cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transit supportive home loans: Theory, application, and prospects for smart growth

Abstract This article discusses mortgage lending programs aimed at lower‐income buyers looking to purchase homes in compact, transit‐accessible neighborhoods. Unlike traditional lending formulas, the transit supportive home loans consider the transportation cost savings from living in transit‐friendly neighborhoods and applies these savings to a larger mortgage calculation. However, little has been published positioning the concept against the broader goals of smart growth, describing the application of the product, or commenting on its prospects. The first part of this article therefore draws heavily from the literature on smart growth to present the theoretical foundations of the transit supportive home loans and how they address growth management program goals. The second part describes the application of the concept, and the third examines the prospects for this tool and briefly comments on circumstances likely to bedevil its widespread adoption or overall impact.
Strategies for successful expert system inception, management, and institutionalization

Abstract Often times, expert systems never move from the prototype or field testing stage into the implemented, operational stage. There is strong evidence that this occurs because of poorly managed expert systems projects. Specifically, ineffective strategies are often employed in creating an awareness of expert systems within the organization, managing the expert systems project, and then properly institutionalizing the expert system within the organization. This paper will address strategies leading to successful expert system inception, management, and institutionalization and should help both knowledge engineers and managers in better understanding the management of an expert systems project. Engineers should be especially interested in this paper to safeguard against the risk of having an expert system technology transfer failure.
Fractal Characterization of Aggregate-Size Distribution: The Question of Scale Invariance

Aggregate-size distributions are often described as fractal based on the power low relationship between cumulative aggregate number and aggregate size. The slope of the natural log of cumulative number of aggregates as a function of natural log of diameter is the fractal dimension. If aggregate density, shape, and relative diameter (diameter as a fraction of the smallest diameter of the size-class) are scale invariant, then aggregate number can be calculated from mass. These three factors can be combined into a single unknown factor, G i . The objectives of this study were to test the assumption of a scale invariant G i and to compare the fractal dimension from calculated cumulative number of aggregates with the fractal dimension from counted cumulative number of aggregates. Numbers of aggregates were counted for each size class of two data sets. Calculations for the 48 samples of Data Set 1 spanned six classes ranging from sizes 1 to 32 mm, and calculations for 12 samples of Data Set 2 spanned four classes ranging from sizes 0.5 to 8 mm. The fractal dimension from counted cumulative number of aggregates was significantly smaller than the fractal dimension determined from calculated cumulative number of aggregates for Data Set 1 (2.44 vs. 2.51) but significantly larger for Data Set 2 (2.41 vs. 2.03). The G i factor was significantly different across many of the size classes for both data sets. Since G i consisted of subcomponents (density, shape, relative diameter), we cannot be certain which subcomponent(s) was (were) scale variant. Scale variant G i complicates the use of fractal mathematics to describe dry soil aggregate distributions.
The immunomodulatory actions of E-type prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been recognised as modulators of immune responses. This has been proved by both in vitro studies and from observations in animals and humans. Administration of prostaglandins for therapeutic purposes, however, has been hampered by their limited bioavailability and their pleiotropic effects, with resultant toxicological profile. Despite this, some success has been demonstrated in the clinic for the control of graft rejection, especially when used as part of a broader immunosuppressant regimen. Full realisation of the therapeutic potential of prostaglandins will depend on a better understanding of their mechanism of action at the cellular level. Recently, it has been appreciated that prostaglandins do not merely inhibit T-cell function, but appear to modulate the profile of lymphocyte sub-populations through regulation of cytokine synthesis and release. Recent efforts have also begun to focus on identifying prostaglandin receptor subtypes important for immune regulation and offer a...
Sedimentation of bovine rhodopsin--digitonin micelles.

RHODOPSIN, the photo-sensitive pigment of vertebrate vision receptors, consists of the lipoprotein opsin bound to the 11-cis isomer of retinal. Light isomerizes the 11-cis configuration to the all-trans, which makes the pigment unstable, leading eventually to the dissociation of the retinal from the lipoprotein. The belief that these dark steps involve conformational changes in the lipoprotein moiety stems from spectroscopic measurements which show the disappearance of lipoprotein-chromophore interactions and from kinetic and thermodynamic considerations1–5, but more direct evidence has come from the changes in circular dichroism and optical rotatory dispersion which occur with bleaching6–9. There is also an increase of Stokes radius on bleaching11.
Contamination effect on the electrical resistivity of gold nanowires

