cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Berkeley Communication Laboratory

The Berkeley Communication Laboratory consists of a number of stand-alone work stations, each one containing all necessary experimental equipment for two terms of experiments. By front-panel switching, the work station can be configured into a number of AM, FM, and PCM systems whose parameters can be varied. Waveforms, spectra, and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR's) at various points in these sysfems can be measured. Through use of the work station, the student is able empirically to investigate such concepts as spectral analysis, bandwidth expansion in modulation systems, sampling, aliasing, quantization, bandwidth/SNR tradeoffs, thresholds, etc. The underlying philosophy of the Laboratory, and some results of experiments with the work station are presented in this paper.
Linguistic Competence in Aphasia

Abstract Loss of implicit linguistic competence assumes a loss of linguistic rules, necessary linguistic computations, or representations. In aphasia, the inherent neurological damage is frequently assumed by some to be a loss of implicit linguistic competence that has damaged or wiped out neural centers or pathways that are necessary for maintenance of the language rules and representations needed to communicate. Not everyone agrees with this view of language use in aphasia. The measurement of implicit language competence, although apparently necessary and satisfying for theoretic linguistics, is complexly interwoven with performance factors. Transience, stimulability, and variability in aphasia language use provide evidence for an access deficit model that supports performance loss. Advances in understanding linguistic competence and performance may be informed by careful study of bilingual language acquisition and loss, the language of savants, the language of feral children, and advances in neuroimagi...
Daily Experiences Among Mothers of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

In the present study, 96 co-residing mothers of adolescents and adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participated in an 8-day diary study and reported on their daily experiences. In comparison with a nationally representative sample of mothers of children without disabilities, mothers of adolescent and adult children with ASD spent significantly more time providing childcare and doing chores, and less time in leisure activities. Fatigue, arguments, avoided arguments, and stressful events were also more common among mothers of individuals with ASD. However, mothers of individuals with ASD reported similar levels of positive interactions and volunteerism as the comparison group. Daily experiences were subsequently related to well-being in both groups. These findings highlight the need for family support services.
Phase stability with cubic equations of state: Global optimization approach

Calculation of phase and chemical equilibria is of fundamental importance for the design and simulation of chemical processes. Methods of minimizing the Gibbs free energy provide equilibrium solutions that are candidates only for the true equilibrium solution, because the number and type of phases must be assumed before the Gibbs energy minimization problem can be formulated. The tangent plane stability criterion was used to determine the stability of a candidate equilibrium solution. The Gibbs energy minimization and tangent plane stability problems are challenging due to highly nonlinear thermodynamic functions. This work develops a global optimization approach for the tangent plane stability problem that provides a theoretical guarantee about the stability of the candidate equilibrium solution with computational efficiency. Cubic equations of state were used due to their ability to accurately predict the behavior of nonideal vapor and liquid phases across a broad range of pressures. The mathematical form of the stability problem was analyzed and nonlinear functions with special structure were identified to achieve faster convergence of the algorithm. This approach, when applied to the SRK, Peng-Robinson, and van der Waals cubic equations of state, could address a variety of mixing rules. Computational results on problems with two-eight components are presented.
TWO REMARKS ON THE PROPERTY-RIGHTS LITERATURE

We first point out that the recent property-rights literature is based on three assumptions: (1) that contracts are always subject to renegotiation; (2) that the exercise of a property right confers a private benefit and (3) that parties are risk-neutral. Building on Hart-Moore (1999), we provide conditions under which an optimal contract consists of nothing more than an assignment of property rights. We also examine the robustness of some of the literature's standard predictions about asset ownership to the introduction of mechanisms for eliciting parties' ex post willingness to pay for the assets (such as options or financial markets). To illustrate the issue, we revisit the Hart-Moore (1990) proposition that joint ownership is suboptimal, and argue that ownership by a single party is dominated by joint ownership with put options.
Hamiltonian dynamics and stability analysis of neutral electromagnetic fluids with induction

Abstract The Lie-Poisson Hamiltonian structure of the special-relativistic electromagnetic fluid equations is derived. This Hamiltonian structure provides synthesis and insight leading to new conservation laws and stability conditions for the equilibrium solutions. A corollary of the stability results generalizes Rayleigh's inflectional instability criterion for ideal incompressible fluids to the present case. Another alternative. Hamiltonian formulation of relativistic electromagnetic fluid dynamics is constructed systematically via Lie-algebraic considerations of the Poisson bracket. (In particular, relativistic magnetohydrodynamics emerges naturally from these considerations.) The nonrelativistic limits of these two formulations are also determined and are shown to be regular and to preserve the corresponding Lie-Poisson structures.
A SOCS-1 Promoter Variant Is Associated with Total Serum IgE Levels

