cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glucocorticoids, the hippocampus, and behavioral inhibition in the preweanling rat

Endogenous corticosteroids influence brain development and behavioral expression. In rat pups, a corticosteroid-dependent developmental response is behavioral inhibition, which occurs in situations involving threat. Behavioral inhibition consists of freezing and a reduction in ongoing behavior. It is presently unknown which brain region(s) that bind corticosterone (CORT) is involved in the development of freezing. The hippocampus (HC), however, is the principal target site of CORT that regulates the postnatal development of HC dentate granule cells. Therefore, this study examined whether the HC, and in particular, the dentate granule cells, plays a major role in the early appearance of behavioral inhibition. On postnatal day 9, rat pups received bilateral HC electrolytic lesions, or bilateral HC infusions of colchicine, a neurotoxin selective for dentate granule cells, or bilateral HC infusions of kainic acid, a neurotoxin selective for pyramidal cells in the CA3 field. Control rats received sham operations. After the operations, all rats were adrenalectomized (ADX) and injected daily with 3.0 mg/kg CORT, except on the day of the behavioral test. On day 14, all pups were tested for behavioral inhibition, which consisted of removing the pup from the nest box and placing it in a temperature- controlled enclosure subdivided into two compartments by a wire-mesh partition. The pup was placed in one compartment and an unfamiliar anesthetized adult male rat was placed in the adjacent compartment. Results indicated that preweanling rats with electrolytic lesions ranging from the dorsal to the ventral HC exhibited significant deficits in freezing. Importantly, similar deficits in freezing were present in pups treated with colchicine but not KA. Hence, administration of exogenous CORT is not effective in facilitating the occurrence of freezing in preweanling pups lacking dentate granule cells. To determine whether the dorsal HC dentate gyrus is an essential target site of CORT in facilitating freezing, 9-d-old rats were implanted bilaterally with 30 gauge cannula filled with either CORT or cholesterol. After the operation, all rats were ADX and tested for behavioral inhibition on day 14. During testing, ADX pups with CORT- filled cannulae showed significantly higher levels of freezing than ADX control pups. Taken together, results suggest that during the early postnatal period, the action of endogenous CORT in the HC influences the development of dentate granule cells that play an essential role in mediating the appearance of behavioral inhibition.
Ultrahigh-noise rejection optical filter.

We present the results of what is to our knowledge the first experimental demonstration of a Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter. This optical filter has a measured bandpass of 1 GHz, a transmission of 0.63, and an out-of-band rejection of 105.
Labor Supply of New York City Cabdrivers: One Day at a Time

Life-cycle models of labor supply predict a positive relationship between hours supplied and transitory changes in wages because such changes have virtually no effect on life-cycle wealth. Previous attempts to test this hypothesis empirically with time-series data have not been supportive; estimated elasticities are typically negative or nonsignificant. Such analyses, however, are vulnerable to measurement error and other estimation problems. We use data on daily observations of wages and hours for New York City cab drivers to estimate the supply response to transitory fluctuations in wages. Cab drivers decide daily how many hours to supply, and face wages that are positively correlated within days, but largely uncorrelated between days. Using these data, our central finding is that wage elasticities are persistently negative–from -.5 to -1 in three different samples–even after correcting for measurement error using instrumental variables. These negative wage elasticities challenge the notion that cab drivers trade off labor and leisure at different points in time and question the empirical adequacy of life-cycle formulations of labor supply.
"Drunk up by thirsty nothing": The Fissured World of Prometheus Unbound

Taking Percy Bysshe Shelley's Prometheus Unbound as its point of departure, this essay investigates the unsettled interrelationship between the forms of poetry and world in the Romantic period, and the implications it bears for the formalisms employed by scholars of Romanticism. I argue that poetic form is inextricable from systems of world-organization in the period, the former internalizing, subverting or even transforming the latter. Deploying an iterative model of poetic form whose structures imperfectly echo one another, Shelley envisions the world as constituted by "intervals" and "interstices.," Emanating most immediately from Demogorgon's "formless" and yet formative figure, these fissures proliferate unruly slippages and gaps that undo the perfectly repetitious, totalizing and enclosed edifice of Jupiterian empire. In so doing, the iterative forms of Prometheus Unbound make way for a more heterogeneous and loving world-order to take hold, both upon the sociopolitical organizations of man and the ...
Compatibility Relations For Identity Analytics

Methods for categorizing certain subjects, based on belief structures, are an important aspect of modern society. In a related paper, we present a method for combining belief, attributable to diverse knowledge sources, in order to obtain a measure of group membership. The scope of group identity is much greater than digital security and affects other societal endeavors. In this paper, we are going to propose methods for propagating belief through a complex network of belief assessments. The methods are known as compatibility relations. The related paper is “Identity Analytics and Belief Structures,” published in an earlier issue of the Journal of Business & Economics Research.
Do Foreign Gifts Buy Corporate Political Action? Evidence from the Saudi Crude Discount Program

