cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward the Anthropological Study of Cognitive Performance

This paper examines the logical and empirical basis for cognitive analysis in anthropology. A review of the assumptions that cognitive anthropology makes about the nature of human cognition and behavior is followed by a critical discussion focusing on four problems: (1) the psychological reality of analyses, (2) the competence versus performance dichotomy, (3) the sharedness of cognitive systems, and (4) explanatory perspective in cognitive anthropology. This discussion concludes that as presently constituted, cognitive anthropology does not take us toward the goal of producing an adequate account of cognitive performance. Evolutionary structuralism, which appears to be a viable approach toward this goal is outlined, its major points are discussed, and its implications for continued research are elaborated.
Techniques to reduce data volume and application time for transition test

Scan based transition tests are added to improve the detection of IC speed failures using scan tests. Empirical data suggests that both data volume and application time for transition test will increase dramatically. Techniques to address this problem, for a class of transition tests called "enhanced transition tests", are proposed. The first technique, which combines the ATE repeat capability and the notion of transition test chains, reduces test data volume by 46.5%, when compared with transition tests computed by a commercial transition test ATPG tool. The test application time could increase or decrease. To address the test time issue, exchange scan, a new DFT technique, is proposed. Exchange scan reduces both data volume and application time by 46.5%. These techniques rely on the use of hold scan cells and highlight the effectiveness of hold-scan design to address test time and test data volume issues.
Improved performance of lithium-ion cells with the use of fluorinated carbonate-based electrolytes

Abstract There has been increasing interest in developing lithium-ion electrolytes that possess enhanced safety characteristics, while still able to provide the desired stability and performance. Toward this end, our efforts have been focused on the development of lithium-ion electrolytes which contain partially and fully fluorinated carbonate solvents. The advantage of using such solvents is that they possess the requisite stability demonstrated by the hydrocarbon-based carbonates, while also possessing more desirable physical properties imparted by the presence of the fluorine substituents, such as lower melting points, increased stability toward oxidation, and favorable SEI film forming characteristics on carbon. Specifically, we have demonstrated the beneficial effect of electrolytes which contain the following fluorinated carbonate-based solvents: methyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (MTFEC), ethyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (ETFEC), propyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (PTFEC), methyl-2,2,2,2′,2′,2′-hexafluoro- i -propyl carbonate (MHFPC), ethyl-2,2,2,2′,2′,2′-hexafluoro- i -propyl carbonate (EHFPC), and di -2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (DTFEC). These solvents have been incorporated into multi-component ternary and quaternary carbonate-based electrolytes and evaluated in lithium–carbon and carbon–LiNi 0.8 Co 0.2 O 2 cells (equipped with lithium reference electrodes). In addition to determining the charge/discharge behavior of these cells, a number of electrochemical techniques were employed (i.e. Tafel polarization measurements, linear polarization measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) to further characterize the performance of these electrolytes, including the SEI formation characteristics and lithium intercalation/de-intercalation kinetics.
Exact linear time invariant modeling in adaptive disturbance cancellation

An analysis of a simple adaptive filter for the cancellation of single tone disturbances is carried out. It is shown that under a wide range of sampling frequencies, an exact linear time invariant model exists for adapted parameter estimates. Linear design techniques can then be used in lieu of more conservative perturbation techniques to improve adaptive tracking speed while maintaining stability margins. >
Personality Stability in Late Adulthood: A Behavioral Genetic Analysis

A sample of 833 twins from the Minnesota Twin Study of Adult Development and Aging completed the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; Tellegen, 1982) twice, averaging 59.4 (sd=9.7) years of age at first and 64.4 (sd=10.2) years of age at second testing (average retest interval 5.0 years, sd=2.36, range 1.0-10.4 years). Both means and standard deviations of scale scores were extremely stable from first to second testing. In addition, sample participants tended to retain their rank order on the scales (average r=.76 across scales). Bivariate biometric analyses showed that the genetic influences on most of the scale scores were almost perfectly correlated across the two waves (range .95 to 1.00). The nonshared environmental influences were also highly correlated across the two waves (range .53 to .73). Models specifying identical variance components at the two time points and fixing the genetic correlation to 1.00 provided improved fit. The results suggest that the high stability of personality in later adulthood has a strong genetic foundation, supplemented by stability of environmental effects.
EXISTENCE OF SOLUTIONS WITH MOVING PHASE BOUNDARIES IN THERMOELASTICITY

We discuss the existence of weak solutions with moving phase boundaries in thermoelasticity related to dynamic phase transitions. One of the goals is to study the dynamical consequence of the stable and metastable states defined in this paper. We use the entropy condition and the kinetic relation as the main admissibility criteria to study the above goals for the Euler equations with nonmonotone constitutive relation. We discuss the case where there are two noninteracting phase boundaries moving in the opposite directions. A modification to treat the case where the two phase boundaries collide is also discussed.
Green's Functions for a Bimaterial Consisting of Two Orthotropic Quarter Planes Subjected to an Antiplane Force and a Secrew Dislocation:

