cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of maternal depressive symptoms on growth of preschool- and school-aged children

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine whether maternal depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum adversely affect growth in preschool- and school-aged children. METHODS: We used data from the US nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort. We fit multivariable logistic regression models to study maternal depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum (using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) in relation to child growth outcomes, ≤10% height-for-age, ≤10% weight-for-height, and ≤10% weight-for-age at 4 and 5 years. RESULTS: At 9 months, 24% of mothers reported mild depressive symptoms and 17% moderate/severe symptoms. After adjustment for household, maternal, and child factors, children of mothers with moderate to severe levels of depressive symptoms at 9 months’ postpartum had a 40% increased odds of being ≤10% in height-for-age at age 4 (odds ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.89) and 48% increased odds of being ≤10% in height-for-age at age 5 (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.13) compared with children of women with few or no depressive symptoms. There was no statistically significant association between maternal depressive symptoms and children being ≤10% in weight-for-height and weight-for-age at 4 or 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depressive symptoms during infancy may affect physical growth in early childhood. Prevention, early detection, and treatment of maternal depressive symptoms during the first year postpartum may prevent childhood height-for-age ≤10th percentile among preschool- and school-aged children.
Role of acute ethanol exposure and TLR4 in early events of sepsis in a mouse model

Abstract Sepsis is a major cause of death worldwide. The associated risks and mortality are known to significantly increase on exposure to alcohol (chronic or acute). The underlying mechanisms of the association of acute ethanol ingestion and poor prognosis of sepsis are largely unknown. The study described here was designed to determine in detail the role of ethanol and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of the sepsis syndrome. The effects of acute ethanol exposure and TLR4 on bacterial clearance, spleen cell numbers, peritoneal macrophage numbers, and cytokine production were evaluated using wild-type and TLR4 hyporesponsive mice treated with ethanol and then challenged with a nonpathogenic strain of Escherichia coli . Ethanol-treated mice exhibited a decreased clearance of bacteria and produced lesser amounts of most pro-inflammatory cytokines in both strains of mice at 2h after challenge. Neither ethanol treatment nor a hyporesponsive TLR4 had significant effects on the cell numbers in the peritoneal cavity and spleen 2h postinfection. The suppressive effect of acute ethanol exposure on cytokine and chemokine production was more pronounced in the wild-type mice, but the untreated hyporesponsive mice produced less of most cytokines than untreated wild-type mice. The major conclusion of this study is that acute ethanol exposure suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine production and that a hyporesponsive TLR4 (in C3H/HeJ mice) decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, but the cytokines and other mediators induced through other receptors are sufficient to ultimately clear the infection but not enough to induce lethal septic shock. In addition, results reported here demonstrate previously unknown effects of acute ethanol exposure on leukemia inhibitory factor and eotaxin, and provide the first evidence that interleukin (IL)-9 is induced through TLR4 in vivo.
A First-order Theory of Communication and Multi-agent Plans

This paper presents a theory expressed in first-order logic for describing and supporting inference about action, knowledge, planning, and communication, in an egalitarian multi-agent setting. The underlying ontology of the theory uses a situationbased temporal model and a possible-worlds model of knowledge. It supports plans and communications of a very general kind, both informative communications and requests. Communications may refer to states of the world or states of knowledge in the past, present, or future. We demonstrate that the theory is powerful enough to represent several interesting multi-agent planning problems and to justify their solutions. We have proven that the theory of knowledge, communication, and planning is consistent with a broad range of physical theories, despite the existence of a number of potential paradoxes.
Autotuning of Digitally Controlled Boost Power Factor Correction Rectifiers

This paper presents a robust autotuning technique for digitally controlled boost power factor correction (PFC) rectifiers. The proposed tuning approach perturbs the PFC current and voltage control loops through injection of digital perturbation signals, and achieves the desired crossover frequencies and phase margins for wide ranges of operating conditions and power-stage parameters through simple compensator gain adjustments. An added benefit of the proposed approach is a precise estimation of the filter inductance and capacitance values, therefore facilitating accurate continuous/discontinuous conduction mode (CCM/DCM) boundary detection, which minimizes transition effects and further reduces the input current harmonic distortion. The proposed approach is verified by experimental results on a 300-W digitally controlled boost PFC rectifier prototype.
Dried soy tofu powder effects on frankfurters and pork sausage patties

Regular frankfurters treated with tofu powder had decreased fat with no significant differences in color, texture, or overall acceptability compared to a control by sensory analysis. Lean frankfurters with tofu powder had lower moisture and color, better texture, and overall acceptability with no flavor differences from controls. Except for fracturability, there were no differences in texture-related parameters by Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) between regular and control frankfurters but treated lean frankfurters had improved texture. Lean pork sausages treated with tofu powder were lower in fat, higher in protein, and moisture with no differences in sensory attributes compared to controls.
Modular Concurrent Engineering Models: Enabling Alternative Models in Conceptual Satellite Design

