cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological variables in psychopathology: A psychobiological perspective.

In this chapter, we have reviewed the behavior genetic literature for a number of the major forms of child and adult psychopathology, including schizophrenia, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and schizotypal personality; affective and anxiety disorders in both children and adults; and the childhood disruptive disorders ADHD, ODD, and CD. Unfortunately, space limitations precluded our review of behavior genetic research on other important disorders, such as autism, substance abuse and dependence, and personality disorders. We also provided background material on the statistical methods used in contemporary twin studies to conduct univariate and multivariate behavior genetic analyses, as well as a brief discussion of some exciting new and future directions in behavior genetic studies of psychopathology. The latter included genetic and environmental influences on normal range variation and on the disordered extreme, the inclusion of specific environmental and endophenotypic variables in behavior genetic models, molecular genetic studies of psychopathology, and the examination of genotype-environment interaction and correlation. These future directions will facilitate the progression of behavior genetic studies of psychopathology beyond the simple estimation of broad, abstract genetic and environmental variance components for a single disorder to the examination of more complex models for the specific etiological mechanisms that underlie disorders and their overlap.
HALLOWEEN AU PAYS D'ASTÉRIX

Apres le succes, ces dernieres annees, et particulierement en 1997 et 1998, de la fete d'Halloween, en France, on ne peut plus considerer cette fete comme exclusivement americaine. S'agit-il d'une nouvelle atteinte a la culture francaise par l'imperialisme americain ? Un rapide historique permet de repondre a cette question. Il est ensuite suivi d'une analyse des causes du succes fulgurant d'un phenomene qui, s'il concerne d'autres pays europeens non anglo-saxons, semble avoir pris une ampleur toute particuliere au pays d'Asterix. Une breve revue de presse donne un apercu des reactions (favorables et defavorables) des Francais face au phenomene. Selon l'A., Halloween demontre la capacite des Francais a adopter une fete nouvelle, fete a laquelle ils ajoutent deja quelques touches francaise ; Halloween s'inscrira bientot au calendrier francais des fetes traditionnelles.
Insights into the long-term persistence of Legionella in facilities from whole-genome sequencing.

Abstract We investigated the value of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses in determining the relationships among and evolutionary rates of Legionella species with long-term persistence in three healthcare facilities. We examined retrospective clinical and environmental isolates of Legionella micdadei and Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates with identical PFGE DNA fingerprints sampled over the course of up to 18 years. WGS analyses demonstrated that heterogeneous populations of Legionella were present within each facility despite displaying the same PFGE profiles. Additionally, clustering of some clinical isolates with those from a separate but related institution exposed a source of infection not previously detected, underscoring the importance of considering phylogenetic relationships when assessing epidemiological links. The data supported an average substitution rate of 0.80 SNPs per genome per year for L. micdadei but a reliable estimate for L. pneumophila serogroup 1 could not be obtained due to complicating factors such as non-chronological links among isolates and inadequate sampling depths. While the substitution rate for L. micdadei is consistent with previous estimates for L. pneumophila, the lack of a temporal signal in our sequence data for L. pneuomphila serogroup 1 isolates suggests either insufficient change to provide an estimate or variable evolutionary rates, which could reflect the presence of both actively dividing and viable but non-culturable Legionella spp. in the built environment. This study highlights the increased discriminatory power of WGS SNP analysis as compared to PFGE, emphasizes the need for extended sampling, and provides insight into the evolution of Legionella from longitudinal investigations.
Effects of maternal western-style diet on amniotic fluid volume and amnion VEGF profiles in a nonhuman primate model

During pregnancy, high fat diet (HFD) induces maternal obesity, insulin resistance, and placental inflammatory responses that compromise placental and fetal development. Whether maternal HFD would adversely affect amniotic fluid volume (AFV) has not been explored. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in the amnion and has been proposed as a regulator of AFV. Our aim was to investigate the effects of HFD on AFV and the associated changes in VEGF and soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) expression profiles in three amnion regions of a nonhuman primate model. Further, we examined the relationships between VEGF expression and HFD-induced changes in maternal metabolic status. Japanese macaques were maintained on control or HFD and amniotic fluid index (AFI) was measured as an ultrasonic estimate of AFV. Amniotic fluid VEGF concentrations were determined by ELISA and amnion VEGF and sFlt-1 mRNA levels by real-time RT-qPCR. HFD increased maternal plasma triglyceride while glucose levels were unchanged. Maternal weight gain was found in diet-sensitive animals whereas amniotic fluid VEGF concentration was reduced in diet-resistant animals. HFD did not alter AFI and there was no correlation between AFI and maternal weight or amniotic fluid VEGF concentrations. VEGF mRNA levels were lowest in secondary placental amnion while sFlt-1 mRNA were lowest in the primary placental amnion. HFD did not affect amnion VEGF or sFlt-1 mRNA expression. These findings suggest that although maternal HFD increased maternal weight in diet-sensitive and reduced amniotic fluid VEGF concentrations in diet-resistant phenotype, AFV as indicated by the AFI, was not significantly affected.
Pre-clinical development of non-steroidal estrogen receptor GPR30 targeted Tc-99m labeled analogues for breast and endometrial cancer imaging

