cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A management system for an integrated database of pictures and alphanumerical data

Abstract An integrated database refers to a collection of alphanumerical data and picture data. A management system for an integrated database is important in making better use of information in the database. An approach to an integrated database management system without labeling the picture data first is presented. The integrated database is organized logically as a set of relations. The attributes of relations can assume the data type “picture” in addition to the alphanumerical data types to take care of picture data. The language SEQUEL is extended to serve as an interface between the users and the system. Data migration and data compression, which are essential for picture data, are accomplished by the data definition facilities in the extended SEQUEL. The complicated I/O system in an integrated database is taken care of by the use of the concept of logical I/O systems and the use of a new data type device for attributes of relations. The major thrust of the proposed approach is to access picture data via their contents.
The New Dynamic in Corporate Media Relations: How Fortune 500 Companies Are Using Virtual Press Rooms to Engage the Press

This study examines the use of dialogic components of Fortune 500 company Web site press rooms. A content analysis of all Fortune 500 company press sites examined site content. Results showed that corporations have increased their Web presence, and that dialogic components on the Web are improving for journalists’ use. This study also suggests that operationalized elements of dialogic theory as it applies to the Web should be continually revisited as technology develops.
Measurement of phytase activity in soil using a chromophoric tethered phytic acid probe.

Abstract The lack of a reliable method for measuring phytase activity (PA) in soil impedes efforts to elucidate the influence of these phosphomonoesterases on phytate degradation and subsequently the P cycling process in soils and sediments. The objective of our research is to develop a convenient method for measuring PA in soil using the novel chromophoric substrate analog of phytate, 5- O -[6-(benzoylamino)hexyl]- d - myo -inositol-1,2,3,4,6-pentakisphosphate i.e., T(tethered)InsP 5 . This artificial substrate permits direct measurement of the phytase-catalyzed dephosphorylation reaction (hydrolysis of phosphate groups) using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. TInsP 5 can serve as an external standard for quantification of phosphorylated probe intermediate species on a molar basis, as UV detection relies on the same benzamido chromophore ( λ max 226 nm), which is unaffected by the number of phosphate groups present on the inositol moiety. Under soil slurry assay conditions we observed dephosphorylation of TInsP 5 with subsequent production of phosphorylated probe intermediates and 5- O -[6-(benzoylamino)hexyl]-D- myo -inositol, i.e., TIns. PA was determined by quantifying production of dephosphorylated probe species for a given incubation time period. Results of this investigation support our position that TInsP 5 will function as a useful probe for measuring PA in soil.
Regioselectivity of human UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase 1A1 in the synthesis of flavonoid glucuronides determined by metal complexation and tandem mass spectrometry.

A three-part tandem mass spectrometric strategy that entails MSn analysis and a post-column LC-MS cobalt complexation method is developed to identify flavonoid monoglucuronide metabolites synthesized using the 1A1 isozyme of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT). Ten flavonoid aglycons were used as substrates, spanning the subclasses of flavones, flavonols, and flavanones. The products were characterized by LC-MS and LC-MSn, with post-column cobalt complexation employed to pinpoint the specific sites of conjugation. The dissociation of complexes of the form [Co(II) (flavonoid glucuronide − H) (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)2]+ allowed identification of the products and differentiation of isomers. The correlation between glycosylation site and elution order is used to provide additional structural confirmation. Flavonoids lacking a 3′ hydroxyl group were glucuronidated only at position 7, while those containing this functionality also formed 3′-O-glucuronides and sometimes 4′-O-glucuronides, thus supporting the conclusion that the presence or absence of the 3′-OH group is the major determinant of the regioselectivity of glucuronidation. Moreover, the specific distribution of multiple glucuronide products (7-O, 3′-O, 4′-O) is governed by the subclass of flavonoid.
Observations on evoked dendritic potentials of human cortex.

Abstract 1. 1. Stimulation of the exposed human cortex evokes a 15–20 msec. surface negative response which is identical to the synaptic potential of apical dendrites as recorded in the cat. 2. 2. The conduction velocity of horizontal fibers in the molecular layer is 0.5 m/sec. A central synaptic delay of 1 msec. is determined from conduction velocity studies with paired recording leads. 3. 3. Whereas human dendritic synapses are relatively resistant to locally injected d-tubocurarine, LSD inhibits dendritic activity in a manner similar to that observed in the cat. 4. 4. Variations in activity cycles of apical dendrites are believed to be accounted for by the interaction of opposing excitatory and inhibitory synaptic processes which determine overall dendritic responsiveness. 5. 5. Discussion has focused on the significance of the suggestive differences in the pharmacological and physiological organization of cortical synapses in man and cat as they relate to hypotheses of drug actions determined solely in the latter species.
Fat Destabilization in Frozen Desserts Containing Low Dextrose Equivalent Corn Sweeteners

