cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Filtering out parasites: sand crabs (Lepidopa benedicti) are infected by more parasites than sympatric mole crabs (Emerita benedicti).

Two digging decapod crustaceans, the sand crab species Lepidopa benedicti and the mole crab species Emerita benedicti, both live in the swash zone of fine sand beaches. They were examined for two parasites that infect decapod crustaceans in the region, an unidentified nematode previously shown to infect L. benedicti, and cestode tapeworm larvae, Polypocephalus sp., previously shown to infect shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus). Lepidopa benedicti were almost always infected with both parasite species, while E. benedicti were rarely infected with either parasite species. This difference in infection pattern suggests that tapeworms are ingested during sediment feeding in L. benedicti, which E. benedicti avoid by filter feeding. Larger L. benedicti had more Polypocephalus sp. larvae. The thoracic ganglia, which make up the largest proportion of neural tissue, contained the largest numbers of Polypocephalus sp. larvae. Intensity of Polypocephalus sp. infection was not correlated with how long L. benedicti remained above sand in behavioural tests, suggesting that Polypocephalus sp. do not manipulate the sand crabs in a way that facilitates trophic transmission of the parasite. Litopenaeus setiferus may be a primary host for Polypocephalus sp., and L. benedict may be a secondary, auxiliary host.
Exacerbated Craving in the Presence of Stress and Drug Cues in Drug-Dependent Patients.

In addiction, risk factors for craving and use include stress and drug-related cues. Stress and cues have additive or more-than-additive effects on drug seeking in laboratory animals, but, surprisingly, seem to compete with one another (ie, exert less-than-additive effects) in human laboratory studies of craving. We sought heretofore elusive evidence that human drug users could show additive (or more-than-additive) effects of stress and cues on craving, using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Outpatients (N=182) maintained on daily buprenorphine or methadone provided self-reports of stress, craving, mood, and behavior on electronic diaries for up to 16 weeks. In three randomly prompted entries (RPs) per day, participants reported the severity of stress and craving and whether they had seen or been offered opioids, cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, alcohol, or tobacco. In random-effects models controlling for between-person differences, we tested effects of momentary drug-cue exposure and stress (and their interaction) on momentary ratings of cocaine and heroin craving. For cocaine craving, the Stress × Cue interaction term had a positive mean effect across participants (M=0.019; CL95 0.001–0.036), denoting a more-than-additive effect. For heroin, the mean was not significantly greater than 0, but the confidence interval was predominantly positive (M=0.019; CL95 −0.007–0.044), suggesting at least an additive effect. Heterogeneity was substantial; qualitatively, the Stress × Cue effect appeared additive for most participants, more than additive for a sizeable minority, and competitive in very few. In the field, unlike in human laboratory studies to date, craving for cocaine and heroin is greater with the combination of drug cues and stress than with either alone. For a substantial minority of users, the combined effect may be more than additive.
Marketers’ use of alternative front-of-package nutrition symbols: An examination of effects on product evaluations

How front-of-package (FOP) nutrition icon systems affect product evaluations for more and less healthful objective nutrition profiles is a critical question facing food marketers, consumers, and the public health community. We propose a conceptually-based hierarchical continuum to guide predictions regarding the effectiveness of several FOP systems currently used in the marketplace. In Studies 1a and 1b, we compare the effects of a broad set of FOP icons on nutrition evaluations linked to health, accuracy of evaluations, and purchase intentions for a single product. Based on these findings, Studies 2 and 3 test the effects of two conceptually-different FOP icon systems in a retail laboratory in which consumers make comparative evaluations of multiple products at the retail shelf. While there are favorable effects of each system beyond control conditions with no FOP icons, results show that icons with an evaluative component that aid consumers’ interpretations generally provide greater benefits (particularly in product comparison contexts). We offer implications for consumer packaged goods marketers, retailers, and the public policy and consumer health communities.
Software-Defined Optical Networking in Data Centers and Cloud

Software-defined networking has been investigated for optical system management and control for data centers and cloud services. Recent advances are enabling cross-domain connections, hardware disaggregation, and network function virtualization.
PIK3CA mutations in colorectal and breast cancer: impact on oncogenesis and response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract Genetic alterations, including somatic activating mutations of oncogenes and loss of tumor suppressor genes, are initiators of oncogenesis. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway regulates a broad spectrum of normal physiological processes, and when altered, contributes to tumor formation, progression, and resistance to therapy. Specifically, mutations in PIK3CA, the gene encoding the PI3K catalytic subunit, are found in a variety of human cancers and are associated with more aggressive disease and worse prognosis. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that regular use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is effective in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and other malignancies. However, the mechanism by which NSAIDs influence cancer risk and survival are poorly understood. Emerging data from observational studies and clinical trials suggest that PIK3CA mutational status in conjunction with other biomarkers might help to identify individuals who will benefit most from the NSAID therapy. This chapter reviews the PI3K signaling pathway with a focus on PIK3CA mutations and the role of aspirin and other NSAIDs as promising chemopreventive therapies in human cancer.
Nondestructive Test Methods for Reinforced Plastics

