cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional differences in an established population of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in south Florida

About nine years ago (circa 2009), Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) invaded the south Florida coral reef ecosystem. During the intervening period of time, there has been substantial research on their biology, life history, demography, and habitat preferences; however, little is known concerning their regional population status and trends in the region. Here, we use a large-scale fisheries independent reef fish visual survey to investigate lionfish population status among three south Florida regions: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys, and southeast Florida. Density estimates (ind ha-1) have been relatively stable since 2012, and are lower than other areas reported in the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Low, stable population densities in south Florida suggest there may be a natural mechanism for lionfish population control. In the Dry Tortugas, lionfish density in 2016 was significantly lower (0.6 ind ha-1 ± 0.15 SE) than the two other south Florida regions. The Dry Tortugas region has the highest percentage of marine protected areas, the lowest level of exploitation, and thus the highest densities of potential lionfish predators and competitors. In the Florida Keys and southeast Florida in 2016, lionfish densities were greater (5.4 ind ha-1 ± 1.0 SE and 9.0 ± 2.7 SE, respectively) than the Dry Tortugas. Fishing pressure on lionfish was higher in these two regions, but densities of several potential predators and competitors were substantially lower. Despite relatively low regional lionfish densities that can be attributed to some combination of fishing mortality and natural biocontrol, lionfish are still well established in the south Florida coral reef ecosystem, warranting continued concern.
Influence of Chilling Hours on Flower Bud Growth and Rooting Ability of Blueberry Budsticks

Budsticks from 3 rabbiteye blueberry cultivars (‘Baldwin,’ ‘Brightwell,’ and ‘Tifblue’) and 2 highbush blueberry cultivars (TH-275 and ‘Georgiagem’) were subjected to 0 to 650 hrs at 4.4 °C (40°F) to determine the effects of accumulated chilling on terminal flower bud growth and rooting ability. The cultivar X chilling hours interaction was significant for both flower bud growth and rooting ability. The 2 highbush cultivars had wider flower buds than the 3 rabbiteye cultivars. ‘Baldwin’ and ‘Georgiagem’ produced the best overall root systems. Chilling requirements ranged from 350 to 550 hr for the rabbiteye cultivars and 350 to 450 hr for the highbush. Except for rooting score of clone TH-275, the functional relationships between flower bud width or rooting score and chilling hours were non-linear. In general, chilling hours enhanced the growth of terminal flower buds and increased the rooting ability.
Characterization of the nature of shear-induced agglomerates as hard and soft in chemical mechanical polishing slurries

The nature of agglomerates either hard or soft could determine the kind of defects created during the chemical mechanical planarization/polishing process. To understand the nature of shear-induced agglomerates, the silica slurry at different pH is subjected to high shear rate and time to form agglomerates. Subsequently, these stressed slurry samples are subjected to low shear rates 100–1000 s−1 for time 100–1000 s, corresponding to the conditions for which de-agglomeration is observed. Based on the comparison of percentage de-agglomeration in stressed versus as-received slurries, it is qualitatively shown that agglomerates formed due to shear-induced agglomeration in basic pH slurries are soft agglomerates, whereas those formed in neutral and acidic pH slurries are hard agglomerates. Also, between neutral and acidic pH slurries, shear-induced agglomerates in acidic pH slurry are relatively strongly held than the ones that are formed in neutral pH slurries. Subsequently, the nature of agglomerates was compared to defectivity and surface roughness trend of BD1 low-k wafers in silica slurries at different pH from the previous work.
NATO at 70: Is the USA still in it for the long haul?

The election of Donald Trump as president of the USA has raised questions about America’s commitment to the alliance given his ongoing criticisms of allies, particularly regarding their defense spending. On the other hand, support for the alliance remains strong throughout the bureaucracy, in Congress, and among the public. Two trends, however, cast doubt on the robustness of US support of NATO. One is Trump’s assault on the post-World War II order by championing hyper-nationalism and economic protectionism. The other is the deepening partisan divide emerging in US public opinion data on favorable views of NATO shaped by presidential rhetoric.
The robustness of anchoring effects on preferential judgments

Anchoring has been shown to influence numeric judgments in various domains, including preferential judgment tasks. Whereas many studies and a recent Many Labs project have shown robust effects in classic anchoring tasks, studies of anchoring effects on preferential judgments have had inconsistent results. In this paper, we investigate the replicability and robustness of anchoring on willingness-to-pay, which is a widely used measure for consumer preference. We employ a combination of approaches, aggregating data from previous studies and also contributing additional replication studies designed to reconcile inconsistent previous results. We examine the effect of differing experimental procedures used in prior studies, and test whether publication bias could contribute to the inconsistent findings. We find that different experimental procedures used in previous studies do not explain the divergent results, and that anchoring effects are generally robust to differences in procedures, participant populations, and experimental settings.
Tracheolaryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Extensive Mucosal Spread Without Metastasis in a Female.

