cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluorescence imaging of lymphatic outflow of cerebrospinal fluid in mice

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is known to be reabsorbed by the lymphatic vessels and drain into the lymph nodes (LNs) through peripheral lymphatic vessels. In the peripheral lymphatics, the contractile pumping action of lymphangions mediates lymph drainage; yet it is unknown whether lymphatic vessels draining cranial and spinal CSF show similar function. Herein, we used non-invasive near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRFI) to image (i) indocyanine green (ICG) distribution along the neuraxis and (ii) routes of ICG-laden CSF outflow into the lymphatics following intrathecal lumbar administration. We demonstrate lymphatic contractile function in peripheral lymphatics draining from the nasal lymphatics to the mandibular LNs. In addition, we observed afferent sciatic lymphatic vessels, which also show contractile activity and transport spinal CSF into the sciatic LNs. This drainage pattern was also visualized by NIRFI following intrathecal thoracic injection. In situ intravital imaging following intrathecal lumbar injection of blue dye shows similar distributions to that seen in vivo with ICG. NIRFI could be used as a tool to probe CSF pathology including neurological disorders by imaging CSF outflow dynamics to lymphatics.
Stapes footplate deformity leading to perilymphatic fistula and recurrent meningitis

Abstract We present a case of a 23-month old female with congenital malformation of her inner ear and perilymphatic fistula due to stapes footplate defect leading to recurrent episodes of bacterial meningitis and resulting bilateral profound hearing loss. Multiple-layer closure with obliteration of the malformation, middle ear and mastoid along with closure of the external auditory canal was performed to achieve definitive repair. Cochlear implantation in the contralateral ear resulted in age-appropriate language proficiency with excellent CI speech perception over a 12-year follow up. The importance of multiple-layer closure for adequate repair and early consideration of cochlear implantation are highlighted.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Enteritis in Adult Ruminants

Infectious enteritis in adult ruminants is often a result of 1 or more viral, bacterial, or parasitic pathogens. Diagnosis of etiologic agents causing enteritis is important when considering herd implications and zoonotic potential of some etiologies. Differential diagnoses for enteritis in adult ruminants is not simple based on clinical signs alone. Diagnostic samples include feces, blood, and antemortem and postmortem tissues. Treatment of infectious enteritis is aimed at correcting dehydration and electrolyte imbalances secondary to diarrhea. In cases of some bacterial and parasitic pathogens, additional targeted treatment and control are recommended. Management of enteritis may be instituted while awaiting laboratory test results.
Droop mitigation using critical-path sensors and an on-chip distributed power supply estimation engine in the z14™ enterprise processor

Enterprise server processor designs, which operate at extreme high frequencies and power envelopes, depend critically on power supply noise mitigation techniques. With supply voltage scaling, very high current draws, and broad usage of clock gating, advanced solutions are needed for next-generation products to minimize droop mitigation response time, which can be defined as the latency from when a dangerous droop begins until a countermeasure is effective.
The Ferroelectric Slab Waveguide: a Geometry for Microwave Components that Incorporate Ferroelectric Materials

Abstract : A slab geometry, in which ferroelectric is inserted between two "cladding" layers with a microstrip electrode placed on top, is proposed as a way to integrate the properties of ferroelectric materials into microwave components. This structure distributes the propagating microwave fields between the ferroelectric and the cladding, so that the microwave dielectric constant is a weighted average of the dielectric constants of the two materials. It is shown that this geometry drastically reduces dissipation due to dielectric losses in the ferroelectric. In addition, by applying a dc bias to the micro strip line, the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric layer can be varied and with it the microwave properties of the structure.
Surface Electron Transfer Dynamics at Semiconductor Interfaces

Interfacial electron transfer between a discrete molecular state and a conducting surface is the simplest of all surface reactions in that no bonds are broken; it involves only the exchange of an electron. For this reason, we have the greatest chance of coming to a detailed understanding of this surface reaction coordinate. In addition to its fundamental importance, research in this area is strongly motivated by the large number of practical applications involving interfacial charge transfer. For example, this process is the heart of almost all modern day imaging (photography and xerography), lithographic processes, the entire field of electrochemistry, and has been implicated in many surface catalytic processes [1, 2, 3]. Interfacial charge transfer also harbours great potential as an efficient mechanism for solar energy conversion [4]. This latter application is primarily due to the great facility with which conducting solid state materials separate charge relative to an all molecular approach. Despite the great technological importance of this problem, our understanding of surface electronic transitions is lagging well behind the analogous problem of homogeneous electron transfer. The simple reason for this difference is the greater inherent experimental difficulties in studying surfaces.
Category IV Prostatitis: Implications for Prostate Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and Carcinogenesis

