cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation of the Mg–Mn–Nd isothermal section at 450 °C

Abstract The Mg–Mn–Nd isothermal section at 450 °C was constructed experimentally using solid–solid diffusion couples and key alloys. Diffusion couples and key alloys were annealed at the same temperature for different annealing time periods to understand the diffusion behavior of the system components, and to achieve the phase equilibrium in the system. The phase relations and solubility limits were determined using scanning electron microscope coupled with wave/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers, X-ray diffraction and metallography. No ternary compounds could be observed in this system at 450 °C. The microstructures of the diffusion zones showed Mn either as a pure element or as a solute atom. However, microstructures of the annealed key alloys near the Mn-rich side showed the formation of Mn 17 Nd 2 at 450 °C. Other Mn binary compounds, Mn 2 Nd and Mn 23 Nd 6 , were observed only in the as-cast alloys, because they are not stable at 450 °C. The experiments showed that Mn remained stationary in some diffusion zones forming Mn+(MgNd), Mn+(Mg 3 Nd) and Mn+Mg 41 Nd 5 two-phase regions. However, some of Mn atoms were diffusing in the system forming a continuous thin layer of pure Mn at the interface of pure Mg end-member, or to form (α-Nd) Mg,Mn , (MgNd) and (Mg 3 Nd) ternary solid solutions. The solubility of Mn in these solutions was estimated as 3.0, 13.0 and 3.5 at.% Mn, respectively. Since Mn is in equilibrium with most of the phases in the system, the phase boundary lines are pointing toward Mn-rich corner except that of (α-Nd) Mg,Mn +(MgNd)+Mn 17 Nd 2 three-phase field. This was confirmed based on the consistency of the results obtained from diffusion couples and key alloys.
Conformations of adducts and kinetics of binding to DNA of the optically pure enantiomers of anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide

Abstract Kinetic flow dichroism studies indicate that the (+) enantiomer of 7β, 8α-dihydroxy-9α, 10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene physically bound at intercalative-type sites in double-stranded DNA undergoes covalent binding reactions to form adducts at external binding sites. The conformation of the non-covalent complex derived from the (−) stereoisomer is also intercalative in nature, but the conformations of the covalent adducts are heterogeneous and are characterized by both intercalative-type and external conformations. It is suggested that the distinctly higher biological activity of the (+) enantiomer relative to the activity of the (−) enantiomer may be related to the preponderance of 7,8,9-triol benzo(a)pyrene residues covalently linked to deoxyguanine and located at external binding sites in the DNA adducts.
Donor ligand effects in group 3 metal-catalyzed hydroaminations

Abstract A series of donor ligands were examined for their effect on group 3 metal-catalyzed intramolecular alkene hydroamination. The cyclization proved to be surprisingly tolerant to the presence of several coordinative functional groups suggesting more latitude with regard to reaction conditions of group 3 metal-catalyzed processes.
Thrombocytopenia induced by GPIIB/IIIA inhibitors

The GPIIb/IIIa antagonists are a new and promising class of antithrombotic agents that bind specifically to GPIIb/IIIa (αIIbβ3 integrin), inhibit its interaction with fibrinogen, and prevent platelet aggregation. Three GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors—abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide—are approved
Pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered digoxin and histopathological picture in rabbits with experimental bile duct obstruction

This study aimed to examine the effect of obstructive cholestasis on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin. Eighteen male rabbits were randomly ascribed to the two study groups: the sham-operated control group and the examined group - with common and cystic bile duct ligations. Digoxin was administered intravenously as a single dose of 0.02 mg/kg, and blood samples were withdrawn for up to 24 h. Digoxin concentrations were determined by the FPIA method. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a noncompartmental analysis. During the whole observation period the blood serum concentrations of digoxin were statistically higher in animals with obstructive cholestasis versus the controls. A significant increase in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve, decrease in the total body clearance and in the volume of distribution on the 6th day after the bile ducts ligation as compared to the sham-operated controls, were observed. The obtained results suggest an impaired elimination of digoxin in obstructive cholestasis in rabbits.
Regions of latest mechanical contraction correspond to regions of latest electrical activation: an electro-mechanical coupling study in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background Numerous studies have shown that placing the left ventricular (LV) pacing lead in the latest contracting region (mechanically dyssynchronous) or the latest activated region (electrically dyssynchronous) of the LV improves patient response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). However, no studies have examined electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony in the same patients to examine electrical-mechanical coupling. We hypothesized that the region of latest mechanical contraction would correspond to the region of latest electrical activation but the time between mechanical and electrical activation would vary between patients.
Anti‐inflammatory actions of transforming growth factor‐β1 on rat microglia

