cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3458: Role of zyxin in mitosis and colon cancer

Zyxin is a LIM domain protein that is concentrated at sites of cell-cell adhesion, where it is proposed to dock proteins involved in cytoskeletal dynamics and signaling. Recently, Zyxin has been shown to promote LATS degradation and YAP activation in Hippo Pathway. Here, We have identified a novel mechanism for phospho-regulation of Zyxin in mitosis and its biological significance in colon cancer. We found that the mitotic kinase cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) phosphorylates Zyxin in vitro and in vivo at serine 281, serine 308 and serine 344 during antimitotic drug-induced G2/M phase arrest and unperturbed mitosis. Moreover, Zyxin mitotic phosphorylation-deficient mutant (Zyxin3A, harboring S281A/S308A/S344A) was sufficient to suppress colon cancer cell proliferation and migration. We further demonstrated that depletion of Zyxin resulted in impaired colon cancer tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo through inhibiting F-actin cytoskeleton and YAP activity. Importantly, these observations could be fully rescued by re-expression of wild type Zyxin, but not Zyxin-3A mutant. Expression profile analysis revealed CDK8 (cyclin-dependent kinase 8) as a mediator downstream Zyxin/YAP. Inhibition of CDK8 phenocopied knockdown of Zyxin in colon cancer cells. Ectopic expression of CDK8 substantially restored the tumorigenic ability of Zyxin depletion cells in vitro and in vivo. Expression levels of Zyxin and CDK8 are both elevated in colon tumors and are negatively correlated with survival. Together, our findings reveal a novel layer of regulation for Zyxin in mitosis and define the Zyxin-YAP-CDK8 axis as a novel oncogenic regulator in colon cancer. Citation Format: JIULI ZHOU, Jixin Dong, YUANHONG CHEN, XINGCHENG CHEN, Seth Stauffer, Yongji Zeng. Role of zyxin in mitosis and colon cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3458. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3458
Ethics: Acting Ethically to Promote Each Student’s Academic Success and Well-Being

This chapter explores the interplay of ethics through the lens of power, and from the perspectives of principals. Quandaries emerging as ethics are woven into decisions, and decision-making processes reveal tensions in the co-existence of genuine concern for students’ academic success and well-being, as well as conflicts, contradictions, and dis/ingenuousness among principals. Questions for reflection are included in the hope that they will lead to self-realization and evaluation, and the adoption of strong ethical guiding principles for actions that are in the best interests of children, teachers, and their communities.
Study strategies and beliefs about learning as a function of academic achievement and achievement goals

ABSTRACTPrior research by Hartwig and Dunlosky [(2012). Study strategies of college students: Are self-testing and scheduling related to achievement? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 19(1), 126–134] has demonstrated that beliefs about learning and study strategies endorsed by students are related to academic achievement: higher performing students tend to choose more effective study strategies and are more aware of the benefits of self-testing. We examined whether students’ achievement goals, independent of academic achievement, predicted beliefs about learning and endorsement of study strategies. We administered Hartwig and Dunlosky’s survey, along with the Achievement Goals Questionnaire [Elliot, A. J., & McGregor, H. A. (2001). A 2 × 2 achievement goal framework. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 80, 501–519] to a large undergraduate biology course. Similar to results by Hartwig and Dunlosky, we found that high-performing students (relative to low-performing students) were more likely to endors...
Customizing polyelectrolyte complex shapes through photolithographic directed assembly

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) form through the association of oppositely charged polymers and, due to their attractive properties, such as their mild/simple preparation and stimulus-sensitivity, attract widespread interest. The diverse applications of these materials often require control over PEC shapes. As a versatile approach to achieving such control, we report a new photolithographic directed assembly method for tailoring their structure. This method uses aqueous solutions of a polyelectrolyte, an oppositely charged monomer and a photoinitiator. Irradiation of these mixtures leads to site-specific polymerization of the ionic monomer into a polymer and, through this localized polyanion/polycation mixture formation, results in the assembly of PECs with 2-D and 3-D shapes that reflect the photoirradiation pattern. In addition to generating macroscopic PECs using photomasks, this photodirected PEC assembly method can be combined with multiphoton lithography, which enables the preparation of custom-shaped PECs with microscopic dimensions. Like other PECs, the custom-shaped structures formed through this photodirected assembly approach are stimulus-responsive, and can be made to switch shape or dissolve in response to changes in their external environments. This control over PEC shape and stimulus-sensitivity suggests the photopolymerization-based directed PEC assembly method as a potentially attractive route to stimulus-responsive soft device fabrication (e.g., preparation of intricately shaped, function-specific PECs through photolithographic 3-D printing).
Development, implementation and performance of a model predictive controller for packaged air conditioners in small and medium-sized commercial building applications

