cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Critical periods in the regulation of the pupal molt of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens.

Behavioral and morphological changes which occur during the last larval stage of Heliothis Virescens (Fabr.) have been used to establish five discrete phases within the instar. Using these criteria, critical periods for prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) and ecdysone release in the last instar were determined by percent molting after neck and thoracic ligations, respectively. We observed one critical period for PTTH release in animals reared at a nondiapause-inducing regimen (30°C, long day photoperiod) and four critical periods for PTTH release in animals reared at a diapause-inducing regimen (20°C, short day photoperiod). Only one critical period was observed for ecdysone release under both rearing conditions. In larvae with the thorax ligated, where the prothoracic glands were isolated from the posterior portion, 20-hydroxyecdysone injected into abdomens prior to the ecdysone critical period did not readily induce pupation, even at high doses.
Implications of Accounting Research for the SEC's Consideration of International Accounting Standards for U.S. Securities Offerings

This paper discusses certain implications of capital‐markets‐based academic accounting research for the assessment of International Accounting Standards (IAS) by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC's assessment criteria are comprehensiveness, high quality (comparability, transparency and full disclosure) and rigorous interpretation and application. Existing academic research has few implications for comprehensiveness, transparency and full disclosure, in part because no agreed‐upon metrics for measuring these constructs have been developed. Indirect implications for interpretation and application might be drawn from cross‐jurisdictional comparisons of income and cash flow volatility and value relevance, provided certain strong assumptions are met. Using Form 20‐F reconciliation data, research has documented extensive evidence of noncomparabilities between U.S. GAAP financial statements and statements prepared for the same firms under both various non‐U.S. GAAPs and IAS, and some evidenc...
Synthetic studies on ecteinascidin 743: asymmetric synthesis of the versatile amino acid component

The asymmetric synthesis of the modified tyrosine derivative as a basic building block for the ecteinascidin and safracin family of antitumor alkaloids has been achieved in nine steps and 39% overall yield.
Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Oviposition Preference as Influenced by Container Size and Buddleja davidii Plants

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is a container-breeding mosquito commonly found in residential areas of its range in the United States. Mosquitoes are known to utilize flowering plants for sugar acquisition. Limited information is known about the influences on oviposition site selection, outside of container size. Residential areas are often landscaped with a variety of flowering plants and are known to provide numerous sizes of potential larval developmental sites for container-breeding mosqutioes. Through screened enclosure and field studies, the oviposition preference of Ae. albopictus for containers of three selected sizes (473, 946 and 1,892 ml) and the influence of flowering butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii Franchett cultivar 'Guinevere') plants were examined. Our results document that significantly more eggs were oviposited in the largest containers. Additionally, significantly more eggs were oviposited in containers adjacent to flowering butterfly bushes than in those without a flowering butterfly bush. Finally, our results document that flowering butterfly bushes exerted greater influence over Ae. albopictus oviposition decisions than did container size. Our findings can be applied to several aspects of Ae. albopictus surveillance and control.
Summary of Session V Therapeutic Effects of Growth Hormone

Most pediatric endocrinologists now in practice were trained during the period of time when the therapeutic use of growth hormone in the United States was perfectly straightforward. Because of the severe limitations of supply, and the centralization of distribution in this country through the National Pituitary Agency, the therapeutic use of growth hormone was restricted to children with severe growth hormone deficiency as defined by rigid and narrowly defined criteria. With the introduction of commercial pituitary growth hormone supplies into this country, and more recently with the introduction of the potentially unlimited supplies of synthetic growth hormone, there has been an increasing number of questions about the use of growth hormone beyond the narrow original definition of growth hormone deficiency.
On the use of the dual process Langmuir model for predicting unary and binary isosteric heats of adsorption.

Analytic expressions for unary and binary isosteric heats of adsorption as a function of the adsorbed phase loading were derived from the dual process Langmuir (DPL) model using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. Unary isosteric heats of adsorption predicted from these expressions for several adsorbate–adsorbent systems were compared to values in the literature predicted from the well-accepted graphical approach using Toth and unilan models (Adsorption Equilibrium Data Handbook; Prentice Hall: NJ, 1989). Predictions from the DPL model were also compared to rare experimental unary and binary isosteric heats of adsorption in the literature for another adsorbate–adsorbent system. In all cases, very good agreement was obtained, showing that the DPL model can be used in adsorption process modeling for accurately predicting not only ideal and nonideal mixed-gas adsorption equilibria (Langmuir2011, 27, 4700), but also unary and even binary isosteric heats of adsorption.
Axisymmetric DSMC-PIC Simulation of Quasineutral Partially Ionized Jets

