cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diphosphine monoxide ligands: Complexes of tetraphenyldiphosphine oxide with group VIB metal carbonyls

Abstract Tetraphenyldiphosphine monoxide forms complexes of the type(CO)5M[PPh2P(O)Ph2] with Group VIB metals (M = Cr, Mo, W). The crystal and molecular structure of the Mo-complex has been determined:MoP2O6C29H20, Monoclinic Space Group P21/n,a 13.776(1),b 16.811(2),c12.162(1)A, β 90.36(1)°;Z = 4 and Dc 1.47 Mg m−3. RF is 0.038 for 5006observed reflections. The Mo atom is found to be coordinated to the originally trivalent phosphorusatom while the ligand P P bond remains intact and the oxygen atom isuncomplexed. The overall conformation around the P P bond is staggered. Heating of these complexes in diglyme resulted in loss of CO and tautomerization of the diphosphine oxide ligand into the chelatingdiphosphaxane in products identified as c i s − ( C O ) 4 M ( P P h 2 O ︹ P P h 2 ) . Reaction of excess OP2Ph4 with cis-(CO)4M(NHC5H10)2 yielded H-bonded heterocycles of the type c i s − ( C O ) 4 M [ P P h 2 O ( P P h 2 ) O ... H ︹ N C 5 H 10 ] which are inert towards displacement of the remaining piperidine ligand.
Cox, American radio networks: A history

J. (2009). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. The history of radio networks in the United States serves up lessons on many fronts of American life in the twentieth century and beyond. Their emergence in the...
Identification of APOBEC3B promoter elements responsible for activation by human papillomavirus type 16 E6.

Recent cancer genomics studies have identified mutation patterns characteristic of APOBEC3B (A3B) in multiple cancers, including cervical cancer, which is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. A3B expression is upregulated by HPV E6/E7 oncoproteins, implying a crucial role for A3B upregulation in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. Here, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of the A3B promoter by E6. Luciferase reporter assays with a series of deleted fragments of the human A3B promoter in normal immortalized human keratinocytes (NIKS) identified two functional regions in the promoter: the distal region (from −200 to −51), which is required for basal promoter activity, and the proximal region (from +1 to +45), which exerts an inhibitory effect on gene expression. Each promoter region was found to contain an E6-resposive element(s). Disruption of an AT-rich motif located between +10 and +16 abrogated the proximal-region-mediated activation of the A3B promoter by E6. DNA pull-down assays revealed that a cellular zinc-finger protein, ZNF384, binds to the AT-rich motif in the A3B promoter, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that ZNF384 binds to the A3B promoter in cells. ZNF384 knockdown reduced the A3B mRNA levels in NIKS expressing E6, but not in the parental NIKS, indicating that ZNF384 contributes to A3B upregulation by E6, but not to basal A3B expression. The exogenous expression of ZNF384 led to the activation of the A3B promoter in NIKS. Collectively, these results indicate that E6 activates the A3B promoter through the distal and proximal regions, and that ZNF384 is required for the proximal-region-mediated activation of A3B.
A MEASURE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO COMPLEXITY

The difficulty of diagnosis, or troubleshooting, of a system is measured by the expected number of interrogations, , needed to identify the true state of the system. A system can exist in one of a set of N states, or configurations; each of which may have a different probability of occurrence, pi. It is demonstrated that increases monotonically as a function of the system informational entropy, H, where H =− Two cases of particular interest are: Where the system is in standby status, and it is of interest to know whether the system will perform as desired when called upon, and Where the system is known to have failed to perform as desired For a system it is assumed that at any time only one of its N states will be desired by its operators. When the system is on standby status, H is evaluated in terms of the system states' absolute probabilities. When the system is known to have failed, H is evaluated in terms of the conditional system states’ probabilities, which reflect the fact that the probabili...
Chinese culture and e-commerce: an exploratory study

Abstract Differing characteristics of local environments, both infrastructural and socio-economic, have created a significant level of variation in the acceptance and growth of e-commerce in different regions of the world. This paper focuses on the impact of these infrastructural and socio-economic factors on e-commerce development in China. The findings provide insights into the role of culture in e-commerce, and the factors that may impact a broader acceptance and development of e-commerce in China. In this paper, we present and discuss our findings, and identify changes that will be required for broader acceptance and diffusion of e-commerce in China. Cultural issues such as ‘socializing effect of commerce’, ‘transactional and institutional trust’, and ‘attitudes toward debt’ were determined to be the major impediments to e-commerce in China. However, our research also shows that, even though their means for payment are different, the most enlightened, able, and sophisticated consumers in China participate in e-commerce in the same frequencies as the mainstream e-commerce consumers in the US.
The Importance of Reporting New Host-Fungus Records for Ornamental and Regional Crops