Abstract Small and medium sized commercial buildings, such as retail stores, restaurants and factories, often utilize multiple packaged air conditioners, i.e. roof top units (RTUs), to provide cooling and heating for open spaces. A conventional control approach for these buildings relies on local feedback control, where each unit is cycled on and off using its own thermostat. The lack of coordination between RTUs represents a missed opportunity for operating more efficient units when there is strong coupling between the spaces they serve and can lead to unnecessarily high electrical demand due to the inherent randomness of unit cycling. This paper presents an overall model-based predictive control (MPC) approach for RTU coordination that includes a description of the control architecture, modeling approach, implementation, and assessment. We provide results of laboratory and field tests that demonstrate the short-term and long-term performance of the MPC solution in terms of energy and demand savings.
Cost-Effectiveness of Buprenorphine-Naloxone Versus Extended-Release Naltrexone to Prevent Opioid Relapse.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 3 medications for first-line treatment of opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Buprenorphine is usually combined with naloxo...
Natural surveillance characteristics of building openings and relationship to residential burglary

Abstract This study developed an objective three-dimensional method for better specifying the concept of natural surveillance and its application to the study of crime, specifically residential burglary. An observational study employing mixed methods was conducted where natural surveillance was quantified at the micro-scale of building openings through utilization of georeferenced data and geospatial technologies. Natural surveillance was bifurcated into occupant and road surveillability to represent, respectively, surveillability by residents and surveillability by strangers along streets. Higher occupant surveillability was associated with decreased odds of burglary commission. In contrast, higher road surveillability was associated with increased odds of burglary commission. This study demonstrated the importance of natural surveillance in relationship to residential burglaries. The findings have implications for environmental design and planning policies and potential reductions in crime. This study also demonstrated techniques that law enforcement can employ to leverage societal investments in geospatial data to benefit public safety.
A Church-Based Diabetes Risk Factor Prevention Program Improves Psychosocial Factors and Food-Related Behaviors

Objective. To evaluate the impact of a faith-based diabetes risk prevention program.Design. Nine predominately African American (AA) churches were randomized to one of three groups – group 1 (inter...
Classroom management in urban schools: proposing a course framework

Students of color in urban areas experience a multitude of intersecting oppressive structures that influence their behavior in schools. As a result, teachers in these schools often face distinct st...
Randomized clinical trial of accelerated enhanced recovery after minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery (RecoverMI trial)

Background Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) have improved postoperative recovery and shortened length of hospital stay (LOS). Telemedicine technology has potential to improve outcomes and patient experience further. This study was designed to determine whether the combination of MIS, ERP and a structured telemedicine programme (TeleRecovery) could shorten total 30-day LOS by 50 per cent. Methods This was a phase II prospective RCT at a large academic medical centre. Eligible patients aged 18-80 years undergoing minimally invasive colorectal resection using an ERP were randomized after surgery. The experimental arm (RecoverMI) included accelerated discharge on postoperative day (POD) 1 with or without evidence of bowel function and a televideoconference on POD 2. The control arm was standard postoperative care. The primary endpoint was total 30-day LOS (postoperative stay plus readmission/emergency department/observation days). Secondary endpoints included patient-reported outcomes measured by EQ-5D-5L™, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and a satisfaction questionnaire. Results Thirty patients were randomized after robotic (21 patients) or laparoscopic (9) colectomy, including 14 patients in the RecoverMI arm. Median 30-day total LOS was 28·3 (i.q.r. 23·7-43·6) h in the RecoverMI arm and 51·5 (43·8-67·0) h in the control arm (P = 0·041). There were no differences in severe adverse events or EQ-5D-5L™ score between the study arms. The BPI revealed low pain scores regardless of treatment arm. Satisfaction was high in both arms. Conclusion In patients having surgery for colorectal neoplasms, the trimodal combination of MIS, ERP and TeleRecovery can reduce 30-day LOS while preserving patients' quality of life and satisfaction. Registration number: NCT02613728 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov).
Abstract 2424: Smoking and mammography screening: An analysis of knowledge, barriers, self-efficacy, benefits, and perceived risk

