cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond ABC: Another Mechanism of Drug Resistance in Melanoma Side Population

It has been shown that a side population (SP), which is characterized by high chemical efflux capacity, is present in human melanoma cell lines. However, it was not clear whether patients’ samples contain the same subpopulation. In this issue, Luo et al. (2012) report that they have isolated SP cells directly from patients’ melanomas. SP cells are resistant to paclitaxel because of the upregulation of ABCB1 and ABCB5. Notably, these cells are also resistant to temozolomide, which is not a substrate for ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters, in an interleukin (IL)-8-dependent manner. This study provides novel clues for understanding how a small, but critical, subpopulation within melanomas is resistant to therapies.
Building Change: Constructive Design of Smart Domestic Environments for Goal Achievement

This paper presents the constructive design research (CDR) of smart domestic environments comprised of smart home infrastructure, smart domestic artifacts and digital services. CDR is an approach that focuses on imagining futures and learning through the making and testing of prototypes to construct new knowledge about how people engage with the world. While the body of research on smart domestic environments includes a wealth of human-centered research, the use of CDR is marginal. Our work demonstrates how such a process engages residents in activities to imagine why people might value smart domestic environments and how they might want to interact with them. Through goal setting activities, paper prototyping, and field-testing of resident designed technology probes, we present use cases, design principles and experiential insights. After sharing these findings, we introduce the emergence of smart domestic environments as possessing persuasive, personified and artful qualities.
The decision to double crop: an application of expected utility theory using Stein's theorem.

A nonlinear, single-equation acreage allocation model derived from expected utility theory using Stein's theorem for covariance decomposition is developed. This decomposition allows the covariance of utility parameters and revenues to be expressed in terms of measurable variables. The model is applied to state-level data to estimate the relative importance of various economic factors in determining the pattern of double cropping wheat and soybeans in the southeastern United States. The hypothesis that the riskiness of returns is important in the aggregate is rejected for some of the states, although the constrained expected utility model without the effect of risk performs better than a standard wheat acreage response model.
Communication Communities or CyberGhettos?: A Path Analysis Model Examining Factors that Explain Selective Exposure to Blogs

This study used an online panel of Internet users to examine the degree to which blog users practice selective exposure when seeking political information. The research employed a path analysis model to explore the extent to which exposure to offline and online discussion of political issues, and offline and online media use, as well as political variables and demographic factors, predict an individual’s likelihood to engage in selective exposure to blogs. The findings indicate that respondents did practice selective exposure to blogs, predominantly those who are heavy blog users, politically active both online and offline, partisan, and highly educated.
Novel choices for formulating embedding media kits

This work examined the Flow Rate, Average Flow Rate, Volume Flow Rate, and Viscosity of Epon 812, Dodecynyl Succinic Anhydride (DDSA), Nadic Methyl Anhydride (NMA), and 2,4,6- Tri(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DMP-30), the components traditionally offered in "kit" form for preparing epoxy embedding media utilized in biological electron microscopy. Other components not used in kit formulas, including Nonenyl Succinic Anhydride (NSA), the catalysts Benzyldimethylamine (BDMA) and Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and several Epon 812-like epoxy resins (Embed 812, Pelco Medcast, LX 112, Polybed 812, Scipoxy 812, Eponate 12) also were similarly tested and compared with regard to physical and handling character to the kit ingredients. NSA, BDMA, and DMAE were significantly less viscous than the DDSA and DMP-30 counterparts from the kit formula. Embedding media were prepared utilizing Embed 812 and LX 112 in combination with different anhydrides and catalysts. Substituting less viscous NSA (in place of DDSA) and BDMA (in place of DMP-30) produced embedding media that were appreciably more fluid and less viscous. A "novel" mix of Embed 812/NSA/NMA/BDMA, for example, possessed a viscosity of 22.5 centipoises (cP) 60 minutes after initial mixing, as compared to a viscosity of 30.0 cP when the media was catalyzed with the more traditional DMP-30 catalyst. All novel combinations not using the original kit ingredients showed improvement in flow rate and fluidity, some more than others. This information suggests that microscopists are not bound to kit formulas, as they easily can prepare embedding media with specific characteristics to suit specific needs simply by altering the basic components that go into the makeup of the embedding medium.
Formation of uniaxial molecular films by liquid-crystal imprinting in a magnetic field