Design groups have worked for many years to provide rapid development and modeling of conceptual space vehicles using Concurrent Engineering Models (CEMs). A large number of design tools have been crafted to meet different aims and goals within the systems engineering community.The challenges to build upon these previous models to generate a flexible CEM capable of using interchangeable modules that model the subsystems of a space vehicle are described in this paper. Rather than redeveloping entire CEMs to fit specific purposes, users and developers can focus their attention on crafting only the new modules they need while making use of other pre-existing modules. In this way, the Modular CEM can take advantage of many of the lessons learned in previous CEM development efforts. The new Modular CEM is designed to incorporate some error checking to help the systems engineer correctly use the model, to facilitate easy addition or extraction of data into or out of the model, and to incorporate improvements in ease of use and ease of development. This paper describes the relationship of this model to previously developed CEMs, the modeling approach taken by the design team, the current state of the Modular CEM, and describes applications where the Modular CEM has been applied.
Use and interpretation of statistical quality control charts

Originally developed at Bell Laboratories by Dr Walter Shewhart [1] in 1924 specifically to help detect statistical changes in process quality, control charts have since become one of several primary tools of quality control and process improvement. Quality control charts are chronological graphs of process data that, although based in statistical theory, are easy for practitioners to use and interpret. These charts also can help users to develop an understanding of the performance of a process and to evaluate any benefits or consequences of process interventions, complementing traditional methods by providing additional longitudinal information that otherwise might not be detected [2]. This article provides a brief introduction to the use of statistical quality control charts for analyzing, monitoring, and improving health care processes. After an overview of key concepts, several examples illustrate control chart use and interpretation. The article concludes with some common pitfalls to avoid and references for further exploration. Readers unfamiliar with the topic should also read introductory materials on the principles of quality management and the philosophies of the late quality pioneer, Dr W. E. Deming [3].
Impact of large storm events with different meteorological characteristics on estuarine ciliate biomass

Microzooplankton are important consumers of phytoplankton production in estuaries and are links to higher trophic levels. We examined the impact of several large storms varying in their meteorological characteristics on the distribution of ciliates, a key component of the microzooplankton community in North Carolina’s Neuse R. Estuary (NRE). Ciliate biomass was largely unaffected by Tropical Storm (“TS”) Helene, except for dissipation of a patch of elevated ciliate biomass at a frontal zone in the upper estuary. Following passage of Hurricane (“H”) Isabel, mean ciliate biomass increased 2-fold, with the most dramatic increases occurring in the upstream region that was influenced by freshwater runoff. H Alex had minimal impact on ciliate biomass, but shortly after its passage, Tropical Depression Bonnie and TS Charley passed over the region with significant rainfall. Ten days after passage of those storms, ciliate biomass increased throughout the NRE, with the most dramatic increases again seen in the upper freshwater-influenced region of the estuary. Overall, these findings suggest that the response of estuarine ciliates to storm events is complex, although some coherent patterns were detected in terms of the overall biomass response. Given that storms represent important drivers of ecological processes in estuaries and that the US East and Gulf Coasts are in a period of elevated storm activity, further work is warranted to fully understand the impact of storms on trophic transfer in estuaries.
Modelling welding residual stress and distortion: current and future research trends

Modelling of welding distortion and residual stress has been an active research area since the late 1970s. Significant progress has been achieved since, especially in the areas of material modelling and investigation of three-dimensional geometries. This paper discusses some of the more recent developments in modelling residual stress and distortion and suggests issues for further research. The topics include, consideration of thermal transport in residual stress and distortion modelling, the development of applied strain methods for very large and complex structures, modelling of friction stir welding, sensitivity analysis and adaptive meshing.
Heart Rate and Skin Conductance During Cognitive Processes as a Function of Age

Heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were measured in males ranging in age from 23 to 87 years while they were performing mental arithmetic tasks, subtractions, and during multiple trial free recall. Performance on the arithmetic tasks was not affected by age. HR but not SC showed greater changes from basal levels in young subjects. Free recall was greater in young than in old subjects, and changes in HR were again greater in the young subjects. During intertrial rest periods HR returned t9 basal levels in young but not in old subjects. These changes are similar to those seen in older people after physical exercise. Correlations between HR and SC changes during arithmetic performance and during free recall indicated that response stereotypy is to some extent age dependent.
C1-Esterase Inhibitor: Biological Activities and Therapeutic Applications