It is the purpose of nondestructive testing (NDT) to identify and measure abnormal conditions, especially defects, within the sample, and to do so without degrading or impairing the utility of the sample in any way.* Acceptability of the sample depends on engineering judgment and/or correlation of the “observed” defects with performance (ideally the latter).
Hypoxic Ventilatory Depression May be Due to Central Chemoreceptor Cell Hyperpolarization

This paper concerns the possible relationship of the acid secretion found to be localized primarily over the medullary ventral surface CO2 chemosensitive regions to the phenomenon of hypoxic ventilatory depression, HVD, or “roll-off”. HVD occurs between the 5th and 25th minutes of acute steady isocapnic hypoxia in normal man at sea level, eliminating about half of the hypoxic ventilatory stimulus without reducing the slope of the CO2 response curve or central response to a constant stimulus from peripheral chemoreceptors [1–4], recovery requiring similar times [5]. We have demonstrated hypoxic ventilatory depression (HVD) of subjects breathing ambient air, with SaO2-80–90% [6,7]. After 25 min at SpO2 = 75%, when ventilation was apparently depressed by HVD, subjects had normal or above-normal HVR (computed as the differential slope) when SpO2 was rapidly lowered from 75% to 65%.
Divorce in the Movies: From the Hays Code to Kramer vs. Kramer

Movies often provide a window through which we can observe human behavior and legal institutions as they existed when the film was made. However, this is not true of the subjects of marital disintegration and divorce. Hollywood's rigid system of self-censorship, embodied in the Hays Code and the Production Code Administration, nearly blotted divorce themes right off the screen. What little was said of the subject during the middle third of the twentieth century was wildly wrong. The Code was written by and administered by staunch Catholics, largely to stave off boycott threats by the Catholic Legion of Decency. As a result, it reflected Catholic moral teachings, particularly the prohibition of divorce. This article surveys films about divorce from the pre-Code era (1930-34), the Code era (1934-68), and the immediate post-Code era (1968-1980s). It discovers that divorce themes were candidly portrayed during the pre-Code era but were thoroughly suppressed during the Code era. In the post-Code era, the subject crept back to the screen in a series of memorable films about divorce in the late 1970's and early 1980's. The article then analyzes Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) in detail, finding it to be one of the few classic treatments in film of divorce and family law.
14 – Marital Dysfunction

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a basic model for the conceptualization of couple problems and outlines methods to assess both problems and strengths that are inherent in distressed relationships as the couples present for professional evaluation and therapy. The chapter describes an assessment process for evaluating distressed or dysfunctional couple relationships. A state-of-the-art multimethod assessment process involves semi-structured interviews of the couple and of each partner separately. An observed sample of couple communication and problem solving provides unique information about performance and skill deficits in these important areas of interaction. A variety of well-known paper-and-pencil self-report questionnaires offer complementary and additional information about couple (dys)function and goals for treatment.
PERSPECTIVES OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND STAFF ON BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO ACTIVITY ENGAGEMENT

Engaging in meaningful activities has been shown to improve nursing home residents’ quality of life as well as physical and mental health. However, nursing home residents are often found to be inactive and lacking meaningful engagement. Thus, in order to promote optimal engagement, it is vital to first understand the current practice of how residents are engaged in meaningful activities. As an initial step towards examining this topic, this study examined barriers and facilitators to engaging residents. A qualitative study was conducted in three purposively selected nursing homes (e.g., geographic location, staffing hours), which included one-on-one interviews, field notes, and facility observations. Nursing home staff (n=12) and resident (n=15) interviews elicited perspectives on activity engagement within the facility. Fourteen days of observations, spanning 4–5 hours, were completed in each facility to understand the daily routines of the staff and residents. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the transcripts for major themes and sub-themes. Finally, triangulation of data sources was used to confirm themes that arose. Commonly identified barriers to engagement by staff members included time constraints and the cognitive status of residents. Barriers identified by the residents included limited opportunities to participate in activities. Facilitators that were identified by both staff and residents included the culture of the facility, promoting one-on-one patient-staff interactions, and integrating family members to better understand residents’ activity preferences. By identifying barriers and facilitators to engaging nursing home residents, it can inform both staff and residents on how engagement can be improved.
Is Beneficial Elitism Beneficial