An axisymmetric, hybrid numerical code for a partially ionized jet is developed and used to investigate the associated plasma phenomena. The code is based on a combination of DSMC, PIC and fluid computational techniques. The code incorporates a dual-grid structure, subcycling for the time integration, and time-varying particle injection. Collisions between charged and neutral particles, as well as charge-exchan ge, are modeled using the No-Time-Counter methodology. The model is based on a quasineutral formulation with fluid electrons. A typical simulation of a pulsed plasma jet is presented. The results demonstrate the expansion of the neutral and ion components of the jet and the generation of a low energy ion population due to the charge exchange reactions.
Phagocytosis of Microorganisms

For its survival, the host depends on an elaborate internal defense system to protect against persistent invasion by pathogenic microorganisms. This system is composed primarily of cellular and humoral components of the circulatory system and includes the "professional" phagocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, and tissue macrophages), antibody, and complement. The humoral component is often able to deal with invaders singlehandedly, as by antibody-independent or antibody-dependent complement lysis. However, the cellular and humoral components must cooperate to destroy better-equipped pathogens by the process of phagocytosis. Hundreds of studies on phagocytosis of one or another microorganism have been published. Experimental conditions in these studies have varied widely. Investigators have employed a variety of white cell types (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, or macrophages) from different anatomical regions (usually blood, peritoneum, or alveoli) of different animals (often human, rabbit, guinea pig, or mouse). These white cells have been obtained in their resident state or after elicitation
Na-independent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange mediates recovery of pHi from alkalosis in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

The pH-sensitive fluorescent indicator, carboxy-seminaphthorhodafluor 1 (SNARF 1) was used to assess the contribution of forward Na-independent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange (1 external Cl- exchanged for 1 internal HCO3-) to intracellular pH (pHi) recovery from alkalosis in adult ventricular myocytes (guinea pig). Intracellular alkalosis was elicited by external application of the weak base, trimethylamine. In the absence of CO2-HCO3- (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered solution) the initial rate of pHi recovery from alkalosis (pHi = 7.25-7.75) was slow and independent of pHi, yielding an apparent net HCO3- efflux of 0.36 +/- 0.11 mM/min. In CO2-HCO3(-)-buffered solution, the initial rate of pHi recovery and net HCO3- efflux were much faster and markedly increased by raising pHi. At pHi approximately 7.25, net HCO3- efflux was approximately 2 mM/min and rose to 9 mM/min at pHi approximately 7.6. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (0.4 mM) decreased net HCO3- efflux by 78.1 +/- 8.9% in CO2-HCO3(-)-buffered solution. Reduction in extracellular Cl- concentration from 135 to 20 mM markedly slowed the rate of pHi recovery from alkalosis and reduced net HCO3- efflux. pHi recovery from alkalosis was unaffected by removal of external sodium or exposure to 1 mM amiloride. These results indicate that forward Na-independent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange mediates pHi recovery from alkalosis in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.
The Fusion Method for Prior Distribution in Multi-sources of Prior Information

Sometimes, the exact failure time of samples cannot be obtained in the life test of some reliability products, and some samples in certain fixed time can take out and observe the failure instance. However, not the completed data but the censored data can be got under usually circumstance. With this test result, based on the ideology of the maximum likelihood, two fusion methods are presented when prior information comes from different sources, and weights of every prior distribution are confirmed logically when fusing.
Carcinoma of the Female Urethra: A Review of Results with Radiation Therapy

Low stage female urethral carcinoma is curable by radiation therapy alone and is amenable to brachytherapy techniques whereby high doses of irradiation can be delivered safely. A 60 to 80 per cent 5-year survival rate with preservation of bladder function and control can be expected with good radiotherapeutic techniques. Except for stage Tis or early stage T1 lesions of the anterior urethra that can be treated with limited surgical excision, irradiation should be considered as an alternative to more extensive surgery for low stage bulky lesions. While there has been some success with radiation therapy alone for advanced disease, the cure rate probably can be improved with a combined approach using surgery, radiation therapy and possibly chemotherapy.
Emergence, Self-Transcendence, and Education

Emergence refers to the arising of unpredictable, nondeductible, and irreducible coherent structures, patterns, and properties in complex systems. Emergent phenomena are understood as collectivities or integrations occurring on a macro-level emerging out of less integrated substrates on a micro-level. The construct of emergence is turned to when the dynamics of a system can be better understood by focusing on across-system organization rather than by decomposition into parts.
Faith against the storm: Filipino immigrant mobilizations for Hurricane Katrina evacuees

Hurricane Katrina forced one of the largest internal migrations of people in US history. Among the evacuees were 28,000 Filipino Americans many of whom fled to Houston. In a short period of time, F...
High-temperature lubricants for superplastic forming of metals

Abstract: As in other sheet metal forming operations, sliding friction between the sheet material and the die surface during superplastic forming needs to be managed. In this chapter the use of lubrication during the superplastic forming process is discussed with specific focus on the controlling mechanisms of solid lubricants, the use of lubricants in commercial superplastic forming processes, the influence of friction and lubricant on final part quality and finally some thoughts on the preferred methods of testing and evaluating lubricants.
Inquiry, Policy, and Teacher Communities: Counter Mandates and Teacher Resistance in an Urban School District

