cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimization of Periodic-Boundary-Induced Strain in Interface Simulations

Abstract We present a discussion of the periodic-boundary-induced strain that is necessarily present in simulations of interfaces between materials with differing lattice structures. We propose a simple, systematic method of minimizing such strain, which effectively eliminates perturbations imposed by the periodic boundaries. A sequence is formulated that characterizes the degree of strain present. This sequence is used in several examples to determine the optimal choice of periodic cell dimensions that minimize the periodic-boundary-induced strain. We show that the method is easily generalized to any interface structure.
Embedded health behaviors from adolescence to adulthood: the impact of tobacco.

Prevention of cancer risk behaviors before they become embedded in an individual's life is crucial. Health-related behaviors should be viewed for their embeddedness, critical aspects of which are (a) the complexity of the behavior itself; (b) factors, both biological and psychological, within the individual communicator; (c) and external situational or sociocultural factors. The more extensively a behavior is embedded, the more difficult it will be to alter. Relative levels of embeddedness of the risk behavior and its entanglement with other nonrisky behaviors will evolve and change throughout one's life course. Smoking across the life span provides an excellent example of a thoroughly integrated, embedded behavior. How smoking is embedded with other behaviors changes from adolescence, where biological factors may be less salient and habit strength less pronounced, through adulthood, where habit strength is greater but health concerns are a more predictive factor. Researchers can produce more focused comm...
Variations in apparent mass of mammalian fast-type myosin light chains correlate with species body size, from shrew to elephant.

A recent study (Bicer S and Reiser PJ. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 25: 623–633, 2004) suggested considerable variation in the apparent molecular mass (Ma), deduced from electrophoretic mobility, in fas...
Lectin‐dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity: Enhanced susceptibility of desialylated red cells

Lectin-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity against autologous human red cells was studied using an 111In(indium)-release assay. Human red cells were not readily killed by neutrophils in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). However, removal of red cell membrane sialic acids (desialylation) markedly enhanced their susceptibility to PHA-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity. This neutrophil cytotoxicity was dependent on the energy supplied by anaerobic glycolysis, but it was independent of erythrophagocytosis. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, KCN, and Na azide did not inhibit PHA-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity. Neutrophils from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease, in the presence of PHA, also killed desialylated red cells normally. On the other hand, desialylation of neutrophils had no effect on the expression of their cytotoxic effect. The results suggest that desialylated red cells are much more susceptible to lectin-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity than normal red cells, and that lectin-dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity is independent of reactive oxygen species.
Sounds and communications of the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

Summary The sounds and communications of the yellow-bellied marmot were studied from June 1962 to June 1963, during the seasons these marmots were not hibernating. Auditory communications were of primary concern. The study areas varied in altitude from 5240 ft to about 12,000 ft. The two main study areas were in Gunnison and Larimer Counties, Colorado. The behaviour of the marmots was observed in the field and from films; their sounds were taperecorded on a battery-operated tape recorder of high quality. Recordings were played back to the marmots in the field with the recorder and a battery-operated amplifier and speaker. The sounds were analysed on a sound spectrograph. A sound level meter was used in the laboratory to measure the intensity of the sounds of a captive marmot. Yellow-bellied marmots older than 1 month of age and of either sex can produce at least three main types of sounds—‘whistles’, ‘screams’, and ‘tooth chatter’. The whistle sounds are modified by marmots to form six different calls. Some sounds may be used for more than one purpose, and purposes, such as giving alarm, are communicated by more than one means. Furthermore, any sound given within a ‘coterie’ is not repeated by any other member of that social group. Interspecies communication between marmots and the animals around them seems to exist. Auditory, visual, tactile, and olfactory stimulations are used by marmots for communicating. Most communicating situations involve some form of visual stimulation, such as tail positions. Yellow-bellied marmots do not seem to have an ‘aerial predator warning’ call nor an ‘all-clear’ call. Very little communication can occur unless the receiving animal is familiar with the animal giving the communication, and is also aware of the situation existing within that animal's environment.
Evaluation of land use regression models for NO2 in El Paso, Texas, USA.

Abstract Developing suitable exposure estimates for air pollution health studies is problematic due to spatial and temporal variation in concentrations and often limited monitoring data. Though land use regression models (LURs) are often used for this purpose, their applicability to later periods of time, larger geographic areas, and seasonal variation is largely untested. We evaluate a series of mixed model LURs to describe the spatial-temporal gradients of NO 2 across El Paso County, Texas based on measurements collected during cool and warm seasons in 2006–2007 (2006–7). We also evaluated performance of a general additive model (GAM) developed for central El Paso in 1999 to assess spatial gradients across the County in 2006–7. Five LURs were developed iteratively from the study data and their predictions were averaged to provide robust nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentration gradients across the county. Despite differences in sampling time frame, model covariates and model estimation methods, predicted NO 2 concentration gradients were similar in the current study as compared to the 1999 study. Through a comprehensive LUR modeling campaign, it was shown that the nature of the most influential predictive variables remained the same for El Paso between 1999 and 2006–7. The similar LUR results obtained here demonstrate that, at least for El Paso, LURs developed from prior years may still be applicable to assess exposure conditions in subsequent years and in different seasons when seasonal variation is taken into consideration.
Interpersonal Dominance and Coronary-Prone Behavior.

