cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards a conceptual framework for urban management: The Iranian experience

Abstract This paper is the outcome of a sustainable urban management conference held in Dubai in 2010. A number of high ranking city officials including mayors, vice mayors, city council members and urban planners attended the conference and shared their opinions about the formidable challenges facing Iran cities and their perceived solutions. Drawing from this unique data on what experts constitute the current urban management problems and prospects in Iran, four key categories emerged: trust building, feedback, accountability, and participation. This article addresses these key challenges and lessons against the broader backdrop of four fundamental questions on the goals and scales of effective urban management practices in Iran along with exploring the standards and indices for evaluating them. It also discusses the sequential order in which these key categories ought to be operationalized. This sequence seeks to break the gridlock of the current practice of sustainable urban management in Iran characterized by the vicious circle of mistrust between people and the state, little public participation, lack of accountability, and ineffective or biased feedback.
Formulation of zein coatings for apples (Malus domestica Borkh)

High gloss coatings are used to improve apple fruit (Malus domestica , Borkh) appearance and sales. The industry standard has been shellac-based formulations, which have problems with whitening, low gas permeability, and association with non-food uses. Zein, a natural corn protein, was used to formulate alternative, shiny coatings by dissolving zein in aqueous alcohol with propylene glycol (PG). Gloss levels on ‘Gala’ apple surfaces varied due to zein and PG content in coating formulations from that of controls to levels observed for shellac-coated fruit. At least 4% (by weight) PG was necessary for adequate gloss. However, increasing levels of both compounds resulted in increased gloss. Whitening, which occurred on the coated fruit surface upon wetting, was reduced by decreasing zein content to less than 11%. Permeability to CO2 ,O 2, and water vapor was strongly dependent on the zein content in the coating. Internal CO2 and O2 in zein-coated ‘Gala’ fruit ranged 4 � /11 and 19 � /6 kPa, respectively, by increasing zein content in the coatings. An optimum formulation with 10% zein and 10% PG was developed, applied to ‘Gala’ apple, and was found to maintain overall fruit quality comparable to a commercial shellac coating. # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Reaction Products with Internal Energy beyond the Kinematic Limit Result from Trajectories Far from the Minimum Energy Path: An Example from H + HBr → H2 + Br

The importance of reactive trajectories straying far from the minimum energy path is demonstrated for the bimolecular reaction H + HBr → H2(v‘, j‘) + Br at 53 kcal/mol collision energy. Product quantum state distributions are measured and calculated using the quasi-classical trajectory technique, and the calculations indicate that highly internally excited H2 products result from indirect reactive trajectories with bent transition states. A general argument is made suggesting that reaction products with internal energy exceeding a kinematic constraint can, in general, be attributed to reactive collisions straying far from the minimum energy path.
A failure criterion for fiber reinforced polymer composites under combined compression–torsion loading

Abstract A fracture mechanics based failure criterion for unidirectional composites under combined loading has been developed. The predictions from this criterion have been compared with experimental data obtained from combined compression–torsion loading of glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites of 50% fiber volume fraction. The specimens were loaded under rotation control and displacement control in a proportional manner. Comparison of the Budiansky–Fleck kinking model, specialized to a solid circular cylinder, and the new failure model against experimental data suggests that the Budiansky–Fleck model predictions do not capture the variation of compressive strength as a function of shear stress for glass fiber composites. This is because these composites fail predominantly by compressive splitting. The Budiansky–Fleck model predictions are appropriate for composites that fail by compressive kinking. The new model predictions capture the experimental results for glass composites where the compression strength is initially unaffected by shear stress but undergoes a drastic reduction when a critical value of shear stress is reached.
Catheter-related infections — diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

Abstract The widespread use of intravascular catheters in both in- and outpatients has resulted in a dramatic increase in catheter-related infections throughout the United States. The severity of infection ranges from local-site infection and septic thrombophlebitis to septicemia with a possible risk for metastatic infection. Current diagnostic strategies are suboptimal, and most successful treatment regimens require the removal of the infected device followed by a course of antimicrobial therapy.
The Effect of Person–Job Fit on the Retention of Top College Graduates in Federal Agencies

The Outstanding Scholar Program (OSP) allows federal agencies to employ streamlined hiring processes and to offer higher starting salaries to college graduates with a grade point average of at least 3.5 or who graduate in the top 10% of their university or department. OSP data were analyzed from a data set of 47,976 OSP employees hired from 1991 through 2000. Based on job fit theory and generational theory, independent variables theorized to improve employee recruitment and retention rates were tested using chi-square tests and a logistic regression model. Independent variables found to improve these rates include occupations congruent to educational backgrounds, hiring agencies with higher proportions of white-collar professional occupations, and occupations with higher initial grade levels. Because OSP employees are age and knowledge cohorts within Generation X, agencies should also offer occupations with meaningful job content, job independence, good benefits, feedback, and opportunities for employees ...
Probability learning as related to the response format used

