cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cell-penetrating-peptide-mediated siRNA lung delivery

The therapeutic application of siRNA (short interfering RNA) shows promise as an alternative approach to small-molecule inhibitors for the treatment of human disease. However, the major obstacle to its use has been the difficulty in delivering these large anionic molecules in vivo. A potential approach to solving this problem is the chemical conjugation of siRNA to the cationic CPPs (cell-penetrating peptides), Tat-(48-60) (transactivator of transcription) and penetratin, which have been shown previously to mediate protein and peptide delivery in a host of animal models. In this transaction, we review recent studies on the utility of siRNA for the investigation of protein function in the airways/lung. We show that, despite previous studies showing the utility of cationic CPPs in vitro, conjugation of siRNA to Tat-(48-60) and penetratin failed to increase residual siRNA-mediated knockdown of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) (MAPK14) mRNA in mouse lung in vivo. Significantly, we will also discuss potential non-specific actions and the induction of immunological responses by CPPs and their conjugates and how this might limit their application for siRNA-mediated delivery in vivo.
Dynamic modeling of a disequilibrated system of a market in the economy of a country

Abstract In this paper an attempt is made to formulate a model of a market for one commodity in which prices and quantities interact simultaneously. The model consists of four dynamic simultaneous difference equations. In the model, quantities and prices are determined by excess demand and excess price. Convergence and stability conditions are specified.
Digital boundary detection, volumetric and wall motion analysis of left ventricular cine angiograms

Abstract A set of algorithms have been developed to automate the analysis of cine ventriculographic data by digital methods. The visual data in the form of a cine ventriculogram is converted to digital data and stored in packed form on magnetic tape. The analysis procedure then (1) detects the ventricular boundary, (2) smooths the rough ventricular outline, (3) detects the aortic valve position and (4) translates and rotates each ventricular outline to a common set of internal axes. The program calculates on a frame by frame basis ventricular volume, projected ventricular area and constructs an instantaneous polar analysis of wall position. It currently takes 27 sec of computer time to digitize and analyze one frame of data.
Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor and Androgen Receptors in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Ovarian cancer is the second most common malignancy of the female reproductive tract. Approximately 50% of ovarian cancers have elevated levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This overexpression is correlated with a poor prognosis for patient survival. Ovarian cancers also express a number of sex steroid receptors. The androgen receptor (AR) is the predominant sex steroid receptor and is expressed in over 80% of ovarian cancers. We investigated whether a relationship exists between EGFR and AR in ovarian cancer. Sixty serous cystadenocarcinomas were analyzed for their relative levels of EGFR and AR by Western blot analysis. Data were analyzed by Student's t test and linear regression analysis for statistical significance. More than 98% of the tumors expressed detectable levels of EGFR, while 65% of the tumors expressed detectable levels of AR. The levels of EGFR (mean ± SEM) were found to be significantly ( P r = 0.49, P
G‐String conspiracy, political reprisal or armed revolt?; the Minneapolis Trotskyite trial

(1967). G‐String conspiracy, political reprisal or armed revolt?; the Minneapolis Trotskyite trial. Labor History: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 30-51.
Movement of the Caribbean plate and its importance for biogeography in the Caribbean

Sykes et al. have demonstrated that the Caribbean plate has moved east-northeast about 1400 km since late Eocene time (38 Ma). This movement changes or affects the interpretation of many biogeographic problems of that region. For example, Woodring9s 1965 “Middle Miocene Caribbean Province,” although slightly larger peripherally, includes the same area as the Caribbean plate; the migration route by which the North American terrestrial mammals reached the Panamanian area in the early Miocene may have been via the Nicaraguan Rise rather than through present-day Guatemala; Petuch9s “relict Neogene gastropod fauna” from northern Colombia and Venezuela may have been carried along with the plate as it moved; the otherwise Pacific keyhole echinoid genus Mellitella9s anomalous fossil occurrences in Venezuela and Colombia are explained by the plate movement.
Rate allocation in multiuser cognitive radio systems with successive group decoding

We consider the problem of rate allocation in classical as well as generalized multiuser cognitive radio systems. Each user intends to communicate with its designated receiver and all receivers employ successive group decoders with specified complexity constraints. Rate allocations in the classical case are obtained by using algorithms designed for a fi user Gaussian Interference Channel (GIC). In the generalized cognitive radio system the transmission rates of the primary users are assumed to be pre-determined such that each primary user is decodable at its (primary) receiver in the GIC consisting only of the primary transmitter-receiver pairs. We investigate the problem of selecting an active set of secondary users that are allowed to co-exist with the primary users and allocating rates to them under the constraints that each primary user achieves its pre-determined rate and no primary receiver decodes any secondary user. Each secondary receiver however is free to decode any other user whose codebook it is aware of. The key feature of the rate allocation algorithms we design is that inspite of using distributed and low-complexity ldquogreedyrdquo sub-routines, they can achieve globally optimal solutions.
Stability of cosmological solutions in extended quasidilaton massive gravity

