cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Coming of Age of American Sign Language

This article examines the social rejection and acceptance of American Sign Language (ASL) since its introduction into schools for the deaf in 1817. Attitudes toward ASL are reviewed and it is seen that by the 1900s the proponents of an oral education for deaf children had the strongest objections to ASL. However, research, legislation, and a change in educational methods have helped ASL to gain society's recognition since 1960. It is concluded that the evolutionary processes of communication are the strongest forces binding ASL to the deaf community.
Carboxypeptidase N: a pleiotropic regulator of inflammation

Carboxypeptidase N (CPN) is a plasma zinc metalloprotease, which consists of two enzymatically active small subunits (CPN1) and two large subunits (CPN2) that protect the protein from degradation. CPN cleaves carboxy-terminal arginines and lysines from peptides found in the bloodstream such as complement anaphylatoxins, kinins, and creatine kinase MM (CK-MM). By removing only one amino acid, CPN has the ability to change peptide activity and receptor binding. CPN is a member of a larger family of carboxypeptidases, many of which also cleave arginine and lysine. Because of the highly conserved active sites and the possible redundant functions of carboxypeptidases, it has been difficult to elucidate the role of CPN in disease processes. The future use of gene ablation technology may be the most appropriate way to understand the function of CPN in vivo.
Branched Stent-Grafts for Endovascular Repair of Aortic and Iliac Aneurysms

Endovascular technique, which gains access through indirect transarterial routes and isolates the aneurysm without interrupting flow, has particular advantages in aneurysms of the aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aorta. Yet progress has been slow. The necessary branched stent-grafts face several unique technical challenges. The simplest, most versatile approach involves assembling a modular stent-graft in situ from multiple parts. Techniques vary according to the presence or absence of an overlap zone, or cuff. The first cases of this type, reported over 4 years ago, had axially oriented cuffs. Recent efforts have seen the intercomponent attachment site reduced to a ring of Nitinol around a simple fenestration, with various hybrids of cuffed and fenestrated technique in between. Other advances, such as better sheaths, better covered stents, and commercial manufacture (Cook, Australia), have helped to extend the use of branched stent-grafts to a wider range of users and a wider range of aneurysms. Although their future role remains unclear, all these devices have gone beyond the proof of concept stage, and some, such as the bifurcated component for the endovascular iliac reconstruction, are ready to become standard parts of the endovascular.
AlInGaAs/AlGaAs strained-layer 850 nm vertical-cavity lasers with very low thresholds

The authors report a low CW, RT threshold current (I/sub th/) of 156-/spl mu/A from a 2.8 /spl mu/m diameter vertical-cavity laser (VCL) with three AlInGaAs quantum wells. Devices show no degradation after 30 h of burn-in testing at a constant current density of 22 kA/cm/sup 2/ and a junction temperature of 140/spl deg/C. In addition, devices were measured at various stage temperatures and it was found that the lowest I/sub th/, 110 /spl mu/A for the 2.8 /spl mu/m diameter VCL, occurs near 230 K, where the quantum well gain peak and the cavity mode are aligned.
SOSS1/2: Sensors of Single-Stranded DNA at a Break

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Huang et al. (2009) describe two heterotrimeric single-stranded DNA binding complexes, SOSS1 and SOSS2, that function downstream of the MRN complex to promote DNA repair and the G2/M checkpoint.
Antiplatelet Effect of Aspirin in Patients With Cerebrovascular Disease

To the Editor: The intriguing study by Alberts et al1 regarding aspirin resistance in 129 patients with cerebrovascular disease highlights the potentially important implications of interpatient variability in response to set doses of antiplatelet agents, but also raises several important issues regarding the extrapolation of ex vivo results to clinical care. Their study focused on the level of antiplatelet activity of aspirin as measured by the platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100 point of care test. Using this device and a unique but unvalidated cut-off for dichotomizing patients into aspirin responders and nonresponders, they found that significantly more patients had inadequate platelet inhibition when receiving ≤162 mg of aspirin/d, compared with those taking ≥325 mg aspirin/d (56% versus 28%, P <0.01). They also found that patients taking enteric-coated aspirin were less likely to achieve adequate platelet inhibition compared with those taking an uncoated preparation. Although the study was too small, and follow-up too …
Ab initio study of hydrogen adsorption on the ZnO (101̄0) surface

Abstract Chemisorption of hydrogen at half and full monolayer coverage on the nonpolar ZnO (10 1 0) surface has been studied by means of the ab initio Hartree–Fock method in the two-dimensionally periodic slab model. Both surface and hydrogen geometry were optimized for hydrogen bound at surface zinc and oxygen atoms. We find adsorption energies to be substantial for heterolytic dissociation of hydrogen molecules. ZnO surface derelaxation plays an important role in the chemistry of the adsorption process. A posteriori correlation corrections to the total energies have been calculated, and the dependence of adsorption properties on surface coverage is discussed.
Forcing of Compressible Mixing Layers Using Laser Excitation

