cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The product strategy for seasonal products

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to exemplify the product management of seasonal products.Design/methodology/approach – Comment on existing literature.Findings – The comment synthesizes literature on an uncommon product strategy issue.Research limitations/implications – As in all case studies, the specific conditions found in one organization may not be found more generally in others. Readers are cautioned that the conclusions drawn in the case may have limited applicability.Practical implications – The comment depicts the process that one firm uses to link product introductions to seasonal events.Originality/value – The comment describes an approach to product strategy that maintains customer interest and involvement with a complex product line.
Attenuated Fractional Wave Equations With Anisotropy

This paper develops new fractional calculus models for wave propagation. These models permit a different attenuation index in each coordinate to fully capture the anisotropic nature of wave propagation in complex media. Analytical expressions that describe power law attenuation and anomalous dispersion in each direction are derived for these fractional calculus models.
A permutational approach toward protein-DNA recognition

Abstract The cI repressor of bacteriophage 434, known as 434 repressor, binds to 14-bp operator sequences by means of a helix-turn-helix motif. To probe the requirements for selective DNA recognition by this class of DNA binding proteins, as well as to generate new proteins with altered specificities, a library of approximately 3 x 10(6) mutants was generated that contains all permutations of five residues in the recognition helix (helix 3) of the repressor. These mutants were then selected in vivo for their ability to bind both wild-type (WT) and mutant operator sequences. The results of the selection demonstrate that four of these residues--Gln28, Gln29, Ser30, and Gln33--play a critical role in recognition of the WT operator. A number of repressors with mutations at Thr27 showed altered DNA binding affinities and specificities. The approach described here may also prove useful in studies of DNA recognition by other classes of DNA binding proteins.
Testing paleogeographic controls on a Neoproterozoic snowball Earth

[1] The distribution of continents during the Neoproterozoic has been hypothesized to play an important role in the initiation of an ice-covered Earth. In this study, the influence of paleogeography on the Neoproterozoic climate is evaluated using a fully coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model (FOAM). Three simulations were completed with different continental distributions. Each simulation included a reduced solar luminosity (93% of present-day) and low atmospheric CO2 (140 ppmv). Model results indicate that a low-latitude concentration of continents leads to lower tropical temperatures, through reduced receipt of shortwave radiation and a smaller tropical greenhouse effect, but does not significantly affect high-latitude temperatures or sea-ice extent. In contrast, the presence of snow-covered, mid- and high-latitude continents increases the sensible heat transport over the ocean, giving rise to sea-surface cooling, deep-water formation, and an advanced sea-ice margin. Nonetheless, an ice-covered Earth is not simulated in these experiments.
Institutional commitment to fairness in college teaching

This chapter reviews faculty members' responsible practices in ensuring fairness, as well as the essential role of staff members and administrators in creating and enhancing a climate of fairness throughout the institution.
Scavenger Receptors Mediate Cellular Uptake of Polyvalent Oligonucleotide-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

Mammalian cells have been shown to internalize oligonucleotide-functionalized gold nanoparticles (DNA-Au NPs or siRNA-Au NPs) without the aid of auxiliary transfection agents and use them to initiate an antisense or RNAi response. Previous studies have shown that the dense monolayer of oligonucleotides on the nanoparticle leads to the adsorption of serum proteins and facilitates cellular uptake. Here, we show that serum proteins generally act to inhibit cellular uptake of DNA-Au NPs. We identify the pathway for DNA-Au NP entry in HeLa cells. Biochemical analyses indicate that DNA-Au NPs are taken up by a process involving receptor-mediated endocytosis. Evidence shows that DNA-Au NP entry is primarily mediated by scavenger receptors, a class of pattern-recognition receptors. This uptake mechanism appears to be conserved across species, as blocking the same receptors in mouse cells also disrupted DNA-Au NP entry. Polyvalent nanoparticles functionalized with siRNA are shown to enter through the same pathway. Thus, scavenger receptors are required for cellular uptake of polyvalent oligonucleotide functionalized nanoparticles.
Putaminal iron deposition in hiv infection

Purpose: T2 shortening (hypointensity) in magnetic resonance (MR) images of the putamen, which may be associated with iron deposition, only occurs in normal subjects over the age of 60 years. Increased or premature putaminal iron deposition may be related to brain injury. We sought to determine the correlation between MR putaminal hypointensity in HIV-infected patients and brain iron deposition. Methods: Eleven T2-weighted axial MR scans were retrospectively rated for the extent of putaminal hypointensity from patients who also had neuropathological examination for the extent of putaminal iron disposition. Correlations between MR putaminal hypointensity and brain iron were obtained. Results: Neuropathological examination in 9 of 10 patients with putaminal hypointensity demonstrated putaminal iron deposition, predominantly in a perivascular pattern. Conclusions: Premature putaminal iron deposition occurs in patients with HIV infection and may be detected by MR imaging.
Increased Incidence of Cutaneous Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection, 1980 to 2009: A Population-Based Study