3156 Introduction and rationale Currently, the estrogen-based radioimaging agents used in clinical applications are not specific for either ER alpha or ER beta and do not differentiate between classical estrogen receptors and novel classes of estrogen receptors such as GPR30. Classical ER antagonist such as tamoxifen is agonists for GPR30, inducing cell proliferation, which may lead to secondary cancers of reproductive organs. As GPR30 is overexpressed in breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers, it is critical to evaluate GPR30 expression in cancer. Recently, we had identified the first GPR30-selective agonist G1, a non-steroidal tetrahydro-3H-cyclopenta[c]quinoline. Towards this end we have developed non-steroidal G1-modified Tc-99m-labeled GPR30-targeted agents for cancer imaging. Methods The parent GPR30-targeted ligand G1 was modified by adding a chelating moiety through various linkers and radiolabeled with Tc-99m using the tricarbonyl approach. Radioligand receptor binding studies were performed on ER alpha/beta- and GPR30-expressing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and GPR30-expressing human endometrial carcinoma Hec50 cells. Blocking studies were performed with the GPR30-specific ligand G1 and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) to determine GPR30 specificity. In vivo biodistribution studies were performed on ovariectomized female athymic mice bearing human endometrial cancer Hec50 tumors and human breast cancer MCF-7/18 tumors. Blocking studies were performed by co-injecting either G1 or E2. NanoSPECT/CT imaging studies were performed on live tumor-bearing animals to evaluate the potential of Tc-99m agents as cancer imaging agents. Results All Tc-99m labeled derivatives were highly stable in plasma for up to 24 hours. The LogP values of the Tc-99m labeled agents ranged from 4.6 - 5.5. In cell binding studies, the Tc-99m labeled agents demonstrated GPR30 specificity. Metabolism and animal studies revealed high liver and intestine uptake as well as radiometabolites in the urine. The Tc-99m-G-ethyne-pyridin-2-yl hydrazine displayed liver uptake of 13-16% ID/g as compared to 21-28% ID/g for Tc-99m-G-ethane- pyridin-2-yl hydrazine. In terms of tumor uptake, the Tc-99m-G-ethyne-pyridin-2-yl hydrazine yielded tumor uptake of 1.05% ID/g at 3 hr PI as compared to 0.40 % ID/g for the Tc-99m-G-ethane-pyridin-2-yl hydrazine and 0.69% ID/g for the Tc-99m-G-ethyne-picolylamine. In imaging studies, the Hec50 tumor was visualized in a live animal for up to 6 hours after injecting the Tc-99m labeled agent. Conclusion We have synthesized and evaluated a series of first generation GPR30 targeted radioimaging agents. These GPR30-targeted agents exhibit promising biodistribution characteristics and tumor uptake, and are important lead compounds for ongoing efforts to optimize the GPR30 targeting and imaging characteristics for diagnostic applications.
WeBuildAI: Participatory Framework for Algorithmic Governance

Algorithms increasingly govern societal functions, impacting multiple stakeholders and social groups. How can we design these algorithms to balance varying interests in a moral, legitimate way? As one answer to this question, we present WeBuildAI, a collective participatory framework that enables people to build algorithmic policy for their communities. The key idea of the framework is to enable stakeholders to construct a computational model that represents their views and to have those models vote on their behalf to create algorithmic policy. As a case study, we applied this framework to a matching algorithm that operates an on-demand food donation transportation service in order to adjudicate equity and efficiency trade-offs. The service's stakeholders--donors, volunteers, recipient organizations, and nonprofit employees--used the framework to design the algorithm through a series of studies in which we researched their experiences. Our findings suggest that the framework successfully enabled participants to build models that they felt confident represented their own beliefs. Participatory algorithm design also improved both procedural fairness and the distributive outcomes of the algorithm, raised participants' algorithmic awareness, and helped identify inconsistencies in human decision-making in the governing organization. Our work demonstrates the feasibility, potential and challenges of community involvement in algorithm design.
Seeking Added Value in the Digital Business World

Digitalization changes the form of business enormously as well as our working conditions. The business world is becoming a huge framework consisting of humans, machines and digits where we have the double role of system builders and at the same time being part of the framework. During the dynamic phases of change, we have to adapt to the new environment and create added value in order to survive in the challenging competition of the business world. Where are our chances in this new work environment to match machines and digits? How can we develop even more advantages? In this chapter, we analyse the working conditions in this new age and focus especially on promoting the intercultural potential of persons in the global challenge. The ability to maintain good cooperation between partners is most certainly a big advantage. Taking into consideration the cultural factors, it enables us not only to achieve higher productivity of companies but also to uphold the work-life balance in a time of encompassing effects on global business.
Dirofilarioses in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management:

Overview:Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are the most important filarial worms, causing heartworm disease and subcutaneous dirofilariosis, respectively. D repens is currently considered ...
Covariate Selection Considering Measurement Error with Application in Accelerated Life Testing

Summary & ConclusionsCovariates (e.g., temperature, humidity, and electric current) are those factors affecting the outcome under study. Practitioners, such as reliability engineers, are often faced with measurement errors in covariates and/or unimportant covariates when collecting data on important variables. Such errors and unimportant covariates usually lead to low-quality estimation results and significantly increase computational efforts. To make the best use of data, it is essential to reduce the negative impact of measurement errors in covariates and eliminate those unimportant covariates, so that an adequate model with accurate and precise model parameter estimates can be obtained. A typical example involving measurement errors in covariates is accelerated life testing (ALT). Even in a laboratory testing environment, the exact measurements of covariates cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, the test conditions may not be perfectly controlled, and bringing the conditions back to the required levels may take some time. Consequently, these affect the reliability estimation for a product under investigation. Considering failure time data collected from the field, the negative impact of measurement errors in covariates is even more significant. Besides a number of known accelerating variables, it is beneficial to monitor some other conditions that might also be influential on the product’s reliability. However, it is often difficult to tell which variables are actually important prior to data analysis. To overcome this challenge, variable selection needs to be considered in order to reduce the model complexity. In this work, both Weibull and Lognormal regression models are studied, for the first time, for modeling ALT data with measurement errors in covariates. The numerical results validate the proposed method for handling measurement errors in covariates and for eliminating unimportant covariates. Beyond ALT, the proposed method can be used to handle other types of data, such as healthcare data, where some environmental factors and human-related characteristics cannot be measured exactly.
Noncanonical cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerases regulate RNA levels, alternative RNA processing, and synaptic plasticity but not hippocampal-dependent behaviours.

Noncanonical poly(A) polymerases are frequently tethered to mRNA 3ʹ untranslated regions and regulate poly(A) tail length and resulting translation. In the brain, one such poly(A) polymerase is Gld...
On the Measurement of Self-Conscious Emotions

Self-conscious emotions, like shame and pride, are thought to have an evaluative component in which the self is posited against a set of standards, rules, and goals of society. This study compares the two methods used to examine self-conscious emotions: a self-report questionnaire, the Test of Self-Conscious Affect in Children (TOSCA-C), and a direct observation of behaviors in response to particular tasks, developed by Lewis, Alessandri and Sullivan (1992). 126 young children participated in both tasks at ages 6 and 7. For the observation data, we found that the tendency to be self-evaluative in terms of success were not related to be self-evaluative in failure, and individual consistency across age was found for self-conscious emotions but not for the primary emotions. The questionnaire data showed that children who scored high in shame also scored high in failure, and there were no consistencies across age. There were weak, inconsistent associations between shame measured by the questionnaire technique and sadness observed in the experiment.
Performance and Reliability of Thermally Conductive Backsheets (TCB)

Thermally conductive backsheets (TCBs) have a potential to reduce the module operating temperature (performance) and increase the lifetime (reliability) of photovoltaic (PV) modules. In this study, various commercially available TCBs were acquired and investigated using the field exposure approach for thermal performance evaluations and accelerated testing approach for the power durability evaluations. Four TCBs were selected and their thermal performance and power durability evaluations were performed against conventional Tedlar-PET-Tedlar (TPT) backsheet. Nine-cell mini PV modules constructed with the selected TCBs and TPT were installed at three sites with hot-dry with high wind speed, hot-dry with low wind speed and temperate climatic conditions. The modules with TCBs reduced the module operating temperature under certain field conditions. These modules with selected TCBs and TPT were also tested as per IEC 61215 standard and Beyond Qualification Plus protocol for minimum reliability and durability. None of the mini modules showed significant degradation (less than 3% in power loss) after the DH1000, UV/TC50/HF10, TC200 and UV weathering tests. One TCB showed a significant change in yellowness index after the DH 1000h, TC200 and UVITC50/HF10 stress tests. This study demonstrates that the selected TCBs have potential to increase the energy production and the lifetime due to reduced operating temperatures compared to TPT-based modules.
Juno Manufacturing, Inc.: Verify Those Asset Figures

