cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of the N-terminus of HIV-1 glycoprotein 41000 fusion peptide in micelles.

In this paper, the N-terminus of glycoprotein-41, the HIV-1 fusion peptide, was studied by molecular dynamics simulations in an explicit sodium dodecyl sulfate micelle. The simulation provides a detailed picture of the equilibrium structure and peptide stability as it interacts with the micelle. The equilibrium location of the peptide shows the peptide at the surface of the micelle with hydrophobic residues interacting with the micelle's core. At equilibrium, the peptide adopts an α-helical structure from residues 5–16 and a type-1 β-turn from 17–20 with the other residues exhibiting more flexible conformations. The primary hydrophobic interactions with the micelle are from the leucine and phenylalanine residues (Leu-7, Phe-8, Leu-9, Phe-11, Leu-12) while the alanine and glycine residues (Ala-1, Gly-3, Gly-5, Ala-6, Gly-10, Gly-13, Ala-14, Ala-15, Gly-16, Gly-10, Ala-21) interact favorably with water molecules. The results suggest that Phe-8, part of the highly conserved FLG motif of the fusion peptide, plays a key role in the interaction of the peptide with membranes. Our simulations corroborate experimental investigations of the fusion peptide in SDS micelles, providing a high-resolution picture that explains the experimental findings. Copyright © 2004 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method for rapid separation of [32P]-inorganic phosphate or pyrophosphate from ATP.

Abstract A rapid chromatographic method for the separation of either P i or PP i from ATP has been developed. This method in principle is dependent on the selective adsorption of ATP onto charcoal. Rapid separation of P i or PP i from ATP is achieved by chromatography of the reaction mixture on Gelman chromatography media containing charcoal spot.
Kinetics and mechanism of the ferrate oxidation of hydrazine and monomethylhydrazine

Abstract The kinetics of the reaction of ferrate, FeO42−, and hydrazines in aqueous media have been investigated and the results are reported. It was found that ferrate rapidly oxidizes hydrazine to molecular nitrogen and monomethylhydrazine to molecular nitrogen and methanol. The rate law for the reaction is first order with respect to each reactant and first order with respect to the hydrogen ion concentration. A two-electron pathway is proposed for each reaction. The generation of diazene as reaction intermediate was demonstrated for the oxidation of hydrazine.
Drug Therapy Concerns Questionnaire: Initial Development and Refinement

Objective: To develop a scale, designed for self-administration, to assess patient perceptions of drug therapy problems (DTPs). Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: California Central Valley. Participants: 200 community-dwelling adults taking at least one prescription medication. Main Outcome Measure: 78 items assessing patient perceptions of DTPs. Interventions: Self-administered questionnaire completed by study participants. Results: Based on a Medication Evaluation and Response Model proposed in this article, items were developed to assess patient perceptions about potential or actual DTPs. Scales for five of the seven problem domains specified a priori were reliable based on participant responses: Perceived Efficacy, Overmedication Concerns, Adverse Drug Reaction Concerns, Adherence Issues, and Knowledge. Barriers and Intrusiveness were eliminated from the questionnaire because of weak factor loadings. After making changes in domain assignment and eliminating redundant and weak items, five items remained in each of the five reliable scales, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.82. Each of the five scales was significantly associated with patient satisfaction with their medications. Individuals who reported fewer DTPs expressed greater overall satisfaction with their medications. In a forward stepwise regression analysis, four of the five scales exhibited independent associations with medication satisfaction, explaining 58.0% of the total variance in satisfaction [F(4,178) = 61.48, P < .0001]. Only the Knowledge scale failed to exhibit an independent association with satisfaction. Conclusion: The findings from this initial stage of scale development are encouraging. The association between the scales and medication satisfaction suggests that the scales may be useful in learning more about those factors that influence how patients evaluate their medications.
Form of ownership and risk taking in banking: Some evidence from Massachusetts savings banks

In recent years there has been interest in the impact of the form of ownership on the behavior of financial institutions. In the 1980’s, there was a substantial movement away from mutual ownership to stock ownership in the thrift industry. The effect of this conversion process on risk taking and efficiency has been a matter of concern. The purpose of this paper is to examine the experience of savings banks in Massachusetts. A panel of 115 savings banks is analyzed for the years 1985 through 1993, a period that includes both rapid growth and a subsequent severe cyclical decline in property values. The credit quality of loan portfolios is related to the size of the portfolio, the structure of the portfolio, and the ownership status of the bank. Several models are estimated. In all cases, it was found that the cyclical decline in property values resulted in a decline in the credit quality of loan portfolios with a substantially greater impact on those savings banks that converted from mutual to stock status.
Evapotranspiration in a cottonwood (Populus fremontii) restoration plantation estimated by sap flow and remote sensing methods

