cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early ultrastructural lesions of diphenylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis in Syrian hamsters

The ultrastructural lesions of diphenylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis in Syrian hamsters were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Twenty-four male Syrian hamsters were orally administered 600 mg diphenylamine/kg body weight as a single dose. At 30 minutes and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours after administration of diphenylamine, three hamsters were anesthetized with pentobarbital, perfused via the left ventricle with half-strength KARNOVSKY's fixative, and the renal papilla and outer medulla collected. Three hamsters administered 0.5 ml peanut oil/kg body weight (vehicle controls) were anesthetized at 24 hours, perfused, and the renal papilla and outer medulla collected. Initial ultrastructural lesions were observed in the endothelial cells of the ascending vasa recta in the proximal portion of the renal papilla at 1 hour after diphenylamine administration. The endothelial cell basal plasma membrane was elevated from the basal lamina, forming large subendothelial vacuoles. Alterations in inner medullary interstitial cells, endothelial cells of the descending vasa recta, and the epithelial cells of the thin limbs of Henle and the medullary collecting tubules were observed subsequent to the lesion in the ascending vasa recta. It was concluded that the endothelial cell of the ascending vasa recta is the target cell in diphenylamine-induced renal papillary necrosis in Syrian hamsters.
Listed Equity Options and Futures

Listed equity derivative contracts, options and futures, provide investors and market makers with an important tool for managing risk. These instruments serve as means to manage an equity investment strategy for portfolio managers and as a hedging device for dealers making markets in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. Both options and futures contracts are available on individual stocks and equity indexes. Like other listed derivatives, these instruments are contractual agreements with an exchange. Listed equity options and futures are standardized contracts that offer liquidity and leverage to the investor. In response to the explosive growth of the OTC market, options exchanges have developed longer-term options (LEAPS) and options with flexible terms (FLEX options). In the case of futures, the agreement is an obligation to deliver or receive an asset based on terms written in the contract. Futures contracts are marked to the market daily in that the gain or loss is realized every day in a futures account. Futures serve as a low cost substitute for a transaction in the underlying stock or stock index. Listed equity options are contracts that are paid for in full up front, the option premium or price, and treated as the right to purchase or sell a stock or stock index based on the terms of the contract. Keywords: FLEX options; stock options; index options; LEAPS; multiplier; single-stock futures; cash settlement contracts; maintenance margin; variation margin
Cloning and molecular characterization of a voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) from Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract A full length voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) cDNA was cloned from Drosophila melanogaster by expression library screening using an antibody against an insect VDAC protein. The cDNA clone (denoted DmVDAC) is 1082 base pairs (bp) in length and contains an open reading frame (bp 62–907) encoding a 282 amino acid protein which has a predicted molecular mass of 30 550 Da, a predicted pI of 6.98 and no cysteines. Hydrophobicity analysis suggests 15 or 16 membrane-spanning domains. The DmVDAC amino acid sequence has variable homology with VDACs from other species ranging from 62% identity with a human VDAC to 23% identity with a Dictyostelium discoideum VDAC. DmVDAC has 92% identity with the 38 conserved residues in a VDAC consensus sequence. DmVDAC was expressed in VDAC-null yeast but failed to rescue viability. DmVDAC has 88% identity at the amino acid level and 99% identity at the nucleic acid level with a recently reported D. melanogaster VDAC sequence (A. Messina et al., FEBS Lett. 384 (1996) 9–13). Homology analyses with the Messina and other VDAC sequences indicate that the amino acid differences are due to minor errors in the Messina sequence. Southern blots and chromosomal in situ hybridizations suggest a single VDAC gene occurs in the fly with a locus at 32B on the left arm of the second chromosome.
Advances in cryogenic engineering. Volume 33 - Proceedings of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference, Saint Charles, IL, June 14-18, 1987

Papers are presented on superconductivity applications including magnets, electronics, rectifiers, magnet stability, coil protection, and cryogenic techniques. Also considered are insulation, heat transfer to liquid helium and nitrogen, heat and mass transfer in He II, superfluid pumps, and refrigeration for superconducting systems. Other topics include cold compressors, refrigeration and liquefaction, magnetic refrigeration, and refrigeration for space applications. Papers are also presented on cryogenic applications, commercial cryogenic plants, the properties of cryogenic fluids, and cryogenic instrumentation and data acquisition.
An experimental comparison of knowledge engineering for expert systems and for decision analysis

Decision analysis provides a set of techniques for structuring and encoding expert knowledge, comparable with knowledge engineering techniques for rule-based expert systems. In order to compare the expert systems and decision analysis approach, each was applied to the same task, namely the diagnosis and treatment of root disorders in apple trees. This experiment illustrates a variety of theoretical and practical differences between them, including the semantics of the network representations (inference net vs. influence diagram or Bayes' belief net), approaches to modelling uncertainty and preferences, the relative effort required, and their attitudes to human reasoning under uncertainty, as the ideal to be emulated or as unreliable and to be improved upon.
Road To Nowhere