Abstract Accurate and timely reports of new host-fungus records are essential for diagnostics and identification, management, and prevention of plant diseases. Important also are venues to publish ...
Technical feasibility and precision of radiostereometric analysis as an outcome measure in canine cemented total hip replacement

Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) is an analytical technique in which biplanar radiographs are used to quantify the migration of implants in vivo. RSA is now considered the benchmark for quantifying implant migration in clinical studies of total joint replacement, yet its use in preclinical animal models has not been widely reported. The same attributes that make RSA appealing as an analytical method in humans (i.e., high precision and accuracy, noninvasiveness, objectivity) also make it a promising option for animal studies. The specific aims of this study were to determine the technical feasibility and analytical precision of RSA in a canine model of cemented total hip replacement. The precision of RSA was assessed in (1) a Plexiglas phantom, (2) a canine Sawbone model, and (3) a pilot series of dogs implanted with cemented canine THR implants. In vitro precision values, calculated as the 95% confidence limits for the error between duplicate RSA examinations, ranged from 4.3 to 17.9 µm for translation and from 0.01° to 0.22° for rotation. In vivo precision values ranged from 16.2 to 41.1 µm for translation and 0.17° to 0.44° for rotation. As is the case in humans, RSA appears to provide an order-of-magnitude improvement in technical precision as compared to plain film X-ray. RSA can therefore be considered a practical and potentially valuable noninvasive outcome measure for assessing implant function in canine cemented THR.
Translational Research in Gastric Malignancy

This article discusses recent advances in gastric cancer research that have improved treatment and outcomes of gastric malignancy, or have the potential to do so. The significance of Helicobacter pylori infection and eradication, immunology, host genetics, proto-oncogenes, and epigenetic alterations in gastric cancer are discussed. Abnormal signaling through growth factor pathways (tyrosine kinases and gastrointestinal peptides) presents ample opportunities for therapeutic intervention that are currently being tested in clinical trials. Drugs targeting abnormal epigenetic changes, such as DNA hypermethylation and histone deacetylation, are also on the horizon, although most of this research is still in the preclinical phase. The potential prognostic implications of genetics and immunology in gastric cancer prognosis are also reviewed.
Students tweet the darndest things about your library – and why you need to listen

Purpose – Twitter is an important communication tool with college students. This article aims to emphasize that, while Twitter is useful for sharing information about the library, more can be learned from using it as a digital listening post.Design/methodology/approach – This is an essay style viewpoint.Findings – The paper reveals that Twitter is an important vehicle for disseminating information about a library to its community and as a means for maintaining good customer service.Originality/value – The paper provides useful information on an important communication tool for libraries.
Testing for deterministic monetary chaos: Metric and topological diagnostics

Abstract The evidence of deterministic chaos in monetary aggregates tends to be contradictory in the literature. We revisit the issue of monetary chaos by applying tools based on both the metric (correlation dimension and Lyapunov exponents) and topological (recurrence plots) approaches to chaos. For simple-sum and divisia monetary aggregates over an expanded sample period, the empirical evidence from both approaches is negative for monetary chaotic dynamics.
EXPERIMENTAL SYPHILIS IN THE RABBIT : VI. AFFECTIONS OF BONE, CARTILAGE, TENDONS, AND SYNOVIAL MEMBRANES. PART 3. SYPHILIS OF THE POSTERIOR EXTREMITIES WITH OTHER AFFECTIONS OF A MISCELLANEOUS TYPE.

A systematic study was made of the affections of bone, cartilage, tendons, and synovial membranes which occurred in a series of rabbits with generalized syphilis. Localized infection of this group of structures was found to be of very frequent occurrence. The parts involved were, in the order of their frequency, the facial and cranial bones and cartilages, the bones, tendons, and joints of the feet and legs, the cervical and caudal vertebrae, the ribs, and the sternum. These infections often gave rise to characteristic manifestations of disease which could be detected without difficulty by inspection or palpation of the part. In many instances, however, clinical manifestations were so slight that the presence of lesions could be detected only by radiographic or pathological examination. Detailed descriptions of various clinical types of disease were given and the clinical manifestations correlated with the pathological process. It was pointed out that bone lesions exhibited a decided predilection for certain exposed bony prominences, for lines of bony union, and for epiphyseal lines in particular. A study of the clinical history of bone lesions brought out the fact that they were among the earliest of the generalized forms of disease; they tended to pursue a comparatively rapid course, and relapse was never observed. Especial emphasis was laid upon three aspects of the experimental infection: the analogy existing between certain forms of the animal and human affections, the relation of syphilis of the osseous system to other evidences of disease, and the occurrence of obscure bone lesions. In this connection, it was pointed out that the nasal and epiphyseal lesions of the rabbit presented a striking analogy to those of congenital syphilis in man. It was also pointed out that syphilis of the osseous system occupied a definite position in the scheme of defensive reactions such that lesions of these tissues might be favored or inhibited according to the experimental conditions employed. Finally, the frequency with which infections occurred which were not accompanied by sufficiently distinctive signs even to suggest the possibility of their existence was interpreted as evidence that some cases of latent or obscure infection in man might find their explanation in the presence of a similar group of affections.
Grain Boundary Curvature in Polycrystalline Metallic Thin Films

