cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychiatry and Race during World War II

Although the American literature on "war neuroses" expanded during World War II, psychiatrists remained more interested in dramatic instances of "combat fatigue" than in the problems of soldiers who broke down far from the field of battle. This bias in the medical literature shaped both diagnosis and treatment. It had an especially powerful effect on African American soldiers who, in the "Jim Crow" army of World War II, were assigned in disproportionate numbers to service units. When military neuropsychiatrists did write about troubled young African Americans, many revealed a racial conservatism that was surprising given the liberal environmentalist paradigm of the day. (Here, a particularly useful source is the two-volume history of Neuropsychiatry in World War II, produced by the Medical Department of the U.S. Army.) The major challenge to such views came from the National Medical Association (NMA). Despite its many criticisms of military medicine, the NMA argued that African American soldiers and veterans needed more, not fewer, psychiatric services. NMA members also joined their white counterparts in the campaign to diminish the stigma of mental illness, especially among the families of soldiers returning home. We need more investigation of the subsequent history of race and psychiatry, especially within the Veterans Administration.
Correlation between the elastic shear instability mechanism and empirical criteria for irradiation-induced amorphization

Abstract In an attempt to correlate the shear instability mechanism with empirical criteria for irradiation-induced amorphization, shear moduli of an A3B-type fcc crystal were calculated as a function of the chemical long range order parameter S using a Morse potential. The shear moduli were found to decrease with decreasing S. When the depth and the curvature of the A-B potential were changed while keeping the A-A and B-B potentials constant, the magnitude of the decrease in shear moduli is greater for deeper and narrower A-B potentials. The present results indicate that a shear instability should occur more readily in compounds with larger ordering energy and larger elastic moduli. These results agree with the reported empirical criteria for irradiation-induced amorphization, therefore providing further support for the shear instability mechanism for solid-state amorphization.
Gender and ethnic classification of face images

The paper considers hybrid classification architectures for gender and ethnic classification of human faces and shows their feasibility using a collection of 3006 face images corresponding to 1009 subjects from the FERET database. The hybrid approach consists of an ensemble of RBF networks and inductive decision trees (DT). Experimental cross validation (CV) results yield on average accuracy rate of (a) 96% on the gender classification task and (b) 94% on the ethnic classification task. The benefits of the hybrid architecture include (i) robustness via query by consensus provided by the ensembles of RBF networks, and (ii) flexible and adaptive thresholds as opposed to ad hoc and hard thresholds provided by using only DT.
Blocking Serotonin Biosynthesis

The study of few substances has contributed more interesting biological fact and biological controversy than serotonin. The wide distribution of the substance in animals and plants, the pronounced physiological effects produced by exogenous serotonin, its dramatic interactions with many important drugs, and the alterations in serotonin metabolism in several disease states all have served to sustain keen interest in this substance. But achievement of the ultimate goal of serotonin research is certainly not yet in sight. Stated succinctly, this goal is the unequivocal identification of serotonin's natural physiological functions. As we approach this objective, many of the most elusive problems of neurophysiology and smooth muscle research will move nearer solution. With the recent discovery of a means to block serotonin biosynthesis effectively in vivo, the amine has become the focus of a concerted new research effort.
Effect of drug loading and laser surface melting on drug release profile from biodegradable polymer

The biodegradable polymer such as poly(l-lactic acid) is promising in drug delivery applications because it allows for drug release in a controlled manner. In a polymer-based drug delivery system, drug release is controlled by polymer degradation and drug loading concentration. In this study, effect of drug concentration on drug release profile is investigated through polymer crystallinity, chain mobility, and polymer degradation, as characterized by the wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. The addition of drug has been shown to accelerate polymer degradation and drug release rate. With a low drug concentration, the slow polymer degradation kinetics results in an induction period of drug release, during which a limited amount of drug is released. The induction period is undesirable because it delays drug release and effectiveness. Since drug release is controlled by polymer degradation, which is a function of polymer crystallinity, laser surface melting is conducted to reduce polymer surface crystallinity and modify its degradation. The effect of laser crystallinity modification on drug release is investigated. A numerical model is also implemented based on hydrolysis and diffusion mechanisms to investigate the effects of drug loading and laser surface melting on polymer degradation and drug release process. It has been demonstrated that laser treatment shortens the induction period of drug release while keeps the release rate unmodified, as desired in drug delivery applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4147–4156, 2013
A practical method for randoms subtraction in volume imaging PET from detector singles countrate measurements

