cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image Steganographic Scheme Using Tri-way Pixel-Value Differencing and Adaptive Rules

A novel steganographic approach based on tri-way pixel-value differencing (TPVD) is presented in this paper. This approach uses three different directional edges to design the tri-way differencing scheme and to remove the capacity limitation of the original PVD method using only one direction. In addition, we propose an optimal selection approach for the reference point and adaptive rules to reduce distortion from setting larger embedding capacity. The theoretical estimation and experimental results demonstrate that our scheme can provide a superior embedding capacity and the embedded confidential information can be extracted from stego-images without the assistance of original images.
Three New Species of Phytomyza. (Agromyzidæ, Diptera).

The following new species are added to those previously described by the writer (1924)[*][1] in “A Revision of the North American Species in Phytomyza Fallen.” They run in that key as indicated in the accompanying descriptions. The Holotypes have been deposited in the U. S. National Museum. [1]: #fn-1
Modeling spatial strain gradient effects in thermo-mechanical fatigue of copper microstructures

Copper microvias play a key role as electrical interconnects in high density wiring substrates used in microsystems packaging. These microvia structures experience low-cycle fatigue due to thermo-mechanical loads during processing and operating environments. To predict the thermo-mechanical fatigue life of the microvias through physics-based models accurate estimation of damage metrics, such as plastic strain and total strain range is critical. Experimental evidence indicates that the plastic deformation in metals and polymers at small scales depends not only on the state variables of stress and strain, but also on the higher-order spatial strain gradients. As the diameter of the microvia structures reduce to accommodate high density wiring, the wall thickness of these structures correspondingly reduces to the order of microns, where scale effects in plasticity are predominant. In this work a spatial strain gradient-based hardening algorithm is developed and employed in a commercial finite element code to study the thermo-mechanical deformation of copper microvia structures. In-house thermal cycling results are used to validate the numerical results. The thermo-mechanical reliability and low-cycle fatigue analysis demonstrate the influence of incorporating strain gradient effects in predicting the evolution of plastic deformation and low-cycle fatigue life in the copper microvia structures.
CP violation does not make faster-than-light communication possible☆

Abstract We show in detail why,contrary to a recent suggestion by Datta, Home and Raychaudhuri, CP violation does not spoil the general quantum-theoretical result that the probabilities predicted by quantum theory for the results of measurements performed upon one system do not depend upon what measurement, if any, is performed upon a second system that previously interacted with the first.
Genotypes at 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 11B1 and Hexose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Loci Are Not Risk Factors for Apparent Cortisone Reductase Deficiency in a Large Population-Based Sample

Context: Apparent cortisone reductase deficiency (ACRD) is a rarely ascertained condition characterized by signs of androgen excess in women or children and decreased urinary excretion of cortisol metabolites compared with cortisone metabolites. These findings suggest a deficiency of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11-HSD1; encoded by the HSD11B1 gene), which normally converts cortisone to cortisol. Common polymorphisms in both HSD11B1 and the hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PD) gene encoding hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase have been found together in ACRD patients, who carry three of a possible four minor alleles at the two loci. Objective: The objective of this study was to confirm the postulated digenic inheritance mechanism for ACRD. Design: This was a population-based association study (Dallas Heart Study). Subjects were genotyped for the 1971T>G polymorphism in intron 3 of HSD11B1 and the R453Q polymorphism in H6PD. Subjects: The study comprised 3551 individuals in a population-based s...
Multiple solutions for a class of nonlinear Sturm-Liouville problems on the half line☆

Abstract A class of nonlinear Sturm-Liouville problems is considered. These problems admit zero as a trivial solution. Variational techniques and approximation arguments are used to obtain the existence of nontrivial solutions with any prescribed number of nodes. Results are also obtained in higher dimensions via investigation of the set of radial solutions of appropriate partial differential equations.
The influence of polymer morphology on polymer film electrochemistry

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of functionalized polystyrene-coated electrodes shows a marked dependence on the nature of the electrolyte ions. Scanning electron microscope and surface profile measurements are presented which show that changes in polymer film volume and morphology accompany electrochemical oxidation. Changing polymer morphology by doping the films with soluble monomers during preparation is shown to produce large changes in electrochemical response. Diffusion coefficients were determined for a neutral organic dye dopant in each of the polymer films investigated, and these correlate very well with the oxidation overpotentials observed electrochemically. The nature of polymer film/solvent interactions and the mechanism by which counter ions penetrate the polymer phase is discussed and is related to other physical properties of amorphous polymers in terms of free volume concepts.
A World Without Jews: Interpreting the Holocaust*

