cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age differences in neural response to stereotype threat and resiliency for self-referenced information

To investigate the contribution of cortical midline regions to stereotype threat and resiliency, we compared age groups in an event-related functional MRI study. During scanning, seventeen younger and sixteen older adults judged whether words stereotypical of aging and control words described them. Judging stereotype words versus control words revealed higher activations in posterior midline regions associated with self-referencing, including the precuneus, for older adults compared to younger adults. While heightening salience of stereotypes can evoke a threat response, detrimentally affecting performance, invoking stereotypes can also lead to a phenomenon called resilience, where older adults use those stereotypes to create downward social comparisons to “other” older adults and elevate their own self-perception. In an exploration of brain regions underlying stereotype threat responses as well as resilience responses, we found significant activation in older adults for threat over resilient responses in posterior midline regions including the precuneus, associated with self-reflective thought, and parahippocampal gyrus, implicated in autobiographical memory. These findings have implications for understanding how aging stereotypes may affect the engagement of regions associated with contextual and social processing of self-relevant information, indicating ways in which stereotype threat can affect the engagement of neural resources with age.
Incentive-elicited mesolimbic activation and externalizing symptomatology in adolescents.

Background: Opponent-process theories of externalizing disorders (ExD) attribute them to some combination of overactive reward processing systems and/or underactive behavior inhibition systems. Reward processing has been indexed by recruitment of incentive-motivational neurocircuitry of the ventral striatum (VS), including nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Methods: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with an incentive task to determine whether externalizing symptomatology in adolescence is correlated with an enhanced VS recruitment by cues for rewards, or by deliveries of rewards. Twelve community-recruited adolescents with externalizing disorders (AED) and 12 age/ gender-matched controls responded to targets to win or avoid losing $0, $0.20, $1, $5, or an unknown amount (ranging from $0.20 to $5). Results: Cues to respond for rewards activated the NAcc (relative to cues for no incentive), in both subject groups similarly, with greatest NAcc recruitment by cues for the largest reward. Loss-anticipatory NAcc signal increase was detected in a volume-of-interest analysis ‐ but this increase occurred only in trials when subjects hit the target. Relative to controls, AED showed significantly elevated NAcc activation by a linear contrast between reward notification versus notification of failure to win reward. In a post hoc reanalysis, VS and pregenual anterior cingulate activation by the reward versus non-reward outcome contrast also directly correlated with Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing total scores (across all subjects) in lieu of a binary diagnosis. Finally, both groups showed right insula activation by loss notifications (contrasted with avoided losses). Conclusions: Externalizing behavior, whether assessed dimensionally with a questionnaire, or in the form of a diagnostic categorization, is associated with an exaggerated limbic response to outcomes of reward-directed behavior. This could be a neurobiological signature of the behavioral sensitivity to laboratory reward delivery that is characteristic of children with externalizing symptomatology. Of interest is future research on incentive-motivational processing in more severe, clinically referred AED. Keywords: Conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, externalizing disorders, reward, ventral striatum, nucleus accumbens. Abbreviations: ADHD: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; AED: adolescents with externalizing disorders; AFNI: Analysis of Functional Neural Images; BOLD: blood oxygen-level dependent; CBCL: Child Behavior Check List; CD: conduct disorder; ExD: externalizing disorder; mFC: mesial frontal cortex; MID: monetary incentive delay (task); NAcc: nucleus accumbens; ODD: oppositional defiant disorder; SUD: substance use disorder; VS: ventral striatum.
Simulation of flywheel electrical system for aerospace applications

A flywheel energy storage demonstration project was initiated at NASA Glenn Research Center as a possible replacement for the battery energy storage system on the International Space Station (ISS). While the hardware fabrication work was performed at a contractor's place and at a university, the related simulation activity was begun at NASA Glenn research center. At the top level, the primary electrical system of ISS is simulated with one battery charge and discharge unit (BCDU) replaced by the flywheel energy storage unit (FESU) which is described in another paper. The FESU consists of a permanent magnet synchronous motor/generator, PMSM, (connected to the flywheel), the power electronics that connects the PMSM to the ISS DC bus, and the associated controller. While the PMSM model is still under development, the rest of the FESU model is described in this paper.
Loss of Werner syndrome protein function promotes aberrant mitotic recombination