Abstract Type A “coronary-prone behavior” is a risk factor for coronary artery and heart disease. Questionnaire research indicates that interpersonal dominance is one of the strongest behavioral correlates of the Type A behavior pattern, although little effort has been made to demonstrate a link between the behavioral manifestations of interpersonal dominance and Pattern A responding. This study was conducted to establish such a link. All possible combinations of extreme As ( N = 42) and Bs ( N = 42) were matched in dyads that negotiated extreme bipolar opposite positions on a “teacher dismissal” issue. Analysis of process and outcome behaviors suggested that type A individuals are unilaterally more dominant than their Type B counterparts. Possible physiological mechanisms mediating dominance and cardiovascular disease are discussed.
The effect of the density of states on the Metropolis algorithm

Abstract The Metropolis algorithm (a special case of simulated annealing) is considered as an algorithm for solving optimization problems. A lower bound is provided for a particular performance measure of the algorithm that is a function of the density of states of the instance of the problem. The bound is applied to the matching, traveling salesman, and graph bisection problems.
A Warning on the Use of Chi-Squared Statistics with Frequency Tables with Small Expected Cell Counts

Abstract When applied to frequency tables with small expected cell counts, Pearson chi-squared test statistics may be asymptotically inconsistent even in cases in which a satisfactory chi-squared approximation exists for the distribution under the null hypothesis. This problem is particularly important in cases in which the number of cells is large and the expected cell counts are quite variable. To illustrate this bias of the chi-squared test, this article considers the Pearson chi-squared test of the hypothesis that the cell probabilities for a multinomial frequency table have specified values. In this case, the expected value and variance of the Pearson chi-square may be evaluated under both the null and alternative hypotheses. When the number of cells is large, normal approximations and discrete Edgeworth expansions may also be used to assess the size and power of the Pearson chi-squared test. These analyses show that unless all cell probabilities are equal, it is possible to select a significance lev...
Analyzing the effect of client queue size on VoIP and TCP traffic over an IEEE 802.11e WLAN

In this paper we introduce a mathematical model to analyze the performance of Wi-Fi networks carrying voice calls and TCP controlled file downloads. We derive the voice call capacity, the TCP throughput, and the bandwidth utilization using the proposed five-dimensional Markov model. We show that there exists a correlation among the queue size of client nodes and the capacity and throughput of the network. We also demonstrate how bandwidth utilization is affected by variable packet arrival rates. The analytical results match well with the simulation results generated by Qualnet simulator. Moreover, we conduct an experimental study of the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) mechanism of the IEEE 802.11e standard with a real-environment testbed consisting of 1 access point and 11 laptops to further validate the analytical and simulation results.
Lekh Raj Batra, 1929–1999

Lekh R. Batra—mycologist, educator and linguist—died at the age of 69 after a distinguished professional career and a wide range of life experiences. Lekh was born in a remote village in the Thar D...
Chapter 13 Education investments and returns

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on schooling, as an investment with market returns is not intended to detract from the importance of education as a public good and as a source of consumption benefits, but rather to review how economic concepts and statistical methods have recently progressed in quantifying the roles of education in economic development. This chapter surveys a small part of the extensive literature on the linkages among education, productivity, and development, and assesses several areas where concerted research might clarify important issues and potentially change policies. This chapter presents an economic interpretation of this educational explosion. Most of the growth in public expenditures on education is attributed to increases in growth of real income per adult. The chapter describes the expansion of the world's educational system both in terms of its inputs of public and private resources and its output of students, and then estimates how income, price, and population constraints appear to govern this process. The chapter presents a contrast on causal frameworks proposed to explain the relationship between education and productivity, and discusses sources of data to measure the relationship and discriminate among causal interpretations. The chapter reviews evidence on the market returns to schooling measured for entrepreneurs and employees, men and women, and migrants and nonmigrants. The chapter also presents the evidence of schooling's effects on nonmarket production. The chapter discusses the policy issues for development that arise from the apparent effects of education on economic productivity and the mechanisms used to finance and manage the educational system.
libdft: practical dynamic data flow tracking for commodity systems

