentation are lower or upper gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 29, 33%), ascites (n = 23, 26%), heart, failure (n = 4.5%), or diarrhea (n = 4.5%), Radiological intervention provides definitive treatment ill 42% (n = 33) of patients, whereas the remainder are treated by surgery alone (n = 27, 31%) or a combination of radiological intervention and surgery (n = 8, 9%), Conclusions,APFs result In a protean syndrome variously combining portal hypertension and other hemodynamic imbalances (heart failure, intestinal ischemia). Single or multiple interventional radiological procedures using arterial and/or venous approaches allow definitive treatment of most APFs. With increasing technological advances, it is anticipated that surgery will only be indicated in rare instances after failure of radiological intervention(s).
Bis­[μ-1,3-bis­(di­phenyl­phosphino)­propane]­disilver(I) bis­(tetra­fluoro­borate)

The dinuclear AgI phosphine complex [Ag2(dppp)2]2+ [dppp = 1,3-bis­(di­phenyl­phosphino)­propane] has been crystallized as the BF4− salt, viz. [Ag2(C27H26P2)2](BF4)2, in order to reduce the effects of coordination by the anion. The dimeric complex consists of two-coordinate AgI centers bridged by dppp ligands. The P—Ag—P bond angle deviates significantly from linearity, with a value of 159.66 (3)°. The Ag—P bond distances are close to being equal, with values of 2.3935 (7) and 2.4016 (7) A. The cation has a center of symmetry midway between the two Ag atoms.
Utilizing three-dimensional wavelet transforms for accelerated evaluation of hyperspectral image cubes

Hyperspectral imaging sensors are continuously enhanced by increasing spatial and spectral resolution. However, the ‘curse of dimensionality’ comes into effect, as the amount of acquired data increases in third order (two spatial, one spectral dimension). On top of that, the computational expense of many chemometric data evaluation techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) rises also in third order with the data amount. Thus the need for computer memory is increased in third and the demand for computational power up to ninth order. One immediate consequence of massively increased computation times is a decreased time resolution of hyperspectral imagers, which is especially detrimental in online applications. Archiving humongous amounts of data becomes another burden. Thus it is anticipated that increased computation resources alone will not be able to facilitate fast online evaluation of hyperspectral data cubes or even to handle the acquired data. In this study, 3D wavelet transforms are used for compression of hyperspectral data cubes prior to chemometric data evaluation and/or data storage. Five different wavelet types of the Daubechies family are compared with respect to their ability to preserve relevant information in compressed data cubes. Because only relevant information has to be considered, shorter computation time and less storage space are required. By means of experimental hyperspectral data cubes it is demonstrated that additional computation expense for the 3D wavelet transform is largely overcompensated by reduced calculations necessitated by smaller data cubes. In the presented examples, computation time for a PCA could be decreased by one order of magnitude; storage space could be reduced to <1% of the original size. It was found that the wavelet type has a major influence on the acceleration factors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observations of the creation and evolution of small-scale oceanic frontal cusps and slicks

Airborne microwave radar imagery and coincident in situ data collected off Cape Hatteras, NC (USA) are used to examine the small-scale horizontal structure of a frontal region, which formed through intrusion of relatively dense Gulf Stream water onto the continental shelf. The frontal outcrop is shown to have a kilometer-wavelength scalloped structure consisting of sharp angular features (cusps) alternating with broad, gently curved regions (troughs). There is also an associated pattern of slicks lying on the buoyant side of the front and asymmetrically offset from the cusps. These slicks appear to originate from biophysical processes associated with the front itself and to trace out cyclonic trajectories of surface fluid particles. It is conjectured that the distinctive horizontal pattern of frontal cusps and slicks arises from shear-flow instability modified by the requirement for convergence of buoyant water along the front.
In situ development of highly concave and composition-confined PtNi octahedra with high oxygen reduction reaction activity and durability