This paper describes two cases of teacher inquiry communities that met regularly in Philadelphia during 2010-2011, a time when the school district was implementing a series of neoliberal reforms. One community was comprised of veteran teachers while the other consisted of Teach for America corps members in their first year of teaching. The authors analyze the work of the two groups through the lens of feminist practice to illustrate the ways in which the teachers drew on three types of counter-mandates- a utobiographical, social justice, and textual- to resist top-down, autocratic mandates. The authors conclude by discussing implications for practitioner and researchers who are working to open up spaces of possibility for students and teachers in these times.
Tonsillobiventral fissure approach to the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle.

OBJECTIVESurgical access to the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle (LR) is suboptimal with existing transvermian and telovelar approaches because of limited lateral exposure, significant retraction of the cerebellar tonsil, and steep trajectories near brainstem perforator arteries. The goal in this study was to assess surgical exposure of the tonsillobiventral fissure approach to the LR, and to describe the relevant anatomy.METHODSTwo formaldehyde-fixed cerebella were used to study the anatomical relationships of the LR. Also, the tonsillobiventral fissure approach was simulated in 8 specimens through a lateral suboccipital craniotomy.RESULTSThe pattern of the cerebellar folia and the cortical branches of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery were key landmarks to identifying the tonsillobiventral fissure. Splitting the tonsillobiventral fissure allowed a direct and safe surgical trajectory to the LR and into the cerebellopontine cistern. The proposed approach reduces cervical flexion and optimizes...
Examination of CRISPR/Cas9 design tools and the effect of target site accessibility on Cas9 activity

New Findings What is the topic of this review? In this review, we analyse the performance of recently described tools for CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNA design, in particular, design tools that predict CRISPR/Cas9 activity. What advances does it highlight? Recently, many tools designed to predict CRISPR/Cas9 activity have been reported. However, the majority of these tools lack experimental validation. Our analyses indicate that these tools have poor predictive power. Our preliminary results suggest that target site accessibility should be considered in order to develop better guide RNA design tools with improved predictive power. The recent adaptation of the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system for targeted genome engineering has led to its widespread application in many fields worldwide. In order to gain a better understanding of the design rules of CRISPR/Cas9 systems, several groups have carried out large library-based screens leading to some insight into sequence preferences among highly active target sites. To facilitate CRISPR/Cas9 design, these studies have spawned a plethora of guide RNA (gRNA) design tools with algorithms based solely on direct or indirect sequence features. Here, we demonstrate that the predictive power of these tools is poor, suggesting that sequence features alone cannot accurately inform the cutting efficiency of a particular CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA design. Furthermore, we demonstrate that DNA target site accessibility influences the activity of CRISPR/Cas9. With further optimization, we hypothesize that it will be possible to increase the predictive power of gRNA design tools by including both sequence and target site accessibility metrics.
Exploring the Differential Predictors of Cognition- and Affect-Based Trust

The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of trust by bridging the gap between two heretofore distinct paradigms of trust. One paradigm views trust as taking on one of two dime...
Someone like Me: Descriptive Representation and Support for Supreme Court Nominees:

Extant research on public support for judicial nominees finds that ideological congruence with the nominee is the most important factor in an individual’s decision to support a nominee. The researc...
Fruits and migrant health: Consequences of stopping over in exotic- vs. native-dominated shrublands on immune and antioxidant status of Swainson's Thrushes and Gray Catbirds

ABSTRACT Migration is a physiologically demanding activity. Recent studies suggest that migrating birds can improve their immune and antioxidant status during stopover, implying that variation in stopover habitat can affect migrants' health. We studied 2 species that are strongly frugivorous during fall migration, Swainson's Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) and Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis). We asked whether birds that used shrubland dominated by exotic plants experienced differences in mass change, immune function, and antioxidant status relative to conspecifics in native-dominated shrubland during fall stopover in Michigan, USA, in 2012–2013. We found no habitat-related differences in any of the measured health parameters for Swainson's Thrushes. However, Gray Catbirds using native-dominated shrubland retained mass while those in exotic-dominated shrubland lost mass in 2013. Gray Catbirds in exotic-dominated habitat that year also had poorer immune status (elevated granulocyte:lymphocyte ratio and...
Work stealing for multi-core HPC clusters

Today a significant fraction of HPC clusters are built from multi-core machines connected via a high speed interconnect, hence, they have a mix of shared memory and distributed memory. Work stealing algorithms are currently designed for either a shared memory architecture or for a distributed memory architecture and are extended to work on these multi-core clusters by assuming a single underlying architecture. However, as the number of cores in each node increase, the differences between a shared memory architecture and a distributed memory architecture become more acute. Current work stealing approaches are not suitable for multi-core clusters due to the dichotomy of the underlying architecture. We combine the best aspects of both the current approaches in to a new algorithm. Our algorithm allows for more efficient execution of large-scale HPC applications, such as UTS, on clusters which have large multi-cores. As the number of cores per node increase, which is inevitable given today's processor trends, such an approach is crucial.
Live Performance: Touring Can Make You Crazy. Are Your Grandparents Driving Up Ticket Prices?