It is my claim that a period of Holocaust consciousness stretching from the mid-1970s to the present is coming to an end. As the Holocaust now becomes part and parcel of history, memory, and the wider culture, a stage in the process of internalizing it comes to an end. This sense of pastness opens up new ways for understanding and interpreting it. In this essay, I discuss three interpretative notions that up to now have dominated historians’ discussion of the Holocaust—racial ideology, radicalization of Nazi policy, and the context of war—and that in my view need to be rethought. The text shows how these notions were used in Holocaust historiography and how their use has been changing. I discuss future avenues of research. In particular, I suggest a new direction that builds on these notions and on new historiographical innovations, but that diverges from them. I propose to treat the persecution and extermination of the Jews as a problem of culture, a term that is admittedly vague but interpretatively rewarding: that is, narrating the world the Nazis and some Germans built—a Germany, and later a world, without Jews—and what they thought they were engaged in—namely, a necessary battle against their enemy, ‘the Jew’—by placing memories, identities, fantasies, and symbols at the centre of the explanation.
Preclinical antitumor activity of a novel folate-targeted dual drug conjugate.

We have designed a new type of tumor-targeted agent by tethering two different drug molecules, with distinct biological mechanisms of action, to the same ligand. This compound, named EC0225, represents the “first in class” multidrug, folate receptor (FR)-targeted agent to be disclosed. It was constructed with a single folate molecule, extended by a hydrophilic peptide-based spacer, which was in turn attached to mitomycin and Vinca alkaloid units via two separate disulfide-containing linkers. EC0225 produced potent, dose-responsive activity in vitro, and curative activity was observed against FR-positive syngeneic and xenograft tumors following the administration of well-tolerated dosing regimens. Multiple complete responses and cures were also noted when EC0225 was used to treat mice initially bearing tumors as large as 750 mm3 in volume. Overall, EC0225’s impressive preclinical activity allowed for its selection as a development candidate and for the start of Phase 1 clinical trials, which began in March...
Analysis of Variance: Is There a Difference in Means and What Does It Mean?

To critically evaluate the literature and to design valid studies, surgeons require an understanding of basic statistics. Despite the increasing complexity of reported statistical analyses in surgical journals and the decreasing use of inappropriate statistical methods, errors such as in the comparison of multiple groups still persist. This review introduces the statistical issues relating to multiple comparisons, describes the theoretical basis behind analysis of variance (ANOVA), discusses the essential differences between ANOVA and multiple t-tests, and provides an example of the computations and computer programming used in performing ANOVA.
One-dimensional polymeric bicinate manganese complex

Abstract The synthesis, X-ray structure and magnetochemical properties of the one-dimensional polymeric bicinate (bic−) manganese complex {[Mn(bic)Cl]2·2(H2O)}n are reported. Each manganese ion has distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Bicine is a pentadentate ligand using one nitrogen, and four oxygen atoms to coordinate to the MnII ion. The two hydroxyl groups are not deprotonated and the carboxylate moiety of the bic− ligand ion is a bridge leading to a one-dimensional chain. The water molecules are not coordinated to the MnII ions, but are involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions with the chain. Only weak pairwise antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (J = −0.30 cm−1) are found within the chain complex due to the carboxylate bridges.
The Burkholderia contaminans MS14 ocfC Gene Encodes a Xylosyltransferase for Production of the Antifungal Occidiofungin

Burkholderia contaminans strain MS14 produces the antifungal compound occidiofungin, which is responsible for significant antifungal activities against a broad range of plant and animal fungal pathogens. Occidiofungin is a cyclic glycolipopeptide made up of eight amino acids and one xylose. A 56-kb ocf gene cluster was determined to be essential for occidiofungin production. In this study, the ocfC gene, which is located downstream of ocfD and upstream of the ocfB gene in the ocf gene cluster, was examined. Antifungal activity of the ocfC gene mutant MS14KC1 was reduced against the indicator fungus Geotrichum candidum compared with that of the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the analysis of the protein sequence suggests that the ocfC gene encodes a glycosyltransferase. Biochemical analyses using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy revealed that the ocfC mutant produced the occidiofungin without the xylose. The purified ocfC mutant MS14KC1 product had a level of bioactivity similar to that of the wild-type product. The revertant MS14KC1-R of the ocfC mutant produced the same antifungal activity level on plate assays and the same antifungal compound based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectroscopy analysis as wild-type strain MS14. Collectively, the study demonstrates that the ocfC gene encodes a glycosyltransferase responsible to add a xylose to the occidiofungin molecule and that the presence of the xylose is not important for antifungal activity against Candida species. The finding provides a novel variant for future studies aimed at evaluating its use for inhibiting clinical and agricultural fungi, and the finding could also simplify the chemical synthesis of occidiofungin variants.
The "Process" of Process Use: Methods for Longitudinal Assessment in a Multisite Evaluation