Controlled syntheses of PtNi metal nanocrystals with unique structures for catalyzing oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) have attracted great interest. Here, we report the one-step synthesis of single-crystal PtNi octahedra with in situ-developed highly concave features and self-confined composition that are optimal for ORR. Detailed studies revealed that the Pt-rich seeding, subsequent Pt/Ni co-reduction, and Pt–Ni interfusion resulted in uniform single-crystal PtNi octahedra, and that the combination of Ni facet segregation and oxygen etching of a Ni-rich surface led to the concavity and confined Ni content. The concave PtNi nanocrystals exhibited much higher ORR performance than the commercially available Pt/C catalyst in terms of both specific activity (29.1 times higher) and mass activity (12.9 times higher) at 0.9 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)). The performance was also higher than that of PtNi octahedra without concavity, confirming that the higher activity was closely related to its morphology. Moreover, the concave octahedra also exhibited remarkable stability in ORR (93% mass activity remained after 10,000 cycles between 0.6 and 1.1 V vs. RHE) owing to the passivation of the unstable sites.
Development Politics and the Politics of Development in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia

To the casual observer and the experienced scholar alike, the complexity of the African continent defies imagination. Two of the complicated-and troubled-areas are Southern Africa and the Horn. These two regions with their extraordinary mix of ethnic groups, races, political loyalties, new states, varying colonial experiences, economic concerns and environmental problems challenge the most astute analyst of African affairs. Recently, I had an opportunity to return to Zimbabwe and Ethiopia for a brief visit after a three-year absence. I was intrigued with the possibiltiy of looking more closely at some of the pieces of the Southern Africa and Horn puzzles. I wondered what changes there would be in these two countries since I had last visited them in the summer of 1982.
Abstract A34: GDC-0980, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, selectively inhibits NF2 mutant malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells and inhibits TOR signaling without activating Akt or ERK