One-hundred and 20 Ss were randomly assigned to one of 12 forms of an “investment simulation.” Each of the forms required 120 sequential choices, but they differed in terms of similarity to the classical binary format and the probability pattern used. Results with all 12 formats displayed the probability matching tendency, indicating that Ss may respond in this fashion even when the decision situation appears to differ from the classical binary paradigm.
Microstructural evolution in helium doped HT-9 ferritic steel following 14 MeV nickel ion irradiation

Abstract A set of HT-9 specimens uniformly pre-implanted with 100 appm of helium up to a depth of 1.3 μm were irradiated with 14 MeV nickel ions up to 60 dpa at temperatures of 400, 500 and 600 °C. Cavities were observed in the He-doped specimens irradiated at 500 and 600 °C. The maximum local swelling was found to be 0.1% in the specimen irradiated at 500 °C to 60 dpa. There was no measurable difference in precipitate evolution and dislocation loop structure between samples irradiated with and without pre-implanted helium. It is concluded that free gas atoms are essential to the formation of cavities in heavy ion irradiated HT-9. The overall low swelling characteristics of this alloy show that HT-9 is a highly swelling resistant material even in the presence of considerable amounts of helium.
Variation and persistence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains among individual patients over extended periods of time.

To determine the strain variation and persistence among isolates of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cultured from patients with colonization over extended time spans, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the isolates from 47 patients for whom at least twomecA-positive isolates collected a minimum of six months apart were available. For 22 (47 %) patients, the isolates represented multiple distinct strains ofStaphylococcus aureus, while 20 (43 %) patients had only a single strain detected; five (11 %) patients had similar, genetically related isolates. MRSA were frequently associated with mucocutaneous abnormalities; 29 (62 %) patients had focal cutaneous defects, and ten (21 %) had chronic dermatitis. Multiple strains of MRSA were detected more frequently than single strains among patients in whom the initial focus of MRSA resolved clinically and another mucocutaneous defect subsequently developed compared to patients with clinically persistent foci (11/15 versus 9/23, respectively; p=0.05, Fisher's exact test). Among the 21 patients in this series for whom isolates cultured within a two-month time span were available, there were seven (33 %) patients with multiple strains of MRSA, including one patient with polyclonal bacteremia. In summary, patients with long-term MRSA colonization often have several different strains of MRSA, which typically change over time in association with removal or resolution of a colonized focus and the recurrence of mucocutaneous defects.
A Simple Grating Calibrator for the Visible and Vacuum Ultraviolet

A calibrator is described for absolute efficiency measurements of concave diffraction gratings in the visible and ultraviolet region of the spectrum. The absence of lenses and mirrors in the optical path reduces many of the problems inherent in previous attempts at absolute efficiency measurements. The calibrator employs an entrance slit, concave grating, and photomultiplier in the Seya-Namioka geometry, with the added provision that the multiplier may be placed at the entrance slit to record the intensity of the monochromatic light incident on the grating. The ratio of multiplier current readings at the normal and entrance-slit positions is the grating efficiency at that wavelength. Efficiency curves showing the effects of polarization and grating blaze have been obtained over a spectral region ranging from 6500 A to 900 A.
Comparison of hepatitis B, core, HBc, and hepatitis B antibody, anti HBs, in a presumed low risk donor population.

Donors screened by medical social history interview negative for high risk behavior or communicable disease history, but subsequently exhibiting reactive serological markers, emphasize importance of duel safe guarding factors for determining donor suitability. This report examines a relationship between two immunoabsorption assay tests, hepatitis B core (HBc) antibody, a required food and drug administration (FDA) test, and hepatitis B antibody (anti HBs), non-required test. Reactive serology results, 129 cases, 3,581 donors (2008–2012) for HBc as the only initially positive serological marker were subjected to anti HBs testing in this history pre-screened donor population. Enzyme linked immunoabsorption assay kits hepatitis B, core and antibody, were used in this study. All samples were initially tested for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, utilizing nucleic acid testing and antigen antibody immunoabsorption assay. Testing was performed by a FDA-registered CLEA-certified reference laboratory. Samples were deceased donor blood samples and a limited number of pre-mortem samples, separated, stored and analyzed according to manufacturer recommendation and FDA regulations. 129 reactive HBc only samples, were subsequently tested for anti HBs. Of these 129, 94 were found to be reactive for anti HBs. This represented 72 % of samples tested for antibody, a higher percentage than anticipated for a medical history negative, low risk population.
In Vivo Role of NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in the Regulation of Intracellular Redox State and Accumulation of Abdominal Adipose Tissue