Between 1991 and 2003, Saudi Aramco sold crude to U.S. reneries at a substantial discount, with a total cost of approximately 8.5 billion dollars. This paper assesses the incidence of these discount rents in the U.S. market and yields the rst empirical evidence for the use of oil as a tool of political leverage through transfers to American rms. Using panel variation in discount receipts, I nd that rents were captured by reners as prots and did not pass through into retail gasoline prices. Discounts were also associated with increases in reners’ political donations and strategic reallocations of these contributions.
Strategic Planning in U.S. Municipalities

Strategic planning started in the U.S. as a corporate planning endeavor. By the 1960’s, it had become a major corporate management tool in the Fortune 500. At fi rst, it was seen as a way of interweaving policies, values and purposes with management, resources and market information in a way that held the organization together. By the 1950’s, the concept was simplifi ed somewhat to focus on SWOT as a way of keeping the corporation afl oat in a more turbulent world. The public sector has been under pressure for a long time to become more effi cient, effective and responsive. Many have felt that the adoption of business practices would help to accomplish that. One tool borrowed from business has been strategic planning. At the local government level, strategic planning became popular starting in the 1980’s, and the community’s planning offi ce was called on to lead the endeavor. The planning offi ce was often the advocate of the process. Urban planning offi ces had been doing long-range plans for decades, but with accelerating urban change a more rapid action-oriented response was desired. The paper describes this history and process in the East Lansing, Michigan, U.S., where comprehensive community plans are the result of a multi-year visioning process and call for action- oriented, strategies for targeted parts of the community.
Outcomes of a Falls Prevention Education Program Among Older Adults in Grenada.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a scarcity of data on falls, the leading cause of death as a result of unintentional injuries, among older adults aged 65+ years of age. By 2050, 80 % of the 2 billion older adults worldwide are expected to be living in this region; therefore, it is imperative that this issue receive urgent attention from community health practitioners, health educators and policy makers. Guided by Pillar 1—awareness of the WHO fall prevention model for community-dwelling older adults, the purpose of this paper was to describe the feasibility of implementing a falls prevention awareness educational initiative in the Eastern Caribbean Island of Grenada. Sixty-two older adults, average age 67, participated in a falls awareness workshop. An anonymous pre-workshop falls assessment checklist was distributed to establish baseline information followed by an interactive workshop. Eight fall risks were identified and 52 % of the participants reported a history of falls. Based on the group’s eagerness to participate, we are encouraged that falls prevention intervention initiatives are feasible among others of similar characteristics in Grenada and plan to implement Pillar II—objective falls assessment and Pillar III—on-going interventions.
Microbial Mats as a Biological Treatment Approach for Saline Wastewaters: The Case of Produced Water from Hydraulic Fracturing

Treatment of produced water, i.e. wastewater from hydraulic fracturing, for reuse or final disposal is challenged by both high salinity and the presence of organic compounds. Organic compounds in produced water may foul physical-chemical treatment processes or support microbial corrosion, fouling, and sulfide release. Biological approaches have potential applications in produced water treatment, including reducing fouling of physical-chemical treatment processes and decreasing biological activity during produced water holding; however, conventional activated sludge treatments are intolerant of high salinity. In this study, a biofilm treatment approach using constructed microbial mats was evaluated for biodegradation performance, microbial community structure, and metabolic potential in both simulated and real produced water. Results demonstrated that engineered microbial mats are active at total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations up to at least 100,000 mg/L, and experiments in real produced water showe...
A Shock-Tube Study of the Oxidation of C2H6/O2/Ar and C 2 H 6 /SiH 4 /O 2 /Ar Mixtures

*† ‡ § ** Ethane ignition and oxidation behind reflected shock waves with and without silane addition were studied using several dilute mixtures of varying concentrations and equivalence ratios (0.5 < φ < 2.0). The C2H6/SiH4/O2/Ar mixtures were studied at temperatures and pressures between 1230-1862 K and 0.9-3.0 atm, respectively. Argon dilution ranged from 91-98%. The reaction process was studied by monitoring the A 2 Σ + → X 2 Π chemiluminescence emission from the hydroxyl radical near 307 nm. In this study and in several previous studies, there have been different ways of obtaining the ignition delay time both in terms of diagnostics and in definition. A summary of the different techniques is given and used to make fair comparisons with other studies. A correlation of ignition delay time with temperature and concentration is proposed and compared with previous studies. This correlation has an r 2 value of over 0.98, mainly due to the inclusion of an argon concentration dependency. The overall activation energy for ethane ignition was found to be 36.0 kcal/mol over the range of conditions studied. Consistency of the data with previous ignition experiments is discussed. The experimental results indicate that silane addition to an ethane mixture at levels as low as 20% of the fuel can create up to a 50% reduction in ignition delay time for fuel-lean mixtures at high temperatures. It also created a reduction of about 22% for stoichiometric mixtures. Comparison of the present ethane-only ignition data with results from the literature highlights some of the differences in ignition definition, diagnostics, and range of conditions amongst the different studies.
Inhibition of bicarbonate transport in peanut lectin-positive intercalated cells by a monoclonal antibody.

