cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of a table-top analyzer for predonation screening for alanine aminotransferase--a cost-effective approach?

To reduce the transmission of non-A–non-B hepatitis, the American Association of Blood Banks has required that all blood donations with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels above a certain cut-off level be discarded. This discard rate resulting from high ALT levels was 5.3% at the authors’ donor center, which was more than double the expected rate of 2.3%. If blood donors could be tested for their ALT levels before blood donation, unnecessary discarding of blood and related expenses could be eliminated. Therefore, the authors evaluated a table-top ALT analyzer for screening donors before blood donation. The method was precise and linear and correlated well with the SMAC-II® analyzer. Based on a cost-savings analysis, the authors found it to be financially beneficial to perform predonation ALT testing. Because the cost of labor and reagents may vary from institution to institution, however, other facilities should perform their own cost-savings analyses before implementing predonation ALT testing.
ROLE OF ANGIOPOETIN-1, ANGIOPOIETIN-2, AND ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN HIV

HIV-infected patients have increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The underlying mechanism likely involves endothelial dysfunction, a precursor of atherosclerosis. Endothelial homeostasis is promoted by the Tie2 receptor system through its agonist, angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) while its
PROPERTIES OF LIPOIC ACID ANALOGS

Two chain-shortened analogs of lipoic (1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic) acid, viz. bisnor-lipoic (1,2-dithiolane-3-propanoic) and tetranorlipoic (1,2-dithiolane-3-carboxylic) acids, have been chemically synthesized. The ir, uv, pmr, and mass spectroscopic properties and paper, thin-layer, and column chromatographic mobilities of lipoic acid and its analogs were investigated and are given.
β-Adrenergic agonists regulate NF-κB activation through multiple mechanisms

β-adrenergic agonists,besides their cardiac and bronchial muscle relaxing effects, have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory functions. These functions are most notable during systemic inflammatory response syndrome when lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the production of proinflammatory
The origins of the medical institution of Yale College.

To increase and circulate medical Knowledge must therefore be an Object worthy the attention of this and every other well-regulated State.
Counter-stories as representations of the racialized experiences of students of color in higher education and student affairs graduate preparation programs

AbstractIn this paper, we employ Critical Race Theory theoretically and methodologically to examine the racialized experiences of students of color in higher education and student affairs (HESA) graduate preparation programs. We employ counter-storytelling as a method for constructing narratives that disrupt the master narrative found within HESA graduate preparation programs, which often boast an espoused commitment to diversity and social justice. Based on a study of 29 graduate students of color in 21 master’s programs across the United States, the counter-stories reflect the endemic nature of racism in graduate education including the classroom, academic program, and campus. Students expressed experiences of tokenization, disappointment, feelings of frustration, anger, and racial battle fatigue. Implications for improving racial climates in graduate education are also shared.
Topical salicylate therapy (4-ASA and 5-ASA enemas)

Topical therapy with amino salicylate enemas is the treatment of choice for proctitis, proctosigmoiditis, and left-sided ulcerative colitis. Adjunctive sulfasalazine therapy is often required. Relapse rates of 80 per cent can be expected within 3 months of discontinuing therapy.
DIFFUSION OF THE HYDROUS COMPONENT IN PYROPE

