cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermostability of landscape phage probes

Immunoassays have traditionally relied on antibodies as diagnostic probes. Their use outside of a laboratory, however, may be problematic because antibodies are often unstable in severe environmental conditions. Environmental monitoring requires thermostable probes, such as landscape phage, that carry thousands of foreign peptides on their surfaces, are superior to antibodies, and can operate in non-controlled conditions. While parent wild-type phage are known to be extremely stable in various media at high temperatures, no work has been done to demonstrate the stability of landscape phage probes. We examined the thermostability of a landscape phage probe and a monoclonal antibody specific for β-galactosidase in parallel in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. They were both stable for greater than six months at room temperature, but at higher temperatures the antibody degraded more rapidly than the phage probe. Phage retained detectable binding ability for more than six weeks at 63 °C, and three days at 76 °C. The activation energy of phage degradation was determined to be 1.34×105 J/mol. These results confirm that phage probes are highly thermostable and can function even after exposure to high temperatures during shipping, storage and operation.
The nicking endonuclease N.BstNBI is closely related to Type IIs restriction endonucleases MlyI and PleI

N.BstNBI is a nicking endonuclease that recognizes the sequence GAGTC and nicks the top strand preferentially. The Type IIs restriction endonucleases PleI and MlyI also recognize GAGTC, but cleave both DNA strands. Cloning and sequencing the genes encoding each of these three endonucleases discloses significant sequence similarities. Mutagenesis studies reveal a conserved set of catalytic residues among the three endonucleases, suggesting that they are closely related to each other. Furthermore, PleI and MlyI contain a single active site for DNA cleavage. The results from cleavage assays show that the reactions catalyzed by PleI and MlyI are sequential two step processes. The double-stranded DNA is first nicked on one DNA strand and then further cleaved on the second strand to form linear DNA. Gel filtration analysis shows that MlyI dimerizes in the presence of a cognate DNA and Ca(2+) whereas N.BstNBI remains a monomer, implicating dimerization as a requisite for the second strand cleavage. We suggest that N.BstNBI, MlyI and PleI diverged from a common ancestor and propose that N.BstNBI differs from MlyI and PleI in having an extremely limited second strand cleavage activity, resulting in a site-specific nicking endonuclease.
Dislocation controlled wear in single crystal silicon carbide

For better design and durability of nanoscale devices, it is important to understand deformation in small volumes and in particular how deformation mechanisms can be related to frictional response of an interface in the regime where plasticity is fully developed. Here, we show that when the size of the cutting tool is decreased to the nanometer dimensions, silicon carbide wears in a ductile manner by means of dislocation plasticity. We present different categories of dislocation activity observed for single asperity sliding on SiC as a function of depth of cut and for different sliding directions. For low dislocation density, plastic contribution to frictional energy dissipation is shown to be due to glide of individual dislocations. For high dislocation densities, we present an analytical model to relate shear strength of the sliding interface to subsurface dislocation density. Furthermore, it is shown that a transition from plowing to cutting occurs as function of depth of cut and this transition can be well described by a macroscopic geometry-based model for wear transition.
The interphasial components of conventional electrode potentials

Abstract An electrode potential means the difference of the inner potential differences at the metal-solution interface, together with the inner potential of the relevant metal phase. If one expresses a number of electrode potentials with respect to a common reference electrode, the electrode potential of which is taken arbitrarily as zero in all the cells concerned, then the constant potential which underlies this statementis the inner potential of the ionic entity in the solution involved in the definition of the reversible electrode taken as a reference electrode. The metal-metal p.d. relevant in such cells is given by: M δ M′φ = φM − φM′ + e 0 (gM − gM′) Common fallacies are the identification of electrode potentials with the metal-solution p.d., even though it is known that the value is relative. Fallacies in electro-catalysis arise from lack of realization of the presence of a potential difference between the working electrode and the reference electrode which enters the potential with respect to which the electrode is referred in denoting the standard rate (e.g. its exchange current density) for a certain reaction. Such potential differences are related to the Fermi level and hence, compensate for a term in the heat of activation of some interfacial electron transfer processes.
Band Spectra of the Two Isotopic Species of Yttrium Monochloride

Emission spectra of Y35Cl and Y37Cl were photographed in the wavelength region from 6300 to 6930 A using electrodeless discharge lamps. The molecular constants of the two species of YCl were determined from vibrational analyses of the band systems and rotational analyses of the (0,0), (0,1), and (1,0) bands. The electronic transition to which the bands correspond is of the singlet Σ to singlet Σ type.
RATIONAL BIAS IN YIELD CURVE FORECASTS

Empirical studies of forecasts often fail to reconcile the rational expectations hypothesis with a minimum mean square error objective function. Recent studies, however, have argued that observed b...
Electromagnetic gauge invariance of the cloudy bag model

We examine the question of the gauge invariance of electromagnetic form factors calculated within the cloudy bag model. One of the assumptions of the model is that electromagnetic form factors are most accurately evaluated in the Breit frame. This feature is used to show that gauge invariance is respected in this frame.
Structure, function, and regulation of a subfamily of mouse zinc transporter genes.