We consider the stability of self-accelerating solutions to extended quasidilaton massive gravity in the presence of matter. By making a second metric dynamical in this model, matter can cause it to evolve from a Lorentzian to Euclidean signature, triggering a ghost instability. We study this possibility with scalar field matter as it can model a wide range of cosmological expansion histories. For the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$ expansion history, stability considerations substantially limit the available parameter space while for a kinetic-energy-dominated expansion, no choice of quasidilaton parameters is stable. More generally these results show that there is no mechanism intrinsic to the theory to forbid such pathologies from developing from stable initial conditions and that stability can only be guaranteed for particular choices for the matter configuration.
A theoretical and numerical study of African wave disturbances

Based upon linearized perturbation analysis, the initiating mechanisms for African wave disturbances were investigated. The analysis indicates that in summer over the deserts of tropical North Africa dynamic instability possessing the prominent characteristics of the wave disturbances can occur in the lower troposphere under the unique thermal conditions maintained by solar heating.
Development of sarcomas in heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder unit exposed to glucuronic acid conjugate of N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl.

The glucuronic acid conjugate of N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl was tested for carcinogenicity using a heterotopically transplanted rat urinary bladder (HTB) diverted from urine flow. A low-grade transitional cell carcinoma developed in 1 of 16 HTB and sarcomas surrounding the Ommaya reservoir connected to HTB in 8 of 16 rats. This unexpected high incidence of sarcomas, not previously observed in HTB-carcinogenesis model, suggested that the glucuronide conjugate of N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl is a locally active carcinogen to mesenchymal cells.
Histopathologic correlates of unstable ischemic syndromes in patients undergoing directional coronary atherectomy: In vivo evidence of thrombosis, ulceration, and inflammation

Abstract Complex coronary morphologic abnormalities with thrombus and ulceration have been recognized in acute ischemic syndromes by angiography, angioscopy, and autopsy. However, in vivo histopathologic correlates of unstable ischemic syndromes have not been described. The purpose of this study was to characterize intracoronary lesion morphologic abnormalities by analyzing specimens excised by directional atherectomy in patients with different ischemic syndromes. Tissue specimens removed by directional coronary atherectomy of primary lesions in native vessels were matched blindly to the clinical status of 130 patients representing 43% of a consecutive directional coronary atherectomy population of 300 patients; 824 specimens (range per patient 1 to 30, mean 6.3) were obtained. Clinical subgroups were prospectively classitied as recent myocardial infarction (≤ 15 days, mean 6, range 1 to 15 days), 48 patients; prolonged rest angina, 34 patients; crescendo angina, 29 patients; and stable angina, 19 patients. Shavings were prospectively analyzed for presence of thrombus, ulceration, or chronic inflammatory cells. Thrombus was observed in 33 (69%) patients with recent myocardial infarction, 17 (50%) with rest angina, 12 (41%) with crescendo angina, 7 (37%) with stable angina ( p = 0.048). Plaque ulceration was identified in 12 (25%) patients with recent myocardial infarction, 4 (12%) with rest angina, 2 (7%) with crescendo angina, and 1 (5%) with stable angina ( p = 0.09). Inflammatory cells were noted in the specimens of 32 (67%) patients with recent myocardial infarction, 16 (45%) with rest angina, 12 (41%) with crescendo angina, and 9 (45%) with stable angina. With increasing severity of clinical syndrome, there was a higher prevalence of thrombus and ulceration; chronic inflammatory cells, although present in all subgroups, were more prevalent in recent myocardial infarction ( p = 0.028). This study represents the in vivo histologic confirmation of acute plaque alteration in unstable ischemic syndromes; presence of plaque inflammation may have therapeutic implications and warrants further study.
On approximation of functions by exponential sums

Abstract We introduce a new approach, and associated algorithms, for the efficient approximation of functions and sequences by short linear combinations of exponential functions with complex-valued exponents and coefficients. These approximations are obtained for a finite but arbitrary accuracy and typically have significantly fewer terms than Fourier representations. We present several examples of these approximations and discuss applications to fast algorithms. In particular, we show how to obtain a short separated representation (sum of products of one-dimensional functions) of certain multi-dimensional Green's functions.
A prospective phase II trial of ONYX-015 adenovirus and chemotherapy in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (the baylor experience)

Background: The E1-b attenuated adenovirus, ONYX-015 (Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Richmond, CA), has demonstrated antitumoral activity in patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. This study evaluated the effects of intratumoral ONYX-015 injection combined with systemic chemotherapy.
Probabilistically reinforced choice behavior in pigeons.

