cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corporate Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management: Insights from a Process Study

This paper presents a model of the strategic process concerning entrepreneurial activity in large, complex organizations. Previous empirical and theoretical findings can be integrated in this new conceptual framework. The paper makes the following key points. First, firms need both diversity and order in their strategic activities to maintain their viability. Diversity results primarily from autonomous strategic initiatives of participants at the operational level. Order results from imposing a concept of strategy on the organization. Second, managing diversity requires an experimentation-and-selection approach. Middle level managers play a crucial role in this through their support for autonomous strategic initiatives early on, by combining these with various capabilities dispersed in the firm's operating system, and by conceptualizing strategies for new areas of business. Third, top management's critical contribution consists in strategic recognition rather than planning. By allowing middle level managers to redefine the strategic context, and by being fast learners, top management can make sure that entrepreneurial activities will correspond to their strategic vision, retroactively. Fourth, strategic management at the top should be to a large extent concerned with balancing the emphasis on diversity and order over time. Top management should control the level and the rate of change rather than the specific content of entrepreneurial activity. Finally, new managerial approaches and innovative administrative arrangements are required to facilitate the collaboration between entrepreneurial participants and the organizations in which they are active.
Abundance, habitat use and movement patterns of the shovelnose guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus) in a restored southern California estuary

Coastal elasmobranchs such as the shovelnose guitarfish (Rhinobatos productus) seasonally use bays and estuaries for mating, pupping and feeding. However, many human-populated coastal areas have been developed, making them unavailable to coastal fish populations. The Full Tidal Basin (FTB) of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, was completed in 2006, with the aim to restore lost estuarine habitat in southern California. Monthly abundance surveys conducted inside the FTB between June 2008 and September 2009 showed that shovelnose guitarfish were present throughout the year. Over 96% of the individuals caught were juveniles and these were most abundant in waters between 208C and 248C. Concurrently, 23 shovelnose guitarfish were fitted with coded acoustic transmitters and continuously tracked within the FTB for 16 months. Telemetry data showed individuals remained inside the FTB for, on average, 73.9 days (range 15-172 days), and made few movements between the FTB and the ocean. Tagged individuals disproportionatelyusedmudhabitatsandwatersattemperaturesof228C,bothofwhicharemorecommonintheFTBthan the neighbouring coastal ocean. The present study examined the structure and functionality of a restored estuary and suggests that the FTB is important habitat for a benthic predator, a promising result three years after restoration.
Fine structure of secretory ameloblasts in the kitten.

Secretory ameloblasts in lower second molars of 1-week-old kittens were studied with the elctron microscope after perfusion-fixation with and without decalcification. Ameloblast height varied from 40–65 μm. Tomes' process presented a stepped profile with two type-1 faces (presumably enamel secreting) and one type-2 face (thought to be non-secreting). The type-1 face was associated with extensive membrane infoldings. The enamel facing the type-1 face was lined by a dense border, and stippled material was present between cell membrane and enamel. The type-2 face was characterized by minute membrane invaginations and, sometimes, stippled material between enamel and cell membrane. In cross section, the distal part of Tomes' process showed bilateral symmetry, with one dorsal, one ventral and two lateral aspects. It was suggested that enamel formation occurs in three stages. First, interrod enamel on the lateral aspects of Tomes' processes is formed by two adjacent amelblasts. Next, the interrod enamel on the dorso-ventral aspects of Tomes' processes is formed mainly by the dorsal extension of one Tomes' process. Finally, the enamel rod is formed by one ameloblast. Stippled material was consistently present in the extracellular spaces between Tomes' processes and in irregularly shaped vesicles in the ameloblast apex, and occasionally in large masses between the ameloblast cell bodies. Spherical vesicles within the ameloblast, thought to be lysosomes, also could contain material resembling stippled material. The possibility was considered that stippled material is partly derived from enamel, and finally phagocytosed by ameloblasts. There was no clear morphologic evidence for merocrine secretion playing a role in the formation of either enamel, stippled material or the rod sheath.
Menopause: a survey of attitudes and knowledge.