Dynamic data flow tracking (DFT) deals with tagging and tracking data of interest as they propagate during program execution. DFT has been repeatedly implemented by a variety of tools for numerous purposes, including protection from zero-day and cross-site scripting attacks, detection and prevention of information leaks, and for the analysis of legitimate and malicious software. We present libdft, a dynamic DFT framework that unlike previous work is at once fast, reusable, and works with commodity software and hardware. libdft provides an API for building DFT-enabled tools that work on unmodified binaries, running on common operating systems and hardware, thus facilitating research and rapid prototyping. We explore different approaches for implementing the low-level aspects of instruction-level data tracking, introduce a more efficient and 64-bit capable shadow memory, and identify (and avoid) the common pitfalls responsible for the excessive performance overhead of previous studies. We evaluate libdft using real applications with large codebases like the Apache and MySQL servers, and the Firefox web browser. We also use a series of benchmarks and utilities to compare libdft with similar systems. Our results indicate that it performs at least as fast, if not faster, than previous solutions, and to the best of our knowledge, we are the first to evaluate the performance overhead of a fast dynamic DFT implementation in such depth. Finally, libdft is freely available as open source software.
SEGUNDA SALIDA DE "UN PASAJE DEL 'QUIJOTE'": LITERALIDAD, TRADUCCIÓN, SENTIDO

To aid in remedying the lack of a systematic study of Don Quijote’s numerous translations, this paper compares translations of a famous passage from the second part of Don Quijote (a paragraph in which don Diego de Miranda, the Knight of the Green Coat, describes himself) with the aim of casting light on the different translator’s motivations.
The Arabidopsis FtsH metalloprotease gene family: interchangeability of subunits in chloroplast oligomeric complexes.

Summary The Arabidopsis At filamentation temperature sensitive (FtsH) metalloprotease gene family comprises 12 members (AtFtsH1–AtFtsH12), including three pairs of closely related genes that are targeted to chloroplasts (AtFtsH2 and AtFtsH8; AtFtsH1 and AtFtsH5; and AtFtsH7 and AtFtsH9). Mutations in AtFtsH5 (var1) and AtFtsH2 (var2) give rise to variegated plants with green- and white-sectored leaves. Cells in the green sectors contain morphologically normal chloroplasts, whereas cells in the white sectors are blocked in chloroplast biogenesis. A major question is how chloroplasts arise in cells that have a mutant genotype. We have found by two-dimensional (2-D) green gel and gel filtration analyses that AtFtsH2/VAR2 forms oligomeric complexes. Two bands in the 2-D green gels that correspond to AtFtsH5/VAR1 + AtFtsH1 and AtFtsH2/VAR2 + AtFtsH8 have been identified, and these bands are coordinately reduced in amount in var1 and var2 thylakoids that lack AtFtsH5/VAR1 and AtFtsH2/VAR2, respectively. These reductions are not because of alterations in transcript abundance. Overexpression of AtFtsH8 in var2-4 (a putative null allele) normalizes the variegation phenotype of the mutant and restores the two bands to their wild-type levels. These results suggest that AtFtsH8 is interchangeable with AtFtsH2/VAR2 in AtFtsH-containing oligomers, and that the two proteins have redundant functions. Consistent with this hypothesis, AtFtsH2 and AtFtsH8 have similar expression patterns, as monitored by promoter–β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion and RT-PCR experiments. Based on our findings, we propose that AtFtsH1, AtFtsH2/VAR2, AtFtsH5/VAR1, and AtFtsH8 interact to form oligomeric structures, and that subunit stoichiometry is controlled post-transcriptionally in var1 and var2, perhaps by turnover. A threshold model is presented to explain the pattern of variegation in var2 in which AtFtsH8 provides a compensating activity in the green sectors of the mutant.
Depletion of Oxycarotenoid Pigments in Chickens and the Failure of Aflatoxin to Alter It

Abstract Aflatoxin, a demonstrated cause of pale bird syndrome in chickens, was investigated for its effects on the depigmentation of chickens placed on a diet low in carotenoids. Chickens were pigmented by feeding for 3 wk a white corn-soy diet supplemented with 50μg free lutein and 0 or 4 μg aflatoxin/g diet. Then birds were switched to the same diets unsupplemented with lutein. At 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 days after switching, jejunal contents and mucosa, serum, liver, and toe web of 4 groups of 10 birds were removed for analysis of their carotenoids by high performance liquid chromatography. In control birds the order of decrease in total lutein was jejunal contents > jejunal mucosa > serum > liver > toe web. Aflatoxin did not alter the depletion process, except for minor retardation of lutein depletion in the mucosa and liver. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the data indicated that lutein depletion in the integument was accomplished through three sequential reactions (lutein diester → lutein monoester → lutein→serum lutein) and that aflatoxin had no effect on the reactions. These results imply that aflatoxin induces pale bird syndrome by interfering with the accumulation of pigment by chickens rather than by enhancing the depletion of pigment.
Credentialing and privileging for pharmacists