Dehydrogenation experiments have been performed on natural pyrope megacrysts (PyroAlm,uGr,o) containing 22-ll2 ppm total HrO by weight (H/Si is from 0.00035 to 0.0018). The concentrations of OH in pyrope crystals were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Two methods were used to obtain diffusivities. One method involved measurement of OH concentration profiles after a heating experiment. The diffusivity of the hydrous component was found to be proportional to the OH concentration along each profile, indicating that the diffusing species is not OH and is probably a minor or trace species with a concentration proportional to the square ofthe OH concentration (such as Hr). Hence, the diffusivities are referred to as the apparent diffusivities (D*, which equals DfClCo, where Co is the initial OH concentration and Df is the D* when C: G). The other method involved measurement of the overall decrease of OH content across a wafer as a function of cumulative heating duration. From the overall decrease of OH content, the apparent bulk diffusion-out diffusivities (Dl-) were obtained. (Dn, Df,, and Df are different if D* depends on concentration.) The diffusivities from the two methods are consistent for a given pyrope crystal. However, the D:I values in different pyrope crystals are roughly inversely proportional to the initial OH content in the crystal, opposite the concentration dependence ofD* along a diffusion profile. This apparent paradox places strong constraints on the diffusion and incorporation mechanism of the hydrous component in pyrope and indicates a control on the concentration of the diffusing species by factors other than OH content (such as Fe3+/Fe2+ ). Any proposed diffusion mechanism must be able to explain this apparent paradox (both the proportionality and the inverse proportionality). The ffi values (in squared micrometers per second) in a crystal with 82-90 ppm initial total H,O can be described by ln ffi : K28.20 + 1.30) (30580 + 1450)l/I (where Z is temperature in kelvins and errors are at the 2o level). The ffi values are greater by a factor of -3 in a crystal with22-23 ppm initial total HrO. The Df values can be determined by dividing the ffi values by 0.347, and D* at each concentration can be determined from D* : DtC/Co. The average activation energy for hydrous component diffusion in the two crystals is 253 + 13 (2o) kJlmol. The diffusion-out diffusivities of the hydrous component are seven to eight orders of magnitude greater than the Fe-Mg interdiffusivities. They are so large that the OH content ofa pyrope crystal can adjust to changing environmental conditions on a time scale of hours at temperatures as low as 800 oC. Pyrope crystals from the mantle may dehydrogenate during ascent. Caution should be exercised in using OH content in natural pyrope crystals to infer conditions of the source region.
IL-4 Expression and Constitutive Activation of Erk Signaling In Vivo in Follicular Lymphoma.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is characterized by constitutive expression of the Bcl-2 oncoprotein as a consequence of the t(14;18) BCL2/JH translocation in germinal center B-cells. While Bcl-2 confers survival advantage through anti-apoptosis mechanisms, the t(14;18) alone is not sufficient for lymphomagenesis. Evidence suggests that additional factors in the lymph node microenvironment, related to tumor infiltrating T-cells and macrophages, may cooperate with Bcl-2 in orchestrating the malignant phenotype in vivo. In this study we generated proteomic cytokine profiles of patient lymph node tissue lysates from FL (N=53) grades 1–3, and the non-malignant normal counterpart follicular hyperplasia (FH; N=24). Using an ultrasensitive multiplex elisa system we assayed a panel of 11 cytokines known to be secreted by T-cells and/or macrophages including IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-12p70, TNF-alpha, and INF gamma. With the exception of IL-4, all cytokines measured showed higher concentrations in FH than FL. In particular, IL-1 beta demonstrated levels 20 times higher in FH; IL-8 levels were 30 times higher; and IL-13 levels were 9 times higher in FH than in FL (p values < 0.005). In contrast, IL-4 levels were 5 times higher in FL than in FH (p < 0.0054). Interestingly, IL-4 levels were highest in FL grade 1 (N=20) in comparison to grade 2 (N=18) and grade 3 (N=12). Immunohistochemical stains for CD3 showed no significant difference in the numbers of CD3+ T-cells in FL samples over FH lymph nodes; or in FL grade 1 vs. grade 2 or grade 3. Hence the differences observed are not due to numerical differences in the total number of T-cells present in FL and FH. We evaluated the activation state of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway, which is activated in response to stimulation by most cytokines in our panel via PI3Kinase. Western blot analysis showed that Erk was constitutively phosphorylated in 14 out of 15 (93%) of FL cases in contrast to only 3 out of 9 (33%) of FH cases. These findings demonstrate that tumor growth in FL is characterized overall by low levels of cytokines within the lymph node microenvironment in comparison to growth associated with the benign counterpart FH. The T-cell secreted cytokine, IL-4, which drives B-cell proliferation, was the only cytokine that showed statistically significant higher expression in the lymph node microenvironment of FL in comparison to FH. Moreover, the intracellular MAP kinase signaling pathway was constitutively activated in vivo in patient FL samples as compared to FH, despite higher overall cytokine levels in FH. These findings suggest that the IL-4 cytokine, and intracellular Erk activation in FL cells, may 1) play a role, in cooperation with Bcl-2, in driving the malignant phenotype in FL and 2) may serve as effective molecular targets for future therapies in FL.
Aerodynamic Moment Model Calibration from Distributed Pressure Arrays

In recent years, studies on the role of distributed airflow mechanosensors in bird, bat, and insect flight behaviors have sparked a growing interest in integrating flow sensors, such as pressure or hair sensors, into flight control feedback systems of small unmanned aircraft. It is anticipated that a flight controller based on real-time distributed flow information feedback is more capable of rapidly responding to sudden airflow changes and may exhibit greater stability robustness properties than purely inertial feedback-based flight control laws. However, considering the uncertainty of state-of-the-art microflow sensor technologies, there is an urgent need for model calibration if flow information is to be used to calculate aerodynamic moments and/or forces for controlling aircraft motion. In this paper, a constrained least-squares estimator is developed to calculate the bias of distributed flow information to calibrate an aerodynamic moment model. Simulation and wind-tunnel experiment results demonstrat...
Modern Fuel Cell Testing Laboratory