In this study an attempt was made to measure attitudes that women hold about menopause and the knowledge base women have on menopause. Their sources of information on health matters and persons they considered supportive were also examined. A survey was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire given to 250 women; 130 were returned. The results of the survey showed a low positive correlation between attitude toward and knowledge of menopause. A relationship was also shown to exist between knowledge level and income level, with women in the upper income level showing a better knowledge level. A generally positive attitude toward menopause was seen in this sample. A fairly good knowledge base was also seen, although several areas of concern became evident. It was concluded that nursing attention should be directed toward improving the client's knowledge level, especially in lower income women.
Blindness and Visual Impairment in an American Urban Population: The Baltimore Eye Survey

Data on the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in multiracial urban populations of the United States are not readily available. The Baltimore Eye Survey was designed to address this lack of information and provide estimates of prevalence in age-race subgroups that had not been well studied in the past. A population-based sample of 5300 blacks and whites from east Baltimore, Md, received an ophthalmologic screening examination that included detailed visual acuity measurements. Blacks had, on average, a twofold excess prevalence of blindness and visual impairment than whites, irrespective of definition. Rates rose dramatically with age for all definitions of vision loss, but there was no difference in prevalence by sex. More than 50% of subjects improved their presenting vision after refractive correction, with 7.5% improving three or more lines. Rates in Baltimore are as high or higher than those reported from previous studies. National projections indicate that greater than 3 million persons are visually impaired, 890,000 of whom are bilaterally blind by US definitions.
Long-term follow-up of colonoscopic fecal microbiota transplant for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Colonoscopic Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection
Allosteric control of ligand-binding affinity using engineered conformation-specific effector proteins

We describe a phage display methodology for engineering synthetic antigen binders (sABs) that recognize either the apo or the ligand-bound conformation of maltose-binding protein (MBP). sABs that preferentially recognize the maltose-bound form of MBP act as positive allosteric effectors by substantially increasing the affinity for maltose. A crystal structure of a sAB bound to the closed form of MBP reveals the basis for this allosteric effect. We show that sABs that recognize the bound form of MBP can rescue the function of a binding-deficient mutant by restoring its natural affinity for maltose. Furthermore, the sABs can enhance maltose binding in vivo, as they provide a growth advantage to bacteria under low-maltose conditions. The results demonstrate that structure-specific sABs can be engineered to dynamically control ligand-binding affinities by modulating the transition between different conformations.
Environmental regulation of lateral root initiation in Arabidopsis.

Plant morphology is dramatically influenced by environmental signals. The growth and development of the root system is an excellent example of this developmental plasticity. Both the number and placement of lateral roots are highly responsive to nutritional cues. This indicates that there must be a signal transduction pathway that interprets complex environmental conditions and makes the “decision” to form a lateral root at a particular time and place. Lateral roots originate from differentiated cells in adult tissues. These cells must reenter the cell cycle, proliferate, and redifferentiate to produce all of the cell types that make up a new organ. Almost nothing is known about how lateral root initiation is regulated or coordinated with growth conditions. Here, we report a novel growth assay that allows this regulatory mechanism to be dissected in Arabidopsis. When Arabidopsis seedlings are grown on nutrient media with a high sucrose to nitrogen ratio, lateral root initiation is dramatically repressed. Auxin localization appears to be a key factor in this nutrient-mediated repression of lateral root initiation. We have isolated a mutant, lateral root initiation 1 ( lin1 ), that overcomes the repressive conditions. This mutant produces a highly branched root system on media with high sucrose to nitrogen ratios. The lin1 phenotype is specific to these growth conditions, suggesting that the lin1 gene is involved in coordinating lateral root initiation with nutritional cues. Therefore, these studies provide novel insights into the mechanisms that regulate the earliest steps in lateral root initiation and that coordinate plant development with the environment.
Role of extensible physics engine in surgery simulations

Surgery simulations are of significant value in medical training as they provide a less costly mean of training new surgeons. The quality of a surgery simulation is defined by how realistic it is in a physical sense. These physics aspects however have little to do the high-level functionalities of the application. Most VR (virtual reality) applications use libraries called physics engine for enforcing physics laws in their virtual worlds. Although the concept of using physics engines is ideal for development of VR applications, in practice it does impose many limitations. For instance, there are many physical laws in the world, and one single physics engine cannot provide all of them. In addition, each physical law can be implemented differently; some are optimized for fast response, others are designed for maximum precision. Most existing physics engines are specialized for common applications such as gaming, robotic or flight simulations. In surgery applications, the requirements are different; therefore different physics laws are needed. In particular, laws are needed for simulating cutting and skin deformation. In addition, these laws must be enforced with a high precision level. In this paper, we discuss how xPheve was used to develop a cataract eye surgery simulation. xPheve is a physics engine that allows extension and customization of the simulation physics through development and integration of reusable law components. This paper discusses how xPheve can benefit the development of the surgery simulations.
“You Want Fireworks? I’ll Show You Fireworks!”: Or Not—Woman-to-Woman Violence on Sex and the City, The L Word, and The O.C.

