cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of mobile health assessed sleep duration and variability in bipolar disorder.

Abstract Objective Sleep disturbances are prevalent, persistent, and impairing features of bipolar disorder. However, the near-term and cumulative impact of the severity and variability of sleep disturbances on symptoms and functioning remains unclear. We examined self-reported daily sleep duration and variability in relation to mood symptoms, medication adherence, cognitive functioning, and concurrent daily affect. Methods Forty-one outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder were asked to provide daily reports of sleep duration and affect collected via ecological momentary assessment with smartphones over eleven weeks. Measures of depressive and manic symptoms, medication adherence, and cognitive function were collected at baseline and concurrent assessment of affect were collected daily. Analyses examined whether sleep duration or variability were associated with baseline measures and changes in same-day or next-day affect. Results Greater sleep duration variability (but not average sleep duration) was associated with greater depressive and manic symptom severity, and lower medication adherence at baseline, and with lower and more variable ratings of positive affect and higher ratings of negative affect. Sleep durations shorter than 7–8 h were associated with lower same-day ratings of positive and higher same-day ratings of negative affect, however this did not extend to next-day affect. Conclusions Greater cumulative day-to-day sleep duration variability, but not average sleep duration, was related to more severe mood symptoms, lower self-reported medication adherence and higher levels of negative affect. Bouts of short- or long-duration sleep had transient impact on affect. Day-to-day sleep variability may be important to incorporate into clinical assessment of sleep disturbances in bipolar disorder.
Fractal Electrodynamics and Modeling

Since nature has provided us with structures of almost infinite complexity and variety, it is apparent that some, and perhaps most, of these structures cannot be treated by traditional deterministic methods when modeling their interaction with electromagnetic waves. As one alternative, average properties of these interactions can be treated through statistical means and the use of averages and higher-order moments. These conventional methods are particularly successful when the scales of these structures are limited to modest ranges of variation or to the case of resonant interaction. However, certain types of wildly irregular, ramified, or variegated structures contain many scale sizes as demonstrated in the fractal surfaces of Fig. 1. It is often difficult to characterize the interaction of waves with these structures and in many cases it is not even easy to model these structures. It is just these complicated structures which are of interest to us here and which can often be modeled by the use of fractals. Thus, we blend fractal geometry and electromagnetics in a discipline we call fractal electrodynamics [1].
Sexual Inactivity During Young Adulthood Is More Common Among U.S. Millennials and iGen: Age, Period, and Cohort Effects on Having No Sexual Partners After Age 18

Examining age, time period, and cohort/generational changes in sexual experience is key to better understanding sociocultural influences on sexuality and relationships. Americans born in the 1980s and 1990s (commonly known as Millennials and iGen) were more likely to report having no sexual partners as adults compared to GenX’ers born in the 1960s and 1970s in the General Social Survey, a nationally representative sample of American adults (N = 26,707). Among those aged 20–24, more than twice as many Millennials born in the 1990s (15 %) had no sexual partners since age 18 compared to GenX’ers born in the 1960s (6 %). Higher rates of sexual inactivity among Millennials and iGen also appeared in analyses using a generalized hierarchical linear modeling technique known as age–period–cohort analysis to control for age and time period effects among adults of all ages. Americans born early in the 20th century also showed elevated rates of adult sexual inactivity. The shift toward higher rates of sexual inactivity among Millennials and iGen’ers was more pronounced among women and absent among Black Americans and those with a college education. Contrary to popular media conceptions of a “hookup generation” more likely to engage in frequent casual sex, a higher percentage of Americans in recent cohorts, particularly Millennials and iGen’ers born in the 1990s, had no sexual partners after age 18.
Tunneling-Electron-Induced Light Emission from Single Gold Nanoclusters

The coupling of tunneling electrons with the tip-nanocluster-substrate junction plasmon was investigated by monitoring light emission in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Gold atoms were evaporated onto the ∼5 A thick Al2O3 thin film grown on the NiAl (110) surface where they formed nanoclusters 3–7 nm wide. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) of these nanoclusters revealed quantum-confined electronic states. Spatially resolved photon imaging showed localized emission hot spots. Size dependent study and light emission from nanocluster dimers further support the viewpoint that coupling of tunneling electrons to the junction plasmon is the main radiative mechanism. These results showed the potential of the STM to reveal the electronic and optical properties of nanoscale metallic systems in the confined geometry of the tunnel junction.
Anti-Heparin Activity of Lysosomal Cationic Proteins from Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