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a flavoprotein that utilizes NAD(P)H as an electron donor, catalyzing the two-electron reduction and detoxification of quinones and their derivatives. NQO1−/− mice deficient in NQO1 activity and protein were generated in our laboratory (Rajendirane, V., Joseph, P., Lee, Y. H., Kimura, S., Klein-Szanto, A. J. P., Gonzalez, F. J., and Jaiswal, A. K. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 7382–7389). Mice lacking a functional NQO1 gene (NQO1−/−) were born normal and reproduced adeptly as the wild-type NQO1+/+ mice. In the present report, we show that NQO1−/− mice exhibit significantly lower levels of abdominal adipose tissue as compared with the wild-type mice. The NQO1−/− mice showed lower blood levels of glucose, no change in insulin, and higher levels of triglycerides, β-hydroxy butyrate, pyruvate, lactate, and glucagon as compared with wild-type mice. Insulin tolerance test demonstrated that the NQO1−/− mice are insulin resistant. The NQO1−/− mice livers also showed significantly higher levels of triglycerides, lactate, pyruvate, and glucose. The liver glycogen reserve was found decreased in NQO1−/− mice as compared with wild-type mice. The livers and kidneys from NQO1−/− mice also showed significantly lower levels of pyridine nucleotides but an increase in the reduced/oxidized NAD(P)H:NAD(P) ratio. These results suggested that loss of NQO1 activity alters the intracellular redox status by increasing the concentration of NAD(P)H. This leads to a reduction in pyridine nucleotide synthesis and reduced glucose and fatty acid metabolism. The alterations in metabolism due to redox changes result in a significant reduction in the amount of abdominal adipose tissue.
Domain Decomposition Algorithms for Indefinite Elliptic Problems

Iterative methods for linear systems of algebraic equations arising from the finite element discretization of nonsymmetric and indefinite elliptic problems are considered. Methods previously known to work well for positive definite, symmetric problems are extended to certain nonsymmetric problems, which can also have some eigenvalues in the left half plane.This paper presents an additive Schwarz method applied to linear, second order, symmetric or nonsymmetric, indefinite elliptic boundary value problems in two and three dimensions. An alternative linear system, which has the same solution as the original problem, is derived and this system is then solved by using GMRES, an iterative method of conjugate gradient type. In each iteration step, a coarse mesh finite element problem and a number of local problems are solved on small, overlapping subregions into which the original region is subdivided. The rate of convergence is shown to be independent of the number of degrees of freedom and the number of local...
A novel KH-domain protein mediates cell adhesion processes in Drosophila.

Abstract Adhesion of cells to one another and to extracellular matrices has major roles in morphogenetic processes during development. One important family of cell adhesion receptors are the integrins, which in Drosophila have crucial functions in at least two adhesion-mediated developmental events: embryonic muscle attachment and adhesion of the wing epithelia. We have cloned and characterized a gene ( struthio ) that is expressed in embryonic mesodermal and muscle cells, including cardioblasts, and epidermal muscle attachment sites in a pattern that is reminiscent of the expression pattern of the PS integrins. Maternal and zygotic transcripts are produced by this gene and encode similar proteins with two alternative carboxy tails. Both proteins contain identical KH domains, a protein sequence motif that is found in numerous proteins that interact with RNA. The struthio protein is highly homologous in a region including the KH domain to the mouse quaking and C. elegans gld-1 proteins, two developmentally important genes. Somatic homozygous clones of an embryonic lethal mutation in this gene ( stru 1A122 ) cause wing blisters and flight impairment, phenotypes which are associated with PS integrin subunit mutations. Thus, the struthio gene encodes a putative RNA-binding protein that appears to regulate some aspects of Drosophila integrin functioning.
The effect of endcap electrode holes on the resonant ejection from an ion trap

Abstract The presence of endcap holes greatly influences the performance of an ion trap mass spectrometer. Optimizing the shape and size of the holes may significantly improve ion trap performance. The field contours have been numerically simulated at varying hole sizes and the potentials were numerically fitted. The presence of holes in the electrodes adds higher order negative components to the field inside the trap. The absolute values of the field components were found to increase with increasing hole size. The fitted potentials were then used to reexamine the amplitude response functions. The addition of negative higher order field components produces up to four jump points in the amplitude response function. The new jump points may produce multiple jump phenomena in forward scans as well as a jump condition in the reverse scan mode that has not previously been considered. The shape of the amplitude response function is dependent on the hole size and the amplitude of the dipole excitation waveform at constant buffer gas pressure. The shape of the function has interesting implications for the resonance ejection process. This work provides new insights into the resonance excitation process in nonlinear ion traps.
Should taste-aversion learning experiments control duration or volume of drinking on the training day?