The image singularity approach is employed to construct the Green's function for a quarter plane and a bimaterial that consists of two quarter planes bonded together. The material is orthotropic, a...
Linkage-Disequilibrium Mapping of Autistic Disorder, with 15q11-13 Markers

Summary Autistic disorder is a complex genetic disease. Because of previous reports of individuals with autistic disorder with duplications of the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome critical region, we screened several markers across the 15q11-13 region, for linkage disequilibrium. One hundred forty families, consisting predominantly of a child with autistic disorder and both parents, were studied. Genotyping was performed by use of multiplex PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Two children were identified who had interstitial chromosome 15 duplications and were excluded from further linkage-disequilibrium analysis. Use of the multiallelic transmission-disequilibrium test (MTDT), for nine loci on 15q11-13, revealed linkage disequilibrium between autistic disorder and a marker in the γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor subunit gene, GABRB3 155CA-2 (MTDT 28.63, 10 df, P =.0014). No evidence was found for parent-of-origin effects on allelic transmission. The convergence of GABRB3 as a positional and functional candidate along with the linkage-disequilibrium data suggests the need for further investigation of the role of GABRB3 or adjacent genes in autistic disorder.
Effect of electrical pulsing on various heat treatments of 5xxx series aluminum alloys

Previous studies have shown that the presence of a pulsed electrical current, applied during the deformation process of an aluminum specimen, can significantly improve the formability of the aluminum without heating the metal above its maximum operating temperature range. The research herein extends these findings by examining the effect of electrical pulsing on 5052 and 5083 Aluminum Alloys. Two different parameter sets were used while pulsing three different heat treatments (As Is, 398°C, and 510°C) for each of the two aluminum alloys. For this research, the electrical pulsing is applied to the aluminum while the specimens are deformed, without halting the deformation process. The analysis focuses on establishing the effect the electrical pulsing has on the aluminum alloy’s various heat treatments by examining the displacement of the material throughout the testing region of dogbone shaped specimens. The results from this research show that pulsing significantly increases the maximum achievable elongation of the aluminum (when compared to baseline tests conducted without electrical pulsing). Significantly reducing the engineering flow stress within the material is another beneficial effect produced by electric pulsing. The electrical pulses also cause the aluminum to deform non-uniformly, such that the material exhibits a diffuse neck where the minimum deformation occurs near the ends of the specimen (near the clamps) and the maximum deformation occurs near the center of the specimen (where fracture ultimately occurs). This diffuse necking effect is similar to what can be experienced during superplastic deformation. However, when comparing the presence of a diffuse neck in this research, electrical pulsing does not create as significant of a diffuse neck as superplastic deformation. Electrical pulsing has the potential to be more efficient than traditional methods of incremental forming since the deformation process is never interrupted. Overall, with the greater elongation and lower stress, the aluminum can be deformed quicker, easier, and to a greater extent than is currently possible.
Breaking emulsions of water in Navy fuel oils

Abstract Stubborn emulsions of distilled and artificial sea water in mixtures of Navy Special Fuel Oil (NSFO) and Navy Distillate (ND) have been broken by applying several approaches suggested by Lawrence some years ago. The effect of NSFO content, demulsifying agent structure and concentration, polymer concentration and salt concentration on the demulsifying process was studied. It was found that a commonly-used wetting agent, sodium di-2-ethylhexyl sulphosuccinate, was a particularly potent demulsifier and apparently superior to several commercial demulsifiers. The addition of a water-soluble polymer of high molecular weight intensified demulsifier action, while that of small quantities of an alkaline salt promoted separation in the most difficult cases, particularly those involving distilled water as the discontinuous phase.
Analysis of α2-adrenergic Receptors and Effect of Brimonidine on Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors in Human Ciliary Body