Werner syndrome (WRN; MIM #277700) is an uncommon autosomal recessive disease in which features of premature aging are associated with genetic instability and an elevated risk of cancer. The Werner syndrome clinical phenotype mimics premature aging: following puberty, patients rapidly develop premature graying and loss of hair, scleroderma-like skin changes, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, bilateral cataract formation, diabetes mellitus, and hypogonadism (Epstein et al. 1966; Goto 2000). Spontaneous genetic instability has been identified in multiple cell lineages in WRN patients, and may be an important determinant of the increased risk of cancer (for review, see Goto et al. 1996; Moser et al. 2000a; van Brabant et al. 2000). Most Werner patients die prematurely, of either cancer or cardiovascular disease, with an average age at death of 47 yr (Epstein et al. 1966; Goto 2000). The chromosome 8p WRN gene encodes a 162 kD member of the human RecQ helicase family that is unique in possessing an N-terminal 3′ → 5′ exonuclease domain in addition to the central, conserved 3′ → 5′ RecQ helicase consensus domain (for review, see Shen and Loeb 2000b). A majority of WRN patients have mutations in the WRN gene that truncate the WRN protein with loss of a C-terminal nuclear localization signal. Cells containing these mutant alleles produce little or no detectable protein (Goto et al. 1999; Moser et al. 1999, 2000b). There is growing evidence that WRN, like most other helicases, functions as part of a multiprotein complex. Other proteins that may associate or act with WRN include replication protein A (RPA), DNA polymerase δ, PCNA, DNA topoisomerase I, p53 and Ku (for review, see Shen and Loeb 2000b). Mutations in genes encoding these or other WRN-interacting proteins may be responsible for the ∼10% of patients who fulfill clinical and diagnostic criteria for WRN, but lack WRN mutations (Goto et al. 1999; J. Oshima, pers. comm.). One example is a well-documented 29-year-old Japanese female who had clinical and cellular phenotypes that were indistinguishable from WRN patients with truncating WRN mutations, but lacked inactivating WRN mutations (Matsumura et al. 1985; Fukuchi et al. 1989; Prince et al. 1999; see below). RecQ helicases play a role in recombination or genome stability assurance in many organisms (for review, see Chakraverty and Hickson 1999; Shen and Loeb 2000b; van Brabant et al. 2000). Thus we reasoned that WRN might play a comparable role in human somatic cells, and we explored this possibility by using two different chromosomally integrated mitotic recombination reporter plasmids to measure spontaneous mitotic recombination rates, infer potential recombination pathways and determine the outcome of mitotic recombination events in WRN and control fibroblast cell lines.
Involvement of nuclear factor kappa B in the regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by interleukin-1 in rheumatoid synoviocytes.

Objective. To evaluate involvement of the transcription factor nuclear factor KB (NF-KB) in the increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) stimulated by interleukin-lp (IL-1p) in primary rheumatoid synoviocytes. Methods. We treated early-passage rheumatoid synoviocytes with IL-lp and examined the time course of NF-KB translocation to the nucleus by Western blot analysis, as well as NF-KB binding to the COX-2 promoter/enhancer by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. We correlated the time course of NF-KB binding with expression of COX-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein. Synoviocytes were then treated with either sense or antisense phosphorothioate-modified oligonucleotides derived from the transcription start site of the human NF-KB p65 RNA. We analyzed NF-KB binding to the COX-2 promoter and COX-2 protein levels after these treatments. Results. IL-1p rapidly stimulated the translocation of the p65, p50, and c-re1 NF-KB subunits from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated binding to 2 NF-KB sites within the COX-2 promoter/enhancer, with a time course identical to that of nuclear localization of NF-KB. Supershift analysis revealed that binding activity was due primarily to the p65-p50 heterodimer and the p50 homodimer. With appropriate lag time after NF-KB binding, COX-2
Influence of Dietary Energy and Antibiotic on Performance, Egg Solids, and Egg Quality in Bovans White and Dekalb White Hens

ABSTRACT A 4 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment with 4 dietary energy levels (2,776, 2,820, 2,864, and 2,908 kcal/kg) and 2 strains (Bovans White and Dekalb White) with and without Tylosin was conducted to determine the influence of dietary energy and antibiotic on performance, egg solids, and egg quality. The experiment lasted 10 wk. Bovans White hens (n = 768) and Dekalb White hens (n = 768) at 55 wk of age were randomly divided into 16 treatments (8 replicates of 12 birds per treatment). Bovans hens had significantly greater egg production and significantly lower egg weight, egg-specific gravity, and shell weight than Dekalb hens. Increasing dietary energy by the addition of poultry oil had no significant effect on performance, egg solids, or eggshell quality. An ideal dietary energy level for optimal performance could not be determined. There can be no fixed ideal dietary energy level for optimal profits, due to varying feed ingredient and egg price. Although Tylosin supplementation had no effect on performance or egg solids, Tylosin significantly reduced dirty eggs, resulting in a positive effect on egg quality.
Adduct-induced base-shifts: a mechanism by which the adducts of bulky carcinogens might induce mutations.