Category IV prostatitis is broadly defined as asymptomatic prostatic inflammation. It is present in large numbers of healthy men and is especially notable in men with elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The relationship of inflammation as a cause of elevated PSA is clearly established and as a potential cause of prostate cancer is supported by theory and a body of mainly preclinical evidence. In contrast to the theory that chronic prostatitis may increase the risk of future prostate cancer, it is also possible that this finding might explain elevated PSA in a man with an initial biopsy failing to identify prostate cancer. To date, this has been inadequately investigated, and the finding of inflammation on initial biopsy should not raise the threshold for repeat biopsy if clinical suspicion of prostate cancer persists based on elevated PSA, high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or atypical small acinar proliferation.
Muscarinic receptors influence catecholamine release from the cat carotid body during hypoxia.

Many frontiers in the modeling of the ventilatory system and its control are at the cellular and molecular levels. The carotid body’s response to hypoxia is no exception to this. A commonly accepted model of the carotid body’s chemotransduction of hypoxia presents the transmitter-laden glomus cell being depolarized by the hypoxic challenge in as-yet-to-be­determined processes. This depolarization activates voltage-gated calcium channels with the subsequent entrance of extracellular calcium. This event, in turn, precipitates the release of several transmitters. Many investigators have reported the hypoxia-generated release of catecholamines from the carotid body. And recently we have reported the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the cat carotid body during hypoxia1. These transmitters are presumed to bind to “postsynaptic” receptors located on the apposed sensory afferent fibers which have their cell bodies in the petrosal ganglion with their axons terminating in nucleus tractus solitarii. The transmitters are also presumed to bind to “presynaptic” autoreceptors on the glomus cells. Over the last decade our working hypothesis has been that ACh is the (or at least one) critically important excitatory transmitter. And in the mid 1990s we generated some neurophysiological recordings2 which suggested the presence of both M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors in the carotid body. The data could not answer whether the receptors were located postsynaptically, presynaptically, or both. Since then we have reported preliminary results suggesting that they are at least located on the glomus cell.
Public Banks, Public Orientation and the Great Financial Crisis of 2007–2008

Are publicly oriented financial institutions stabilizing forces in the modern financial world, and if so, at what cost? In recent decades, we show that publicly oriented banks contribute to financial stability by lending less pro-cyclically and even, in some cases, counter-cyclically, than did their private banking counterparts. Further, while earlier studies of public banking tended to show that they were inferior to private banks in terms of resource allocation, more recent literature finds that this is not generally the case. We are left in the end with a more interesting question: Given both the cyclical and secular net benefits of publicly oriented banking, should we encourage more publicly oriented financial institutions in our economies? Our answer: probably, but it’s complicated.
Medical Tourism and Postoperative Infections: A Systematic Literature Review of Causative Organisms and Empiric Treatment

Background Medical tourism has become increasingly globalized as individuals travel abroad to receive medical care. Cosmetic patients in particular are more likely to seek surgery abroad to defray costs. Unfortunately, not all procedures performed abroad adhere to strict hygienic regulations, and bacterial flora vary. As a result, it is not uncommon for consumers to return home with difficult-to-treat postoperative infections. Methods A systematic literature review of PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases was performed to assess the microbiology patterns and medical management of patients with postoperative infections after undergoing elective surgery abroad. Results Forty-two cases of postoperative infections were reported among patients who underwent elective surgery abroad. Most cases were reported from the Dominican Republic, and the most common elective procedures were abdominoplasty, mastopexy, and liposuction. Rapidly growing mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium chelonae were among the most common causes of postoperative infection, with M. abscessus involving 74 percent of cases. Most cases were treated with surgical debridement and a combination of antibiotics. Clarithromycin, amikacin, and moxifloxacin were the most common drugs used for long-term treatment. Conclusions When encountering a patient with a history of medical tourism and treatment-refractory infection, rapidly growing mycobacteria must be considered. To increase the likelihood of yielding a diagnostic organism, multiple acid-fast bacilli cultures from fluid and debridement content should be performed. There has been reported success in treating rapidly growing mycobacterial infections with a combination of antibiotics including clarithromycin, amikacin, and moxifloxacin.
Calorimetric Observation of a Phase Transition in the Superconducting State in Gd1.2Mo6Se8

A lambda-type anomaly in the specific heat of the Chevrel phase compound Gd1.2Mo6Se8 has been observed at 3.5K, below its superconducting transition temperature of 5.5 K. The anomaly is not reflected in the temperature- or magnetic field-dependence of the magnetization, and low temperature X-ray powder diffraction measurements indicate that the anomaly is not due to a crystallographic phase transformation. The anomaly appears to be due to a phase transition which is associated with the presence of the localized 4f electrons of the Gd3+ ions, but the exact nature of the transition remains to be established.
Baseball Pitchers’ Kinematic Sequences and Their Relationship to Elbow and Shoulder Torque Production:

Objectives:Ball velocity is generated during the overhead baseball pitch via efficient force transmission up the kinetic chain, from the lower body up and outward to the throwing hand. The kinemati...
Deep Multi‐Agent Reinforcement Learning for Cooperative Edge Caching

Wireless edge caching is considered one of the key techniques to reduce data traffic congestion in backhaul links. This chapter is devoted to the application of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) strategies to edge caching at both small base stations and user equipment (UE). It addresses system modelling and problem formulation for different cellular deployment scenarios. The chapter then presents a multi‐agent actor‐critic DRL framework for edge caching with the goal to increase the cache hit rate and reduce transmission delay. By providing extensive simulation results, it focuses on demonstrating the performance improvements with the proposed DRL policies and provides comparisons with the least recently used, least frequently used, and first‐in‐first‐out caching strategies when caching is performed at small base stations. In terms of working principles and caching performance, the chapter further compares DRL with naive and probabilistic caching policies when caching is performed at UEs.
A tool to estimate the location of high conductivity channels in heterogeneous porous media

Solute transport in groundwater is characterized by a high level of uncertainty since it is impossible to completely measure the spatial distribution of key soil properties, such as the hydraulic conductivity. Several studies have shown how an heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity field may lead to the formation of preferential channels (or high conductivity channels) in which the solute flows. Given a realization of the hydraulic conductivity field, it is possible to estimate the location of preferential channels using a graph-theory based method. The minimum hydraulic resistance and least resistance path are efficiently computed, so that these metrics can be effectively employed to assess the uncertainty of preferential flows using computationally intensive stochastic methods, such as Monte-Carlo simulations. For example, these metrics can be used for site characterization, choosing locations where to sample the hydraulic conductivity in order to reduce the uncertainty of high conductivity channels. As a consequence, our preliminary studies displayed more than 40% reduction on first arrival time uncertainty, when compared to a regular grid sampling protocol with the same number of sampling locations. The iterative sampling strategy can be reproduced using LazyMole, an open-source tool implementing the algorithms to compute the minimum hydraulic resistance and least resistance path for a given hydraulic conductivity field.
Coupling of two curved polyaromatic radical-anions: stabilization of dimers by counterions.

In this study, a comprehensive theoretical investigation of both kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities was performed for dimeric dianionic systems (C20H10)22− and (C28H14)22−, neutralized by two alkali metal cations. The influence of the counterions was of primary interest. The impact of the additional/spectator ligand(s) was elucidated by considering adducts with four molecules of diglyme or two molecules of 18-crown-6 ether. Importantly, both types of systems – in the form of contact-ion pair (CIP) and solvent-separated ion pair (SSIP) – were considered. The SSIP set was augmented by the adduct, in which the dimeric dianionic species were neutralized with purely organic cations N(CH3)4+ and P(CH3)4+. Detailed analysis of the bonding revealed that the presence of the counterions made these systems thermodynamically stable. This finding is in sharp contrast with results obtained for isolated (PAH)22− systems, which were previously found to be thermodynamically unstable, but kinetically persistent. The introduction of the alkali metal cations to the system significantly increases the ionic term (ΔEelstat), whereas the repulsive ΔEPauli one was found to be substantially reduced. Considering that the orbital component (ΔEorb) exhibited only a moderate decrease and the preparation energy (ΔEprep) showed no changes, the above-mentioned changes in ΔEelstat and ΔEPauli provided a clear explanation for the increase of the thermodynamic stability of the target species. Importantly, a clear correlation between the size of the alkali metal cation and stability of the target dimeric product was established. Thermodynamic stability of the system rises with a decrease in the size of M+ due to enlargement of the ΔEorb. Evaluated energy barriers (as spin-crossing points between singlet and triplet energy surfaces) were found to be equal to +15.85 kcal mol−1 and +18.5 kcal mol−1 for [(Cs+)2{(C20H10)22−}] and [(Cs+)2{(C28H14)22−}], respectively, which is substantially higher than those calculated for isolated (PAH)22− systems (+10.00 kcal mol−1 for (C20H10)22− and +12.35 kcal mol−1 for (C28H14)22−). Thus, this study identified the presence of counterions as the key factor, which have a dramatic influence on the thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of the aimed dianionic dimeric systems, which are formed by two curved polyaromatic monoanion-radicals.
The Cambridge companion to George Eliot, 2nd edition: edited by George Levine and Nancy Henry, Cambridge, Cambridge UP, 2019, 282 pp., $24.99 (paperback), ISBN: 978-1-316-64415-7

