cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The power of the proposal maker in a model of endogenous agenda formation

In a distributive setting, this study examines a voting procedure for which agenda formation is endogenous. It is found, not surprisingly, that agenda formation is another avenue for strategic manipulation of the voting process and provides the member to first take the floor an asymmetric advantage. What is surprising is the degree of this advantage. We find that the initial proposal maker earns a share of the fixed resource exceeding 1 - α for an α-majority rule and this is regardless of the number of members. The voting rule is found to be an effective instrument in at least partially offsetting the power of the proposal maker while maintaining the stability of the voting process.
Front and back gate interface-trap generation due to hot carrier stress in fully depleted SOI/MOSFETs

The analysis of hot-carrier induced degradation of SOI/MOSFETs is a complicated problem due to the dual channel and front-back coupling effect. Opinions vary as to whether hot-carrier stress of the front (or back) channel results in damage of the opposite channel. Most of the previous studies have used channel current or transconductance as the monitor of hot-carrier induced degradation in SOI/MOSFETs, which often does not allow clear separation between interface-trap generation and charge trapping at both interfaces. In this paper, by systematically examining the charge-pumping currents, junction recombination currents, static I/sub d/-V/sub g/ characteristics, and transconductance curves, we will demonstrate that the opposite channel is indeed damaged during channel hot-carrier (HC) stress, and this damage can be separated from the front-back coupling effect.
DarkHorse: a method for genome-wide prediction of horizontal gene transfer

A new approach to rapid, genome-wide identification and ranking of horizontal transfer candidate proteins is presented. The method is quantitative, reproducible, and computationally undemanding. It can be combined with genomic signature and/or phylogenetic tree-building procedures to improve accuracy and efficiency. The method is also useful for retrospective assessments of horizontal transfer prediction reliability, recognizing orthologous sequences that may have been previously overlooked or unavailable. These features are demonstrated in bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic examples.
Association of physical activity and body composition with insulin sensitivity in a community sample of adolescents.

Objective To examine how body composition and physical activity are related to insulin sensitivity and secretion in adolescents. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Baltimore, Maryland. Participants Fifty-six healthy adolescents (34 boys and 22 girls; mean [SD] age, 13.3 [1.3] years; 95% were African American) who had been recruited at infancy from a health care clinic serving a low-income, urban community. Main Exposures Physical activity was measured for 5 to 7 days by a uniaxial accelerometer placed on the right ankle. Proportion of time spent in play-equivalent physical activity (PEPA) was defined as 1800 or more counts per minute. Body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was converted to an age- and sex-specific z score. Main Outcome Measures Insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and disposition index calculated from a fasting oral glucose tolerance test. Results Thirty-nine percent of the adolescents had a BMI in the 85th percentile or higher; half of those were overweight (BMI ≥ 95th percentile). Play-equivalent physical activity and BMI z score were not correlated. In multivariate analyses, BMI z score and time spent in PEPA together explained 21% of the variance in insulin sensitivity and 18% in insulin secretion. Independent of each other, high BMI z score and low proportion of PEPA were significantly associated with low insulin sensitivity (partial r 2 = 0.14 and 0.10, respectively) and high insulin secretion (partial r 2 = 0.10 and 0.10, respectively), but not with disposition index. Conclusions In a cohort of urban, predominantly African American adolescents, both body composition and physical activity were independently associated with insulin sensitivity. At this point, insulin secretion is appropriately regulated.
Multigeneration Innovation Diffusion and Intergeneration Time: A Cautionary Note

A recent JAMS article reported the following finding: the longer the time between the launch of two adjacent generations in the same product category, the lower the initial rate of adoption of the later generation but the higher its subsequent rate of growth. This note shows that these results could be a method artifact, since they vanish once one controls for differences in the length of the data series used to compute the initial and subsequent rates of growth. So, for the time being, it is premature to accept these intergeneration effects as genuine.
In pursuit of the functions of the Wnt family of developmental regulators: Insights from Xenopus laevis

Wnts are a recently described family of secreted glycoproteins related to the Drosophila segment polarity gene, wingless, and to the proto-oncogene, int-1. Wnts are thought to function as developmental modulators, with signalling distances of only a few cell diameters. In Xenopus, at least six Wnts, including Xwnts-1, -3A, and -4, are expressed initially in the developing central nervous system, with some regions expressing multiple Xwnts. Xwnt-8 is expressed by mid-blastula stage, in ventral and lateral mesoderm. Xwnt-5A mRNAs are stored in the egg, and later are expressed throughout the embryo in both ectoderm and mesoderm, but with a pronounced enrichment in the head and tail. Recent studies in Xenopus have pursued the diverse roles of Xwnts in early development, the mechanisms by which Xwnts signal information between cells, and the cell physiological responses to Xwnt signals.
Insect powered micro air vehicles