Abstract Data collected with the aid of hanging drop slides and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that α s and β -casein complexed with low dextrose equivalent corn sweeteners and fluidity starch in frozen dessert mixes during pasteurization. Subsequent manufacture into frozen desserts caused a stripping of the complex from the surface of the fat globules which permitted aggregation. Frozen desserts containing 10-dextrose equivalent corn sweetener made from milo did not show this defect. This suggested that the amylose fraction of corn sweeteners is involved in the complex with α s and β -casein.
Relative Deprivation Revisited: A Response to Miller, Bolce, and Halligan

This article challenges some of the conclusions drawn in “The J-Curve Theory and the Black Urban Riots,” by Abraham Miller, Louis Bolce and Mark Halligan (1977). Miller et al. reject relative deprivation theory and J-curve theory as valid explanations of black urban rioting. In my argument that Miller et al. are not justified in rejecting relative deprivation theory, I shall review four versions of relative deprivation theory to show how Miller et al. misrepresent the theory and to point out methodological problems with their operationalization of theoretical variables. Because these operationalization problems are far from atypical, I conclude with a call for greater methodological rigor.
Publishing student scholarship: exploring the ETD initiative at a medium-sized institution

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the Electronic Theses and Dissertations program implemented and managed by the Indiana State University since 2009. The paper illustrates issues relating to the background, policies, platform, workflow and cataloging, as well as the publication and preservation of graduate scholarship. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examined many aspects of the Electronic Theses and Dissertations program and addressed issues dealt before, during and after the publication of the electronic theses and dissertations collection. The approaches the authors utilized are literature review and personal management experience from working on the program. Findings – Implementing an Electronic Theses and Dissertations program involves providing a series of management services. These services include developing relevant policies, implementing an archiving and publication platform and creating submission and publishing workflows, as well as cataloging, disseminating and pres...
Characterizing metalloendonuclease mixed metal complexes by global kinetic analysis

To test the role of a secondary metal ion in a two metal ion metallonuclease mechanism, some groups have introduced a nonsupportive metal ion [usually Ca(II)] in cleavage reactions. Stimulation of Mg(II)- or Mn(II)-supported activity has been taken as evidence that the second metal ion is regulatory. However, this activity has yet to be dissected to determine what processes and species contribute to this observation. Here, we test global kinetic analysis as an approach to this problem. Taking advantage of the various binding and cleavage constants established for PvuII endonuclease, we apply cleavage data obtained under a range of Mg(II) and Ca(II) concentrations to a number of kinetic models which specify A and B sites for both metal ions and various active species. The data are best fit and simulated with models which feature Ca(II) being held more strongly in the B (or secondary) site. This mixed metal enzyme species is the only one which forms appreciably and exhibits a cleavage rate constant similar to that observed when there is only one Mg(II) per active site (approximately 0.01 s−1). Thus, in the case of PvuII endonuclease, Ca(II) does not stimulate cleavage. However, a simulated increase in activity at moderate Ca(II) concentrations can be rationalized with a cleavage rate constant for the mixed species similar to that when two Mg(II) ions are present in the active site. This provides an important insight into the underlying basis for the Ca(II)-stimulated activity observed for some metallonucleases that is not accessible by any other means.
Electrodialysis performance when recycling dilute nickel solutions directly into a plating bath

This work was performed to determine membrane performance characteristics when using low current electrodialysis to recover and recycle nickel (salts) from dilute waste waters. Results showed that nickel at typical plating rinse concentrations (3000 p.p.m.) can be transferred electrically across commercially available membranes, and directly into a concentrated Watt's nickel plating bath (72,000 p.p.m.). Recovery at approximately 90% current efficiency was possible at current densities as low as 3.0 mA/cm2. Nickel and co-transported water were routinely recycled as a relatively concentrated solution which would not cause dilution, since it was well above plating bath strength at all but the lowest current densities.
NMR assignment of Cdc42(T35A), an active Switch I mutant of Cdc42.

Cdc42(T35A) is an active construct of Cdc42, a Ras GTPase involved in signal transduction, containing a single-point mutation in an important effector-binding region. We determined the backbone and side chain resonance assignments of 13C,15N-labelled Cdc42(T35A) from E. coli.
Six-month persistence of sleep problems in young children with autism, developmental delay, and typical development.