An innovative method of controlling and forcing the creation of large roller-type structures in compressible mixing layers is presented. A laser beam from a pulsed Nd:YAG laser is focused on the nozzle exit of axisymmetric supersonic jets with Mach numbers of 1.36 and 2, resulting in convective Mach numbers of 0.63 and 0.85, respectively
An Empirical Examination of The Nasdaq/CHX Dual‐Trading Experiment

We analyze the effects of the SEC's experimental Nasdaq/CHX dual-trading program. The program, which began in 1987 and continues to the present, establishes an experiment in which the costs and benefits of competition between dealer and specialist market structures can be observed directly. Our primary finding is that the program led to significantly reduced mean quoted and percentage spreads for the dual-traded issues. Further, even though the CHX specialists quote lower spreads, they are not able to garner a significant number of trades from Nasdaq.
Exposure histories of lunar meteorites: ALHA81005, MAC88104, MAC88105, and Y791197

The cosmogenic radionuclides Ca-41, Cl-36, Al-26, and Be-10 in the Allan Hills 81005, MacAlpine Hills 88104, MacAlpine Hills 88105, and Yamato 791197 meteorites were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. Mn-53 in Allan Hills 81005 and Yamato 791197 was measured by neutron activation. These four lunar meteorites experienced similar histories. They were ejected from near the surface of the moon ranging in depth down to 400 g/sq cm and had very short transition times (less than 0.1 Ma) from the moon to the earth. A comparison of the cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in MacAlpine Hills 88104 and MacAlpine Hills 88105 clearly indicates that they are a pair from the same fall.
A three-dimensional constitutive model for the large stretch behavior of rubber elastic materials

Aconstitutive model is proposed for the deformation of rubber materials which is shown to represent successfully the response of these materials in uniaxial extension, biaxial extension, uniaxial compression, plane strain compression and pure shear. The developed constitutive relation is based on an eight chain representation of the underlying macromolecular network structure of the rubber and the non-Gaussian behavior of the individual chains in the proposed network. The eight chain model accurately captures the cooperative nature of network deformation while requiring only two material parameters, an initial modulus and a limiting chain extensibility. Since these two parameters are mechanistically linked to the physics of molecular chain orientation involved in the deformation of rubber, the proposed model represents a simple and accurate constitutive model of rubber deformation. The chain extension in this network model reduces to a function of the root-mean-square of the principal applied stretches as a result of effectively sampling eight orientations of principal stretch space. The results of the proposed eight chain model as well as those of several prominent models are compared with experimental data of Treloar (1944, Trans. Faraday Soc. 40, 59) illustrating the superiority, simplicity and predictive ability of the proposed model. Additionally, a new set of experiments which captures the state of deformation dependence of rubber is described and conducted on three rubber materials. The eight chain model is found to model and predict accurately the behavior of the three tested materials further confirming its superiority and effectiveness over earlier models.
Octahedral tilts, symmetry-adapted displacive modes and polyhedral volume ratios in perovskite structures

The structures of tilted perovskites in each of the 15 tilt systems have been decomposed into the amplitudes of symmetry-adapted modes in order to provide a clear and unambiguous definition of the tilt angles. A full expression in terms of the mode amplitudes for the ratio of the volumes of the two polyhedra within the perovskite structure for each of the 15 tilt systems is derived, along with more general expressions in terms of either mode amplitudes or tilt angles that can be used to estimate this ratio when the distortions of the octahedra are small.
Learning disabilities in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Early exposure to androgens may be a cause of the higher incidence of learning disabilities among males. To test this hypothesis, we determined the frequency of learning disabilities, as measured by extent of Wechsler Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancy, among female patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, who are exposed in utero to excess androgens for their sex. A significantly larger Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancy (10.1 vs 7.7) was found for the 18 female patients than for 27 unaffected female siblings (P = .045, one-tailed). The Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancy of the females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia is in the male range (10.4 to 13.4), similar to males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (n = 20) and unaffected male siblings (n = 31). In addition to the sex effect, there is an effect of the type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia on the frequency of learning disabilities. Simple virilizers are more likely to be learning disabled than salt-wasters (P = .04, one-tailed). However, sal...
Postheparin lipolytic activity and Intralipid clearance in very low-birth-weight infants.