There is growing interest in the fabrication of highly ordered molecular films for a range of applications, and considerable effort has been invested in the molecular design, synthesis, and characterization of crystalline films with targeted properties [1]. However, a major limitation to constructing useful devices based on molecular materials, and to obtaining a better understanding of the properties of molecular solids, is that most organic compounds of interest yield polycrystalline films with random or partially random domain orientation. Numerous applications, ranging from molecular electronics and photonics to protein crystallography would benefit from a general method for growing films with uniform alignment [2]. Herein we report that macroscopically uniaxial molecular films can be prepared by substituting a thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) solvent for the conventional liquid solvents ordinarily used in solution-phase crystal growth. The solvent’s nematic order is imprinted on the film through anisotropic interactions arising from surface anchoring and curvature elasticity. When film growth is carried out in a magnetic field, orientational alignment can be externally controlled. We studied several monolayer organic films deposited onto graphite substrates from different LC solvent /molecular solute combinations using both nematic and smectic LCs. Results from two systems are presented here: (1) n-tetracosanoic acid (TA) deposited from the nematic LC ZLI-1565 [3] (0.3% by weight) and (2) 4 0 octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) deposited from a neat fluid. 8CB is a room-temperature smectic-A LC [4]. The second system represents the simplest implementation of the method, in which the LC solvent and solute were identical. Films of TA and 8CB were deposited onto substrates of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG ZYH grade, Advanced Ceramics, Inc.) measuring 1 cm 2 , which
Review of the wide range of biofuels policy options for the USA in 2011

As part of the act that extended the tax cuts instated by President Bush by a further 2 years, the US Congress also extended the corn ethanol 11.9 US¢ per liter subsidy and the tariff on imported e...
Design criteria for ionic liquid crystalline phases of phosphonium salts with three equivalent long n-alkyl chains.

The factors influencing the formation, organizations, and temperature ranges of the smectic phases of a structurally diverse family of phosphonium salts have been examined. The salts consist of one short group and three long n-alkyl chains attached to a positively charged phosphorus atom and either a free or covalently attached counterion, the latter resulting in zwitterionic salts. Of the 61 salts investigated, of which 37 have not been synthesized previously, most pack in lamellae within their solid phases. Single-crystal X-ray structures of two of amidomethyl-tri-n-tetradecylphosphonium bromide (1P14CONH2Br) and carboxymethyl-tri-n-tetradecylphosphonium bromide (1P14CO2HBr) have been solved. In each, the constituent molecules are packed in stacks of bilayers in which the directors of molecules on opposite sides of the ionic planes (where the phosphonium cationic centers and anions are located) that separate the layers are antiparallel. In each molecule, two of the long n-alkyl chains are paired while t...
Localization and organization of integrated simian virus 40 sequences in a human cell line

Abstract We have studied the location and organization of integrated SV40 DNA sequences in a human transformed cell line, GM639. Cells from this line were hybridized with mouse L cells deficient in thymidine kinase. Several independently derived somatic cell hybrids were analyzed for SV40 T-antigen by immunofluorescence and for SV40 sequences by digestion with site-specific restriction endonucleases followed by blot-hybridization with labeled SV40 DNA. The hybrids could be classified into T-ag + and T-ag − hybrids. The T-ag expression in these hybrids correlated with human chromosome 5 and no other human chromosome. The blot-hybridizations revealed that GM639 contained four separate integrated sequences of SV40. Three of these are located on human chromosome 5. The three sequences are relatively close to each other and are interspersed with host DNA sequences. Digestion with combinations of enzymes revealed that the sites within the viral genome which are utilized for integration are different for each SV40 genome. These results along with others indicate that there is no site specificity for integration of SV40 into human cells either at the chromosome level or at the gross viral DNA level.
Metabolism of 14C-glucose in normal and foot-and-mouth disease virus infected bovine kidney culture cells

Abstract The contributions of the Embden-Meyerhof (EM), pentose, and nontriose phosphate pathways to glucose utilization in primary bovine-kidney cell cultures have been investigated by determining specific activities of lactic acid- 14 C derived from glucose labeled in its 1,2, or 6 position. Pentose and nontriose phosphate pathways contributed about 4 per cent and at least 1 per cent respectively, to the total glucose metabolism. The EM pathway contribution could not be assessed directly from the data. However, assuming that the nontriose pathway is limited to 1 per cent, and that no other pathways for glucose utilization exist, the EM contribution would be about 95 per cent. Evidence supporting such assumptions is discussed. Cells infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus maintained the same pattern of glucose metabolism as did noninfected cells. The relative molar specific activity of lactic acid as compared to glucose varied from 0.3 to 0.5 depending upon the kidney tissue from which the primary cell cultures were derived. The contribution of nonlabeled precursors to this variability is discussed. Pretreatment of the culture cells, i.e., starvation, did not alter this effect. Total recovery experiments demonstrated a predominant conversion of glucose to lactic acid for both 3- and 18-hr incubation periods. Intracellular components and respired CO 2 were only slightly labeled.
AKT1 and neurocognition in schizophrenia