Abstract Objective This study examined the persistence of sleep problems in preschool children with autism and two matched comparison groups: children with developmental delay without autism and typically developing children. Sleep problems were defined subjectively by parent report, by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and objectively by quantitative Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) derived from actigraphic recordings. Method Children were studied on three occasions, each separated by a 3-month interval. At each assessment, the children were recorded actigraphically for 1 week, and parents completed sleep—wake diaries and the CSHQ. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios were used to assess the occurrence and stability of sleep problems within children and across groups and to explore how actigraph- and CSHQ-defined sleep problems affect parental sleep problem reports. Results Parent reports of a generic sleep problem were more prevalent than RDC- and CSHQ-defined sleep problems, especially for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. For all groups, objectively measured sleep problems were rarely persistent during the 6-month period. The children in both neurodevelopmental groups, however, had more sleep problems on one or two occasions, using actigraph and the CSHQ, than typically developing children. Conclusions Objective and subjective measures of sleep problems in preschool-aged children produce different results. In a community sample, the rate of actigraph- and CSHQ-defined sleep problems in children with autism did not differ from rates for typically developing children, although the parent report of a generic sleep problem was significantly greater.
Estimates for a family of multi-linear forms

Abstract We consider a special class of the multi-linear forms studied by Brascamp and Lieb (1976) [7] . For these forms, we give a characterization of the L p spaces for which the form is bounded. This characterization appears in earlier work of Barthe (1998) [1] . We use this characterization to study a non-linear map that arises in scattering theory.
Hypertonic saline infusion induces panic in patients with panic disorder.

The mechanism by which sodium lactate (NaLAC) infusion induces panic remains obscure. That the standard 0.5 M NaLAC solution is a hypertonic sodium (Na) solution that produces a marked and rapid increase in plasma Na and osmolality (Osm) (George et al 1989) suggests that these rapid increases in plasma Na and Osm are involved in t?:e induction of panic. In this pilot study, we administered to par~ic disorder (PD) patients a hypertonic saline (HS) infusion (3% NaCI) designed to produce an increa~ in serum Na, Osm, and volume equal to the standard NaLAC infusion. We tested the hypothesis that increasing serum Osm and Na an equivalent amount with HS or NaLAC infusions would p ~ u c e panic ,~ymptoms of similar frequency and quality and that an equal volume infusion of normal saline (NS) would not produce panic symptoms.
THE EFFECT OF STANOZOLOL ON FINAL HEIGHT AND SKELETAL MATURATION IN TURNER'S SYNDROME

The effect of stanozolol on the final height and the skeletal maturation was studied in 35 patients with Turner's syndrome without spontaneous genital bleeding. All patients received stanozolol (1mg/day), estrogen and progesterone therapy. Bone age was evaluated by TW2 RUS method. Height SD score for Japanese Turner standard was used. The final height (142. 42 = 3.93cm) was significantly higher than that in untreated group (139.1 ± 5.6cm). ΔHeight SD score (Δ HSDS) which means the difference between height SD score at the start of stanozolol therapy and final height SD score was 1.00 ± 0.53. There were no significant differences in final height and Δ HSDS between the patients with 45, X karyotype (n=11) and those with other chromosomal variants (n=24). The final height in SFD group (n=10) was significantly shorter than that in AFD group (n = 19). Δ Bone age/Δ chronological age ratio during stanozolol therapy in patients whose bone ages were above 12 years old (n=27, 0. 31±0.18) was significantly lower than that in patients whose bone ages were below 12 years old (n=7. 1.08±0.23)(p Stanozolol didn't accelerate bone maturation after 12 years of bone age. The final height was improved by stanozolol.
Air Duster abuse causing rapid airway compromise.

Inhalant abuse is potentially life-threatening and has resulted in many complications such as central nervous system depression, cardiac dysrhythmia and hypoxia. Inhalant abuse causing angioedema is rarely reported in the medical literature. In this report we present a case of rapidly progressive airway compromise following recreational huffing. Our patient required intubation and intensive care unit admission with complete recovery after 5 days. The aetiology of airway compromise is postulated to be due to commonly reported frost bite injury and rarely reported angioedema. To the best of our knowledge this the second case reporting angioedema secondary to huffing Air Duster.
Optical Fet Receivers For Neural Network Applications

Keywords: Photodetectors ; Gaas Mesfets ; Fet-Seeds ; Optical Neural Networks ; Smart Pixels Reference EPFL-CONF-158488View record in Web of Science Record created on 2010-11-25, modified on 2017-05-10
Competition and the Non-Profit Arts: The Lost Industrial Organization Agenda

The recent industrial organization focus on transaction costs and vertical contracting within the cultural industries (Caves, R.E. 2000, Creative Industries: Contracts between Arts and Commerce. Harvard University Press, Cambridge) stands in contrast to the near abandonment of an earlier literature on horizontal firm interaction and competitive conditions within the performing arts (e.g., Throsby, C.D. and Withers, G.A. 1979, The Economics of the Performing Arts. Edward Arnold, London.; Gapinski, J.H. 1986, J.H. American Economic Review 76(2): 20–25). That incomplete but promising agenda was overwhelmed by the emphasis on non-profit arts firms acting as near natural monopolies, as reflected by Throsby himself (Throsby, D., 1994, Journal of Economic Literature 32: 1–29) and Blaug's survey (Blaug, M., 2001, Journal of Economic Surveys 15: 123–143). This paper resuscitates these earlier inter-firm hypotheses, identifies surprising contrasts with Caves' less frequent horizontal observations, and encourages a revival of interest in studying the effects of competition in the non-profit arts.
Concomitant Crystallization of Glycine on Patterned Substrates: The Effect of pH on the Polymorphic Outcome

