cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcription of the Salmonella Invasion Gene Activator, hilA, Requires HilD Activation in the Absence of Negative Regulators

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium causes human gastroenteritis and a systemic typhoid-like infection in mice. Infection is initiated by entry of the bacteria into intestinal epithelial cells and is mediated by a type III secretion system that is encoded by genes in Salmonella pathogenicity island 1. The expression of invasion genes is tightly regulated by environmental conditions such as oxygen and osmolarity, as well as by many bacterial factors. The hilA gene encodes an OmpR/ToxR family transcriptional regulator that activates the expression of invasion genes in response to both environmental and genetic regulatory factors. HilD is an AraC/XylS regulator that has been postulated to act as a derepressor of hilA expression that promotes transcription by interfering with repressor binding at the hilA promoter. Our research group has identified four genes (hilE, hha, pag, and ams) that negatively affect hilA transcription. Since the postulated function of HilD at the hilA promoter is to counteract the effects of repressors, we examined this model by measuring hilA::Tn5lacZY expression in strains containing negative regulator mutations in the presence or absence of functional HilD. Single negative regulator mutations caused significant derepression of hilA expression, and two or more negative regulator mutations led to very high level expression of hilA. However, in all strains tested, the absence of hilD resulted in low-level expression of hilA, suggesting that HilD is required for activation of hilA expression, whether or not negative regulators are present. We also observed that deletion of the HilD binding sites in the chromosomal hilA promoter severely decreased hilA expression. In addition, we found that a single point mutation at leucine 289 in the C-terminal domain of the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase leads to very low levels of hilA::Tn5lacZY expression, suggesting that HilD activates transcription of hilA by contacting and recruiting RNA polymerase to the hilA promoter.
A role for the Ca2+ channel TRPML1 in gastric acid secretion, based on analysis of knockout mice.

Background & Aims Mutations in TRPML1, a lysosomal Ca 2+ -permeable TRP channel, lead to mucolipidosis type IV, a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease. An unusual feature of mucolipidosis type IV is constitutive achlorhydria. We produced Trpml1 −/− (null) mice to investigate the requirement for this protein in gastric acid secretion. Methods Trpml1-null mice were generated by gene targeting. The expression of Trpml1 and its role in acid secretion by gastric parietal cells were analyzed using biochemical, histologic, and ultrastructural approaches. Results Trpml1 is expressed by parietal cells and localizes predominantly to the lysosomes; it was dynamically palmitoylated and dephosphorylated in vivo following histamine stimulation of acid secretion. Trpml1-null mice had significant impairments in basal and histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion and markedly reduced levels of the gastric proton pump. Histologic and ultrastructural analyses revealed that Trpml1 −/− parietal cells were enlarged, had multivesicular and multi-lamellated lysosomes, and maintained an abnormal intracellular canalicular membrane. The intralysosomal Ca 2+ content and receptor-mediated Ca 2+ signaling were, however, unaffected in Trpml1 −/− gastric glands, indicating that Trpml1 does not function in the regulation of lysosomal Ca 2+ . Conclusions Loss of Trpml1 causes reduced levels and mislocalization of the gastric proton pump and alters the secretory canaliculi, causing hypochlorhydria and hypergastrinemia. The lysosomal enlargement and defective intracellular canaliculi formation observed in Trpml1 −/− parietal cells indicate that Trpml1 functions in the formation and trafficking of the tubulovesicles. This study provides direct evidence for the regulation of gastric acid secretion by a TRP channel; TRPML1 is an important protein in parietal cell apical membrane trafficking.
Can Men Detect Ovulation

In contrast to our closest cousin, the chimpanzee, humans appear at first to lack cues of impending ovulation that would mark the fertile period in which a female can become pregnant. Consequently, that ovulation is ‘‘concealed’’ in women has long been the consensus among scientists studying human mating. A recent series of studies shows, however, that there are discernible cues of fertility in women’s social behaviors, body scents, voices, and, possibly, aspects of physical beauty. Some of these changes are subtle, but others are strikingly large (we report effect sizes ranging from small, d ¼ 0.12 to large, d ¼ 1.20). Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that women’s male partners may adaptively shift their behavior in response to cues of approaching ovulation. These results have far-reaching implications for understanding fluctuations in attraction, conflict, and relationship dynamics.
Non nocere if you really care: a commentary on “Hypnotic medication in the treatment of chronic insomnia” (Dr M. Kramer)