A single principle, “momentary maximizing”, may account for much of a pigeon's steady-state behavior in both probability learning and concurrent variable interval experiments. The principle states that a pigeon tends to choose the alternative that momentarily has the higher probability of reinforcement. A successive discrimination procedure, which produced matching in an earlier experiment, produced here a tendency to maximize if training were adequately extended. Maximizing was produced also by other procedures, in which no reinforcing event was presented on some trials: one procedure did and two did not provide a bird with information about the availability of reinforcement on a key after an unreinforced response on the other key. The latter two procedures were analogous to concurrent variable interval schedules in two respects: the reinforcement probability on one key increased while a bird responded on the other key; and they produced matching. But sequential statistics suggested that matching resulted from momentary maximizing. Depending on the procedure, the tendency to maximize produced different relative frequencies of pecking a key for a fixed relative frequency of reinforcement. Computer simulation of maximizing behavior in several concurrent variable interval schedules produced matching and sequential statistics similar to those produced by a real bird.
Bending strength of piezoelectric ceramics and single crystals for multifunctional load-bearing applications

The topic of multifunctional material systems using active or smart materials has recently gained attention in the research community. Multifunctional piezoelectric systems present the ability to combine multiple functions into a single active piezoelectric element, namely, combining sensing, actuation, or energy conversion ability with load-bearing capacity. Quantification of the bending strength of various piezoelectric materials is, therefore, critical in the development of load-bearing piezoelectric systems. Three-point bend tests are carried out on a variety of piezoelectric ceramics including soft monolithic piezoceramics (PZT-5A and PZT-5H), hard monolithic ceramics (PZT-4 and PZT-8), single-crystal piezoelectrics (PMN-PT and PMN-PZT), and commercially packaged composite devices (which contain active PZT-5A layers). A common 3-point bend test procedure is used throughout the experimental tests. The bending strengths of these materials are found using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory to be 44.9 MPa for PMN-PZT, 60.6 MPa for PMN-PT, 114.8 MPa for PZT- 5H, 123.2 MPa for PZT-4, 127.5 MPa for PZT-8, 140.4 MPa for PZT-5A, and 186.6 MPa for the commercial composite. The high strength of the commercial configuration is a result of the composite structure that allows for shear stresses on the surfaces of the piezoelectric layers, whereas the low strength of the single-crystal materials is due to their unique crystal structure, which allows for rapid propagation of cracks initiating at flaw sites. The experimental bending strength results reported, which are linear estimates without nonlinear ferroelastic considerations, are intended for use in the design of multifunctional piezoelectric systems in which the active device is subjected to bending loads.
Regulation of Heme Oxygenase Messenger-RNA in Mesangial Cells - Prostaglandin E2, Negatively Modulates Interleukin-1-Induced Heme Oxygenase-1 Messenger-RNA

Abstract Heme oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) is the rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism. Several lines of evidence suggest a possible role for heme oxygenase in the inflammatory process and in cellular signaling. We have evaluated the regulation of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA induction by the inflammatory stimuli, phorbol 12,13-myristate acetate, heat shock and interleukin-1β in cultured rat mesangial cells. Phorbol 12,13-myristate acetate and heat shock rapidly (maximal at 2-3 hrs) induced heme oxygenase-1 mRNA. The effect of interleukin-1β on heme oxygenase-1 mRNA induction was slower (maximal at 12 hrs) and modest. However, in the presence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, interleukin-1β strongly induced heme oxygenase-1 mRNA. The addition of exogenous PGE2 reversed the effect of indomethacin. These data suggest that pro-inflammatory stimuli increase heme oxygenase-1 mRNA expression in rat mesangial cells and that interleukin-1β-induced heme oxygenase-1 mRNA level is negatively modulated by PGE2.
Passive Microwave Radiometric Observations Of The Atmosphere

Passive microwave sensing techniques can be used to obtain the temperature of the atmosphere, and to infer liquid water, water vapor and other molecular species over ocean or above the troposphere. The use of satellite-borne passive microwave radiometers is discussed along with the future use of the instrument on Nimbus-G and on the space shuttle.
Three new records of Jungermannia species (Hepaticae, Jungermanniales) from Nepal

Jungermanniaceae is the largest family of the Order Jungermanniales, which includes three subfamilies viz Jamesonielloideae, Mylioideae and Jungermannideae representing 18 genera and 71 species in Nepal. This paper deals with three new records viz . Jungermannia exertifolia Steph., J. infusca (Mitt.) Steph. and J. pumila With., which were recorded in the year 2010 and 2011 at different elevations (150 to 1300 m) in Chitwan district of central Nepal. These species were observed mostly in the mesic habitats of Sal ( Shorea robusta ) forest with other tree species like Dalbergia sisoo and Acacia catechue . Jungermannia pumila was recorded in broad leaved deciduous forest at 1275 m of elevation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i1.9945 International Journal of Environment Vol.3(1) 2014: 85-92
Dust effects on snowpack melt and related ecosystem processes are secondary to those of forest canopy structure and interannual snowpack variability

