cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Androgen Control of Territorial Marking in the Mongolian Gerbil

Gerbils mark objects with the secretion of a midventral sebaceous gland. Both the behavior and the gland integrity are under androgen control, as indicated by castration and replacement with testosterone propionate. The integrity of the gland seems less important for marking than an influence on the central nervous system, although the gland can be used as an external measure of androgen levels. It is possible that the secretion acts as a pheromone to signal territorial possession.
Evaluation of Sucrose Esters in Ice Cream

Sucrose esters of varying hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values were added to standard ice cream mixes at 0.15 or 0.25%, and compared with ice creams containing either a commercially available or no emulsifier. Resulting viscosities and overrun patterns were similar, but surface tensions decreased with increasing HLB and concentration. The addition of sucrose esters at 0.25% tended to prevent clumping out of fat particles. Sucrose ester-containing samples melted in a normal manner, and only texture differences were detectable among samples, with the ester-containing samples rated higher than the control or reference samples initially and similar to the reference after storage.
Functional analyses of the digestive β-glucosidase of Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus)

The research was to elucidate the function of the β-glucosidase of Formosan subterranean termites in vitro and in vivo. The gene transcript was detected predominantly in the salivary gland tissue, relative to the midgut and the hindgut of the foraging worker caste, indicating salivary glands were the major expression sites of the β-glucosidase. Using recombinant β-glucosidase produced in Escherichia coli, the enzyme showed higher affinity and activity toward cellobiose and cellotriose than other substrates tested. In assessing impacts of specific inhibitors, we found that the β-glucosidase could be irreversibly inactivated by conduritol B epoxide (CBE) but not gluconolactone. Termite feeding assays showed that the CBE treatment reduced the glucose supply in the midgut and resulted in the body weight loss while no effect was observed for the gluconolactone treatment. These findings highlighted that the β-glucosidase is one of the critical cellulases responsible for cellulose degradation and glucose production; inactivation of these digestive enzymes by specific inhibitors may starve the termite.
TGF-β in renal injury and disease

Chronic progressive kidney diseases typically are characterized by loss of differentiated epithelial cells and activation of mesenchymal cell populations leading to renal fibrosis in response to a broad range of diverse renal injuries. Recent evidence has indicated that epithelial microinjury leads to unbalanced epithelial-mesenchymal communication to initiate the fibrotic response. Transforming growth factors beta constitute a large family of cytokines that control key cellular responses in development and tissue repair. Activation of autocrine and paracrine transforming growth factor-beta signaling cascades in the context of epithelial microinjuries initiate a variety of cell type-dependent signaling and activity profiles, including epithelial apoptosis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, that trigger fibrogenic foci and initiate progressive fibrogenesis in chronic renal injury.
Reduced top-down influences in contour detection in schizophrenia

Introduction. Chronic schizophrenia patients have previously demonstrated performance deficits in contour integration tasks. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether schizophrenia patients, spanning a range of illness severity, would demonstrate responsiveness to manipulations that recruit top-down processing strategies involving learning and sequencing effects in a contour integration task. Methods. We administered a contour integration test over four consecutive days and in two different presentation conditions each day. In one condition, the stimuli were administered in order of increasing difficulty, and in the other they were presented in random order. The order in which these two conditions were presented was counterbalanced across days and participants. In addition, a nonschizophrenia psychotic disorders control group was included to determine if past findings of a contour integration deficit in schizophrenia could be replicated in the presence of a symptomatically similar control group...
Vanishing bile duct syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus: Nevirapine hepatotoxicity revisited

Vanishing bile duct syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus: Nevirapine hepatotoxicity revisited
A Sharing-Aware Greedy Algorithm for Virtual Machine Maximization

Service providers face multiple challenges in hosting an increasing number of virtual machine (VM) instances. Minimizing the utilization of system resources while maximizing the potential for profit are among the most common challenges. Recent studies have investigated memory reclamation techniques focused on virtual technologies, specifically page sharing, for minimizing the utilization of system resources. In this paper, we address the problem of sharing-aware VM maximization in a general sharing model which has as objective finding a subset of VMs that can be hosted by a server with a given memory capacity such that the total profit derived from hosting the subset of VMs is maximized. The sharing-aware VM maximization allocation problem has been shown to be NP-hard. Therefore, we design a greedy approximation algorithm for solving it. We determine the approximation ratio of our greedy algorithm and perform extensive experiments to investigate its performance against other VM allocation algorithms.
Patients with juvenile psoriatic arthritis comprise two distinct populations.