Objectives To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection during the past 30 years and whether the predominant species have changed.
Sizes of prey consumed by two pelagic predators in US reservoirs: implications for quantifying biomass of available prey

Abstract Striped bass Morone saxatilis and hybrid bass M. saxatilis × M. chrysops have been stocked to establish fisheries in many US reservoirs, but success has been limited by a poor understanding of relations between prey biomass and predator growth and survival. To define sizes of prey that are morphologically available, we developed predictive relationships between predator length, mouth dimensions, and expected maximum prey size; predictions were then validated using published data on sizes of clupeid prey ( Dorosoma spp.) in five US reservoirs. Further, we compared the biomass of prey considered available to predators using two forms of a length-based consumption model — a previously published AP/P ratio and a revised model based on our results. Predictions of maximum prey size using predator GW were consistent with observed prey sizes in US reservoirs. Length of consumed Dorosoma was significantly, but weakly, correlated with predator length in four of the five reservoirs ( r 2 = 0.006–0.336, P Dorosoma (>150 mm TL) were abundant.
Comparison of electroreceptor, mechanoreceptor and optic evoked potentials in the brain of some rays and sharks

1. Central processing of electroreceptor, mechanoreceptor, and optic input in rays (primarilyTorpedo) and sharks (primarilyScyliorhinus) was studied by recording evoked potentials to both direct nerve shock and natural physiological stimulation. We found that electrosensory input has a widespread, complex central representation; convergence of different modalities occurs in the midbrain, and rays show some consistent differences from sharks in response dynamics. 2. Each modality shows distinct forms of evoked potential with a different dependence on recording locus and depth, and a different sequence of recovery, facilitation and depression on stimulus repetition. 3. InTorpedo, unlike sharks, the trigeminal nerve is quite distinctly divided into electrosensory (ampullary receptors) and mechanosensory (cutaneous) branches; inputs from these major branches have clearly separable central distributions and dynamics, with evoked responses to direct shock of the maxillary branch showing similarities to, and interactions with responses to d.c. fields in the water. 4. Electrosensory and mechanosensory responses in both rays and sharks demonstrate integrative properties already in the medulla, and optic responses also demonstrate early integration, with much longer latencies, in the retina. Prominent, complex, long-lasting responses occur in the tectum bilaterally, but greater contralaterally, with each modality having a different locus of maximum responses. Responses to each modality also occur less prominently, often with different latencies or dynamics, in the telencephalon, cerebellum, and structures deep to the tectum. 5. The various rays were consistently different from the sharks in having slower responses to each modality, much slower following capability to repetitive stimuli, and in being extremely resistant to electroshock convulsion. We suggest that the physiological differences in central sensory responses between these rays and sharks may be relevant in analyzing their different behavior.
Mechanism of action of 2,3,7,8-tcdd and 6-methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran (MCDF) as antiestrogens in the female rat

Abstract Several studies have reported that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) acts as an antiestrogen in rodents and human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in culture. It has been proposed that these effects may be related to the induction of estradiol-2-hydroxylase activity which effects a decrease in cellular estradiol levels due to increased metabolism. This study reports the comparative antiestrogenic effects of TCDD and 6-methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran (MCDF) on cytosolic and nuclear estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in both the rat uterus and liver. MCDF, like TCDD, acted as an antiestrogen in the female rat, causing a dose-response decrease in uterine and hepatic cytosolic and nuclear estrogen and progesterone receptor levels; both compounds also antagonized the estradiolinduced increase in uterine wet weights. TCDD was 300 to 700 times more potent than MCDF as an antiestrogen, however the TCDD/MCDF potency ratios as inducers of hepatic monooxygenases were > 150,000. Moreover, the antiestrogenic effects of MCDF were observed at doses which caused minimal induction of hepatic monooxygenases. These results suggest that the antiestrogenicity of TCDD and related compounds is not due to increased metabolism of estradiol.
iSTAPLE: improved label fusion for segmentation by combining STAPLE with image intensity

Multi-atlas based methods have been a trend for robust and automated image segmentation. In general these methods first transfer prior manual segmentations, i.e., label maps, on a set of atlases to a given target image through image registration. These multiple label maps are then fused together to produce segmentations of the target image through voting strategy or statistical fusing, e.g., STAPLE. STAPLE simultaneously estimates the true segmentation and the label map performance level, but has been shown inaccurate for multi-atlas segmentation because it is determined completely on the propagated label maps without considering the target image intensity. We develop a new method, called iSTAPLE, that combines target image intensity into a similar maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) framework as in STAPLE to take advantage of both intensity-based segmentation and statistical label fusion based on atlas consensus and performance level. The MLE framework is then solved using a modified EM algorithm to simultaneously estimate the intensity profiles of structures of interest as well as the true segmentation and atlas performance level. Unlike other methods, iSTAPLE does not require the target image to have same image contrast and intensity range as the atlas images, which greatly extends the use of atlases. Experiments on whole brain segmentation showed that iSTAPLE performed consistently better than STAPLE.
Hybrid simulation of the curved dayside magnetopause during southward IMF