Well-annealed thin films are typically observed to exhibit mean grain diameters that are approximately equal to the film thickness. The standard explanation of this “sheet thickness effect” is that it results from a balance of grain boundary curvature in two different directions which, in turn, results from pinning at grain boundary grooves. TEM experiments have been performed to assess this model, and it is found that the predicted curvature about axes in the film plane is absent. Alternate explanations of the sheet thickness effect are considered.
Polyaniline Surface Morphology During The Doping Process Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Chemically synthesized polyaniline films were studied during the doping and dedoping process by imaging the polymer surface using in-situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The polymer, which was initially in the base non-conducting form was doped using aqueous acidic solutions of both tosylic (pH=0.2) and HC1 (pH of 0.2 and 1.0). Dedoping was accomplished by exposing the same doped polymer surface to NH4OH (pH=12) base solution. AFM images showed that it was necessary to cycle the polymer surface 3 times between acid and base before a reproducible surface morphology was established between the doped and dedoped states. For the case of doping with tosylic acid AFM images showed that the polyaniline surface was immediately roughened. In addition there appeared to be an increase in the size of surface channels and cracks. When doping with HC1 (pH=1.0), no change in surface morphology was observed; however, noticeable surface roughening occurred over 10 minutes for the case of the lower pH=0.2 solution. The complex permittivity and DC conductivity was measured to estimate the level of protonation in the AFM samples.
Subcellular targeting of kappa-opioid receptors in the rat nucleus locus coeruleus

The dynorphin (DYN)-kappa opioid receptor (kappaOR) system has been implicated in stress modulation, depression, and relapse to drug-seeking behaviors. Previous anatomical and physiological data have indicated that the noradrenergic nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) is one site at which DYN may contribute to these effects. Using light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, the present study investigated the cellular substrates for pre- and postsynaptic interactions of kappaOR in the LC. Dual immunocytochemical labeling for kappaOR and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or kappaOR and preprodynorphin (ppDYN) was examined in the same section of tissue. Light microscopic analysis revealed prominent kappaOR immunoreactivity in the nuclear core of the LC and in the peri-coerulear region where noradrenergic dendrites extend. Fluorescence and electron microscopy revealed kappaOR immunoreactivity within TH-immunoreactive somata and dendrites in the LC as well as localized to ppDYN-immunoreactive processes. In sections processed for kappaOR and TH, approximately 29% (200/688) of the kappaOR-containing axon terminals identified targeted TH-containing profiles. Approximately 49% (98/200) of the kappaOR-labeled axon terminals formed asymmetric synapses with TH-labeled dendrites. Sections processed for kappaOR and ppDYN showed that, of the axon terminals exhibiting kappaOR, 47% (223/477) also exhibited ppDYN. These findings indicate that kappaORs are poised to modulate LC activity by their localization to somata and dendrites. Furthermore, kappaORs are strategically localized to presynaptically modulate DYN afferent input to catecholamine-containing neurons in the LC. These data add to the growing literature showing that kappaORs can modulate diverse afferent signaling to the LC.
Dynamic knobs for responsive power-aware computing

We present PowerDial, a system for dynamically adapting application behavior to execute successfully in the face of load and power fluctuations. PowerDial transforms static configuration parameters into dynamic knobs that the PowerDial control system can manipulate to dynamically trade off the accuracy of the computation in return for reductions in the computational resources that the application requires to produce its results. These reductions translate directly into performance improvements and power savings.Our experimental results show that PowerDial can enable our benchmark applications to execute responsively in the face of power caps that would otherwise significantly impair responsiveness. They also show that PowerDial can significantly reduce the number of machines required to service intermittent load spikes, enabling reductions in power and capital costs.
Laparoscopic Tubal Occlusion with Silicone Rubber Bands

Laparoscopic tubal occlusion with silicone rubber bands on 337 healthy females through a single abdominal wall puncture made infraumbilically is described. The procedure was affected in the outpatient department under local anesthesia in 274 of the cases. Transsection of the tube tearing of the mesosalpinx and avulsion of the tube at the uterotubal junction were the most common complications. Follow-up revealed lower abdominal discomfort and uterine cramps as the most common complaint during the 1st two weeks. These complaints and complications can be minimized at the time of surgery by attention to proper technique. The pregnancy rate following this procedure appears to be acceptable however long-term follow-up is necessary for definite conclusions.
Structure and properties of blends containing ethylene‐methacrylate copolymers