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Although mammography screening is supported by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and has been found to effectively reduce mortality, only about 65% of women over 40 years of age are adherent to mammography screening guidelines, a rate far below the 81.1% goal proposed for Healthy People 2020. Screening rates are even lower among smokers compared to non-smokers; however, the reasons for this disparity remain unclear. Overall, knowledge, barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, and perceived risk play a role in decision making and may influence cancer screening behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between smoking status and mammography adherence, and to determine whether differences in knowledge, barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, and perceived risk could account for screening disparities between smokers and non-smokers. Methods: A prospective, randomized screening intervention of women aged 50-75 (n=1,196) was conducted in Indiana from 2013-2015. A total of 846 women had complete smoking and mammography data for use in this analysis. Women were surveyed at baseline to ascertain current smoking status and mammography history, as well as knowledge, barriers, self-efficacy, benefits, and perceived risks for mammography. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between smoking and mammography adherence. T-tests were used to evaluate differences between current smokers and non-smokers with regard to knowledge, barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, and perceived risk. Regression analyses were adjusted for age, education, income, insurance coverage, ever receiving a physician recommendation for mammography, and family history of breast cancer. Results: Smokers were significantly younger, less educated, and had lower income relative to non-smokers. Smokers were less likely to be adherent to mammography screening relative to non-smokers [OR = 0.54 (0.32 - 0.90), p=0.020)]. Smokers also demonstrated significantly less knowledge of breast cancer and mammography (p=0.0016), reported more barriers to screening (p=0.020), had less self-efficacy (p=0.0018), and had a lower perceived risk of breast cancer (p=l 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2424.
Recruitment of trial participants through electronic medical record patient portal messaging: A pilot study.

Background/aim:Cost-efficient methods are essential for successful participant recruitment in clinical trials. Patient portal messages are an emerging means of recruiting potentially eligible patie...
Visual Exposure to Natural Environments Decreases Delay Discounting of Improved Air Quality.

Poor air quality contributes to nearly 7 million premature deaths annually and remains a major public health concern. In order to directly address the future of air quality and current emissions, some economists and policy makers have stressed adopting a 'zero discount rate' (or lowest possible) to promote clean air quality now and in the future. A low discount rate is also associated with individual health behaviors (e.g., exercise, lower rate of substance abuse). But what influences the psychology of decision-making that is relevant to the discount rate of air quality and public health outcomes, and individual health? The present experiments evaluated differences in such decision-making (i.e., delay-discounting) in the context of improved air quality with visual exposure to natural versus built environments. Results showed that individuals exposed to natural scenes discounted improved air quality less (i.e., made more future-oriented decisions, Experiment 1), and this may be related to expanded space perception (Experiment 2). These results are the first to suggest that delay discounting of air quality (or any environmental outcome), similar to money, is malleable, and can be influenced by exposure to natural relative to built environments. These findings have implications for influencing long-term, individual health and environmentally relevant decision-making and improving individual and public health related outcomes such as air quality.
The effect of server energy proportionality on data center power oversubscription

Abstract Modern data centers improve resource utilization with power oversubscription. The power hierarchy in a data center is oversubscribed by installing more servers than allowed by the power budget based on server peak power consumption. Power oversubscription is possible due to the statistically low likelihood of simultaneous peak power operation of multiple servers. As future servers become more energy proportional, the opportunity for greater power oversubscription increases. The challenge is to quantify the level of oversubscription that can be attained. In this paper, we quantify the level of oversubscription possible for a given acceptable probability of power overload for servers characterized by energy proportionality metric and workload distribution. We develop a theoretical framework to characterize and predict the relationship between server energy proportionality and power oversubscription. We verify our framework through an extensive empirical study using publicly available SPECpower benchmark data for over 500 server models and publicly available Google cluster utilization data. Using our framework, a data center operator can predict the additional power oversubscription possible when replacing existing servers with a newer model of more energy proportional servers.
Facilitating Scientific Engagement Online: Responsive Teaching in a Science Professional Development Program

Given the widespread adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards in the United States, there is a need to study new models of professional development to prepare teachers to enact practice-ba...
Uveal melanoma cells use ameboid and mesenchymal mechanisms of cell motility crossing the endothelium

SUMMARY Uveal melanomas (UM) are malignant cancers arising from the pigmented layers of the eye. UM cells spread through the bloodstream, and circulating UM cells are detectable in patients before metastases appear. Extravasation of UM cells, notably transendothelial migration (TEM), is a key step in formation of metastases. UM cells execute TEM via a stepwise process of intercalation into the endothelial monolayer involving the actin-based processes of ameboid blebbing and mesenchymal lamellipodial protrusion. UM cancers are driven by oncogenic mutations in Gαq/11, which activate TRIO, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for RhoA and Rac1. Pharmacologic inhibition of Gαq/11 in UM cells reduced TEM. Inhibition of the RhoA pathway blocked amoeboid motility but led to enhanced TEM; in contrast, inhibition of the Rac1 pathway decreased mesenchymal motility and reduced TEM. Inhibition of Arp2/3 also inhibited mesenchymal motility, but invasion was less affected; in this case, the amoeboid blebbing behavior of the cells led to transmigration without intercalation, a direct mechanism similar to that of immune cells. BAP1-deficient (+/−) UM subclones displayed motility behavior and increased levels of TEM, similar to effects of RhoA inhibitors. We conclude that RhoA and Rac1 signaling pathways, downstream of oncogenic Gαq/11, combine with pathways regulated by BAP1 to control the motility and transmigration of UM cells.
Donor Lung Utilization for Transplantation in the United States