On the question of elitism versus populism, Ralph Smith advocates beneficial elitism. Three of Smith's positions are central to his argument in favor of beneficial elitism: 1) his concept of the best, 2) his faith in a unitary set of standards for validating the best, and 3) his emphasis on a particular way of experiencing art. I question these positions, contending that his concept of the best is limited to the current canon of art, an artifact of the art world that continually changes. His belief in a stable set of criteria for evaluating the best in art regardless of time, style, or culture seems to me naive. And the aesthetic attitude, while typical of modernism in both aesthetics and art, is not the only legitimate way to approach art.
Cancer Screening Practices Among Chinese and Vietnamese in the Greater Houston Area

National data on Asian Americans indicate that compared to other groups in the US, cancer incidence and prevalence is relatively lower (Miller, Kolonel et al. 1996; American Cancer Society 2006). However, when the data is examined further based on specific Asian subgroups and for specific cancers, Asian Americans bear a disproportionate burden for cancers of infectious origin, such as cervical, liver, and stomach cancer (Chen 2005). Furthermore, Asian Americans are also experiencing increasing rates of cancers associated with “Westernization,” such as breast and prostate cancer (Kolonel, Yoshizawa et al. 1988; Whittemore, Kolonel et al. 1995; Ziegler, Hoover et al. 1996). Early detection and screening are among the frontline strategies in cancer control, yet Asian American and Pacific Islanders have the lowest cancer screening rates of all ethnic groups in the US (American Cancer Society 2006). The Asian American Health Needs Assessment (AsANA) project was designed to collect data on the rapidly growing Asian American community in the Greater Houston area. The AsANA project included a telephone survey to over 800 randomly selected households in the Chinese and Vietnamese communities, two of the largest Asian American subgroups in Texas. Included in the telephone interview were questions regarding cancer screening practices. This article describes the reported screening practices among the surveyed populations and discusses the implications for developing targeted programs that can address cancer screening disparities in this community.
A simulation framework for domain-specific system-on-chips: work-in-progress

Homogeneous general purpose processors provide flexibility to implement a variety of applications and facilitate programmability. In contrast, heterogeneous system-on-chips (SoCs) that combine general purpose and specialized processors offer great potential to achieve higher efficiency while maintaining programming flexibility. In particular, domain-specific SoCs (DSSoC), a class of heterogeneous architectures, tailor the architecture and processing elements (PE) to a specific domain. Hence, they can provide superior energy-efficiency compared to general purpose processors by exploiting the characteristics of target applications.
Chapter IV - Introduction to Computational Modeling and Its Applications in Absorbent Technology*

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction to computational modeling and discusses its applications in absorbent technology. The chapter describes the application of computational modeling in investigating some typical applications of absorbent technology. Modeling provides an effective, economical, and convenient means of conducting parametric studies to optimize the performance of a complex web-forming machine and improve the quality of the end product. Modeling, based on sound governing laws, is accurate, cost effective, and efficient and far more convenient way of investigation than experiments. Modeling provides a tool to optimize the penetration absorbency by adjusting interfacial properties and selecting proper pore radius and depth. It also helps in identifying the parameters that have strong influence on the fiber particle trajectory. These include turbulence, coefficient of restitution, particle density, coefficient of drag, and flow field. Experimental calculations suggest that coupling between the dispersed phase and continuous phase plays an important role in determining flow field and particle trajectory.
Uncertainty for FHFA, Fannie, Freddie After Collins v. Mnuchin Decision

In September 2019, the en banc Fifth Circuit in Collins held that the FHFA, which oversees the operations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, exceeded its powers in entering into arrangement for financing with the Treasury Department. It further held that the FHFA’s structure is unconstitutional. With this case, the Fifth Circuit split from five other circuits and has cast uncertainty into the future of the FHFA, while simultaneously offering further possibility of investor recovery. After a January 2020 initial conference, the Supreme Court neither granted nor denied the parties’ appeals to hear the case. Concurrently, the Supreme Court is reviewing the constitutionality of the CFPB, a similarly structured agency to the FHFA. With a circuit split and the possibility of certiorari still pending for Collins, this case may still come before the Supreme Court, which would definitively rule on the constitutional status of the FHFA and the statutory claims. TOPICS:Legal/regulatory/public policy, exchanges/markets/clearinghouses, information providers/credit ratings, financial crises and financial market history Key Findings • If certiorari is granted and this case goes before the Supreme Court, it is uncertain whether the FHFA, which oversees the two biggest players in the RMBS sphere, will be allowed to operate. • Other independent agencies such as the CFPB that are structured in a similar way as the FHFA and may also not be constitutional in their current structure and previous actions taken by these agencies dating back to their inception may be unenforceable. • Investors chances of further recovery against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac post-crisis are uncertain until the issue of the Treasury Sweep, an agreement between the FHFA and the Treasury Department funneling Fannie and Freddie’s profits to the Treasury, is resolved. Remedies for investors who have been affected by the Treasury Sweep are uncertain.
Hindered Diffusion of Polar Molecules Through and Effective Pore Radii Estimates of Intact and Ethanol Treated Human Epidermal Membrane