The lysosomal cationic proteins (LCP) of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes have previously been shown to inhibit the formation of intrinsic prothrombin activator. That they also have anti-heparin activity is now demonstrated in a thrombin-plasma clotting system, the partial thromboplastin time test and the thromboplastin generation test. In thrombin clotting systems that contain antithrombin, LCP exhibit a clot-promoting effect. This activity does not appear to represent inhibition of antithrombin II or III or potentiation of the enzymatic action of thrombin. Rather it may be a direct effect on fibrinogen, or the reactions leading to fibrin formation.
Access services are human services: Collaborating to provide textbook access to students

ABSTRACTDespite the clear negative impact of high textbook costs on students, limits—including space, funding, and policies—prevent many academic libraries from fully supporting textbook collections. Partnering with other campus units on textbook lending requires creative thinking but can provide students access to other services in addition to the books they need for class. This article describes a partnership between an academic library and a student services unit to provide support for a noncustodial textbook lending program.
Fellowship Training in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: Education Goals and Standards

Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry, which focuses on the psychiatric care of patients in medical-surgical settings, has evolved into an increasingly recognized subspecialty. The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, using consultants and a database created from 49 extant C-L fellowship programs, has specified goals and standards for C-L fellowship training. These standards include organizational issues, clinical skills, a didactic curriculum, research training, and evaluation issues. The important contributions of C-L psychiatry to medical education are emphasized.
A Fractal Study of Dielectric Breakdown in the Atmosphere

Analysis of photographs of lightning indicates that lightning has fractal geometry associated with a reproducible fractal dimension of about 1.34. Following this analysis a nonequilibrium model is presented which generates structures which are qualitatively similar to lightning observed in the atmosphere and which exhibit a fractal dimension of 1.37. The result of the model are also used to demonstrate that the observed lightning structures are most probable events.
Physiologic, Pathologic, and Therapeutic Paracrine Modulation of Cardiac Excitation-Contraction Coupling.

Cardiac excitation–contraction coupling (ECC) is the orchestrated process of initial myocyte electrical excitation, which leads to calcium entry, intracellular trafficking, and subsequent sarcomere shortening and myofibrillar contraction. Neurohumoral β-adrenergic signaling is a well-established mediator of ECC; other signaling mechanisms, such as paracrine signaling, have also demonstrated significant impact on ECC but are less well understood. For example, resident heart endothelial cells are well-known physiological paracrine modulators of cardiac myocyte ECC mainly via NO and endothelin-1. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated other resident noncardiomyocyte heart cells (eg, physiological fibroblasts and pathological myofibroblasts), and even experimental cardiotherapeutic cells (eg, mesenchymal stem cells) are also capable of altering cardiomyocyte ECC through paracrine mechanisms. In this review, we first focus on the paracrine-mediated effects of resident and therapeutic noncardiomyocytes on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, electrophysiology, and calcium handling, each of which can modulate ECC, and then discuss the current knowledge about key paracrine factors and their underlying mechanisms of action. Next, we provide a case example demonstrating the promise of tissue-engineering approaches to study paracrine effects on tissue-level contractility. More specifically, we present new functional and molecular data on the effects of human adult cardiac fibroblast conditioned media on human engineered cardiac tissue contractility and ion channel gene expression that generally agrees with previous murine studies but also suggests possible species-specific differences. By contrast, paracrine secretions by human dermal fibroblasts had no discernible effect on human engineered cardiac tissue contractile function and gene expression. Finally, we discuss systems biology approaches to help identify key stem cell paracrine mediators of ECC and their associated mechanistic pathways. Such integration of tissue-engineering and systems biology methods shows promise to reveal novel insights into paracrine mediators of ECC and their underlying mechanisms of action, ultimately leading to improved cell-based therapies for patients with heart disease.
Total Synthesis of (−)-Chromodorolide B By a Computationally-Guided Radical Addition/Cyclization/Fragmentation Cascade

The first total synthesis of a chromodorolide marine diterpenoid is described. The core of the diterpenoid is constructed by a bimolecular radical addition/cyclization/fragmentation cascade that unites two complex fragments and forms two C-C bonds and four contiguous stereogenic centers of (-)-chromodorolide B in a single step. This coupling step is initiated by visible-light photocatalytic fragmentation of a redox-active ester, which can be accomplished in the presence of an iridium or a less-precious electron-rich dicyanobenzene photocatalyst, and employs equimolar amounts of the two addends. Computational studies guided the development of this central step of the synthesis and provide insight into the origin of the observed stereoselectivity.
The Use of Videotape in Teaching Supervision