Randoms subtraction in a volume imaging PET scanner is a significant problem due to the high singles countrates experienced. The delayed coincidence method requires double counting of randoms events and results in a lowered countrate capability. Calculations based on detector singles countrates require complex corrections for countrate dependent livetime and event acceptance due to the camera coincidence processing between the detector and rebinned randoms countrates. The profile distribution method has been used to estimate and subtract both scatter and randoms background but this method is a compromise and couples these 2 sources of background together. In order to avoid these problems and provide accurate subtraction of both the distribution and magnitude of randoms contamination in the scan data we have developed an alternative singles based method. The singles distributions are measured across the detectors and are used to construct a randoms distribution sinogram. This distribution is scaled to the appropriate rebinned randoms countrate by means of a lookup table of randoms countrate vs detector singles countrate, generated from phantom calibrations. The advantages of performing randoms subtraction by this method are: (1) there is no increase in camera deadtime, (2) the method compensates for non-uniformities in randoms distributions due to both the activity distribution and non-uniform geometric response of the camera for on and off bankpairs, and (3) it deals with randoms subtraction independently of scatter so that different scatter correction routines may then be applied to the data. Phantom tests at high countrates with /sup 18/F, and also with a single-photon emitter, /sup 137/Cs, where all measured events are randoms, have shown the method to reliably represent the randoms distribution. Comparisons have been made with the profile distribution and delayed coincidence methods and the new method has been successfully applied to body PET studies.
Adaptive Evolution of Relish, a Drosophila NF-κB/IκB Protein

NF-kappaB and IkappaB proteins have central roles in regulation of inflammation and innate immunity in mammals. Homologues of these proteins also play an important role in regulation of the Drosophila immune response. Here we present a molecular population genetic analysis of Relish, a Drosophila NF-kappaB/IkappaB protein, in Drosophila simulans and D. melanogaster. We find strong evidence for adaptive protein evolution in D. simulans, but not in D. melanogaster. The adaptive evolution appears to be restricted to the IkappaB domain. A possible explanation for these results is that Relish is a site of evolutionary conflict between flies and their microbial pathogens.
Value of Enzyme Supplements in Rations Containing Certain Legume Seed Meals or Gums

Abstract THE seed of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) is the source of a gum used in several industries. The remaining seed meal is relatively high in protein. The amino acid content of the guar bean protein (Van Etten et al., 1961) should make guar meal a useful protein supplement for poultry, although its lysine content is too low for a high quality supplement for the chick. Arrington et al. (1955) and Borchers and Ackerson (1950) have reported that the growth rate of rats was low when they were fed rations with guar meal as the protein source. Sathe and Bose (1961) found that guar meal seemed to contain a factor deleterious to growing chickens. Vogt and Penner (1963) reported that feed consumption, weight gain, and feed efficiency were reduced when guar meal replaced soybean meal in broiler rations. When guar meal was offered to a poultry feed manufacturer in this area, a…
Permutation codes: achieving the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff

This paper considers reliable communication over a parallel (correlated) fading channel for short periods of time. We derive a code design criterion by taking a compound channel viewpoint of the outage capacity of the channel. Motivated by the criterion, we show existence of simple codes that achieve the optimal diversity-multiplexing tradeoff curve, introduced recently in (Zheng, L et al., 2003), simultaneously for every correlated parallel channel. We demonstrate a code with simple encoding and decoding for a parallel channel with two diversity branches. The codes for the parallel channel can be used on a correlated MIMO channel by using the DBLAST architecture to simultaneously achieve the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff curve for arbitrary fading channels.
Normal Female Germ Cell Differentiation Requires the Female X Chromosome to Autosome Ratio and Expression of Sex-Lethal in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

In somatic cells of Drosophila, the ratio of X chromosomes to autosomes (X:A ratio) determines sex and dosage compensation. The present paper addresses the question of whether germ cells also use the X:A ratio for sex determination and dosage compensation. Triploid female embryos were generated which, through the loss of an unstable ring-X chromosome, contained some germ cells of 2X;3A constitution in their ovaries. Such germ cells were shown to differentiate along one of two alternative pathways: a minority developed into normal female oocytes and eggs; the majority developed into abnormal multicellular cysts. An X:A ratio of 1 is, therefore, required in female germ cell development, at least in the mature ovary after stem cell division.—Abnormal development of female germ cells was also observed when 2X;2A germ cells which were homozygous or trans -heterozygous for mutant alleles at the Sex-lethal locus were transplanted into normal female host embryos at the blastoderm stage. Germ cells homozygous for amorphic alleles failed to give rise to normal eggs. Instead, they formed multicellular cysts, very similar to those formed by 2X;3A cells. Zygotic Sxl+ activity is, therefore, also necessary for the development of normal female germ cells. No abnormalities were detected in transplanted germ cells from female embryos whose mothers had been homozygous for the mutation daughterless. When normal XY germ cells were transplanted into female embryos, no traces of such cells could be found in the adult ovary. XY germ cells seem, therefore, not to develop as far as 2X;3A or Sxl homozygous cells in a female gonad. This indicates that neither 2X;3A nor Sxl homozygous germ cells are equivalent to normal XY germ cells.
A simple method for solar energetic particle event dose forecasting