The in vitro passive transport of urea, mannitol, sucrose and raffinose across intact and ethanol treated human epidermal membrane was investigated. The intent of this study was to characterize the barrier properties and permeation pathways of these membranes for polar permeants under passive conditions. Based upon the relative permeabilities of these four solutes and hindered diffusion theory, the experimental data was adequately modeled for both membrane systems according to permeation through a porous membrane. Effective pore radii estimates for intact human epidermal membrane fell between 15 A to 25 A while similar estimates fell compactly between 15 A to 20 A for ethanol treated human epidermal membrane. Similarities between the relative permeabilities of human epidermal membrane for the four permeants studied and the relative permeabilities of these same permeants through ethanol pretreated human epidermal membrane indicate that significant similarities exist between the permeation pathways for both membrane systems. The results of this study have important implications for transdermal drug delivery in general and more specifically for strategies of designing effective chemical permeation enhancement systems.
Within-day travel speed pattern unsupervised classification – A data driven case study of the State of Alabama during the COVID-19 pandemic

Recent comparative studies on mobility patterns are emerging to describe the changes in mobility patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic Most of the current studies utilize travel volume per day as the critical indicator and identify the impacted period by the dates of governmental lockdown or stay-at-home orders, which however may not accurately present the actual impacted dates The objective of this study is to provide an alternative perspective to identify the normal and pandemic-influenced daily traffic patterns Instead of only using traffic volumes per day or assuming the impacted travel pattern began with the stay-at-home order, the methodology in this study investigates the within-day time-dependent travel speed as time series, and then applies dynamic time warping algorithm and hierarchical clustering unsupervised classification methods to classify days into various groups without assuming a start date for any group Using the state-wide travel speed data in Alabama, these study measures dissimilarities among within-day travel speed time series By incorporating the dissimilarities/distance matrix, various agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) methods (average, complete, Ward's) are tested to conduct proper unsupervised classification The Ward's AHC classification results show that within-day travel speed pattern in Alabama shifted more than two weeks before the issuance of the State stay-at-home order The results further show that a new travel speed pattern appears at the end of stay-at-home order, which is different from either the normal pattern before the pandemic or the initial pandemic-influenced pattern, which leads to a conclusion that a ‘new normal’ within-day travel pattern emerges © 2021 The Authors
An investigation of wave sheltering by islands

The results of SAR, HF radar, wave rider buoy, and pressure sensor studies of wave behavior around San Clemente Island off the coast of California are reported. The SAR operated at a frequency of 1.2 GHz corresponding to a wavelength of 25 cm at 25 m resolution. Imagery was corrected for the slant range distortion and two-dimensional fast Fourier transforms were used to obtain two-dimensional wave number spectra. A 1 MW source was employed for the HF radar, with a receiving antenna synthesized by mounting the receiver on a van which drove along straight stretches of an oceanside highway. The measurement of 77 m waves displayed a shadow effect after the island, with an unexpected recovery which implies local wave generation. Reflected energy was determined to be too weak to account for the waves, and a nonlinear transfer of wave energy from waves moving parallel to the island was concluded to be the source of the observed inner wave energy.
Intraoperative Blood Pressure Lability Carries a Higher Risk of Headache after Carotid Endarterectomy.

Abstract: Objectives Cerebral hyper-perfusion (CH) is a rare but potentially devastating complication following carotid endarterectomies (CEA). Its symptoms range from new-onset unilateral headache (HA) to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Risk factors of CH in the literature to date have not yet yielded a consensus. This study examines intraoperative and postoperative blood pressure variation as a potential risk factor for HA. Methods A single center retrospective review at a tertiary care center from January 2010 to November 2019 was performed. Inclusion criteria were all patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid disease. Patients with incomplete charts were excluded. Primary endpoints were new-onset unilateral HA or post-operative ICH. Data on intraoperative and post-operative mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), the mode of endarterectomy, shunt placement, and contralateral carotid status were collected. Results 735 patients met inclusion criteria: 430 patients underwent modified eversion CEA (59%) vs 305 patients for patch angioplasty (42%). The incidence of HA was 19% (N= 142) in our total cohort. Of the 19% with HA, 1.5% (N=11) demonstrated no relief with analgesics and strict blood pressure control; non-contrast head computed tomography scans were subsequently performed. One patient (0.1%) had an ipsilateral ICH. Univariate analysis demonstrated that greater intra-operative MAP peak had the highest risk for HA (OR 1.014, 95% CI:1.007,1.022 p=0.0002) followed by intra-operative MAP variability (OR 1.011, 95% CI:1.005,1.018 p= Conclusions Greater intra-operative variability in blood pressures are significantly associated with higher risk of HA. Adhering to stricter intra-operative blood pressure parameters and limiting blood pressure variability may be beneficial at reducing the incidence of CH and its complications.
Extracellular release of mitochondrial DNA is triggered by cigarette smoke and is detected in COPD