In his partial defense of chronic hypnotic prescribing, Dr Kramer [1] cited the JAMA report of Ms B., which highlighted some of the conflicts a clinician faces [2]. Reducing her benzodiazepine dosage created disharmony between Ms B. and her physician. Rather, she did not wish to give up the pleasurable, reinforcing effects of the benzodiazepine, although the physician was concerned that her dosage might be harming her health. She interpreted as a lack of caring the physician’s well-informed medical recommendation. Later, on follow-up, it became difficult to say if changes in Ms B.’s condition were related to her advancing age or to changes in her medication. This case history highlighted how difficult it is to be sure what is best for patients without long-term controlled studies. Nevertheless, this conflicted case was not about hypnotics. Instead, four times a day, Ms B. was taking alprazolam, a benzodiazepine with proven anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties which are probably not shared by modern hypnotics. Ms B.’s subjective gratification should not be taken at face value. The shocking aspect of our study of long-term hypnotic users was significant performance impairments compared with placebo (even with a very short-acting benzodiazepine), and relatives finding hypnotic users to be impaired, at the same time as tolerance eliminated any significant benefit for sleep [3–5]. The users reported that the hypnotics were helping them, when objective testing and reports of their own relatives showed that the hypnotics were deleterious. The office clinician faces similar conflicting views when patients addicted to a variety of drugs plead for harmful refills. Dr Kramer’s review arose from long years of experience with working with patients. It expressed beautifully the ambivalence felt by the clinician who knows well the risks of hypnotics, but would like to believe that hypnotics can help chronic conditions. He describes those physicians who abstain from long-term hypnotic prescribing as
Pecos Products: A Project Introducing Complexity into the Study of Activity‐Based Costing

This case is designed to help students gain a more thorough understanding of activity‐based costing (ABC) than is usually obtained in introductory managerial accounting courses. If you have taken such a course, you have probably seen, in general, simple examples of activity‐based costing. However, ABC can be more complex than these examples indicate for three reasons: (1) the mechanics of ABC are far more complex than these simple examples indicate; (2) many of the design choices required in an ABC system, which are critical to the cost‐benefit decision, are omitted from the simple examples; and (3) without adequate detail, it is hard to see how economic consequences arise from the choice of costing systems. The Pecos Products ABC Design Project (the “project”) addresses these issues by providing a hypothetical company with a detailed business scenario and asking you to help with the cost‐system‐design decision. To accomplish this, you will have to think about traditional cost system and ABC design issues...
Gas-Flushed Packaging Contributes to Calcium Lactate Crystals in Cheddar Cheese

Gas-flushed packaging is commonly used for cheese shreds and cubes to prevent aggregation and loss of individual identity. Appearance of a white haze on cubed cheese is unappealing to consumers, who may refrain from buying, resulting in lost revenue to manufacturers. The objective of this study was to determine whether gas flushing of Cheddar cheese contributes to the occurrence of calcium lactate crystals (CLC). Cheddar cheese was manufactured using standard methods, with addition of starter culture, annatto, and chymosin. Two different cheese milk compositions were used: standard (lactose:protein = 1.47, protein:fat = 0.90, lactose = 4.8%) and ultrafiltered (UF; lactose:protein = 1.23, protein:fat = 0.84, lactose = 4.8%), with or without adjunct Lactobacillus curvatus. Curds were milled when whey reached 0.45% titratable acidity, and pressed for 16 h. After aging at 7.2 degrees C for 6 mo, cheeses were cubed (1 x 1 x 4 cm) and either vacuum-packaged or gas-flushed with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a 50:50 mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, then aged for an additional 3 mo. Heavy crystals were observed on surfaces of all cubed cheeses that were gas-flushed, but not on cheeses that were vacuum-packaged. Cheeses without Lb. curvatus exhibited L(+)-CLC on surfaces, whereas cheeses with Lb. curvatus exhibited racemic mixtures of L(+)/D(-)-CLC throughout the cheese matrices. The results show that gas flushing (regardless of gas composition), milk composition, and presence of nonstarter lactic acid bacteria, can contribute to the development of CLC on cheese surfaces. These findings stress the importance of packaging to cheese quality.
Data Envelopment Analysis

Analysis of performance has economic production theory as its foundation. Firms employ inputs to produce output typically with an incentive to maximize profits. Firms that are technically inefficient could increase outputs and revenue with the same inputs or could decrease inputs and cost with the same outputs. Farrell (1957) provided a decomposition of inefficiency into technical and allocative parts. From an input-oriented perspective, firms that are not operating on the isoquant associated with observed production are technically inefficient. Farrell provided a comprehensive measure of technical efficiency as the equiproportional reduction of all inputs holding output at current levels. Allocative efficiency is then measured relative to the cost minimizing mix of inputs given observed input prices.
A short history of the thermodynamics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

The Gibbs energy provides the criterion for spontaneous change and equilibrium at constanttemperature and pressure. These three definitions are what we now refer to as Legendretransforms. Legendre transforms are the most significant concept in this short history. Notethat Equations 1–3 each involve a product of conjugate variables that yields energy. Everybodyknows that the variables in an equation can be changed by simply substituting an equation forone of the variables in terms of a new variable. Not everybody knows that a derivative can beintroduced as a new variable, but Gibbs did. I wrote a review on Legendre transforms in 1994(2), and later I chaired an IUPAC Committee that wrote a Technical Report on Legendretransforms (3). Two more Legendre transforms will be used in these Reflections.Before going further, we must be clear about what thermodynamics can tell us about areaction system. Callen (4) has written: “Prediction of the new equilibrium state is the centralproblem of thermodynamics.” Thermodynamic measurements on systems at equilibrium canbe used to calculate properties that can be used to predict whether reactions in a system willgo to the right or the left under a given set of conditions in addition to making it possible tocalculate the equilibrium composition. It is not necessary to have measurements on the actualreactions in the system to do this because other pathways can be used to calculate the
Compromise Between Cost and Reliability In Optimum Design of An Autonomous Hybrid Power System Using Mixed-Integer PSO Algorithm