Zinc is an essential metal for all eukaryotes, and cells have evolved a complex system of proteins to maintain the precise balance of zinc uptake, intracellular storage, and efflux. In mammals, zinc uptake appears to be mediated by members of the Zrt/Irt-like protein (ZIP) superfamily of metal ion transporters. Herein, we have studied a subfamily of zip genes (zip1, zip2, and zip3) that is conserved in mice and humans. These eight-transmembrane domain proteins contain a conserved 12-amino acid signature sequence within the fourth transmembrane domain. All three of these mouse ZIP proteins function to specifically increase the uptake of zinc in transfected cultured cells, similar to the previously demonstrated functions of human ZIP1 and ZIP2 (Gaither, L. A., and Eide, D. J. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 5560–5564; Gaither, L. A., and Eide, D. J. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 22258–22264). No ZIP3 orthologs have been previously studied. Furthermore, this first systematic comparative study of the in vivo expression and dietary zinc regulation of this subfamily of zip genes revealed that 1) zip1 mRNA is abundant in many mouse tissues, whereas zip2 and zip3 mRNAs are very rare or moderately rare, respectively, and tissue-restricted in their accumulation; and 2) unlike mouse metallothionein I and zip4 mRNAs (Dufner-Beattie, J., Wang, F., Kuo, Y.-M., Gitschier, J., Eide, D., and Andrews, G. K. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 33474–33481), the abundance of zip1, zip2, and zip3 mRNAs is not regulated by dietary zinc in the intestine and visceral endoderm, tissues involved in nutrient absorption. These studies suggest that all three of these ZIP proteins may play cell-specific roles in zinc homeostasis rather than primary roles in the acquisition of dietary zinc.
Isolation and characterization of a sulfate-reducing bacterium that removed TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) under sulfate- and nitrate-reducing conditions

A sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from a creek sediment and capable of metabolizing TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) using sulfate and nitrate as electron acceptors was tentatively characterized as Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain A. The isolate was unable to use TNT as the sole source of carbon. TNT degradation was accomplished by a co-metabolic process using pyruvate as the main substrate. Two different metabolic steps were employed by this isolate under different electron-accepting conditions. Under sulfate-reducing conditions, TNT was reduced to 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene and 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene. In contrast, under nitrate-reducing conditions, these amino compounds were not produced, instead, butyric acid was identified as the major metabolite of TNT metabolism. This organism also used a wide variety of other carbon sources, including ethanol, lactate, succinate, formate and malate. The isolate contained the electron-carrier desulfoviridin and used sulfate, nitrate, and thiosulfate as electron acceptors. The isolate had an optimal temperature of 25°C and an optimal pH of 6.8 and used ammonium chloride, nitrate and glutamate as nitrogen sources. The characteristic features of the sulfate-reducing bacterium closely resembled those of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans.
Design And Construction Of A Phase-Locked Interference Microscope

An A.C. interference microscope based on a technique called phase-locked interferometry has been constructed. The instrument is capable of detecting phase differences approaching X/100. It may be used for measuring surface features (roughness, curvature) or transparent phase objects such as gradient index materials, microballoons and biological samples.
Investor behavior and the persistence of poorly-performing mutual funds

Abstract Recent studies tentatively suggest some mutual funds have near-term, persistent positive performance, but reinforce earlier findings that other funds have long-term, persistent negative performance. In this paper we ask how consistently underperforming mutual funds are able to persist nevertheless. We compare two models: One model incorporates the assumption that investors choose funds on the basis of past risk-adjusted returns. The other model, motivated by the representativeness heuristic, assumes investors react to recent returns without considering the predictive validity of returns. Our analysis of a sample of no-load growth funds supports a model of investor behavior combining two extremes: when choosing among funds investors respond to returns ignoring differences in systematic risk and expenses, but upon choosing a fund they stick fast forsaking the sensitivity to returns displayed in evaluating funds.
Low attenuation waveguide for leaky surface waves

A surface wave on a liquid/solid interface is well-known to radiate acoustic energy into the liquid and is therefore rapidly attenuated. In this work, we have been able to show by experiments and calculations that the proximity of another surface (layer 1 to layer 3 and layer 3 to layer 1) sustains the surface wave through long distances for layers of both plates and concentric tubes. In addition, even when the surface wave is reflected from a distant edge, the returning wave is sustained in the multi-layer system and can be easily detected. This is apparently one of the first observations of leaky surface waves traveling over large distances, in this case over a thousand wavelengths. The effect is modeled on the basis of a cooperative phenomenon between two interfaces separated by a water layer. The effect represents a valuable result in the wave propagation of acoustic surface waves and opens the door to many applications.
Statistical Power Analysis and Amphibian Population Trends