Human C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) is a unique anti-inflammatory multifunctional plasma protein best known for its key role in regulation of the classical complement pathway, contact activation system and intrinsic pathway of coagulation. By sequence homology and mechanism of protease inhibition it belongs to the serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) superfamily. However, in addition to its inhibitory capacities for several proteases, it also exhibits a broad spectrum of non-inhibitory biological activities. C1-INH plays a key role in the regulation of vascular permeability, best demonstrated in Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) which is triggered by the deficiency of functional C1-INH in plasma? Since 1963, when the link between HAE and C1-INH was first identified, considerable progress has been made in the investigation of C1-INH structure and biological activities, understanding its therapeutic potential, and in the research and development of C1-INH-based therapies for the treatment of HAE and several other clinical conditions. However, augmentation therapy with C1-INH concentrates for patients with HAE is currently the only approved therapeutic application of C1-INH. This manuscript provides an overview of the structure and functions of human C1-INH, its role in HAE, summarizes published data available for recently approved C1-INH therapeutic products, and considers possible use of C1-INH for other applications.
Post–September 11, 2001, Incidence of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World Trade Center–Exposed Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers

Objective To estimate the incidence of selected systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) in approximately 14,000 male rescue/recovery workers enrolled in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and to compare FDNY incidence to rates from demographically similar men in the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), a population-based database in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Neuronal excitation by angiotensin II in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rat in vitro

We examined the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) on spontaneous unit activity in slices of the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), ANG II (1-3 microM) excited 61% of a population of slowly and irregularly firing RVLM neurons (predrug, 1.2 +/- 0.1 spikes/s; postdrug, 4.6 +/- 0.3 spikes/s; n = 52). ANG II had no effect on pacemaker-like rapidly firing neurons (predrug, 8.6 +/- 0.4 spikes/s; n = 33). The effect of ANG II on slowly firing cells was repeatable and was reduced 75% by 3 microM losartan (baseline, 1.7 +/- 0.4 spikes/s; ANG II, 5.3 +/- 0.7 spikes/s; ANG II+losartan, 2.4 +/- 0.6 spikes/s; n = 12). The ongoing activity of slowly firing neurons was unaffected by 0.5-1 mM kynurenic acid (an ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist). Most ANG II-responsive neurons (10 of 11) were inhibited by the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist UK-14,304, but pacemaker-like neurons were not. In conclusion, the RVLM contains neurons excited by AT1 receptor agonists. These neurons are distinct from the previously described pacemaker nonadrenergic presympathetic cells. They may be responsible for the pressor effects produced by injecting ANG II into the RVLM in vivo.
Advancing Strategic Asset Allocation in aMulti-Factor World

Strategic asset allocation is arguably one of the most important, yet least advanced, aspects of investing. The authors present a new approach to strategic asset allocation that leverages the idea that long-term investment returns derive from multiple distinct sources that they call “return-generating factors.” Their approach addresses four key shortcomings of traditional approaches: First, their multi-factor model helps better understand the important sources of return in today’s complex investment universe, generating a substantial increase in estimation precision across asset classes and providing investors with a new way to think about portfolio diversification. Second, their robust portfolio optimization methodology seeks to explicitly account for the uncertainties inherent in the estimates of expected returns, delivering well-diversified portfolios with superior risk?return characteristics. Third, the factor-based risk analytics better capture the true characteristics of asset returns, such as fat tails and increased correlations at times of crises, allowing the authors to more-accurately model the downside risks of portfolios. Finally, the factor-based simulation technique accounts for the impact of different economic conditions (e.g., low interest rates) on future portfolio returns, resulting in more-precise, forward-looking projections.
Identification of tumorigenic cells and therapeutic targets in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are a type of pancreatic cancer with limited therapeutic options. Consequently, most patients with advanced disease die from tumor progression. Current evidence indicates that a subset of cancer cells is responsible for tumor development, metastasis, and recurrence, and targeting these tumor-initiating cells is necessary to eradicate tumors. However, tumor-initiating cells and the biological processes that promote pathogenesis remain largely uncharacterized in PanNETs. Here we profile primary and metastatic tumors from an index patient and demonstrate that MET proto-oncogene activation is important for tumor growth in PanNET xenograft models. We identify a highly tumorigenic cell population within several independent surgically acquired PanNETs characterized by increased cell-surface protein CD90 expression and aldehyde dehydrogenase A1 (ALDHA1) activity, and provide in vitro and in vivo evidence for their stem-like properties. We performed proteomic profiling of 332 antigens in two cell lines and four primary tumors, and showed that CD47, a cell-surface protein that acts as a "don't eat me" signal co-opted by cancers to evade innate immune surveillance, is ubiquitously expressed. Moreover, CD47 coexpresses with MET and is enriched in CD90(hi)cells. Furthermore, blocking CD47 signaling promotes engulfment of tumor cells by macrophages in vitro and inhibits xenograft tumor growth, prevents metastases, and prolongs survival in vivo.
Dietary saponin and plasma cholesterol in the chicken.