Objective: Previous research has shown conflicting results for the significance of five v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to the aetiology of schizophrenia. Neurocognition is a plausible endophenotype for schizophrenia and it was reasoned that the lack of agreement might be due to variability in neurocognition across studies. Therefore, the association of genetic variation in AKT1 with neurocognition was investigated in patients with schizophrenia.Methods: The same five SNPs used in previous studies of the etiology of schizophrenia (rs2494732, rs2498799, rs3730358, rs1130241, and rs3803300) were genotyped in 641 individuals with schizophrenia who had participated in the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) project. The primary dependent variable was a neurocognitive composite score and exploratory analyses investigated five domain scores (processing speed, reasoning, verbal memory, working memory, and vigilance).Resul...
Extensional processing behavior of thermoplastics reinforced with a melt processable glass

This work was concerned with investigating the processing behavior of thermoplastics reinforced with a melt processable phosphate glass under extensional flows at temperatures used for forming and shaping operations. Injection molded blends consisting of polyetherimide (PEI) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) reinforced with 30-60 wt% phosphate glass were exposed to uniaxial and planar deformation at temperatures above the T g of the phosphate glass (234°C) to evaluate the effects on the morphology and mechanical properties of the composites. Tensile testing at elevated temperatures (250-300°C) was used to evaluate the forming behavior and ascertain the conditions most suited for the deformation of the composite blends. A temperature approximately 35°C above the T g of the P-glass was found to offer conditions most conducive to the deformation of the PEI/P-glass blends. The phosphate glass reinforced PEI was found to offer greater retention of properties and smoother surfaces than an E-glass filled material when exposed to shearfree deformation similar to that seen in a process such as thermoforming. For PPS based composites, the application of planar shearfree deformation near the melting point of the PPS (≅ 283°C) resulted in the elongation of the phosphate glass phase which served to enhance the stiffness of the composite blends along the principal deformation direction.
Suppression of limit cycles in the first-order two-dimensional direct form digital filter with a controlled rounding arithmetic

The first-order two-dimensional direct-form digital filter with magnitude truncation is known to be free from limit cycles for a limited range of allowed filter coefficients. In this correspondence, the quantization technique of controlled rounding is used to extend the region of filter coefficients for which suppression of limit cycles can be proved. With controlled rounding a signal is quantized in the direction of a control signal, which is formed by an integer combination of preceding signal values. The absence of limit cycles is proved with a properly chosen Lyapunov function. >
Model-Based Evaluation of Hiv Prevention Interventions

The ultimate goal of HIV prevention interventions is to reduce the spread of HIV; however, the effectiveness of these programs is seldom assessed directly. Although direct measurement of an intervention's impact via HIV seroincidence monitoring is usually unfeasible, mathematical models can be used to estimate the number of infections averted by the intervention. This article describes three model-based summary measures of sexually transmitted HIV risk and discusses their relevance to HIV program evaluation in general economic efficiency analyses in particular. The calculation of these measures is demonstrated with an illustrative application to previously published data from an HIV prevention intervention for gay men.
A direct numerical analysis method for cylindrical and spherical elastic waves.

This paper describes a general approach for determining axisymmetric and spherical symmetric elastic stresses and deformations in cylindrical and spherical shells subjected to dynamic internal and external pressures by a direct numerical approach referred to as "discontinuous-step" analysis. The pressures are any arbitrary functions of time p = p(t) and q = q(t). This analysis is based on the direct use of the governing physical laws and initial and boundary conditions to effect changes in the system by finite steps. A single general solution is obtained covering the cases of traveling wave solutions of cylindrical (plane stress and plane strain cases) and spherical elastic stress waves. Reflection of stress waves from both the inner and the outer boundaries, for specified boundary conditions, is automatically generated. Validity of the method is checked by comparing its numerical results with those obtained from an existing mathematical solution of spherical elastic waves in an infinite medium. The agreement between them is very good. Illustrative new numerical results are given for cylindrical elastic stress wave generated by a dynamic internal pressure pulse of constant magnitude pQ. Nomenclatu re t = time p(t) = internal pressure function q(t) = external pressure function rt d, z = radial, tangential, axial coordinates o- = stresses e = strains u = particle displacement v — particle velocity E = elastic modulus v = Poisson's ratio p = mass density F = yield stress in uniaxial tension a = cavity (cylindrical or spherical) radius 6 = external radius of cylinder or sphere I = length of cylinder A = inner surface area of hemispherical or semicylindrical element m = mass of element
Plasma renin activity Comparison of bioassay and radioimmunoassay techniques

Abstract A comparison of techniques to evaluate plasma renin-angiotensin levels is made. The rat bioassay method for angiotensin II is compared with the radioimmunoassay method for angiotensin I. Excellent correlation between both methods is demonstrated. Volunteers without known hypertension are evaluated by both methods. Patients with suspected renovascular hypertension are also evaluated. The advantages of the radioimmunoassay method are reported.
Detection of junction in images

This paper proposes a junction detection method that detects junctions as those points where edges join or intersect. The edges that form a junction are searched in a square neighbourhood, and the subtended angles among them are calculated by using edge orientations. Local edge orientation at a pixel is estimated by utilizing those edge points close to the pixel. Based on the subtended angles, the pixel is determined to be a junction candidate or not. Each actual junction is accurately localized by suppressing the candidates of non-minimum orientation difference. The proposed method analyzes real cases of extracted edges, and estimates the change of orientations of edge segments in digital fields. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can robustly detect junctions in digital images.
Multiple G-protein involvement in parathyroid hormone regulation of acid production by osteoclasts.