Elements constituting a fuel cell laboratory are succinctly discussed using the experience developed at the Hawaii Sustainable Energy Research Facility. The information is expected to be useful to organizations with a desire to create or improve a fuel cell laboratory in view of the recent and anticipated fuel cell commercialization activities. Topics discussed cover a wide range with an emphasis on differentiating aspects from other types of laboratories including safety, fuel cell and test equipment, and methods used to characterize fuel cells. The use of hydrogen, oxygen and specifically introduced chemical species, and the presence of high voltages and electrical short risks constitute the most prominent hazards. Reactant purity, cleaning, test station control including data acquisition, and calibration are the most important considerations to ensure fuel cell characterization data quality. Cleanliness is also an important consideration for the fuel cell assembly and integration into the test station. The fuel cell assembly also needs to be verified for faults. Fuel cells need to be conditioned for optimum performance before a purposefully designed test plan is implemented. Many fuel cell diagnostic methods are available but novel techniques are still needed in many areas including through plane temperature distribution, stack diagnostics and mass transfer properties. The emphasis is given to commonly and sparingly used electrochemical techniques. In situ techniques include polarization, impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry and current distribution over the active area. Ex situ techniques include the rotating ring-disc electrode and the membrane conductivity cell. Other nonelectrochemical techniques are also useful to understand fuel cell behavior and include the analysis of reactant streams and condensed water, and spectroscopic measurements in combination with electrochemical cells (spectroelectrochemical cells).
Audiogenic seizure activity following HSV-1 GAD65 sense or antisense injection into inferior colliculus of Long-Evans rat.

Abstract Herpes virus technology involving manipulation of GAD65 was used to study effects on audiogenic seizures (AGS). Audiogenic seizure behaviors were examined following injections of replication-defective herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) vectors incorporating sense or antisense toward GAD65 along with 10% lac -Z into the central nucleus of inferior colliculus (CNIC) of Long–Evans rats. In seizure-sensitive animals developmentally primed by intense sound exposure, injection of GAD65 in the sense orientation increased wild running latencies and reduced incidence of clonus compared with lac -Z only, unoperated, and vehicle seizure groups. In contrast, infection of CNIC with GAD65 antisense virus resulted in 100% incidence of wild running and clonus behaviors in AGS animals. Unprimed animals not operated continued to show uniform absence of seizure activity. Administration of GAD65 antisense virus into CNIC produced novel wild running and clonus behaviors in some unprimed animals. Staining for β-galactosidase in all vector animals revealed no differences in pattern or numbers of immunoreactive cells at injection sites. Qualitatively, typical small and medium multipolar/stellate and medium fusiform neurons appeared in the CNIC of vector animals. These results demonstrate that HSV-1 vector constructs implanted into the CNIC can predictably influence incidence and severity of AGS and suggest that viral vectors can be useful in studying GABA mechanisms with potential for therapeutic application in epilepsy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Genetic and Reflex Epilepsies, Audiogenic Seizures and Strains: From Experimental Models to the Clinic”.
A Two-Step Method to Identify Positive Deviant Physician Organizations of Accountable Care Organizations with Robust Performance Management Systems.

Objective To identify positive deviant (PD) physician organizations of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) with robust performance management systems (PMSYS). Data Source Third National Survey of Physician Organizations (NSPO3, n = 1,398). Study Design Organizational and external factors from NSPO3 were analyzed. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Linear regression estimated the association of internal and contextual factors on PMSYS. Two cutpoints (75th/90th percentiles) identified PDs with the largest residuals and highest PMSYS scores. Principal Findings A total of 65 and 41 PDs were identified using 75th and 90th percentiles cutpoints, respectively. The 90th percentile more strongly differentiated PDs from non-PDs. Having a high proportion of vulnerable patients appears to constrain PMSYS development. Conclusions Our PD identification method increases the likelihood that PD organizations selected for in-depth inquiry are high-performing organizations that exceed expectations.
Return Time Leniency in Online Retail: A Signaling Theory Perspective on Buying Outcomes

Merchandise return policies (MRPs) have long been an important area of interest for operations and supply chain management researchers, who have identified some key advantages and disadvantages of offering comprehensive and convenient return policies. However, there is a lack of rigorous scholarship on one key dimension of MRPs—return time leniency. Understood as the amount of time that buyers have within which to return purchased items, return time leniency is often considered one of the leading indicators of a retailer's MRP friendliness. In the current study, we extend prior work on MRPs by introducing a signaling theory perspective to return time leniency. This allows us to develop a more nuanced interpretation of the underlying economics associated with extending the window of time during which returns are accepted. We do so by positioning our study in a retail context where such issues are highly important to consumers—online retail.
Iterative refinement of knowledge bases with consistency guarantees