Gold nanowires were patterned with e-beam lithography and fabricated with a gold film deposited by e-beam evaporation. Carbon and oxygen contaminants were found to be present mostly on the gold surface with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Slight carbon contamination was indicated through the film thickness. Dimensions of the nanowires were measured with scanning electron microscopy, and the resistance of the wires was measured with a 2-probe stage at a low vacuum. Non-linear current-voltage curves were obtained, which was attributed to Joule heating. Further analysis, by restricting the bias voltage in a small range and negligible Joule heating, suggests that surface contamination can significantly affect the resistivity measurements of gold nanowires.© 2006 ASME
Toxic and behavioral effects of selected insecticides on the Heliothis parasitoid Microplitis croceipes

Toxic and behavior-modifying actions of several formulated insecticides were determined forMicroplitis croceipes (Cresson), a braconid parasitoid ofHeliothis spp. Exposure of adult parasitoids to cotton plants sprayed at recommended field rates with a pyrethroid/formamidine mixture (fenvalerate/chlordimeform) resulted in significantly higher mortality rates (10.4 to 22.6 percent) than in controls. Exposure to the carbamate thiodicarb resulted in similar rates of mortality. Only methomyl, a type of carbamate different from thiodicarb, caused mortality significantly higher than all other treatments, ranging to about 70%.
Rhesus macaque blastocysts resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection of vacuum-dried spermatozoa.

Background Sperm desiccation is an attractive approach for sperm preservation. In this study, we examined the feasibility and efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using vacuum-dried rhesus macaque sperm in CZB medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Methods A total of 109 MII oocytes were injected with 69 fresh ejaculated sperm and 40 vacuum-dried sperm. Results Cleavage occurred in 97% of oocytes injected with fresh, motile sperm and in 88% of oocytes injected with vacuum-dried sperm. Of the cleaved oocytes, 68% fresh sperm-injected oocytes and 74% of dried sperm-injected oocytes developed to the compact morula stage. Blastocyst development was comparable between fresh-injected (16%) and vacuum-dried-injected (17%) oocytes. Differences between treatment groups were not significant. Transmission electron microscopic observation of the blastocysts indicated no detectable differences between fresh sperm and dried sperm-derived embryos. Conclusions We conclude that vacuum-dried rhesus macaque sperm are capable of inducing fertilization and development of pre-implantation embryos when sperm were dried under vacuum and microinjected into normal viable oocytes.
Autozoner: an algorithm for automatic thermal zoning of buildings with unknown interior space definitions

In this paper, we present a general algorithm to automatically convert arbitrary building massing models into multi-zone building energy models (BEM). The algorithm follows current guidelines for thermal zone discretization of BEMs when actual interior space boundaries are yet undefined. Envisioned applications are for rapid model generation during schematic building design as well as for urban massing studies. We present an argument that current recommendations for separating core from perimeter zones effectively follow a straight-skeleton subdivision. Following a step-by-step explanation of the procedure, a number of example building shapes of varying complexity are shown to demonstrate the algorithm's robustness and suitability for automated multi-zone BEM generation. Going forward, it is recommended that the algorithm is adopted by software developers to ensure more consistent thermal model production within the building simulation community.
Effect of segregation on the course of unpremixed polymerizations

Reactant segregation and mixing effects can be represented by a one-dimensional distribution of alternating reactive liquid layers. This paper reports a theoretical study of the influence of this configuration on the course of three-component, random block copolymerizations. Two models that follow the interdiffusion of the reacting species and the catalyst are considered. The first employs a lumped competitive-parallel kinetic scheme to represent the formation of hard and soft segments; the second uses a moment formulation to handle the polymerization. The results are intended for the description of mixing-activated three-component polyurethane systems, but conclusions of a general nature are obtained. Several unexpected results are presented regarding the molecular weight buildup and spatial product segregation in the system. In particular, it is established that reactant segregation may severely influence product segregation (layering), the average molecular weight, and the maximum molecular weight achieved.
AUTOMAINTENANCE WITHOUT STIMULUS‐CHANGE REINFORCEMENT: TEMPORAL CONTROL OF KEY PECKS1

Yoked pairs of experimentally naive pigeons were exposed to a modified autoshaping procedure in which key pecking by the leader birds postponed both keylight termination and access to grain for the leader and the follower bird. Key pecking developed and was maintained in all birds and continued through two reversals of roles in the yoked procedure. Although temporal control developed more slowly in follower birds, asymptotic temporal distributions of key pecking were similar for all birds in both leader and follower roles; maximum responding occurred soon after keylight onset and decreased to a minimum prior to reinforcement. Response distributions for both leader and follower birds were described by Killeen's (1975) mathematical model of temporal control. Follower birds received response-independent reinforcement, and the development by these birds of temporal distributions which are minimal immediately prior to reinforcement is without precedent in Pavlovian appetitive conditioning. However, maintenance of key pecking by the leader birds, whose responses postponed both stimulus-change and food reinforcement, supports an interpretation of autoshaped and automaintained key pecking as responding elicited by signaled grain presentation.
Prospective evaluation of high-dose bethanechol in investigation of esophageal chest pain

