cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glutathione-dependent detoxification of peroxide in bovine ciliary body.

Abstract Perfusion of the bovine eye with a buffer solution containing t -butyl hydroperoxide and the glutathione reductase inhibitor nitrofurantoin caused significant decreases in reduced glutathione level in ciliary body and iris. The result was interpreted to suggest that the organic hydroperoxide was decomposed by the glutathione peroxidase-reductase system. The glutathione reductase reaction requires NADPH. Since the level of NADPH is maintained by the hexose monophosphate shunt in many tissues, we investigated whether this is also the case with bovine uveal tissues. CO 2 formation from [1- 14 C]glucose but not from [6- 14 C]glucose was markedly stimulated by t -butyl hydroperoxide and was inhibited by the glutathione reductase inhibitor 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, thus supporting the importance of the hexose monophosphate shunt for hydroperoxide decomposition through the glutathione peroxidase-reductase system. The peroxidase-reductase activity was found both in non-pigmented and pigmented ciliary epithelial cells in culture. Purification studies isolated two forms of glutathione reductase [GR I (140 kDa) with subunit Mr of 70 kDa and GR II (> 670 kDa) with subunit Mr of 45 kDa] and a novel glutathione peroxidase (112 kDa with subunit Mr of 29 kDa). The peroxidase is active both with H 2 O 2 and organic hydroperoxides, does not contain selenium and shows no glutathione S-transferase activity.
Past experience resets behavior: CaMK takes the heat.

How past experiences reshape behavior is not well understood. In this issue, two studies (Schild et al., 2014; Yu et al., 2014) dissected the molecular mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity in thermosensory behavior. They show that Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent kinase I (CaMKI) regulates thermal preferences according to past experience.
Online Shoppers' Perceptions and Use of Comparison-Shopping Sites: An Exploratory Study

Comparison-shopping sites currently offer online shoppers various combinations of free services such as price comparisons, merchant ratings, links to e-tailers’ websites, and/or customer reviews in the search results page(s). The utility and market values of shopping comparison sites have attracted Internet giants such as eBay, Google, and Yahoo to the extent of developing or acquiring such sites. Scholarly research on comparison-shopping sites has focused on (1) trust in online recommendation agents, and (2) methods used by electronic agents to produce the recommendations. Our study explored how online shoppers’ attitudes toward comparison-shopping sites impact perceived credibility and usefulness of these sites. We also examined online shoppers’ merchant selection criteria and their likelihood to continue using comparison-shopping sites. One interesting finding from our study was that merchants need to be strong on site ratings and brand awareness to appeal to a wide online market. The finding dispelled...
An optimization framework for improving supplier delivery performance

Abstract Given the growing importance of supplier delivery performance in buyer–supplier alignment and end-to-end fulfillment of supply chains, we investigate the managerial implications of a buyer who financially invests to improve a supplier’s delivery performance by demonstrating an optimization model for the buyer’s investment decision to reduce untimely delivery. We illustrate how improving supplier delivery performance leads to better supplier management. Our analysis utilizes the ingenious zeta transforms widely used in engineering to showcase its applicability in today’s complex supply landscapes that use multiple suppliers to create efficient frontiers for diverse sourcing initiatives.
Temperature and Hydration-Dependent Rotational and Translational Dynamics of a Polyether Oligomer

Temperature-dependent rotational diffusion of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDE) is measured by optical heterodyne-detected optical Kerr effect (OHD-OKE) spectroscopy and compared to previous measurements of rotational diffusion as a function of water content. Both types of data, temperature-dependent and hydration-dependent, follow the Debye−Stokes−Einstein (DSE) equation and agree quantitatively with hydrodynamic calculations. Of particular importance is the result that both types of data show nearly identical dependence on the viscosity divided by the temperature (η/T). We also compare the translational diffusion constants as previously measured by pulsed field gradient spin−echo (PFG-SE) NMR as a function of both temperature and water content. The temperature-dependent data follow the Stokes−Einstein (SE) equation. Similar to the rotation, the low water content mixtures obey the SE equation and show the same proportionality to η/T as the temperature-dependent data. At higher water fractions, ...
Why multihospital systems will continue to grow.