SOCS-1 is a critical regulator of multiple signaling pathways, including those activated by cytokines that regulate Ig H chain class switching to IgE. Analysis of mice with mutations in the SOCS-1 gene demonstrated that IgE levels increase with loss of SOCS-1 alleles. This suggested that overall SOCS-1 acts as an inhibitor of IgE expression in vivo. A genetic association study was performed in 474 children enrolled in the Tucson Children’s Respiratory Study to determine if genetic variation in the SOCS-1 locus correlates with altered levels of IgE. Carriers of the C-allele for a novel, 3′ genomic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the SOCS-1 gene ( SOCS1 +1125G > C; rs33932899) were found to have significantly lower levels of serum IgE compared with those of homozygotes for the G-allele. Analysis demonstrated that the SOCS1 +1125G > C SNP was in complete linkage disequilibrium with an SNP at position SOCS1 −820G > T (rs33977706) of the SOCS-1 promoter. Carriers of the T-allele at the SOCS1−820G > T were also found to be associated with the decreased IgE. The promoter SNP increased transcriptional activity of the SOCS-1 promoter in reporter assays and human B cells. Consistent with this observation, the presence of this polymorphism within the promoter abolished binding of yin yang-1, which is identified as a negative regulator of SOCS-1 transcriptional activity. These data suggest that genetic variation in the SOCS-1 promoter may affect IgE production.
An ‘Evidentialist’ Worry About Joyce's Argument for Probabilism

Joyce (1998) argues that for any credence function that doesn't satisfy the probability axioms, there is another function that dominates it in terms of accuracy. But if some potential credence functions are ruled out as violations of the Principal Principle, then some non-probabilistic credence functions fail to be dominated. We argue that to fix Joyce's argument, one must show that all epistemic values for credence functions derive from accuracy. 1. Some background on arguments for probabilism Probabilism asserts that every epistemically rational agent S's 'degrees of confi- dence' (a.k.a., 'degrees of credence' or 'credences') should be faithfully repre- sentable via some probability function b from the set of propositions in S's doxastic space to the real numbers. All of the arguments for probabilism that one finds in the literature are of the following (rough-and-ready) general form:
The Return of Bedside Rounds

Authors Reply: We thank Drs. Peltran and Wright for their thoughtful comments and review of our article. We acknowledge that it can be difficult to make direct comparisons between studies on bedside rounds, as the definition of variables and time periods are different. However, critical review of available data does suggest the frequency of bedside rounding encounters and time spent at the bedside have decreased. In their 1964 article, Reichsman et al. reported the total number of patient encounters during which the attending and house staff saw the patient was 75%.1 The 61% value reported by Crumlish et al. in 2009 does not refer to the number of patient encounters, but rather to rounding sessions that included “at least one” bedside interaction—the study was not designed to answer the question of frequency. Using their average census size of 12, the frequency of bedside encounters could have been as low as 5%.2 Applying our definition of “bedside rounds,” which includes presentations at the bedside, a proportion of the 75% reported by Reichsman et al. were “bedside rounds,” greater than our frequency of <1% prior to the intervention. These numbers suggest a decrease in frequency of both bedside encounters and “bedside rounds.” Payson et al. in 1965 reported the proportion of time the attending spent at the bedside per rounding session was 19.2%, but they also report percentage of time spent at the bedside during “resident rounds” (56.5%) and “special attending rounds” (11.5%), both of which comprised a significant portion of their rounding sessions.3 The study did not seek to answer total rounding time, but using their reported “1 hour” for resident work rounds, “2 hours” for attending rounds, and “2 hours” for special attending rounds as denominators, the average time at least two physicians spent at the bedside per rounding session would have been 70 minutes. In the encounters analyzed by Crumlish et al., the average was 17 minutes. The more important question, however, is if we believe the current time spent at the bedside is sufficient to accomplish the educational and patient care goals for the residents and patients on our medicine services. As stated in our discussion, eloquently written in numerous editorials, reported by patients and house staff, and alluded to by Drs. Peltran and Wright, bedside teaching and learning needs to be “promoted.”4,5 Further efforts should be encouraged to this end.
Quantum efficiency measurements of Nd:YAG, Yb:YAG, and Tm:YAG

Quantum efficiencies of Nd: YAG, Yb: YAG, and Tm: YAG were measured using several different approaches. Good agreement is obtained for Nd: YAG and Yb: YAG utilizing 2 different approaches. Because of high fluorescence absorption, Tm: YAG measurements required a different method.
COMPUTER FORENSIC PROJECTS FOR ACCOUNTANTS

Digital attacks on organizations are becoming more common and more sophisticated. Firms are interested in providing data security and having an effective means to respond to attacks. Accountants possess important investigative and analytical skills that serve to uncover fraud in forensic investigations. Some accounting students take courses in forensic accounting but few colleges offer a course in computer forensics for accountants. Educators wishing to develop such a course may find developing the curriculum daunting. A major element of such a course is the use of forensic software. This paper argues the importance of computer forensics to accounting students and offers a set of exercises to provide an introduction to obtaining and analyzing data with forensics software that are available free online. In most cases, figures of important steps are provided. Educators will benefit when developing the course learning goals and curriculum.
A regulatory role for repeated decoy transcription factor binding sites in target gene expression

