cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of climate and demography on reproductive phenology of a harvested marine fish population

Shifts in phenology are a well-documented ecological response to changes in climate, which may or may not be adaptive for a species depending on the climate sensitivity of other ecosystem processes. Furthermore, phenology may be affected by factors in addition to climate, which may accentuate or dampen climate-driven phenological responses. In this study, we investigate how climate and population demographic structure jointly affect spawning phenology of a fish species of major commercial importance: walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). We use 32 years of data from ichthyoplankton surveys to reconstruct timing of pollock reproduction in the Gulf of Alaska and find that the mean date of spawning has varied by over 3 weeks throughout the last >3 decades. Climate clearly drives variation in spawn timing, with warmer temperatures leading to an earlier and more protracted spawning period, consistent with expectations of advanced spring phenology under warming. However, the effects of temperature were nonlinear, such that additional warming above a threshold value had no additional effect on phenology. Population demographics were equally as important as temperature: An older and more age-diverse spawning stock tended to spawn earlier and over a longer duration than a younger stock. Our models suggest that demographic shifts associated with sustainable harvest rates could shift the mean spawning date 7 days later and shorten the spawning season by 9 days relative to an unfished population, independent of thermal conditions. Projections under climate change suggest that spawn timing will become more stable for walleye pollock in the future, but it is unknown what the consequences of this stabilization will be for the synchrony of first-feeding larvae with production of zooplankton prey in spring. With ongoing warming in the world's oceans, knowledge of the mechanisms underlying reproductive phenology can improve our ability to monitor and manage species under changing climate conditions.
Browse-Mediated Succession by Deer and Elk 40 Y After a Clearcut in Northern Lower Michigan

In 2017 we sampled tree stems in a clearcut generated in 1977 in the Pigeon River State Forest, Michigan and compared results to three previous sampling periods completed in 1983, 1988, and 1999, respectively. Trees were recorded by species, height class, and whether or not stems had been browsed by mammalian herbivores and whether stems were alive or dead. The results show the most preferred browse tree species when the clearcut was young (bigtooth aspen) was completely absent by 1999 and thereafter, and tree species richness increased over time. Elk were still using the area in 2017, as shown by the presence of pellet groups and sightings in the clearcut and nearby, but little noticeable browse damage was seen in 1999 or 2017, and tree mortality was negligible in 2017. A total of 22 tree species were identified across the time period, but only five species were recorded as present in all years. A total of 11 species were recorded in 1 y only: six in 1999 and five in 2017. Many species were rare, as defined by relative abundances of <0.01, and relative abundances varied a great deal across time. Stochastic dispersal, establishment, and mortality events likely explain many of these observations, given high mortality rates of seedlings and small saplings due to browsing earlier in succession, and competition for light or other resources as trees aged over time.
Activated T-effector seeds: cultivating atherosclerotic plaque through alternative activation

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory pathology that precipitates substantial morbidity and mortality. Although initiated by physiological patterns of low and disturbed flow that differentially...
Integrative Copy Number Analysis of Uveal Melanoma Reveals Novel Candidate Genes Involved in Tumorigenesis Including a Tumor Suppressor Role for PHF10/BAF45a.

Purpose: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a primary malignancy of the eye with oncogenic mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, or CYSLTR2, and additional mutations in BAP1 (usually associated with LOH of Chr 3), SF3B1 or EIF1AX. There are other characteristic chromosomal alterations, but their significance is not clear. Experimental Design: To investigate genes driving chromosomal alterations we integrated copy number, transcriptome and mutation data from three cohorts and followed up key findings. Results: We observed significant enrichment of transcripts on Chromosomes 1p, 3, 6, 8 and 16q and identified seven shared focal copy number alterations (FCNAs) on Chr 1p36, 2q37, 3, 6q25, 6q27 and 8q24. Integrated analyses revealed clusters of genes in focal copy number regions whose expression was associated with metastasis and worse overall survival. This included genes from Chr 1p36, 3p21, and 8q24.3. At Chr 6q27 we identified two tumors with homozygous deletion of PHF10/BAF45a and one with a frameshift mutation with concomitant loss of the wild type allele. Down-regulation of PHF10 in UM cell lines and tumors altered a number of biological pathways including development and adhesion. These findings provide support for a role for PHF10 as a novel tumor suppressor at Chr 6q27. Conclusions: Integration of copy number, transcriptome and mutation data revealed novel candidate genes playing a role in UM pathogenesis and a potential tumor suppressor role for PHF10.
Deep decarbonization from electrified autonomous taxi fleets: Life cycle assessment and case study in Austin, TX