Most carcinogens have been shown to be mutagens, and DNA adducts are formed when mutagenic/carcinogenic substances react with DNA. It is generally believed these adducts (or their derivatives) induce misreplication events that result in mutations. Many of the more potently mutagenic substances are bulky and three-dimensionally complex, such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, and aflatoxins; little is known about the mechanisms by which they induce mutations. Several theories exist and herein an additional mechanism is proposed by which bulky adducts might induce mutations at GC base pairs. Molecular modeling in conjunction with molecular mechanical calculation is used to assess if the mutagen/carcinogen moiety of the adduct might be able to shift the position of the base moiety of the adduct in such a way that misreplication events might be facilitated. This mechanism is referred to as adduct-induced base-shift, and two classes appeared possible; adduct-induced base-wobble and adduct-induced base-rotation. The latter has been proposed previously. By adduct-induced, base-wobble, the mutagen/carcinogen moiety of the adduct induces a shift in the position of the base moiety of the adduct with respect to the helix axis, which might facilitate mispairing events that are reminisent of non-Watson/Crick pairing that occurs at the wobble base of tRNA during translation. For example, in some guanine adducts, the guanine appears more thymine-like, which might facilitate G.A mispairing and thereby ultimately GC to TA transversion mutations. Adduct-induced base-rotation involves the rotation of the adducted base from the anti to the syn conformation and a variety of mispairing events might result.
A substrate-specific cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, CYP6AB11, from the polyphagous navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella).

The navel orangeworm Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a serious pest of many tree crops in California orchards, including almonds, pistachios, walnuts and figs. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying detoxification of phytochemicals, insecticides and mycotoxins by this species, full-length CYP6AB11 cDNAwas isolated from larval midguts using RACE PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of this insect cytochrome P450 monooxygenase established its evolutionary relationship to a P450 that selectively metabolizes imperatorin (a linear furanocoumarin) and myristicin (a natural methylenedioxyphenyl compound) in another lepidopteran species. Metabolic assays conducted with baculovirus-expressed P450 protein, P450 reductase and cytochrome b5 on 16 compounds, including phytochemicals, mycotoxins, and synthetic pesticides, indicated that CYP6AB11 efficiently metabolizes imperatorin (0.88 pmol/ min/pmol P450) and slowly metabolizes piperonyl butoxide (0.11 pmol/min/pmol P450). LC-MS analysis indicated that the imperatorin metabolite is an epoxide generated by oxidation of the double bond in its extended isoprenyl side chain. Predictive structures for CYP6AB11 suggested that its catalytic site contains a doughnut-like constriction over the heme that excludes aromatic rings on substrates and allows only their extended side chains to access the catalytic site. CYP6AB11 can also metabolize the principal insecticide synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a synthetic methylenedioxyphenyl compound, albeit slowly, which raises the possibility that resistance may evolve in this species after exposure to synergists under field conditions.
Using Books in Clinical Practice

This paper illustrates how fiction and non-fiction books can be used as effective clinical tools. Included are research findings on the effectiveness of books in treatment as well as titles of books recommended for social intervention. The paper stresses the strengths and limitations of books in treatment. It is emphasized that books should only be used as an adjunct to the treatment process and not as the sole treatment approach.
Deterministic paternity exclusion using RAPD markers

The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique can potentially provide hundreds of polymorphic markers for use by ecologists studying mating systems in natural populations. We consider here the implications of the dominance displayed by RAPD markers for deterministic paternity assignment. Our goal was to provide a means for assessing the costs associated with such a study for ecologists who might be considering the use of RAPD markers for paternity analysis. The theoretical expected proportion of offspring for which all males except the true father can be exlucded (P(ET)) is calculated for both dominant and codominant marker systems. The ability to assign paternity unambiguously generally increases with the number of loci and the frequency of the recessive allele (but only up to a point), and decreases with increasing sample size (number of individuals surveyed). The gain in P(ET) with decreasing sample size is unexpectedly slight. Not surprisingly, the performance of dominant markers at paternity exclusion is, in general, greatly exceeded by codominant markers, with the exception of the case in which the frequency of the recessive allele is high at all loci. In this case, codominant markers perform only slightly better than do dominant markers. Thus, a researcher should expect to score more than 50 RAPD loci for each offspring for most applications of paternity exclusion analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A layered network for the correspondence of 3D objects

A computational approach for solving the correspondence problem between different views of objects in range images is presented. This is modeled as a layered constraint satisfaction network which can be implemented on a parallel analog neural network. In this approach, each view of an object is represented by an attributed graph with nodes as surfaces and their bounding vertices, and links as relations between adjacent surfaces. The matching strategy is a two-step process. Each step is formulated with a constraint satisfaction network, and implemented on a Hopfield network. At each level, a set of local, adjacency and global constraints is specified, and an appropriate energy function to be minimized is defined. At the first level of this hierarchy, surface patches are matched and clusters of rotation transformations are hypothesized. At the second level, the computed rotation transformation is applied to the corresponding vertices, and the translation vector is computed. >
Biochar effects on phenotypic characteristics of "wild" and "sickle" Medicago truncatula genotypes.