The involvement of multiple G-proteins in parathyroid hormone regulation of acid production was demonstrated in a highly enriched osteoclast population. Osteoclasts were isolated from the endosteum of 2.5 to 3-week-old chicken tibia using sequential enzymatic digestion. Single cell analysis of acid production was accomplished using microscope photometry and vital staining with acridine orange, a hydrogen ion concentration sensitive fluorescent dye. Lithium chloride, an uncoupler of G-proteins from their respective receptors, blocked parathyroid hormone stimulated production of acid. Cholera toxin, which permanently activates Gs-proteins, mimicked PTH stimulation. Pertussis toxin, which prevents receptor interaction with Gi- and Go-proteins, blocked both 10 8 M and 10 11 M PTH stimulated acid production, suggesting that the pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein is utilized at both PTH concentrations. Immunoblots of osteoclast plasma membrane proteins, using a panel of antibodies generated against specific G-protein α subunits, revealed a 48 kDa Gsα, a 41 Goα, a 34 kDa Giα-3, and a unique 68 kDa Gα subunit, with the 41 kDa and 34 kDa bands being the most intense. Immunoblots of osteoblast plasma membrane proteins had a substantially different profile with the most intense bands being a Gsα (48 kDa) and a Goα (36 and 38 kDa). The studies suggest the utilization of at least two different G-proteins in the parathyroid hormone regulation of acid formation by osteoclasts, a Gs and a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein (Go and/or Giα-3). J. Cell. Biochem. 64:161–170. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Immunologic studies of a patient with seminal plasma allergy

Abstract Immunological studies of a patient with allergic reaction to seminal plasma are described. The reaction is IgE mediated. The antigen eliciting the reaction is present in all the seminal plasmas tested. It is a protein with a molecular weight of 20,000–30,000 daltons. The antigenic activity is not destroyed by enzymes which degrade carbohydrate groups but is destroyed by proteolytic digestion. The antigen is heat stable and probably prostatic in origin. Leukocytes from this patient release histamine on challenge with the seminal plasma antigen. This release is markedly enhanced by the presence of serum.
External Ventriculostomy: A Practical Application for the Acute Care Nurse

Abstract:External ventricular drainage systems (EVDs), or external ventriculostomies, are challenging additions for the neurosurgical patient. An EVD involves a catheter placed in the ventricular space. It is used to drain off excess cerebrospinal fluid that is causing hydrocephalus and increased in
SOLUTION TO INVERSE HEAT CONDUCTION PROBLEM IN NANOSCALE USING SEQUENTIAL METHOD

An inverse heat conduction problem for nanoscale structure is studied. The conduction phenomenon is modeled using the Boltzmann transport equation. Phonon-mediated heat conduction in one dimension is considered. One boundary is exposed to an unknown temperature and the other boundary, where temperature observation takes place, is subject to a known boundary condition. A sequential scheme with constant function specification is employed for inverse estimation of the unknown temperature. Sample results are presented and discussed.
Tumor Cell Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Is an Adverse Prognostic Factor in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

A robust immunohistochemical (IHC) assay for VEGFR2 was developed to investigate its utility for patient tailoring in clinical trials. The sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity of the IHC assay were established by siRNA knockdown, immunoblotting, mass spectrometry, and pre-absorption experiments. Characterization of the assay included screening a panel of multiple human cancer tissues and an independent cohort of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC, n = 118) characterized by TTF-1, p63, CK5/6, and CK7 IHC. VEGFR2 immunoreactivity was interpreted qualitatively (VEGFR2 positive/negative) in blood vessels and by semi-quantitative evaluation using H-scores in tumor cells (0–300). Associations were determined among combinations of VEGFR2 expression in blood vessels and tumor cells, and clinico-pathologic characteristics (age, sex, race, histologic subtype, disease stage) and overall survival using Kaplan-Meier analyses and appropriate statistical models. VEGFR2 expression both in blood vessels and in tumor cells in carcinomas of the lung, cervix, larynx, breast, and others was demonstrated. In the validation cohort, 99/118 (83.9%) NSCLC tissues expressed VEGFR2 in the blood vessels and 46/118 (39.0%) showed high tumor cell positivity (H-score ≥10). Vascular and tumor cell expression were inversely correlated (p = 0.0175). High tumor cell expression of VEGFR2 was associated with a 3.7-fold reduction in median overall survival in lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 25, p = 0.0134). The inverse correlation between vascular and tumor cell expression of VEGFR2 and the adverse prognosis associated with high VEGFR2 expression in immunohistochemically characterized pulmonary SCC are new findings with potential therapeutic implications. The robustness of this novel IHC assay will support further evaluation of its utility for patient tailoring in clinical trials of antiangiogenic agents.
Selection of Horseradish Peroxidase Variants with Enhanced Enantioselectivity by Yeast Surface Display