Abstract Although recent studies of autonomous taxis (ATs) have begun to explore potential environmental implications of fleet deployment, little is known about their impacts over the long term. We present a life-cycle assessment framework that incorporates both direct and indirect effects of ATs at the subsystem, vehicle, and mobility-system levels. Eco-driving and intersection connectivity are the direct effects analyzed along with indirect effects that include empty kilometers, parking, charging infrastructure, powertrain rightsizing, electric vehicle adoption, ride-sharing, and fleet-turnover rates. A case study of an AT fleet in Austin, Texas from 2020 to 2050 with constant travel demand indicates the strategic deployment of an electrified AT fleet can reduce cumulative energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% in the base case, with a majority of this benefit resulting from electrified powertrains. Further reductions up to 87% can be achieved with accelerated electrical grid decarbonization, dynamic ride-share, longer vehicle lifetime, more energy efficient computer systems, and faster fuel efficiency improvements for new vehicles. We highlight the major opportunities for maximizing the environmental performance of AT fleets over the long term.
Short-term accommodation as a function of addressee language proficiency

Abstract This paper examines patterns of phonetic accommodation as a function of addressee target language proficiency. Specifically, it analyzes short-term adjustments in the articulation of coda consonants /s/, /ɾ/, and /n/ in the speech of eight New York Dominican Spanish speakers during a series of conversations with different addressees – a native speaker and three nonnative Spanish speakers who have varying levels of Spanish proficiency. Results demonstrate that addressee native-speaker status and proficiency play a statistically significant role in both the degree and direction of phonetic accommodation exhibited by the native speaker informants. While the informants converge with both the most- and least-proficient addressees, they initially diverge from the mid-proficient addressee. The study finds that the native speaker informants use overtly-prestigious variants to attune to the academic Spanish of the most-proficient addressees and use covertly-prestigious, emblematic variants with both the mid-proficient and native speaker addressees to demonstrate outgroup and ingroup membership, respectively.
Zimbabwe Language Policy: Continuity or Radical Change?

The Zimbabwe government introduced a new language policy in education to change the colonial language policy seven years after attaining independence. So much was expected from the postcolonial language. The use of English as the media of instruction during the colonial era was problematic. It denied Africans to describe the world in their languages. Native languages were marginalized and neglected. Africans were robbed of their self-worth and identity. It is against this background that the Zimbabwean government African states after attaining independence and sovereignty pursued an agenda of linguistic decolonization. This paper evaluates the implementation of Zimbabwe's language policy after it gained independence from Britain in 1980. We argue that despite the claim by the Zimbabwe government that it is a revolutionary government which would completely overhaul all colonial structures, institutions, and policies, the implementation of the language policy is a continuity, rather a radical change. Colonial language policy fundamentals are intact and present in the current language policy. English is still the dominant language of instruction. Indigenous languages are considered inferior and on the verge of extinction. The policy failed where it matters most—decolonizing the mind. Zimbabwe needs a sound language policy in education to shake off vestiges of a colonial legacy, and allow children to go to school in their languages to achieve the overall goal of education for all. The language policy must be developed through a broad-based consultative process with specific implementation strategies and commitment by government and non-governmental agencies for funding its implementation.
Recovering latent and sensible energy from building exhaust with membrane-based energy recovery ventilation

Energy can be recovered from building exhaust via water vapor transport and heat transfer across gas permeation membranes, thereby reducing latent and sensible loads during both heating and cooling...
Quantum criticality and deconfinement in phase transitions between valence bond solids