Bayesian, non-linear regression models or artificial neural networks are used to make predictions of dose and dose rate time profiles using calculated dose and/or dose rates soon after event onset. Both methods match a new event to similar historical events before making predictions for the new events. The currently developed Bayesian method categorizes a new event based on calculated dose rates up to 5 h (categorization window) after event onset. Categories are determined using ranges of dose rates from previously observed SEP events. These categories provide a range of predicted asymptotic dose for the new event. The model then goes on to make predictions of dose and dose rate time profiles out to 120 h beyond event onset. We know of no physical significance to our 5 h categorization window. In this paper, we focus on the efficacy of a simple method for SEP event asymptotic dose forecasting. Instead of making temporal predictions of dose and dose rate, we investigate making predictions of ranges of asymptotic dose using only dose rates at times prior to 5 h after event onset. A range of doses may provide sufficient information to make operational decisions such as taking emergency shelter or commencing/canceling extra-vehicular operations. Specifically, predicted ranges of doses that are found to be insignificant for the effect of interest would be ignored or put on a watch list while predicted ranges of greater significance would be used in the operational decision making progress.
Chip Electrophoresis as a Method for Quantifying Total Microalbuminuria

Background: Microalbuminuria is an important prognostic marker in diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular disease. Initially, most commercial assays used immunoreactivity to quantify microalbuminuria; however, size-exclusion HPLC demonstrated the existence of nonimmunoreactive forms of albumin that may not be detected by immunoassay. Recent liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses suggested that size-exclusion HPLC gave higher results attributable to other urine proteins coeluting with albumin. We describe an assay that measures total microalbuminuria (immunoreactive and nonimmunoreactive) without any discernable interference from other common urine proteins. Methods: We used an automated chip electrophoresis system that utilized microfluidic separation technology and fluorescent sample detection. Each albumin specimen was mixed with the manufacturer’s sample buffer in addition to a chicken albumin internal calibrator and then electrophoresed without additional reducing agents. Results: With variable concentrations of bovine serum albumin normalized to a chicken albumin internal calibrator, the electrophoresis system was best fit with a polynomial ( R 2 = 0.9997; concentration range, 5–300 mg/L). The lower limit of detection was 5 mg/L. Interchip and intrachip variation studies conducted on patient urine demonstrated CVs of 3%–13%. The introduction of potentially interfering agents (i.e., molecular analytes, nonalbumin proteins) did not alter precision. Compared with immunoassay, the chip electrophoresis identified higher microalbuminuria concentrations in all urine samples. The method also clearly resolved the albumin peak from interfering proteins. Conclusions: Unlike immunoassay, chip electrophoresis can detect both immunoreactive and nonimmunoreactive forms of albumin. This system is a simple, robust method to quantify microalbuminuria with good sensitivity, precision, and accuracy.
Synthesis and luminescence of yellow/orange‐emitting poly[tris(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)‐ alt‐(1,3‐phenylenevinylene)]s

Soluble yellow/orange-emitting poly[tris(2,5-dihexyloxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene)-alt- (1,3-phenylenevinylene)] derivatives (6) have been synthesized and characterized. These polymers contain oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) chromophores of equal conjugation length, which are linked to a m-phenylene unit. Optical comparison between 6 and its model compound 8 at room and low temperature reveals the similarity in their absorption and fluorescence band structures. The vibronic band structure of 6 is assigned with the aid of the spectroscopic data for 8 at low temperature. Polymers 6 are electroluminescent with emission lambda (sub max), at approximately 565 nm. By using the device configuration of ITO/PEDOT/6/Ca, the polymer exhibits an external EL efficiency as high as 0.46%.
A Spectral Approach to Protein Structure Alignment

A new intrinsic geometry based on a spectral analysis is used to motivate methods for aligning protein folds. The geometry is induced by the fact that a distance matrix can be scaled so that its eigenvalues are positive. We provide a mathematically rigorous development of the intrinsic geometry underlying our spectral approach and use it to motivate two alignment algorithms. The first uses eigenvalues alone and dynamic programming to quickly compute a fold alignment. Family identification results are reported for the Skolnick40 and Proteus300 data sets. The second algorithm extends our spectral method by iterating between our intrinsic geometry and the 3D geometry of a fold to make high-quality alignments. Results and comparisons are reported for several difficult fold alignments. The second algorithm's ability to correctly identify fold families in the Skolnick40 and Proteus300 data sets is also established.
Management of Asthmatic Children