The vice president of business development for the Better Living Spaces Company is excited about the prospects of his first acquisition, Juno Manufacturing, Inc., (JMI). He decides it would be prudent to verify that the reported assets on JMI's balance sheets are legitimate. Students will learn the paths he decides to pursue to gain firsthand knowledge of JMI's assets. Excerpt UVA-C-2325 Aug. 11, 2011 JUNO MANUFACTURING, INC.: VERIFY THOSE ASSET FIGURES Halsey Holt, the newly appointed vice president of business development for Better Living Spaces, Inc. (BLSI), was excited about the prospects of his first acquisition—Juno Manufacturing, Inc. (JMI). JMI was a growing, $ 20 million start-up company that had found a real niche in the crowded home improvement products market. Prior to the acquisition and before progressing any further, however, Holt had received permission from the founder of JMI to take whatever steps he deemed prudent to verify that the reported assets on JMI's balance sheets were legitimate. Holt zeroed in on the cash, accounts receivable, inventory and property, and plant and equipment (PP&E) accounts for scrutiny. With more enthusiasm than he thought he would have, he began thinking about ways to acquire the assurance he sought. He did not want to rely on the most recent audit of JMI because it was about eight months old, it had been performed by an audit firm with which he was not familiar, and he wanted firsthand knowledge of JMI's assets. Holt also was intrigued by the prospect of explaining the paths he wanted to pursue and his rationale to the junior colleague who would be assisting him. Company Backgrounds BLSI was a 50-year-old, family-owned conglomerate with headquarters located in a rural area of the southern United States. The company had grown into a $ 1.2 billion business primarily through an ongoing string of savvy, niche-oriented acquisitions that had served to make it a leading wholesaler of all sorts of home improvement products. Those products ranged from imported ceramic tiles to state-of-the-art security systems to decorative moldings and high-quality, avant-garde paints. Of course, the company also wholesaled some basic home improvement products such as prefinished wood flooring, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and contemporary composite decking materials. . . .
Hilltop curvature as a proxy for erosion rate: wavelets enable rapid computation and reveal systematic underestimation

Abstract. Estimation of erosion rate is an important component of landscape evolution studies, particularly in settings where transience or spatial variability in uplift or erosion generates diverse landform morphologies. While bedrock rivers are often used to constrain the timing and magnitude of changes in baselevel lowering, hilltop curvature (or convexity), CHT , provides an additional opportunity to map variations in erosion rate given that average slope angle becomes insensitive to erosion rate owing to threshold slope processes. CHT measurement techniques applied in prior studies (e.g., polynomial functions), however, tend to be computationally expensive when they rely on high-resolution topographic data such as lidar, limiting the spatial extent of hillslope geomorphic studies to small study regions. Alternative techniques such as spectral tools like continuous wavelet transforms present an opportunity to rapidly document trends in hilltop convexity across expansive areas. Here, we demonstrate how continuous wavelet transforms (CWTs) can be used to calculate the Laplacian of elevation, which we utilize to estimate erosion rate in three catchments of the Oregon Coast Range that exhibit varying slope angle, slope length, and hilltop convexity, implying differential erosion. We observe that CHT values calculated with the CWT are similar to those obtained from 2D polynomial functions. Consistent with recent studies, we find that erosion rates estimated with CHT from both CWTs and 2D polynomial functions are consistent with erosion rates constrained with cosmogenic radionuclides from stream sediments. Importantly, our CWT approach calculates curvature at least 103 times more quickly than 2D polynomials. This efficiency advantage of the CWT increases with domain size. As such, continuous wavelet transforms provide a compelling approach to rapidly quantify regional variations in erosion rate as well as lithology, structure, and hillslope sediment transport processes, which are encoded in hillslope morphology. Finally, we test the accuracy of CWT and 2D polynomial techniques by constructing a series of synthetic hillslopes generated by a theoretical nonlinear transport model that exhibit a range of erosion rates and topographic noise characteristics. Notably, we find that neither CWTs nor 2D polynomials reproduce the theoretically prescribed CHT value for hillslopes experiencing moderate to fast erosion rates, even when no topographic noise is added. Rather, CHT is systematically underestimated, producing a power law relationship between erosion rate and CHT that can be attributed to the increasing prominence of planar hillslopes that narrow the zone of hilltop convexity as erosion rate increases. As such, we recommend careful consideration of measurement length scale when applying CHT to estimate erosion rate in moderate to fast-eroding landscapes, where curvature measurement techniques may be prone to systematic underestimation.
N-Heterocyclic carbene–carbodiimide (NHC–CDI) betaine adducts: synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are an important class of reactive organic molecules used as ligands, organocatalysts, and σ-donors in a variety of electroneutral ylide or betaine adducts with main-group compounds. An emerging class of betaine adducts made from the reaction of NHCs with carbodiimides (CDIs) form zwitterionic amidinate-like structures with tunable properties based on the highly modular NHC and CDI scaffolds. The adduct stability is controlled by the substituents on the CDI nitrogens, while the NHC substituents greatly affect the configuration of the adduct in the solid state. This Perspective is intended as a primer to these adducts, touching on their history, synthesis, characterization, and general properties. Despite the infancy of the field, NHC-CDI adducts have been applied as amidinate-type ligands for transition metals and nanoparticles, as junctions in zwitterionic polymers, and to stabilize distonic radical cations. These applications and potential future directions are discussed.
Pediatric abusive head trauma: ThinkFirst national injury prevention foundation.

