cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of troglitazone (Rezulin) on fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration and glucose metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes

The effect of troglitazone, an orally effective thiazolidinedione, on lactate- and glucagon-stimulated gluconeogenesis (in the absence of insulin) was examined in hepatocytes isolated from rats under different nutritional states. Hepatocytes obtained from fed or 20-24 hr fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated in Krebs-Henseleit Bicarbonate buffer (KHBC) (in presence or absence of 10.0 mM glucose) containing 2.0 mM [U-14C]lactate (0.1-0.25 microCi) with or without 10.0 nM glucagon and troglitazone (30.0 microM) or the appropriate vehicle. Aliquots were removed at specified endpoints and assayed for glucose and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-P2) concentrations. In 20-24 hour starved hepatocytes, troglitazone produced a 26.1% inhibition of lactate-stimulated gluconeogenesis. This inhibitory effect of troglitazone on hepatic gluconeogenesis was further potentiated by incubation of the cells with glucose in vitro. In hepatocytes obtained from fasted rats (and incubated with 10 mM glucose in vitro) troglitazone reduced lactate-and glucagon-stimulated gluconeogenesis by 53% and 56%, respectively. This reduction in hepatic glucose production was associated with 1.06 and 1.04 fold increase in the hepatocyte F-2,6-P2 content. In isolated hepatocytes from fed animals and incubated with 10 mM glucose in vitro, troglitazone (15 and 30 microM) did not have any effect on either lactate- or glucagon-stimulated gluconeogenesis. However, 30 microM troglitazone significantly enhanced (36%) F-2,6-P2 concentrations during lactate-stimulated gluconeogenesis. These findings demonstrate that troglitazone decreases hepatic glucose production through alterations in the activity of one or more gluconeogenic/glycolytic enzymes, depending upon the nutritional state of the animal and the presence or absence of hormonal modulation. All of the effects of troglitazone in the present study were observed in the absence of insulin, suggesting an "insulinomimetic" effect. However, this does not exclude the possibility that troglitazone may also function as an "insulin sensitizer" in hepatic and certain other tissues.
Imprisonment v. the death penalty as a deterrent to murder

In this investigation we examine the simultaneous deterrent effect of imprisonment and executions on homicide. Examination of the census years 1920 to 1960 shows the certainty of execution and homicide rates to be generally unrelated. Also contrary to the deterrence hypothesis, the significant negative bivariate relationship between the severity of prison sentence and homicide rates found here and in earlier investigations is shown to be a statistical artifact resulting from a failure to control for the effects of alternative legal sanctions and sociodemographic factors. While neither imprisonment nor executions are found to have a significant deterrent effect on homicide, attention is called to some limitations of this investigation and the need for additional research.
The response of a thin elastic plate to a moving pressure point

Eine dunne unendliche elastische Platte sei plotzlich durch einen in einem Punkt konzentrierten Druck belastet, der sich danach auf einer Geraden mit konstanter Geschwindigkeitc bewegt. Unter Anwendung der elementaren Plattentheorie wird eine Integraldarstellung der Verbiegung hergeleitet. Dieses Integral kann in besonderen Fallen ausgewertet werden, insbesondere am Nullpunkt und unterhalb der sich bewegenden Last. Asymptotische Ergebnisse zeigen an, dass langs der Bahn des Druckpunktes grosse Plattenverbiegungen zu erwarten sind. Schliesslich wird die Losung fur die stationare Punktbelastung als Grenzlosung des allgemeinen nicht-stationaren Problems gefunden.
Dynamics of ethyl radical decomposition. II. Applicability of classical mechanics to large-molecule unimolecular reaction dynamics

The classical trajectory method is used to investigate the unimolecular dynamics of ethyl radical dissociation. It is found that chaotic trajectories need not be backward integrable to yield accurate lifetime, and product energy and angular momenta distributions. This allows the use of large numerical integration step sizes in trajectory calculations. The product energy and angular momenta distributions are independent of the ethyl radical lifetime, and are obtained after only 50 dissociation events. Differences between classical and quantal unimolecular dynamics are discussed, and a prognosis for future trajectory studies of large-molecule unimolecular decompositions is given.
Long-term experimental hybrid swarms between moderately incompatible Tigriopus californicus populations: hybrid inferiority in early generations yields to hybrid superiority in later generations

The deleterious effects of hybridization are a serious concern for the conservation and management of species, particularly when populations mix as a result of human activity. Outbreeding depression is the typical result observed in early-generation interpopulation hybrids of Tigriopus californicus. We examined both controlled crosses and long-term, freely-mating, experimental hybrid populations composed of southern California populations Royal Palms (RP) and San Diego (SD). Controlled crosses included parentals plus all reciprocal F1, F2, F3 and backcross cohorts, and only F2 cohorts showed significant declines in fitness compared to midparent values, indicating recovery in the F3. For long-term studies, four treatment groups were initiated: 100% RP, 100% SD, 50% RP: 50% SD, and 80% RP: 20% SD. Replicates were surveyed at 3-month intervals for morphometric, census and fitness measures. Fitness of hybrid treatments showed declines relative to midparent values followed by rapid recovery, with two hybrid replicates ultimately showing higher fitness than parentals at the final 15-month time-point (up to 20 generations). In contrast, both males and females in hybrid treatments were larger than the midparent for several morphometric characters at the first time-point, and smaller than the midparent at the final time-point, indicating a possible tradeoff between fitness and body size. Microsatellites for a subset of samples revealed extensive introgression in hybrid treatments. This adds to previous evidence that hybrid breakdown in early generations may be a temporary phenomenon followed by the persistence of highly fit recombinant genotypes.
The Algerian Crisis in World Affairs