Microglia rapidly respond to CNS injury yet the mechanisms leading to their activation and inactivation remain poorly defined. In particular, few studies have established how interactions among inflammatory mediators affect the innate immune response of microglia. To begin to understand the hierarchy of cytokine signaling we examined the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on both newborn and bulk isolated adult microglia. To assess the functional state of the cells we assayed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2); interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and two protein tyrosine kinases implicated in microglial responses to activational stimuli, Hck and Fak. These studies demonstrated that IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, but not IFN-γ increase the expression of Cox-2, whereas they all increase the expression of hck and fak. TGF-β1 had either no effect, or it decreased basal levels of these proteins. Significantly, TGFβ1 blocked the activational effects of IL-1β when given prior to or simultaneously with IL-1β. TGF-β1 blocked the induction of the tyrosine kinases, Cox-2, and the induction of IL-6 and TNF-α mRNAs. Thus we conclude that TGF-β1 exerts a stronger effect on the microglial state than IL-1β. However, TGF-β1 was ineffective in antagonizing the induction of Cox-2 by IL-6. Therefore, we conclude that the TGF-β receptor signalling cascades intersect with IL-1, but they may not interact with IL-6 signalling. Consequently, IL-6 exerts stronger effects on the microglial state than either IL-1 or TGF-β. Acknowledgements: Supported by NMSS award #RG3837.
Spring Nitrogen Fertilization of Perennial Ryegrass Seed Crop

Nearly the entire U.S. supply of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed is produced in western Oregon. Little information is available regarding N fertilization effects on seed production of this crop in the region. Effects of 16 combinations of four N rates (0, 54, 81, and 108 lb N/acre) applied at the double-ridge (DR) stage of development, and the same four rates applied at the spikelet initiation (SI) stage, were measured on seed production of two older cultivars, Linn (forage-type) and Pennfine (turf-type). In a second experiment, effects of 60, 100, and 140 lb N/acre applied at the DR stage were also measured on two more recently developed turf-type cultivars, Regal and Pleasure. In both experiments, between 25 and 42 lb N/acre was applied in the fall. Seed yield of cultivar Linn was near maximum at 54 to 81 lb N/acre, but Pennfine seed yield was the highest at 108 lb N/acre. Growth stage when N was applied did not affect seed yield of either cultivar. Also, splitting the N application was not superior to applying all of the N at one time. Responses of Regal and Pleasure seed yield to N rates varied among years. In years without severe lodging, seed yields of Regal and Pleasure were the highest at 140 lb N/acre.
Effects of exposure to information about appearance stereotyping and discrimination on women's body images.

Objective There is widespread public dissemination of research findings and media messages regarding social advantages of physical attractiveness and liabilities of unattractiveness. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the effects of such information on women's body-image experiences. Method College women (n = 66) listened to one of two audiotapes that detailed research-based information either on the subject of appearance stereotyping and discrimination or on the control topic of television violence and aggression. Results Although the two conditions did not differentially alter mood, exposure to appearance-related versus control information produced significantly less favorable body-image evaluations. Furthermore, as predicted, women who were schematically invested in their physical appearance were especially susceptible to the deleterious effects of the appearance information. Discussion The scientific and clinical implications of these findings were discussed, particularly with respect to eating disturbances.© 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 29: 51–2001.
Atropine Reduces but does not Eliminate the Age-related Decline in Perfusion Outflow Facility in Monkeys ☆

Abstract Accommodative amplitude and outflow facility decline with age in rhesus monkeys and humans. In monkeys, there is an age-related reduction in ciliary muscle (CM) mobility due to stiffening of its posterior and outer attachments. Since the CM inserts into the trabecular meshwork (TM) and CM contraction deforms the TM so as to increase outflow facility, we asked whether the age-related decline in outflow facility observed in anesthetized monkeys is consequent to the age-related reduction in CM mobility. One eye of 19 pentobarbital-anesthetized rhesus monkeys aged 4–24 years underwent 2-level constant pressure perfusion of the anterior chamber (AC) for 40 min to measure baseline total outflow facility. Both eyes then received 100 μg of atropine, given topically to the central cornea. The AC of the second eye was cannulated 40 min after atropine treatment. Facility was measured simultaneously in both eyes for 40 min beginning 45 min after atropine treatment. Baseline facility declined with age by −0.0160±0.0059 μl min −1 mmHg −1 yr −1 ( P =0.009). The average facility at baseline was ∼50% higher in the youngest (ages 4–10 years) compared to the oldest (ages 21–25 years) animals ( P ≤0.03). Following atropine facility decreased by ∼25% in the youngest monkeys (N.S.), but not at all in the oldest animals when compared to baseline. Thus, the age-related facility decline persisted after atropine in both eyes, but was not as dramatic as prior to atropine (−0.0092±0.0050 [ P ≤0.09] and −0.0078±0.0044 [ P ≤0.10] μl min −1 mmHg −1 yr −1 respectively). Apparently, atropine inhibits facility-relevant anesthetic-induced ciliary muscle tone to a greater extent in younger than in older monkeys, presumably because stiffening of the posterior and outer attachments of the CM in the older animals has already reduced its ability to move and thereby deform the TM. The inability of atropine to completely eliminate the age-related facility decline indicates the presence of atropine-independent, facility-relevant age-dependent changes in the TM itself, such as loss of cells or build-up of extracellular material.
From genomics and epigenomics to finding hidden regulators