T he privileging and credentialing processes used by health systems have evolved over the past 30 years, and the pace of that change is increasing. This evolution is driven by society’s interest in protecting the public’s health, liability law, and the emergence of regulation in response to these issues. This article answers basic questions that pharmacists may have about the privileging and credentialing processes and explains the purposes, terminology, rationale, and processes of clinical privileging. The differences between privileging and credentialing are explained, and background information about the privileging of other health professions is also provided. A glossary of terms can be found in the appendix, and several case studies are included in this article. What is credentialing? Credentialing is the process used by health care organizations to validate professional licensure, clinical experience, and preparation for specialty practice. Health care professionals must have some form of credentialing before they are hired by a health care system and before they are granted specific patient care privileges. For pharmacists, this process has generally been limited to verification by the health system’s human resources
Miscibility and crystallization kinetics in blends of poly(ethylene terephtalate) and thermotropic liquid crystal polyesters

Binary blends of poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) and thermotropic liquid crystal polyester (TLCP) have been prepared by both solution and melt blending methods. The TLCPs utilized were Vectra (Hoechst Celanese), TR-4, a TLCP synthesized in our laboratory, and a block copolymer consisting of three TR-4 units followed by three PET units. The phase behavior of the blends was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and optical microscopy. The results show that none of the blends is miscible, but significant interactions exist between the PET phase and the TLCP phase in the case of TR-4 and TR-4 block copolymer blends. These interactions lead to a different nucleation mechanism in these blends compared to that in PET/Vectra.
Functional overlap of microtubule assembly factors in chromatin-promoted spindle assembly.

Distinct pathways from centrosomes and chromatin are thought to contribute in parallel to microtubule nucleation and stabilization during animal cell mitotic spindle assembly, but their full mechanisms are not known. We investigated the function of three proposed nucleation/stabilization factors, TPX2, γ-tubulin and XMAP215, in chromatin-promoted assembly of anastral spindles in Xenopus laevis egg extract. In addition to conventional depletion-add back experiments, we tested whether factors could substitute for each other, indicative of functional redundancy. All three factors were required for microtubule polymerization and bipolar spindle assembly around chromatin beads. Depletion of TPX2 was partially rescued by the addition of excess XMAP215 or EB1, or inhibiting MCAK (a Kinesin-13). Depletion of either γ-tubulin or XMAP215 was partially rescued by adding back XMAP215, but not by adding any of the other factors. These data reveal functional redundancy between specific assembly factors in the chromatin pathway, suggesting individual proteins or pathways commonly viewed to be essential may not have entirely unique functions.
Fractionating dead reckoning: role of the compass, odometer, logbook, and home base establishment in spatial orientation

Rats use multiple sources of information to maintain spatial orientation. Although previous work has focused on rats’ use of environmental cues, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that rats also use self-movement cues to organize navigation. This review examines the extent that kinematic analysis of naturally occurring behavior has provided insight into processes that mediate dead-reckoning-based navigation. This work supports a role for separate systems in processing self-movement cues that converge on the hippocampus. The compass system is involved in deriving directional information from self-movement cues; whereas, the odometer system is involved in deriving distance information from self-movement cues. The hippocampus functions similar to a logbook in that outward path unique information from the compass and odometer is used to derive the direction and distance of a path to the point at which movement was initiated. Finally, home base establishment may function to reset this system after each excursion and anchor environmental cues to self-movement cues. The combination of natural behaviors and kinematic analysis has proven to be a robust paradigm to investigate the neural basis of spatial orientation.
Addressing pose uncertainty in manipulation planning using Task Space Regions

We present an efficient approach to generating paths for a robotic manipulator that are collision-free and guaranteed to meet task specifications despite pose uncertainty. We first describe how to use Task Space Regions (TSRs) to specify grasping and object placement tasks for a manipulator. We then show how to modify a set of TSRs for a certain task to take into account pose uncertainty. A key advantage of this approach is that if the pose uncertainty is too great to accomplish a certain task, we can quickly reject that task without invoking a planner. If the task is not rejected we run the IKBiRRT planner, which trades-off exploring the robot's C-space with sampling from TSRs to compute a path. Finally, we show several examples of a 7-DOF WAM arm planning paths in a cluttered kitchen environment where the poses of all objects are uncertain.
The Origins of Presidential Conditional Agenda-Setting Power in Latin America

This paper examines the origins of amendatory vetoes in Latin America and shows why presidents' ability to present a redrafted bill after congressional passage gives them considerable power to affect legislation. The paper begins with a historical account that illustrates the workings of amendatory observations in nineteenth-century Latin America—the passage of the Electoral Law of 1874 in Chile. Next, it specifies the degree to which different constitutional procedures allow presidents to redraft legislation and shows why the power to introduce amendatory observations provides greater discretion than the power of the better- known block veto, regardless of override thresholds. Lastly, the paper traces the origins of amendatory observations back to the first wave of constitution writing that followed the wars of independence. Our findings challenge prior classifica- tions of veto powers in Latin America and highlight the positive agenda-setting power afforded to the president at the last stage of the lawmaking process.
THE RESPONSE OF THE PUBIC SYMPHYSIS OF THE MOUSE TO EXTRACTS OF PREGNANT RABBITSERUM AND PREGNANT SOW OVARIES AND ITS APPLICATION AS AN ASSAY METHOD1