Intercalated cells (ICC) of the collecting duct are believed to secrete acid (alpha-type) or HCO3 (beta-type). Although these two types of ICC are functionally mirror images of each other, several components in their cell membranes are clearly unique. As a first step in defining the molecular composition of beta-ICC membranes, we raised cell-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against surface antigens. One of these MAb, designated B63, reacts with the apical membrane of peanut lectin agglutinin (PNA)-positive cells of the kidney cortex. B63-positive cells do not react with antibodies against band 3 (the basolateral C1/HCO3 exchanger) or ST.48, markers for alpha-ICC and principal cells, respectively. Despite a significant positive correlation between PNA and B63 staining intensities, determined by flow cytometry, these markers react with separate antigens, as indicated by competition studies and the different distribution of the two antigens. In addition to renal beta-ICC, B63 antigen is present in tissues that are involved in HCO3 secretion, such as the pancreas, salivary glands, and the small intestine, suggesting that it might play a role in HCO3 secretion. To test this hypothesis more directly, we tested the effect of MAb B63 on HCO3 secretion and on changes in intracellular pH (pHi) in isolated perfused cortical collecting ducts. Luminal Cl removal in the presence of luminal 4,49-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,29-disulfonic acid resulted in a reversible increase in pHi. Luminal application of MAb B63 prevented this change in pHi. MAb B63 also significantly inhibited (by 37.7 +/- 7.3%) HCO3 secretion by isolated perfused tubules, whereas another MAb (MAb 601), which reacts with a separate antigen on beta-ICC, did not alter HCO3 secretion or pHi. These results indicate that B63 antigen plays an important role in HCO3 secretion: it might be either the apical anion exchanger of beta-ICC or an associated regulatory protein.
The Biochemistry of CO Dehydrogenase in Rhodospirillum rubrum

Carbon monoxide metabolism by the photosynthetic bacteria was first noted by Uffen, who isolated Rubivivox gelatinosus (formerly Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosus) for its ability to tolerate CO (Uffen 1976). R. gelatinosus was shown to grow with CO as the sole energy and primary carbon source, anaerobically in the dark. R. rubrum was also shown to possess the ability to oxidize CO (Uffen 1981) and its ability to utilize CO as a carbon and energy source has been established (Kerby et al 1995).
Treatment of Nonunion of the Scaphoid by Direct Current

Summary Seventy-one per cent (12 of 17) of scaphoid nonunions previously treated by other methods united when the semi-invasive technique of electrical stimulation was used. Patient acceptance of this electrode technique is high, and morbidity is lower than in patients treated by iliac bone grafting. The treatment of nonunion of the scaphoid by the semi-invasive electrical stimulation technique is a reasonable alternative to bone grafting and provides a salvage procedure when bone grafting or other therapeutic modalities have failed.
Combined Mode Crack Extension in Adhesive Joints

This study investigates crack extension in the adhesive system under combined mode loading. A finite element analysis for a slant edge-cracked plate furnishes the opening and shear mode stress inte...
Exercise Mitigates Increased Diastolic Stiffness in the Titin IA KO Mouse

The giant sarcomeric protein titin spans the length of the half sarcomere and consists of an I-band region that functions as a molecular spring and an A-band region. Here we use a mouse model in which a portion of titin near the IA junction has been removed (IA KO) resulting in diastolic dysfunction and increased total and titin-based passive tension. We test the hypothesis that exercise ameliorates increased titin-based stiffness. In this study, 3 month old male IA KO and WT mice were allowed free access to a running wheel for 28 days and distance, speed, and duration were recorded each night. After 28 days mice were sacrificed and the LV was used for skinned muscle mechanics, analysis gels, and western blots. WT and IA KO mice ran for the same duration but IA KO mice ran slower and therefore less distance than their WT counterparts (WT mice ran ∼6 km per night while IA KOs ran ∼4.5 km). Stiffness in both WT and IA KO mice was reduced after exercise; titin-based tension at a sarcomere length of 2.3 μm was reduced by ∼16% and ∼20% respectively. No changes in titin isoform ratios were observed but exercised mice showed hypo-phosphorylation of S26, a PKC site in titin's PEVK region. S26 phosphorylation is known to increase titin's stiffness so hypo-phosphorylation is consistent with the reduction in stiffness observed in exercised mice. We conclude that exercise improves diastolic dysfunction though modulation of titin phosphorylation.
Corrosion processes and strategies for prevention: an introduction

Abstract: An introduction to the chemistry of corrosion science as applied to metals and alloys and their corrosion susceptibilities will be presented as an overview. Several standard methods for controlling corrosion will also be presented for introductory purposes. Mitigation strategies for inhibiting corrosion on various metal/alloy substrates will also be described.
Between Cowardice and Insanity: Shell Shock and the Legitimation of the Neuroses in Great Britain