Objectives of treatment are: no or the least possible symptoms, as normal as possible activities of daily living, prevention of severe attacks, little variability in airflow rates.
An Appeal to Charity: Using Philanthropy to Revitalize the Estate Tax

Proponents of the estate tax generally contend that it is crucial to preventing the economic and moral harms that result from concentrated wealth. The tax has nonetheless met with enormous political hostility, even from Americans who are unlikely to ever pay it. This article draws on insights from cognitive psychology to propose a novel method of rallying public support for what has been vividly deemed the death tax. The article proposes that Congress amend the estate tax by replacing the charitable deduction with a charitable credit. This would have the practical effect of allowing charitable bequests to offset the amount an estate owes the federal fisc. As such, the proposal dramatically recasts the debate surrounding the tax. Rather than requiring families of the recently deceased to hand over large sums of hard-earned money to the federal government (as the story is now told), the charitable credit allows decedents to identify the charities that will benefit from their wealth. This comports with what lower and middle class Americans anticipate doing in the face of great wealth; capitalizes on widely-held beliefs about the importance of charities and the good they create; and provides greater control and benefits for the taxpayers themselves. The reform also offers benefits to estate tax proponents, to individuals committed to shrinking the size of government and expanding the non-profit sector, and to charities.
Microvascular dilation in response to occlusion: a coordinating role for conducted vasomotor responses.

In rat cremasteric microcirculation, mechanical occlusion of one branch of an arteriolar bifurcation causes an increase in flow and vasodilation of the unoccluded daughter branch. This dilation has...
Termitophile Distribution and Quantitative Characters as Indicators of Physiological Speciation in British Guiana Termites (Isoptera)

During a study of the termites of the tropical rain forest of Kartabo, British Guiana, in 1919, 1920 and 1924, a collection of termitophilous Staphylinids was made from colonies determined as Nasutitermes (N.) guayanae (Holmgren). The fact that four species of beetles were found together in certain nests while two different species were found together in other nests excited the author's curiosity and a more thorough analysis involving a statistical study of variation in the host termites was undertaken. I am indebted to Dr. Sewall Wright for suggestions concerning statistical methods and a critical reading of the manuscript.
A Method for Estimation of Both Bile Salts and Cholesterol in Small Amounts of Bile

In experimental and human studies on the chemistry of the bile, it often happens that only very small amounts of bile are available in the gall bladder, as the contents of the diseased viscus are frequently very scanty. It is in these very ones that analysis of the bile may be the most important. The following method enables one to determine both the bile acids and cholesterol in a single cubic centimeter of bile.Following the suggestion of Dr. F. C. Koch the marked affinity of petroleum ether for bile salts was utilized. The principle is that petroleum ether has the power of making a quantitative separation of the bile acids and cholesterol in alcoholic solutions. The procedure is as follows:One cc. of bile is diluted with 6 cc. of alcohol, brought to a boil and filtered to deproteinize. The filtrate is then shaken in a separatory funnel with 30 cc. of petroleum ether and extracted 3 times. The alcoholic fraction is then warmed to drive out the petroleum ether and used for the bile acid determination. Th...
Population differentiation for germination and early seedling root growth traits under saline conditions in the annual legume Medicago truncatula (Fabaceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Seedling establishment and survival are highly sensitive to soil salinity and plants that evolved in saline environments are likely to express traits that increase fitness in those environments. Such traits are of ecological interest and they may have practical value for improving salt tolerance in cultivated species. We examined responses to soil salinity and tested potential mechanisms of salt tolerance in Medicago truncatula, using genotypes that originated from natural populations occurring on saline and nonsaline soils. METHODS Germination and seedling responses were quantified and compared between saline and nonsaline origin genotypes. Germination treatments included a range of sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations in both offspring and parental environments. Seedling treatments included NaCl, abscisic acid (ABA), and potassium chloride (KCl). KEY RESULTS Saline origin genotypes displayed greater salinity tolerance for germination and seedling traits relative to nonsaline origin genotypes. We observed population specific differences for the effects of salinity on time to germination and for the impact of parental environment on germination rates. ABA and NaCl treatments had similar negative effects on root growth, although relative sensitivities differed, with saline population less sensitive to NaCl and more sensitive to ABA compared to their nonsaline counterparts. CONCLUSIONS We report population differentiation for germination and seedling growth traits under saline conditions among populations derived from saline and nonsaline environments. These observations are consistent with a syndrome of adaptations for salinity tolerance during early plant development, including traits that are common among saline environments and those that are idiosyncratic to local populations.
Open access journals in educational technology: Results of a survey of experienced users

