cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer's amyloidosis induces global changes in protein homeostasis in the brains of transgenic mice

Background: The deposition of amyloid beta peptide (Ab) is viewed as a key trigger in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) that precedes or is coincident with the appearance of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The latter pathology could be viewed as evidence for alterations protein homeostasis. Transgenic mice that model Alzheimer-type amyloidosis do not develop NFTs, providing a means to specifically assess whether amyloid deposition impacts protein homeostasis. Methods: Using a heat-shock model of cultured cells we determined that loss of protein solubility and an accumulation of polyubiquitin chains linked via lysine 48 residues, indicating an accumulation of excess proteasome substrates, are key biomarkers of altered protein homeostasis. We then use mass spectrometry approaches to determine whether these biomarkers were present in the brains of mice that model Alzheimer amyloidosis. Results: We identified numerous cytosolic proteins that show specific losses insolubility in the brains of mice with high amyloid burden. Importantly we also detected an accumulation of lysine 48 linked polyubiquitin in these animals. Conclusions: We conclude that amyloid deposition is sufficient to trigger changes in intracellular protein homeostasis and as such could be a critical component of the amyloid cascade.
Effect of arsenite, maternal age, and embryonic sex on spina bifida, exencephaly, and resorption rates in the splotch mouse.

BACKGROUND This study examines interactions of a mutation in Pax3, embryonic sex, advanced maternal age, and arsenite exposure in the splotch (Sp) mouse model, with the aim of describing gene-environment interactions for neural tube defects and embryonic lethality. METHODS Splotch heterozygous C57BL/6J mice were crossed to produce offspring of three genotypes with a common maternal genotype that were exposed to either sodium arsenite on gestational day (GD) 8.0, or advanced maternal age (dams older than 12 months). Embryos were extracted on GD 12 and genotyped for both Pax3 and sex. RESULTS Arsenite treatment was a significant contributor to both exencephaly and spina bifida. Advanced maternal age resulted in a high exencephaly rate in Sp/Sp female embryos (but not other genotypes) and a high overall resorption rate. Arsenite treatment and advanced maternal age resulted in elevated sex ratios (male:female) for heterozygous and wild-type embryos. The sex ratio was highest for wild-type embryos and was lowered as the number of mutant Pax3 alleles increased. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1.0 for splotch homozygotes. Control litters had spina bifida rates that were 95% in homozygous, 6% in heterozygous, and 0% in wild-type embryos. CONCLUSIONS If arsenite produces exencephaly by inactivating the Pax3 protein, then the fact that the exencephaly rate was increased in Sp/Sp embryos with no functional Pax3 indicates that arsenite may either induce this defect through additional pathways, or may alter the response via modifier genes. Genetic and environmental factors contributed to the determination of murine sex ratios, with female embryos being more susceptible to loss. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 67:231–239, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The effects of varying schedules of reinforcement on human task performance

Abstract The present research utilized four schedules of financial reinforcement (Hourly, Fixed Ratio, Variable Ratio, and Variable Ratio-Variable Amount) in an organizational simulation setting. Subjects were hired for what they perceived to be a real job of 4 weeks duration, which required them to learn self-paced material about electronics. Each subject worked for 1 week under each of the four schedules of reinforcement. Performance was lowest under the Hourly schedule, the FR and VR and VR—VA schedules produced higher performance. Attitudes were best under FR. The results were discussed in terms of their practical implications as well as their implications for theory, particularly expectancy-valence theory.
Development of a Wireless Cardiogram System for acute and long-term healthcare monitoring

A wireless system to monitor patient's heart activities has been designed, implemented and tested. The system is designed for acute and long term monitoring of patients at homes, clinics, nursing homes, or rural health-care clinics. This system consists of a Phonocardiogram (PCG) unit, an Electrocardiogram (ECG) unit, and a receiving remote unit. The PCG and the ECG units are the sensing units that acquire and filter the corresponding heart signals and transmit them using the nRF24LE1 system on chip to the remote unit. The nRF24LE1 chip is an ultra low power wireless chip that has a microcontroller, an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), and an antenna to transmit the data. The remote unit also contains an nRF24LE1 chip for receiving the signals and interfacing with a computer to store and view the received signals. After building the system, the microcontroller was programmed to perform the functions of digitizing, transmission, and receiving of the signals. The PCG and ECG analog signals, captured by oscilloscopes, were found to be real, accurate, and clean. The signals received by the remote unit placed at 100 feet away were compared with the analog signals. The results show that the two signals are almost identical. This means that this wireless system can provide accurate and continuous monitoring of patients within a 100-foot distance. This ensures that the system can be utilized within the space of a building whether it is a hospital, a clinic, a nursing home, or a private home.
Polar advisory committee focuses on NSF realignment