A pivotal state is so important regionally that its collapse would spell transboundary mayhem: migration, communal violence, pollution and disease. A pivotal state's steady economic progress and stability, on the other hand, would bolster its region's economic vitality and political soundness.’ The Algerian case is examined in this context.
Theta series of weight 32

Abstract We show that a cusp form of weight 3 2 , which corresponds to an Eisenstein series of weight 2 via the Shimura lifting, must be linear combination of theta series attached to quadratic forms of one variable.
Electroporation: High frequency of occurrence of a transient high-permeability state in erythrocytes and intact yeast

We present the first determinations of population distributions of macromolecule uptake due to electroporation, the percentage of cells which participate and, for the yeast, the subpopulation of cells whose membranes exhibit significant recovery following macromolecule uptake. Flow cytometry is used to measure the uptake of a first test molecule (green fluorescence, FITC-dextran; 70 kDa) and also, for the yeast, the subsequent uptake of a second, much smaller, test molecule (red fluorescence, propidium iodide; 660 Da), which provides a measure of membrane recovery. A dramatic 20% (erythrocytes) to 75% (intact Schizosaccharomyces pombe) of cells can take up the first test molecule within 5 min of a pulse.
Dental Cells Express Factors That Regulate Bone Resorption

Odontoblasts and osteoblasts produce similar highly mineralized extracellular matrices. In bone, osteoblasts/stromal cells regulate osteoclast (ocl) formation and bone resorption by producing factors like osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteoclast differentiating factor (ODF/RANKL), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) that interact with hematopoietic ocl precursor cells. Using odontoblast and pulp cell lines, we detected a constitutive expression of OPG, RANKL, and M-CSF mRNA in both cell types. OPG and RANKL proteins were also detectable. In vivo, RANKL and OPG were localized to odontoblasts, ameloblasts, and pulp cells in developing mouse teeth by immunohistochemistry. In a coculture system, we found the dental cells to be inhibitory to ocl formation from spleen and bone marrow precursors, despite their production of osteoclast stimulatory factors. Our data indicate for the first time that dental cells express factors important in regulation of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Since both stimulatory (RANKL, M-CSF) and inhibitory (OPG) factors are expressed, a balance between positive and negative factors may contribute to regulation of bone resorption.
A Cross-Modal Investigation of Spatial Performances in Patients with Unilateral Cerebral Disease

Summary This investigation was undertaken in order to explore two hypotheses: (1) that there are disorders of spatial ability which transcend a single sensory dimension; and (2) that such disorders are related to hemispheric locus of lesion. Four groups of patients with unilateral cerebral lesions (unilateral left and right hemisphere patients, half of whom did and half of whom did not show constructional apraxia) were given tests of visual and haptic perception. Failure on the constructional tasks was as closely related to perceptual dysfunction in the haptic as in the visuospatial sphere. This relationship was obtained in patients with lesions in either hemisphere. There was no essential relationship between failure on the constructional or perceptual tests and aphasia, motor or sensory defect, or visual field defect. The findings are interpreted as being consistent with the first hypothesis but not the second.
How often do available preoperative risk factors accurately predict the risk assessed after surgery for localized prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE To describe how frequently new information obtained at surgery translates into a substantial change in the risk of recurrence for patients with localized prostate cancer, and to determine what factors contribute to this increase in risk, as the preferred therapy for prostate cancer is often chosen based on available preoperative variables and therefore appropriate decision-making requires an accurate preoperative assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Using the Columbia Comprehensive Clinical Database of Urologic Oncology, we retrospectively analysed 3460 men who had radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer from 1988 to 2006. Kattan nomograms were used to calculate the 5-year progression-free probabilities before and after RP. The difference between these nomogram scores was used to divide patients into three groups, those with a decrease in the probability of disease-free survival (DFS) of ≥15%, those with an increase in the probability of DFS of ≥15%, and those with an absolute change of <15%. RESULTS In all, 1804 men with complete data before and after RP were analysed; 1220 (68.4%) had no significant change in nomogram score, 238 (13.3%) had a significant increase and 327 (18.3%) had a significant decrease in the probability of recurrence. Those patients with an increased probability of recurrence had a greater proportion of patients with pathological Gleason sum of ≥8, higher rates of extraprostatic capsular invasion, positive margins, seminal vesical invasion and lymph node involvement (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Accurate risk predictions both before and after RP are central to effective patient counselling and optimal management. Notably, 13.3% of the present patients were faced with a substantial increase of ≥15% in their risk of biochemical failure after pathological variables became available.
Life history and secondary production of Glossosoma nigrior Banks (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae) in two Alabama streams with different geology