Pyrogenic biochar materials are being considered as a soil amendment in multiple contexts around the world. However, there is limited knowledge about the interaction of biochar with root and nodule development in legumes. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochars of differing sources on two Medicago truncatula (clover) genotypes “wild” (w) and “sickle” (skl) (an ethylene insensitive mutant). Biochars of two biomass feedstocks (corn stover and switchgrass) and two pyrolytic processes (slow and fast pyrolysis) were used to evaluate the two genotypes for plant growth, root nodulation, and root morphology. Biochar treatments at a 1 % (10 g kg−1 soil) application rate increased nodule formation and plant biomass across all genotypes. Corn stover fast pyrolysis biochar induced a higher degree of nodulation. Fast pyrolysis process biochars resulted in greater shoot dry weight for both genotypes compared to control. Shoot dry weight was less in plants treated with corn stover slow pyrolysis biochar compared to other biochars. Biochar stimulated nodule formation in both w and skl genotypes compared to controls. Biochar increased root length of higher and lower order lateral roots (0–1 mm and 1–2 mm diameter). There was a significant genotype x biochar treatment interaction for root length in the 1–2 mm diameter root class. Overall a positive effect of biochar was observed on plant growth, root nodulation, and root morphology of two Medicago truncatula genotypes. Biochars of different biomass feedstock and pyrolytic processes resulted in differences in root morphology and plant growth. The increase in nodule numbers resulting from biochar additions appears to be independent of the mechanism causing the increase in nodule numbers in the skl mutant. Differences in genotype response to biochar highlight the need to consider plant genetic composition as well as biochar type when evaluating potential for crop response to biochar soil amendments.
Phonologic processes in children with cleft palate.

Abstract This study examined the phonologic process usage of 3-, 4- and 5-year-old children with cleft palate. Sixty children served as subjects: 30 children with cleft palate (with or without cleft lip) and 30 noncleft palate children. The children's whole word productions were analyzed for frequency and type of phonologic process usage. Results indicated that the 3- and 4-year old children with cleft palate exhibited more instances of process usage, compared to their noncleft peers. The 5-year-old cleft and noncleft groups were similar in total instances of process usage. Further, the children with cleft palate employed common phonologic processes; however, some processes were noted more frequently in the speech of the 3-year-old children with cleft palate.
Xipho: extending tropos to engineer context-aware personal agents

We introduce Xipho, an agent-oriented methodology for engineering context-aware personal agents (CPAs). Xipho extends Tropos to support CPA development. Xipho's steps span a CPA's requirements acquisition, design, and implementation. Importantly, we treat context as a cognitive notion and systematically relate it to other cognitive notions such as goals and plans. Xipho incorporates reusable components in a CPA's design and implementation to simplify the development process. We evaluate Xipho empirically, finding that Xipho reduces development time and effort, and improves the comprehensibility of CPA designs.
Concepts in Aesthetic Experience

When an appreciator conforms to a work of art with his sensibility and then affectively, the experience quite probably will also be accompanied by imagery which found its original expression, and perhaps still finds its most natural expression, in the sort of thing we call myth. With many appreciators, however, the chain of analogues does not stop at this point. Some go on to reflect upon the experience, to find analogues of it in their own self-knowledge or in their knowledge of other things. Some are even able to find in such knowledge a source of what they reportedly recognize as an aesthetic experience. These facts propose a problem: what is the relation between clear and distinct concepts and the aesthetic experience?
Preventing Discrimination against Volunteers in Preventive HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trials: Conference Summary

A Workshop was held November 8, 1994 to discuss actual and theoretical risks for discrimination against volunteers in future HIV preventive vaccine efficacy trials. A small proportion of volunteers in ongoing Phase I/II vaccine trials have had positive HIV antibody tests due to vaccine-induced HIV antibody responses. Some volunteers had difficulty obtaining health and life insurance, employment with the U.S. military, and with foreign travel. Study staff were able to resolve almost all such problems. Gay men enrolled in prospective seroincidence studies experienced a 1.6% chance per year of undergoing required HIV antibody tests. Among subjects enrolled in future vaccine trials, the likelihood of such tests resulting in discrimination will depend on the type of vaccine and antibody tests used. The Americans with Disabilities Act may be used to prevent illegal discrimination against those actually, or erroneously thought to be HIV infected. A study is underway to estimate the frequency with which volunteer...
Machine learning techniques for improved data prefetching

With the advent of teraflop-scale computing on both a single coprocessor and many-core designs, there is tremendous need for techniques to fully utilize the compute power by keeping cores fed with data. Data prefetching has been used as a popular method to hide memory latencies by fetching data proactively before the processor needs the data. Fetching data ahead of time from the memory subsystem into faster caches reduces observable latencies or wait times on the processor end and this improves overall program execution times. We study two types of prefetching techniques that are available on a 61-core Intel Xeon Phi co-processor, namely software (compiler-guided) prefetching and hardware prefetching on a variety of workloads. Using machine learning techniques, we synthesize workload phases and the sequence of phase patterns using raw performance data from hardware counters such as memory bandwidth, miss ratios, prefetches issued, etc. Furthermore, we use performance data from workloads with different impacts and behaviors under various prefetcher settings. Our contribution can help in future prefetching design in the following ways: (1) to identify phases within workloads that have different characteristics and behaviors and help dynamically modify prefetch types and intensities to suit the phase; (2) to manage auto setting of prefetcher knobs without great effort from the user; (3) to influence software and hardware prefetching interaction designs in future processors; and (4) to use valuable insights and performance data in many areas such as power provisioning for the nodes in a large cluster to maximize both energy and performance efficiencies.
Apparent Life-Threatening Events: An Update