Objective Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in children is clinically heterogeneous. We examined a large population of children with juvenile PsA for evidence of phenotypic clustering that could suggest the presence of distinct clinical entities. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 139 patients meeting the Vancouver criteria for juvenile PsA. To identify segregation into phenotypic groups, we compared younger patients with their older counterparts and subjected the whole population to 2-step cluster analysis. Results Among patients with juvenile PsA, the age at onset is biphasic, with peaks occurring at approximately 2 years of age and again in late childhood. Compared with children ages 5 years and older, younger patients are more likely to be female, exhibit dactylitis and small joint involvement, and express antinuclear antibodies. Progression to polyarticular disease (≥5 joints) is more common in younger children, although joint involvement remains oligoarticular in the majority of children. In contrast, older patents tend to manifest enthesitis, axial joint disease, and persistent oligoarthritis. Uveitis is equally represented in both age groups. Despite a higher utilization of methotrexate therapy, younger patients required, on average, more than twice as long to achieve clinical remission (23 months versus 9.2 months; P = 0.044). Cluster analysis identified largely overlapping subgroups but suggested that the presence of dactylitis, rather than age, has the greatest capacity to predict essential features of the clinical phenotype. Conclusion Juvenile PsA comprises 2 distinct populations of patients. Although the pathophysiologic correlate of this finding remains undefined, future studies should avoid the assumption that PsA in childhood constitutes a single etiologic entity.
Using Landscape Spatial Relationships to Improve Estimates of Land-Cover Area from Coarse Resolution Remote Sensing

Abstract A two-stage modeling strategy significantly improves land-cover area estimates from low spatial resolution remote sensing by correcting measurements of class proportions within large blocks of pixels. Vegetation class-type information is developed through supervised classification of Thematic Mapper spectral data at both fine (30 m) and coarse (1020 m) resolutions. Stage 1 models use measurements of landscape spatial properties to estimate the slopes and intercepts of proportion transition relationships between fine- and coarse-resolution classes within randomly located pixel blocks. Following this step, a Stage II model uses a linear estimator to predict true class proportions based on measured coarse-scale proportions and the slope and intercept estimates from the Stage I models. Model development and testing on a training site is followed by testing and inversion for a validation site. Model inversion involves using spatial variables measured only at the coarse resolution as input to the Stage I models. For both the training and the validation data, the procedure results in a statistically significant reduction in error when estimating land-cover area by class type within the sampling blocks.
AN IMPROVED STEREOSELECTIVE REDUCTION FOR THE PREPARATION OF endo-7-PHENYLNORCARANE

(1973). AN IMPROVED STEREOSELECTIVE REDUCTION FOR THE PREPARATION OF endo-7-PHENYLNORCARANE. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 275-279.
Continuous vs. Targeted Medication in Older Schizophrenic Outpatients.

The authors compared targeted as opposed to continuous neuroleptic medication for the treatment of older (over age 50) schizophrenic outpatients. Patients in the continuous medication group (n = 17) received maintenance neuroleptic medication throughout the 12-month study period. Those in the targeted group (n = 14) received medication only during periods of prodrome. Significantly fewer maintenance patients had at least one prodromal episode, and fewer experienced relapse, compared to the targeted medication group. No significant differences were found in the rate of hospitalization between the groups. Patients in the targeted group took, cumulatively, less medication. There were no significant differences between the two groups on measures of symptoms, side effects, or quality of life. A targeted medication approach was therefore judged inferior to maintenance medication for older schizophrenic outpatients.
Motion of foundation on a layered soil medium — I. Impedance characteristics

An impedance matrix is derived for the relationship between displacements and external excitations of a rigid or flexible foundation embedded in a layered soil medium. The unknown contact distributed force between the foundation and soil is expanded in the frequency domain as a twofold series of azimuthal and radial components; each term represents a basic or fundamental distribution. As a result, the total response of the soil, either of displacements or stresses, has the same type of series expression except for the fundamental distributions replaced by influence functions. The coefficients of the series expansion, appearing in both equilibrium conditions of the foundation and compatibility conditions on the contact surface, relate the foundation displacements and excitations, and, therefore, result in the impedance matrix. Avoidance of integral equations in the soil-structure interaction analysis is the merit of the present approach.
"THEY ARE THE EXPERTS:" A WORKERS' AGENDA FOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN MEXICO'S MAQUILADORAS

AbstractThis study explores theories of globalization and new social movements through the examination of an empirical case of the organizing efforts of maquiladora workers on the Mexico-U.S. border. The article is divided largely into two parts: a theoretical overview that introduces key notions surrounding globalization and new social movements, and an empirical research report that describes movement activities of a community organizing group called the Comite Fronterizo de Obreras (CFO, Border Committee of Working Women). The study demonstrates how grassroots organizing follows an internal logic based on the experiences of factory workers within the context of globalization that often goes unnoticed by scholars who rarely focus on the micro-experiences of the shop floor. The findings from the study demonstrate the relevance of models of globalization, flesh out theoretical accounts of new social movements, and illustrate consequences and limitations of grassroots organizations.
The Accuracy of Clinician Perceptions of “Usual” Blood Pressure Control