We consider spin-half quantum antiferromagnets in two spatial dimensions in the quantum limit, where the spins are in a valence bond solid (VBS) phase. The transition between two such VBS phases is studied. In some cases, an interesting second-order transition controlled by a fixed line with varying critical exponents is found. A specific example is provided by an antiferromagnetically coupled bilayer system on the honeycomb lattice where a continuous quantum phase transition can generically exist between two VBS phases. Furthermore, these critical points are deconfined, in the sense that gapped spin-$1∕2$ spinon excitations emerge right at the transition. The low-energy physics of this critical point (up to marginally irrelevant interactions) contains just a free quadratically dispersing ``photon.'' The phase structure on one side of this continuous transition is very intricate, consisting of a series of infinitely closely spaced further transitions in a ``devil's staircase'' form. Analogies with previous examples of deconfined quantum criticality are emphasized. Closely related transitions in single layer systems are explored. These are second order only at some multicritical points. The solvable Rokshar-Kivelson point of quantum dimer models of single layer systems is found to correspond to a nongeneric multicritical point.
Validation of High School Students’ Scores on the Revised Fit, Stigma, and Value Scale: Implications for School Counseling Screening

We tested the dimensionality of the Revised Fit, Stigma, and Value (FSV) Scale, a screening instrument for assessing barriers to counseling among a national sample of 330 students from 260 high sch...
Dorsal and ventral mossy cells differ in their long-range axonal projections throughout the dentate gyrus of the mouse hippocampus

Glutamatergic hilar mossy cells (MCs) have axons that terminate both near and far from their cell body but stay within the DG, making synapses in the inner molecular layer primarily. The long-range axons are considered the primary projection, and extend throughout the DG ipsilateral to the soma, and project to the contralateral DG. The specificity of long-range MC axons for the inner molecular layer (IML) has been considered to be a key characteristic of the DG. In the present study we made the surprising finding that dorsal MC axons are an exception to this rule. We used two mouse lines that allow for Cre-dependent viral labeling of MCs and their axons: dopamine receptor d2 (Drd2-Cre) and calcitonin receptor-like receptor (Crlr-Cre). A single viral injection into the dorsal DG to label dorsal MCs resulted in labeling of MC axons in both the IML and middle molecular layer (MML). Interestingly, this broad termination of MC axons applied to all long-range axons. In contrast, long-range axons of ventral MCs mainly terminated in the IML, consistent with the literature. Taken together, these results suggest that dorsal and ventral MCs differ significantly in their axonal projections, and the difference is primarily in their long-range projections. Since those projections are thought to terminate primarily on GCs, the results suggest a dorsal-ventral difference in MC activation of GCs. The surprising difference in dorsal and ventral MC projections should therefore be considered when evaluating dorsal-ventral differences in DG function.
Cost Analysis With Use of Expandable Cage or Cement in Single level Thoracic Vertebrectomy in Metastasis

Study Design:Retrospective case series.Objective:Patient with metastatic cancer frequently require spinal operations for neural decompression and stabilization, most commonly thoracic vertebrectomy...
HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER: CATCHING AND MAINTAINING STUDENTS’ ATTENTION WITH MARKETING HOOKS

A challenge for Principles of Marketing instructors is introducing new topics to majors and non-majors alike in a way that piques interest and increases student engagement across the breadth of top...
Sequential Pluralization through Chromatic Operatives in Connected IoT Sensor's Topology

With the advent of the ubiquitous network, proliferation of sensors, wearables and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices are growing rapidly. All these devices generate a continual stream of data in different formats which is transmitted further over the network for processing. This ever-growing amount of data generated by different sensors need to be processed at a faster pace to maximize the benefits and take any corrective action if required. Although it is important to process data locally at the edge for rapid action, However, it is equally important to process data centrally to identify patterns across locations. Also, the gigantic time-series data captured by these IoT devices can't be stored and fully managed with the central system since it needs to be aggregated and analyzed within a short duration of time as produced by sensors. This paper provides a framework and mechanism that uses a chromatic value to represent sensor data for faster processing. Few bytes of data are passed by the framework with actual sensor data considering the standard Signal-to-Noise-interference for the receiver. These bytes are employed to represent pre-configured chromatic (‘coloring’ being used as a symbolic dimension) number that represents the different states/ranges of data associated which enables the integrator (logic/circuit) to parse this data quickly. This framework helps reduce the overhead cost and gain efficiency by mapping chromatic values with a range of values, which is a key contribution of this paper. This newly defined framework thus ensures optimal management of data at the edge of the device/sensor/network so that analytics on the central database can be performed in less duration.
Radar imaging of fractures and voids behind the walls of an underground mine