The preparation, melting point, degree of crystallinity, mechanical properties, and morphology of a family of blends composed of a transition-metal-neutralized carboxylate semicrystalline ionomer (metal-neutralized ethylene-methacrylate copolymer) and an amorphous copolymer (styrene-4-vinyl pyridine copolymer) are described. These polymeric materials contain low levels (≤ 10.0 mol %) of interacting groups which are capable of forming interpolymeric complexes. These interactions are best described as transition metal-pyridine coordination complexes. A general characteristic of these blend systems is that the mechanical properties and morphology are directly influenced by the nature of the counterion and the specific composition ratio of amorphous to semicrystalline component. A nontransition metal counterion (sodium) is weakly interacting at best, while a transition metal counterion (zinc) is strongly interacting. Morphological studies (polarized-light microscopy and small-angle light-scattering measurements) confirm that the glassy component, if nonassociating, resides primarily in the interspherulite region, while the associating species will behave in a similar manner only after the stoichiometric ratio is reached. The morphology directly influences the stress-strain behavior of these blends. It is noteworthy that the spherulite size remains unchanged with nonassociating blends while a 50% reduction is noted in the associating blends. Thermal and wide-angle x-ray scattering measurements confirm the lamellar structure is unaffected by these associations. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Vascular Expression and C-Terminal Sequence Divergence of Cytokinin Response Factors in Flowering Plants

Cytokinin response factors (CRFs) are important transcription factors that form a side branch of the cytokinin signaling pathway and have been linked to cytokinin-regulated processes during development. CRF proteins are defined as belonging to a specific transcription factor family by the presence of an AP2/ERF DNA-binding domain and can be distinguished within this family by a group-specific CRF domain involved in protein-protein interactions. Here we further delimit CRFs into five distinct clades (I-V) represented across all major angiosperm lineages. Protein sequences within each clade contain a clade-specific C-terminal region distinct from other CRFs, suggesting ancient evolutionary divergence and specialization within this gene family. Conserved patterns of transcriptional regulation support these clade divisions. Despite these important differences, CRFs appear to show preferential localization or targeting to vascular tissue in quantitative real-time PCR and reporter line analyses of Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Phloem tissue expression within the vasculature often appears the strongest in CRF reporter lines, and an analysis of CRF promoter sequences revealed conservation and significant enrichment of phloem targeting cis-elements, suggesting a potential role for CRFs in this tissue. An examination of CRF loss-of-function mutants from cytokinin-regulated clades revealed alterations in higher order vein patterning. This supports both the general link of CRFs to vascular tissue and clade-specific differences between CRFs, since alterations in vascular patterning appear to be clade specific. Together these findings indicate that CRFs are potential regulators of developmental processes associated with vascular tissues.
Clock genes and bipolar disorder: implications for therapy.

Bipolar disorder is a severe condition that affects approximately 5.7 million adults in the USA alone. It is characterized by extreme mood swings between mania and depression, with periods of normal mood or euthymia. This condition is often debilitating and can lead to the loss of friends, employment and family, and eventually, to suicide. The large comorbidity between bipolar disorder and substance abuse dramatically increases the severity of these problems. Some of the classic symptoms of the depressive phase of this disorder are: • Prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness or worthlessness • Loss of interest in pleasurable activities (anhedonia) • Increased sleep or the inability to sleep • Change in appetite resulting in weight gain or loss • Decreased energy and lethargy • Thoughts of death or suicide Manic episodes differ dramatically from depressive episodes, and some of the hallmarks of mania include: • Increased energy and activity • Excessively high or euphoric mood • Racing and unconnected thoughts • Decreased need for sleep • Increase in risky behavior, including spending sprees, sexual behavior and illicit drug abuse • Irritability or aggressive behavior The cause of bipolar disorder is currently unknown, but there are indications that disruptions in the circadian clock may underlie this condition [1–3]. The circadian clock controls all biological processes that occur over the course of 24 h, and also plays a role in the regulation of seasonal rhythms [4]. People with bipolar disorder tend to have highly disrupted rhythms in
Statistical Timing Analysis in the Presence of Signal-Integrity Effects

Signal-integrity effects have significant impacts on very large-scale-integration performance variation and must be taken into account in statistical timing analysis. In this paper, we study the signal-propagation-delay variation that is induced by crosstalk aggressor signals. We establish a functional relationship between the signal propagation delay and the crosstalk aggressor signal alignment by deterministic circuit simulation and derive closed-form formulas for the statistical distributions of output signal arrival times. Our proposed method can be smoothly integrated into a static timing analyzer, wherein runtime is dominated by sampling the deterministic delay calculation, while probabilistic computation and updating take constant time. Experimental results based on the 1000- global interconnect structures in Berkeley Predictive Technology Model 70-nm technology and industry designs in 130-nm technology show that lack of statistical crosstalk aggressor signal alignment consideration could lead to up to 114.65% (71.26%) differences in interconnect-delay means (standard deviations) and 159.4% (147.4%) differences in gate-delay means (standard deviations). By contract, the method in our earlier work gives within 1.28% (3.38%) mismatch in interconnect output signal arrival time means (standard deviations) and within 2.57% (3.86%) mismatch in gate output signal arrival time means (standard deviations), respectively.
Radio-Frequency Heating of GaAs and SiC Photoconductive Switch for High-Power Applications