Dust deposition lowers the albedo of snow and can significantly alter snowpack energy balance. Investigation of aeolian dust deposition in the mountains of the western U.S. has shown that these effects advance the timing of snowpack melt and spring runoff across much of the region. These studies have primarily focused on alpine snowpacks with little to no overstory vegetation. To evaluate the impacts of aeolian dust on ecohydrological processes in forests, we conducted a manipulative experiment in a subalpine conifer forest in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. During the spring of 2010–2012, we added dust to the snow surface in forested plots every 1 to 2 weeks, roughly doubling the natural dust loading. We then measured snowpack ablation in control and dust addition plots, along with below-snowpack and warm season soil temperature (Tsoil), soil water content (θ), litter decomposition rate (D), soil respiration rate (Rs), and tree xylem water potential (ψ). Differences in ablation between control and dust addition plots were similar in magnitude to differences associated with the canopy structure of the forest. Seasonal patterns in Tsoil and θ were similar between dust treatments and canopy structure groups. D, Rs, and ψ varied little between dust treatments, but there were significant differences between years. During our 3-year study, an unusual level of interannual variability in snowfall had the greatest effect on the soil environment and ecosystem processes. The effects of aeolian dust on snowpack mass and energy balance in our forest were slightly smaller than those associated with canopy structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prelude and Postlude to the Self Correlates of Achieved Identity

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development views ego identity achievement to be a crucial period in one's life. Although the theory generated a great deal of interest for a time, current models of the self-concept tend to ignore it. This study examined the relationships between Erikson's notion of identity status and several current self-related variables hypothesized to be antecedents and consequences of achieved identity. Degree of parental care and trust predicted identity achievement, which in turn predicted secure attachment and vitality. Identity achievement was also associated with measures of ego strength and development and with discrepancies between actual and ideal selves. Implications of Erikson's theory for modern views of the self are discussed.
GPS-squitter low-altitude air surveillance in the Gulf of Mexico

Aircraft surveillance in the Gulf of Mexico can be substantially improved at relatively low cost with GPS-Squitter, a form of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast(ADS-B), with GPS-Squitter, aircraft in the Gulf would use Mode S transponders to automatically broadcast (i.e., squitter) their position (latitude, longitude, and barometric altitude) and identification. An aircraft would determine its position from an onboard positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System). To demonstrate the feasibility of GPS-Squitter low-altitude surveillance in the Gulf of Mexico, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, in a cooperative effort with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and industry, conducted a series of tests in the Gulf during November and December 1994. For the tests, three GPS-Squitter ground stations were deployed in the Gulf-two on oil platforms and a third at the Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) heliport in Morgan City, Louisiana. The ground stations were used to track three GPS-Squitter-equipped aircraft (two Bell 206 helicopters and Cessna 421); live traffic displays were available in Morgan City, New Orleans, and Houston. This paper describes the configuration of the test vehicles and ground stations. Surveillance performance results are also included for each of the test vehicles.
XBP-1 Regulates a Subset of Endoplasmic Reticulum Resident Chaperone Genes in the Unfolded Protein Response

The mammalian unfolded protein response (UPR) protects the cell against the stress of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We have investigated here the contribution of the UPR transcription factors XBP-1, ATF6alpha, and ATF6beta to UPR target gene expression. Gene profiling of cell lines lacking these factors yielded several XBP-1-dependent UPR target genes, all of which appear to act in the ER. These included the DnaJ/Hsp40-like genes, p58(IPK), ERdj4, and HEDJ, as well as EDEM, protein disulfide isomerase-P5, and ribosome-associated membrane protein 4 (RAMP4), whereas expression of BiP was only modestly dependent on XBP-1. Surprisingly, given previous reports that enforced expression of ATF6alpha induced a subset of UPR target genes, cells deficient in ATF6alpha, ATF6beta, or both had minimal defects in upregulating UPR target genes by gene profiling analysis, suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanism(s) for ATF6 in the UPR. Since cells lacking both XBP-1 and ATF6alpha had significantly impaired induction of select UPR target genes and ERSE reporter activation, XBP-1 and ATF6alpha may serve partially redundant functions. No UPR target genes that required ATF6beta were identified, nor, in contrast to XBP-1 and ATF6alpha, did the activity of the UPRE or ERSE promoters require ATF6beta, suggesting a minor role for it during the UPR. Collectively, these results suggest that the IRE1/XBP-1 pathway is required for efficient protein folding, maturation, and degradation in the ER and imply the existence of subsets of UPR target genes as defined by their dependence on XBP-1. Further, our observations suggest the existence of additional, as-yet-unknown, key regulators of the UPR.
Creating a female dominion in American reform, 1890-1935