Summary We report a method for in vitro selection of catalytically active enzymes from large libraries of variants displayed on the surface of the yeast S . cerevisiae . Two libraries, each containing ∼2 × 10 6 variants of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), were constructed; one involved error-prone PCR that sampled mutations throughout the coding sequence, whereas the other involved complete combinatorial enumeration of five positions near the active site to non-cysteine residues. The enzyme variants displayed on the yeast surface were allowed to modify it with a fluorescently labeled substrate. A combination of positive and negative selection applied to the active-site-directed library resulted in variants with up to an 8-fold altered enantioselectivity, including its reversal, toward l/d-tyrosinol. In contrast, the library constructed by using error-prone PCR yielded no HRP variants with a significantly improved enantioselectivity.
Supported Liquid Membrane-Based Pervaporation for VOC Removal from Water

Supported liquid membrane pervaporation (SLMPV) is a pervaporation process for separating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from their dilute aqueous solutions through a supported liquid membrane. It integrates simultaneous extraction of the VOCs from the aqueous solution with vacuum stripping of the VOCs from the organic phase in one membrane module. Using a liquid membrane consisting of nonvolatile hydrocarbons immobilized in the micropores of hydrophobic porous polypropylene hollow fibers with or without a plasma-polymerized ultrathin silicone membrane on the outside diameter of the fibers, trichloroethylene (TCE) was separated and concentrated from its aqueous solution at 25 °C and essentially atmospheric pressure. The feed TCE concentration was varied between 50 and 950 ppm; the permeate pressure range was 0.6−70 mmHg. A 78-fiber, 30−33-cm-long module can achieve as much as 98% removal of TCE. The hexadecane SLM is permselective for TCE: the experimental selectivity was 30 000, and the intrinsic sel...
Gunshot residue analysis via organic stabilizers and nitrocellulose

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure for the detection of gunshot residue by determination of the gunpowder constituents, diphenylamine and ethylcentralite, has been tested to ascertain if common substances in the environment give peaks in the chromatographic pattern at the same retention times. A number of substances produced such patterns. To provide discrimination, a method was developed for the determination of nitrocellulose during the hand swabbing after a firearm discharge. The nitrocellulose is extracted from the cotton swab with ether, evaporated to dryness, reconstituted with acetone, and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. The dried acetone solution is then applied and concentrated to a small portion of a heated potassium bromide IR pellet. Spectra of a nitrocellulose standard and a gunshot residue are compared and show several similar peaks. The procedure is set up so that an HPLC test for organic stabilizers and a Fourier transform infrared test for nitrocellulose can be run on one swabbing of a suspect's hand. The absence of diphenylamine or ethylcentralite peaks in the HPLC chromatogram appears conclusive that under normal conditions a gunshot residue test is negative; a positive test necessitates confirmation such as the described IR procedure.
Community engagement and service learning opportunities in computer science (abstract only)

Many computer science students and faculty want to participate in service projects; these projects might include service learning in the classroom, service experiences in the local community, or service projects at a domestic or international site. Developing service projects that incorporate computer science and/or technology skills that are both interesting and meaningful often presents a challenge. During this BOF participants will discuss and answer questions about service projects in which they have participated, their successes and failures, techniques for finding appropriate partners, logistical issues, etc. This session will be helpful to faculty having no prior service experience, as well as veteran faculty who have organized multiple service trips.
Learning by failing to explain

Explanation-based Generalization depends on having an explanation on which to base generalization. Thus, a system with an incomplete or intractable explanatory mechanism will not be able to generalize some examples. It is not necessary, in those cases, to give up and resort to purely empirical generalization methods, because the system may already know almost everything it needs to explain the precedent. Learning by Failing to Explain is a method which exploits current knowledge to prune complex precedents and rules, isolating their mysterious parts. This paper describes two techniques for Learning by Failing to Explain: Precedent Analysis, partial analysis of a precedent or rule to isolate the mysterious new technique(s) it embodies; and Rule Re-analysis, re-analyzing old rules in terms of new rules to obtain a more general set.
The interplay of ontogeny and scaling in the interactions of fish larvae and their predators

In this review and synthesis, new data from field and laboratory experiments on red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, larvae as prey to larger fishes are presented to illustrate two approaches to the study of developmental effects on predation. Various sizes and species of predatory fishes imposed very different levels of mortality on experimental populations of red drum larvae. Differences in predator size explained little of the overall variation in mortality rates. In the laboratory, responsiveness of red drum to a single size and species of predatory fish was relatively low through much of the developmental period but increased steadily. Response effectiveness improved and the predator's capture success decreased once the prey exceeded 20 mm in length. General ontogenetic trends in the behavioural interaction of various larvae and their piscine predators are described by combining 22 data sets on a scale of roughly comparable ontogenetic state. This scale, together with absolute and relative measures of predator and prey size, are used to assess the roles of ontogeny and scaling in the predation interaction. Ontogeny is shown to be a significant contributor to changes in responsiveness, response effectiveness, and capture success. The influence of scaling always took the form of an interaction with ontogeny and not a main effect.
Speech perception as an active cognitive process.