The effect of heparin (10 U/kg) on serum lipolytic activity, triglyceride and FFA levels, during four hours infusion of 0.5 gm/kg Intralipid was measured in 18 AGA infants, 25 to 32 week's gestational age. PHLA, TG, and FFA were measured at 0, 10, 30, 120, and 240 minutes of infusion of Intralipid, before and following a bolus of 10 U/kg heparin iv. Lipolytic activity, measured by hydrolysis of activated tri- 3 H-oleate and expressed in μmol FFA released per milliliter serum per hour, was not detected in serum before heparin administration. Ten minutes after heparin administration peak PHLA was significantly higher in infants of 27 to 32 weeks' gestation than in infants of 25 to 26 weeks' gestation. There was no significant difference in peak PHLA between infants of 27 to 28 and 29 to 32 weeks' gestation. PHLA returned to baseline (zero) two hours after heparin administration in all infants. Infants of 25 to 26 weeks' gestational age had significantly higher concentrations of serum triglycerides before and during Intralipid infusion than in infants of 27 to 32 weeks' gestational age. Although there was a transient rise in FFA 10 and 30 minutes after heparin administration, the levels of FFA and triglycerides were not different at the end of infusion with or without heparin in either group, suggesting that a single bolus of heparin has only a transient effect on Intralipid clearance.
Initial Clinical Response Predicts Outcome and Is Associated With Dose Schedule in Metastatic Melanoma and Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated With High-Dose Interleukin 2

Background High-dose interleukin (IL)-2 is an effective agent for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. This study evaluated the outcomes of patients receiving two commonly used intravenous IL-2 schedules that have never been directly compared.
Microprobe microsystem platform inserted during early metamorphosis to actuate insect flight muscle

Following from early work demonstrating that early pupal- stage inserts are accepted by insects [9], a microprobe based microsystem platform was designed with respect to the position of the muscle bundles, and was inserted into the thorax at 4 days of the pupal stage. The platform is roughly 8times7times1.5 mm3 in size with probe thickness of 200 mum and weighs 500 mg, which the moth is able to successfully carry in the adult stage. In addition to the microsystem, an anchor to easily manipulate the adults was successfully formed in the insect by placing a glass-capillary through the pupae. The pupae emerged successfully, and the microsystem was used to characterize the potential for flight control. As part of the work to determine the microplatform design, we determined the strength-interval profiles of the pulses needed for direct muscle actuation. Two sets of flight muscles, which are symmetrically present on either side of the thorax, were differentially electrically actuated, which potentially influences the individual wing beat frequency and amplitude resulting in controlled turning behavior during flight.
An Experimental Study of Warming Intravenous Fluid in a Cold Environment

Abstract Objective.—Numerous studies support the use of warmed intravenous fluids in hypothermic patients. The most effective method to accomplish this goal in a cold prehospital, wilderness, or combat setting is unknown. We evaluated various methods of warming intravenous fluids for a bolus infusion in a cold remote environment. Methods.—One liter and 500 mL bags of intravenous fluid at 5°C were heated using various methods in a 5°C cold room. Methods included attachment of 3 types of chemical heat packs and heating the fluid in a pot on a camping stove. For all methods, fluids were run at a wide-open rate through an intravenous line with an 18-gauge catheter attached to the end to simulate a bolus infusion. The temperature of the fluid at the end of the intravenous line was measured. Each method was tested twice. Equipment weight and setup times are reported. Mean infusion temperatures for the various methods are compared. Results.—Equipment weights ranged from 19 to 665 gm. Setup times ranged from 5 to...
Post-Golgi Sec Proteins Are Required for Autophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In eukaryotic cells, autophagy mediates the degradation of cytosolic contents in response to environmental change. Genetic analyses in fungi have identified over 30 autophagy-related (ATG) genes and provide substantial insight into the molecular mechanism of this process. However, one essential issue that has not been resolved is the origin of the lipids that form the autophagosome, the sequestering vesicle that is critical for autophagy. Here, we report that two post-Golgi proteins, Sec2 and Sec4, are required for autophagy. Sec4 is a Rab family GTPase, and Sec2 is its guanine nucleotide exchange factor. In sec2 and sec4 conditional mutant yeast, the anterograde movement of Atg9, a proposed membrane carrier, is impaired during starvation conditions. Similarly, in the sec2 mutant, Atg8 is inefficiently recruited to the phagophore assembly site, which is involved in autophagosome biogenesis, resulting in the generation of fewer autophagosomes. We propose that following autophagy induction the function of Sec2 and Sec4 are diverted to direct membrane flow to autophagosome formation.
Molecular Dynamics Studies of Ion Distributions around DNA Duplexes and Duplex Dimers: Salt Effects and the Connection to Cooperative DNA Melting

We present extensive molecular dynamics simulations of DNA duplexes and duplex dimers based on the Amber force field to determine the distribution of ions as a function of salt (NaCl) concentration over the range 0.2–1.0M. Periodic boundary conditions are used to model an infinite DNA chain, and particle mesh Ewald summation is used to describe long range electrostatic interactions. We have used these simulations to determine the ion distributions associated with a 10 base pair duplex, and we find that the positive and negative ion distributions are identical for distances greater than a radius R counter which is on the order of 25 A from the DNA axis, and which decreases as the bulk salt concentration is varied. Based on the calculated R counter , we determine the local counterion concentration as a function of bulk salt concentration. Similar studies of DNA duplex dimers separated by 30–40 A leads to a determination of the local counterion concentration around these dimers. Here we find that dimerization leads to greatly enhanced counterion concentrations. If this information is combined with the measured results concerning the dependence of DNA melting temperature on bulk salt concentration, we find that dimerization leads to a several degree increase in melting temperature, with the increase being 10°C for a dimer separation of 30 A. This result provides justification for a recently developed cooperative melting model of DNA duplex aggregates.
AprioriGWAS, a new pattern mining strategy for detecting genetic variants associated with disease through interaction effects.