This study demonstrates the effect of the solution pH on the polymorphic outcome of glycine by evaporation-driven crystallization from aqueous solution. More than 2000 solution droplets under identical conditions were generated using a patterned self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) substrate. Each droplet on the substrate serves as an independent crystallization trial. Glycine nucleated inside the droplets through solvent evaporation, and their polymorphic forms were identified via Raman microscopy. Three different polymorphic forms of glycine (α-, β-, and γ-forms) simultaneously crystallized at all conditions employed. The probability of producing the thermodynamically stable γ-glycine from acidic (pH 3.40) or basic solution (pH 10.10) droplets significantly increased when compared with neutral aqueous solution (pH ∼ 6.00) droplets.
Improving Psychosocial Assessment in a Community-Based Cancer Center

Numerous articles have demonstrated that patients undergoing treatment for cancer experience distress. Research has also shown that patients whose distress is effectively identified and treated may tolerate their chemotherapy better and have improved quality of life. Oncology nurses at the Lowell General Hospital Cancer Center, through their participation in the Breast Cancer Care Measures portion of the ONS Foundation-supported Breast Cancer Quality Measures Set pilot and the Oncology Quality Collaborative, identified that the distress assessment used at their institution was ineffective. The assessment tool did not identify the reason for the patient's distress and therefore was ineffective at triggering appropriate interventions needed for resolution of the patient's distress. The following article highlights the process by which the Lowell General Hospital Cancer Center implemented a new distress assessment tool and uses a patient case study to illustrate its effectiveness.
Cleavage of cytochrome c with cyanogen bromide

Abstract Heme peptides and nonheme peptides suitable for use in binding studies have been prepared by cleavage of horse cytochrome c with cyanogen bromide. These derivatives include a heme peptide of 65 residues and a peptide of 39 residues obtained by division of the protein at the bond following methionine residue 65. Other useful products include: (1) a peptide corresponding to residues 66–104 of the parent molecule, but with a homoserine residue substituted for the methionine residue in position 80; (2) smaller peptides consisting of residues 66–80 and 81–104; and (3) a heme peptide of 80 residues containing a homoserine instead of a methionine residue in position 65. Unlike other instances in which conversion of a methionine to a homoserine residue has been observed to occur without peptide-bond cleavage, neither of the methionine residues of horse cytochrome c is followed by a threonine or serine residue. A mechanism similar to that for the hydrolysis of N -phenyliminolactone is proposed.
Explorations in Parent-School Relations.

Abstract Grounded in Bandura's (1976, 1986) work, parent efficacy was defined as a parent's belief that he or she is capable of exerting a positive influence on children's school outcomes. Parents' sense of efficacy and its relationship to parent involvement were examined in this study. Parents (n = 390) of children in kindergarten through fourth grade in a metropolitan public school district responded to questionnaires assessing parent efficacy and parent involvement in five types of activities: help with homework, educational activities, classroom volunteering, conference participation, and telephone calls with teachers. Teachers (n = 50) from the same schools also participated, responding to questionnaires assessing teacher efficacy, perceptions of parent efficacy, and estimates of parent involvement. Findings revealed small but significant relationships between self-reported parent efficacy and three of the five indicators of parent involvement. Results for teachers revealed significant relationships ...
Altered regulation of mammalian hepatic heme biosynthesis and urinary porphyrin excretion during prolonged exposure to sodium arsenate

Continuous prolonged exposure to sodium arsenate at 20, 40, or 85 ppm in the drinking water resulted in depression of hepatic δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase and heme synthetase, the first and last enzymes in heme biosynthesis, respectively, in both rats and mice. ALA synthetase was maximally depressed to approximately 80% of control values at 40 ppm in both species, whereas heme synthetase activity was maximally decreased to 63 and 75% of control at 85 ppm in rats and mice, respectively. Uroporphyrinogen I synthetase, the third enzyme in heme biosynthesis, was increased at all doses in the mouse, whereas ALA dehydratase, the second heme biosynthetic pathway enzyme, was unaltered in either species. Concomitantly, urinary uroporphyrin concentrations were elevated by as much as 12 times, and coproporphyrin by as much as nine times, the control values in the rat. Similar patterns of elevated porphyrin excretion were seen in the mouse. In contrast, no changes were observed in the activities of cytochrome oxidase or cytochrome P-450, indicators of mitochondrial and microsomal hemoprotein function, respectively. These results demonstrate that prolonged exposure to low levels of arsenic results in selective alteration of hepatic heme biosynthetic pathway enzymes, with concomitant increases in urinary porphyrin concentrations. These changes, which are uniquely characterized by a predominant increase in uroporphyrin over coproporphyrin concentrations, occur independently of changes in hepatic hemoprotein function and may thus serve as a specific indicator of pretoxic arsenic exposure.
A Model for Obtaining Predictable Natural Transmission of Rhinoviruses in Human Volunteers