Tandem repeats of DNA that contain transcription factor (TF) binding sites could serve as decoys, competitively binding to TFs and affecting target gene expression. Using a synthetic system in budding yeast, we demonstrate that repeated decoy sites inhibit gene expression by sequestering a transcriptional activator and converting the graded dose–response of target promoters to a sharper, sigmoidal-like response. On the basis of both modeling and chromatin immunoprecipitation measurements, we attribute the altered response to TF binding decoy sites more tightly than promoter binding sites. Tight TF binding to arrays of contiguous repeated decoy sites only occurs when the arrays are mostly unoccupied. Finally, we show that the altered sigmoidal-like response can convert the graded response of a transcriptional positive-feedback loop to a bimodal response. Together, these results show how changing numbers of repeated TF binding sites lead to qualitative changes in behavior and raise new questions about the stability of TF/promoter binding.
Correlation between fine-needle aspiration cytopathology and histopathology of the lung in dogs and cats

Medical records from 28 patients having fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytopathology and histopathology of pulmonary lesions were reviewed. Clinical signs, thoracic radiographs, cytopathology, histopathology, and complications associated with FNA were evaluated. Correlation between cytopathological and histopathological diagnoses was determined. Cytopathological specimens were classified as neoplastic, inflammatory, or nondiagnostic. Histopathological diagnoses were categorized as neoplastic or inflammatory. No complications were observed following FNA. Diagnoses obtained by FNA cytopathology accurately reflected the diagnosis obtained on histopathological examination in 82% of cases. Fine-needle aspiration cytopathology of the lung is a useful and safe diagnostic tool in dogs and cats with pulmonary parenchymal lesions.
The Use of Yoga for Spiritual Development in Older Adults: A Theoretical Perspective

As Yoga teachers, therapists, and practitioners, we are fully aware of the benefits of Yoga for the physical, mental, and spiritual bodies. We have embraced these practices, and for many of us, they have changed our lives, health, and perspectives on life for the better. One of the goals of the Yoga community is to make these benefits of Yoga available to everyone. However, as simple and wonderful as that may sound, the truth is, it is easier said than done. Although Yoga has become quite mainstream over the years, there are still many segments of the population that have not been adequately reached out to. Older adults is one of those populations.
Psychopharmacology of Social Play

During the past decade, systematic methodologies have been developed for the experimental analysis of social play (Martin and Caro 1985; Meaney et al. 1985; Panksepp et al. 1984b; Thor and Holloway 1984a). For most of this century, play was considered a vacuous concept or a process of no great consequence for understanding brain organization of behaviour but now there is adequate evidence that play may be regarded as a fundamental neuro-behavioural category reflecting activity of a primal brain process. This category is seen as being elaborated by specific, genetically — ordained neural networks in subcortical areas of the brain. Although we presently know very little about the play circuits of the mammalian brain, we do know how to measure social play reliably, and how to bring it under reasonably precise experimental control. During the past decade, a preliminary psychobiological understanding of ludic processes has been slowly emerging.
Selecting the kth Largest-Area Convex Polygon

The purpose of this note is to solve an open problem submitted by B. Chazelle [2]: Given a set P of n points in the Euclidean plane, select the k th largest-area convex polygon determined by subsets of P. We show that the decision problem is NP-hard by a reduction from the problem of finding the k th largest m-tuple [8] determined by m sets X1,X2,...,X m . We also show that the enumeration problem is #P-complete and exhibit a pseudo-polynomial-time algorithm for the decision problem.
Decreased Fronto-Limbic Activation and Disrupted Semantic-Cued List Learning in Major Depressive Disorder.

Objectives: Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) demonstrate poorer learning and memory skills relative to never-depressed comparisons (NDC). Previous studies report decreased volume and disrupted function of frontal lobes and hippocampi in MDD during memory challenge. However, it has been difficult to dissociate contributions of short-term memory and executive functioning to memory difficulties from those that might be attributable to long-term memory deficits. Methods: Adult males (MDD, n=19; NDC, n=22) and females (MDD, n=23; NDC, n=19) performed the Semantic List Learning Task (SLLT) during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The SLLT Encoding condition consists of 15 lists, each containing 14 words. After each list, a Distractor condition occurs, followed by cued Silent Rehearsal instructions. Post-scan recall and recognition were collected. Groups were compared using block (Encoding-Silent Rehearsal) and event-related (Words Recalled) models. Results: MDD displayed lower recall relative to NDC. NDC displayed greater activation in several temporal, frontal, and parietal regions, for both Encoding-Silent Rehearsal and the Words Recalled analyses. Groups also differed in activation patterns in regions of the Papez circuit in planned analyses. The majority of activation differences were not related to performance, presence of medications, presence of comorbid anxiety disorder, or decreased gray matter volume in MDD. Conclusions: Adults with MDD exhibit memory difficulties during a task designed to reduce the contribution of individual variability from short-term memory and executive functioning processes, parallel with decreased activation in memory and executive functioning circuits. Ecologically valid long-term memory tasks are imperative for uncovering neural correlates of memory performance deficits in adults with MDD. (JINS, 2016, 22, 412–425)
C*-algebras of singular integral operators on the line related to singular Sturm-Liouville problems