Large-scale, 2-D hybrid (fluid electrons, particle ions) simulations have been performed to investigate the macroscopic and the microscopic structure of the dayside (curved) magnetopause during southward IMF. It is found that in addition to the formation of an X-line at the subsolar point, other X lines are formed at higher latitudes. The locations of these X lines are asymmetric with respect to the magnetic equator, and the resulting plasmoids have different sizes. The thickness of the magnetopause varies considerably as a function of latitude. In addition, the spatial scales associated with the plasma variations across the magnetopause are considerably different than those associated with the field variations. The rotational (current) layer exhibits a linear polarization and does not match the jump conditions of any known discontinuity. Instead, the topology of the magnetic field lines, determines the spatial scale and the polarization of the current layer.
Interaction of the Atlantic Equatorial Cold Tongue and the African Monsoon

The seasonal cycle of equatorial Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) is characterized by a rapid cooling from April to July, coinciding with the onset of the West African summer monsoon and followed by a slow warming that lasts 3 times longer. Two ensemble simulations are carried out with an atmospheric general circulation model to investigate the mechanisms for the wind changes that cause this rapid oceanic cooling and its feedback onto the African monsoon. In the control simulation, SST is globally prescribed in its full climatological seasonal cycle, while in the second simulation, equatorial Atlantic SST is held constant in time from 15 April onward. Comparison of these simulations indicates that the equatorial cooling exerts a significant influence on the African monsoon, intensifying the southerly winds in the Gulf of Guinea and pushing the continental rainband inland away from the Guinean coast. The intensification of the cross-equatorial southerlies associated with the onset of the African monsoon, in turn, triggers the oceanic cooling in the east. The equatorial easterlies are also important for the seasonal cooling by inducing local upwelling and raising the thermocline in the east. Three mechanisms are identified for the easterly wind acceleration in the equatorial Atlantic in boreal summer. First, the monsoon rainfall distribution is such that it induces zonal sea level pressure gradients and easterly anomalies in the eastern Atlantic. Second, the strong cross-equatorial southerlies advect the easterly momentum from the south into the equator. Finally, zonal pressure gradients associated with the equatorial ocean cooling accelerate surface easterly winds in the middle and western Atlantic. This interaction of equatorial SST and zonal wind causes their westward copropagation, analogous to that in the equatorial Pacific.
Does an endmember set really yield maximum simplex volume

One of commonly used criteria for finding an endmember set is to assume that for a given number of endmembers, p, a p-vertex simplex with its vertices specified by p endmembers always yields the maximum volume. Since there are also other criteria which have been widely used for endmember extraction, the issue of interest is "does an endmember set really produce a simplex with maximum volume?" In other words, using the criterion of a simplex with maximum volume is a better and more effective measure than other criteria currently being used by endmember extraction such as orthogonal projection-based pixel purity index (PPI), fully constrained least squares-based spectral unmixing, etc. This paper explores this issue by investigating a number of popular endmember extraction algorithms which are designed by different criteria. An extensive experiment-based study is also conducted for comparative analysis.
The pericentriolar lattice of PtK2 cells exhibits temperature and calcium-modulated behavior

In this study, we demonstrate that manipulations of temperature and free calcium alter the morphology of the centrin-containing pericentriolar lattice of PtK2 cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy reveals that low-temperature incubation (4 degrees C) causes anti-centrin-labeled pericentrosomal spots to coalesce in the peripheral cytoplasm, and fuses small spots into larger spots near the cell center. At electron microscopic resolution, well-formed pericentriolar satellites appear around the centrioles in response to incubation at 4 degrees C. Elevated free calcium enhances these low-temperature-dependent effects. The data suggest that pericentrosomal spots correspond to one or more pericentriolar satellites, and that pericentriolar satellites and centrosomal matrix are interconvertable forms of the same material. Transient elevation of intracellular free calcium at 37 degrees C from a basal level of 3.7 × 10(−8) M to a peak level of 2.0 × 10(−7) M within 30 seconds with ionomycin results in a 35% increase in pericentrosomal spot number throughout the cytoplasm. The number of pericentrosomal spots is 50% larger 2 minutes after ionomycin addition; these spots are also nearer to the cell center as compared to 30 seconds after ionomycin addition. As intracellular free calcium returns to a basal level over 5 minutes, the number of spots and their cellular distribution resume a pretreatment value and pattern. We interpret these observations to indicate movement of pericentrosomal spots toward the cell center in response to the flux in intracellular free calcium. Alternatively, it is possible that no movement has occurred, but that the rise in free calcium has unmasked an epitope responsive to our anti-centrin antiserum. Regardless of the interpretation, we conclude that the pericentriolar lattice exhibits calcium-modulated behavior.
The Apparent Lack of Self-Esteem and Persuasibility Relationships