Purpose To ascertain the expression pattern of alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors in the ciliary body (CB) and determine the effect of brimonidine on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in ciliary body smooth muscle (CBSM) cells. Methods Qualitative RT-PCR was performed to detect the mRNA of the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor subtypes alpha(2)A, alpha(2)B, and alpha(2)C in CB and CBSM cultures. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis were performed to further investigate alpha(2)A receptor expression in CB tissue and CBSM cells. CBSM cells from 15 different human donors received control or brimonidine tartrate (45 nM) for 1, 3, or 7 days. Changes in pro-MMP-1, -2, -3, -9, and -24 and TIMP-1, -2, -3, and -4 levels were evaluated by Western blot, with GAPDH as the endogenous control. Zymography was used to assess the activity of MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9. Results The mRNA of alpha(2)A, alpha(2)B, and alpha(2)C were detected in CB tissue and CBSM cells. Immunohistochemistry localized alpha(2)A receptors within the CB stroma. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated production by CBSM cells. Brimonidine increased pro-MMP-9 an average of 116% +/- 34% (P = 0.0360); enzymatic activity of MMP-9 was unchanged. TIMP-4 decreased an average of 25% +/- 8% (P = 0.0329) in conditioned medium, but increased 70% +/- 13% (P = 0.0057) in cell lysates. Conclusions The presence of alpha(2)A, alpha(2)B, and alpha(2)C in CB tissue and CBSM cells indicates the possibility that brimonidine affects uveoscleral outflow. However, the changes in MMP-9 and TIMP-4 without significant changes in MMP-9 activity suggest that a role of the MMP/TIMP system in outflow is unlikely.
Mesenchymal stem cells engineered to express selectin ligands and IL-10 exert enhanced therapeutic efficacy in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) affords the potential to ameliorate the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in both preclinical and clinical studies. However, the efficacy of MSC-based therapy for MS likely depends on the number of cells that home to inflamed tissues and on the controlled production of paracrine and immunomodulatory factors. Previously, we reported that engineered MSCs expressing P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and Sialyl-Lewis(x) (SLeX) via mRNA transfection facilitated the targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) to inflamed ear. Here, we evaluated whether targeted delivery of MSCs with triple PSGL1/SLeX/IL-10 engineering improves therapeutic outcomes in mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model for human MS. We found PSGL-1/SLeX mRNA transfection significantly enhanced MSC homing to the inflamed spinal cord. This is consistent with results from in vitro flow chamber assays in which PSGL-1/SleX mRNA transfection significantly increased the percentage of rolling and adherent cells on activated brain microvascular endothelial cells, which mimic the inflamed endothelium of blood brain/spinal cord barrier in EAE. In addition, IL-10-transfected MSCs show significant inhibitory activity on the proliferation of CD4(+) T lymphocytes from EAE mice. In vivo treatment with MSCs engineered with PSGL-1/SLeX/IL-10 in EAE mice exhibited a superior therapeutic function over native (unmodified) MSCs, evidenced by significantly improved myelination and decreased lymphocytes infiltration into the white matter of the spinal cord. Our strategy of targeted delivery of performance-enhanced MSCs could potentially be utilized to increase the effectiveness of MSC-based therapy for MS and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Preventing Dental Caries in Children <5 Years: Systematic Review Updating USPSTF Recommendation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Screening and preventive interventions by primary care providers could improve outcomes related to early childhood caries. The objective of this study was to update the 2004 US Preventive Services Task Force systematic review on prevention of caries in children younger than 5 years of age. METHODS: Searching Medline and the Cochrane Library (through March 2013) and reference lists, we included trials and controlled observational studies on the effectiveness and harms of screening and treatments. One author extracted study characteristics and results, which were checked for accuracy by a second author. Two authors independently assessed study quality. RESULTS: No study evaluated effects of screening by primary care providers on clinical outcomes. One good-quality cohort study found pediatrician examination associated with a sensitivity of 0.76 for identifying a child with cavities. No new trials evaluated oral fluoride supplementation. Three new randomized trials were consistent with previous studies in finding fluoride varnish more effective than no varnish (reduction in caries increment 18% to 59%). Three trials of xylitol were inconclusive regarding effects on caries. New observational studies were consistent with previous evidence showing an association between early childhood fluoride use and enamel fluorosis. Evidence on the accuracy of risk prediction instruments in primary care settings is not available. CONCLUSIONS: There is no direct evidence that screening by primary care clinicians reduces early childhood caries. Evidence previously reviewed by the US Preventive Services Task Force found oral fluoride supplementation effective at reducing caries incidence, and new evidence supports the effectiveness of fluoride varnish in higher-risk children. * Abbreviations: dmfs — : decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces OR — : odds ratio USPSTF — : US Preventive Services Task Force
Buckling of Cylindrical Shells by Wind Pressure

An analytical method is developed to solve approximately the bifurcation buckling load of a circular cylindrical shell under nonaxisymmetrical lateral pressure. The assumption of semi-inextensible deformation is made, which sets the circumferential strain to zero and simplifies the system of equations as well as the boundary conditions. In order to investigate the accuracy of the new method, solutions are first obtained for a cylindrical shell under uniform lateral pressure with either simple-simple or clamped-free boundary conditions. Comparisons are made in the former case to Flugge’s theory and, in the latter case, to a finite element analysis. Agreement in both cases is very good. The theory is then applied to find the buckling load of a clamped-free cylindrical shell under nonaxisymmetrical lateral pressure created by wind. Disagreement with a previous theory by Langhaar and Miller is examined. Comparisons with results of some experiments are also made and possible reasons of the discrepancies are considered.
Domain-specific metacognitive calibration in children with learning disabilities

