cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progesterone and estrogen regulate oxidative metabolism in brain mitochondria

The ovarian hormones progesterone and estrogen have well-established neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects supporting both reproductive function and cognitive health. More recently, it has been recognized that these steroids also regulate metabolic functions sustaining the energetic demands of this neuronal activation. Underlying this metabolic control is an interpretation of signals from diverse environmental sources integrated by receptor-mediated responses converging upon mitochondrial function. In this study, to determine the effects of progesterone (P4) and 17β-estradiol (E2) on metabolic control via mitochondrial function, ovariectomized rats were treated with P4, E2, or E2 plus P4, and whole-brain mitochondria were isolated for functional assessment. Brain mitochondria from hormone-treated rats displayed enhanced functional efficiency and increased metabolic rates. The hormone-treated mitochondria exhibited increased respiratory function coupled to increased expression and activity of the electron transport chain complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase). This increased respiratory activity was coupled with a decreased rate of reactive oxygen leak and reduced lipid peroxidation representing a systematic enhancement of brain mitochondrial efficiency. As such, ovarian hormone replacement induces mitochondrial alterations in the central nervous system supporting efficient and balanced bioenergetics reducing oxidative stress and attenuating endogenous oxidative damage.
Effect of Feeding Thyroactive Iodocasein on Growth, Feathering, and Weights of Glands of Young Chicks

Abstract MANY investigators during the past three decades have reported on the various effects of feeding fresh or desiccated thyroid to chickens. Results have been variable, dependent upon dosage level and potency of the material. Most of the work reported has concerned adult stock, and the data relative to chicks and young growing stock appears to be meager. Crew and Huxley (1923) fed dried thyroid to 12 chicks and found no significant difference in weight between the control and experimental group. It is known that thyroid given in excessive amount will retard the rate of growth or even cause a loss of body weight. However, some investigators have reported acceleration of the growth rate in dogs, rats, and mice when thyroid was fed in optimum amounts. Recently Koger and associates (1942 (1943) reported improvement of growth and appetite in mice receiving subcutaneous injections of crystalline thyroxine and the feeding of thyroactive . . .
Radon Testing Behavior in a Sample of Individuals with High Home Radon Screening Measurements

Although radon exposure has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, fewer than 6% of US homeowners test their homes for radon. This report examines participants' follow-up radon testing behavior subsequent to receiving an initial screening radon level greater than 20 pCi/L. Sixty-two participants in the Iowa State-Wide Rural Radon Screening Survey who had radon screening measurements over 20 pCi/L were questioned by phone survey 3 months after receipt of their radon screening result to assess: whether participants were aware of radon's health risk; if participants recalled the radon screening results; how participants perceived the relative health risk of radon and whether participants planned follow-up radon testing. Only 19% of the respondents specifically identified lung cancer as the possible adverse health outcome of high radon exposure, and the majority of participants underestimated the health risks high radon levels pose when compared to cigarettes and x-rays. In addition, less than one third (29%) of the participants actually remembered their radon screening level within 10 pCi/L 3 months after receiving their screening results. Only 53% of the individuals correctly interpreted their screening radon level as being in the high range, and only 39% of the participants planned follow-up radonmore » measurements. Receipt of radon screening test results indicating high radon levels was not an adequate motivational factor in itself to stimulate further radon assessment or mitigation. The findings suggest that free radon screening will not result in a dramatic increase in subsequent homeowner initiated remediation or further recommended radon testing. 13 refs., 1 fig., 5 tabs.« less
A Finite Element Model for Predicting Time-Dependent Deformations and Damage Accumulation in Laminated Composite Bolted Joints

To assess and predict the long-term durability of advanced composite joints, a general, nonlinear finite element program was developed and implemented to model the localized time-dependent deformat...
Predicting dystocia in heifers

