cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Body weight regulation by selective MC4 receptor agonists and antagonists

There has been great interest in melanocortin (MC) receptors as targets for the design of novel therapeutics to treat disorders of body weight, such as obesity and cachexia. Both genetic and pharmacological evidence points toward central MC4 receptors as the principal target. Using highly selective peptide tools for the MC4 receptor, which have become available recently, we have provided pharmacological confirmation that central MC4 receptors are the prime mediators of the anorexic and orexigenic effects reported for melanocortin agonists and antagonists, respectively. The current progress with receptor-selective small molecule agonist and antagonist drugs should enable the therapeutic potential of MC4 receptor activation and inhibition to be assessed in the clinic in the near future.
Mango Street and Malnourished Readers: Politics and Realities in an “At-Risk” Middle School

This article presents results of a literature-response study conducted with at-risk middle school students of Latino, African American, and Caucasian backgrounds. The study was guided by an assumption of students' ability to read and coherently assimilate elements of The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros (1984). Although centered in research and theory related to literary reading and aesthetics, the power of the work is based in a political belief that students in “at-risk” schools need literacy experiences that ennoble their backgrounds and abilities. Methods through which students aesthetically engaged the novel are described, and suggestions for practitioners are offered.
Memory distortion: an adaptive perspective

Memory is prone to distortions that can have serious consequences in everyday life. Here we integrate emerging evidence that several types of memory distortions - imagination inflation, gist-based and associative memory errors, and post-event misinformation - reflect adaptive cognitive processes that contribute to the efficient functioning of memory, but produce distortions as a consequence of doing so. We consider recent cognitive and neuroimaging studies that link these distortions with adaptive processes, including simulation of future events, semantic and contextual encoding, creativity, and memory updating. We also discuss new evidence concerning factors that can influence the occurrence of memory distortions, such as sleep and retrieval conditions, as well as conceptual issues related to the development of an adaptive perspective.
The effect of a 473-mL (16-oz) water drink on vasovagal donor reaction rates in high-school students.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies found that a water drink prevented orthostatic hypotension in healthy subjects subjected to a tilt-table test. A water drink was tested as a method to decrease vasovagal donor reactions in high-school students. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 8894 high-school donations in Fall 2004 and 2005 were assigned to groups receiving or not receiving a 473-mL water drink after acceptance for whole-blood donation. In addition, 4340 donations in 2004 were reduced to 2895 donations (“balanced 2004 group”) with an algorithm that equally balanced the donors between the water and no water arms. RESULTS: The donor reaction rate was 9.9 percent (349 reactions/3534 donations) in donors given a water drink versus 12.5 percent (668 reactions/5360 donations; p = 0.0002) in donors not given a water drink. Donors given a water drink had a 21 percent reduction in their donor reaction rate. The main benefit of water was in Caucasian, first-time donors. In the balanced 2004 group, the donor reaction rate was 10.6 percent (153 reactions/1438 donations) in donors given a water drink versus 14.8 percent (216 reactions/1457 donations; p = 0.0008) in donors not given a water drink. Donors given a water drink in the balanced 2004 group had a 28 percent reduction in their donor reaction rate. The use of water did not interfere with donor processing and was judged by collection staff as easy to implement. CONCLUSION: A 473-mL water drink decreased the vasovagal donor reaction rate in high-school donors by 21 percent, but to varying degrees in different subpopulations.
A technique for accurate planning of stereotactic brain implants prior to head ring fixation.

Purpose: A two-step procedure is described for accurate planning of stereotactic brain implants prior to headringtion. Methods and Materials: Approximately 2 weeks prior to implant a CT scan without the head ring is performed for treatment-planning purposes. An entry point and a reference point, both marked with barium and later tattooed, facilitate planning and permit correlation of the images with a later CT scan. A plan is generated using a conventional treatment-planning system to determine the number and activity of I-125 seeds required and the position of each catheter. I-125 seed anisotropy is taken into account by means of a modification to the treatment planning program. On the day of the implant a second CT scan is performed with the head ring affixed to the skull and with the same points marked as in the previous scan. The planned catheter coordinates are then mapped into the coordinate system of the second CT scan by means of a manual translational correction and a computercalculated rotational correction derived from the reference point coordinates in the two scans. Results: The rotational correction algorithm was verified experimentally in a Rando phantom before it was used clinically. For analysis of the results with individual patients a third CT scan is performed 1 day following the implant and is used for calculating the final dosimetry. Conclusion: The technique that is described has two important advantages: 1) the number and activity of seeds required can be accurately determined in advance; and 2) sufficient time is allowed to derive the best possible plan. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.
MULTIPLE DISTURBANCE INTERACTIONS AND DROUGHT INFLUENCE FIRE SEVERITY IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN SUBALPINE FORESTS