Tracheal tumors remain one of the most interesting and challenging respiratory tumors. Usually, with the more invasive histologic subtypes, cancer has already invaded surrounding structures at the time of diagnosis. We present an unusual case of primary tracheal squamous cell carcinoma with an extensive mucosal spread at the time of diagnosis without any invasion of surrounding organs or distant metastasis. We discuss the unique features and our treatment approach to this unusual presentation. We also discuss the various epidemiologic, diagnostic and treatment aspects of upper airways tumors of the hypopharynx, larynx, and trachea that can help patients achieve more favorable outcomes.
East Asian Legal Traditions

Most East Asian legal traditions were heavily influenced by Chinese thought and statecraft, which can be traced back at least 3000 years. Confucianism, which made familial duties a central feature of all social obligations, had a formative impact on both the Chinese and the Korean legal orders. Japan was also heavily influenced by the Chinese legal system, but was more selective in its adoption of those models, because of the fragmented nature of the Japanese political order. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, East Asia came under heavy Western influence and all legal systems were ultimately reformed on Western models, leaving few formal traces of the previous legal order.
Intraventricular Hemorrhage in a Single Fetus of Dichorionic-Diamniotic Gestation: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious complication of prematurity and is of high concern due to the risk of brain injury and in severe cases, death. We report the first case of IVH in a fetus of dichorionic-diamniotic pregnancy that worsened postnatally. Antenatally, magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a large IVH after ventricular abnormalities were detected by prenatal ultrasound (US). At birth, a grade IV IVH diagnosis was made and progressive ventricle dilatation was noted on weekly US. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed and ventricle dilatation was slightly reduced, however, the IVH was essentially unchanged. The infant was discharged in stable condition at 12-weeks-old and chronic neurological dysfunction is expected. IVH is seen in complicated births of prematurity and antenatal US can inform an examiner if fetal IVH is present. It is important to identify IVH and provide immediate intervention to prevent disease worsening during the antenatal and postnatal period.
Influential Evidence in Merger Enforcement at the Federal Trade Commission

In this study, merger enforcement at the Federal Trade Commission is shown to be affected by structural variables (the Herfindahl, the change in the Herfindahl, and the number of significant rivals), an entry index, and three evidence variables (hot documents, validated customer complaints, and event analyses). The paper discusses how theoretical implications of either coordinated interaction or unilateral effects may be tested with evidence gathered during the merger review process. Predictions for a number of (unnamed) transactions filed during fiscal year 2004 are given to illustrate that the available models are able to explain enforcement action at the Commission.
A Generalized Fuzzy Extension Principle and Its Application to Information Fusion

Zadeh's extension principle (ZEP) is a fundamental concept in fuzzy set (FS) theory that enables crisp mathematical operation on FSs. A well-known shortcoming of ZEP is that the height of the output FS is determined by the lowest height of the input FSs. In this article, we introduce a generalized extension principle (GEP) that eliminates this weakness and provides flexibility and control over how membership values are mapped from input to output. Furthermore, we provide a computationally efficient point-based FS representation. In light of our new definition, we discuss two approaches to perform aggregation of FSs using the Choquet integral. The resultant integrals generalize prior work and lay a foundation for future extensions. Last, we demonstrate the extended integrals via a combination of synthetic and real-world examples.
Identifying risk factors for suicidal ideation across a large community healthcare system.

Abstract Background Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Several studies have leveraged electronic health record (EHR) data to predict suicide risk in veteran and military samples; however, few studies have investigated suicide risk factors in a large-scale community health population. Methods Clinical data was queried for 9,811 patients from the Penn Medicine Health System who had completed a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) documented in the EHR between January 2017 and June 2019. Patient demographics, PHQ-9 scores, and psychiatric comorbidities were extracted from the EHR. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were applied to determine significant risk factors associated with suicide ideation responses from the PHQ-9. Results One-quarter (25.8%% of patients endorsed suicide ideation. Univariate analysis found 22 risk factors of suicide ideation. Multivariable logistic regression found significant positive associations (Odds Ratio, (95% Confidence Interval)) with the following: younger ages less than 18 years: 2.1, (1.69, 2.60) and 19-24 years: 1.55, (1.29, 1.87)), single marital status (1.22, (1.08, 1.38)), African American (1.22, (1.08, 1.38)), non-commercial insurance (1.16, (1.03, 1.31)), multiple comorbidities (1 comorbidity (1.65, (1.32, 2.07); 2 comorbidities (2.07, (1.61, 2.64)), 3+ comorbidities (2.49, (1.87, 3.33))), bipolar disorders (Type I: 1.38, (1.14, 1.67) and Type II: 1.94, (1.52, 2.49)), depressive disorders (1.70, (1.49, 1.94)), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (1.43, (1.08, 1.90)), and stress disorders (1.53, (1.33, 1.76)). Conclusion Community EHR information can be used to predict suicidal ideation. This information can be used to design tools for identifying patients at risk for suicide in real-time.
Characterization of bony anatomic regions in pediatric and adult healthy volunteers using diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging

Significance: Diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging (DOSI) measures quantitative functional and molecular information in thick tissue in a noninvasive manner using near-infrared light. DOSI may be useful for diagnosis and prognosis of bone pathologies including osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma, but little is currently known about DOSI-derived parameters in bony anatomic locations where this disease occurs. Aim: Our goal is to quantify the optical characteristics and chromophore content of bony anatomic locations of healthy volunteers and assess differences due to anatomic region, age, sex, ethnicity, race, and body fat. Approach: Fifty-five healthy volunteers aged 4 to 72 were enrolled in the study. The optical properties and quantitative tissue concentrations of oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, water, and lipids were assessed at the distal humerus, distal femur, and proximal tibia. Body fat was assessed using skinfold calipers. One volunteer underwent a more comprehensive body scan from neck to foot to explore chromophore distributions within an individual. Regression analysis was used to identify the most important sources of variation in the measured data set. Results: Statistical differences between bony locations were found for scattering, water, and lipids, but not for hemoglobin. All chromophores had statistical differences with sex, but there were no significant age-related correlations. Regression analysis revealed that body fat measured with skinfold calipers was the most important predictor of oxy-, deoxy-, total hemoglobin, and lipids. Hemoglobin and lipid levels were highly correlated (ρ ≥ 0.7) over the subject population and within the single-subject body scan. Conclusions: DOSI can successfully measure bony anatomic sites where osteosarcomas and Ewing’s sarcomas commonly occur. Future studies of bone pathology using DOSI should account for the variation caused by anatomic region, sex, race and ethnicity, and body fat as these cause substantial variations in DOSI-derived metrics.
Wearable Technologies for Anxious Adolescents.

Nearly one in three adolescents in our country experience stress or anxiety to the extent that it negatively effects their ability to cope with daily life demands. However, educators are not well p...
Towards Developing Formalized Assurance Cases

The ever-increasing complexity of cyber physical systems drives the need for assurance of critical infrastructure and embedded systems. Building assurance cases is a way to increase confidence in systems. In general, the construction of assurance cases is a manual process and the resulting artifacts are not machine analyzable. The High Assurance Systems team at GE Research is developing technology to support generation of formalized assurance cases for systems, which are both human-readable and machine-analyzable. We have developed a Semantic Application Design Language Assurance Toolkit (SADL-AT) including a semantic model to formalize the Goal Structuring Notation for assurance cases. This paper describes the toolkit SADL-AT and demonstrates the capabilities and effectiveness of SADL-AT by building security and safety assurance case fragments for an unmanned aerial vehicle-based example – a delivery drone.
Examining the Structure of the PERMA Theory of Well-Being in Veterans With Mental Illnesses:

Assessing and improving veterans’ well-being, especially those veterans who are at risk for or experiencing mental illnesses, has received national attention. We examined (a) the structural validit...
Neuropathological correlation supports automated image-based differential diagnosis in parkinsonism.

Up to 25% of patients diagnosed as idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) have an atypical parkinsonian syndrome (APS). We had previously validated an automated image-based algorithm to discriminate between IPD, multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). While the algorithm was accurate with respect to the final clinical diagnosis after long-term expert follow-up, its relationship to the initial referral diagnosis and to the neuropathological gold standard is not known. Patients with an uncertain diagnosis of parkinsonism were referred for 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET to classify patients as IPD or as APS based on the automated algorithm. Patients were followed by a movement disorder specialist and subsequently underwent neuropathological examination. The image-based classification was compared to the neuropathological diagnosis in 15 patients with parkinsonism. At the time of referral to PET, the clinical impression was only 66.7% accurate. The algorithm correctly identified 80% of the cases as IPD or APS (p = 0.02) and 87.5% of the APS cases as MSA or PSP (p = 0.03). The final clinical diagnosis was 93.3% accurate (p < 0.001), but needed several years of expert follow-up. The image-based classifications agreed well with autopsy and can help to improve diagnostic accuracy during the period of clinical uncertainty.
Joining an International Community of Practice: Reflections on the IEA Civic Education Studies

This chapter presents reflections from an educational researcher who began her involvement with the project as an early career scholar soon after the release of the first IEA Civic Education Study (CIVED) report nearly two decades ago. She describes the secondary analysis of these data that took place, especially in the ensuring decade, along with ways in which involvement with the IEA civic education studies shaped her own professional development and that of others. She describes joining the large and small communities of researchers (going back to the first IEA International Research Conference) and reflects on how the IEA civic education studies have shaped approaches to studying educational processes and the development of social attitudes in students. In particular, the nature of these data and emerging statistical methodologies allowed the exploration of the role of contextual factors in civic development. Second, cross-disciplinary collaborations with international specialists in the social and behavioral sciences (as well as educational researchers) provided perspectives that broadened the educational or developmental psychology approaches common in the United States. The benefits and challenges of work with large-scale data and with interdisciplinary and cross-national collaboration are highlighted. Links to the datasets and to lists of publications are described.
Multiscale Models for Fibril Formation: Rare Events Methods, Microkinetic Models, and Population Balances.