One view of speech perception is that acoustic signals are transformed into representations for pattern matching to determine linguistic structure. This process can be taken as a statistical pattern-matching problem, assuming realtively stable linguistic categories are characterized by neural representations related to auditory properties of speech that can be compared to speech input. This kind of pattern matching can be termed a passive process which implies rigidity of processingd with few demands on cognitive processing. An alternative view is that speech recognition, even in early stages, is an active process in which speech analysis is attentionally guided. Note that this does not mean consciously guided but that information-contingent changes in early auditory encoding can occur as a function of context and experience. Active processing assumes that attention, plasticity, and listening goals are important in considering how listeners cope with adverse circumstances that impair hearing by masking noise in the environment or hearing loss. Although theories of speech perception have begun to incorporate some active processing, they seldom treat early speech encoding as plastic and attentionally guided. Recent research has suggested that speech perception is the product of both feedforward and feedback interactions between a number of brain regions that include descending projections perhaps as far downstream as the cochlea. It is important to understand how the ambiguity of the speech signal and constraints of context dynamically determine cognitive resources recruited during perception including focused attention, learning, and working memory. Theories of speech perception need to go beyond the current corticocentric approach in order to account for the intrinsic dynamics of the auditory encoding of speech. In doing so, this may provide new insights into ways in which hearing disorders and loss may be treated either through augementation or therapy.
Guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition characterized by progressive decline in lung function. It imposes a considerable burden on patients, healthcare services and society that is likely to increase in the future. It is, therefore, important to ensure that this disease is managed as effectively as possible. In many therapeutic areas, management guidelines have been developed in an attempt to ensure that physicians are aware of optimal disease management and cost-effective use of healthcare resources. Such guidelines are usually prepared by consensus among clinical experts or following a systematic review of the evidence. However, there are a number of barriers to the implementation of treatment guidelines, including the sheer weight of guidelines in all therapeutic areas, a focus on scientific knowledge rather than on clinical practice, lack of trust in the recommendations, practical considerations (e.g. time, resources, budget) and failure to include the perspective of patients.The management guidelines most likely to be implemented are those that are quick and easy to use, relevant to the user's practice and from a credible source. In COPD, over 40 guidelines have been developed, mainly by local respiratory societies as a result of local expert consensus.The guidelines developed by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) are evidence-based and have the backing of international experts. Local implementation plans have been developed to help ensure that GOLD recommendations are implemented in practice. In all COPD guidelines, however, lung function measures feature prominently, with limited reference to outcome measures of interest to patients and healthcare payers (e.g. frequency of exacerbations requiring hospitalization). Low expectations among physicians and patients may also impair implementation. In conclusion, guidelines may improve the management of COPD, but the main challenge is to ensure implementation.
Influence of dietary protein concentration on severity of nephropathy in Fischer-344 (F-344/N) rats

Nephropathy is an age-related spontaneous disease of most rat strains, and protein content of diet may affect the severity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 15% protein no...
Knee and hip sagittal and transverse plane changes after two fatigue protocols

Abstract Fatigue has been shown to alter the biomechanics of lower extremity during landing tasks. To date, no study has examined the effects of two types of fatigue on kinetics and kinematics. Objectives : This study was conducted to assess biomechanical differences between two fatigue protocols [Slow Linear Oxidative Fatigue Protocol (SLO-FP) and Functional Agility Short-Term Fatigue Protocol (FAST-FP)]. Design : Single-group repeated measures design. Methods : Fifteen female collegiate soccer players had to perform five successful trials of unanticipated sidestep cutting (SS) pre- and post-fatigue protocols. The SLO-FP consisted of an initial VO 2peak test followed by 5-min rest, and a 30-min interval run. The FAST-FP consisted of 4 sets of a functional circuit. Biomechanical measures of the hip and knee were obtained at different instants while performing SS pre- and post-fatigue. Repeated 2×2 ANOVAs were conducted to examine task and fatigue differences. Alpha level set a priori at 0.05. Results : During the FAST-FP, participants had increased knee internal rotation at initial contact (IC) (12.5±5.9°) when compared to the SLO-FP (7.9±5.4°, p p =0.003), also greater knee flexion during pre-fatigue (25.6±6.8°) than post-fatigue (22.4±8.4°, p =0.022). Conclusion : The results of this study showed that hip and knee mechanics were substantially altered during both fatigue conditions.
Cortical and Trabecular Bone, Bone Mineral Density, and Resistance to ex Vivo Fracture Are Not Altered in Response to Life-Long Vitamin A Supplementation in Aging Rats