BACKGROUND The term “clinical inertia” is used to describe the failure to manage a chronic condition aggressively enough to bring it under control. The underlying mechanisms for clinical inertia remain poorly understood.
Stress free wafer bonded GaAs-on-Si photonic devices and circuits

The integration of photonic devices with silicon circuitry has been proposed as an enabling technology for the next generation optical transceivers, router interconnect fabrics, and local area network (LAN) switches. One prevalent hybrid integration technique, wafer fusion bonding, involves fusing two wafers with different lattice constants under high pressure and elevated temperature, such as 700/spl deg/C for GaAs/Si in contaminant-free environments. In the case of GaAs and Si wafer fusion bonding, however, the large thermal mismatch between the two materials presents serious problems, such as GaAs epilayer cracking during sample cooling and GaAs substrate removal, the appearance of new dislocations and poor device reliability, etc. A low temperature bonding technique is therefore proposed to solve the stress problem in the fusion bonding of GaAs device material to a Si substrate.
Hearing Is Believing: Detecting Wireless Microphone Emulation Attacks in White Space

In cognitive radio networks, an attacker transmits signals mimicking the characteristics of primary signals, in order to prevent secondary users from transmitting. Such an attack is called primary user emulation (PUE) attack. TV towers and wireless microphones are two main types of primary users in white space. Existing work on PUE attack detection only focused on the first category. For the latter category, primary users are mobile and their transmission power is low. These properties introduce great challenges on PUE detection and existing methods are not applicable. In this paper, we propose a novel method to detect the emulation attack of wireless microphones. We exploit the relationship between RF signals and acoustic information to verify the existence of wireless microphones. The effectiveness of our approach is validated through real-world implementation. Extensive experiments show that our method achieves both false positive rate and false negative rate lower than 0.1 even in a noisy environment.
Comparison of the hinge flow fields of two bileaflet mechanical heart valves under aortic and mitral conditions.

Background: Animal and clinical studies have shown that bileaflet mechanical heart valve designs are plagued by thromboembolic complications, with higher rates in the mitral than in the aortic position. This study evaluated the hinge flow dynamic of the 23 mm St. Jude Medical (SJM) Regent and the 23 mm CarboMedics (CM) valves under aortic conditions and compared these results with previous findings under mitral conditions. Method: Velocity and Reynolds shear stress fields were captured using two-component laser Doppler velocimetry. Results: Under aortic conditions, both the SJM and CM hinge flow fields exhibited a strong forward flow pattern during systole (maximum velocities of 2.31 and 1.75 m/s, respectively) and two main leakage jets during diastole (maximum velocities of 3.08 and 2.27 m/s, respectively). Conclusions: Aortic and mitral flow patterns within the two hinges were similar, but with a more dynamic flow during the forward flow phase under aortic conditions. Velocity magnitudes and shear stresses measured under mitral conditions were generally higher than those obtained in the aortic position, which may explain the higher rates of thromboembolism in the mitral implants when compared with the aortic implants.
Sites of Androgen and Estradiol Production in the Second Half of Pregnancy in the Rat

To determine the sites of androgen and estradiol production in the second half of pregnancy, pregnant rats were hypophysectomized or hypophysectomized and hysterectomized on Day 12. After hypophysectomy, the luteal weight, the concentration of androgen and estradiol in corpora lutea, and serum androgen remained at control values on Days 14, 18, and 22. In contrast, by Day 14 the nonluteal tissue atrophied, its estradiol concentration decreased, and serum estradiol declined from 25 ± 1.0 in sham-treated animals to 21 ± 0.3 pg/mI. When the conceptuses were removed together with the pituitary by hypophysectomy and hysterectomy on Day 12, androgen and estradiol levels in the serum dropped to barely detectable levels. To determine whether the placentas secreted androgen or stimulated androgen secretion by other endocrine glands, adrenals, ovaries, and/or fetuses were removed from rats hypophysectomized on Day 12, and pregnancy was maintained with progesterone treatment. No decrease in androgen levels in the serum was observed. Serum androgen remained elevated in all groups in which the placentas remained in utero. When the placentas were removed, as in hypophysectomized-hysterectomized rats, serum androgen dropped dramatically. However, while androgen levels remained elevated, serum estradiol declined after either ovariectomy or fetectomy and a synergism was observed when ovariectomy and fetectomy were combined. These results indicate that the placentas are a source of androgen in the second half of pregnancy and that the ovaries and fetuses are a site of estradiol production.
Variation in within-bone stiffness measured by nanoindentation in mice bred for high levels of voluntary wheel running