From beginning to end, The Cambridge Companion to George Eliot, Second Edition, is a pleasure to read, both for its reminders of the scholarship of the first edition published nearly two decades ag...
Impacts of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) level and ratio on the growth, fatty acids composition and hepatic-antioxidant status of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Abstract A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, LMB) responses to supplemental eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)- and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich oils at different inclusion levels and ratios. For this purpose, eight experimental diets were formulated to contain 42% crude protein and12% lipid. Two diets were formulated to be n-3 fatty acid (FA) and EPA/DHA depleted and served as negative controls for n-3 FA or EPA + DHA, respectively. Two additional sets of three diets were designed to contain 1 or 2% EPA + DHA and three different EPA:DHA ratios (20:80, 50:50, and 80:20). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 15 feed-trained juvenile LMB (13.8 ± 0.2 g initial weight) stocked in 110-L glass aquaria operating as a recirculating aquaculture system. At the end of the feeding trial, the production performance of LMB fed EPA + DHA supplemented diets was unaffected by EPA + DHA levels and ratios. However, LMB fed diets with either 1 or 2% EPA + DHA displayed higher weight gain and feed efficiency compared to those fed un-supplemented diets. HSI was lower groups fed n-3 FA depleted compared to 2% EPA + DHA-fed groups. No significant differences were detected for whole-body proximate composition of LMB; while whole-body EPA and DHA concentrations were significantly affected by diet. Liver antioxidant enzyme activities were unaffected by the dietary supplementation of 1 or 2% EPA + DHA, but liver superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in fish fed EPA/DHA depleted diet relative fish fed the n-3 FA depleted and 1% EPA + DHA diets. On the contrary, significantly lower malondialdehyde concentration was observed in the liver of LMB fed the latter relative to fish fed the former diet. Based on the overall findings, LMB appears to be able to synthesize EPA and DHA from linolenic acid to meet physiological needs for adequate production performance and health. Nevertheless, our findings also indicate that both weight gain and feed efficiency, as well as whole-body concentrations of EPA and DHA can be enhanced in LMB by the dietary provision of around 1% EPA + DHA.
Hybrid architectures consisting of two-dimensional materials and conventional semiconductors

Introducing interfaces through heterostructuring is a common strategy to bring novel functionalities and improve device performances. Emerging nanomaterials, of which heterostructuring is under development, can be utilized with combinations of various conventional semiconductors, such as Si, Ge, and compound semiconductors. I’ll present recent achievements of fabrication of hybrid architectures composed of 2D and conventional materials. The experimental approach was epitaxial growth Si, Ge, and ZnO on various 2D materials including graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides. Van der Waals and remote epitaxy techniques were employed. Details of nucleation control, charge transfer in hybrid architectures, and insight of device applications will be discussed.
Nebivolol/valsartan combination for the treatment of hypertension: a review

Nebivolol (N) is a β1-adrenoreceptor antagonist that is approved for treatment of hypertension in the USA. Effective treatment of hypertension is becoming an increasingly difficult process that often requires multiple drug combinations to meet target guidelines. This has resulted in the increasing introduction of multidrug single-pill combinations (SPCs) to facilitate cost and compliance issues. Some of the SPCs have added valsartan (V), an angiotensin receptor blocker, which is an increasingly advocated antihypertensive class. Pharmacological profiles of N and V, alone and combined, are well characterized. In 2007, the SPC of N and V, 5 and 80 mg, respectively, was approved by the US FDA for treatment of hypertension. This paper will summarize and update key issues in pharmacology, clinical use and benefit.
BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS, FATAL POLICE INTERACTIONS, AND CRIME

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was a prominent social movement largely focused on raising awareness of and reducing police use‐of‐force and fatal interactions with police. However, opponents of the movement have feared it could lead to decreased proactive policing and increased crime. Using a state‐by‐month fixed effects model, I find evidence that an additional protest in the preceding month leads to a decrease of .225 fatal interactions between Blacks and police per 10 million Black population. In addition, I find no evidence supporting increased crime or arrests as a result of the BLM movement. (JEL J15, D91, Z13)
Optimization of in vivo Cherenkov imaging dosimetry via spectral choices for ambient background lights and filtering.