The markers ran due east from an unused dirt road named Maverick straight towards the mountains, their fluorescent orange ribbons bright as pop pies against the pale browns of the desert. It was mostly mesquite bushes and grama grass on this side, the occasional yucca and dried-up ocotillo. Clarence's new bulldozer plowed through it all like a hot spoon through margarine. It had been nearly a year coming. First the county had cut his budget, leav ing him barely enough money to maintain his existing equipment, let alone buy anything new. So he'd applied for a project completion grant from the state. The only problem was that there hadn't been any projects in need of completion. Clarence had remedied that by creating Enchanted View Road SE. He knew there to be a tract of county land seven miles southeast of town, out near the base of the Floridas, already platted for development. Sooner or later it would need an access road. He'd gotten the records from the county clerk, had his usual guy do the survey, drafted the bid himself—he requested $100,000 knowing he'd be lucky to get half that—and got his old high school drinking buddy Tom Reed, now the county commissioner, to backdate the proposal by a year. Next he'd phoned Ike Crawford, who in his autumn years as state senator was trying to seal his legacy as the champion of Luna County roads. Crawford said he'd see what he could do when the legislature reconvened in January. Road projects being low on the list of priorities for the state in a recession, he wasn't able to get a slot in the capital outlay calendar until late February. At the urging of a personal memo from the governor, who owed Crawford a favor for his help in the last election, the chair of the finance committee made sure that the merits of financing the completion of a rural road in one of the least populous counties in the state, a road that probably wouldn't have a tire anywhere near it for decades to come, were not seriously debated. In the end, "Enchanted View Road Completion" was apportioned $50,000. Clarence called in his order the very next day, only to be told that there was a backlog on the track loaders—"The Israeli army cleaned us out"—and he'd have to wait six to eight weeks. Four months later the bulldozer finally arrived.
Exercise and Fitness

Since the late 1950s, numerous scientific reports have examined the relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular health. Expert panels convened by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the European Working Group on Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation, and the American Heart Association (AHA),1, 2, 3, 4, 5 along with the US Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health,6 have reinforced scientific evidence linking regular physical activity to various measures of cardiovascular health. The prevailing view in these reports is that more active or fit individuals tend to experience less coronary heart disease (CHD) than their sedentary counterparts, and when they do acquire CHD, it occurs at a later age and tends to be less severe.
Interaction of Hydrolyzed Al and Polyelectrolyte Coagulants

A laboratory jar test study was conducted to determine the mode of action of commercial cationic polyelectrolytes used in combination with aluminum salt coagulants. Electrophoretic mobility and residual turbidity data were collected as a function of coagulant dosage, solution chemistry, and the particle size distribution and concentrations of the silica particle suspension. Two general types of results were obtained depending on the tendency of the hydrolyzed aluminum to form a flocculent precipitate. This tendency is a function of the solution chemistry, including pH, concentrations of adsorbing anions such as sulfate and the ionic strength. With dilute solutions and low pH the aluminum hydrolysis products tend to be stable and under these conditions the cationic polyelectrolyte and the adsorbed hydrolyzed Al have similar effects on particle stability. Maximum turbidity removal is observed near an electrophoretic mobility of zero. A simple trade-off relationship exists between the amounts of Al and polyelectrolyte required to react this point. When the aluminum hydrolysis products are flocculent a coating of aluminum hydroxide precipitate is apparently formed on the particles which, as the aluminum concentration is increased, eventually controls particle stability and the efficiency of flocculation.
Ovarian and adnexal torsion: spectrum of sonographic findings with pathologic correlation.

Objective. To determine the spectrum of sonographic findings on gray scale and color Doppler sonography in a series of pathologically proven cases of ovarian and adnexal torsion. Methods. The study population included 15 patients with surgical confirmation of ovarian or adnexal torsion, or both, who underwent sonographic examination before surgery. All sonograms were reviewed retrospectively. Results. Gray scale abnormalities included the following: complex masses in 11 (73%) of 15 patients, cystic masses in 3 (20%), and a solid mass in 1 (7%). Cul-de-sac fluid was present in 13 (87%) of 15 patients. Adnexal neoplasms were present in 4 (27%) of 15 (1 granulosa cell tumor and 3 dermoid cysts) on pathologic examination. Doppler findings were abnormal in 14 (93%) of 15 patients and normal in 1 (7%). Abnormal Doppler findings included no arterial and no venous flow in 6 (40%) of 15, decreased venous flow with no arterial flow in 5 (33%), decreased venous flow and decreased arterial flow in 2 (13%), and decreased arterial flow with no venous flow in 1 (7%). Small amounts of culde-sac fluid were present in 13 (87%) of 15 patients. Conclusions. The diagnosis of ovarian and adnexal torsion remains challenging. It cannot be based solely on the absence or presence of flow on color Doppler sonography, because the presence of arterial or venous flow does not exclude the diagnosis of adnexal torsion. Comparison with the morphologic appearance and flow patterns of the con
Hepatic Gluconeogenic Enzymes, Plasma Insulin and Glucagon Response to Magnesium Deficiency and Fasting