Abstract The limitations of federal and state spending on health care indicate difficult times are ahead for hospitals. Rising costs are challenging their continued existence. Construction and renovation, for example, are normally not feasible in light of the present economic situation. To meet this financial challenge, Multi-Institutional Arrangements (MIAs) are proliferating. This phenomenon, which is particularly prevalent in the Southern United States, seems to be increasing geometrically, principally because many of the officials who operate hospitals see such an affiliation as an answer to their serious fiscal problems. Faced with myriad financial problems resulting from overcommitment, hospital boards are looking for a way out of the quagmire. While the boards do not want to give up control of the hospital to an outside group, they are beginning to realize that it may be the price that must be paid for fiscal solvency (i.e., keeping the hospital open to serve the public). Hospital boards usually are favorably impressed by the promised benefits accruing from association with a MIA.
Free-Radical Frontal Polymerization with a Microencapsulated Initiator

Frontal polymerization entails theconversion of a monomer into a polymer via a localizedexothermic reaction zone that propagates through thecoupling of thermal diffusion and Arrhenius reactionkinetics. Frontal polymerization was discovered in Rus-sia by Chechilo and Enikolopyan in 1972 using methylmethacrylate under high pressure.
Differential expression of CD10 in prostate cancer and its clinical implication

CD10 is a transmembrane metallo-endopeptidase that cleaves and inactivates a variety of peptide growth factors. Loss of CD10 expression is a common, early event in human prostate cancer; however, CD10 positive cancer cells frequently appear in lymph node metastasis. We hypothesize that prostate tumors expressing high levels of CD10 have a more aggressive biology with an early propensity towards lymph node metastasis. Eighty-seven patients, 53 with and 34 without pathologically organ confined prostate cancer at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP), were used for the study. Fourteen patients with lymph node metastasis found at the time of surgery were identified and included in this study. Serial sections from available frozen tumor specimens in OCT were processed for CD10 immunohistochemistry. Cancer glands were graded for the presence and intensity of CD10 staining, and overall percentage of glands staining positive was estimated. Clinical characteristics including pre- and post-operative PSA and Gleason score were obtained. A similar study as a control for the statistical analysis was performed with CD13 staining. For statistical analysis, strong staining was defined as > 20% positivity based on the observed maximum separation of the cumulative distributions. CD10 expression significantly correlated with Gleason grade, tumor stage, and with pre-operative serum PSA. Seventy percent of RP specimens from patients with node metastasis showed strong staining for CD10, compared to 30% in the entire cohort (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.08–10.75, P = 0.019). Increased staining for CD10 was associated with PSA recurrence after RP. CD13 staining did not correlate significantly with any of these same clinical parameters. These results suggest that the expression of CD10 by prostate cancer corresponds to a more aggressive phenotype with a higher malignant potential, described histologically by the Gleason score. CD10 offers potential clinical utility for stratifying prostate cancer to predict biological behavior of the tumor.
Surface-enhanced Raman fiber optic sensors for remote monitoring

A new sensor design for remote surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements has been developed for environmental applications. The design features the modification of an optical fiber using layers of alumina microparticles and silver coatings for inducing the SERS effect at the sensing probe. A single fiber carries both the laser excitation and the SERS signal radiation, keeping optical parameters at the remote tip simple and consistent. The small tip size achievable with this configuration also demonstrates potential of this new design as a microsensor for in-situ measurement in microenvironments. Details of sensor tip fabrication and optical system design are described. SERS spectra of aqueous environmental samples acquired in-situ using the SERS sensor are also presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the SERS sensor.
Mechanisms and Molecular Probes of Sirtuins

Sirtuins are critical regulators of many cellular processes, including insulin secretion, the cell cycle, and apoptosis. Sirtuins are associated with a variety of age-associated diseases such as type II diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease. A thorough understanding of sirtuin chemical mechanisms will aid toward developing novel therapeutics that regulate metabolic disorders and combat associated diseases. In this review, we discuss the unique deacetylase mechanism of sirtuins and how this information might be employed to develop inhibitors and other molecular probes for therapeutic and basic research applications. We also cover physiological regulation of sirtuin activity and how these modes of regulation may be exploited to manipulate sirtuin activity in live cells. Development of molecular probes and drugs that specifically target sirtuins will further understanding of sirtuin biology and potentially afford new treatments of several human diseases.
AN EVALUATION OF THE CDS HEURISTIC IN FLOW SHOPS WITH MULTIPLE PROCESSORS

ABSTRACT Scheduling in flow shops with multiple processors (FSMP) involves the sequencing of n jobs through m stages where there can be one or more identical processors at each stage. The heuristic developed by Campbell et al., also known as the CDS method, is one of the important contributions to the pure flow shop scheduling. In this paper, the CDS method was adopted for use in the FSMP environment. This study compares the CDS heuristic with the (m—1)Random scheduling method in order to investigate the effectiveness of the CDS method when used in the FSMP environment. The results indicate that the CDS method is superior to the (m—1)Random scheduling method when there are small numbers of stages and numbers of processors at each stage for both the small and large sized FSMP problems.
Titanous chloride as a reagent for quantitative organic microanalysis. III. Microdetermination of quinones

The preparation of stabilized 0.02N titanous chloride solution is described. Benzoquinones and naphthoquinones are reacted with excess 0.02N titanous chloride at room temperature and back-titrated with 0.02N ferric ammonium sulfate. Anthraquinone and its derivatives, except aminoanthraquinone, require boiling temperatures for complete reduction. Polycyclic quinones are resistant to titanous chloride under these conditions.
Precession in a disk dynamo model of the Earth's dipole field.