The relationship of heifer size, calf size and sire on dystocia was studied in approximately one thousand Angus, Hereford X Angus and Charolais heifers bred to Angus, Hereford and Charolais bulls. Heifers were weighed and pelvic measurements taken 35 days post breeding, at midgestation, and on a random group of 135 heifers two weeks prior to calving. Dystocia score, calf birth weight, calf body length, calf hip width and calf sex were recorded at calving. Correlation coefficients for calf traits indicate that birth weight and birth weight to body measurement ratios were the most highly correlated variables with dystocia score. For traits of the dam, pelvic area was the most highly correlated variable to dystocia score, while dam weight had a low and nonsignificant correlation. Sires experiencing a higher than average incidence of dystocia had calves that were larger for all measures of body size. Individual sire differences for dystocia indicate a large number of calves and an accurate randomization of heifers bred to each bull is necessary to make precise judgements as to a bull's potential for siring easy-calving offspring. Calf size measurements were positively correlated with heifer weight and pelvic area; however, correlations tended to be low. Breed of calf, sire, heifer weight I and II and pelvic area I, II and III accounted for only 23.6% of the variation in calf birth weight. Charolais calves were larger (P<.05) and had more dystocia (P<.05) than Hereford or Angus sired calves. Hereford sired crossbred calves were larger (P<.05) and had more dystocia than Angus crossbred or straightbred calves. Angus crossbred calves were larger (P<.05) but had no more dystocia than Angus straightbred calves. Heritability estimates for calf body length (0.35) and calf hip width (0.42) indicate calf skeletal measurements were more heritable than calf birth weight (0.28). Pelvic area measurements were correlated (P<.01) with heifer weight; however, heifer weight I and II accounted for only 37% and 30% of the variability in pelvic area I and II, respectively. Average pelvic area was largest in Charolais heifers, followed by Crossbred and Angus heifers. Pelvic area growth was .275 cm2/day in Angus, .254 cm2/day in Crossbred, and .250 cm2/day in Charolais heifers. Dystocia score was most highly related to calf size and pelvic area I. Pooled over all breeds, a regression analysis showed 37% of the variability in dystocia score being accounted for by the ratio of calf birth weight to calf body length and pelvic erea I. Very little increase in the R2 value occurred by the addition of the other independent variables. Histogram analyses demonstrates that a constant level of dystocia can be maintained only if pelvic area increases in proportion to calf size. However, regardless of the size of calf, heifers that had very small pelvic openings had a high rate of dystocia, just as heifers having very large calves experienced high rates of dystocia even when they had large pelves.
Laboratory measurements of pivoting angles for applications to selective entrainment of gravel in a current

Important to grain entrainment by a flowing fluid is the pivoting angle of the grain about its contact point with an underlying grain. A series of experiments has been undertaken to determine how this angle depends on grain shape (rollability and angularity), on the ratio of the size of the pivoting grain to those beneath, and on factors such as imbrication. The experiments involved gravel-sized spheres (ball-bearings and marbles), natural pebbles selected for their approximately triaxial ellipsoid shapes, and angular crushed basalt pebbles. The pivoting angles for these grains were measured on an apparatus consisting of a board which can be progressively inclined, the angle of the board being equal to the pivoting angle at the instant of grain movement. The pivoting angles of spheres showed reasonable agreement with a theoretically derived equation, showing much better agreement than in previous studies which utilized sand-sized spheres. A series of measurements with spheres ranging from sand to gravel sizes reveals that the pivoting angles decrease with increasing particle size. Our results are therefore consistent with the earlier studies limited to sand-size spheres. The cause of this size dependence is unknown since moisture and electrostatic binding can be ruled out. Similar size dependencies are also found for the ellipsoidal pebbles and angular gravel. The experiments with ellipsoidal pebbles demonstrated a strong shape dependence for the pivoting angle, being a function of the ratio of the pebble's smallest to intermediate axial diameters. This ratio controls the grain's ability to roll and pivot; with small ratios of these diameters the pebbles tended to slide out of position, whereas with ratios closer to unity (circular cross-section) true pivoting took place and the angles were smaller. Experiments with flat pebbles placed in an imbricated arrangement yielded much larger angles than when the pebbles lay in a horizontal position, the pivoting angle being increased approximately by the imbrication angle. The angular crushed gravel also required high pivoting angles, apparently due to interlocking of the grains resulting from their angularity. Other factors being equal, the measurements of pivoting angles demonstrate that the order of increasing difficulty of entrainment is spheres, ellipsoidal grains, angular grains, and imbricated grains. The results obtained here make possible the quantitative evaluation of these shape effects on grain threshold, as well as evaluation of the selective entrainment of grains from a bed of mixed sizes.
A Proposed Staging System for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/International Union Against Cancer (UICC) staging system for liver cancer is based on data exclusively derived from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and thus may be inappropriate for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We sought to empirically derive an ICC staging system from population-based data on patients with ICC. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to identify 598 patients who underwent surgery for ICC between 1988 and 2004. The discriminative abilities of the AJCC/UICC liver cancer and two Japanese ICC staging systems were evaluated. Independent predictors of survival were identified using Cox proportional hazards models. A staging system for ICC was then derived based on these analyses. The AJCC/UICC T classification system failed to adequately stratify the T2 and T3 cohorts due to tumor size >5 cm not being a relevant prognostic factor [hazard ratio (HR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-1.30]. In contrast, presence of multiple lesions (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.01-2.01) or vascular invasion (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.10-2.12) predicted adverse prognosis. Based on these findings, an ICC staging system was developed that omits tumor size. This system showed no loss of prognostic discrimination compared with the AJCC/UICC system and significant superiority over the Japanese systems. We conclude that the AJCC/UICC liver cancer staging system fails to stratify ICC patients adequately and inappropriately includes tumor size. We propose a staging system specifically developed for ICC based on number of tumors, vascular invasion, lymph node status, and presence of metastatic disease.
Laser imaging for clinical applications