Instances of intimate partner violence (IPV) between women on Sex and the City, The L Word, and The O.C. reflect the social reality that IPV between lesbians is a serious social and public health issue. However, narrative analysis of IPV in female same-sex relationships reveals the violence is both literally and figuratively rendered unremarkable. The absence of frames common in contemporary portrayals of heterosexual IPV perpetuates the misperception that violence does not occur in same-sex relationships. Further, a specifically gendered, raced and classed image of “the violent lesbian,” and recuperation narratives where heterosexuality is presented as the “solution” to woman-to-woman IPV, raise questions about the increased presence of LGB characters in entertainment media. In sum, thematic elements that unite seemingly dynamic portrayals of lesbian sexuality and relationships in these series do not interrupt cultural narratives silencing victims of intimate violence. Instead, messages about woman-to-woman IPV perpetuate stereotypes and homophobic, sexist, racist and classist ideologies. This analysis presents insight into popular media portrayals of a serious community health issue. Results call for additional research assessing the form and content of media representations of same-sex sexuality in a changing cultural context.
Group I mGluR Activation Turns on a Voltage-Gated Inward Current in Hippocampal Pyramidal Cells

A unique property of the group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-induced depolarization in hippocampal cells is that the amplitude of the depolarization is larger when the response is elici...
40-Gb/s in Plastic Optical Fiber

Plastic optical fiber together with appropriate low complexity transmitters and receivers are shown to allow high-performance optical links capable of supporting 40 Gb/s data rates over distances greater than 100 m.
“It’s Always with You, that You’re Different”: Undocumented Students and Social Exclusion

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on undocumented college students who overcame significant barriers to apply to and attend universities, and once on campus, were forced to conceal their immigration status from staff and peers, struggling to pay tuition without assistance from scholarships or federal loans. The concept of social exclusion is used to understand and explore the barriers to their access to higher education and experiences while in college, relationships to community and governing institutions, and struggles with poverty and discrimination. The Obama Administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative provides the first real possibility to more fully pursue their educational and employment aspirations and allows students to live without fear of deportation and social stigma, if only temporarily.
Feasibility and usability of a wearable orthotic for stroke survivors with hand impairment.

AbstractPurpose: The concept of a vibrating wristband, to improve dextrous hand function of stroke survivors, was recently proposed with clinical results and is referred to as ‘TheraBracelet’ in this paper. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate feasibility of a portable, wearable TheraBracelet, and to apply usability evaluation techniques to assess potential demands of TheraBracelet and to identify critical improvement needs of the prototype. Method: A prototype was developed with a vibrating element housed in an elastic wristband and connected to a wearable electronics box via a cable. Expectation for TheraBracelet and evaluation of the prototype were obtained from 10 chronic stroke survivors using surveys before and after using the prototype and House of Quality analysis. Results: The survey for expectation showed stroke survivors’ willingness to try out TheraBracelet at a low cost. The survey evaluating the prototype showed that the current prototype was overall satisfactory with a mean rating o...
Nanotechnology and Smart Materials for "More than Moore" - It's a Small World After All!

Ever since Gordon Moore fore told about the future of the integrated circuit (IC) back in 1965 [1], Moore’s law was not only an accurate forecast of the achievements that microelectronics community has made, but also was a yardstick of the appropriate level of the commercial development in microelectronics for the past five decades. Such an amazing pace of the IC technology development was possible essentially because of simple two-dimensional (2D) structure of the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) field effect transistor (FET) invented by Hofstein and Heiman [2]. Putting more transistors in the same chip was possible simply by decreasing 2D feature size of the IC. The never-ending quest for ever and ever smaller feature size (another word, ever and ever increasing numbers of the transistors) in IC is stunning and gate insulation layer thickness today is only a few layers of oxide and the minimum feature size of the IC is sub-20 nm. While keeping this march becomes more challenging, there is no doubt that this amazing “more Moore” march will continue at least for a couple of more decades thanks to numerous innovations in materials, production technologies and a paradigm shift in design like FinFET [3]. However, “more Moore” by feature size reduction can only go so far and year after year we are getting one step closer to the physical limit.
The Influence of Nitrogen Doping on the Chemical and Local Bonding Environment of Amorphous and Crystalline Ge2Sb2Te5

Recent interest in phase change materials (PCMs) for non-volatile memory applications has been fueled by the promise of scalability beyond the limit of conventional DRAM and NAND flash memory [1]. However, for such solid state device applications, Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), GeSb, and other chalcogenide PCMs require doping. Doping favorably modifies crystallization speed, crystallization temperature, and thermal stability but the chemical role of the dopant is not yet fully understood. In this work, X-ray Absorption Fine Spectroscopy (XAFS) is used to examine the chemical and structural role of nitrogen doping (N-) in as-deposited and crystalline GST thin films. The study focuses on the chemical and local bonding environment around each of the elements in the sample, in pre and post-anneal states, and at various doping concentrations. We conclude that the nitrogen dopant forms stable Ge-N bonds as deposited, which is distinct from GST bonds, and remain at the grain boundary of the crystallites such that the annealed film is comprised of crystallites with a dopant rich grain boundary.
METFORMIN: NONGLYCEMIC EFFECTS AND POTENTIAL NOVEL INDICATIONS.