It has been reported that increases in volume drunk of a solution, prior to poisoning, lead to greater learned aversions. However, this effect may be due totally or partially to differences in time spent drinking rather than to amount drunk. When duration of drinking is held constant, rats differ spontaneously in how much of a solution they drink. In 29 experimental groups, varying in procedural details, the correlation between amount drunk on the training day and percent preference for the solution on the test day (the opposite of aversion) was positive in 16 cases, negative in 13, and usually low. Regardless of whether volume drunk affects taste-aversion learning under some conditions, evidently it is sufficient to control duration of drinking rather than volume, since the spontaneously occurring variations in volume have only slight, if any, effects on the individual differences in learned aversion.
Quantifying transfer after perceptual-motor sequence learning: how inflexible is implicit learning?

Studies of implicit perceptual-motor sequence learning have often shown learning to be inflexibly tied to the training conditions during learning. Since sequence learning is seen as a model task of skill acquisition, limits on the ability to transfer knowledge from the training context to a performance context indicates important constraints on skill learning approaches. Lack of transfer across contexts has been demonstrated by showing that when task elements are changed following training, this leads to a disruption in performance. These results have typically been taken as suggesting that the sequence knowledge relies on integrated representations across task elements (Abrahamse, Jimenez, Verwey, & Clegg, Psychon Bull Rev 17:603–623, 2010a). Using a relatively new sequence learning task, serial interception sequence learning, three experiments are reported that quantify this magnitude of performance disruption after selectively manipulating individual aspects of motor performance or perceptual information. In Experiment 1, selective disruption of the timing or order of sequential actions was examined using a novel response manipulandum that allowed for separate analysis of these two motor response components. In Experiments 2 and 3, transfer was examined after selective disruption of perceptual information that left the motor response sequence intact. All three experiments provided quantifiable estimates of partial transfer to novel contexts that suggest some level of information integration across task elements. However, the ability to identify quantifiable levels of successful transfer indicates that integration is not all-or-none and that measurement sensitivity is a key in understanding sequence knowledge representations.
An empirical analysis of European stock repurchases

Abstract In this paper, we examine the share price effects and determinants of share repurchase programs for French, German, Italian, and British firms. Like US firms, we find that German and Italian share repurchases are met with a positive and significant share price response. However, British repurchase announcements exhibit small positive abnormal returns, and abnormal returns for French share repurchases are insignificantly different from zero, both results being quite different from results found in studies of US firms. We also investigate the determinants of the size of the share repurchase program. Our results indicate support for the Undervaluation Hypothesis and the Takeover Deterrence Hypothesis, and provide partial support for the National Investment Opportunity Set Hypothesis. Our results from our analysis of cumulative abnormal returns are also consistent with the Undervaluation, Takeover Deterrence, and National Investment Opportunity Set Hypotheses. However, we do not find support for the Excess Capital Hypothesis, the Intangibility Hypothesis or the Optimal Leverage Ratio Hypothesis.
TU‐C‐351‐01: Design of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation in Prone Position

Purpose: Accurate delineation of tumor bed is prerequisite for an effective treatment of breast cancer with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) technique. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) has high contrast mechanisms that could enable precise contouring of the lumpectomy cavity. We investigated practical issues pertinent to MR‐guided breast radiation therapy using customized pulse sequences. Method and Materials: Unilateral breast MRimages were obtained from two healthy volunteers in prone position on a dedicated coil. Radiation therapists positioned the volunteers in reproducible setup using a waterproof marker. We acquired 6‐min 3D MRimages to analyze setup uncertainty and fast 2D MRimages of 0.5‐s temporal resolution to detect respiratory motion. An accurate 3D warping‐correction algorithm was evaluated and used to restore spatial fidelity from geometric distortions due to MR gradient non‐linearities. MRimages of surgical clips as fiducial were obtained using pulse sequences designed to provide high signal from lumpectomy cavity. Results: Average breathing motion in the breast was found to be less than 0.5 mm in prone position. Setup deviations of 1 cm were observed between series of intended prone positioning. Rigid image registration based on local anatomy structure resulted in a residual error which was up to 5 mm at the peripheral region of the breast. Gradient‐induced non‐linearity led to 1 cm distortion in the uncorrected phantom image at the region 15 cm away from the main magnet axis. The 3D correction algorithm reduced the deviation to < 1 mm. We observed 4 mm signal void artifacts of surgical clips. Conclusion: We obtained MRimages of suitable quality from volunteers using pulse sequences customized for lumpectomy site identification. MR‐guided APBI in prone position would require 5 mm uniform expansion of clinical target volume with the employment of an appropriate on‐board imaging technique.
Starting oral contraceptives immediately or during next menses did not differ for continued contraceptive use or pregnancy at 6 months.