SummaryA study with growing chicks and adult roosters indicated that dietary saponin will depress blood plasma cholesterol previously elevated by feeding low protein levels in presence and absence of dietary cholesterol. It is suggested that complexing of saponin with cholesterol secreted in the intestinal lumen makes less cholesterol available for reabsorption from the intestinal tract.
Evaluation of Traps for Apple Maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) Populations Associated with Cherry and Hawthorn in Utah

The effectiveness of various traps for apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) populations associated with cherry and hawthorn in Utah was investigated during the summers of 1987 and 1988. In cherry and hawthorn, unbaited Pherocon AM traps with an external ammonium carbonate lure were significantly better over the entire season than the standard Pherocon AM panels, red spheres (8.5 em diameter), and red spheres baited with the “Fein” blend of apple volatiles (a mixture of hexyl acetate, ( E )-2-hexen-l-yl acetate, butyl 2-methylbutanoate, propyl hexanoate, hexyl propanoate, butyl hexanoate, and hexyl butanoate in 35:2:8:12:5:28:10 ratio). In addition, the standard Pherocon AM traps caught more flies than the red sphere traps in cherry and hawthorn. Results between the two locations in 1987 and the single location in 1988 were similar, even though different host plants and population levels were sampled. In season-long and short-term studies, there were no apparent benefits associated with the use of either the single component butyl hexanoate lure or the full Fein blend of apple volatiles in conjunction with either red spheres or a Ladd trap (a yellow panel 28 by 21.6 cm with 8.5-cm red hemispheres attached to each side). Ladd traps with ammonium carbonate were the best traps under Utah conditions.
Model system study of environmentally persistent free radicals formation in a semiconducting polymer modified copper clay system at ambient temperature

This paper systematically investigates how environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) are formed in a phenol contaminated model soil. Poly-p-phenylene (PPP) modified and copper-loaded montmorillonite (MMT) clays were developed and used as models of soil organic matter and the clay mineral component, respectively, with phenol being employed as a precursor pollutant. The polymer modification of the clays was carried out via surface-confined Kumada catalyst-transfer chain-growth polymerization. The presence and location of the polymer were confirmed by a combination of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction data. EPFRs were formed by the Cu(II)-clay (Cu(II)CaMMT) and poly-p-phenylene–Cu(II)clay (PPP–Cu(II)CaMMT) composite systems under environmentally relevant conditions. The g-factor and concentration of EPFRs formed by the Cu(II)CaMMT and PPP–Cu(II)CaMMT systems were found to be 2.0034 and 1.22 × 1017 spins per g and 2.0033 and 1.58 × 1017 spins per g, respectively. These g-factors are consistent with the formation of phenoxyl radicals. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis shows that there are distinct differences in the local structures of the phenoxyl radicals associated with only the Cu(II) redox centers and those formed in the presence of the PPP polymer. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) results provided evidence for the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) in the EPFR forming process. The 1/e lifetimes of the formed EPFRs revealed a decay time of ∼20 h for the Cu(II)CaMMT system and a two-step decay pattern for the PPP–Cu(II)CaMMT system with decay times of ∼13.5 h and ∼55.6 h. Finally, the generation of reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radical; ˙OH) by these clay systems was also investigated, with higher concentrations of ˙OH detected for the phenol-dosed Cu(II)CaMMT and PPP–Cu(II)CaMMT systems, compared to the non-EPFR containing undosed PPP–Cu(II)CaMMT system.
Application of a novel digital frequency discriminator in FM receiver

To solve the problems of low stability of center frequency,large temperature drift,low production efficiency in mass production,and poor product consistency of the analog frequency discriminator,a novel digital frequency discriminator with high performance is designed based on digital intergrated circuit(IC) in the paper.Many experimental results show that the novel frequency discriminator has the advantages of high frequency discrimination sensitivity which does not vary with temperature,improving production efficiency and guaranteeing product consistency.
Environmental inequities in terms of different types of urban greenery in Hartford, Connecticut

Urban greenery has long been recognized as an important component of urban ecosystem and provides many benefits to urban residents. However, different types of urban greenery provide different kinds of natural experiences to people. In this study, green metrics calculated based on multisource spatial datasets were used to quantify the spatial distribution of different types of urban greenery in Hartford, Connecticut. Geo-tagged Google Street View images, which capture the profile view of cityscape, were used to quantify street greenery by considering the time information. Land cover map and urban parks map were used to measure residential yard greenery and proximity to urban parks, respectively. We analyzed the associations of the calculated green metrics with socio-economic variables derived from census data. Statistical results show that: (1) people with higher income tend to live in neighborhoods with more street greenery; (2) census block groups with a higher proportion of owner-occupied units tend to have more yard vegetation and yard tree/shrub coverage; (3) Hispanics tend to live in block groups that have less yard vegetation but African Americans mostly live in block groups with more yard greenery; and (4) there are no significant environmental disparities among racial/ethnic groups in terms of proximity to urban parks. In general, this study provides an insight into the environments of urban residents in terms of urban greenery, and a valuable reference data for urban planning.
Ouabain-Induced Changes in the Tertiary And the Quaternary Conformations of (Na+ + K+)-Activated Adenosine Triphosphatase