Abstract Native tree plantations have been proposed for the restoration of wildlife habitat in human-altered riparian corridors of western U.S. rivers. Evapotranspiration (ET) by riparian vegetation is an important, but poorly quantified, term in river water budgets. Native tree restoration plots will potentially increase ET. We used sap flow sensors and satellite imagery to estimate ET in a 8 ha, cottonwood ( Populus fremontii ) restoration plot on the Lower Colorado River. Biometric methods were used to scale leaf area to whole trees and stands of trees. This technique was used to validate our estimates of ET obtained by scaling from branch level to stand (or plot) level measurements of ET. Cottonwood trees used 6–10 mm day −1 of water during the peak of the growing season as determined by sap flow sensors, and annual rates scaled by time-series MODIS satellite imagery were approximately 1.2 m year −1 . Although irrigation was not quantified, the field had been flood irrigated at 2 week intervals during the 3 years prior to the study, receiving approximately 2 m year −1 of water. A frequency-domain electromagnetic induction survey of soil moisture content showed that the field was saturated (26–28% gravimetric water content) at the 90–150 cm soil depth under the field. Trees were apparently rooted into the saturated soil, and considerable saving of water could potentially be achieved by modifying the irrigation regime to take into account that cottonwoods are phreatophytes. The study showed that cottonwood ET can be monitored by remote sensing methods calibrated with ground measurements with an accuracy or uncertainty of 20–30% in western riparian corridors.
STUDIES OF LUNG VOLUME. I : RELATION BETWEEN THORAX SIZE AND LUNG VOLUME IN NORMAL ADULTS

On page 65, Vol. XXVII, No. 1, January 1, 1918, the last two sentences of the second paragraph should read: The difference between the total capacity and the middle capacity (all that can be breathed in after a half expiration) is called the "complementary air."2 The difference between middle capacity and residual air (all that can be breathed out after a half expiration) is called the "reserve air."
Costs and Returns to Scale in U.S. Post Offices

Abstract This article treats post offices as multiproduct firms, specifying a production correspondence, behavioral formulation and resultant cost and derived-demand functions. These functions are estimated over 156 offices. Overall returns to scale parameters are estimated, but it appears advisable to break the national sample into three subsamples. An optimally efficient size of office is found. Deviations from the cost function indicate costliness which varies significantly over postal regions. This suggests a geographical influence on productivity probably due to differences in labor quality. Marginal costs for several types of mail are derived.
Young People Driving After Drinking and Riding with Drinking Drivers: Drinking Locations—What Do They Tell Us?

Objective. The present study investigated the extent to which drinking in specific locations and heavy drinking mediated the effects of overall alcohol use on driving after drinking (DD) and riding with drinking drivers (RWDD) among young people. Additionally, this study examined the relationships among ethnicity, gender, drinking in specific locations, and DD and RWDD. Method. Using random-digit dialing procedures, participants were recruited to take part in a telephone survey in California, United States of America. Participants were 1,534 youth, ages 15–20 years (mean age = 17.6). Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans were over-sampled to allow cross-group comparisons. Along with background characteristics, overall alcohol use, heavy drinking, drinking in specific locations, DD, and RWDD were measured. Results. Latent variable structural equation modeling showed that European Americans, males, older adolescents, those who have a driver license, and those who drive more often were more likely ...
Erythroid cell development during natural amphibian metamorphosis

The transition from fetal to adult hemoglobin was investigated during natural metamorphosis of Rana pipiens tadpoles fertilized and grown under laboratory conditions and of Rana catesbeiana tadpoles and frogs obtained from a local pond. Tadpole red cells had a higher degree of pleiomorphism and reticulocytosis, an increased resistance to osmotic lysis, and a lower hemoglobin content than frog erythrocytes. Red cells derived from premetamorphic tadpoles and from animals at the metamorphic climax had an increased capacity to incorporate leucine, uridine, and thymidine as compared to red cells of tadpoles and frogs at other stages of development. Juvenile froglets were found on day 14 after emergence of the front legs to contain only or predominantly tadpole hemoglobin. The transition from fetal to adult hemoglobin began in Rana catesbeiana at emergence of the front legs and was completed 4–10 weeks later. Emergence of the front legs was associated with a sharp increase in the synthesis of red cell proteins, which migrated on polyacrylamide gel with both tadpole and frog hemoglobins. This intermediate pattern of protein synthesis was observed throughout the metamorphic climax, and was different from that in blood samples from adult frogs or from tadpoles at earlier developmental stages. The peripheral blood smear of animals during the metamorphic climax contained small erythroid cells, the distinctive feature of which was their selective labeling after incubation with tritiated thymidine. The observed changes in hemoglobin synthesis during metamorphosis are compatible either with the appearance of a new cell line synthesizing temporarily adult hemoglobin in proportions different from those in the adult frog, or with the renewed proliferation of the tadpole erythroid cell line, which eventually produces cells capable of synthesis of frog hemoglobin.
HTML5 and openness in mobile platforms