ABSTRACTTwo- and three-dimensional rock-penetrating-radar data were acquired on the wall of a pillar in an underground limestone mine. The objective was to test the ability of radar to image fractu...
Going digital: Strategies for transitioning a conference to an online format

Abstract When the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO), Ohio's chapter of the Association of Academic & Research Libraries (ACRL), began planning for its 2020 conference, the COVID-19 pandemic hadn't yet begun. However, when COVID-19 arrived, the Conference Planning Committee was quickly compelled to make decisions about whether to move the conference online, how to deliver it in an online format, and how to help ALAO members adapt to the change. This article explores how decisions to move a conference online can be made and implemented while meeting the needs of the conference-planning organization and its members.
ASPEN: towards effective simulation of threads & engines in evolving platforms

As platforms evolve from employing single-threaded, single-core CPUs to multi-threaded, multi-core CPUs and embedded hardware-assist engines, the simulation infrastructure required for performance analysis of these platforms becomes extremely complex. While investigating hardware/software solutions for server network acceleration (SNA), we encountered limitations of existing simulators for some of these solutions. For example, light weight threading and asynchronous memory copy solutions for SNA could not be modeled accurately and efficiently and hence we developed a flexible trace-driven simulation framework called ASPEN (architectural simulator for parallel engines). ASPEN is based on the use of rich workload traces (RWT), which capture the major events of interest during the execution of a workload on a single-threaded CPU and platform and replaying it a multi-threaded architecture with hardware-assist engines. We introduce the overall ASPEN framework and describe its usage in the context of SNA. We believe that ASPEN is a useful performance tool for future platform architects and performance analysts.
Compression and data mining

Data compression plays an important role in data mining in assessing the minability of data and a modality of evaluating similarities between complex objects. We focus on compressibility of strings of symbols and on using compression in computing similarity in text corpora; also we propose a novel approach for assessing the quality of text summarization.
Interactive focus+context medical data exploration and editing

Volumetric datasets are increasingly used in medical applications. In many of these applications, visualization and interaction is generally performed on cross-sectional two-dimensional 2D views of three-dimensional 3D imaging modalities. Displaying 3D volumetric medical datasets on traditional 2D screens can present problems such as occlusion and information overload, especially when multiple data sources are present. Displaying desired information while showing the relationship to the rest of the datasets can be challenging. In this paper, we present an interactive focus+context visualization approach that uses the volumetric Magic Lens interaction paradigm. We propose to use the Magic Lens as a volumetric brush to perform volume editing tasks, therefore combining data exploration with volumetric editing. Polygon-assisted ray casting methods are used for real-time rendering and editing frame rates, while providing compact storage of editing states for undo/redo operations. We discuss the application of our methods to radiation therapy, which is an important cancer treatment modality. We envision that this approach will improve the treatment planning process by improving the therapists' understanding of information from various sources and will help identify if the alignment of the patient in the treatment room coincides with the prepared treatment plan. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Remission and relapse in a drug-resistant epilepsy population followed prospectively

SUMMARY Purpose: We investigated the cumulative probability of seizure remission and relapse in an adult population with drug-resistant epilepsy and frequent seizures. In addition, we determined clinical predictors of remission and relapse in this population. Methods: In 2003, we identified 246 patients at a single center with drug-resistant epilepsy defined as at least one seizure per month and failure of at least two antiepileptic drugs. These patientswerefollowed prospectively (cohort design). We examined the cumulative probability of seizureremissionandrelapseinthispopulationusingKaplanMeier methodology. Clinical predictors of remission and relapsewerealsoevaluatedusingCoxregressionanalysis. Key Findings: The estimated cumulative probability of 12-month seizure remission was 34.6% at 7 years in the entire population and 33.4% when limited to those without surgery. The risk for relapse after a 12-month period of seizure remission was 71.2% at 5 years. Negative predictors of seizure remission included developmental delay, symptomatic generalized epilepsy syndrome, duration of intractability, and number of antiepileptic drugs failed. Localization-related epilepsy was the only negative predictor of relapse. Significance: Among patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, 5% per year enter seizure remission even with a follow-up of 6 years. However, a substantial proportion of these patients relapse after the first year following a remission. The large proportion of patients entering a significant remission gives these patients hope; however, caution should be advised when discussing the likelihood
Click‐and‐Brick Electronic Commerce