Based on strong research evidence, the most common causes of apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) are gastroesophageal reflux, lower respiratory tract infection, and seizure. • The minimum initial diagnostic panel for ALTE should include complete blood cell (CBC) count with differential; blood levels of C-reactive protein,glucose, sodium, potassium, urea, calcium,magnesium, ammonia, lactate, and pyruvate; arterial blood gas determination, urinalysis, and toxicology screen; electrocardiography; and assessments for Bordetella pertussis and respiratory syncytial virus in season. • Other testing should be done based on the infant’s clinical presentation and clinician’s degree of suspicion.• Most infants should be hospitalized for cardiorespiratory monitoring for 23 hours after an ALTE. • There is strong evidence that newborns are at higher risk of ALTE and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)within the first 24 hours after birth and therefore should be frequently monitored as much as possible while room sharing with their mothers. • Evidence suggests that maternal smoking may place an infant for higher risk of SIDS after an ALTE.
Clinical Case Series: The Use of Prazosin for Combat-Related Recurrent Nightmares among Operation Iraqi Freedom Combat Veterans

ABSTRACT Objective: Increased central nervous system norepinephrine outflow and α1-adrenergic receptor responsiveness appear to be involved in the pathophysiologic processes of trauma-related nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder. On the basis of reports that the brain-accessible α1-adrenergic antagonist Prazosin substantially reduced chronic combat-related nightmares among Vietnam War veterans, we evaluated Prazosin effects on combat-related nightmares among combat soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Methods: Twenty-eight soldiers who self-reported distressing combat traumarelated nightmares on a postdeployment questionnaire were prescribed low-dose Prazosin before bedtime. Results: Of the 23 soldiers for whom follow-up evaluations were available, 20 experienced marked improvement (complete elimination of nightmares), 2 experienced moderate improvement (reduced nightmare frequency or intensity), and 1 experienced no change. Prazosin was well tolerated. Conclusions: Prazosin appeared h...
A Modulation Account of Negative Existentials

Fictional characters present a problem for semantic theorists. One approach to this problem has been to maintain realism regarding fictional characters, that is to claim that fictional characters exist. In this way names originating from fiction have designata. On this approach the problem of negative existentials is more pressing than it might otherwise be since an explanation must be given as to why we judge them true when the names occurring within them designate existing objects. So, realists must explain the intuitive truth of such statements. Some realists have appealed to pragmatics to explain this, but have not developed these positions fully. What follows is an original account of negative existentials based on the pragmatic process of modulation. Modulation affects the meaning of ‘exists’ such that its extension is merely those things that exist physically. It is then argued that the modulation approach provides a more natural account of the intuitive truth of negative existentials involving fictional characters than an account based on conversational implicatures. Finally, the modulation account is defended against objections presented against similar accounts.
Design of a Laboratory Method for Rapid Evaluation of Experimental Flocculants

Reports of novel organic polymeric flocculants have become commonplace. The method used to test the effectiveness of these flocculants is most often the flocculation of a kaolin suspension in a jar test. The widely varying versions of this method that appear in the literature suffer from a range of weaknesses. The present research uses well-defined kaolin and confines testing to conditions in which the kaolin suspension is stable in the absence of a flocculant. The research examines all aspects of the conduct of the method, including clay dosing, mixing, settling time, and measurement to improve the sensitivity, reproducibility, and robustness of the method, and takes steps to avoid pitfalls that can reduce the validity of the method. Innovations include careful selection of the buffer system and instrument characteristics. Kaolin Clarification Effectiveness is introduced as a metric that gives a meaningful indication of the relative value of a novel flocculant while emphasizing the critical importance of...
Direct enumeration of marine arenicolous fungi

Flotation methods were devised for the qualitative and quantitative study of marine higher fungi in sandy beach communities. Standardized clay sediment samples were centrifuged in 70% sodium metaphosphate to separate spores and hyphae from masking materials, the supernatant was diluted in a sedimentation column, and the sunken propagules counted with an inverted microscope. Samples of the water column, surface layer, sea foam and sandy substrata of two beaches, and the surface of a nearby freshwater body were examined. Marine fungi were readily demonstrable in the water column and in neuston screen samples of the ocean surface, as well as in sea foam and sand extracts. New geographical limits for several species, the seasonal distribution of tropical Varicosporina ramulosa, and the vertical zonation of Corollospora spp. were revealed. Corollospora spp. deposited by sea foam were less active physiologically than geofungi and caulicolous marine species in the upper 30 cm of the strand line, but elsewhere on the beach and in the water the reverse seemed true. The geofungi on adjacent marine and freshwater surfaces were morphologically indistinguishable and probably airborne. Marine lignicolous fungi were sparse in the beach ecosystem, although easily obtainable on incubated driftwood from the study site. The described methods were considered sufficiently sensitive and precise to merit broader application in marine mycology, and with modifications, to the aquatic Hyphomycetes as well.
Commentary II: Queering language and normativity:

Work in queer linguistics addresses diverse themes, but finds common interest in critical studies of homonormativity. As the articles in this special issue suggest, such studies connect social expe...
EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATION OF ALKYLATING AGENTS OR 6-MERCAPTOPURINE ON SERUM LEVEL OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEASE I IN LEUKEMIA PATIENTS.