THE Earth's dipole field has undergone more polarity reversals than was hitherto supposed, according to recent studies of geomagnetic data1,2. It has been estimated2 that the Laschamp polarity interval lasted only about 20,000 yr, and Cox3 has predicted that several intervals shorter than 50,000 yr remain to be discovered. I suggest here that such polarity intervals may be connected with the effects of precession acting on the Earth's dynamo process.
Population genetics of the tree hole mosquito Aedes triseriatus: no correlation between Est-6 and larval habitat.

Population genetics of the tree hole mosquito Aedes triseriatus : no correlation between EST-6 and larval habitat
Effects of suprageniculate lesions on temporal pattern discrimination in the cat.

Abstract Cats with bilateral lesions of the suprageniculate nucleus exhibited a profound and apparently irreversible deficit on an auditory temporal pattern discrimination task. Lesions of other thalamic nuclei produced no such behavioral effect. The data are consistent with earlier reports that bilateral ablation of insular cortex disrupts temporal pattern discrimination, in that there are known anatomical connections between suprageniculate and insular cortex. Because of the polysensory nature of suprageniculate nucleus, it is suggested that the behavioral deficit experienced by cats with such lesions may not be restricted to auditory temporal patterns.
Polypharmacy: when is enough, enough?

A search of the literature uncovers numerous definitions of polypharmacy with 2 recurring themes: “the presence of six or more concurrent medications” and “use of at least one potentially inappropriate drug.” Both of these definitions fail to characterize the continued and growing health concern that exists when more medications are prescribed than are warranted clinically. The focus of prescribing is to provide only medications that are necessary to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes and eliminate unnecessary or potentially harmful medications. For some patients, 1 medication may be too much, and for others 15 medications may be too few. Therapy should be tailored to the unique needs of the individual patient and his or her clinical situation. “The Institute of Medicine adopted the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) definition for quality. AHRQ defines quality as doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, for the right person, and having the best possible results. It means striking the right balance in the provision of health services by avoiding overuse, underuse and misuse.” Serious adverse medication events are more likely to occur as the number of concurrently prescribed medications increases in nursing home residents. Thus, strategies to reduce the number of medications that are unnecessary and correcting misuse of medications will contribute to improved quality. Initial considerations should include elimination of duplicate therapy where possible. Duplicate therapy is defined as more than 1 medication of the same pharmacological class/category or any medication that substantially duplicates a particular effect of another medication that the individual is taking. Combining medications that work through different mechanisms of action or that affect different receptors, such as a cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine, is not duplicate therapy. Additionally, adverse effects
The Reconstruction Justice of Salmon P. Chase: In Re Turner and Texas v. White

The demise of the Confederacy left a legacy of legal arrangements that raised fundamental and vexing questions regarding the legal rights and status of former slaves and the status of former Confederate states. As Harold Hyman shows, few individuals had greater impact on resolving these difficult questions than Salmon P. Chase, chief justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1865 to 1873. Hyman argues that in two cases "In Re Turner" (1867) and "Texas v. White" (1869) Chase combined his abolitionist philosophy with an activist jurisprudence to help dismantle once and for all the deposed machineries of slavery and the Confederacy. In these cases, Chase sought to consolidate the gains of the Civil War era, while demonstrating that the war had both preserved the precious core characteristics of the federal union of states and fundamentally improved the nature of both private and public law. "In Re Turner" was a private law case decided at the federal circuit level. It involved a black woman's claim that she, a recent slave, was being held in involuntary servitude. Elizabeth Turner's mother had apprenticed Elizabeth to their former master, who had not abided by his contractual obligations to provide Elizabeth with training and compensation, substantively keeping her in slavery. Chase's decision, which relied upon due process and equal protection implications in the thirteenth amendment and 1866 Civil Rights Act, confirmed the rights of emancipated slaves to bargain and contract with employers on a parity with white workers. "Texas v. White" was a public law case decided in the Supreme Court. It revolved around the issue of whether the holders of U.S. bonds seized and sold by the Confederate state of Texas could demand payment after the war from that state's newly reconstructed government. In effect, Chase and his associate justices were asked to determine the legality of actions committed by all former Confederate states and, thus, to define what constituted a state. Chase's opinion reaffirmed the Union's permanence, and that of the constituent states in the federal union, and the states' duty to respect the legal rights and obligations of all citizens because states were people as well as acreages and institutions. Hyman's exemplary analysis of these cases reveals how their political, legal, and constitutional aspects were so inextricably interwoven. They secured for Chase a rostrum for both moral and legal reform from which he asserted his strong views on the fundamental rights of individuals and states in an era of sporadically increasing federal power. Hyman's study provides a much-needed reevaluation of those cases both in the context of Chase's life and in terms of their mark on history."
Complication begets clarification in classification.