Abstract Research has shown that a student’s self-efficacy levels can predict his or her academic performance. Although moderate overconfidence in one’s abilities is beneficial, research has demonstrated that students who can calibrate (i.e., accurately assess their abilities) are more likely to achieve higher levels of academic performance. Individuals with learning disabilities have been found in previous studies to have poor levels of calibration when compared to typically developing students, particularly on academic tasks. Building on this line of research, this study examined the self-efficacy and metacognitive calibration of students with learning disabilities across both academic and non-academic contexts. Twenty-nine students with learning disabilities were given both an academic and a non-academic task and asked to predict their performance on both tasks. Multiple calibration scores were calculated by comparing participants’ expected performance to their actual performance. Overall, students reported reduced metacognitive calibration on both academic and non-academic tasks; however, their patterns were more extreme for the non-academic task. Specifically, students reported much higher levels of self-efficacy for the non-academic task despite much lower metacognitive calibration scores. These findings point to the possibility that the history of failure experienced by students with learning disabilities on academic tasks may actually improve their calibration with those tasks and that they may have an overall deficit in their ability to predict their own abilities.
Molecular-orbital study of late-fission times in deep-inelastic 238U+238U collisions.

The [ital U]-like [ital K]-vacancy production probability in 7.5-MeV/nucleon deep-inelastic [sup 238]U+[sup 238]U collisions has been measured for no-fission, single-fission, and double-fission exit channels. The results are interpreted using quasimolecular orbital correlations for diatomic and triatomic configurations. This leads to the determination of lower limits for the time scale for late fission of U-like products ([ge]8 and [ge]4 as) and their probability ([ge]77% and [ge]52%), at mean initial-excitation energies of [similar to]40 and [similar to]105 MeV, respectively.
Partnerships and appropriation: translating discourses of access and empowerment in girls’ education in India

Abstract This article seeks to illustrate how various actors involved in a state-NGO partnership to provide marginalized girls educational opportunities appropriate discourses related to schooling and empowerment in India. It traces the multiple discourses of empowerment underlying the implementation of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyala (KGBV) program in the Western state of Gujarat to gain a more nuanced understanding of the influences on educational programs’ ability to support social transformation. I show how these multiple, and often competing, discourses might be appropriated to take into account the systems, structures, and practices that act as barriers to implement reform-oriented practices that perpetuate girls’ marginalization. To do so, I also posit that programs and partnerships must specifically and systematically address the cultural and institutional forces that work to reinforce inequality and marginalization, but that these perspectives need large scale popular and political buy-in in order to realize their dual goals of service provision and long-term social transformation.
Why do arginine and lysine organize lipids differently? Insights from coarse-grained and atomistic simulations.

An important puzzle in membrane biophysics is the difference in the behaviors of lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) based peptides at the membrane. For example, the translocation of poly-Arg is orders of magnitude faster than that of poly-Lys. Recent experimental work suggests that much of the difference can be inferred from the phase behavior of peptide/lipid mixtures. At similar concentrations, mixtures of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids display different phases in the presence of these polypeptides, with a bicontinuous phase observed with poly-Arg peptides and an inverted hexagonal phase observed with poly-Lys peptides. Here we show that simulations with the coarse-grained (CG) BMW-MARTINI model reproduce the experimental results. An analysis using atomistic and CG models reveals that electrostatic and glycerol–peptide interactions play a crucial role in determining the phase behavior of peptide–lipid mixtures, with the difference between Arg and Lys arising from the stron...
Actions of a tumor-promoting phorbol ester in a cloned rat pituitary cell : Potential involvement of changes in Ca(2+) metabolism.

Tumor promoters, such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), facilitate carcinogenesis by mechanisms that may involve changes in intracellular Ca2+ metabolism and distribution of Ca2+, as well as activation of a Ca2+-and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, referred to as protein kinase C. We compared the actions of PMA on GH3 cloned pituitary cells with those of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), an established Ca2+-mobilizing agent. The TRH treatment produced a45Ca efflux, inhibited45Ca uptake, diminished chlortetracycline fluorescence, and stimulated cAMP accumulation and protein synthesis in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Like TRH, PMA produced an efflux of45Ca and inhibited45Ca uptake; however, the phorbol ester stimulated cAMP accumulation and protein synthesis in the absence of external calcium and failed to alter chlortetracycline fluorescence. The TMB-8, a putative inhibitor of the mobilization of membrane-associated Ca2+, did not alter PMA-induced stimulation of protein synthesis.
Effect of Sidewall Fluorination on the Mechanical Properties of Catalytically Grown Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