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine trends in utilization of donor lungs as the donor pool increased and to assess donor factors that predict the likelihood of utilization. Methods United Network of Organ Sharing Thoracic Transplant database was used to identify all donors 15 years and older from 2000 to 2017. Temporal changes in donor utilization were evaluated using Cochran-Armitage trend analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was generated using various donor factors to identify their association with the utilization of donor lungs for transplantation (Reported in Odds Ratio and 95% confidence limits). Results There were 131,077 donors of which 25,216 (19.2%) donor lungs were used for transplant (18,198 bilateral, 7,018 single) in the study period. The number of transplants increased from 732 to 2,225 as well as rate of utilization of donors from 14% to 23% (p Conclusion The rate of utilization of donor lungs for transplant has increased and this analysis shows that the acceptance of older donors, lower PaO2, and donors with a history of blood-borne disease as well as the use of steroids and diuretics in donors have correlated with improved donor utilization.
Linking Oswestry Disability Index to the PROMIS pain interference CAT with equipercentile methods.

Abstracts BACKGROUND CONTEXT When different health care providers use different patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments, it is challenging to integrate findings that describe particular patient groups or to establish treatment effectiveness across studies. It is therefore critical to develop accurate ways to convert scores between various instruments for clinicians and researchers to make comparisons across health outcomes. PURPOSE To develop a common metric so that scores on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and scores on the PROMIS Physical Function can be converted interchangeably. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Data were collected from a prospective study. A single-group linking design was used. PATIENT SAMPLE The study population included 9020 patients presented to an orthopedic spine clinic from November 2013 to March 2019. OUTCOME MEASURES Patients completed the ODI and the PROMIS Pain Interference scale delivered by Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) at the same time prior to their visit with a spine clinician. METHODS Equipercentile linking methods based on log-linear smoothing approach and non-smoothing approach were used to establish a common metric across the two measures. RESULTS The two measures assess the similar contruct of pain. The correlation between the scores of the ODI and the PROMIS PI was 0.81. The standardized Root Expected Mean Square Difference (REMSD) values for gender, ethnic, and racial groups ranged from 3.55% to 4.81%. Hence, the assumptions for the equipercentile linking method were met. The crosswalk derived linked scores based on the log-linear smoothing method yielded small deviations (Δ = 0.09) from the observed scores. We then identified linked PROMIS-PI scores corresponding to the benchmark ODI scores for the five disability levels and for various categories of patients. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to create crosswalks to interchangeably convert scores between the ODI to the PROMIS-PI in a large population of spine patients using the equipercentile linking method. The results of this study provide confidence in the validity and usefulness of the derived crosswalks based on the equipercentile linking approach. The crosswalks are helpful for comparing new and old studies on the two measures and identifying benchmark scores for various diseases and disability levels.
A mathematical model of Guinea worm disease in Chad with fish as intermediate transport hosts

Guinea-worm disease (GWD) was thought to be almost eliminated in Chad when it reemerged in 2010. The disease now shows a peculiar pattern of spreading along Chari River and its tributaries, rather than clustering around a particular drinking water source. We create a mathematical model of GWD that includes the population dynamics of the parasite as well as the dynamics of its hosts (copepods, fish, humans, and domestic dogs). We calibrate our model based on data from the literature and validate it on the recent GWD annual incidence data from Chad. The effective reproduction number predicted by our model agrees well with the empirical value of roughly 1.25 derived directly from the data. Our model thus supports the hypothesis that the parasite now uses fish as intermediate transport hosts. We predict that GWD transmission can be most easily interrupted by avoiding eating uncooked fish and by burying the fish entrails to prevent transmission through dogs. Increasing the mortality of copepods and even partially containing infected dogs to limit their access to water sources is another important factor for GWD eradication.
Working Together: Using protein networks of bacterial species to compare essentiality, centrality, and conservation in Escherichia coli.

WORKING TOGETHER: USING PROTEIN NETWORKS OF BACTERIAL SPECIES TO COMPARE ESSENTIALITY, CENTRALITY, AND CONSERVATION IN ESCHERICHIA COLI. Christopher Wimble, Masters of Science in Bioinformatics This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Bioinformatics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015 Dr.Peter Uetz, associate professor, Center for the Study of Biological Complexity Proteins in Escherichia coli were compared in terms of essentiality, centrality, and conservation. The hypotheses of this study are: for proteins in Escherichia coli, (1) there is a positive, measureable correlation between protein conservation and essentiality, (2) there is a positive relationship between conservation and degree centrality, and (3) essentiality and centrality also have a positive correlation. The third hypothesis was supported by a moderate correlation, the first with a weak correlation, and the second hypotheis was not supported. When proteins that did not map to orthologous groups and proteins that had no interactions were removed, the relationship between essentality and conservation increased to a strong relationship. This was due to the effect of proteins that did not map to orthologus groups and suggests that protein orthology represented by clusters of orthologus groups does not accurately dipict protein conservation among the species studied.
The Economic Design of Control Charts: A Review and Literature Survey