We studied life history and secondary production of a caddisfly scraper, Glossosoma nigrior, in two Alabama streams. Collier Creek, located within the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province, is underlain by sandstone bedrock, while Hendrick Mill Branch is located in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province with limestone bedrock. G. nigrior populations in both streams exhibited trivoltine life histories, which were attributed to the higher water temperature regimes than those found in more northern streams. Mean larval density (556 m−2) and biomass (B) (49.2 mg AFDM m−2) were much higher in Hendrick Mill Branch than Collier Creek (78 m−2 and 6.7 mg AFDM m−2). G. nigrior in Hendrick Mill Branch maintained continuous larval growth and higher larval density than Collier Creek throughout the year mainly due to a greater availability of optimal habitat, a more stable hydrology, and warmer winter water temperature. These factors also resulted in the much higher annual secondary production (P) in Hendrick Mill Branch (965 mg AFDM m−2; P/B = 18.3) than Collier Creek (115 mg AFDM m−2; P/B = 17.9). Gut content analysis revealed that algae (>50%) and detritus (>40%) were the major diet items for G. nigrior, and the majority of secondary production (>80%) was contributed by the consumption of algae. Glossosoma populations play an important role in trophic linkage in these streams with their high production and grazing activities.
Seasonal fluctuations of macroinvertebrate drift in a South Carolina Piedmont stream

The seasonal fluctuations of larval macroinvertebrate drift, exuvial drift and larval benthic density were quantitatively examined over a 1-year period in a fourth order, spring-fed stream in the Piedmont area of South Carolina. The drift was dominated by the mayfly Baetis spp. and by two species of blackfly (Prosimulium mixtum and Simulium jenningsi). Peak drift densities were noted during early spring and especially late summer. Strong correlations were noted between larval drift densities and exuvial drift, indicating a relationship between drift and seasonal growth and emergence patterns. Seasonal trends in drift and benthic densities, though less strongly correlated, were also generally similar.
The turtle bladder. I. Morphological studies under varying conditions of fixation

Abstract The turtle bladder can be maintained in plastic chambers for prolonged periods and is currently being utilized to study ion transport. Its mucosa consists of two principal kinds of cell: a superficial cell fronting the lumen and containing many mucin granules and a basal cell distinguished by a relatively high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio. Uncommonly a third cell type was observed characterized be rarefied cytoplasm, a flask shape, and small apical granules. The form of these cells varies with the degree of bladder stretch. Except for some alteration of cell organelle and sap density that may partially be due to fixation factors, the mucosa of in vitro preparations maintained as long as 7 hours resembles tissue immediately fixed. On the other hand, serosal cells under similar conditions show marked changes, thus eliminating them as an important factor in active ionic transport. Adding to their value as an investigative tool, histochemical techniques for the determination of acid phosphatase activity using light and electron microscopy can be applied to the stretched turtle bladder without the necessity of frozen sections. Unlike the toad bladder, which also is capable of in vitro ionic transport, the turtle bladder can function anaerobically and secrete hydrogen ions. Structurally both bladders are similar, but the turtle mucosal epithelium is distinguished by its greater content of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and mucin granules. It is hoped that in future studies these distinguishing anatomical and physiological characteristics can be related.
Acute and Chronic Toxicity following Parenteral Application of Erythromycin to Maturing Spring Chinook Salmon Held at Two Water Temperatures

Abstract Maturing chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha were injected with 20, 60, 160, 435, or 665 mg erythromycin/kg body weight and held at 8°C or 13°C for 18 d to quantify the lethal dose (LD50) at two different water temperatures and to evaluate the health status of fish that survived. Mortality was highest in fish administered erythromycin at 13°C (LD50 = 369 mg/kg). Among fish that survived to the end of trials, the presence of yellow-colored livers and ascites was correlated positively with increasing drug dosage. Erythromycin residues in perfused tissues, in plasma, and in skin and muscle of surviving fish were significantly higher in fish held at 8°C than in fish at 13°C, but erythromycin in the ova increased with dosage regardless of water temperatures. Hematoxylin- and eosin-stained kidney tissues from surviving fish that were injected with erythromycin had significantly more necrosis and cloudy swelling in the tubules than did those of uninjected fish, and tissue damage and vacuolation were...
Chronic eticlopride and dopamine denervation induce equal nonadditive increases in striatal D2 receptor density: autoradiographic evidence against the dual mechanism hypothesis.