High vitamin A (VA) intakes have been correlated with increased risk of bone fracture. Over 50% of the U.S. adult population reports use of dietary supplements, which can result in VA intakes > 200% of the RDA. In this study, 2 experiments were designed to determine the effect of dietary VA on cortical and trabecular bone properties and resistance to ex vivo fracture. In Expt. 1, we investigated whether orally administered VA accumulates in bone. Seven-week-old rats were treated daily with VA (6 mg/d for 14 d). Total retinol increased in both the tibia and femur (P < 0.01). In Expt. 2, we conducted a longitudinal study in which rats were fed 1 of 3 levels of dietary VA (marginal, adequate, and supplemented, equal to 0.35, 4, and 50 μg retinol/g diet, respectively) from weaning until the ages of 2-3 mo (young), 8-10 mo (middle-age), and 18-20 mo (old). Tibial trabecular and cortical bone structure, bone mineral density, and resistance to fracture were measured using micro-computed tomography and material testing system analysis, respectively. The VA-marginal diet affected measures of cortical bone dimension, suggesting bone remodeling was altered. VA supplementation increased medullary area and decreased cortical thickness in young rats (P < 0.05), but these changes were not present during aging. VA supplementation did not affect resistance to fracture or bone mineral content in old rats. From these results, we conclude that VA-marginal status affects trabecular bone more than cortical bone, and VA supplementation at a moderate level over the lifetime is unlikely to increase the risk of age-related bone fracture in rats.
INNOVATIONS IN SECOND LANGUAGE RESEARCH METHODS

Acceptance of the claims made by researchers in any field depends in large part on the appropriateness of the methods used to gather data. In this chapter I focus on two approaches to research in second language acquisition: (a) various types of acceptability judgments or probes aimed at assessing acquisition of syntactic structure; and (b) various types of stimulated recall designed to gather learners' accounts of their own thought processes. Both methods attempt to overcome a principal problem in psycholinguistics: the desire to describe a learner's knowledge about a language based on the incomplete evidence stemming from learner production. Refinements in acceptability judgments have come from some newer multiple-choice or truth-value story tasks that allow researchers to determine the level of learner knowledge about particular syntactic structures (in the examples here, reflexives). Stimulated recall offers some additional perspectives, but its usefulness can be greatly affected by the temporal proximity of the recall to the original task; the amount of support provided to prompt the recall; and the nature and amount of training given to both interviewer and interviewee. While these newer research methods can improve the accuracy and variety of data available to SLA investigators, research methods drawn from L1 acquisition or L1 research cannot necessarily be assumed to be equally valid when used to examine L2 acquisition.
Olfaction: the physics of how smell works?

Smell is a physical process used by us all, but fully understood by none. A physicist seeks to understand the mysterious phenomena of nature and so it is natural to apply physics to this problem. There is a reluctance in the field of olfactory science to explore the physical processes of fundamental interactions in odorant recognition because the system is complex. However, nature is often compliant to our simple models, and part of the art is to reduce the problem to a soluble one, and part of the beauty of science is often that the simple model with the simple answers give the right ones. This article reviews the applicability of some physical models to olfaction and looks in particular at one theory within the realm of olfactory science. This theory was first endorsed by Turin in 1996, that smell signalling may be based on a form of Inelastic Electron Tunnelling (IETS). This review looks at the mystery of olfaction and the physical principles that may unveil such mysterious phenomena.
Argument and outline for the sociology of scientific (and other) careers

Divisions between variable-oriented and person-oriented approaches in social and behavioral research are newly drawn. Yet few person-oriented approaches have been fully articulated; those that have are predominantly quantitative. This work presents an argument for a qualitative, person-oriented study of careers; an approach identified as careers in context. Based on a national study of scientists, this contextualist approach is grounded by three interacting, but analytically distinct, emphases to suggest how careers can be studied in and beyond science: (1) an emphasis on time and place as under-utilized dimensions on which to direct further study of careers; (2) an emphasis on the subjective career as a concept that qualitatively encapsulates temporal and spatial dimensions; and (3) an emphasis on career study in life course perspective. Subjectively (and objectively), careers are, of course, not static. By situating subjective careers in the times and places in which they occur, we are drawn to how thos...
Mechanism of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with ventriculoatrial conduction block

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with ventriculoatrial (VA) block. We report the case of a 25-year-old patient with paroxysmal SVT and intermittent VA block. Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia with upper common pathway block and orthodromic nodoventricular or nodofascicular re-entrant tachycardia was considered in the differential diagnosis. Diagnostic characteristics were most compatible with non-re-entrant junctional tachycardia. The arrhythmia was cured by ablation at the right atrial posterior septum.
Uncertainty Principle and Ground State Energies of Quantum Mechanical Systems