In this book, Muncy explains the continuity of white, middle-class, American female reform activity between the Progressive era and the New Deal. She argues that during the Progressive era, female reformers built an interlocking set of organizations that attempted to control child welfare policy. Within this policymaking body, female progressives professionalized their values, bureaucratized their methods, and institutionalized their reforming networks. To refer to the organizational structure embodying these processes, the book develops the original concept of a female dominion in the otherwise male empire of policymaking. At the head of this dominion stood the Children's Bureau in the federal Department of Labor. Muncy investigates the development of the dominion and its particular characteristics, such as its monopoly over child welfare and its commitment to public welfare, and shows how it was dependent on a peculiarly female professionalism. By exploring that process, this book illuminates the relationship between professionalization and reform, the origins and meaning of Progressive reform, and the role of gender in creating the American welfare state.
Commentary---An Industry Equilibrium Analysis of Downstream Vertical Integration: Twenty-Five Years Later

The goal of this brief note is to provide the reader with an appreciation of how this paper was initially conceived, to state what I think are the paper's key insights, and to outline a few of the many challenges and opportunities that still exist in studying channel management issues.
Socrates’ Questions: A Focus for Nursing

This column focuses on the philosophical dialogue originated by Socrates. Six questions that Socrates would ask the ancient Greeks are explored in discussing a book written by Phillips entitled Six Questions of Socrates. These questions were: What is virtue? What is moderation? What is justice? What is good? What is courage? What is piety? A human becoming perspective is used as a lens to view the discussion on these questions and the question is posed, “What would it be like to frame discussions on health and quality of life around Socrates’ questions?” Parse’s teaching-learning processes are presented as a means of creating an environment where dialogue on these questions can occur.
Recursive tracking algorithms: from the kalman filter to intelligent trackers for cluttered environment

Tracking in a cluttered environment is characterized by uncertainty in the origin of the measurements. The techniques that are currently in use for association of measurements to measurements (track formation) or measurements to tracks (track maintenance) do not have the built-in capability of assessing their own performance in real time. An intelligent tracker is one that can automatically assess the credibility of its output, i.e., whether it has a target in track, as well as the accuracy of its estimates. A survey of the existing algorithms for data association and tracking is given together with their main features capabilities vs. complexity. A new recursive algorithm, based on the Interacting Multiple Model Probabilistic Data Association Filter, which can start up tracks, maintain them in the presence of target maneuvers and evaluate a "true target probability" for each track is discussed.
Subduction-zone magnetic anomalies and implications for hydrated forearc mantle

Continental mantle in subduction zones is hydrated by release of water from the underlying oceanic plate. Magnetite is a significant byproduct of mantle hydration, and forearc mantle, cooled by subduction, should contribute to long-wavelength magnetic anomalies above subduction zones. We test this hypothesis with a quantitative model of the Cascadia convergent margin, based on gravity and aeromagnetic anomalies and constrained by seismic velocities, and find that hydrated mantle explains an important disparity in potential-field anomalies of Cascadia. A comparison with aeromagnetic data, thermal models, and earthquakes of Cascadia, Japan, and southern Alaska suggests that magnetic mantle may be common in forearc settings and thus magnetic anomalies may be useful in mapping hydrated mantle in convergent margins worldwide.
NMR structures of the human α7 nAChR transmembrane domain and associated anesthetic binding sites.

Abstract The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), assembled as homomeric pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, is one of the most abundant nAChR subtypes in the brain. Despite its importance in memory, learning and cognition, no structure has been determined for the α7 nAChR TM domain, a target for allosteric modulators. Using solution state NMR, we determined the structure of the human α7 nAChR TM domain (PDB ID: 2MAW ) and demonstrated that the α7 TM domain formed functional channels in Xenopus oocytes. We identified the associated binding sites for the anesthetics halothane and ketamine; the former cannot sensitively inhibit α7 function, but the latter can. The α7 TM domain folds into the expected four-helical bundle motif, but the intra-subunit cavity at the extracellular end of the α7 TM domain is smaller than the equivalent cavity in the α4β2 nAChRs (PDB IDs: 2LLY ; 2LM2 ). Neither drug binds to the extracellular end of the α7 TM domain, but two halothane molecules or one ketamine molecule binds to the intracellular end of the α7 TM domain. Halothane and ketamine binding sites are partially overlapped. Ketamine, but not halothane, perturbed the α7 channel-gate residue L9′. Furthermore, halothane did not induce profound dynamics changes in the α7 channel as observed in α4β2. The study offers a novel high-resolution structure for the human α7 nAChR TM domain that is invaluable for developing α7-specific therapeutics. It also provides evidence to support the hypothesis: only when anesthetic binding perturbs the channel pore or alters the channel motion, can binding generate functional consequences.
Diagnosing Deep Roots of Development: Genetic, Disease and Environmental Factors

We examine the association between indicators of real GDP per capita and the ACP1 genetic adaptation to disease and ultraviolet radiation environment. We find a strong impact that varies across the A, B, and C alleles. The result is robust to controlling for reversal of fortunes, migration, and potential endogeneity of the genetic adaptation. It is also robust to controlling for other potential deep roots of development, geography, early adoption of technology, the population proportion that is European, and genetic diversity, as well as a range of factors held to be relevant by the economic growth literature. Policy prescriptions point to the importance of protection against ultraviolet radiation, control of tropical diseases, and the possible use of folic acid therapy and nutrient supplements in clearly identifiable geographic areas.
The Nature And Consequences Of Part-Time Work: A Test Of Hypotheses