Abstract In an attempt to resolve experimental discrepancies regarding the mode of action of D 2 receptor regulation following denervation or chronic receptor blockade, rats with extensive unilateral destruction of the mesotelencephalic dopaminergic projections induced by intracerebral 6-hydroxydopamine were injected daily for 21 days with either saline or the potent, selective D 2 antagonist eticlopride (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.). Four days after the last injection of eticlopride or saline, rats were killed, and brain sections through the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens septi were incubated with [ 3 H]spiroperidol or (R)-(+)-8-chloro-2, 3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepin-7-ol ([ 3 H]SCH 23390) to assay D 2 and D 1 receptors, respectively. Autoradiographic analysis revealed that chronic eticlopride treatment increased the density of D 2 sites in the intact hemisphere for all regions examined without further augmenting the already increased density of D 2 receptors seen in the dopamine-denervated hemisphere. D 2 receptor density was independent of functional sensitivity as evidenced by the fact that rats treated chronically with eticlopride rotated contralateral to the 6-hydroxydopamine lesion following systemic administration of the selective D 2 agonist quinpirole during the neuroleptic wash-out period, despite the fact that D 2 receptor binding was not significantly different in the left and right hemispheres of these subjects. D 1 receptor density was not affected by eticlopride treatment but was significantly reduced in the dopamine-denervated hemisphere. [ 3 H]Mazindol labeling of high-affinity DA uptake sites indicated that the extent of dopamine denervation was greater than 97% in both saline- and eticlopride-treated rats. These findings are consistent with the view that chronic D 2 receptor blockade and dopamine denervation increase D 2 receptor density via a single, common mechanism. Data from other laboratories, in which additive effects of denervation and chronic antagonist treatment have been reported, may have resulted from incomplete denervation. Experimental discrepancies may also be due to differing means by which the mesotelencephalic dopaminergic neurons are injured.
Solutal convection in the melt during solidification of a binary alloy

Nonlinear solutal convection in the melt under a planar solidifying surface is investigated in the limit of small segregation. Stationary solutions of the nonlinear problem are obtained and the preferred mode of convection is determined by a stability analysis. It is found that down‐hexagons (where motion is downward at the cells’ centers) are stable for sufficiently small amplitude E, while both down‐hexagons and squares are stable in a range of larger E. The dependence of various flow features on the segregation coefficient and the effective depth of the melt is discussed.
Preparation, characterization, and structure of half gap junctional layers split with urea and EGTA.

Gap junctions, collections of membrane channels responsible for intercellular communication, contain two paired hemichannels (also called connexons). We have investigated conditions for splitting the membrane pair using urea. We have developed a protocol which consistently splits the gap junction samples with 60–90% efficiency. Our results indicate that hydrophobic forces are important in holding the two connexons together but that Ca2+ ions are also important in the assembly of the membrane pair. Greater yields and better structural integrity of split junctions were obtained with a starting preparation of gap junctions which had been detergent treated. Image analysis of edge views of single connexon layers reveal an asymmetry in the appearance of the cytoplasmic and extracellular surface. Cryo-electron microscopy and image analysis of split junctions show that the packing and structural detail of membranes containing arrays of single connexons are the same as for intact junctions, and that the urea treatment causes no gross structural changes in the connexon assembly.
Microstructures and tensile properties of Ti–45.5Al–2Nb–2Cr rolled sheets

Abstract Tension tests were carried out at 20, 704, 760, and 815°C on sheet specimens machined from pack rolled and heat-treated sheets of a multi-phase gamma titanium aluminide alloy, Ti–45.5Al–2Nb–2Cr. The microstructures of the heat-treated sheets ranged from equiaxed, (recrystallized) primary gamma structure obtained by annealing at 1200°C to the fine-grained, fully lamellar structure obtained by a short-term solution treatment at 1320°C followed by air cooling to 900°C. The yield strength and the tensile strength of specimens containing the equiaxed, primary gamma microstructure were consistently low at all test temperatures, while the strength properties of duplex and fully lamellar structures were comparatively quite high. The tensile ductility values showed a complex dependence on the microstructure and the test temperature. Fully lamellar structures exhibited poor ductility at all temperatures up to 815°C. Fractography and metallography of the tensile test specimens revealed evidence of a mixture of failure mechanisms: cleavage cracking, ductile failure by microvoid coalescence, and intergranular fracture by cavitation and wedge cracking. The relative contributions of these mechanisms varied with the initial microstructure and the test temperature. Both the lamellar grains and the gamma grains became significantly elongated near the fracture zone, particularly in specimens deformed at 760 and 815°C. The yield and tensile strength of Ti–45.5Al–2Nb–2Cr alloy sheets in all microstructural conditions were significantly higher than those reported for a majority of alloys containing 47–49% aluminum. However, the ductile-to-brittle transition temperatures of the Ti–45.5Al–2Nb–2Cr alloy were somewhat higher than those obtained for the majority of gamma titanium aluminides.
Antibodies to nystatin demonstrate polyene sterol specificity and allow immunolabeling of sterols in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Polyclonal antibodies elicited by injection into rabbits of a nystatin-bovine serum albumin conjugate were reactive with both nystatin and amphotericin B. Upon labeling of polyene-treated Saccharomyces cerevisiae sterol auxotrophs grown on various sterols, nystatin reacted specifically with ergosterol, while amphotericin B did not react preferentially with ergosterol, cholesterol, or cholestanol. Time course labeling experiments demonstrated the rate of ergosterol transport into cholesterol-grown cells.
SWAT-MP:The SemEval-2007 Systems for Task 5 and Task 14

In this paper, we describe our two SemEval-2007 entries. Our first entry, for Task 5: Multilingual Chinese-English Lexical Sample Task, is a supervised system that decides the most appropriate English translation of a Chinese target word. This system uses a combination of Naive Bayes, nearest neighbor cosine, decision lists, and latent semantic analysis. Our second entry, for Task 14: Affective Text, is a supervised system that annotates headlines using a predefined list of emotions. This system uses synonym expansion and matches lemmatized unigrams in the test headlines against a corpus of hand-annotated headlines.
Relationships of PROP Taste Phenotype, Taste Receptor Genotype, and Oral Nicotine Replacement Use.