We compared the value of bethanechol 80 μg/kg subcutaneously, acid infusion with a 0.1 normal hydrochloric acid, and edrophonium 80 μg/kg intravenously as provocative agents to reproduce chest pain and manometric alterations in 72 patients with noncardiac chest pain. No patient developed typical chest pain and manometric alteration with acid infusion, while five (6.9%) patients developed these changes with edrophonium and four (5.6%) with bethanechol. Only one patient developed diagnostic changes exclusively with bethanechol. All patients tested with bethanechol developed some degree of local pain or significant cholinergic symptoms, with two patients requiring atropine for relief. Side effects from edrophonium were infrequent (28% of patients tested) and did not require atropine administration. We conclude that, using the parameters of typical chest pain and the development of manometric alterations as proof of the esophageal origin of chest pain, bethanechol at 80 μg/kg adds little information beyond that obtainable with edrophonium. Further, the high incidence of bethanechol-related side effects at 80 μg/kg suggests that this dose should not be generally recommended.
Method for determining baseflow adjustments to synthesized peaks produced from the US Geological Survey rainfall-runoff model / Méthode pour la détermination des ajustements du débit de base aux écoulements de pointe produits par le modèle précipitation-écoulement US Geological Survey

Abstract A technique for determining baseflow adjustments to synthesized peaks produced from the US Geological Survey's rainfall-runoff model is presented. The antecedent precipitation index (API) is determined for each storm used in the calibration of a rainfall-runoff station. The antecedent precipitation index is related to the baseflow by a best fit straight line which can be represented by an equation. This equation is used to determine baseflow adjustments when using longterm rainfall data to synthesize peaks.
Linking semi-Markov processes in time series— an approach to longitudinal data analysis

Abstract An approach to analyzing longitudinal data by linking absorbing, age-dependent, semi-Markov processes in a kind of time series is illustrated, using data from the Taichung Medical IUD Experiment. Although the immediate application of the methodology is in the field of family planning evaluation, it could be applied in other fields of research, in both the biomedical and the social sciences, when suitable longitudinal data are available. The approach to model building described in this paper is constructive-algorithmic. That is, rather than attempting to derive nice closed formulas, an approach that characterizes much model building in the biological and social sciences, attention is focused on designing algorithms and letting the computer solve the problem for you. This approach permits incorporating a greater degree of realism in the models but at the expense of a larger expenditure of effort in computer programming. From the statistical point of view, the data analysis procedures described herein would be classified as nonparametric. The paper is intended to supply an overview of the methodology along with an illustrative example and not a detailed account of the underlying technical machinery. A more detailed technical appendix is available upon request.
The Canadian and American constitutions in comparative perspective

Spanning over two centuries of constitutional developments in the United States and Canada, this comprehensive collection of essays brings together the provocative writings of prominent political scientists and jurists from both countries on the historical origins, ideology, function and political determinants of the two working constitutional systems. The book's lively and clear analysis summarises the intricate details of constitutional politics in a way that will help readers to face up to the historical choices that now confront us. Policies that have dominated public debate in recent years are examined under four broad headings: federalism, church-state relations, the politics of rights and the role of judges in formulating public policy. Addressed both to students of law, history and political science and to all who are concerned about their constitutional future, these essays examine issues that have led to profound changes in the lives of ordinary citizens in both countries.
Analyzing time series gene expression data

Motivation: Time series expression experiments are an increasingly popular method for studying a wide range of biological systems. However, when analyzing these experiments researchers face many new computational challenges. Algorithms that are specifically designed for time series experiments are required so that we can take advantage of their unique features (such as the ability to infer causality from the temporal response pattern) and address the unique problems they raise (e.g. handling the different non-uniform sampling rates). Results: We present a comprehensive review of the current research in time series expression data analysis. We divide the computational challenges into four analysis levels: experimental design, data analysis, pattern recognition and networks. For each of these levels, we discuss computational and biological problems at that level and point out some of the methods that have been proposed to deal with these issues. Many open problems in all these levels are discussed. This review is intended to serve as both, a point of reference for experimental biologists looking for practical solutions for analyzing their data, and a starting point for computer scientists interested in working on the computational problems related to time series expression analysis.
Notes Towards an Ash՟arite Theodicy