We study certain C*-algebras of singular integral operators on the line related to the second order ordinary differential operators Ho=-d/dx p(x) d/dx + q(x), with smooth coefficients and domain C o ∞ (ℝ) on L2(IR). Using Gelfand theory we find the structure of such algebras and deduce Fredholm criteria for related classes of ordinary differential operators of all orders. We give a complete description of some special cases including the case where p=l and where q≥1 is an even polynomial of arbitrary even degree.
Trichogramma pretiosum: Development in Two Hosts in Relation to Constant and Fluctuating Temperatures

The time of development of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley Hym.: (Trichogrammatidae) in Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) and Trichoplusia ni (HA¼bner) (Lep.: Noctuidae) eggs was determined at 10 constant and 6 fluctuating temperatures. Development in S. cerealella eggs took ca. 1.5 and 0.3 days longer at 17 and 32°C, respectively, than in T. ni eggs. At constant temperatures, development times varied from 32 days at 15°C to 6.6 days at 32°C in T. ni eggs, but at temperatures >32°C, development times were slightly longer than at 32Â°C. Development times were similar between tests at constant temperatures and tests at fluctuating temperatures in which average temperatures equalled comparable constant temperatures and maximal temperatures were >32°C. Development times of 3 strains were similar at temperatures between 20 and 30°C. Development required 128.7 heat units above 12.2°C in S. cerealella and 131.5 heat units above 11.3°C in T. ni eggs.
PRESERVATION OF ANTIBODY-PRODUCING CELLS AT LOW TEMPERATURE: A METHOD OF STORAGE THAT ALLOWS COMPLETE RECOVERY OF ACTIVITY.

SummaryMethods for prolonged storage at low temperatures and recovery of antibody-producing cells from spleens of preimmunized mice were investigated. A method was devised which permits the cells to be stored with no decline in their capacity to synthesize antibodies upon subsequent in vivo culture. The method consists of suspending cells in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide, decreasing the temperature of the suspension gradually to −50°C followed by storage at −196°C. The extent to which antibody-producing cells are damaged by certain other freezing procedures was evaluated.
Why Don’t Teachers Understand Our Questions? Reconceptualizing Teachers’ “Misinterpretation” of Survey Items:

This study examined sources of inconsistency between teachers’ and researchers’ interpretations of survey items. We analyzed cognitive interview data from 12 middle school mathematics teachers to understand their interpretations of survey items focused on one aspect of their practice: the content of their advice-seeking interactions. Through this analysis we found that previously documented conceptualizations of sources of misinterpretation within teacher surveys (e.g., structural complexity, use of reform language) did not adequately account for all of the inconsistencies between the survey items and teachers’ interpretations. We found it useful to reconceptualize the broader source of many of the misinterpretations as an issue of fit between the researchers’ intended interpretation and teachers’ professional practice.
HETEROSIS AND OUTBREEDING DEPRESSION IN INTERPOPULATION CROSSES SPANNING A WIDE RANGE OF DIVERGENCE.

The intertidal copepod Tigriopus californicus was used as a model organism to look at effects of crossing distance on fitness and to investigate the genetic mechanisms responsible. Crosses were conducted between 12 pairs of populations spanning a broad range of both geographic distance (5 m to 2007 km) and genetic distance (0.2% to 22.3% sequence divergence for a 606-bp segment of the mitochondrial COI gene). For each pair of populations, three fitness components (hatching number, survivorship number, and metamorphosis number) were measured in up to 16 cohorts including parentals, reciprocal F1 , F2 , F3 , and first-generation backcross hybrids. Comparisons of each set of cohorts allowed estimation of within- and between-locus gene interaction. Relative to parentals, F1 hybrids showed a trend toward increased fitness, with no correspondence with population divergence, and a decrease in variance, which in some cases correlated with population divergence. In sharp contrast, F2 hybrids had a decrease in fitness and an increase in variance that both corresponded to population divergence. Genetic interpretation of these patterns suggests that both the beneficial effects of dominance and the detrimental effects of breaking up coadaptation are magnified by increasing evolutionary distance between populations. Because there is no recombination in T. californicus females, effects of recombination can be assessed by comparing F1 hybrid males and females backcrossed to parentals. Both recombinant and nonrecombinant backcross hybrids showed a decline in fitness correlated with population divergence, indicating that segregation among chromosomes contributes to the breakup of coadaptation. Although there was no difference in mean fitness between the two backcross types, recombinational backcrosses showed greater variance for fitness than nonrecombinational backcrosses, suggesting that the breakup of parental gene ombinations within chromosomes has both beneficial and detrimental effects.
New species of Laelaps (Acarina: Laelapidae) from Venezuela.