The design of control charts with respect to economic criteria has been the subject of considerable study during the last three decades. Several different process models have been developed and applied to most of the major types of control charts. this ..
On the Control and Stability of Robots Worn by Human: Theory

Robot manipulators have the capability to exceed human ability in one particular area; strength. The human's ability to perform a variety of physical tasks is limited not by his intelligence, but by his physical strength. If we can more closely integrate the mechanical power of a machine with human hand under the supervisory control of the human's intellect, we will then have a system which is superior to a loosely-integrated combination of a human and his fully automated robot as in the present day robotic systems. We must therefore develop a fundamental approach to the problem of this "extending" human mechanical power in certain environments. The work presented here defines "Extenders" as a class of robot manipulators worn by humans to increase human mechanical strength, while the wearer's intellect remains the central intelligent control system for manipulating the extender. The human body, in physical contact with the extender, exchanges information signals and power with the extender. This paper focuses on the issues related to the dynamics and control of human machine interaction in the sense of the transfer power and information signals. General models for the human, the extender and the interaction between the human and the extender have been developed. Unstructured modeling was chosen in order to include all the dynamics in the systems, to avoid specific models. The Small Gain Theorem and the Nyquist Criterion (frequency domain) for the linearly treated systems have been used for the stability analysis of human machine interaction.
Optineurin and NEMO: a potential novel interplay to fine tune NF-κB activation upon TCR engagement. (IRM10P.742)

Optineurin (OPTN) is a homolog of NF-κB essential-modulator (NEMO), the regulatory subunit of the IκB kinase (IKK) complex. Dysregulation of OPTN has been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. Although OPTN shares with NEMO a high degree of homology, OPTN is not part of the same high-molecular weight complex containing IKKα and IKKβ. Although, OPTN cannot substitute for NEMO during (LPS)-induced NF-κB activation, OPTN negatively regulates TNF-α induced NF-κB activation by competing with NEMO for ubiquitinated proteins. We have investigated the potential role of OPTN during TCR induced NF-κB activation. OPTN overexpression down-regulates TCR-induced NF-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore we observed a transient loss of OPTN after stimulation of T cell lines or primary human or murine T cells. We further determined that the transient loss of OPTN upon TCR stimulation does not seem to be due to proteosomal degradation, suggesting a potential involvement of lysosomal degradation pathway. The present study provides new information regarding the role of OPTN in regulating NF-κB during TCR stimulation, thus revealing the possible importance of OPTN during inflammation and/or autoimmune diseases.
Two genetically expressed troponin T fragments representing alpha and beta isoforms exhibit functional differences.

The carboxyl-terminal isoforms of troponin T (TnT), alpha and beta, differing in the sequence of a region near the COOH terminus, arise from alternative splicing of a primary transcript of the TnT gene and are expressed in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated manner (Medford, R. M., Nguyen, H. T., Destree, A. T., Summers, E., and Nadal-Ginard, B. (1984) Cell 38, 409-421). To date, the beta isoform has not been studied directly at the protein level. To explore the potential functional differences between the alpha and beta sequences, we isolated two rabbit skeletal TnT cDNA clones: a full-length cDNA for a beta isoform and a partial-length cDNA for an alpha isoform. Two restriction fragments derived from the cDNA clones were used to direct overexpression, in Escherichia coli, of two TnT fragments, T2p-alpha and T2p-beta, each containing the last 108 amino acid residues of the alpha or beta isoform of TnT. Using purified T2p-alpha and T2p-beta along with fluorescent derivatives of troponin C (TnC) and alpha alpha-tropomyosin (Tm), we showed that T2p-alpha bound more strongly to TnC than did T2p-beta both in the presence and absence of Ca2+, and exhibited a higher affinity for Tm than did T2p-beta. More interestingly, the Ca2+ affinities of the Ca(2+)-specific regulatory sites of TnC in the T2p-alpha. TnC complex were found to be 3-fold higher than in T2p-beta.TnC complex. These results support the hypothesis that the sequence divergence between the alpha and beta isoforms of TnT may have functional significance in possibly contributing to the determination of the Ca2+ sensitivity of muscle fibers.
The political geography of inequality : regions and redistribution

1. Regions and redistribution: introduction and overview 2. A theory of fiscal structures in political unions 3. The road ahead: the empirical strategy 4. The European Union: economic geography and fiscal structures under centrifugal representation 5. North America's divide: distributive tensions, risk sharing, and the centralization of public insurance in federations 6. Germany's reunification: distributive tensions and fiscal structures under centripetal representation 7. Endogenous decentralization and welfare resilience: Spain, 1978-2007 8. The political geography of inequality: summary and implications.
Elastic-Plastic Bending of Rectangular Plates