Identifying gene-gene interaction is a hot topic in genome wide association studies. Two fundamental challenges are: (1) how to smartly identify combinations of variants that may be associated with the trait from astronomical number of all possible combinations; and (2) how to test epistatic interaction when all potential combinations are available. We developed AprioriGWAS, which brings two innovations. (1) Based on Apriori, a successful method in field of Frequent Itemset Mining (FIM) in which a pattern growth strategy is leveraged to effectively and accurately reduce search space, AprioriGWAS can efficiently identify genetically associated genotype patterns. (2) To test the hypotheses of epistasis, we adopt a new conditional permutation procedure to obtain reliable statistical inference of Pearson's chi-square test for the contingency table generated by associated variants. By applying AprioriGWAS to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) data, we found that: (1) angiopoietin 1 (ANGPT1) and four retinal genes interact with Complement Factor H (CFH). (2) GO term “glycosaminoglycan biosynthetic process” was enriched in AMD interacting genes. The epistatic interactions newly found by AprioriGWAS on AMD data are likely true interactions, since genes interacting with CFH are retinal genes, and GO term enrichment also verified that interaction between glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and CFH plays an important role in disease pathology of AMD. By applying AprioriGWAS on Bipolar disorder in WTCCC data, we found variants without marginal effect show significant interactions. For example, multiple-SNP genotype patterns inside gene GABRB2 and GRIA1 (AMPA subunit 1 receptor gene). AMPARs are found in many parts of the brain and are the most commonly found receptor in the nervous system. The GABRB2 mediates the fastest inhibitory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. GRIA1 and GABRB2 are relevant to mental disorders supported by multiple evidences.
Astaxanthin deposition in the cuticle of juvenile American lobster ( Homarus americanus ): implications for phenotypic and genotypic coloration

The phenotypic brownish-green color of an American lobster (Homarus americanus Milne-Edwards, 1837) is determined by genetic and dietary mechanisms. Diet influences color through the carotenoid astaxanthin. This pigment can appear red or blue depending if it is bound to protein, and the relative amounts of each form influence lobster color. Carotenoprotein formation was examined in sibling American lobsters rendered white by a diet low in astaxanthin, by feeding a diet containing 0, 55, 110, or 220 μg astaxanthin g−1 for 110 days beginning on 7 February 2004. The relative levels of red and blue in these lobsters were assessed through the analysis of digital photographs of the lobsters, which were taken monthly. The red/blue ratio was used to assess if free (red) or protein-bound astaxanthin (blue) was the dominant form in the lobsters, or if the two forms occurred in ratios allowing for natural coloration. Naturally colored lobsters developed only in the highest astaxanthin diet group, while lobsters fed the 55-μg diet were blue. Differences were observed among different parts of the body, and were presumed to be a function of cuticle thickness. However, within each diet treatment, some lobsters initially became red, suggesting an accumulation of free astaxanthin, while other lobsters initially became blue, suggesting an accumulation of protein-bound astaxanthin. This variation may be a result of differences in the uptake of astaxanthin, the rate of carotenoid-protein complexing, or in the total amount of protein available for binding. This variability is likely to be the key to understanding the underlying basis of genetically determined color in American lobsters.
IMPACT OF MEAT IMPORTS ON LEAST-COST UNITED STATES BEEF PRODUCTION

Meat imports have been a source of controversy in United States agriculture for more than 20 years. Beef producers early contended that imports unduly restricted their incomes and placed the domestic livestock industry at a disadvantage.
The relationship between volunteer tourism and development in Thailand

Short-term international voluntary service is frequently linked to development discourse in the literature on volunteer tourism and the marketing materials of organizations that off er short-term volunteer opportunities. Th is paper explores the relationship between volunteer tourism and development in Th ailand, and assesses the role played by development in the motivations and experiences of volunteers. Based on interviews with 55 volunteer tourists in the northern Th ai province of Chiang Mai, this paper argues that although development remains an important element of voluntary service in some parts of the world, the expectations, activities, and impacts of volunteer tourists in Th ailand are best understood through the framework of international community service rather than through a developmental framework.
Shared Decision Making for Antidepressants in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Trial