Traumatic war neuroses emerged as a new phenomenon during the First World War. While soldiers in earlier wars had been diagnosed as insane or suffering from nostalgia, or homesickness, these diagnoses were not thought to have been caused by the trauma of warfare (1). In contrast, the prevalence of war neuroses during World War I has been linked specifically to the circumstances of the fighting. As late as 1977, for example, a noted historian of military psychiatry commented that, in World War I, warfare had reached new heights of destruction and terror. In the early phases, optimum conditions were presented for the emergence of psychiatric casualties in that new troops were locked in intense prolonged combat with heavy concentrations of artillery fire and a high incidence of battle losses (2).
Abstract IA31: Reducing smoking related health disparities among American Indians: All Nations Breath of Life

Background: American Indians have the highest cigarette smoking prevalence of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. Although the smoking prevalence in the general population has declined during the past several decades, American Indians and Alaska Natives have not experienced the same decrease in smoking. Furthermore, the prevalence of smoking cessation is relatively low in this population compared to smokers in other racial/ethnic groups. There is currently no effective empirically-based smoking cessation program for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Purpose: To determine if a culturally-tailored smoking cessation program, All Nations Breath of Life, is more effective than a non-tailored cessation program among American Indian smokers. Methods: A randomized multi-site clinical trial was conducted from September 2009 to July 2014. Participants were rural or reservation-based American Indian smokers, at least 18 years old. Smokers were group randomized to either the culturally-tailored All Nations Breath of Life (ANBL) or the non-tailored Current Best Practices (CBP) for a total enrolled sample size of 463 (243=ANBL and 220=CBP). The primary outcome of interest was salivary cotinine verified 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence at month 6. We present results using both responder only and intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses for both self-reported and cotinine verified abstinence. Results:Intention-to-treat, imputing all non-responses as smokers, the self-reported abstinence rates for week 12 were 27.9% in the ANBL arm and 17.4% in the CBP group, p=0.030. There was a statistically significant difference in self-reported 6-month ITT abstinence rates between ANBL (20.1%) and CBP (12.0%) group, p=0.036. None of the cotinine verified results were statistically significant. Conclusion: The culturally-tailored smoking cessation program “All Nations Breath of Life”may be an effective program in promoting cessation at week 12 and at 6 months. Participants in the culturally-tailored ANBL program were approximately twice as likely to quit smoking at 6 months compared to the CBP program, using self-reported abstinence. These findings support the need to provide additional funding for comprehensive smoking prevention and cessation efforts to reduce smoking related health disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Citation Format: Won S. Choi, Laura A. Beebe, Niaman Nazir, Michelle Hopkins, Myrietta Talawyma, Theresa I. Shireman, Hung-Wen Yeh, Allen Greiner, Christine Daley. Reducing smoking related health disparities among American Indians: All Nations Breath of Life. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA31.
Evaluation of Right-of-Way Transitions at Signalized Intersections: Implications of Driver Behavior for Conflicting Through Movements

To improve traffic safety at signalized intersections, driver behavior associated with right-of-way transitions at signalized intersections must be quantified carefully. Video data from five intersections across Oregon were collected and transcribed; a total of 149 h corresponded to 3,474 vehicles responding to a circular yellow (CY) indication and 731 vehicles responding to a circular red (CR) indication. A mixed logit model was used to evaluate driver responses to CY and CR indications. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the characteristics of red light runners (RLRs). Sufficiency of the red clearance interval was evaluated by considering the interactions of RLRs with vehicles on the conflicting approach. Developed models indicated that a 1-s increase in red time per cycle decreased the probability that a car would stop in response to a CY indication (by 41.4%) or a CR indication (by 9.0%). However, an increase in red time decreased the required duration of the red clearance interval. A 1-s ...
Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are not associated with circulating T-helper type 1 cells: Results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract T-helper type 1 (Th1) cells are pro-inflammatory and provide signals to immune cells. Animal models and in vitro human cell culture experiments have indicated that long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs) reduce Th1 cell levels; however, the association is unknown in healthy humans. We hypothesized that circulating levels and dietary intake of LCn3PUFAs have an inverse association with circulating levels of Th1 cells and studied 895 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (age 61 ± 10 years at exam 1, 52% women, 44% white, 21% African-American, 24% Hispanic-American, 11% Chinese-American). Phospholipid LCn3PUFAs (% of total fatty acids), measured by gas chromatography, and intake of LCn3PUFAs, evaluated by food frequency questionnaire, were evaluated at exam 1 (2000-02) and defined as the sum of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. Th1 cells were measured by flow cytometry at exam 4 (2005-07), expressed as a percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes that were interferon-γ+ (%Th1: CD4+IFN-γ+). Median (interquartile range) plasma LCn3PUFA, dietary LCn3PUFA, and %Th1 levels were 4.31% (3.40–5.82%), 0.09 (0.05–0.16) g/day, and 14.4% (9.8–20.0%), respectively. When the association of LCn3PUFA-quartiles with %Th1 was analyzed using general linear models, neither plasma nor dietary LCn3PUFAs were significantly associated with %Th1 (P-trend = 0.58 and 0.80, respectively), which remained even after adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, lipids, season, and cytomegalovirus titers. In this multi-ethnic U.S. population, circulating levels and dietary intake of LCn3PUFAs were not significantly associated with Th1 cell levels. Further research is needed to assess potential benefits of supplementation and much higher dietary consumption of LCn3PUFAs on Th1 cells.
Sum Rules for Weak BB π Amplitudes