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by continuous and irreversible inflammation frequently caused by persistent exposure to toxic inhalants such as cigarette smoke (CS). CS may trigger mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) extrusion into the cytosol, extracellular space, or foster its transfer by extracellular vesicles (EVs). The present study aimed to elucidate whether mtDNA is released upon CS exposure and in COPD. We measured cell-free mtDNA (cf-mtDNA) in the plasma of former smokers affected by COPD, in the serum of mice that developed CS-induced emphysema, and in the extracellular milieu of human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Further, we characterized cells exposed to sublethal and lethal doses of CSE by measuring mitochondrial membrane potential and dynamics, superoxide production and oxidative stress, cell cycle progression, and cytokine expression. Patients with COPD and mice that developed emphysema showed increased levels of cf-mtDNA. In cell culture, exposure to a sublethal dose of CSE decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased superoxide production and oxidative damage, dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics, and triggered mtDNA release in extracellular vesicles. The release of mtDNA into the extracellular milieu occurred concomitantly with increased expression of DNase III, DNA-sensing receptors (cGAS, NLRP3), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, CXCL2), and markers of senescence (p16, p21). Exposure to a lethal dose of CSE preferentially induced mtDNA and nuclear DNA release in cell debris. Our findings demonstrate that CS-induced stress triggers mtDNA release and is associated with COPD, supporting cf-mtDNA as a novel signaling response to CS exposure.
Marketing Fresh Fruits And Vegetables: Exploration Of Individual Product Characteristics And Their Relationship To Buyer's Attention To Price

The unique and somewhat problematic challenges of marketing fresh fruits and vegetables have received attention from a variety of perspectives in recent years. The role that price plays for consumer purchases of them is complex, and will depend on the buyer, product and situation. This article discusses the dimensions of individual product differences in terms of amount spent, whether purchased as a treat and whether the products are seasonal. These differences and their implications for buyerâ€™s attention to price are investigated. The major implication arising from this research is that increased sales of fresh fruits and vegetables are likely to be achieved by keeping the price as low as possible for products for which buyer attention to price is high, that is, products that are treats and seasonal. Further, retailer profitability will be optimised if, in conjunction with the previous suggestion, higher gross margins are included for products where buyer attention to price is low, that is, staples and non-seasonal products.
Alcohol-related motor vehicle accident fatality: Wisconsin rural-urban trends and observations.

BACKGROUND: Wisconsin leads the nation in binge-drinking and alcohol consumption rates, creating substantial costs for taxpayers and contributing to countless alcohol-related comorbidities and numerous fatalities each year. This study was designed to assess the nature and extent of the alcohol problem in Wisconsin and compare alcohol- and non-alcohol-related motor vehicle accident (MVA) fatality rates between the subcultures of rural and urban counties and assess access to alcohol by examining Wisconsin liquor licensing. METHODS: County-level alcohol- and non-alcohol-related MVA fatality data from 1999 to 2006 were obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) database; urban and rural counties were compared. Liquor license per capita rates were determined; rural and urban counties were compared. Additionally, trends in alcohol-related fatalities between 1999 and 2002 and between 2003 and 2006 were computed for all Wisconsin counties. RESULTS: Alcohol-related MVA fatalities were significantly higher in rural counties than non-alcohol-related MVA fatalities as compared to those in urban counties, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 2.17 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 2.00-2.35) and 1.68 (95% CI, 1.58-1.79), respectively. More importantly, significant interaction was found to be present between the 2 odds ratios (P Language: en
FINITE ELEMENT STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AS APPLIED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE DOOR STRUCTURE

Various techniques were developed covering analytical modeling of complex structures and automated input data generation and output data interpretation using the graphic system. The results of the study show finite element structural analysis, when used with an interactive graphic system, can be used sucessfully as a powerful design tool for automobile body components.
Advanced Technology Program Joint Venture Survey: Data Overview

The Survey of ATP Joint Ventures explores the characteristics of joint ventures and factors leading to project success, and compiles information on ATP fund recipients' joint venture partners and the functioning of project alliances. Download the slides at: http://papers.ssrn.com/paper=1028779 Download the audio file at: http://papers.ssrn.com/paper=1030002
A Review of: “Health Informatics for Medical Librarians. Cleveland, Ana D., and Cleveland, Donald B.”

This timely book is aimed at health professionals, medical librarians, and library and information science students interested in health informatics. The book would also be useful for librarians in...
Dendritic cell-dependent inhibition of B cell proliferation requires CD22.