Introduction Recommended dosage of oral nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product is often not achieved in smoking cessation attempts. n-6-propylthiouracil (PROP) bitter taste phenotype may be a potential risk factor for non-adherence to oral NRT products due to their bitter taste. There is limited literature on this phenotype in the context of smoking and none in relation to oral NRT pharmacotherapy. Methods The association of PROP taste phenotype with NRT usage and sensory response to products was examined. In a cross-over experimental design, 120 participants received a 1 week supply of nicotine inhalers and 1 week of nicotine lozenges with random assignment to order. Mixed effects linear model analyses were conducted. Results PROP taste phenotype and taste receptor genotype were not associated with NRT usage or sensory response to NRT, after adjusting for other factors. However, PROP non-tasters used a higher number of lozenges per day (continuous exposure) than nicotine cartridges (intermittent exposure). Unexpectedly, half of baseline PROP non-tasters shifted to taster phenotype 2 weeks after smoking cessation or reduction. Menthol cigarette smokers identified higher NRT strength of sensation scores than nonmenthol smokers. Taste receptor genotype was related to PROP taste phenotype (Kendall τ = .591, p = .0001). Conclusions A nonsignificant relationship of PROP phenotype and NRT usage may be associated with NRT under-dosing and limited variance in the outcome variable. PROP non-tasters' greater use of lozenges is consistent with nicotine exposure being less aversive to non-tasters. Further research of this and other factors impacting NRT usage are warranted to effectively inform smoking cessation pharmacotherapy.
Inhibition of NFκB by the natural product Withaferin A in cellular models of Cystic Fibrosis inflammation.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common autosomal genetic disorders in humans. This disease is caused by mutations within a single gene, coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The phenotypic hallmark of CF is chronic lung infection and associated inflammation from opportunistic microbes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus. This eventually leads to deterioration of lung function and death in most CF patients. Unfortunately, there is no approved therapy for correcting the genetic defect causal to the disease. Hence, controlling inflammation and infection in CF patients are critical to disease management. Accordingly, anti-inflammatory agents and antibiotics are used to manage chronic inflammation and infection in CF patients. However, most of the anti-inflammatory agents in CF have severe limitations due to adverse side effects, and resistance to antibiotics is becoming an even more prominent problem. Thus, new agents that can be used to control chronic inflammation in CF are needed in the absence of a cure for the disease. Activation of the transcription factor NFκB through Toll-like receptors (TLR) following bacterial infection is principally involved in regulating lung inflammation in CF. NFκB regulates the transcription of several genes that are involved in inflammation, anti-apoptosis and anti-microbial activity, and hyper-activation of this transcription factor leads to a potent inflammatory response. Thus, NFκB is a potential anti-inflammatory drug target in CF. Screening of several compounds from natural sources in an in vitro model of CF-related inflammation wherein NFκB is activated by filtrates of a clinically isolated strain of PA (PAF) led us to Withaferin A (WFA), a steroidal lactone from the plant Withania Somnifera L. Dunal. Our data demonstrate that WFA blocks PAF-induced activation of NFκB as determined using reporter assays, IL-8 measurements and high-content fluorescent imaging of NFκB subunit p65 translocation. Since the airways of CF patients can be specifically targeted for delivery of therapeutics, we propose that WFA should be further studied as an anti-inflammatory agent in models of CF related inflammation mediated by NFκB.
A Physics-Based Statistical Model for Wave Propagation Through Foliage

Accurate estimation of signal attenuation in highly scattering environments such as a forest medium has long been a challenging problem. The challenges arise from the fact that the incoherent power, which becomes dominant after some distance of wave propagation in the random medium, is difficult to model. In this paper, a statistical wave propagation model (SWAP) is developed for predicting the wave propagation path-loss in foliage. In this analysis, the forest is assumed to be statistically homogeneous along the direction of wave propagation, and the potentially large distance between the transmitter and receiver in the forest is divided into many statistically similar blocks of finite dimension. A fractal-based forest coherent scattering model (FCSM) is used as a foundation for predicting the characteristics of wave interaction with the foliage. By applying FCSM to a representative block of the forest, the statistical input-output field relationship including field attenuation and regeneration (due to scattering), is computed by a Monte Carlo simulation. These precomputed statistical quantities of the forest are then reused for all blocks using a network theory. The overall received power, and hence the path-loss, is estimated by following the coherent and incoherent power through all the forest blocks. Compared to a brute force approach, the computation time is significantly reduced while the prediction accuracy is maintained. Simulation results for path-loss as a function of propagation distance, frequency, and forest density are presented. The model is successfully validated by comparing its predictions against independent propagation measurements through foliage
The Costs of Reneging: Reputation and Alliance Formation