We report on the usage of a simple microfabricateddevice, that works in conjunction with a quantitative nanoindenter inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), for the in situ quantitative tensile testing of individual sidewall fluorinated multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The stress vs. strain curves and the tensile strength values for five fluorinated specimens have been presented and compared to those of pristine MWNT specimens (data reported earlier). The fluorinated specimens were found to deform and fail in a brittle fashion similar to pristine MWNTs. However, sidewall fluorination was found to have considerably degraded the mechanical properties (tensile strength and load bearing capacity) of the MWNTs.
Clear-cell chondrosarcoma of the lumbar spine: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Clear-cell chondrosarcoma is a rare subtype of chondrosarcoma. These osseous tumors are most commonly found in the end of long bones. We report a rare case of clear-cell chondrosarcoma of the osseous spine. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old man presented to another institution with a pathologic L1 compression fracture. Intraoperatively, this fracture was discovered to be secondary to a chondrosarcoma involving T12, L1, and L2. He was then referred to our institution for further evaluation and treatment. A 2-stage operation was performed with successful en bloc resection of residual chondrosarcoma with negative margins. The first stage using a posterior approach resulted in placement of pedicle screws from T9 to L4, laminectomies from T12 to L2, and placement of Tomita saws between the thecal sac and the vertebral body at both the T11-12 and L2-3 disc levels. The second stage of the procedure involved a transthoracic, retroperitoneal approach to the thoracolumbar spine. Osteotomies between T11-12 and L2-3 were completed, and the vertebral bodies of T12, L1, and L2 were delivered as an en bloc specimen. The final pathology of the specimen was clear-cell chondrosarcoma with negative margins. CONCLUSION: This report discusses a rare occurrence of clear-cell chondrosarcoma in the osseous spine. Aggressive surgical intervention with the goal of en bloc resection of tumor is recommended to promote tumor-free survival.
An Expanded Genetic Code in Mammalian Cells with a Functional Quadruplet Codon

We have utilized in vitro evolution to identify tRNA variants with significantly enhanced activity for the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins in response to a quadruplet codon in both bacterial and mammalian cells. This approach will facilitate the creation of an optimized and standardized system for the genetic incorporation of unnatural amino acids using quadruplet codons, which will allow the biosynthesis of biopolymers that contain multiple unnatural building blocks.
Pathogenesis of experimental histoplasmosis in mice. I. Measurement of infecting dosages of the yeast phase of Histoplasma capsulatum.

To study the pathogenesis of experimental histoplasmosis in laboratory animals it is desirable to accurately measure infecting dosages. Suspensions of yeast phase growth of most strains of Histoplasma capsulatum contain many multicellular aggregates of cells. Methods were developed for preparing suspensions containing only small aggregates of yeast cells and for determining the viability of small aggregates. Investigations using these methods include: a comparison of viability of yeast cell aggregates obtained from cultures of various ages, measurements of the survival of yeast cell aggregates in suspension, and a comparison of the in vitro viability of yeast cell aggregates with their infectivity for mice. The experimental procedures developed have been found to be applicable to four representative strains or isolates of histoplasma described in table 1.
PO-0896 Consequences Of Second – And Thirdhand Smoke Exposure For Newborns At The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background and aims Smoking is consuming the smoke of smouldering tobacco. Inhaling harmful substances from tobacco and a higher risk for disorders, is general knowledge. Less well known are the possible effects of second- and thirdhand smoke. Secondhand smoking is the involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke in the ambient air. Inhaling the smoke residues from walls, furniture, clothes, toys and other objects or absorbing it through the skin is referred to as thirdhand smoking. The aim is to provide a scientifically based advice on dealing with this issue in a hospital setting. Methods A literature-study is performed. A PICO (patient-intervention-comparison-outcome) question is formulated to guide a literature search in scientific databases. Articles will be critically appraised. Results Four studies (two reviews, one cohort, one descriptive) were found all pointing out that exposure to second- and thirdhand smoking may adversely affect young children, especially in the age up to 1 year including preterm or otherwise respiratory compromised newborn infants in the NICU. Also addressed is the lack of knowledge of parents and staff on the consequences of second-and thirdhand smoke. Hospital staff has an opportunity to educate parents about the effects of smoking on their newborn baby. Additional steps as changing clothes and wearing gloves after smoking would be appropriate. Conclusions Healthcare professionals should take their responsibilities in preventing harm to fragile newborn infants as a result of tobacco smoke more serious.
IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTION LOT SCHEDULING SOFTWARE SYSTEM

A lot scheduling software system for iron and steel production is given in the paper.Adopting several models and algorithms like Single/Multi Traveling Salesman Problem,Knapsack Problem,Genetic Algorithm,etc.,the system is able to do such scheduling works as steelmaking-casting,hot rolling(plate/strip and tube)and tube cutting.
The Nembutsu: Prayer As Enlightenment in Shin Buddhism