HTML5 is an open standard that enables new functionality in the mobile web ecosystem. Speculation by companies around its potential presents an opportunity to view how notions of ‘openness’ are employed to create and support mobile platforms. Particularly, Internet-based companies such as Google seek a foothold in mobile industries which have traditionally been dominated by carriers and device manufacturers. I compare two paradigms of openness and suggest a third in this article. Open source describes the development of the HTML5 standard by multiple stakeholders in online industries. Open innovation is a process where value is being constantly created and captured, such as when companies make app developer tools public but carefully manage the point-of-sale ‘app stores’. A third type – rhetorical openness – describes claims that strategically bolster a corporate position. Rhetorical openness is increasingly necessary for mobile companies needing to balance multiple stakeholders, appeal to developers, and...
Post-transcriptional regulation of ribosome accumulation during myoblast differentiation

The synthesis, accumulation and stability of rRNA were examined in embryonic quail myoblasts differentiating in cell culture. Quail myoblasts initially divide rapidly in culture, and accumulate 28S and 18S rRNA and ribosomes at a rate which maintains a constant ribosome content during cell division. After these myoblasts fuse, cell division ceases and ribosomes accumulate in fibers, but at a reduced rate which is only one fourth that in dividing myoblasts. Measurements of rRNA stability by 3H-methyl-methionine pulse-chase analysis show that 28S and 18S rRNA formed by fibers turn over with half-lives of 45 hr, and rRNA formed by myoblasts remains stable until fusion and then also turns over in fibers. Turnover of rRNA in fibers accounts for only half the reduction in ribosome accumulation following myoblast fusion. Measurements of the incorporation of 3H-adenosine into rRNA and ATP pools show that the rates of synthesis of rRNA precursor do not decrease after myoblast fuse, but half the rRNA molecules synthesized by fibers are degraded during processing. Degradation of rRNA during processing reduces the rate of formation of 28S and 18S rRNA, and together with rRNA turnover quantitatively accounts for the reduced rate of ribosome accumulation in fibers.
The cystic fibrosis improvement story: we count our successes in lives

It is clear that US health care delivery provides unprecedented health benefits to those who seek its services. It is equally clear that care delivery, and the benefits that it achieves, could be much better. Advances in biomedical research and the application of health care delivery science described in the accompanying supplement have resulted in striking improvements in survival for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the USA. Recent successes in improving CF-related care delivery provide a model to broadly improve health care delivery and patient outcomes on a much wider scale. About 50 years ago clinical investigators began to apply well-established research measurement tools to health care delivery performance. They discovered massive variation. For example, Wennberg et al documented large differences in hospitalisation rates for comparable patients across geographic referral areas.1 ,2 Others showed high levels of practice variation among physicians treating similar patients within single hospitals.3 Chassin et al documented high rates of clinically inappropriate care (overuse), where the risk inherent in treatment outweighed any potential clinical benefit to the patient.4 A report from the Institute of Medicine conservatively estimated that as many as 98 000 hospitalised patients die each year from preventable injuries associated with their treatment (misuse).5 Subsequent studies found that the true preventable care-associated death rate is much higher.6 McGlynn et al showed that, for a long list of non-controversial, widely-accepted, clearly beneficial clinical interventions based on compelling evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs), the care delivery system performs correctly only 54.9% of the time for adults7 and 46% of the time for children (underuse).8 A common theme emerged as investigators tracked possible causes of care delivery variation, care-associated patient injuries, and widespread inability to reliably execute routine care delivery tasks. The healing professions adopted the scientific method as …
Response of Arteriolar Network of Skeletal Muscle to Sympathetic Nerve Stimulation

The influence of vessel location on arteriolar responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation was systematically studied in a skeletal muscle arteriolar network under normal and altered tissue O2 levels. The exteriorized cat sartorius muscle was exposed to 0, 5, and 10% ambient O2 during sympathetic chain stimulation at 8 pulses/s. Under 0% O2, stimulation initially caused a 25-45% constriction that was faster and more pronounced in distal arterioles. Ninety-one percent of vessels showed a secondary dilation (sympathetic escape), which was largest in distal arterioles. Escape had little effect on calculated volume flow, which, after a large initial fall, showed a modest secondary increase. Under 5 and 10% O2, resting arteriolar diameter was reduced by 12 and 17%, respectively, and escape was reduced by 60 and 73%. Escape was not attenuated in proximal arterioles preconstricted with vasopressin, suggesting that O2 did not attenuate escape through increased vascular tone. Therefore, the arteriolar response to sympathetic stimulation depends largely on location within the network and is modulated to varying degrees by metabolic influences.
Glacial Sedimentology of the Precambrian Gowganda Formation, Ontario, Canada