This study investigated hypotheses developed by Feldman (1990) regarding the impact of different types of part-time working arrangements on various attitudes, behaviors, and chosen frames of reference. Using data collected from 240 part-time workers employed by a supermarket chain, significant differences across the types of part-time work arrangements were found. For example, permanent as opposed to temporary part-time employees were more satisfied with and committed to their organizations. Further, students are more likely to consider themselves temporary and voluntary part-time employees than are non-students. Additional findings are discussed and needs for future research are noted.
The Nature of Family Decision Making at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP): Social and Managerial Implications

This paper describes the consumer at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) to shed light on the resources and constraints associated with consumption in this marketplace. It compares and contrasts the nature of decision making in BoP households and roles of its members to research mostly conducted in the context of western societies. Data for this paper comes from a qualitative study conducted with 58 urban poor consumers in India who provide detailed accounts of their household purchase behavior. Findings from this study carry significant ethical and marketing implications for companies that target the BoP segment and highlight the importance of revising marketing strategy to better fit the needs of the BoP household. This research makes a contribution the literature on transformative consumer research (TCR) to generate insights into poverty alleviation by understanding consumption by the poor. In the area of consumer decision making, the TCR approach advocates to help the poor become better decision makers by customizing market information to fit their cognitive and emotional abilities. We hope that the findings of this study and suggested implications for marketing practice will have help improve the well-being of the poor, reduce their vulnerability through innovative marketplace interventions which in turn will empower the poor consumers.
Web Costs and Web Defense in the Parsnip Webworm (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)

The parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella (Duponchel), webs together developing umbels of its host plant, Pastinaca sativa L., throughout the course of its larval life. We estimated energetic, time, and material costs of web-spinning behavior for this species. Webworms spent ≈one-third of their time spinning silk; of digested food biomass not expended on respiration, one-fourth was incorporated into silk, and almost 18% of ingested nitrogen was incorporated into silk. Three experiments examined webworm behavior with respect to occupied and unoccupied webs. Caterpillars displaced from their webs occupied empty webs provided to them 87.5% of the time instead of spinning new webs. Moreover, webworms defended their webs against usurping conspecifics. Of 63 staged interactions between web occupants and intruders, 52 were initiated by the residents, and all but one resident successfully defended the web. Finally, when larvae were displaced from their own webs and ‘squatters’ installed, aggressive attacks were equally likely to be initiated by web-builders and squatters. These behaviors are consistent with a high cost of web building because costs and risks associated with aggressive defense of a web presumably do not exceed those expended in constructing a new web or in being without a web.
Dominated Factors for Jc-B Characteristics of Bi-based High-Tc Superconducting Wires

BiPbSrCaCuO silver sheathed high-Tc superconducting wires were fabricated through the solid reaction method. Maximum critical current density is 3.0×104A/cm2 at 77.3K in a zero magnetic field, 1.5×104A/cm2 at 0.1 Tesla and 3.3×103A/cm2 at 1 Tesla. We propose that the magnetic field dependence of Jc of the wire is dominated by the Lorentz force which works perpendicular to the c-axis, caused by the transport current with c-axis component crossing grain boundaries when the magnetic field was applied parallel to the plane of the wire. While, when the magnetic field was applied perpendicular to the plane, it was dominated by the pinning force in the grains.
GPC and ESI-MS analysis of labeled poly(1-hexene): rapid determination of initiated site counts during catalytic alkene polymerization reactions.

Accurate active-site counts are necessary for the establishment of olefin polymerization kinetics, yet current techniques are often tedious and limited in sensitivity. Herein, we describe the development of a novel method for determining the fraction of initiated catalyst using standard gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). The first insertion of monomer into the chromophore-bearing zirconocene 1 generates a single equivalent of a labeled polymer chain. The polymer-bound label can be quantified as a function of polymer molecular weight using a GPC with a UV detector; simultaneous RI detection allows both the extent of monomer conversion and the molecular-weight distribution to also be established. We estimate that monomer to catalyst ratios of as high as 10 000:1 can be measured using this technique.
Type 3 muscarinic receptors contribute to intestinal mucosal homeostasis and clearance of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis through induction of TH2 cytokines

Despite increased appreciation for the role of nicotinic receptors in the modulation of and response to inflammation, the contribution of muscarinic receptors to mucosal homeostasis, clearance of e...
Old wine, new bottle. The alcohol dependence syndrome.

This article reviews the historical antecedents of the concept of an alcohol dependence syndrome and the experimental and clinical work that have been applied to its study since 1976. When alcohol dependence has been carefully defined and quantified, it has been found to predict aspects of clinical outcome and physiologic and behavioral responses in the laboratory. In contrast, some recent research suggests that family pedigree may not be as good a predictor of risk of alcohol dependence, as of alcohol-related disabilities. The implications of this work for an understanding of alcoholism, its prevention, and treatment, will be emphasized.
Torsion of the contralateral testis 5 years after orchiopexy.