Reputations are supposed to matter. Decision makers consistently refer to reputations for resolve, and international relations theories confirm the value of being able to credibly signal intentions...
Agent-based simulation approach to information warfare in the SEAS environment

Information warfare refers to actions taken by an agent to achieve information superiority in support of national military strategy by affecting an adversary's information and information systems while leveraging and protecting its own information and information systems. It employs the same basic tools as used by hackers and criminals: computer, modem, telephone, and software. The paper analyzes the behaviors of the three major types of agents: government, firms and perpetrators in an experimental setting. The experiments were designed and conducted at the Synthetic Environment for Analysis and Simulation (SEAS) Lab at Krannert Graduate School of Management, Purdue University.
Is Coefficient Alpha Robust to Non-normal Data?

Coefficient alpha has been a widely used measure by which internal consistency reliability is assessed. In addition to essential tau-equivalence and uncorrelated errors, normality has been noted as another important assumption for alpha. Earlier work on evaluating this assumption considered either exclusively nonnormal error score distributions, or limited conditions. In view of this and the availability of advanced methods for generating univariate nonnormal data, Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to show that nonnormal distributions for true or error scores do create problems for using alpha to estimate the internal consistency reliability. The sample coefficient alpha is affected by leptokurtic true score distributions, or skewed and/or kurtotic error score distributions. Increased sample sizes, not test lengths, help improve the accuracy, bias or precision of using it with nonnormal data.
Bacterial superantigens mediate T cell deletions in the mouse severe combined immunodeficiency-human liver/thymus model

The ability to analyze T cell receptor (TCR) thymic repertoire shaping in humans by self and foreign ligands is hampered by the lack of suitable models. We recently documented that the mouse severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-human fetal liver/thymus model recapitulates the TCR V beta gene repertoire of human thymocytes. Here, we show that an exogenous superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, administered to such mice induces clonal deletions in both CD4+8- and CD8+4- cells involving the same human V beta clones that are selected in vitro by this toxin. This model, therefore, may allow comprehensive studies into the effects of microbial and other agents on human T cell thymic selection processes in a biologically relevant setting.
Fractional- $N$ Phase-Locked-Loop-Based Frequency Synthesis: A Tutorial

The fundamentals and state of the art in fractional-N phase-locked-loop (PLL)-based frequency synthesis are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on delta-sigma fractional-N PLLs and quantization noise and fractional spur suppression techniques for wide-bandwidth applications.
A self-calibrating temperature independent model of a bi-axial piezoelectric MEMS tilt sensor

ABSTRACT The dual-axis piezoelectric tilt measurement device presented in this paper is modeled using a proposed methodology that generates a self-calibrating representation of the sensors output around two axes. Typically, when a piezo-based sensor is developed, its output is modeled as a direct function of its geometric, electro-mechanical and piezoelectric properties. This means that an accurate representation of the sensors output requires an accurate knowledge of its characteristics. In piezoelectric MEMS appli cations however, such information is either not available, or is provided in the form of approximate values which are susceptible to external stimuli. The method proposed in this paper models the direct piezoelectric effect as a function of genetic data provided a priori about the operation of a piezo-system. The resulting model is shown to be independent of any system-specific characteristics or any external stimuli. The impact that these parameters exhibit on the output of the sensor is carried implicitly by the genetic data which is generated through calibration. The validity of the proposed model is demonstrated through simulations performed on a new piezoelectric device for dual-axis tilt measurement. These results show a considerab le accuracy under variations in the operating conditions, such as temperature. Keywords: Tilt sensor, MEMS, direct piezoelectric effect, self-calibrating model, dual-axis
Capital and Wealth in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract In Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty uses the market value of tradable assets to measure both productive capital and wealth. As a measure of wealth this is problematic because it ignores the value of human capital and transfer wealth, which have grown enormously over the last 300 years. Thus the constancy of the wealth/income ratio as portrayed in his data is an illusion. Further, the types of wealth that he does not measure are more equally distributed than tradable assets. The approach also incorrectly identifies capital gains due to reduced discount rates as increases in the capital stock.
Race, Ethnicity, Postcoloniality, and the New Jewish (Trans)cultural Studies

Jewish studies scholars have traditionally been at odds with scholars in fields such as postcolonial, diasporic, and ethnic studies. Recently, however, a number of scholars in Jewish studies – particularly in Jewish American literary studies – have embraced the possibilities of a comparative, transcultural, and interethnic Jewish studies. By analyzing how Jewish literature and experience might expand formulations of the nation, difference, race, identity, colonialism, and the state, these critics have opened up new vistas in Jewish studies, American studies, and comparative diasporic studies.
Effects of Nestling Health on Postfledging Survival of Wood Storks