This paper develops an elastic-plastic analysis for the response of plates of arbitrary configuration subjected to lateral loading, under the assumptions of small deflections and Tresca's yield condition. The governing field equations are derived for the elastic and plastic portions of the plate, then solved numerically for a rectangular plate. The load is applied in increments such that yielding occurs at subsequent points in the plate, thus reducing the problem to a series of incrementally linear solutions. The method is applied to the special case of a square, simply supported plate under uniform load, and the results are compared with other solutions. Experimental work is also presented which confirms the analytical basis of the theory and shows its limitations.
Nonlinear monotone networks and their role in the electric power systems

A one-to-one relationship between traditional electric power system operation and its analytical characterization as a monotone network is discussed. Conditions are reviewed for the power network to be a monotone network in the region of interest. A class of present operating problems, primarily due to voltage control misoperation, is assessed from this viewpoint. Open questions are raised regarding the cost of more dynamic controls which could assure monotone network operation in the closed-loop operation for conditions when the open-loop network may not be characterizable as a nonlinear monotone network. >
Bone metastasis and the metastatic niche

The bone marrow has been long known to host a unique environment amenable to colonization by metastasizing tumor cells. Yet, the underlying molecular interactions within this specialized microenvironment which give rise to the high incidence of bone metastasis in breast and prostate cancer patients have long remained uncharacterized. With the recent description of the bone metastatic "niche," considerable focus has been placed on understanding how the bone stroma contributes to each step of metastasis. Discoveries within this field have demonstrated that when cancer cells home to the niche in which hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells normally reside, a bidirectional crosstalk emerges between the tumor cells and the bone metastatic stroma. This communication modulates every step of cancer cell metastasis to the bone, including the initial homing and seeding, formation of micrometastases, outgrowth of macrometastases, and the maintenance of long-term dormancy of disseminated tumor cells in the bone. In clinical practice, targeting the bone metastatic niche is evolving into a promising avenue for the prevention of bone metastatic relapse, therapeutic resistance, and other aspects of cancer progression. Here, we review the current knowledge concerning the role of the bone metastatic niche in bone metastasis.
Irreducible finite-dimensional modules of prime characteristic down–up algebras

Abstract A down–up algebra A=A(α,β,γ), as defined in a 1998 paper by Benkart and Roby [J. Algebra 209 (1998) 305–344; 213 (1999) 378 (Addendum)], is a unital associative algebra over a field K with two generators d and u and defining relations d 2 u=αdud+βud 2 +γd, du 2 =αudu+βu 2 d+γu, where α, β, γ are fixed scalars in K . This paper investigates the modules of down–up algebras over fields of characteristic p>0. We start with the Verma modules and consider their weight spaces relative to h = K du⊕ K ud . We calculate exactly when a Verma module will break up into a finite number of infinite-dimensional weight spaces and when it splits into an infinite number of one-dimensional spaces. Using that result we then find all the finite-dimensional irreducible quotients of the Verma modules. Under the additional assumption that K is algebraically closed we determine all finite-dimensional irreducible modules for A, describing the actions of A on those modules and computing their dimension.
Bipolar Diffusion Charging of Aggregates

In this paper, the effect of particle morphology on bipolar diffusion charging is studied. A modified tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) method used to measure the charge distribution of submicron particles in the range of 70–300 nm is described in detail. The method requires an independent measurement of the neutral fraction, followed by the measurement of the size-dependent charge distribution, which requires the knowledge of the neutral fraction. The method was validated experimentally using dioctyl sebacate and ammonium sulfate spherical particles and compared with Fuchs’ theory. Diesel particles and silver aggregates were used to evaluate the impact of morphology on charging. The results show that aggregates have a slightly lower (about 7%) neutral fraction than spheres. These results are in agreement with the predictions of Lall and Friedlander's theory and previous studies. However, results from charge distribution indicate that more (about 46%) particles are negatively charged than predi...
Inherent structural defects of porcelain-fused-to-gold restorations: A preliminary report