In this paper we present successful navigation of a mechanically linked insect moth-pair, using light-weight and low-power actuators, demonstrating insect powered micro air vehicles (MAVs). These MAVs can fly for long periods of time, consuming only a small fraction(1%) of power compared to purely mechanical MAVs. We demonstrate strategies for harnessing the high energy-density biofuel and high efficiency muscle actuators of insects using tissue-embedded and externally attached miniature insect generated momentum redirectors. Commercial off-the-shelf tail motor, a rudder that exploits flow behind the insect wings, and a steering mechanism that misaligns the thrust directions of two insects were all separately used to control yaw of the hawkmoth, Manduca Sexta, in tethered flight. Untethered flight control of two hawkmoths over 60 m was achieved using a 6 gm backpack, including a 3 gram helium balloon to keep the backpack airborne, for over 5 to 30 minutes of flight time.
Linking Library to Student Retention: A Statistical Analysis

Abstract Objective - This study analyses both library expenditure and student retention. It seeks to determine if positive correlations found in a former study endure using more recent data or if alternative interpretations can be made. It includes the associate degree-granting colleges and examines whether library instruction has a greater significance on student retention over expenditure and if library instruction at the two-year college correlates to retention. Methods - The colleges and universities included in the study grant associate, bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees, based on Carnegie Foundation classification. Data was analysed to determine if a correlation exists between the library and student persistence. Library statistics were drawn from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Metrics database which provides reports collected from academic institutions. When aggregated, the ACRL report yielded total library expenditures, total salaries of professional staff, the professional staff full-time equivalent (FTE), fall semester student enrolment and data from a library instruction category of ACRL surveys for associate degree-granting institutions. Results - After replicating the same mathematical approach, the single category that has remained constant for all institutions is professional staff. While the former study’s analysis suggested that a relationship between library expenditure and retention existed in every Carnegie category, this study asserts that the same argument cannot be made for master’s degree-granting institutions. The findings here indicate that total library and professional salary expenditure had a negative correlation. Also, while an analysis of instruction at the two-year school level cannot make the case that expenditure and staffing significantly influence retention, they can justify that instruction plays a factor in whether a student persists with their education. Conclusion - The current research posits that there is no longer a relationship between library expenditure per se and student retention. Further research is needed to resolve the differences in the results of the study. Since there is a correlation between library instruction and retention at the two-year college, high-impact information literacy activities can form a bond between the student and the institution. Considering the low retention rates at the two-year school, a customised library instruction approach may be a solution to improving retention.
Hurricane Andrew's Landfall in South Florida. Part II: Surface Wind Fields and Potential Real-Time Applications

All available wind data associated with Hurricane Andrew’s passage were analyzed for periods corresponding to landfall south of Miami and emergence from southwest Florida. At landfall in southeast Florida, maximum sustained 1-min surface wind speeds VM1 reached just over 60 m s 01 in the northern eyewall over land; by the time Andrew exited the Florida peninsula, the peak value of VM1 over land decreased to 40 ‐ 45 m s 01 . Radar reflectivity observations from Tampa and Melbourne could not support an obvious correlation of convective cell development with coastal convergence during landfall on the southeast coast. On the southwest coast, however, convective cell development in the southern eyewall was supported by a coastal convergence maximum. Comparison of the wind swath with two independent Fujita-scale damage maps indicated that peak swath speeds compared well with damage-derived speed equivalents in the worst damaged areas but were higher than equivalents in moderately damaged areas. Comparison of the analysis maximum wind swath with an engineering survey of damaged homes suggests that homes exposed to a wide range of wind directions while subjected to high wind speeds suffered the most damage. Potential real-time applications of wind field products include warning dissemination, emergency management, storm surge and wave forecasting, and wind engineering. Development of damage assessment models for disaster mitigation is addressed from the viewpoint of an electrical utility.
Inhibition of prostate carcinogenesis in TRAMP mice by oral infusion of green tea polyphenols

Development of effective chemopreventive agents against prostate cancer (CaP) for humans requires conclusive evidence of their efficacy in animal models that closely emulates human disease. The autochthonous transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model, which spontaneously develops metastatic CaP, is one such model that mimics progressive forms of human disease. Employing male TRAMP mice, we show that oral infusion of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP) at a human achievable dose (equivalent to six cups of green tea per day) significantly inhibits CaP development and increases survival in these mice. In two separate experiments, the cumulative incidence of palpable tumors at 32 weeks of age in 20 untreated mice was 100% (20 of 20). In these mice, 95% (19 of 20), 65% (13 of 20), 40% (8 of 20), and 25% (5 of 20) of the animals exhibited distant site metastases to lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and bone, respectively. However, 0.1% GTP (wt/vol) provided as the sole source of drinking fluid to TRAMP mice from 8 to 32 weeks of age resulted in (i) significant delay in primary tumor incidence and tumor burden as assessed sequentially by MRI, (ii) significant decrease in prostate (64%) and genitourinary (GU) (72%) weight, (iii) significant inhibition in serum insulin-like growth factor-I and restoration of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 levels, and (iv) marked reduction in the protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the prostate compared with water-fed TRAMP mice. The striking observation of this study was that GTP infusion resulted in almost complete inhibition of distant site metastases. Furthermore, GTP consumption caused significant apoptosis of CaP cells, which possibly resulted in reduced dissemination of cancer cells, thereby causing inhibition of prostate cancer development, progression, and metastasis of CaP to distant organ sites.
The importance of optical optimization in whole slide imaging (WSI) and digital pathology imaging