Reed and Blaustein (1995) add an important perspective to the debate over amphibian population trends, asserting that if a null hypothesis of no trend is not rejected and the power of the statistical test to detect the trend was low, then the study's results can only be considered inconclusive. Too frequently researchers infer that failure to reject a null hypothesis indicates the null is true, without considering statistical power of these tests and the consequences of committing Type II errors (Peterman 1990). Reed and Blaustein correctly assert that estimating the Type II error rate is essential when evaluating evidence suggesting no decline. Reed and Blaustein attempted to estimate the statistical power of tests using data from studies of eight amphibian populations, none of which demonstrated statistically significant trends with time. Although the authors focused on amphibian populations, they implicitly addressed the more general question of whether it is reasonable to conclude a null hypothesis to be true when it is not rejected (P > cx); in their analysis, the null hypotheses were that no significant correlations existed between amphibian population sizes and time. Reed and Blaustein suggest that it is only reasonable to conclude the null to be true when statistical power is high; we
THE IUPS CONGRESS AS A SUBSYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION AMONG PSYCHOLOGISTS

In the preface to his text, Language and communication (1951), George A. Miller calls attention to the view that “communication, if it is anything at all, is a social event. The spread of informati...
Thermodynamic considerations of the setting reaction in Ag3Sn amalgams.

Summary The setting reaction of Ag,Sn amalgams may be thought of as a liquid phase sintering problem in which the reactants seek to form products with the lowest thermodynamic potential. We discuss the thermodynamic and kinetic considerations of this reaction. The lowering of free energy has been given as the rewon for the formation of the yl, y2, and PI phases and a qualitative reaction coordinate diagram has been hypothesized. The barrier height for the formation of the phase has been determined to be 137 kJ/mol.
Energy partition in near-barrier strongly damped collisions Ni 58 + 208 Pb

Neutron spectra from the inverse-kinematics reaction {sup 58}Ni+{sup 208}Pb at {ital E}{sub lab}/{ital A}=6.65 MeV have been measured in coincidence with nickel-like fragments. Neutron emission patterns for net pickup and stripping channels have been analyzed in terms of sequential evaporation from fully accelerated projectile-like and target-like fragments. Like at higher energies, these patterns suggest an absence of appreciable correlations between net mass transfer and excitation energy division for strongly damped collisions, at the present near-barrier energy. The overall multiplicities, as well as energy spectra and angular distributions of neutrons, are well reproduced by simulation calculations, assuming an energy division always in favor of the heavy fragment.
Neuregulin 1 transgenic mice display reduced mismatch negativity, contextual fear conditioning and social interactions.

Introduction Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) is one of susceptibility genes for schizophrenia and plays critical roles in glutamatergic, dopaminergic and GABAergic signaling. Using mutant mice heterozygous for Nrg1 (Nrg1+/−) we studied the effects of Nrg1 signaling on behavioral and electrophysiological measures relevant to schizophrenia.
The effect of coalescence on drop size distribution in an agitated liquid-liquid dispersion

A procedure involving high speed cine photography and novel optical probes has been used to study droplet interaction phenomena in liquid-liquid dispersions. Coalescence and breakup events were observed and the rate of coalescence was measured at various positions in a stirred tank for dispersions of methylisobutylketone in water. For the conditions studied, drop breakup occurred near the impeller and droplet coalescence predominated at other locations, as expected. However, the extent of this behavior was unexpected. Beyond distances from the impeller region of order of only 16 the impeller diameter, breakup was virtually nonexistent. Outside the impeller region, extensive coalescence measurements showed (1) collisions between droplets are extremely inefficient for this chemically equilibrated system—at most 10% of collisions result in a coalescence, (2) only binary coalescence occurs even at the highest dispersed phase concentration investigated, (3) coalescence rate shows little preference on drop size, and (4) the coalescence rate is directly proportional to turbulence level; that is, the highest coalescence rates occur closest to the impeller. On the basis of these measurements, drop balance methods and a circulation path model were used to relate the drop size distribution at various locations in the region where coalescence predominates. In this case good agreement was obtained between measured and predicted drop size distributions.
Trait Ratings of Student Nurses

A rating scale of 47 items was developed in an attempt to predict progress for student nurses in eight areas delineated by authorities as important for professional success in nursing. Reliability of the scale and reliability of the criterion were presented. A table of correlations representing the relative efficiency of each trait as a predictor variable of student nursing progress was given. It was noted that, as clinical instructors become more familiar with their students, they tend to continue to rely on the personal characteristics of the students in making evaluative judgments but also more on potential professional ability as indicated by developing professional skills.
Role of S3 and S4 transmembrane domain charged amino acids in channel biogenesis and gating of KCa2.3 and KCa3.1.