Process use refers to the ways in which stakeholders and/or evaluands change as a function of participating in evaluation activities. Although the concept of process use has been well discussed in the literature, exploration of methodological strategies for the measurement and assessment of process use has been limited. Typically, empirical research on process use has been limited to cross-sectional studies in single-site evaluation projects. In this method note, we present a longitudinal study of process use in a multisite evaluation project. Stakeholders’ changes in learning, attitudes, and behavior/action were assessed at three time points: prior to the onset of evaluation consultation; near the conclusion of a 1-year participatory consultation project; and 6–8 weeks after the termination of the project. Results showed that different domains of process use had differential development over time. Implications for measuring process use are discussed.
HIV Disease Implications for Special Educators

The Number of children and adolescents who have contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has increased to alarming levels. this increase impacts current and future school personnel who work with students with disabilities. We address the implications of the HIV disease in the classroom from two perspectives. First, we discuss some of the issues that surround working with students who have HIV disease, such as creating a supportive school climate, ensuring confidentiality, and implementing hygienic safeguards in the school setting. second, we address curricular considerations related to teaching students with special needs about HIV prevention, including who should provide the instruction, implications for teacher preparation programs, and suggested format and content of HIV education.
Molecular Epidemiology: On the Path to Prevention?

Cancer prevention has been the stated goal of molecular cancer epidemiology for the past 17 years. In this review, progress toward that goal is evaluated by using as examples well-studied environmental exposures-i.e., tobacco smoke, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aflatoxin B(1), benzene, and hepatitis B virus-and their roles in lung, breast, and liver cancers and leukemia. The contributions of molecular epidemiology discussed here include providing evidence that environmental agents pose carcinogenic risks, helping establish the causal roles of environmental factors in cancer, identifying environment-susceptibility interactions and populations at greatest risk, and developing new intervention strategies. Molecular epidemiologic and other data indicate that assessment of carcinogenic risks should address both the range of risk across the population and the risk to subgroups who may be at high risk because of genetic or acquired susceptibilities, including young children. However, for the most part, research results have not yet been effectively translated into risk assessments and preventive health policies. An infrastructure linking scientists, policy makers, and other constituencies is needed to facilitate this process. To extend our knowledge, the second generation of molecular epidemiologic research should include large-scale, collaborative studies incorporating validated biomarkers and automated technologies. An incentive to make the necessary investment is the recognition that prevention of only 20% of cancer in the United States would result in 200000 fewer new cases diagnosed each year and an annual savings of $21.4 billion in direct costs alone.
Testing Riker's Party-Based Theory of Federalism: The Argentine Case

This study seeks to advance our understanding of the institutional underpinnings offederalism by evaluating William H. Riker's study of party causality. Using data from federal funds transfers in Argentina, afederation exhibiting high levels offiscal decentralization despite its centralized party system, it is shown that when governorships are held by opposition parties, the overall amount offederalfunds transferred to provinces increases considerably. In addition, changes in the partisan composition of the national government are also associated with steep increases in the share of provincial federal funds, whereas, more controversially and challenging prominent recent studies of decentralization in Latin America, divided government at the national level leads to centralization of intergovernmental funds. These findings support Riker's contention that political parties exercise a decisive influence over the distribution offiscal powers between states and the national government. Do political parties exert any significant influence on the ability of subnational governments in federal systems to shape their own destinies? Fueled by persistent tensions between regions and the center in a vast majority of political systems, the study of the institutional conditions for the maintenance of centralization or peripheralization of federalism has come to the forefront of scholarly and public debate. After decades of legalistic accounts positing that constitutional law is the best predictor of the level of centralization that develops over time,' William H. Riker showed that federalism should be seen as a political bargain that goes beyond founding constitutions. In addition, he pinpointed the crucial institutional factor determining the fate of the federal bargain: the structure of the party system. Centered primarily around the American experience, Riker argued that the decentralization of the U.S. two-party system precludes presidents from controlling their partisans by either organizational or ideological means.2 Two aspects of partisan politics, his argument goes, are of particular relevance: first, the extent to which parties control the behavior of their
Capturing the layout of electronic documents for reuse in variable data printing

Personalized mailing in direct marketing campaign often requires sending out a unique piece of mail to each recipient while keeping the same look and feel across all the mail pieces in one campaign. In this paper, we describe a method that captures the layout of an existing page by identifying different logical blocks, extracting the style features of each logical block on the page, analyzing and extracting the layout relationships and constraints among different logical blocks. The captured layout can then be reused in automated composition of new documents.
Identification of TIDs and plasma depletions using the LISN observatory