In the last 10 years, whole slide imaging (WSI) has seen impressive progress not only in image quality and scanning speed but also in the variety of systems available to pathologists. However, we have noticed that most systems have relatively simple optics axes and rely on software to optimize image quality and colour balance. While much can be done in software, this study examines the importance of optics, in particular optical filters, in WSI.
Race, Education, and Individualism Revisited

Current work suggests that individualistic values are more likely to be invoked in judgments about welfare recipients when the latter are black. Nevertheless, this “racialization” hypothesis has yet to be directly tested by looking at whether generalized individualism is more strongly related to hostility toward welfare recipients among whites when the recipients are black. In this paper, I conduct this critical test. I also show that this tendency is strongest among college-educated whites and that it occurs for both descriptive individualism (i.e., the belief that hard work and self-reliance lead to success) and prescriptive individualism (i.e., a normative endorsement of these traits).
TMI: using a library staff wiki to manage information and improve communication

Purpose – The aim of this case study is to provide valuable insight into the selection, implementation and upkeep of a library staff wiki for libraries considering how to better manage information and improve communication, especially at libraries with multiple desks, shifts and locations. Design/methodology/approach – Spartanburg Community College (SCC) evaluated the library’s needs and selected Wikispaces in this case study. A wiki manager was designated, who completed the initial set up, trained staff, wrote policies and procedures and delegated maintenance activities. Library staffs were surveyed about how they used the wiki and what its impact has been on their experience. Findings – The library staffs report that they refer to the wiki quiet often in their time at the desk and that it has had an extremely positive impact on their service. The designation of a wiki manager was a key in keeping the wiki up-to-date and viable. The careful consideration of policies and procedures, including structure, f...
The Influence of Coatings on the Performance of Structural Heat Pipes for Hypersonic Leading Edges

Previous analyses have shown that refractory metallic leading edges are feasible for Mach 6–8 airbreathing hypersonic vehicles when integrated with a structural heat pipe. This article investigates the effects of a coating on the exterior surface for potential thermal and environmental protection. Two conclusions are found: (i) Adding a thermal barrier coating does not allow operation at higher Mach number because the characteristic temperature of the system is unaffected by its presence. Instead, large (adverse) temperature gradients are induced through the coating. (ii) Coatings required to protect against oxidation can be safely applied provided that they are thin (≤0.1 mm) and have sufficiently high thermal conductivity (≥5 W/mK).
Incipient Maya Burnt-Lime Technology: Characterization and Chronological Variations in Preclassic Plaster, Stucco and Mortar at Nakbe, Guatemala

Patterned technological behaviors in the production and use of burnt-lime products can be characterized using optical microscopy and image analysis of petrographie thin-sections to determine the texture (supplemented by X-ray diffraction analysis). Variations in technological styles have been identified in 21 samples from the ancient Maya site of Nakbe, Peten, Guatemala dating to the Middle Preclassic (1,000 B. C. - 300 B. C.) and Late Preclassic (300 B. C. - 150 A. D.) periods. Middle Preclassic floors exhibit a chaotic texture with a highly random aggregate particle size. Late Preclassic modeled stucco or painted fragments have a well-sorted texture with a low acid-insoluble content ( 15%), the major phases being quartz (-10%) and clays (∼5%). The variations correlate both with the time of occurrence and the function of the end-product. These issues of construction methods and levels of technology contribute data to aid our understanding of cultural development in this area at a critical time when the Maya were formulating power structures.
Getting busy doing the right things: a review of Public Health BrandingEvans WD and Hastings G (editors).

Getting busy doing the right things: a review of Public Health Branding WD Evans, and G Hastings. (editors) . Public health branding. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 9780199237135, 304 pp, 69.95 USD (paperback). ‘For most of us, brand happens while we’re doing something else.’ Marty Neumeier1Many people in public health use the terms ‘brand’ and ‘branding’ to mean a logo, tagline and consistent ‘look and feel’ to their materials. Yet, brands are much more than that. Our understanding of brands and branding has evolved from logos to icons and avatars; taglines to conversations and relationships; mnemonic devices to associations; individual consumers to tribes and building communities; from differentiation to cultural grounding; and from frivolous to social object. More importantly here is, starting with a session at the 2003 Innovations in Social Marketing Conference that focused on the question, ‘Is there a role …
Phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis, response to alkylpyrazine analogs of a fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, alarm pheromone

The phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier, is a parasitoid of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. This fly has been reported to use fire ant chemicals, specifically venom alkaloids and possibly alarm pheromone to locate its host. A recent study identified 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine as a component of the alarm pheromone of S. invicta. To determine the possible involvement of this fire ant alarm pheromone component in mediating fire ant-phorid fly interactions, we tested electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral responses of P. tricuspis females to the commercially available mixture of 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine and its 3,5-dimethyl isomer, as well as six structurally related alkylpyrazine analogs at varying doses. Pseudacteon tricuspis females showed significant EAG response to 2-ethyl-3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine (herein referred to as pheromone-isomer) at all doses, 0.001-10 μg. Among the tested alkylpyrazine analogs, 2,3-diethyl-5-methyl pyrazine showed significant EAG activity at 0.1 and 1 μg. 2,3-dimethyl pyrazine also showed significant EAG activity at 0.1 μg. Results of four-choice olfactometer bioassays demonstrated significant attraction of P. tricuspis females to the pheromone-isomer (2-ethyl-3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine) at all tested doses (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg). The analogs, 2,3-diethyl-5-methyl pyrazine and 2,3-dimethyl pyrazine were significantly better than the control at the higher doses (0.1, 1 and 10 μg). The pheromone-isomer was significantly better than both analogs at two doses, 0.1 and 1 μg. These results confirm that the reported fire ant alarm pheromone component plays a role in mediating attraction of phorid flies to host workers. Venom alkaloids were previously shown to attract P. tricuspis; therefore, we propose that fire ant alarm pheromones may act in tandem or synergistically with venom alkaloids to attract phorid fly parasitoids to fire ant workers.
Optimal Quadrature for Convex Functions and Generalizations

Let C uv denote the class of functions f, convex on [a, b], and satisfying \({f'_ + }\left( a \right) \geqslant u,f' - (b) \leqslant v\) . We display an affine formula that yields an optimal estimate of \(\int_b^a {f(x)dx} \) for f ϵ C uv , among all methods based solely on function evaluation at N points of [a, b]. A similar approach achieves analogous results for monotone functions and for n-convex functions.
Electrophysiologic, antiarrhythmic and cardiovascular actions of UM301, a quaternary ammonium compound.

The electrophysiologic, antiarrhythmic and cardiovascular actions of UM301 were evaluated in a variety of animal models. UM301 (range, 4.5-10 mg/kg i.v.) converted ouabain-induced ventricular tachycardia to normal sinus rhythm in the anesthetized dog. UM301 (10 mg/kg i.v.) suppressed the ventricular arrhythmias observed in a modified 2 day postinfarction dog preparation; normal sinus rhythm was maintained in excess of 120 min in these conscious animals. The ventricular fibrillation threshold was elevated in four animals after pretreatment with UM301 (5 and 10 mg/kg i.v.) without interfering with electrical cardioversion. In one animal, the spontaneous conversion of ventricular fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm was observed after pretreatment with UM301. In anesthetized dogs, 2 to 8 days after myocardial infarction, UM301 (5 and 10 mg/kg i.v.) prevented the reinduction of re-entrant ventricular tachyarrhythmias using programmed pacing techniques. The antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory actions of the therapeutic doses of UM301 (i.e., 5 mg/kg i.v.) were associated with significant increases in the refractoriness of atrial, ventricular and atrioventricular conducting tissue. Higher doses of UM301 (10 mg/kg i.v.) progressively increased refractoriness, and the highest dose of UM301 tested (20 mg/kg i.v.) increased refractoriness further and depressed cardiac conduction in these tissues. Acute cardiovascular studies in anesthetized dogs showed that only the highest dose of UM301 tested (20 mg/kg i.v.) produced a significant decrease in the right ventricular force of contraction, cardiac output and arterial pressure. These data demonstrate that UM301, a quaternary ammonium compound, possesses both antiarrhythmic and antifibrillatory properties in various experimental animal models. The antiarrhythmic efficacy of UM301 can be observed in the absence of depressant cardiovascular actions.
Calcium transport by basolateral membranes of diabetic rats.

The current study was designed to examine calcium transport across the basolateral membrane of the enterocyte of control and diabetic rats. The slope of initial rate of ATP-dependent calcium uptake was significantly greater in controls than in diabetic rats (P < 0.001). Kinetic analysis of ATP-dependent calcium uptake showed a maximum velocity (Vmax) of 0.19 +/- 0.02 and 0.37 +/- 0.01 mumol.g protein-1.-s-1 in diabetic and control rats, respectively (P < 0.01). Km values were similar. Insulin therapy and calmodulin added to freeze-thawed basolateral membranes vesicles stimulated Vmax of ATP-dependent calcium uptake in diabetic membranes to values close to those of controls without a change in Km values. In contrast, the C(++)-Na+ exchange process was similar in both control and diabetic rats. These results suggest that the ATP-dependent calcium uptake process is decreased in diabetic animals. This decrease is stimulated by calmodulin or insulin therapy, implying a causal relationship between insulin deficiency and calmodulin activity in diabetes.
A simple physical mechanism enables homeostasis in primitive cells