As recently as 12 years ago, breakthroughs aided by laboratory neuroscience and modern neuroimaging had made differentiation and classification of malformations of cortical development seem straightforward (Barkovich et al. , 2001). Some resulted from abnormal neuronal proliferation (microcephalies, megalencephalies), others from abnormal neuronal migration (heterotopia and lissencephaly), and still others from abnormal cortical organization (mostly polymicrogyrias). The protein products of the few genes known to be associated with these disorders ( LIS1 and DCX with lissencephaly; FLNA with heterotopia) support these mechanistic concepts, as the lissencephaly genes are important in the migration of neurons (specifically in the extension of leading processes and nucleokinesis, the process by which the nucleus is able to follow the leading process); and the assumption that mutations of FLNA (which produces an actin cross-linking phosphoprotein important for cell locomotion) in neurons impair their migration is logical. Although details needed clarification, everything seemed to make sense. The discovery that tubulin mutations cause brain malformations was easily incorporated into existing malformation classifications. That some infants with lissencephaly had mutations of TUBA1A (Poirier et al. , 2007) did not dislodge existing concepts, as both LIS1 and DCX were known to be microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), which complex with microtubules and/or microtubule motor proteins during cell migration. Reports that mutations of TUBB2B are associated with polymicrogyria (Jaglin et al. , 2009) posed more difficulties, but caused no great surprise, as polymicrogyria is hard to explain. This malformation of cortical development is associated with many different conditions, including prenatal injury (infection or ischaemia) and many mutations. The causative mechanisms are unknown, and the appearance on imaging varies greatly. Still, it was easy to accept that disruption of the complex (and poorly understood) processes of terminal neuronal migration and cortical organization could result from TUBB2B mutations. Similarly, the report that TUBB3 mutations are associated …
Migration and apparent disappearance of silicone tube following treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Abstract Purpose To describe the unusual complication of migration and apparent disappearance of silicone tubes following intubation of the lacrimal drainage system. Design Interventional case reports. Methods Report of two patients with an unusual tube migration process. Results Silicone stents migrated nasally, with healing of the erosion tract in the wake of the migrating tube. One tube became completely internalized. Conclusion Meticulous inspection of the medial canthal area in patients with suspected spontaneous extrusion of silicone stents from the lacrimal drainage system is warranted. Examination under anesthesia and nasal endoscopy may help locate tubes in cases of suspected nasal migration.
Disparities in Use of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services by Asian and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Women

The purpose of this study was to determine if disparities exist in lifetime utilization of mental health/substance abuse services among Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) and white mothers. The study sample was comprised of mothers assessed to be at-risk (n = 491) and not at-risk (n = 218) for child maltreatment in the Hawaii Healthy Start Program study. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test the effects of predisposing, need, and enabling factors on utilization of services. Results revealed that, among mothers with depressive symptoms, compared with whites, Asians and NHOPI were significantly less likely to have received services. There were no significant racial differences in use of mental health/substance use services by other factors. These results suggest that racial disparities exist in utilization of mental health/substance abuse services among mothers with depressive symptoms. Future research is needed to identify barriers and facilitators to accessing needed services for Asian and NHOPI women.
Syntheses of mGluR5 PET radioligands through the radiofluorination of diaryliodonium tosylates

3-Fluoro-1-((thiazol-4-yl)ethynyl)benzenes constitute an important class of high-affinity metabotropic glutamate subtype 5 receptor (mGluR5) ligands, some of which have been labeled with fluorine-18 (t1/2 = 109.7 min), to provide radioligands for molecular imaging of brain mGluR5 in living animal and human subjects with positron emission tomography (PET). Labeling in the 3-fluoro position of such ligands can be achieved through aromatic nucleophilic substitution of a halide leaving group with [18F]fluoride ion when a weakly activating m-nitrile group is present, but is generally very low yielding (<8%). Here we used a microfluidic reaction platform to show that greatly enhanced (up to 6-fold) radiochemical yields can be achieved from suitably synthesized diaryliodonium tosylate precursors. The presence of a m-nitrile or other activating group is not required. Similar conditions were adopted in a more conventional automated radiochemistry platform having a single-pot reactor, to produce mGluR5 radioligands with useful radioactivities for PET imaging.
Conditionally Activated E7 Proteins of High-Risk and Low-Risk Human Papillomaviruses Induce S Phase in Postmitotic, Differentiated Human Keratinocytes