GARDNER reported in 1935 that the pubic symphysis of the mouse separates during pregnancy and that a small amount of separation could be obtained by prolonged treatment of castracted mice with estrogens (Gardner, 1936). Hall and Newton (1946, 1947), however, showed that it was necessary to inject castrated mice with pregnant rabbit serum (PRS) in addition to a preliminary treatment with estrone in order to duplicate the rapid rate of separation observed during pregnancy. Further work by Hall (1948) indicated the necessity of pretreating the mice with estrogen for a period of five to eight days in order to obtain the maximum response to PRS. Because PRS is an excellent source of relaxin, and since the same type of response, i.e. pelvic relaxation, is obtained in both the mouse and guinea pig, Hall (1948) suggested that the measurement of pubic relaxation in the mouse could be used as an assay for relaxin.
Light, Circadian Rhythms, and Mood Disorders: A Review

AbstractBiological rhythm disturbances have been implicated in the development of some mood disorders. Thouh much recent interest has been focusefi on seasonal affective disorder, patients with nonseasonal depression also show evidence in many cases of disturbed circadian rhythms. Typically the biologic rhythm disturbances seen in both disorders resolve as symptoms abate, thus suggesting a potential therapeutic role for interventions that manipulate daily rhythms (such as light exposure).This paper reviews the concept of biological rhythms and the relationship of these rhythms to environmental modulators (particularly light). The connection between disturbed circadian rhthms and the smptomatic expression of goth seasonar and nonseasonal depression is discussed, and studies on the efficacy of environmental manipulations, particularly light therapy, are reviewed anf contrasted with those responses predicted by circadian theories.
The Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations Paradigm: A Think-Aloud Approach to Cognitive Assessment

Gerald C. Davison i s Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California. Sandra G. Navarre and Ralph S. Vogel are graduate students there in the clinical psychology program. Address correspondence to Gerald C. Davison, Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061; e-mail: gdaviso@a almaak.usc.edu . psychologists have put to subjects and patients for many years and in many different contexts. The answers to such queries inform psychologists' speculations about the role of thought in emotion and behavior. I n general, cognitive scientists have developed performance measures to infer cognitive processes. Experimental situations are created to make inferences about underlying cognitive processes. In contrast, clinical psychologists have tended to rely on clients' introspective and retrospective self-reports in interviews or on questionnaires. The core assumption in cognitive-
Biter: A Platform for the Teaching and Research of Multiagent Systems' Design Using RoboCup

We introduce Biter, a platform for the teaching and research of multiagent systems' design. Biter implements a client for the RoboCup simulator. It provides users with the basic functionality needed to start designing sophisticated RoboCup teams. Some of its features include a world model with absolute coordinates, a graphical debugging tool, a set of utility functions, and a Generic Agent Architecture (GAA) with some basic behaviors such as "dribble ball to goal" and "dash to ball". The GAA incorporates an elegant object-oriented design meant to handle the type of activities typical for an agent in a multiagent system. These activities include reactive responses, long-term behaviors, and conversations with other agents. We also discuss our initial experiences using Biter as a pedagogical tool for teaching multiagent systems' design.
Lift-off and micropatterning of mono- and multilayer nanoparticle films.

Monolayer and multilayer films of nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention due to their unique electronic, optical, and mechanical properties as well as possible applications in microelectronics, magnetic storage devices, electrochemical sensors, and corrosion protection. Recently, several groups have investigated the possibility of creating NP films, in which the strong interactions between the particles would render the films freestanding without theneedof encapsulation in supportingmatrices. For example, Lin et al. reported the synthesis ofmonolayer films in which CdSe particles were connected by covalent crosslinks and were sturdy enough to fold like sheets of paper. Mueggenburg et al. prepared monolayer superlattices of Au NPs, in which the particles were held together by the intercalation of the stabilizing SAMs of long-chain alkane thiols; these films were shown to be freestanding over small (250 nm) circular holes. Other related studies of mechanically rugged two-dimensional (2D)NP aggregates include selfassembly of CdTe NPs into free-floating sheets, encapsulation of Ag nanorods in films made by layer-by-layer deposition, and hardening of Au NP films by local e-beam writing/ heating. Despite these advances, however, fabrication of large-area, free-standing films and their processability (in particular, patterning) remain an experimental challenge. Here, we describe a general strategy for achieving both of these objectives for either monolayer or multilayer NP films. In our approach, the deposited NP layers are first crosslinked on the oxidized surface of glass, PDMS, or silicon and then lifted-off
On neutral-delay two-species Lotka-Volterra competitive systems