The Gowganda Formation is part of the thick Huronian sequence of Precambrian sedimentary rocks that crop out in central Ontario from Lake Superior to Quebec. Although it has long been considered to be glacial, recent work on submarine slump and turbidite deposits has reopened the question of its origin. This study was made to determine its origin and paleogeography. Till-like conglomerates, varved argillites, and abundant dropstones characterize the Gowganda and provide strong evidence for a glacial origin. Pebble fabric parallel to regional paleocurrents, rare striated and grooved pavements, and abundant unweathered detritus are also in harmony with a glacial origin. Local thin-bedded sandstones contain flame structure, graded bedding, contorted bedding, and rippled tops, suggesting deposition by turbidity flows. Association of these sandstones with varved argillites and rafted stones indicates that Gowganda turbidites are glaciolacustrine. Along the southern margin of the Gowganda, at Whitefish Falls, thick, laterally continuous till-like conglomerates contain internal stratification indicative of subaqueous deposition. Argillites that lack varved structure and associated silty limestones suggest a glacial marine environment. In the Cobalt region the apparent long axes of pebbles in conglomerates show a predominant north-south alignment. In the Bruce Mines-Elliot Lake region, the orientation of the long axes of pebbles is more variable. Differences in orientation are related to stratigraphic position. Ripple cross-lamination in sandstones that are interbedded with argillite indicates south-trending paleocurrents. Distribution of varved argillite, silty limestone, and probable marine argillites suggests a northern fresh-water facies and a southern marine facies. Abundant plutonic pebbles and feldspar indicate that the Gowganda ice sheets eroded a northern plutonic terrane and deposited much of their sediment load on the underlying Huronian sediments to the south.
Histology-based morphology of the neurocentral synchondrosis in Alligator mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia).

Morphology of the neurocentral synchondroses—thin cartilaginous layers between centra and neural arches—are documented in the extant crocodilian, Alligator mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia). Examination of dry skeletons demonstrates that neurocentral suture closure occurs in very late postnatal ontogeny (after reaching sexual maturity and/or body size ca. 40% from the upper range). Before sexual maturity (body length (BL) ≥ ca. 1.80 m), completely fused centra and neural arches are restricted to the caudal vertebral series. In contrast, the presacral vertebrae often remain unfused throughout postnatal ontogeny, retaining open sutures in very mature individuals (BL ≥ 2.80 m). These unfused centra and neural arches are structurally supported by the relatively large surface area of the neurocentral junctions, which results from primarily horizontal (mediolateral) increases with strong positive allometry. Cleared and stained specimens show that the cartilaginous neurocentral synchondrosis starts to form after approximately 40 embryonic days. Histological examination of the neurocentral junction in dorsal and anterior caudal vertebrae of six individuals (BL = 0.28–3.12 m) shows : (1) neurocentral fusion is the result of endochondral ossification of the neurocentral synchondrosis, (2) the neurocentral synchondrosis exhibits bipolar organization of three types of cartilaginous cells, and (3) complex neurocentral sutures (i.e., curved, zigzagged, and/or interdigitated boundaries) come from clumping of bone cells of the neural arches and centra into the neurocentral synchondrosis. The last two morphological features can be advantageous for delaying neurocentral fusion, which seems to be unique in crocodilians and possibly their close relatives, including nonavian dinosaurs and other Mesozoic archosaurs. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Controlled Transportation Queueing Process

A transportation queueing process in which taxis arrive in a Poisson process and customers arrive as a renewal process independent of taxi-arrival process is controlled by calling extra taxis whenever the total number of customers lost to the system reaches a certain predetermined number. Transient and steady state behavior of this process is studied using renewal theoretic arguments. The optimum value of the control variable is also obtained so as to minimize the total cost to the system due to the waiting taxis and lost customers.
Pressure Induced Structural Transitions in Manganites with Orbital Ordering

In order to explain magneto-elastic and pressure measurements in doped colossal magneto-resistance manganites, we postulate a doublet-triplet model and use it to predict the occurrence of the various phase transitions.
Rocks, hard places, and the new protectionism: textile trade policy choices in the United States and Japan

Why have advanced industrial countries responded with different types of protectionist policy to postwar international competition and the resulting societal pressure for state action? In contrast to the across-the-board tariff wars of the 1930s, postwar protectionism is a patchwork of tariffs, unilateral and nonunilateral quotas, administrative restrictions, state subsidies, and production cartels. Arguments based on international economic structure, international regimes, statist approaches, and domestic structure all appear to have difficulty in accounting for divergent trade policy choices. This article introduces a more nuanced identification and integration of the international and domestic sources of the new protectionism. An examination of textile trade policy in the United States and Japan reveals that when state policymakers face conflicting international constraints and domestic pressure over the use of overt types of protectionist policy, the greater the domestic pressure, the more overt the policy response.
Some Measures for Discriminating between Normal Multivariate Distributions with Unequal Covariance Matrices