The role of positively charged arginines in the fourth transmembrane domain (S4) and a single negatively charged amino acid in the third transmembrane domain (S3) on channel biogenesis and gating of voltage-gated K+ channels (Kv) has been well established. Both intermediate (KCa3.1) and small (KCa2.x) conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channels have two conserved arginines in S4 and a single conserved glutamic acid in S3, although these channels are voltage-independent. We demonstrate that mutation of any of these charged amino acids in KCa3.1 or KCa2.3 to alanine, glutamine, or charge reversal mutations results in a rapid degradation (
Patterning in the C. elegans embryo

Abstract Recent studies reveal preliminary insights into the mechanisms of embryonic patterning in Caenobabditis elegans. It appears that both embryonic axes and early blastomere fates are determined by a combination of segregating determinants and cell interactions, under the control of maternally expressed genes. Later in embryogenesis, some regional identities are specified by a group of homeotic selector genes homologous to the HOM-C clusters in other animals. Interviewing stages of specification, which could link these two classes of genes in a regulatory hierarchy, are beginning to be investigated.
Study on the Key Technology of Intelligent Transformer

The development of smart grid puts higher requirement on the intelligentization of high-voltage equipment including transformers. At present, the intelligentization of transformers is mainly realized through intelligent components. The combination of intelligent components and transformer can realize the measurement, control, calculation, inspection and protection of the transformer. This paper detailedly described the hardware design framework and software function modules of transformer intelligent components, as well as the expert diagnosis system applied to transformer intelligent components. The intelligent components designed by this paper have been successfully applied to 220kV intelligent substation, which is operating stably and reliably. This can promote the development of intelligentized primary power equipment and smart grid as well.
An NF-Y Binding Site Is Important for Basal, but Not Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone-stimulated, Expression of the Luteinizing Hormone β Subunit Gene

Regulated synthesis of luteinizing hormone (LH) requires coordinated transcriptional control of the α and LHβ subunits in pituitary gonadotropes. Several cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors have been defined for control of the LHβ promoter through heterologous cell culture models. In this report, we describe the identification of bipartite NF-Y (CBF/CP1) binding sites within the proximal bovine LHβ promoter. When multimerized, one of these sites activates the heterologous, minimal HSV thymidine kinase promoter in the gonadotrope-derived cell line αT3-1. The functional role of the promoter-distal site in regulating the full-length bovine LHβ promoter was assessed in vivousing transgenic mice harboring a mutant promoter linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. While this element is important for conferring high level activity of the LHβ promoter in pituitary, it does not appear to be essential for mediating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulation. This is the first characterization of a cis-acting element within this GnRH-dependent promoter that is restricted to regulating basal expression and not GnRH-induced activity.
Repeated Anaerobic Microbial Redox Cycling of Iron

Some nitrate- and Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms are capable of oxidizing Fe(II) with nitrate as the electron acceptor. This enzymatic pathway may facilitate the development of anaerobic microbial communities that take advantage of the energy available during Fe-N redox oscillations. We examined this phenomenon in synthetic Fe(III) oxide (nanocrystalline goethite) suspensions inoculated with microflora from freshwater river floodplain sediments. Nitrate and acetate were added at alternate intervals in order to induce repeated cycles of microbial Fe(III) reduction and nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation. Addition of nitrate to reduced, acetate-depleted suspensions resulted in rapid Fe(II) oxidation and accumulation of ammonium. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis of material from Fe redox cycling reactors showed amorphous coatings on the goethite nanocrystals that were not observed in reactors operated under strictly nitrate- or Fe(III)-reducing conditions. Microbial communities associated with N and Fe redox metabolism were assessed using a combination of most-probable-number enumerations and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The nitrate-reducing and Fe(III)-reducing cultures were dominated by denitrifying Betaproteobacteria (e.g., Dechloromonas) and Fe(III)-reducing Deltaproteobacteria (Geobacter), respectively; these same taxa were dominant in the Fe cycling cultures. The combined chemical and microbiological data suggest that both Geobacter and various Betaproteobacteria participated in nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation in the cycling cultures. Microbially driven Fe-N redox cycling may have important consequences for both the fate of N and the abundance and reactivity of Fe(III) oxides in sediments.
Potential Energy Curves for Dissociative Recombination

The direct dissociative recombination (DR) of a diatomic molecular ion, AB+, with an electron is described by AB++e where AB* → AB* A + B is a repulsive state of the neutral molecule which dissociates directly to A and B. The dissociation prevents the emission of an electron by AB* and accounts for the high rate of electron recombination with molecular ions compared to atomic ions. This paper presents a discussion of ab initio calculations of potential energy curves for the AB* and AB+ states in (1). Results for recent large scale calculations for O2 are presented along with additional results for H2 and He2.These calculations provide answers to the following questions: What are the identities of the molecular states responsible for DR? What are the translational energies and states of the resulting atoms? How do the atomic state quantum yields vary with ion vibrational excitation and electron temperature?
Life-Cycle Inventory of Particleboard in Terms of Resources, Emissions, Energy and Carbon