Significance The Cherenkov emission spectrum overlaps with that of ambient room light sources. Choice of room lighting devices dramatically affects the efficient detection of Cherenkov emission during patient treatment. Aim To determine optimal room light sources allowing Cherenkov emission imaging in normally lit radiotherapy treatment delivery rooms. Approach A variety of commercial light sources and long-pass (LP) filters were surveyed for spectral band separation from the red to near-infrared Cherenkov light emitted by tissue. Their effects on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), Cherenkov to background signal ratio, and image artifacts were quantified by imaging irradiated tissue equivalent phantoms with an intensified time-gated CMOS camera. Results Because Cherenkov emission from tissue lies largely in the near-infrared spectrum, a controlled choice of ambient light that avoids this spectral band is ideal, along with a camera that is maximally sensitive to it. An RGB LED light source produced the best SNR out of all sources that mimic room light temperature. A 675-nm LP filter on the camera input further reduced ambient light detected (optical density > 3), achieving maximal SNR for Cherenkov emission near 40. Reduction of the room light signal reduced artifacts from specular reflection on the tissue surface and also minimized spurious Cherenkov signals from non-tissue features such as bolus. Conclusions LP filtering during image acquisition for near-infrared light in tandem with narrow band LED illuminated rooms improves image quality, trading off the loss of red wavelengths for better removal of room light in the image. This spectral filtering is also critically important to remove specular reflection in the images and allow for imaging of Cherenkov emission through clear bolus. Beyond time-gated external beam therapy systems, the spectral separation methods can be utilized for background removal for continuous treatment delivery methods including proton pencil beam scanning systems and brachytherapy.
Revisiting GMOs: Are There Differences in European Consumers' Acceptance and Valuation for Cisgenically vs Transgenically Bred Rice?

Both cisgenesis and transgenesis are plant breeding techniques that can be used to introduce new genes into plant genomes. However, transgenesis uses gene(s) from a non-plant organism or from a donor plant that is sexually incompatible with the recipient plant while cisgenesis involves the introduction of gene(s) from a crossable—sexually compatible—plant. Traditional breeding techniques could possibly achieve the same results as those from cisgenesis, but would require a much larger timeframe. Cisgenesis allows plant breeders to enhance an existing cultivar more quickly and with little to no genetic drag. The current regulation in the European Union (EU) on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) treats cisgenic plants the same as transgenic plants and both are mandatorily labeled as GMOs. This study estimates European consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for rice labeled as GM, cisgenic, with environmental benefits (which cisgenesis could provide), or any combination of these three attributes. Data were collected from 3,002 participants through an online survey administered in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom in 2013. Censored regression models were used to model consumers’ WTP in each country. Model estimates highlight significant differences in WTP across countries. In all five countries, consumers are willing-to-pay a premium to avoid purchasing rice labeled as GM. In all countries except Spain, consumers have a significantly higher WTP to avoid consuming rice labeled as GM compared to rice labeled as cisgenic, suggesting that inserting genes from the plant’s own gene pool is more acceptable to consumers. Additionally, French consumers are willing-to-pay a premium for rice labeled as having environmental benefits compared to conventional rice. These findings suggest that not all GMOs are the same in consumers’ eyes and thus, from a consumer preference perspective, the differences between transgenic and cisgenic products are recommended to be reflected in GMO labeling and trade policies.
Relationship of Strength and Precision in Shooting Activities

Reported is an experiment which was designed to (1) test the strength-precision relationship of grip and shoulder strength with competitive pistol shooting scores using a nationally ranked collegiate pistol team and (2) determine the effects of a very brief, specifically focused, intense grip and shoulder strength training program (10 min, 3 times per week for 8 weeks) on strength and shooting performance. All members of the Pennsylvania State University Navy ROTC Pistol Team (n = 12) were divided into two matched groups according to pre-test shooting scores. Both groups received identical shooting instruction and practice, but the training group participated in an eight-week strength development program while the control group did not. Maximum isometric strength (peak and 4-sec average force) measures were obtained from electronic output of a hand dynamometer and strain gauge (deltoid contraction from a lateral horizontal shooting position against an arm cuff). Shooting scores (slow fire, timed fire, rap...
A Revised Measurement Methodology for Conifer Needles Spectral Optical Properties: Evaluating the Influence of Gaps between Elements