Three experiments were conducted to assess the effects of magnesium deficiency on the activities of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FDPase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Experiment 1 was designed to determine if magnesium deficiency interfered with the gluconeogenic response to fasting. Rats were fed either a control (C) or magnesium-deficient (MD) diet for 12 days. One-half of each group of rats was fasted for 24 hours prior to death. Hepatic enzyme activities, plasma and liver magnesium, and whole blood glucose were measured. Activities of G6Pase and PEPCK were higher in fasted group C rats compared to fed group C rats. Activity of FDPase was lower. The response was similar in the MD groups. Comparison of C and MD groups indicated that magnesium deficiency was accompanied by an increase in PEPCK activity. To verify this result and to investigate the role of anorexia in producing increased PEPCK activity, experiment 2 included a pair-fed group (PF). The results indicated that anorexia was not responsible for increased PEPCK activity in MD rats. The relation of circulating insulin and glucagon concentrations to effects of magnesium deficiency was explored in experiment 3. A decreased insulin:glucagon ratio was observed in MD rats. The results of these experiments suggest that magnesium deficiency alters PEPCK activity by affecting secretion of pancreatic hormones.
Vesicular binesis: glucose effect on insulin secretory vesicles

Binesis is a process whereby the membrane of the insuline secretory vesicle in the beta cell forms a lingula that indents the vesicular membrane of an adjoining secretory vesicle of the plasma membrane. Vesicular binesis in beta cells increases when islets of Langerhans are incubated at a stimulatory glucose concentration (300 miligrams per 100 milliliters). These vesicular membrane alterations may be the morphological concomitants of activation of the insulin secretory vesicle, and indicate an active role for the vesicle and its membrane in the release mechanism.
Personality correlates of hopelessness in depressed inpatients 50 years of age and older.

In this study we examined the relationship between scores on the Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck, Weissman, Lester, & Trexler, 1974) and the personality traits that constitute the Five-Factor Model in a sample of 77 depressed inpatients, 50 years of age and older. Multiple regression analyses showed that Hopelessness is related to low Extraversion domain scores, and to specific facets of both Extraversion (low positive emotions) and Neuroticism low self-consciousness, high impulsiveness). Efforts to tie Hopelessness with the motivational, affective, and interpersonal constructs subsumed under Extraversion are warranted.
Using lean methodology to teach quality improvement to internal medicine residents at a safety net hospital.

The overall objective of this initiative was to develop a quality improvement (QI) curriculum using Lean methodology for internal medicine residents at Boston Medical Center, a safety net academic hospital. A total of 90 residents and 8 School of Public Health students participated in a series of four, 60- to 90-minute interactive and hands-on QI sessions. Seventeen QI project plans were created and conducted over a 4-month period. The curriculum facilitated internal medicine residents’ learning about QI and development of positive attitudes toward QI (assessed using pre- and post-attitude surveys) and exposed them to an interprofessional team structure that duplicates future working relationships. This QI curriculum can be an educational model of how health care trainees can work collaboratively to improve health care quality.
Prediction of fiber-matrix interphase effects on damping of composites using a micromechanical strain energy/finite element approach

Abstract Few previous micromechanical models of damping in a unidirectional composite lamina have dealt with the fiber-matrix interphase, and none of these models have considered loading conditions other than the uniaxial longitudinal case. This paper describes the use of a general purpose strain energy/finite element method for micromechanical modeling of both damping and stiffness in composites including the fiber-matrix interphase region. Composite damping and moduli for longitudinal and transverse normal loading and inplane and out-of-plane shear loading are obtained. Particular interest is paid to the effects of the size of the fiber-matrix interphase on composite damping, and to the contribution of the interphase to the total energy dissipation in the composite. The determination of the four inplane loss factors should be of use for macromechanical analysis of damping of laminated composite structures, which requires lamina damping data as input.
Story comprehension and recall in dyslexic students

This article is an extension of work reported earlier in this journal (Weaver 1978). In that paper, we echoed the commonly suggested need for examining reading difficulties in relation to higher-order language processes and offered a schema-theoretical framework for guiding such an examination. In this article we report the findings and implications of an empirical investigation into the characteristics of story recall abilities in students with dyslexia or severe reading disabilities.
Approach to management of iatrogenic foreign bodies of the lower urinary tract following reconstructive pelvic surgery.