In this chapter an overview of the click and brick approach to electronic commerce is provided. This approach involves the integrated use of traditional and Internet based sales channels. The chapter introduces the basic motivations behind a click and brick model, identifying sources of synergy between physical and virtual operations. Management strategies that can help to alleviate channel conflicts are described. The chapter also highlights the types of benefits that can accrue to companies that successfully integrate the Internet with existing physical operations. Several example cases are provided to illustrate the basic framework.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Semiparametric Mixture Component Models for Competing Risks Data

Summary In the analysis of competing risks data, the cumulative incidence function is a useful quantity to characterize the crude risk of failure from a specific event type. In this article, we consider an efficient semiparametric analysis of mixture component models on cumulative incidence functions. Under the proposed mixture model, latency survival regressions given the event type are performed through a class of semiparametric models that encompasses the proportional hazards model and the proportional odds model, allowing for time-dependent covariates. The marginal proportions of the occurrences of cause-specific events are assessed by a multinomial logistic model. Our mixture modeling approach is advantageous in that it makes a joint estimation of model parameters associated with all competing risks under consideration, satisfying the constraint that the cumulative probability of failing from any cause adds up to one given any covariates. We develop a novel maximum likelihood scheme based on semiparametric regression analysis that facilitates efficient and reliable estimation. Statistical inferences can be conveniently made from the inverse of the observed information matrix. We establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators. We validate small sample properties with simulations and demonstrate the methodology with a data set from a study of follicular lymphoma.
Demographic Categories in Sociolinguistic Studies of US Latino Communities

This article provides an overview of the diversity of Latino communities in the USA and examines how issues of ethnicity and identity have been treated in representative recent studies. The article offers suggestions for coding information about identity and ethnic orientation that will enable researchers to go beyond overly general and often contested superordinate terms. Finally, the article shows how newer methods of statistical analysis provide the means for a more fine-grained coding.
Polymer-caged lipsomes: a pH-responsive delivery system with high stability.

Polymer-incorporated liposomes were prepared from preformed liposomes and a cholesterol-functionalized poly(acrylic acid) additive via a simple drop-in procedure. These modified liposomes possess surface-active carboxylate groups that can be cross-linked with telechelic 2,2‘-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) linkers, resulting in polymer-caged liposomes (PCLs) that are highly stable and have tunable pH-sensitive responses.
Spatial distribution of oxygen in coals. Development of a tin labelling reaction and Mössbauer studies

Abstract All of the hydroxyl groups in Illinois No. 6 and Rawhide (Wyodak) coals have been converted to their-O-SnBu 3 derivatives by reacting with ( n - Bu 3 Sn ) 2 0 in refluxing toluene. The Sn Mossbauer spectra of the coal derivatives show that almost all of the tin is trigonal bipyramidal, which requires the presence nearby of a heteroatom for co-ordination to the tin. If this observed geometry occurs in the parent coal, in spite of the large size of the introduced derivatizing group, then the hydroxyl groups of the coal are paired with another heteroatom and most are hydrogen bonded in the solid.
Acquiring Domain-Specific Dialog Information from Task-Oriented Human-Human Interaction through an Unsupervised Learning

We describe an approach for acquiring the domain-specific dialog knowledge required to configure a task-oriented dialog system that uses human-human interaction data. The key aspects of this problem are the design of a dialog information representation and a learning approach that supports capture of domain information from in-domain dialogs. To represent a dialog for a learning purpose, we based our representation, the form-based dialog structure representation, on an observable structure. We show that this representation is sufficient for modeling phenomena that occur regularly in several dissimilar task-oriented domains, including information-access and problem-solving. With the goal of ultimately reducing human annotation effort, we examine the use of unsupervised learning techniques in acquiring the components of the form-based representation (i.e. task, subtask, and concept). These techniques include statistical word clustering based on mutual information and Kullback-Liebler distance, TextTiling, HMM-based segmentation, and bisecting K-mean document clustering. With some modifications to make these algorithms more suitable for inferring the structure of a spoken dialog, the unsupervised learning algorithms show promise.
Polarization-controlled Ohmic to Schottky transition at a metal/ferroelectric interface