Summary Three separate shapes of self-esteem/persuasibility curves could be computationally cancelled out to yield a finding of no apparent relationship as reported in some previous studies. It was hypothesized that a finding of no relationship could appear under certain conditions and that it could be resolved into negative linear, inverted U-shaped, and positive linear components. An experiment was conducted, using 264 Ss of both sexes and adaptations of measuring scales employed in previous studies. Mean persuasibility values were computed and plotted for each cell of 1 × 3 and 3 × 3 factorial designs. An initial finding of no relationships was resolved into negative linear, inverted U-shaped, and positive linear component curves. These component relationships were associated with chi square values significant at or above the 95 percentile level. The data were interpreted as supporting the hypotheses.
Morphine dependence in single enteric neurons from the mouse colon requires deletion of β-arrestin2

Chronic administration of morphine results in the development of tolerance to the analgesic effects and to inhibition of upper gastrointestinal motility but not to colonic motility, resulting in persistent constipation. In this study we examined the effect of chronic morphine in myenteric neurons from the adult mouse colon. Similar to the ileum, distinct neuronal populations exhibiting afterhyperpolarization (AHP)-positive and AHP-negative neurons were identified in the colon. Acute morphine (3 lM) decreased the number of action potentials, and increased the threshold for action potential generation indicative of reduced excitability in AHP-positive neurons. In neurons from the ileum of mice that were rendered antinociceptive tolerant by morphine-pellet implantation for 5 days, the opioid antagonist naloxone precipitated withdrawal as evidenced by increased neuronal excitability. Overnight incubation of ileum neurons with morphine also resulted in enhanced excitability to naloxone. Colonic neurons exposed to long-term morphine, remained unresponsive to naloxone suggesting that precipitated withdrawal does not occur in colonic neurons. However, morphine-treated colonic neurons from b-arrestin2 knockout mice demonstrated increased excitability upon treatment with naloxone as assessed by change in rheobase, number of action potentials and input resistance. These data suggest that similar to the ileum, acute exposure to morphine in colonic neurons results in reduced excitability due to inhibition of sodium currents. However, unlike the ileum, dependence to chronic exposure of morphine develops in colonic neurons from the b-arrestin2 knockout mice. These studies corroborate the in-vivo findings of the differential role of neuronal b-arrestin2 in the development of morphine tolerance/ dependence in the ileum and colon.
Characterizing parallel file-access patterns on a large-scale multiprocessor

High-performance parallel file systems are needed to satisfy tremendous I/O requirements of parallel scientific applications. The design of such high-performance parallel file systems depends on a comprehensive understanding of the expected workload, but so far there have been very few usage studies of multiprocessor file systems. This paper is part of the CHARISMA project, which intends to fill this void by measuring real file-system workloads on various production parallel machines. In particular, here we present results from the CM-5 at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Our results are unique because we collect information about nearly every individual I/O request from the mix of jobs running on the machine. Analysis of the traces leads to various recommendations for parallel file-system design. >
Maize early endosperm growth and development: from fertilization through cell type differentiation.

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Given the worldwide economic importance of maize endosperm, it is surprising that its development is not the most comprehensively studied of the cereals. We present detailed morphometric and cytological descriptions of endosperm development in the maize inbred line B73, for which the genome has been sequenced, and compare its growth with four diverse Nested Association Mapping (NAM) founder lines.• METHODS The first 12 d of B73 endosperm development were described using semithin sections of plastic-embedded kernels and confocal microscopy. Longitudinal sections were used to compare endosperm length, thickness, and area.• KEY RESULTS Morphometric comparison between Arizona- and Michigan-grown B73 showed a common pattern. Early endosperm development was divided into four stages: coenocytic, cellularization through alveolation, cellularization through partitioning, and differentiation. We observed tightly synchronous nuclear divisions in the coenocyte, elucidated that the onset of cellularization was coincident with endosperm size, and identified a previously undefined cell type (basal intermediate zone, BIZ). NAM founders with small mature kernels had larger endosperms (0-6 d after pollination) than lines with large mature kernels.• CONCLUSIONS Our B73-specific model of early endosperm growth links developmental events to relative endosperm size, while accounting for diverse growing conditions. Maize endosperm cellularizes through alveolation, then random partitioning of the central vacuole. This unique cellularization feature of maize contrasts with the smaller endosperms of Arabidopsis, barley, and rice that strictly cellularize through repeated alveolation. NAM analysis revealed differences in endosperm size during early development, which potentially relates to differences in timing of cellularization across diverse lines of maize.
MPEG-4 FAP generation as an optimization problem