Abstract Gaps are unavoidable when compositing small or narrow plant parts (e.g., conifer needles, twigs, narrow leaves, and leaflets) on sample holders in preparation for measuring spectral optical properties. The Daughtry et al. (1989) (A new technique to measure the spectral properties of conifer needles. Remote Sens. Environ. 27:81–91.) method of measuring conifer needle optical properties utilizes a relatively large gap fraction (approximately 0.3–0.6) and needles painted black on one surface of the sample from which the gap fraction of the sample is indirectly determined. Following this protocol typically results in distortions in optical properties, including underestimates in transmittance (sometimes negative values), and only one surface of the sample can be measured. The objectives of this article are to: 1) evaluate the influence of gaps between sample elements (conifer needles, twigs, narrow leaves and leaflets) on optical properties calculated with the published equations from Daughtry et al. (1989) and 2) revise the original Daughtry et al. method for optical property measurements by using an image-analysis to directly measure the gap fraction and use both surfaces of the sample. We achieve these objectives by reviewing the theory and investigating the effects of gaps by measurements of an inert photographic film material, fir needles, and mesquite leaflets. Tests to estimate the transmittance of film samples (film) and foliage (fir needles, mesquite leaflets) indicate that a relatively small gap fraction (less than 0.20) reduces the occurrence of computed negative transmittance values, reduces the variation in computed values, and yields values expected for the “true” or “nongap” transmittance. Employing the image analysis along with reduced gap fractions decreased the variance of measurements and permitted measurements of both surfaces per sample, thus reducing the time required by making half as many samples as originally required by Daughtry et al.
The Behavioral Effects of Environmental Regimes: Collective-Action vs. Social-Practice Models

Most observers agree that institutions play significant roles both in causing and in confronting large scale environmental problems. But how can these arrangements, which are not actors in their own right, influence the interactive behavior of those whose actions give rise to these problems and, in the process, shape the character of collective outcomes? This essay compares and contrasts two families of models – collective-action models and social-practice models – that seek to expose the behavioral pathways through which institutions affect the course of human/environment interactions. After describing the assumptions embedded in the models, the paper examines the predictions that flow from them regarding: compliance, policy instruments, behavioral consistency, and durability. It then proposes a method for evaluating competing predictions by making use of critical tests of the sort familiar to natural scientists seeking to assess the merits of different models.
Some Physico-Chemical Properties of Lactose: IV. The Influence of Salts and Acids Upon the Mutarotation Velocity of Lactose

Summary The mutarotation of lactose is accelerated by molecules, and by ions other than those of hydrogen and hydroxyl. This phenomenon is attributed to general acid and base catalysis. The catalytic influence of the anions of weak acids is much greater than that of the cations of weak bases. The catalytic effect of the lactate ion is relatively small at concentrations below one-tenth normal, but it increases very rapidly as the concentration becomes greater. The catalytic effects of other salts found in dairy products have not yet been determined, but it seems probable that their influence would not be important, except possibly in such concentrated products as milk powder and ice cream. An empirical equation, based upon the data of Troy and Sharp, has been derived for estimating the velocity of mutarotation of lactose solutions at 25° C., and at various values of pH.
Hydrologic Response of Streams Restored with Check Dams in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

In this study, hydrological processes are evaluated to determine impacts of stream restoration in the West Turkey Creek, Chiricahua Mountains, southeast Arizona, during a summer-monsoon season (June–October of 2013). A paired-watershed approach was used to analyze the effectiveness of check dams to mitigate high flows and impact long-term maintenance of hydrologic function. One watershed had been extensively altered by the installation of numerous small check dams over the past 30 years, and the other was untreated (control). We modified and installed a new stream-gauging mechanism developed for remote areas, to compare the water balance and calculate rainfall–runoff ratios. Results show that even 30 years after installation, most of the check dams were still functional. The watershed treated with check dams has a lower runoff response to precipitation compared with the untreated, most notably in measurements of peak flow. Concerns that downstream flows would be reduced in the treated watershed, due to storage of water behind upstream check dams, were not realized; instead, flow volumes were actually higher overall in the treated stream, even though peak flows were dampened. We surmise that check dams are a useful management tool for reducing flow velocities associated with erosion and degradation and posit they can increase baseflow in aridlands. © 2015 The Authors. River Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Evaluation of Recent Internal Field Models

The paper reviews the current status of internal field models and evaluates several recently published models by comparing their predictions with annual means of the magnetic field measured at 140 magnetic observatories from 1973 to 1977. Three of the four models studied, viz. AWC/75, IGS/75, and Pogo 8/71, were nearly equal in their ability to predict the magnitude and direction of the current field. The fourth model, IGRF 1975, was significantly poorer in its ability to predict the current field. All models seemed to be able to extrapolate predictions quite well several years outside the data range used to construct the models.
Cloning and characterization of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lasR gene, a transcriptional activator of elastase expression.