The qualitative behavior of positive solutions of the neutral-delay two-species Lotka-Volterra competitive system with several discrete delays is investigated. Sufficient conditions are obtained for the local asymptotic stability of the positive steady state. In fact, some of these sufficient conditions are also necessary except at those critical values. Results on the oscillatory and non-oscillatory characteristics of the positive solutions are also included.
Linking Stakeholder Participation and Environmental Decision-making: Assessing Decision Quality for Interstate River Basin Management

This book, focusing on participation and environmental decision-making, must necessarily grapple with the issue of how to examine the often-hypothesised link between participatory efforts and the quality of resulting decision processes and outputs. The subject is complex, in part because of inherent conceptual intricacies. Most especially, as suggested in this chapter, participation is not a unidimensional notion; and decision quality, interpreted here as effectiveness of decisions and decision processes, is also a multidimensional concept. As a consequence, any effort to explore carefully the link between the two must unpack both sides of the complexity and expose not one but a full range of possible relationships. Such an exercise leads to clarification of another dilemma of participation and the environment: the relationship between participation and environmental decision effectiveness is likely to depend heavily on which dimensions or meanings of the concept are being considered.
Block of N-type Calcium Channels in Chick Sensory Neurons by External Sodium

L-type Ca 2 1 channels select for Ca 2 1 over sodium Na 1 by an affinity-based mechanism. The prevail- ing model of Ca 2 1 channel permeation describes a multi-ion pore that requires pore occupancy by at least two Ca 2 1 ions to generate a Ca 2 1 current. At (Ca 2 1 ) , 1 m M, Ca 2 1 channels conduct Na 1 . Due to the high affinity of the intrapore binding sites for Ca 2 1 relative to Na 1 , addition of m M concentrations of Ca 2 1 block Na 1 conduc- tance through the channel. There is little information, however, about the potential for interaction between Na 1 and Ca 2 1 for the second binding site in a Ca 2 1 channel already occupied by one Ca 2 1 . The two simplest possibili- ties, ( a ) that Na 1 and Ca 2 1 compete for the second binding site or ( b ) that full time occupancy by one Ca 2 1 ex- cludes Na 1 from the pore altogether, would imply considerably different mechanisms of channel permeation. We are studying permeation mechanisms in N-type Ca 2 1 channels. Similar to L-type Ca 2 1 channels, N-type channels conduct Na 1 well in the absence of external Ca 2 1 . Addition of 10 m M Ca 2 1 inhibited Na 1 conductance by 95%, and addition of 1 mM Mg 2 1 inhibited Na 1 conductance by 80%. At divalent ion concentrations of 2 mM, 120 mM Na 1 blocked both Ca 2 1 and Ba 2 1 currents. With 2 mM Ba 2 1 , the IC 50 for block of Ba 2 1 currents by Na 1 was 119 mM. External Li 1 also blocked Ba 2 1 currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC 50 of 97 mM. Na 1 block of Ba 2 1 currents was dependent on (Ba 2 1 ); increasing (Ba 2 1 ) progressively reduced block with an IC 50 of 2 mM. External Na 1 had no effect on voltage-dependent activation or inactivation of the channel. These data sug- gest that at physiological concentrations, Na 1 and Ca 2 1 compete for occupancy in a pore already occupied by a single Ca 2 1 . Occupancy of the pore by Na 1 reduced Ca 2 1 channel conductance, such that in physiological solu- tions, Ca 2 1 channel currents are between 50 and 70% of maximal.
Training and Maintaining Memory Abilities in Healthy Older Adults: Traditional and Novel Approaches

This article reviews both traditional and novel approaches for training and maintaining memory abilities in older adults. Despite variations in training methods and participant samples, growing evidence suggests that healthy, nondemented elders can improve and maintain their memory skills. However, traditional approaches have not been as successful in demonstrating transfer of training, and there are constraints on widescale dissemination of trainer-led, group-based formats. We discuss novel platforms, including collaborative training, videotapes and audiotapes, and online and CD-ROM-based training. We also consider approaches that combine multiple training modalities and that embed memory enhancement within cognitively stimulating activities of everyday life, such as Experience Corps. These newer approaches may enhance the accessibility, affordability, and applicability of memory training and cognitive stimulation programs.
Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticle Exposure Improves Microvascular Dysfunction and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vascular wall is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. This increase in oxidative stress contributes to various mechanisms of vascular dysfunction, such as decreased nitric oxide bioavailability. Therefore, anti-oxidants are being researched to decrease the high levels of ROS, which could improve the microvascular dysfunction associated with various cardiovascular diseases. From a therapeutic perspective, cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NP) hold great anti-oxidant potential, but their in vivo activity is unclear. Due to this potential anti-oxidant action, we hypothesize that injected CeO2 NP would decrease microvascular dysfunction and oxidative stress associated with hypertension. In order to simulate a therapeutic application, spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were intravenously injected with either saline or CeO2 NP (100 μg suspended in saline). Twenty-four hours post-exposure mesenteric arteriolar reactivity was assessed via intravital microscopy. Endothelium-dependent and -independent function was assessed via acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. Microvascular oxidative stress was analyzed using fluorescent staining in isolated mesenteric arterioles. Finally, systemic inflammation was examined using a multiplex analysis and venular leukocyte flux was counted. Endothelium-dependent dilation was significantly decreased in the SH rats (29.68 ± 3.28%, maximal response) and this microvascular dysfunction was significantly improved following CeO2 NP exposure (43.76 ± 4.33%, maximal response). There was also an increase in oxidative stress in the SH rats, which was abolished following CeO2 NP treatment. These results provided evidence that CeO2 NP act as an anti-oxidant in vivo. There were also changes in the inflammatory profile in the WKY and SH rats. In WKY rats, IL-10 and TNF-α were increased following CeO2 NP treatment. Finally, leukocyte flux was increased in the SH rats (34 ± 4 vs. 17 ± 3 cells/min in the normotensive controls), but this activation was decreased following exposure (15 ± 2 vs. 34 ± 4 cells/min). These results indicated that CeO2 NP may alter the inflammatory response in both SH and WKY rats. Taken together, these results provide evidence that CeO2 NP act as an anti-oxidant in vivo and may improve microvascular reactivity in a model of hypertension.
Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease using Principal Component Analysis and Boosting Committee Machines