This paper presents a method for automatic generation of FAPs (facial animation parameters) based on a video sequence. An FAP generating unit compares an animated face with the original face in the video sequence. The difference is iteratively minimized to produce an optimal set of FAPs. The resulting FAPs are accurate and the animated face is lifelike and truthful to the original video.
Organic matter inputs shift soil enzyme activity and allocation patterns in a wet tropical forest

Soil extracellular enzymes mediate organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling yet remain little studied in one of Earth’s most rapidly changing, productive biomes: tropical forests. Using a long-term leaf litter and throughfall manipulation, we explored relationships between organic matter (OM) inputs, soil chemical properties and enzyme activities in a lowland tropical forest. We assayed six hydrolytic soil enzymes responsible for liberating carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), calculated enzyme activities and ratios in control plots versus treatments, and related these to soil biogeochemical variables. While leaf litter addition and removal tended to increase and decrease enzyme activities per gram soil, respectively, shifts in enzyme allocation patterns implied changes in relative nutrient constraints with altered OM inputs. Enzyme activity ratios in control plots suggested strong belowground P constraints; this was exacerbated when litter inputs were curtailed. Conversely, with double litter inputs, increased enzymatic investment in N acquisition indicated elevated N demand. Across all treatments, total soil C correlated more strongly with enzyme activities than soluble C fluxes, and enzyme ratios were sensitive to resource stoichiometry (soil C:N) and N availability (net N mineralization). Despite high annual precipitation in this site (MAP ~5 m), soil moisture positively correlated with five of six enzymes. Our results suggest resource availability regulates tropical soil enzyme activities, soil moisture plays an additional role even in very wet forests, and relative investment in C, N and P degrading enzymes in tropical soils will often be distinct from higher latitude ecosystems yet is sensitive to OM inputs.
Investment in a natural gas economy: The future of the Marcellus Shale and Southwestern Pennsylvania

The Marcellus Shale Formation is the largest natural gas play within the United States. Spanning along the Appalachian basin, the Marcellus reaches from New York State to Virginia. Given advances in drilling technology, the Marcellus Shale is now situated as one of the most promising known domestic natural resource endowments. The Marcellus Systems Synthesis Project Team (MSSPT) examines how Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) can position itself to develop regional energy generating capacity through investment in natural gas fired power plants (NGFPP). The Project Team has developed a framework for evaluating this investment decision via an assessment of key impact areas and key stakeholders involved in the investment process. This framework is the result of a review of scholarly literature along with recent news publications to develop an accurate characterization of the current state of operations within Marcellus Shale. Building off of this framework, a network matrix has been created to demonstrate how regional actors align around different impact areas. Mapping out a network matrix allows for a better understanding of the subsequent results from an initiative to expand the use of NGFPPs.
Value system development for a robot

We present a refined model for online development of value system. As an indispensable part of a developmental robot, the value system signals the occurrence of salient sensory inputs, modulates the mapping from sensory inputs to action outputs, and evaluates candidate actions. No salient feature is predefined in the value system but instead novelty based on experience, which is applicable to any task. Furthermore, reinforcer is integrated with novelty. Thus, the value system of a robot can be developed through interactions with trainers. In the experiment, we treat vision-based neck action selection as a behavior guided by the value system. The robot's behavior is consistent with the attention mechanism in human infants.
Care of the injured worldwide: trauma still the neglected disease of modern society

Traditionally, surgical diseases including emergency and injury care have garnered less attention and support internationally when compared to other medical specialties. Over the past decade however, healthcare professionals have increasingly advocated for the need to address the global burden of non-communicable diseases. Surgical disease, including traumatic injury, is among the top causes of death and disability worldwide and the subsequent economic burden is substantial, falling disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The future of global health in these regions depends on a redirection of attention to diseases managed within surgical, anesthesia and emergency specialties. Increasing awareness of these disparities, as well as increasing focus in the realms of policy and advocacy, is crucial. While the barriers to providing quality trauma and emergency care worldwide are not insurmountable, we must work together across disciplines and across boundaries in order to negotiate change and reduce the global burden of surgical disease.
The Design of a Genetic Muller C-Element