A report on the Plant and Animal Genome XXII meeting held in San Diego, California, USA, January 11–15, 2014.
Interpreting the balanced scorecard: an investigation into performance analysis and bias

Purpose – This research seeks to explore the human interpretation of performance management information using Kaplan and Norton's Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a research vehicle.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses the controlled environment of an experiment to explicitly investigate whether experienced managers weight all performance measures in a BSC equally when making comparative decisions.Findings – Experimental results suggest that managers do not rate the importance of individual performance measures equally, and at the outset of the decision process often rely on simplifying strategies to help process the information in the time available. Further analysis indicates that the decision approaches used were in themselves biased, and that decision outcomes were not always related to the factors which managers thought were important at the beginning of the process.Originality/value – The research found that managers do not consider the measures in a scorecard equally, but will apply their own we...
Geometrical phase factors and higher-order adiabatic approximations

A detailed study of Schrodinger equations having several components with a time-dependent Hamiltonian is carried out, paying particular attention to the geometrical nature of these equations. Two features of such a study will be presented: (i) It is shown that the diagonalization process of such equations possesses a certain arbitrariness which can be interpreted precisely as a local gauge degree of freedom. For a two-component problem, this gauge symmetry structure is determined completely in terms of the corresponding geometrical structure, i.e., a differentiable principal fibre bundle equipped with a connection form. This geometrical structure, and particularly the notion of parallelism provided by it, is used subsequently to show that the wavefunction factorizes into two parts, one of which is thereby given a purely geometrical interpretation. (ii) Second, it is shown that the adiabatic theorem, well-known to hold in the extreme adiabatic limit, can be generalized in such a way that higher-order terms with respect to the adiabatic approximation can be calculated systematically. This part of the study is carried out for a reduced Schrodinger equation given subsequently after the aforementioned geometrical factorization. Clarification on how the combination of these two results allows one to study the now popular subject of “Berry's phase” for a wider class of systems than those in the earlier literature is given. Applications of the present result to certain systems, including the neutrino propagation in matter, are also discussed.
Anomalous components of supercooled water expansivity, compressibility, and heat capacity (Cp and Cv) from binary formamide+water solution studies

Recently reported heat capacity studies of N2H4+H2O and H2O2+H2O solutions, from which an anomalous component of the pure water behavior could be extracted by extrapolation, have been extended to a system NH2CHO+H2O which has the chemical stability needed to permit expansivity and compressibility measurements as well. Data accurate to ±2% for each of these properties as well as for the heat capacity are reported. The expansivity data support almost quantitatively an earlier speculative separation of the bulk and supercooled water expansivity into a ‘‘normal’’ (or ‘‘background’’) part and an ‘‘anomalous’’ part, the latter part fitting a critical law αanom=A(T/Ts−1)−γ with exponent γ=1.0. According to the present analysis, the anomalous part of the expansivity which is always negative, yields Ts in the range 225–228, γ in the range 1.28–1.0, depending on the choice of background extrapolation function. The normal contribution to the heat capacity obtained from the present work is intermediate in character t...
A decomposition of the Brownian path

Abstract The Brownian path {ω(s); 0 ⩽ s ⩽ t} is dissected and then reassembled in such a way that (i) the last visit γt at the origin, as well as the fragment {ω(s); γt ⩽ s ⩽ t}, are left invariant; (ii) on [0, γt], local time becomes maximum-to-date and occupation time of|R+ becomes location of maximum; and (iii) the resulting process is again Brownian. Characterizations of conditional processes are employed to establish the result. Several consequences of the latter are discussed.
Acetazolamide inhibition of photosystem II in isolated spinach chloroplasts

Abstract Acetazolamide (2-acetylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide), a compound commonly used to inhibit carbonic anhydrase has been ound to inhibit the photoreduction of 3-phosphoglyceric acid, NADP, and methyl viologen by isolated spinach chloroplasts. Acetazolamide had no effect on the photoreduction of methyl viologen by chloroplasts using ascorbate plus 2,6-dichloroindophenol, as an electron donor, indicating the site of the acetazolamide inhibition was not in photosystem I. There was no acetazolamide effect on NADP reduction by isolated chloroplasts using hydroxylamine instead of water as the electron donor. The results indicate that the site of acetazolamide inhibition is near the water-splitting side of photosystem II.
The Evaluation of Mitral Regurgitation:: A Balanced Approach for the Cardiac Sonographer

In the late 1970s, conventional Doppler techniques, specifically pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler and continuouswave (CW) Doppler, enabled the cardiac sonographer to detect the presence and determine the severity of mitral regurgitation. In the mid 1980s, with the introduction of color flow Doppler, the regurgitant jet area (RJA)/left atrial area (LAA) ratio quickly became the yardstick by which the severity of mitral regurgitation was judged. This simple ratio came to overshadow or even replace the conventional Doppler techniques that had preceded the ratio method. It is our contention that there is currently an overemphasis on the RJA/LAA ratio and we believe that a more balanced approach should be adopted in order to determine the severity of mitral regurgitation.
Treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis by burn units: another market or another threat?