As the academic publishing industry evolves, there has been an unprecedented growth of open access journals (OAJs). In educational technology alone, with an estimated 270 associated journals, nearly one-third are designated as open. Though OAJs are lauded for what their availability can contribute to social justice issues (reduction of subscription requirement barriers), some remain suspicious of the content found in them and question the legitimacy of publishing in them. In this study, we sought to discover the opinions of educational technology scholars about OAJs in their own field. We were able to learn which OAJs were deemed to be most valuable, as well as the characteristics of OAJs thought to be particularly important.
Evaluation of an Interprofessional Elective Course for Health Professions Students: Teaching Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of an elective course for health professions students designed to expose, immerse, and provide opportunities for mastery of the core competencies needed for interprofessional collaborative practice (i.e. teamwork, interprofessional communication, values/ethics, and the roles and responsibilities of other health professions). METHODS Undergraduate and graduate students from 5 health professions (pharmacy, nursing, medicine, communication sciences and disorders, and social work) at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center who were enrolled in an elective course in the fall of 2014 were asked to complete the following 3 surveys at key time points in the semester: Clinical Cultural Competency Questionnaire (CCCQ) – modified pre-training version, Team Climate Inventory (TCI) – short version, and the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS). RESULTS Of 41 students, 40 consented to participate in the study and 95% of participants (n = 38) completed all surveys, in addition to a final course evaluation. Statistically significant differences in pre- and post-assessments of each survey and positive end-of-the-semester course evaluations indicate students’ perceived progression toward mastery of the 4 core competencies. CONCLUSIONS Positive results of the surveys and course evaluation demonstrate an effective and feasible model of providing didactic IP experiences that will enhance health professions students’ essential skills for interprofessional collaborative practice.
Bioinformatic Identification and Structural Characterization of a New Carboxysome Shell Protein

Bacterial Microcompartments (BMCs) are organelles composed of a polyhedral protein shell that encapsulates metabolically related enzymes. The best characterized BMC, the carboxysome, which functions to enhance CO2 fixation by D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO), is found in all cyanobacteria. It is an essential part of the cyanobacterial CO2 concentrating mechanism. The shell of BMCs is composed of small (∼100 amino acids) proteins with a conserved primary structure known as the BMC domain. Proteins that contain BMC domains were shown to form hexamers that assemble in layers to form the facets of BMC shells. Previous structural models of the carboxysome shell were built from proteins which contain a single BMC domain. Recently, a new carboxysome shell protein was detected bioinformatically in Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus species. The crystal structure of this protein, CsoS1D, unexpectedly was the first tandem BMC domain protein structurally characterized. These data, together with the transcriptomic evidence suggested that CsoS1D is a novel alpha-carboxysome shell protein with unique functionally important features. Here we used bioinformatic and comparative structural modeling to show that a hypothetical protein found in all beta cyanobacterial genomes is the ortholog of CsoS1D. We also discuss observations of other tandem BMC domain proteins, and we propose the hypothesis that the carboxysome shell may be a dynamic structure that responds to the environmental conditions within the cell.
Evaluation of an Inoculation System for a Closed Bulk Starter Vessel1

Stainless steel vessels (open, closed and control, i.e. not exposed to aerosol) containing 10% reconstituted nonfat dry milk were inoculated with Streptococcus cremoris at 106 CFU/ml. Milk in the closed vessel was specifically inoculated through a rubber seal in a port using a sterile needle and syringe in the presence of an aerosol containing bacteriophage, Escherichia coli and milk or whey solids. The lid of the open vessel was removed for 2 min to expose milk to the aerosol. Milk was incubated at 22°C for 16 h. Samples were tested for pH, titratable acidity, and E. coli , host and bacteriophage numbers. E. coli and bacteriophage were recovered from the open vessel, and not the control and closed vessels. This inoculation system minimized exposure of bulk starter medium to an aerosol and reduced the risk of producing bulk starter contaminated with bacteriophage.
MicroRNA expression and gene regulation drive breast cancer progression and metastasis in PyMT mice

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules of about 22 nucleotides which function to silence the expression of their target genes. Numerous studies have shown that miRNAs are not only key regulators in important cellular processes but are also drivers in the development of many diseases, especially cancer. Estrogen receptor positive luminal B is the second most common but the least studied subtype of breast cancer. Only a few studies have examined the expression profiles of miRNAs in luminal B breast cancer, and their regulatory roles in cancer progression have yet to be investigated. In this study, using polyoma middle T antigen (PyMT) mice, a widely used luminal B breast cancer model, we profiled microRNA (miRNA) expression at four time points that represent different key developmental stages of cancer progression. We considered the expression of both miRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) at these time points to improve the identification of regulatory targets of miRNAs. By combining gene functional and pathway annotation with miRNA-mRNA interactions, we created a PyMT-specific tripartite miRNA-mRNA-pathway network and identified novel functional regulatory programs (FRPs). We identified 151 differentially expressed miRNAs with a strict dual nature of either upregulation or downregulation during the whole course of disease progression. Among 82 newly discovered breast-cancer-related miRNAs, 35 can potentially regulate 271 protein-coding genes based on their sequence complementarity and expression profiles. We also identified miRNA-mRNA regulatory modules driving specific cancer-related biological processes. In this study we profiled the expression of miRNAs during breast cancer progression in the PyMT mouse model. By integrating miRNA and mRNA expression profiles, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes involved in several hallmarks of cancer. We applied a novel clustering method to an annotated miRNA-mRNA regulatory network and identified network modules involved in specific cancer-related biological processes.
Hair plucking, stress, and urinary cortisol among captive bonobos (Pan paniscus)