Disturbances such as fire, insect outbreaks, and blowdown are important in shaping subalpine forests in the Rocky Mountains, but quantitative studies of their interactions are rare. We investigated the combined effects of past disturbances, current vegetation, and topography on spatial variability of the severity of a fire that burned approximately 4500 ha of subalpine forest during the extreme drought of 2002 in northwestern Colorado. Ordinal logistic regression was used to spatially model fire severity in relation to late 1800s fires, a 1940s spruce beetle outbreak, forest cover type, stand structure, and topography. The late 1800s fires reduced the probability of burning in 2002, and the 1940s beetle outbreak slightly increased the probability of fire, particularly at high severity. Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) stands, which established after the late 1800s fires, were less likely to burn, whereas Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii)–subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) s...
Effect of Cross‐Link Density on Carbon Dioxide Separation in Polydimethylsiloxane‐Norbornene Membranes

The development of high performance materials for CO2 separation and capture will significantly contribute to a solution for climate change. In this work, (bicycloheptenyl) ethyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMSPNB) membranes with varied cross-link densities were synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization. The developed polymer membranes show higher permeability and better selectivity than those of conventional cross-linked PDMS membrane. The achieved performance (CO2 permeability ~ 6800 Barrer and CO2/N2 selectivity ~ 14) is very promising for practical applications. The key to achieving this high performance is the use of an in-situ cross-linking method of the difunctional PDMS macromonomers, which provides lightly cross-linked membranes. By combining positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, broadband dielectric spectroscopy and gas solubility measurements, we have elucidated the key parameters necessary for achieving their excellent performance.
The Most Defiant Devil: William Temple Hornaday and His Controversial Crusade to Save American Wildlife

Review of: "The Most Defiant Devil: William Temple Hornaday and His Controversial Crusade to Save American Wildlife," by Gregory J. Dehler
The Modern Atomists

In our story of the infinite we have looked mainly at the infinitely large, perhaps because it has received so much attention since Cantor’s pioneering work in the 1880s, perhaps also because there seems to be something about the infinitely large that captures the imagination in a way that the infinitely small cannot. This bias, however, is hardly justified. In the history of mathematics the infinitely small has played a role at least as important as its counterpart on the other extreme of the scale. If nothing else, it lies at the root of the notion of continuity, an idea that goes back all the way to the Greeks, whose philosophers heatedly debated the possibility of endless division. And much later, disguised as the infinitesimal, it would become the cornerstone around which the calculus was developed.1 In any event, from a purely mathematical point of view the distinction between “large” and “small” is not really as fundamental as it may seem, since we can always use the function y = 1/x (or its two-dimensional equivalent, the transformation of inversion) to change the one into the other.
The Systematic and Non-Systematic Variations in the Correlations of Stock Returns

Correlations of stock returns change randomly through time. The variations in correlations are themselves correlated across pairs of stocks. In an equilibrium model, investor uncertainty regarding the growth rate of the economy is the factor driving systematic variations in R square, pairwise correlations, market volatility and volatilities of interest rates. uncertainty regarding the idiosyncratic component of firm growth rate explains non-systematic variations in R square. Consistent with the model, data show that the volatility of interest rates represents investor uncertainty and predicts the average in the stock market.
Pulsed Laser Deposition of Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9/Zr0.9Sc0.1O2 Bilayer Films for Fuel Cell Application

Samarium doped ceria exhibits relative high conductivity of 0.1 S/cm at 700 °C and has been considered to be an attractive electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells operating at the temperature range between 500 to 600 °C. Although the material exhibits better chemical and structural compatibility with electrodes as well as higher ionic conductivity than Yttria-stabilized Zirconia, the reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+ induces n-type electronic conduction which tends to decrease power output of solid oxide fuel cells. The problem can be eliminated by using a barrier of thin Zr0.9Sc0.1O2 layer deposited over SDC layer as an alternative electrolyte to improve the stability of Samarium doped ceria under reducing atmosphere. In this work, we will report the results on the development of the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) process to fabricate Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9/Zr0.9Sc0.1O2 bilayer films. Bilayer films with controlled microstructures, density, and interfacial properties were successfully grown by the PLD at various deposition temperatures on Si(100) substartes. X-ray diffraction was used to determine their crystal structures, while the cross section images of the film-film and film-substrate interfaces were examined by field-emission SEM. The film density was calculated from the index of reflection data determined by a fiber-optic spectrophotometer.
TOF spectra of direct recoils. I: Chemisorption of O2, H2O, and CH3OH on magnesium