C Westhoff Correspondence to: Dr C Westhoff, 630 West 168 St, New York, NY, USA; clw3@columbia.edu In young women, does directly observed, immediate initiation of oral contraceptives (OCs) increase continuation rates and reduce pregnancy compared with standard delayed initiation (during next menses)? ### Design: randomised controlled trial. ### Allocation: {concealed}.* ### Blinding: unblinded. ### Follow-up period: 3 and 6 months. ### Setting: 3 urban family planning clinics in Atlanta, New York, and Dallas, USA. ### Patients: 1720 women <25 years of age who were sexually active, requesting OCs, and had a current negative pregnancy test. Exclusion criteria were use of OCs within 7 days or Depo-Provera within 6 months, desire for pregnancy within the next 6 months, lactational amenorrhoea, or women <18 years of age who were postpartum or postabortion. ### Intervention: 864 women were allocated to the Quick Start group. During the initial clinic visit, they opened the OC …
Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorders

Abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a rapidly emerging therapeutic technology that to date has had its greatest success in the treatment of movement disorders due to disturbances of the basal ganglia and related structures. Current well-established targets of DBS include the thalamus, globus pallidus, and subthalamic nucleus for treatment of essential tremor, parkinsonian tremor, and Parkinson's disease. The use of DBS for treatment of other tremor disorders and dystonia is a more recent and ongoing development that is currently under active investigation.
Reducing the pain of local 1% lidocaine infiltration with a preceding bacteriostatic saline injection: a double-blind prospective trial.

Background Lidocaine injection for local anesthesia is a common podiatric medical procedure. We tested the hypothesis that injection of bacteriostatic saline solution containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol before the lidocaine infiltration can reduce the burning caused by lidocaine injection. Methods This double-blind prospective trial involved 45 participants who each received four injections in two areas of the dorsum of the foot and rated the perceived pain on a visual analog scale. The order of the injections was designed to disguise the control and intervention arms of the study. Results The sensation of the lidocaine injection after the injection of saline was reduced significantly (P = .028). The percentage of lidocaine injections with visual analog scale scores of 0 increased by 36% after preinjection with bacteriostatic saline solution containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol. Conclusions The fact that 40% of the intervention visual analog scale pain scores for lidocaine injections were 0 suggests that a near painless lidocaine injection technique is an achievable goal and that the present technique is a simple and inexpensive method of reducing the pain of lidocaine injections.
The effect of spring burning on competitive ranking of prairie species

A common explanation for the changes in species abundance following a fire is a shift in competitive ranking. However, experimental tests have been inconsistent and gen- erally do not support this explanation. I examined the competi- tive ability of an abundant C 4 grass, Andropogon gerardii, and a C 3 forb, Ratibida pinnata, in a prairie remnant in northern Ohio, USA, for each of three years following a spring burn in 1996. While the abiotic environment directly influenced both species similarly, relative competitive abilities in terms of growth changed markedly: in 1996 Andropogon was less inhib- ited by neighbors; in 1997 both Andropogon and Ratibida had similar competitive abilities; and in 1998 Ratibida was less inhibited by neighbors. This shift in competitive response rank- ing paralleled the changes in relative abundance for the two species. In contrast, the effect of neighbors on survival changed markedly over time but did not differ among the two species. Thus, fire may influence species abundance through changing species competitive response ranking, at least in terms of growth.
Susceptibility of ciprofloxacin-resistant staphylococci and enterococci to trovafloxacin

The susceptibilities of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and enterococci obtained over a 13-year period were tested for trovafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, and ciprofloxacin. For MRSA, MIC50 values for trovafloxacin increased from 0.03 microgram/ml to 1 microgram/ml from 1984-1985 to 1995-1996, but were lower than those noted for ciprofloxacin, which increased from 0.25 microgram/ml to > 8 micrograms/ml during the same period. Trovafloxacin also showed lower MIC50 values (0.12-0.25 microgram/ml) than ciprofloxacin (MIC50 of 0.5-1 microgram/ml) for E. faecalis isolates from 1985 through 1991, but against E. faecium and E. faecalis isolated in 1995-1996, the MIC50 values for both trovafloxacin and ciprofloxacin were 2 micrograms/ml and the MIC90 values were > or 8 micrograms/ml. Thus, cross-resistance between fluoroquinolones was shown for both enterococci and MRSA. Whether the greater intrinsic activity of trovafloxacin might allow its use in treating MRSA and enterococcal infections remains to be seen.
Factors Associated with Time to Follow-up of Severe Hyperkalemia in the Ambulatory Setting

Background. Few studies have investigated the time it takes physicians to follow up abnormal outpatient laboratory results. Methods. Medical record review of all adult patients seen at a primary ca...
Deterring Cheating Behavior in the Marketing Classroom: An Analysis of the Effects of Demographics, Attitudes, and In-Class Deterrent Strategies:

This article examines the level of cheating in marketing classes at two universities. The authors determine that certain predictors of cheating behavior activate more under high deterrent condition...
The Src Homology 3 Domain-containing Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Is Overexpressed in High-grade Gliomas and Promotes Tumor Necrosis Factor-like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis-Fibroblast Growth Factor-inducible 14-induced Cell Migration and Invasion via Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-associated Factor 2