Ferroelectric polar displacements have recently been observed in conducting electron-doped BaTiO${}_{3}$ ($n$-BTO). The coexistence of a ferroelectric phase and conductivity opens the door to new functionalities that may provide a unique route for novel device applications. Using first-principles methods and electrostatic modeling, we explore the effect that the switchable polarization of $n$-BTO has on the electronic properties of the SrRuO${}_{3}$/$n$-BTO (001) interface. Ferroelectric polarization controls the accumulation or depletion of electron charge at the interface, and the associated bending of the $n$-BTO conduction band determines the transport regime across the interface. The interface exhibits a Schottky tunnel barrier for one polarization orientation, whereas an Ohmic contact is present for the opposite polarization orientation, leading to a large change in interface resistance associated with polarization reversal. Our calculations reveal a five orders of magnitude change in the interface resistance because of polarization switching.
Microwave H2O emission from young stars

H2O emission has been detected from the Ae or Be stars HD 250550, LkH-alpha 234, and LkH-alpha 198. Comparison of the H2O velocity with that of associated interstellar CO indicates that the H2O originates in an infall region, possibly the contracting parent cloud. H2O emission has also been detected in OH 205.1-14.1, and OH source near the T Tauri star LkH-alpha 308.
Variation in coral growth rates with depth at Discovery Bay, Jamaica

Growth rates, determined by X-radiographic measurement of skeletal extension, decreased with depth for four of six species of coral examined at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Growth of Porites astreoides, Montastrea annularis, Colpophyllia natans, and Siderastrea siderea decreased significantly with depth over a 1- to 30-m depth range. In Montastrea cavernosa, the highest growth rate occurred in the middle of the sampled depth range. Agaricia agaricites had no measurable change in growth rate with depth. A compilation of available growth data for Atlantic and Pacific corals shows a strong pattern of highest growth rates a short distance below the surface and a decrease with depth.
Concentration gradients and growth/decay characteristics of the seasonal sea ice cover

The characteristics of sea ice cover in both hemispheres are analyzed and compared. The areal sea ice cover in the entire polar regions and in various geographical sectors is quantified for various concentration intervals and is analyzed in a consistent manner. Radial profiles of brightness temperatures from the poles across the marginal zone are also evaluated at different transects along regular longitudinal intervals during different times of the year. These radial profiles provide statistical information about the ice concentration gradients and the rates at which the ice edge advances or retreats during a complete annual cycle.
Bisandrographolide from Andrographis paniculata Activates TRPV4 Channels

Abstract Many transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are activated or blocked by various compounds found in plants; two prominent examples include the activation of TRPV1 channels by capsaicin and the activation of TRPM8 channels by menthol. We sought to identify additional plant compounds that are active on other types of TRP channels. We screened a library of extracts from 50 Chinese herbal plants using a calcium-imaging assay to find compounds active on TRPV3 and TRPV4 channels. An extract from the plant Andrographis paniculata potently activated TRPV4 channels. The extract was fractionated further, and the active compound was identified as bisandrographolide A (BAA). We used purified compound to characterize the activity of BAA on certain TRPV channel subtypes. Although BAA activated TRPV4 channels with an EC50 of 790-950 nm, it did not activate or block activation of TRPV1, TRPV2, or TRPV3 channels. BAA activated a large TRPV4-like current in immortalized mouse keratinocytes (308 cells) that have been shown to express TRPV4 protein endogenously. This compound also activated TRPV4 currents in cell-free outside-out patches from HEK293T cells overexpressing TRPV4 cDNA, suggesting that BAA can activate the channel in a membrane-delimited manner. Another related compound, andrographolide, found in abundance in the plant Andrographis was unable to activate or block activation of TRPV4 channels. These experiments show that BAA activates TRPV4 channels, and we discuss the possibility that activation of TRPV4 by BAA could play a role in some of the effects of Andrographis extract described in traditional medicine.
Efficient Secretion and Processing of Heterologous Proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Is Mediated Solely by the Pre-Segment of α-Factor Precursor