The response of a nonlinear opposed contact GaAs photoconductive switch, which is used in high-power microwave generation, was studied for high-power radio-frequency heating effects and compared with a linear-mode SiC switch. Current-controlled negative resistivity behavior was observed at elevated temperature in both cases. Better thermal conductivity and the absence of a heat sink result in a faster temperature increase and in local thermal carrier generation in SiC. Negative resistivity characteristics leading to unstable filamentation and thermal runaway are therefore more severe and occur at a lower bias in SiC as compared with a GaAs switch. To counter such effects, mechanisms to remove excess heat in switches in high-power application must be devised
Correlates of caregiver-rated quality of life in assisted living: The Maryland assisted living study

We used a cross-sectional study to examine the correlates of caregiver-rated quality of life (QOL) in 198 randomly selected residents from a stratified random sample of 22 assisted living facilities in central Maryland. We measured QOL by using the Alzheimer's Disease-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. In general, despite cognitive impairment, residents in assisted living were rated as having a high QOL. In a multivariate regression, we found that nonmood neuropsychiatric symptoms were the strongest correlate of QOL, explaining 37% of the variance. Depressive symptoms, functional dependence, marital status, and cognition also contributed to the model, but only minimally. Because of the strong association of neuropsychiatric symptoms with QOL, special attention should be given to their recognition and amelioration.
Quantitative Analysis of Benzene by Selected Ion Monitoring/Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

A selected ion monitoring gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method for the quantitative determination of benzene in air, breath, and blood was developed utilizing a headspace assay with benzene-d3 as an internal standard. Limits of detection for 2 ng/mL in blood and 0.1 ppb in a 5-L sample of air or breath were attained. The influence of contamination by background benzene on the analytical process was studied carefully. For cases where background contamination could not be adequately controlled, the assay was modified for the quantitative determination of labelled benzenes six mass units heavier than natural benzene (benzene-de or benzene-13Ce). Use of the method for the analysis of natural benzene was illustrated for the measurement of background levels in urban smokers and nonsmokers.
The Clonal Distribution and Diversity of Extraintestinal Escherichia coli Isolates Vary According to Patient Characteristics

The clonal distribution of Escherichia coli across an unselected population in the current era of widespread antimicrobial resistance is incompletely defined. In this study, we used a newly described clonal typing strategy based on sequencing of fumC and fimH (i.e., CH typing) to infer multilocus sequence types (STs) for 299 consecutive, nonduplicate extraintestinal E. coli isolates from all cultures submitted to Olmsted County, MN, laboratories in February and March 2011 and then compared STs with epidemiological data. Forty-seven different STs were identified, most commonly ST131 (27%), ST95 (11%), ST73 (8%), ST127 (6%), and ST69 (5%). Isolates from these five STs comprised two-thirds of health care-associated (HA) isolates but only half of community-associated (CA) isolates. ST131 was represented overwhelmingly (88%) by a single recently expanded H30 subclone, which was the most extensively antimicrobial-resistant subclone overall and was especially predominant in HA infections and among adults >50 years old. In contrast, among patients 11 to 50 years old, ST69, -95, and -73 were more common. Because of the preponderance of the H30 subclone of ST131, ST diversity was lower among HA than CA isolates, and among antimicrobial-resistant than antimicrobial-susceptible isolates, which otherwise had similar ST distributions. In conclusion, in this U.S. Midwest region, the distribution and diversity of STs among extraintestinal E. coli clinical isolates vary by patient age, type of infection, and resistance phenotype. ST131 predominates among young children and the elderly, HA infections, and antimicrobial-resistant isolates, whereas other well-known pathogenic lineages are more common among adolescents and young adults, CA infections, and antimicrobial-susceptible isolates.
Bridge, Focus, Attack, or Stimulate: Retail Category Management Strategies with a Store Brand