The emergence of homeostatic mechanisms that enable maintenance of an intracellular steady state during growth was critical to the advent of cellular life. Here, we show that concentration-dependent reversible binding of short oligonucleotides, of both specific and random sequence, can modulate ribozyme activity. In both cases, catalysis is inhibited at high concentrations, and dilution activates the ribozyme via inhibitor dissociation, thus maintaining near-constant ribozyme specific activity throughout protocell growth. To mimic the result of RNA synthesis within non-growing protocells, we co-encapsulated high concentrations of ribozyme and oligonucleotides within fatty acid vesicles, and ribozyme activity was inhibited. Following vesicle growth, the resulting internal dilution produced ribozyme activation. This simple physical system enables a primitive homeostatic behaviour: the maintenance of constant ribozyme activity per unit volume during protocell volume changes. We suggest that such systems, wherein short oligonucleotides reversibly inhibit functional RNAs, could have preceded sophisticated modern RNA regulatory mechanisms, such as those involving miRNAs.
Dynamic network modeling for spaceflight logistics

This paper introduces a novel dynamic modeling formulation for spaceflight logistics network. The formulation is based on dynamic extension of Generalized Multi-Commodity Network Flow (GMCNF) formulation and enables optimization of campaign-level spaceflight logistics using linear programming. A time-expanded network is used for multi-period modeling so that the “time paradoxes” existing in the conventional formulation can be resolved. This formulation can be used for architecture trades as well as evaluation of potential effects of in-orbit infrastructure such as depots and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Preliminary results include ISRU self-sustained deployment strategy, and its numerical performance comparison with the conventional strategy is shown.
Keeping Up the Kardashian Brand: Celebrity, Materialism, and Sexuality Amanda Scheiner McClain. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2014.

Keeping Up the Kardashian Brand: Celebrity, Materialism, and Sexuality Amanda Scheiner McClain. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2014.Kim Kardashian is ubiquitous. She and her family have built a brand, and a merchandise empire, around a well-known name and a carefully crafted performance of self. Unlike celebrities of yesteryear, whose status was earned or achieved, the Kardashians' renown is attributed (Celebrity, 2001)-they are, in other words, famous for doing nothing. Yet as Amanda Scheiner McClain makes clear in her book, Keeping Up the Kardashian Brand: Celebrity, Materialism, and Sexuality, the Kardashian clan's notoriety is no accident. Their fame is the product of an exact sociocultural moment; it embodies, and is made possible by, an amalgamation of contemporary phenomenon including the proliferation of reality television and social media, the shifting role of women in the workforce, the repercussions of the twenty-first century recession, and the growing discourse around capitalism and income inequality. Where other research on celebrity culture takes an historical or theoretical approach {Heavenly Bodies: Film Stars and Society, 1986; Claims to Fame: Celebrity in Contemporary America, 1994; Celebrity and Power: Fame in Contemporary Culture, 1997), McClain zooms in on one famous family in order to understand how they produce and maintain their stardom. Culling together celebrity and reality television scholarship, popular press reports, and information from the stars' personal blogs, Instagram and Twitter feeds, McClain details the way in which the Kardashians parlayed their privileged upbringing into a multimillion dollar, multimodal, cross-platform brand.Initially known for its powerful patriarchs, O.J. Simpson defense lawyer Robert Kardashian and Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner, today the Kardashian family is a female-oriented, female-dominated entity, best known for their reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which debuted in 2007 on E! network (4). KUWTK routinely averages three million viewers per week, many of whom are women between the ages of eighteen and forty-nine (5). Like many other programs targeted to a female audience, KUWTK features female characters negotiating everyday life in a humorous way; yet unlike traditional women's programming, KUWTK also shows sisters Khloe, Kim, and Kourtney working with mom-ager Kris to maintain their family business, which consists of a prolific array of products all based around their self-constructed image. One of the most compelling aspects of McClain's research is her description of the intense amount of work required to maintain their brand: ten to twenty social media posts per day, work outs, filming, product development. …
Abstract 1997: Changes in growth pattern and expression of epigenetic regulatory genes in human prostate epithelial cells exposed to arsenic and estrogen

Chronic exposure to either arsenic or estrogen causes prostate cancer in animal model. However, the effects of co-exposure to estrogen and sodium arsenite on prostate epithelial cells are not known. Chromatin remodeling by epigenetic changes play important role in gene expression and carcinogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of chronic exposure to 17-βestradiol and sodium arsenite on cell growth and the expression epigenetic regulatory genes in RWPE-1, a human prostate epithelial cell line. RWPE-1 cells were treated with estrogen and arsenic alone as well as in combination of these two chemicals for 4 months. The cell count and soft agar assay was performed to determine the growth and malignant transformation potential of arsenic and estrogen. The expression of genes that regulate DNA methylation and histone modifications was measured by quantitative real time PCR and was further confirmed at protein level by Western blot analysis. The result of this study revealed that exposure to arsenic causes increased growth and malignant transformation of RWPE-1 cells. Interestingly, co-exposure to arsenic and estrogen lead to a more dramatic and synergistic effects on alteration of gene expression than either of these two chemicals alone. The qRT-PCR data revealed that co-exposure causes a moderate to high decrease in expression of histone modifying genes HDAC1, 2, 3, and 7 as well as HAT1 and HMT1. The genes DNMT1, MBD1, and MeCP2 all showed slight downregulation, but MBD4 showed a dramatic downregulation. Western blot analysis further confirmed the arsenic and estrogen-induced changes in some of these genes as well as the changes in the level of acetylated and methylated histones. The findings of this study suggest that chronic co-exposure to arsenic and estrogen may cause synergistic effects on epigenetic reprogramming and consequently on carcinogenesis in human prostate epithelial cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1997. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1997
Crural pyomyositis in a hemodialysis patient receiving corticosteroid therapy