Glioblastoma (GB) is the highest grade of primary adult brain tumors, characterized by a poorly defined and highly invasive cell population. Importantly, these invading cells are attributed with having a decreased sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy. TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-Fn14 ligand-receptor signaling is one mechanism in GB that promotes cell invasiveness and survival and is dependent upon the activity of multiple Rho GTPases, including Rac1. Here we report that Src homology 3 domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (SGEF), a RhoG-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is overexpressed in GB tumors and promotes TWEAK-Fn14-mediated glioma invasion. Importantly, levels of SGEF expression in GB tumors inversely correlate with patient survival. SGEF mRNA expression is increased in GB cells at the invasive rim relative to those in the tumor core, and knockdown of SGEF expression by shRNA decreases glioma cell migration in vitro and invasion ex vivo. Furthermore, we showed that, upon TWEAK stimulation, SGEF is recruited to the Fn14 cytoplasmic tail via TRAF2. Mutation of the Fn14-TRAF domain site or depletion of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) expression by siRNA oligonucleotides blocked SGEF recruitment to Fn14 and inhibited SGEF activity and subsequent GB cell migration. We also showed that knockdown of either SGEF or RhoG diminished TWEAK activation of Rac1 and subsequent lamellipodia formation. Together, these results indicate that SGEF-RhoG is an important downstream regulator of TWEAK-Fn14-driven GB cell migration and invasion.
Helping Rural Adolescents Make Successful Postsecondary Transitions: A Longitudinal Study

The longitudinal study in this article tested whether advantages in the career development of high school seniors resulted in better transition outcomes for these young adults 3 years after they graduated from high school. Enhanced career development in high school was significantly connected to more successful transitions into the adult roles of worker and learner and to greater satisfaction with one's life. Providing consistent and competent career development services to all students in high school is an essential task for professional school counselors.
Static characteristics of Josephson interferometers

This investigation deals with the range in operating currents for which a Josephson interferometer, sometimes also referred to as Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID), may remain in the zero-voltage Josephson condition. An interferometer consists of one or more inductive loops each of which contains two Josephson junctions or other weak links. Two types of current are considered. Gate currentIgpasses the junctions in parallel. Control currentIcgenerates magnetic flux via inductive coupling in the loops. Zero-voltage operation is possible within certain areas of theIg,Icplane. These areas are manifestations of flux-quantum states and their boundary lines are referred to as static characteristics. In view of the nonlinearity of the constituting equations, not all their formal solutions are physically realizable. A stability analysis yields criteria which permit the identification of realizable operating conditions. The static characteristics comprise operating conditions where the limit of stability is reached. To obtain the static characteristics, linearized equations may be utilized if theLIo product, a measure for the size of an interferometer, is large compared to the flux quantumΦ0, whereL is the inductance per loop, andIo the maximum Josephson current per junction. As a general method of solving system of transcendental equations, continuation is discussed. The utilization of continuation for obtaining interferometer characteristics is explained. It is shown that some changes in the gate-current feed arrangement are equivalent to shearing the characteristics in theIg,Icplane. Analytical results are given on extrema, inflexion points, and singularities in the shape of cusps which conceptually relate to the existence and connectivity of flux-quantum states. Experimental static characteristics are presented on two-and four-junction interferometers. They are in agreement with characteristics computed on the basis of simple lumped circuit models. Relevant circuit parameters are obtained from the experimental characteristics.
Retracing our steps: Fodor’s new old way with concept acquisition

The acquisition of concepts has proven especially difficult for philosophers and psychologists to explain. In this paper, I examine Jerry Fodor’s most recent attempt to explain the acquisition of concepts relative to experiences of their referents. In reevaluating his earlier position, Fodor attempts to co-opt informational semantics into an account of concept acquisition that avoids the radical nativism of his earlier views. I argue that Fodor’s attempts ultimately fail to be persuasive. He must either accept his earlier nativism or adopt a rational causal model of concept acquisition. His animus towards the latter dictates, in my view, a return to the nativism with which he began.
Using Sequence-Specific Chemical and Structural Properties of DNA to Predict Transcription Factor Binding Sites

An important step in understanding gene regulation is to identify the DNA binding sites recognized by each transcription factor (TF). Conventional approaches to prediction of TF binding sites involve the definition of consensus sequences or position-specific weight matrices and rely on statistical analysis of DNA sequences of known binding sites. Here, we present a method called SiteSleuth in which DNA structure prediction, computational chemistry, and machine learning are applied to develop models for TF binding sites. In this approach, binary classifiers are trained to discriminate between true and false binding sites based on the sequence-specific chemical and structural features of DNA. These features are determined via molecular dynamics calculations in which we consider each base in different local neighborhoods. For each of 54 TFs in Escherichia coli, for which at least five DNA binding sites are documented in RegulonDB, the TF binding sites and portions of the non-coding genome sequence are mapped to feature vectors and used in training. According to cross-validation analysis and a comparison of computational predictions against ChIP-chip data available for the TF Fis, SiteSleuth outperforms three conventional approaches: Match, MATRIX SEARCH, and the method of Berg and von Hippel. SiteSleuth also outperforms QPMEME, a method similar to SiteSleuth in that it involves a learning algorithm. The main advantage of SiteSleuth is a lower false positive rate.
Microhollow Cathode Discharge Reactor Chemistry