The Low-latitude Ionospheric Sensor Network (LISN) is a distributed observatory designed to nowcast the state and dynamics of the low latitude ionosphere. The LISN observatory is comprised of GPS receivers, flux-gate magnetometers and Vertical Incidence Pulsed Ionospheric Radar (VIPIR) ionosondes. LISN strives to measure the day-to-day variability of the low-latitude ionosphere with a regional scope (50° in longitude), and to conduct investigations of the low latitude ionosphere to develop forecasts of the electric fields, densities and equatorial spread F (ESF) over the South American continent. During the first years of operations the following tasks have been conducted: (1) Maps of total electron content (TEC) over South America. (2) Maps of TEC depletions and TEC perturbations associated with the passage of traveling ionospheric disturbances (TID). (3) Campaigns to detect medium-scale (∼100 km) TIDs using 3 GPSs separated by 5–20 km. This presentation shows initial results on the seasonal/ longitudinal distributions of TEC depletions over South America and the relationship of these distributions with the variability of TEC and the occurrence of TEC perturbations associated with gravity waves.
Self-Representations in Immersive Virtual Environments 1

This experiment varied whether individuals interacted with virtual representations of themselves or of others in an immersive virtual environment. In the selfrepresentation condition, half of the participants interacted with a selfrepresentation that bore photographic resemblance to them, whereas the other half interacted with a self-representation that bore no resemblance to them. In the other-representation condition, participants interacted with a representation of another individual. The experimental design wa sa2( Participant Gender) ¥ 3 (Agent Identity: high-similarity self-representation vs. low-similarity self-representation vs. other representation). Overall, participants displayed more intimacy-consistent behaviors for representations of themselves than others. Implications of using immersive virtual environment technology for studying the self are discussed.
Hydrogels cross-linked by native chemical ligation.

We describe the use of native chemical ligation (NCL) reaction to covalently cross-link soluble polymers into hydrogels. Macromonomers consisting of a four-armed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) core end-functionalized with either thioester or N-terminal cysteine peptide were designed and synthesized. Upon mixing aqueous solutions of the thioester and N-terminal cysteine macromonomers, rigid hydrogels formed within minutes. The gelation time was affected by choice of buffer, pH, polymer concentration, reaction temperature, and chemical composition of the N-terminal cysteine conjugate. The kinetics of gel formation and the viscoelastic behavior of selected hydrogels were further studied by oscillatory rheology, which demonstrated a minimum gel formation time of approximately two minutes and the formation of an elastic cross-linked hydrogel via the NCL reaction. A useful feature of this hydrogel strategy is the regeneration of thiol functional groups as a result of the NCL reaction, thereby allowing functionaliz...
Geos 3 STDN S band Doppler tracking investigation

GEOS 3S Doppler band and laser ranging data, acquired from August 1975 to March 1976 in the spacecraft altimeter calibration area, are examined. An evaluation of two-way and three-way Doppler data, for the positioning of Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network S band stations is presented, as well as the Goddard Space Flight Center laser system that is used to reference the exact position of the Doppler stations. The two-way and three-way Doppler tracking devices, situated at Rosman and Bermuda, have yielded data for the recovery of GEOS 3 arc height with an uncertainty of only 1 m. Attention is given to the effects of beacon signal frequency instability, controlled by a temperature sensitive auxiliary crystal oscillator on board the spacecraft, and to the one-way range rate tracking noise that was found to be within a range of 2 to 10 cm/s. 1- and 2-way passes and their different arc meters are graphed, showing the Doppler tracking interval. It was concluded that other accurate computations and recovery of station coordinates could be performed employing tracking data from S band stations.
Nonparametric inference with generalized likelihood ratio tests

The advance of technology facilitates the collection of statistical data. Flexible and refined statistical models are widely sought in a large array of statistical problems. The question arises frequently whether or not a family of parametric or nonparametric models fit adequately the given data. In this paper we give a selective overview on nonparametric inferences using generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) statistics. We introduce generalized likelihood ratio statistics to test various null hypotheses against nonparametric alternatives. The trade-off between the flexibility of alternative models and the power of the statistical tests is emphasized. Well-established Wilks’ phenomena are discussed for a variety of semi- and non-parametric models, which sheds light on other research using GLR tests. A number of open topics worthy of further study are given in a discussion section.
Megakaryocytopoiesis in Splenectomized and ‘Hypersplenic’ Rats

Summary. Megakaryocytopoiesis was studied in splenectomized, in normal and in ‘hypersplenic’ rats in order to evaluate the role of the spleen on platelet kinetics. Bone marrow autoradiography after injection of tritiated thymidine was utilized in this investigation. The splenectomized rats were studied 6 weeks after the operation when their platelet count was stable at a level of 23% higher than before splenectomy. Splenomegaly was produced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of methylcellulose and was associated with a 52% lowering of the platelet count. The results revealed identical patterns of megakaryocytopoiesis in splenectomized and normal rats indicating that post-splenectomy thrombocy tosis was not the consequence of an increased rate of megakaryocyte maturation. On the contrary, megakaryocytopoiesis in the ‘hypersplenic’ rats was stimulated, although slightly so. This demonstrated that thrombocytopenia in the rats with splenomegaly could not be ascribed to the functional inhibition of megakaryocyte maturation. These findings support the view that in normal conditions the role of the spleen lies only in the distribution of the circulating platelet mass with a higher concentration of platelets in the spleen, and are consistent with the suggestion that in ‘hyper-splenism’ the thrombocytopenia occurs because of excessive pooling of the platelets in the enlarged spleen, while the bone marrow provides a larger than normal number of platelets.
Maternal body burdens of methylmercury impair survival skills of offspring in Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)