IMPORTANCE For antidepressants, the translation of evidence of comparative effectiveness into practice is suboptimal. This deficit directly affects outcomes and quality of care for patients with depression. To overcome this problem, we developed the Depression Medication Choice (DMC) encounter decision aid, designed to help patients and clinicians consider the available antidepressants and the extent to which they improved depression and other issues important to patients. OBJECTIVE Estimate the effect of DMC on quality of the decision‐making process and depression outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted a cluster randomized trial of adults with moderate to severe depression considering treatment with an antidepressant. Primary care practices in 10 rural, suburban, and urban primary care practices across Minnesota and Wisconsin were randomly allocated to treatment of depression with or without use of the DMC decision aid.
Rapid Flip-flop of Oleic Acid across the Plasma Membrane of Adipocytes

Nonesterified long-chain fatty acids may enter cells by free diffusion or by membrane protein transporters. A requirement for proteins to transport fatty acids across the plasma membrane would imply low partitioning of fatty acids into the membrane lipids, and/or a slower rate of diffusion (flip-flop) through the lipid domains compared to the rates of intracellular metabolism of fatty acids. We used both vesicles of the plasma membrane of adipocytes and intact adipocytes to study transmembrane fluxes of externally added oleic acid at concentrations below its solubility limit at pH 7.4. Binding of oleic acid to the plasma membrane was determined by measuring the fluorescent fatty acid-binding protein ADIFAB added to the external medium. Changes in internal pH caused by flip-flop and metabolism were measured by trapping a fluorescent pH indicator in the cells. The metabolic end products of oleic acid were evaluated over the time interval required for the return of intracellular pH to its initial value. The primary findings were that (i) oleic acid rapidly binds with high avidity in the lipid domains of the plasma membrane with an apparent partition coefficient similar to that of protein-free phospholipid bilayers; (ii) oleic acid rapidly crosses the plasma membrane by the flip-flop mechanism (both events occur within 5 s); and (iii) the kinetics of esterification of oleic acid closely follow the time dependence of the recovery of intracellular pH. Any postulated transport mechanism for facilitating translocation of fatty acid across the plasma membrane of adipocytes, including a protein transporter, would have to compete with the highly effective flip-flop mechanism.
The function of vascular endothelial growth factor

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered the master regulator of angiogenesis during growth and development, as well as in disease states such as cancer, diabetes, and macular degeneration. This review details our current understanding of VEGF signaling and discusses the benefits and unexpected side effects of promising anti-angiogenic therapeutics that are currently being used to inhibit neovacularization in tumors.
The importance of soil microorganisms for maintaining diverse plant communities in tallgrass prairie.

 Premise of the study: According to the “ Janzen-Connell hypothesis, ” soil microorganisms have the potential to increase plant community diversity by mediating negative feedback on plant growth. Evidence for such microbe-driven negative feedback has been found in a variety of terrestrial systems. However, it is currently unknown how general this phenomenon is within most plant communities. Also unknown is the role of mutualists in generating such feedback: do they decrease the infl uence of soilmediated negative feedback on plant fi tness or do they increase its effect by proliferating with plant hosts to which they give the least benefi t?  Methods: We investigated soil-microbe-mediated feedback via a series of reciprocal transplant experiments in the greenhouse using soil from a restored tallgrass prairie and native tallgrass prairie plant species.  Key results: We found that negative feedback was very common but that mutualists (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) infl uence plant growth in opposition to the overall negative feedback trend.  Conclusions: Widespread microbially mediated negative feedback indicates that plant community diversity and composition in tallgrass prairie are dependent on soil microorganisms. Native soil microorganisms should be considered in restoration efforts of tallgrass prairie and, potentially, other native plant communities.
The Native Kidney Biopsy: Update and Evidence for Best Practice

The kidney biopsy is the gold standard in the diagnosis and management of many diseases. Since its introduction in the 1950s, advancements have been made in biopsy technique to improve diagnostic yield while minimizing complications. Here, we review kidney biopsy indications, techniques, and complications in the modern era. We also discuss patient populations in whom special consideration must be given when considering a kidney biopsy and the important role that the kidney biopsy plays in nephrology training. These data are presented to develop best practice strategies for this essential procedure.
Motion signals bias localization judgments: a unified explanation for the flash-lag, flash-drag, flash-jump, and Frohlich illusions.

In the flash-lag illusion, a moving object aligned with a flash is perceived to be offset in the direction of motion following the flash. In the ‘‘flash-drag’’ illusion, a flash is mislocalized in the direction of nearby motion. In the ‘‘flash-jump’’ illusion, a transient change in the appearance of a moving object (e.g., color) is mislocalized in the direction of subsequent motion. Finally, in the Frohlich illusion, the starting position of a suddenly appearing moving object is mislocalized in the direction of the subsequent motion. We demonstrate, in a series of experiments, a unified explanation for all these illusions: Perceptual localization is influenced by motion signals collected over E80 ms after a query is triggered. These demonstrations rule out ‘‘latency difference’’ and asynchronous feature binding models, in which objects appear in their real positions but misaligned in time. Instead, the illusions explored here are best understood as biases in localization caused by motion signals. We suggest that motion biasing exists because it allows the visual system to account for neural processing delays by retrospectively ‘‘pushing’’ an object closer to its true physical location, and we propose directions for exploring the neural mechanisms underlying the dynamic updating of location by the activity of motion-sensitive neurons.
The influence of clustering coefficient on word-learning: how groups of similar sounding words facilitate acquisition.