A survey of burn care facilities in the United States has provided information regarding the treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis and related diseases in burn units. The survey suggests that a disproportionate share (12% to 15%) of the projected number of cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis that
Effect of unsaturated oils on rumen fermentation, blood components, and milk composition.

Abstract Two lactating cows each of the Guernsey (G), Holstein (H), and Jersey (J) breeds were placed on a normal ration to which 250ml of safflower oil (S) or cod-liver oil (C) were added once daily. The influence of breed or type of oil on treatment response was minor. Milk fat percentages with respective iodine numbers in parentheses during preliminary, experimental, and post-experimental periods were G-S : 4.3(29), 3.4(40) , 3.5(28) ; G-C : 4.0(31), 3.6(50) , 3.1(28); H-S: 2.8(31), 2.6(39) , 2.4(28); H-C: 2.9(29), 1.8(49) , 2.4(29); J-S: 5.0(30), 4.2(40) , 4.0(29); J-C: 4.4(33), 4.1(43) , 3.9(27). Changes in milk protein and solids-not-fat percentages, daily yield, and body weight were not statistically significant. There was a small but statistically significant drop in the percentage of acetate, as well as increases in the percentages of propionate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate in the rumen fluid. Changes in rumen fluid pH were not significant. The levels of jugular blood plasma acetate increased significantly. Total levels of plasma phospholipids or cholesterol esters did not show any significant change. The concentrations of plasma free cholesterol and free fatty acids rose, whereas those of total plasma triglycerides dropped. Arteriovenous differences for plasma phospholipids, cholesterol esters, free cholesterol, and free fatty acids were small and inconsistent. The major change associated with the depression in milk fat test was a significant decrease in the arteriovenous differences for total plasma triglycerides.
Linking consistency with object/thread semantics: an approach to robust computation

An object/thread based paradigm is presented that links data consistency with object/thread semantics. The paradigm can be used to achieve a wide range of consistency semantics from strict atomic transactions to standard process semantics. The paradigm supports three types of data consistency. Object programmers indicate the type of consistency desired on a per-operation basis, and the system performs automatic concurrency control and recovery management to ensure that those consistency requirements are met. This allows programmers to customize consistency and recovery on a per-application basis without having to supply complicated, custom recovery management schemes. The paradigm allows robust and nonrobust computation to operate concurrently on the same data in a well-defined manner. The operating system need support only one vehicle of computation-the thread. >
Avoiding packaging mismatch with flexible packaging

To integrate a software component into a system, it must interact properly with the system's other components. Unfortunately, the decisions about how a component is to interact with other components are typically committed long before the moment of integration and are difficult to change. This paper introduces the flexible packaging method, which allows a component developer to defer some decisions about component interaction until system integration time. The method divides the component's source into two pieces: the ware, which encapsulates the component's functionality; and the packager, which encapsulates the details of interaction. Both the ware and the packager are independently reusable. A ware, as a reusable part, allows a given piece of functionality to be employed in systems in different architectural styles. A packager, as a reusable part, encapsulates conformance to a component standard, like an ActiveX control or an ODBC database accessor. Because the packager's source code is often formulaic, a tool is provided to generate the packager's source from a high-level description of the intended interaction, a description written in the architectural description language UniCon. The method and tools are evaluated with a series of experiments in which three wares and nine types of packaging are combined to form thirteen components.
Effective rheumatoid arthritis treatment requires comprehensive management strategies

Work by Lee and colleagues has shown that decreased sleep quality and increased psychiatric distress increase pain sensitivity at both articular and nonarticular sites in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This work is consistent with prior studies showing that factors independent of RA disease activity can influence RA outcome measures. Owing to increasing pressure on rheumatologists to use outcome measures to inform treatment decisions, the work by Lee and colleagues highlights the need for comprehensive RA management strategies to understand and address the human factors that influence outcomes measures. Such strategies will ensure appropriate use of increasingly expensive therapies while maximizing patient satisfaction and reimbursement.
Energy exchange across a chronosequence of slash pine forests in Florida