We investigate a monopolist retailer's category management strategy where the main strategic decisions are how to horizontally position a store brand relative to the incumbent national brands and how to price the store and national brands for retail category profit maximization. We analyze a market composed of two consumer segments with differing tastes and heterogeneity with respect to willingness to pay and a product category consisting of two competing national brands and one store brand. We find that contrary to the existing literature, it is not always optimal for a retailer to position its store brand against the leading national brand; instead there are many situations where it is best to position the store brand close to the weaker national brand or to position it in the “middle” so it appeals to both national brands' target segments. In the process we identify four distinct category management strategies that a retailer can use with a store brand. In three of these the optimal store brand price is the brand's monopoly price, while in the remaining one strategy the price is lower. We also suggest an easy to implement means for a retailer to determine which strategy is best to use, depending on the particular competitive environment present before the introduction of the store brand and the relative quality of the store brand. We find that the store brand entry is most beneficial to the retailer when the national brands are moderately differentiated. Finally we show that introducing a store brand not only allows the retailer to garner a higher share of the channel profits through higher retail margins, but also often provides the retailer the benefit of increases in national brand unit sales as well as incremental sales from the store brand.
Molecular mechanisms that enhance synapse stability despite persistent disruption of the spectrin/ankyrin/microtubule cytoskeleton

Loss of spectrin or ankyrin in the presynaptic motoneuron disrupts the synaptic microtubule cytoskeleton and leads to disassembly of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Here, we demonstrate that NMJ disassembly after loss of α-spectrin can be suppressed by expression of a WldS transgene, providing evidence for a Wallerian-type degenerative mechanism. We then identify a second signaling system. Enhanced MAPK-JNK-Fos signaling suppresses NMJ disassembly despite loss of presynaptic α-spectrin or ankyrin2-L. This signaling system is activated after an acute cytoskeletal disruption, suggesting an endogenous role during neurological stress. This signaling system also includes delayed, negative feedback via the JNK phosphatase puckered, which inhibits JNK-Fos to allow NMJ disassembly in the presence of persistent cytoskeletal stress. Finally, the MAPK-JNK pathway is not required for baseline NMJ stabilization during normal NMJ growth. We present a model in which signaling via JNK-Fos functions as a stress response system that is transiently activated after cytoskeletal disruption to enhance NMJ stability, and is then shut off allowing NMJ disassembly during persistent cytoskeletal disruption.
Test or trauma? The voiding cystourethrogram experience of young children.

Many diagnostic procedures, while necessary and appropriate, may be experienced by a child as a trauma. Health care professionals often perceive invasive procedures such as surgery and needle biops...
Global mapping of attenuation at X-band and higher frequencies

The propagation of radio waves for Earth/space slant path at C-band and higher frequencies are dominated by precipitation in the atmosphere. At a given frequency, attenuation depends on the length of the radio path, the size distribution and the phase state of the hydrometeor profile. Using the observations from the TRMM spaceborne Ku-band (13.8 GHz) radar at Low Earth Orbit of 350 km above Earth, global attenuation maps are produced at the Ku-band frequency. A simple precipitation microphysical model developed using hydrometeor size distributions and phase state is used to scale this observed attenuation to Ka-band (35 GHz) where numerous high bandwidth satellite applications are being planned including the next generation space based radar for the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM). In this study, three layers of precipitation that consist of aggregate, dry graupel and rain are considered. Using this precipitation model the attenuation and backscatter reflectivity relations between Ka- and Ku-band frequencies are developed for scaling the specific attenuation and backscatter reflectivity along the observation path. The results show substantial attenuation variation in a 12-month period at both Ku- and Ka-bands over the various regions of the globe. These results can help in the design and development criteria for satellite applications at Ka-band.
A NON‐TRADABLE WAGE GOOD IN A RICARDIAN MODEL

An increasing cost in the provision of a non-tradable wage good presents an obstacle to accumulation which cannot be bypassed through imports. An alternative solution involves channeling the landlords' rental income into subsidizing the production of the wage good. Simulation of the model yields results which suggest that this can postpone the arrival of the stationary state, albeit temporarily. The model seems to provide a framework for interpreting the housing policies of some small but populous East Asian countries. This could shed light on the role played by the government of those countries in fostering capital accumulation by dampening wage-cost increases.
ARA9 Modifies Agonist Signaling through an Increase in Cytosolic Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the effects of agonists like 2,3, 7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. In the current model for AHR signaling, the unliganded receptor is found in the cytosol as part of a complex with a dimer of the 90-kDa heat shock protein and an immunophilin-like molecule, ARA9. In yeast, expression of ARA9 results in an increase in the maximal agonist response and a leftward shift in the AHR dose-response curve. To better understand the mechanism by which ARA9 modifies AHR signal transduction, we performed a series of coexpression experiments in yeast and mammalian cells. Our results demonstrate that ARA9's influence on AHR signaling is not due to inhibition of a membrane pump or modification of the receptor's transactivation properties. Using receptor photoaffinity labeling experiments, we were able to show that ARA9 enhances AHR signal transduction by increasing the available AHR binding sites within the cytosolic compartment of the cell. Our evidence suggests that ARA9's effects are related to its role as a cellular chaperone; i.e. we observed that expression of ARA9 increases the fraction of AHR in the cytosol and also stabilized the receptor under heat stress.
Analysis of the United States Department of Transportation Prompt Pay Provisions