Life-cycle inventory (LCI) data are needed to scientifically document the environmental performance of materials for applications as governed by the many new green building standards, purchasing guidelines, and energy and climate change policy issues. This study develops the LCI data for particleboard, a composite wood panel product comprised of wood particles, urea-formaldehyde resin, wax, and other additives. Data are given for both gate-to-gate (particleboard manufacture) and cradle-to-gate (from the product upstream to in-ground resources) that, in addition to gate-to-gate impacts, include those to produce and deliver input fuels, electricity, water, wood residue, resin, wax, catalyst, and scavenger. LCI output data are given per 1.0 m 3 of particleboard in terms of raw materials use and emissions to air, water, and land. Data are also presented on embodied energy, carbon flux, store, and footprint. Particleboard has favorable characteristics in terms of energy use and carbon store. Of significance for the LCI of particleboard is the large component of embodied energy because of the use of wood fuel, a renewable resource, and its small carbon footprint, which lessens its impact on climate change.
Effect of Total Contact Cast Immobilization on Subtalar and Talocrural Joint Motion in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of total contact casting (TCC) on dorsiflexion at the talocrural joint (TCJ) and motion (inversion/eversion) at the subtalar joint (STJ). Subjects. Thirty-seven patients (29 men, 8 women), ranging in age from 32 to 79 years (X=54, SD=11), with diabetes mellitus and a unilateral plantar ulceration participated in the study. Methods. The subjects were measured with a goniometer for dorsiflexion and STJ range of motion (ROM). The ROMs for each subject's casted and noncasted legs were compared before and after treatment with TCC for neuropathic plantar ulcers by use of a 2×2 repeated-measures analysis of variance design. Results. Mean time of immobilization in TCC (healing time) was 42 days (SD=43, range=8–119). The results indicated (1) ROM was unchanged at the STJ, but dorsiflexion decreased slightly (1°) on both the casted and noncasted sides following the last cast removal, and (2) ROM was less on the ulcerated side prior to casting compared with the nonulcerated side. Conclusion and Discussion. We believe the beneficial effects (healing of wounds) outweigh the minimal detrimental effects (decreased dorsiflexion) of treatment with TCC.
Classical, modern, and postmodern psychoanalysis: Epistemic transformations

The work of Grunbaum is situated within an evolving epistemic schema as reflected in the history of psychoanalysis. His views are representative of an outmoded model of psychoanalytic practice, but also serve as a cogent critique of the underlying assumptions of this classical model, which can be called the causal‐essentialist view. Subsequent anti‐essen‐tialist developments in post‐Freudian thought have been instrumental in transforming the methodology and goals of psychoanalysis into hermeneutically oriented modern‐humanistic and postmodern‐histori‐cist outlooks. These newer construals of analysis treat rationality as having a wider purview than causal explanatory science. It b suggested that the unique epistemic tension that characterizes psychoanalysis is the result of the elusive interrelationship of its explanatory, descriptive, and prescriptive features.
Refraction of surface gravity waves by shear waves

Previous field observations indicate that the directional spread of swell-frequency (nominally 0.1 Hz) surface gravity waves increases during shoreward propagation across the surf zone. This directional broadening contrasts with the narrowing observed seaward of the surf zone and predicted by Snell’s law for bathymetric refraction. Field-observed broadening was predicted by a new model for refraction of swell by lower-frequency (nominally 0.01 Hz) current and elevation fluctuations. The observations and the model suggest that refraction by the cross-shore currents of energetic shear waves contributed substantially to the observed broadening.
Observational study of patient-ventilator asynchrony and relationship to sedation level.

Abstract Purpose Clinicians frequently administer sedation to facilitate mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sedation level and patient-ventilator asynchrony. Materials and Methods Airway pressure and airflow were recorded for 15 minutes. Patient-ventilator asynchrony was assessed by determining the number of breaths demonstrating ineffective triggering, double triggering, short cycling, and prolonged cycling. Ineffective triggering index (ITI) was calculated by dividing the number of ineffectively triggered breaths by the total number of breaths (triggered and ineffectively triggered). Sedation level was assessed by the following 3 methods: Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), awake (yes or no), and delirium (Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit [CAM-ICU]). Results Twenty medical ICU patients underwent 35 observations. Ineffective triggering was seen in 17 of 20 patients and was the most frequent asynchrony (88% of all asynchronous breaths), being observed in 9% ± 12% of breaths. Deeper levels of sedation were associated with increasing ITI (awake, yes 2% vs no 11%; P P P Conclusions Asynchrony is common, and deeper sedation level is a predictor of ineffective triggering.
The Sexuality of Gay Men with HIV Infection

Gay men who have been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are living longer, healthier lives. As a result, many experience continued sexual interest. This article, based on the author's four years as a support group facilitator for men with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), explores the sexual needs and expression of gay men with HIV infection. Several potential positive functions of a sustained sex life for these men and the factors that inhibit sexual expression are explored. Issues influencing social work practice related to the sexual needs of this growing population are discussed; suggestions for effective and humane services are presented.
Misunderstandings About the Regression Discontinuity Design in the Study of Close Elections