Hair plucking has been observed in many captive primate species, including the great apes; however, the etiology of this behavioral pattern is poorly understood. While this behavior has not been reported in wild apes, an ethologically identical behavior in humans, known as trichotillomania, is linked to chronic psychosocial stress and is a predominantly female disorder. This study examines hair plucking (defined here as a rapid jerking away of the hair shaft and follicle by the hand or mouth, often accompanied by inspection and consumption of the hair shaft and follicle) in a captive group of bonobos (N = 13) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio. Plucking data were collected using behavior and all-occurrence sampling; 1,450 social and self-directed grooming bouts were recorded during 128 hr of observation. Twenty-one percent of all grooming bouts involved at least one instance of plucking. Urine samples (N = 55) were collected and analyzed for the stress hormone cortisol. Analyses of urinary cortisol levels showed a significant positive correlation between mean cortisol and self-directed plucking for females (r = 0.88, P < 0.05) but not for males (r = −0.73, P = 0.09). These results demonstrate an association between relative self-directed hair plucking and cortisol among female bonobos. This is the first study to investigate the relationship between hair plucking and cortisol among apes. Overall, these data add to our knowledge of a contemporary issue in captive ape management. Zoo Biol. 35:415–422, 2016. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carrier Multiplication in GaAs via Frequency-Specific THz Electric Field Enhancement

High-field, frequency-dependent THz induced carrier multiplication in semi-insulating GaAs was observed. Arrays of split ring resonators (SRRs) with different sizes give resonant enhancement at specific THz frequencies, which subsequently leads to carrier multiplication.
Understanding and improving continuous integration

Continuous Integration (CI) has been widely adopted in the software development industry. However, the usage of CI in practice has been ignored for far too long by the research community. We propose to fill this blind spot by doing in- depth research into CI usage in practice. We will answer how questions by using using quantitative methods, such as investigating open source data that is publicly available. We will answer why questions using qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews and large scale surveys. In the course of our research, we plan on identifying barriers that developers face when using CI. We will develop techniques to overcome those barriers via automation. This work is advised by Professor Danny Dig.
A Rapid Segmentation-Insensitive "Digital Biopsy" Method for Radiomic Feature Extraction: Method and Pilot Study Using CT Images of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Quantitative imaging approaches compute features within images' regions of interest. Segmentation is rarely completely automatic, requiring time-consuming editing by experts. We propose a new paradigm, called "digital biopsy," that allows for the collection of intensity- and texture-based features from these regions at least 1 order of magnitude faster than the current manual or semiautomated methods. A radiologist reviewed automated segmentations of lung nodules from 100 preoperative volume computed tomography scans of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and manually adjusted the nodule boundaries in each section, to be used as a reference standard, requiring up to 45 minutes per nodule. We also asked a different expert to generate a digital biopsy for each patient using a paintbrush tool to paint a contiguous region of each tumor over multiple cross-sections, a procedure that required an average of 0.7; comparing erosions and dilations, using a sphere of 1.5-mm radius, of our digital biopsies to the reference standard segmentations resulted in 41/94 and 53/94 features, respectively, with ICCs >0.7. We conclude that many intensity- and texture-based features remain consistent between the reference standard and our method while substantially reducing the amount of operator time required.
State of Science of Dispersants and Dispersed Oil in U.S. Arctic Waters