Atheists have argued that the existence of evil is incompatible with the existence of God. They claim that (1) it would be wrong for a person to allow evil which one could prevent, and (2) because God is omnipotent, He could prevent evil. So, (3) since evil does exist, a perfectly good and omnipotent God does not exist. This is the oldest and most pressing attack on theism, and theists have developed a variety of defensive responses to this argument. In this paper I propose to outline a strategy which appears to have escaped recent attention, and to compare this strategy with two more widely discussed types of theodicy.
Isotopic scaling in nuclear reactions

A three parameter scaling relationship between isotopic distributions for elements with Z< or =8 has been observed. This allows a simple description of the dependence of such distributions on the overall isospin of the system. This scaling law (termed isoscaling) applies for a variety of reaction mechanisms that are dominated by phase space, including evaporation, multifragmentation, and deeply inelastic scattering. The origins of this scaling behavior for the various reaction mechanisms are explained. For multifragmentation processes, the systematics is influenced by the density dependence of the asymmetry term of the equation of state.
Geoscience Applications of Radar Sensors

Studies sponsored by NASA at the Center for Research, Inc., University of Kansas, in cooperation with several other universities and government research agencies have substantiated the applicability of remote sensing to many fields within the earth sciences, agriculture, and oceanography [1]. The purpose of this paper is to show how the properties of radar are used to provide geoscience information.
Taking care of the caregiver. Five strategies for stamina.

Over the past decade, the daily pressures for the hospice team member have escalated as the demands to meet patient needs became more intense. Identifying strategies to successfully cope with this high stress job is not only a logical approach, it is now a necessity for improving one's physical and psychological well-being. Education in stress reduction begins with self-care. Ifwe can learn to heal ourselves, we will more effectively heal our patients. Healing beyond the physical sense.
Evaluation of the effects of coal fly ash amendments on the toxicity of a contaminated marine sediment.

Approaches for cleaning-up contaminated sediments range from dredging to in situ treatment. In the present report, we discuss the effects of amending reference and contaminated sediments with coal fly ash to reduce the bioavailability and toxicity of a field sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Six fly ashes and a coconut charcoal were evaluated in 7 d whole sediment toxicity tests with a marine amphipod (Ampelisca abdita) and mysid (Americamysis bahia). Fly ashes with high carbon content and the coconut charcoal showed proficiency at reducing toxicity. Some of the fly ashes demonstrated toxicity in the reference treatments. It is suspected that some of this toxicity is related to the presence of ammonia associated with fly ashes as a result of post-oxidation treatment to reduce nitrous oxides emissions. Relatively simple methods exist to remove ammonia from fly ash prior to use and fly ashes with low ammonia content are available. Fly ashes were also shown to effectively reduce overlying water concentrations of several PAHs. There was no evidence of the release of the metals cadmium, copper, nickel or lead from the fly ashes. A preliminary 28 d polychaete bioaccumulation study with one of the high carbon fly ashes and a reference sediment was also performed. Although preliminary, there was no evidence of adverse effects to worm growth or lipid content, or the accumulation of PAHs or mercury from exposure to the fly ash. These data show fly ashes with high carbon contents may represent viable remedial materials for reducing the bioavailability of organic contaminants in sediments.
In vitro bacterial fermentation of tropical fruit fibres

Tropical fruits such as mango, papaya, pineapple and banana are rich sources of dietary fibre. However, few studies have examined the potential physiological effects of fibre from these tropical fruits. The aim of this study was to characterise the fermentability of dietary fibre found in banana, papaya, pineapple and mango as an estimate of the physiological effects of consuming these fruits. Freeze-dried fruit was subjected to in vitro digestion to remove digestible carbohydrates. Digestion residues were freeze-dried prior to fermentation. In vitro fermentation was carried for 24 h under anaerobic conditions to simulate conditions in the large intestine. Gas volume, pH and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration were measured at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. SCFAs were analysed by gas chromatography. There was no gas production from 0 to 8 h time points for all samples. Mango fibre resulted in more gas at 12 and 24 h than pineapple, papaya and banana fibres. The slurry pH was significantly lower for mango fibre at 12 and 24 h compared to other samples. Mango fibre resulted in significantly more propionate at 8 h compared to papaya and pineapple fibres. Butyrate concentrations were only significantly different at 4 h. At 24 h total and individual SCFA production did not differ among samples. All fruit fibres were fermentable, with mango fibre being the most rapidly fermented. Additional work is necessary to confirm a benefit on digestive health.
SOME RELATIONSHIPS AMONG AFFECTION, AGGRESSION AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IN THE FAMILY SETTING

Three questionnaire studies involving 101, 270, and 144 college students examined the relationship between affectionate behaviors and aggressive behaviors in the family environment as rated by the college students. Measures of affection and aggression were significantly negatively associated in nearly all analyses. Participants' ratings of parental alcohol abuse were positively associated with measures of parental aggression and negatively correlated with measures of parental affection.
Upcoming health care reforms: stepping up to the challenges.