Purpose: Evolving techniques and materials for pelvic reconstruction have resulted in corresponding increases in the risk of iatrogenic foreign bodies in the lower urinary tract and vagina. We review the presentation, management and outcomes of iatrogenic foreign bodies in the female lower urinary tract and vagina.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the records of all women undergoing removal of lower urinary tract foreign bodies during a 9-year period. All patients underwent a structured evaluation including history, physical examination, ancillary testing as indicated and subjective symptom appraisal.Results: A total of 85 women were identified, of whom 48 had vaginal, 40 had lower urinary tract, and 3 had concomitant vaginal and lower urinary tract excision of foreign material. Of the lower urinary tract cases the foreign body was located in the urethra in 12, bladder neck in 10, bladder wall in 18 and trigone in 3, while the remainder of the cases was vaginal in location. Agg...
Legalization of drugs: Effects on the workplace

In the last few years bipartisan support for legalizing drugs has grown to a surprising level. Because of the lack of involvement of the business community in this debate, we surveyed the human resource managers of 127 firms about their perceptions of the effects of legalization. Their responses were uniformly negative, with expectations that drug use, absenteeism, worksite crime, and liability costs would increase, while the quality and quantity of work would decline. They also forecast increases in drug testing, performance monitoring, and education and rehabilitation programs as a result.
Do option markets substitute for stock markets? Evidence from trading on anticipated tender offer announcements

Abstract Using a sample of cash tender offers occurring between 1993 and 2002, we find evidence that the options market has become the preferred venue for traders attempting to profit on anticipated announcements. Options offer advantages relative to stocks. Traders gain leverage by trading in options and multiple options contracts on an individual stock. The results of our study indicate that a substitution effect does exist. Abnormal volume in the option market replaces abnormal volume in the stock market prior to cash tender offer announcements, and this abnormal option volume precedes abnormal stock volume for targets with or without traded options.
Numerical Modeling of Dynamic Crack Propagation in Finite Bodies, by Moving Singular Elements—Part 1: Formulation

An efficient numerical (finite element) method is presented for the dynamic analysis of rapidly propagating cracks in finite bodies, of arbitrary shape, wherein linear-elastic material behavior and two-dimensional conditions prevail. Procedures to embed analytical asymptotic solutions for singularities in stresses/strains near the propagating crack-tip, to account for the spatial movement of these singularities along with the crack-tip, and to directly compute the dynamic stress-intensity factor, are presented. Numerical solutions of several problems and pertinent discussions are presented in Part II of this paper.
REACTIVE GEOCHEMICAL FLOW MODELING WITH CT SCANNED ROCK FRACTURES

Obtaining quality three-dimensional geometries of fractures in a natural medium, such as rock, is a non-trivial task. This paper describes how several geothermal fractured rocks were scanned using computed tomography (CT), the reconstruction procedure to generate the three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the fractured rock, and the methodology for isolating the fracture from the CT scan. A conversion process to capture the relevant geometric features of the fracture is then discussed. The scanned aperture distribution was then used to simulate the reactive flow and transport processes using a reactive transport code CrunchFlow. The accurate use of CT images in fluid flow models within complex structures allows detailed understanding on how the aperture distribution affects mineral dissolution and fracture property evolution during the EGS process. Our preliminary simulation results show the formation of the preferential flow in zones with larger apertures, which led to higher calcite dissolution rates and even larger aperture size over time in these zones. Because calcite only occupied 10% of the solid phase, its dissolution did not completely open up the aperture because other relatively non-reactive minerals (clay and quartz) remained. The traditional measure of mechanical aperture could not take into account the partial increase in void space in the rock matrix and underestimated the increase in average aperture. The chemical and hydraulic apertures, which explicitly take into account changes in mineral volumes in the rock matrix, relate better to the overall change in the effective permeability of the sample.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Gangliosides and their cell density-dependent changes in control and chemically transformed C3H/10T1/2 cells.