Natural kinds, such as the concepts toy block or photosynthesis, are ubiquitous in human reasoning yet lack definitional (i.e., individually necessary and jointly sufficient) properties as membership conditions. We want to represent a wide variety of assertions about these natural concepts with precision and logical consistency. Furthermore, we want to be able to verify that the meaning of each concept does not conflict with the constraints implied by its constituents. Classification-based approaches to these tasks have relied on definitional properties in order to deduce subsumption and thus detect inconsistency. These approaches are inapplicable for building representations of natural concepts. Our solution to these problems is twofold. First, we build KBs by iterative refinement; i.e., the KB is constructed through a sequence of editing operations. Second, we define practical, yet formal, properties of concept satisfiability and inheritance that each operator is guaranteed to preserve. When the user builds representations of concepts using the operators, guard procedures ensure that existing concepts are used in a manner consistent with their meaning. We also discuss the computational complexity of guarding consistency, and the characteristics of the system that we believe make these computations practical in an interactive setting.
Embolization of pediatric intracranial and skull base vascular tumors

Neurointerventional embolization has emerged as an important tool in the pre-operative treatment of a variety of pediatric hypervascular intracranial, head, neck, and spinal tumors. The primary goals of preoperative tumor embolization are to reduce intraoperative blood loss, shorten operative time, and decrease surgical morbidity. This technique involves superselective catheterization of the feeding arteries to the tumor bed with infusion of embolic material in order to induce necrosis. Several pediatric intracranial and skull-based tumors may be amenable to preoperative embolization, however each case must be evaluated on an individual basis to achieve the greatest benefit while minimizing potentially dangerous complications. This chapter focuses on indications, techniques and complications of preoperative intracranial and skull-based tumor embolization.
Información en educación superior

La informacion en educacion superior tiene un evidente caracter estrategico en un contexto de alta competencia. Mientras que algunas instituciones han evitado contribuir a una mayor transparencia en ausencia de exigencias concretas, otras realizan importantes esfuerzos en perfeccionar sus sistemas internos de informacion para ajustarse a las demandas que los organismos colectores han realizado. Con todo, las claras asimetrias de datos y la carencia de una cultura de rendicion de cuentas son factores en contra. Generar y proveer informacion pertinente al publico y a los organismos competentes es una obligacion de las instituciones en el actual mercado competitivo de la educacion postsecundaria.
STRUCTURAL PATTERN RECOGNITION: PRIMITIVES AND JUXTAPOSITION RELATIONS*

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses structural pattern recognition. Research in pattern recognition deals usually either with the general classification techniques or with techniques strongly dependent on specific applications as typewritten character recognition, chromosome classification, etc. The major exception to this trend is linguistic methods dealing with picture processing. This includes printed or handwritten text, many biomedical pictures, recognition of objects in photographs through their silhouettes, certain types of wave-forms and all thin line pictures. It does not include recognition of faces in photographs or other similarly complex tasks. It is probably too optimistic to expect that mathematical techniques developed for other applications will provide a solution to the problem of shape recognition. The main effort will be to show how such pictures can be expressed in terms of simpler pictures and the juxtaposition relations of the latter. The end result will be a labeled graph. Further analysis of the graph can be made in a number of ways which will depend mostly on the specific problem. The chapter discusses the general features of approach and its connection to other methods rather than the analytical details involved.
Nasal High-Frequency Ventilation: Clinical Studies and Their Implications

During the last three decades, there has been an increase in the survival rate of infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) [1, 2]. However, this improvement in survival has been accompanied by the increased rate of long- and short-term morbidities, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) one the most common adverse outcomes [3]. Introduction of surfactant and widespread use of antenatal steroids changed the clinical course of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as well as the histological picture and natural history of BPD. The incidence of BPD in the VLBW infants varies between centers, ranging from 3% to 43% even when using standardized definitions [1]. Severe cases originally described by Northway (“old BPD”) are rarely seen now. The “new BPD” remains an important problem. The etiology of so-called new BPD is unclear and probably multifactorial. Available evidence suggests that BPD develops as a result of abnormal growth and repair of the immature lungs exposed to repetitive stress of mechanical ventilation (namely, volutrauma and barotrauma), especially via endotracheal tube, aggravated by recurrent infections and chronic inflammation [4]. It is believed that the mere presence of an endotracheal tube may contribute to the development of BPD by impairing natural airway defenses and increasing the risk of infection and inflammation of the upper and lower airways [5]. Yet, a large proportion of preterm and ill term infants requires respiratory support at some point during their hospital stay.
Two Applications of Microwave Acoustics in Liquid Helium: High Resolution Microscopy and Direct Measurement of Phonon Dispersion