Fifteen supervisors participated in a program designed to increase their teaching skills. After watching and discussing videotapes of highly rated supervisors, their own teaching styles changed. They became more active teachers: redirecting residents’ attention, focusing on patient material, talking about the technique of psychotherapy and theory of treatment, and commenting on the residents’ countertransference. The supervisors were enthusiastic about the experience, feeling that it strengthened their identity as educators and helped clarify the goals of supervision. Supervision is a job psychiatrists usually assume without any specialized training, and clinicians need help in making the transition from therapist to supervisor.
Solvent production by engineered Ralstonia eutropha : channeling carbon to biofuel

Microbial production of solvents like acetone and butanol was a couple of the first industrial fermentation processes to gain global importance. These solvents are important feedstocks for the chemical and biofuel industry. Ralstonia eutropha is a facultatively chemolithoautotrophic bacterium able to grow with organic substrates or H2 and CO2 under aerobic conditions. This bacterium is a natural producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymers. Recently, with the advances in the development of genetic engineering tools, the range of metabolites R. eutropha can produce has enlarged. Its ability to utilize various carbon sources renders it an interesting candidate host for synthesis of renewable biofuel and solvent production. This review focuses on progress in metabolic engineering of R. eutropha for the production of alcohols, terpenes, methyl ketones, and alka(e)nes using various resources. Biological synthesis of solvents still presents the challenge of high production costs and competition from chemical synthesis. Better understanding of R. eutropha biology will support efforts to engineer and develop superior microbial strains for solvent production. Continued research on multiple fronts is required to engineer R. eutropha for truly sustainable and economical solvent production.
Writing across the curriculum: putting theory into practice in animal science courses

Founded on the premise that "learning to write" and "writing to learn" are parallel processes, Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) programs advocate the use of writing activities to enhance learning in subject matter courses across the university curriculum. Application of WAC theory to creating assignments and evaluating writing in undergraduate animal science courses is the primary focus of this paper. Although a variety of writing-to-learn activities are promoted by WAC programs, this discussion is confined to reader-based, applied or real-world assignments completed by students outside the classroom. Writing assignments of this type are effective learning tools because they guide students toward appropriate information, language, and organization, present writing as communication, not artifact, and allow students to see how classroom study of concepts can be applied to the real world. Additionally, they provide opportunity for feedback during the writing process. Although considerable effort is required to create such writing assignments and to design evaluation and grading strategies that will provide constructive feedback, animal science teachers have a responsibility to provide students with expanded opportunities for improving critical thinking and communication skills. Sharing writing assignments, like the ones included in this paper, is one way to accomplish these objectives while minimizing aggregate faculty effort.
Single-particle photothermal imaging via inverted excitation through high-Q all-glass toroidal microresonators

Whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microresonators have recently been employed as platforms for label-free single-molecule and single-particle detection, imaging, and spectroscopy. However, innovations in device geometry and integration are needed to make WGM microresonators more versatile for biological and chemical applications. Particularly, thick device substrates, originating from wafer-scale fabrication processing, prevent convenient optical interrogation. In this work, we fabricate all-glass toroidal microresonators on a coverslip thickness (~170 μm) substrate, enabling excitation delivery through the sample, simplifying optical integration. Further, we demonstrate the application of this new geometry for single-particle photothermal imaging. Finally, we discover and develop simulations to explain a non-trivial astigmatism in the point spread function (PSF) arising from the curvature of the resonator.
H-D Exchange of Simple Aromatics as a Measure of Brønsted-Acid Site Strengths in Solids

The relative Bronsted-acid strengths of H-[Al]ZSM-5, H-[Fe]ZSM-5, H-[B]ZSM-5, silicalite, P-SPP, tungstated zirconia, ZrO2, and γ-Al2O3 were studied using H-D exchange with toluene and chlorobenzene. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of toluene-h8 and chlorobenzene-h5 from the deuterated forms of H-[Al]ZSM-5, H-[Fe]ZSM-5, and P-SPP demonstrated that the temperature at which H-D exchange rates become significant change with the proton affinity of the aromatic molecule and the strength of the Bronsted sites. The steady-state, gas-phase reaction between D2O and the aromatic molecules were consistent with the TPD results and allowed the Bronsted-acid site strengths to be ordered as follows: H-[Al]ZSM-5 > H-[Fe]ZSM-5 > tungstated zirconia > P-SPP > H-[B]ZSM-5. H-D exchange was also observed at high temperatures with ZrO2 and γ-Al2O3 but it appears that the reaction mechanism with these Lewis acids is different because reaction with toluene and chlorobenzene occur at nearly the same temperature. It is suggested that the H-D exchange reaction with simple aromatic molecules is a useful way to probe Bronsted acidity in solids.
Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndromes

Approximately 30% of colorectal cancer cases are associated with a family history of colorectal polyps or cancer, but only 3–5% of cases are associated with a specifically identifiable inheritable colorectal cancer syndrome. The most commonly identifiable cause of inheritable colorectal cancer is Lynch syndrome, characterized by a specific mutation in one of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair (MMR) or epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EPCAM) genes. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) refers to a patient or kindred who meets the Amsterdam criteria. Hereditary polyposis syndromes are a group of hereditary disorders characterized by a plethora of polyps throughout the gastrointestinal tract that predispose the patient to cancer. The algorithms presented herein detail contemporary evaluation and management of patients with suspected inheritable colon cancer syndromes or polyposis.
Vapor delivery of plant essential oils alters pyrethroid efficacy and detoxification enzyme activity in mosquitoes

The use of synthetic insecticides to limit the spread of mosquito-borne disease faces a number of significant challenges, including insecticide resistance, concerns related to the environmental impact of widespread insecticide use, as well as slowed development of new insecticide chemistries. One important alternative to broadcast insecticides is the use of personal protection strategies to limit contact with vector species, including the use of spatial repellents that can employ synthetic pyrethroids or botanical products to effect control. A currently underexplored area of research involves the investigation of botanical products for their potential to serve as insecticide synergists when delivered as a vapor. This study describes the development of an assay that facilitates the screening of essential oils delivered as a vapor for enhancement of deltamethrin efficacy in both pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant strains of the vector mosquito species Aedes aegypti. Deltamethrin efficacy was significantly increased following exposure to cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), tagetes (Tagetes bipinnata), and sage (Salvia officinalis) oils, while efficacy was significantly decreased following exposure to amyris (Amyris balsamifera) oil. These effects appeared to be mediated by changes in cytochrome P450 activity. This work demonstrates that some plant-derived essential oils delivered as a vapor are capable of increasing the efficacy of deltamethrin similar to classical synergists such as piperonyl butoxide, supporting the use of a real world delivery method instead of traditional contact exposure studies.
The Effect of IL-26 on TNF-α-Induced CXCL8 Responses by Colonic Epithelial Cell Lines

Th17 cells of the intestine and colon can produce several important cytokines during mucosal inflammation. However, few studies have focused on the role of IL-26 in intestinal inflammations. Colonic epithelial cells express receptors for IL-26, and this cytokine has been shown to induce the HT-29 colonic epithelial cell line to produce the chemokine CXCL8. However, epithelial cells would function in a cytokine network environment during mucosal inflammation and any effect of IL-26 on colonic epithelial cell chemokine responses could be affected by the presence of other potent pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1. Therefore, we investigated the effect of IL-26 with TNF-α or IL-1 on colonic epithelial cell line secretion of CXCL8. IL-26 alone had no effect on HT-29 or DLD1 cell line CXCL8 secretion. Yet, IL-26 was found to significantly enhance TNF-α-induced, but not IL-1-induced, CXCL8 secretion, but only at high levels of TNF-α. Similar results were seen with DLD1 cells. IL-26 did not enhance TNF-α-induced CXCL8 mRNA levels and did not affect TNF-α-induced IκBα phosphorylation or degradation. However, signaling through ERK and p38 MAPK were determined to be involved in the enhancing effect of IL-26 on the TNF-α-induced CXCL8 secretion, perhaps through known post-translational effects. These results suggest that the role of IL-26 in intestinal inflammation may be limited to enhancing CXCL8 secretion in the presence high levels of TNF-α, such as may occur in inflammatory bowel disease. Abbreviations: DMEM, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; IL, interleukin; ITS, insulin, transferrin, selenium; TBS, Tris buffered saline; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
Bioassays and Methodologies for Insecticide Tests with Larvae of Trogoderma granarium (Everts), the Khapra Beetle

New insecticide treatment options would be beneficial for control programs for Trogoderma granarium Everts, the khapra beetle, in the United States. Two insecticides were evaluated, the Polyzone® formulation of deltamethrin and a formulation of the insect growth regulator methoprene combined with deltamethrin and the synergist piperonyl butoxide. In the test with Polyzone® deltamethrin, concrete arenas were treated with a low and high rate, and held outside, inside a shed, or inside a lab. Compared to storage in the lab, residue degradation increased slightly in the shed, and then further outside, as evidenced by greater larval survival and adult emergence. Across all environmental treatments, the high rate was more effective than the lower rate. For the combination methoprene product, the effect of food contact with treated surfaces was examined. When treating arenas with food and transferring the food to clean dishes, there was no immediate effect on larval survival, but there was a reduction in survival and emergence to the adult stage after one month. For both tests, larvae apparently often went into diapause after they were introduced onto the treatment arenas. Both treatments could be utilized in management programs if T. granarium infestations are detected.
Rethinking Resources in Our National Battlefields