We measured net atmospheric exchanges of energy and water vapor using eddy covariance along a chronosequence ofPinus elliottii plantations in north Florida: a recent clear-cut, a mid-rotation stand, and a 24-year-old, rotation-aged stand. Reflected energy averaged 0.26 of incoming solar radiation at the clear-cut and 0.18 at the closed-canopy stands. The sum of sensible (S), latent (LE) and soil heat fluxes accounted for 89 and 85% of net radiation ( Rnet) at the clear-cut and mid-rotation age sites. Both S and LE were linearly related to Rnet at all sites. Seasonal differences occurred in the proportion of Rnet attributable to S and LE. S was a much smaller proportion of Rnet when the clear-cut and the mid-rotation age stands were flooded in the summer. LE was a greater proportion of Rnet during the summer/fall at all sites when LAI was greatest. Bowen ratios (S/LE) were 0.34, 0.50 and 0.59 in the summer/fall and 0.71, 0.77 and 1.00 in the winter/spring at the clear-cut, mid-rotation and rotation-aged stands, respectively. Maximum rates of evapotranspiration (ET) in the summer were 0.6 mm h −1 at all sites. Mean daily rates averaged 3.3 mm per day in the summer/fall and 2.0 mm per day in the winter/spring. Although, changes in LAI and canopy structure were large, annual ET estimates were similar and averaged 959, 951 and 1110 mm per year along the chronosequence. Results suggest that energy partitioning and annual ET in these pine forests are more sensitive to environmental fluctuations than to management activities. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A Study on Customer Individual Demand-Oriented Networked Manufacturing System

The networked manufacturing system oriented customer aims to meet customerpsilas individual demands. From the evaluation of CSI (customer satisfaction index), customer individual demands can be analyzed. The method of case-based reasoning (CBR) was used to evaluate CSI. The proposed method involves establishing source cases warehouse, describing historic CSI, and retrieving the source case for the target case by calculating similarity degree. The NMS (networked manufacturing system) can be developed oriented customer individual demands after CSI evaluation. The NMS has a three-tier architecture: customer server-web server-logic server. It was developed under the mode of MVC (model-view-control), and techniques such as Javascript, JSP, SQL server 2000 were used. The NMS realizes two functions which are customization and cooperative design.
What young men know about testicular cancer

Abstract A survey to assess what young men know about testicular cancer and to determine awareness and practice of testicular self-examination (TSE) was conducted among 266 male graduate and undergraduate students at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Findings indicate that the majority of young men were either uninformed or misinformed about their risk of getting testicular cancer and about the symptoms of testicular cancer. Only 16% of respondents had heard of TSE before the survey, and only a small percentage of these individuals reported doing TSE on a routine basis. The findings from this study point out the need for increased public education directed at symptom recognition, especially at the high school and post-high school levels.
Multilocus sequence typing confirms wild birds as the source of a Campylobacter outbreak associated with the consumption of raw peas.

From August to September 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assisted the Alaska Division of Public Health with an outbreak investigation of campylobacteriosis occurring among the residents of Southcentral Alaska. During the investigation, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from human, raw pea, and wild bird fecal samples confirmed the epidemiologic link between illness and the consumption of raw peas contaminated by sandhill cranes for 15 of 43 epidemiologically linked human isolates. However, an association between the remaining epidemiologically linked human infections and the pea and wild bird isolates was not established. To better understand the molecular epidemiology of the outbreak, C. jejuni isolates (n = 130; 59 from humans, 40 from peas, and 31 from wild birds) were further characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Here we present the molecular evidence to demonstrate the association of many more human C. jejuni infections associated with the outbreak with raw peas and wild bird feces. Among all sequence types (STs) identified, 26 of 39 (67%) were novel and exclusive to the outbreak. Five clusters of overlapping STs (n = 32 isolates; 17 from humans, 2 from peas, and 13 from wild birds) were identified. In particular, cluster E (n = 7 isolates; ST-5049) consisted of isolates from humans, peas, and wild birds. Novel STs clustered closely with isolates typically associated with wild birds and the environment but distinct from lineages commonly seen in human infections. Novel STs and alleles recovered from human outbreak isolates allowed additional infections caused by these rare genotypes to be attributed to the contaminated raw peas.
Identification of a strand-related bias in the PCNA-mediated bypass of spontaneous lesions by yeast Polη

Translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases are specialized to bypass lesions that block replicative polymerases and prevent complete genome duplication. Current TLS models hypothesize that PCNA, the polymerase processivity clamp, is important for regulating the access and loading of the low fidelity TLS polymerases onto DNA in response to replication-blocking lesions. PCNA binds to the C-terminus of yeast Pol, for example, and this interaction is required for cell survival after UV irradiation. Previously, we iden- tified two spontaneous, Pol-dependent "complex" mutation hotspots using the lys2� A746 frameshift reversion assay in repair-compromised cells. In the current study we observed an accumulation of Pol-dependent complex frameshifts at a third hotspot in Pol-deficient cells. Interestingly, the sequence of this third hotspot is the reverse complement of the two hotspots previously identified, suggesting that the utilization of Pol and Pol may be related to the position of the relevant lesion on either the leading- or lagging-strand template. Using the lys2� A746 assay system, we investigated changes in the accumulation of complex events at hotspots when the direction of replication was reversed in repair-compromised cells with either wildtype Pol, a deletion of Pol, or a mutant of Pol that cannot interact with PCNA. Our results suggest that there is a polymerase hierarchy between Pol and Pol in the bypass of certain lesions and that the interaction of Pol with PCNA is needed for some, but not all, spontaneous lesion bypass.
Oral infectivity and bacterial interactions with mononuclear phagocytes.