Methylmercury (MeHg), the organic form of mercury, bioaccumulates easily through the food chain. Fish in high trophic levels can accumulate substantial levels of MeHg and transfer it to their developing eggs. Here, the effects of maternally derived MeHg on the planktonic larval stage of Atlantic croaker were investigated. Adult Atlantic croaker were fed MeHg-contaminated food at three levels: 0, 0.05, and 0.1 mg kg −1 day −1 for 1 month. Fish were then induced to spawn and MeHg levels in the eggs were measured (0.04–4.6 ng g −1 ). Behavioral performance of exposed and control larvae was measured at four developmental stages: end of yolk absorption (yolk), end of oil absorption (oil), and 4 and 11 days after oil absorption (oil + 4 and oil + 11). Behaviors analyzed included survival skills related to foraging and predator evasion: routine behavior (rate of travel, active swimming speed, net-to-gross displacement ratio, and activity) and startle response to a visual and a vibratory stimulus (responsiveness, reactive distance, response distance, response duration, average response speed, and maximum response speed). Maternally transferred MeHg induced concentration-dependent effects on survival skills. Statistical and simulation models applied to predict the ecological consequences of the behavioral effects suggested that maternal transfer of MeHg may substantially lower survival of planktonic stage larvae compared to unexposed larvae. These results also imply that larvae of top predatory fish species, such as blue marlin, may suffer mortality through maternal transfer of MeHg.
When Does Market-Making Make Markets? EU Health Services Policy at Work in the United Kingdom and Germany*

The EU is very good at negative integration, removing barriers to cross-border activity. But does that automatically mean the creation of a common market? We investigate the extent to which EU health care policies, which undeniably are negative integration, are creating any kind of markets in health care. Using elite interviews in the UK and Germany, we find almost no behaviour by states or stakeholders that is both competitive and attributable to EU policy. There are multiple barriers to entry and weak incentives for patients, providers or governments to respond to EU health policy with competition or entry into new markets. So there is very little response to EU law, and what there is is driven by domestic political agendas.
Sympathetic, sensory, and nonneuronal contributions to the cutaneous vasoconstrictor response to local cooling.

Previous work indicates that sympathetic nerves participate in the vascular responses to direct cooling of the skin in humans. We evaluated this hypothesis further in a four-part series by measuring changes in cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) from forearm skin locally cooled from 34 to 29 degrees C for 30 min. In part 1, bretylium tosylate reversed the initial vasoconstriction (-14 +/- 6.6% control CVC, first 5 min) to one of vasodilation (+19.7 +/- 7.7%) but did not affect the response at 30 min (-30.6 +/- 9% control, -38.9 +/- 6.9% bretylium; both P 0.05 between treatments). In part 2, yohimbine and propranolol (YP) also reversed the initial vasoconstriction (-14.3 +/- 4.2% control) to vasodilation (+26.3 +/- 12.1% YP), without a significant effect on the 30-min response (-26.7 +/- 6.1% YP, -43.2 +/- 6.5% control; both P 0.05 between sites). In part 3, the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226 had no significant effect on either phase of vasoconstriction (P > 0.05 between sites both times). In part 4, sensory nerve blockade by anesthetic cream (Emla) also reversed the initial vasoconstriction (-20.1 +/- 6.4% control) to one of vasodilation (+213.4 +/- 87.0% Emla), whereas the final levels did not differ significantly (-37.7 +/- 10.1% control, -37.2 +/- 8.7% Emla; both P 0.05 between treatments). These results indicate that local cooling causes cold-sensitive afferents to activate sympathetic nerves to release norepinephrine, leading to a local cutaneous vasoconstriction that masks a nonneurogenic vasodilation. Later, a vasoconstriction develops with or without functional sensory or sympathetic nerves.
Quantitative proteomics analysis of differential protein expression and oxidative modification of specific proteins in the brains of old mice.