Abstract The cloned C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo cells contained a complex pattern of gangliosides. Two cloned chemical transformants obtained from the C3H/10T1/2 cell line by treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA-TCL1) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA-TCL15) also had complex ganglioside patterns; but the transformants had increased levels of the simplest ganglioside, N -acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide (GM 3 ), and reduced levels of more complex gangliosides. Incorporation of [ 14 C]glucosamine into gangliosides, as cell-to-cell contact increased in C3H/10T1/2 cells, showed that GM 3 synthesis was decreased and that the synthesis of the more complex ganglioside N -acetylneuraminylgalactosyl- N -acetylgalactosaminyl-( N -acetylneuraminyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide (GD 1a ) was increased. In the two transformants the percentage each individual ganglioside was of total labeled gangliosides was only slightly altered with changing cell density. Turnover of [ 14 C]glucosamine-labeled gangliosides, as cell density increased, was approximately equal in C3H/10T1/2 cells and MCA-TCL15 cells, but more rapid in the DMBA-TCL1 cells. Most individual gangliosides turned over at about the same rate in the respective cell lines. However, GD 1a increased slightly as a percentage of total labeled gangliosides with increasing cell density in both C3H/10T1/2 cells and transformed cells. The labeling data indicated that the majority of GD 1a synthesis was de novo and only a small part occurred by transfer of sialyl or glycosyl residues to simpler gangliosides or catabolism of more complex gangliosides already present in the outer membrane. Exogenous complex gangliosides added to the medium were more effective inhibitors of DMBA-TCL1 cell growth than of C3H/10T1/2 cell growth. Furthermore, gangliosides added to exponentially growing C3H/10T1/2 and DMBA-TCL1 cells caused both cell lines to incorporate a greater percentage of [ 14 C]glucosamine into gangliosides more complex than GM 3 .
MEASUREMENT OF VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION IN THE BRABENDER FARINOGRAPH AS A MODEL MIXER, USING LASER‐DOPPLER ANEMOMETRY

The nonintrusive technique of Laser-Doppler Anemometry was used to characterize flow velocity distribution in the Brabender Farinograph, which is often used to mix rheologically diverse food materials. A two-dimensional Argonion laser Doppler system was used to obtain local velocity data at selected locations in this complex mixer. Three components of velocity were obtained as a function of time and spatial location for model fluids with characteristic rheological properties. The results revealed that the velocity distribution in the Farinograph changes with the time-relative motion of the blades and with fluid rheology. Velocity values at locations close to the blades were much higher for the non-Newtonian fluids than for the Newtonian fluid studied. The prevalence of static zones at regions away from the blades was noticeable, particularly in the non-Newtonian fluids. These findings indicate that Laser Doppler Anemo metry is a valuable tool in the design and analysis of complex mixing processes.
Antiferroelectricity in thin-film ZrO2 from first principles

Recently antiferroelectric-like double-hysteresis loops have been experimentally reported in ZrO${}_{2}$, but the mechanism for this behavior has been unclear. In this work, the authors use first-principles calculations to show that antiferroelectricity is an intrinsic property of ZrO${}_{2}$ that appears via a previously unrecognized mechanism where the polarization is stabilized by zone-boundary modes.
Perception of complex sounds by the green treefrog, Hyla cinerea: envelope and fine-structure cues

1. The envelope periodicity of communication signals is an important feature distinguishing advertisement and aggressive calls for the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea). Envelope periodicity, a cue for periodicity pitch perception in humans, is affected by the fine-structure of the signal, a cue for timbre perception in humans. The present study examined perception of two acoustic features affecting waveform fine-structure — harmonic structure and phase structure — in male green treefrogs. 2. We analyzed evoked vocal responses of male green treefrogs living in laboratory arenas to playbacks of digitally-generated signals resembling either conspecific advertisement or aggressive calls in their first harmonic periodicity. Systematic changes in the harmonic structure of these signals were achieved by varying the harmonic relations between frequency components in the signals, and changes in phase structure were achieved by varying the starting phases of harmonically-related components. 3. Calling was significantly influenced by the first harmonic periodicity of the signals. Males vocalized more to signals with the periodicity of the advertisement than the aggressive call. There were no differences in response to harmonic and inharmonic signals with similar spectral content. Phase structure did not significantly influence vocal responses. 4. These results suggest that the fine-structure (“timbre”) of complex acoustic signals is not a significant feature guiding behavior tested using a communication response in this species.
Striving for ubiquitous citizenship with mobile PICOLA

This paper introduces Mobile PICOLA - a mobile extension to the original PICOLA (Public Informed Citizens' OnLine Assembly) which is meant to provide an interactive online environment for the purpose of conducting deliberative polling. After justifying the exploration of the mobile environment, we discuss the usability analysis conducted with Mobile PICOLA, and the resulting design changes.
307 ERYTHROCYTE (RBC) GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE: DEVELOP MENTAL PATTERNS IN PRETERM INFANTS