Seven new species of Laelaps from cricetine rodents of Venezuela are described and illustrated. The new species and most common hosts are as follows: Laelaps acuminata, n. sp. from Oryzomys minutus (Tomes), Laelaps acuminata, n. sp. from Oryzomys concolor Wagner, Laelaps ovata, n. sp. from Oryzomys albigularis (Tomes), Laelaps (Echinolaelaps) conula, n. sp. from Rhipidomys macconnelli de Winton, Laelaps Surcomata, n. sp. from Rhipidomys macconnelli de Winton, Laelaps crinigera, n. sp. from Oryzomys concolor Wagner, Laelaps spicata, n. sp. occurring rarely on Oryzomys minutus (Tomes), Oryzomys concolor Wagner, Oryzomys macconnelli Thomas, and Oryzomys bicolor Tomes. L. acuminata is recorded from Colombia as well as Venezuela.
Recurrent Mastoiditis Mimics IgG4 Related Disease: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized entity that causes progressive fibrosis and formation of mass lesions. IgG4-RD can be diagnosed histologically by its hallmarks of storiform fibrosis, prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and obliterative phlebitis, accompanied by the infiltration of excessive numbers of IgG4-positive plasma cells as well as elevations in serum IgG4 concentrations. A recent publication reported a case of IgG4-RD in the mastoid sinus, representing a new anatomic location for this disease. We report two additional cases of IgG4-RD occurring in the mastoid and causing clinical mastoiditis. The presenting symptoms were varied-tinnitus, hearing loss, and cranial nerve palsies. All three cases showed a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, storiform type fibrosis as well as elevated numbers of IgG4 positive plasma cells. The three patients responded to immunosuppressive therapy that included steroids and Rituximab. We further investigated 162 consecutive mastoiditis cases at our institution in order to determine the frequency of IgG4-RD as a previously unrecognized cause of mastoiditis. Within this latter cohort we identified nine cases of mastoiditis that had two of the histologic features of IgG4-RD, specifically storiform fibrosis and a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. Two of these cases showed >50 IgG4-positive plasma cells per high-power field with IgG4-IgG ratio of >40 %, thus fulfilling histological criteria for IgG4-RD. However, both were due to severe acute or chronic infection. In conclusion, we reaffirm IgG4 related mastoiditis as a distinct but uncommon cause of recurrent mastoiditis. The diagnosis of IgG4-related mastoiditis should be rendered with caution, and only after the exclusion of potential mimickers, particularly infection.
Serum anti-influenza antibodies in the population of Longgang,Shenzhen

Objective To determine the level of anti-influenza antibodies in the healthy population of Longgang district,Shenzhen.Method Hemagglutination inhibition test was used in the measurement of anti-influenza virus antibodies.Results Less than 50% of the population had the antibodies for the various influenza virus subtypes.The positive rate of the epidemic H1N1,H1N1,H3N2,BV and BY was 37.4%,35.7%,36.9%,21.7% and 39.8%,respectively.And the antibodies geometric mean titer for these viruses was 43.3,47.5,42.0,33.2 and 29.5,respectively.Conclusion We should continue strengthen the monitoring of the virus variants and the level of anti-influenza virus antibody among the population,so as to provide a scientific basis for predicting the trends of pandemic,preventing and controlling of the influenza epidemic.
Regulation of lipid deposition in farm animals: Parallels between agriculture and human physiology

For many years, clinically oriented scientists and animal scientists have focused on lipid metabolism and fat deposition in various fat depots. While dealing with a common biology across species, the goals of biomedical and food animals lipid metabolism research differ in emphasis. In humans, mechanisms and regulation of fat synthesis, accumulation of fat in regional fat depots, lipid metabolism and dysmetabolism in adipose, liver and cardiac tissues have been investigated. Further, energy balance and weight control have also been extensively explored in humans. Finally, obesity and associated maladies including high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and health outcomes have been widely studied. In food animals, the emphasis has been on regulation of fatty acid synthesis and lipid deposition in fat depots and deposition of intramuscular fat. For humans, understanding the regulation of energy balance and body weight and of prevention or treatment of obesity and associated maladies have been important clinical outcomes. In production of food animals lowering fat content in muscle foods while enhancing intramuscular fat (marbling) have been major targets. In this review, we summarize how our laboratories have addressed the goal of providing lean but yet tasty and juicy muscle food products to consumers. In addition, we here describe efforts in the development of a new porcine model to study regulation of fat metabolism and obesity. Commonalities and differences in regulation of lipid metabolism between humans, rodents and food animals are emphasized throughout this review.
Responses of porcine corpora lutea to somatotropin administration during pregnancy