AbstractWe report a case of spermatic cord torsion in the contralateral testicle 5 years after surgical fixation. Since diagnosis of such a lesion is difficult a high degree of suspicion is necessary. If torsion is suspected exploration is mandatory. We strongly recommend the use of a nonabsorbable reactionproducing suture (for example silk) when an orchiopexy is performed, with the point of fixation being between the visceral tunica vaginalis and the dartos muscle.
User Behavior Modeling for Estimating Residential Energy Consumption

Residential energy constitutes a significant portion of the total US energy consumption. Several researchers proposed energy-aware solutions for houses, promising significant energy and cost savings. However, it is important to evaluate the outcomes of these methods on larger scale, with hundreds of houses. This paper presents a human-activity based residential energy modeling framework, that can create power demand profiles considering the characteristics of household members. It constructs a mathematical model to show the detailed relationships between human activities and house power consumption. It can be used to create various house profiles with different energy demand characteristics in a reproducible manner. Comparison with real data shows that our model captures the power demand differences between different family types and accurately follows the trends seen in real data. We also show a case study that evaluates voltage deviation in a neighborhood, which requires accurate estimation of the trends in power consumption.
Young Children Learning from Touch Screens: Taking a Wider View

Touch screen devices such as smartphones and tablets are now ubiquitous in the lives of American children. These devices permit very young children to engage interactively in an intuitive fashion with actions as simple as touching, swiping and pinching. Yet, we know little about the role these devices play in very young children's lives or their impact on early learning and development. Here we focus on two areas in which existing research sheds some light on these issues with children under 3 years of age. The first measures transfer of learning, or how well children use information learned from screens to reason about events off-screen, using object retrieval and word learning tasks. The second measures the impact of interactive screens on parent-child interactions and story comprehension during reading time. More research is required to clarify the pedagogical potential and pitfalls of touch screens for infants and very young children, especially research focused on capabilities unique to touch screens and on the social and cultural contexts in which young children use them.
An Accessible Blocks Language: Work in Progress

Block languages are extensively used to introduce programming to children. They replace the complex and error prone syntax of textual languages with simple shape cues that show how program elements can be combined. In their present form, blind learners cannot use them, because they rely on graphical presentation of code, and mouse interactions. We are working on a nonvisual blocks language called Pseudospatial Blocks (PB), that supports program creation using keyboard commands with synthetic speech output. It replaces visual shape cues for language syntax, the key feature of block languages, with filtering of program elements by syntactic category.
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit,

How do we inculcate a rich spiritual dynamic into our own daily lives that is not merely perfunctory? More specifically, for those of us who work in Christ-centered higher education, how do we mode...
Decay rates of spherical and deformed proton emitters

Using Green's function techniques, we derive expressions for the width of a proton decaying state in spherical and deformed nuclei. We show that the proton decay widths calculated by the ``exact'' expressions of Maglione et al. are equivalent to the distorted wave expressions of Bugrov et al., and that of \AA{}berg et al. in the spherical case.
OpenRBC: A Fast Simulator of Red Blood Cells at Protein Resolution

We present OpenRBC, a coarse-grained molecular dynamics code, which is capable of performing an unprecedented in silico experiment-simulating an entire mammal red blood cell lipid bilayer and cytoskeleton as modeled by multiple millions of mesoscopic particles-using a single shared memory commodity workstation. To achieve this, we invented an adaptive spatial-searching algorithm to accelerate the computation of short-range pairwise interactions in an extremely sparse three-dimensional space. The algorithm is based on a Voronoi partitioning of the point cloud of coarse-grained particles, and is continuously updated over the course of the simulation. The algorithm enables the construction of the key spatial searching data structure in our code, i.e., a lattice-free cell list, with a time and space cost linearly proportional to the number of particles in the system. The position and the shape of the cells also adapt automatically to the local density and curvature. The code implements OpenMP parallelization and scales to hundreds of hardware threads. It outperforms a legacy simulator by almost an order of magnitude in time-to-solution and >40 times in problem size, thus providing, to our knowledge, a new platform for probing the biomechanics of red blood cells.
The Sweet Spot: An Examination of Second-Screen Sports Viewing

Sports viewers use online platforms to engage with sports content and other fans, and some of this engagement occurs as a secondary task while viewing sporting events in real time. Multitasking while viewing can both help and hinder enjoyment, depending on the context and time devoted to secondary tasks. A field experiment (N = 215) explored how socializing with others (physically and virtually) and how time spent with social, event-related, and non-event-related secondary activities were related to enjoyment of a university football game and fan identification. Results demonstrate that both posting to Facebook and viewing in more social settings are related to greater enjoyment. However, more time spent on social media and looking up non-event-related content were negatively related to enjoyment and fan identification. This suggests that a short window of time spent on secondary tasks while viewing a sports event may be the sweet spot for maximizing enjoyment.
Prospective Relations among Low-Income African American Adolescents’ Maternal Attachment Security, Self-Worth, and Risk Behaviors