Abstract : Suppose that a statistician is permitted access to data which are more precise under (H sub 1) than under (H sub 2) where each hypothesis specifies a multivariate normal distribution. He is also allowed a choice between additional data more precise under (H sub 1) than under (H sub 2) or data in which the reverse is true. In a previous paper it was shown that if a linear discriminant function is used there is a premium on selecting the additional data to be more precise under (H sub 1). In the paper this result is extended to the case where the likelihood-ratio test is used. The results involve several alternate measures for discriminating between normal multivariate distributions with unequal covariance matrices. (Author)
Doing Justice to the Group: Examining the Roles of the Group in Justice Research

Although the abstract notion of justice implies attention to fairness not simply for one individual but for many, emphasis on how individuals perceive and react to injustice obscures the role of the group in justice research. Justice, as distinct from individual deserving, holds promise for the well-being of the group. Indeed, the group plays multiple roles in justice research, as a collective standard, a structure in which evaluations occur, a source of identity, and a context of interaction. Analyses of these roles help to explain underlying orientations of group members, delimiting the scope of justice in groups and the implications of justice in conflict situations. This review concludes with directions for future research that more explicitly draw attention to the rightful role of the group in understanding justice in society.
Estimating the extent of tracking in interval-censored chain-of-events data.

Summary. This paper describes a method for determining whether the times between a chain of successive events (which all individuals experience in the same order) are correlated, for data in which the exact event times are not observed. Such data arise when individuals are only observed occasionally to determine which events have occurred. In such data, the (unknown) event times are interval censored. In addition, some individuals may have experienced some of the events before their first observation and may be lost to follow-up before experiencing the last event. Using a frailty model proposed by Aalen (1988, Mathematical Scientist13, 90–103) but which has never been used to analyze real data, we examine whether individuals who develop early markers of HIV infection can also be expected to develop antibody and other indicators of HIV infection more rapidly.
Role of Cyclic GMP in Olfactory Transduction and Adaptationa

The detection of odor molecules by vertebrate olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) involves signal transduction mechanisms that are thought to occur primarily through a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated second messenger pathway. There has been intense debate whether cAMP is the sole second messenger responsible for all excitation and adaptation. The recent identification of a distinct form of odor adaptation that depends on the carbon monoxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) second messenger system demonstrates that cAMP alone cannot account for all phases of adaptation and that multiple second messenger pathways exist in ORNs to perform distinct but closely related olfactory functions.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase improves the efficiency of positive selection

We have generated transgenic mice expressing the amino-terminal fragment of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) catalytic subunit (p110ABD) in thymocytes. Expression of p110ABD results in constitutive activation of PI3K and in significant increases in the numbers of mature, single-positive thymocytes. We previously reported that the increase in mature cells was in part due to a defect in thymic emigration. In this study we identify another component to this phenotype. Expression of p110ABD results in an enhancement of positive selection, without alterations in thymocyte lifespan or negative selection. Since PI3K can affect activation of Btk, which in turn potentiates calcium fluxes, during B cell development, our results suggest that PI3K could play a role in the regulation of Itk kinases in T cells, and that both cell types share a common signaling network to modulate calcium responses downstream of their antigen receptor.
How the Fed Reanimated Wall Street: The Low and Extended Lending Rates that Revived the Big Banks

Walter Bagehot’s putative principles of lending in liquidity crises — to lend freely to solvent banks with good collateral but at penalty rates — have served as a theoretical basis for thinking about the lender of last resort for close to 100 years, while simultaneously providing justification for central bank real-world intervention. If we presume Bagehot’s principles to be both sound and adhered to by central bankers, we would expect to find the lending by the Fed during the global financial crisis in line with such policies. Taking Bagehot’s principles at face value, this paper aims to examine one of these principles — central bank lending at penalty rates — and to determine whether it did in fact conform to this standard. A comprehensive analysis of these rates has revealed that the Fed did not, in actuality, follow Bagehot’s classical doctrine. Consequently, the intervention not only generated moral hazard but also set the stage for another crisis. This working paper is part of the Ford Foundation project “A Research and Policy Dialogue Project on Improving Governance of the Government Safety Net in Financial Crisis” and continues the investigation of the Fed’s bailout of the financial system — the most comprehensive study of the raw data to date.
Fire regimes, forest change, and self-organization in an old-growth mixed-conifer forest, Yosemite National Park, USA