ABSTRACT Objective: Metformin is the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes because of its apparent robust effects in reducing cardiovascular risk. This review examines the current literature regarding the nonglycemic effects and potential novel indications for metformin. Methods: Review of the literature, with a focus on metformin use in Stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD-3) and heart failure (HF). Results: The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study suggests that metformin reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, and more recent retrospective studies have shown an association between metformin use and a reduction in stroke, atrial fibrillation and all-cause mortality. The mechanism(s) explaining these putative benefits are not clear but may involve decreased energy intake (with attendant weight loss), improvement in lipids, and lowering of blood pressure; a literature review suggests that metformin lowers blood pressure when it is elevated, but not when it is normal. Metformin appears to be safe when given to patients with CKD-3. In addition, there is evidence that individuals with CKD-3, who are at increased cardiovascular risk, stand to benefit from metformin therapy. Lactic acidosis is an extremely remote and probably avoidable risk; measurement of plasma metformin levels and more frequent monitoring of renal function may be useful in selected patients with CKD-3 who are treated with metformin. Finally, there is evidence that metformin is safe in patients with HF; metformin therapy is associated with a reduction in newly incident HF and in HF mortality. Conclusion: Metformin has a dominant position in the treatment of type 2 diabetes that is deserved due to its favorable and robust effects on cardiovascular risk. Abbreviations: AMP = adenosine monophosphate BP = blood pressure CKD = chronic kidney disease CKD-3 = Stage 3 CKD eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate HDL = high-density lipoprotein HF = heart failure MAP = mean arterial pressure mVO2 = myocardial oxygen consumption T2DM = type 2 diabetes mellitus UKPDS = United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study
Time- and Location-Sensitive Recommender Systems

In many real scenarios, the buying and rating behaviors of customers are associated with temporal information. For example, the ratings in the Netflix Prize data set are associated with a “GradeDate” variable, and it was eventually shown [310] how the temporal component could be used to improve the rating predictions.
Oxygen modulates the differentiation of human fetal lung in vitro and its responsiveness to cAMP

Previously, it was found that lung explants from mid-trimester human abortuses differentiate spontaneously in organ culture in serum-free defined medium in an atmosphere of 95% air-5% CO2. Dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP) treatment of human fetal lung in culture increases the rate of morphological differentiation and enhances expression of the surfactant protein A (SP-A) gene. To begin to define the factors responsible for this accelerated in vitro differentiation, we analyzed the effects of atmospheric oxygen on the morphological and biochemical development of human fetal lung in culture and on responsiveness of the cultured tissue to DBcAMP. We found that when lung explants were maintained in an atmosphere containing 1% oxygen they failed to differentiate spontaneously and no induction of SP-A gene expression was apparent. Furthermore, at 1% oxygen, DBcAMP had no effect to stimulate morphological differentiation or SP-A gene expression. When lung tissues that had been maintained for 5 days in 1% oxygen were transferred to an environment containing 20% oxygen, there was rapid morphological development and induction of SP-A gene expression. The effects on morphological development were manifest within 24 h of transfer to the 20% oxygen environment; within 72 h, a marked stimulatory effect of DBcAMP on SP-A gene expression also was observed. Our findings further suggest that the effects of oxygen on the levels of SP-A and SP-A mRNA are concentration dependent. Interestingly, the inductive effects of DBcAMP on SP-A gene expression were apparent only at oxygen concentrations > or = 10%. Morphological differentiation of the cultured human fetal lung tissue also was influenced by oxygen in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that oxygen plays an important permissive role in the spontaneous differentiation of human fetal lung in vitro.
The evaluation and management of dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients.

Metabolic complications of HIV infection and potent antiretroviral therapy are common. Among the chief concerns are the development of lipid management
Owning the world of ideas: intellectual property and global network capitalism

In this slim volume, Matthew David and Debora Halbert have written a forceful argument against intellectual property rights (IPRs) and about the harms stemming from today’s global markets. The purp...
Myoclonus in Angelman Syndrome

A clinical and electroencephalographic study of 11 unrelated patients with Angelman syndrome (AS), confirmed by genetic analysis, is reported from the University of Pisa, Italy.
Growth and characterization of bulk crystals, thin films and patterned structures of AlN, GaN and Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/N on SiC(0001) substrates and device-related research