Recent studies have shown that dendritic cells (DCs) regulate B cell functions. In this study, we report that bone marrow (BM)-derived immature DCs, but not mature DCs, can inhibit BCR-induced proliferation of B cells in a contact-dependent manner. This inhibition is overcome by treatment with BAFF and is dependent on the BCR coreceptor CD22; however, it is not dependent on expression of the CD22 glycan ligand(s) produced by ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase. We found that a second CD22 ligand (CD22L) is expressed on CD11c+ splenic and BM-derived DCs, which does not contain ST6Gal-I-generated sialic acids and which, unlike the B cell-associated CD22L, is resistant to neuraminidase treatment and sodium metaperiodate oxidation. Examination of splenic and BM B cell subsets in CD22 and ST6Gal-I knockout mice revealed that ST6Gal-I-generated B cell CD22L plays a role in splenic B cell development, whereas the maintenance of long-lived mature BM B cells depends only on CD22 and not on α2,6-sialic acids produced by ST6Gal-I. We propose that the two distinct CD22L have different functions. The α2,6-sialic acid-containing glycoprotein is important for splenic B cell subset development, whereas the DC-associated ST6Gal-I-independent CD22L may be required for the maintenance of long-lived mature B cells in the BM.
Digitally controlled low-harmonic rectifier having fast dynamic responses

This paper describes a completely digitally controlled low-harmonic rectifier. It is shown that the dynamics of the outer voltage loop can be significantly improved using a digital notch filter. Low input current harmonics and fast voltage response are experimentally verified using a 200 W universal-input boost power supply operating at the switching frequency of 200 kHz.
Sealing the Deal: Is an Advisor’s Completion Expertise in Mergers & Acquisitions Value-Destroying?

Existing evidence indicates that acquirers reward and therefore value the merger completion abilities of acquisition advisors. We examine whether the focus on advisors’ merger completion abilities is driven by acquirers seeking to complete mergers unconditionally, regardless of value implications, or if it is driven by value-maximization considerations. Advisors that complete a higher percentage of announced mergers are associated with more certain future merger completion. Results reveal that completion expertise has positive value implications, but only for acquirers with strong corporate governance. There is some evidence that completion expertise has negative value implications for acquirers with weak corporate governance. Results suggest that the level of corporate governance of the acquirer determines the value consequences of an advisor’s merger completion expertise.
Genetics of complex disease: approaches, problems, and solutions.

Complex or multifactorial diseases are defined as diseases that are ultimately determined by a number of genetic and environmental factors. Although there are many technologies and strategies that can be used to detect genetic factors influencing complex diseases, these technologies and strategies have inherent limitations. In fact, the very name “complex disease” suggests that the results from relevant studies will not be simple to decipher. Ultimately, both the detection and precise characterization of a factor's contribution to a complex disease are difficult undertakings, because the effect of any one factor may be obscured or confounded by other factors. However, the genetic dissection of complex diseases can be greatly facilitated by paying heed to two very basic distinctions. The first distinction is between complexity at the level of individuals and complexity at the level of populations. The second distinction is between the two sequentially pursued components of gene discovery paradigms: gene id...
Altered rhodopsin accessibility in the retinal dystrophic mouse

Retinas obtained from 7-day-old rd mice show less reaction with antirhodopsin antisera than retinas from normal mice of the same age. Likewise, antisera prepared against synthetic peptides, which corresponds to the carboxyl terminus of rhodopsin, also react less with rd retinas from 7-day-old mice. In contrast, Western blots of denatured rhodopsin from rd vs. normal retinas of the same age indicate no change in the total quantity of this protein. These results demonstrate that in the 7-day-old rd mouse retina, rhodopsin is not altered in quantity; rather, it is less accessible to reaction with anti-rhodopsin antisera. Furthermore, these results suggest that the site of altered accessibility is on the carboxyl terminus of rhodopsin.
The role of few-asperity contacts in adhesion.

Abstract The surface roughness of a few asperities and their influence on the work of adhesion is of scientific interest. Macroscale and nanoscale adhesion data have seemingly given inconsistent results. Despite the importance of bridging the gap between the two regimes, little experimental work has been done, presumably due to the difficulty of the experiment needed to determine how small amounts of surface roughness might influence adhesion data lying in between the two scales. To investigate the role of few-asperity contacts in adhesion, the pull-off force was measured between different sized atomic-force microscope (AFM) tips (with different roughnesses) and sample surfaces that had well-controlled material properties. There were seventeen tips of four different types, with radii from 200 nm to 60 μm. The samples were unpatterned single crystal silicon with a chemical silicon dioxide surface resulting from a standard silicon wafer clean. Some of the samples were treated with a few angstroms of vapor deposited diphenylsiloxane. We observed that the uncorrected (for surface roughness) pull-off force was independent of the radius of the AFM tip, which was contrary to all continuum-mechanics model predictions. To explain this behavior, we assumed that the interactions between the AFM tip and sample were additive, material properties were constant, and that the AFM tip, asperities, and sample surfaces were of uniform density. Based on these assumptions, we calculated a simple correction due to the measured root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of the AFM tips. The simple correction for the RMS surface roughness resulted in the expected dependence of the pull-off force on radius, but the magnitudes were higher than expected. Commercial and heat-treated AFM tips have minimal surface roughness and result in magnitudes that are more reliable. The relative uncertainty for the pull-off force was estimated to be 10%. In this paper, we derive how the cantilever and tip parameters contribute to the measured pull-off force and show how the corrected results compare with theory. Although much work is still needed, the work presented here should advance the understanding of adhesion between the macroscale and nanoscale regimes.
Computational structural proteomics and virtual ligand screening