Abstract Time-of-flight (TOF) analysis of directly recoiled surface atoms (neutrals and ions) produced by pulsed Ar + ion irradiation has been used to monitor chemisorption of O 2 , H 2 O, and CH 3 OH on polycrystalline magnesium. The intensities of the H, C, O, and Mg direct recoils are obtained as a function of gas exposure dose. The reaction with O 2 is fast, with saturation occurring at ∼ 10 L (1 L = 10 −6 Torr s), and following either a one- or a two-site adsorption model while the H 2 O and CH 3 OH reaction are slower, with saturation occurring at ∼ 20 L, and following a nucleation and growth expression. The hydrogen direct recoil intensitiy has been calibrated to the amount of hydrogen on a methoxylated surface. This calibration allows determination of H coverages during the O 2 and H 2 O reactions and shows a surface stoichiometry consistent with Mg(OH) 2 for the water reaction. The analysis indicates that the oxygen forms an oxide at sites that are within the outermost Mg layer while the H 2 O and CH 3 OH form hydroxide and methoxide layers which are above the outermost Mg layer. Scattering and direct recoil cross-sections and shadow cones are calculated by means of a program which uses the Moliere approximation to the interaction potential for single binary encounters.
Improving Markov-Recapture Population Estimation with Multiple Marking.

Markov-recapture population size estimates rely on insects (or other animals) marking themselves before arrival in a trap. Assumptions about rates of marking and capture are based upon the sampling scheme, and the estimate is based on the resulting multinomial probability distribution. The original scheme used one marking station per trap, yielding an assumption of equal rates of marking and capture. This paper explores more general schemes that provide better resolution, sometimes with added degrees of freedom, and which provide estimates more quickly than the original scheme (reducing the risk of violating assumptions). The alternative schemes involve varying the ratio of marking stations to traps and multiple marking. The paper continues to describe the maximum likelihood estimates of population size based on these sampling schemes and gives a rough correction for the bias of the population estimate, found by using a jackknife technique. Two standard error confidence limits are explicit expressions obtained using asymptotic maximum likelihood arguments; these work well in conjunction with the corrected estimate if trapping has continued for an extended period. Relative likelihood-based confidence intervals perform better than two standard error intervals over a wide range of parameter values, especially where trapping has not continued for an extended period. The method tends to become biased when used in an open or growing population. Goodness-of-fit tests are possible with the added degrees of freedom but are not very powerful.
Responses of Stream Biofilm Phospholipid Fatty Acid Profiles to Acid Mine Drainage Impairment and Remediation

Acid mine drainage (AMD) impairs many streams throughout the historical and current coal mining regions. Abandoned mines often have sulfur-rich coal that produces sulfuric acid after exposure to water and oxygen. These streams are characterized by lowered pH, increased metal load, and decreased biotic assemblage complexity in comparison to unimpaired streams. Remediation efforts using alkaline addition have been successful in reducing the impacts of AMD by improving the chemical environment and reestablishing biotic assemblages that more closely resemble unimpacted streams. We used phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) to detect changes in biofilm fatty acid profiles, differences in specific fatty acid biomarkers, and nutritional quality among AMD-unimpaired, AMD-impaired, and AMD-remediated stream sites in southeastern Ohio (USA). In general, the physical, chemical, and biological measurements of the remediated sites were intermediate between the unimpaired and impaired streams. PLFA content was five times greater in AMD-unimpaired sites when compared to AMD-impaired and double that of AMD-remediated sites. PLFA profiles separated sites of the three categories into two statistically distinct groups: AMD-unimpaired/AMD-remediated and AMD-impaired. The results of this study showed that PLFA profiles have great promise as an additional metric to evaluate AMD impact for stream biomonitoring programs.
Giant Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Anterior Cranial Fossa and Paranasal Sinuses Presenting in Pregnancy: Case Report and Literature Review

Background and Purpose Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) rarely involve the cranium and have seldom been reported in pregnancy. Clinical Presentation We describe a case of a 28-year-old woman who presented at 37 weeks of gestation with 3 months of gradually worsening vision, 10 months of proptosis, and restricted ocular motility on the left. Brain imaging revealed a multicystic enhancing mass measuring 5.9 × 5.3 × 3.7 cm, centered on the cribriform plate on the left, extending into the anterior cranial fossa superiorly as well as the left nasal cavity, maxillary, sphenoid, and frontal sinuses. Her clinical course is described in detail; 3-month postoperative imaging demonstrated no residual mass. Conclusion A literature review revealed five previous cases of ABCs associated with pregnancy. We report a rare case of a giant ABC of fibrous dysplasia involving the paranasal sinuses and anterior cranial fossa. We postulate on the possible influence of pregnancy on the clinical course.
Resolution plans in theorem proving