During the past three years, ultrasonic techniques have been developed at Stanford University for efficient generation and detection of multi-gigahertz sound waves in liquid helium. This paper discusses two applications of these techniques: high resolution acoustic microscopy and direct measurement of low energy phonon dispersion. We begin with acoustic microscopy.
Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian Homeobox Genes

The homeobox was first discovered as a common DNA sequence element in homeotic genes of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (McGinnis et al., 1984, Scott and Weiner, 1984). These genes regulate the development and morphogenesis of the fly, and mutations in such genes lead to characteristic phenotypes, so called homeotic transformations as for example the transformation of antenna into legs. The resulting malformations change the identity of a given body segment without affecting the total number of segments. The identity of a segment with regard to its position along the anterior-posterior axis appears changed. In concordance with their effects in certain regions of the body, homeotic genes are expressed in respective regions of the embryo that later give rise to the affected structures (for review, Gehring, 1987). Homeotic genes are organized in two gene clusters in the Drosophila genome, the Ant-C and BX-C clusters. It is intriguing to note that the linear order of the genes on the chromosome in these complexes is collinear with the gradient of expression of homeotic gene products along the anterior-posterior axis in the embryo.
Unusual magnetic properties of ( Er 1 − x Gd x ) 5 Si 4 compounds

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of polycrystalline ${({\mathrm{Er}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Gd}}_{x})}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{4}$ with $x=0.1$ and 0.25 have been studied. The temperature dependencies of the dc magnetization and ac susceptibility indicate two magnetic transitions: the high temperature transitions are antiferromagnetic in character, whereas the low temperature ones are of ferromagnetic nature. The isothermal magnetization of these compounds shows metamagneticlike transitions at $5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and no saturation in fields up to $70\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kOe}$. Time dependencies of the magnetization data below the N\'eel temperature exhibit unusually strong relaxation effects with logarithmic time dependence. The ac susceptibility data reveal that magnetic state of these compounds is distinctly different from spin glasses and the relaxation behavior seen in the magnetization data is a consequence of complex magnetic interactions. The existence of complex magnetic interactions leads to an easy formation of field induced short range ferromagnetic correlations in the paramagnetic state and greatly affects both the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of these compounds.
Application of Macromolecular Synthesis Measurements in Mycotoxin Toxicity Studies

For a number of years an important aspect of work* in our laboratory has been the utilization of in vitro and in vivo measurements of macromolecular synthesis and related phenomena as biochemical indices of the toxicity of food-related substances. The relevancy of studies involving mycotoxins in this regard was particularly apparent because for many, if not most, of these chemicals their biological potency is matched by their appreciable effect at low concentrations on the metabolism of nucleic acid or proteins. Because of their potent biochemical activity, e.g., T-2 toxin inhibits protein synthesis at a concentration of 10-8M or a fraction of a nanogram per milliter,53 often at levels where cell damage is not discernible, and because of the relative ease with which macromolecular synthesis measurements can be carried out, we have a technique that can be applied readily to exploring factors, such as diet, other chemicals, and physiological stress that may regulate the acute and, most importantly, the chronic toxicity of these compounds. An example of this approach was presented by Moule et al. where the authors reported on the differential effects of phenobarbital in modifying the aflatoxin (AFBl) induced inhibition of transcription in mice and rats.52
Tackling the Turnover Challenge Among IT Workers: Examining the Role of Internal Communication Adequacy, Employee Work Participation, and Organizational Identification

This study examines the relationships between two empowering organizational communication practices, employee work participation (EWP) and internal communication adequacy (ICA), and the mediating r...
Access to Rehabilitative Care in the Affordable Care Act Era.

The ACA does not, as intended, provide equal access to health care, due to financial and geographic barriers, and low coverage limits access to habilitative and rehabilitative services.
A GNSS receiver for small-sats enabling precision POD, radio occultations, and reflections

A low cost, low power, and low mass GNSS receiver (called Cion) has been developed and is currently flying on the CICERO cubesats. The receiver was designed in less than a year by JPL for Tyvak and GeoOptics for use in the GeoOptics CICERO constellation and leverages 25 years of JPL GNSS receiver design experience. Cion uses a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computer along with existing space qualified RF down-converters, software, and firmware to produce atmospheric Radio Occultation (RO) data. By combining a FPGA with dual core ARM processor and an embedded system controller, the Xilinx Zynq processor is an enabling technology that provides a customizable digital signal processing platform integrated into the computer (System on a chip) and enables off-the-shelf hardware to become the main engine behind this software defined radio. Using Linux for the on-board computer allows for fast development times and liberal use of existing open source software libraries. The parts of the receiver that require real-time implementation are performed in the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), which can also be reprogrammed in flight. While the Zynq is not rad hard, the silicon on insulator (SOI) technology is rad tolerant 'by accident', allowing for its use in many space-based applications. Early results show that the Cion is working as designed, has demonstrated the first known GLONASS occultations, and obtains high quality atmospheric profiles with excellent lower troposphere penetration (near Earth’s surface).
Slow Down of the Gulf Stream during 1993-2016.