A model has been developed in which rhinoviral colds can be predictably transmitted by experimentally infected donors to susceptible recipients in a continuously monitored and controlled environment under simulated natural conditions. Rates of transmission correlated closely (r = .926, P less than .01) with donor-hours of exposure. This model can be used to define routes of transmission, to explore methods of controlling dissemination, to study resistance mechanisms, and to test preventive and therapeutic agents.
A cautionary note on ignoring polygenic background when mapping quantitative trait loci via recombinant congenic strains

In gene mapping, it is common to test for association between the phenotype and the genotype at a large number of loci, i.e., the same response variable is used repeatedly to test a large number of non-independent and non-nested hypotheses. In many of these genetic problems, the underlying model is a mixed model consistent of one or very few major genes concurrently with a genetic background effect, usually thought as of polygenic nature and, consequently, modeled through a random effects term with a well-defined covariance structure dependent upon the kinship between individuals. Either because the interest lies only on the major genes or to simplify the analysis, it is habitual to drop the random effects term and use a simple linear regression model, sometimes complemented with testing via resampling as an attempt to minimize the consequences of this practice. Here, it is shown that dropping the random effects term has not only extreme negative effects on the control of the type I error rate, but it is also unlikely to be fixed by resampling because, whenever the mixed model is correct, this practice does not allow to meet some basic requirements of resampling in a gene mapping context. Furthermore, simulations show that the type I error rates when the random term is ignored can be unacceptably high. As an alternative, this paper introduces a new bootstrap procedure to handle the specific case of mapping by using recombinant congenic strains under a linear mixed model. A simulation study showed that the type I error rates of the proposed procedure are very close to the nominal ones, although they tend to be slightly inflated for larger values of the random effects variance. Overall, this paper illustrates the extent of the adverse consequences of ignoring random effects term due to polygenic factors while testing for genetic linkage and warns us of potential modeling issues whenever simple linear regression for a major gene yields multiple significant linkage peaks.
Is it Plausible

We mathematicians have handy ways of discovering what stands a chance of being true. And we have a range of different modes of evidence that help us form these expectations; such as: analogies with things that are indeed true, computations, special case justifications, etc. They abound, these methods—explicitly formulated, or not. They lead us, sometimes, to a mere hint of a possibility that a mathematical statement might be plausible. They lead us, other times, to substantially firm—even though not yet justified—belief. They may lead us astray. Our end-game, of course, is understanding, verification, clarification, and most certainly: proof; truth, in short. Consider the beginning game, though. With the word “plausible” in my title, you can guess that I’m a fan of George Polya’s classic Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning ([?]).
Low-level chemical sensitivity: implications for research and social policy.

There is increasing evidence that human exposure to levels of chemicals once thought to be safe—or presenting insignificant risk—are, in fact, harmful. So-called low-level exposures are now known t...
How Does Proliferative Homeostasis Change With Age? What Causes It and How Does It Contribute to Aging?

The notion that there might be a cellular basis for aging stems from research that began several decades ago and was proposed to explain the loss of proliferative homeostasis, which is a hallmark of complex animals. Recent years have seen growing support for the idea that two cell fates—apoptosis and cellular senescence, both now well-established tumor suppressor mechanisms—may be important drivers of aging phenotypes and age-related disease. However, there remain many unanswered questions, some quite basic, about how these processes change with age and how they might contribute to aging. It is now clear that failures in apoptosis or senescence can result in hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer. Less is known about whether and how increased apoptosis or senescence can cause tissue degeneration and aging. In addition, there is now a growing recognition that cellular senescence can have cell-nonautonomous effects within tissues. New molecular tools and model organisms, some already on the horizon, will need to be developed to better understand the roles of apoptosis and cellular senescence in age-associated changes in proliferative homeostasis.
Assessing the likelihood of reliable workplace behavior: further contributions to the validation of the Employee Reliability Inventory.