The glutathione S-transferases (GST) are a group of enzymes present in a number of tissues, including liver and RBC's. They initiate detoxification of endogenous and exogenous substances by conjugation with glutathione, and might act as storage proteins by binding nonsubstrate compounds such as heme and bilirubin. They also exhibit non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The low activity of Se-dependent GSH-Px in neonatal RBC's compared with those from adults, and comparatively high activity of RBC GST in fullterm (FT) neonates, prompted a study of developmental patterns of RBC GST in preterm (P) infants. RBC GST was assayed in 23 P infants (birth wt 700–2100gm) and 12 FT infants soon after birth. Results: P had significantly higher activity than FT (*p<.01). Within the P group, a highly significant negative correlation was found between birth wt and enzyme activity (r=−0.61; p<.01). We speculate that these developmental patterns might reflect changes in heme &/or bilirubin ligand functions associated with heme turnover rates. They might also indicate a physiological inverse relationship between Se-dependent and Se-independent GSH-Px activity during development, and might require a re-evaluation of the interaction of fetal anti-oxidant protective mechanisms.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Reduces Negative Affect but Not Cigarette Craving in Overnight Abstinent Smokers

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance cognitive control functions including attention and top-down regulation over negative affect and substance craving in both healthy and clinical populations, including early abstinent (~1.5 h) smokers. The aim of this study was to assess whether tDCS modulates negative affect, cigarette craving, and attention of overnight abstinent tobacco dependent smokers. In this study, 24 smokers received a real and a sham session of tDCS after overnight abstinence from smoking on two different days. We applied anode to the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathode to the right supra orbital area for 20min with a current of 2.0mA. We used self-report questionnaires Profile of Mood State (POMS) to assess negative affect and Urge to Smoke (UTS) Scale to assess craving for cigarette smoking, and a computerized visual target identification task to assess attention immediately before and after each tDCS. Smokers reported significantly greater reductions in POMS scores of total mood disturbance and scores of tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, and confusion-bewilderment subscales after real relative to sham tDCS. Furthermore, this reduction in negative affect positively correlated with the level of nicotine dependence as assessed by Fagerstrom scale. However, reductions in cigarette craving after real vs. sham tDCS did not differ, nor were there differences in reaction time or hit rate change on the visual task. Smokers did not report significant side effects of tDCS. This study demonstrates the safety of tDCS and its promising effect in ameliorating negative affect in overnight abstinent smokers. Its efficacy in treating tobacco dependence deserves further investigation.
Optimizing irregular shared-memory applications for clusters

Irregular applications pose challenges in optimizing communication, due to the difficulty of analyzing irregular data accesses accurately and efficiently. This challenge is especially big when translating irregular shared-memory applications to message-passing form for clusters. The lack of effective irregular data analysis in the translation system results in unnecessary or redundant communication, which limits application scalability. In this paper, we present a Lean Distributed Shared Memory (LDSM) system, which features a fast and accurate irregular data access (IDA) analysis. The analysis uses a region-based diff method and makes use of a runtime library that is optimized for irregular applications. We describe three optimizations that improve the LDSM system performance. A parallel array reduction transformation reduces overheads in the analysis. A packed communication optimization and a differential communication optimization effectively eliminate unnecessary and redundant messages. We evaluate the performance of the optimized LDSM system on a set of representative irregular benchmarks. The optimized LDSM executes irregular applications on average 45% faster than the hand-tuned MPI applications.
Commentary: The Economic Geography of the Tourist Industry: Ten Years of Progress in Research and an Agenda for the Future

Commentary: The Economic Geography of the Tourist Industry: Ten Years of Progress in Research and an Agenda for the Future
Effects of controlled release and liquid fertilizers on the growth and mineral composition of Celosia Plumosia

Abstract A resin coated fertilizer (Osmocote3) was tested at 2 rates in combination with a normal greenhouse liquid fertilization (LF) program. A low rate of Osmocote in combination with LF produced superior growth and had equivalent N, P and K leaf tissue levels compared to a high rate. Delayed application of LF for 3–7 waterings significantly improved the substance of leaf and root tissue probably because of decreased damage of tender young roots from high soluble salts. Growth and tissue analyses (N, P and K) indicated only the need of nitrogen in LF suggesting the remainder of fertilizer constituents contribute only to soluble salt problems.
Racially Diverse Classrooms: Effects of Classroom Racial Composition on Interracial Peer Relationships

The purpose of this study was to examine the interactive effects that a child's race and the racial composition of a classroom have on a variety of sociometric measures. Sociometric nominations were collected from 872 fifth-grade students (48% male, 48% Black) who were in classrooms that ranged from nearly all Black to nearly all White students. Hierarchical Linear Modeling analyses indicated that the race of the child, the race of the rater, and the classroom race composition each impacted sociometric nominations. Results suggest that schools that are more balanced in the distribution of Black and White students might promote more positive interracial peer relationships. However, opportunities to be highly liked and to be perceived as a leader might be greatest in a school in which the child is in the clear racial majority.
Reaction-diffusion master equation, diffusion-limited reactions, and singular potentials.