Summary The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between the oral infectivity of a bacterial strain and its susceptibility to ingestion by mononuclear phagocytes or ability to survive within them. Ten bacterial strains tested—all of known oral infectivity—comprised Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes (three strains), Escherichia coli (two strains), Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis, and a Bacteroides sp. The phagocytic uptake of each strain was measured as the bacteria to phagocyte ratio after mononuclear phagocytes in mouse peritoneal exudate were permitted to ingest bacteria in vivo for 3 min. The three Listeria strains were the most susceptible to phagocytic uptake and the Salmonella strain was relatively resistant. The intracellular survival of each strain was studied during a subsequent 2 h in-vitro incubation of the mononuclear phagocytes that had been permitted to ingest bacteria in vivo. The strains with the best intracellular survival were Ent. faecalis and two of the three Listeria strains. The ability of S. typhimurium to survive intracellularly was intermediate but better than that of the two E. coli strains. Oral infectivity was not consistently correlated with susceptibility to ingestion by mononuclear phagocytes or ability to survive within them.
Nutritive Sucking in High-Risk Neonates After Perioral Stimulation

Five high-risk neonates were selected from the population of newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals to investigate the effect of perioral stimulation on nutritive suckling ability. A polygraph and pressure transducer were used to record sucking activity over a four-minute interval for three successive feedings. During the first and third feedings, the infants received no stimulation. During the second feeding, infants received perioral stimulation whenever they stopped sucking for a two-second period. An analysis of variance showed a statistically significant effect from the stimulation sequence as well as a trend of decreasing sucking activity during the four-minute interval. The study indicated that perioral stimulation may be an effective method for increasing nutritive sucking ability of infants who are poor feeders.
Myzostome Deformation on Arms of the Early Jurassic Crinoid Balanocrinus gracilis (Charlesworth)

Myzostome galls on arms of the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) Balanocrinus gracilis provide the first unequivocal evidence of such parasitic infestation in a post-Paleozoic crinoid.
Customer Intelligence Advantage: Module 2 Assignment

This exercise directs students to analyze a customer-centric firm by first understanding the elements that characterize a customer-centric organization, then by capturing and comparing this firm's approach to customer-centricity. Students interview three levels in the organization-CEO/leadership level, corporate unit level, and front-line/customer-facing employee level.Learning Objective: To enable students to articulate the characteristics of a customer-centric firm and analyze a real-world company according to these characteristics.
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: A Critical Guide

Miller, J. (ed.): Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics: A Critical Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011, pp. x + 290. £55.00 (hb.). ISBN 9780521514484. This Cambridge Critical Guide plunges...
Assessment of the effects of azimuthal mode number perturbations upon the implosion processes of fluids in cylinders

Abstract Fluid instabilities arise in a variety of contexts and are often unwanted results of engineering imperfections. In one particular model for a magnetized target fusion reactor, a pressure wave is propagated in a cylindrical annulus comprised of a dense fluid before impinging upon a plasma and imploding it. Part of the success of the apparatus is a function of how axially-symmetric the final pressure pulse is upon impacting the plasma. We study a simple model for the implosion of the system to study how imperfections in the pressure imparted on the outer circumference grow due to geometric focusing. Our methodology entails linearizing the compressible Euler equations for mass and momentum conservation about a cylindrically symmetric problem and analysing the perturbed profiles at different mode numbers. The linearized system gives rise to singular shocks and through analysing the perturbation profiles at various times, we infer that high mode numbers are dampened through the propagation. We also study the Linear Klein–Gordon equation in the context of stability of linear cylindrical wave formation whereby highly oscillatory, bounded behaviour is observed in a far field solution.
Exposure of Culicoides variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to hair clippings to evaluate insecticide-impregnated ear tags in cattle.