症例は70歳男性. 1997年12月, 糖尿病性腎症による慢性腎不全のため血液透析導入. 2004年5月上旬より発熱, 右胸痛, 胸水貯留あり, 5月24日入院. 抗核抗体陽性, LE細胞陽性, 胸水検査所見などから自己免疫性疾患に伴う胸膜炎を疑い, 6月1日よりプレドニゾロン40mg/日投与を開始した. 胸膜炎は改善したが, 6月15日, 突然右下腿痛を訴えショックに陥った. 右下腿の発赤腫脹があり, 同部位および足背に出現した水疱の穿刺液と血液培養からG群レンサ球菌検出. 下肢MRI所見と合わせ, 化膿性筋炎と診断. アンピシリン2g/日の投与を開始し, 2週間で改善した. ステロイド治療中で免疫不全の状態にあり, G群レンサ球菌による化膿性筋炎に, toxic shock様の病態を合併したものと考えた. ステロイド治療中など免疫不全の透析患者に突然の四肢痛を認めた場合, 鑑別診断の一つとして化膿性筋炎を考える必要がある.
Chemical Basis for Resistance to Tetranychus urticae Koch in Tomatoes

Teneral females of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, were utilized in standardized tests to gain information on the nature of the resistance of PI 251303, a tomato line previously shown to be highly resistant to this phytophagous mite. A choice tube technique, previously developed to study behavioral responses of this species to chemical stimuli, and a topical application technique were utilized to determine characteristics of repellency and antibiosis of essential oils of tomato foliage. These oils were obtained by steam distillation and fractionated by GLC. Both repellent and toxic components were found in these fractions. The 2 compounds most toxic to T. urticae were subjected to mass and infrared spectral analyses which indicated that the compounds are sesquiterpenoids.
Time synchronization method of laser scanner without external trigger

A new method to combine hardware with software was discussed,it synchronized acquisition time of sick laser scanner and IMU to GPS time,GPS time was regarded as start time and data integration reference time,and the different sensors synchronous fusion in sick laser scanning system was achieved by following algorithm.According to the comparison with the point cloud digram of before and after system time synchronization modification,error factors of the time synchronization were analysed in detail,the approach of time synchronization provides an example that the type of the laser scanner can be used in the laser scanning measurement system based on the small vehicle,and also provides a reference for similar equipment time synchronization.
Twenty‐Five Year Secular Trends in Lipids and Modifiable Risk Factors in a Population‐Based Biracial Cohort: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, 1985–2011

BackgroundCross‐sectional analyses suggest that total and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐c) trends that had been declining are now reversing. We examined longitudinal data from the Corona...
RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT DID I WRITE? WHAT DID I DRAW?

Separating visual and verbal representations of knowledge is a beguiling fiction, an artificial dichotomy which gives the impression that the two are separate entities. Kolers (1977) makes this point about reading, but it is just as true of writing. Ultimately to create a text or to comprehend one depends upon both visual and semantic properties.
The Problems of Contemporariness and Voice: Review of Literacy & Mathematics: A Contemporary Approach to Quantitative Literacy by Jay P. Abramson and Matthew A. Isom (2005)

Jay P. Abramson and Matthew A. Isom. Literacy & Mathematics: A Contemporary Approach to Quantitative Literacy. (Dubuque IA: Kendell Hunt Publishing Co., 2005). 297 pp. ISBN 0-7575-2165-7. The book under review covers the traditional content of a typical mathematical literacy text. After a brief overview of the book contents, the review then focuses on two specific challenges that QL textbooks have to meet: the timeliness of the contexts used and the subjective author voice that inevitably colors any contextualized discussion. Both issues noticeably arise in the text reviewed. Nonetheless instructors may find it a helpful resource.
The overflow distribution

The factorial moments of the Ns (t) are given explicitly in (1.13), but the formula (1.9) for ψm (j) is not in a very convenient form for evaluation of its properties when a » 1.
Efficacy of dimethyl disulfide and metam sodium combinations for the control of nutsedge species