With the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) realignment that moves the agency's Office of Polar Programs (OPP) back to the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), “the emphasis on the importance of the polar program at NSF doesn't change,” NSF director Subra Suresh reassured members of the federal Advisory Committee on Polar Programs during a committee meeting on 5 November. “The polar program in its entirety stays as the same entity. Nothing changes,” he told committee members, regarding the realignment that began on 1 October (see Eos, 93(43), 427, doi:10.1029/2012EO430003). “Nothing changes in terms of our commitment to the polar program. Nothing changes in terms of infrastructure support. Nothing changes in terms of people in the polar program speaking for the polar program to the external world and internally. And nothing changes in terms of how individual scientists interact with the polar program.”
Structure of 3,4-dihydroxy-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid ethyl ester in the crystal and solution states

The structure of 3,4-dihydroxy-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid ethyl ester was proven by NMR and X-ray crystallographic. Under all conditions assessed, this compound existed as the dihydroxy tautomer 2.
SURFACE OXIDATION OF RHODIUM AT AMBIENT PRESSURES AS PROBED BY SURFACE-ENHANCED RAMAN AND X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIES

Abstract Presented here is a comprehensive study of ambient-pressure thermal oxidation of rhodium surfaces utilizing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as complementary techniques. Real-time SERS provides details regarding surface bonding and the time-dependent evolution of the surface oxides under in situ conditions, while XPS is used to obtain quantitative information about relative amounts of the oxides and extent of oxidation. The surfaces examined are electrochemically deposited rhodium thin films on gold substrates, and polycrystalline rhodium foil. Surface oxidation involved heating in a flowing stream of oxygen or oxygen/argon mixtures at atmospheric pressure, and temperatures up to 300°C. Raman spectra from the oxidized thin film exhibit several features in the 200-1000 cm −1 region that may be attributed to rhodium-oxygen vibrations of surface oxygen and oxides. Bands at 530 and 800 cm −1 are assigned to symmetric and asymmetric Rh-O stretches, respectively, in Rh 2 O 3 . A third band at 290 cm −1 , attributed to a Rh-O bending mode, arises from a behaviorally distinct oxide species. The corresponding XPS spectra exhibit several features that can be correlated with the SERS bands. The presence of Rh 2 O 3 is inferred from the appearance of a RH(3 d ) peak at 308.6 eV and a matching O(1 s ) peak at 530 eV. An additional O(1 s ) feature appears at 531.7 eV, which apparently correlates with the 290-cm −1 SERS band. While a clearcut assignment of the latter has proven to be difficult, possible species are chemisorbed oxygen along with RhOOH or RhO 2 . A differing reactivity of the spectrally distinct oxygen species towards CO was observed. A model for the spatial oxide composition is proposed based on a quantitative analysis of the XPS data.
The State of American Federalism, 1991-1992

While systemic questions of intergovernmental relations dominated public debate in many European and Asian lands, most substantive debate in the United States remained in a pre-election holding pattern. Constrained by growing debt and a recession, few new federal initiatives made their way through the policymaking thicket. The year 1991-1992 was not all that different from the preceding year. In terms of power and authority, the federal government often pulled in one direction while states tugged in another. It was in the judicial branch that matters of intergovernmental relations received extensive treatment. In the states, where policy initiation had characterized the decade of the 1980s, fiscal stress dominated the political agenda. State governments cast about for new ways to deliver services and to balance their budgets through a combination of tax increases and cutbacks. Phrases such as "reinventing government" and "total quality management" began to reverberate in statehouses.' Beyond the United States, a clamor for democracy combined with strong separatist sentiment to effect a reexamination of the traditional nation-state.
Library of Digital Circuit Development For Digital System Integration

Present day Digital System Designs have taken a new dimension, especially with the simulation tools such as the ModelSim and synthesis tools such as the Leonardo Spectrum. Unlike the conventional digital system designs, where the logic and functionality are optimized, modern designs call for integration of several digital sub system units for an integrated digital system. Such a scheme needs a collection of digital circuits in a library. It is prohibitive to have very many of different circuits and the associated software coding for each of them. Rather, it is advantageous to identify fundamental digital components and develop the VHDL or Verilog code for these components. Use this code recursively, to develop higher density and more complex circuits.
The corpus luteum of the guinea pig. Fine structure at the time of maximum progesterone secretion and during regression