Purified preparations of (Na+ + Ki+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase (EC [3.6.1.3][1]) contain two major polypeptides: the catalytic subunit (α-subunit), and a glycoprotein (β-subunit) of unknown function. Effects of ouabain on the chemical crosslinking of the subunits in the presence of o -phenanthroline and Cu2+ were studied, and the following results were obtained: (1) When the native enzyme was exposed to 0.25 mM Cu2+ and 1.25 mM o -phenanthroline, a crosslinked α,α-dimer was obtained in the presence of Na+ + ATP, but not in the presence of either Na+, or K+, or K+ + ATP. Exposure of the preformed ouabain-enzyme complex to the same reagent resulted in the formation of the α, α-dimer. The level of this dimer was lower than that obtained from the native enzyme in the presence of Na+ + ATP, and was not affected by Na+, ATP, and K+. (2) When the native enzyme was preincubated with Na+ + Mg2+ + ATP and then exposed to 0.25 mM Cu2+ and 1.25 mM o -phenanthroline, the α,α-dimer was obtained. Addition of K+ to the preincubated enzyme prior to the addition of the crosslinking reagent prevented dimer formation. Addition of ouabain to the preincubated enzyme, did not affect dimer formation but did block the K+ effect on dimer formation. (3) When the native enzyme was exposed to 0.25 mM Cu2+ and 0.5 mM o -phenanthroline, an α,α-dimer was obtained under all ligand conditions except when K+ + ATP was present. With the preformed ouabain-enzyme complex, the dimer was obtained, and its formation was not affected by K+ + ATP. (4) The formation of an α,β-dimer in the presence of Cu2+ and o -phenanthroline was not affected by ouabain. These findings indicate that the minimum quaternary structure of α2β2 existS in both the native enzyme and the ouabain-enzyme complex, but that ouabain binding induces changes in α-subunit conformation and in α-subunit interactions within the oligomeric structure of the enzyme. [1]: pending:yes
Functional Effects of Cigarette Smoke-Induced Changes in Airway Smooth Muscle Mitochondrial Morphology.

Long-term exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) triggers airway hyperreactivity and remodeling, effects that involve airway smooth muscle (ASM). We previously showed that CS destabilizes the networked morphology of mitochondria in human ASM by regulating the expression of mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins via multiple signaling mechanisms. Emerging data link regulation of mitochondrial morphology to cellular structure and function. We hypothesized that CS-induced changes in ASM mitochondrial morphology detrimentally affect mitochondrial function, leading to CS effects on contractility and remodeling. Here, ASM cells were exposed to 1% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 48 hours to alter mitochondrial fission/fusion, or by inhibiting the fission protein Drp1 or the fusion protein Mfn2. Mitochondrial function was assessed via changes in bioenergetics or altered rates of proliferation and apoptosis. Our results indicate that both exposure to CS and inhibition of mitochondrial fission/ fusion proteins affect mitochondrial function (i.e., energy metabolism, proliferation and apoptosis) in ASM cells. In vivo, the airways in mice chronically exposed to CS are thickened and fibrotic, and the expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial function is dramatically altered in the ASM of these mice. We conclude that CS-induced changes in mitochondrial morphology (fission/ fusion balance) correlate with mitochondrial function, and thus may control ASM proliferation, which plays a central role in airway health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
The Impact of Supply Chain Structures on Corporate Social Responsibility

Markets are paying increasing attention to the social and environmental impacts of business. As a consequence, the problem of incentivizing upstream firms in a supply chain (i.e., suppliers) to engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities has become of pivotal importance. Formal contracts may not serve the purpose, as CSR activities are not necessarily verifiable. In this chapter, we posit that incentives for CSR can be provided through the supply chain structure, which consists of the distribution of ownership rights over the assets of production, and involves horizontal and/or vertical alliances among supply chain members. To this end, this chapter illustrates the effects of supply chain structure on CSR adoption using three case studies. For each case, the chapter highlights the interplay of forces that arises as a result of the supply chain structure, such as pooling, free-riding, and countervailing power, and discusses their impact on incentivizing supply chain parties to invest in CSR.
Captive Breeding of Some Endemic Ornamental Fish Species in Sri Lanka