Background Pediatric abusive head trauma (AHT) represents 80% of nonaccidental trauma deaths, remaining a lead cause of death among infants and young children. Furthermore, neurosurgical intervention can ameliorate damage from secondary injury, but we are currently unable to alter the impact of the primary injury. Thus, prevention through increased public awareness is imperative. This study identifies injuries and predictors of outcomes in pediatric AHT and highlights the importance of partnering with our community through ThinkFirst, a national injury prevention foundation, to educate parents and caregivers about prevention. Methods This single-institution retrospective review identifies injuries and predictors of outcomes in pediatric AHT and highlights the importance of partnering with our community to raise awareness and educate parents and caregivers about prevention. Results The number of pediatric AHT cases continues to steadily increase over time (P Conclusion The population of patients with AHT is unique, and one that will benefit from continued efforts at increased multidisciplinary and public awareness. Prevention of AHT through awareness is critical. Through partnering with ThinkFirst, a national injury prevention foundation, we aim to educate parents and caregivers about prevention.
AlterEcho: Loose Avatar-Streamer Coupling for Expressive VTubing

VTubers are live streamers who embody computer animation virtual avatars. VTubing is a rapidly rising form of online entertainment in East Asia, most notably in Japan and China, and it has been more recently introduced in the West. However, animating an expressive VTuber avatar remains a challenge due to budget and usability limitations of current solutions, i.e., high-fidelity motion capture is expensive, while keyboard-based VTubing interfaces impose a cognitive burden on the streamer. This paper proposes a novel approach for VTubing animation based on the key principle of loosening the coupling between the VTuber and their avatar, and it describes a first implementation of the approach in the AlterEcho VTubing animation system. AlterEcho generates expressive VTuber avatar animation automatically, without the streamer’s explicit intervention; it breaks the strict tethering of the avatar from the streamer, allowing the avatar’s nonverbal behavior to deviate from that of the streamer. Without the complete independence of a true alter ego, but also without the constraint of mirroring the streamer with the fidelity of an echo, AlterEcho produces avatar animations that have been rated significantly higher by VTubers and viewers (N = 315) compared to animations created using simple motion capture, or using VMagicMirror, a state-of-the-art keyboard-based VTubing system. Our work also opens the door to personalizing the avatar persona for individual viewers.
Building and Using an Application-Specific Particle Atlas

Application-specific particle atlases can be assembled and successfully applied to solve manufacturing contamination problems. The Intel Particle Atlas is used at Intel as a general materials reference for identification and elimination of contaminant particles in liquids and gases and on semiconductor wafer surfaces.
The TFTR RF limiter upgrade design and installation

The RF limiters originally installed at Bays K-L and N-O were upgraded to a new configuration and six new limiters of similar design were added. The RF limiter upgrade protects the existing RF launchers and with a minor addition will protect the RF launchers to be installed in FY92, and will permit 50 MW of auxiliary input power for 2 s during plasma operation. Each of the new RF limiters is composed of 18 tiles for a total of 108. The design provides for revised and strengthened supporting mounts because of additional forces induced in the tiles. Tile material is a 2D carbon-carbon composite identical to the original tile material. The channel shaped tile is geometrically the same as the original design. Tooling was designed to replicate the vessel hardpoints and ease the subassembly tasks, installation of the entire system occurred during the FY91 opening. Integrated into the design are provisions to eliminate plasma damage to the insulators at the mounts. >
A Bootstrap Confidence Interval Procedure for the Treatment Effect Using Propensity Score Subclassification

In the analysis of observational studies, propensity score subclassification has been shown to be a powerful method for adjusting unbalanced covariates for the purpose of causal inferences. One practical difficulty in carrying out such an analysis is to obtain a correct variance estimate for inference, while reducing bias in the estimate of the treatment effect due to an imbalance in the measured covariates. In this paper, we propose a bootstrap procedure for the inferences concerning the average treatment effect; our bootstrap method is based on an extension of Efron's bias-corrected accelerated (BCa) bootstrap confidence interval to a two-sample problem. Unlike the currently available inference procedures based on propensity score subclassifications, the validity of the proposed method does not rely on a particular form of variance estimation. A brief simulation study is included to evaluate the operating characteristics of the proposed procedure. We conclude the paper by illustrating the new procedure through a clinical application comparing the renal effects of two non-steroidal anti-inammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
PsaE Is Required for in Vivo Cyclic Electron Flow around Photosystem I in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002