This report describes the fine structure of guinea pig luteal cells during the period of maximum progesterone secretion and throughout involution, in ovaries that have been fixed by perfusion, a technique that provides optimal preservation of steroid-secreting tissues. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (smooth ER), a prominent organelle in these cells, is particularly well preserved by this method of fixation. During the time of maximal progesterone secretion, luteal cells contain abundant tubules and cisternae of smooth ER, many mitochondria, a well-developed Golgi complex and some lipid droplets. This fine structural picture is consistent with active steroidogenesis. Autophagy plays an important role in the regression of luteal cells in the corpus luteum. The onset of luteolysis is marked by the appearance of structurally complex autophagic vacuoles, one of which has not been described previously in luteal cells. This autophagic vacuole seems to originate from GERL (Golgi-endoplasmic reticulum-lysosomes) as a cup-shaped structure, which subsequently increases in size and complexity. Regressing luteal cells also contain increased numbers of both dense bodies (lysosomes) and lipid droplets, and exhibit changes in nuclear and mitochondrial morphology. In contrast to previous reports in the literature, changes in the morphology of smooth ER were not observed as a characteristic feature of involution in corpora lutea of guinea pigs in the present study. Advanced regression of luteal cells is characterized by multiple fusion of lipid droplets and a decrease in the amount of smooth ER. Another mechanism active in the breakdown of the corpus luteum is the phagocytosis of luteal cells by macrophages. Although present at all stages, macrophages are most abundant in older corpora lutea, where they often surround dead or dying luteal cells.
Testosterone, Paternal Behavior, and Aggression in the Monogamous California Mouse (Peromyscus californicus)

Testosterone (T) mediates a trade-off, or negative correlation, between paternal behavior and aggression in several seasonally breeding avian species. However, the presence or absence of a T-mediated trade-off in mammals has received less attention. We examined the relationship between paternal behavior and territorial aggression in the biparental California mouse, Peromyscus californicus. In contrast to seasonally breeding birds, T maintains paternal behavior in this year-round territorial species. Castration reduced paternal behavior, whereas T replacement maintained high levels of paternal behavior. We hypothesize that T is aromatized in the brain to estradiol, which in turn stimulates paternal behavior. In contrast to paternal behavior, aggressive behavior was not reduced by castration. Interestingly, only sham males showed an increase in aggression across three aggression tests, while no change was detected in castrated or T-replacement males. Overall, trade-offs between aggression and paternal behavior do not appear to occur in this species. Measures of paternal behavior and aggression in a correlational experiment were actually positively correlated. Our data suggest that it may be worth reexamining the role that T plays in regulating mammalian paternal behavior.
Setting the Stage: Global Competition in Higher Education

In this chapter, the issue editors set the stage for the chapters that follow by delineating recent developments in higher education and common strategies for creating globally competitive higher education institutions. The editors consider social justice concerns that arise with global competition and contend that contextualized priorities can and should mediate global trends.
Stability of Keplerate polyoxometalate macroanionic assemblies in salt-containing aqueous solutions

Abstract The solution stability of hydrophilic Keplerate polyoxometalate {Mo 72 Fe 30 } macroions was investigated at various ionic strengths. The solution stability varies with the type of monovalent cations with the lowest stability with large, weakly hydrated monovalent cations. Even lower stability was observed when the counter-cations were multivalent cations. Interestingly, the stability of {Mo 72 Fe 30 } solutions was found to increase with increasing POM concentration. The close association of monovalent counter-ions around macroions exists in aqueous solution and is likely enhanced at higher macroion concentrations. This behavior can further decrease the net charge on the macroions leading to a decreased electrostatic repulsion, which decreases the screening length of the macroions and causes them to irreversibly precipitate.
The Normal Modes of a Rotating, Elliptical Earth

Summary It is possible to calculate precisely the theoretical eigen-frequencies of any Earth model which is non-rotating, spherically symmetric, and which has an isotropic static stress field and an isotropic dynamic stress-strain relation. In this paper Rayleigh's principle is used to provide a formalism which allows the approximate computation of the normal mode eigen-frequencies of any Earth model which is slowly rotating and slightly aspherical and anisotropic. This formalism is used to compute, correct to second order, the effects of the Earth's angular rotation, and correct to first order, the effects of the Earth's ellipticity of figure on the normal mode eigenfrequencies. It is found that for an arbitrary poloidal or toroidal multiplet, the central (m= 0) member of the multiplet is shifted slightly in frequency and that the other members of the multiplet are split apart asymmetrically by the effects of the Earth's rotation and ellipticity. The results may be used to make a preliminary correction for rotation and ellipticity to the Earth's raw normal mode data.
Factors Related to the Psychosocial Functioning of Youth With Neonatal Brachial Plexus Injuries

(aged 10–17 years) with NBPI and their parent(s) were recruited from a national organization and two brachial plexus clinics. Participants completed a variety of questionnaires during their scheduled clinic visits. Results More social support from classmates was associated with better self-concept and fewer social difficulties. Less frequent use of negative coping strategies was associated with better self-concept and fewer social difficulties and was a significant moderator of the relation between injury severity and selfconcept. Conclusions Clinicians who work with children with NBPI should consider peer support and coping strategies when promoting the psychosocial functioning of these youth.
Some Advances in Negative Ion Technology

The state of negative ion technology at this time is undergoing a substantial transition. Beams have been produced from a large number of species of the periodic table and ways can be seen which will allow almost any species to be accelerated successfully. Because of the great usefulness of negative ions, I believe that a National effort should be made to exploit the possibilities of these sources by developing the calculational techniques which we described earlier, and by the development of various types of negative ion sources.
An audio processing library for game development in flash