Summary form only given. Single crystals of AlN to 1 mm thickness were grown at 1950-2250/spl deg/C on 10/spl times/10 mm/sup 2/ 6H-SiC substrates via sublimation-re-condensation. Most crystals were 0.3 mm-1 mm thick transparent layers completely covering the substrates. Raman, optical and TEM results will be presented. Single crystals of GaN were grown by subliming powders of this material under NH/sub 3/. Raman and photoluminescence results will be shown.
Sturnira lilium (Yellow-shouldered bat)

The autosomes can be classified roughly into three groups: five pairs of large metacentrics and submetacentrics, five pairs of medium or small metacentrics and submetacentrics, and 4 pairs of subtelocentrics. In the last group the smallest pair is more mediocentric than the others. Identification of the sex chromosomes is equivocal.
Reassessment of Audience in Public Relations Industry: How Social Media Reshape Public Relations Measurements

The growing adoption of social media in PR practice has provided opportunities for newer audience measurements and contributed to cultivating newer conceptions of their audience. This study conducts a historical textual analysis of articles in PR Week US to establish the conception. The analysis maps the structural transformation of the field that has guided the PR industry’s reconceptualisation of their audiences from the quantity of media placements to the quantity and the quality of behavioural outcomes.
Tertiary Amino Group in Cationic Gold Catalyst: Tethered Frustrated Lewis Pairs That Enable Ligand-Controlled Regiodivergent and Stereoselective Isomerizations of Propargylic Esters

The development of novel ligands specifically tailored for homogeneous gold catalysis is essential for a new generation of gold catalysis. In this work, we report the development of remotely functionalized biphenyl-2-ylphosphine ligands based on strategic positioning in cationic gold catalysts of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLP), that is, basic tertiary amine moieties and the acidic gold center. By rationally tuning the location and size of the basic group, these Lewis pairs exhibit little or modest quenching and importantly enable regiodivergent and stereoselective isomerizations of propargylic esters into synthetically versatile dienyl esters under exceptionally mild conditions. Notably, the implementation of the concept of FLP in gold catalysis is rare.
Non-iterative distributed model predictive control for flexible vehicle platooning of connected vehicles

This work proposes a non-iterative distributed model predictive control (DMPC) scheme for flexible vehicle platooning with state and input constraints. The proposed DMPC scheme partitions the multi-vehicle system into alternate clusters belonging to two categories, and distributively solves constrained optimal control problems (COCPs) in a two-step manner at each sampling instant. At the first step, the scheme solves COCPs over one category of vehicle clusters that are disjoint. Then, at the second step, COCPs are solved over the other category with predicted states of common neighbors transmitted from the first step. Instead of applying compatibility constraints on all vehicles, only compatibility constraints of common neighbors of two neighboring clusters are required in the proposed scheme to ensure feasibility and closed-loop stability. The proposed DMPC law can be obtained by solving a semidefinite program (SDP). A flexible vehicle platooning example is simulated to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed DMPC scheme.
Race and socioeconomic status in substance use progression and treatment entry

This study examined trajectories of progression from early substance use to treatment entry as a function of race, among inpatient treatment seekers (N = 945). Following primary race-contingent analyses of use progression, secondary analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on the observed differences. African Americans reported significant delays in treatment entry relative to Caucasians. Racial differences in alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine use trajectories were observed. Accounting for SES rendered observations of accelerated use among African Americans nonsignificant. However, inclusion of SES failed to mitigate the marked racial disparity in treatment entry.
“A Network of Honor and Obligation”: Elizabeth as Godmother

Elizabeth I agreed to be godmother to over one hundred infants during her reign of forty-plus years. In spite of having no living family, Elizabeth resisted the pressure to marry and provide an heir. Instead, Elizabeth used the religious ceremony of christening as a means to cement her relationships with her people and the leading families in her kingdom and those abroad. The parents were honored by the queen’s presence or surrogate as well as receiving a costly gift which they could display. And the queen, by agreeing, ensured the loyalty of the family to her reign.
Glucose Sensor Dynamics and the Artificial Pancreas: The Impact of Lag on Sensor Measurement and Controller Performance

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by the destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. With this disease, the body is no longer able to produce insulin, leading to chronically high concentrations of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) [1]. People with T1DM manage the disease by administering exogenous insulin doses as determined by multiple daily measurements of the blood glucose (BG) concentration; however, this approach requires significant effort from the patient and often achieves suboptimal results, leading to short- and long-term health complications [2]-[5].
A novel computational approach for drug repurposing using systems biology