The effects of somatotropin (ST) on functions of porcine corpora lutea (CL) during pregnancy were investigated. Twenty-four crossbred (Yorkshire/Landrace) gilts from d 30 to 43 of pregnancy were injected daily with 5 mg of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST; n = 12) or 1 mL of saline (control, n = 12). Blood was collected on d 30, 37, and 43 for analyses of plasma progesterone. Gilts were killed on d 44 of pregnancy, and mRNA were isolated from CL, ovary, and liver. Messenger RNA expression for LH receptor, FSH receptor, ST receptor, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (SCC) were measured. Liver, CL, and ovary contained a 4.7-kb mRNA of ST receptor, but the liver contained more mRNA for ST receptor than did CL or ovary (.97 +/- .18, .47 +/- .04, and .25 +/- .04 units, respectively). There were two variants of LH receptor mRNA in CL (6.8 and 4.4 kb). The CL also contained a 1.8-kb mRNA of SCC and a 1.7-kb mRNA of 3 beta-HSD. No FSH receptor mRNA was detected in CL of the pig. The rpST treatment did not affect the mRNA level of ST receptor, 3 beta-HSD, SCC, or 4.4-kb mRNA of the LH receptor. The 6.8-kb mRNA for the LH receptor was decreased (P < .05) by rpST (.56 +/- .04 vs .78 +/- .05 units). Furthermore, concentrations of plasma progesterone decreased (P < .001) in gilts treated with rpST. Decreased luteal function was associated with decreased expression of LH receptor in rpST-treated gilts. The luteotropic effects of ST observed in vitro do not necessarily occur in vivo when gilts are administered rpST during pregnancy.
Working the Twelve Steps

The women in this sample of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) may be considered beginners because they have not yet worked all of the Twelve Steps of the program and have not been attending NA for very long. For those who have worked all of the Twelve Steps, they report having had worked through much of the stigma and shame that they once felt before recovery. The Fourth and Fifth Steps, especially and paradoxically, bring forth shame while working the steps but also help to alleviate shame after completing the steps. Even those women, about a third of the sample, still working the First Step acknowledge relief simply by recognizing that their addiction is a disease and not solely a moral wrong.
Neocortex, Manifold, Catastrophe

A complicated terminology is involved in adapting Thom’s ideas to the graphic mapping of the animal—man discontinuity, and it must be introduced carefully so that no important assumptions are ignored.
A Stimuli-Responsive, Binary Reagent System for Rapid Isolation of Protein Biomarkers

Magnetic microbeads exhibit rapid separation characteristics and are widely employed for biomolecule and cell isolations in research laboratories, clinical diagnostics assays, and cell therapy manufacturing. However, micrometer particle diameters compromise biomarker recognition, which leads to long incubation times and significant reagent demands. Here, a stimuli-responsive binary reagent system is presented that combines the nanoscale benefits of efficient biomarker recognition and the microscale benefits of rapid magnetic separation. This system comprises magnetic nanoparticles and polymer-antibody (Ab) conjugates that transition from hydrophilic nanoscale reagents to microscale aggregates in response to temperature stimuli. The binary reagent system was benchmarked against Ab-labeled Dynabeads in terms of biomarker isolation kinetics, assay speed, and reagent needs. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements showed that polymer conjugation did not significantly alter the Ab's binding affinity or kinetics. ELISA analysis showed that the unconjugated Ab, polymer-Ab conjugates, and Ab-labeled Dynabeads exhibited similar equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd), ∼2 nM. However, the binary reagent system isolated HIV p24 antigen from spiked serum specimens (150 pg/mL) much more quickly than Dynabeads, which resulted in shorter binding times by tens of minutes, or about 30-50% shorter overall assay times. The binary reagent system showed improved performance because the Ab molecules were not conjugated to large, solid microparticle surfaces. This stimuli-responsive binary reagent system illustrates the potential advantages of nanoscale reagents in molecule and cell isolations for both research and clinical applications.
Wake mode sidebands and instability in comb lasers with slow saturable absorbers

We computationally study wake modes in a fiber comb laser with a slow saturable absorber. We show that these modes will lead to the experimentally-observed sidebands, and we predict the laser's stable operating regime.
Globalization and Reforms in Juvenile Justice in South Asia: A Comparative Study of Law and Legal Advances in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

From the beginning of the 1990s, the concept of a separate system of juvenile justice began to emerge as a global movement in almost all regions of the world primarily in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989. The United Nations CRC borrowed the American model of juvenile justice, expanded it within the human rights framework, and then made it a part of a global movement for change and reforms in juvenile justice. This chapter explores how the major countries of South Asia (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) are responding to the global movement for modernizing juvenile justice, and what advances have been made in law and legal frameworks related to juvenile justice. The study of India’s Juvenile Justice Act of 1986, Juvenile Justice Act of 2000, and the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015; and Bangladesh’s Children Act of 2013 suggest that India and Bangladesh have made considerable progress in harmonizing the rules and principles of juvenile justice with those of the American model, the CRC, and the concept of child-friendly justice. Out of the three countries, Pakistan is still far behind in harmonizing its laws and rules of juvenile justice with those of international standards. Pakistan’s Juvenile Justice Ordinance of 2000 remained utterly ineffective partly because it was struck down by a court that challenged its legitimacy and constitutionality
Evaluation of rock mass deformability using empirical methods – A review