We report the discovery of the lasR gene, which positively regulates elastase expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The lasR gene was cloned by its ability to restore a positive elastase phenotype in strain PA103, a strain which possesses the elastase structural gene (lasB) but fails to synthesize the enzyme. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 716 nucleotides encoding a protein of approximately 27 kDa. A labeled LasR protein of 27 kDa was detected in Escherichia coli by using a T7 RNA polymerase expression system. A chromosomal deletion mutant of the lasR gene was constructed in PAO1 by gene replacement. This mutant (PAO-R1) is devoid of elastolytic activity and elastase antigen. The deduced amino acid sequence of LasR is 27% homologous to the positive activator LuxR of Vibrio fischeri and the suspected activator 28K-UvrC of E. coli. Northern (RNA) analysis of total cellular RNA from PAO1, PAO-R1, and PAO-R1 containing the lasR gene on a multicopy plasmid (pMG1.7) revealed that a functional lasR gene is required for transcription of the elastase structural gene (lasB). Images
Commentary on “The Lives of Others: Body Work, the Production of Difference, and Labor Geographies”

The article presents the author's opinions on the article "The Lives of Others: Body Work, the Production of Difference, and Labor Geographies" by economic geographer L. McDowell. McDowell's treatment of feminist geography, labor, and social reproduction is analyzed and information on the theory of the relationship between patriarchy and capitalism, economic geography, and labor markets is presented. Also included is the author's call for further comparative, transnational work in the field.
Ultrasound-induced suppression of visually-evoked potentials: experience in nonhuman primates with a clinical transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound system

Previous works by Fry et al. and others demonstrated that ultrasound exposures on the optic tract and/or the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) can temporarily block visually-evoked potentials in small animals. We attempted to repeat these experiments in a rhesus macaque using the ExAblate Neuro system (InSightec) operating at 650 kHz.
Recommendations for the elder abuse, health, and justice fields about medical forensic issues related to elder abuse and neglect

Increased interest in pursuing criminal and civil actions against alleged perpetrators of elder abuse and neglect has revealed that efforts to assist victims and hold perpetrators accountable are often hampered by the lack of knowledge about the detection and diagnosis of elder abuse and neglect and by the lack of resources for development of research and assistance in these matters. This report sets forth recommendations for the elder abuse, health, and justice fields about medical forensic issues related to elder abuse and neglect. The recommendations were developed by a "working group" of experts representing an array of disciplines that address the problem of elder abuse and neglect pursuant to a grant project funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The project was conducted by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, with the assistance of the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. This was the final project report submitted to NIJ; it has been updated to include information about the availability of reports and products from other grant projects that are discussed in the report.
Zoning in garnets—Diffusion models

When reference frames and “diffusing components” are properly selected, the flux equations for diffusion of the major components in natural garnets may often be approximated by: J ≈ D▽C. In such cases it is shown that, for reasonable diffusion coefficients and boundary conditions, observed zoning profiles in natural garnets may be explained with pure diffusion models. These models allow for original inhomogeneities in the host rock and may be used to explain why single hand specimens may show such a variety of zoning profiles within a single mineral species.
pH-sensitive residues in the p19 RNA silencing suppressor protein from carnation Italian ringspot virus affect siRNA binding stability.

Tombusviruses, such as Carnation Italian ringspot virus (CIRV), encode a protein homodimer called p19 that is capable of suppressing RNA silencing in their infected hosts by binding to and sequestering short-interfering RNA (siRNA) away from the RNA silencing pathway. P19 binding stability has been shown to be sensitive to changes in pH but the specific amino acid residues involved have remained unclear. Using constant pH molecular dynamics simulations, we have identified key pH-dependent residues that affect CIRV p19–siRNA binding stability at various pH ranges based on calculated changes in the free energy contribution from each titratable residue. At high pH, the deprotonation of Lys60, Lys67, Lys71, and Cys134 has the largest effect on the binding stability. Similarly, deprotonation of several acidic residues (Asp9, Glu12, Asp20, Glu35, and/or Glu41) at low pH results in a decrease in binding stability. At neutral pH, residues Glu17 and His132 provide a small increase in the binding stability and we find that the optimal pH range for siRNA binding is between 7.0 and 10.0. Overall, our findings further inform recent experiments and are in excellent agreement with data on the pH-dependent binding profile.
Compatibility Relation and its Application to Network Segmentation and Decentralization

In this paper, some new properties of compatibility classes of a finite set endowed with a suitable compatibility relation are described. An algorithm to compute maximal compatibility classes is constructed and an application of maximal compatibles to network segmentation and decentralization is demonstrated. Moreover, vector representation of compatibility classes is presented.
A scaled-ionic-charge simulation model that reproduces enhanced and suppressed water diffusion in aqueous salt solutions

Non-polarizable models for ions and water quantitatively and qualitatively misrepresent the salt concentration dependence of water diffusion in electrolyte solutions. In particular, experiment shows that the water diffusion coefficient increases in the presence of salts of low charge density (e.g., CsI), whereas the results of simulations with non-polarizable models show a decrease of the water diffusion coefficient in all alkali halide solutions. We present a simple charge-scaling method based on the ratio of the solvent dielectric constants from simulation and experiment. Using an ion model that was developed independently of a solvent, i.e., in the crystalline solid, this method improves the water diffusion trends across a range of water models. When used with a good-quality water model, e.g., TIP4P/2005 or E3B, this method recovers the qualitative behaviour of the water diffusion trends. The model and method used were also shown to give good results for other structural and dynamic properties including solution density, radial distribution functions, and ion diffusion coefficients.
Customized authenticity begins at home.