Electron transfer rates to P700+ have been determined in wild-type and three interposon mutants (psaE-, ndhF-, and psaE- ndhF-) of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. All three mutants grew significantly more slowly than wild type at low light intensities, and each failed to grow photoheterotrophically in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) and a metabolizable carbon source. The kinetics of P700+ reduction were similar in the wild-type and mutant whole cells in the absence of DCMU. In the presence of DCMU, the P700+ reduction rate in the psaE mutant was significantly slower than in the wild type. In the presence of DCMU and potassium cyanide, added to inhibit the outflow of electrons through cytochrome oxidase, P700+ reduction rates increased for both the psaE- and ndhF- strains. The reduction rates for these two mutants were nonetheless slower than that observed for the wild-type strain. The further addition of methyl viologen caused the rate of P700+ reduction in the wild type to become as slow as that for the psaE mutant in the absence of methyl viologen. Given the ability of methyl viologen to intercept electrons from the acceptor side of photosystem I, this response reveals a lesion in cyclic electron flow in the psaE mutant. In the presence of DCMU, the rate of P700+ reduction in the psaE ndhF double mutant was very slow and nearly identical with that for the wild-type strain in the presence of 2,4-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone, a condition under which physiological electron donation to P700+ should be completely inhibited. These results suggest that NdhF- and PsaE-dependent electron donation to P700+ occurs only via plastoquinone and/or cytochrome b6/f and indicate that there are three major electron sources for P700+ reduction in this cyanobacterium. We conclude that, although PsaE is not required for linear electron flow to NADP+, it is an essential component in the cyclic electron transport pathway around photosystem I.
A synergistic approach to concurrent engineering

Current approaches to concurrent engineering typically fall into four areas: parallel tasks, data sharing, early invocation of 'ility analysis, and team design. None of these approaches will achieve the goals of true concurrent engineering-systematic cost reduction, quality improvement, and cycle time decrease-because all of these approaches consider individual aspects of a design singularly. Such an approach is analogous to a depth-first search of possible designs. An alternative approach, synergistic concurrent engineering, is based on breadth-first search, where multiple aspects are considered at every level of abstraction. To support synergistic concurrent engineering in practice, change is required in organizational structure and cultural attitudes. Most activity in the area of concurrent engineering represents evolutionary extensions to existing computer-aided design and engineering programs. This paper discusses the limitations of those evolutionary approaches when the problem is so massive that revolutionary solutions are required. It discusses an approach that begins to address the reliability and maintainability aspects of the total concurrent engineering methodology. >
Use of computer graphics for enhancing microelectronics courses in satellite video programs

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Satellite Video Program (RSVP) offers off-campus students the opportunity to participate in regular academic courses and master's degree programs. One such program is the microelectronics manufacturing program to provide engineers or scientists, working in the semiconductor industry, with manufacturing principles and technology updates. The author describes the experience obtained by the RSVP video production personnel in the use of computer graphics and computer animation to satisfy the needs of a variety of course types, as well as of the diverse teaching styles of the instructors. Computer graphics is an essential tool for generating attractive lecture notes, diagrams and animations of abstract concepts which augment the lecture material and upgrade the quality of the presentation, especially in remote settings. The computer graphics and animations developed for a particular course in the program are described. >
Food habits of the western whiptail lizard ( Cnemidophorus tigris ) in southeastern New Mexico

This study presents the first food habit assessment for the western whiptail lizard ( Cnemidophorus tigris ) in the shinnery oak – mesquite habitat ( Quercus havardii – Prosopis glandulosa ) of southeastern New Mexico. Short-horned grasshoppers, termites, antlions, beetles, and spiders formed the major portion of the diet during the four-year study. Discriminant analyses were used to evaluate annual, seasonal (monthly), and sexual variation. Incidental food categories were responsible for most of the annual and seasonal variation. Dominant foods varied little between months and years. Sexual variation was more evident; it may act to reduce intraspecific competition for food resources and may be associated with secondary sexual size dimorphism.
Motivations for Secondary Abstinence Among African American Females at Risk for HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections

Some sexually experienced African American females abstain from sexual activity for various reasons and periods of time following sexual debut (secondary abstinence), reducing their risk of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition. However, few studies have sought to understand secondary abstinence motivations. Furthermore, the scope of existing knowledge may be limited by the quantitative approaches employed. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate secondary abstinence motivations among African American females using a grounded theory approach. Interviews were conducted with 20 young women, aged 18 to 23 years, who recently completed a sexual risk–reduction intervention. Motivations for secondary abstinence not identified in previous studies included feeling used for sex, partner infidelity, and abuse or sexual assault. Also, young women were motivated to abstain to focus on improving certain aspects of their lives. Other motivations similar to those previously identifi...
The Preparation of Silica Gel Thin Layers with a New Apparatus