Clustering coefficient, C, measures the extent to which neighbors of a word are also neighbors of each other, and has been shown to influence speech production, speech perception, and several memory-related processes. In this study we examined how C influences word-learning. Participants were trained over three sessions at one-week intervals, and tested with a picture-naming task on nonword-nonobject pairs. We found an advantage for novel words with high C (the neighbors of this novel word are likely to be neighbors with each other), but only after the one-week retention period with no additional exposures to the stimuli. The results are consistent with the spreading-activation network-model of the lexicon proposed by Chan & Vitevitch (2009). The influence of C on various language-related processes suggests that characteristics of the individual word are not the only things that influence processing; rather, lexical processing may also be influenced by the relationships that exist among words in the lexicon.
Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Living in North America: Results from the Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN).

Fatigue is a common symptom of liver disease but not well characterized in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). We assessed the rate of fatigue using a validated instrument in patients with HBV and identified demographic, virologic, and clinical features associated with fatigue in a cross-sectional cohort study from the Hepatitis B Research Network. Participants were English- and Spanish-speaking adults with chronic HBV who were not pregnant nor on treatment. Fatigue was measured using the PROMIS® Fatigue 7-item Short Form. The sample included 948 adults: median age 42; 51 % female; 71 % Asian; 74 % college educated; 77 % employed; 41 % inactive HBV carriers; 36 % with active chronic disease; and 2 % with advanced fibrosis, defined as AST–platelet ratio index (APRI) > 1.50. Patients with chronic HBV had a mean fatigue T-score of 46.8 ± SD = 7.9, compared to a mean fatigue T-score of 50.0 ± 10 in the US general population (p < .0001). In univariate analyses, greater fatigue was associated with demographic and clinical features such as female sex, lower income, more comorbidities, higher APRI score, and poorer mental health (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, female sex (p < .001), poorer mental health (p < .001), APRI score (p = .005), and history of diabetes (p = .039) were the strongest independent predictors. The frequency of fatigue in this large cohort of North American chronic HBV patients may be equal to or lower than that reported in the US general population. Patients with advanced fibrosis, more comorbidities, and poorer mental health report worse fatigue.
Alfabetização: conceito em transformação

Trata de uma analise documental que tem como objetivo a investigacao de fundamentos teoricos que balizaram diretrizes curriculares oficiais para a alfabetizacao de criancas, no Sistema de Ensino Municipal de Vitoria (ES), no periodo de 1991 a 2015. Utiliza como fontes documentos oficiais orientadores de propostas curriculares para o Bloco Unico e para o Ensino Fundamental, alem da legislacao pertinente. Parte do pressuposto de que tais documentos se constituem em suportes do discurso oficial acerca da politica de alfabetizacao implantada no referido municipio. Discute concepcoes de linguagem, alfabetizacao, texto, leitura e escrita que fundamentaram as orientacoes oficiais para a alfabetizacao de criancas, no periodo pesquisado. Para analise dos documentos, toma por base os pressupostos teoricos de autores que se dedicam a estudar a linguagem, em uma perspectiva dialogica, e a alfabetizacao de criancas em suas diferentes dimensoes. Constata o rompimento teorico da politica de alfabetizacao com concepcoes de alfabetizacao tidas como “tradicionais”, passando a rejeitar qualquer tipo de metodo e a utilizacao de cartilhas. Em funcao disso, indica que, com a implantacao do Bloco Unico, a alfabetizacao passa a ser concebida a partir dos estudos de Ferreiro e Teberosky, e, com a construcao das Diretrizes Curriculares para o Ensino Fundamental, em 2004, a concepcao de alfabetizacao se alicerca na perspectiva historico-cultural.
Automatic segmentation of the left ventricle into 17 anatomical regions in cardiac MR imaging

Analysis and characterization of anatomical segments in the left ventricle (LV) of the heart in cardiac MRI convey clinical significance. Based on the standard defined by the American Heart Association (AHA), the LV is divided into 17 anatomical segments. In this paper, we propose a novel method to automatically partition the LV into 17 segments, which allows automated analysis of these segments. Our method starts with assigning each slice with a section tag by using the papillary muscles and the LV cavity as references: basal, mid-cavity, apical and apex. It then partitions each slice into 4 or 6 segments by extracting the relevant points on the outer circle of a fitted cylinder and identifying the image orientation by using the lung as a reference. We evaluate our method on 45 patients with different cardiac conditions. The partition of mid-cavity has the best agreement with the ground truth, followed by basal and then apical sections for all groups of patients.
Impact of Surface Roughness on Local Aerodynamics Using a Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Solver