Synthetic biology uses engineering principles to design circuits out of genetic materials that are inserted into bacteria to perform various tasks. While synthetic combinational Boolean logic gates have been constructed, there are many open issues in the design of sequential logic gates. One such gate common in most asynchronous circuits is the Muller C-element, which is used to synchronize multiple independent processes. This paper proposes a novel design for a genetic Muller C-element using transcriptional regulatory elements. The design of a genetic Muller C-element enables the construction of virtually any asynchronous circuit from genetic material. There are, however, many issues that complicate designs with genetic materials. These complications result in modifications being required to the normal digital design procedure. This paper presents two designs that are logically equivalent to a Muller C-element. Mathematical analysis and stochastic simulation, however, show that only one functions reliably.
The Opening Act. Vasculogenesis and the Origins of Circulation

Previous studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate vascular development identified key signaling pathways and transcription factors. These findings supported the notion that the formation of vasculature is predominantly regulated by genetic programs, which is generally accepted. However, recent progress in understanding nongenetic factors that can modify the preprogrammed genetic mechanisms added another layer of complexity to our current understanding of vascular development. Here, we briefly summarize historic viewpoints and evolutionary perspectives on vascular development. We also review the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern the emergence of the endothelial lineage and the subsequent process of vasculogenesis during development, with an emphasis on vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin signaling cascades. Finally, we discuss epigenetic factors such as hemodynamic forces and hypoxic responses that can modulate and override the predetermined genetic mechanisms of vascular development.
Life and death.

In contrast with the other lectures given in the course on humanics and bioethics at the UOEH, which address the questions of life and death from the standpoint of the physician or the philosopher, this lecture considers these issues as seen by the cancer patient who has had a close encounter with death. The attitudes of Americans concerning abortion, the use of life-support systems, "mercy killings", suicide and the use of cancer chemotherapy are discussed with particular emphasis on restraints imposed by the courts, the churches and the family systems. An attempt is made to contrast the American and Japanese attitudes on these questions but this is difficult because of different cultural and religious backgrounds. The author describes his own experiences as a cancer patient who has approached death very closely and the changes in his own attitude toward life which results from the encounter with death. He also talks about the joy of being alive and describes his own experience with receiving cancer chemotherapy, the resulting discomfort and inconveniences and his feelings about a "tolerable" existence. Finally, the author considers the question of the "quality of life" for the cancer patient who has a violent reaction to certain forms of chemotherapy. This is a dilemma for the patient and the doctor who must consider the choice between death and a miserable existence. Language: en
Regional Eagle Ford Modeling: Integrating Facies, Rock Properties, and Stratigraphy to Understand Geologic and Reservoir Characteristics

A regional study of core from the eastern Karnes Trough area, outcrop, petrophysical data, literature, well logs, and other data was undertaken to evaluate the Eagle Ford in the Lavaca/DeWitt County area. This information was incorporated into 3D static earth models from which geologic inputs drive engineering testing and adaptations. The modeling was grounded in a core study from multiple counties, which yielded six stratigraphic surfaces and eight facies between the top of the Upper Eagle Ford Marl and Buda Formation. These stratal surfaces guided the structural framework of the earth model, and the facies drove the 3D property models. The distribution and shape of these surfaces is primarily controlled by paleogeography, particularly the interplay of the San Marcos Arch, the Woodbine deltaic system, the Rio Grande Embayment, and the positions of the Sligo and Edwards Reef margins. The eight facies grade from chalk/limestone to marl to clayey mudstones. In the modeling effort, the defined core facies were tied to well log signatures which were then used as predictive tools for facies in wells with no core data. There are two key reservoirs in the system being modeled: the Lower Eagle Ford Shale, the dominant target in South Texas, and the more locally deposited Upper Eagle Ford Marl. The Lower Eagle Ford Shale reservoir facies is dominated by organic-rich, relatively low clay, foraminifera-rich, coccolith mudstones/marlstones. The Upper Eagle Ford Marl interval is extremely low in clay and rich in carbonate, composed of highly interbedded, organic-rich carbonate mudstone and bioclastic carbonate mudstone.
Scaling the consequences of interactions between invaders from the individual to the population level

The impact of human-induced stressors, such as invasive species, is often measured at the organismal level, but is much less commonly scaled up to the population level. Interactions with invasive species represent an increasingly common source of stressor in many habitats. However, due to the increasing abundance of invasive species around the globe, invasive species now commonly cause stresses not only for native species in invaded areas, but also for other invasive species. I examine the European green crab Carcinus maenas, an invasive species along the northeast coast of North America, which is known to be negatively impacted in this invaded region by interactions with the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. Asian shore crabs are known to negatively impact green crabs via two mechanisms: by directly preying on green crab juveniles and by indirectly reducing green crab fecundity via interference (and potentially exploitative) competition that alters green crab diets. I used life-table analyses to scale these two mechanistic stressors up to the population level in order to examine their relative impacts on green crab populations. I demonstrate that lost fecundity has larger impacts on per capita population growth rates, but that both predation and lost fecundity are capable of reducing population growth sufficiently to produce the declines in green crab populations that have been observed in areas where these two species overlap. By scaling up the impacts of one invader on a second invader, I have demonstrated that multiple documented interactions between these species are capable of having population-level impacts and that both may be contributing to the decline of European green crabs in their invaded range on the east coast of North America.
The maverick heart sound