Amyloid fibrils are thought to grow by a two-step dock-lock mechanism. However, previous simulations of fibril formation (i) overlook the bi-molecular nature of the docking step and obtain rates with first-order units, or (ii) superimpose the docked and locked states when computing the potential of mean force for association and thereby muddle the docking and locking steps. Here, we developed a simple microkinetic model with separate locking and docking steps and with the appropriate concentration dependences for each step. We constructed a simple model comprised of chiral dumbbells that retains qualitative aspects of fibril formation. We used rare events methods to predict separate docking and locking rate constants for the model. The rate constants were embedded in the microkinetic model, with the microkinetic model embedded in a population balance model for “bottom-up” multiscale fibril growth rate predictions. These were compared to “top-down” results using simulation data with the same model and multiscale framework to obtain maximum likelihood estimates of the separate lock and dock rate constants. We used the same procedures to extract separate docking and locking rate constants from experimental fibril growth data. Our multiscale strategy, embedding rate theories, and kinetic models in conservation laws should help to extract docking and locking rate constants from experimental data or long molecular simulations with correct units and without compromising the molecular description.
­­­Germline Sex Determination Regulates Sex-Specific Signaling Between Germline Stem Cells and Their Niche

The establishment of sexual identity in germ cells is critical for the development of male and female germline stem cells (GSCs) and production of sperm vs. eggs. Thus, this process is essential for sexual reproduction and human fertility. Germ cells depend on signals from the somatic gonad to determine their sex, but in organisms such as flies, mice and humans, the sex chromosome genotype of the germ cells is also important for germline sexual development. How somatic signals and germ cell-intrinsic cues act together to regulate germline sex determination is a key question about which little is known. We have found that JAK/STAT signaling in the GSC niche promotes male identity in germ cells and GSCs, in part by activating expression of the epigenetic reader Phf7. We have also found that JAK/STAT signaling is blocked in XX (female) germ cells through the intrinsic action of the sex determination gene Sex lethal, which preserves female identity. Thus, an important function of germline sexual identity is to control how GSCs respond to signals in their niche environment.
The Effect of 311 Calls for Service on Crime in D.C. at Microplaces

This study tests the broken windows theory of crime by examining the relationship between 311 calls for service and crime at the street segment and intersection level in Washington, D.C. Controlling for a set of micro-level covariates as well as unobserved neighborhood-level effects using negative binomial regression models, it is found that detritus- and infrastructure-related calls for service have a positive, but small effect on crime. The results suggest that 311 calls for service are a valid indicator of physical disorder where available, and the findings partially confirm the broken windows theory. Given the small effects though, reducing physical disorder is unlikely to result in appreciable declines in crime.
CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy: Correlation between diagnostic yield, lung lesion size, and lobar distribution

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between lung lesion lobar distribution, lesion size, and lung biopsy diagnostic yield. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was performed between January 1, 2013, and April 30, 2019, on CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies of 1522 lung lesions, median size 3.65 cm (range: 0.5– 15.5 cm). Lung lesions were localized as follows: upper lobes, right middle lobe and lingual, lower lobes superior segments, and lower lobes basal segments. Biopsies were classified as either diagnostic or non-diagnostic based on final cytology and/or pathology reports. Results were considered diagnostic if malignancy or a specific benign diagnosis was established, whereas atypical cells, non-specific benignity, or insufficient specimen were considered non-diagnostic. Results: The positive predictive value (PPV) of a diagnostic yield was 85%, regardless of lobar distribution. Because all PPVs were relatively high across locations (84–87%), we failed to find statistically significant difference in PPV between locations (P = 0.79). Furthermore, for every 1 cm increase in target size, the odds of a diagnostic yield increased by 1.42-fold or 42% above 85%. Although target size increased the diagnostic yield differently by location (between 1.4- and 1.8-fold across locations), these differences failed to be statistically significant, P = 0.55. Conclusion: Percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of lung lesions achieved high diagnostic yield (PPV: 84– 87%) across all lobes. A 42% odds increase in yield was achieved for every 1 cm increase in target size. However, this increase in size failed to be statistically significant between lobes.
Children on the move: Progressive redistribution of humanitarian cash transfers among refugees