We discuss the microhollow cathode discharge (MHCD) as a microreactor for endothermic reactions. The high-peak neutral temperature, power density, and ion density of MHCDs may provide a highly reactive environment for these chemistries. Decomposition of ammonia and carbon dioxide are examined. Conversion is found to vary strongly based mainly on residence time. The results are fit to a plug-flow reactor model, and an effective reaction temperature is calculated. The effective reaction temperature in both cases exceeds 2000~K and suggests that thermal processes play an important role in decomposition.
On the stability of integral equations of the first kind with logarithmic kernels

This paper discusses the stability of the Galerkin method for a class of boundary integral equations of the first kind. These integral equations arise in acoustics, elasticity, and hydrodynamics, and the kernels of the principal parts of the corresponding integral operators all have logarithmic singularities. It is shown that an optimal choice of the mesh size can be made in the numerical computation so that one will obtain an optimal rate of convergence of the approximate solutions. The results here are consistent with those obtained by the Tikhonov regularization procedure.
Development of a Gaussia Luciferase-Based Human Norovirus Protease Reporter System: Cell Type-Specific Profile of Norwalk Virus Protease Precursors and Evaluation of Inhibitors

ABSTRACT Norwalk virus (NV) is the prototype strain of human noroviruses (HuNoVs), a group of positive-strand RNA viruses in the Caliciviridae family and the leading cause of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. Investigation of HuNoV replication and development of antiviral therapeutics in cell culture remain challenging tasks. Here, we present NoroGLuc, a HuNoV protease reporter system based on a fusion of NV p41 protein with a naturally secreted Gaussia luciferase (GLuc), linked by the p41/p22 cleavage site for NV protease (Pro). trans cleavage of NoroGLuc by NV Pro or Pro precursors results in release and secretion of an active GLuc. Using this system, we observed a cell type-specific activity profile of NV Pro and Pro precursors, suggesting that the activity of NV Pro is modulated by other viral proteins in the precursor forms and strongly influenced by cellular factors. NoroGLuc was also cleaved by Pro and Pro precursors generated from replication of NV stool RNA in transfected cells, resulting in a measurable increase of secreted GLuc. Truncation analysis revealed that the N-terminal membrane association domain of NV p41 is critical for NoroGLuc activity. Although designed for NV, a genogroup GI.1 norovirus, NoroGLuc also efficiently detects Pro activities from GII.3 and GII.4 noroviruses. At noncytotoxic concentrations, protease inhibitors ZnCl 2 and N α- p -tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) exhibited dose-dependent inhibitory effects on a GII.4 Pro by NoroGLuc assay. These results establish NoroGLuc as a pan-genogroup HuNoV protease reporter system that can be used for the study of HuNoV proteases and precursors, monitoring of viral RNA replication, and evaluation of antiviral agents. IMPORTANCE Human noroviruses are the leading cause of epidemic gastroenteritis worldwide. Currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs available to counter these highly contagious viruses. These viruses are currently noncultivatable in cell culture. Here, we report the development of a novel cell-based reporter system called NoroGLuc that can be used for studying norovirus replication and also for screening/evaluation of antiviral agents. This system is based on the fusion between viral protein p41 and a naturally secreted Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) with a cleavage site that can be recognized by the viral protease. Cleavage of this fusion protein by the viral protease results in the release and secretion of an active GLuc. Using NoroGLuc, we demonstrated a cell type-specific activity profile of the viral protease and its precursors and dose-dependent inhibitory effects of two protease inhibitors. This novel reporter system should be useful in probing norovirus replication and evaluating antiviral agents.
Get Your Head in the Clouds

EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing higher education by promoting the efficient and effective use of information technology, recently released the annual ECAR Study of Undergra...
Correct usage of multiple transcription initiation sites and C/EBP-dependent transcription activation of the rat XDH/XO TATA-less promoter requires downstream elements located in the coding region of the gene