An asymptomatic 29-year-old woman presented for prenatal counselling. She had a history of a heart murmur since childhood and a previous echocardiogram suggesting ‘enlargement of the heart’. Physical exam revealed normal jugular venous pressure and contour. Precordial palpation was unremarkable. Auscultation, however, was abnormal; findings on inspiration and expiration are presented in Figure 1, sound clip. Figure 1 Phonocardiogram of the patient's heart sounds during respiration with simultaneous electrocardiogram. Based on the phonocardiogram and online supplementary audio clip, which of the following is correct? 1. An early diastolic filling sound (S3) is heard, indicating increased right ventricular filling pressures. 2. An ejection click without respiratory variation …
Motivations for Intravaginal Product Use among a Cohort of Women in Los Angeles.

Objective Intravaginal practices—including behaviors such as intravaginal cleansing and insertion of products—have been linked to a number of adverse reproductive health outcomes, including increased risk for bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV. Currently, little is known about the motivations for intravaginal practices among women in the United States. The objective of this study was to identify and describe motivations for intravaginal washing and intravaginal insertion of products among women of differing ages and racial/ethnic groups. Methods Between 2008 and 2010, we enrolled a convenience sample of sexually active women aged 18–65 years living in Los Angeles recruited through community education and outreach activities in HIV/AIDS service organizations, women’s health clinics, community-based organizations, and HIV testing sites. At the enrollment visit, women completed a self-administered, computer-assisted questionnaire covering demographics, sexual behaviors, intravaginal practices, and motivations for intravaginal practices over the past month and past year. Results We enrolled 141 women; 34% of participants were Caucasian, 40% African American, and 26% Latina. Peri-sexual intravaginal washing was common in all groups, whether to clean up after sex (70%) or to prepare for sex (54%). African American women were more likely to report learning to wash intravaginally from their mothers compared to Latina or Caucasian women (70% vs. 49%, P = 0.04). Sixty-one percent of African American women reported using a douching device over the past year compared to 41% of Latina and 40% of Caucasian women (p = 0.02). Younger women were more likely to report that their male partners wanted them to wash intravaginally than older women (77% vs. 24%, P<0.01), and more likely to report the removal of odors as a motive than older women (65% vs. 40%, P = 0.04). The most commonly used intravaginal products included sexual lubricants, petroleum jelly, body lotions, oils, and wet wipes. Use of these products varied by race, and motives given included increasing lubrication, preparing for sex, smelling good, and preventing sexually transmitted infections. Conclusion Women’s intravaginal practices and motivations for these practices differ across race and age. Motivations for use also vary by type of intravaginal product used. Given that some intravaginal practices have been shown to be harmful, interventions, programs and counseling messages to encourage less harmful practices are needed, and should consider underlying motivations that influence women’s vaginal practices. Practitioners may use these results to better support women in achieving vaginal health.
Two—Phase Nickel Aurunides

The as—extruded microstructures of two alloys in the two phase field consisting of Ni3Al and NiAl in the Ni—Al phase diagram exhibit fibrous morphologyand consist of Ll2 Ni3Al and B2 NiAl. These as—extruded microstructures can be modified dramatically by suitable heat treatments. Martensite plus NiAl or martensite plus Ni3Al microstructures are obtained upon quenching from1523 K. Aging of martensite at 873 K results in the recently identified phase Ni5Al3 whereas aging at 1123 K reverts the microstructures to Ni Al plui NAl. The microstructures with predominantly martensite or Ni5Al3 phases are brittle in tension at room temperature. The latter microstructure does not deformplastically even in compression at room temperature. However, some promise of room temperature tensile ductility is indicated by the Ni3Al plus NiAl phase mixtures.
Effect of the Spiroiminodihydantoin Lesion on Nucleosome Stability and Positioning.