For some isolated or remote regions, distributed generation is normally built instead of connecting to central generation system. With the rapid development of alternative energy technologies, such an autonomous power generating system may be made up of several renewable energy resources. Different energy resources have different characteristics in terms of operational costs and reliability impact. Optimum resource management in a hybrid generation system is crucial to achieve acceptable cost and reliability level. These design objectives are usually conflicting with one another and thus a reasonable tradeoff between them is desirable. In this paper, the optimum design of an autonomous hybrid generating system including different power sources such as wind turbine generators, photovoltaics, and storage batteries is presented. Considering the complexity of the problem, we propose a constrained mixed-integer multi-objective particle swarm optimization (CMIMOPSO) algorithm to derive non-dominated solutions for the optimum design. A numerical example is also used to illustrate the design problem itself as well as to verify the effectiveness of the developed optimization procedure.
Rethinking Unity as a “Working Hypothesis” for Philosophy of Science: How Archaeologists Exploit the Disunities of Science

As a working hypothesis for philosophy of science, the unity of science thesis has been decisively challenged in all its standard formulations; it cannot be assumed that the sciences presuppose an orderly world, that they are united by the goal of systematically describing and explaining this order, or that they rely on distinctively scientific methodologies which, properly applied, produce domain-specific results that converge on a single coherent and comprehensive system of knowledge. I first delineate the scope of arguments against global unity theses. However implausible old-style global unity theses may now seem, I argue that unifying strategies of a more local and contingent nature do play an important role in scientific inquiry. This is particularly clear in archaeology where, to establish evidential claims of any kind, practitioners must exploit a range of inter-field and inter-theory connections. At the same time, the robustness of these evidential claims depends on significant disunity between t...
Enhanced Analytical Method for the Calculation of the Maximum Inrush Currents of Single-Phase Power Transformers

In this paper, an accurate analytical method is proposed to compute the maximum inrush currents for single-phase transformers. The worst case scenarios for inrush currents caused by switching at the voltage zero crossing with the highest possible residual flux are investigated. Hysteresis is modeled with piece-wise linear approximations. Hence, it is assumed that the transformer is always operating on linear sections of the magnetizing curve. The maximum inrush current is computed with simple steps from the solution of the linear governing differential equations. The method is simple and, thus, suitable to be included in the transformer design program (or even using a calculator). Comprehensive studies are carried out to evaluate the proposed method versus laboratory measurements and Electromagnetic Transients Program simulations. The results indicate a significant improvement from published formulae in the literature. The principal advantages of the technique are its accuracy and simplicity. A step-by-step numerical example illustrates how easy it is to estimate the maximum inrush currents.
Active vision-based control schemes for autonomous navigation tasks

Abstract This paper deals with active-vision-based practical control schemes for collision avoidance as well as maintenance of clearance in a-priori unknown textured environments. These control schemes employ a visual motion cue, called the visual threat cue (VTC) as a sensory feedback signal to accomplish the desired tasks. The VTC provides some measure for a relative change in range as well as clearance between a 3D surface and a moving observer. It is a collective measure obtained directly from the raw data of gray level images, is independent of the type of 3D surface texture. It is measured in [time−1] units and needs no 3D reconstruction. The control schemes are based on a set of If–Then fuzzy rules with almost no knowledge about the vehicle dynamics, speed, heading direction, etc. They were implemented in real-time using a 486-based Personal Computer and a camera capable of undergoing 6-DOF motion.
Variations in Family System Boundaries

Literature focused on the strength of the boundary around the family system has often provided mixed advice with some suggesting a rigid boundary and others suggesting a diffuse boundary. This study argues that these conflicting findings are due to the limitation of underlying research methods. This study employs a mixed method design that incorporates qualitative data, social network analysis, and multilevel modeling to categorize family businesses into three distinct boundary strength categories. Findings from this study suggest that extremes in boundary strengths provide unique challenges for family businesses. This study also identifies the impact of various levels of boundary strength on nonfamily employees.
Robust self-scheduling under price uncertainty using conditional value-at-risk