Abstract Evaluation of rock mass deformability is an important but very challenging task in the analysis and design of underground structures in rock. Although various empirical (correlation) methods have been developed for determining the deformation modulus of rock masses, they come in many forms and are scattered in different sources. It is often difficult, time-consuming, or even impossible for a practitioner to find appropriate information to determine the deformation modulus of rock masses for a particular project. Therefore, this paper first provides a comprehensive review of the different empirical methods for determining the deformation modulus of rock masses. Then a comparative analysis and discussion is carried out on the accuracy and main issues of these methods. Since many of the empirical methods for determining the deformation modulus of rock masses need to use the deformation modulus of intact rock, the various empirical methods for estimating the deformation modulus of intact rock are also reviewed. In addition, this paper highlights the scale effect on rock mass deformability, the effect of confining stress on rock mass deformability, and the anisotropy of rock mass deformability. Overall this paper outlines the key aspects of rock mass deformability and provides the fundamental and essential information required for effective evaluation of rock mass deformability using the empirical methods.
The Jadhav Case Before the International Court of Justice

The recently instituted case by India against Pakistan before the ICJ follows the trilogy of cases pertaining to violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR). In all three cases, the Court found that Article 36 has been breached and determined that the appropriate relief is ‘review and reconsideration’ of the consequences of such breach by domestic courts of the receiving state. Given the increasingly heightened tension between national security and human rights in the context of terrorism, the Court cannot afford to follow LaGrand and Avena. Doing so would ensure that the Indian national would be executed the way individuals in the previous three cases before the Court did. Yet, the Court’s Article 36 jurisprudence is not the only challenge in the Jadhav case. Questioning the very applicability of VCCR, Pakistan contends that VCCR does not apply to “spies and terrorists” and that KS Jadhav has confessed to being one. Pakistan further claims that, in any event, the applicable law in Jadhav is the bilateral agreement of 2008 between India and Pakistan, not Article 36 of VCCR. Within the framework of Article 38(1) of the Court’s Statute, this article explains how India could persuade the Court to go beyond ‘review and reconsideration’, annul KS Jadhav’s confession and the resultant conviction, and direct a retrial with full consular access. It also explains why Pakistan’s arguments questioning applicability of VCCR are unlikely to prevail even though they raise complex issues of treaty interpretation.
Swing Back: Getting Along in the World with Harper and Trudeau

The author of this light and bouncy volume developed his approach to the book after completing his MA at Carleton University in Ottawa. But his experience with the topic goes back more than a decad...
Our better nature: Does resource stress predict beyond-household sharing?

Abstract Food sharing and (to a lesser extent) labor sharing play central roles in the evolution of cooperation literature. One popular explanation for sharing beyond the family is that it reduces the likelihood of shortages by pooling risk across households. However, the frequency and scope of sharing have never been systematically documented across nonindustrial societies, and the literature is driven by theoretical models, experimental games, and case studies among a few extensively-studied populations. Here we explore the cross-cultural context, frequency, and scope of food and labor sharing customs in relation to resource stress. Using ethnographic data from a worldwide sample of 98 societies in the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample (SCCS), we test the following hypotheses: 1) customary sharing of food and labor beyond the household are cultural universals, 2) societies subject to more resource stress (including unpredictable food-destroying natural hazards) will share more frequently, and 3) the more frequent the resource stress, the broader the geographic and social scope of sharing customs. Hypotheses 1 and 2 are generally supported and are consistent with the theory that extensive beyond-household sharing is adaptive in societies that are subject to more resource stress. Hypothesis 3 was not supported and, contrary to our predictions, there is suggestive evidence that sharing beyond-relatives may be attenuated when resource stress is high. In light of these findings, we consider how resource stress may constitute an important selection pressure for maintaining extensive cooperation and help to explain the ubiquity of beyond-household sharing.
Improving website structure through reducing information overload

Abstract It is well known that website success relies heavily on its usability. Previous studies find that website usability depends greatly upon its visual complexity which has significant effects on users' psychological perception and cognitive load. In this study, we use a page's outdegree as one measurement for its visual complexity. In general, outdegrees should be kept not too high in page design as large outdegrees are often signs of high page complexity which can adversely affect user navigation. This is particularly desirable and critical for maintaining website structures, because as a website evolves over time, the need for information also changes. Website structures must be updated periodically to align with users' information needs. In this process, obsolete links should be removed to avoid clustering of links that could cause information overload to users. However, the need to slim down website structures is understudied in the literature. In this paper, we propose a mathematical programming model that reduces information load by removing links from highly clustered pages while minimizing the impact to users. Results from tests on a real dataset indicate that the model not only significantly reduces page complexity with little impact on user navigation, but also can be solved effectively. The model is also tested on large synthetic datasets to demonstrate its remarkable scalability.
EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX | Collagens