DNA is constantly under attack by oxidants, generating a variety of potentially mutagenic covalently modified species, including oxidized guanine base products. One such product is spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp), a chiral, propeller-shaped lesion that strongly destabilizes the DNA helix in its vicinity. Despite its unusual shape and thermodynamic effect on double-stranded DNA structure, DNA duplexes containing the Sp lesion form stable nucleosomes upon being incubated with histone octamers. Indeed, among six different combinations of lesion location and stereochemistry, only two duplexes display a diminished ability to form nucleosomes, and these only by ∼25%; the other four are statistically indistinguishable from the control. Nonetheless, kinetic factors also play a role: when the histone proteins have less time during assembly of the core particle to sample both lesion-containing and normal DNA strands, they are more likely to bind the Sp lesion DNA than during slower assembly processes that better approxi...
Are Scientists in Developing Countries Isolated

Most scholars and development experts assume that scientists in developing countries are isolated, although some posit that they are part of a global scientific community. This paper seeks to determine the size of professional networks for scientists in less developed countries (LDC) as well as the distribution of their ties across organisational contexts and locations. Professional contact networks of scientists in Africa and Asia were determined in personal interviews with 293 researchers in universities, government laboratories and non-governmental organisations. Contrary to expectations, researchers in the least devel oped countries do not have the smallest networks. Results indicate that: (a) international and domestic networks are inversely related, (b) education abroad increases contact with the developed world for scientists in state institutes and non-government organisations, but not for academics, and (c) there are reduced returns to education for researchers in the least developed research sys...
Assessment of Mass Fatality Preparedness and Response Content in Dental Hygiene Education

When mass fatality incidents (MFIs) occur, they can quickly overwhelm local, state, and government agencies, resources, and personnel. It is important to have a rapid and effective response with skilled, multidisciplinary victim identification teams since specific skill sets are necessary to participate in mass fatality preparedness and response. The aims of this study were to determine the extent of formal education related to mass fatality preparedness and response training in U.S. dental hygiene programs and to assess program directors’ perceptions of the need for such training. A 23-item cross-sectional survey was emailed to 319 U.S. dental hygiene programs in 2015. Survey questions addressed if the program offered mass fatality preparedness and response training to its students and how much training was given, as well as collecting respondents’ demographics and opinions regarding education and training. An overall response rate of 36% was obtained, with 111 program chairs completing the survey. The results showed that only a small percentage of responding programs incorporated coursework related to mass fatality and preparedness in their curricula. Of the responding programs, 84% had no formal instruction on the role of a dental hygienist in MFIs; however, 53 of 69 program directors agreed or strongly agreed that the role of dental hygienists in MFIs should be covered in dental hygiene curricula. The top three barriers to incorporating such training reported by respondents were time requirements, lack of faculty expertise, and lack of equipment. Future research is needed to establish standardized competencies for mass fatality preparedness and response in dental hygiene education.
Informal college study groups : gender and group homophily.

The examination of undergraduate informal college study groups offers not only the ability to better understand student culture, but also the ability to look further into the role that gender plays in a student’s college experience. Further, it is hypothesized that students form and maintain these groups based off homophily. This study uses a mixed methods approach to examine how males and females experience informal study groups differently, along with how a student’s gender informs his or her perception of the group’s purpose, formation and function. Themes such as trust, along with a student’s pre-college background and major, emerged in the findings as playing a role in informal study groups. The findings suggest that students use gender in order to create study groups that are homophilic while also gender contributes to how students experience college.
Work in Progress: The Years of Finnegans Wake, 1922–1941

Ulysses ended with Leopold and Molly Bloom late at night, asleep or about to sleep: for Joyce as for his Shem the Penman in Finnegans Wake, ‘fame would come … twixt a sleep and a wake’ (FW 192.20). On 10 March 1923 he wrote two pages which he described in a letter to Harriet Shaw Weaver as ‘the first I have written since the final Yes of Ulysses’ (LI 202), which had been published more than a year earlier; those pages, dealing with the Irish King Roderick O’Conor, provided the inception of the book to which he would devote untold numbers of hours of his creative life during the decades of the 1920s and 1930s: Finnegans Wake.
Survey Experiments: Partisan Cues in Multi-party Systems

While the vast majority of the chapters in this volume focus on experiments conducted in a laboratory setting, experiments have also long been prevalent in the discipline in the context of survey research. While many of these earlier experiments were designed with the idea of teasing out the nuances of survey research itself, the survey-based experiment remains an excellent option for researchers interested in exploring substantive questions of politics to this day (Gaines et al., 2006). With that in mind, the purpose of this chapter is two-fold. We begin by explaining the value of survey experiments as a research tool for political scientists generally. We then spend the bulk of the chapter illustrating the types of questions and challenges that can come up in survey experiments through the rubric of one particular experiment we designed to explore the effects of partisan cues in the multiparty systems of Poland, Hungary and Russia. We conclude the chapter with a brief discussion of the use of deception in survey experiments, including why it is often necessary and the extent to which it has different consequences from the use of deception in lab-based experiments.
Ultrafast Laser Enhanced Rayleigh Scattering Characteristics in D-Shaped Fibers for High-Temperature Distributed Chemical Sensing

This paper reports Rayleigh scattering enhanced in silica fibers using ultrafast laser irradiations. TiO2 coated D-shaped fibers with enhanced Rayleigh scattering characteristics was used for distributed hydrogen sensing with 1-mm spatial resolution at 750°C.