The productive program of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in epithelia is tightly linked to squamous differentiation. The E7 proteins of high-risk HPV genotypes efficiently inactivate the pRB family of proteins that control the cell cycle, triggering S phase in suprabasal keratinocytes. This ability has until now not been demonstrated for the low-risk HPV-6 or HPV-11 E7 proteins. An inducible system in which HPV-16 E7 is fused to the ligand binding domain of the human estrogen receptor (ER) was described by Smith-McCune et al. (K. Smith-McCune, D. Kalman, C. Robbins, S. Shivakumar, L. Yuschenkoff, and J. M. Bishop, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:6999-7004, 1999). In the absence of hormone, E7ER is cytoplasmic, and upon addition of 17beta-estradiol, it translocates to the nucleus. Using organotypic epithelial raft cultures developed from primary human keratinocytes, we show that 16E7ER promotes either S-phase reentry or p21cip1 accumulation in differentiated keratinocytes in a stochastic manner as early as 6 h postinduction with 17beta-estradiol. A vector expressing the ER moiety alone had no effect. These observations prove unequivocally that the E7 protein drives S-phase reentry in postmitotic, differentiated keratinocytes rather than preventing S-phase exit while the cells ascend through the epithelium. HPV-11 E7ER and, much less efficiently, HPV-6 E7ER also promoted S-phase reentry by differentiated cells upon exposure to 17beta-estradiol. S-phase induction required the consensus pRB binding motif. We propose that the elevated nuclear levels of the low-risk HPV E7 protein afforded by the inducible system account for the positive results. These observations are entirely consistent with the fact that low-risk HPV genotypes replicate in the differentiated strata in patient specimens, as do the high-risk HPVs.
Flicker Noise in Bilayer Graphene Transistors

We present results of the experimental investigation of the low-frequency noise in bilayer graphene transistors. The back-gated devices were fabricated using the electron beam lithography and evaporation. The charge neutrality point for the transistors was around +10 V. The noise spectra at frequencies f > 10-100 Hz were of the 1/f type with the spectral density on the order of S1 ~ 10-23-10-22 A2/Hz at the frequency of 1 kHz. The deviation from the 1/f spectrum at f < 10-100 Hz suggests that the noise is of the carrier-number fluctuation origin due to the carrier trapping by defects. The Hooge parameter was determined to be as low as ~ 10-4. The gate dependence of the normalized noise spectral density indicates that it is dominated by the contributions from the ungated parts of the device and can be reduced even further. The obtained results are important for graphene electronic and sensor applications.
Dimeric heat shock protein 40 binds radial spokes for generating coupled power strokes and recovery strokes of 9 + 2 flagella

T-shape radial spokes regulate flagellar beating. However, the precise function and molecular mechanism of these spokes remain unclear. Interestingly, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii flagella lacking a dimeric heat shock protein (HSP) 40 at the spokehead–spokestalk juncture appear normal in length and composition but twitch actively while cells jiggle without procession, resembling a central pair (CP) mutant. HSP40− cells begin swimming upon electroporation with recombinant HSP40. Surprisingly, the rescue doesn't require the signature DnaJ domain. Furthermore, the His-Pro-Asp tripeptide that is essential for stimulating HSP70 adenosine triphosphatase diverges in candidate orthologues, including human DnaJB13. Video microscopy reveals hesitance in bend initiation and propagation as well as irregular stalling and stroke switching despite fairly normal waveform. The in vivo evidence suggests that the evolutionarily conserved HSP40 specifically transforms multiple spoke proteins into stable conformation capable of mechanically coupling the CP with dynein motors. This enables 9 + 2 cilia and flagella to bend and switch to generate alternate power strokes and recovery strokes.
Outage predictions in digital cellular radio systems

A model for predicting downlink outage due to cochannel interference in cellular radio systems is presented. The model accounts for path loss, shadowing, and Rayleigh fading. The effects of cell sectoring, power control, and hand-offs are discussed. Particular results are obtained for a cellular system that uses QDPSK with Reed-Solomon coding. Computation of the outage is described. Outage control techniques are discussed, and the impact of Reed-Solomon coding on spectral efficiency is evaluated. >
Effectiveness of the DISTAR Reading Program for Children with Learning Disabilities

The reading achievement of students with learning disabilities who received reading instruction through the DISTAR program was compared to that of similar students using basal reader materials. The overall reading scores of the groups were not significantly different following 1 and 2 years of instruction, although students in the DISTAR program had somewhat better word attack skills.
Environmental Conditions During Wheat Grain Development Alter Temporal Regulation of Major Gluten Protein Genes