From the Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL. Corresponding Author: Kathleen R. Delaney, PhD, PMH-NP, Rush University College of Nursing, 600 S Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60612. E–mail address: kathleen_r_delaney@rush.edu © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 0883-9417/1801-0005$34.00/0 doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2010.04.005 FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE years, I headed my church rummage sale. This was a weeklong affair that required about 40 daily volunteers to sort and organize rummage until it eventually filled the entire gym and more. One year, midweek, everything seemed to be going wrong. Tables had not been delivered and necessary parts of the gym were partitioned off. Many volunteers were agitated, coming to me and looking for answers to how we would get our work done. At one point, I was standing with five women, in the kitchen area off the gym, and they collectively decided, “Let's just go out there and figure out a way to make it work.”As I gratefully agreed, it struck me that every one of the women in this group happened to be a nurse. Indeed, nurses are very good at stepping up to challenges, getting the work done, and doing it right. I often think that this attitude is acculturated early, when as a new nurse, one is faced with difficult situations and has no choice but to step up and take responsibility for addressing the circumstances they confront. Collectively, psychiatric nursing is now facing such a situation. The challenge is rising from the combined effects of health care reform and health care parity legislation on access to care. Estimates are that an additional 5.2 million persons will soon have behavioral health care coverage. Of course, access to treatment for the previously uninsured is a good thing. But it brings with it issues of the adequacy of the infrastructure of our behavioral health care systems, reimbursement issues, integration with primary care, information technology (IT) readiness, and workforce capacity. How will behavioral health care respond? This was the focus of a recent Behavioral Health Care Summit hosted by the American College of Behavioral
Using Simulation to Teach Decision-Making within the Policy Process

The TCU campus is already suffering a deficit of approximately 755 parking places for its 30,000 full and part-time students, given the number of students on campus during peak hours (an average of 19,000 students on campus between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM 18,245 available parking spaces). It is expected that this shortage will grow to 1,250 parking places over the next five years if nothing is done (100 per year) given the current and projected enrollment. The amount of available land on or immediately adjacent to The City University would allow for the construction of no more than 300 parking spaces (900 if a parking garage is constructed). Undeveloped city land located between one and two miles from the university, if devoted solely to parking lots, could provide an additional 500 spaces2,500 if parking garages are constructed. (The City is currently considering selling this land to private developers due to increases in the value of the property (valued at $1,000,000.)) If this land is used for parking purposes, public shuttles/buses would be needed to transport students from the outside parking lots to TCU (costs below). The cost of construction is estimated at $25,000 per 100 parking spaces (the cost is double if a parking garage). The cost is expected to increase by an estimated 5% for each year any project is delayed. The estimated building time for a 300-space parking lot is six months and one month for each additional 100 spaces (double the time for parking garages). The City's public transportation system is currently unable to accommodate an increase in riders, particularly on those routes in and around TCU. If offcampus land is developed, an additional two to three buses would be needed
Parathyroid sonography: imaging and intervention.

This article reviews the role of high-resolution sonography as an imaging modality for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with parathyroid disease. Included is a discussion of sonographic anatomy and technique, disease processes of the parathyroid glands and their sonographic appearances, preoperative imaging, and the use of sonography as a guide for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in parathyroid disease. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2007
Checklist for assessment of science teachers and its use in a science preservice teacher education project

The purposes of this study were to develop instruments to assess the nature of student-teacher relations and classroom activities, and the personal adjustment of preservice science teachers in two concurrent programs and to see if the two groups differed significantly in the three areas measured by the Checklist for Assessment of Science Teachers (CAST). The CAST was completed by university supervisors, cooperating teachers, and classroom pupils in terms of 92 secondary student teachers at the completion of three student teaching quarters. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to detect differences between treatment groups. The major differences between the two groups of science student teachers were the types of classroom activities used and the nature of their student-teacher (teacher-pupil) relations.
Hydrolysis of the Lipoprotein Fractions of Milk by Phospholipase C

Abstract Phospholipase C hydrolyzed about 90% of the lipid phosphorus of both low- and high-density lipoprotein fractions of milk. Phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and sphingomyelin were most readily hydrolyzed whereas phosphatidyl serine and inositol were only hydrolyzed after the other phospholipids had been almost completely hydrolyzed. By contrast only about 60% of the native phospholipids in milk were hydrolyzed, indicating that some are protected. That phospholipase C inhibited oxidation indicated that the phospholipids available for hydrolysis were also oxidized.
Optogenetic Control of Mouse Outer Hair Cells