Abstract We evaluate the impact of the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) in Turkey, the largest cash transfer program for international refugees in the world. We provide prima facie evidence that the program quickly caused substantial changes in household size and composition, with a net movement of primarily school-aged children from ineligible to eligible households. As a result, we observe a sharp decline in poverty and inequality in the entire study population. ESSN also caused a moderate increase in the diversity and frequency of food consumption among eligible households. To strike the right balance between transfer size and coverage, key parameters in the design of any cash transfer program, policymakers should consider the possibility that refugee populations may respond to their eligibility status by altering their household structure and living arrangements.
Architectural Design of Close Support Electronics to Expand Functionality of Superlattice LED Infrared Scene Projectors

The close support electronics driving the SLEDs IRSP systems must evolve to match increased resolution and frame-rate demands. This paper describes the design and implementation of the next generation NESSIE2 CSE. Design considerations for a more robust third generation NESSIE3 distributed FPGA CSE are discussed.
Long-term Effects of Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Anger on Hospitalizations or Death and Health Status in Heart Failure Patients

ABSTRACT Background Chronic and acute stress and emotion predict incidence/recurrence of CHD, but long-term effects on HF exacerbations are poorly understood. This study determined long-term chronic and episodic effects of stress, anxiety, and anger on hospitalizations or death, and worsened health status in HF. Methods and Results 147 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) completed measures of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS), state anxiety (STAI), recent anger (RA), and HF-related health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire; KCCQ) every 6 months for up to 39 months. Relationships of chronic (Mean) stress and emotion and episodic changes (Deviation) to subsequent hospitalizations or death and health status were determined utilizing Generalized Estimating Equation models. All-cause hospitalizations were predicted by chronic (Mean) PSS (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11, p=0.004), Mean STAI (OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.03, 1.10, p Conclusions In HF patients, chronic perceived stress and anxiety and episodic stress increases are predictive of hospitalizations or death and worsened health status over a >3-year period. Mechanisms may involve sympathetic activation, and/or exacerbations of perceived symptoms or health behaviors.
Wildlife in the Matrix: Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Herbivore Occurrence in Karnataka, India

Wildlife reserves are becoming increasingly isolated from the surrounding human-dominated landscapes particularly in Asia. It is imperative to understand how species are distributed spatially and temporally in and outside reserves, and what factors influence their occurrence. This study surveyed 7500 km2 landscape surrounding five reserves in the Western Ghats to examine patterns of occurrence of five herbivores: elephant, gaur, sambar, chital, and pig. Species distributions are modeled spatio-temporally using an occupancy approach. Trained field teams conducted 3860 interview-based occupancy surveys in a 10-km buffer surrounding these five reserves in 2012. I found gaur and wild pig to be the least and most wide-ranging species, respectively. Elephant and chital exhibit seasonal differences in spatial distribution unlike the other three species. As predicted, distance to reserve, the reserve itself, and forest cover were associated with higher occupancy of all species, and higher densities of people negatively influenced occurrence of all species. Park management, species protection, and conflict mitigation efforts in this landscape need to incorporate temporal and spatial understanding of species distributions. All species are known crop raiders and conflict prone locations with resources (such as water and forage) have to be monitored and managed carefully. Wildlife reserves and adjacent areas are critical for long-term persistence and habitat use for all five herbivores and must be monitored to ensure wildlife can move freely. Such a large-scale approach to map and monitor species distributions can be adapted to other landscapes to identify and monitor critical habitats shared by people and wildlife.
Mechanisms of Amplified Arteriogenesis in Collateral Artery Segments Exposed to Reversed Flow Direction

Objective—Collateral arteriogenesis, the growth of existing arterial vessels to a larger diameter, is a fundamental adaptive response that is often critical for the perfusion and survival of tissues downstream of chronic arterial occlusion(s). Shear stress regulates arteriogenesis; however, the arteriogenic significance of reversed flow direction, occurring in numerous collateral artery segments after femoral artery ligation, is unknown. Our objective was to determine if reversed flow direction in collateral artery segments differentially regulates endothelial cell signaling and arteriogenesis. Approach and Results—Collateral segments experiencing reversed flow direction after femoral artery ligation in C57BL/6 mice exhibit increased pericollateral macrophage recruitment, amplified arteriogenesis (30% diameter and 2.8-fold conductance increases), and remarkably permanent (12 weeks post femoral artery ligation) remodeling. Genome-wide transcriptional analyses on human umbilical vein endothelial cells expos...
Dogs as Cancer Detectors

Screening for cancer by detecting biomarkers of early disease is an important aspect of cancer care. Humans have tapped into dogs’ abilities to detect and identify scents for hunting and tracking, search and rescue, and police and military assistance.
Response of albumin synthesis to oral nutrients in young and elderly subjects.