The hierarchical structure of bone, involving micro-scale organization and interaction of material components, is a critical determinant of macro-scale mechanics. Changes in whole-bone morphology in response to the actions of individual genes, physiological loading during life, or evolutionary processes, may be accompanied by alterations in underlying mineralization or architecture. Here, we used nanoindentation to precisely measure compressive stiffness in the femoral mid-diaphysis of mice that had experienced 37 generations of selective breeding for high levels of voluntary wheel running (HR). Mice (n = 48 total), half from HR lines and half from non-selected control (C) lines, were divided into two experimental groups, one with 13-14 weeks of access to a running wheel and one housed without wheels (n = 12 in each group). At the end of the experiment, gross and micro-computed tomography (microCT)-based morphometric traits were measured, and reduced elastic modulus (E(r)) was estimated separately for four anatomical quadrants of the femoral cortex: anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial. Two-way, mixed-model analysis of covariance (ancova) showed that body mass was a highly significant predictor of all morphometric traits and that structural change is more apparent at the microCT level than in conventional morphometrics of whole bones. Both line type (HR vs. C) and presence of the mini-muscle phenotype (caused by a Mendelian recessive allele and characterized by a approximately 50% reduction in mass of the gastrocnemius muscle complex) were significant predictors of femoral cortical cross-sectional anatomy. Measurement of reduced modulus obtained by nanoindentation was repeatable within a single quadrant and sensitive enough to detect inter-individual differences. Although we found no significant effects of line type (HR vs. C) or physical activity (wheel vs. no wheel) on mean stiffness, anterior and posterior quadrants were significantly stiffer (P < 0.0001) than medial and lateral quadrants (32.67 and 33.09 GPa vs. 29.78 and 30.46 GPa, respectively). Our findings of no significant difference in compressive stiffness in the anterior and posterior quadrants agree with previous results for mice, but differ from those for large mammals. Integrating these results with others from ongoing research on these mice, we hypothesize that the skeletons of female HR mice may be less sensitive to the effects of chronic exercise, due to decreased circulating leptin levels and potentially altered endocannabinoid signaling.
Comprehensive Versus Usual Community Care for First-Episode Psychosis: 2-Year Outcomes From the NIMH RAISE Early Treatment Program

Objective:The primary aim of this study was to compare the impact of NAVIGATE, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, team-based treatment approach for first-episode psychosis designed for implementation in the U.S. health care system, with community care on quality of life.Method:Thirty-four clinics in 21 states were randomly assigned to NAVIGATE or community care. Diagnosis, duration of untreated psychosis, and clinical outcomes were assessed via live, two-way video by remote, centralized raters masked to study design and treatment. Participants (mean age, 23) with schizophrenia and related disorders and ≤6 months of antipsychotic treatment (N=404) were enrolled and followed for ≥2 years. The primary outcome was the total score of the Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale, a measure that includes sense of purpose, motivation, emotional and social interactions, role functioning, and engagement in regular activities.Results:The 223 recipients of NAVIGATE remained in treatment longer, experienced greater ...
Screening Carica papaya native promoters driving stilbene synthase expression in Arabidopsis thaliana for resveratrol glucoside (piceid) synthesis

The use of promoters for downstream metabolic engineering in plants requires efficiently screening their transcriptional strength and the resulting levels of the desired metabolite. Carica papaya is a complex slow-growing tropical tree, which is difficult to rapidly screen for promoter activity. Therefore, we used the simple model system, Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia), to compare the effectiveness of two native papaya promoters (Cp9 and Cp29) with a positive control (CaMV35S promoter), in driving transcription of the stilbene synthase gene (Vst1) and production of the phytoalexin trans-resveratrol glucoside (piceid). Single transgene copy numbers were verified via Southern analysis of at least three independent transgenic lines for each promoter construct. The Cp29 and control CaMV35S promoters consistently produced high Vst1 mRNA levels, whereas Vst1 mRNA was 50–60 % less in the Cp9:Vst1 lines. The evolutionarily related chalcone synthase (CHS) gene produced 20 and 40 % less mRNAs relative to WT in the Cp29:Vst1 and 35S:Vst1 lines, respectively, but was unchanged in the Cp9:Vst1 lines. The transgenic lines accumulated piceid as identified through RP-HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry. Piceid levels were the highest in the 35S:Vst1 followed by Cp29:Vst1 and Cp9:Vst1 in the studied tissues. No overt deleterious phenotypes were observed in the Cp9:Vst1 and Cp29:Vst1 lines; however, 35S:Vst1 produced smaller plants. The levels of secondary metabolites (anthocyanins) and seed pigments (tannins) decreased in the CaMV35S:Vst1 and Cp29:Vst1 lines, likely due to competition between CHS and stilbene synthase for precursors p-coumaroyl- and malonyl-CoA. The Cp29:Vst1 expression in Arabidopsis produced adequate levels of piceid for future disease-resistance studies.
Supporting Interethnic and Interracial Friendships Among Youth to Reduce Prejudice and Racism in Schools: The Role of the School Counselor