ABSTRACT The accumulation of transcripts for the major gluten storage proteins was assessed during grain development in wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Butte 86’) grown under seven controlled environments where temperature, water, and fertilizer conditions were varied after anthesis. Transcripts within the α-, γ- and ω-gliadin, low molecular weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS), and high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) gene families followed similar patterns of accumulation throughout grain development under each environmental regimen. Under moderate daytime temperatures in plants that were well watered and fertilized, transcripts from all gene families were detectable by eight days postanthesis (8 DPA), were present at high levels until ≈34 DPA, and disappeared between 36 and 38 DPA. Under high temperature regimens, transcripts from all gene families appeared slightly earlier, but the time frame of accumulation was shorter. The presence or absence of postanthesis fertilizer did not alter the t...
Attitudes and Perceptions of Elementary Classroom Teachers Use of Physical Education Time for Planning.

An elementary classroom teacher (ECT) has a busy day. The teachers teach their class, prepare class materials, and may supervise the lunchroom or the playground at recess time (Daily Physical Activity in School, 2005), attend meetings with parents and perform a number of other responsibilities. For this reason planning time is a very important component for the ECT. Planning time for the ECT is usually taken when students are in elementary physical education. This study investigated how elementary physical education can assist the ECT in their planning time. In this study 219 ECT from three states and 18 different schools participated in this study. The ECT was given a short survey to fill out regarding how, or if, planning time helps or benefits the ECT. The results found that the ECT appreciated the planning time that it was needed in order for them to be successful in the classroom and because of planning time the students would benefit. The results also showed a great respect from the ECT for elementary physical education, which can be beneficial for principals and other school administrators.
Naltrexone vs Placebo for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Alcohol use disorder is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. While effective pharmacological treatments exist, they are efficacious only in certain individuals, contributing to their limited use. Secondary analysis of clinical trial data suggests that a functional polymorphism (rs1799971, Asn40Asp) of the µ-opioid receptor gene ( OPRM1 ) is associated with the risk of relapse to heavy drinking following treatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Objective To prospectively examine whether rs1799971 is predictive of naltrexone treatment response. Design, Setting, and Participants We conducted a 12-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of naltrexone vs placebo in individuals with alcohol dependence (intent-to-treat analysis). Participants were randomly assigned to study treatment based on the presence of 1 or 2 copies of the Asp40 allele compared with those homozygous for the Asn40 allele (2 × 2 cell design). Recruitment occurred between January 2009 and September 2013. All participants were seen in an outpatient clinical setting. A convenience sample of participants (n = 221) was recruited from 5 sites. All participants met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence, with no concurrent psychotic or manic symptoms, no use of concurrent psychotropic medications, and no current dependence on illicit substances. Interventions The study drug was naltrexone (50 mg) given once daily or corresponding placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary study outcome measure was relapse to heavy drinking measured using the timeline follow-back method. Results There was no evidence of a genotype × treatment interaction on the primary outcome of heavy drinking ( P = .32). In the Asn40 group, the observed effect of naltrexone was similar to that in previous trials (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.41-1.18; P = .17), with a very small naltrexone effect in the Asp40 group (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.52-2.31; P = .80), contrary to the pattern expected a priori. A significant reduction in heavy drinking occurred across all groups ( P = .001). Other drinking outcomes, and all secondary outcomes, demonstrated similar time effects, with no genotype × treatment interaction. Conclusions and Relevance The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that the Asp40 allele moderates the response to naltrexone treatment. It is premature to use the Asn40Asp polymorphism as a biomarker to predict the response to naltrexone treatment of alcohol dependence. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00831272
Self correcting tracking for articulated objects

Hand detection and tracking play important roles in human computer interaction (HCI) applications, as well as surveillance. We propose a self initializing and self correcting tracking technique that is robust to different skin color, illumination and shadow irregularities. Self initialization is achieved from a detector that has relatively high false positive rate. The detected hands are then tracked backwards and forward in time using mean shift trackers initialized at each hand to find the candidate tracks for possible objects in the test sequence. Observed tracks are merged and weighed to find the real trajectories. Simple actions can be inferred extracting each object from the scene and interpreting their locations within each frame. Extraction is possible using the color histograms of the objects built during the detection phase. We apply the technique here to simple hand tracking with good results, without the need for training for skin color.
Prediction of apple fruit firmness by near-infrared multispectral scattering

The objective of this research was to predict fruit firmness by developing and evaluating a multispectral imaging system for real time acquisition of scattering images from apple fruit. A circular broadband light beam was used to generate light backscattering at the surface of apple fruit and scattering images were acquired, using a common aperture multispectral imaging system, from Red Delicious apple fruit for wavelengths at 680, 880, 905, and 940 nm. Scattering images were reduced to produce one-dimensional spectral scattering profiles by radial averaging, which were then input into a backpropagation neural network for predicting apple fruit firmness. The neural network performed best when 10 neurons and 20 epochs were used. With three ratios of spectral profiles involving all four wavelengths, the neural network gave firmness predictions with the correlation of 0. 76 and the standard error of 6.2 N for the validation samples.
Copan and Ceren