The importance of protecting battlefield landscapes has been recognized by the National Park Service for over a century. As we seek strategies to protect these lands, a look to their fraught histories offers insight into how these lands came to be seen as valuable. Specifically, we argue that the rationale for their preservation conceals conservation opportunities for battlefields. Assessing the language used in the enabling legislation of battlefield parks as a subset of all national parks reveals how the value of cultural and natural resources differs among the units. The rationale for creating battlefield parks also has changed through time. While terms like “landscape” have appeared in the earliest of these founding documents, there was a shift to highlighting the unique historical importance of these sites. More recent designations have been more likely to include terms indicating the importance of natural resource values as justification for park establishment. These urban greenspaces provide crucial habitat for wildlife while serving as outdoor enjoyment and recreational opportunities. Recognizing the significance of the natural resources alongside the cultural and historical importance of battlefield parks results in missed opportunities for these parks to provide ecosystem services. This is important considering that most national battlefields lie within urban environments and are in close proximity to some of the most populated metropolitan areas of the United States. Explicit consideration of the ecosystem value of battlefield parks could also benefit future discussions of the political and cultural functions of these sites.
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor presenting with subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhage.

Background Sellar masses comprise 14-18% of all intracranial tumors. Pituitary adenomas account for 85% of these lesions, while 15% of sellar masses stem from other etiologies. Intratumoral hemorrhage (apoplexy), while not exceptionally common, can be discovered at presentation. While the hemorrhage pattern is typically contained within the tumor, an extension of bleeding beyond the sella has been reported. Case Description A 55-year-old female presented with an anterior interhemispheric subarachnoid hemorrhage and extensive intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Initially, the IVH was thought to be due to a ruptured aneurysm. After further workup, a hemorrhagic sellar mass was diagnosed. The patient underwent transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary adenoma. The patient returned to the emergency department6 weeks later with an atypical rapidly expanding sellar mass. After tumor debulking, the pathology revealed an atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). Here, we reviewed this and other such cases of sellar ATRT. Conclusion The early diagnosis of sellar ATRT with lack of integrase interactor 1 expression and elevated Ki67 proliferation indices can prompt more aggressive attempted gross total resection, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.
Timing-driven routing for FPGAs based on Lagrangian relaxation

As interconnection delay plays an important role in determining circuit performance in FPGAs, timing-driven FPGA routing has received much attention recently. In this paper, we present a new timing-driven routing algorithm for FPGAs. The algorithm finds a routing with minimum critical path delay for a given placed circuit using the Lagrangian relaxation technique. Lagrangian multipliers used to relax timing constraints are updated by subgradient method over iterations. Incorporated into the cost function, these multipliers guide the router to construct routing tree for each net. During routing, the exclusivity constraints on each routing resources are also taken care of to route circuits successfully. Experimental results on benchmark circuits show that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art VPR router.
Come on in, the water is fine: Achieving mainstream relevance through integration with primary medical care

Behavior analysis is a generic science, and Skinner's vision for it was that it would become a mainstream force, relevant for most if not all human concerns, major and minor. Clearly his vision has not been realized. Determining why this is the case would require a complex multifactorial analysis. One likely factor is that the majority of its basic science findings have been obtained from the study of rats and pigeons. Another likely factor, one directly addressed by this paper, is that the majority of its applied science findings have been obtained from the study of people in only one tail of the normal distribution. Regardless, those outside the field see the relevance of behavior analysis to general human affairs as very limited. Whether the path behavior analysis is on will lead to widespread perception of mainstream relevance anytime soon seems doubtful. An alternative route would involve integrating it with a field that has already made the trip successfully. A premier example involves primary medical care. This paper argues for the integration of behavior analysis with pediatric primary care, sketches a method for its accomplishment, and uses diurnal enuresis to illustrate the requirements of the method.
Comparison of confocal and non-confocal split-detection cone photoreceptor imaging