Abstract An apparatus for the preparation of uniform thin layer chromatography gel layers is described. The apparatus employs rubber cushion runners to compensate for differences in plate thickness and a gel applicator which functions independently of plate edge variability. Consistently uniform layers are prepared by careful establishment of the plate-to-applicator distance. Silica gel layers averaged 87% of the applied thickness with a variability of ±2% within a single run and ±8% between independent runs.
Dynamic Coverage Control in Unicycle Multi-Robot Networks Under Anisotropic Sensing

This paper considers dynamic coverage control for nonholonomic agents along with collision avoidance guarantees. The novelties of the approach rely on the consideration of anisotropic sensing, which is realized via conic sensing footprints and sensing (coverage) functions for each agent, and on a novel form of avoidance functions. The considered sensing functions encode field-of-view and range constraints, and also the degradation of effective sensing close to the boundaries of the sensing footprint. Thus the proposed approach is suitable for surveillance applications where each agent is assigned with the task to gather enough information, such as video streaming in an obstacle environment. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated through simulation results.
Pain perception in self-injurious borderline patients: Naloxone effects

We report the effects of the opiate antagonist naloxone on pain and mood change associated with the cold pressor test in self-injurious borderline patients
Navigators for the digital ocean

Purpose – The purpose of this column is to explore methods in which information professionals can contribute to the intelligence of open discovery systems.Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual column based on experience in this field and a review of the relevant literature.Findings – There are several ways in which information professionals can contribute to make their discovery systems more robust through careful semantic analysis.Originality/value – This column explores ways in which the fields of linguistics, semantic analysis, semiotics, and web ontologies can assist information professionals in building responsive and robust back end indexing systems that can be coupled to front end open discovery frameworks.
7051 Esophageal stent placement without flouroscopy.

Background: Esophageal cancer is common in southwestern Kenya, and palliative treatment options are limited for patients with advanced disease. One obstacle preventing use of esophageal stents in our region is lack of flouroscopy equipment. We developed a method for esophageal stent placement without flouroscopy. Methods: Patients with dysphagia due to unresectable esophageal cancer were offered stent placement. All patients had previously undergone endoscopic dilation of their esophageal tumor to at least 36 French. Expandable stents made of stainless steel wire (Wallstent II, Schneider) or knit from nitinol (Ultraflex, Microvasive) were used. Prior to stent placement an endoscope was passed through the tumor to the stomach, a guidewire was placed in the antrum, and the tumor's position and length were noted during endoscope withdrawal. A stent was passed over the guidewire and through the tumor, after marking the stent delivery catheter at the base of the stent's proximal flange with an indelible colored mark. The endoscope was then re-introduced into the proximal esophagus alongside the stent delivery catheter, and the catheter was positioned so that the colored mark was visible at the proximal edge of the tumor. Stent deployment was monitored endoscopically with the endoscope tip positioned proximal to the constrained stent. After stent deployment the endoscope was gently passed into or through the stent. Dysphagia scores were recorded before stent placement and at follow-up clinic visits, on a scale ranging from 4 (unable to swallow saliva) to 0 (no dysphagia). Results: Stent placement was attempted in 24 patients and was successful in all cases. Stainless steel stents were placed in 14 patients and nitinol stents in 10 patients. An endoscope could be passed immediately through the stent to the stomach in 19 patients, and in the remaining 5 patients endoscopic views from the mid-shaft of the stent confirmed adequate placement across the entire tumor. Mean dysphagia score was 3.4 prior to stent placement (n=24) and 0.2 after stent placement (n=13). There were no immediate complications of stent placement. One patient returned 10 weeks after stenting with recurrent dysphagia due to tumor growth over the proximal end of the stent, which was successfully treated with placement of a second stent. An additional patient developed reflux symptoms requiring medication. Conclusion: Expandable esophageal stents can be accurately, safely, and easily placed under direct endoscopic control, without flouroscopy.
Effects of Silver Nanoparticle on Soil-Nitrification Processes

The release of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) from the use of consumer products to the environment has raised concern about the risk to ecosystems because of its unpredictable toxicological impact to microorganisms in terrestrial environment. In this study, the impact of Ag chemical speciation (Ag+ and Ag-NPs [50-nm uncoated and 15-nm polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated Ag-NPs]) to soil nitrification kinetics was investigated using a batch soil-slurry nitrification method along with sorption isotherm and dissolution experiments. The results of nitrification potential (i.e., kinetic rate) suggest that Ag+/Ag-NPs, which strongly sorb in soils, suppressed the nitrification processes. Among each chemical species, the degree of suppression increased with increasing [Ag]total. Although ionic Ag (Ag+) species is known to exhibit greater antimicrobial effects than the solid state Ag species, such as Ag-NPs, in most studies, PVP-coated 15-nm Ag-NPs, however, more effectively suppressed the soil nitrification process than did Ag+ under the same dose. Although several physicochemical-based toxicity mechanisms of dispersed Ag-NPs were discussed in pure culture and aquatic systems, it is not clearly understood how PVP-coated Ag-NPs could exhibit greater toxicity to nitrifying bacteria than Ag+ in soils. In assessing the impact of Ag-NPs to microbial mediated processes (e.g., N cycles) in the terrestrial environment, it might be critical to understand the interactions and reactivity of Ag-NPs at the soil–water interface.
The perception of length on curved and flat surfaces.