In a deregulated power industry, power producing companies bid in the hour-ahead and day-ahead power markets in an attempt to maximize their profit. For a successful bidding strategy, each power-producing company has to generate bidding curves derived from an optimal self-schedule. This self-schedule is commonly obtained from a profit-maximizing optimal power flow model based on predicted locational marginal prices (LMPs). However, at the time of self-scheduling, the predicted values of the LMPs are largely uncertain. Therefore, it is desired to produce robust self-schedules that can be used to lessen the risk resulting from exposure to fluctuating prices. In portfolio optimization theory, methods of risk management include Value-at-Risk (VaR) and conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). CVaR is known to be a more consistent measure of risk than VaR. In fact, whilst CVaR is the mean excess loss, the VaR provides no indication on the extent of losses that might be suffered beyond the amount indicated by this measure. This research proposes a method for robust self-scheduling based on CVaR. It will be shown that polynomial interior-point methods can be used to obtain the robust self-schedules from a second-order cone program. The obtained schedules provide a compromise solution between maximum profit and minimum risk. Simulation results on a standard IEEE bus test system will be used to demonstrate the scheduling model based on CVaR.
Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Implications for Perinatal Nursing Care

Childhood sexual abuse has a lifelong impact on its survivors and may affect the childbearing experience in a variety of ways. Nurses caring for women during the perinatal period can benefit from understanding the phenomenon of child sexual abuse, its prevalence, and the sequelae experienced by child-bearing women. Signs, symptoms, and correlates of prior sexual abuse manifested during the perinatal period are described, and nursing care responses are suggested. Nurses may be able to use this information to recognize survivors and facilitate both a positive childbirth experience and the healing process, by helping the survivor learn to trust, respect, and care for her body.
Synthesis and secretion of proteins by perifused caput epididymal tubules, and association of secreted proteins with spermatozoa.

We have used perifusion organ culture of proximal and distal caput epididymal tubules of the rat to study the secretion of proteins by epididymal epithelium and uptake of the luminal radioactive proteins by sperm. The amount of incorporation of L-(35S)methionine into luminal fluid proteins was time dependent and completely inhibited by cycloheximide. The association of labeled proteins with cultured sperm was also dependent on time and continuous, with sperm still acquiring labeled luminal proteins after protein synthesis was arrested. A Mr = 46,000 molecule was found to be heavily labeled in luminal fluid and sperm extracts. Fluorograms of all L-(35S)methionine extracts immunoprecipitated using an antiepididymal alpha-lactalbumin antibody (Klinefelter and Hamilton, 1984) showed labeling of an Mr = 18,000 molecule and, in addition, the Mr = 46,000 molecule, but immunostaining was specific only for the Mr = 18,000 molecule and the heavy chain of the immunoglobulin. We suggest that the Mr = 46,000 molecule may be galactosyltransferase. Galactose oxidase-NaB(3H)4 labeling of the cultured caput sperm cell surface revealed a Mr = 23,000 molecule that was able to be immunoprecipitated with antiepididymal alpha-lactalbumin antibody. Our data suggest that this cell surface molecule is similar to one component of the fluid epididymal alpha-lactalbumin-likemore » complex and, in addition, show that glycosylation of the sperm surface can occur in the caput epididymidis.« less
Highly distensible nanostructured elastic hydrogels from AB diblock and ABA triblock copolymer melt blends

A new structural motif for the generation of highly distensible, highly elastic, nanostructured hydrogels is presented. Based on the swelling of vitrified melt-phase blends of sphere-forming polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide) diblock and polystyrene–poly(ethylene oxide)–polystyrene triblock copolymers, the equilibrium swelling ratio (3.8–36.9 g H2O per g polymer) and dynamic elastic modulus (G′ = 1700–160 000 Pa) of these novel hydrogel systems were found to be remarkably tunable through simple manipulation of temperature (10–50 °C) and triblock copolymer content (3.3–72.0 mol%). Mechanical properties were found to be almost exclusively a function of triblock copolymer content, independent of temperature induced changes in swelling ratio. The resulting hydrogels were highly elastic at all swelling ratios with G′/G″ ≈ 102 for the range of triblock copolymer concentrations examined. Hydrogel samples exhibited excellent preservation of dry polymer shape upon swelling, with complete recovery of both shape and mechanical performance following repeated compression–decompression cycles.
Unsupervised Discovery of Temporal Structure in Music

We describe a data-driven algorithm for automatically identifying repeated patterns in music which analyzes a feature matrix using shift-invariant probabilistic latent component analysis. We utilize sparsity constraints to automatically identify the number of patterns and their lengths, parameters that would normally need to be fixed in advance, as well as to control the structure of the decomposition. The proposed analysis is applied to beat-synchronous chromagrams in order to concurrently extract recurrent harmonic motifs and their locations within a song. We demonstrate how the analysis can be used to accurately identify riffs in popular music and explore the relationship between the derived parameters and a song's underlying metrical structure. Finally, we show how this analysis can be used for long-term music structure segmentation, resulting in an algorithm that is competitive with other state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms based on hidden Markov models and self similarity matrices.
The reinforcing effects of dopamine D1 receptor agonists in rhesus monkeys