In recent past the United States Department of Transportation has implemented a number of changes in regulations regarding federal-aid transportation projects. Some of these regulations are designed to help the disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms and subcontractors in general, by requiring the general contractors to pay their subcontractors in a timely manner. Further, these regulations require that general contractors pay their subcontractors' retainage after the subcontracts are completed, even if they have not received their own retainage from the owner. This paper reviews these new regulations and introduces a financial model for quantifying the effect of these new regulations on the contractors' profit and the cost of transportation projects. The analysis is done using a spreadsheet-based cash flow model that takes into consideration the expenditure curve, the owner and general contractor's payment and retainage policies, front money, finance charge on negative cash flow, and interest income on positive cash flow, and final payment and return of retainage policies. A survey was conducted among contractors in Massachusetts and their input was used to run the cash flow model. The results of the analysis for eight different projects are presented and it is shown that the new regulations, on average, reduced the contractor's profit by 4.35%. It is also shown that the average potential cost increase for transportation projects is 0.14%.
Stationary Bumps in Networks of Spiking Neurons

We examine the existence and stability of spatially localized "bumps" of neuronal activity in a network of spiking neurons. Bumps have been proposed in mechanisms of visual orientation tuning, the rat head direction system, and working memory. We show that a bump solution can exist in a spiking network provided the neurons fire asynchronously within the bump. We consider a parameter regime where the bump solution is bistable with an all-off state and can be initiated with a transient excitatory stimulus. We show that the activity profile matches that of a corresponding population rate model. The bump in a spiking network can lose stability through partial synchronization to either a traveling wave or the all-off state. This can occur if the synaptic timescale is too fast through a dynamical effect or if a transient excitatory pulse is applied to the network. A bump can thus be activated and deactivated with excitatory inputs that may have physiological relevance.
TAC: Testing time reduction for digitally-calibrated designs

For digitally-calibrated analog, mixed-signal and radio-frequency (AMS/RF) circuits, it is desirable to stop the calibration process as soon as it reaches convergence. Such a strategy can avoid wasting unnecessary calibration time and ensure high calibration quality during production testing. However, due to the lack of systematic methods for convergence detection, existing digitally-calibrated designs simply allot a fixed and sufficiently long period of time for calibration. In this paper, we propose a method to reduce testing time by terminating calibration at convergence for circuits that employ the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm for built-in calibration. We observe the fluctuation range of the tap coefficients in the digital calibration unit to determine whether the convergence criteria are met and subsequently terminate the calibration process. We conduct two case studies - a digitally-calibrated pipelined ADC and a digitally-calibrated image-reject receiver - to demonstrate the generality and effectiveness of our proposed method. In comparison with the existing termination policy, our proposed method, on average, can reduce the calibration time by 70%.
Sequential and rapid activation of select caspases during apoptosis of normal intestinal epithelial cells

Detachment-induced cell death (DICD) is considered to be one of the means by which intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) die of apoptosis as they reach the lumen and are shed. Caspases, a family of cys...
Navigating the complexities at an LGBTQQI-identified charter school: An ethnography of c/overt narratives

ABSTRACTThe authors describe ethnographic research exploring the experiences of school stakeholders at a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQQI)–identified charter school. Participants evidenced use of an overt and covert narrative that appeared to reflect how they navigated the complexities at the LGBTQQI-identified charter school. Participants’ narrative included 5 broad themes of complexity: (a) a negotiation of autonomy with support and belonging, (b) ambiguities in professional roles and boundaries, (c) inconsistency across educational standards and assessment, (d) interaction between individual and collective identity, and (e) the gap between needs and resources. Implications for future practice and research are explored.
Simultaneous determination of four orange dyes in dry chili by SPE-HPLC

Objective To establish a method for the determination of four illegal added orange dyes(orange Ⅰ,orange Ⅱ,orange Ⅳ and orange G) in dry chili by using solid- phase extraction(SPE) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Methods After crushing,chili samples were extracted by methanol,purified with a WAX solid-phase extraction(SPE) cartridge,and washed by the solution of formic acid- methanol(5:95,V/V) and methanol in succession,as well as eluted and quantified by ammonia- methanol(10:90,V/V).After the elution,it was dried by nitrogen and dissolved in the initial mobile phase,the separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-C_(18) column(150 mm ×2.1 mm,5 μm) with the mobile phase of methanol and 20 mmol/L ammonium acetate with a gradient elution.Detection was carried out at 470 nm,and quantified with external standard.Results There were good linearity in the range of 0.5 mg/L-50.0 mg/L with a correlation coefficient of more than 0.999 1,and the limits of quantity(LOQs) were between 0.05 mg/kg-0.1 mg/kg.The extraction recoveries were of 91.2%-106.7%,and the RSD was among 1.6%-7.7%.Conclusion The developed method is simple,fast,of little interference and good specificity for the satisfactory determination of four illegal added orange dyes(orange Ⅰ,orangeⅡ,orange Ⅳ and orange G) in dry chili.
In situ embryo rescue for generation of wide intra- and interspecific hybrids of Panicum virgatum L.