Everything was wrong about the ill-fated Winter Dance Party. First, rock and roll was in a slump. Elvis was in the Army, Jerry Lee Lewis had married his 13-year-old second cousin and the resultant scandal nosedived his career, and Congress was getting concerned about payola among rock and roll radio stations. Though Alan Freed had helped pioneer the format for rock and roll shows of the 1950s, by 1959, the national economy was slowing down from the post-World War II boom, and rock and roll shows were trying to shore up profitability in a time of falling revenues. The only way to do this was to cut costs. One way the company that organized the Winter Dance Party, General Artists Corporation (GAC), cut costs was by contracting the tour buses with the lowest bidder in Chicago. Unfortunately, going with the lowest cost bidder is not always the best policy if standards are not upheld. The buses were not prepared for weather in winter in the Midwest where temperatures were sometimes 25° below zero during the tour.
Prehistoric Panopticon: Settlement Visibility at Ancient Cahokia Mounds:

Throughout time, cultures have manipulated the landscape for a variety of reasons, including the promotion of social control. One approach to facilitating this control is through omnipresent survei...
Acceptability of the Stepped Care Model of Depression Treatment in Primary Care Patients and Providers

Primary care has become the first and only point of contact for a majority of individuals experiencing depressive symptoms. One alternative model of care that has been adopted in international primary care settings as an alternative to standard care is the stepped care model. Emerging evidence suggests that the stepped care model is at least as effective as standard care for depression; however, little is known about attitudes of patients and providers regarding this model, especially within the US. The current study utilized a cross-sectional survey to inquire about general attitudes towards the stepped care model, the individual steps, and the treatments offered within each step. We also examined the step that participants would prefer if prescribing or seeking help and the strength of those preferences. Descriptive and inferential statistics indicated that participants view the stepped care model as an acceptable form of treatment for depression and it is an improvement upon standard care. Results also indicated that our patient sample generally preferred self-help interventions over other treatment options, while most of our provider sample would prefer to treat patients in a manner consistent with the stepped care model. These results highlight the importance of collaboration and assessing preferences for treatment choices.
Ethnic differences in tumor proliferation in women with early-stage breast cancer.

560 Background: Hispanic women have a higher mortality rate and lower incidence of breast cancer (BC) compared to Caucasian women. Studies report higher tumor proliferation in African American (AA)...
Umbilical catheter-associated complications in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit

To assess complication rates and risks associated with the use of umbilical catheters. An observational cohort study was conducted in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit over 11 years. Any neonate with an umbilical catheter placed during this period was included. Complication event rates over time were assessed via Poisson and Cox regressions. Fifty one of 2035 umbilical arterial catheters (2.5%) and 269 of 2017 umbilical venous catheters placed (13.3%) developed a complication. Positional issues comprised most umbilical venous catheter-associated complications (86.2%) and breaks/ruptures the majority in umbilical arterial catheters (41.2%). The cumulative incidence of a complication increased most notably after 10 days of umbilical arterial catheter use and 16 days of umbilical venous catheter use. Complications occurred in a relatively low percentage of umbilical catheters placed in our neonatal intensive care unit. Extended catheter dwell time remains a significant risk of developing a complication.
Fabrication of Thin III-V Solar Cells on Ni Films using Electroless Ni Deposition

Thin solar cells are inherently fragile, and must be properly supported during fabrication, handling and use. Metal films can provide this support, but accomplishing this can be challenging. Here we describe a method for fabricating thin III-V solar cells on Ni films, using electroless deposition to deposit a thick (10-50 µm) Ni film onto the bottom of an inverted III-V solar cell prior to substrate removal. Cells have been fabricated on both rigid and flexible supports with no loss of performance when compared to cells processed using standard inverted-cell processing.
The apoptosis of neuron and expression of ERK in cortex induced by endotoxemia in young rats

Objective To investigate the effect of ERK in apoptosis of neuron induced by endotoxemia,provide the theory basis for the early intervention. Methods Wistar rats aged 10 day were randomly divided into two groups:LPS group and NS group. Neuron apoptosis at 6、12、72 h after abdomen injection were detected by TUNEL method, the expressions of ERK were measured by immunohistochemial method.Results ( 1 ) apoptosis cell appeared at 6 hour in LPS group, but the apoptosis index showed no difference from NS group( P ＞ 0. 05 ). The apoptosis cell obvious increased at 12 hour, peaked at 72 hour( P ＜ 0. 05 ,P ＜0. 01 ). (2) As compared with NS group, the expression of ERK increased at 6 h ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), obviously decreased at 12 h(P ＜0. 01 ) ,and reversed to the level of NS group at 72 h(P ＞0. 05). Conclusion LPS can induce the neuron apoptosis in young rats, the ERK is activated and could play role in apoptosis. Key words: Endotoxin ; Sepsis ; Apoptosis ; Rat
Nickel–Metal Hydride Batteries