SummarySerum deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) is slightly lowered in untreated carcinoma patients in comparison with normal subjects. However, there are no significant differences between the serum DNase I of untreated leukemia patients and normal subjects. A reduction in number of leukocytes following therapy with 6-mercaptopurine, nitrogen mustard or Myleran in leukemia patients is accompanied by a lowering in serum DNase I activity. A possible mechanism for the lowering of DNase I activity is discussed.
Desistance from Crime and Deviance as a Turning Point in the Life Course

The transition to adulthood has generally become more individualized in the past 50 years, with fewer young people attaining the classic markers of adult status in an orderly progression (4; 43). The average age of first marriage or age of entry into full-time employment has also increased dramatically in recent decades [51]. Despite such changes, however, the notion that adults eventually “settle down” and desist from delinquent and deviant behaviors persists across shifting familial and economic arrangements. As they become fully fledged adults, people generally cease or at least moderate many forms of criminal behavior, substance use, and other antisocial activities. In this chapter, we summarize theory and research on desistance from crime and deviance and explore the extent to which such desistance constitutes a separate dimension of the multifaceted transition to adulthood.
Optimization of Fermentation Conditions and Composition Analysis of Polysaccharide-Based Bioflocculant Produced by Paenibacillus sp.A9

In order to increase the microbial flocculating polysaccharide production by Paenibacillus sp. A9,the response surface methodology( RSM) was used to analyze the fermentation conditions. The P-B( Plackett-Burman) results showed that the amount of media,ρ( MgSO4·7H2O) and ρ( soluble starch),were three main factors. The culture medium and conditions were optimized according to the Box-Behnken design and RSM analysis. Moreover,a maximum flocculating polysaccharide production of 2. 49 gL was obtained with the optimal conditions of 17 gL ρ( soluble starch),3. 0 gL ρ( yeast extract),6 gL ρ( K2HPO4),0. 2 gL ρ( MgSO4·7H2O),0. 10 gL ρ( NaCl),51 mL of media amount and pH 8; the value was very close to the predicted value of 2. 50 gL. The infrared spectra showed that the flocculating polysaccharide produced by strain A9 mainly contains polar groups, such as hydroxyl( —OH), carboxyl( —COO-),methoxyl( —C—O—C—) and acetyl amino group( —NHCOCH3). Combined with the experimental results of different carbon sources utilization,it is speculated that the main ingredients of the microbial flocculant produced by strain A9 are polysaccharides such as α-D-mannopyranose,α-D-glucopyranose,acidic polysaccharides and acetyl amino polysaccharide.
Feasibility Study on Disengaging HV Shunt Reactors of 500kV Huishan Line Unlocked at Maohu Substation

After 500 kV Huishan line of Guangdong power grid unlocked at Maohu Substation,the failure rate of HV shunt reactors was high due to the change in the original configuration conditions of HV shunt reactors coupled with the rapid variation of power network structure and operation mode.Therefore,this paper carries out electromagnetic transient studies on decommissioning of HV shunt reactors at Shantou and Huizhou ends of the line,covering such aspects as power frequency overvoltage,closing and single-phase reclosing switching overvoltage,secondary-arc current and recovery voltage,and load rejection switching overvoltage under the operating and decommissioning conditions of HV shunt reactors.Studies have shown that the decommissioning of original HV shunt reactors of Huizhou-Maohu-Shantou channel is feasible.
A two‐grid SA‐AMG convergence bound that improves when increasing the polynomial degree

Summary In this paper, we consider the convergence rate of a smoothed aggregation algebraic multigrid method, which uses a simple polynomial (1 − t)ν or an optimal Chebyshev-like polynomial to construct the smoother and prolongation operator. The result is purely algebraic, whereas a required main weak approximation property of the tentative interpolation operator is verified for a spectral element agglomeration version of the method. More specifically, we prove that, for partial differential equations (PDEs), the two-grid method converges uniformly without any regularity assumptions. Moreover, the convergence rate improves uniformly when the degree of the polynomials used for the smoother and the prolongation increases. Such a result, as is well-known, would imply uniform convergence of the multilevel W-cycle version of the algorithm. Numerical results, for both PDE and non-PDE (graph Laplacian) problems are presented to illustrate the theoretical findings. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Dynamic Bequest Motives and Secondary Markets for Life Insurance