Collagens, the most abundant proteins in the animal kingdom, are best known for providing mechanical strength to skin, bone, and other tissues. In the lung, collagens limit expansion of the parenchyma and prevent airway collapse. Structurally, collagens are characterized by a triple helical region containing a Gly-x-y motif. Collagens are found in the extracellular matrix where they are assembled into fibrils and other supramolecular structures. Normal growth and development are dependent on the proper assembly of collagens. Collagens interact with three types of receptors: integrins, discoidins, and glycoprotein VI. Respiratory disease can result from inappropriate synthesis, assembly, or deposition of collagen. Current research indicates that collagen fragments may be important endogenous inhibitors of tumorigenesis and mediators of lung transplant rejection.
Transposable Elements in the Animal Kingdom

Transposable elements (TEs) are commonly thought to be of universal occurrence in eukaryotes. Analysis of complete higher eukaryotic genomes confirms the TE status as substantial genome components and provides insights into their role in shaping the genome structure of extant eukaryotes. This review addresses several recently investigated problems in transposon biology, including the potential roles of promoter organization in transposon function and evolution, the ubiquity of TEs in numerous phyla of the animal kingdom, and the possible connection between transposon content and mode of reproduction.
Observational Studies in Economic Evaluation

The goal of an economic evaluation of medical interventions is to provide actionable information for policy makers. However, the demand for causal evidence in medicine far exceeds the ability to practically control, finance, and/or conduct randomized studies. Observational data offer a sensible alternative source of data for developing evidence about the implications of different medical interventions. However, for studies using observational data to be considered as reliable sources for evidence of causal effects, great care is needed to design studies in a way that limits the number of alternative explanations for observed differences in outcomes between intervention and control. In this article we highlight a number of the techniques and tools used in high-quality observational studies. We will also discuss a few of the common pitfalls to be aware of.
Practical optical beamforming networks

A review of optical beamforming techniques is presented. The techniques are subdivided into two broad categories. First, several representative implementations of narrow band, phase-only techniques are summarized. A detailed description of a narrow band architecture realized in our laboratory is presented. The architecture is based on coherent heterodyning of two narrow linewidth Nd:YAG lasers, with a controlled angular beam offset to generate the required microwave phase progression. Second, several representative wideband, true time delay architectures are briefly described. A description of a 'dispersive-prism' based true time-delay technique developed in our laboratory is presented. The results show multi-octave one-dimensional transmit and receive true time-delay beamformer operation, as well as two-dimensional transmit beamformer operation.
Oh, my aching back: evaluation and surgical treatment of lumbar spine disorders.

ABSTRACT:Low back pain is a common cause of disability and reason for seeking medical care. Surgery rates for low back pain are escalating, and the overall costs exceed $1 billion. Primary care physicians are increasingly responsible for the initial evaluations and management of these individuals. R
Direct Bypass Surgery: Principles, Nuances, and Complication Avoidance

The human brain has an uncompromising requirement for perfusion unlike any other organs. Disturbances in normal blood flow can result from chronic changes relating to atherosclerosis or arteriopathy (e.g., Moyamoya) or can be acute as in the case of vessel occlusion need to treat complex brain aneurysms. Whether acute or chronic, ischemic risk is the final common pathway. Revascularization, in the form of direct bypass surgery, aims to immediately restore normal blood flow to the arterial territory distal to the lesion, thereby averting ischemia. By matching donor blood vessels from the intracranial or extracranial circulation to the recipient blood vessels, the surgeon has the opportunity to make a dramatic effect on what would otherwise be potentially devastating natural history of the disease. In doing so, there is also the potential for serious complications. Herein, we describe the principles of direct bypass surgery and review the nuances and techniques for complication avoidance that have accumulated with a personal experience of over 400 bypass operations.
Reply to Tobiasson et al.: Zinc depletion is a specific signal for induction of ribosome hibernation in mycobacteria.

We previously reported (1) in PNAS that zinc depletion in Mycobacterium smegmatis leads to reprogramming of ribosomes in which five ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) with a conserved zinc-finger CXXC motif (C+) are replaced by their paralogs lacking the motif (C−). Notably, the reprogrammed ribosomes enter into a hibernating state by binding to a mycobacterial protein Y (MPY) encoded by MSMEG_1878 (1). Binding of MPY locks the ribosome in an inactive, unrotated state that is drug tolerant. MPY is expressed constitutively but is specifically recruited to the ribosome by a zinc-responsive factor [MPY recruitment factor (MRF)] encoded within the c- ribosomal-gene operon. The data presented by Tobiasson et al. (2) are not in conflict with our findings; rather, they strengthen our conclusion that assembly of the C− ribosome is not sufficient for MPY recruitment (figure 3B in ref. 1). Tobiasson et al. show that C− ribosomes can be assembled … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: anil.ojha{at}health.ny.gov or rajendra.agrawal{at}health.ny.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The Validity of the PICTS-SV and Its Effectiveness with Positive Impression Management: An Investigation in a Court-Mandated Substance Use Treatment Facility:

Forensic practitioners are regularly called on to conduct highly consequential evaluations of risk for recidivism and violence. Accordingly, numerous specialized risk assessment measures have been ...