Nickel–metal hydride batteries share some of the same properties with nickel–cadmium batteries because of the common cathode material. However, this battery system has risen to prominence in many applications, such as electrical vehicles, due to its superior energy and capacity characteristics. Their principle of operation, charge–discharge processes, and negative electrode development are discussed in this chapter.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Patient With Mitral Valve Prolapse and LMNA and SCN5A Mutations.

Abstract Bileaflet mitral valve prolapse (Bi-MVP) is associated with increased risk for cardiac arrest. We describe a patient who presented after a cardiac arrest with Bi-MVP and variants in Lamin ...
Boundary Control of Traffic Congestion Modeled as a Non-stationary Stochastic Process.

In this paper, we introduce a new conservation-based approach to model traffic dynamics, and apply the model predictive control (MPC) approach to control the boundary traffic inflow and outflow, so that the traffic congestion is reduced. We establish an interface between the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) software and MATLAB to define a network of interconnected roads (NOIR) as a directed graph, and present traffic congestion management as a network control problem. By formally specifying the traffic feasibility conditions, and using the linear temporal logic, we present the proposed MPC-based boundary control problem as a quadratic programming with linear equality and inequality constraints. The success of the proposed traffic boundary control is demonstrated by simulation of traffic congestion control in Center City Philadelphia.
Multi-Omic Analysis Reveals Disruption of Cholesterol Homeostasis by Cannabidiol in Human Cell Lines

Abstract The non-psychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), is FDA-approved for treatment of two drug-resistant epileptic disorders, and is seeing increased use among the general public, yet the mechanisms that underlie its therapeutic effects and side-effect profiles remain unclear. Here, we report a systems-level analysis of CBD action in human cell lines using temporal multi-omic profiling. FRET-based biosensor screening revealed that CBD treatment resulted in a sharp rise in cytosolic calcium, and activation of AMPK and ERK kinases in human keratinocyte and neuroblastoma cell lines. CBD treatment led to alterations in the abundance of metabolites, mRNA transcripts, and proteins consistent with activation of cholesterol biosynthesis, transport and storage. We found that CBD rapidly incorporated into cellular membranes and altered cholesterol chemical activity, suggesting direct perturbation of cholesterol-dependent membrane properties. CBD treatment induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in multiple human cell lines, which was rescued by inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, and potentiated by compounds that disrupt cholesterol trafficking and storage. Our data point to a pharmacological interaction of CBD with cholesterol homeostasis pathways, with potential implications in its therapeutic use.
Extraterritorial Interrogation: The Porous Border between Torture and U.S. Criminal Trials

This Article argues that post 9-11 terrorism prosecutions belie the presumption that U.S. courts are highly skeptical of confessions elicited during interrogation by foreign governments that routinely torture. The markedly increased transnational cooperation in the prosecution of crimes, as well as practices such as “extraordinary rendition” and detention at secret “black site” prisons abroad, have blurred sovereign responsibility for abusive interrogation techniques abroad. Although much scholarship has focused on whether the fight against terrorism should be governed by the war or criminal law paradigm, few have analyzed the actual implications for domestic criminal trials of the United States' increased reliance on foreign interrogations in the war on terror. In recent cases, courts assessing defendants' claims of abuse by foreign interrogators in terrorism cases have failed to conduct a sufficiently rigorous inquiry into the voluntariness of confessions obtained through foreign interrogation and have failed to set a sufficiently exacting standard for determining whether U.S. actors play a constitutionally significant role in extraterritorial investigations. That is, ignoring factors such as incommunicado detention and solitary confinement and failing to consider relevant evidence bearing on the credibility of foreign witnesses (for example, the foreign country's human rights records), courts have increased the risk of error in voluntariness determinations and diminished protections against the taint of torture in U.S. criminal trials. These developments signal a potential turning point in U.S. criminal procedure: diminished protections against investigation through torture. This potential crack in the constitutional bulwark against torture creates a perverse incentive for the United States to export interrogation to foreign entities that torture in order to obtain “flexibility” in interrogation, while insulating interrogation practices from the scrutiny applied to domestic law enforcement activities. As a result, the ability of domestic courts to deter government misconduct is circumscribed and the prospect of torture increased.
Bending strength and stiffness of loblolly pine lumber from intensively managed stands located on the Georgia Lower Coastal Plain