Quadrant reflectance confocal and non-confocal scanning light ophthalmoscope images of the photoreceptor mosaic were recorded in a subject with congenital achromatopsia (ACHM) and a normal control. These images, captured with various circular and annular apertures, were used to calculate split-detection images, revealing two cone photoreceptor contrast mechanisms. The first contrast mechanism, maximal in the non-confocal 5.5-10 Airy disk diameter annular region, is unrelated to the cone reflectivity in confocal or flood illumination imaging. The second mechanism, maximal for confocal split-detection, is related to the cone reflectivity in confocal or flood illumination imaging that originates from the ellipsoid zone and/or inner-outer segment junction. Seeking to maximize image contrast, split-detection images were generated using various quadrant detector combinations, with opposite (diagonal) quadrant detectors producing the highest contrast. Split-detection generated with the addition of adjacent quadrant detector pairs, shows lower contrast, while azimuthal split-detection images, calculated from adjacent quadrant detectors, showed the lowest contrast. Finally, the integration of image pairs with orthogonal split directions was used to produce images in which the photoreceptor contrast does not change with direction.
Biological characterization of a Kunitz-type inhibitor from the Malaysian King cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah ) venom

Natural inhibitors are ubiquitous components, existing in a variety of organisms. Kunitz-type inhibitors (KTIs) are a group of proteins that bear remarkable homology to the Bovine Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor (BPTI) and have been extensively isolated and reported in snake venoms. The KTIs exhibit a wide variety of biological activities, including inhibition of various proteases, interference with hemostasis, inflammation, activation or blockade of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), and blockade of ion channels; showing their extensive functional diversity and biomedically relevant pharmacological properties. The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world, endemic from India through Southeast Asia. Members of the KTI family have been isolated and identify as either a weak chymotrypsin inhibitor or a trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor. This study aims to isolate and further characterize the pharmacological properties of a KTI from the Malaysian king cobra venom. The inhibitory effect on serine protease activity was determined using chromogenic substrates. The whole venom was partially purified employing size exclusion HPLC, and the isolated fractions were identified with N-terminal sequencing. The fractions (20 µg) were then incubated with plasmin (0.26 U) at 37 °C, at different times, and tested for inhibitory activities on its biological substrates. The trypsin activity towards its chromogenic substrate was 65% inhibited by the whole venom. After size exclusion chromatography, 13 fractions were isolated and were tested for inhibition of plasmin activity. The most remarkable effect was obtained with fraction 10, where a complete inhibition of the fibrinolytic activity of plasmin on fibrin plates was seen. Likewise, it partially inhibited the fibrino(geno)lytic activity of plasmin. These characterization studies will elucidate the biomedically relevant pharmacological properties intrinsic to a KTI from king cobra venom, which may lead to their potential use as therapeutic drugs and analytical tools for biomedical applications.
Strong and opponent contributions of dorsomedial striatal pathways to behavior depends on cognitive demands and task strategy

A classic view of the striatum holds that activity in direct and indirect pathways oppositely modulates motor output. Whether this involves direct control of movement, or reflects a cognitive process underlying movement, has remained unresolved. Here we find that strong, opponent control of behavior by the two pathways of the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) depends on a tasks cognitive demands. Furthermore, a latent state model (a hidden markov model with generalized linear model observations) reveals that--even within a single task--the contribution of the two pathways to behavior is state-dependent. Specifically, the two pathways have large contributions in one of two states associated with a strategy of evidence accumulation, compared to a state associated with a strategy of repeating previous choices. Thus, both the cognitive demands imposed by a task, as well as the strategy that mice pursue within a task, determine whether DMS pathways provide strong and opponent control of behavior.
Intramolecular N–H…F Hydrogen Bonding Interaction in a Series of 4-Anilino-5-Fluoroquinazolines: Experimental and Theoretical Characterization of Electronic and Conformational Effects

The 4-anilino-6,7-ethylenedioxy-5-fluoroquinazoline scaffold is presented as a novel model system for the characterization of the weak NH⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen bonding (HB) interaction. In this scaffold, the aniline NH proton is forced into close proximity with the nearby fluorine (dH,F ∼2.0 A, ∠∼138°), and a through-space interaction is observed by NMR spectroscopy with couplings (1h JNH,F ) of 19±1 Hz. A combination of experimental (NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography) and theoretical methods (DFT calculations) were used for the characterization of this weak interaction. In particular, the effects of conformational rigidity and steric compression on coupling were investigated. This scaffold was used for the direct comparison of fluoride with methoxy as HB acceptors, and the susceptibility of the NH⋅⋅⋅F interaction to changes in electron distribution and resonance was probed by preparing a series of molecules with different electron-donating or -withdrawing groups in the positions para to the NH and F. The results support the idea that fluorine can act as a weak HB acceptor, and the HB strength can be modulated through additive and linear electronic substituent effects.
The auxiliary problem for feasible directions

The present work compares the computational efficiency of two means of determining a direction vector S at constraint boundaries and demonstrates the advantages of using the alternative that formulates the S-determination subproblem with a single quadratic constraint, which in turn can be cast as a special linear problem and solved directly.
Motion pattern based video classification using support vector machines