In recent years, there has been sharp rise in the number of games on web-based platforms, which are ideal for rapid game development and easy deployment. In a parallel but unrelated trend, music-centric video games that incorporate well-known popular music directly into the gameplay (e.g., Guitar Hero and Rock Band) have attained widespread popularity on console platforms. The limitations of such web-based platforms as Adobe Flash, however, have made it difficult for developers to utilize complex sound and music interaction within web games. Furthermore, the real-time audio processing and synchronization required in music-centric games demands significant computational power and specialized audio algorithms, which have been difficult or impossible to implement using Flash scripting. Taking advantage of features recently added to the platform, including dynamic audio control and C-compilation for near-native performance, we have developed the Audio processing Library for Flash (ALF), providing developers with a library of common audio processing routines and affording web games with a degree of sound interaction previously available only on console or native PC platforms. We also present several audio-intensive games that incorporate ALF to demonstrate its utility. One example performs real-time analysis of songs in a user's music library to drive the gameplay, providing a novel form of game-music interaction.
More expressive market models and the future of combinatorial auctions

Research on auctions and other engineered markets is undergoing a renaissance, spurred by the growth of computing power and communication networks, and the new opportunities for social and economic interaction that they enable. Previous research has been applied to good effect, perhaps most famously by search engines to allocate advertising space in keyword auctions. Other case studies of combinatorial auctions being used in practice can be found in the book of Cramton et al. [Cramton et al. 2006]. Despite these success stories, there is much more to do. In this letter, I will give my opinion as to the ultimate determinants of how successful research on engineered markets can be, with implications for where the community can focus attention to maximize its impact. I will use [Golovin 2007] to illustrate initial progress in the direction I have in mind.
Shopping for fruits and vegetables. Food and retail qualities of importance to low-income households at the grocery store

Purchasing fruits and vegetables is an integral part of managing food consumption and dietary quality. This study examined how low-income adults who had primary responsibility for household food purchases considered retail produce decisions. We used a qualitative research approach based on grounded theory and an ecological conceptual framework. Twenty-eight low-income rural, village, and inner city heads of households in upstate New York, USA, were selected by purposive and theoretical sampling and interviewed about fruit and vegetable shopping habits, attitudes toward local food stores, and where and how they would prefer to buy produce. Analyses revealed their concerns were organized around five themes: store venue; internal store environment; product quality; product price; relationships with the stores. An unanticipated finding was the differing social relations that appear to exist between participant consumers, store employees and management, and the store itself as a representation of the larger retail food system. Attitudes toward retail food stores in this study are described as passive or fatalistic indifference, supportive, opportunistic, and confrontational (change agents). These attitudes are related to how shoppers considered retail fruit and vegetable choice, access, and availability. These findings suggest ways to individualize nutrition education and consumer education messages.
HELPING HIV-POSITIVE PERSONS TO NEGOTIATE THE DISCLOSURE RPROCESS TO PARTNERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS

For people who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness, one inevitable issue to be addressed is whether and how to share this information with others. For persons who are HIV positive, disclosure presents an especially arduous task. The purpose of this article is to offer a strategy to assist marriage and family therapists in facilitating client disclosure of an HIV-positive status to partners, family members, and friends. In addition, suggestions for setting the stage for disclosure to occur and recommendations for client follow-up are proposed.
Optimal Bandwidth Selection in Multi-Channel Cognitive Radio Networks: How Much is Too Much?

Cognitive radio improves spectrum efficiency by allowing secondary users (SU) to dynamically exploit the idle spectrum owned by primary users (PU). This paper studies optimal bandwidth allocation for SUs. Consider the following tradeoff: a SU increases its instantaneous throughput by accessing larger bands, but channel switching overhead (due to the dynamics of PU activities) and contention among multiple SUs create higher liability for larger bandwidths. So how much is too much? In this paper, we find the optimal bandwidth allocation in both the single SU and multiple SU cases, accounting for the effects of channel switching overhead. Our result is validated through both numerical simulation and real channel activity traces. We also study the impact of various factors on SU performance, namely, PU channel idle time and probability, PU channel correlation, and SU sensing and access schemes. The work sheds light on the design of spectrum sharing protocols in cognitive radio networks.
Development of a beta skin dose monitor using a silicon detector

A prototype skin dose monitor has been constructed and tested successfully. The monitor uses an ion-implanted silicon detector available commercially. The detector was selected since it has a lower leakage current than the other type of silicon detectors. It operates on both a pulse mode and current mode, and there is an overlap in the measurable beat dose rate ranges of these two modes. The prototype device includes an 8-b A/D converter and an 8-b microprocessor to display the skin dose directly. The device presently covers more than five orders of magnitude in the measurable beta skin dose rate ranges. The device has been calibrated using an extrapolation chamber and has been used to measure the dose rates produced by several different beta and beta/gamma sources. >
Bat metacommunity structure on Caribbean islands and the role of endemics