Current algebra and the hypothesis of partially conserved axial-vector current are used to derive sum rules relating nonleptonic $\ensuremath{\Delta}S=0$ and $\ensuremath{\Delta}S=1$ $\mathrm{BB}\ensuremath{\pi}$ amplitudes. It is shown that these sum rules may be used to experimentally distinguish among several recently proposed models for the weak-interaction Hamiltonian density.
A hybrid-adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for multi-objective regression test suites optimization

Regression testing is a mandatory activity of software development life cycle, which is performed to ensure that modifications have not caused any adverse effects on the system’s functionality. With every change in software in the maintenance phase, the size of regression test suite grows as new test cases are written to validate changes. The bigger size of regression test suite makes the testing expensive and time-consuming. Optimization of regression test suite is a possible solution to cope with this problem. Various techniques of optimization have been proposed; however, there is no perfect solution for the problem and therefore, requires better solutions to improve the optimization process. This paper presents a novel technique named as hybrid-adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system tuned with genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm that is used to optimize the regression test suites. Evaluation of the proposed approach is performed on benchmark test suites including “previous date problem” and “Siemens print token.” Experimental results are compared with existing state-of-the-art techniques, and results show that the proposed approach is more effective for the reduction in a regression test suites with higher requirement coverage. The size of regression test suites can be reduced up to 48% using the proposed approach without reducing the fault detection rate.
Zinc inhibits astrocyte glutamate uptake by activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1.

Several processes by which astrocytes protect neurons during ischemia are now well established. However, less is known about how neurons themselves may influence these processes. Neurons release zinc (Zn2+) from presynaptic terminals during ischemia, seizure, head trauma, and hypoglycemia, and modulate postsynaptic neuronal function. Peak extracellular zinc may reach concentrations as high as 400 µM. Excessive levels of free, ionic zinc can initiate DNA damage and the subsequent activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), which in turn lead to NAD+ and ATP depletion when DNA damage is extensive. In this study, cultured cortical astrocytes were used to explore the effects of zinc on astrocyte glutamate uptake, an energy-dependent process that is critical for neuron survival. Astrocytes incubated with 100 or 400 µM of zinc for 30 min showed significant decreases in ATP levels and glutamate uptake capacity. These changes were prevented by the PARP inhibitors benzamide or DPQ (3,4-dihydro-5-(4-(1-piperidinyl)butoxyl)-1(2H)-isoquinolinone) or PARP-1 gene deletion (PARP-1 KO). These findings suggest that release of Zn2+ from neurons during brain insults could induce PARP-1 activation in astrocytes, leading to impaired glutamate uptake and exacerbation of neuronal injury.
Quantum and Classical Gödelian Indeterminism, Measurement, and Informational Collapse into the Past

This discussion explains quantum indeterminism on the basis of the logical concept of unsolvability. I prove that there is no one-valued computable function to help us predict the outcome of a measurement of spin projection S z′ from a result of a previous measurement, S z , and angle Θ zz′ . En route to the corresponding theorem, I show that the EPR concept of physical reality is inconsistent with the quantum mechanics formalism.
EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES-OF ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS

The Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) technique has been utilized extensively in recent years to measure equilibrium constants for ion-molecule reactions. In our laboratory at the University of California at Irvine, most of our effort has been focused on bimolecular proton transfer reactions. Equilibrium constants for positive ion-molecule reactions such as (1) provide a quantitative measure of the gas-phase basicity of the base B relative to water. Several hundred reactions of this type have been investigated for a wide variety of alcohols, amines, pyridines, esters and ethers [1,2]. Recently Michael Locke in our laboratory has measured the gas-phase basicity of several amino acids, purines, pyrimidines and nucleosides using a direct insertion probe to admit these low volatility compounds to the ICR analyzer cell [3,4].
Astronomers’ and Physicists’ Attitudes Toward Education and Public Outreach: A Programmatic Study of The Dark Energy Survey

We present a programmatic study of physicists’ and astronomers’ attitudes towards education and public outreach (EPO) using 131 survey responses from members of the Dark Energy Survey. We find a disparity between the types of EPO activities researchers deem valuable and those in which they participate. Most respondents are motivated to engage in EPO by a desire to educate the public. Barriers to engagement include career- and skill-related concerns, but lack of time is the main deterrent. We explore the value of centralized EPO efforts and conclude with a list of recommendations for increasing researchers’ engagement.
Gentlewomen In Colonial Calcutta: Experiences Of Schooling:

This article shows how two pioneering institutions for female education in colonial Bengal, Bethune and Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ Schools, made significant contributions to female education at a tim...
Geospatial DSS for Maintaining Agricultural Diversions under Environmental Flow Requirements

AbstractCompeting demands for scarce water supplies in irrigated alluvial valleys can lead to conflicts between disparate uses, resulting in an increased risk of restrictions on agricultural divers...
English Language Learners’ and Native English-Speakers’ Spelling Growth after Supplemental Early Reading Instruction

English language learners (ELLs) are the fastest growing population of students in U.S. schools, and, unfortunately often experience lower levels of reading and spelling achievement than native English-speaking students. There is growing evidence showing that early reading interventions, which have been effective with native English-speakers, can also be effective with ELLs, although the majority of the research focuses on students who are native Spanish-speakers. Additionally, much less is known about spelling growth for ELLs, especially ELLs who speak a native language other than Spanish. Thirteen first grade students who were struggling with early literacy skills (seven non-Spanish-speaking ELLs and six native English-speakers) were selected for participation. The students were placed in three small reading groups, with four to five students each (at least two of whom were ELLs). The groups met five times a week, for approximately six weeks, for 30 minutes per session (totaling approximately 15 hours of supplemental instruction). The small group instruction was designed to reinforce phoneme awareness skills and help students understand the relationships between spoken sounds and written letters. Analysis of pretest to posttest gain scores showed significant growth in spelling ability. Non-Spanish-speaking ELLs with varying levels of English language proficiency benefitted from the intervention. All students demonstrated growth in their understanding of letter-sound correspondences. Evidence-based practices focusing on phonological awareness and the relationships between written letters and spoken sounds can be effective in terms of spelling ability growth when used in small groups comprised of both non-Spanish-speaking ELLs and native English-speakers.
Macadamia felted coccid impact on macadamia nut yield in the absence of a specialized natural enemy, and economic injury levels

Abstract Macadamia nut is among the most important edible crops produced in Hawaii. Macadamia also accounts a significant amount of agricultural land in the state at about 6920 ha of active production. Currently, macadamia has one major insect pest that requires considerably more severe management than others; the macadamia felted coccid, Acanthococcus (previously Eriococcus) ironsidei. Horticultural oils and insect growth regulator insecticides are frequently used to control this pest, without any knowledge of economic injury level currently. This study quantified yield loss and impact on nut quality related to A. ironsidei in Hawaii, on two varieties in two different environments, one mesic, and the other dry. Based on these data, EIL estimates were developed for A. ironsidei on macadamia. There was significant variation in yield loss to A. ironsidei in the two varieties and locations. Some varieties of macadamia nut had severe yield losses under dry-habitat conditions, while others tolerated higher A. ironsidei infestations better, with a lower rate of yield loss. Kernel quality was largely not impacted by A. ironsidei infestation, and reduction in yield was the only impact detected. There were correspondingly variable EILs estimates from the different varieties and environments. The implications of high yield loss in a crop in the absence of a natural enemy of the primary pest are discussed. Results of this study will help to contribute to developing an effective integrated pest management program for A. ironsidei management in Hawaii.
Predictors of long-term opioid use and opioid use disorder among construction workers: Analysis of claims data.

Background Construction workers have high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which lead to frequent opioid use and opioid use disorder (OUD). This paper quantified the incidence of opioid use and OUD among construction workers with and without musculoskeletal disorders. Methods We conducted a retrospective study using union health claims from January 2015 to June 2018 from 19,909 construction workers. Claims for diagnoses of chronic musculoskeletal disorders, acute musculoskeletal injuries, musculoskeletal surgery, and other conditions were linked to new opioid prescriptions. We examined the effects of high doses (≥50 morphine mg equivalents per day), large supply (more than 7 days per fill), long-term opioid use (60 or more days supplied within a calendar quarter), and musculoskeletal disorders, on the odds of a future OUD. Results There were high rates (42.8% per year) of chronic musculoskeletal disorders among workers, of whom 24.1% received new opioid prescriptions and 6.3% received long-term opioid prescriptions per year. Workers receiving opioids for chronic musculoskeletal disorders had the highest odds of future OUD: 4.71 (95% confidence interval 3.09-7.37); workers prescribed long-term opioids in any calendar quarter had a nearly 10-fold odds of developing an OUD. Conclusions Among construction workers, opioids initiated for musculoskeletal pain were strongly associated with incident long-term opioid use and OUD. Musculoskeletal pain from physically demanding work is likely one driver of the opioid epidemic in occupations like construction. Prevention of work injuries and alternative pain management are needed for workers at risk for musculoskeletal injuries.
Introduction: “This Realme of Englond is an Impire”