Semantic classification is an effective approach to the management of vast digital video data. We propose a new semantic classification scheme based on motion patterns. With such a scheme, the motion patterns in video clips can be effectively mapped to semantic conceptions. Motion texture (see Ma, Y.F. and Zhang, H.J., "Motion Texture: A New Representation for Video Content", Technical Report, Microsoft Research, 2001) is employed as motion pattern descriptor, which can be extracted from shots or video clips. By using kernel support vector machines (SVMs), we have devised an optimized multi-class classifier to link low level features with conceptions. Experimental results indicate that our approach is an effective solution for motion pattern based semantic video classification.
Revisiting the Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: Where have we been and Where are We Going?

Appropriate and reliable classification of mental illness is crucial for advancing the field of psychiatry as agreement on diagnosis has broad implications for treatment of mental disorders and research into the etiopathophysiology of mental disorders. Since schizophrenia was first recognized by Kraepelin (as dementia praecox), there has been much discussion about what does and does not diagnostically constitute the disorder. The importance placed upon different symptoms and course types associated with schizophrenia has been as heterogeneous as the disorder itself. This article focuses upon the classification of schizophrenia over the last 100 years, the current diagnosis of schizophrenia, changes for schizophrenia planned in the upcoming DSM 5, future directions for improving the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and the implications of a new diagnostic paradigm for the illness.
Banking the Poor: Policies to Bring Low-Income Americans Into the Financial Mainstream

Low-income households in the United States often lack access to bank accounts and face high costs for conducting basic financial transactions through check cashers and other alternative financial service providers. These families find it more difficult to save and plan financially for the future. Living paycheck to paycheck leaves them vulnerable to medical or job emergencies that may endanger their financial stability, and lack of longer-term savings undermines their ability to improve skills, purchase a home, or send their children to college. High-cost financial services and inadequate access to bank accounts may undermine widely-shared societal goals of reducing poverty, moving families from welfare to work, and rewarding work through incentives such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. This paper calls for the transformation of financial services for the poor. Better access to financial services is critical for low-income persons seeking to enter the economic mainstream.
A Different Perspective on the Boston Lockdown

The recent standoff in Watertown, Massachusetts, which resulted in the arrest of one alleged Boston Marathon bomber and the death of the other, is still fresh in the nation’s collective mind. The suspects' confrontation with law enforcement personnel and the subsequent manhunt resulted in the "lockdown" of a large part of the Boston metropolitan area. Commentators, legal and otherwise, have been quick to worry that just a couple of suspected terrorists were capable of creating so much trepidation that they brought a major city to a standstill. These commentators express concern about the troubling legal implications of the government's response, the huge economic costs of the shutdown, and the public policy precedents for dealing with terrorism in the future.I believe these commentators have been looking at it incorrectly. Government officials' reason for locking down Boston was not the dangerousness of the situation. It was that they were so close to capturing the remaining suspect, and a shutdown greatly improved the chances of doing so. Commentators' fears about the ramifications of Watertown are unjustified when one considers the actual facts of the situation. We need a different lens for analyzing these events, one that rightly casts the government’s actions in a more positive light and might even send a stronger message to would-be terrorists.
The Current State of Language Data Processing

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a critical survey on language data processing, by which the processing of natural language data by computer is meant. Two aspects of computing devices are of interest in their application to the automatic processing of natural language data: their capacity for processing very large amounts of data very quickly, and their limitation to carrying out instructions logically and literally. The data-processing capability of computing equipment allows its application to be repetitious, tedious, and voluminous tasks; this capability is constantly on the increase. Although not all forms of language data processing need involve linguistic processing, the importance of linguistics is today generally recognized by most researchers. The linguistic processing is crucial for the successful further development of language data processing. To this it must be added that the key component of any workable linguistic processing system is a parsing capability, since it is only through some form of parsing that the boundaries and functions of the units that are crucial to linguistic processing can be adequately ascertained. The purpose of analytic subroutines will be to perform tasks of linguistic analysis—such—as the identification of the different linguistic constructions that are to be recognized as to their boundaries and function.
Java-MOP: a monitoring oriented programming environment for java

A Java-based tool-supported software development and analysis framework is presented, where monitoring is a foundational principle. Expressive requirements specification formalisms can be included into the framework via logic plug-ins, allowing one to refer not only to the current state, but also to both past and future states.
Community Responses to Eastern Hemlock Loss Across a Latitudinal Gradient