Aim We evaluate characteristics of species ranges (i.e. coherence, species turnover and range boundary clumping) to determine the structure of bat metacommunities and metaensembles from Caribbean islands. We evaluate the effects of endemic species on that structure, and quantify associations between island characteristics and latent environmental gradients that structure these metacommunities and metaensembles. Location Sixty-five Caribbean islands throughout the Bahamas, Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles. Methods Metacommunity structure is an emergent property of a set of ecological communities at different sites defined by species distributions across geographic or environmental gradients. We analysed elements of metacommunity structure (coherence, range turnover and range boundary clumping) to determine the best-fit pattern for metacommunities from all Caribbean islands, as well as from the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles separately. For each island group, analyses were conducted for all bats and for each of two broadly defined guilds (i.e. carnivores and herbivores). In addition, analyses were conducted for all species and for a subset in which endemic species were removed from the fauna. Spearman rank correlations identified island characteristics (area, elevation, latitude, longitude) that were associated significantly with island scores for ordination axes based on reciprocal averaging. Results Metacommunity structure for all bats and for carnivores was similar for each island group, with Clementsian distributions (i.e. discrete communities with groups of species replacing other groups of species along the gradient) for all islands, the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles, but with nested distributions for the Greater Antilles. Herbivore distributions were random for the Bahamas, but were Clementsian for all other island groups. Removal of endemic species affected the best-fit model of metacommunity structure in only 3 of 12 cases. In general, ordination scores for islands were correlated with longitude or latitude, but not with island area or elevation. Main conclusions Characteristics of bat species ranges and associated metacommunity structure were primarily dependent on the number and geographic arrangement of primary sources of colonization, and not on interspecific interactions, species-specific levels of environmental tolerance, or the physical characteristics of islands. Endemic species did not greatly affect metacommunity structure in Caribbean bats.
Scleral changes in chicks with form-deprivation myopia

The sclera in myopic regions of chick eyes was studied histologically and compared to the sclera in corresponding regions of normal fellow eyes. Chicks had been monocularly deprived of form vision in the nasal half of the retina from hatching. The fellow control eye and the temporal retina of the deprived eye had normal vision. With this treatment, the resulting form-deprivation myopia and eye enlargement are restricted to the retinal region that had been form deprived. We found that the cartilaginous sclera in the myopic nasal region exhibited several differences from that in the corresponding non-myopic region: it was thicker, its cell density was lower, and the number of chondrocytes and binucleate cells was higher. In contrast, the fibrous sclera was thinner. These changes suggest that form-deprivation myopia causes an increased production of extracellular matrix and an increased level of mitotic activity in the cartilaginous sclera. As expected, the non-myopic temporal regions of experimental and con...
Correction to "Optimization of the processing gain of an M-ary direct sequence spread spectrum communication system"

Summary form only given, as follows. On page 1398 of the above paper (ibid., vol. COM-28,Part II,pp. 1389-1398, Aig. 1980), the Acknowledgment was published incorrectly. The correct Acknowledgment is as follows: "ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors would like to thank Prof. C. Ziegler for generating the numerical results, and J. Bartow and S. Hall for their helpful suggestions."
Does the NMME Capture a Recent Decadal Shift toward Increasing Drought Occurrence in the Southwestern United States

AbstractA global-scale decadal climate shift, beginning in 1998/99 and enduring through 2013, has been documented in recent studies, with associated precipitation shifts in key regions throughout the world. These precipitation shifts are most easily detected during March–May when ENSO effects are weak. Analyses have linked this climate shift to a shift in the Pacific decadal variability (PDV) pattern to its negative phase. Here the authors evaluate the predictive skill of the North American Multimodel Ensemble (NMME), and the CFSv2 model alone, in maintaining the observed precipitation shifts in seasonal forecasts, emphasizing the southwestern United States where deficient precipitation has tended to prevail since the late 1990s.The NMME hindcasts out to 6 months lead are found to maintain the observed decadal precipitation shifts in key locations qualitatively correctly, but with increasingly underestimated amplitude with increasing lead time. This finding holds in the separate CFSv2 model hindcasts. The...
A nonradiometric, high-throughput assay for poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG): application to inhibitor identification and evaluation.