The Gulf Stream, the main heat-carrier from low to high latitudes in the North Atlantic Ocean, influences the climate and weather in the northern hemisphere. In this study we determine and analyze the position, speed, and width of the Gulf Stream (GS) from 80°W–50°W using satellite altimeter sea surface height (SSH) measurements to examine the possible link between changes in the strength of the GS and coastal sea levels along the U.S. East Coast. During our 24-year study period (1993–2016), the GS experienced a southward shift east of 65°W after passing the New England Seamount chain. This southward shift was accompanied by a weakening of the GS, associated with an increase in SSH to the north of the GS. West of 70°W, however, we found no statistically significant trends in the GS properties, consistent with results based on in situ measurements. This lack of a trend to the west fails to support a direct link between a long-term slowdown of the GS west of 70°W and sea level rise acceleration along the U.S. East Coast, though a slowdown of the GS east of 65°W may contribute to sea level rise. It is also possible that heat carried to the region by the GS may be responsible for these observed sea level changes.
A systematic approach for assessment of renewable energy using analytic hierarchy process

Cities around the world face a great challenge in establishing a long-term strategy for the development of energy alternatives. Previous research tried to identify renewable energy across many different cities. Because each city has unique characteristics in terms of geographic and environmental conditions, population, economic development, and social and political environment, the most sustainable energy source for one city might be the least sustainable for another. This research develops and implements a systematic approach to assess renewable energy and identify the energy alternatives for a city using the analytic hierarchy process. The methodology integrates experts’ input and data analytics and helps decision-makers form long-term strategies for renewable energy development. The decision support system is applied to three cities, Chengdu in China, Eskisehir in Turkey, and Chicago in the United States of America. Results show that improving energy efficiency and development of solar and wind energy are the most preferred energy alternatives whereas nuclear and hydroelectric are the least preferred energy alternatives for these three cities. The results of this study are in line with decades of research and development in energy alternatives and show a clear direction for the future development of energy alternatives around the world. There are differences in the rankings of energy alternatives for different cities, indicating that it is necessary to apply the decision support system developed in this study to help form customized energy strategies for cities with unique characteristics.
Lack of mutant huntingtin in cortical efferents improves behavioral inflexibility and corticostriatal dynamics in Huntington’s disease mice

BACHD mice, a full-length genetic model of Huntington’s disease (HD), express aberrant local field potential (LFP) activity in primary motor cortex (M1) along with decreased probability of turning ...
Abstract P267: Burden of Disease Among Older Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the Study of Longevity in Diabetes (SOLID)

Introduction: Increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) coupled with increasing life expectancy have resulted in an unprecedented number of older adults living with T1D. However, little is know...
The Transnational Capitalist Pyramid of Production or Supposed “Rising Tide That Lifts all Boats,” Revealed, as an Inevitably Failing Ponzi Scheme

Despite engagement of the developed economies with the less developed appearing to be a win/win “rising tide (of capitalism) which lifts all boats,” competition between developing economies, and with potential competitors further down the pyramid of production, puts downward pressure on wages and resource prices. And so too with developed economies, which, in addition to peer group competition, will experience competition from developing economies, as attested to by stagnating and even decreasing wages resulting from outsourcing for instance. This results in a lose/lose “race to the bottom” as economies at every level try to become more competitive by cutting cost, and therefore wages and, concomitantly, demand, both precipitating and exacerbating crises of overproduction and the collapse of what thus stands revealed as the “Ponzi Scheme” or pyramid of exploitative laissez-faire capitalism.
Larger serving size and seasoning's role in consumer behaviors toward vegetables

Abstract A diet rich in vegetables provides many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber; as a result, eating vegetables could reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, very few Americans consume enough vegetables daily, and average intake falls significantly below national recommendations. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of seasoning and increased portion sizes on vegetable consumption in a US adult population. An observational study was conducted in a commercial cafeteria that provided options of steamed or seasoned green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots (n = 890). The portion size was 8-oz, double the standard vegetable size (4-oz). Participants returned 527 surveys with information regarding vegetable choice, liking, and demographics. Leftover bowls were collected for waste analysis. According to binomial tests, significantly more people purchased the seasoned vegetables over steamed (p
The Role of the Mexican Consulate Network in Assisting Migrant Labor Claims across the U.S.-Mexico Migratory System:

We investigate the role of the Mexican government in assisting migrant workers in the labor claims-making process across three consular jurisdictions in the United States. Our analysis of administr...
Textile-based sandwich scaffold using wet electrospun yarns for skin tissue engineering.