Medical optical imaging (MOI) uses light emitted into opaque tissues in order to determine the interior structure and chemical content. These optical techniques have been developed in an attempt to prospectively identify impending brain injuries before they become irreversible, thus allowing injury to be avoided or minimized. Optical imaging and spectroscopy center around the simple idea that light passes through the body in small amounts, and emerges bearing clues about tissues through which it passed. Images can be reconstructed from such data, and this is the basis of optical tomography. Over the past few years, techniques have been developed to allow construction of images from such optical data at the bedside. We have used a time-of-flight system reported earlier to monitor oxygenation and image hemorrhage in neonatal brain. This article summarizes the problems that we believe can be addressed by such techniques, and reports on some of our early results.
Ocular surface epithelia contain ABCG2-dependent side population cells exhibiting features associated with stem cells

When cell populations are incubated with the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 and subjected to flow cytometry analysis for Hoechst 33342 emissions, active efflux of the dye by the ABCG2/BCRP1 transporter causes certain cells to appear as a segregated cohort, known as a side population (SP). Stem cells from several tissues have been shown to possess the SP phenotype. As the lack of specific surface markers has hindered the isolation and subsequent biochemical characterization of epithelial stem cells this study sought to determine the existence of SP cells and expression of ABCG2 in the epithelia of the ocular surface and evaluate whether such SP cells had features associated with epithelial stem cells. Human and rabbit limbal-corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells were incubated with Hoechst 33342, and analyzed and sorted by flow cytometry. Sorted cells were subjected to several tests to determine whether the isolated SP cells displayed features consistent with the stem cell phenotype. Side populations amounting to <1% of total cells, which were sensitive to the ABCG2-inhibitor fumitremorgin C, were found in the conjunctival and limbal epithelia, but were absent from the stem cell-free corneal epithelium. Immunohistochemistry was used to establish the spatial expression pattern of ABCG2. The antigen was detected in clusters of conjunctival and limbal epithelia basal cells but was not present in the corneal epithelium. SP cells were characterized by extremely low light side scattering and contained a high percentage of cells that: showed slow cycling prior to tissue collection; exhibited an initial delay in proliferation after culturing; and displayed clonogenic capacity and resistance to phorbol-induced differentiation; all features that are consistent with a stem cell phenotype.
Valve-PWM control of integrated pump-valve propulsion systems for highly maneuverable underwater vehicles

Precision maneuvering is an important requirement for many underwater robotic applications such as inspecting infrastructure systems. Maneuvering, especially at low speeds, is complicated by the presence of nonlinearities such as asymmetries and dead zones. Current work at MIT's d'Arbeloff Laboratory has focused on the development of a compact maneuvering system for underwater vehicles using centrifugal pumps and high speed Coanda effect valves. This paper describes the development of a novel Valve PWM orientation control strategy designed specifically for this new maneuvering system. Simulations are used to show that simple linear control approaches are insufficient due to the presence of a dead zone. The Valve PWM system exploits the high speed nature of the valve and modulates the output force in order to produce small forces in a repeatable and predictable manner. A simple, intuition based approach for determining the PWM frequency and voltage amplitude is outlined and several optimal formulations are presented. A set of optimal parameters is selected and full nonlinear simulations are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the Valve PWM control system. Finally, preliminary experimental closed loop control data is used to emphasize that these concepts are both practical and applicable to physical robot systems.
Using meta-level ontology relations to measure conceptual alignment and interoperability of simulation models

Engineering large and complex simulation systems is becoming more reliant on the reuse of existing simulation models. While existing technical standards facilitate syntactic and technical interoperability among disparate simulation models, there is still lack of formal methods that enable sound reasoning about the conceptual congruity of models that are selected for composition. This paper suggests a graph-theoretic approach to measure the extent of conceptual congruity of models within a new context. The premise of the approach is based on having contextualized models that provide introspective access to their metamodels. A metamodel associated with a reusable model entails a conceptualization of the domain in which it is originally designed to be situated in. The metamodels are used to instantiate a metagraph and graph distance metrics are used to measure the alignment of metamodels in the context of the new application domain.
A Statistical Framework for Estimation of Full-Chip Leakage-Power Distribution Under Parameter Variations