Supporting interethnic and interracial friendships in schools among children and adolescents is an important part of a progressive educational agenda informed in equity, social justice frameworks, and critical multicultural education that leads to a reduction in racial prejudice. Positive intergroup contact is a necessary condition in prejudice reduction and the development of positive racial attitudes among ethnically and racially diverse groups of children and adolescents. School counseling initiatives focused on promoting interethnic and interracial friendships can have significant individual and systemic consequences such as: improving social, emotional, and cultural competence among youth; prejudice reduction; and the creation of equitable educational spaces informed in multicultural and social justice worldviews.
The impact of sunshine laws on police and firefighter bargaining outcomes

A number of states and municipalities in the US have adopted sunshine laws that allow the eneral public to attend bargaining sessions between municipalities and public employees. There is disagreement about the effects of these laws. Proponents argue that sunshine laws may be an effective way of lowering labour costs since they allow the monitoring of the bargaining behaviour of the municipality and public employee union. Specifically, the laws may mitigate Niskanen-type bureaucratic behaviour by the municipality. Arguments against the effectiveness of these laws include manipulation of the timing of bargaining sessions to evade public notice, the short-time horizons of politicians, little incentive for the general public to attend sessions and attendance of bargaining sessions by public employees who may then negate the influence of the general public. To test for the effect of sunshine laws, labour outcomes were collected for national cross-samples of police and firefighters. For both protective service...
The Adrenal Medullary Response to Graded Hemorrhage in Awake Dogs

The adrenal medullary catecholamine response to graded hemorrhage has not been characterized in awake animals. Using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, secretion rates of epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured in trained awake dogs with chronic adrenal venous cannulas. The results indicate that the adrenal medulla responds to small and moderate hemorrhages, and the magnitude of the response is directly related to the magnitude of the hemorrhage. The epinephrine secretory response is greater than the norepinephrine secretory response. The response pattern is biphasic, with an early response by 10 min and a late response by 30 min after the onset of hemorrhage. Finally, the adrenal medullary system appears to have the potential to produce a memory of earlier stimuli, since the response to a small hemorrhage is potentiated if the hemorrhage is preceded by 24 h by a moderate hemorrhage.
Men With Organ-confined Prostate Cancer and Positive Surgical Margins Develop Biochemical Failure at a Similar Rate to Men With Extracapsular Extension

Objectives To define the role of positive surgical margins (PSMs) after radical retropubic prostatectomy as a predictor of biochemical failure (BCF) in prostate cancer with respect to pathologic stage. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 300 patients who had undergone radical retropubic prostatectomy from 1993 to 1995 was performed. The role of margin status and the length of the PSM in the progression to BCF was defined after controlling for the preoperative prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason score, tumor stage, tumor volume, seminal vesical invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion using a multivariate regression model. The median follow-up time was 12 years. Results The presence of PSMs correlated with a shorter time to BCF in men with Stage pT2 disease ( P P = .66). Of the patients with Stage pT2 disease and PSMs, the PSM length did not correlate with progression to BCF. PSMs predicted a shorter time to progression to BCF in patients with high- and low-volume pT2 disease ( P = .0261 and P = .0003, respectively). Only PSMs predicted a shorter time to BCF on multivariate analysis in patients with Stage pT2 cancer (hazard ratio 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.495-3.723). In patients with Stage pT3 disease, PSMs were not associated with an increased risk of BCF (hazard ratio 0.747, 95% confidence interval 0.328-1.703). Conclusions Surgical margin status did not affect the risk of BCF in patients with Stage pT3a disease; however, it did affect patients with Stage pT2 disease, irrespective of PSM length or disease volume. During 12 years of follow-up, the patients with PSMs and Stage pT2 disease had a risk of BCF similar to that of the patients with Stage pT3 disease.
Whole exome sequencing of pediatric gastric adenocarcinoma reveals an atypical presentation of Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Background Gastric adenocarcinoma is a rare diagnosis in childhood. A 14-year old male patient presented with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, and a strong family history of colon cancer. Clinical sequencing of CDH1 and APC were negative. Whole exome sequencing was therefore applied to capture the majority of protein-coding regions for the identification of single-nucleotide variants, small insertion/deletions, and copy number abnormalities in the patient’s germline as well as primary tumor.
The Inside Story of China's High‐Tech Industry: Making Silicon Valley in Beijing – By Yu Zhou

The article reviews the book "The Inside Story of China's High-Tech Industry: Making Silicon Valley in Beijing," by Yu Zhou.
Morphology of poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) fibers