Abstract Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) is a methyl bromide alternative with good to excellent nutsedge control when mixed with chloropicrin (Pic). Combining fumigants is a common practice to improve pest control spectrum, however, the use of Pic is restricted in some countries. In order to determine the legitimacy of replacing Pic in DMDS:Pic combinations, a low and high rate of metam sodium (MNa) was used alone and in combination with DMDS and were compared to a single rate of DMDS alone and in combination with Pic to determine their efficacy against nutsedge species and impact on muskmelon yield. All DMDS combinations resulted in lesser nutsedge populations than MNa alone and the non-treated control. MNa applied alone, even under totally impermeable film, was not enough to control nutsedge species. DMDS combinations also provided greater nutsedge control than DMDS applied alone at seasons end. Furthermore, MNa applied concurrently with DMDS may have the potential to replace DMDS:Pic combinations without losing efficacy on nutsedge species in geographies where the use of Pic is restricted.
Arabidopsis Assay of Environmental Mutagens

In the past, Arabidopsis assays have been employed for testing the mutagenic effects of a variety of chemicals. Although it is potentially useful for determining mutagenic hazards of complex mixtures, this species has not been much used for this purpose.
Recovery and Purification of Antibody

Monoclonal antibody drugs have become a large portion of protein therapeutics and many antibody molecules are being evaluated at various stages of clinical trials in the biopharmaceutical industry. This review article summarizes the state of the art antibody purification techniques. The main focus is chromatographic techniques that include protein A, ion exchange and HIC. For each technique, the mechanisms of antibody binding, factors affecting binding capacity, resin selection, as well as typical process parameters and chromatograms are discussed in detail. Cell culture clarification, filtration, alternative antibody purification techniques, and viral clearance strategies are discussed briefly. The goal of this article is to provide a broad coverage of antibody purification technology. Readers are referred to extensive articles for further in-depth reading.
Identifying gene regulatory networks using evolutionary algorithms

This paper discusses experiments with genetic algorithms to reconstruct gene regulatory networks represented as Bayesian networks. In our algorithm Bayesian networks are represented by their topological order. Various selection methods and fitness functions were tested on data generated from a small-scale Bayesian network. The algorithm was run on a large fragment of the human transcriptome to demonstrate scalability. Additional improvements on the implementation are proposed for future research.
Improving social skills in children with ASD using a long-term, in-home social robot

Social robots can offer tremendous possibilities for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) interventions. To date, most studies with this population have used short, isolated encounters in controlled laboratory settings. Our study focused on a 1-month, home-based intervention for increasing social communication skills of 12 children with ASD between 6 and 12 years old using an autonomous social robot. The children engaged in a triadic interaction with a caregiver and the robot for 30 min every day to complete activities on emotional storytelling, perspective-taking, and sequencing. The robot encouraged engagement, adapted the difficulty of the activities to the child’s past performance, and modeled positive social skills. The system maintained engagement over the 1-month deployment, and children showed improvement on joint attention skills with adults when not in the presence of the robot. These results were also consistent with caregiver questionnaires. Caregivers reported less prompting over time and overall increased communication.
Isolated brain metastasis of prostate carcinoma in the setting of normal prostate specific antigen.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in men. It is frequently diagnosed via prostate biopsy following a rise in prostate specific antigen. While prostate cancer can metastasize, this most frequently occurs in bone and lymph nodes.1 Metastasis to the brain is rare and usually occurs in the setting of widespread metastasis. Here we report a case of a 77 year old male with isolated brain metastasis as the initial presentation of prostate adenocarcinoma in the setting of a normal prostate specific antigen.
Complete nucleotide sequence characterization of DRB5 alleles reveals a homogeneous allele group that is distinct from other DRB genes.

Abstract Next Generation Sequencing allows for testing and typing of entire genes of the HLA region. A better and comprehensive sequence assessment can be achieved by the inclusion of full gene sequences of all the common alleles at a given locus. The common alleles of DRB5 are under-characterized with the full exon-intron sequence of two alleles available. In the present study the DRB5 genes from 18 subjects alleles were cloned and sequenced; haplotype analysis showed that 17 of them had a single copy of DRB5 and one consanguineous subject was homozygous at all HLA loci. Methodological approaches including robust and efficient long-range PCR amplification, molecular cloning, nucleotide sequencing and de novo sequence assembly were combined to characterize DRB5 alleles. DRB5 sequences covering from 5′UTR to the end of intron 5 were obtained for DRB5*01:01, 01:02 and 02:02; partial coverage including a segment spanning exon 2 to exon 6 was obtained for DRB5*01:03, 01:08N and 02:03. Phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences showed that the DRB5 alleles group together and have distinctive differences with other DRB loci. Novel intron variants of DRB5*01:01:01, 01:02 and 02:02 were identified. The newly characterized DRB5 intron variants of each DRB5 allele were found in subjects harboring distinct associations with alleles of DRB1, B and/or ethnicity. The new information provided by this study provides reference sequences for HLA typing methodologies. Extending sequence coverage may lead to identify the disease susceptibility factors of DRB5 containing haplotypes while the unexpected intron variations may shed light on understanding of the evolution of the DRB region.
Toxicological assessment of dust from sanding micronized copper-treated lumber in vivo