The recitation of the nembutsu , a plea for salvation in the form of the ejaculatory prayer, “I call on Amida Buddha,” far from being an aberration of Buddhist practice, is an organic development of doctrine and practice based on early Mahāyana thought. With its roots in the work of Nāgārjuna and Vasubandhu, the practice grew from a perception of the Buddha's compassion being such that it would create a provisional paradise within which searchers for enlightenment could dwell, so that, free from the cycle of karma -defilement-suffering in this world, they could more readily attain ultimate enlightenment. The nembutsu is the response of an individual to the compassion of the Buddha, a selfless acceptance of that compassion which allows the individual to be drawn into it, thus being ushered into enlightenment itself. The prayer of the nembutsu is itself a participation in the reality of enlightenment.
Contrast-enhanced, real-time volumetric imaging of tissue perfusion

Although conventional contrast-enhanced harmonic US imaging is typically employed in subjective assessments, quantitative analysis is not widely performed. We have been developing a 3D mapping technique that may offer such assessment by recording transient changes in backscatter over a volume during controlled constant infusion of contrast. Unlike perfusion-refill techniques, the approach does not require pulse-inversion imaging, nor does it perform bubble destruction using a high-intensity pulse. The goal of the present study is to correlate the method with a gold-standard in vivo. Experiments were performed in 20 rabbits during intravenous infusion of Definity® before and after unilateral testicular torsion and contralateral orchiopexy. The use of the testicular model allowed the un-constricted testicle to serve as a control. The degree of torsion was 0° in 4 (sham surgery), 180° in 4, 360° in 4, 540° in 4, and 720° in 4. Signals were recorded using a 3D imaging array and analyzed offline. For comparison radiolabeled microsphere measurements, an accepted reference standard, were also acquired. Correlation of all US testicular signal intensity ratios versus all radiolabeled microsphere perfusion ratios demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 79 (p < 0.0001), while postoperative values revealed a coefficient of 90 (p < 0.0001).
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Asymptomatic Nonsevere Aortic Stenosis: Should We Worry?

Increased biomechanical stress on cardiomyocytes because of outflow obstruction secondary to aortic stenosis (AS) is thought to induce reexpression of the fetal gene program, which modifies myocyte efficiency, sarcomere composition, and regulation of extracellular matrix, as well as various nuclear signal transduction pathways resulting in autocrine production and secretion of cytokines, neurohormones and growth factors that ultimately promote ventricular hypertrophy.1,2 See Article by Gerdts et al The traditional view of adaptative concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) because of parallel replication of new sarcomeres is that wall thickness increases to normalize LV systolic wall stress and preserve systolic performance. This view, accepted for the past 40 years3 and perhaps counterintuitively expected to mitigate the effects of LV pressure overload on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, has begun to be challenged by new clinical data, suggesting that moderate or severe LVH may be associated with adverse outcomes in AS4,5 and that inappropriately increased LV mass, found in 17% of patients with mild to moderate AS6 and in 67% of patients with asymptomatic severe AS, was associated with a 4.5-fold increased risk of cardiovascular events.7 Conversely, the absence of hypertrophy in one third of the patients with severe AS seems to have no adverse effects on systolic function or survival.8,9 Experimental studies in genetically modified animal models are consistent with clinical observations.10 In addition, no association was found between AS severity and the magnitude or pattern of LVH using cardiac magnetic resonance.11 Thus, it seems that the presence, severity, and the geometric pattern of LVH in AS vary widely, are …
Effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ligands on sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude and delayed reinforcement in a delay-discounting procedure

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been recently identified as an important mediator of impulsive choice, as assessed in delay discounting. Although discounting is independently influenced by sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude and delayed reinforcement, few studies have examined how NMDA receptor ligands differentially affect these parameters. The current study examined the effects of various NMDA receptor ligands on sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude and delayed reinforcement in a delay-discounting procedure. Following behavioral training, rats received treatments of the following NMDA receptor ligands: the uncompetitive antagonists ketamine (0, 1.0, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg; i.p.), MK-801 (0, 0.003, 0.01, or 0.03 mg/kg; s.c.), and memantine (0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg; i.p.), the competitive antagonist CGS 19755 (0, 5.0, 10.0, or 20.0 mg/kg; s.c.), the non-competitive NR2B subunit-selective antagonist ifenprodil (0, 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg; i.p), and the partial agonist D-cycloserine (0, 3.25, 15.0, or 30.0 mg/kg; s.c.). When an exponential model was used to describe discounting, CGS 19755 (5.0 mg/kg) increased impulsive choice without altering sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude. Conversely, ketamine (10.0 mg/kg), memantine (5.0 mg/kg), and ifenprodil (10.0 mg/kg) decreased sensitivity to reinforcer magnitude without altering impulsive choice. MK-801 and D-cycloserine did not alter delay-discounting performance, although two-way ANOVA analyses indicated D-cycloserine (15.0 mg/kg) decreased impulsive choice. The behavioral changes observed in delay discounting following administration of NMDA receptor antagonists do not always reflect an alteration in impulsive choice. These results emphasize the utility in employing quantitative methods to assess drug effects in delay discounting.
Maintaining an Emphasis on Rare Diseases With Research Initiatives and Resources at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