Recently, the regression discontinuity (RD) design has become increasingly popular among social scientists. One prominent application is the study of close elections. We explicate several methodological misunderstandings widespread across disciplines by revisiting the controversy concerning the validity of RD design when applied to close elections. Although many researchers invoke the local or as-if-random assumption near the threshold, it is more stringent than the required continuity assumption. We show that this seemingly subtle point determines the appropriateness of various statistical methods and changes our understanding of how sorting invalidates the design. When multiple-testing problems are also addressed, we find that evidence for sorting in US House elections is substantially weaker and highly dependent on estimation methods. Finally, we caution that despite the temptation to improve the external validity, the extrapolation of RD estimates away from the threshold sacrifices the design's advant...
Privacy issues: systems about which our students need to know

This article describes the need for our students to be fully aware of the potential dangers to our freedoms resulting from systems that they may be asked to design and program when they enter the workforce. The author suggests that students be told about questionable systems which are current and about systems planned for the future that could have severe consequences for our freedoms due to a loss of privacy. A major goal of any totalitarian system is to know everything about every citizen. For example, the East German Stasi was one of these systems. A major goal of the Stasi was to know "everything" about everybody. The more information the Stasi had, the more effectively they could control the population. The author is not suggesting that a Stasi-like system will come to the United States, but we are evolving into a society where the government has access to far too much data about its citizens. A country only has freedom as long as the citizens are vigilant; and vigilance to privacy issues is extremely important. If there are information systems that present a danger to our freedoms, then our students need to know about them so that they will be better prepared to say "no" to their involvement. This article discusses only systems about which students may not be aware.
Human Mononuclear Phagocytes Differentiation Antigens

Through a series of irreversible events, the progenitor cell committed to the mononuclear phagocyte lineage differentiates into blood monocytes and fluid or tissue macrophages. These successive maturational events, as well as reversible modulations induced by certain local stimuli, reflect the expression of specific gene products and the repression of others. Taken together they explain the morphological, functional and biochemical heterogeneity that characterizes the diverse members of this cell lineage. The analysis of these gene products found on the mononuclear phagocyte membrane has recently been approached through the use of monoclonal antibody technology (1–3). This report is a summary of studies on the mononuclear phagocyte cell surface phenotype utilizing a series of monoclonal antibodies developed in this laboratory (4,5).
Teaching Hispanic Feminisms

With 25 years’ experience teaching in the Hispanic Studies classroom, I have experimented in several different ways with the incorporation of the “gender question,” thus establishing a long pedagogical trajectory open to critical reflection.
Relation between frequencies and adaptive values of chromosomal arrangements in Drosophila persimilis

Chromosomal polymorphism exists in many populations of Drosophila to assist the species in making adaptive responses to environmental diversity (da Cunha, 1955; Dobzhansky, 1955). Each chromosomal arrangement possesses groups of genes organized by selective forces to produce an adaptive phenotype either by itself or in combination with other arrangements of the same chromosome "coadaptation"). A well adapted Drosophila population may respond to fluctuations in environmental conditions by altering its net gene pool, that is either by changing the frequencies of chromosomal arrangements or by redistributing the genic contents of any chromosomal unit. Apparently chromosomal frequency responses assist the species in exploitation of seasonal changes as well as geographic variation. It has been shown that such a gene pool responds rapidly with precision of determination when confronted with any laboratory environmental complex differing in not too great degree from its native complex. On the contrary an artificial population contrived by mixing individuals descended from diverse populations is not predictable as the outcome of its responsive changes (Dobzhansky and Pavlovsky, 1953; Dobzhansky, 1954). In this latter population the gene pool is unique with no recent selective history; in some cases chromosomal arrangements may become coadapted, in other cases they may not,
Synchronization Phenomena in Modelocked Parametric Frequency Combs

We show that the modelocking dynamics in parametric frequency combs is equivalent to synchronization phenomena that occur in many physical systems as described by the Kuramoto model for coupled oscillators.
Towards a More Complete Understanding of PMN-PT 4 Point Bend Specimen Behavior

ASTM Standard C1161 is often used to determine fracture performance of piezoelectric materials. The basic geometry of C1161 is a four-point beam subjected to mechanical loading. When single crystal PMN-PT was recently subjected to this test unexpected results were observed. Fracture did not occur at the defects incorporated into the specimens nor did failure occur at locations of where maximum stress or strain was predicted by mechanical analyses. Computational tools were then applied to determine piezoelectric material response in this geometry with applied mechanical loading. Conventional finite element codes with piezoelectric material constitutive response using linear behavior models were used. Rather than duplicate the experimental work, the goal of this analysis was to provide insight into the electric fields that would be generated due to mechanical loading of the four-point bend specimen and the resulting variations in stress and deformations. Variation in poling directions is examined. Three different four-point bend configurations are considered. In each specimen the poling direction is aligned with one of the axes of the geometry. The computational study was done as a pre-screening analysis to determine if further understanding of the piezoelectric phenomenon could be expected in a series of experiments of similar design. Experimental work is currently under development based on the computational results of this study. The intent is to used computational analysis to advance understanding to enhance experimental design.
Comprehensive Care for Pediatric Obesity in Primary Care Setting