Summary.-This paper summarizes a number of stuhes Ln which the validity of the Employee Reliability Inventory, a preernploymenc screening Instrument deslgned to assess the likelihood of reliable and productive workplace behavior, was exam~ned. Criterion-related studies compared the scores of a broadly diverse group of job applicants with those obtained from an array of criterion and comparison groups, for whom there was documented evidence of reliable or unreliable behavior. Criterion-related evidence indicates that the six scales are effective in differentiating a variety of criterion groups with unreliable behavior from a number of different job applicant comparison groups. Construct-related evidence for the validity of an emotional adjustment scale is reported as well. The issue of response distortion in inventories is discussed, and data are reported which indicate that scores on all six scales appear co be functionally free from the potentially confounding effects of response distortion. These results are consistent with the original validation and cross-validation findings, which supported the validity of the six scales when assessing the likelihood of reliable behavior in a population of job applicants.
Overview of Structure, Process, and Outcome Indicators of Quality in Neonatal Care

Abstract Nurses who implement quality improvement projects and evidence-based care need to measure quality of care before, during, and after a change in practice. The purpose of this overview is to summarize current literature within the traditional framework of quality of care as structure, process, and outcome. This information should assist nurses in their selection of indicators/metrics that are appropriate for the neonatal population.
Inhibition of Apoptotic Signaling Cascades Causes Loss of Trophic Factor Dependence during Neuronal Maturation

During development, neurons are acutely dependent on target-derived trophic factors for survival. This dependence on trophic support decreases dramatically with maturation in several neuronal populations, including sympathetic neurons. Analyses of nerve growth factor deprivation in immature and mature sympathetic neurons indicate that maturation aborts the cell death pathway at a point that is mechanistically indistinguishable from Bax deletion. However, neither the mRNA nor protein level of BAX changes with neuronal maturation. Therefore, BAX must be regulated posttranslationally in mature neurons. Nerve growth factor deprivation in immature sympathetic neurons induces two parallel processes: (a) a protein synthesis–dependent, caspase-independent translocation of BAX from the cytosol to mitochondria, followed by mitochondrial membrane integration and loss of cytochrome c; and (b) the development of competence-to-die, which requires neither macromolecular synthesis nor BAX expression. Activation of both signaling pathways is required for caspase activation and apoptosis in immature sympathetic neurons. In contrast, nerve growth factor withdrawal in mature sympathetic neurons did not induce the translocation of either BAX or cytochrome c. Moreover, mature neurons did not develop competence-to-die with cytoplasmic accumulation of cytochrome c. Therefore, inhibition of both BAX-dependent cytochrome c release and the development of competence-to-die contributed to the loss of trophic factor dependence associated with neuronal maturation.
Evidence that public database records for many cancer-associated genes reflect a splice form found in tumors and lack normal splice forms

Alternative splicing is widespread in the human genome, and it appears that many genes display different splice forms in cancerous tissue than in normal human tissues. However, since cDNAs for many cancer-associated genes were originally cloned from tumor samples, it is important to ask whether this repertoire of cDNAs provides a complete or representative picture of the transcript isoforms found in normal tissues. To answer this, we used bioinformatics and RT-PCR to identify novel splice forms, focusing on in-frame exonskips, for a panel of 50 cancer-associated genes in normal tissue samples. These data show that in nearly two-thirds of the genes, normal tissues expressed previously unknown splice forms, of which 40% were normally a dominant splice form. Surprisingly, the tumor-associated splice forms were twice as likely to be represented in GenBank than their normal tissue-associated splice forms, most likely because 70% of the mRNAs in GenBank for these genes were cloned from tumor samples. As an example, we describe a novel normal splice form of IKBbeta, an important regulator of the NFkappaB pathway. Our data suggest that systematic re-evaluation of cancer genes' splice forms in normal tissue will yield insights into their distinct functions in normal tissues and in cancer. Our database contains 1308 novel normal splice forms, including many known cancer genes.
Inductive tissue interaction in the development of the mouse lens in vitro

Inductive tissue interaction involved in lens differentiation in the mouse embryo has been studied using millipore filter culture methods. The entire eye rudiment (nine day embryo) comprising optic vesicle, surrounding mesenchyme and overlying ectoderm differentiated in vitro into lens and retina, essentially as in normal development. Individual tissue components of trypsin-separated lens primordia lost their structural organization when cultured alone, but lens epithelium in combination with mesenchyme was maintained as a vesicle without obvious lens fiber formation. Tissue recombination experiments show that differentiation of lens fibers in the presumptive lens ectoderm as well as in the lens placode depends on the inductive influence of optic cup. This influence can pass through a millipore filter barrier of 25 μ thickness and 0.45 μ porosity. Differentiation of lens fibers in the anterior lens epithelium of later embryos was also dependent on the inductive action of neural retina, suggesting the presence of continued inductive interaction in lens formation. The initial influence of optic vesicle on the presumptive lens ectoderm seems to be critical and of short duration, leading to the formation of a placode which has acquired stabilized lens forming property. Continued realization of this property depends on further inductive action.
Detection of Aldehydes in Bronchoalveolar Lavage of Rats Exposed to Ozone