Life insurance contracts can be exceptionally long term and are also typically are written with a level premium structure. Because death risk increases with age, the actuarial value of a life insurance policy increases over time and often becomes positive towards the end of the policy. Life insurance is also different in that the payout must be discounted through a bequest motive. If bequest preferences are dynamic and subject to unexpected shocks, the value to the insured of a life insurance contract can become negative later in the policy even when the actuarial value is positive. Thus potential gains from trade could be acquired from a secondary market for life insurance policies. While these markets do exist, they are limited and controversial. In this paper, I propose and estimate a structural model for the life insurance lapse decision. I then perform a counterfactual analysis with competitive secondary markets and find them to be Pareto improving for my sample with an average value increase to consumers of $1,346.
Some guidelines for oil-spill control in coastal environments, based on field studies of four oil spills

It is essential to understand the factors influencing the distribution, damage and long-term persistence of oil spills in order to adequately plan for, and apply appropriate cleanup techniques. Based on the study of two massive spills [Metula, 47 700 t (53 000 tons)]; [Urquiola, 22 500 to 27 000 t (25 000 to 30 000 tons)] and two smaller spills under ice conditions [Bouchard 65, 248 t (276 tons); Ethel H., 1350 t (1500 tons)], these factors are (1) wind stress and water currents, (2) beach activity and grain size, (3) tidal stage, (4) wave energy, (5) oil quantity and composition, and (6) ice effects, where applicable. Coastal environments vary significantly in terms of resultant damage from spilled oil. Subsequent cleanup by dispersants or mechanical means should be planned accordingly. Considering the aforementioned factors, as well as initial biological effects, a classification of coastal environments in terms of potential oil spill damage has been developed. In order of increasing vulnerability, these environments are: (1) exposed, steeply dipping or cliffed rocky shores; (2) eroding wave-cut platforms; (3) fine-sand beaches; (4) coarse-sand beaches; (5) exposed, compacted tidal flats; (6) mixed sand and gravel beaches; (7) gravel beaches; (8) sheltered rocky coasts; (9) sheltered tidal flats; and (10) salt marshes and mangroves. This classification can be used to delineate oil-sensitive environments as part of an overall contingency plan to limit damage during an oil spill.
Selection of sap feed trees by yellow-bellied gliders (Petaurus australis) in north-eastern Queensland, Australia - implications for site-specific habitat management.

Knowledge of site-specific ecological factors affecting a species’ resource selection is essential to assist in habitat management for a species’ conservation, particularly for species with narrow resource width. This study aimed to assess whether microhabitat variables affect the selection of Eucalyptus resinifera sap feed trees by yellow-bellied gliders (Petaurus australis) in north-eastern Australia. Microhabitat variables were measured in a simplified way around glider-selected and -non-selected Eucalyptus resinifera trees. Canopy cover and percentage of burnt trunk below breast height were identified as influential on feed tree selection, with feed trees showing a higher percentage of burnt trunk and a lower surrounding canopy cover. While the direct effect of fire on a potential feed tree remains to be clarified, fire may affect the structural composition of vegetation leading to lower surrounding canopy cover around potential feed trees. Thus, any forest management, such as logging and grazing should be practiced with great caution since they affect structural features of the vegetation that may contribute to the selection of feed trees by this species and may also affect its alternative food resources.
Anti-cancer activity of camptothecin nanocrystals decorated by silver nanoparticles

The emergence of multidrug resistant cancer phenotypes dramatically attenuates the efficiency of a variety of anti-cancer drugs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) display excellent anti-cancer activity and dramatic inhibitory effect on drug resistance related proteins like P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Here we developed a novel drug nanocrystal formulation of Camptothecin (CPT), a broad spectrum anti-cancer agent, decorated by AgNPs. The resulting combinational formulation of CPT and AgNPs, named as CPT/Ag nanocrystals, demonstrated excellent dispersion properties and an improved dissolution rate, drug stability and cellular uptake rate. Because CPT nanocrystals are able to bypass Pgp recognition and AgNPs inhibit both Pgp expression and activity, CPT/Ag nanocrystals showed extreme and indiscriminate cytotoxicity against a variety of both drug sensitive and drug resistant cancer cells. Moreover, the quickly and plenty of released CPT from the CPT/Ag nanocrystals triggered by the tumor microenvironment led to a relaxed and cleavable chromatin structure, facilitating DNA damage and apoptotic potential of AgNPs that were subsequently released.
Characterization of PKACα enzyme kinetics and inhibition in an HPLC assay with a chromophoric substrate

Here we describe a convenient, inexpensive, and non-hazardous method for the measurement of the kinase activity of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKACα). The assay is based on the separation of a substrate peptide labeled with a strong chromophore from the phosphorylated product peptide by high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and quantification of the product ratiometrically at a wavelength in the visual spectrum (Vis). The utility and reliability of the HPLC-Vis assay were demonstrated by characterizing the kinetic parameters (KM, Vmax) of the new Rh-MAB-Kemptide substrate, a commercially prepared TAMRA-Kemptide substrate, and ATP as well as the potency (IC50, Ki) of the known PKACα inhibitors H89 and PKI(5-24). The advantages of this assay are that it is convenient and inexpensive, uses readily synthesized or commercially available substrates that are shelf-stable, uses a common piece of laboratory equipment, and does not require any hazardous materials such as radioactive γ-32P-ATP. The assay format is also highly flexible and could be adapted for the testing of many different kinases by changing the peptide substrate sequence.
Feasibility and reliability of digital imaging for estimating food selection and consumption from students' packed lunches.