Consider a particle moving subject to a potential V(x) = A|x|n, -∞>x<∞. Classically the particle’s energy is: $$ E = p^2 /2m + A\left| x \right|^n $$ (5.1) .
Encapsulation of gold nanoparticles into self-assembling protein nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles are useful tools for biological applications due to their attractive physical and chemical properties. Their applications can be further expanded when they are functionalized with biological molecules. The biological molecules not only provide the interfaces for interactions between nanoparticles and biological environment, but also contribute their biological functions to the nanoparticles. Therefore, we used self-assembling protein nanoparticles (SAPNs) to encapsulate gold nanoparticles. The protein nanoparticles are formed upon self-assembly of a protein chain that is composed of a pentameric coiled-coil domain at the N-terminus and trimeric coiled-coil domain at the C-terminus. The self-assembling protein nanoparticles form a central cavity of about 10 nm in size, which is ideal for the encapsulation of gold nanoparticles with similar sizes. We have used SAPNs to encapsulate several commercially available gold nanoparticles. The hydrodynamic size and the surface coating of gold nanoparticles are two important factors influencing successful encapsulation by the SAPNs. Gold nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic size of less than 15 nm can successfully be encapsulated. Gold nanoparticles with citrate coating appear to have stronger interactions with the proteins, which can interfere with the formation of regular protein nanoparticles. Upon encapsulation gold nanoparticles with polymer coating interfere less strongly with the ability of the SAPNs to assemble into nanoparticles. Although the central cavity of the SAPNs carries an overall charge, the electrostatic interaction appears to be less critical for the efficient encapsulation of gold nanoparticles into the protein nanoparticles. The SAPNs can be used to encapsulate gold nanoparticles. The SAPNs can be further functionalized by engineering functional peptides or proteins to either their N- or C-termini. Therefore encapsulation of gold nanoparticles into SAPNs can provide a useful platform to generate a multifunctional biodevices.
Sublethal effects of permethrin on the chemical communication system of the pink bollworm moth, Pectinophora gossypiella

Topically applied sublethal doses of permethrin can interrupt chemical communication between the sexes of Pectinophora gossypiella by affecting both the signaler and the responder. The probability of calling by females is reduced when they are treated with doses of permethrin which are much less than the LD50. Similarly, key stages in the behavioral response of males to sex pheromone are effectively blocked at these low doses. Males recover from these effects 4 days after treatment, but calling by females is still significantly reduced at this time. Chemical control of f? gossypiella populations with permethrin may not be limited to mortality, and potentially includes effective control of behavioral aspects of chemical communication.
Insider trading and the voluntary disclosure of information by firms

Abstract We examine the voluntary disclosure policy of a firm where the manager has private information and opportunities to trade on it. The equilibrium disclosure policy ranges from full disclosure to partial disclosure to nondisclosure depending on whether the manager's pay–performance sensitivity is high, medium or low, respectively. In the partial disclosure equilibrium, good news is more likely to be disclosed early than bad news and insiders are more likely to sell than buy shares, two results for which there is ample empirical support. The likelihood and amount of voluntary disclosure increases with the manager's pay–performance sensitivity, firm quality, and the number of insiders privy to the information and decreases with market liquidity. Stringent enforcement of insider trading regulations induces more disclosure by firms whereas the short sales prohibition on insiders induces less disclosure.
Gastric emptying, plasma ghrelin and autonomic nerve activity in diabetic rats

Abstract We have previously shown that the elevated plasma ghrelin accelerate emptying in the early stage of diabetes in rats. However, it remains unknown whether plasma ghrelin levels are still elevated in the late stage of diabetes. We studied whether solid gastric emptying and plasma ghrelin levels are altered 2–8 weeks after streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The development of autonomic neuropathy was evaluated by spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Gastric emptying was not different between control and diabetic rats at 4 weeks and 6 weeks, while it delayed at 8 weeks in STZ rats. The pre-prandial ghrelin levels were not significantly different between control and diabetic rats at 4–8 weeks. In control rats, the plasma ghrelin levels were significantly reduced 30 min after the feeding at 4–8 weeks. In contrast, there was no significant reduction of ghrelin levels observed in diabetic rats at 4–8 weeks. Plasma insulin levels were significantly increased 30 min after feeding in control rats, but not STZ rats, at 4–8 weeks. Both HF (parasympathetic activity) and LF (sympathetic activity) component were gradually reduced 6–8 weeks after STZ injection. It is suggested that hypoinsulinemia associated with diabetes increases plasma ghrelin levels. At the late stage of diabetes, gastric emptying is delayed despite increased plasma ghrelin levels. The delayed gastric emptying is mainly due to impaired activity of autonomic nerves at the late stage of diabetes.