We report the detection of hexanal, heptanal, and nonanal in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of rats exposed to 0.5 to 10 ppm ozone with or without simultaneous 5% CO2. These three aldehydes primarily result from the Criegee ozonation of specific mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acids that are present in significant amounts in the rat lung; e.g., palmitoleic acid gives heptanal, oleic gives nonanal, and linoleic and arachidonic can give hexanal. Hexanal also is produced in the ozone-initiated autoxidation of any n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and thus is a measure of generalized oxidative stress. (Monounsaturated fatty acids do not undergo appreciable autoxidation.) This detection and quantitation of aldehydes directly demonstrates for the first time that unsaturated fatty acids undergo Criegee ozonation in the lung when ozone is inhaled. Exposure to ozone alone produced smaller apparent yields of the three aldehydes than did exposure to ozone plus 5% CO2. Hexanal, heptanal, and nonanal can be detected in BAL of rats 5 hr after the end of the ozone exposure, but after more than 5 hr only hexanal can be found, probably from ozone-induced autoxidation of n-6 PUFA that continues after ozone exposure. The measured amounts of aldehydes are low, and that, coupled with inherent biovariability, suggests that aldehydes may not be useful as quantitative dosimeters. However, they can be useful biomarkers, since some of these aldehydes (e.g., nonanal) are produced in ozone-specific pathways and aldehydes are the most easily detected among the lipid ozonation products (LOP). Furthermore, our identification of these aldehydes by BAL, coupled with our recognition that ozone itself cannot penetrate far enough into the lung to cause many of the effects associated with the inhalation of ozone, suggests that these aldehydes, as well as other types of LOP (such as hydroxyhydroperoxides and Criegee ozonides), may act as signal transduction molecules, activating lipases and causing the release of inflammatory molecules by a variety of pathways not yet entirely elucidated.
Can Blind People Use Social Media Effectively? A Qualitative Field Study of Facebook Usability

Social media allow people to communicate, collaborate and socialize for personal and professional matters. However, their sight-centered design can present access and usability problems for the blind. Existing quantitative approaches to usability testing do not provide in-depth assessment of the problem. This paper presents a qualitative approach to test social media usability, and illustrates its application to evaluate Facebook for the blind. Think-aloud observation of six blind participants generated verbal evidence of their Facebook interaction experiences. Verbal protocol analysis explained the nature of interaction challenges in performing common Facebook functions. Design standards analysis explained design errors in Facebook interface. It helped identify remedial measures to potentially improve Facebook usability. Findings demonstrate the utility of the qualitative approach to feasibly evaluate social media usability for blind users. It shows how blind users think, act and perceive in performing common social media functions non-visually. This has implications for the design of non-visual user interfaces to access social media through ‘Internet of Things’ and in multi-tasking situations.
The requirement of fibroblasts to confirm the identity of cytogenetic centric fusion (CF) carriers in same-sex twin cattle.

to demonstrate a tear or rupture. No evidence of thoracic trauma was found. The mucous membranes were pink, and there was no obvious pallor to the other body tissues. There were no other hemorrhages. No anticoagulant rodenticides were detected in the stomach contents or liver. Microscopic lesions were restricted to the tissue of the heart base and pericardium. Multiple lobules of thymic tissue were present at the heart base. There was depletion of lymphocytes and thinning of the cortex consistent with thymic invo1ution. Interlobular septa were markedly widened by hemorrhage (Fig. 1). This hemorrhage blended with hemorrhage infiltrating the wall of the dorsal pericardium, adventitia of the great vessels, and adipose tissue located at the heart base. Blood vessels in the medulla were heavily congested. Hemorrhages obscured the medulla of several lobules (Fig. 2).
A DNA Nanotransport Device Powered by Polymerase ϕ29

Polymerases are a family of enzymes responsible for copying or replication of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) templates and hence sustenance of life processes. In this paper, we present a method to exploit a strand-displacing polymerase ϕ29 as a driving force for nanoscale transportation devices. The principal idea behind the device is strong strand displacement ability of ϕ29, which can displace any DNA strand from its template while extending a primer hybridized to the template. This capability of ϕ29 is used to power the movement of a target nanostructure on a DNA track. The major advantage of using a polymerase driven nanotransportation device as compared to other existing nanorobotical devices is its speed. ϕ29 polymerase can travel at the rate of 2000 nucleotides per minute(1) at room temperature, which translates to approximately 680 nm min−1 on a nanostructure. We also demonstrate transportation of a DNA cargo on a DNA track with the help of fluorescence resonance electron transfer data.
Assurance of system service level robustness in complex supply chain networks

Despite studies that consider service level rates of individual factories in a supply chain system, the interactions between connected factories and the impact of these interactions on the overall supply chain service level rate have been rarely studied. Moreover, due to uncertainties induced by various sources such as transportation delay and manufacturing processes variability, ensuring the robustness of system service level rate while considering these uncertainties in individual factories is a highly complex task. This paper studies uncertainty effect introduced by factory service level rates on the robustness of overall supply chain network performance, and presents a novel robust design optimization methodology to derive designs of factory service level rates in order to satisfy the service level rate requirement of the system and ensure its robustness. A case study with a multi-level multiple factories supply chain network is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methodology.
Contrasting prototypes and dimensions in the classification of personality pathology: evidence that dimensions, but not prototypes, are robust.