There is a high export demand for some endemic fish species in the ornamental fish trade in Sri Lanka. Many endemic ornamental fish species are reported to be in decline and some have become endangered due to a combination of several factors including overexploitation, aquatic pollution, and habitat modifications. Some of the endemic fish species in Sri Lanka are listed as either restricted or prohibited species for export. Present study reports preliminary results of a series of investigations on the factors affecting the breeding and fry rearing of some high demanded endemic fish species in captivity for the purpose of domestication of a broodstock. Eight endemic fish species namely Malpulutta kretseri, Belontia signata, Danio pathirana, Rasbora vaterifloris, Puntius cumingii, Puntius srilankensis, Puntius titteya and Puntius nigrofasciatus were used for the present study. Fish were kept in 150 cm x 90 cm x 75 cm cement tanks with water to a depth of 60 cm and provided a breeding environment using aquatic plants and pebbles. Tank environment was monitored daily for water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen content, weekly for unionized ammonia, nitrite and fortnightly for alkalinity and hardness. All the fish were fed with live feed such as Moina, mosquito larvae and microworms and pelleted feed. Though the most of the endemic fish live in waters with a pH ranging from 5 to 7, and hardness and alkalinity ranging from 40 mg l -1 to 120 mg l -1 , it was found that all eight species used in the present study could be bred in captivity in waters with pH ranging from 7.5 to 9, alkalinity ranging from 26 mg l -1 to 67.2 mg l -1 and hardness ranging from 36.8 mg l -1 to 66.4 mg l -1 . Survival rates of fish fry were 75%- 92% for all fish species except in Malpulutta kretseri, which had a survival rate of 41%.
Human Cytomegalovirus Early Gene Expression

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a member of the herpesvirus group, is species specific and can establish both persistent and latent infections. The virus appears to be able to infect a number of cell types in vivo including epithelial cells, neural cells, endothelial cells, mesenchymal cells, and some subclasses of leukocytes, although viral gene expression may be limited in some of these cells. Within the past 30 years, this virus has been recognized as an important pathogen of man capable of causing disease that affects all age groups worldwide (for review, see Ho 1982; Nankervis and Kumar 1978; Rapp 1983; Spector 1985). In developed countries, it is the major viral cause of birth defects leading to mental retardation and deafness. Transmission of HCMV usually occurs via salivary secretions, sexual contact, or blood, and it remains the most common transfusion-related pathogen. Although primary infection may be asymptomatic or result in a mononucleosis-like syndrome in the immunocompetent individual, severe and sometimes fatal HCMV infections frequently develop in immunocompromised persons, particularly premature infants, organ transplant recipients, and AIDS patients. In AIDS, HCMV is a serious opportunistic infection (Drew et al. 1982; Macher et al. 1983; Marchevsky et al. 1985; Spector et al. 1984; Spector and Spector 1985) and is frequently implicated as a possible cofactor in the development or progression of the disease.
Employing miniaturized computers for distributed vulnerability assessment

Vulnerability assessment is the practice of testing a computer system, network or application to identify, measure and rank vulnerabilities within the system. This project's goal is to create a distributed vulnerability assessment architecture utilizing multiple miniaturized computers such as Raspberry Pi 2 Model B. The scheme delegates scanning tasks to low-cost and self-contained miniaturized devices for pursuing vulnerability assessment to achieve load balancing and enhanced performance. A cloud based dashboard application allows each miniaturized computer to register itself and controls the vulnerability assessment process for multiple networks. This allows the security professional to conduct assessment process and view vulnerability reports remotely. This paper describes the detailed design and implementation of the proposed architecture. The performance and assessment results prove the viability of automated vulnerability assessment using miniaturized computers.
Chipless RFID temperature threshold sensor and detection method

We study NaCl-water solutions as the temperature sensitive material for chipless RFID-based temperature threshold sensing, detecting and storing the event if a given threshold temperature is surpassed. Different solution concentrations are evaluated simultaneously with a sensor that can detect multiple temperature thresholds. A new method for background interference subtraction is presented, which relies on previous measurements to perform a dynamic background subtraction allowing the detection of sensor changes in situations where the background response varies with time.
Assessment of PGAA capability for low-level measurements of H in Ti alloys

The accuracy of low-level hydrogen measurements with prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) depends on identifying and accounting for all background H signals, including interfering signals. At the cold-neutron (CN)PGAA facility at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, the sources of background H signals were investigated in the context of titanium-based matrices containing low-levels of H (<300 mg H per kg Ti) with the measurements of prepared standards (mixtures of polyvinyl chloride and titanium oxide) and Ti alloy (Ti6Al4V) samples. The sensitivity ratio, defined as the ratio of the H signal to the Ti signal per unit mass ratio of H in Ti, was determined (1) with the measurements of prepared standards and (2) based on partial gamma-ray production cross sections and full-energy detection efficiencies. The resulting calibrations from these two approaches agreed within experimental uncertainty. A series of Ti alloy NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) previously certified for the H content (SRMs 2452, 2453, 2453a, 2454) were used as test cases, with the mass fractions determined based on the sensitivity ratios derived from method 1 and method 2, respectively. The results agreed with the certified values within experimental uncertainties, validating the analysis performed on the new instrument with newly-prepared standards at low H mass fractions (method 1), and with the standard-independent analysis (method 2). Various sample mounting improvements were made to lower the background H signal. Spectral interferences near the H peak were identified as potential sources of bias and as a limiting factor in the detection limit of H in Ti alloy samples.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, RACIAL SOCIALIZATION, AND CRIME OVER TIME: A SOCIAL SCHEMATIC THEORY MODEL