Fire is recognized as a keystone process in dry mixed-conifer forests that have been altered by decades of fire suppression. Restoration of fire disturbance to these forests is a guiding principle of resource management in the U.S. National Park Service. Policy implementation is often hindered by a poor understanding of forest conditions before fire exclusion, the characteristics of forest changes since excluding fire, and the influence of topographic or self-organizing controls on forest structure. In this study the spatial and temporal characteristics of fire regimes and forest structure are reconstructed in a 2125-ha mixed-conifer forest. Forests were multi-aged, burned frequently at low severity and fire return interval, and forest structure did not vary with slope aspect, elevation, or slope position. Fire exclusion has caused an increase in forest density and basal area and a compositional shift to shade-tolerant and fire-intolerant species. The median point fire-return interval and extent of a fire was 10 yr and 115 ha, respectively. The pre-Euro-American settlement fire rotation of 13 yr increased to 378 yr after 1905. The position of fire scars within tree rings indicates that 79% of fires burned in the midsummer to fall period. The spatial pattern of burns exhibited self-organizing behavior. Area burned was 10-fold greater when an area had not been burned by the previous fire. Fires were frequent and widespread, but patches of similar aged trees were <0.2 ha, suggesting small fire-caused canopy openings. Managers need to apply multiple burns at short intervals for a sustained period to reduce surface fuels and create small canopy openings characteristic of the reference forest. By coupling explicit reference conditions with consideration of current conditions and projected climate change, management activities can balance restoration and risk management.
Structural consequences of effector protein complex formation in a diiron hydroxylase

Carboxylate-bridged diiron hydroxylases are multicomponent enzyme complexes responsible for the catabolism of a wide range of hydrocarbons and as such have drawn attention for their mechanism of action and potential uses in bioremediation and enzymatic synthesis. These enzyme complexes use a small molecular weight effector protein to modulate the function of the hydroxylase. However, the origin of these functional changes is poorly understood. Here, we report the structures of the biologically relevant effector protein-hydroxylase complex of toluene 4-monooxygenase in 2 redox states. The structures reveal a number of coordinated changes that occur up to 25 A from the active site and poise the diiron center for catalysis. The results provide a structural basis for the changes observed in a number of the measurable properties associated with effector protein binding. This description provides insight into the functional role of effector protein binding in all carboxylate-bridged diiron hydroxylases.
Laparoscopic sterilization: American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists' 1993 membership survey

The 1993 membership survey of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists received 938 responses, or 13% of the membership. The surgeons reported performing 22,966 sterilizations and 36,482 diagnostic procedures. The distribution of sterilization techniques has remained stable since 1985. Complication rates associated with diagnostic procedures remain consistently higher than those with sterilizations. One death was reported from sterilization, none for diagnostic procedures.
Development of Level 3 (gridded) products for the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) sounding system is a suite of infrared and microwave instruments flown as part of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) onboard the Aqua platform. The AIRS dataset provides a daily, global view of Earth processes at a finer vertical resolution than ever before. However, analysis of the AIRS data is a daunting task given the sheer volume and complexity of the data. The volume of data produced by the EOS project is unprecedented; the AIRS project alone will produce many terabytes of data over the lifetime of the mission. This paper describes development of AIRS Level 3 data products that will help to alleviate problems of access and usability.
A note on "An economic order quantity (EOQ) for items with imperfect quality and inspection errors"

Article history: Received 25 February 2012 Accepted March 23 2012 Available online 24 March 2012 In a previously published paper by Khan et al. (2011) [Khan, M., Jaber, M.Y., & Bonney M. (2011). An economic order quantity (EOQ) for items with imperfect quality and inspection errors, International Journal of Production Economics, 133, 113-118], we found that there is a contradiction between the cycle length and the holding cost per cycle. To obtain the cycle length, the authors assumed that the returned items from the market were replaced with good quality items. However, for the holding cost per cycle, the authors implicitly assumed that the returned items were not replaced by good quality items. In this note, we first point out the contradiction. Then we fix this flaw and develop a corrected EOQ. © 2012 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Activated partial thromboplastin time overestimates anti-coagulation in left ventricular assist device patients

Patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) require long-term systemic anti-coagulation after implantation to prevent thrombotic events. Thrombosis of an LVADmay result in cerebrovascular accidents, device exchange or death. Over the past several years, there has been a reported increase in the risk of device thrombosis in the United States, without a clear explanation for the increase. Proper anticoagulation management in patients with an LVAD is essential for thrombosis prevention. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is often used to bridge LVAD patients early after surgical implantation or when oral anti-coagulation is sub-therapeutic. Due to its mechanism of action, the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) reflects the function of heparin’s effects on the intrinsic pathways of the coagulation cascade, whereas the anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) assay measures heparin’s impact on anti-thrombin. The aPTT is currently the most commonly used laboratory test for monitoring UFH. A large number of variables can affect the aPTT, rendering the patient receiving UFH at risk of supraor sub-therapeutic anticoagulation. Routine monitoring of UFH using the anti-Xa assay has been reported to provide a more accurate reflection of anti-coagulation. Since the 1990s, the American College of Chest Physicians and the College of American Pathologists have recommended that aPTT goals be titrated to a corresponding anti-Xa level according to individual institutions. It is currently unknown whether the aPTT and anti-Xa levels reflect the same level of anti-coagulation in LVAD patients. Due to a higher-than-expected LVAD thrombosis rate at our institution, we hypothesized that the aPTT may not adequately reflect the level of anti-coagulation with UFH in LVAD patients; therefore, we simultaneously measured the aPTT and anti-Xa activity in both LVAD recipients and patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We performed a prospective, single-center quality improvement project that included all hospitalized patients receiving
Improved technique for rodent microarteriography