Briefly, an example of a resolution plan can be described as follows: Let L1 ∨ A and L2 ∨ B be two clauses, where L1 and L2 are literals, and A and B are clauses. If L1 and L2 can be made complementary by some substitution, we shall call A ∨ B (L1,L2) a resolution plan. In general, a resolution plan is represented by C (LI,MI)...(Lr, Mr), where LI, MI,..., Lr, Mr are literals, and C is a clause. If C is empty, (L1,M1)...(Lr,Mr) is called a total plan. The total plan corresponds to a proof if there is a unifier which simultaneously make (Li,Mi) complementary, i = l,...,r. As shown elsewhere, the total plan approach can eliminate redundancies. In this paper, we shall show that all the strategies developed for resolution can be used to generate total plans.
Context‐dependent landscape of fear: algal density elicits risky herbivory in a coral reef

Foraging theory posits that isolation from refuge habitat within a landscape increases perceived predation risk and, thus, suppresses the foraging behavior of prey species. However, these effects may depend fundamentally on resource availability, which could affect prey boldness and can change considerably through bottom-up processes. We conducted a field survey and experiment in a coral reef to test the effects of isolation from refuge habitat (i.e., reef structure) on herbivory by reef fishes and whether these effects depend on resource density. By fitting continuous-time, pure death Markov processes to our data, we found that at both the local and landscape scale distance from refuge habitat reduced herbivory in attractive resource patches of palatable benthic algae. However, our field experiment revealed that higher initial resource densities weakened negative effects of distance from refuge habitat on herbivory. Furthermore, we observed higher bite rates and greater total lengths of herbivorous fishes with greater distance from refuge habitat—responses consistent with higher perceived predation risk. Our results suggest that while the loss or fragmentation of refuge habitat reduces consumer control of resources, greater resource densities can partially counteract this effect by altering landscapes of fear of consumer species. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering the spatial context of species interactions that structure communities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Childhood predictors of written expression in late adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a longitudinal study

Background 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is the second most prevalent genetic syndrome and has a characteristic academic and behavioural phenotype. The primary objective of the current study was to examine the childhood predictors of written expression achievement in adolescents with 22q11DS. Written expression is an important skill that can impact an individual's overall academic performance, potentially resulting in increased levels of stress and exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms. Methods A total of 119 participants were included in this study. Sixty-nine late adolescents with 22q11DS and 50 controls (consisting of a combined sample of 23 unaffected siblings of youth with 22q11DS and 27 community controls) participated in a 6-year longitudinal research project and received neuropsychological test batteries every 3 years. The Written Expression subtest of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test – Second Edition was the primary outcome measure in the current project. Results Findings indicated differences in childhood predictors of adolescent written expression between participants in the 22q11DS group and participants in the control group. Whereas childhood verbal IQ scores predicted adolescent written expression for participants in the control group, childhood executive function and language skills were unique predictors of adolescent written expression in individuals with 22q11DS. Conclusions Childhood predictors of late adolescent written expression in 22q11DS differ in meaningful ways from predictors in the non-22q11DS population. These results offer some guidance on the underlying factors that may be useful to consider when developing written expression interventions for children with 22q11DS.
Hepatic Malignancy in an Infant with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a contiguous gene syndrome involving deletions of the chromosome 4p16 region associated with growth failure, characteristic craniofacial abnormalities, cardiac defects, and seizures. Case Report: This report describes a six-month-old girl with WHS with growth failure and typical craniofacial features who died of complex congenital heart disease. Genetic studies revealed a 9.8 Mb chromosome 4p-terminal deletion. At autopsy, the liver was grossly unremarkable. Routine sampling and histologic examination revealed two hepatocellular nodular lesions with expanded cell plates and mild cytologic atypia. Immunohistochemical staining revealed these nodules were positive for glutamine synthetase and glypican 3, with increased Ki-67 signaling and diffuse CD34 expression in sinusoidal endothelium. These findings are consistent with hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions: A possible association between WHS and hepatic malignancy may be an importa...
The Epidemiology of Renal Replacement Therapy

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one of the most commonly used forms of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the world. Along with the rise in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, we are seeing an increase in utilization of PD. Most dialysis patients in the United States (US) are on hemodialysis (HD) with PD being less common and home hemodialysis even more so. In this chapter, we will review the use of PD in the US and advantages associated with PD over HD focusing on the lower cost associated with PD therapy. We will also review patient eligibility for PD and the hurdles, which have limited the growth of PD in the US. Lastly, we will assess the factors that lead to transition of PD patients to HD.
When Is Anger Helpful or Hurtful? Status and Role Impact on Anger Expression and Outcomes

Anger expressers and targets often experience anger as an unpleasant and potentially damaging emotion. However, emerging social functional perspectives on workplace anger suggest that anger expressions can promote valued dialogue, facilitating the airing of differences that can lead to improved working relationship and movement toward organizational goals and beneficial change. While supervisors typically express work-related anger with impunity, subordinate anger may be challenged and sanctioned more frequently. Hypotheses tested status (supervisor vs. subordinate) and role (expresser vs. target) effects on perceived outcomes. Findings indicate a significant main effect for status and significant interaction with role such that subordinates who are targets of supervisor anger, reported significantly more negative outcomes from anger expression than any other type of anger interaction. We also found that existing strong relationships between supervisors and subordinates contribute to outcomes that are more favorable following anger expressions at work.
UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL COST OF CARBON: A MODEL DIAGNOSTIC AND INTER-COMPARISON STUDY