Purpose: Inactivation of Merlin/NF2 is common, occurring in 45-60% of mesotheliomas. Merlin loss leads to hyperactivation of TOR signaling and dysregulation of this pathway drives tumor development and growth. Cytostatic inhibition of TOR with rapamycin in MM cells has limited impact (Lopez-Lago Mol Cell Biol 2009). Rapamycin releases two major negative feedback loops that restrain Akt-TOR signaling, thereby leading to hyperactivation of both Akt and ERK. Effective growth inhibition likely requires dual inhibition of PI3K and mTOR. We therefore sought to assess the activity of the potent and selective dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor GDC-0980 in MM cells with respect to cell proliferation and hyperactivation of Akt and ERK. Experimental Procedures: NF2 mutant cell lines, VAMT and JMN, and NF2 wild type cell lines, H-Meso and 211-H, were cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of GDC-0980 for 48 hours and subjected to MTT assay. Values were normalized to untreated samples at day 0. Meso 33 and JMN malignant mesothelioma cell lines were treated with increasing doses of GDC-0980 for 2 hours and subjected to immunoblotting for P-S6, P-4E-BP1, P-Akt (S473), P-ERK, and ERK2. Results: GDC-0980 effectively inhibited proliferation of the NF2 mutant cell lines by 40% but had little or no effect on NF2 wild type cell lines (statistically significant difference at 80 nM with p Conclusions: GDC-0980 is a potent inhibitor of proliferation in MM cells with NF2 mutations and does not cause hyperactivation of Akt and ERK. Along with our ongoing preclinical work with cell lines and xenograft mouse models, the data from a recent phase I clinical trial with an expansion cohort in mesothelioma (NCT00854152) provide a strong rationale for the development of biomarker-driven clinical trials of GDC-0980 and other PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in mesothelioma. This work was supported in part by Genentech. Citation Format: Marjorie G. Zauderer, Kamalika Moulik, Jonathan Cooper, Lee M. Krug, Filippo Giancotti. GDC-0980, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, selectively inhibits NF2 mutant malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells and inhibits TOR signaling without activating Akt or ERK. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Targeting the PI3K-mTOR Network in Cancer; Sep 14-17, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A34.
Memory Test Performance on Analogous Verbal and Nonverbal Memory Tests in Patients with Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) typically have initial deficits in language or changes in personality, while the defining characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is memory impairment. Neuropsychological findings in the two diseases tend to differ, but can be confounded by verbal impairment in FTD impacting performance on memory tests in these patients. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with FTD and 102 patients with AD underwent a neuropsychological assessment before diagnosis. By utilizing analogous versions of a verbal and nonverbal memory test, we demonstrated differences in these two modalities between AD and FTD. Discussion: Better differentiation between AD and FTD is found in a nonverbal memory test, possibly because it eliminates the confounding variable of language deficits found in patients with FTD. These results highlight the importance of nonverbal learning tests with multiple learning trials in diagnostic testing.
A Call for Change: A Contextual-Configurative Analysis of Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Florida’s Stand Your Ground has stood center stage since the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin. On the one hand, certain sectors of society are calling for its repeal, and on the other, proponents vigorously defended its value and efficacy. Despite the public outcry for reform, every attempt to repeal or change the law has been defeated. This Article examines whether Florida’s Stand Your Ground law is inconsistent with commonly-held societal values, and if so, what might prompt a change in the law. To that end, this Article relies on the jurisprudential framework established by Myres S. McDougal and Harold D. Laswell which identifies the law as an expression of community interests and a source of authority rooted in community values. The common interests, or values, identified by McDougal and Laswell are power, enlightenment, wealth, well-being, skill, affection, respect, and rectitude. This Article examines these values in the context of Florida’s Stand Your Ground laws and analyzing them from competing perspectives to conclude the law is inconsistent with commonly-held community values. This Article concludes by exposing the legislature’s reticence to repeal the statute as a reflection of its entrenched mode of thinking. It calls for opposition voices to collaborate in advancing reform messages aimed at deconstructing the entrenched categories and restructuring them to prompt an amendment to or repeal of Florida’s Stand Your Ground statutory scheme.
Chronic Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Deficits. I. Relationship with White Matter Integrity

We previously identified visual tracking deficits and associated degradation of integrity in specific white matter tracts as characteristics of concussion. We re-explored these characteristics in adult patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms using independent new data acquired during 2009-2012. Thirty-two patients and 126 normal controls underwent cognitive assessments and MR-DTI. After data collection, a subset of control subjects was selected to be individually paired with patients based on gender and age. We identified patients’ cognitive deficits through pairwise comparisons between patients and matched control subjects. Within the remaining 94 normal subjects, we identified white matter tracts whose integrity correlated with metrics that indicated performance degradation in patients. We then tested for reduced integrity in these white matter tracts in patients relative to matched controls. Most patients showed no abnormality in MR images unlike the previous study. Patients’ visual tracking was generally normal. Patients’ response times in an attention task were slowed, but could not be explained as reduced integrity of white matter tracts relating to normal response timing. In the present patient cohort, we did not observe behavioral or anatomical deficits that we previously identified as characteristic of concussion. The recent cohort likely represented those with milder injury compared to the earlier cohort. The discrepancy may be explained by a change in the patient recruitment pool circa 2007 associated with an increase in public awareness of concussion.
Etiology of Renal Failure Following Crush Injuries.

SummaryThe infusion of crystalline methemoglobin into dogs acidified with ammonium chloride is followed by a fall in the effective renal plasma flow and the glomerular filtration rate of the dog. The dog may die in uremia on the third day following the infusion. Infusions of metmyoglobin and hemoglobin into acidified animals, and of methemoglobin and hemoglobin into normal animals, fail to depress renal function. The renal lesions of acidified dogs infused with methemoglobin resemble those observed in cases of crush syndrome and black water fever.
The Regulation of Prostitution: Avoiding the Morality Traps.