Accurate simulation of glaze ice accretion requires detailed models which account for the impact of small scale surface roughness on boundary layer development and heat transfer. The current study investigates the feasibility of using a Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) approach in order to study the flow over roughness and subsequently develop the desired roughness models. First, the limits of the DNS approach are investigated and the method is found to be limited by the value of the roughness Reynolds number. Second, a preliminary estimate of grid requirements is made for a particular case based on a series of two–dimensional calculations. The approach is validated for flow upstream of an isolated three–dimensional hemispherical roughness by making comparisons with experiment. Finally, qualitative results are shown in the roughness wake region which indicate the ability of the method to capture unsteady multi–scale phenomena. Based on this information and a performance study which shows good scalability to larger numbers of processors, the authors discuss the need to continue development of the approach in order to improve efficiency and make the calculations viable for the study of ice roughness.
Public Health in the Precision-Medicine Era

The burgeoning precision-medicine agenda focuses on detecting and curing disease at the individual level, but there are multiple contributors to the production of population health, and clinical intervention cannot remedy health inequities.
Research Summary on Botanical Fungicides

This paper is research summary on botanical Fungicides abroad in recent years.Collate the relevant documentations about the anti-bacterial plant resources,active compounds,action mechanism,product development.Future work in this area of reseach were proposed
Occupational Hazards in a Steam Drum Manufacturing Enterprise

[Objective]To investigate existing occupational hazards and protective measures in a steam drum manufacturing enterprise,and to provide reference for better occupational health practices in the industry.[Methods] Representative detection points,including 6 for dust,5 for manganese and its compounds,12 for noise,and 1 for benzene compounds,were selected to conduct field investigations on occupational hazards.[Results]The major occupational hazards identified in the steam drum manufacturing enterprise included dust,manganese and its compounds,noise,and benzene compounds.The qualification rates of manganese compounds and benzene compounds were both 100%,but those of dust and noise were both 66.7%.[Conclusion]Dust and noise are the key factors to be controlled in steam drum manufacturing,and the work sites involved with the hazards that exceed relevant limits should be rated higher priority in the hazard control strategy.
A Dynamically Consistent Strategy for Manipulator Control at Singularities

This paper presents a general strategy for manipulator control at kinematic singularities. The basic idea in this strategy is to treat the manipulator in the neighborhood of singular configurations as a redundant mechanism with respect to the motion of the end-effector in the subspace orthogonal to the singular directions. The control in this subspace is based on operational forces, while null space joint torques are used to deal with the control in the singular directions. The control is based on the dynamically consistent force/torque relationship that guarantees decoupled behavior. Two different types of kinematic singularities have been identified and strategies dealing with these singularities have been developed. Experimental results of the implementation of this approach on a PUMA 560 manipulator are presented.
Effects of temperature on the performance of a freshwater amphipod

Temperature drives the metabolism of ectothermic organisms and impacts ecosystem functioning. Anthropogenic activities have been changing historical temperatures of freshwater ecosystems with a wide range of consequences for ecosystem processes such as leaf litter decomposition. Here we explored temperature effects on the performance of the amphipod Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, a dominant detritivore in its range. We first measured oxygen consumption under six temperatures and fitted a thermal performance curve which yielded an optimal range between 24 and 26°C. We then measured several organismal traits at four temperatures leading up to the determined optimal range. We quantified leaf litter mass loss (through feeding), somatic growth and survival under starvation at 7, 11, 17 and 23°C. Leaf litter loss was significantly lower only at the lowest temperature, with no detected differences among other treatments. Somatic growth rates increased with increasing temperature within the tested range. Organisms at warmer temperatures tended to die of starvation faster in comparison to those at colder temperatures. Our results suggest that warming may enhance leaf litter loss in certain parts of the year, but that warming could intensify organism mortality under starvation and compromise local population persistence.
Semantic Relations vs. Abstract Syntactic Relations: Evidence from Halkomelem

Based on a partial reanalysis of a corpus of data from Halkomelem (Salish) analyzed from the perspective of classical Relational Grammar in a series of works by Donna Gerdts, I argue for a relational theory with both revaluations of syntactic relations and alternative initial alignments of semantic relations with syntactic relations. First, I look at four kinds of constructions for which Gerdts appeals to revaluation analyses: passive, causative, antipassive, and applicative. I argue that a subset of these - namely the latter three - are better analyzed otherwise. Based on these results, I examine certain grammatical phenomena which might have been understood in terms of initial syntactic relations, if multistratal analyses of the constructions in question were available. Since they are not, however, it is necessary to formulate the relevant conditions in terms of semantic relations.
Open Economy Aspects of the Currency Depreciation in Germany After World War I: Conflicting Claims and Vicious Circles