Abstract Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) forests are experiencing widespread mortality due to the invasive insect Adelges tsugae (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid). This study sought to document the community response to HWA across latitude. I selected two sensitive response groups—plants and ants— to use as biological indicators of ecosystem change to monitor differences along a natural gradient of Eastern Hemlock mortality among 3 forest types: relatively healthy Eastern Hemlocks, dead or dying Eastern Hemlocks, and hardwood stands. I sampled understory vegetation, ants, and soils at each site and compared sites using a linear mixed-model to discern the best predictors of species density. I also compared analyses of variances across forest types among response variables. There was an average two-fold increase in understory vegetation species density between Eastern Hemlock and hardwood forests; ant species density was not influenced by forest type. Analysis of variance comparisons for understory vegetation sho...
Genetic diversity of cyanobacteria in four eutrophic lakes

Recent studies indicate genetic diversity of cyanobacteria in eutrophic lakes is not represented well by culture collections or morphology. Yet, few studies have investigated genetic richness and evenness of cyanobacteria using culture-independent methods. We compared the genetic structure of cyanobacteria supported by four neighboring eutrophic lakes during the ice-free season. The partial phycobilincpcB/A genes plus intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) was used as a genetic marker.Sequences were phylogeneticallygrouped by maximum likelihood into genotypes representing sub-genera of the major taxa. Genotypes fell into genera commonly observed by microscopy in these lakes including Microcystis, Aphanizomenon, Chroococcus, Anabaena, and Cylindrospermopsis . Only three genotypes were shared among all four lakes, despite significant water flowage between lakes.A Parsimony P-test indicated lakes were significantly (p=0.01) clustered on the maximum likelihood tree. Pairwise differences using Unifrac distance were moderately or not significant. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated genetic variation among all genotypes (φ=0.06, p<0.001) and 94% of variability occurred within lakes rather than between lakes (6%), explaining the lack of pairwise differences between lakes. Lorenze curves of genotype abundance in each lake showed genetic structure was only moderately uneven (Gini coefficients of 0.37–0.5) indicating lakes did not support dominant genotypes. Overall, results from this study suggest diversity of cyanobacteria is shaped by heterogeneity within lakes (temporally or spatially) and relatively even population structures.
Action planning supplements mirror systems in language evolution

Mirror systems must be supplemented by a planning capability to allow language to evolve. A capability for creating, storing, and executing plans for sequences of actions, having evolved in primates, was applied to sequences of communicatory acts. Language could exploit this already-existing capability. Further steps in language evolution may parallel steps seen in the development of modern children.
Delay between emergency room arrival and stroke consultation.

We reviewed retrospectively the charts of all stroke patients admitted through our emergency room (ER) during the first halves of 1986 (Group A) and 1992 (Group B). Specifically, the time elapsed between ER arrival and the request for consultation by neurology or neurosurgery was subjected to comparison by analysis of variance. In Group A, the time elapsed from arrival to consultation request varied between 1 and 100 min (mean, 32.5). In Group B, the same period ranged from 2 to 285 min (mean, 84). The difference in mean elapsed time between the two groups was statistically significant (<0.0001). In Group A, patients with hemorrhagic events had significantly shorter delay between arrival and consultation (p = 0.026). This was not the case in Group B. Stroke type did not influence the time to consultation in Group A (p = 0.18) orGroupB (p = 0.60). The results show that neurologic and neurosurgical consultations of stroke patients in the ER are delayed more now than in the past. This finding may have a significant impact on acute stroke intervention trials and underscores the need for active collaboration between stroke specialists and emergency physicians.
Indications for sentinel lymph node biopsy in multifocal and multicentric breast cancer.

Background Multifocal and multicentric breast cancers have been regarded as relative contraindications for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, because initial validation studies noted an association with greater false-negative rates. The purpose of this study is to perform a meta-analysis of the literature evaluating the feasibility and accuracy of SLN biopsy in multifocal and multicentric breast cancer. Methods A PubMed search retrieved original articles published between 2000 and 2010 in which the authors evaluated the accuracy of SLN biopsy in multifocal and multicentric breast cancer. Sixteen original articles were included in our meta-analysis. Results Nine-hundred thirty-two patients with multifocal and multicentric breast cancer underwent SLN biopsy followed by axillary lymph node dissection. The overall accuracy rate and false-negative rate are 96% and 7.7%, respectively. Of the 37 false-negative biopsies, 7 patients had an additional relative contraindication for SLN biopsy. If we exclude these patients with additional known relative contraindication to SLN biopsy, the accuracy and false-negative rates are 96.7% and 6.3%, respectively. Conclusion When a multifocal or multicentric breast cancer has an additional relative contraindication to performing SLN biopsy, such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy or T > 5 cm, the false-negative rate increases.