Large scale discovery of new human genes, gene families and isozymes creates an exciting biomedical opportunity. Advanced modeling by homology techniques can be employed to generate 3D models for most of the interesting new gene family members. This opens many new opportunities for structural structure based functional annotation and molecular design. Several key computational technologies enable structural protein modeling and rational drug design: sequence-structure relationships, multiple sequence alignments, threading molecular mechanics; global energy optimization; protein modeling by homology; structure based protein functional annotation (e.g. prediction of possible active sites, small molecule binding sites, protein-protein interaction sites, flexibility annotation); protein design and redesign using structure prediction algorithms; structural immunology, e.g. derivation and design of peptide sequence specific for a particular HLA presenting molecule based on the HLA structure; peptide-protein docking; protein-protein docking; small molecule docking and virtual ligand screening; cheminformatics algorithms and virtual chemistry.We have been developing the internal coordinate mechanics approach to structure prediction for the last 16 years. It is aimed at de novo prediction of large structural rearrangements. To achieve that goal an ICM program has been developed and combined accurate energy functions with powerful global optimization algorithm in the internal coordinate space.The most recent developments include on-the-fly calculations of accurate Poisson electrostatics using the efficient boundary element algorithm based on the analytical molecular surface. This allows to predict de novo a solution structure of a 23-residue peptide.New computational technology for virtual ligand screening allows to generate alternative receptor conformations and perform flexible docking of hundreds of thousands of virtual compounds to the binding site. The success of this technology is demonstrated on several benchmarks and in six experimental projects which tested the prediction results. For well defined binding pockets only about the initial compound set actually needs to be synthesized and tested. Using ICM docking and scoring technology we have identified new ligands in a number of cases, including cases in which a model was used instead of a crystallographic structure and a case in which protein-protein interaction has been targeted.The most interesting recent results tested experimentally include: the de novo design of novel antagonists of thyroid hormone receptor, for which no antagonists were known before and, consequently, no antagonist-bound structure was known; de novo design of ligands targeting Ephrin-Ephrin receptor interactions.
Institutional incentives for managing the landscape: Inducing cooperation for the production of ecosystem services

Abstract Agricultural landscapes hold tremendous potential for producing a diverse stream of ecosystem services. Yet, because the spatial configuration of particular ecosystems is critical to the supply of many services, realizing this potential requires that farms be managed in a coordinated way across landscapes rather than as independent units. Under existing incentive programs, this level of coordination is typically neither required nor encouraged. Here we explore how to achieve such coordination from an institutional perspective using voluntary incentives rather than regulation. We focus on three services operating at contrasting scales, from local to global: pollination, hydrologic services, and carbon sequestration. First, we briefly illustrate how agricultural practices can diminish or enhance their provision. Next, we show how all three services require coordinated, landscape-scale management because provision depends upon particular spatial configurations, of which we provide several stylized examples. Finally, based on these stylized configurations, we evaluate the relative merits of three incentive designs–the “cooperation bonus,” the “entrepreneur,” and the “ecosystem service district”–to promote cross-farm cooperation to enhance service provision. All three incentive systems rely on rational self-interest, have cooperative configurations to promote ecosystem services across different scales, use tiered reward systems, and have a major voluntary element. They are distinct in certain key features. The cooperation bonus system rewards conservation even without cooperation but adds a bonus for cooperation. In the entrepreneur incentive, all tiers of reward are contingent upon cooperation. The ecosystem service district scheme is only partially voluntary and forces cooperation of all landowners once the district is formed. Our analysis of these heuristic alternatives integrates biophysical, economic, and institutional factors with the aim of addressing the suite of institutional barriers for landscape-scale management.
Multi-User Detection Based on Improved KICA with Bat Algorithm

In this paper, an improved kernel independent component analysis (KICA) algorithm is proposed for multi-user detection (MUD). In this algorithm, a new hybrid kernel function is adopted. In addition, the bat algorithm is applied to the optimizing process of independent component separation. Simulation results show that the new hybrid kernel function performs better in MUD than other kernel functions, and the improved KICA with bat algorithm has the smallest bit error rate (BER) when compared with classical FastICA and KICA algorithms.
The effect of cycloheximide administration on vitamin K-stimulated prothrombin formation.