The brain is susceptible to oxidative stress, which is associated with age-related brain dysfunction, because of its high content of peroxidizable unsaturated fatty acids, high oxygen consumption per unit weight, high content of key components for oxidative damage, and the relative scarcity of antioxidant defense systems. Protein oxidation, which results in functional disruption, is not random but appears to be associated with increased oxidation in specific proteins. By using a proteomics approach, we have compared the protein levels and specific protein carbonyl levels, an index of oxidative damage in the brains of old mice, to these parameters in the brains of young mice and have identified specific proteins that are altered as a function of aging. We show here that the expression levels of dihydropyrimidinase-like 2 (DRP2), -enolase (ENO1), dynamin-1 (DNM1), and lactate dehydrogenase 2 (LDH2) were significantly increased in the brains of old versus young mice; the expression levels of three unidentified proteins were significantly decreased. The specific carbonyl levels of -actin (ACTB), glutamine synthase (GS), and neurofilament 66 (NF-66) as well as a novel protein were significantly increased, indicating protein oxidation, in the brains of old versus young mice. These results were validated by immunochemistry. In addition, enzyme activity assays demonstrated that oxidation was associated with decreased GS activity, while the activity of lactate dehydrogenase was unchanged in spite of an up-regulation of LDH2 levels. Several of the up-regulated and oxidized proteins in the brains of old mice identified in this report are known to be oxidized in neurodegenerative diseases as well, suggesting that these proteins may be particularly susceptible to processes associated with neurodegeneration. Our results establish an initial basis for understanding protein alterations that may lead to age-related cellular dysfunction in the brain.
The Rat Mammary Gland: Morphologic Changes as an Indicator of Systemic Hormonal Perturbations Induced by Xenobiotics

The development and morphology of the rat mammary gland are dependent upon several hormones including estrogens, androgens, progesterone, growth hormone and prolactin. In toxicology studies, treatment with xenobiotics may alter these hormones resulting in changes in the morphology of reproductive tissues such as the mammary gland. In the rat, male and female mammary glands exhibit striking morphologic differences that can be altered secondary to hormonal perturbations. Recognizing these morphologic changes can help the pathologist predict potential xenobiotic-induced perturbations in the systemic hormonal milieu. This review examines the development of the rat mammary gland and the influence of sex hormones on the morphology of the adult male and female rat mammary gland. Specific case examples from the literature and data from our laboratory highlight the dynamic nature of the rat mammary gland in response to hormonal changes.
Risk of aspirin-associated major upper-gastrointestinal bleeding with enteric-coated or buffered product

Summary Background Aspirin products are known to cause irritation and injury to the gastric mucosa. The belief that enteric-coated and buffered varieties are less likely to occasion major upper-gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) than plain aspirin was tested in data from a multicentre case-control study. Methods 550 incident cases of UGIB admitted to hospital with melaena or haematemesis and confirmed by endoscopy, and 1202 controls identified from population census lists, were interviewed about use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during the 7 days before the onset of bleeding (cases) or interview (controls). Relative risks of UGIB for each type of aspirin used regularly (at least every other day) were calculated overall, and according to dose, by multiple logistic regression, with control for age, sex, marital status, date, education, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and use of NSAIDs. Findings The relative risks of UGIB for plain, enteric-coated, and buffered aspirin at average daily doses of 325 mg or less were 2·6, 2·7, and 3·1, respectively. At doses greater than 325 mg, the relative risk was 5·8 for plain and 7·0 for buffered aspirin; there were insufficient data to evaluate enteric-coated aspirin at this dose level. There were no important differences in risk attributable to the three aspirin forms according to bleeding site (gastric vs duodenal), or when users of NSAIDs were excluded. Interpretation Use of low doses of enteric-coated or buffered aspirin carries a three-fold increase in the risk of major UGIB. The assumption that these formulations are less harmful than plain aspirin may be mistaken.
Metabolic and transcriptional patterns accompanying glutamine depletion and repletion in mouse hepatoma cells: a model for physiological regulatory networks

An important objective in postgenomic biology is to link gene expression to function by developing physiological networks that include data from the genomic and functional levels. Here, we develop ...
A Systematic Review of Responsive Feeding and Child Obesity in High-Income Countries

Child overweight/obesity continues to be a serious public health problem in high-income countries. The current review had 3 goals: 1) to summarize the associations between responsive feeding and child weight status in high-income countries; 2) to describe existing responsive feeding measures; and 3) to generate suggestions for future research. Articles were obtained from PubMed and PsycInfo using specified search criteria. The majority (24/31) of articles reported significant associations between nonresponsive feeding and child weight-for-height Z-score, BMI Z-score, overweight/obesity, or adiposity. Most studies identified were conducted exclusively in the United States (n = 22), were cross-sectional (n = 25), and used self-report feeding questionnaires (n = 28). A recent trend exists toward conducting research among younger children (i.e. infants and toddlers) and low-income and/or minority populations. Although current evidence suggests that nonresponsive feeding is associated with child BMI or overweight/obesity, more research is needed to understand causality, the reliability and validity between and within existing feeding measures, and to test the efficacy of responsive feeding interventions in the prevention and treatment of child overweight/obesity in high-income countries.
Quantile regression for rating teams