Fibers of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) have a fibrillar morphology, the individual fibrils having a high proportion of extended chains passing through periodic defect layers. A pleat structure is superimposed. The fibers are fully crystalline (within the limits of determination) with a small fraction of randomly oriented crystalline material. The major distinction between PPTA and conventional fibers lies in the high level of extended chains passing through the defect layers of the former structure. These extended chains result in crystallographic register being maintained between adjacent ordered zones. Quantitatively, a measure of this order is obtained from a comparison of the correlation length, obtained from meridional x-ray peak widths, and the defect spacing. In conventional fibers the defect spacing, i.e., long period, is longer than the correlation length (i.e., crystal size). In PPTA, the analog of the long period, the defect spacing (about 35 nm) is smaller than the correlation length, which is over 80 nm.
Optical observations from within a black-hole: a large-scale viewpoint

The background geometry in this investigation is given by the Schwarzschild metrie. The space-time region under consideration is that within the horizon plus that near but outside the horizon. A configuration of standard-candle sources on radial ingoing trajectories fills the region and provides an observer inside the horizon with optical data on frequeney shifts and intensity. The observer follows a similar radial trajectory making observations in a local Lorentz frame within what may be viewed as an empty cosmology of the Kantowski-Sachs class. At several positions of the observer’s inward journey, red-shifts and luminosity distanees for each direction on the observer’s past null cone are plotted as contours. Features associated with the optical effects include the anisotropy, as expected, with transverse blue-shifts and longitudinal red-shifts. In the general direction of the black-hole center, however, the observer erroneusly concludes that the higher red-shifts must come from either closer or more intense sources. An analytical formulation of the general-relativistic red-shifts and luminosity distances, together with geometrical optics upon the past null cone inside the horizon, is presented in some detail.
Rates of Reoperation and Abnormal Binocularity Following Strabismus Surgery in Children.

Purpose To determine predictors of reoperation and abnormal binocularity outcomes (including amblyopia and diplopia) following pediatric strabismus surgery. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods setting: Review of a national insurance database. study population: Children under age 18 years having strabismus procedures between 2007 and 2013. interventions: Adjustable- or fixed-suture strabismus surgery, or botulinum toxin injection. outcome measures: Reoperation or diagnosis of abnormal binocularity in the first postoperative year. Results Of 11 115 children having strabismus procedures, 851 (7.7%) underwent reoperation. The reoperation rate was 7.4% for fixed-suture surgeries, 9.6% for adjustable-suture surgeries ( P = .18), and 44.9% for botulinum injections ( P P P = .005). Reoperation rates tended to be higher with adjustable sutures (odds ratio [OR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94-3.03, P = .08) or botulinum toxin injection (OR 10.36, 95% CI 5.75-18.66, P P = .001). Esotropia, hyperopia, and botulinum injection were independently associated with higher rates of postoperative abnormal binocularity ( P ≤ .005). For vertical surgeries, predictors of reoperation were adjustable-suture use (OR 2.51, P = .10) and superior oblique surgery (OR 2.36, P Conclusions Adjustable sutures were not associated with a lower reoperation rate in children. Younger age, esotropia, hyperopia, and botulinum injection were associated with postoperative abnormal binocularity. Superior oblique surgery and botulinum injection were associated with higher rates of reoperation.
Quantitative analysis of myocardial glucose metabolism by using dynamic FDG PET in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

1782 Objectives (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is assumed a useful method for evaluating the viability of the myocardium. However, the kinetics of glucose metabolism in the infarcted/ischemic myocardium using dynamic FDG PET has not been extensively explored. The aim of this study is to evaluate the interrelationship between metabolic rate of glucose (MRGlu) and myocardial perfusion/metabolism patterns in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods Eighteen consecutive ICM patients (64±12 y, 16 men) with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) of 24±11 (11-45)%, New York Heart Association class II and III were studied with dipyridamole (201)Tl SPECT and glucose-loaded insulin-stimulated FDG PET. Patterns of perfusion/metabolism were classified as normal, mismatch, match defect and reverse mismatch. The MRGlu was estimated with Patlak plot model using dynamic PET, and normalized parametric polar map (% of maximum) was generated in comparsion to SPECT/PET in vessel-based analysis. Results The mean values of MRGlu of entire LV was 0.29±0.36 μmol/min/g with a wide range (0.03-1.69), which were positively correlated with glucose levels at fasting state (P=0.002) and at time of FDG injection (P=0.001), but not LV volumes or EF. No correlation was noted between of the global MRGlu of LV and clinical characteristics, including the history of diabetes mellitus (n=13). Significant higher relative values of MRGlu in mismatch areas than scar, while still lower than normal areas were noted. In addition, lower relative values of MRGlu in areas of reverse mismatch areas were also observed (P Conclusions Dynamic FDG PET imaging may be used to assess alterations in myocardial glucose metabolism in patients with ICM and might provide some insight into the pathophysiology of the diseased myocardium. Research Support Grant NSC 101-2314-B-418-012-MY3 from the National Science Council of Taiwan
Electoral Trajectories of Local Officeholders: Are Some Launching Pads Better than Others?