There are three types of sexual moralism in evidence in the discussions regarding the regulation of prostitution: the overt moral fervour of the Victorian crusaders, the more covert moralism of contemporary crusaders (residents) and legislators, and the principled moralism of contemporary radical feminism. It is maintained—using arguments and evidence from the author's own and other Canadian research—that each type has contributed heavily to the failure to adequately evaluate the nature of sex work. As a consequence, our ability to develop appropriate social and legal policies has been severely restricted. It is argued that the key to appropriate social and legal reform lies in recognizing four points: prostitution per se is not different from other work; prostitution as currently practised is different; the evaluation of commercial sex must be conducted in the broader context of human sexuality; and it is essential to focus on the specificity of women, rather than the specificity of prostitution.
Approximating Characteristics of the Classes Lβ,pψ of Periodic Functions in the Space Lq

We obtain the exact-order estimates of the best m-term and orthogonal trigonometric approximations and establish the order of trigonometric widths for the classes L , in the space L q for some relations between the parameters p and q.
The effect of token reinforcement on WISC-R performance for fifth-through ninth-grade American Indians

Thirteen American Indian students in the fifth through ninth grades were administered the WISC-R under standardized conditions; another twelve were tested under standardized procedures, but received token reinforcement immediately following each correct response. Tokens were exchangeable for a variety of back-up rewards. Performance IQ scores were significantly higher than verbal IQ scores for both groups. The token reinforcement group scored significantly higher (12 points) than the control group on the full scale IQ. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Differential Effects of Task Performance, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, and Job Complexity on Voluntary Turnover

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance–turnover relationship by considering the effects of task performance and OCBs simultaneously while also examining the moderating effect job complexity has on the relationship between voluntary turnover and each type of performance. Data were obtained as part of a larger study to validate an employment test, in which actual turnover data and supervisory ratings of job performance were collected for employees in two hospitals (n = 782). Task performance exhibited a curvilinear relationship with turnover, while OCB exhibited a negative linear relationship with turnover. Job complexity moderated both of these relationships. For task performance, turnover in high-complexity jobs was greater for low performers but lower for high performers relative to that of employees in low-complexity jobs. For OCB, the negative relationship with turnover was more pronounced in high-complexity jobs. Both low- and high-task performers are more likely to turnover, while employees exhibiting high OCBs are less likely to turnover. These results imply that retention strategies are critical for top performers, but especially in high-complexity jobs. Organizations may be able to discourage voluntary turnover by creating conditions that stimulate OCB, particularly in highly complex jobs. Most prior performance–turnover relationship research used unidimensional measures of performance, whereas this study included two dimensions of performance and examined this relationship while controlling for one-performance dimension when predicting the other. Furthermore, this study is one of the first studies to suggest that job complexity moderates the performance–turnover relationship.
Multiview fusion for activity recognition using deep neural networks

Convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) coupled with long short term memory (LSTM) networks have been recently shown to be effective for video classification as they combine the automatic feature extraction capabilities of a neural network with additional memory in the temporal domain. This paper shows how multiview fusion can be applied to such a ConvNet LSTM architecture. Two different fusion techniques are presented. The system is first evaluated in the context of a driver activity recognition system using data collected in a multicamera driving simulator. These results show significant improvement in accuracy with multiview fusion and also show that deep learning performs better than a traditional approach using spatiotemporal features even without requiring any background subtraction. The system is also validated on another publicly available multiview action recognition dataset that has 12 action classes and 8 camera views.
Burton, Antoinette, and Isabel Hofmeyr, eds. Ten Books that Shaped the British Empire: Creating an Imperial Commons Durham, NC: Duke University Press 296 pp., $24.95, ISBN 978-0-8223-5827-5 Publication Date: November 2014

Ten Books that Shaped the British Empire is about the mobile power of printed words. The collection demonstrates that books played roles in building, maintaining, and dismantling the British Empire...