Test the feasibility of integrating evidence based pediatric obesity treatment into medical home model in primary care setting. Chronic disease management principles were utilized along with electronic medical record (EMR) tools to standardize the process of diagnosis and treatment of pediatric obesity. We utilized a multidisciplinary team approach in a novel Countdown to Healthy Living program (CHLP), where children and their families were taught to focus daily on the following: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables 4 or more glasses of water 3 cups of …
Outcomes in Moderate Mixed Aortic Valve Disease: Is it Time for a Paradigm Shift?

Abstract Background A direct comparison of outcomes between moderate mixed aortic valve disease (MAVD) and isolated aortic stenosis (AS) or aortic regurgitation (AR) has not been performed, making evidence-based recommendations difficult in patients with MAVD. Objectives This study sought to determine adverse event (AE) occurrence (the primary endpoint), defined as New York Heart Association functional class III/IV symptoms, aortic valve replacement, or cardiac death, and to compare AE rates between MAVD and isolated AS or AR. Methods Asymptomatic patients were identified with moderate MAVD and an ejection fraction ≥50% and were followed at Mayo Clinic from 1994 to 2013. Moderate MAVD was defined as a combination of moderate AS and moderate AR. Age- and sex-matched control groups were selected with isolated moderate AR (n = 117), moderate AS (n = 117), or severe AS (n = 117). Results At 9.1 ± 4.2 years of follow-up, patients with moderate MAVD (n = 251) had a mean age of 63 ± 11 years, 73% were male, and 38% had bicuspid valve. AE occurred in 193 (77%) patients in this group, including symptom development (69%), aortic valve replacement (67%), and cardiac death (4%). Predictors of AE were older age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.71 per decade; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38 to 1.97 per decade; p = 0.001), and relative wall thickness >0.42 (HR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.86 to 2.33; p = 0.002). AE rates were similar in the MAVD and severe AS group (71% vs. 68% at 5 years; p = 0.49), but were significantly higher compared with the moderate AS and AR groups. Conclusions MAVD patients had outcomes comparable to those with severe AS, and preserved ejection fraction and should be monitored closely for symptoms.
Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of Narrative Exposure Therapy to Address IPV-related Mental Health in Parenting and Pregnant Adolescents

Many urban, low-income adolescents experience violence, often resulting in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) facilitates therapeutic processing of traumatic memories. This purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of NET among adolescents at-risk for PTSD and depression. Two community-based agencies hosted five focus groups with adolescents (n = 28), aged 18–21, predominantly African- American (71 %) and female (61 %) and one with adolescent service providers (n = 11). Pope’s coding framework (2000) and the Socio-Ecological Model for violence prevention (Krug et al. in The Lancet, 360(9339), 1083–1088, 2002) elicited perceived barriers and facilitators to NET. Individual, relationship, and community level barriers and facilitators to NET therapy engagement were identified. The findings indicate participants have favorable attitudes about NET and the provision of the therapy within trusted community agencies. The results will inform the next steps of NET implementation, training, and psychoeducation.
Health Promotion Practices Among Physicians

Personal belief concerning both the validity of health promotion and the physician’s ability to influence patient behavior may affect how much effort a physician spends on health promotion strategies. We assessed these beliefs through a mail survey to physicians practicing in a predominantly rural southern state in 1987 (n = 83) and 1991 (n = 96). Response rates in both studies exceeded 75%. The instrument was obtained from similar studies conducted in Massachusetts in 1981 and Maryland in 1983. Between 1987 and 1991 we found slight improvements in the perceived importance of many health behaviors, but significant improvement was observed in the importance of reducing intake of dietary saturated fat (66% in 1987 to 80% in 1991; P
The relationship between executive function impairment and serotonergic sensitivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder

While studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have demonstrated both neuropsychological and serotonergic (5-HT) dysfunction, none have integrated these two spheres. We report concomitant abnormalities in both areas that may impact on the pathophysiology and treatment of OCD. We utilized Trail-making B-A, a neuropsychological test of cognitive set-switching, to highlight executive function abnormalities in OCD patients (N = 50) and normal controls (N = 31). OCD patients were found to be significantly impaired on Trails B-A. Prolactin response to double-blind, single-dose meta-chlorophenyl piperazine (m-CPP) and placebo served as a measure of 5-HT sensitivity. OCD patients (N = 42) had a blunted prolactin response to m-CPP, in contrast to normal controls (N = 15 ; F = 2.462 ; df = 3.62 ; p = 0.06). Of interest, the peak δ-prolactin response to m-CPP significantly negatively correlated with frontal lobe set-switching impairment in OCD patients (r = 0.37, n = 26, p = 0.03) but not in normal controls. This suggested that OCD patients with greater frontal lobe impairment had concomitantly more substantial serotonergic dysfunction.
A calcium-dependent acyltransferase that produces N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines

More than 30 years ago, a calcium-dependent enzyme activity was described that generates N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs), which are precursors for N-acyl ethanolamine (NAE) lipid transmitters, including the endocannabinoid anandamide. The identity of this calcium-dependent N-acyltransferase (Ca-NAT) has remained mysterious. Here, we use activity-based protein profiling to identify the poorly characterized serine hydrolase PLA2G4E as a mouse brain Ca-NAT and show that this enzyme generates NAPEs and NAEs in mammalian cells.
Why do Inconsistencies Persist in Children´s Rights to “Good” Education, Heritage Education and STEM Education?

The question of children’s rights in general and of children’s education, in particular, has been for over 20 years the focus of comparative education literature as well as in the development literature (Babaci-Wilhite, 2014; Jonsson, 2001). Champions of children’s rights, emphasize that children everywhere consist of a vulnerable age group and therefore, need protections.
ANIMATE VISION USES OBJECT-CENTERED REFERENCE FRAMES

Animate vision systems have gaze control mechanisms that can actively position the camera coordinate system in response to physical stimuli. Compared to passive systems, animate systems show that visual computation can be vastly less expensive when considered in the larger context of behavior. The most important visual behavior is the ability to control the direction of gaze. This allows the use of very low resolution imaging that has a high virtual resolution. Using such a system in a controlled way provides additional constraints that dramatically simplify the computations of early vision. An additional source of economy is introduced when behaviors are learned. Because errors are rarely fatal, systems using learning algorithms can amortize computational cost over extended periods. Further economies can be achieved when the learning system uses indexical reference, which is a form of dynamic variable binding. Animate vision is a natural way of implementing this dynamic binding.
Neonatal Electrographic Seizures

Preterm and full-term neonates with electrographically confirmed seizures were compared at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The incidence of seizures for all neonates admitted to a neonatal ICU was 2.3%.
Superluminal ring laser as a Holy-Grail of precision metrology: Rotation sensing, accelerometry, fiber-optic sensing and gravitational wave detection

A superluminal ring laser (SRL) is a laser in which the group velocity of light far exceeds, by a factor as large as a million, the vacuum speed of light, without violating special relativity or causality. This behavior results from the so-called fast light effect, corresponding to critically tuned anomalous dispersion. The anomalous dispersion is produced by adding inside the ring cavity an auxiliary medium that produces a narrow dip in the broad-band gain profile produced by the main gain medium. In an SRL, the change in the laser frequency, as a function of a change in the cavity length, is enhanced by a factor of nearly a million, when compared to that of a conventional ring laser. This effect can be used for enhancing the sensitivity of many devices, including a gyroscope, and accelerometer, and a fiber optic sensor. It can also be configured to realize a novel type of gravitational wave detector. We have realized an SRL using a buffer gas loaded Rb vapor cell, pumped on the D1 line, as the main gain medium, and an additional Rb vapor cell for producing the anomalous dispersion via Raman induced pump depletion. In this talk, the author will describe the behavior of this SRL, and outline the various applications we are pursuing, including rotation sensing and accelerometry for inertial navigation under GPS-denied conditions, and gravitational wave detection. He will also describe a fiber-optic based SRL, employing dual peaked Brillouin gain, for ultra-sensitive, general purpose fiber optic sensing.
Rough Set-Based Feature Selection Techniques

Rough set theory has been successfully used for feature selection techniques. The underlying concepts provided by RST help find representative features by eliminating the redundant ones. In this chapter, we will present various feature selection techniques which use RST concepts.
ISOLATED CARDIAC MANIFESTATIONS OF HUMAN LEUCOCYTE ANTIGEN B27 (HLA-B27): AN AUTOIMMUNE ENIGMA

Seronegative human leucocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) associated cardiac disease occurs rarely. A 53-year-old African American woman presented with syncope and dyspnea for 1 month. Cardiac exam revealed left parasternal heave with grade 2/6 apical holosystolic murmur. Brain natriuretic peptide was
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options for Men with Significant Urinary Symptoms and Enlarged Prostates

A 74-year-old man with Gleason 7 (3 + 4) prostate cancer with significant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and AUA symptom score 21 declines radical prostatectomy. Prostate size by ultrasound measurement is 60 cm3. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measures 10 ng/mL. Prostate cancer associated with a symptomatic and enlarged prostate can be a challenging condition, and a multimodal therapy approach is preferred. As this patient prefers an alternative to radical surgery, a combination of techniques is advised to alleviate outlet obstructive symptoms and as well provide effective cancer control.