We have developed new techniques in rodent microarteriography which provide excellent two-plane views of the rat femoral artery. These techniques employ routine mammography film and equipment for imaging as well as standard intravenous catheters for vascular access. The use of mammographic equipment provides high quality, finely detailed, orthogonal X-ray images. The elective outpatient nature of mammography allows microsurgical investigators convenient access to the necessary equipment without interfering with patient care. The standard intravenous catheters permit easy and inexpensive vascular access via the contralateral femoral artery. The technique avoids the more invasive thoracic and abdominal aortic approaches without compromising X-ray image quality. Additionally, the same rat can be imaged multiple times if care is taken to repair the vascular access route. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Commentary on Shelby Hunt’s “The theoretical foundations of strategic marketing and marketing strategy: foundational premises, R-A theory, three fundamental strategies, and societal welfare”

Resource-Advantage theory has been an important addition to the marketing literature generally, and the marketing strategy literature in particular. Twenty years after its introduction, this paper explores R-A theory in the context of marketing strategy research and considers three main issues. First, while R-A theory has clearly been impactful, why it has not been relatively more impactful. Second, it identifies and elaborates on some important marketing strategy phenomena and questions that have not been explicitly addressed by R-A theory. Third, it offers some suggestions for the further development of R-A theory.
Body Image as a Contributor to Weight in Pregnancy and Postpartum: Racial Differences

The alarming disparities in obesity and related conditions for African-Americans compared to Whites have prompted the investigation of social and cultural influences of the obesogenic environment as potential contributors. One such cultural influence may be body image, which encompasses one’s perception of body size and the emotional attitude toward that perception. While studies show that body image is significantly associated with weight, studies during pregnancy have been few, particularly among minority populations. The concept of body image and its influence on weight control should be considered in various phases of a woman’s life, including pregnancy.
Untersuchungen an fünfzig Patienten nach operativer Revaskularisation des Herzens

Der Wert einer Behandlung wird am augenfalligsten durch langfristige Verlaufsbeobachtungen nach Beginn der Therapie erkannt. Deswegen erscheinen uns Untersuchungen bei Patienten nach operativer Revaskularisation des Myokards besonders angezeigt und aufschlusreich.
Falls, Depression, and Other Hospitalization Risk Factors for Adults in Residential Care Facilities.

Prior research has shown a relationship between falls, hospitalizations, and depression among older adults in nursing home settings, but few studies have explored these relationships for younger and older adults in residential care facilities. This study examined risk factors for hospitalizations among assisted living residents. Using the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities, the study found that 24% of residents had a hospital stay in the past year. Residents with falls were more than twice as likely to have a hospitalization. For younger residents, depression was a key risk factor (OR = 1.74, p < .01). However, older residents with dementia had a lower risk of hospitalization (OR = 0.71, p < .01). More attention is needed to prevent falls and identify residents with depression and severe mental illness, who are at greater risk of hospitalization. Reducing avoidable hospitalizations can improve well-being for older and younger adults in residential care facilities.
Stable isotope ecology of Hippotherium from the Late Miocene Pannonian Basin system

Abstract The retreat of the Paratethys Sea in the Middle to Late Miocene left behind a series of intermontane lakes across Central Europe. Ancient Lake Pannon, which existed in present-day Hungary and surrounding countries, was gradually filled in by fluvial sedimentation from 10 to 4 Ma. This infilling allowed for the migration of mammals such as the horse Hippotherium into the Pannonian Basin System (PBS). Stable carbon and oxygen isotope records from Hippotherium are used here to reconstruct changing environmental conditions of the Late Miocene in this region. Our emphasis is on understanding the vegetation and surface water of the basin because these in turn affected the isotopic composition of Lake Pannon. We analyzed the enamel of 68 Hippotherium teeth from 23 localities in the PBS for carbon and oxygen isotope composition. Carbon isotope records indicate that Hippotherium in the central regions of the basin were feeding in more open habitats than those in the northwest. We find no evidence of the expansion of C4 grasses into the PBS. Oxygen and carbon isotope values from the Vienna Basin (NW part of the PBS) generally covary, whereas those from more central regions do not. The oxygen values of the central PBS are generally lower than those of the Vienna Basin. These data suggest that the interior of the PBS was generally dry, which forced Hippotherium to use water sources that were not strongly evaporated, such as rivers originating from outside the basin. The dry interior was likely caused by a rain shadow east of the Alps and north of the Dinarides. Consequently, much of the surface inflow into Lake Pannon would have been influenced by runoff from high elevations around or outside the basin. By understanding the terrestrial environment, better constraints can be placed on lake conditions in future work.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head & Neck and Cervix: Overlap and Distinctions