This study examined prospective mediating relations among mother-adolescent attachment security, self-worth, and risk behaviors, including substance use and violence, across ages 13-17 in a sample of 901 low-income African American adolescents. Path analyses revealed that self-worth was a significant mediator between attachment security and risk behaviors, such that earlier attachment security predicted self-worth one year later, which in turn, predicted substance use, weapon carrying, and fighting in the third year. Implications for the role of the secure base concept within the context of urban poverty are discussed.
Effect of home construction on soil carbon storage-A chronosequence case study.

Abstract Urbanization results in the rapid expansion of impervious surfaces, therefore a better understanding of biogeochemical consequences of soil sealing is crucial. Previous research documents a significant reduction in soil carbon and nitrogen content, however, it is unclear if this decrease is a result of top soil removal or long-term soil sealing. In this study, soil biogeochemical properties were quantified beneath homes built on a crawl space at two depths (0–10 cm, and 10–20 cm). All homes, 11–114 years in age, were sampled in the Piedmont region of Alabama and Georgia, USA. This age range enabled the use of a chronosequence approach to estimate carbon loss or gain under the sampled homes. The difference in soil carbon content beneath homes and adjoining urban lawns showed a quadratic relation with age. Maximum C loss occurred at approximately fifty years. The same pattern was observed for MBC: C ratio suggesting that the soil carbon content was decreasing beneath the homes for first fifty years, then increased afterward. The average soil C and N content in the top 10 cm were respectively 61.86% (±4.42%), and 65.77% (±5.65%) lower underneath the homes in comparison to urban lawns. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and nitrogen (MBN) were significantly lower below the homes compared to the urban lawns, while bulk density and phosphorus content were higher beneath the homes.
Where is my place? Quick chorus structure assembly in the European tree frog

Lek mating systems are characteristic of anurans that use oviposition sites that cannot be easily monopolized by individual males. The dynamics of the chorus structure in leks is not well known. Here, we examine the relationship between the movement activity of individual males during the breeding season and their size. According to our observations, the site fidelity of males is not completely random, with the larger males moving significantly shorter distances than smaller males. However, this difference applies only to the distance between the first and second captures. Whether higher site fidelity contributes to higher mating success needs further investigation.
Vagal nerve stimulator induced chin electromyography artifact.

Vagal nerve stimulator(VNS) is a FDA approved therapy for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. It can affect the sleep of patients in many ways. In this report, we describe a very specific and unique artifact seen during the Polysomnography as a result of the firing of the VNS along with review of literature.
Participation of BTK in MYD88 signaling in malignant cells expressing the L265P mutation in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, and effect on tumor cells with BTK-inhibitor PCI-32765 in combination with MYD88 pathway inhibitors.

8106 Background: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) promotes B-cell receptor signaling along with B-cell expansion and survival through NF-κB and MAPK. MYD88 L265P is a widely expressed somatic mutatio...
Denoising in Monte Carlo Photon Transport Simulations Using GPU-accelerated Adaptive Non-Local Mean Filter

We propose a GPU-accelerated adaptive non-local-mean filter to reduce the stochastic noise presented in Monte Carlo photon transport simulations. After filtering, the noise in the output is comparable to that obtained using roughly 10-fold photons.
Immobilized cutinases: Preparation, solvent tolerance and thermal stability.

Abstract Developing active immobilized enzymes and characterization of their use conditions is critically important prior to initiating studies of enzyme selectivity and substrate specificity in organic media. To this end, physical immobilization by hydrophobic interactions was performed with three well-characterized cutinases (Aspergillus oryzae Cutinase (AoC), Humicola insolens Cutinase (HiC), and Thielavia terrestris Cutinase (TtC)) using Lewatit VP OC 1600 as the macroporous support. We found that immobilization yields >98% were achieved for all three cutinases under the following immobilization conditions: 100 mg/g loading ratio, immobilization buffers of 100 mM phosphate pH 8 (AoC and HiC) and 100 mM acetate pH 5 (TtC), mixing at 150 rpm and 30 °C for 24 h. Among the three cutinases, HiC has the highest tolerance towards solvents of increased polarity while TtC has the highest thermal stability (up to 80 °C) in a bulk reaction system that consists of the reactants butanol and lauric acid. In nonane, these cutinases retain >64% of their activity at 90 °C. Furthermore, kinetic stability (residual activity as a function of time) analysis reveals that the cutinases retain >75% residual activity at 70 °C in 3 h. Moreover, at 80 °C, the kinetic stability of TtC is higher than that of HiC and AoC. Collectively, the results herein set the stage for the in-depth evaluation of these catalysts for selective transformations in organic media.