Most of the patients with rare diseases do not have treatments available to them. Despite the fact that there are several challenges associated with doing research and developing drugs for rare diseases, there are evolving opportunities and resources. This chapter describes the need for performing collaborative and novel translational research for rare diseases involving multidisciplinary teams. It also includes various translational research resources and initiatives (including Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network program) within the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at NIH, USA. This chapter describes the evolving approaches for rare diseases research including involvement of patient advocacy groups as research partners and emphasizes the need for training young investigators.
Breaking the Teacup: Imagining a Perfect Lonely World in The Tempest

The Tempest is set on a remote island, outside the bounds and boundaries of civilization. The displacement that this utopia imposes on the characters stranded there frees them from their own social place and allows them to imagine ideal forms of government and social order. Thus, The Tempest becomes a laboratory for experiments in governance and the exercise of power. Variables include reason, rule, and the power of words to compel and order men in society. This paper explores issues of sovereignty on several levels – control of the land, control of others, and control of one’s self. On all of these levels, a distinction is made between the power to compel and the power to integrate (“power over” and “power with” in Follett’s terms). The tensions between these forms of power, and between imagined and practiced governance, illustrate problems public administrators continue to face.
A Novel Functional Role for Soluble CD27 in the Pathogenesis of Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family member, CD27, is a transmembrane co-stimulatory molecule present on primed T and B lymphocytes that also secrete a soluble form (sCD27). Recent evidence has suggested that interactions between CD27 and its TNF-like ligand, CD70, play a critical role in regulating B-cell activation and survival, though the detailed mechanism(s) by which this occurs remain unclear. Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM) represents a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by a monoclonal IgM gammopathy and possesses a mast cell component that may contribute to its pathogenesis (Blood 104; 646a). Using ELISA assays, we observed that WM patients displayed significantly higher levels of sCD27 in their sera (median 7.45, range 0–19.42 U/ml) versus healthy donors (median 0, range 0–2.78 U/ml; p=2.5 x 10−7). CD27 was expressed in 7/7 patients using RT-PCR analysis, but was expressed on the cell surface of tumor cells in 5/12 patients using flow cytometric analysis. Conversely, CD70 expression was widely expressed on both tumor cells (6/6 patients) and mast cells (10/11 patients) using flow cytometric analysis. In order to define the functional role of sCD27 in WM, we cultured BCWM.1 (CD27−CD70+) WM cells, and LAD1 (CD27−CD70+) mast cells with sCD27 (0.1–50 ug/mL), and observed no effect on proliferation or induction of apoptosis. Culture of LAD1 cells with sCD27 did, however, result in marked upregulation of the TNF family ligands CD40L (CD154) and a proliferation induction ligand (APRIL), which previous work in our laboratory had implicated as mast cell proliferation and survival factors in WM. Taken together, these studies suggest a novel functional role for sCD27, and imply a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of WM.
CMOS Performance Scaling

CMOS transistors have been scaling exponentially in the past two decades and the intrinsic device performance has followed a commensurate scaling trend. Prior to the 90-nm node, mere shrinking of the device dimensions, following Dennard’s scaling theory, was sufficient to guarantee increased device performance; beyond the 90-nm node, new innovations were necessary to continue the historical performance scaling trend. Strain engineering and high-k/metal gate technologies were the two major innovations that made the commensurate performance scaling in the past decade possible. However, it appears that new device structures and performance boosters will continue to be the need of the future. This chapter provides a basic overview of MOSFET scaling trend, followed by a discussion of MOSFET operation in deca-nanometer scale based on the so-called virtual source injection model. A simple analytical model for transistor I–V characteristics and intrinsic transistor delay is provided and used to quantify the historical trends of MOSFET performance scaling. Carrier velocity is shown to be the main driver for the continued MOSFET performance increase. Finally, the prospect of velocity increase is reviewed for strained Si, Ge, and compound semiconductors.
Tracking long-distance atmospheric deposition of trace metal emissions from smelters in the upper Columbia River valley using Pb isotope analysis of lake sediments