Motivation Identification of novel therapeutic effects for existing US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs, drug repurposing, is an approach aimed to dramatically shorten the drug discovery process, which is costly, slow and risky. Several computational approaches use transcriptional data to find potential repurposing candidates. The main hypothesis of such approaches is that if gene expression signature of a particular drug is opposite to the gene expression signature of a disease, that drug may have a potential therapeutic effect on the disease. However, this may not be optimal since it fails to consider the different roles of genes and their dependencies at the system level. Results We propose a systems biology approach to discover novel therapeutic roles for established drugs that addresses some of the issues in the current approaches. To do so, we use publicly available drug and disease data to build a drug-disease network by considering all interactions between drug targets and disease-related genes in the context of all known signaling pathways. This network is integrated with gene-expression measurements to identify drugs with new desired therapeutic effects based on a system-level analysis method. We compare the proposed approach with the drug repurposing approach proposed by Sirota et al. on four human diseases: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. We evaluate the proposed approach based on its ability to re-discover drugs that are already FDA-approved for a given disease. Availability and implementation The R package DrugDiseaseNet is under review for publication in Bioconductor and is available at https://github.com/azampvd/DrugDiseaseNet. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Voices, in English, on the Air

Cascando, Beckett’s French radio play with the Italian title and German philosophical symbolism, was not his first creation for radiophonic transmission. Three English plays were either prior to or contemporaneous with that exercise in the direct use of the human voice in service of the creative consciousness. All That Fall (1956) and Embers (1959) are more dramatic and less dramaturgical than Cascando; but Words and Music, copyrighted in the same year, 1963, marks a return to the dramatization of the problem of dramatic creation.
A Case Study in the Application of a Tightly Coupled Multiprocessor to Scientific Computations

Publisher Summary Computational physicists, chemists, and biologists need hardware and software facilities that are capable of solving numerical problems. Processors that are capable of executing several operations are a cost-effective way of supplying these needs than are serial computers. This chapter presents the experiments designed to understand the potential of a general-purpose tightly coupled multiprocessor. It describes the hardware and software characteristics of multiprocessors. From the hardware engineering point of view, multiprocessors may offer attractive solutions to the problem of increasing the performance of computers than the parallel machines, because they are able to take advantage of simple regular designs, which employ replicated standard components. When suitable communication structures are used, they allow extensibility and reliability. To a certain extent, the regularity of the design is achieved at the expense of removing specialized and centralized control, and one of the characteristics of software that executes on multiple instruction, multiple data (MIMD) machines is the need to provide control using a variety of programming techniques. This involves software overheads, in terms of design complexity and execution costs.
The Ultrastructural Chemoanatomy of the Basal Ganglia: 1984–1989. I. The Neostriatum

Our last review on the ultrastructural chemoanatomy of the basal ganglia (Pasik et al., 1986) covered the articles published through part of 1984. In our concluding remarks, we emphasized that the significant gaps in our knowledge at the time, could be expected to be filled by the application of new techniques that were just beginning to show some success. They were: (1) the development of antibodies directed against small molecules such as the neuroactive substances, as opposed to their synthesizing enzymes; (2) the use of more subtle markers such as ferritin or gold particles, which do not obscure the subcellular details of labeled structures; and (3) the possibility of differentially visualizing more than one substance in the same preparation, thereby improving the chances for the discovery of the interactions which characterize the neuronal circuits operating in the basal ganglia.
A schistosome [beta] subunit remodels inactivation of a calcium channel via an N-terminal polyacidic motif

The beta subunit of high voltage-activated Ca (Cav) channels targets the pore forming [alpha]~1~ subunit to the plasma membrane and defines the biophysical phenotype of the Cav channel complex. Cav channel inactivation following activation and opening is tightly regulated and is an essential property that not only prevents excessive entry of Ca^2+^ into the cell but may also have functions in signal transduction. The [beta] subunit modulates Ca^2+^-dependent and voltage-dependent components of Cav channel inactivation via its interaction with the I-II linker of the [alpha]~1~ subunit. Here, using Cav2.3 and whole-cell patch-clamp, we show that a [beta] subunit from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni ([beta]~Sm~) accelerates inactivation via a unique, long N-terminal polyacidic motif (NPAM). The accelerating effect of NPAM-containing subunits, both native ([beta]~Sm~)and chimeric mammalian [beta]~1b~, [beta]~2a~ and [beta]~3~ subunits to which NPAM had been attached, was only apparent when Ca^2+^ was internally buffered with BAPTA (5 mM) or when Ba^2+^ was used as the charge carrier, two commonly used strategies to eliminate Ca^2+^/calmodulin dependent inactivation. These results indicate that calmodulin is not involved. In addition to accelerating inactivation, NPAM-containing [beta] subunits significantly reduced current density with respect to their non NPAM-bearing counterparts. Interestingly, when the amino acids N terminal to NPAM were deleted, inactivation of Cav2.3 currents was faster than in the presence of the entire N-terminal portion of the [beta]~Sm~ subunit, as if the pre-NPAM region counteracts the effect of NPAM. Presence of NPAM also resulted in currents that activated faster, suggesting that NPAM increases open channel probability. However, NPAM does not modulate inactivation gating. In summary, this study identifies a structural determinant of Cav channel inactivation that is entirely unlike those previously known.
What's the influence of social interactions on substance use and treatment initiation? A prospective analysis among substance-using probationers.