Recent studies evince that interpersonal racial discrimination (IRD) increases the risk of crime among African Americans and familial racial socialization fosters resilience to discrimination's criminogenic effects. Yet, studies have focused on the short-term effects of IRD and racial socialization largely among adolescents. In this study, we seek to advance knowledge by elucidating how racialized experiences—in interactions and socialization—influence crime for African Americans over time. Elaborating Simons and Burt's (2011) social schematic theory, we trace the effects of childhood IRD and familial racial socialization on adult offending through cognitive and social pathways and their interplay. We test this life-course SST model using data from the FACHS, a multisite study of Black youth and their families from ages 10 to 25. Consistent with the model, analyses reveal that the criminogenic consequences of childhood IRD are mediated cognitively by a criminogenic knowledge structure and socially through the nature of social relationships in concert with ongoing offending and discrimination experiences. Specifically, by increasing criminogenic cognitive schemas, IRD decreases embeddedness in supportive romantic, educational, and employment relations, which influence social schemas and later crime. Consonant with expectations, the findings also indicate that racial socialization provides enduring resilience by both compensating for and buffering discrimination's criminogenic effects.
Axis Rotation Via Partial Derivatives

(1970). Axis Rotation Via Partial Derivatives. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 211-212.
EMPAGLIFLOZIN INDUCES A MYOCARDIAL METABOLIC SHIFT FROM GLUCOSE CONSUMPTION TO KETONE METABOLISM THAT MITIGATES ADVERSE CARDIAC REMODELING AND IMPROVES MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTILITY

Mechanisms behind heart failure reduction with SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) in clinical trials remain unclear. Given that EMPA causes mild, persistent hyperketonemia, we hypothesized that cardiac benefits of EMPA are due to a shift in myocardial fuel metabolism away from glucose oxidation (
Losing Pravda: Ethics and the Press in Post-Truth Russia, by Natalia Roudakova, Cambridge,England, Cambridge University Press, 2017, 265 pp., $34.99 (paperback), ISBN-13: 978-1-3166-2977-2

Losing Pravda is a groundbreaking study of the transformation of journalism ethics and culture in post-Soviet Russia. It brings light to an underresearched history on how Soviet journalists underst...
Use of Point-and-Shoot Photography to Compare Regional Differences in Canis latrans (Coyote) Skull Size

Increasing interest in digital resources for zoological study have resulted in the creation of several online collections of specimens with varying degrees of complexity and sophistication. We illustrate how an inexpensively created archive of digital photographs can be used to test hypotheses of general interest to evolutionary biologists. We used conventional and digital measurements from Canis latrans (Coyote) crania, to show that northeastern Coyote skulls are larger than skulls in our collection from all other areas. Furthermore, we reject Bergmann's rule by demonstrating that Coyote skulls from Texas are larger than skulls from Alaska and Washington. Measurements taken from calibrated digital photographs support conclusions drawn using conventional hands-on measurements from the same specimens. We employed simple point-and-shoot photography to make all images used. We have placed our images on a wiki platform without copyright restrictions; thus, they are available for use in any manner, and the digital archive can be expanded by others. We employed Bland—Altman plots to demonstrate an approach to image-quality control that can be employed to identify and replace images that could lead to erroneous measurements. We describe how digital archives shared in this manner could aggregate data from isolated specimens and small collections to make these otherwise obscure specimens available to the broader scientific community and the general public.
A Partial Manuscript on Fourier and Laplace Transforms

Most of the results in the partial manuscript on integral transforms discussed in this chapter are classical. However, the partial manuscript contains one of the highlights of the book, a beautiful new transformation formula involving the logarithmic derivative of the gamma function. An extremely clever device used to prove this transformation formula harkens back to Ramanujan’s paper, New expressions for Riemann’s functions \(\xi(s)\,and\,\Xi(s) \)
Magnetic behavior of nanocrystalline nickel ferrite Part I. The effect of surface roughness

Abstract In the previous papers [R.D.K. Misra, A. Kale, R.S. Srivatsava, O. Senkov, Mater. Sci. Technol. 19 (2003) 826; R.D.K. Misra, A. Kale, B. Hooi, J.Th. DeHosson, Mater. Sci. Technol. 19 (2003) 1617; A. Kale, S. Gubbala, R.D.K. Misra, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 277 (2004) 350; S. Gubbala, H. Nathani, K. Koizol, R.D.K. Misra, Phys. B 348 (2004) 317; R.D.K. Misra, S. Gubbala, A. Kale, W.F. Egelhoff, Mater. Sci. Eng. B. 111 (2004) 164], we reported the synthesis, structural characterization and magnetic behavior of nanocrystalline ferrites of inverse and mixed spinel structure made by reverse micelle technique that enabled a narrow particle size distribution to be obtained. In the present paper, the reverse micelle approach has been extended to synthesize nanocrystalline ferrites with varying surface roughness of 8–18 A (the surface roughness was measured by atomic force microscopy) and the magnetic behavior studied by SQUID magnetometer. Two different kinds of measurement were performed: (a) zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) magnetization versus temperature measurements and (b) magnetization as a function of applied field. The analysis of magnetic measurement suggests significant influence of surface roughness of particles on the magnetic behavior. While the superparamagnetic behavior is retained by the nanocrystalline ferrites of different surface roughness at 300 K, the hysteresis loop at 2 K becomes non-squared and the coercivity increases with increase in surface roughness. This behavior is discussed in terms of broken bonds and degree of surface spin disorder.
Relativity in GNSS