Normal hearing in mammals depends on sound amplification by outer hair cells (OHCs) presumably by their somatic motility and force production. However, the role of OHC force production in cochlear amplification and frequency tuning are not yet fully understood. Currently, available OHC manipulation techniques for physiological or clinical studies are limited by their invasive nature, lack of precision, and poor temporal-spatial resolution. To overcome these limitations, we explored an optogenetic approach based on channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR-2), a direct light-activated nonselective cation channel originally discovered in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Three approaches were compared: 1) adeno-associated virus-mediated in utero transfer of the ChR-2 gene into the developing murine otocyst, 2) expression of ChR-2(H134R) in an auditory cell line (HEI-OC1), and 3) expression of ChR-2 in the OHCs of a mouse line carrying a ChR-2 conditional allele. Whole cell recording showed that blue light (470 nm) elicited the typical nonselective cation current of ChR-2 with reversal potential around zero in both mouse OHCs and HEI-OC1 cells and generated depolarization in both cell types. In addition, pulsed light stimulation (10 Hz) elicited a 1:1 repetitive depolarization and ChR-2 currents in mouse OHCs and HEI-OC1 cells, respectively. The time constant of depolarization in OHCs, 1.45 ms, is 10 times faster than HEI-OC1 cells, which allowed light stimulation up to rates of 10/s to elicit corresponding membrane potential changes. Our study demonstrates that ChR-2 can successfully be expressed in mouse OHCs and HEI-OC1 cells and that these present a typical light-sensitive current and depolarization. However, the amount of ChR-2 current induced in our in vivo experiments was insufficient to result in measurable cochlear effects.
Alexander Hamilton's Philosophy of Government and Administration

When Thomas Jefferson called Alexander Hamilton the "collosus of the Federalists"' he was recognizing the fact that Hamilton was the member of his party who articulated the comprehensive vision of republican national government and commercial society that the Federalists labored to establish. Moreover, as collosus of the Federalists a claim might be ventured that Hamilton should be considered the chief architect of our political union. For as has often been observed despite the fact that the Federalists would never win a national election
Abundance and Deficiency Indices of Soil Available K for Wheat and Fertilization Recommendation in Fluvo-aquic Soils Based on ASI Method

Field experiments on fertilizer efficiency of winter wheat were carried out to provide theoretic support for wheat production of formula fertilization by soil testing in fluvo-aquic soils.This study used ASI(agro service international) method to test soil samples and calibrate ASI soil test according to the typical response categories(50%,75%,95% of relative yield to soil nutrient values) to establish the abundance and deficiency indices of soil available K for wheat in fluvo-aquic soils.The very low,low,medium,and high index for soil available K were 48.4 mg/L,48.4-78.2 mg/L,78.2-114.8 mg/L,114.8 mg/L,respectively,and the corresponding fertilizer rates recommended were 150 kg/ha,120 kg/ha,90 kg/ha,45 kg/ha,respectively.
Dissecting the Killing of Trayvon Martin: The Power Factor

Power is long-noted for influencing human behavior. The following article proposes that the drive to achieve personal power may have been a determining factor in what caused the death of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida.
Loss of CHIP Expression Perturbs Glucose Homeostasis and Leads to Type II Diabetes through Defects in Microtubule Polymerization and Glucose Transporter Localization

Recent evidence has implicated CHIP (carboxyl terminus of Hsc/Hsp70-interacting protein), a co-chaperone and ubiquitin ligase, in the functional support of several metabolism-related proteins, including AMPK and SirT6. In addition to previously reported aging and stress intolerance phenotypes, we find that CHIP -/- mice also demonstrate a Type II diabetes-like phenotype, including poor glucose tolerance, decreased sensitivity to insulin, and decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in isolated skeletal muscle, characteristic of insulin resistance. In CHIP-deficient cells, glucose stimulation fails to induce translocation of Glut4 to the plasma membrane. This impairment in Glut4 translocation in CHIP-deficient cells is accompanied by decreased tubulin polymerization associated with decreased phosphorylation of stathmin, a microtubule-associated protein required for polymerization-dependent protein trafficking within the cell. Together, these data describe a novel role for CHIP in regulating microtubule polymerization that assists in glucose transporter translocation, promoting whole-body glucose homeostasis and sensitivity to insulin.
Increased incidence of cholelithiasis in Laënnec's cirrhosis. A postmortem evaluation of pathogenesis.