Abstract Over the past 20 years, ethnic and heritage tourism have thrived throughout China, encouraged by a diverse set of local and global forces. This paper focuses on a cultural-enterprise practice, namely “Naxi homestays,” amid unprecedented growth of tourism in Lijiang after its inscription into UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage Sites List in 1997. By examining three interrelated dimensions central to understanding authenticity—object, self, and home—this study reveals that customized authenticity is produced in Lijiang’s guesthouses. Contrary to its enduring modernist and existentialist conceptions, the paper argues that customized authenticity, even in an overtly staged or constructed context, can be highly pursued and embraced by tourists.
What prevents cable TV from taking off in Brazil

In 1993, only 0.8 percent of Brazilian households were connected to cable TV, even though 81 percent of all homes had at least one television set. In 1996, the number of cable households had climbed to almost 5 percent, an impressive growth, but still disappointing when compared to the average of 11 percent of cable households in Latin America. This examination of the problem will explore why cable TV's growth has been slow in Brazil.
Single-proton transfer reactions on N = 50 nuclei

Abstract Deuterons accelerated to 30, 35.5 and 40 MeV were used to investigate 89Y(d, 3He)88Sr reactions. A detailed study of the 88Sr ground state was made using 88Sr(d, 3He)87Rb reactions at 35 MeV and 88Sr(3He, d)89Y reactions at 33.4 MeV. Angular distributions are compared with local zero-range DWBA calculations from which the transferred angular momenta and spectroscopic factors are deduced. The analysis indicates that the major proton configurations in the 88Sr ground state are 0.7 (2 p 1 2 ) −2 + 0.2 (2 p 3 2 ) −2 + 0.1 (1 f 5 2 ) −2 , in good agreement with recent theoretical calculations.
Estimating Salary Compression in an ARL Institution: A University of Colorado at Boulder Case Study

Salary compression is the narrowing of the pay differentials between people in the same job but with widely varying years of experience. Within academics, the most commonly asserted cause for salary compression is that of a labor shortage. When institutions compete in a job market with more vacancies than candidates, salaries for vacant positions increase faster than salaries for filled positions. As resources are directed at recruiting new hires rather than annual merit increases, productive senior staff find themselves earning similar salaries as new hires. While this has been common in disciplines such as business, nursing, and engineering, there is also anecdotal evidence that the conditions may have existed for this to happen in librarianship during the late 1990s. This case study defines salary compression, reviews the context in which it may arise, and discusses those conditions in which compression may be beneficial or may be detrimental, and examines the statistical tools used to detect evidence of compression within an organization. Multiple regression analysis is used to determine if there is evidence of salary compression among the librarians at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ipso-Substitution by Cytochrome P450 with Conversion of p-Hydroxybenzene Derivatives to Hydroquinone: Evidence for Hydroperoxo-Iron As the Active Oxygen Species

Abstract Evidence for multiple functional active oxidants in cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions was previously obtained in this laboratory with mutants in which proton delivery was perturbed by replacement of the highly conserved threonine residue in the active site by alanine, thus apparently interfering with the conversion of the peroxo-iron to the hydroperoxo-iron and the latter to the oxenoid-iron species. These enzymes have now been employed to examine the reaction in which cytochrome P450 in liver microsomes is known to effect ipso -substitution, the elimination of p -substituents in phenols to yield hydroquinone. As shown with purified NH 2 -truncated cytochromes in a reconstituted enzyme system, the reaction exhibits an absolute requirement for cytochrome P450 and NADPH–cytochrome P450 reductase. Under optimal conditions truncated cytochrome P450 2E1 is active with 10 of the p -substituted phenols examined. Of particular interest, the corresponding cytochrome with threonine-303 replaced by alanine is from 1.5- to 50-fold higher in activity with the p- chloro, -bromo, -nitro, -cyano, -hydroxymethyl, -formyl, and -acetyl derivatives, and the reaction with the p -benzoyl, -methyl, and - t -butyl compounds is catalyzed by the mutant enzyme only. The results implicate the hydroperoxo-iron species as an electrophilic active oxidant in cytochrome P450-catalyzed aromatic ipso -substitution.