This paper presents a novel framework for accurate estimation of key statistical parameters of the subthreshold-and gate-leakage distributions of a chip under parameter variations while considering both within-die and die-to-die variabilities in process (P), temperature (T), and supply voltage (V). For the first time, temperature variations and, more importantly, electrothermal couplings between junction (substrate or die) temperature and leakage power have been accounted for in a full-chip leakage estimation methodology. In the proposed framework, instead of exact leakage distribution profile, its statistically important parameters, such as nominal value and spread, are computed. Initially, at the transistor level, a quantitative analysis of the relative sensitivities of device leakage components to P-T-V variations is performed to extract a transistor-level variation model. It is shown that the proposed statistical model, as compared to others in the literature, shows better agreement with BSIM1 model-based simulations. It is also demonstrated that failing to account for temperature variations and electrothermal couplings can result in significant inaccuracy in chip-level leakage estimation. Furthermore, the full-chip leakage-power distribution is used to estimate the leakage-constrained yield under the impact of variations. The calculations show that yield is significantly lowered due to the within-die and die-to-die process and temperature variations. Subsequently, the proposed framework is applied in the leakage estimation of complex logic circuits with a consideration of spatial correlations of process parameters and transistor stacking effects.
Robust continuous speech recognition technology program summary

The major objective of this program is to develop and demonstrate robust, high performance continuous speech recognition (CSR) techniques focussed on application in Spoken Language Systems (SLS) which will enhance the effectiveness of military and civilian computer-based systems. A key complementary objective is to define and develop applications of robust speech recognition and understanding systems, and to help catalyze the transition of spoken language technology into military and civilian systems, with particular focus on application of robust CSR to mobile military command and control. The research effort focusses on developing advanced acoustic modelling, rapid search, and recognition-time adaptation techniques for robust large-vocabulary CSR, and on applying these techniques to the new ARPA large-vocabulary CSR corpora and to military application tasks.
Special Incomplete Sentences Test for Underachievers: Further Research.

Three brief studies are presented. In Study I the original validation group of normal high school students and underachievers for the Special Incomplete Sentences Test are shown to give different r...
Empirical evaluation of the revised technology acceptance model

Davis et al. Davis, F. D., R. P. Bagozzi, P. R. Warshaw. 1989. User acceptance of computer technology: A comparison of two theoretical models. Management Sci.358 982-1003. proposed, tested, and revised the Technology Acceptance Model TAM, which attempts to explain and predict why users sometimes accept and sometimes reject information systems IS. The research reported here 1 provides a confirmatory, empirical test of the revised TAM and 2 introduces and objective measure of technology acceptance, actual usage rather than self-report usage. Subjects' beliefs about the usefulness and ease of use of an electronic mail system, their intentions to use the system, and their usage of it 15 weeks later were measured in a longitudinal study. The results confirmed that the TAM is a valuable tool for predicting intentions to use an IS. The findings here combined with results from other studies in this area suggest that the original TAM may be more appropriate than the two-version revised TAM. However, the addition of an experience component to the original TAM may be a significant enhancement. In addition, the results support that self-report usage may not be an appropriate surrogate measure for actual usage.
Select forms of tumor cell apoptosis induce dendritic cell maturation

Dendritic cells (DC) play a crucial role in initiating immune responses to tumors. DC can efficiently present antigens from apoptotic tumor cells, but apoptotic cells are thought to lack the inflammatory signals required to induce DC maturation. Here, we show that apoptosis of 67NR mouse carcinoma cells via the Fas (CD95) pathway or induced by the anticancer drug bortezomib (PS-341) but not by ultraviolet irradiation is associated with the production of maturation signals for DC. These data have important implications for the effects of chemotherapy on antitumor immunity in solid and hematologic malignancies.
Interference in the alcohol Stroop task with college student binge drinkers.

Heavy drinking among college students is associated with social, health, and legal problems. One factor that may contribute to heavy drinking is an attentional bias for alcohol-related cues, which can influence drinking automatically and without an individual’s awareness. Using tests of alcohol-related attentional bias, such as the alcohol Stroop task, previous research has shown that alcohol dependent drinkers have greater attentional biases than non-dependent drinkers, but results for college student drinkers have been mixed. The present study examined alcohol Stroop task performance and its relationship to drinking levels and drinking-related problems among 84 college students during the 2009-2010 academic year with at least one binge drinking episode in the previous month. As hypothesized, results indicated that participants had greater attentional interference when alcohol words were presented compared to when neutral words were presented during the Stroop task, suggesting that the students in the sample displayed greater attentional biases for alcohol words compared to neutral words. Results showed that Stroop task responding did not vary by drinking frequency or drinking-related problems, but did vary by drinking intensity. Presentation of alcohol-related cues may cause heavier drinking college students to attend to these stimuli, which may increase the saliency of these cues and influence their likelihood of drinking. Implications for prevention and treatment efforts are discussed.
A Retrospective Review of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Patellar Tendon: 25 Years of Experience

Background:The comparative data in the literature regarding rates of reoperation, revision ligament surgery, and contralateral surgery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are...
Application of neural networks to the identification of the compton interaction sequence in compton imagers