Abstract The enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) catalyzes the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds of ADP-ribose polymers, producing monomeric ADP-ribose units. Thus, in conjunction with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), PARG activity regulates the extent of in vivo poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Small molecule inhibitors of PARP and PARG have shown considerable promise in cellular models of ischemia–reperfusion injury and oxidative neuronal cell death. However, currently available PARG inhibitors are not ideal due to cell permeability, size, and/or toxicity concerns; therefore, new small molecule inhibitors of this important enzyme are sorely needed. Existing methodologies for in vitro assessment of PARG enzymatic activity do not lend themselves to high-throughput screening applications, as they typically use a radiolabeled substrate and determine product quantities through TLC analysis. This article describes a method whereby the ADP-ribose product of the PARG-catalyzed reaction is converted into a fluorescent dye. This highly sensitive and reproducible method is demonstrated by identifying two known PARG inhibitors in a 384-well plate assay and by subsequently determining IC50 values for these compounds. Thus, this high-throughput, nonradioactive PARG assay should find widespread use in experiments directed toward identification of novel PARG inhibitors.
Effects of High Levels of Antimycin A on Aquatic Invertebrates in a Warmwater Arizona Stream

Abstract Restoration of native fish to freshwater habitats often requires nonnative fish removal via chemicals such as antimycin A. Despite widespread use, there are limited field studies quantifying the effects of antimycin A on aquatic macroinvertebrates. We studied the immediate and short-term effects of antimycin A on macroinvertebrates during a fish renovation project in Fossil Creek, Arizona. We employed before–after control–impact (BACI) designs to measure the effects of antimycin A (at extraordinarily high levels of >54 and >100 μg/L) on macroinvertebrate drift, density, and species composition. We used the Hilsenhoff biotic index, a measure of invertebrate pollution tolerance, to study changes in species composition. At the highest dose (>100 μg/L), drift was five times the pretreatment drift level and invertebrate standing stocks in pools and riffles decreased immediately. Densities rebounded in riffles within 5 months but remained depressed in pools. At the lower concentration (>54 μg/L), macro...
Correlates of motivation for competitive or cooperative strategy among employed adults

The degree to which two measures of locus of control (LOC) and two measures of need for achievement (NACH) correlate with the motivations of persons for competitive or cooperative strategy was measured in 191 graduate students who are employed full-time as salaried employees. Results indicated significant correlations between motivation for competitive strategies and LOC, NACH, and the factors of LOC entitled self-confidence, internality, and belief in chance. The motivation to avoid the use of competitive strategies was correlated with belief in control by powerful others and chance. The motivation to use cooperative strategies failed to correlate significantly with either NACH or LOC.
Interference effects in second-harmonic generation within an optical cavity

An experiment is described that investigates certain interference effects for second-harmonic generation within a resonant cavity. By employing a noncollinear geometry, the phases of two fundamental beams from a frequency-stabilized dye laser can be controlled unrestricted by the boundary conditions imposed in an optical cavity containing a KDP crystal and resonant at the second harmonic. The fundamental beams are either traveling or standing waves and generate either one or two coherent sources of ultraviolet radiation within the cavity. The experiment demonstrates explicitly the dependence of second-harmonic phase on the fundamental phases and the dependence of coupling efficiency on the overlap of the harmonic polarization wave with the cavity-mode function. The measurements agree well with a simple theory.
The Impact of Other Customers on Customer Experiences: A Psychological Distance Perspective

Managing customer experiences is critical to the success of hospitality businesses in today’s economic climate and competitive environment. A better understanding of the impact of other customers o...
Temporal order judgements in good and poor readers

The amount of time required to make accurate (75% correct) temporal order judgements was measured in groups of 3rd and 4th grade children who were selected on the basis of reading ability. The stimuli, two words (Box and Fox), were tachistoscopically presented to the left and right or above and below a fixation point. Subjects were asked to say which word came first under one condition, or which position contained the stimulus that occurred first under another condition. The stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was varied in half octave steps until threshold was determined. The results indicate that good readers required significantly longer SOAs to achieve 75% correct than adults, but significantly shorter SOAs than poor readers. There was not a significant difference in thresholds for the word and position conditions for adults or good readers, but poor readers required significantly more time to achieve criterion for the word condition. The word thresholds were highly correlated (-0.77) with reading level, but the correlation between position threshold and reading level was not significant. The implications of a temporal order deficit are discussed.
Increasing mentally retarded adolescents' verbalizations about current events.

Abstract The effects of antecedent and consequent events on the verbal behavior of three institutionalized mentally retarded adolescents were examined. Verbal statements, related to current national and international events, were recorded after exposures to television news programs. The study examined the accuracy of verbalizations as a function of: (1) exposures to television news presentations in massed (i.e., viewing the entire news program before an opportunity to describe it) versus distributed from (i.e., viewing each news item separately with each followed by an opportunity to describe it), and (2) contingent tokens and social praise for correct verbal responses (i.e., statements corresponding to news items presented). Both the temporal distribution of news presentations and the reinforcement procedures improved the accuracy of verbal statements emitted by the subjects.
Angiotensin II and the Endothelium. Diverse Signals and Effects