Heavy metal discharge from mining and smelting operations into aquatic ecosystems can cause long-term biological and ecological impacts. The upper Columbia River is highly contaminated with heavy metal wastes from nearby smelting operations in Trail, British Columbia, Canada, and to a lesser extent, Northport (Le Roi smelter), Washington, USA. Airborne emissions from the Trail operations were historically and are currently transported by prevailing winds down the Columbia River canyon, where particulate metals can be deposited into lakes and watersheds. In lakes, sediment cores contain records of past environmental conditions, providing a timeline of fundamental chemical and biological relationships within aquatic ecosystems, including records of airborne metal depositions. We analyzed trace metal concentrations (Ni, Cd, Zn, As, Cu, Sb, Pb, Hg) and Pb isotope compositions of sediment cores from six remote eastern Washington lakes to assess potential sources of atmospheric heavy metal deposition. Sediment cores displayed evidence to support trace metal loading as a direct consequence of smelting operations in Trail. Smelter contamination was detected 144 km downwind of the Trail Smelter. Cd, Sb, Pb (p < 0.001), and to a lesser extent As and Hg (p < 0.05) concentrations were correlated with Pb isotope compositions, suggesting that the Trail operations were likely the main source for these trace metals.
Nationwide Injunctions: Venue Considerations

A criticism of nationwide injunctions is that they engender forum shopping, with litigants seeking out a court more likely to be favorable to them in order to obtain sweeping relief. This picture, though, oversimplifies the relationship between venue and the scope of injunctive relief, particularly for lawsuits against federal actors. Cabining nationwide injunctions would shift the incentives for litigant venue choice. Limitations on nationwide injunctions would place increased weight on early lawsuits in forums in which venue is proper based on the characteristics of the defendant, because any similarly situated litigant can bring suit there. Section 1391(e) of Title 28, the statutory provision for venue against federal actors, provides for broad scope for venue, including permitting venue based on the plaintiff ’s place of residence. Such limitations would lead to distortions in incentives for venue choice contrary to the purposes underlying the enactment of § 1391(e) as well as systematically disadvantage less well-resourced litigants. The debate over nationwide injunctions must take into account the effects of changes to the scope of injunctive relief on the venue choice architecture, and consider both venue and the scope of injunctive relief concomitantly in the institutional design of federal litigation.
Facultative Adjustments in Future Planning Tendencies: Insights on Life History Plasticity from the Flint Water Crisis

Life history theory (LHT) is a powerful explanatory framework examining how developmental environments and life experiences shape allocations of effort to fitness-promoting domains in nested sets of trade-offs. Time orientation is a central psychological aspect of human life history variation, representing the degree to which behaviors are oriented towards immediate versus future goals. Identifying critical sensitive periods for shaping life history variation and verifying the scope of life history plasticity are important issues for both theory and practical application. Many LHT frameworks propose sensitive periods from gestational development through middle childhood, though recent research suggests facultative adjustments may occur much later in the lifespan. The current study examines how experiences of poor tap water quality during the Flint water crisis, associated with toxic contamination and adverse health effects, may have affected time orientations. Degraded expectations for health and longevity may have affected psychological aspects of life history variation, with important consequences for health-related behaviors. Controlling for socio-demographics and other environmental factors associated with life history variation, those who experienced worse tap water quality had lower general tendencies for future planning. Tap water quality experiences predicted several health-related behaviors, independent of socio-demographics, some relationships were mediated through tendencies for future planning.
Patent Issues of Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging

In the industry, research institute, and university, there are many engineers, researchers, students, and professors working on fan-out wafer-level packaging. In order to avoid the granted patents in this area, they are trying various methods such as die-up, die-down, die-first, die-last, RDL (redistribution layer)-first, RDL-last, mold-first, mold-last, round temporary carrier, and rectangular temporary carrier. In this chapter, the patent issues of fan-out wafer/panel-level packaging will be investigated. Emphasis will be placed on the claims of the granted patents and the range of things which might be covered under the patents. Depending on the RDL line width/spacing, the material, process, equipment, and application of fan-out wafer/panel-level packaging are examined and some recommendations are made. The patents which impacting the semiconductor packaging the most, so far, will be briefly mentioned first.
New molecular sequence data and species trees for North American whipsnakes.

Abstract In this data article we present species trees based on coalescent species delimitation results for North American whipsnakes, as well as metadata pertaining to the article "The effect of missing data on coalescent species delimitation and a taxonomic revision of whipsnakes (Colubridae: Masticophis)" (MPE-2017-76-R1). Species trees were constructed using SNP data generated from double-digest RADseq, filtered to 80% completeness between species. Tables correspond with the primary manuscript and serve as a repository of genetic sequence information for whipsnakes. These data can be downloaded and combined with future whipsnake datasets.
Social anxiety, cortisol, and early-stage friendship:

Socially anxious people report less closeness to others, but very little research has examined how social anxiety is related to closeness in real-time social interactions. The present study investi...
The Big Five personality predictors of academic achievement in gifted students: Mediation by self-regulatory efficacy and academic motivation

ABSTRACTUnderstanding factors associated with achievement and mechanisms underlying their relationships is critical for planning interventions and services to improve students’ performance and meet...