Compton cameras are well suited to image photons from a few hundred keV up to several MeV. However, one important data analysis step presents a significant challenge: the reconstruction of the Compton interaction sequence (event reconstruction). We present a new approach to event reconstruction based on a multi-layer perceptron neural network with a sigmoid activation function using back-propagation as the learning approach. Simulations show that this new method outperforms the classic event reconstruction approach and achieves roughly the same performance as the Bayesian approach to event reconstruction for events with two interactions and exceeds its performance for events with three interactions.
Controlling hepatitis B virus transmission in North America

Abstract In the US in 1988, 54011 cases of viral hepatitis were reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 42% of which were categorized as hepatitis B. Because of incomplete reporting and subclinical disease, the CDC estimates that ≈300 000 acute cases of hepatitis B are occuring in the US each year for an annual estimated incidence of 125 cases per 100 000 population. Since 1985, a gradual decrease in the reported incidence of hepatitis B has been observed which may be attributed partly to the availability of new hepatiti B vaccines. Comprehensive control of hepatitis B infection in North America has, however, been impeded by the diversity and mobility of high-risk groups who often are unaware of their potential to infect other individuals. Surveillance studies have indicated that the modes of transmission of hepatitis B may be changing in the US. A larger proportion of cases are seen in parenteral drug abusers and in active heterosexuals. It is believed that hepatitis B vaccine has been administered to only >% of the population who are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV). To achieve maximum control, universal immunization of infants will therefore be necessary. A first programme, already inaugurated in the US, involves screening of all pregnant women and providing appropriate prophylaxis to neonates of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive mothers and to susceptible household contacts of these individuals. Along with mandatory guidelines, collaboration between the hepatitis community, vaccine manufacturers, the CDC and appropriate medical, legislative and health care organization should be fostered to acheive successful control of HBV in North America.
A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure time physical activities.

Abstract A questionnaire is presented for evaluating energy expenditure in leisure time physical activity (LTA), along with information about its validity. Administered by trained interviewers, the Minnesota LTA questionnaire is valid for use in longitudinal studies in North America of the relationship of physical activity to disease, in weight control clinics, and in other researches in which leisure time physical activity is of interest.
A Role for the deep orange and carnation Eye Color Genes in Lysosomal Delivery in Drosophila

Abstract deep orange and carnation are two of the classic eye color genes in Drosophila . Here, we demonstrate that Deep orange is part of a protein complex that localizes to endosomal compartments. A second component of this complex is Carnation, a homolog of Sec1p-like regulators of membrane fusion. Because complete loss of deep orange function is lethal, the role of this complex in intracellular trafficking was analyzed in deep orange mutant clones. Retinal cells devoid of deep orange function completely lacked pigmentation and exhibited exaggerated multivesicular structures. Furthermore, a defect in endocytic trafficking was visualized in developing photoreceptor cells. These results provide direct evidence that eye color mutations of the granule group also disrupt vesicular trafficking to lysosomes.
Ovarian fibromas and fibrothecomas sonographic correlation with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: A 5-year single-institution experience

OBJECTIVES To evaluate imaging characteristics of ovarian fibromas and fibrothecomas and to identify select clinical markers and imaging features to help in their diagnosis. METHODS Over a 5-year period, 18 of 29 women with histologically proven fibromas or fibrothecomas underwent sonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On review of the images, tumor size, solid component characteristics, and cystic components were evaluated. Age, cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), and Meig syndrome were assessed. RESULTS Eleven fibrothecomas and 7 fibromas were evaluated. Sonography was performed for 15 tumors, CT for 9, and MRI for 6. Mean age was 52.6 (range, 13-82) years. Mean tumor size was 8.8 (range, 2-18) cm. Seventy-two percent of the tumors were solid, and 28% had cystic components. On sonography, the solid components were isoechoic or hypoechoic compared to the uterus. On CT with contrast, 2 of 8 lesions (25%) showed enhancement. On T1-weighted MRI, 5 lesions (83%) showed an isointense signal, and 1 (17%) showed a hyperintense signal compared to the myometrium. On T2-weighted MRI, 4 of 6 lesions (67%) were hypointense; 1 (16.5%) was isointense; and 1 (16.5%) was hyperintense. Elevated CA-125 was present in 5 of 29 patients (28%). One had Meig syndrome. CONCLUSIONS For a cystic adnexal mass where the primary consideration is commonly an epithelial tumor, the possibility of a cystic stromal tumor should also be considered. Unlike previous studies reporting both T1 and T2 hypointensity, fibrothecomas and fibromas can also show T1 and T2 isointensity and, exceptionally, hyperintensity. Vascularity, shown by Doppler flow and MRI and CT enhancement, is a characteristic of some fibromas and fibrothecomas. Although CA-125 is elevated in some patients, a true correlation is difficult to assess. Meig syndrome is infrequent.
Measures Used to Screen and Diagnose ASD in Young Children

Symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which are characterized by communication and socialization impairments and restricted and/or repetitive behaviors, typically present in early childhood (Matson et al., Res Autism Spectr Disord, 1:38–54, 2007). With the early onset of symptoms, parents or caregivers may seek assessment and treatment for the child to address these abnormal behaviors (Matson and Smith, Res Autism Spectr Disord, 2:60–74, 2008).
Public Law and Public Administration Theory: Introduction

(2009). Public Law and Public Administration Theory. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 533-536.
The Next Age of Public Procurement Reforms in Tanzania: Looking for the Best Value for Money

The public procurement reforms wave in developing countries which began in 1990s did not place value for money objective at its core. Moved by pressures of international trade liberalization and international anti-corruption agenda, Tanzania began the first major reform steps in 1992, and the major recent outcomes are the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2011 and its 2013 regulations (PPR 2013). The PPA 2011 and PPR 2013 together form the main framework of public procurement law in Tanzania. Modeled after the UCITRAL procurement model law 1994 with little customizations from the model law's 2011 revision, the Tanzania procurement system is mostly decentralized, based on a rigid traditional competitive tendering principle, centralizes most of the decision making authorities to committees, and establishes a multi-function central regulatory body. After more than a decade since the first reform-based legislation, new challenges still surround the public procurement system in the country as is the case for most of the developing economies. While the rigid procurement system has not eradicated corruption in the sector either, there is another equally big and harmful challenge associated with the current procurement system - which is failure of the government to achieve value for money in public sector projects and operations. With this challenge at a core, this paper appraises the Tanzania public procurement law and proposes taking next major reforms by redefining the public procurement main policy goal, objectives, principles and procedures in a way that enables the government to obtain the best value for money in terms of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, along with enhancing system integrity.
Arterial Tortuosity: An Imaging Biomarker of Childhood Stroke Pathogenesis?

Background and Purpose— Arteriopathy is the leading cause of childhood arterial ischemic stroke. Mechanisms are poorly understood but may include inherent abnormalities of arterial structure. Extracranial dissection is associated with connective tissue disorders in adult stroke. Focal cerebral arteriopathy is a common syndrome where pathophysiology is unknown but may include intracranial dissection or transient cerebral arteriopathy. We aimed to quantify cerebral arterial tortuosity in childhood arterial ischemic stroke, hypothesizing increased tortuosity in dissection. Methods— Children (1 month to 18 years) with arterial ischemic stroke were recruited within the Vascular Effects of Infection in Pediatric Stroke (VIPS) study with controls from the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program. Objective, multi-investigator review defined diagnostic categories. A validated imaging software method calculated the mean arterial tortuosity of the major cerebral arteries using 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiographic source images. Tortuosity of unaffected vessels was compared between children with dissection, transient cerebral arteriopathy, meningitis, moyamoya, cardioembolic strokes, and controls (ANOVA and post hoc Tukey). Trauma-related versus spontaneous dissection was compared (Student t test). Results— One hundred fifteen children were studied (median, 6.8 years; 43% women). Age and sex were similar across groups. Tortuosity means and variances were consistent with validation studies. Tortuosity in controls (1.346±0.074; n=15) was comparable with moyamoya (1.324±0.038; n=15; P =0.998), meningitis (1.348±0.052; n=11; P =0.989), and cardioembolic (1.379±0.056; n=27; P =0.190) cases. Tortuosity was higher in both extracranial dissection (1.404±0.084; n=22; P =0.021) and transient cerebral arteriopathy (1.390±0.040; n=27; P =0.001) children. Tortuosity was not different between traumatic versus spontaneous dissections ( P =0.70). Conclusions— In children with dissection and transient cerebral arteriopathy, cerebral arteries demonstrate increased tortuosity. Quantified arterial tortuosity may represent a clinically relevant imaging biomarker of vascular biology in pediatric stroke.
The Relationships of the Hawaiian Honeycreepers (Drepaninini) as Indicated by DNA-DNA Hybridization

-Twenty-two species of Hawaiian honeycreepers (Fringillidae: Carduelinae: Drepaninini) are known. Their relationships to other groups of passerines were examined by comparing the single-copy DNA sequences of the Apapane (Himatione sanguinea) with those of 5 species of cardueline finches, 1 species of Fringilla, 15 species of New World nineprimaried oscines (Cardinalini, Emberizini, Thraupini, Parulini, Icterini), and members of 6 other families of oscines (Turdidae, Monarchidae, Dicaeidae, Sylviidae, Vireonidae, Corvidae). The DNA-DNA hybridization data support other evidence indicating that the Hawaiian honeycreepers shared a more recent common ancestor with the cardueline finches than with any of the other groups studied and indicate that this divergence occurred in the mid-Miocene, 15-20 million yr ago. The colonization of the Hawaiian Islands by the ancestral species that radiated to produce the Hawaiian honeycreepers could have occurred at any time between 20 and 5 million yr ago. Because the honeycreepers captured so many ecological niches, however, it seems likely that their ancestor was the first passerine to become established in the islands and that it arrived there at the time of, or soon after, its separation from the cardueline lineage. If so, this colonist arrived before the present islands from Hawaii to French Frigate Shoal were formed by the volcanic "hot-spot" now under the island of Hawaii. Therefore, the ancestral drepaninine may have colonized one or more of the older Hawaiian Islands and/or Emperor Seamounts, which also were formed over the "hot-spot" and which reached their present positions as the result of tectonic crustal movement. The cardueline-drepaninine lineage probably diverged from the Fringilla lineage in the late Oligocene, from the New World nine-primaried oscines in the early Oligocene, and from the other oscines in the early
Sexual Orientation Discrimination and How It Challenges Nonprofit Managers