The frequency and types of gallstones were analyzed in 2377 consecutive autopsies which included 250 cirrhotic patients. Cholelithiasis was found twice as frequently in the cirrhotic group, of which the great majority had Laennec’s alcoholic cirrhosis, as in the noncirrhotic group (30.8% versus 16.0%). Gallstones were more common in the cirrhotic group at all ages. Bilirubin gallstones, which accounted for the difference in the frequency of gallstones between the two groups, occurred 6 to 7 times more frequently in the cirrhotic patients. In a prospective evaluation of 193 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension gallstones were found in 38% of those patients who were appropriately examined. Since almost half of these patients are still alive the over-all prevalence of gallstones will be even higher. Although several associated findings in cirrhosis, such as pancreatitis, estrogen-like femininization, and biliary venous stasis might predispose to cholelithiasis, chronic hemolysis secondary to hypersplenism, which is common in cirrhosis, better explains the predominance of pigment gallstones. The pattern of cirrhotic cholelithiasis differs from the conventional noncirrhotic gallstone syndrome in that males are at least equally often affected as females, gallstones are bilirubin rather than cholesterol in composition, and cholecystitis and extrahepatic obstructive jaundice are quite unusual.
Ray-tracing critical-angle transmission gratings for the X-ray Surveyor and Explorer-size missions

We study a critical angle transmission (CAT) grating spectrograph that delivers a spectral resolution significantly above any X-ray spectrograph ever own. This new technology will allow us to resolve kinematic components in absorption and emission lines of galactic and extragalactic matter down to unprecedented dispersion levels. We perform ray-trace simulations to characterize the performance of the spectrograph in the context of an X-ray Surveyor or Arcus like layout (two mission concepts currently under study). Our newly developed ray-trace code is a tool suite to simulate the performance of X-ray observatories. The simulator code is written in Python, because the use of a high-level scripting language allows modifications of the simulated instrument design in very few lines of code. This is especially important in the early phase of mission development, when the performances of different configurations are contrasted. To reduce the run-time and allow for simulations of a few million photons in a few minutes on a desktop computer, the simulator code uses tabulated input (from theoretical models or laboratory measurements of samples) for grating efficiencies and mirror reflectivities. We find that the grating facet alignment tolerances to maintain at least 90% of resolving power that the spectrometer has with perfect alignment are (i) translation parallel to the optical axis below 0.5 mm, (ii) rotation around the optical axis or the groove direction below a few arcminutes, and (iii) constancy of the grating period to 1:105. Translations along and rotations around the remaining axes can be significantly larger than this without impacting the performance.
5.39 – Pain in Childbirth

Childbirth is a complex, multidimensional experience for the parturient. Pain is one aspect of childbirth and for the majority of women in all cultures and societies it is one of the most painful events in their lifetime. Labor pain is mediated by neural pathways involving spinal cord segments T10–L1 and S2–S4. While there seems to be no difference in pain intensity ratings for labor pain between women of different ethnicity and culture, pain behavior and satisfaction with the birth experience are significantly influenced by environmental factors, learned values and attitudes to the perception and expression of acute pain. Due to significant advances in regional analgesia techniques, analgesia for labor and delivery is now safer than ever and can be offered during all stages of labor. In addition, many nonpharmacological and complimentary medicine pain management approaches for labor pain are available. However, many of these have not been subjected to proper scientific studies yet, and these studies are urgently needed.
Central African Republic (CAR)

The ethnic classification for the CAR is done at a low level of abstraction and the cultural groups selected correspond in most cases to individual identity groups. However, the Yakoma, Sango, and Gbanziri are clustered together because they share a similar ecological adaptation to a riverine environment. In addition to these peoples, the CAR has smaller populations such as the N’Zakara (3 percent), the Azande (1 percent) and a small number of Pygmies. In the extreme north, there are also small groups of Waddaiens (Rounga, Goula, Kara, Youla) and Sara (Kaba, Dagba).
Chemical Shift magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose The purpose of this work was to develop a chemical shift magnetization transfer (CSMT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method to provide accurate magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) measurements in the presence of fat. Methods Numerical simulations were performed to compare MTR measurements at different echo times (TEs) for voxels with varying fat/water content. The CSMT approach was developed using water fraction estimates to correct for the impact of fat signal upon observed MTR measurements. The CSMT method was validated with oil/agarose phantom and animal studies. Results Simulations demonstrated that the observed MTRs vary with water fraction as well as with the TE-dependent phase difference between fat and water signals; simulations also showed that a linear relationship exists between MTR and water fraction when fat and water signals are in phase. For phantom studies, observed MTR decreased with increasing oil fraction: 42.41 ± 0.54, 38.12 ± 0.33, 32.93 ± 0.56, and 26.08 ± 0.87 for 5% to 40% oil fractions, respectively, compared to 42.63 ± 1.04 for phantom containing 4% agarose only. These offsets were readily corrected with the additional acquisition of a water fraction map. Conclusion Fat fraction and TE can significantly impact observed MTR measurements. The new CSMT approach offers the potential to eliminate the effects of fat upon MTR measurements. Magn Reson Med 78:656–663, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Revisiting Weighted Inverse Rayleigh Quotient for Minor Component Extraction