The social cost of carbon (SCC) is a monetary estimate of global climate change damages to society from an additional unit of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. SCCs are used to estimate the benefits of CO2 reductions from policies. However, little is known about the modeling underlying the values or the implied societal risks, making SCC estimates difficult to interpret and assess. This study performs the first in-depth examination of SCC modeling using controlled diagnostic experiments that yield detailed intermediate results, allow for direct comparison of individual components of the models, and facilitate evaluation of the individual model SCCs. Specifically, we analyze DICE, FUND, and PAGE and the multimodel approach used by the US Government. Through our component assessments, we trace SCC differences back to intermediate variables and specific features. We find significant variation in component-level behavior between models driven by model-specific structural and implementation elements, some resulting in artificial differences in results. These elements combine to produce model-specific tendencies in climate and damage responses that contribute to differences observed in SCC outcomes — producing PAGE SCC distributions with longer and fatter right tails and higher averages, followed by DICE with more compact distributions and lower averages, and FUND with distributions that include net benefits and the lowest averages. Overall, our analyses reveal fundamental model behavior relevant to many disciplines of climate research, and identify issues with the models, as well as the overall multimodel approach, that need further consideration. With the growing prominence of SCCs in decision-making, ranging from the local-level to international, improved transparency and technical understanding is essential for informed decisions.
Brain Activity, Low Self-Control, and Delinquency: An fMRI Study of At-Risk Adolescents.

Abstract Purpose A vast literature finds that low self-control is associated with a myriad of antisocial behaviors. Consequently, increasing attention has focused on the causes of low self-control. While criminologists have directed significant attention to studying its social causes, fewer studies have considered its neural bases. Methods We add to this nascent body of research by using data collected on an at-risk sample of adolescents participating in the ongoing Michigan Longitudinal Study. We examine the functioning of prefrontal and limbic regions of the brain during failed inhibitory control, assessed using the go/no-go task and functional magnetic resonance imaging, in relation to low self-control and self-reported delinquency. Results Results indicate that greater activation localized in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during failed inhibitory control is negatively associated with low self-control. Moreover, the association between ACC activity and later delinquency is mediated through low self-control. Conclusions Findings of this study demonstrate the utility of integrating neuroscientific and criminological perspectives on the causes of antisocial behavior. Concluding remarks address the theoretical and policy implications of the findings, as well as directions for future research.
Fine structure of the foraminifer Haynesina germanica (Ehrenberg) and its sequestered chloroplasts

Abstract The common, shallow-water foraminiferan Haynesina germanica (Ehrenberg) is one of a growing number of benthic rotalids known to acquire phototrophy through chloroplast retention (kleptoplasty). This species is broadly distributed, tolerant to a range of environmental conditions, and has been identified as a potential bioindicator of moderately polluted settings. This study was undertaken to better understand the fine structural relationships of this foraminiferan and its sequestered chloroplasts. Individuals were selected from fresh field collections and prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using high pressure freezing followed by freeze substitution (HPF/FS). This method is well-known for its high-resolution of cellular structure without many of the potential artifacts introduced by standard TEM chemical fixation. Features of the sequestered chloroplasts are consistent with those of diatoms, and pennate diatoms are the most likely source. The sequestered chloroplasts observed in H. germanica are surrounded by five membranes: the four chloroplast membranes of the diatom and an encompassing, outer vacuolar membrane of the foraminifer. Most of the chloroplast-containing vacuoles include a single chloroplast, but some contain up to three. The chloroplasts examined have numerous lamellae, each consisting of three thylakoids. The pyrenoid is traversed by a single lamella that contains a single thylakoid. Storage granules are present in some chloroplasts. Food vacuoles, common in many smaller benthic foraminifera, are rare in this species, which is consistent with its utilization of acquired phototrophy as documented by others. Both uninucleate (typically a gamont) and multinucleate (typically an agamont) individuals were observed, suggesting that this species has an alternation of generations like most benthic foraminifera. Other features of the cell body (e.g., abundant mitochondria, active Golgi bodies, multivesicular bodies, peroxisomes) are consistent with its occurrences in shallow-water, aerobic settings. In addition, fibrillar vesicles are common as are small pyriform electron-dense bodies of unknown origin or function. Vesicles that appear to accumulate wastes are also common.
Rapid Gene Family Evolution of a Nematode Sperm Protein Despite Sequence Hyper-conservation