Local government has long been considered a training ground for politicians who might seek higher office. While many local officeholders are content to serve in a city or county office, others view local office as a launching pad for a state or federal seat (Schlesinger 1966; Prewit 1970; Black 1972). Not all local offices have equal value in launching a bid for higher office. This study analyzes the career trajectories of county officeholders in California. Using a variety of data, we evaluate hypotheses on the value of seat for a decision to run for higher office and raise funds for higher office. The value of a county seat for a run at state or federal office varies with the nature of the office and the number of local officials who may also contend for higher office. Local term limit regimes also shape the calculus for seeking higher office, or viewing county service as a long-term career. This study offers a contribution to our understanding of electoral career ambition by assessing how local conditions shape or constrain political career choices.
Some Thoughts on the Changing Role of Price

This article provides some indications that price plays a larger part in the coordination of economic activity in the United States than it formerly did. The phenomenon of vertical integration in agriculture, which has been widely associated with a declining importance of price, may actually have contributed to its larger importance. It is suggested that casting vertical integration in the framework provided by market structure theory may be misleading. The relationship between market structure theory and agricultural price policy is briefly reexamined in this light, and it is argued that the economist should be concerned with restoring price to its role of inducing change. IN THIS paper I attach two distinct meanings to the phrase "changing role of price," and suggest that by overemphasis and misconception of the first and more common interpretation, we often neglect the second and more important interpretation. Ordinarily, the first meaning of "changing role of price" refers to the declining or rising importance of price as a coordinator of economic activity. More specifically, what is commonly implied is the "declining role of price," since numerous sectors of economic activity can be cited today in which the market price system is not the main coordinator. The second meaning of the phrase is that it is the function of price to induce change-"changing" is transitive in this meaning and intransitive in the more common meaning. It is not that I consider the two meanings inconsistent-for they are quite consistent-but my concern is rather that out of preoccupation with market structure analysis, and perhaps a too willing concession of the "fact" of declining importance of price, we may rationalize interventions into economic activity that proscribe from price its change-inducing role. In large measure the separable, and not altogether consistent functions of guiding income distribution and guiding resource allocation account for the ambivalence of agricultural economic policy toward price. To a certain extent this ambivalence reflects the difference between a short-run analysis and a long-run view. It may be that these elements are intermingled to a point where the distinction between income distribution and resource allocation function is blurred because of short- vs. long-run considerations. However, I suspect the importance of price has not declined, except through government intervention, but has in fact * Adaptation of a paper read at the WFEA meetings, Laramie, Wyoming, July 24, 1963.
Improved optical loss characteristics of PECVD silicon oxynitride films using low frequency plasma

With the continued growth of photonics, silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) is becoming a popular material for optoelectronic applications owing to its large tunable refractive index. However, with the increase in refractive index, these films tend to show poor optical transmission characteristics. In this research we have investigated the influence of growth conditions on the loss characteristics of PECVD SiOxNy films. The films are grown at 350 °C substrate temperature and 1 Torr pressure with silane (SiH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) precursor gases. The precursor flow rate and power input to the system are varied as the two primary parameters. It is observed that films grown at 100 kHz plasma frequency proved to be more transmissive than films grown at 13.56 MHz plasma frequency. Elastic recoil detection analysis results showed the hydrogen content is less in the low frequency films than the high frequency films, which is believed to be the reason for the low loss behavior. The details of these analysis results are discussed below.
Persistence of Insecticides on Tomato Foliage and Implications for Control of Tomato Fruitworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Insecticides used to control Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) on tomatoes are directed at eggs and small larvae before larvae feed on fruit. Experiments were conducted to determine the persistence of insecticides on tomato foliage and the rate of tomato plant growth, which together were used to interpret field efficacy studies of insecticides for control of H. zea in western North Carolina. The pyrethroid esfenvalerate exhibited the longest persistence of all insecticides studied; the half-life of esfenvalerate on foliage was estimated to be > 10 d, whereas those of carbaryl, methomyl, and endosulfan varied from 65% mortality 14 d after the first application and 91.5% mortality 14 d after the third successive application. Carbaryl and endosulfan resulted in high levelsof larval mortality for 4-8 d after application, but methomyl and Bacillus thuringiensis were toxic for very short periods < 48 h) after application. Plant growth rates were highest from ≈ 2 wk after transplanting until shortly before harvest, indicating that residue loss due to plant growth dilution effects are greatest before harvest begins. Higher levels of H. zea-damaged fruit and potato aphid populations, Macrosiphum euphormae (Thomas), occurred when insecticide application intervals were increased from 5 to 10 to 14 d. However, the magnitude of damaged fruit increase was greater with increasing application intervals in 1989 than in 1988. These differences were attributed to more frequent rainfall in 1989.
Micro-climatic observations in the primeval forest in Kasuga, Nara