The initial view of the renin-angiotensin system focused on the role of angiotensin II as a hormone involved in blood pressure control, based on its role in renal salt and water regulation, as well as central nervous system (thirst) and vascular smooth muscle tone. Subsequent data showed a role for angiotensin II in long-term effects on cardiovascular structure, including cardiac hypertrophy and vascular remodeling. Importantly, recent human studies with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers have demonstrated exciting clinical benefits including decreases in incidence of stroke, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease that suggest important new mechanisms of action. In this review, we focus on new roles for the renin-angiotensin system in the endothelium based on the concepts of diverse signals and effects mediated by multiple angiotensin I- and angiotensin II-derived peptides, multiple angiotensin metabolizing enzymes, multiple receptors, and vascular bed-specific intracellular signals.
Crystal structure of (E)-13-(pyrimidin-5-yl)parthenolide

The title compound, C19H22N2O3, {systematic name (1aR,4E,7aS,8E,10aS,10bR)-1a,5-dimethyl-8-[(pyrimidin-5-yl)­methylid­ene]-2,3,6,7,7a,8,10a,10b-octa­hydro­oxireno[2′,3′:9,10]cyclo­deca­[1,2-b]furan-9(1aH)-one} was obtained from the reaction of parthenolide [systematic name (1aR,7aS,10aS,10bR,E)-1a,5-dimethyl-8-methyl­ene-2,3,6,7,7a,8,10a,10b-octa­hydro­oxireno[2′,3′:9,10]cyclodeca­[1,2-b]furan-9(1aH)-one] with 5-bromo­pyrimidine under Heck reaction conditions, and was identified as an E isomer. The mol­ecule possesses ten-, five- (lactone) and three-membered (epoxide) rings with a pyrimidine group as a substituent. The ten-membered ring displays an approximate chair–chair conformation, while the lactone ring shows a flattened envelope-type conformation. The dihedral angle between the pyrimidine moiety and the lactone ring system is 29.43 (7)°.
Electro-optic response of the anticlinic, antiferroelectric liquid-crystal phase of a biaxial bent-core molecule with tilt angle near 45∘.

We describe the unusual electro-optic response of a biaxial bent-core liquid crystal molecule that exhibits an anticlinic, antiferroelectric smectic phase (Sm-${C}_{A}{P}_{A}$) with a molecular tilt angle close to 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. In the ground state, the sample shows very low birefringence. A weak applied electric field distorts the antiferroelectric ground state, inducing a small azimuthal reorientation of the molecules on the tilt cone. This results in only a modest increase in the birefringence but an anomalously large (\ensuremath{\sim}40\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) analog rotation of the extinction direction. This unusual electro-optic response is shown to be a consequence of the molecular biaxiality.
Effect of Temperature on Rate of Oxidation of Rubber. Nature of Resultant Deterioration

Abstract The same reaction appears to be rate-controlling in the oxidation of natural rubber and GR-S stocks at all temperatures in the range studied, 50° to 110° C. This is apparent from the linear relationship established between rate of oxygen absorption and the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. Presumably this would also be true for a reasonable extrapolation to lower or higher temperatures. Thus it is possible to determine the probable rate of oxygen absorption at room temperature on the basis of data obtained in short-term tests at higher temperatures, provided data are available at several temperatures. The effect on properties which accompanies the absorption of a given amount of oxygen varies with the temperature. For example, aging at higher temperatures produces a softer stock with lower modulus and higher elongation than is obtained by the absorption of the same amount of oxygen at a lower temperature. Thus chain scission predominates at higher temperatures, while cross-linking becomes o...
Modeling the change in electric potential due to lightning in a sphere

The change in electric potential as a result of lightning in a sphere of radius 1 is evaluated. Eigenfunctions obtained by utilizing spherical Bessel functions are used to evaluate the new potential. The change in the electric potential is a constant along the lightning channel, and it is the same as the pre-flash potential outside the channel. The governing equation for the electric potential is obtained from Maxwell’s equations.
High Capacity, Surface-Modified Layered Li [ Li ( 1 − x ) ∕ 3Mn ( 2 − x ) ∕ 3Nix ∕ 3Cox ∕ 3 ] O2 Cathodes with Low Irreversible Capacity Loss

Layered Li[Li 0.2 Mn 0.54 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 ]O 2 and Li[Li 0.1 Mn 0.43 Ni 0.23 Co 0.23 ]O 2 cathodes belonging to the Li[Li (1-x)/ 3Mn (2-x)/3 Ni x/3 Co x/3 ]O 2 solid solution series between Li[Li 1/3 Mn 2/3 ]O 2 and LiCo 1/3 Ni 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 have been synthesized and characterized by charge-discharge measurements in lithium cells before and after modifying their surface with Al 2 O 3 . The surface-modified cathodes show significantly lower irreversible capacity loss (ICL) and higher discharge capacity with excellent cyclability compared to the unmodified counterparts. For example, surface modified Li[Li 0.2 Mn 0.54 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 ]O 2 shows a remarkably high capacity of 285 mAh/g with an ICL of 41 mAh/g and good rate capability. This capacity value is much higher than that achieved with the previously known Li[Li 0.17 Mn 0.58 Ni 0.25 ]O 2 after similar surface modification (<255 mAh/g).
Epidemiological analysis of the communicable disease outbreak in Shenzhen from 2011 to 2012