Reproductive proteins are often observed to be the most rapidly evolving elements within eukaryotic genomes. The major sperm protein (MSP) is unique to the phylum Nematoda and is required for proper sperm locomotion and fertilization. Here, we annotate the MSP gene family and analyze their molecular evolution in 10 representative species across Nematoda. We show that MSPs are hyper-conserved across the phylum, having maintained an amino acid sequence identity of 83.5-97.7% for over 500 million years. This extremely slow rate of evolution makes MSPs some of the most highly conserved genes yet identified. However, at the gene family level, we show hyper-variability in both gene copy number and genomic position within species, suggesting rapid, lineage-specific gene family evolution. Additionally, we find evidence that extensive gene conversion contributes to the maintenance of sequence identity within chromosome-level clusters of MSP genes. Thus, while not conforming to the standard expectation for the evolution of reproductive proteins, our analysis of the molecular evolution of the MSP gene family is nonetheless consistent with the widely repeatable observation that reproductive proteins evolve rapidly, in this case in terms of the genomic properties of gene structure, copy number, and genomic organization. This unusual evolutionary pattern is likely generated by strong pleiotropic constraints acting on these genes at the sequence level, balanced against expansion at the level of the whole gene family.
Oral Fluid vs. Urine Analysis to Monitor Synthetic Cannabinoids and Classic Drugs Recent Exposure

Background Urine is a common biological sample to monitor recent drug exposure, and oral fluid is an alternative matrix of increasing interest in clinical and forensic toxicology. Limited data are available about oral fluid vs. urine drug disposition, especially for synthetic cannabinoids. Objective To compare urine and oral fluid as biological matrices to monitor recent drug exposure among HIV-infected homeless individuals. Methods Seventy matched urine and oral fluid samples were collected from 13 participants. Cannabis, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine and opiates were analyzed in urine by the enzyme-multipliedimmunoassay- technique and in oral fluid by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMSMS). Eleven synthetic cannabinoids were analyzed in urine and in oral fluid by LC-MSMS. Results Five oral fluid samples were positive for AB-FUBINACA. In urine, 4 samples tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids PB-22, 5-Fluoro-PB-22, AB-FUBINACA, and metabolites UR-144 5-pentanoic acid and UR-144 4-hydroxypentyl. In only one case, oral fluid and urine results matched, both specimens being AB-FUBINACA positive. For cannabis, 40 samples tested positive in urine and 30 in oral fluid (85.7% match). For cocaine, 37 urine and 52 oral fluid samples were positive (75.7% match). Twenty-four urine samples were positive for opiates, and 25 in oral fluid (81.4% match). For benzodiazepines, 23 samples were positive in urine and 25 in oral fluid (85.7% match). Conclusion/discussion These results offer new information about drugs disposition between urine and oral fluid. Oral fluid is a good alternative matrix to urine for monitoring cannabis, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepines recent use; however, synthetic cannabinoids showed mixed results.
Exploring Cognitive Flexibility With a Noninvasive BCI Using Simultaneous Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials and Sensorimotor Rhythms

EEG-based brain–computer interface (BCI) technology creates non-biological pathways for conveying a user’s mental intent solely through noninvasively measured neural signals. While optimizing the performance of a single task has long been the focus of BCI research, in order to translate this technology into everyday life, realistic situations, in which multiple tasks are performed simultaneously, must be investigated. In this paper, we explore the concept of cognitive flexibility, or multitasking, within the BCI framework by utilizing a 2-D cursor control task, using sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs), and a four-target visual attention task, using steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs), both individually and simultaneously. We found no significant difference between the accuracy of the tasks when executing them alone (SMR—57.9% ± 15.4% and SSVEP—59.0% ± 14.2%) and simultaneously (SMR—54.9% ± 17.2% and SSVEP—57.5% ± 15.4%). These modest decreases in performance were supported by similar, non-significant changes in the electrophysiology of the SSVEP and SMR signals. In this sense, we report that multiple BCI tasks can be performed simultaneously without a significant deterioration in performance; this finding will help drive these systems toward realistic daily use in which a user’s cognition will need to be involved in multiple tasks at once.
Hinduism and Bioethics in India: A Tradition in Transition

There has hardly been a time in Indian history when the Indian tradition has not been in transition, except perhaps at the very beginning of Indian civilization. In coming face to face with the West, India may appear to be a culture wrapped in its past, possessed by religion, and aglow in its mystical tradition. But India speaks in many voices, and this polyphony makes it difficult to articulate a singular judgment. An evocative metaphor often employed to capture the spirit of the tradition is that of a palimpsest, an ancient parchment upon which generation after generation inscribe their messages layer upon layer, and yet no succeeding layer completely erases or hides what was previously written ([56], p. 59).
Predictors of psychological reactions during the early stages of widowhood