The volcanic eruption that buried Ceren, El Salvador, at a.d. 590 preserved an extraordinary array of artifacts and features in or near their original positions. Household inventories are virtually complete, and activities can be reconstructed in almost ethnographic detail. It is therefore tempting to think that Ceren will automatically make less-well-preserved contexts at similar sites more explicable. This proposition is tested by comparing Ceren with a well-excavated set of household remains from seven small rural sites in the Copan Valley, Honduras, which have been much more heavily transformed by cultural and natural processes. Comparison is especially attractive because both the Ceren and Copan sites were small domestic places with similar social, residential, and economic functions. Both sets of sites also share a common basic cultural tradition on the southern periphery of Mesoamerica, and are in reasonably similar upland environmental settings.
Development and use of a GPS ionospheric scintillation monitor

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite signals provide convenient radio beacons for ionospheric studies. Among other propagation phenomena, the ionosphere affects GPS signal propagation through amplitude scintillations that develop after radio waves propagate through ionospheric electron density irregularities. This paper outlines the design, testing, and operation of a specialized GPS receiver to monitor L-band amplitude scintillations: the Cornell scintillation monitor. The Cornell scintillation monitor consists of a commercial GPS receiver development kit with its software modified to log signal strength from up to 12 channels at a high data rate (50 samples/s). Other features of the receiver include the optional assignment of a channel to monitor the receiver noise level in the absence of signal tracking and the means to synchronize measurements between nearby independent receivers to perform drift measurements and correlation studies. The Cornell scintillation monitor provides characterization of the operational L-band scintillation environment and additionally permits study of the multipath environment of a static antenna, GPS scintillation monitors can provide information about the state of ionospheric irregularities for pure research purposes as well. Their strength lies in the fact that they are inexpensive and compact and therefore can he readily proliferated. Even a single scintillation monitor can supplement radar spatial coverage of irregularities in a limited way because it monitors several satellite lines of sight simultaneously.
A Preliminary Examination of a Vocal Generalized Conditioned Reinforcer

Generalized conditioned reinforcers (GCRs) in the form of tokens are commonly used in behavioral treatment. However, it is possible for non-tangible consequences to also function as GCRs. For example, a vocal stimulus (e.g., good job) associated with completion of a work task, access to preferred actives, and peer interaction could function as a GCR. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of pairing a vocal stimulus with multiple edible reinforcers on the Frequency math problem completion. The results suggest that a vocal statement paired with an array of four back-up reinforcer functioned as a GCR for completing math problems for two typically developing children identified as having minor deficits in math skills. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of magnetic susceptibility in several strains of Bacillus spores: Implications for separation and detection

Three strains of Bacillus: Bacillus atrophaeus (formally Bacillus globigii), Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus cereus were tested for their intrinsic magnetic susceptibility. All three strains when sporulated demonstrated significant magnetic susceptibility using an instrument referred to as Cell Tracking Velocimetry. Energy dispersive spectroscopy also confirmed the presence of paramagnetic elements, Fe and Mn, in the spore form of the bacteria. It was demonstrated that this magnetic susceptibility is sufficient to separate and deposit these spores on glass slides in a magnetic deposition system. These results indicate the potential to separate spores with intrinsic magnetic susceptibility directly out of water or air samples.
Arity-generic datatype-generic programming

Some programs are doubly-generic. For example, map is datatype-generic in that many different data structures support a mapping operation. A generic programming language like Generic Haskell can use a single definition to generate map for each type. However, map is also arity-generic because it belongs to a family of related operations that differ in the number of arguments. For lists, this family includes repeat, map, zipWith, zipWith3, zipWith4, etc. With dependent types or clever programming, one can unify all of these functions together in a single definition.However, no one has explored the combination of these two forms of genericity. These two axes are not orthogonal because the idea of arity appears in Generic Haskell: datatype-generic versions of repeat, map and zipWith have different arities of kind-indexed types. In this paper, we define arity-generic datatype-generic programs by building a framework for Generic Haskell-style generic programming in the dependently-typed programming language Agda 2.
Asynchronous collaboration around multimedia and its application to on-demand training

Multimedia content is a central component of on-demand training and education delivered over the World Wide Web. Supporting asynchronous collaboration around educational multimedia is a key requirement for making the online educational environment effective. A multimedia annotation system tightly integrated with email provides a powerful platform on which to base such functionality. Building on our earlier work with multimedia annotations, we present user interface and system extensions to support asynchronous collaboration for on-demand training. We report results from a study of the effectiveness of the system, including student experience, instructor experience, and user interface appropriateness. Overall, the student experience was positive: they appreciated the flexibility of on-demand delivery and benefited from the collaborative features.
Expression and Regulation of Anti-Mullerian Hormone in an Oviparous Species, the Hen

Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) has a critical role in regression of the mullerian duct system during development in male mammalian and avian species and in regression of the right oviduct in female avian species. AMH in adult female birds has not been investigated. Chicken-specific cDNA primers were used to isolate Amh by RT-PCR. This probe was used in Northern blot analysis to identify a 2.8-kb band with expression in total ovarian RNA and in granulosa cell RNA. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess Amh expression in follicles of different maturity (1, 3, 5, and 6-12 mm and the largest F1 follicle; n = 4-6 of each size). There was an increased amount of Amh mRNA in the granulosa layer of the smaller follicles and a lower amount in the granulosa layer of the larger follicles (P < 0.01). There was no difference in granulosa Amh expression between the germinal disc and non-germinal disc region of 6- to 12-mm follicles, although expression differed with follicle size (P < 0.01). To examine hormone regulation of Amh, granulosa cells (from 6- to 8-mm follicles) were cultured with various concentrations of estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)), and Amh mRNA was assessed. Neither E(2) nor P(4) influenced Amh mRNA accumulation. Granulosa cells were also cultured in the presence of oocyte-conditioned medium (OCM), which decreased Amh mRNA expression in a dose-related manner (P < 0.05); FSH receptor expression was not affected. Heat treatment of OCM abolished the effect, but growth differentiation factor 9 antiserum did not block the suppression. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the granulosa layer was the predominant source of AMH in the small follicles of the hen and indicated that AMH was present early in follicle development, with expression in very small follicles (approximately 150 mum).
Building Bridges: Inclusiveness Spans the Distance

Professions are typically based on mastery of a body of knowledge and skills, adherence to ethical guidelines, and participation in a collective identity. Some professionals experience a sense of calling in which the community is served. Professional counselors must balance private interests and public service. Competition among health care professionals tends to promote exclusivity in practice. With increasing specialization in behavioral health care in general and professional counseling in particular, differences rather than commonalities contribute to professional identity. It is possible to span the distance between various specializations by emphasizing inclusiveness as a core value. The relational perspectives and systems constructs of marriage and family counseling and therapy facilitate bridge building between professionals in seemingly disparate fields. Marriage and family counselors understand that conflicts in couples and family systems contribute to physical and mental health problems. Individual health issues also affect interactions between partners and among family members. Individual health and family functioning are inextricably bound. Therefore, issues and concerns in virtually any domain have significant connections to couple, marital, and family lives. Marriage and family counseling is not limited to theory, research, and practice with couples and families. We have a stake in helping to resolve problems and enhance functioning in many aspects of life. The scope of the profession should not be fixed exclusively on relational issues. We should include in our professional perspective many levels of individual and social systems. The Family Journal should afford a means by which we build bridges to other professions and specializations within professional counseling. Specifically, we should practice inclusiveness with respect to prospective manuscripts. Although the editorial board and our association would prefer that the journal publish manuscripts concerned with counseling and therapy for couples and families, we should not exclude manuscripts written by diverse health care professionals, which describe theory, research, or practice in other specializations or settings. We are currently in the process of reviewing the existing sections of The Family Journal. Some section editors no longer have the time or interest to develop submissions in their areas. Other sections will be developed to foster inclusiveness and build bridges to new readers and authors. The current issue represents an attempt to include some articles that may have been redirected in the past to other journals. To highlight opportunities for new submissions, I have grouped the articles according to themes that could be developed into full-fledged sections: Addiction and Offender Issues, Schools and Families, and Assessment. I would like to hear from readers and association members who are interested in these themes, as well as other domains that could be addressed. We are recruiting additional section editors to build the bridges needed to connect professionals who serve couples and families.
The Optical Properties and Band Gap Energy of Nanocrystalline La0.4Sr0.6TiO3 Thin Films

The effects of microstructure on the optical properties of La 0.4 Sr 0.6 TiO 3 thin films were investigated. Dense films with the thickness of ∼200 nm and grain size 14-30 nm were produced on monocrystalline sapphire substrates by using a polymeric precursor spin coating technique at annealing temperatures under 800' C. X-ray data showed the formation of a single-phase cubic perovskite-type structure similar to undoped SrTiO 3 for annealing temperatures >500°C. The results of optical measurements showed that the optical spectra varied with the change of the grain size. From these data, the absorption coefficients were calculated and the band gap energy determined. In agreement with the quantum confinement model, it was shown that the band gap energy increased as the grain size decreased.