Abstract Little is known about the period between fledging and breeding in long-lived birds, including survival rates and factors affecting survival, yet this period may be critical to population regulation. We conducted health exams on 72 nestling Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) aged 4–6 weeks, and monitored survival of these birds via satellite telemetry for up to two years of age. Eighty-two percent of nestlings fitted with transmitters in 2002 (n = 33) survived to fledging. Of these fledglings (n = 27), 44% survived their first year. Second-year survival for the same cohort (n = 12) was 75%. In contrast, 50% of nestlings fitted with transmitters in 2003 (n = 34) survived to fledging, and 6% of fledglings (n = 17) survived the first year. Of the health parameters we measured in large nestlings, white blood cell count was consistently the most closely related to postfledging survival. Significantly elevated heterophil:lymphocyte ratios in 2003 coincided with the observed high colony abandonment that ye...
Rett-causing mutations reveal two domains critical for MeCP2 function and for toxicity in MECP2 duplication syndrome mice

Loss of function of the X-linked gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) causes the progressive neurological disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). Conversely, duplication or triplication of Xq28 causes an equally wide-ranging progressive neurological disorder, MECP2 duplication syndrome, whose features overlap somewhat with RTT. To understand which MeCP2 functions cause toxicity in the duplication syndrome, we generated mouse models expressing endogenous Mecp2 along with a RTT-causing mutation in either the methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) or the transcriptional repression domain (TRD). We determined that both the MBD and TRD must function for doubling MeCP2 to be toxic. Mutating the MBD reproduces the null phenotype and expressing the TRD mutant produces milder RTT phenotypes, yet both mutations are harmless when expressed with endogenous Mecp2. Surprisingly, mutating the TRD is more detrimental than deleting the entire C-terminus, indicating a dominant-negative effect on MeCP2 function, likely due to the disruption of a basic cluster.
A Stapled p53 Helix Overcomes HDMX-Mediated Suppression of p53

Cancer cells neutralize p53 by deletion, mutation, proteasomal degradation, or sequestration to achieve a pathologic survival advantage. Targeting the E3 ubiquitin ligase HDM2 can lead to a therapeutic surge in p53 levels. However, the efficacy of HDM2 inhibition can be compromised by overexpression of HDMX, an HDM2 homolog that binds and sequesters p53. Here, we report that a stapled p53 helix preferentially targets HDMX, blocks the formation of inhibitory p53-HDMX complexes, induces p53-dependent transcriptional upregulation, and thereby overcomes HDMX-mediated cancer resistance in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, our analysis of p53 interaction dynamics provides a blueprint for reactivating the p53 pathway in cancer by matching HDM2, HDMX, or dual inhibitors to the appropriate cellular context.
Teaching Note Using Wilensky and Lebeaux's "Conceptions of Social Welfare" in Social Welfare Policy Classes

In 1965 Wilensky and Lebeaux wrote about Americans having residual and institutional conceptions of social welfare. The former emphasizes individual self-reliance with little assistance from a social welfare system, whereas the latter emphasizes a welfare system that is fully integrated in people's lives to help them develop to their full potential. Viewed as ends on a continuum, these conceptions are helpful in teaching students about characteristics of social policy and programs, policy practice competence, how policies have changed over time, and for prodding them to think about social and economic justice as well as how they would like the social welfare system structured in the future.
Effects of 16S rDNA sampling on estimates of endosymbiont lineages in sucking lice

Co-evolution between insects and their endosymbiotic bacteria can be detected by constructing and comparing their phylogenetic trees. Even though taxon sampling can greatly affect phylogenetic and co-evolutionary inference, most hypotheses of endosymbiont relationships and estimates of the number of endosymbiont lineages within a host group have used only a small percentage of available bacterial sequences. Here we examined how different sampling strategies of Gammaproteobacteria sequences affect estimates of the number of endosymbiont lineages in parasitic sucking lice (Insecta: Phthirapatera: Anoplura). We estimated the number of louse endosymbiont lineages using both newly obtained and previously sequenced 16S rDNA bacterial sequences and more than 42,000 16S rDNA sequences from other Gammaproteobacteria. We also performed parametric and nonparametric bootstrapping experiments to examine the effects of phylogenetic error and uncertainty on these estimates. We found that sampling of 16S rDNA sequences affected the estimates of endosymbiont diversity in sucking lice until we reached a threshold of genetic diversity. Sampling by maximizing the diversity of 16S rDNA sequences was more efficient than simply randomly sampling available 16S rDNA sequences. Although simulation results support the finding of multiple endosymbiont lineages in sucking lice, the bootstrap results suggest that there is still uncertainty in estimates of the number of endosymbiont origins inferred from 16S rDNA alone.
The Most-Cited Articles from the Minnesota Law Review