In conclusion, this preliminary study of 2-month outcome to spousal bereavement found (1) most widows and widowers had social supports and lack of such supports was not related to outcome; (2) a clinical depressive syndrome was common, and a history of past depressions was associated with poor outcome; (3) more subjects increased alcohol consumption and cigarette use after their loss than decreased their use, but a past history of problems with alcohol was not related to outcome; (4) female, younger, and poorer survivors had the worst outcomes; (5) more disturbed marital relationships correlated highly with poor outcomes; (6) when the deceased spouse died without warning and without a prolonged illness, the survivor was more apt to have a difficult adjustment; and (7) the continued presence of active grief was associated with increased levels of anxiety, somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, and depression. Finally, the results of the study show that self-rated overall adjustment is highly correlated with other, standardized psychometric scale scores as well as with grief-specific affects. Assessing global adjustment may, therefore, be a simple, time-efficient, yet meaningful area of inquiry in clinical situations. This is the first in a series of studies on this widowed population. Future reports will focus on other dimensions of widowhood, changes over long-term follow-up, and the validity and reliability of the Widowhood Questionnaire.
Polypeptide Chain Structure of Inter-α-Trypsin Inhibitor and Pre-α-Trypsin Inhibitor: Evidence for Chain Assembly by Glycan and Comparison with other “Kunin”-Containing Proteins

Proteins structurally related to the proteinase inhibitor aprotinin, systematically known as pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz), occur in animals from a variety of orders including mammals, moluscs and coelenterates.1 The wide distribution of these proteins suggests that the ancestral gene is very old, at least as old as the radiation of multicellular animals.2
Use of varicella vaccines to prevent herpes zoster in older individuals

It is likely that the frequency and severity of herpes zoster in older people is the result of an age-related decline in varicella-zoster virus-specific T-cell mediated immunity. Numerous trials of vaccines to boost these responses have demonstrated their safety and immunogenicity. Both live attenuated and inactivated vaccines have been studied. Persistence of booster responses is dose-related, and the half-life of some boosted measures of T-cell mediated immunity exceeds 5 years. Although these trials have been hampered by uncertainty about the critical immune responses to evaluate, the stage is set for a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sufficient size to determine efficacy. Such a trial is now underway.
Toxicology, Education and Careers

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by Susan J. Borghoff, volume 4, pp 358–363, © 2005, Elsevier Inc.
A Qualitative Examination of the Sexual Possible Selves and Strategies of First-Semester College Students: How Sexual Possible Selves are Developed During the Transition to College.

According to the possible selves theory, individuals have possible selves that they hope to attain, or feared selves they hope to avoid, in the proximal future. In addition, individuals may have strategies they use to help them attain these possible selves or avoid their feared selves. Recent work has applied this theory to the realm of sexuality (i.e., sexual possible selves; SPS) in the developmental period of emerging adulthood, as this period is considered a time of increased sexual identity development. The purpose of this study was to extend this research by conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews with a sample of first-semester college-attending emerging adults (N = 35) at a 4-year university. We examined the developmental influences on expected and feared SPS to better understand why various internalized expectations develop. Interviews were conducted during the first four weeks of the Fall 2016 semester and were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Prominent themes that emerged within the expected SPS included: sex and commitment, taking a passive approach, delaying sex and relationships, plans for hooking up, and abstinence. Feared SPS themes that emerged included: non-committed sexual avoidance, sexual assault/coercion, reputation, and sexual health. Prominent influences on participants' SPS included: family, alcohol and parties, peers/friends, past experiences, changes in expectations, college culture, and religion. Implications for sexuality research, education, and intervention are discussed.
“I Know a Guy Who Once Heard…”: Contemporary Legends and Narratives in Healthcare

Contemporary legends – also called urban legends – are common throughout our society. Distinct from mere rumors passed around social media, anecdotes of pseudoscientific discoveries, or medical misinformation, contemporary legends are important because, rather than merely transmitting false ideas or information about medicine, they model distinct and primarily antagonistic patterns of interaction between patients and providers via their narrative components. And, while legends that patients tell about their distrust for doctors are fairly well-studied, less attention has been paid to the kinds of legends that providers tell about patients. Many of these legends portray the likely patient as foolish, incompetent, and the ultimate source of his or her own medical condition. A partial solution to the challenges created by clashing, mutually belittling narratives can be found in the principles of narrative medicine, which strives to replace a received, stereotyped narrative with an individualized narrative constructed together by provider and patient. This paper will provide a definition of contemporary medical legends, analyze the unique narrative structure, develop a brief taxonomy of common themes, and describe how the structure and theme elucidate interesting and previously unexamined tensions within the provider-patient relationship.
Biofluorescent Worlds – II. Biological fluorescence induced by stellar UV flares, a new temporal biosignature