BACKGROUND The synthesis of albumin after oral ingestion of nutrients provides a means of storing amino acids, which can be made available during periods of fasting. OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to see whether the response of albumin synthesis to the oral intake of nutrients is compromised in elderly subjects. DESIGN Albumin synthesis was determined from the incorporation of 43 mg l-[(2)H(5)]phenylalanine/kg body wt. Eight elderly subjects (aged >60 y) and 8 young subjects (aged 21-35 y) were studied on 3 separate occasions: after the intake of water, a liquid meal (with 15% of energy from protein, 30% of energy from fat, and 55% of energy from carbohydrate), or an isonitrogenous but not isocaloric meal containing only protein. RESULTS Mean (+/-SEM) albumin synthesis, expressed as an absolute rate (ie, the amount of albumin synthesized per day), was significantly lower in elderly subjects (108 +/- 7 mg . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) than in young subjects (141 +/- 7 mg . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)). In response to the complete meal, albumin synthesis was significantly increased in both the elderly (144 +/- 7 mgkg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) and the young (187 +/- 11 mg . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) subjects. The protein component of the meal was sufficient to stimulate albumin synthesis in both the elderly (147 +/- 14 mg . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) and the young (182 +/- 6 mg . kg body wt(-1) . d(-1)) subjects. CONCLUSIONS Elderly subjects have lower rates of albumin synthesis than do young subjects during fasting, but they stimulate albumin synthesis proportionately in response to the oral ingestion of protein. The intakes of additional fat and carbohydrate do not stimulate albumin synthesis further.
Ablation of ErbB4 from excitatory neurons leads to reduced dendritic spine density in mouse prefrontal cortex

Dendritic spine loss is observed in many psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, and likely contributes to the altered sense of reality, disruption of working memory, and attention deficits that characterize these disorders. ErbB4, a member of the EGF family of receptor tyrosine kinases, is genetically associated with schizophrenia, suggesting that alterations in ErbB4 function contribute to the disease pathology. Additionally, ErbB4 functions in synaptic plasticity, leading us to hypothesize that disruption of ErbB4 signaling may affect dendritic spine development. We show that dendritic spine density is reduced in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex of ErbB4 conditional whole-brain knockout mice. We find that ErbB4 localizes to dendritic spines of excitatory neurons in cortical neuronal cultures and is present in synaptic plasma membrane preparations. Finally, we demonstrate that selective ablation of ErbB4 from excitatory neurons leads to a decrease in the proportion of mature spines and an overall reduction in dendritic spine density in the prefrontal cortex of weanling (P21) mice that persists at 2 months of age. These results suggest that ErbB4 signaling in excitatory pyramidal cells is critical for the proper formation and maintenance of dendritic spines in excitatory pyramidal cells.
Iterative detection and decoding on nonlinear ISI channels

This paper examines various techniques for nonlinear intersymbol interference (NL-ISI) mitigation, including the RAM-Search Viterbi detector, the RAM-Search BCJR algorithm, and two iterative detection/decoding algorithms. The two RAM-Search algorithms are only presented to lay a foundation and to provide a basis for comparison. The primary contribution in this paper is the comparison of the two iterative detection/decoding algorithms. The first is simply a generalization of turbo equalization to NL-ISI channels. The second considers the NL-ISI channel to be an inner code in a serial concatenation scheme, in which case interleaver gain is possible whenever this inner code is recursive. We show that by the simple insertion of a differential encoder prior to the NL-ISI channel to achieve recursiveness, this second scheme is far superior to the turbo equalization approach, but with equal complexity.
Imaging and diffraction study of continuous α-Fe2O3 films on (0001)Al2O3

Continuous α-Fe2O3 films grown on bulk (0001)Al2O2 substrates by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition have been studied by transmission electron microscopy and the observations compared to those obtained from discontinuous films at an earlier stage of the growth process. Plan-view specimens revealed significant thermal stress in the continuous films, while cross-sectional specimens showed that cracking occurs in thicker films. The free surface of the film and the film/substrate interface appeared sharp and flat, apart from growth ledges and steps. Weak-beam imaging revealed a hexagonal misfit dislocation network consisting of perfect edge dislocations. Fine structure in the selected-area diffraction patterns which corroborates these observations is also discussed. The misfit network of partial dislocations previously observed in the discontinuous films was not observed for the continuous films, indicating an effect of film thickness, growth rate, or surface preparation on the Fe2O3/(0001)Al2O3 interface structure.
PBPK Model Describes the Effects of Comedication and Genetic Polymorphism on Systemic Exposure of Drugs That Undergo Multiple Clearance Pathways