Quantile regression is proposed for modeling game out comes and as the basis for rating teams. The model includes the standard location model for team strength as a special case, while allowing for a richer specification in which teams differ according to the quantiles of the out come distribution. Team ratings are defined as the handicap needed to equalize the out come of a contest. With teams differing by quantiles, this leads to a class of ratings that depend on where in the out come distribution the out come is equalized. Relation ships with betting games are discussed. The approach is illustrated by rating National Football League (NFL) teams based on game results for the 2005 season.
Comparative Investigation of Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella between Pasture and Conventionally Reared Poultry

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare Salmonella prevalence and antimicrobial resistance between pasture and conventional poultry farms. We collected the first Salmonella prevalence and antimicrobial resistance data on pasture poultry farms. Fecal droppings were collected from 31 farms from Wisconsin (nine farms from each production type) and the Southeast (North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina; five conventional and 10 pasture poultry farms) in a 1-yr period. The specimens were cultured for Salmonella and tested for resistance to 12 antimicrobials. A univariate analysis was conducted to determine the significant differences in prevalence and resistance. At the farm level, no significant difference in Salmonella prevalence was found on 33% pasture and 47% conventional poultry farms (P = 0.4928). On an individual specimen level, flocks reared conventionally had higher prevalence than in pasture (P < 0.0001). Of all the isolates found to have resistance, 80% were from the Southeast. Of ...
Trends of extinction risk for Lepidoptera in Finland: the first national Red List Index of butterflies and moths

The Finnish Red Lists from 2000 and 2010 were used to calculate for the first time the national Red List Index for the order Lepidoptera and different Lepidoptera families with data from 2245 species. We grouped species according to their primary habitats and analysed each habitat's RLI as well. The overall RLI was significantly negative, reflecting the worsening of the group as a whole in the country. A significant negative trend was found for families Tortricidae, Gelechiidae and Hesperiidae and for coastal habitats. We also report that 76 Lepidoptera species newly established a population in Finland between 2000 and 2010, probably expanding northwards driven by climate warming.
The Effects Of Individual Differences And Industry Stability On Auditors' Perceived Risk Assessments

The U. S. Public Oversight Board’s Panel on Audit Effectiveness suggests that both audit effectiveness and efficiency may benefit from greater consideration being given to auditors’ risk assessments. The association between several independent variables (e.g., tolerance-for-ambiguity, field dependence/independence, and industry stability) and auditors’ perceived risk assessments is examined in an experimental setting. Six hypotheses suggested from a review of the literature are tested. The results indicate that industry stability and (to a lesser extent) tolerance-for-ambiguity (TFA) each have a main effect on auditors’ perceived risk assessments. Further, these two variables are found to have a moderately significant interactive effect on such assessments. The level of industry stability (stable or unstable) is found to affect the risk assessments of low-TFA subjects more than high-TFA subjects. Implications of these results for the audit process are provided.
Changes in Mutual Fund Flows and Managerial Incentives

I show that the shape of the relationship between mutual fund flows and performance varies over time. Following periods of volatile markets and periods of less dispersion in fund performance, money flows to high-performing funds substantially decrease. This reduces convexity of the flow-performance relationship. For example, during the 2000s, when markets were highly volatile, the relationship was not convex. Moreover, I show that low-performing funds typically undertake more risk towards the end of the year but such risk-shifting varies according to the same variables that determine convexity of the flow-performance relationship. Underperforming funds' risk-shifting also lessened by almost 70% in the 2000s. My results are consistent with the view that convexity of the flow-performance relationship provides fund managers with an incentive to alter the riskiness of their portfolios.
L'ambiguïté au cœur de l'efficacité du coaching ?

Et si l'efficacite du coaching etait liee a son ambiguite ? C'est ce qu'explore ce chapitre au travers de l'analyse des dynamiques de pouvoir dans cet accompagnement. Le discours marchand met en lien l'efficacite du coaching avec la mediation qu'il offrirait dans les organisations. Une analyse plus critique met en avant ses fonctions cachees de controle. Ces multiples dynamiques de pouvoir traduisent la malleabilite du coaching, source de son ambiguite, et alors certainement de son efficacite.
Radar-based impact load prediction for damage mitigation of infrastructure

The application of smart control technology to both aging and new infrastructure is essential to extending service life, increasing life safety, and decreasing repair and replacement costs. One area of control technology research for civil engineering structures that has received little attention historically is that of high-impact loads, such as collision events. The dissipation of impact energy using smart control devices, such as magnetorheological (MR) dampers, leads to less plastic deformation and damage, and a lower likelihood of collapse in civil engineering structures. Due to the short duration and high variability in magnitude of potential impact loads, the issue of sub-optimal controller performance arises. In order to boost controller performance and improve the effectiveness of the control system, a radar-based impact load identifier is proposed. This radar-based impact load identifier will be used to estimate impact loads from imminent impacting objects, for example vessels and trucks, thus p...
Virtual Dystopia