Use of dispersants was very limited in the U.S. prior to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 2010. For that spill, the volume of dispersants applied, as well as the sub sea injection, was unpr...
Survival Implications of Increased Utilization of Local Excision for cT1N0 Esophageal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that patients with cT1N0 esophageal cancer undergoing local excision would have lower survival compared with esophagectomy due to potential discordant staging. BACKGROUND Local excision has become an attractive alternative for management of early esophageal cancer, avoiding the morbidity of esophagectomy. It is uncertain if occult nodal metastasis impacts survival. METHODS An observational study was conducted using the National Cancer Database (1998-2012) for patients with clinical T1N0 esophageal cancer who underwent local excision (n = 1625) or esophagectomy (n = 3255). RESULTS The proportion of patients undergoing local excision increased from 12% in 1998 to 50% in 2012 (P < 0.001). After esophagectomy, 61% of cT1N0 cancers had concordant clinical and pathological staging, with 5.2% having positive nodal disease; 37% were staged concordant after local excision, with excess missing data (60%). Ninety-day mortality was 7.4% after esophagectomy compared with 2.8% after local excision (P < 0.001). While no significant difference was seen in unadjusted survival, adjusted Cox regression analysis indicated worse survival after esophagectomy compared with local excision for all cases [hazard ratio (HR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.95] and for patients with concordant staging (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.23-2.28). CONCLUSIONS Local excision for cT1N0 esophageal cancer has increased over time. Contrary to our hypothesis, despite incomplete nodal staging, patients undergoing local excision have favorable survival, particularly in the adenocarcinoma subgroup. This may reflect early differences in mortality due to differences in procedure-related complications and/or selection bias. As this study has limited power to compare outcomes between T1a and T1b cancers, further analysis is warranted.
Clinical aspects of viral hemorrhagic fever

Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is defined as virus infections that usually cause pyrexia and hemorrhagic symptoms with multiple organ failure. VHF includes following viral infections: Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and Lassa fever. In particular, the causative agents of EHF, MHF, CCHF, and Lassa fever are Ebola, Marburg, CCHF, Lassa viruses, respectively, and regarded as biosafety level-4 pathogens because of their high virulence to humans. Recently, relatively large outbreaks of EHF and MHF have occurred in Africa, and areas of EHF- and MHF-outbreaks seem to be expanding. Although outbreaks of VHF have not been reported in Japan, there is a possibility that the deadly hemorrhagic fever viruses would be introduced to Japan in future. Therefore, preparedness for possible future outbreaks of VHF is necessary in areas without VHF outbreaks.
Empedocles: The Phenomenology of the Four Elements in Literature

This essay argues against the view that in the Fragments of Empedocles of Acragas are two radically different poems, one related to nature and the other to religious notions. Whether the fragments are taken as pieces from two poems or, as I take them, just as fragments, I argue that the function of the Four Elements of fire, air, water, and earth, in his case, is to give him control over those storms of experience, the lightnings, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes that throw over all prior attitudes and categories and open the imaginative self to new poetry. The Four Elements function to establish and confirm a “natural attitude” (Husserl’s phrase) in Empedocles’ science and moderation of expression in his poetry. My interpretation, it should be understood, does not necessarily fall within the important on-going systematic programme of A-T. Tymieniecka’s “The Aesthetics of Nature in the Human Condition,” published in Analecta Husserliania, Vol. XIX.
Factors that Influence the Plastic Surgeon to Innovate or Accept or Reject Innovations of Others

Unless a surgeon is implacably opposed to change, he or she will have to consider adopting a new technique in order to improve results. It is impossible to prevent changes from occurring in one’s personal or professional life. Everyday, even hour by hour, events, minor ormajor, which demand our response are happening at home, with our family, to friends, and at work, in the office, at the hospital, in the operating room. This is true not just for doctors and those who happen to be plastic surgeons but also our patients. Everything in the universe is dynamic or, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (c.540–c.480 B.C.) stated: “All is flux, nothing stays still.” But, as Heraclitus insisted, change or flux does not necessarily mean irreparable disarray but could be the unifying force in nature.
Effects of Synchronous Electrode Pulses on Neural Recruitment During Multichannel Microstimulation.

The recent proliferation of high-density microelectrode arrays has inspired several new applications of electrical microstimulation, including restoration of sensory functions in the visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems. In each case, the goal is to achieve precisely targeted activation of neurons, while patterning the location and timing of stimulation across the array to mimic naturalistic patterns of neural activity. However, when two or more electrodes deliver stimulation pulses at the same time, the electric fields created by each electrode interact. The effects of field interactions on neuronal recruitment depend on several factors, which have been studied extensively at the macro-scale but have been overlooked in the case of high density arrays. Here, we report that field interactions can significantly affect neural recruitment, even with low amplitude stimulation. We created a computational model of peripheral nerve axons to estimate stimulation parameters sufficient to generate neural recruitment during synchronous and asynchronous stimulation on two microelectrodes located within the peripheral nerve. Across a range of stimulus amplitudes, the model predicted that synchronous stimulation on adjacent electrodes (400 µm separation), would recruit 2–3 times more neurons than during asynchronous stimulation. Our results suggest that field interactions should not be ignored when designing multichannel microstimulation paradigms, even at threshold-level stimulus amplitudes.
An Adaptive Architecture for Control of Uncertain Dynamical Systems with Unknown Actuator Bandwidths