To model biochemical systems in which both noise in the chemical reaction process and spatial movement of molecules is important, both the reaction-diffusion master equation (RDME) and Smoluchowski diffusion-limited reaction (SDLR) partial differential equation (PDE) models have been used. In previous work we showed that the solution to the RDME may be interpreted as an asymptotic approximation in the reaction radius to the solution of the SDLR PDE [S. A. Isaacson, SIAM J. Appl. Math. 70, 77 (2009)]. The approximation was shown to be divergent in the limit that the lattice spacing in the RDME approached zero. In this work we expand upon these results for the special case of the two-molecule annihilation reaction, A+B-->O. We first introduce a third stochastic reaction-diffusion PDE model that incorporates a pseudopotential based bimolecular reaction mechanism. The solution to the pseudopotential model is then shown to be an asymptotic approximation to the solution of the SDLR PDE for small reaction radii. We next illustrate how the RDME may be obtained by a formal discretization of the pseudopotential model, motivating why the RDME is itself an asymptotic approximation of the SDLR PDE. Finally, we give a more detailed numerical analysis of the difference between solutions to the RDME and SDLR PDE models as a function of both the reaction-radius and the lattice spacing (in the RDME).
Spatial and temporal distribution of endemic and released entomopathogenic nematode populations in turfgrass

Entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabdita: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) have been effective as inundative biological control agents of scarab larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in turfgrass. Entomopathogenic nematodes also occur naturally in turfgrass and endemic or inoculated populations may be able to provide effective long-term control. Variation in Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema carpocapsae spatial and temporal distribution along transects placed at different turfgrass sites in central New Jersey, USA, was investigated. H. bacteriophora tended to be recovered from fewer sections in a transect than S. carpocapsae, but the two species, overall, did not differ in patchiness of distribution. In one transect with a H. bacteriophora population S. feltiae was also recovered, but the two populations seldom overlapped spatially. In transects with adequate scarab larvae density for analysis, H. bacteriophora density and Popillia japonica larvae density were inversely correlated. This suggests that endemic H. bacteriophora populations may suppress P. japonica populations. In one transect, an epizootic of H. bacteriophora in an undetermined host may have occurred. Edaphic factors were relatively uniform along transects and were, at most, weakly correlated with nematode recovery. Uniform inoculative releases of H. bacteriophora tended to return to patterns of distribution typical of endemic populations.
Energetics and Vibrational Frequencies of Interstitial H 2 Molecules in Semiconductors

The incorporation of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ molecules on interstitial sites in various semiconductors is investigated using a density-functional-pseudopotential approach. The vibrational frequency of the interstitial molecules is shifted down compared to the free molecule. The results confirm a recent assignment of Raman lines to interstitial ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ in GaAs [Vetterh\"offer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 5409 (1996)], but contradict the conclusion of Murakami et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3161 (1996)] that the frequency for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ in Si is close to the free-molecule value. The interaction between interstitial molecules and the host is elucidated, and the significant weakening of the H-H bond is correlated with the semiconductor host charge density near the interstitial site.
Income volatility and psychological depression

Income volatility appears to be increasing especially among lower income workers. Such volatility may reflect the ongoing shift of economic risk from employers to employees as marked by decreasing job security and employer-provided benefits. This study tests whether absolute volatility or downward volatility in income predict depression controlling for prior depression. A sample (n = 4,493) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) with depression (CESD) measured at age 40 and prior depression measured eight to 10 years earlier was utilized. Downward volatility (frequency of income loss) was positively associated with depression; adjusting for downward volatility and other covariates, absolute volatility was negatively associated with depression. An interaction indicated a positive association between downward volatility and depression only when absolute volatility was high. These findings apply to respondents in a narrow age range (30 s) and the results warrant replication to identify the mediators linking absolute volatility and income loss to depression.
Congenital von Willebrand's disease and clinical hypothyroidism