In the wake of the recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, Dale v. Boy Scouts of America and Monmouth Council Boy Scouts (1999), this article examines the issue of sexual orientation discrimination and the challenges it presents nonprofit managers. Because of regional shifts in public opinion, the enactment of nondiscrimination laws at the state and local level, and now a state Supreme Court interpreting state law to include the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) as a “public accommodation,” nonprofit managers may face a more complex legal and moral environment. It is hoped that this article will challenge nonprofit managers to carefully reexamine their membership and personnel policies with respect to lesbians and gay men and begin preparing their organizations for this cultural change.
Analysis on Unbalanced Tension Caused by Ice-Coating on Conductors of UHV/EHV AC Multi-Circuit Transmission Lines on the Same Tower

Based on the types of conductors and ground wires and the parameters of insulator strings for EHV/UHV AC multi-circuit transmission lines on the same tower,an finite-element model of line-insulation string coupled system is built,and the law of non-uniform ice-coating varying with the number of strain spans in one section as well as the impacts of height difference among different positions,where conductors or ground wires are suspended,on unbalanced tension caused by non-uniform ice-coating are analyzed,and a method to analyze and calculate unbalanced tension caused by non-uniform ice-coating is given.The law of unbalanced tension caused by non-uniform ice-coating at the positions suspending conductors and ground wires for UHV/EHV AC multi-circuit transmission lines on the same tower varying with ice-coating rate is analyzed and quantitative calculation results are given.On this basis,a three-dimensional finite-element model for the coupling among towers,lines and insulator strings is built,and using this model the impact of tower deformation on unbalanced tension caused by non-uniform ice-coating is analyzed,and the contrastive analysis of calculation results by the three-dimensional model with the results calculated by finite-element model of line-insulation string coupled system is performed.Based on finite-element analysis,the selected percentage values of unbalanced tension caused by non-uniform ice-coating for the suspension tower,conductors and ground wires of UHV/EHV AC multi-circuit transmission lines on the same tower are given,and with regard to general situation the selected percentage value for conductor is 10%,the selected percentage value for ground wire is 20%.When economy is taken into account,different percentage value of unbalanced tension can be selected for conductors and ground wires of the transmission lines belonging to different voltage grades on the same tower: the selected percentage value for conductor belonging to 1 000 kV transmission line is 7%,and the selected percentage value for conductor belonging to 500 kV transmission line is 10% and that for ground wire of 500 kV transmission line is 20%.
A new method of control multi-VCD

A new method about computer controlling multi VCD is introduced.Using the method a computer can output various signals from printer interface to control multi VCD.It is simple,practical and scalable.
Increased cAMP in proximal tubules is acute effect of nicotinamide analogues

The possible role of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in the mechanism of the acute inhibitory effects of nicotinamide and analogues on brush-border membrane (BBM) phosphate transport wa...
Varied Incumbent Behaviors and Mobilization for New Organizational Forms: The Rise of Triple-Bottom Line Business amid Both Corporate Social Responsibility and Irresponsibility

This study seeks to understand the recent emergence of new organizational forms for social enterprise in relation to established corporations’ seemingly contradictory actions: increased engagement in corporate social responsibility, coupled with persistent practices overtly geared towards profit maximization. Advancing the literature on social movements and new form emergence, we hypothesize that this coexistence of conflicting incumbent actions motivates smaller companies specializing in social and environmental sustainability to join the identity movement against shareholder-centered governance through multiple routes. These companies join the new forms in response to the problems of capitalism through an oppositional identity politics, and also to the reforms of capitalism through an authenticity politics to re-establish their differentiation from the mainstreaming of CSR. We find support for this argument from analyses of the initial diffusion of Certified B Corporations and the motives behind it. Together these findings illuminate the role of incumbent organizations in the process of new form emergence and the multiple motivations underlying identity movements.
New Policy Directions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses advances in linking the science of ecology with economics and the development of agri-environmental modeling systems coupled with new information technology. It suggests new public policy approaches that reward agricultural producers for providing ecological services. An incentive-based ecosystem approach that identifies and quantifies an array of environmental services that can be provided by agricultural land, and then facilitate the development of markets in these services can protect environmental quality while improving farm income. Sustainability can be achieved whereby economic needs of society are integrated into environmental protection. Before presenting new agricultural policy approaches for improving environmental quality and, in particular, managing agricultural nitrogen, the nature of the relationship between agriculture and the environment and its implications for policy are discussed.
The Fourier, Laplace, and z-Transforms