Central dopaminergic systems have been implicated in the reinforcing effects of a number of stimuli, including drugs of abuse; however, the role of dopamine D1 receptors remains controversial. The present study evaluated the reinforcing effects of six reportedly selective D1 agonists of differing intrinsic efficacies. Rhesus monkeys with chronic intravenous catheters lever pressed on a fixed-ratio 10 schedule maintained by a base-line cocaine dose of 0.03 mg/kg/inj in daily 1-hr sessions. Periodically, D1 agonists were substituted for the cocaine base-line. All monkeys (n = 4) self-administered the high-efficacy D1 agonists SKF 81297, SKF 82958 and R(+) 6-Br-APB at rates above those maintained by vehicle; therefore, each of these compounds functioned as a positive reinforcer (maxima: SKF 81297: 55-172 inj/hr, 0.01 mg/kg/inj; R(+) 6-Br-APB:103-165 inj/hr, 0.001 mg/kg/inj; SKF 82958: 110-149 inj/hr, 0.01 mg/kg/inj). In contrast, no monkeys self-administered the lower-efficacy D1 agonists SKF 38393 (N = 4), SKF 77434 (N = 4) or the S(-) enantiomer of 6-Br-APB (N = 2). Additionally, two stimulant-naive monkeys acquired self-administration of SKF 81297. The finding that selective D1 receptor agonists can function as positive reinforcers implicates D1 receptors in the reinforcing effects of psychomotor stimulants and of other drugs that stimulate D1 receptors.
THE IMPACTS OF SHORELINE PROTECTION STRUCTURES ON BEACHES ALONG MONTEREY BAY, CALB^ORNIA

As a result of severe coastal storm damage in recent years along the California coast and the continuation of development and redevelopment in hazard prone oceanfront areas, large numbers of coastal protection structures have been built. This same trend has been observed on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts as well. At present, fully 12%, or 130 miles of California's 1100 miles of shoreline have been armored. As the number of structures and their coastal frontage has increased, concern along the California coast and elsewhere has arisen in regard to the impacts of these protective structures on the adjacent beaches. Three Atlantic coast states (Maine, New Jersey, and North Carolina) have responded to this concern by establishing state-level policy which prohibits construction of any new "hard" protective structures. Although considerable laboratory scale research has been carried out on this problem, field work has been extremely limited. A study along the central California coast was initiated in order to resolve some of the most critical questions regarding the impacts of protection structures on beaches. Based on 4 years of precise, biweekly, shorebased surveys in the vicinity of different types of seawalls along the shoreline of northern Monterey Bay along the central California coast, some consistent beach changes have been documented. All of the changes observed to date have been seasonal and are best developed in the fall and winter months during the transition from summer swell to winter storm conditions.
Placental Blood-Derived Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Unrelated Bone Marrow Reconstitution

"Transplants" of placental blood from siblings have been successful in the reconstitution of ablated bone marrow. We are currently evaluating the feasibility of applying this source of hematopoietic stem cells in the case of unrelated recipients. Availability, ease and low cost of recovery, absence of risk to the donors, unbiased ethnic participation, and possibly advantageous immunological and infectious disease characteristics are evident advantages in comparison to registries of volunteer marrow donors. In this report we review selected aspects of the comparison and discuss selected areas of special interest to the practical application of this source of stem cells. We also present new data that reinforce earlier suggestions of a reduced capacity of allorecognition of placental blood lymphocytes, using as controls the lymphocytes of their respective HLA-identical siblings.
Study of demands resulting from transverse impact of high mass, low velocity debris

Debris impact forces generated during floods, tsunamis, and hurricane storm surges can contribute to severe structural damage. Proper estimation of debris impact forces is critical to design the structures to resist typical water-borne debris. In previous work, the force demands from axial debris impact were experimentally and analytically assessed. This study characterizes the impact force demands generated during transverse debris impact on structures and develops simplified models that can estimate impact force and duration accurately. An experimental study was conducted on a full-scale standard shipping container, steel tube, and solid bar subjected to transverse impact. Numerical models of the transverse members are also developed to evaluate the impact demands during relatively high impact velocities. Simplified analytical models are developed and validated with data from impact experiments and simulated results. The simplified models to predict impact demands from debris under both elastic and inel...
Power Density Calculation of "Cat's Eye" Detection Optical Loop

The principle of the active laser surveillance is based on the "cat's eye" effect of optical system. The returned power of the "cat's eye" lens and the illuminance in the CCD photosensitive plane are derived. The analyzed results show that the illuminance in the CCD photosensitive plane decreases with the increase of the laser divergence angle and the illuminated distance, but increases with the atmospheric visibility. At the same time, the focus-out of the detector affects the illumination in the CCD photosensitive plane, too. The illuminance decreases with the increase of the focus-out value.
Development of non-traditional TiC synthetic methods