A framework for classes of minor component learning rules is presented. In the proposed rules, eigenvectors of a covariance matrix are simultaneously estimated. The derivation of MCA rules is based on optimizing a weighted inverse Rayleigh quotient so that the optimum weights at equilibrium points are exactly the desired eigenvectors of a covariance matrix instead of an arbitrary orthonormal basis of the minor subspace. Variations of the derived MCA learning rules are obtained by imposing orthogonal and quadratic constraints and change of variables. Some of the proposed algorithms can also perform PCA by merely changing the sign of the step-size
The Continuing Education of the Professional

The education of professional personnel has emerged as an important and continuing activity in many disciplines. The concept is based on the premise that formal academic preparation of individuals can provide knowledge that is limited to a particular time frame and cannot meet all of the needs the professional may have beyond that point in time. As new information emerges, it must be incorporated within the professional’s capabilities and role function so that he maintains and even transcends his standard of performance. The assumption underlying this notion is that formal, academic education, no matter how excellent, can go just so far in personnel preparation and no further. That the education of the professional must continue beyond his academic preparation is presumed.
Distinct Frontoparietal Networks Underlying Attentional Effort and Cognitive Control

We investigated the brain activity patterns associated with stabilizing performance during challenges to attention. Our findings revealed distinct patterns of frontoparietal activity and functional connectivity associated with increased attentional effort versus preserved performance during challenged attention. Participants performed a visual signal detection task with and without presentation of a perceptual-attention challenge (changing background). The challenge condition increased activation in frontoparietal regions including right mid-dorsal/dorsolateral PFC (RPFC), approximating Brodmann's area 9, and superior parietal cortex. We found that greater behavioral impact of the challenge condition was correlated with greater RPFC activation, suggesting that increased engagement of cognitive control regions is not always sufficient to maintain high levels of performance. Functional connectivity between RPFC and ACC increased during the challenge condition and was also associated with performance declines, suggesting that the level of synchronized engagement of these regions reflects individual differences in attentional effort. Pretask, resting-state RPFC-ACC connectivity did not predict subsequent performance, suggesting that RPFC-ACC connectivity increased dynamically during task performance in response to performance decrement and error feedback. In contrast, functional connectivity between RPFC and superior parietal cortex not only during the task but also during pretask rest was associated with preserved performance in the challenge condition. Together, these data suggest that resting frontoparietal connectivity predicts performance on attention tasks that rely on those same cognitive control networks and that, under challenging conditions, other control regions dynamically couple with this network to initiate the engagement of cognitive control.
Generalized Non-Interactive Oblivious Transfer Using Count-Limited Objects with Applications to Secure Mobile Agents

Oblivious transfer (OT) is a fundamental primitive used in many cryptographic protocols, including general secure function evaluation (SFE) protocols. However, interaction is a primary feature of any OT protocol. In this paper, we show how to remove the interaction requirement in an OT protocol when parties participating in the protocol have access to slightly modified Trusted Platform Modules, as defined by Sarmenta et al.in proposing the notion of count-limited objects (clobs) [8]. Specifically, we construct a new cryptographic primitive called "generalized non-interactive oblivious transfer"(GNIOT). While it is possible to perform GNIOT using clobs in a straightforward manner, with multiple clobs, we show how to perform this efficiently, by using a single clob regardless of the number of values that need to be exchanged in an oblivious manner. Additionally, we provide clear definitions and a formal proof of the security of our construction. We apply this primitive to mobile agent applications and outline a new secure agent protocol called the GTX protocol which provides the same security guarantees as existing agent protocols while removing the need for interaction, thus improving efficiency.
Trauma Cognitions and Partner Aggression: Anger, Hostility, and Rumination as Intervening Mechanisms.

Objective Previous research has demonstrated a significant association between trauma and intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship have yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we examined the impact of several key factors implicated in Ehlers and Clark's (2000) cognitive model of trauma (i.e., trauma cognitions, anger, hostility, and rumination) on IPA perpetration. Method Participants in this study were 271 male and female heavy drinkers at high risk for IPA from the community who completed measures of dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions, dispositional rumination, trait anger and hostility, and IPA perpetration. A moderated mediational model was tested to determine how these variables interact to predict IPA perpetration. Results Results indicated that anger and hostility mediated the effect of negative cognitions about the world on IPA perpetration, with this indirect effect being stronger for individuals with higher levels of rumination. Conclusion These findings suggest that cognitive and affective processes that may result from trauma exposure are associated with IPA and should be targeted in prevention and intervention programs for individuals at risk for perpetration.