Abstract One of the key elements in tissue engineering is to design and fabricate scaffolds with tissue-like properties. However, mimicking the strain-stiffening property of human tissues by using synthetic materials is still a challenge in scaffold fabrication since most synthetic materials exhibit strain-softening behavior. To address this challenge, we propose a textile-based sandwich scaffold to mimic strain-stiffening behavior observed in human tissues. For this purpose, we first fabricate polycaprolactone (PCL) yarns by wet electrospinning. Then, we crochet PCL yarns into a textile fabric. Finally, we fabricate the sandwich scaffold by embedding the textile fabric inside two electrospun mats. The wet electrospun PCL yarns induce cellular alignment and elongation. The textile-based sandwich scaffold exhibits strain-stiffening behavior. By changing process parameters during the yarn fabrication and textile process, we can adjust the maximum stress of the scaffold from 3.74 to 11.82 MPa, the maximum strain from 0.16 to 2.37, and the elastic modulus from 2.10 to 18.05 MPa, all within the ranges of that of human skin. The scaffold is also able to support cell proliferation and infiltration after optimizing the thickness of the outer layers of the sandwich scaffold. This study validates the potential of the textile-based sandwich scaffold to mimic the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of human skin and other tissues.
Influence of realimentation diet on recovery of rumen activity and feed intake in beef steers.

Two trials were conducted to determine the influence of realimentation diet energy, protein, B-vitamin (BV) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC) content on recovery of rumen activity and feed consumption in beef steers. In trial 1, ruminal-fistulated steers were fasted and refed 1) prairie hay, 2) 10% protein (LCP), 3) 12.5% protein (MCP), 4) LCP + BV or 5) LCP + LAC. In trial 2, calves were fasted and refed 1) 60% cottonseed hulls-40% alfalfa dehy (high roughage), 2) LCP, 3) 15% protein (HCP), 4) LCP + BV or 5) LCP + LAC. Rumen fermentative capacity declined 74% (P less than .05) during feed and water deprivation, but returned to control levels by d 7 of realimentation. On d 3 of realimentation, steers fed the LCP and MCP diets had molar proportions of ruminal butyrate in excess of 35%. Steers fed the hay, LAC and BV diets did not have a high butyrate fermentation. In trial 2, calves lost about 15% of their body weight during feed and water deprivation. Calves fed the high roughage diet appeared to return to prefast feed and energy intakes more slowly than steers fed the medium roughage diets. Results of this study indicate that rumen fermentative capacity is a factor limiting feed intake in fasted calves for 7 to 14 after the reintroduction of feed and water.
Comment on Top-of-The-Market Contract-Pricing Clauses

Xia and Sexton find anti-competitive effects from contracts between meat-packers and ranchers that require delivery of all of a contracting rancher's cattle to the packer it contracted with at the highest price cattle wind up selling for in the spot market (i.e., the "Top-of-the-Market" price). While XS recommend banning such clauses, this comment shows that the SX model is too unrealistic to support such a conclusion. Since TOMP clauses can provide important benefits to society, and there is no particular reason to think that they are harmful, they should not be banned.
VOLUME AND R2: A FIRST LOOK

Roll (1988) reports that when days on which public announcements occur are excluded from a regression of stock returns on market returns, the R2s are largely unaffected. To explain his findings, Roll suggests that much of the firm-specific movements in common stocks may be a result of private information or occasional trading frenzy. As a test of Roll's conjecture, volume is used in this study as a proxy to capture the impact of firm-specific information and irrational trading. If Roll's conjecture is correct, the R2 should rise when high-volume days are excluded from a regression of stock returns on market returns. The results presented here are consistent with that prediction, but they are not strong.
Performance and attention in multi-agent tasks

A well designed cooperation strategy for a task oriented multi-agent team is important as it can improve performance. A challenging research issue in cooperation concerns the extent to which an agent should pay attention to the actions and effects of other agents. In this paper, we address this issue in the context of an object search team. We first propose the concept of an activity window which captures an agent's view of the activities and effects of the team. Then we pinpoint some criteria that can be used to determine whether it is beneficial for an agent to put an action of the team into its window. Finally, we present experimental results to test these criteria.
On a combustion-like model for plastic strain localization

A model is presented of the localization of plastic strain into an adiabatic shear band during rapid plastic shear. The model is compared with a well-known model of a confined thermal explosion, and some open problems are discussed.
Organic Rankine cycle performance evaluation and thermoeconomic assessment with various applications part I: Energy and exergy performance evaluation