In the present study, we have shown that a downstream element located in the coding region of the TATA-less rat xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase (XDH/XO) gene (-7 to +42) plays an important role in transcription initiation and C/EBP transcriptional activation. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that the promoter is organized with multiple initiator elements (Inr 1, 2, 3 and 4) which are important for transcription initiation. Additionally, we had identified two C/EBP binding sites upstream of this promoter. Deletional and mutational studies revealed that C/EBP binding was not essential for the basal level of transcriptional initation. However when XO-luciferase constructs include downstream sequence extending to +42 there is development of C/EBP sensitivity as well as a shift in the initiator usage. In the absence of the downstream element, primer extension analyses reveals Inr 3 and 4 to be the major start sites but in the presence of this additional sequence the usage is shifted to Inr 1 and 2. This shift in Inr usage more closely resembles that seen in intact macrophages or liver cells. Gel mobility shift assays indicate the presence of several binding factors located in this downstream region, one of which has been identified as YY-1. We postulate that YY-1 allows DNA bending which permits the upstream C/EBP elements to exhibit a transcriptional activation which is not seen when the downstream element is absent. This study presents a potential model for regulation of the XDH/XO promoter.
A neural network visual-tracking system

Abstract This paper describes part of an integrated system for target tracking. The image is acquired, edge detected and segmented by a subsystem not discussed in the paper. Algorithms to determine the centroid of a windowed target using neural networks are developed. Further, once the target centroid is determined, it is continuously updated to track the trajectory, since the centroid location is not dependent on scaling or rotation on the optical axis. The image is then mapped to a log-spiral grid. A conformal transformation is used to map the log-spiral grid to a computation plane in which rotations and scalings are transformed to displacements along the vertical and horizontal axes, respectively. The images in this plane are used for recognition. The recognition algorithms are the subject of another paper. A second neural network, also described in this paper, is then used to determine object rotation and scaling. The algorithm used by this network is an original line correlator tracker which uses linear instead of 2-D correlation. Simulation results using ICBM images are presented for both the centroid neural network and the rotation-scaling detection network.
Suppression of congenital nystagmus by cutaneous stimulation

Based on the authors' finding that congenital nystagmus (CN) could be suppressed by contact lenses, they investigated the effects on the CN waveform of cutaneous stimulation of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Significant (> 50%) damping of the CN was found for each of the following stimuli: touching the upper eyelid; rubbing the forehead lightly; pressing on the forehead; vibration on the forehead at both 30 and 110 Hz; and both supra- and subthreshold electrical stimuli to the forehead. These robust responses suggest that proprioception is important in both the suppression (and possibly generation) of CN and normal ocular motor control.
Superconformal current algebras and their unitary representations

A natural supersymmetric extension\((\widehat{dG})_\kappa\) is defined of the current (= affine Kac-Moody Lie) algebra\(\widehat{dG}\); it corresponds to a superconformal and chiral invariant 2-dimensional quantum field theory (QFT), and hence appears as an ingredient in superstring models. All unitary irreducible positive energy representations of\((\widehat{dG})_\kappa\) are constructed. They extend to unitary representations of the semidirect sumSκ(G) of\((\widehat{dG})_\kappa\) with the superconformal algebra of Neveu-Schwarz, for\(\kappa = \frac{1}{2}\), or of Ramond, for κ=0.
Interrelationships of dietary protein level, aflatoxin B1 metabolism, and hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrase activity

Abstract In a continuation of studies on protein intake and aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) metabolism, weanling rats were fed semipurified diets containing either 20% casein or 5% casein for two weeks to determine the effect of dietary protein level on hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrase activity and AFB 1 metabolism in an effort to evaluate the role of protein intake on the formation and degradation of the reactive metabolite of AFB 1 . Styrene oxide was used as substrate for epoxide hydrase since the hypothetical AFB 1 2,3-epoxide (AFB-epox) cannot be synthesized because of its lability. Two groups of animals were fed 20% casein diets; one was fed ad libitum and the second was pair fed to the 5% casein group in order to control the effects of total feed intake. The depression of epoxide hydrase activities caused by the 5% casein diets was approximately equivalent to that previously seen with hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase (MFO) activities with the identical protocol. Similarly, the metabolism of AFB 1 to AFQ 1 and AFM 1 was depressed by the 5% casein diets, with an increase in the production of chromatographically more polar material. The relationship of the MFO and epoxide hydrase activities to AFB 1 metabolism and formation of macromolecular adducts is discussed.
Wittgenstein's therapies: From rules to hinges

Abstract Recently Wittgenstein's claim to be primarily engaged in a kind of therapy for the problems that trouble people in the grip of a certain picture of how things must be has been strongly emphasized. The form the therapy takes is to display various kinds of grammatical errors in the pathological practice. In Wittgenstein's late work, On Certainty , the role of the concept of rule as the ground of a practice is extended to include a different kind of grounding in “hinges”. I argue that there is a therapeutic role for the work of bringing to light the “hinges” that hold fast when the door of philosophy turns. I contrast examples of Wittgensteinian therapy where the cure is achieved by a display of grammatical rules, to cases in which the cure depends on emphasizing the role of a hinge or hinges in pathological confusions of thought in psychology.