Our first targets in the search for signs of life are orbiting nearby M stars, such as the planets in the Proxima Centauri, Ross-128, LHS-1140, and TRAPPIST-1 systems. Future ground-based discoveries, and those from the TESS mission, will provide additional close-by targets. However, young M stars tend to be very active, flaring frequently and causing UV fluxes on the surfaces of HZ planets to become biologically harmful. Common UV-protection methods used by life (e.g. living underground, or underwater) would make a biosphere harder to detect. However, photoprotective biofluorescence, 'up-shifting' UV to longer, safer wavelengths, could increase a biosphere's detectability. Here we model intermittent emission at specific wavelengths in the visible spectrum caused by biofluorescence as a new temporal biosignature for planets around active M stars. We use the absorption and emission characteristics of common coral fluorescent pigments and proteins to create model spectra and colours for an Earth-like planet in such a system, accounting for different surface features, atmospheric absorption, and cloud cover. We find that for a cloud-free planet biofluorescence could induce a temporary change in brightness that is significantly higher than the reflected flux alone, causing up to two orders-of-magnitude change in planet-star contrast, compared to a non-fluorescent state, if the surface is fully covered by a highly efficient fluorescent biosphere. Hence, UV-flare induced biofluorescence presents previously unexplored possibilities for a new temporal biosignature that could be detectable by instruments like those planned for the extremely large telescope and could reveal hidden biospheres.
Shape Analysis of Functional Data

Functional data is one of the most common types of data in our digital society. Such data includes scalar or vector time series, Euclidean curves, surfaces, or trajectories on nonlinear manifolds. Rather than applying past statistical techniques developed using standard Hilbert norm, we focus on analyzing functions according to their shapes. We summarize recent developments in the field of elastic shape analysis of functional data, with a perspective on statistical inferences. The key idea is to use metrics, with appropriate invariance properties, to register corresponding parts of functions and to use this registration in quantification of shape differences. Furthermore, one introduces square-root representations of functions to help simplify computations and facilitate efficient algorithms for large-scale data analysis. We will demonstrate these ideas using simple examples from common application domains.
Currency Redenomination Risk

A eurozone exit or breakup exposes bondholders to currency redenomination risk. I document and quantify redenomination risk since the sovereign debt crisis: in France and Italy, it has contributed substantially to credit spreads around changes in government. Other asset prices suggest that markets have priced a potential Italian exit as isolated, and a French one as a breakup. Unlike conventional default risk, redenomination risk can be negative depending on the expected strength of the national 'shadow' currency. Countries with strong shadow currencies---most notably Germany---therefore earn breakup-insurance premia via the eurozone analogue of the 'exorbitant privilege'.
Unfolding the mystery of UPR in astrocytes

Activation of the unfolded protein response in astrocytes leads to a distinct reactive state detrimental to neuronal health in prion disease.
An Unusual ‘Toofan’: Governance of Communal Violence and Disaster Management in Gujarat

In everyday and political parlance, state policies, media reports and academic works, words and notions that place communal violence on par with natural disasters have much currency, particularly in Gujarat. Despite this, governance practices with regard to communal violence have been markedly different from those with regard to natural disasters in the last decade. This chapter argues that the comparison of communal violence, that raises larger political questions and the language of rights, with natural disasters that use the managerial and technocratic language of relief, is problematic. This chapter includes data from her thesis submitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2011. A version of this paper was presented in the 4th International Roundtable on Structuring Peace, The State and Conflict Transformation: Prospects and Challenges in South Asia organised by Jamsetji Tata Centre for Disaster Management in 2012 while working for the Tata Institute of Social Science and London School of Economics project on Governance and the Governed.
Probabilistic model for flexural strength of carbon nanotube reinforced cement-based materials

Abstract The bond between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cementitious materials is the key characteristic for predicting the flexural strength. However, CNT dispersion quality may change the bonding mechanism. A probabilistic approach can benefit the deterministic models to capture the uncertainties affecting these characteristics. This study proposes a probabilistic model using the Kelly-Tyson theory to predict the flexural strength of CNT-cement nanocomposites. The proposed model considers the effects of experimental variables on CNT dispersion quality, bonding mechanism and the flexural strength. To this end, a Bayesian methodology is employed to calibrate the unknown model parameters and various sources of uncertainty using extensive test data. The model is then used to identify the optimum ranges of variables to maximize the flexural strength through computing the failure probability which is defined as the probability of not meeting certain strength requirements (herein, 50% increase compared with the control). The model suggests that CNT aspect ratio ranges from 400 to 800 and concentration between 0.08 and 0.18 c-wt% yields the highest flexural strength. Finally, the effect of changes in experimental variables on the probability estimates is examined using sensitivity and importance measures. The analysis reveals that the proposed model can capture the experimentally observed trends with reasonable accuracy. For example, the importance of age increases as CNT concentration increases.