An important goal in drug development is to understand the effects of intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors (IEFs) on drug pharmacokinetics. Although clinical studies investigating a given IEF can accomplish this goal, they may not be feasible for all IEFs or for situations when multiple IEFs exist concurrently. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models may serve as a complementary tool for forecasting the effects of IEFs. We developed PBPK models for four drugs that are eliminated by both cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and CYP2D6, and evaluated model prediction of the effects of comedications and/or genetic polymorphism on drug exposure. PBPK models predicted 100 and ≥70% of the observed results when the conventional "twofold rule" and the more conservative 25% deviation cut point were applied, respectively. These findings suggest that PBPK models can be used to infer effects of individual or combined IEFs and should be considered to optimize studies that evaluate these factors, specifically drug interactions and genetic polymorphism of drug-metabolizing enzymes.
Microchip Flow Cytometry Using Electrokinetic Focusing

Flow cytometry of fluorescently labeled and unlabeled latex particles is demonstrated on a microfabricated device. The latex particles were detected and counted using laser light scattering and fluorescence coincidence measurements. Sample confinement was accomplished using electrokinetic focusing at a cross intersection, and detection occurred 50 μm downstream from the intersection. Particles with diameters of 1 and 2 μm were analyzed and distinguished from each other based on their light scattering intensity and fluorescence. A maximum sample throughput of 34 particles/s was achieved. Sample mixtures with varying proportions of fluorescently labeled and unlabeled particles were also analyzed and found to be within experimental error of the expected ratios.
Efficient data replication mechanism to maximize data survivability in unattended wireless sensor networks

One of the most important areas of study in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is security. This work presents how to maximize data survivability in unattended WSNs (UWSNs) where sensed data cannot be off-loaded to a sink in real time. The characteristics of this network are the presence of intermittent sink and operation in possibly hostile settings. The major goal in this study is to improve the availability of the data in case of failure or compromise of sensor nodes resulting in the unavailability of or the loss of data. This work proposes an on-demand data replication method that can dynamically change the degree of replication to improve data survivability. Analytical results show improved data survivability with less storage consumptions than existing solutions in literature.
Toward Explicating Philosophical Orientations in Organizational Behavior (OB)

The article discusses organizational behavior (OB) from a philosophical perspective. Behaviorism, which is subdivided into essentialism and experimentalism, focuses on the impact of external reality on human behavior. Humanism, which covers phenomenology and existentialism, concentrates on internal reality and the subjectivity of human knowledge and relies on insight to bring about change. Behaviorism and humanism are defined by three properties of philosophy--reality or ontology, knowledge or epistemology, and value or axiology--and by their significance to OB and problem solving.
Can the magnesium content of mononuclear blood cells be altered by oral magnesium supplementation

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on a rigorously defined group of normal subjects to see if magnesium (Mg) supplementation could affect serum Mg levels or Mg content of mononuclear blood cells. Forty-nine subjects were randomized to either placebo, tablets containing 90% United States recommended daily allowance (USRDA) of Mg, or tablets containing 180% USRDA of Mg. We were unable to demonstrate a statistically significant increase in Mg content of mononuclear blood cells.
Renal water and solute excretion in the Atlantic stingray in fresh water

Freshwater, male Atlantic stingrays Dasyatis sabina, from Lake Jesup, Florida, U.S.A., excreted a dilute urine similar in composition to freshwater teleosts and lampreys with the exception that urea was the primary osmolyte. Urine flow rate was 2.5 to 10 fold higher than that reported for freshwater teleosts resulting in high free-water clearance. Mass-specific free-water clearance values from euryhaline elasmobranchs inhabiting freshwater environments greatly exceed those for freshwater teleosts and are nearly equivalent to those of freshwater lampreys.
Re-examination of the velocity-money growth variability debate

In this paper the author re-examines the money growth variability debate set forth by Milton Friedman. Six time periods are analyzed in the study. The pre-1979 period is found to be the only period which exhibits any evidence that money growth variability Granger-causes velocity.
The Comparison of Efficiency between the Recommendation Algorithm Based on Multi-Attribute Rating Matrix and the Algorithm Based on UIARM

this recommendation algorithm based on User-Item Attribute Rating Matrix (UIARM) can solve the cold-start problem, but the recommended low efficiency, poor quality. The use of Multi-Attribute Rating Matrix (MARM) can solve this problem; it can reduce the computation time and improve the recommendation quality effectively. The user information is analyzed to create their attribute-tables. The user's ratings are mapped to the relevant item attributes and the user's attributes respectively to generate a User Attribute-Item Attribute Rating Matrix. After UAIARM is simplified, MARM will be created. When a new item/user enters into this system, the attributes of new item/user and MARM are matched to find the N users/item with the highest match degrees as the target of the new items or the recommended items. Experiment results validate the cold-start recommendation algorithm based on MARM is efficient.
Histopathologic features in the central nervous system of 400 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases: implications of rates of occurrence.