In the 1st report, the relations between the distributions of plants in this Forest and their micro-climatic environments were related.In this report, the comparisons between inside and outside of this Forest are taken up. i.e.Comparisons between the Forest and Nara city on temperature, humidity, precipitation, and temperature variations (Fig 1-3, Table 1-3), and the Forest and Wakakusa-Yama in summer, winter; they seemingly represent good examples of “forest-climate”.
Social support, emotional intelligence, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: A mediation analysis

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an...
A TUF Sell: Transportation Utility Fees as User Fees for Local Roads and Streets

Currently, more than 1.5 million people in the United States contribute to the maintenance of their local roads and streets through transportation utility fees charged on their monthly municipal utility bills. The fees are assessed for each property based on a particular land-use characteristic (the fee’s basis). Although their use continues to spread, transportation utility fees have faced legal challenges that generally relate to the basis a city uses to assess the fee and have limited their widespread application. This article examines the bases used by 34 cities in the United States to implement transportation utility fees and discusses how each basis relates to the success of transportation utility fees in the cities that have implemented them and in other cities that may consider adopting them.
Analysis of DNA Strand Cleavage at Abasic Sites

Abasic sites in DNA arise under a variety of circumstances, including destabilization of bases through oxidative stress, as an intermediate in base excision repair, and through spontaneous loss. Their persistence can yield a blockade to RNA transcription and DNA synthesis and can be a source of mutations. Organisms have developed an enzymatic means of repairing abasic sites in DNA that generally involves a DNA repair pathway that is initiated by a repair protein creating a phosphodiester break ("nick") adjacent to the site of base loss. Here we describe a method for analyzing the manner in which repair endonucleases differ in the way they create nicks in DNA and how to distinguish between them using cellular crude extracts.
Crossborder Diasporic Organizations

In this chapter, immigrant organizations are presented and analyzed from the standpoint of the cosmonational framework, showing how they are operationally engaged in more than one site in relation to fundraising, network governance, crossborder networking and advocacy, membership, and projects. Deconstruction of three cases—the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, the Croatian World Congress, and the National Italian American Foundation—shows their multisite basis of operation. A comparative analysis of their activities indicates the extent to which the cosmonational model is applicable to all the cases and provides useful insights on their mode of deployment. They are all involved in homeland and diaspora affairs and all contribute to making the diaspora an extraterritorial component of the expanded nation through the inclusive activities they undertake at home and abroad. The immigrant association is presented as an exemplar crossborder institution of the cosmonation.
Paris Lecture at Vincennes University, 1974: Global Capitalism and Radical Opposition

Paris Lectures at Vincennes University is a compelling book for classroom use, especially for classes aimed at helping students understand how to think about current global capitalism and ways to r...
Differential growth triggers mechanical feedback that elevates Hippo signaling

Mechanical stress can influence cell proliferation in vitro, but whether it makes a significant contribution to growth control in vivo, and how it is modulated and experienced by cells within developing tissues, has remained unclear. Here we report that differential growth reduces cytoskeletal tension along cell junctions within faster-growing cells. We propose a theoretical model to explain the observed reduction of tension within faster-growing clones, supporting it by computer simulations based on a generalized vertex model. This reduced tension modulates a biomechanical Hippo pathway, decreasing recruitment of Ajuba LIM protein and the Hippo pathway kinase Warts, and decreasing the activity of the growth-promoting transcription factor Yorkie. These observations provide a specific mechanism for a mechanical feedback that contributes to evenly distributed growth, and we show that genetically suppressing mechanical feedback alters patterns of cell proliferation in the developing Drosophila wing. By providing experimental support for the induction of mechanical stress by differential growth, and a molecular mechanism linking this stress to the regulation of growth in developing organs, our results confirm and extend the mechanical feedback hypothesis.
The Effects of DC Current on Synaptic Endings

The effect of electrical stimulation on the ultrastructure of synaptic endings in the adrenal medulla was observed by De Robertis (1 and 2). These studies revealed that after prolonged 400/sec stimulation there was a large depletion of synaptic vesicles. A recent study in our laboratory showed a significant increase in the frequency of synaptic endings containing an above normal complement of synaptic vesicles after the application of composite current treatments(3). This report describes the effects of DC current alone on cortical synapses and compares statistically the mean number of synaptic vesicles per ending in control and treated animals.