Abstract Introduction: A person's social environment greatly affects the likelihood of substance use, which in turn affects risk for criminal behavior. This study examined how people's social environment early in probation contributed to later substance use and treatment outcome, both of which predict probation success. Methods: Data were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial of substance-using probationers (N = 316). Moderation analyses assessed the relationship between social support near the start of probation and substance use and treatment initiation after 2 and 6 months. Results: Abstinence at 2-months was associated with better baseline measures of support quality (more positive support, fewer negative interactions, and reduced conflict). Similar associations were identified for 6-month abstinence including better baseline quality, more positive support, and less family and peer conflict. There were no significant associations between the baseline social support and treatment initiation at 2-months. However, poorer baseline quality support and more negative interactions predicted increased treatment initiation at 6-months. Conclusions: Social support and the quality of an offender's social network have important implications for substance use and treatment compliance. The criminal justice system emphasizes ways to minimize negative social influences among offenders (i.e., probation conditions that limit contact with other offenders). However, this study suggests that behavior change is a function of not only reducing negative influences but also increasing positive or good quality supports.
Residents Attitudes and Home Sanitation Predict Presence of German Cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) in Apartments for Low-Income Senior Residents

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), is a common pest found in apartment buildings. Prevalence of cockroach infestations is affected by both environmental conditions and building occupant behavior, but their relationships are not well studied. The objective of this study was to analyze the presence of German cockroaches in relation to environmental conditions, resident demographics, and residents' tolerance of cockroaches. We conducted resident interviews, placed sticky traps to detect the presence of German cockroaches, and assessed apartment conditions. A total of 388 apartments from seven low-income apartment buildings, occupied by senior citizens in New Jersey, United States, were included. Among the 344 apartments where trap count data were obtained, 30% had German cockroaches. Among interviewed residents whose apartments had existing cockroach infestations, 36% were unaware of the presence of cockroaches. The odds of having cockroaches in apartments with a 'poor' sanitation rating in kitchens and bathrooms was 2.7 times greater than that in apartments with better sanitation conditions. Residents' tolerance to cockroaches is significantly associated with presence of cockroaches and cockroach population size. The median cockroach count when residents were bothered by cockroaches was ≥3, based on deployment of 4 sticky traps per apartment, over a 2-wk period. Assessing and reducing cockroach tolerance thresholds and improving housekeeping through resident education and assistance from community and housing management should be incorporated in future cockroach management programs in order to reduce high cockroach infestation rates found in similar communities.
Rising powers and the horn of Africa: conflicting regionalisms*

AbstractRising powers are evolving centres for varieties of conflict as well as development. With a focus on the complexities of the Horn of Africa, we juxtapose Jan Nederveen Pieterse1 on what is ...
A Comparative Study of Different Curve Fitting Algorithms in Artificial Neural Network using Housing Dataset

Representing a given dataset with a mathematical model is a very useful tool in many engineering applications. Several techniques exist to evolve a mathematical model for a given data set. Non-Linear regression being the most often used. The curves can be generated from these mathematical models, which provide a visualization of how that model fits the data. In this paper, three algorithms to train artificial neural networks are used to develop a good fit for the data. The three algorithms are Levenberg-Marquardt, Bayesian Regularization, and Scaled Conjugate Gradient. These algorithms were applied to the housing data set. The comparative performance of these algorithms was compared using Mean Square Error (MSE), which represents the best curve fitting for these data sets. The mean squared error was computed for each algorithm. Levenberg-Marquardt had MSE of 7.0902. Scaled Conjugate Gradient at 15.2932, and Bayesian Regularization at 5.3480. It was found that Bayesian Regularization gave the best accuracy at 96.78%, followed by Levenberg-Marquardt at 94.53% and Scaled Conjugate Gradient at 90.51%.
Study on Reduction in Shrinkage Defects in HPDC Component by Optimization of Localized Squeezing Process