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic evil.--adapted from Arthur C. Clarke. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/Iewu0XuX1bg is an audio interveiw in which author Brian David Johnson speaks with Tawny Schlieski about the fears and promises of virtual reality technology.
Seasonal History of the Plum Curculio in the Missouri Ozarks

Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) has a small second generation in the Ozarks. Overwintered adults appear in late April; oviposition primarily ill May, and larvae mature and pupate in June and July, First-generation adults emerge in July and early August. They lay a few eggs in late July in peaches affected by brown-rot, and become quiescent in the latter half of August. Second-generation larvae develop in the peach mummies caused by the brown-rot. Most of the larvae mature and pupate in late August. Adults emerge in late September and early October. They enter winter diapause by mid-October.
Effects of Response Effort on Resurgence.

The present study examined response effort during resurgence tests. Six children were trained to place balls in baskets that were placed either close (.0254 m) or far away (1.829 m or .9 m). Resurgence was assessed using a linear strip design, where responses were reinforced on a variable-interval 10-s schedule or put on extinction. During resurgence tests, minimal to low rates of resurgence associated with the greater response effort (i.e., placing a ball in the basket further way) were observed across all six participants, regardless of distance.
GENETIC VARIABILITY AND FOUNDER EFFECT IN THE PITCHER PLANT SARRACENIA PURPUREA L.

During the course of migration and dispersal, new populations of a species may be founded by a small number of initial colonists. The genetic material of such a population will be limited to those alleles introduced by these few founders and may not be representative of the species as a whole. The evolutionary significance of such a genetic bottleneck, termed by Mayr (1942) the founder principle, has been extensively investigated. Powell and Richmond (1974) and Jones and Yamazaki (1974) have suggested that in populations of Drosophila founded by very small numbers of individuals or small numbers of homozygous lines, erratic changes in allozyme frequencies may occur due to linkage disequilibria. These disturbances in the genetic material of a population, similar to the genetic revolution envisioned by Mayr (1954), may lead to novel outcomes in population phenotypes (Palenzona et al., 1974; Mertz et al., 1976) and the reorganization of genomes (Mayr, 1954). For example, the speciation of Drosophila heteroneura and D. silvestris in the Hawaiian Islands is attributed to single gravid females colonizing newly formed open habitats (Carson, 1970, 1971), and similar speciation processes have been observed experimentally (Powell, 1978) as well as in a recently founded population of D. pseudoobscura (Prakash et al., 1969; Prakash, 1972). Studies of chromosomal polymorphisms in Drosophila species suggest an important role for genetic bottleneck not only during speciation but also in microevolutionary processes (Da Cunha et al., 1959; Dobzhansky, 1963). These studies have
Assessment of the Tobacco Dependence Screener Among Smokeless Tobacco Users.

Introduction Variants of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) are widely used to study dependence among smokeless tobacco (ST) users. However, there is a need for a dependence measure which is based on the clinical definition of dependence and is easy to administer. The Tobacco Dependence Screener (TDS), a self-administered 10-item scale, is based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV) and ICD-10 definitions of dependence. It is commonly used as a tobacco dependence screening tool in cigarette smoking studies but it has not been evaluated for dependence in ST users. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the TDS as a measure of tobacco dependence among ST users. Methods Data collected from a community-based sample of exclusive ST users living in Oklahoma (n = 95) was used for this study. TDS was adapted to be used for ST dependence as the references for smoking were changed to ST use. Concurrent validity and reliability of TDS were evaluated. Salivary cotinine concentration was used as a criterion variable. Overall accuracy of the TDS was assessed by receiver's operating characteristic (ROC) curve and optimal cutoff scores for dependence diagnosis were evaluated. Results There was no floor or ceiling effect in TDS score (mean = 5.42, SD = 2.61). Concurrent validity of TDS as evaluated by comparing it with FTND-ST was affirmative. Study findings showed significant association between TDS and salivary cotinine concentration. The internal consistency assessed by Cronbach's alpha indicated that TDS had acceptable reliability (α = 0.765). TDS was negatively correlated with time to first chew/dip and positively correlated with frequency (number of chews per day) and years of ST use. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that at an optimal cutoff score of TDS 5+, ST users classified as dependent had significantly higher cotinine concentration and FTND-ST scores. Conclusions TDS demonstrated acceptable reliability and concurrent validity among ST users. These findings are consistent with the results of previous cigarette smoking studies evaluating TDS. A self-administered tobacco dependence measure for ST users based on a clinical definition of dependence is an effective tool in research setting. Implications ST dependence research is still evolving. This is the first study of the TDS among ST users providing preliminary evidence about some of the psychometric properties of the scale. Similar to cigarette smokers, TDS is an effective measure of ST dependence. Study showed moderate reliability and affirmative concurrent validity of the TDS among ST users.