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has become one of the most common degenerative disorders of the central nervous system. In this study, our main goal was to discriminate between healthy people and people with Parkinson’s disease. In order to achieve this we used artificial neural networks, and dataset taken from University of California, Irvine machine learning database, having 48 normal and 147 PD cases. We examine the performance of neural network systems with back propagation together with a majority voting scheme. In order to train examples we used boosting by filtering technique with seven committee machines, and principal component analysis is used for data reduction. The experimental results have demonstrated that the combination of these proposed methods has obtained very good results with correct positive value of 92% on the classification of PD.
THE ROLE OF SUSPENDED SEDIMENT IN SHORE-NORMAL BEACH PROFILE CHANGES

Field measurements of suspended sediment-transport were made across a dissipative surf zone during a storm. A correlation between high suspended mass in the water column and periods of onshore flow caused a net onshore transport of suspended sediment even though the mean near-bottom flow was directed offshore. The observed onshore migration of a nearshore bar was predicted by gradients in the crossshore suspended-sediment transport.
Closing the 'Gap': Novice Criminal Attorneys' Perceptions on Law School Learning Experiences

This qualitative investigation examined law school learning experiences from the perspective of novice criminal law attorneys to provide information to bridge the so-called “gap” between law school and legal practice. The researchers administered a pre-interview questionnaire, engaged in face-to-face interviews, and observed participants, which provided triangulating data. A cross-case analysis was conducted with data collected from five attorneys from three law schools. The study found several major themes concerning how novice attorneys practicing criminal law viewed their law school learning experiences. Findings indicated the importance of: (a) connecting theory with practice, (b) enhancing critical communication skills for today’s global society, and (c) engaging in experiential learning. Based on these findings from student conceptions of learning, this article concludes with recommendations regarding ways to incorporate andragogical principles in law school and recommendations for further studies.
KIF1Bβ and Neuroblastoma: Failure to Divide and Cull

Neuroblastomas are associated with KIF1Bβ mutations within tumor suppressor region 1p36. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Li et al. (2016) show that KIF1Bβ binding releases calcineurin autoinhibition, leading to dephosphorylation of the DRP1 GTPase and subsequent mitochondrial fragmentation. KIF1Bβ impairment causes mitochondrial hyperfusion, impairing developmental apoptosis and promoting tumorigenesis.
Effects of induced hypothyroidism on ovarian response to superovulation in Brahman (Bos indicus) cows.

To evaluate the effects of hypothyroidism on ovarian function, multiparous, nonlactating Brahman cows (n = 18) were assigned randomly to dietary treatments containing either 0 (C; n = 9) or 4 mg x kg BW(-1) x d(-1) 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU; n = 9), to suppress thyroid function, in the feed concentrate. Weekly changes in BW and body condition score (BCS) were recorded. Dietary treatments began on d 10 of the estrous cycle. Ten days after the first treatment estrus, all cows received daily i.m. injections of 25 IU of porcine FSH over a 3-d period. Seven days after AI, embryos were collected nonsurgically, and the ovaries were removed via midflank laparotomy. Based on thyroxine (T4) concentrations after 49 d of treatment, five cows were hypothyroid (H-PTU) and four were partially suppressed (P-PTU). Cows in the PTU group had greater (P or =8 mm) (P<.05) follicles. Cows in the PTU group had lower embryo recovery rate (P<.001), fertilization rate (P<.001), and percentage of blastocysts (P<.1) than C cows. The H-PTU cows had greater numbers of luteinized follicles (P<.06), greater concentrations of progesterone (P4) in the follicular fluid at all size categories (P<.1), and greater numbers of corpora lutea (P<.05) than C cows. The ratio of luteal to serum P4 on d 7 was greater (P<.05) in hypothyroid cows. Induced hypothyroidism improved weight gain and BCS, increased ovarian response to FSH, and affected ovulation, fertility, and P4 secretion in superovulated Brahman cows.
A family of target site-specific retrotransposons interrupts spliced leader RNA genes in trypanosomatids.

Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that have been found in almost every genome. Because they do not code for any coat protein sequences, it is believed that they have lost the ability to maintain an extracellular life cycle yet they share many other gene homologies with retroviral genomes. Their replication involves an RNA intermediate and the activity of the reverse-transcriptase enzyme for which they code. Although the majority of these elements are promiscuous in their insertion, there are a few examples that integrate into specific target sites. One such integration site-specific element interrupts the spliced leader RNA genes of organisms of several genera within the family Trypanosomatidae
Religious Fundamentalism and Attitudes toward the Insanity Defense: The Mediating Roles of Criminal Attributions and Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill

Religious fundamentalism typically has been associated with negative perceptions of the insanity defense and defendants who use it. This association also has translated into verdict and sentencing decisions in insanity cases, such that higher endorsement of fundamentalist beliefs was associated with more punitive decisions. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between fundamentalism and insanity defense attitudes is unclear. Two possible explanations for this relationship include that (a) fundamentalism is associated with more dispositional attributions, and (b) fundamentalism is associated with more authoritarian attitudes toward mental illness and the mentally ill. Using structural equation modeling, attributions and attitudes were tested as mediators of the relationship between fundamentalism and insanity defense attitudes (i.e., strict liability attitudes and injustice–danger attitudes). These relationships were examined for theists and nontheists separately. Results suggest that person...
Mode of Generating of Fighting Capacity in Qin Troops

The wonder and glory created by the Qin army in its development history is inseparable with its unique mode of generating combat.This paper firstly analyzes the characteristics of Qin troops fighting capacity,then analyses the influence of Qin army combat factors forming mode,finally indwts the Qin army combat force generation model.
eBits: Compact stream of mesh refinements for remote visualization

Abstract We focus on applications where a remote client needs to visualize or process a complex, manifold triangle mesh, M , but only in a relatively small, user controlled, Region of Interest (RoI) at a time. The client first downloads a coarse base mesh, pre-computed on the server via a series of simplification passes on M , one per Level of Detail (LoD), each pass identifying an independent set of triangles, collapsing them, and, for each collapse, storing, in a Vertex Expansion Record (VER), the information needed to reverse the collapse. On each client initiated RoI modification request, the server pushes to the client a selected subset of these VERs, which, when decoded and applied to refine the mesh locally, ensure that the portion in the RoI is always at full resolution. The eBits approach proposed here offers state of the art compression ratios (using less than 2.5 bits per new full resolution RoI triangle when the RoI has more than 2000 vertices to transmit the connectivity for the selective refinements) and fine-grain control (allowing the user to adjust the RoI by small increments). The effectiveness of eBits results from several novel ideas and novel variations of previous solutions. We represent the VERs using persistent labels so that they can be applied in different orders within a given LoD. The server maintains a shadow copy of the client’s mesh. To avoid sending IDs identifying which vertices should be expanded, we either transmit, for each new vertex, a compact encoding of its death tag ​–the LoD at which it will be expanded if it lies in the RoI–or transmit vertex masks for the RoI and its neighboring vertices. We also propose a three-step simplification that reduces the overall transmission cost by increasing both the simplification effectiveness and the regularity of the valences in the resulting meshes.
The use of machine learning for the identification of peripheral artery disease and future mortality risk.

Objective A key aspect of the precision medicine effort is the development of informatics tools that can analyze and interpret "big data" sets in an automated and adaptive fashion while providing accurate and actionable clinical information. The aims of this study were to develop machine learning algorithms for the identification of disease and the prognostication of mortality risk and to determine whether such models perform better than classical statistical analyses. Methods Focusing on peripheral artery disease (PAD), patient data were derived from a prospective, observational study of 1755 patients who presented for elective coronary angiography. We employed multiple supervised machine learning algorithms and used diverse clinical, demographic, imaging, and genomic information in a hypothesis-free manner to build models that could identify patients with PAD and predict future mortality. Comparison was made to standard stepwise linear regression models. Results Our machine-learned models outperformed stepwise logistic regression models both for the identification of patients with PAD (area under the curve, 0.87 vs 0.76, respectively; P = .03) and for the prediction of future mortality (area under the curve, 0.76 vs 0.65, respectively; P = .10). Both machine-learned models were markedly better calibrated than the stepwise logistic regression models, thus providing more accurate disease and mortality risk estimates. Conclusions Machine learning approaches can produce more accurate disease classification and prediction models. These tools may prove clinically useful for the automated identification of patients with highly morbid diseases for which aggressive risk factor management can improve outcomes.