Wide crosses have been used for decades as a method for transferring novel genetic material and traits in plant breeding. Historically, many products of wide crosses require tedious and inefficient surgical embryo rescue prior to embryo abortion to recover single plantlets. We have utilized transgenic switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. cv Alamo) as a pollen donor in conjunction with antibiotic or herbicide selection for recovery of intra-and interspecific F1 crosses by using developing ovules from the female parent and selecting for embryogenic cultures derived from the in situ immature embryo. Using this approach, several intravarietial crosses were generated between transgenic Alamo and the switchgrass varieties Kanlow, Blackwell and Cave-in-Rock as well as an interspecific cross with Atlantic coastal panicgrass. This procedure selected F1 embryogenic callus produced from the developing embryo contained within isolated immature ovules. Several clonal plants were successfully regenerated from each cross. Southern blot, PCR, phenotypic analyses and genomic analysis confirmed F1 hybrids. Using genotyping-by-sequencing shows the hybridization of the recovered plants by determining the ratio of transgressive markers to total compared markers between parents and their potential offspring. The ratio of transgressive markers to total compared markers was significantly lower between parents and their predicted offspring than between parents and offspring unrelated to them. This approach provides the possibility to move useful transgenes into varieties that are recalcitrant to direct transformation which can be optionally segregated thus useful to create new hybrids, as well as recovery of wide crosses that are either difficult or impossible using traditional techniques.
Systematic Perturbations of Binuclear Non-heme Iron Sites: Structure and Dioxygen Reactivity of de Novo Due Ferri Proteins.

DFsc (single-chain due ferri) proteins allow for modeling binuclear non-heme iron enzymes with a similar fold. Three 4A → 4G variants of DFsc were studied to investigate the effects of (1) increasing the size of the substrate/solvent access channel (G4DFsc), (2) including an additional His residue in the first coordination sphere along with three additional helix-stabilizing mutations [3His-G4DFsc(Mut3)], and (3) the three helix-stabilizing mutations alone [G4DFsc(Mut3)] on the biferrous structures and their O2 reactivities. Near-infrared circular dichroism and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy show that the 4A → 4G mutations increase coordination of the diiron site from 4-coordinate/5-coordinate to 5-coordinate/5-coordinate, likely reflecting increased solvent accessibility. While the three helix-stabilizing mutations [G4DFsc(Mut3)] do not affect the coordination number, addition of the third active site His residue [3His-G4DFsc(Mut3)] results in a 5-coordinate/6-coordinate site. Although al...
Proper motion of the Draco dwarf galaxy from Subaru Suprime-Cam data

We have measured the absolute proper motion of the Draco dwarf spheroidal galaxy using Subaru Suprime-Cam images taken at three epochs, with time baselines of 4.4 and 7 years. The magnitude limit of the proper-motion study is i=25, thus allowing for thousands of background galaxies and Draco stars to be used to perform extensive astrometric tests and to derive the correction to an inertial reference frame. The derived proper motion is (mu_alpha, mu_delta) =(-0.284 +- 0.047, -0.289 +-0.041) mas/yr. This motion implies an orbit that takes Draco to a pericenter of $\sim 20$ kpc; a somewhat disruptive orbit suggesting that tides might account for the rising velocity-dispersion profile of Draco seen in line-of-sight velocity studies. The orbit is only marginally consistent with Draco's membership to the vast polar structure of Galactic satellites, in contrast to a recent HST proper-motion measurement that finds alignment very likely. Our study is a test case to demonstrate that deep imaging with mosaic cameras of appropriate resolution can be used for high-accuracy, ground-based proper-motion measurement. As a useful by-product of the study, we also identify two faint brown-dwarf candidates in the foreground field.
Shock as a complication of cancer.

Cancer chemotherapy and complications of disease states can lead to various kinds of shock. Resuscitation and treatment for all types of shock must be prompt if they are to be successful. Mediators of shock and their effects on the host are discussed.
Long-Term Recovery in Paediatric Head Injury: Overcoming the Hurdles

Despite recovery in the majority of children with severe traumatic brain injury to premorbid levels of function on traditional tests of intellectual and language functions, recent evidence indicates that deficits may persist or even emerge at later developmental stages. Unfortunately, children with severe brain injury often are not followed long term and consequently do not receive the necessary services at later stages of recovery for a variety of reasons. This article presents a case study to delineate some of the frequent yet remediable obstacles faced by children with brain injury, their families, and school personnel. Possible solutions to improve the situation are offered. This case is also presented to illustrate the promise of discourse methods in assessing and treating the unique cognitive-linguistic sequelae of paediatric brain injured populations.