TiC has traditionally been produced by the carbon-thermal reduction method, which has some drawbacks, including high temperature, equipment demanding and low-purity products. Some non-traditional synthetic ways are developed to overcome the carbon-thermal reduction deficiencies and meet the market demands. This paper classifies and analyzes these non-traditional TiC synthetic methods according to their reaction mechanisms. These methods include metal-thermal reduction, chemical vapor deposition, direct carbonation and electrochemical reduction. The results indicate that the electrochemical reduction has the advantages of low raw materials cost, low synthetic temperature, simple technology and environment friendliness, which will ensure the attention of academic world and industrial community.
Re-Os Isotopic Age of Molybdenite from the Beikengchang Molybdenite and Polymetal Deposit in Zhangping City,Fujian Province and Its Geological Significance

The Beikengchang molybdenite and polymetal deposit in Zhangping City is located on the eastern part of the Late Paleozoic depression of the southwestern Fujian Province which has experienced the strong tectono-magmatic process with multi-phase mineralization since Mesozoic. The previous isotopic chronological data in the southwestern Fujian Province indicated that there were mineralization during Early and Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous,but lack of the mineralization chronological record related to the Late Jurassic magmatism. This paper selected molybdenites from the Beikengchang deposit of Zhangping City to study the Re-Os isotopic chronology. The Re-Os dating result combining with the country rock alteration and the relationship between deposit and intrusion indicates that the molybdenite minerlization experienced several phases,in which the small scale Mo mineralization occurred at 148.8±2.2 Ma。The main Mo mineralization,characterized by the thin vein and net vein bearing inside sandstone of the Lower Permian Cuipingshan Formation,was dated at the isochrone age about 139.8±2.3~143.7±2.1 Ma,representing Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous mineralization event. And the mineralization material originated from Late Jurassic granite magma in the southwestern Fujian formed after transformation from the Tethyan to Pacific domain.
In vivo analysis of polyadenylation in prokaryotes

Polyadenylation at the 3' ends of mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs, and sRNAs plays important roles in RNA metabolism in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, the nature of poly(A) tails in prokaryotes is distinct compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. Specifically, depending on the organism, eukaryotic poly(A) tails average between 50 and >200 nt and can easily be isolated by several techniques involving oligo(dT)-dependent cDNA amplification. In contrast, the bulk of the poly(A) tails present on prokaryotic transcripts is relatively short (<10 nt) and is difficult to characterize using similar techniques. This chapter describes methods that can circumvent these problems. For example, we discuss how to isolate total RNA and characterize its overall polyadenylation status employing a poly(A) sizing assay. Furthermore, we describe a technique involving RNase H treatment of total RNA followed by northern analysis in order to distinguish length of poly(A) tails on various types of transcripts. Finally, we outline a useful procedure to clone the poly(A) tails of specific transcripts using 5'-3' end-ligated RNA, which is independent of oligo(dT)-dependent cDNA amplification. These approaches are particularly helpful in analyzing transcripts with either short or long poly(A) tails both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Hardships of the Great Recession and health: Understanding varieties of vulnerability.

The Great Recession of 2007–2009 is regarded as the most severe economic downturn since World War II. This study examined relationships between reported recession hardships and physical health in a...
The Survival and Well-Being of the Palestinian People Under Occupation

Driven from their homes in Palestine by the Israelis in 1948, a total of 11.6 million Palestinians live today in marginalized conditions worldwide, with 4.5 million of these living in stateless insecurity the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—discontinuous and ever shrinking geographic sectors known collectively as the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Palestinians under occupation have been subject to relentless ongoing political, military, social, and ideological assault by the state of Israel, which remains in total control of its economy, borders, natural resources, and human movement. Essentially a “middle” country by overall human development standards, Palestine’s current economic, educational, human rights, and public health indicators suggest disturbing downward trends in every domain toward increasing impoverishment, dysfunction, and social fragmentation. Policy recommendations must begin with an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. To this end, the authors propose a global initiative in solidarity with Palestine, projects supportive of the internal cohesion of Palestinian institutions, and continued direct humanitarian relief.
Early Onset Seizures Beget Seizures

The long-term effect of early-life seizures on later seizure-induced neuronal damage and behavior was investigated in the laboratory using systemic kainate to induce seizures in rats at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Juvenile Idiopathic Stabbing Headache

A series of 83 juvenile patients with idiopathic stabbing headache, 3.3% of all juvenile patients referred because of recurrent headache, is reported from the Paediatric Neurology Services of the University of Ferrara and the University of Padua, Italy.
Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Three Types of Student-Generated Videos as Instructional Support in Organic Chemistry Laboratories

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of student-generated videos as a supplement to teaching assistant (TA) instruction in an undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory. Three videos covering different aspects of lab instruction (experimental technique, use of instrumentation, and calculations) were produced using student-generated scripts. A laboratory classroom was outfitted with video cameras and sound recording equipment that allowed the research team to monitor all TA–student and student–student interactions. Six course sections led by three randomly assigned TAs were selected. Two sections from each TA were observed (control and treatment), each at the same time of day, 1 week apart. Students in the control group had their TA conduct the lab briefing and supervise the lab, but were given no access to the instructional videos. The treatment group had videos available to supplement the TA’s lab briefing but was otherwise identical to the control group. Both groups were given a questio...
Retrospective cross-sectional pilot study of rifaximin dosing for the prevention of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy.