kJ reation of esthetic restorations is a problem constantly confronted by dentists. Porcelain was introduced inany years ago as a solution to this problem and has appeared in dental restorations via myriad combinations and techniques. The Kichmond crown, for example, employed a porcelain facing swaged to a backing, subsequently soldered to form a gold lingual surface. These apparent solutions left mud1 to be desired, as did many “revolutionary” concepts for porcelain and gold restorations. The complete porcelain jacket (veneer) crown is one which became very popular and which is still used fairly extensively. The susceptibility of complete porcelain veneer crowns to fracture has led to development of porcelain-fused-togold restorations, which combine the physical properties of a gold alloy with the esthetic qualities of porcelain. Although this restoration is a solution to most of the problems, there are still some others to be solved. We will attempt to discover SOI~E of the causes for these failures. Manufacturers, as well as reports in the dental literature, make extensive claiuis regarding strength, bonding qualities, and esthetics of porcelain-fused-to-gold restorations. Most extant techniques stipulate specific brands and combinations of metal and porcelain to obtain optimum results. It is generally implied, and often directly stated, that a match in expansion and contraction coefficients of porcelain and gold precludes any substantial residual stresses in a finished crown. However, expansion coefficients match at only one temperature (approximately 700’ to 800” F.) , and a mismatch exists at all other temperatures. Resultant interface stresses have been demonstrated by Tuccillo and NielsenI, 2 These interface stresses may result in some of the weaknesses and adaptation failures which sometimes appear clinically.
Effects of temperature and mode of delivery on responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone by superfused frog pituitaries.

Abstract An in vitro superfusion system was used to examine the effects of temperature on the responsiveness of frog, Rana pipiens, hemipituitaries to chronic superfusion with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The effects of pulsatile as opposed to continuous delivery of GnRH on luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion were also studied at 30°. Secretion of both gonadotropins (FSH and LH) increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner in response to a brief exposure to 0.1–1000 ng/ml (nM) GnRH at both 18 and 32°, but the magnitude of response at each dose was temperature dependent. Moreover, the temporal pattern of the chronic response to a standard dose of GnRH (100 ng/ml) also varied markedly between 10 and 32°: Hemipituitaries superfused at 10 or 18° showed greatly attenuated responsiveness to GnRH after the first hour of GnRH treatment, whereas responsiveness was maintained or even continued to increase for many hours at higher temperatures. These temperature effects may be related to seasonal changes in reproductive activity. Pulsatile administration of GnRH was more effective in inducing elevated gonadotropin (GtH) secretion during the first few hours of superfusion, but continuous superfusion with GnRH was more effective at maintaining elevated GtH levels over long periods. The results support and extend previous studies by indicating that, unlike the situation in many mammals and birds, the frog pituitary is highly resistant to desensitization by even high doses of GnRH, and in fact, self-priming and maintained responsiveness to GnRH is better supported by chronic treatment than by pulsatile delivery of GnRH.
Identification of laminin domains involved in branching morphogenesis: Effects of anti-laminin monoclonal antibodies on mouse embryonic lung development

Abstract We recently found that polyclonal antibodies to laminin, a basement membrane-related glycoprotein, inhibited murine lung morphogenesis when added to organ cultures of mouse embryonic lung. Using a series of monoclonal antilaminin antibodies with previously characterized subunit specificity (termed AL-1, AL-2, AL-3, AL-4, and AL-5), the deposition and functional involvement of different laminin domains in the developing lung were investigated. By immunohistochemistry the antibodies' reactivity was largely localized to the basement membrane, but was also present diffusely in the extracellular matrix throughout the mesenchyme. Organ cultures of lung explants from Day 12 embryos were cultured for 3 days in the presence of 50–100 μg/ml of each antibody or in the presence of the same concentration of immunoglobulins G and M, laminin-neutralized antibody, or medium alone. Cultures were monitored by phase-contrast microscopy, light microscopy, and immunofluorescence. Although all antibodies penetrated the tissues in culture, only two of them inhibited branching activity. These two antibodies were AL-1, which binds on or near the cross region of laminin, and AL-5, which binds to the lateral short arms at the globular end regions of the B chain of laminin. Inhibition of branching with these two antibodies was dose-dependent and statistically significant for the two concentrations used. AL-2, AL-3, AL-4, laminin-neutralized antibodies and control immunoglobulins did not alter lung morphogenesis. The two domains of laminin that promote lung branching morphogenesis have been reported by others to promote the attachment of a variety of cells and/or bind heparin. These domains of laminin may promote branching morphogenesis by facilitating cell attachment and, consequently, cell proliferation.
The Fsr Quorum-Sensing System of Enterococcus faecalis Modulates Surface Display of the Collagen-Binding MSCRAMM Ace Through Regulation of gelE.