Abstract Although increasing attention is placed on the quality of foods in children's packed lunches, few studies have examined the capacity of observational methods to reliably determine both what is selected and consumed from these lunches. The objective of this project was to assess the feasibility and inter-rater reliability of digital imaging for determining selection and consumption from students' packed lunches, by adapting approaches previously applied to school lunches. Study 1 assessed feasibility and reliability of data collection among a sample of packed lunches ( n = 155), while Study 2 further examined reliability in a larger sample of packed ( n = 386) as well as school ( n = 583) lunches. Based on the results from Study 1, it was feasible to collect and code most items in packed lunch images; missing data were most commonly attributed to packaging that limited visibility of contents. Across both studies, there was satisfactory reliability for determining food types selected, quantities selected, and quantities consumed in the eight food categories examined (weighted kappa coefficients 0.68–0.97 for packed lunches, 0.74–0.97 for school lunches), with lowest reliability for estimating condiments and meats/meat alternatives in packed lunches. In extending methods predominately applied to school lunches, these findings demonstrate the capacity of digital imaging for the objective estimation of selection and consumption from both school and packed lunches.
Yoshida Jet and Theories of the Undercurrent

This chapter is focused firstly on the response of the ocean to an x -independent wind stress that is turned on as a step function in time, first on the f-plane and then on the equatorial plane. In contrast to the midlatitudes where the steady-state flow is a geostrophically balanced jet perpendicular to the wind, Yoshida showed, through an infinite Hermite series with explicit, analytical coefficients, that a zonal wind stress would yield a zonal equatorial jet. The transient adjustment, which is radiation of gravity waves, is also explicitly given. In the second half of the chapter, four barotropic theories of the Equatorial Undercurrent are analyzed as a warmup to the chapter where more realistic continuously stratified modes are explored.
Surfacing strategies for multi-robot adaptive informative sampling with a surface-based data hub

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are increasingly being used for lake and ocean sampling. Adaptive informative sampling is one method to gather data that is most informative for a phenomena being modeled. An open question is how multiple AUVs can best collaborate in collecting this data. In this work, we propose two new approaches for deciding when to surface for data sharing with a surface-based data hub: altruistic surfacing, based on the amount of information a vehicle has to share, and gain-based surfacing, based on an estimate of how much information is available at the surface. We compare these approaches to three prior approaches: timed surfacing - with and without data hub - and synchronous surfacing with Voronoi-based partitioning for coordination. Our simulation results show that all approaches perform approximately equal in terms of the error between models created by the vehicles and the ground truth, evaluated over time. While the Voronoi-based approach performs has wider variance in its initial performance, it can perform better at later sampling times for a subset of the tested scenarios. The altruistic surfacing approach can greatly reduce the number of surfacing events required, and shows promise for sampling at greater depths.
Health Disparities Score Composite of Youth and Parent Dyads from an Obesity Prevention Intervention: iCook 4-H

iCook 4-H is a lifestyle intervention to improve diet, physical activity and mealtime behavior. Control and treatment dyads (adult primary meal preparer and a 9–10-year-old youth) completed surveys at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 months. A Health Disparity (HD) score composite was developed utilizing a series of 12 questions (maximum score = 12 with a higher score indicating a more severe health disparity). Questions came from the USDA short form U.S. Household Food Security Survey (5), participation in food assistance programs (1), food behavior (2), level of adult education completed (1), marital status (1), and race (1 adult and 1 child). There were 228 dyads (control n = 77; treatment n = 151) enrolled in the iCook 4-H study. Baseline HD scores were 3.00 ± 2.56 among control dyads and 2.97 ± 2.91 among treatment dyads, p = 0.6632. There was a significant decline in the HD score of the treatment group from baseline to 12 months (p = 0.0047) and baseline to 24 months (p = 0.0354). A treatment by 12-month time interaction was found (baseline mean 2.97 ± 2.91 vs. 12-month mean 1.78 ± 2.31; p = 0.0406). This study shows that behavioral change interventions for youth and adults can help improve factors that impact health equity; although, further research is needed to validate this HD score as a measure of health disparities across time.
An Applied Agent-Based Model for Path-Planning on a Mobile Device

Navigation applications have a large development base in robotics, gaming, asset tracking, networking, and more. The principle of a navigation system encompasses a number of areas (e.g. localization, path-planning, map generation, etc). This project presents a multi-agent path-planning simulation and the communication protocols designed for the agents. It describes the initial agents’ functions in the proof-of-concept of our application. The model was implemented on a mobile device in order to simulate a navigation system adapted to indoor environments. The goal of the project was a proof-of-concept of an agent-based model.