Abstract Histopathologic lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) of 400 autopsy cases of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) collected from 1982 to 1990 were studied. Lesions most closely associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the CNS (perivascular macrophages, nodular encephalomyelitis, diffuse leukoencephalopathy, necrotizing encephalitis, and longtract degeneration) were found in 20% of the cases. The group of vascular and inflammatory lesions and of opportunistic infections was seen in 25% of cases. These two lesion groups were found together in 32% of cases, and none of these lesions was present in 23% of cases (most of the latter having no significant CNS lesions). Length of survival increased in the last group of 100 cases compared with the first 300 cases. The homosexual and bisexual risk groups showed continuously increasing lengths of survival for each category of HIV-associated CNS lesions throughout the study, while the lengths of survival in the other risk groups varied. Patients in the last group of 100 autopsy cases with any HIV-associated lesion survived longer than patients without these lesions. The AIDS patients with no CNS lesions had the shortest mean length of survival. The results suggest that although survival is prolonged as specific therapy is given, there is an increase in CNS lesions in AIDS patients with longer survival. This may indicate that CNS lesions in AIDS are generally dependent on systemic disease progression over many months as immune function decreases.
Histologic Response of the Heifer Mammary Gland to Intramammary Infusion of Interleukin-2 or Interferon-γ

The histologic and cytologic responses of heifer mammary glands infected with Staphylococcus aureus were studied after infusion of interleukin-2 or interferon-gamma. Two groups of 4 heifers each, which were infected experimentally with S. aureus in all 4 mammary quarters, were infused in diagonal quarters with 7.5 x 10(5) units of interleukin-2 or 10(5) units of interferon-gamma; remaining quarters received PBS. Heifers in both trials were slaughtered 14 d after cytokine infusion, and mammary tissues were collected for histological examination. Uninfected quarters from 2 additional heifers were left untreated to compare infected with uninfected tissues for both trials. Morphologic evaluation and leukocyte infiltration scores were performed on tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and plasma cells were quantified on sections stained with immunoperoxidase. Infected quarters had lower percentages of alveolar epithelial and luminal areas and higher percentages of stromal area than did uninfected quarters in the interleukin-2 trial, but no differences were observed between infected quarters that had been treated with PBS or interleukin-2. Likewise, interferon-gamma treatment had no effect on mammary parenchymal components in the infected quarters. Interleukin-2 treatment significantly elevated leukocytosis into the mammary gland parenchyma compared with infected quarters treated with PBS and uninfected quarters. Among the leukocyte types evaluated, eosinophilic infiltration was elevated in interleukin-2 quarters over that of PBS controls. In both trials, concentrations of plasma cells bearing Ig were elevated in infected versus uninfected quarters. Plasma cell concentrations also were higher in cytokine than PBS controls, especially in interleukin-2 quarters. Results suggested that neither cytokine influenced the histology of infected mammary tissues, but both interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma increased, although insignificantly, the prevalence of all isotypes of plasma cells bearing Ig, suggesting enhancement of the local immune response to IMI.
In Defense of Realignment and Regimes: Why We Need Periodization

Being human, our scholarship is affected by our lived experience. Anyone who has lived half a century or more is aware of having moved through distinct periods of political consciousness, action, and possibility. I grew up in the South in a steadfastly New Deal household. Shortly before he died, my father said to me, "Betty, you and I have disagreed about many things over the years, but there's one thing you can never say about me: I have never voted Republican." As a child, I was taken to rallies at which Harry Truman and the young John Kennedy spoke. Starting college in the crazy 1960s, when anything seemed possible, when reform of every stripe was in the air, and "question authority" was the most popular bumper sticker, I sat in a college classroom beside the first black student admitted to my university. I worked on the student newspaper whose editor had a cross burned in his yard. I joined the Peace Corps, the antiwar movement, campaigned for the ERA, became an environmentalist, applauded the reforms of party and congressional organization and campaign finance that were mounted in the first 5 years of the 1970s. I returned to Alabama to teach in a poor rural high school about the time George Wallace began his conversion and apologized for his racist past. I often feel like Forrest Gump. I was there. I started teaching, and became a political historian, as Ronald Reagan began his attack on the New Deal state. I think APD was born, for many of us, in the sudden urgency to understand how the old regime now under attack had been built, and why it had failed in the assessments of so many Americans. A sea change was in the air. The parties sorted themselves out on a rough class, and increasingly ideological axis. The Conservative Coalition shrank to insignificance. Even as many political scientists, stuck in a 1970s mindset, continued to speak of "dealignment,' a new party regime was rising like a phoenix. Party affiliation clearly structured more and more roll call votes in Congress, and voters became better able to discern ideological differences between the parties, and to follow