BackgroundDSM-5 may mark the shift from a categorical classification of personality pathology to a dimensional system. Although dimensional and categorical conceptualizations of personality pathology are often viewed as competing, it is possible to develop categories (prototypes) from combinations of dimensions. Robust prototypes could bridge dimensions and categories within a single classification system.MethodTo explore prototype structure and robustness, we used finite mixture modeling to identify empirically derived personality pathology prototypes within a large sample (n=8690) of individuals from four settings (clinical, college, community, and military), assessed using a dimensional measure of normal and abnormal personality traits, the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP). We then examined patterns of convergent and discriminant external validity for prototypes. Finally, we investigated the robustness of the dimensional structure of personality pathology.ResultsThe resulting prototypes were meaningful (externally valid) but non-robust (sample dependent). By contrast, factor analysis revealed that the dimensional structures underlying specific traits were highly robust across samples.ConclusionsWe interpret these results as further evidence of the fundamentally dimensional nature of an empirically based classification of personality pathology.
The string-to-string correction problem with block moves

The string-to-string correction problem is to find a minimal sequence of edit operations for changing a given string into another given string. Extant algorithms compute a longest common subsequence (LCS) of the two strings and then regard the characters not included in the LCS as the differences. However, an LCS does not necessarily include all possible matches, and therefore does not produce the shortest edit sequence. An algorithm that produces the shortest edit sequence transforming one string into another is presented. The algorithm is optimal in the sense that it generates a minimal covering set of common substrings of one string with respect to another. Two improvements of the basic algorithm are developed. The first improvement performs well on strings with few replicated symbols. The second improvement runs in time and space linear to the size of the input. Efficient algorithms for regenerating a string from an edit sequence are also presented.
The Rise and Fall of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party

THE SUMMER 2009 ELECTORAL victory of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) over the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holds historical significance, not only for political scientists but also for the people of Japan, and possibly for the country’s Asian neighbors and the United States as well. The LDP can boast of being the most successful political party operating in a democracy since the mid-twentieth century. The party held power nearly continuously from its formation in 1955, a scant three years after the end of the U.S. occupation. In the House of Representatives (the lower but substantially more powerful house in Japan’s bicameral system), the LDP compiled an amazing record: the party did not lose a single election in more than a half century, until August 30, 2009, when the Democracy Party of Japan won a stunning upset victory. Generations of Japanese have grown up knowing no governing party other than the LDP. The only interruption to the party’s rule was a brief ten-month period in 1993–94, when a small group split from the LDP to seize power as part of a disparate coalition that did little more than pass an electoral reform bill before falling apart. Much more significant than that episode, this electoral result seems likely to have important implications for the way in which Japan’s democracy works. Nearly 60 percent of LDP incumbents were turned out, and many sitting and former ministers, even a former prime minister, lost their seats. For the DPJ, on the other hand, election night brought only smiles. The party captured an amazing 308 of the 480 seats in the Diet—an all-time record—and only seven DPJ district candidates did not find their way into the Diet. The DPJ more than doubled the LDP’s 119 seats. What makes this election result even more surprising is that in the last House of Representatives election in 2005, the LDP engineered its greatest triumph
Drugs, Sweat, and Gears: An Organizational Analysis of Performance-Enhancing Drug Use in the 2010 Tour de France

This paper seeks a more comprehensive explanation of wrongdoing in organizations by theorizing two underexplored causes of wrongdoing related to an organizational participant’s embeddedness in formal organizational structures and informal peer relationships: the criticality of a person’s role in their organization’s division of labor, and their social ties to deviant peers within their organization and industry who vary with respect to their experience with social control agents. We investigate how these factors influenced wrongdoing in the context of professional cyclists’ use of banned performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in advance of the 2010 Tour de France. This empirical setting provides two advantages: it permits evaluation of a wider range of potential determinants of wrongdoing than is conventionally possible, and it allows for the use of a measure of wrongdoing that is not subject to the type of bias that plagues most previously used indicators. We find substantial support for our prediction that actors who perform critical organizational roles are more likely to engage in wrongdoing. Further, we find that while undifferentiated social ties to known wrongdoers did not increase the likelihood of wrongdoing, ties to unpunished offenders increased the probability of wrongdoing and ties to severely punished offenders decreased it. These effects were robust to consideration of other known causes of wrongdoing in organizations: weak governance regimes and permissive cultural contexts, performance strain, and individual propensities to engage in wrongdoing.