Abstract The administration of vitamin K to severely hypoprothrombinemic, vitamin K-deficient rats results in the appearance of about 50% of the normal steady state levels of plasma prothrombin within 1 hr, followed by a slower rate of repletion. This rapid initial burst of prothrombin is inhibited only about 25% by a dose of cycloheximide which almost completely blocks total plasma protein synthesis. The same level of cycloheximide treatment will block the synthesis of prothrombin which is seen between 1 and 2 hr after vitamin K administration, and will also block the hydrocortisone-induced synthesis of tyrosine amino transferase in the same animals. It has been reported that in a rat liver perfusion system there is a specific antagonism between the action of vitamin K and cycloheximide. No evidence for such a relationship could be seen in intact animals. The data strongly suggest that the action of vitamin K may involve the conversion of some precursor protein to prothrombin in a step that does not involve ribosomal protein synthesis.
The Relations between Contextual Risk, Earned Income, and the School Adjustment of Children from Economically Disadvantaged Families.

This longitudinal study examined the relations between multiple risk indexes representing contextual adversity, income-to-needs ratios, and the elementary school adjustment of children from economically disadvantaged families. The results provide evidence for volatility in family circumstances over 2-year intervals from preschool to 5th grade, for relations between the contextual risk indexes and change in externalizing behavior, and for relations between the income-to-needs ratios and change in academic competence. The results also show differences in the timing of the effects. Little evidence was found for persistence effects. Theoretical implications concern conceptualizations of the diverse and dynamic nature of the family circumstances experienced by disadvantaged children.
Effect of mastitis on plasminogen activator activity of milk somatic cells.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of mastitis and stage of lactation on plasminogen activator (PA) activity in milk somatic cells. An assay system, which measures the plasmin-mediated hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate D-valyl-leucyl-lysine p-nitroanilide, was used to assess PA activity present within milk somatic cells. Milk cell associated PA activity was increased (P 10(6) cells/ml resulted in an 8-fold increase in PA activity per cell. Elevated levels of PA activity were associated with milk somatic cells isolated from mastitic quarters obtained from cows in early ( 8 months in lactation). We conclude that PA activity is increased during severe mastitic inflammation. Although the physiological function of this enzyme is as yet unclear, we propose that it may be involved in the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, contributing to the higher levels of plasmin occurring in milk isolated from mastitic quarters.
Strangulation of appendages by hair and thread

Abstract This series of cases of strangulation of appendages is reported to call attention to a frequently unrecognized entity, to emphasize its importance, and to recommend a simple method of treatment. The study includes a review of the limited number of cases of strangulation of appendages reported in the literature, as well as a presentation and discussion of cases encountered in the authors' practices. In 1965 Alpert et al., 1 reported three cases of strangulation of an appendage by hair wrapping, and emphasized that because of the physical characteristics of human hair, its presence as a foreign body may not be recognized and diagnosis may be missed. In 1966, Curran 2 described a case suggesting intentional encirclement of toes by hair, and Feinberg 3 emphasized the significance of interdigital friction burns caused by loose elastic protruding into the lumen of an infant's pajama bootees. Quinn 4 in 1971 labeled this condition as the "toe tourniquet syndrome," pointing out that loose threads from leotard-type garments inadvertently may become wrapped about a child's toes, and he warned both parents and the garment industry to be aware of this condition. As delay in recognition and institution of proper treatment of this problem can result in loss of part or all of an appendage, it was felt that a clinical review of ten cases seen in the past 3 yr at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., would be beneficial.
Beyond Abu Ghraib: The 2010 APA Ethics Code Standard 1.02 and Competency for Execution Evaluations

In 2011—a full year after the American Psychological Association (APA) amended its ethics code to prohibit psychologists from engaging in activities that justified or defended violating human right...
PUBLIC BUDGETING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: EVOLUTION AND PRACTICE OF AN IDEA

One of the major dimensions of public budgeting relates to the generation of growth, employment, and more favorable income redistribution in the economy. This dimension had come to acquire a good deal of importance during the last seventy years. The use of public budgeting for purposes of promoting economic growth, employment, income distribution, has so far been considered as a part of development economics in general, and more specifically, as a part of economic planning. Indeed, such use has been so extensive that it is difficult to consider budgeting for economic development without a consideration of organized economic planning and associated formulation of medium term and annual plans. Planning itself has gone through several vicissitudes during these decades. As an extension, budgeting too has gone through several phases. By 1985, nearly 300 plans were formulated by developing countries. During the same period, the approaches in industrial countries of the west incorporated some elements of organiz...