This chapter opens with an account of the dramatic yet familiar scene that unfolded in April 1533, when the English parliament passed the Act in Restraint of Appeals to Rome and European observers reeled, appreciating what it meant for the Henry VIII’s divorce crisis and the break with the Roman Catholic Church. It then places that monumental statute in a new, broader context, appreciating the multiple meanings, implications, and applications of a domestic act that, in the words of the chapter’s title, asserted empire. The chapter then establishes the significance of the book, frames its study, and invites readers to engage what follows, arguing that the sixteenth century was pivotal in the making of Britain and the British Empire in the Atlantic world.
The Role of Relationships Past and Present in Prenatal Coparenting Behavior on the Cusp of the Transition to Parenthood

This chapter examines the contributions of expectant parents’ recollections of their own parents’ coparenting and the current quality of their couple relationship to their newly forming coparenting relationship. Data from 182 dual-earner, expectant, different-sex couples were used. Couples were observed during the third trimester of pregnancy engaging in a couple discussion task to assess couple relationship quality and the Prenatal Lausanne Trilogue Play Procedure to assess the developing coparenting relationship. Expectant mothers and fathers were also asked to report about their recollections of the quality of their own parents’ coparenting relationships. Results indicated that mothers’ experiences of coparenting in the family of origin were associated with observed prenatal coparenting relationship quality, but only for couples with lower-quality relationships. In other words, when mothers remembered more supportive coparenting relationships in their families of origin, those experiences appeared to buffer couples at risk for poorer coparenting due to lower couple relationship quality from demonstrating less positive prenatal coparenting relationships.
Initial Experience with Single-Port Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy: Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between Single-Port and Conventional Multiport Approaches.

Background: The surgical techniques and devices used to perform radical cystectomy have evolved significantly with the advent of laparoscopic and robotic methods. The da Vinci® Single-Port (SP) pla...
Do Cost-Effectiveness Analyses Account for Drug Genericization? A Literature Review and Assessment of Implications

Abstract Objectives We investigated how health technology assessment (HTA) organizations around the world have handled drug genericization (an allowance for future generic drug entry and subsequent drug price declines) in their guidelines for cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs). We also analyzed a large sample of published CEAs to examine prevailing practices in the field. Methods We reviewed 43 HTA guidelines to determine whether and how they addressed drug genericization in their CEAs. We also selected a sample of 270 US-based CEAs from the Tufts Medical Center’s CEA Registry, restricting the sample to studies on pharmaceuticals published from 1991 to 2019 and to analyses taking a lifetime time horizon. We determined whether each CEA examined genericization (and if so, whether in base case or sensitivity analyses), and how inclusion of genericization influenced the estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results Fourteen (33%) of the 43 HTA guidelines mention genericization for CEAs and 4 (9%) recommend that base case analyses include assumptions about future drug price changes due to genericization. Most published CEAs (95%) do not include assumptions about future generic prices for intervention drugs. Only 2% include such assumptions about comparator drugs. Most studies (72%) conduct sensitivity analyses on drug prices unrelated to genericization. Conclusions The omission of assumptions about genericization means that CEAs may misrepresent the long run opportunity costs for drugs. The field needs clearer guidance for when CEAs should account for genericization, and for the inclusion of other price dynamics that might influence a drug’s cost-effectiveness.
Signaling pathways regulate cardiovascular lineage commitment of hPSCs

Abstract Remarkable progress has been made in the direct differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into the major sources of cell types found in the heart. The understanding of cardiovascular development in vivo can provide the guidelines and help us to facilitate the process of generation of cells. In this chapter, we review the state of methods in generating cardiovascular cells from hPSCs according to our understanding of heart development. We also stress the important role of developmental biology during the differentiation from hPSCs. We then highlight the application in disease modeling, drug screening, and cell therapy based on cell transplantation. With the advances of their application, the promise of hPSCs-related products will provide new treatments for degenerative diseases of the heart in the future.
Effect of the Photoconductive Layer on the Resolution of Opto-Acoustic Transducers

Resolution of opto-acoustic transducers (OAT’s) may be determined using linear systems theory. An OAT is treated as a linear spatial system. Each of its constituent layers is regarded as a subsystem characterized by a unique spatial transfer function. In a previous paper we have shown that the resolution of OATs is determined, to a very good approximation, by the transfer function of the piezoelectric layer alone. In this paper we show that the transfer function of the piezoelectric layer is affected by the presence of the photoconductive backing layer in such a way as to lower the resonant frequency of the OAT. We show also that the normalized resolution, the resolution measured in wavelengths at the operating frequency of the device, is affected if the OAT is operated off resonance. The normalized resolution increases for frequencies below the resonant frequency and decreases for frequencies above resonance.
Isozymes of β-Glucosidase in Dictyostelium discoideum

The activity of β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) in extracts of Dictyostelium discoideum was investigated. The specific activity increased early in development, declined during pseudoplasmodium formation, and increased again during sorocarp formation. The β-glucosidase which was present in growing amoebae and during the first stages of multicellular development was electrophoretically distinct from the enzyme which accumulated during the final stages of morphogenesis. Ribonucleic acid synthesis and protein synthesis during development were required for the accumulation of the later isozyme. Analysis of β-glucosidase activity in a number of morphological mutants suggests that the enzyme which accumulates late in morphogenesis is developmentally controlled.
Complicated grief therapy as a new treatment approach