The practice of medicine would be easier if the mathematical law of identity was as readily applicable in the biologic world. One illness is not the same as another. Within a single illness, cancer, for example, the spectrum of clinical signi fi cance ranges from none (low-volume, low-grade prostate carcinoma) to dire (glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer). Much of the success of medical research came about through attempts to progressively subclassify diseases into more uniform groups to facilitate their study. In this chapter we focus on a single common histologic tumor type, squamous cell carcinoma, noting similarities and important differences that occur depending on origin in either the head & neck or the uterine cervix. Although smoking is the primary risk factor for head and neck carcinoma, and persistent infection with high-risk variants of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is essential for the development of cervical cancer, the story is more complex. Subsets of head & neck cancers have recently been linked to HPV infection, and epidemiologic studies consistently link smoking with cervical carcinoma. Distinct differences are beginning to emerge at the molecular level between smokingand HPVrelated squamous carcinoma. These new insights may bring us closer to telling when a rose actually is a rose.
Politische Kultur in Ost-Mitteleuropa: Ein erster Überblick im Vergleich

Der vorliegende Beitrag prasentiert einen Uberblick zentraler Ergebnisse einer vergleichenden Studie zur politischen Kultur in den neuen, postkommunistischen Demokratien Ost-Mitteleuropas1. Im Mittelpunkt des vorliegenden politischen Kulturvergleichs steht eine empirische Bestandsaufnahme politisch-kultureller Orientierungen in Ungarn, der ehemaligen CSFR und Polen unter besonderer Berucksichtigung der System- und Prozeskultur (politisches Rollenverstandnis, Partizipationsorientierungen, Vertrauen in die politischen Institutionen, Parlamentsverstandnis, Akzeptanz demokratischer Normen und Wertvorstellungen, Einbindung in soziokulturelle und politische Netzwerke).
Transformative Learning Theory and Systems Thinking

Being an adult educator is an impossible profession, particularly for those who are committed to transformative teaching. Sooner or later we have to realize that we are unable to gain access to the learner’s mind.
Acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the growth of melanoma tumors via SOX2-dependent-PAF-R-independent signaling pathway.

// Anita Thyagarajan 1 , Jeremiah Saylae 1 and Ravi P. Sahu 1 1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA Correspondence to: Ravi P. Sahu, email: ravi.sahu@wright.edu Keywords: acetylsalicylic acid, melanoma, platelet-activating factor-receptor, prostaglandin F2 alpha, SOX2 Received: April 07, 2017 Accepted: May 06, 2017 Published: June 01, 2017 ABSTRACT Acquired resistance to standard therapies remains a serious challenge, requiring novel therapeutic approaches that incorporate potential factors involved in tumor resistance. As cancers including melanoma express inflammatory cyclooxygenases generating prostaglandins implicated in tumor growth, we investigated mechanism of anti-inflammatory drug, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) which has been shown to inhibit various tumor types, however, its effects against highly aggressive melanoma model are unclear. Given our reports that an activation of platelet-activating factor-receptor (PAF-R) augments the growth and impede efficacies of therapeutic agents in experimental melanoma, we also sought to determine if PAF-R mediates anti-melanoma activity of ASA. The current studies using stably PAF-R-positive (B16-PAFR) and negative (B16-MSCV) murine melanoma cells and PAF-R-expressing and deficient mice, demonstrate that ASA inhibits the in-vitro and in-vivo growth of highly aggressive B16F10 melanoma via bypassing tumoral or stromal PAF-R signaling. Similar ASA-induced effects in-vitro were seen in human melanoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells positive or negative in PAF-R. Mechanistically, the ASA-induced decrease in cell survival and increase in apoptosis were significantly blocked by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) agonists. Importantly, PCR array and qRT-PCR analysis of B16-tumors revealed significant downregulation of sry-related high-mobility-box-2 (SOX2) oncogene by ASA treatment. Interestingly, modulation of SOX2 expression by PGF2α agonists and upregulation by fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) rescued melanoma cells from ASA-induced decreased survival and increased apoptosis. Moreover, PGF2α-receptor antagonist, AL8810 mimics ASA-induced decreased melanoma cells survival which was significantly blocked by PGF2α and FGF-1. These findings indicate that ASA inhibits the growth of aggressive melanoma via SOX2-dependent-PAF-R-indepedent pathway.
A sequence dependent challenge-response PUF using 28nm SRAM 6T bit cell

Conventionally, SRAM PUFs are only used for chip ID. The proposed sequence dependent PUF expands the challenge-response space of an SRAM PUF by an order of rows(sequence length-1), making it suitable for authentication. In addition, it has a sequence dependent non-linear behavior making it more immune to machine learning attacks. In 28nm, the 64×64 SRAM-based PUF has a bit area of 388F2 with energy ranging from 30fJ/bit–88fJ/bit at 0.6V. It also provides high throughput, from 2.2Gbps to 6.8Gbps at 0.9V.