Abstract Closed-loop system stability of adaptive control architectures for autonomous aerospace vehicles can be seriously degraded by the presence of actuator dynamics. To this end, recent research by the authors focuses on a new reference model design approach such that not only closed-loop system stability is rigorously addressed using linear matrix inequalities, but also the proposed reference model achieves better performance characteristics as compared with a well-adopted method in the literature called pseudo-control hedging. Yet, this reference model assumes the exact knowledge of the actuator bandwidth parameter, where such an assumption may not always hold for practical aerospace applications. Motivated from this standpoint, this paper generalizes our recent results such that the exact knowledge of the actuator bandwidth parameter is no longer necessary. Specifically, we utilize an online estimate of the actuator bandwidth parameter in the proposed reference model and show the stability of the closed-loop dynamical system using tools and methods from Lyapunov theory and linear matrix inequalities. An illustrative numerical example involving the short-period dynamics of a hypersonic vehicle model is also included in this paper to elucidate the proposed adaptive architecture for control of uncertain dynamical systems with unknown actuator bandwidths.
Patient pad count is a poor measure of urinary incontinence compared with 48-h pad test: results of a large-scale multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE To determine in a large population of community-dwelling incontinent patients the accuracy and determinants of pad count as a measure of urinary incontinence (UI), using data from a multicentre 48-h pad test study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Incontinent patients, who were provided with absorbent products for the period January 2012 to March 2016, volunteered to perform a 48-h home-based pad test and to fill in a diary with information on pad usage. Correlations between UI measures (48-h pad count and pad weight gain, mean pad weight gain per pad) were calculated. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate patient-related and pad usage-related factors influencing pad count. RESULTS A total of 14 493 patients (median age 81 years) were included, with a total of 98 362 continence products used overall during the study period. The 48-h pad count showed a weak correlation with 48-h pad weight gain (R2 = 0.12; 0.19 for men and 0.11 for women) and mean pad weight gain per pad (R2 = -0.03). The weakest correlation was observed among patients using >6 pads/48 h (R2 = 0.02). A statistically significant negative association between pad absorption capacity and pad count was observed. Patients using products with a shaped and rectangular design had 34% and 40% higher propensity to use more pads than those using briefs (P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results of this very large observational study confirmed that pad count is a poor measure of UI severity. Pad count only measured 12% of the variability of UI volume and was affected by several patient-related and pad usage-related factors. Consequently, pad count should not be used instead of the pad test as an objective measure of UI when an accurate evaluation is required for research or clinical purposes.
A material genome approach towards exploration of Zn and Cd coordination complex polyester as dielectrics: Design, synthesis and characterization

Abstract Advances in materials can be achieved once we understand their property well. In this study, a series of zinc and cadmium aliphatic polyesters with varying numbers of methylene spacer(s), 1 to 8, are synthesized and characterized to understand their features, which control their dielectric properties. The rational co-design of these materials is adopted by Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations of local structural features, and physical properties as dielectric constant and band gap energies. Synthesized polyesters of zinc and cadmium exhibit high band gap energies, > 5 eV, with the dielectric constant from ca. 4.69-3.61 and ca. 6.61-4.01, respectively; with metal volume fractions ca. 3–12% experimentally, which supports the DFT computations strongly to behave as a good dielectric material. These initial studies give insight into the potential advantages and expansion of the chemical design space for developing new dielectrics and provide valuable validation and feedback to enrich Material Genome Initiative.
Periodic, moderate water flow reversibly increases hair bundle density and size in Nematostella vectensis.

ABSTRACT Animals employ hair bundles on hair cells to detect flow, vibrations and gravity. Hair bundles on sea anemone tentacles detect nearby vibrations in the water column produced by prey movements and then regulate discharge of cnidae to capture prey. This study investigated: (1) the progressive effects of periodic water flow on hair bundle morphology and density of hair bundles and cnidae in sea anemones, (2) the reversibility of the flow response and (3) the ability of the response to be expedited with increased flow duration. Linear density of hair bundles along tentacles and each hair bundle9s dimensions was measured in anemones exposed to flow and in the absence of flow. With increasing numbers of days of flow, hair bundles in anemones exposed to flow for 1 h every weekday for 20 days increased in density and grew longer and wider at bases and middles, whereas controls did not. Time courses fit to a linear function exhibited significantly larger positive slopes from animals exposed to flow compared with controls. Hair bundles in anemones exposed to flow for 3 h each day increased in linear density, length, base width and middle width after 10 days of flow and returned to control levels after 10 days following cessation of flow. In addition, there was a trend for an increase in density of cnidae with flow. Therefore, anemone hair bundles are dynamically and reversibly modified by periodic, moderate flow to become more abundant and robust. These findings may have relevance to hair cells in acoustico-lateralis systems of higher animals.