Complicated grief therapy (CGT) is a relatively new psychotherapy model designed to address symptoms of complicated grief. Drawn from attachment theory and with roots in both interpersonal therapy (IPT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy, CGT includes techniques similar to prolonged exposure (repeatedly telling the story of the death and in vivo exposure activities). The treatment also involves focusing on personal goals and relationships. CGT has been demonstrated to be effective in a trial in which participants with complicated grief were randomly assigned to CGT or IPT; individuals receiving CGT responded more quickly and were more likely to respond overall (51% vs 28%). This article briefly summarizes the conceptual underpinnings of CGT, discusses the empirical evidence for its efficacy, describes its techniques, and presents a case example of a client treated in a 16-session manualized CGT protocol. The article concludes with a description of future research directions for CGT.
Quenching of I(2P1/2) by O3 and O(3P)

Oxygen-iodine lasers that utilize electrical or microwave discharges to produce singlet oxygen are currently being developed. The discharge generators differ from conventional chemical singlet oxygen generators in that they produce significant amounts of atomic oxygen. Post-discharge chemistry includes channels that lead to the formation of ozone. Consequently, removal of I( 2 P 1/2 ) by O atoms and O 3 may impact the efficiency of discharge driven iodine lasers. In the present study we have measured the rate constants for quenching of I( 2 P 1/2 ) by O( 3 P) atoms and O 3 using pulsed laser photolysis techniques. The rate constant for quenching by O 3 , 1.8x10 -12 cm 3 s -3 , was found to be a factor of five smaller than the literature value. The rate constant for quenching by O( 3 P) was 1.2x10 -11 cm 3 s -1 . This was six times larger than a previously reported upper bound, but consistent with estimates obtained by modeling the kinetics of discharge-driven laser systems.
Cell-surface beta-amyloid precursor protein stimulates neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons in an isoform-dependent manner

beta-Amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) is an integral membrane polypeptide expressed in many neural and non-neural cells. beta APP occurs in part at the cell surface and undergoes proteolytic processing to release the large soluble ectodomain (APPs) and the amyloid beta-peptide (A beta), both of which have apparent trophic activity in vitro. Despite intense interest in beta APP expression and metabolism, there is limited knowledge about the function mediated by beta APP inserted at the cell-surface. We established a coculture system in which beta APP-transfected CHO cells serve as a substrate for the growth of primary rat hippocampal neurons. Compared to nontransfected CHO cells, the increased surface beta APP of the transfectants stimulated short-term neuronal adhesion and longer-term neurite outgrowth, whereas the increased amount of secreted APPs and A beta in conditioned medium produced no such effects when neurons were grown either on untransfected CHO cells or on a polylysine substrate. Moreover, a peptide which has been shown to block the trophic effects of secreted APPs (Ninomiya et al., 1993) failed to interrupt the neurite promoting activity mediated by the surface-expressed beta APP. Surface-expressed beta APP751 or beta APP770 isoforms mediated more neurite outgrowth than did the beta APP695 isoform. Antibody blocking and regional deletion experiments indicated that the mid-region of the beta APP ectodomain (residues 361-648) is involved in promoting neurite outgrowth. We conclude that surface-expressed cellular beta APP has a neurite-promoting function which is distinct from the trophic function of the secreted beta APP derivatives and may have special significance during brain development.
Changes in the Cell Surface Level of GP126 during Development of Dictyostelium discoideum

The developmental regulation of the vegetative cohesion molecule, gp 126, has been monitored in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. As judged by immunoprecipitation using an anti-vegetative cell, cohesion blocking antibody, gp126 persisted until at least the grex stage of development although a decline in the level of the molecule was observed thereafter. Further, after the grex stage, cells showed an increasing loss of ability to absorb the cohesion-blocking effect of an anti-vegetative cell Fab. Therefore, the decline of gp 126 could be ascribed to a loss from the cell surface. By radio-iodination of vegetative cells followed by liquid-scintillation counting of gp 126, developmental-regulation could be determined quantitatively. At the grex stage of development, whole aggregates were embedded in wax. Longitudinal sections were then stained with a monospecific anti-gp 126 Fab, followed by a fluorescent sheep anti-rabbit IgG. Fluorescence was observed only at the tip (the prestalk) region, thereby showing that gp 126 is a prestalk marker. To confirm the above result, grexes were dissociated and cells were separated into prespore and prestalk populations on a gradient of Percoll. Prestalk but not prespore cells were able to absorb the cohesion-blocking effect of an anti-vegetative cell Fab. To examine the biosynthesis of gp 126, cells were pulsed with radioactive glucosamine, mannose or acetate. The pattern of incorporation of radioactivity suggested that the de novo synthesis of gp 126 ceases upon commencement of development.