Standard treatment for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) includes medications that reduce ammonia and bacterial translocation in the gut. Rifaximin can be used off-label for the reduction of overt HE. The study purpose was to determine efficacy of traditional rifaximin dosing (400 mg three times daily) compared with newer dosing (550 mg twice daily) via readmission rates for the prevention of recurrent HE. This was a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional pilot study conducted in a tertiary medical center. A total of 226 patients 18-89 years of age with documentation of HE via ICD-9 code who started rifaximin therapy while inpatient between April 2009 and June 2014 were evaluated. Data collected included rifaximin dosing, other medications used to treat HE, duration of therapy, time to readmission, and various laboratory values. There were no differences in readmission rates at 30 days, 60 days, or 6 months between treatment groups. Additionally, there was no difference in the odds of readmission between the treatment groups (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: [0.201, 4.365], P = 0.718). Patients had a low overall probability of readmission over the observational period. Based on average wholesale price data, the cost for a 9-day supply of rifaximin for the 400-mg dosing regimen is $952.56 versus $605.16 for the 550-mg dosing regimen. The rifaximin 550-mg dosing strategy should be utilized in hospitalized patients for the prevention of recurrent HE as there was no difference in readmission rate or time to readmission between dosing groups. The 550-mg regimen had a lower acquisition cost for a 9-day duration of treatment in the studied institution.
Breast MRI Technique

Although there is no single standard protocol for breast MRI acquisition, high quality breast MRI generally requires use of a dedicated breast MRI coil and adequate (≥ 1.5 T) magnetic field strength. Currently, breast MRI requires gadolinium contrast agent administration for cancer detection and a dynamic acquisition (dynamic contrast enhanced, or DCE, MRI) using a method that allows for homogenous fat suppression. In order to maximize sensitivity and sensitivity, MRI protocols must balance spatial and temporal resolution so that important morphologic and kinetic enhancement features can be readily identified. In addition, it is important to develop an approach that attains consistency, addresses technical challenges, and minimizes artifacts. Finally, advanced approaches, such as use of higher magnetic field strength (e.g. 3 T) scanners, diffusion weighted imaging, and MR spectroscopy present unique opportunities and challenges that must be considered and addressed prior to adoption in routine clinical practice.
Capper—Volstead Corporations and Other Types of Business—Cooperative Principles

Once the legal status of farm cooperatives had been established along with the economic bases, this form of organization was accepted as one of the four ways of doing business under the free enterprise system. Let’s look a bit farther into just what type of business organization was provided for in the Capper-Volstead Act and then compare it with other types or forms used in the United States.
European Country Contextual Differences Impacting Job Quality Characteristics and Worker Satisfaction: A Look at France and Germany from 1997 to 2005

Prior research has indicated that the nature of work has changed dramatically in recent years in response to economic shifts and an increasingly global economy. In this study, we used non-panel longitudinal data from the International Social Survey Program (Work Orientations II and III: 1997 and 2005-survey questions on job characteristics and job quality) to examine the changing job quality and job satisfaction determinants in two European countries, France and West Germany, while exploring the country contextual and cultural shifts that impacted this change. We used a comparative international methodology to examine similarities and differences between France and West Germany from 1997 to 2005. We used a variety of bivariate and multivariate descriptive statistics and procedures, as well as ordinary least squares and ordered probit regression analysis, to explore variations across the two countries to examine the conditions that exist in France and Germany that may affect the satisfaction of workers within those two countries. To move beyond the existing research of social psychologists and organizational behavior researchers, we utilized descriptive country level comparative data to include important macro-crossnational factors that may directly influence working conditions and the perceptions of workers.
Strategies of Disaster Intervention for Children and Adolescents

Children are frequently victims of disasters and, until recently, little attention has been paid to their plight. This chapter presents recommendations for the design and implementation of school-based disaster-related mental health interventions for children and adolescents, their families, schools and communities. It proposes that three levels of organization are required for the implementation of such a public mental health disaster program, and recommends the use of a developmental model of traumatic stress to guide intervention strategies in addressing risks of psychological, interpersonal and developmental disturbances. Recommendations are made regarding strategies for the evaluation of primary and secondary preventive interventions and clinical mental health services. Public policy should make provision for the allocation of resources for disaster safety at schools and post-disaster services for children and adolescents.
Heterobimetallic Silver–Iron Complexes Involving Fe(CO)5 Ligands