The study of signals and systems can be carried out in terms of either a time-domain or a transform-domain formulation. The transform-domain approach to signals and systems is based on the transformation of functions using the Fourier, Laplace, and z-transforms. This chapter deals with the Fourier transform (FT), which can be viewed as a generalization of the Fourier series representation of a periodic function. The FT and Fourier series are named after Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, who first proposed in a 1807 paper that a series of sinusoidal harmonics could be used to represent the temperature distribution in a body. One of the major applications of the Laplace transform is in solving linear differential equations. The discrete-time counterpart to the solution of differential equations using the Laplace transform is the solution of difference equations using the z-transform. The chapter considers the first-order linear constant-coefficient difference equation.
“Vote with your feet”: Neoliberalism, the democratic nation-state, and utopian enclave libertarianism

Social and Behavioral Science Research Institute (SBSRI) at the University of Arizona [14PDS0290]; Tinker Foundation; University of Arizona, Center for Latin American Studies
Grit Happens: Moderating Effects on Motivational Feedback and Sport Performance

Research on motivational climates within athletics has focused on mastery and ego achievement approaches, yielding different psychological consequences (Smith, Smoll, & Cumming, 2007). Further, the motivational climate may interact with athletes' trait characteristics, such as grit, resulting in different outcomes. Grit may alter athletes' experience of the motivational climate by helping them remain oriented to their long-term quest in sport (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007). However, to date, the impact of these motivational climates and potential moderating factors on athlete performance remains in question, as the research utilizing objective measures of athletic performance is limited (Harwood, Keegan, Smith, & Raine, 2015). We used a motivational research paradigm (e.g., Mueller & Dweck, 1998) to examine the effects of mastery- or ego-involving feedback on 71 high school adolescent soccer players' (Mage = 15.81) performance on a kicking task. Then we explored the potential moderating ef...
Chapter 28 Morphological features of thin sensory afferent fibers: a new interpretation of ‘nociceptor’ function

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the morphological features of thin sensory afferent fibers: a new interpretation of “nociceptor” function. The chapter explores the regional innervation patterns of thin axons displaying immunoreactivity (IR) for recently discovered calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in a variety of specialized tissues. This novel peptide is of special interest because it reveals the largest proportion of peptidergic thin sensory axons (i.e., most of the other neuropeptides are found co-localized within CGRP subpopulations), and its absence in sympathetic ganglia assures its sensory nature. It is generally accepted that nociceptors comprise the simple, least specialized and most primitive of sensory neurons and that their terminals might best be described as “free nerve endings.” Fully acknowledging the justifiable prohibitions against proliferating superfluous neologisms, the “noceffector” can be regarded as a tentative, generalized term subsuming a broad class of sensory neurons. Judging by the number and variety of biochemical markers already assigned to its subpopulations, it is likely that an extensive functional classification can soon emerge for this extraordinarily versatile and varied class of misunderstood sense organs.
Understanding innate preferences of wild bee species: responses to wavelength-dependent selective excitation of blue and green photoreceptor types

Bees have a trichromatic vision with ultraviolet, blue, and green photoreceptors in their compound eyes. While the three photoreceptor types comprise the ‘color space’ at the perceptual level, preferential excitation of one or two of the photoreceptor types has been shown to play an important role in innate color preferences of bumble bees. Bees have been shown to exhibit strong attraction to fluorescence emission exclusively in the blue spectral region. It is not known if emission exclusively in the green spectral region produces similar attraction. Here, we examined responses of wild bees to traps designed to selectively stimulate either the blue or the green photoreceptor using sunlight-induced fluorescence in the 420–480 or 510–540 nm region, respectively. Additionally, we probed how subtle changes in the spectral characteristics of the traps affect the bee captures once a highly selective excitation of the blue photoreceptor is achieved. It was established that selective excitation of the green photoreceptor type was not attractive, in contrast to that of the blue photoreceptor type. However, once a highly selective excitation of the blue photoreceptor type (at ~ 400–480 nm) was achieved, the wild bees favored strong excitation at 430–480 nm over that in the 400–420 nm region.
Ischemic Stroke: “Acidotoxicity” Is a Perpetrator

Ischemic stroke is a devastating neurological disease. The responsible mechanisms are not completely understood. In this issue of Cell, Xiong et al. (2004) elucidate a molecular mechanism by which acidosis damages the brain during ischemia.