Summary Data from case reports and systematic reviews suggest an association of Hypothyroidism and Acquired von Willebrand's syndrome. It is not known if congenital von Willebrand's disease is associated with hypothyroidism in a similar way. The aim of this study was to identify the association of congenital von Willebrand's disease (VWD) with clinical hypothyroidism. A total of 350 cases of congenital VWD were initially screened from our institution database from 1985 to 2010. A careful review of patient records was carried out to see if patients truly had congenital VWD and coexisting clinical hypothyroidism. Patients with uncertain diagnoses or other bleeding disorders were excluded, leading to 197 patients remaining in the final sample. A random age- and sex-matched parallel control group was also obtained from the hospital database. Of 197 patients (mean age 43.8 ± 17.5 years, women 72%) of congenital VWD, 32/197 (16%) were diagnosed with clinical hypothyroidism, while only 11/197 (5.6%) of the matched controls were clinically hypothyroid. Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that VWD was an independent predictor of developing clinical hypothyroidism (OR 3.45; 95% CI 1.65–7.22, P = 0.001). The proportion of patients diagnosed with clinical hypothyroidism was more in the VWD group (P < 0.0001). Our analysis shows a strong association of clinical hypothyroidism in patients with congenital VWD, but future studies will be required to delineate a pathological mechanism. In our opinion, clinicians should consider checking thyroid function in the newly diagnosed and established cases of congenital VWD.
Effectiveness of mHealth Behavior Change Communication Interventions in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies and telecommunication have rapidly been integrated into the health care delivery system, particularly in developing countries. Resources have been allocated to developing mHealth interventions, including those that use mobile technology for behavior change communication (BCC). Although the majority of mobile phone users worldwide live in the developing world, most research evaluating BCC mHealth interventions has taken place in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine how much evidence currently exists for mHealth BCC interventions. In addition to analyzing available research for methodological rigor and strength of evidence, the authors assessed interventions for quality, applying a set of 9 standards recommended by mHealth experts. The authors reviewed 44 articles; 16 (36%) reported evaluation data from BCC mHealth interventions in a developing country. The majority of BCC mHealth interventions were implemented in Africa (n = 10) and Asia (n = 4). HIV/AIDS (n = 10) and family planning/pregnancy (n = 4) were the health topics most frequently addressed by interventions. Studies did not consistently demonstrate significant effects of exposure to BCC mHealth interventions on the intended audience. The majority of publications (n = 12) described interventions that used two-way communication in their message delivery design. Although most publications described interventions that conducted formative research about the intended audience (n = 10), less than half (n = 6) described targeting or tailoring the content. Although mHealth is viewed as a promising tool with the ability to foster behavior change, more evaluations of current interventions need to be conducted to establish stronger evidence.
BOOK REVIEW: "Handbook of Research on Techno-Entrepreneurship", Edited by Francois Therin

Entrepreneurship is described as one of the critical aspects of managing innovation and technology. It is the entrepreneurs who find the courage and take all kinds of risks to commercialize inventions. Therefore it is critical to understand key success factors at all levels. This book primarily documents what the authors call as the early research on exploring entrepreneurship in high technology environments. So it is a good resource for researchers interested in this field. I would recommend it to those who want to get a quick ramp up on this topic. The book has five parts. The first part introduces how entrepreneurship is different in technology environments. This section really identifies the major actors in the process of technology transfer including universities, government and the industry as well the phases of the process. There is also a section focusing on the relationships of the entrepreneurs exploring the phenomenon. The second part explores variations in the process through multiple case studies. Cases include corporations fostering this behavior to avoid any impacts of disruptive technologies. The third part builds upon what was presented in the second part by additional cases including university business incubators and spin off companies. The last two parts provide industry specific cases. One parts focuses on e-entrepreneurship which really focuses on building new businesses in the digital world of internet. The other part on the other hand focuses on biotechnology. Overall the book is a good resource for those who are starting to learn about the commercialization of technologies. It would be a good text book for such graduate classes. I am thinking about using this book for the “Technology Transfer” class I am teaching. The class is a core class for Ph.D students and I believe the book encourages a good mix of discussion on this topic.
Controlled modeling environment using flexibly-formatted spreadsheets

As modeling in software and system development becomes increasingly prevalent, many engineers need to collaboratively develop models spanning many disciplines such as requirements management, system design, software, etc. However, integrating modeling languages for various disciplines is challenging, because UML and SysML are too complex for many engineers to understand. Therefore, in complicated engineering processes, engineers with different areas of expertise often find it difficult to access the same information in different domain-specific modeling environments. Our approach to address this problem is to share and edit the models as task-oriented spreadsheets, using a unified model (in UML or SysML) and a unified user interface (in the spreadsheet program). The formats of the spreadsheets are optimized for various tasks while the target models remain in a unified modeling language. Since the transformation between the spreadsheets and the models is automated and transparent, users do not have to be skilled with the modeling languages to edit the spreadsheets. Using our novel approach, we were able to reduce the errors and time, and also the difficulty for each task without providing specialized training for the engineers. A preliminary user study showed that, by applying the spreadsheet-based approach, we could reduce the number of errors with less time for typical systems engineering tasks.
Use of Freedom from Distractibility and Processing Speed to Assess Children's Test-Taking Behaviors

Abstract Scores from the Guide to the Assessment of Test-Session Behavior together with those from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) acquired from a random sample of 640 children were used to test Kaufman's hypothesis that WISC-III Freedom From Distractibility and Processing Speed scores will be lower than those from their corresponding factors (i.e., Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Organization) when children display inappropriate test-taking behaviors. This hypothesis was not supported. Clinicians are encouraged to rely on behavioral indices other than WISC-III scores when forming judgments about the suitability of children's test-taking behaviors.