As discussed in Chapter 4, the fiscal-monetary approach – exemplified perhaps by Sargent (1993, Chapter 3) – emphasizes the importance of the government’s resort to the ‘inflation tax’ as a means of funding its expenditures. Under this approach, the impact of rising (current and prospective) government deficits on expected money supply growth is considered the primary causal factor in the hyperinflation process – with successful stabilization depending upon monetary reforms that insulate the central bank from government credit demands. On the other hand, the inflationary process at work in Germany may also have featured a ‘vicious circle’ process whereby successive rounds of price and wage increases make the currency – and exchange rate – depreciation self-sustaining in the short run. That is, initial depreciation can lead to higher import prices and demands for higher nominal wages, in turn giving rise to further currency depreciation (see, for example, Robinson, 1938, p.508).
Medial Prefrontal Cortical Dopamine Responses During Operant Self-Administration of Sweetened Ethanol.

BACKGROUND Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) dysfunction is present in heavy alcohol consumers. Dopamine signaling in mPFC is associated with executive functioning and affects drinking behavior; however, direct measurement of extracellular mPFC dopamine during appetitive and consummatory ethanol (EtOH) self-administration behavior has not been reported. METHODS We used in vivo microdialysis in freely behaving, adult, male, Long Evans rats to determine extracellular dopamine concentration in the mPFC during operant self-administration of an EtOH-plus-sucrose or sucrose solution. The model separated appetitive/seeking from consummatory phases of the operant session. Dopamine was also monitored in an untrained handling control group, and dialysate EtOH was measured in the EtOH-drinking group. RESULTS Home cage baseline dopamine was lower in rats that experienced a week of drinking sweetened EtOH compared with sucrose-drinking and handling controls. Transfer into the operant chamber and the initiation of consumption stimulated a relatively higher change in dopamine over baseline in the sweetened EtOH group compared with sucrose and handling controls. However, all groups show a dopamine response during transfer into the operant chamber, and the sucrose group had a relatively higher change in dopamine over baseline during initiation of consumption compared with handling controls. The time courses of dopamine and EtOH in the mPFC differ in the EtOH-consuming rats. CONCLUSIONS Differences in extracellular mPFC dopamine between EtOH drinkers compared with control groups suggest that mPFC dopamine is involved in the mechanism of operant self-administration of sweetened EtOH and sucrose. Furthermore, the increase in dopamine during consumption is consistent with a role of mPFC dopamine in reward prediction.
Perspectives in Developing an Interdisciplinary Course in Business Consulting

This paper discusses the development and teaching of an upper division, undergraduate course in business consulting. The need for the course, course syllabus, and course materials are documented along with evaluations by students and small business clients. Teaching methodology is discussed and analyzed.
MARKET POSITIONING ANALYSIS: A Hybrid Approach

Abstract This research introduces a hybrid approach including correspondence analysis and logit modeling to contrast the relative market position of Virginia with eight other eastern US states and the District of Columbia. The data obtained from a series of telephone surveys are analyzed. In a competitive analysis, the study areas are described by youth/mature and culture/nature dimensions relating to activity images as well as by beach/mountain and urban/country dimensions in connection with attraction images. Pennsylvania appears to be an immediate competitor of Virginia in regard to provision of leisure activities. The study concludes with discussions on critical findings along with marketing implications.
Global Civil Society: Challenges of Security and Policing

ABSTRACTGlobalization broadly refers to the expansion of global linkages, the organization of social life, global consciousness; and an expectation of global societal norms and behaviors underpinned by just laws. The democratization of established and emerging nation states identified challenges of security for its citizens. Emerging nation states require a stable government supported by a comprehensive security apparatus that supports its citizenry. That support is provided by a policing paradigm that embraces the state and private security agencies. The authors discuss the challenges facing the security industry and a law enforcement community policing paradigm that is inclusive, transparent, and accountable.
An unusual migratory polycyclic eruption after administration of prostaglandin E in a neonate.

Alprostadil is a prostaglandin E1 analogue (PGE1 α-cyclodextrin clathrate) used in neonates to maintain a patent ductus arteriosus in cases of ductal-dependent congenital heart disease (CHD).1 PGE1 is critical in sustaining oxygen saturation in these patients while awaiting surgical repair or cardiac transplant. Despite being reasonably well tolerated, a review of 62 neonates with CHD treated with PGE1 suggested a range of adverse events, most commonly including central nervous system events (16%), respiratory depression (12%), and cardiovascular complications (18%).2 Cutaneous flushing and peripheral edema are well-recognized side effects of PGE1 infusion,2 although there is a paucity of data with regard to cutaneous adverse events. A search of the literature found 4 other cutaneous reactions reported, including harlequin color change, urticaria, and subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.3, 4, 5 We present a case of an extensive and striking polycyclic eruption associated with PGE1 administration in a 2-day-old neonate and highlight the importance of recognizing this entity to avoid delay in diagnosis and unnecessary interventions.