Abstract Micronized copper azole (MCA) is a lumber treatment improve longevity. In this study, the in vivo response to PM2.5 sanding dust generated from MCA-treated lumber was compared to that of untreated yellow pine (UYP) or soluble copper azole-treated (CA-C) lumber to determine if the MCA was more bioactive than CA-C. Mice were exposed to doses (28, 140, or 280 μg/mouse) of UYP, MCA, or CA-C sanding dust using oropharyngeal aspiration. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) lactate dehydrogenase activity was increased at 1 day post-exposure to 280 μg/mouse of MCA and CA-C compared to UYP. BALF polymorphonuclear cells were increased by MCA and CA-C. There were increases in BALF cytokines in MCA and CA-C-exposed groups at 1 day post-exposure. Lung histopathology indicated inflammation with infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages. Pulmonary responses were more severe in MCA and CA-C-exposed groups at 1 day post-exposure. MCA caused more severe inflammatory responses than CA-C at 1 day post-exposure. These findings suggest that the MCA and CA-C sanding dusts are more bioactive than the UYP sanding dust, and, moreover, the MCA sanding dust is more bioactive in comparison to the CA-C sanding dust. No chronic toxic effects were observed among all observed sanding dusts.
Observation and measurement of internucleotide 2JNN coupling constants between 15N nuclei with widely separated chemical shifts.

Scalar coupling correlations between hydrogen bonded 15N nuclei in non Watson–Crick base pairs is a critical step in the structure determination of unusual nucleic acids. For observing the 2JNN coupling constant between far upfield N2,N6 (amino) nitrogens and far downfield (N1,N3,N7) nitrogens (separated by 150–160 ppm), the HNN-COSY experiment (Dingley and Grzesiek, 1998) is rather insensitive, due to technical difficulties associated with simultaneous excitation of both extremes of the 15N spectrum. These nuclei may be correlated by treating them in a pseudo-heteronuclear manner, using 15N selective pulses. The wide chemical shift separation allows accurate measurement of the 2JNN coupling constant using spin-echo difference methods. Pulse sequences for observation and measurement of 2JNN coupling constants between amino and N7 nuclei are presented and demonstrated on an A-A mismatch segment of the uniformly (15N,13C) labelled DNA sample, d(GGAGGAT)2.
Knowledge-based systems in optimal design

In the early stages of development of new fields, it happens time and again that the imminent potential impact of the new field is exaggerated to the point of a new panacea, usually by workers at the fringe or outside the research area of the field. An attendant consequence often is increased scepticism, if not outright hostility, among the broader community of researchers who cannot separate fact from fiction. This appears to be somewhat the case currently with the emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI) and, in particular, with its applied branch of expert or knowledge-based systems. It is therefore with some caution that the present article, not addressing the mainstream research community of AI, examines the issues involved in developing knowledge-based systems for optimal design. By the nature of the present state of the art in the field, the exposition is to a large degree speculatory. There is yet very little done that would qualify as concrete results in the field. Still, the motivation for developing such systems is eminently strong and the apparent potential results are overwhelmingly desirable, so that at least some speculation is justified.
2-[(Naphthalen-1-yl-methyl-idene)amino]-5-methyl-phenol.

The title compound, C18H15NO, is a Schiff base prepared from an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction between 1-naphthaldehyde and 6-amino-m-cresol. Intra­molecular hydrogen bonding occurs via an O—H⋯N inter­action, generating an S(5) ring motif. Neighboring phenol groups participate in inter­molecular hydrogen bonding through an O—H⋯O inter­action, forming chains. The O atom of the phenol group also participates in an intermolecular C—H⋯O interaction with an H atom of one of the naphthalene rings. The C—N=C—C torsion angle between the phenol and naphthalene rings is −179.8 (2)°. Crystal packing involves stacks with the mol­ecules inter­acting through the π-systems of the C=N with both the phenol system and one of the naphthalene rings.
Industrial Asset Management and Maintenance Policies

Industrial asset management (AM) is defined as a continuous process of planning and controlling physical assets to minimize the cost, while maximizing the reliability and availability of assets. An AM strategy consists of policies to maintain the assets regularly throughout their lifetime as well as activities that should be performed after a failure happens. Traditional AM activities were limited to a fixed interval maintenance schedule plus service activities, as needed.
Chapter 3D – Steroid 11β-Hydroxylase Deficiency and Related Disorders

Humans have two isozymes with 11β-hydroxylase activity that are respectively required for cortisol and aldosterone synthesis. CYP11B1 (11β-hydroxylase) converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone, is expressed at high levels and is regulated by ACTH. CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) is normally expressed at low levels and is regulated mainly by angiotensin II and potassium levels. The latter enzyme also has 18-hydroxylase and 18-oxidase activities and thus can synthesize aldosterone from deoxycorticosterone. Mutations in the CYP11B1 gene cause steroid 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, a form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Mutations in CYP11B2 result in aldosterone synthase deficiency, which can cause hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and hypovolemia in infancy. These are both recessive disorders. Unequal crossing over between the CYP11B genes can generate a duplicated chimeric gene, causing glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism, an autosomal dominant form of hypertension. Frequent polymorphisms in these genes can affect aldosterone secretion and risk of hypertension.