Ace, a known virulence factor and the first identified microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecule (MSCRAMM) of Enterococcus faecalisis associated with host cell adherence and endocarditis. The Fsr quorum-sensing system of E. faecalis, a two-component signal transduction system, has also been repeatedly linked to virulence in E. faecalis, due in part to the transcriptional induction of an extracellular metalloprotease, gelatinase (GelE). In this study, we discovered that disruption of the Fsr pathway significantly increased the levels of Ace on the cell surface in the latter phases of growth. Furthermore, we observed that, in addition to fsrB mutants, other strains identified as deficient in GelE activity also demonstrated a similar phenotype. Additional experiments demonstrated the GelE-dependent cleavage of Ace from the surface of E. faecalis, confirming that GelE specifically reduces Ace cell surface display. In addition, disruption of the Fsr system or GelE expression significantly improved the ability of E. faecalis to adhere to collagen, which is consistent with higher levels of Ace on the E. faecalis surface. These results demonstrate that the display of Ace is mediated by quorum sensing through the action of GelE, providing insight into the complicated world of Gram-positive pathogen adhesion and colonization.
Relativizing relativized computations

Abstract This paper introduces a technique of relativizing already relativized computations and gives two interesting applications. The techniques developed here are simpler than the usual methods for constructing oracles that satisfy several requirements simultaneously. The first application shows that a result of Karp and Lipton (if sets in NP are decidable with polynomial-size circuits, then Σ P 2 = Π P 2 ) cannot be strengthened in the presence of certain oracles. This means that relativizable proof techniques cannot strengthen the conclusion to, say, P = NP . Such a stronger conclusion would be desirable as it would establish the equivalence of polynomial-time programs and polynomial-size circuits for solving NP-complete problems and would extend the known equivalence of polynomial-time programs and programs that are allowed a single query to a polynomial-size table. The second application gives an oracle C for which P C ≠ (NP C ∩ coNP C ) ≠ NP C and NP C ∩ coNP C has complete sets under polynomial-time many-one reductions. This complements a result of Sipser in which an oracle B is constructed for which NP B ∩ coNP B has no complete sets. These results suggest that current proof methods will not settle whether NP ∩ coNP has complete sets.
ARGUMENTATIVENESS IN ROOMMATES' RELATIONSHIPS

221 college students completed measures of their trait argumentativeness along with measures involving their relations with their roommates. Argumentativeness was not related to satisfaction with c...
Neural Network Models of Religious Belief

This paper applies neural network technology, a standard approach in computer science that has been unaccountably ignored by sociologists, to the problem of developing rigorous sociological theories. A simulation program employing a “varimax” model of human learning and decision-making models central elements of the Stark-Bainbridge theory of religion. Individuals in a micro-society of 24 simulated people learn which categories of potential exchange partners to seek for each of four material rewards which in fact can be provided by other actors in the society. However, when they seek eternal life, they are unable to find suitable human exchange partners who can provide it to them, so they postulate the existence of supernatural exchange partners as substitutes. The explanation of how the particular neural net works, including reference to modulo arithmetic, introduces some aspects of this new technology to sociology, and this paper invites readers to explore the wide range of other neural net techniques t...
Magnetically responsive photonic films with high tunability and stability

We demonstrate the fabrication of magnetically assembled one-dimensional chain-like photonic nanostructures with significantly high photonic stability. The key lies in the use of agarose hydrogel to prevent coagulation of the magnetic assemblies. When exposed to an external magnetic field, negatively charged Fe3O4@SiO2 particles can effectively assemble in the hydrogel matrix into one-dimensional chains with internal periodicity and display a fast, fully reversible, and tunable photonic response to the changes in the external field. The steric hindrance and the hydrogen bonding from the agarose network effectively limit the migration of the Fe3O4@SiO2 particles and their chain-like assemblies. As a result, the system shows remarkable stability in photonic response under external magnetic fields of large gradients, something which has previously been a challenge. The ability to stabilize the magnetic particle assemblies over a long period represents a major stride toward practical applications of such field-responsive photonic materials.
Do the 1998 Antarctic Plate earthquake and its aftershocks delineate a plate boundary

Plate motion data along the eastern Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR) are not fit by a rotation pole consistent with data along the western SEIR. DeMets et al. (1988) looked for, but did not find, evidence of a microplate north of the SEIR to explain the discrepancy. We test the hypothesis that the large (Mw=8.2), strike-slip, 1998 Antarctic earthquake lies on the boundary of a microplate (here termed “Balleny”) south of the SEIR that explains the plate motion discrepancy. A small circle about an Antarctic-Balleny Euler pole, determined by plate closure, fits the east-west band of aftershocks, consistent with a strike-slip boundary. However, the Antarctic-Balleny pole predicts right-lateral slip, while the seismicity exhibits left-lateral, strike-slip motion. The opposite sense of slip not only rules out the Balleny plate hypothesis, but requires deformation elsewhere to accommodate both the plate motion differences along the SEIR and the strain accumulated from the Antarctic event.
Fast growth of Cd 1-x Zn x Te single crystals by physical vapor transport

Good quality single crystals of Cd1−xZnxTe (x=0.04, 0.08, and 0.115) were obtained by the very fast vapor growth technique developed in this laboratory. The abundance of lamellar twins seems to be less than that in CdTe grown under the same conditions. Chemical etching results indicate a similar quality of the vapor grown crystals to those obtained from melt growth. The overall compositions of the crystals are uniform and approach those of the initial source material with increasing amount transported.