Loblolly pine is increasingly grown on intensively managed plantation forests that yield excellent growth; however, lumber cut from these trees often contains a large percentage of juvenile wood which negatively impacts strength and stiffness. Because of changing forest management and mill practices the design values for visually graded southern pine were updated in 2013 to more accurately account for the material properties available in commerce. This study was undertaken to assess the bending strength and stiffness of loblolly pine lumber from intensively managed stands located on the Georgia Lower Coastal Plain. Eight hundred and forty-one pieces of lumber sawn from 93 trees age 24–33 years were tested in four-point bending according to ASTM International standards. The No. 1 grade MOE15 (11.9 GPa) was greater than the current (11.0 GPa) design value and comparable to the previous (11.7 GPa) design value. The No. 2 grade MOE15 (10.6 GPa) was greater than the current (9.7 GPa) design value but slightly less than the previous (11.0 GPa) design values. The No. 3 grade MOE15 (9.3 GPa) was between the current (9.0 GPa) design value and the previous (9.7 GPa) design value. Altogether, these results point to the MOE15 mean values being reasonably comparable to the previous design values and currently meeting or exceeding the current design values for visually graded southern pine lumber.
LGBT Health Equity: Steps Toward Progress and Challenges Ahead

The journal, LGBT Health, was launched to facilitate communication among members of the health workforce so that we might take full advantage of an unprecedented window of opportunity to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health in the United States and around the world. This opportunity was created by a confluence of developments, including the publication of the groundbreaking 2011 Institute of Medicine report on the health of LGBT populations1 and progressive health policy changes, intended to reduce LGBT health disparities and overcome barriers to care, as outlined in the editorial of the inaugural issue of the journal.2 That editorial also included a call to action to open this window of opportunity even wider and to visualize and create a new era of LGBT health equity.2 Since the launch of LGBT Health, the journal has provided a vital forum for rapid scholarly communication of advances in LGBT health research, medical education and training, advocacy, and policy.
Learning with Diagrams: Effects on Inferences and the Integration of Information

Students studied materials about the human heart and circulatory system using either (a) text only, (b) text with simple diagrams, or (c) text with detailed diagrams. During learning, students self-explained [1] the materials. Explanations were transcribed, separated into propositions, and analyzed according to the type of learning process they represented. Results demonstrated that diagrams promoted inference generation but did not affect other learning processes (such as elaboration or comprehension monitoring). However, only simple diagrams promoted generation of inferences that integrated domain information. Results indicate that diagrams may be useful because they guide the learner to engage in the cognitive processes required for deep understanding.
Optical Activity of Cystine-containing Proteins III. CIRCULAR DICHROISM SPECTRA OF REDUCED AND REOXIDIZED PANCREATIC RIBONUCLEASE

Abstract Circular dichroic (CD) spectra are reported for pancreatic ribonuclease A which has been reoxidized under various conditions, and for partially reduced forms of RNase A. Reoxidation of reduced RNase A in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol leads to a product averaging 83% of the enzymatic activity of native RNase but differing in CD spectral bands, most prominently in the vicinity of 240 mµ where native RNase exhibits a positive band and the reoxidized material does not. If the reoxidation is carried out in the presence of β-mercaptoethanol, resultant enzymatic activities are about the same, but the anomalous CD spectrum near 240 mµ is not observed. RNase which has been reoxidized in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol can be fractionated on carboxymethyl Sephadex to yield two components, designated CMS-I and CMS-II. CMS-I is enzymatically inactive. CMS-II is fully active toward RNA. Its CD spectrum is identical with that of native RNase everywhere except near 240 mµ. With CMS-II, the positive band is present, but its intensity is only about half that of native RNase. The differences are amplified by cooling to below 5°. Calculated values of molecular ellipticity at 240 mµ for mixtures of CMS-I and CMS-II are similar to those observed with unfractionated reduced-reoxidized RNase; calculated values for mixtures of CMS-I and native RNase do not agree with the observed spectra. RNase, which, on the average, has one disulfide bond reduced, can be air-reoxidized in the absence of β-mercaptoethanol to a material whose CD spectrum is identical with that of RNase A. More extensive reduction, to an average of 4 sulfhydryl residues per molecule, yields on reoxidation a protein whose CD spectrum lacks the positive band at 240 mµ.
An siRNA Screen Identifies the U2 snRNP Spliceosome as a Host Restriction Factor for Recombinant Adeno-associated Viruses

Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have evolved to exploit the dynamic reorganization of host cell machinery during co-infection by adenoviruses and other helper viruses. In the absence of helper viruses, host factors such as the proteasome and DNA damage response machinery have been shown to effectively inhibit AAV transduction by restricting processes ranging from nuclear entry to second-strand DNA synthesis. To identify host factors that might affect other key steps in AAV infection, we screened an siRNA library that revealed several candidate genes including the PHD finger-like domain protein 5A (PHF5A), a U2 snRNP-associated protein. Disruption of PHF5A expression selectively enhanced transgene expression from AAV by increasing transcript levels and appears to influence a step after second-strand synthesis in a serotype and cell type-independent manner. Genetic disruption of U2 snRNP and associated proteins, such as SF3B1 and U2AF1, also increased expression from AAV vector, suggesting the critical role of U2 snRNP spliceosome complex in this host-mediated restriction. Notably, adenoviral co-infection and U2 snRNP inhibition appeared to target a common pathway in increasing expression from AAV vectors. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of U2 snRNP by meayamycin B, a potent SF3B1 inhibitor, substantially enhanced AAV vector transduction of clinically relevant cell types. Further analysis suggested that U2 snRNP proteins suppress AAV vector transgene expression through direct recognition of intact AAV capsids. In summary, we identify U2 snRNP and associated splicing factors, which are known to be affected during adenoviral infection, as novel host restriction factors that effectively limit AAV transgene expression. Concurrently, we postulate that pharmacological/genetic manipulation of components of the spliceosomal machinery might enable more effective gene transfer modalities with recombinant AAV vectors.
Effect of Temperature on the Nano/Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Nanotwinned Ag Films

In situ and ex situ annealed nanotwinned (NT) Ag thin films have been investigated by TEM and tensile testing to reveal the thermal stability of the twin boundaries, grain boundaries, dislocation densities, and their respective influence of the macroscopic yield stress. The NT Ag films synthesized by magnetron sputtering form both coherent (CTB, Σ3{111}) and incoherent (ITB, Σ3{112}) twin boundaries that are thermally stable up to 473 K (200 °C), i.e., no obvious changes in grain size, twin spacing, and yield stress. In situ TEM observations show the dislocations become mobile at 453 K (180 °C) resulting in dislocation annihilation primarily at twin and grain boundaries. Rotation of grains with low-angle grain boundaries was observed during in situ heating, resulting in the growth of columnar grains above 453 K (180 °C). However, no noticeable changes in the spacings of CTBs were observed during the entire in situ and the ex situ annealing [up to 873 K (600 °C)]. The increase in grain size and concomitant decrease in yield stress following annealing at various temperatures can be described by the Hall-Petch relationship, demonstrating that grain size rather than twin spacing is most sensitive to thermal annealing and plays a dominant role in the deformation of NT Ag films.
Challenges in high-aspect ratio contact (HARC) etching for DRAM capacitor formation

In the HARC etching to form capacitor in DRAM fabrication, many essential requirements such as CD uniformity, vertical profile, process margin and etc. should be satisfied. The CD uniformity not only of the contact hole but also of the space between adjacent contact holes determines the distribution of the cell capacitance and leakage characteristics. The CD uniformity is mainly determined by the mask etching. Recently, it was found that the CD uniformity of the space between contact holes becomes worse along with the design rule shrinkage. And the worse CD uniformity comes from the tilted profile of the hard mask. Obtaining vertical contact profile is a traditional problem in HARC etching. To achieve large enough bottom CD fundamentally erodes side surface of the upper part of the contact and thus forms so called bowed profile. Serious bowed profile decreases the minimum space between adjacent contact holes and induces electrical leakage. In this paper, these issues and related challenges will be presented. And various approaches to understand the mechanism of the issues and to resolve them will be touched.
Implementation of alternative test strategies for the safety assessment of engineered nanomaterials

Nanotechnology introduces a new field that requires novel approaches and methods for hazard and risk assessment. For an appropriate scientific platform for safety assessment, nanoscale properties and functions of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), including how the physicochemical properties of the materials relate to mechanisms of injury at the nano–bio interface, must be considered. Moreover, this rapidly advancing new field requires novel test strategies that allow multiple toxicants to be screened in robust, mechanism-based assays in which the bulk of the investigation can be carried out at the cellular and biomolecular level whilst maintaining limited animal use and is based on the contribution of toxicological pathways to the pathophysiology of disease. First, a predictive toxicological approach for the safety assessment of ENMs will be discussed against the background of a ‘21st-century vision’ for using alternative test strategies (ATSs) to perform toxicological assessment of large numbers of untested chemicals, thereby reducing a backlog that could otherwise become a problem for nanotechnology. An ATS is defined here as an alternative to animal experiments or refinement/reduction alternative to traditional animal testing. Secondly, the approach of selecting pathways of toxicity to screen for the pulmonary hazard potential of carbon nanotubes and metal oxides will be discussed, as well as how to use these pathways to perform high-content or high-throughput testing and how the data can be used for hazard ranking, risk assessment, regulatory decision-making and ‘safer-by-design’ strategies. Finally, the utility and disadvantages of this predictive toxicological approach to ENM safety assessment, and how it can assist the 21st-century vision, will be addressed.
The Three-Stage MP Accelerator Upgrade Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory

The three-stage tandem accelerator facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) consists of two model MP tandem Van de Graaff accelerators arranged in line so that MP-6 can inject negative ions up to 10 MeV energy into MP-7 providing a three stage mode of operation. The injector accelerator, MP-6, may also be used as a standard two-stage accelerator having been equipped with an external ion source and target room facility. A description is given of recent improvements and current operating status and performance. Improvements in operation have now provided record electrostatic accelerator heavy ion energies for the research program of 125 MeV /sup 16/O/sup 8 +/ 200 MeV /sup 32/S16/sup +/ and 255 MeV /sup 63/Cu/sup 19 +/
The Influence of Temperature on Longevity and Fecundity in the Bug Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Age-specific fecundity and mortality schedules were determined for Lygus hesperus Knight adults at constant, alternating, and variable temperatures. Constant temperatures ranged between 55 and 100°F. In the alternating temperatures, the bugs were alternated on a 3-day schedule between a constant high and a constant low temperature, while under the variable temperature regimes, the bugs were exposed to daily fluctuations of 55–95°F or 55–100°F. At 55°F, L. hesperus produced 1 egg each 3rd day and the mean female longevity was 120 days and maximum longevity was 200 days. Temperatures above 90°F were detrimental; no eggs were produced at 100°F. Life table calculations revealed that constant 90°F or alternating temperatures of 80–90°F yielded the maximum potential rate of population increase. Egg hatch was inversely related to temperature; only 6% of eggs laid at 95°F hatched. The rate of egg production at either of the alternating temperatures was the same as that which occurred when the bugs were exposed to similar constant temperatures.
Efficacy of behavioral interventions for reducing problem behavior in persons with autism: a quantitative synthesis of single-subject research

The efficacy of behavioral interventions for problem behavior in persons with autism was reviewed. One hundred and seventeen published articles representing 181 individuals with autism were examined. Articles were selected from 15 journals. Participant, treatment, and experimental variables were evaluated. Three effect sizes were calculated for each article. Behavioral treatments are effective in reducing problematic behaviors in individuals with autism. Type of target behavior and type of treatment did not moderate the average effect of treatment. As measured by percentage of zero data (PZD), three variables were predictive of behavioral suppression beyond that accounted for by behavioral topography and treatment type. Reliability of observation and number of treatment data points were positively related to PZD scores. Treatments based on experimental functional analysis (EFA) produced higher average PZD scores than treatments that did not include an EFA. The implications of the findings, study limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Performance Trajectories and Performance Gaps as Achievement Effect-Size Benchmarks for Educational Interventions

Abstract Two complementary approaches to developing empirical benchmarks for achievement effect sizes in educational interventions are explored. The first approach characterizes the natural developmental progress in achievement made by students from one year to the next as effect sizes. Data for seven nationally standardized achievement tests show large annual gains in the early elementary grades followed by gradually declining gains in later grades. A given intervention effect will therefore look quite different when compared to the annual progress for different grade levels. The second approach explores achievement gaps for policy-relevant subgroups of students or schools. Data from national- and district-level achievement tests show that, when represented as effect sizes, student gaps are relatively small for gender and much larger for economic disadvantage and race/ethnicity. For schools, the differences between weak schools and average schools are surprisingly modest when expressed as student-level e...
CONCURRENT VALIDITY OF THE RATIONAL BEHAVIOR INVENTORY

In a correlational study of the premise that irrational beliefs are associated with psychopathology, greater levels of irrationality were significantly correlated with increased levels of state and...
N-alkyl substituted analogs of the σ receptor ligand BD1008 and traditional σ receptor ligands affect cocaine-induced convulsions and lethality in mice

Cocaine binds to sigma receptors with comparable affinity to its well-established interaction with dopamine transporters. Previous studies have shown BD1008 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine) to have high affinity and selectivity for sigma receptors, and to additionally attenuate the locomotor stimulatory effects of cocaine. Therefore, in the present study, three N-alkyl substituted analogs of BD1008 were characterized in receptor binding and behavioral studies: BD1060 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine), BD1067 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-ethyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine), and BD1052 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-allyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine). Similarly to BD1008, all three analogs exhibited high affinity and selectivity for sigma receptors. In behavioral studies, BD1008, BD1060 or BD1067 attenuated cocaine-induced convulsions and lethality in Swiss Webster mice. The protective effects appear to be mediated through sigma receptor antagonism because traditional sigma receptor antagonists with high to moderate affinity for these receptors also attenuated the behavioral toxicity of cocaine. In contrast, traditional and novel sigma receptor agonists such as di-o-tolylguanidine and BD1052 worsened the behavioral toxicity of cocaine. To further characterize the actions of the N-alkyl substituted compounds, they were microinjected into the rat red nucleus, a functional assay of sigma receptor activity, where they produced agonist vs. antagonist actions that were consistent with their effects on cocaine-induced behaviors. Together, the data demonstrate that BD1008, BD1060 or BD1067 can attenuate the behavioral toxicity of cocaine, most likely through functional antagonism of sigma receptors.