Adult Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) exposed to hair samples from cattle treated with one fenvalerate ear tag per animal resulted in mortalities of 87–100% ( x ¯ = 93%) within 7 days post treatment. Mortalities of 80-100% ( x ¯ = 95%) were obtained at 6 days from hair samples from untreated cattle placed in the same pen with treated cattle. Insecticidal activity lasted throughout the 70-day test period, with decreased efficacy following rainfall and after the 49th test day. Significantly higher mortalities were recorded from hair samples from the neck near the ears and from the underside of the body.
Thin Film Adhesion Study in Microelectronic Packaging

Fracture energy (Ga) of BPDA-PDA polyimide (PI) on modified and unmodified Si surfaces was measured by the “blister” test as a function of final cure temperature. It is proven quantitatively that surface modification prior to thin film deposition enhances adhesion. Metal adhesion to PI was also measured by the same method. Reproducibility of the data was found to be exceptionally good for both cases. The linear elastic model is quite valid for the test of thin film adhesion. Therefore, it is believed that this test is best suited for Ga measurements in the study of thin film adhesion for microelectronic packaging.
Fifty Major Contributions of Social Science to Society - National Accounts: Barometer, Telescope and Compass of the National Economy

This note briefly describes the merits and limitations of the national accounts, e.g. GDP per capita is a simple measure of material welfare, but is not a comprehensive measure of welfare.
DOCA-enhanced sites of vasopressin-stimulated cAMP formation in rat cortical collecting tubule.

In deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-NaCl hypertension, the effects of vasopressin (VP) in the cortical collecting tubule (CCT) are exaggerated. These include both the biochemical effect of VP-stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) formation in the CCT and physiological effects of VP-mediated sodium and water retention. In this study, we examined the mechanism of enhanced VP-stimulated cAMP formation in the CCT. We compared cAMP formation in response to activators (following in parentheses) of the VP receptor (VP), of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding (Gs) protein [guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S); F-], and of the catalytic subunit of adenylyl cyclase (forskolin, Mn2+) between control and DOCA-NaCl-treated rats. The effects of VP and forskolin were enhanced in CCT of DOCA-NaCl-treated animals by 201 and 139%, respectively, compared with control animals. Other activators, Mn2+ (150%), F- (142%), and GTP gamma S (156%), also caused augmented cAMP formation in the C...
Introduction: Review of the Literature

Scholarship and policy analysis on CSDP have grown exponentially since the operationalization of CSDP in 2003.* Most works are descriptive and prescriptive: of these, many are monographs published by think tanks, such as the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). Authors tend to cover a gamut of conclusions about the EU in crisis management, reflecting different national, theoretical, and perceptional perspectives. While Adamski (2006) posits that the EU in international security is not just a new departure but ‘charts new territory as it operates off the map,’ Gamble and Lang (2009) and Hughes (2010) offer a critical account of the EU as a coherent and effective foreign policy actor. Asseburg and Kempin (2009) critique the union as a credible actor in international crisis management, faulting it for deployments without clear mandates (Kosovo) or failure to meet pledges for deployments of personnel (Afghanistan). Indeed, many authors conclude that the EU continues to be a fragmented, inconsistent, and ineffective player in military crisis management. Yet few of these works are theoretical — which means they explain little in terms of why operations are undertaken and change. Still fewer focus on the areas of research that are the objects of study in this book — the difficult questions of measuring and evaluating effects on the ground, on the union itself, and on other international security providers.
Monte Carlo Tree Search for multi-robot task allocation

Multi-robot teams are useful in a variety of task allocation domains such as warehouse automation and surveillance. Robots in such domains perform tasks at given locations and specific times, and are allocated tasks to optimize given team objectives. We propose an efficient, satisficing and centralized Monte Carlo Tree Search based algorithm exploiting branch and bound paradigm to solve the multi-robot task allocation problem with spatial, temporal and other side constraints. Unlike previous heuristics proposed for this problem, our approach offers theoretical guarantees and finds optimal solutions for some non-trivial data sets.
The Indirect Displacement Hypothesis: a Case Study in Washington, D.C.

Stereotypes abound about the clash between newcomers to urban neighborhoods and their longstanding residents. In a case study of Columbia Heights in the District of Columbia, the preferences and attitudes of newcomers and longstanding residents are compared. The comparison will help assess the extent to which indirect displacement pressures in the domain of retail activity might be occurring in Columbia Heights. Data from surveys conducted in 2008 by the Howard University Center for Urban Progress (HUCUP) form the empirical base of this study. A total of 217 completed surveys were received, 116 from an Internet survey and 101 one-on-one street interviews. The sample was split into thirds (according to length of time that the participant lived in the neighborhood) leading to break points at two years and eight years of residency. All respondents who lived in the neighborhood two years or less or eight years or more were kept in the final sample. The former were defined as “newcomers” and the latter were defined as “longstanding residents”. There were 77 newcomers and 74 longstanding residents in the final sample. The survey instrument inquired about respondents’ opinions about the availability and quality of stores by type, the variety of stores, and what types of stores they would like to see added to the neighborhood. Respondents were then asked their assessment of the new commercial developments and of the previously existing businesses in the corridor. Chi-square tests were used to test the hypotheses that there were differences between the two populations -- newcomers and long-standing residents -- in terms of preferences and attitudes. The findings demonstrated significant differences between the two groups in terms of their opinions about the commercial corridor, although both groups were generally pleased with the new retail developments. The analysis of these data weakly supports the hypothesis that indirect factors could heighten pressures for displacement of longstanding residents, but it is argued that the main focus of gentrification studies should continue to be on the direct economic factors affecting longstanding residents during neighborhood revitalization.
Utilization of CO2 as a partial substitute for methane feedstock in chemical looping methane–steam redox processes for syngas production