In three experiments, observers judged the apparent extents of spatial intervals along the surface of a curved cylinder or a flat plane that was binocularly viewed in a natural, indoor environment. The observers’ judgments of surface lengths were precise and reliable but were also inaccurate and subject to relatively large constant errors. These distortions differed among the observers, but they tended to perceive lengths oriented along the curved dimension of the cylinder as being longer than physically equivalent lengths in the noncurved dimension. This phenomenon did not occur when the observers judged curved and noncurved paths on the flat surface. In addition, some observers’ judgments of length were affected by changes in the distance to the cylinder, whereas others were affected by the cylinder’s orientation in space. These results demonstrate that the perception of length on surfaces is highly dependent on the particular context in which the length occurs.
Suppression of Bacterial Soft Rot in Potato Tubers by Application of Kasugamycin

An immersion in aqueous solutions of Kasumin®, containing kasugamycin at 10 to 320 mg/L (ppm) for 1 to 320 sec delayed or prevented the development of soft rot on inoculated (Erwinia carotovora subsp.carotovora) tuber disks incubated over wet filter paper at 24C for 24 to 72 hr. Treatment efficacy decreased as inoculum level and incubation period increased. Short immersion periods were not as effective as longer ones. When stored tubers were inoculated withE. c. carotovora and incubated up to 5 days in fog chamber at 20 C, immersion treatments in 20 to 400 ppm kasugamycin either had no effect or increased soft rot development. By contrast, when the stored tubers were cut into sections before inoculation and treatment, immersion in 300 ppm reduced soft rot development on the cut surfaces from 83% (inoculated controls) to 3.2%. With non-inoculated sections, treatment with 25 ppm reduced the SAD from 13.3 to 0.6%. Wash or rinse treatment of freshly harvested tubers in 40 to 160 ppm produced a significant reduction in the severity of bacterial soft rot among tubers incubated for 72 to 96-hr. The 160-ppm treatment delayed disease onset by at least 24 hr. Pre-washing freshly harvested tubers with clean or chlorinated water prior to antibiotic treatment did not consistently improve the efficacy of the kasugamycin treatment.
Automated Fault Detection and Diagnostics for Vapor Compression Cooling Equipment

This paper provides an overview of research related to automated fault detection and diagnosis for chillers, packaged air conditioners, and other vapor compression cooling equipment. The paper discusses the benefits, constraints, and possible products for FDD applied in the HVAC&R industry, presents results of fault surveys for packaged air conditioners and chillers, outlines the general structure and elements of an FDD system for HVAC&R equipment, describes specific methods associated with different FDD elements, and presents results from some specific case studies. The paper also attempts to provide an assessment of the state-of-the-art in FDD for vapor compression equipment and to identify the steps necessary to achieve widespread application.
Solving multiple criteria problems by interactive decomposition

An interactive decomposition method is developed for solving the multiple criteria (MC) problem. Based on nonlinear programming duality theory, the MC problem is decomposed into a series of subproblems and relaxed master problems. Each subproblem is a bicriterion problem, and each relaxed master problem is a standard linear program. The prime objective of the decomposition is to simplify and facilitate the process of making preference assessments and tradeoffs across many conflicting objectives. Therefore, the decision-maker's preference function is not assumed to be known explicitly; rather, the decision maker is required to make only limited local preference assessments in the context of feasible and nondominated alternatives. Also, the preference assessments are of the form of ordinal paired comparisons, and in most of them only two criteria are allowed to change their values simultaneously, while the remaining (l−2) criteria are held fixed at certain levels.
Coping Responses and the Experience of Discrimination1

This study examines the coping responses of individuals reporting experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination (N=156). Racial/ethnic differences in contextual appraisals and coping strategies were reported in response to discrimination. African and Asian American participants reporting experiences of discrimination were more likely to perceive the situation as a challenge. African Americans reporting experiences of discrimination were more likely to report seeking support and guidance when compared to Asian and European Americans. Contextual appraisals did not predict the use of coping strategies in response to experiences of discrimination. Emotional discharge and past experiences of discrimination were positively associated with re-experiencing symptoms. Cognitive avoidance coping strategies were associated with avoidance symptoms. Clinical implications of the findings are explored.