Objective To analysis the results of communicable disease outbreak in Shenzhen from 2011 to 2012.Methods The occurrence of communicable disease outbreak between 2011 and 2012 from the Shenzhen Communicable Disease Outbreak System was analyzed.Outbreak data were compared by disease category,district,month and type of venue by using SPSS 15.0.Results 595 outbreaks,involving 4 985 patients,were reported between 2011 and 2012.The number of outbreak and the total number of patients was 270 and 2 169,respectively,in 2012,and the figures were 16.9% and 23.0% less than that in 2011.The median number of patients per outbreak was 7,and the median interval between the date of occurrence of the index case and the date of reporting was 5 days,and the average attack rate was 13.0% in 2012.The frequency of outbreaks occurred in school and kindergarten were 51.1% and 45.2%,respectively,in 2012.Compared to 2011,the incidence of outbreak in kindergarten was significantly increased.There were two peaks of outbreak in 2011 (March to May and November to December),but only the one peak of outbreak was found in 2012.Conclusions With the new disease monitoring system,patient information can be shared.The information can be used to evaluate the risk of disease outbreak.
Disrupting the Pathways of Social Determinants of Health: Doula Support during Pregnancy and Childbirth

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess perspectives of racially/ethnically diverse, low-income pregnant women on how doula services (nonmedical maternal support) may influence the outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. Methods: We conducted 4 in-depth focus group discussions with low-income pregnant women. We used a selective coding scheme based on 5 themes (agency, personal security, connectedness, respect, and knowledge) identified in the Good Birth framework, and we analyzed salient themes in the context of the Gelberg-Anderson behavioral model and the social determinants of health. Results: Participants identified the role doulas played in mitigating the effects of social determinants. The 5 themes of the Good Birth framework characterized the means by which nonmedical support from doulas influenced the pathways between social determinants of health and birth outcomes. By addressing health literacy and social support needs, pregnant women noted that doulas affect access to and the quality of health care services received during pregnancy and birth. Conclusions: Access to doula services for pregnant women who are at risk of poor birth outcomes may help to disrupt the pervasive influence of social determinants as predisposing factors for health during pregnancy and childbirth.
Vitamin D for the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable degenerative dementia that affects individuals’ quality of life. Because Alzheimer’s disease is incurable, current studies are aimed at prevention as well as delaying the progression of the disease. Vitamin D is a hormone that has been proven to be important in skeletal health and has been implicated in the development of many non-skeletal-related diseases. Expert committees have recommended that individuals at risk for vitamin D insufficiency have a 25(OH)D3 level drawn, and treatment should be given to reach sufficient levels. Several theories have linked vitamin D insufficiency to decreased cognition. For this reason, observational studies have explored the link between vitamin D and dementia, with most results pointing to the fact that low vitamin D levels are associated with poorer cognition. Before vitamin D supplementation is recommended for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, large, randomized, controlled trials are needed.
UCLA Pulse Tube Investigations

We have constructed and investigated a linear, low frequency pulse tube system in the basic [BPT] and orifice [OPT] configurations with a three-way electro-mechanical valve. Prior to manufacturing, regenerator characteristics have been studied using a cellular model with repetitive cells in the asymptotic range of laminar boundary layer-dominated flow at relatively large (subcritical) Reynolds numbers. The ratio of heat transfer rate to throughput rate of the model system agrees in the order of magnitude prediction with screen data noting quantitative superiority of the cell system. We have determined for the basic and the orifice pulse tube frequencies at the minimum temperatures: 1 Hz for the BPT, 2 Hz for the OPT, both operating with air.
Insulin resistance—a missing link no more

Fifteen years ago, one of us proposed the hypothesis that insulin resistance (IR) is a missing link between mood disorders and dementia.1, 2 See Figure 1. Recently, the field has exploded with the data supporting all components of the model, especially the connection between depressive disorders and IR.3, 4 Increasing number of studies also confirm a role of depressive disorders in accelerating onset of dementia.5, 6, 7 IR is a modifiable metabolic proinflammatory state underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Today both, mass media and specialty literature are replete with information on the topic and ‘stress’ is often cited as the cause. Yet, while ‘stress’ is invoked, the profound epigenetic effects of stressful and other daily experiences and the resulting health-related behaviors resulting from them need to be more clearly recognized and defined.
Data-driven modeling and real-time distributed control for energy efficient manufacturing systems

As manufacturers face the challenges of increasing global competition and energy saving requirements, it is imperative to seek out opportunities to reduce energy waste and overall cost. In this paper, a novel data-driven stochastic manufacturing system modeling method is proposed to identify and predict energy saving opportunities and their impact on production. A real-time distributed feedback production control policy, which integrates the current and predicted system performance, is established to improve the overall profit and energy efficiency. A case study is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control policy.