In high-pressure die casting component, shrinkage defects plays a major role in leakage of fluid from components; therefore, it becomes necessary to predict the exact location of the shrinkage defect to reduce its intensity to an acceptable level. Nowadays, a localized squeezing process is one of the popular ways of reducing the shrinkage defect in high-pressure die casting components. Squeeze pins can be used to compensate for shrinkage defects in these components. The main reason for the formation of shrinkage porosity at the critical location of a given component is large and poorly fed hot spot. In this paper, shrinkage defects are reduced from level III to level I by determining optimum values of squeeze pin parameters by DOE and flow simulation, obtained results are implemented in order to test and verify effectiveness of the method. An excellent agreement is indicated for the simulation result and the experimental results.
Chapter 21 Rules versus discretion in monetary policy

Publisher Summary Discretionary monetary policy has long been an anomaly to liberal economists. Henry Simons addressed the issue in his classic paper “Rules versus Authorities in Monetary Policy.” This chapter discusses the gold standard as a quasi-automatic monetary policy regime and alternative monetary rules are also examined. The modern literature centered on the concept of dynamic inconsistency and its relevance to the rules versus discretion debate is discussed in the chapter. A pure gold standard is a fully automatic monetary system. The specie-flow mechanism in which the money stock adjusts through the balance of payments reveals the equilibrating tendencies inherent in the system. With all goods traded and their prices equalized worldwide, adjustment comes purely through wealth effects as the outflow of gold from a country with a current account deficit reduces the flow of spending in that country. The pre-1977 arguments of principle for rules lacked any convincing demonstration that rules might systematically be better than discretion. This demonstration came with the dynamic inconsistency literature.
“Well, they understand the concept of area”: pre-service teachers’ responses to student area misconceptions

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways elementary pre-service teachers responded to hypothetical student misconceptions about area measurement topics, framed in the context of their existing understanding and the Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching framework. Data collection consisted of written pre-assessments, followed by semi-structured interviews with 24 pre-service teachers enrolled in a geometry and measurement course. Findings included a frequent misattribution of area understanding to students, tendencies to provide alternate procedural strategies or re-explain concepts, and key differences in pedagogical strategies depending on initial content knowledge or apparent correctness of the student response. While there existed a tendency among some pre-service teachers to encourage procedural approaches, several others were able to leverage their own understanding towards conceptual, student-centered instructional responses. Such responses placed the student at the center of the instructional interaction, paving the way for exploration and mathematical discovery. Recommendations for supporting pre-service teachers in navigating the intersection between content and pedagogical knowledge in area measurement are discussed.
Stoichiometrically balanced nutrient management using a newly designed nutrient medium for large scale cultivation of Cyanobacterium aponinum

Cyanobacteria have tremendous potential to produce bioactive molecules, which makes them a highly lucrative organism for use in industrial applications. In the present study, the first commercial nutrient medium for Cyanobacterium aponinum is developed and a process for large scale cultivation of cyanobacteria is established by combining economical medium, pre-emptive nutrient feeding strategy, and semi-continuous mode (SCM) of cultivation. The parameters measured were growth in terms of OD750 biomass, total nitrogen, nitrate, and phosphorous. Results indicated 13% more biomass yield in urea-phosphoric acid medium (UPA), in comparison to blue-green medium (BG-11). Biomass concentration was 5.3 and 4.7 g L−1 with UPA and BG-11 media, respectively. Urea was found to be a preferred nitrogen source for C. aponinum. Nutrient-dosing studies with UPA medium in SCM of operation resulted in an average daily biomass productivity of ~ 0.44 g L−1 day−1, which is significantly higher than those reported in previous studies. Here, the stoichiometric requirement of nitrogen and phosphorous was found to be 31 mg L−1 and 4.5 mg L−1, respectively. Stoichiometric nutrient addition in SCM resulted in a reduction in nutrient loss in blow down. In addition, the outdoor scale-up studies in flat panel photobioreactors further established the efficacy of UPA medium. Cost analysis of media revealed that UPA medium is 4.4 times less expensive than BG-11 and hence is a suitable and economical medium for large scale cultivation of C. aponinum. Further, this nutrient feeding strategy has wider applications which can be extended to other algal strains and cultivation systems.
GOES-R Series Solar Dynamics

Abstract Most space weather phenomena originate in the solar atmosphere. To ensure forecasters have access to the most up-to-date information about solar conditions that can influence space weather, the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-R Series observes the Sun’s chromosphere and corona in six extreme ultraviolet passbands, 94, 131, 171, 195, 284, and 304 A. SUVI observations reveal layers of the corona with temperatures between about 50,000 and 10 million K. SUVI observations are used to identify coronal holes, the quiet sun, filaments and prominences, active regions and solar flares. These phenomena are linked to fast solar wind streams, solar eruptions, and outbursts of energetic particles and electromagnetic radiation that can disrupt technological systems on Earth and in near-Earth space. SUVI images also support the generation of a variety of products that help track dynamic activity in the corona and generate thematic maps of phenomena that could influence space weather.