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS ) use accurate, stable atomic clocks in satellites and on the ground to provide world-wide position, velocity, and time to millions of users. Orbiting clocks have gravitational and motional frequency shifts that are so large that, without carefully accounting for numerous relativistic effects, the systems would not work. The basis for navigation using GNSS , founded on special and general relativity, includes relativistic principles, concepts and effects such as the constancy of the speed of light, relativity of synchronization, coordinate time, proper time, time dilation, the Sagnac effect, the weak equivalence principle, and gravitational frequency shifts. Additional small relativistic effects such as the coordinate slowing of light speed and the effects of tidal potentials from the moon and the sun may need to be accounted for in the future. Examples of new navigation systems that are being developed and deployed are the European GALILEO system and the Chinese BEIDOU system; these will greatly widen the impact of GNSS. This chapter discusses applications of relativistic concepts in GNSS.
Student Attitudes toward Active Learning vs. Lecture in Cell Biology Instruction

Active learning increases performance in STEM courses, but many instructors are hesitant to adopt active-learning practices because they are afraid students will have negative attitudes toward them. It was hypothesized that students whose first college biology experience was in a course that used active learning would have more positive attitudes toward active learning than students who initially experienced a traditional lecture-based course. Students in an introductory Cell Biology course were queried regarding their attitudes toward active-learning practices used in the class. Responses to a Likert-scale survey indicated that students had positive attitudes toward active learning, and an analysis of variance indicated that there were no significant differences between the attitudes of students who had previously taken a lecture-based biology course at the same institution, students who had previously taken a biology course at another institution, and students who were enrolled in Cell Biology as their first college biology experience (n = 52, P = 0.530). Students strongly favored active-learning techniques over passive techniques but were less convinced of their learning benefits. Experienced students indicated that they preferred the teaching methods used in Cell Biology over the techniques used in their prior biology course. The results indicate that in the context of a small classroom setting, most students have positive attitudes toward active learning regardless of their prior biology lecture experiences.
No Credibility without Plausibility: a Response to Lewis and Lanier

In this commentary I respond to Lewis (2019) and Lanier (2019), building on their critiques and ideas, offering some additional thoughts about the dissemination of the Campbell, Rubin, and Pearl causal frameworks and their potential emergent value to the future of family violence research. I clarify that the central issue to credibility is the plausibility of assumptions, that some widely utilized methods often require researchers to make implausible assumptions, and that there is value to knowing and using all three frameworks.
Parents Still Matter: The Influence of Parental Enforcement of Bedtime on Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms

Study objectives The aim of the current study was to test a multilevel mediation model that examined how adolescent sleep duration might be linked to depressive symptoms via their daytime energy levels. Furthermore, the study examined how parents' enforcement of various types of bedtime rules predicted the duration of adolescent sleep. Methods A total of 193 adolescent (ages 14-17; Mage = 15.7 years old, SD = .94; 54.4% female; 71% Caucasian) and parent dyads completed baseline, online surveys, and adolescents also completed online 7-day, twice-daily (i.e. morning and evening) reports of their sleep duration (morning diary) and their energy levels and depressive symptoms throughout the day (evening diary). Parents (Mage = 47.6 years old, SD = 5.4; 80% female) completed assessments of enforcement of bedtime-related rules (i.e. bedtime, cessation of electronic media usage, prohibiting afternoon/evening caffeine consumption). Multilevel modeling enabled the testing of the mediation model both at the between-person level and within individuals. Results Results suggested that adolescents' energy levels mediated the association between adolescents' sleep duration and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, both greater enforcement of bedtimes and later school start times predicted longer sleep durations for adolescents, and were indirectly associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of adolescents obtaining sufficient sleep to support their mental health and suggest a critical point of intervention for preventing or decreasing insufficient sleep. Given the diverse threats to adolescents' sleep as well as adolescents' desire for greater independence, collaborative, autonomy-promoting bedtime limit-setting is recommended to support adolescents' well-being.
The Statistical Basis of Bioenergetics

This chapter gives the statistical arguments behind thermodynamics, with applications to cellular systems and biochemical reactions. Included is a discussion of the Debye–Huckel model for ionic reactions, a description of fluctuations in thermodynamic variables, and an introduction to kinetic theories for reactions.