This work describes the unique capability of a novel chemical looping system that utilizes CO2 as a feedstock for methane reforming. This system uses an iron–titanium composite metal oxide and a co-current moving bed reactor system to yield a higher purity of syngas than the conventional CO2 dry reforming system.
Sediment transport processes and lateral facies gradients across a muddy shelf: Examples from the Geneseo Formation of central New York, United States

Studying fine-grained siliciclastic deposits of late Middle Devonian in the northern Appalachian Basin provides an exquisite natural laboratory to observe the complex environments in which mud can accumulate. More detailed correlation and facies characterization of this succession provide a wealth of information and insight into the diverse transport mechanisms responsible for distributing clastics hundreds of kilometers away from a tectonically active source area. Commencement of the third tectophase of the Acadian orogeny and a concurrent transgression is expressed throughout the region through the development of a basin-scale unconformity (the Taghanic Onlap) above a shelf collapse (i.e., Tully Limestone) and widespread deposition of organic-matter–rich mudstones. Deposition of the lower Genesee Group is believed to reflect the coupling of this local expression of a global eustatic highstand event and contemporaneous cratonic downwarping as a flexural response of the craton to a continent–microcontinent collision. High-resolution stratigraphy has allowed differentiation of genetically related packages, composed of distinct lithofacies, with characteristic physical, biological, and chemical attributes. The present paper advances an overview of this detailed investigation based on detailed core measurement and surface correlation to assess the controlling factors on the mid-Devonian stratigraphic fill of the northern Appalachian Basin and demonstrate the distribution in mudstone facies and their relation to changing environmental conditions.
MinE conformational dynamics regulate membrane binding, MinD interaction, and Min oscillation

In Escherichia coli MinE induces MinC/MinD to oscillate between the ends of the cell, contributing to the precise placement of the Z ring at midcell. To do this, MinE undergoes a remarkable conformational change from a latent 6β-stranded form that diffuses in the cytoplasm to an active 4β-stranded form bound to the membrane and MinD. How this conformational switch occurs is not known. Here, using hydrogen–deuterium exchange coupled to mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) we rule out a model in which the two forms are in rapid equilibrium. Furthermore, HDX-MS revealed that a MinE mutant (D45A/V49A), previously shown to produce an aberrant oscillation and unable to assemble a MinE ring, is more rigid than WT MinE. This mutant has a defect in interaction with MinD, suggesting it has difficulty in switching to the active form. Analysis of intragenic suppressors of this mutant suggests it has difficulty in releasing the N-terminal membrane targeting sequences (MTS). These results indicate that the dynamic association of the MTS with the β-sheet is fine-tuned to balance MinE’s need to sense MinD on the membrane with its need to diffuse in the cytoplasm, both of which are necessary for the oscillation. The results lead to models for MinE activation and MinE ring formation.
Empathy and Love: Types of Textuality and Degrees of Affectivity

Philosophical debates have centered on questions of why we feel for fictional others when we know that they are not real. This chapter explores instead how certain types of narratives can intensify and reshape our emotions, regardless of the factual reality of their content. Epic and novel may be more effective in inducing our empathy than journalistic reports because of how they draw upon techniques of focalization so as to create an impression of our ongoing familiarity with the suffering people they describe. Relatedly, our concept of romantic love takes shape not only as a result of biological needs but also in response to cultural expectations, which have relied on a long literary tradition of textually elicited affect within Western culture.
Pyeloduodenal fistula diagnosed with technetium-99m scintigraphy and managed with a conservative strategy

We present a case of pyeloduodenal fistula in an 89-year-old woman with history of nephrolithiasis and recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) who presented to the emergency department with back pain. CT revealed a malrotated right kidney with a large renal stone and possible fistulous connection between the second portion of the duodenum and the right renal collecting system. Technetium-99m scintigraphy confirmed presence of the fistula. The patient declined intervention and was discharged from the hospital with oral antibiotic suppressive therapy. The patient remained clinically stable at time of follow-up 3 months later. Spontaneous pyeloduodenal fistula is an aetiology of recurrent upper or lower UTIs or persistent bacteriuria though uncommonly recognised. Diagnosis may be achieved using several modalities, including technetium-99m scintigraphy. Nephrectomy and primary fistula closure has traditionally been the treatment of choice for this condition; however, conservative management is an option for patients with intact renal function.