Iron(0) pentacarbonyl is an organometallic compound with a long history. It undergoes carbonyl displacement chemistry with various donors (L), leading to molecules of the type Fe(CO)x(L)5–x. The work reported here illustrates that Fe(CO)5 can also act as a ligand. The reaction between Fe(CO)5 with the silver salts AgSbF6 and Ag[B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4] under appropriate conditions resulted in the formation of [(μ-H2O)AgFe(CO)5]2[SbF6]2 and [B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4]AgFe(CO)5, respectively, featuring heterobimetallic {Ag–Fe(CO)5}+ fragments. The treatment of [B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4]AgFe(CO)5 with 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (Me2Bipy) and Fe(CO)5 afforded a heterobimetallic [(Me2Bipy)AgFe(CO)5][B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4] species with a Ag–Fe(CO)5 bond and a heterotrimetallic [{Fe(CO)5}2(μ-Ag)][B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4] with a (CO)5Fe–Ag–Fe(CO)5 core, respectively, illustrating that it is possible to manipulate the coordination sphere at silver while keeping the Ag–Fe bond intact. The chemistry of [B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4]AgFe(CO)5 with E...
Unbuilt Environments: Tracing Postwar Development in Northwest British Columbia by Jonathan Peyton

Review of Unbuilt Environments: Tracing Postwar Development in Northwest British Columbia by Jonathan Peyton
An unsupervised noise classification smartphone app for hearing improvement devices

This paper presents an app for running a previously developed unsupervised noise classifier in realtime on smartphone/tablet platforms. The steps taken to enable the development of this app are discussed. The app is utilized to carry out field testing of the unsupervised classification of actual encountered noise environments without any prior training and without specifying the number of noise classes or clusters. Two objective measures of cluster purity and normalized mutual information are considered to examine the performance of the app in the field with the user acting as the identifier of the ground truth classes. The results obtained indicate the effectiveness of this real-time smartphone app for carrying out the environmental noise classification in an unsupervised manner.
Nuclear Reactor Simulation on OpenCL FPGA: a Case Study of RSBench

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are becoming a promising choice as a heterogeneous computing component for scientific computing when floating-point optimized architectures are added to the current FPGAs. The emerging high-level synthesis tools such as the Intel OpenCL SDK for FPGA highlight a streamlined design flow to facilitate the use of FPGAs in scientific computing. Investigating the characteristics of supercomputing applications, such as nuclear reactor simulation, with the emerging HLS development flow is important for researchers to evaluate and adopt FPGA-based heterogeneous programming models in research facilities and laboratories. In this paper, we evaluate the OpenCL-based FPGA design of a nuclear reactor simulation application RSBench. We describe the OpenCL implementations and optimization methods on an Intel Arria10-based FPGA platform. Compared with the naive OpenCL kernel, the optimizations of the kernel increase the performance by a factor of 295 on the FPGA. Compared with an Intel Xeon 16-core CPU and an Nvidia K80 GPU, the performance per watt on the FPGA is 3.59 X better than the CPU and 5.8X lower than the GPU.
Reading Social Symbol Systems

Social organizations are symbolic constructions, deriving effectiveness through the creation and expression of shared meaning. Symbol systems contain coherent grammars of meaning that can be read by participants and observers. The construction and alteration of symbol systems is a powerful way in which social units define reality for themselves and others. Contemporary analysis of social symbol systems focuses on the structure of the symbol systems but also on the power relations inherent in the production and consumption of meaning. This chapter explores how socially relevant symbol systems are created and used by group members, and how they may be interpreted by students and researchers. Standard methodologies for reading visual symbols are much less well developed than those for verbal symbols. Case studies highlight the modalities of symbolic presentation (music, cultural performance, language), contested symbols (e.g., the Confederate flag), the cultural landscape (e.g., architecture and identity), neoliberalism and public symbol systems (e.g., sports stadium naming rights), and the use of symbols to define the boundaries of identity (e.g., Amish separateness).
X-Ray Emission Lines from Cooling Flows

Individual X-ray emission line strengths can be used to estimate the rate at which gas cools in the intracluster medium. We review the technique and show that departures from ionization equilibrium in the cooling plasma are not important at X-ray temperatures. We present data from 14 observations of 7 clusters performed with the Focal Plane Crystal Spectrometer on the Einstein Observatory, in addition to a brief review of earlier results on M87. About half the observations gave detections and half upper limits. Our estimates of the cooling rate Ṁ within the 3x30 arc min aperture are ≈4 M⊙ yr-1 for M87, ≈20–30 M⊙ yr-1 for Centaurus and ≈200 M⊙ yr-1 for Perseus. For four other cooling flow clusters, 0335+096, A262, A496 and A1060 we obtain non-restrictive upper limits. For M87, Cen and Per, our values of M are similar to those found by completely independent methods based on imaging or other spectral data. Although our estimates are formally only upper limits to the actual values of Ṁ if the gas is being heated by some mechanism, this agreement is circumstantial evidence in favor of the existence of substantial cooling flows and against the dominance of conduction or other heat sources. For Perseus, an estimate of the volume emission measure required to produce the Fe XVII line leads to the conclusion that the intracluster gas must be a multi-phase plasma. The unusually strong oxygen lines from M87 and Perseus suggest that the O/Fe abundance ratio is larger in the intracluster gas than in the Sun.