Abstract The utilization of low grade energy and renewable energy heat sources for power generation in organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system has received more attention in recent decades. In this study, working fluid candidates for various ORC applications based on the heat source temperature domains have been investigated for the thermal efficiency, exegry destruction rate and mass flow rate under different ORC configurations. The net power output from the ORC remains constant. The thermal efficiency increases as the condensing temperature diminishes, and decreases as the evaporating pressure recedes. As the condensing temperature and evaporating pressure are fixed, it can be found that as the critical temperature of the working fluid is increased, the thermal efficiency can be increased. As the heat source temperature scale increases, the operating evaporating pressure of the working fluids can be extended. The ORC with internal heat exchanger (IHX) has a higher thermal efficiency than the baseline ORC. The reheat ORC thermal efficiency is close to the baseline ORC. The regenerative ORC can achieve higher thermal efficiency than the baseline by reducing the addition of heat from the evaporator heat source. The performance of working fluid mass flow rate can reach their maximum in the low thermal efficiency region. The ORC with IHX and regenerative ORC have a lower value for exergy destruction as compared to baseline. Reheat ORC has a slightly higher exergy destruction rate. The evaporator is the largest contributor for the exergy destruction rate. In addition, the effect of IHX effectiveness, reheat pressure and regenerative intermediate pressure on system performance has been revealed and identified.
Affiliation‐seeking among the powerless: Lacking power increases social affiliative motivation

Although it is well known that many people possess fundamental desires for both social affiliation and power, research has only begun to investigate the interplay between these two core social motives. The current research tested the hypothesis that an individual’s level of power would influence that person’s level of social affiliative motivation. We predicted that, compared with participants in a control condition, (1) individuals who possess power would exhibit less social affiliative motivation; and (2) individuals who lack power would display greater social affiliative motivation. Although we found little evidence to support the former prediction, we observed consistent evidence across two experiments that supported the latter. In Experiment 1, priming participants with low power (versus control) led them to display greater interest in joining a campus service aimed at fostering new friendships among students. In Experiment 2, placing participants in a position of low power (versus control) led them to seek greater proximity to a partner. Together, these results suggest that lacking power motivates people to seek social affiliation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On teaching a contextual or systemic therapy: Training content, goals and methods

Abstract This paper describes the training and supervisory components of a doctoral level, pre-internship clinical experience, designed to teach Ph.D. candidates a contextual or systemic approach to therapy. The training occurred in a university-based departmental clinic which balanced the three interdependent areas of training, service and research. The therapeutic orientation was a problem-focused, goal-oriented, directive therapy candidates a contextual or systemic approach to therapy. The training designed to view and treat individuals in their social contexts. From this perspective, students were able to gain experience with individuals, couples and families. The paper discusses the function and components of the weekly supervision seminar and describes the integrative and sequential use of several innovative supervisory methods such as live supervision, peer consultation and videotape playback supervision.
Earnings Inequality and Economic Development

I. An earnings model, 21. —II. Analysis of the explanatory variables, 23.—III. Empirical analysis, 33.—IV. Conclusion, 38.
Experience and the organization of auditors’ knowledge

Recent audit research has explored the impact of auditors’ knowledge on various audit judgments. However, for this knowledge to influence the search for and interpretation of audit evidence, it must first be retrieved from the auditor’s knowledge base. At least two organization schemes have been identified in audit research ‐ transaction cycle and audit objective. Directly compares the two schemes in a preliminary analytical procedures context. Using multiple tests, indicates that the inexperienced auditors and experienced managers/partners exhibit an audit objective organization scheme, while experienced audit staff and seniors exhibit characteristics of both an audit objective and transaction cycle organization scheme, with neither scheme dominating. Task‐specific experience appears to have little effect on knowledge organization until a significant amount of experience is gained.
Non‐surgical management of live ectopic pregnancy with ultrasound‐guided local injection: a case series

Objectives To describe a series of consecutive cases of live ectopic pregnancies managed with ultrasound-guided local injection of methotrexate (MTX) or potassium chloride (KCl). Methods Eighteen consecutive women with live and unruptured, tubal, cornual or cervical ectopic pregnancies referred to our unit for evaluation and management underwent risk–benefit counseling. Under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, puncture and injection of the ectopic pregnancy was performed using an automated puncture device. Either MTX or KCl was injected, producing immediate cessation of fetal cardiac activity. Results Of the 18 ectopic pregnancies, 10 were cervical, four were tubal and four were cornual. The mean initial β-hCG level was 33 412 IU and the mean gestational age was 6 + 6 weeks. Ten ectopic gestational sacs were injected with KCl and eight were injected with MTX. There was no difference in time to resolution of the ectopic pregnancies between those injected with KCl and those with MTX. Conclusions Unruptured live ectopic pregnancies of many types can be successfully managed without surgical intervention through local injection of KCl or MTX. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.