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Minnesota Law Review, this article spotlights some of the landmarks of the journal's history by presenting a tabulation of its fifty articles most often cited by other law review articles. The three most-cited of all these articles are Anthony G. Amsterdam, Perspectives on the Fourth Amendment; William L. Prosser, The Fall of the Citadel (Strict Liability to the Consumer); and Alan David Freeman, Legitimizing Racial Discrimination through Antidiscrimination Law: A Critical Review of Supreme Court Doctrine, all of which rank among the 100 most-cited articles of all time from any law review. A second list presents the ten Minnesota Law Review articles that have been most often cited by judicial opinions. This roster is headed by Vern Countryman, Executory Contracts in Bankruptcy: Part I, which has garnered the second-most judicial citations of any article from any law review and arguably should be considered to have the first-most such citations. Minnesota Law Review does extraordinarily well nationally in both of my two measures, placing sixth among all reviews in number of articles in the top 100 most cited by other articles and placing behind only Harvard Law Review in the impressiveness of its showing in articles most cited by courts. Comparative enumerations from the Washington and Lee Law Library journal citation database also demonstrate that Minnesota is among the most-cited law reviews in total citations over the last ten years.
Emergent Bleeding in Patients Receiving Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offer clinical advantages over warfarin, such as minimal medication and food interactions and fixed dosing without the need for routine monitoring of coagulation status. As with all anticoagulants, bleeding, either spontaneous or provoked, is the most common complication. The long-term use of these drugs is increasing, and there is a crucial need for emergency medicine service professionals to understand the optimal management of associated bleeding. This review aims to describe the indications and pharmacokinetics of available DOACs; to discuss the risk of bleeding; to provide a treatment algorithm to manage DOAC-associated emergency bleeding; and to discuss future directions in bleeding management, including the role of specific reversal agents, such as the recently approved idarucizumab for reversal of the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran. Because air medical personnel are increasingly likely to encounter patients receiving DOACs, it is important that they have an understanding of how to manage patients with emergent bleeding.
Ernährung des Frühgeborenen in den USA

Die hier beschriebene Ernahrungspraxis bei kleinen Fruhgeborenen (Geburtsgewicht <1300 g) stutzt sich weitgehend auf die Verhaltnisse an der University of Iowa. Bei allen kleinen Fruhgeborenen wird die parenterale Ernahrung routinemasig eingesetzt, und zwar von wenigen Ausnahmen abgesehen vom 1. Lebenstag an bis im Durchschnitt zum 20. Lebenstag. Die Anfangsdosis fur Aminosauren betragt 1,5 g/kg KG Tag und fur Lipid (ab dem 3. oder 4. Tag) 1,0 g/kg KG Tag. Die orale Ernahrung wird ab den ersten Lebenstagen in kleinen Schritten aufgebaut und ist durchschnittlich mit 26 Tagen abgeschlossen. Brustmilch (85% der Kinder) wird stets angereichert. Aufgrund der begrenzten Flussigkeitszufuhr wird die kalorische Dichte der Brustmilch oder der Flaschennahrung haufig auf 90 (3771 kJ/l) oder gar 100 kcal/dl (4190 kJ/l) angehoben. Die routinemasig von der Diatassistentin erhobenen Zufuhrdaten zeigen fur die letzten Jahre ein erhebliches Ansteigen der Zufuhr von Energie und Eiweis sowie des Gewichtsansatzes, insbesondere wahrend der ersten beiden Lebenswochen. Spezielle Nahrungen stehen fur die Zeit nach der Entlassung zur Verfugung, fur das gestillte Fruhgeborene besteht jedoch keine zufrieden stellende Methode der Supplementierung.
Helminthosporium Portulacae a New Pathogen of Portulaca Oleracea L.

(1948). Helminthosporium Portulacae a New Pathogen of Portulaca Oleracea L. Mycologia: Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 342-346.
Intraoperative assessment of the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on the distensibility of the lower esophageal sphincter using impedance planimetry

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has emerged as an effective weight-loss procedure for morbid obesity that is also effective for treating comorbidities such as diabetes. However, it has been associated with the development of GERD postoperatively. The pathophysiology of post-LSG GERD is unknown, and current studies have shown conflicting results. The aim of our study is to shed light on this issue by investigating the effect of LSG on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function and the relationship of LES function to GERD symptoms. A prospective study of patients undergoing LSG from 10/2013 to 8/2014 at a single academic tertiary referral center was carried out. Patients undergoing a concomitant procedure such as hiatal hernia repair or laparoscopic gastric band removal were excluded. Distensibility of the LES was measured after pneumoperitoneum and after LSG. Baseline GERD-HRQL was obtained with follow-up GERD-HRQL and weight at 3 and 6 months. The primary outcomes measured were LES distensibility and GERD-HRQL scores after LSG. Our secondary outcome was a correlation between LES distensibility and GERD-HRQL scores after LSG. Fifteen subjects were enrolled (5M/10F). Mean age was 51 years (30–71 years), and mean BMI 45 kg/m2 (30–58). We were able to obtain follow-up data for all patients at 3 months. Mean LES distensibility increased from 1.2 before LSG to 2.2 after LSG (p = 0.017). Median GERD-HRQL was 0 before LSG and remained essentially negative at 1 and 0 (3 and 6 months postoperatively, respectively). Three (27 %) of the patients had de novo GERD at 3 months following LSG. One (25 %) patient had remission of GERD. There was no correlation between LES distensibility and GERD symptoms. While LSG weakens the LES immediately, it does not predictably affect postoperative GERD symptoms; therefore, distensibility is not the only factor affecting development of postoperative GERD, confirming the multifactorial nature of post-LSG GERD.