ABSTRACT A novel processing site was identified in fusions of the α-factor precursor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae following its 19 amino-terminal residues (pre-segment). Fusions of the pre-segment t...
Production and cleavage of Drosophila hsp70 transcripts extending beyond the polyadenylation site

Abstract Transcription downstream of the polyadenylation site was studied in the Drosophila hsp70 gene, whose high level of transcription in response to temperature elevation facilitates detection of rare and possibly short-lived transcripts. Transcription downstream of the polyadenylation site was detected both in cultured cells and in intact animals. Even shortly after temperature elevation the extended nonpolyadenylated RNAs were rare relative to mature message, and their level continued to increase following temperature elevation even after the amount of mature message stopped increasing. The extended transcripts therefore are unlikely to be message precursors. Although continuous transcripts were detected extending as far as 2 kb downstream of the normal polyadenylation site, the predominant extended transcript was 0.45 kb long, apparently produced by cleavage of longer transcripts. Its amount relative to mature message increased with the duration and severity of heat-shock. As is the case in nonpolyadenylated histone mRNA, there is a potential stem-loop structure just upstream of the cleavage site. These data and other lines of evidence suggest that this extended transcript results from an alternative mode of stable 3'-end formation.
GPS III-Galileo/Altimeter Landing System for CAT IIIB: Concept and Analysis

: This paper contains a description and analysis of the performance of a future Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/altimeter integration that is shown to have potential to provide the sensor accuracy and integrity needed for Category IIIB approaches. The concept takes advantage of independent position estimates to provide integrity and enhanced accuracy. The GNSS component is GPS III and Galileo, implying a circa 2020 time frame. The altimeter component is radar (or laser) with terrain elevation corrections. A feature of the concept is a method that adjusts sensor weights to achieve required integrity risk regardless of the magnitude of a fault error. The analysis focuses on sensor integrity and accuracy, and includes risk analysis, derivation of system parameters, and availability estimates with respect to CONUS.
Relationship between plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity and HDL subclasses among patients with low HDL and cardiovascular disease

Abstract Low levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL) are associated with an increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease. The plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is believed to play a critical role in lipoprotein metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport by remodeling HDL and facilitating the transport of lipid to the liver. Plasma contains two major HDL subclasses, those containing both apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and A-II, Lp(A-I, A-II), and those containing apo A-I but not A-II, Lp(A-I). To examine the potential relationships between PLTP and lipoproteins, plasma PLTP activity, lipoprotein lipids, HDL subclasses and plasma apolipoproteins were measured in 52 patients with documented cardiovascular disease and low HDL levels. Among the patients, plasma PLTP activity was highly correlated with the percentage of plasma apo A-I in Lp(A-I) ( r =0.514, p r =0.499, 0.478, 0.457, respectively, p ≤0.001). Plasma PLTP activity was also significantly correlated with plasma apo A-I ( r =0.413, p =0.002), HDL cholesterol ( r =0.308, p =0.026), and HDL 2 and HDL 3 cholesterol ( r =0.284 and 0.276, respectively, p
Optimal Levels for Incentive Standards

Abstract This study investigates the effect of selected output response patterns and cost structures on optimal standard levels. Worker responses to the standard pace are hypothesized and these response patterns utilized to develop the relationship between the standard-pace and average-unit costs. If worker output variation and the nonwage costs influenced by productivity are low, the optimal standard level is found near the point on the response curve at which output equals the standard level. As output variation and nonwage costs are assumed to increase, the optimal standard pace is lowered. Other important factors influencing the optimal standard level are the assumed position of the response curve and the nonincentive output rate.
Economy loading simplified

THE PRINCIPLES of loading generating stations according to incremental rate characteristics have been known and practiced for a number of years. More recently the effect of transmission losses upon economy loading of plants has received attention. The continued rapid growth of transmission networks and system interconnections promises to bring about increased interest and emphasis on the over-all problem of operating systems at optimum economy. This article proposes to present a summary of the problem in a manner largely devoid of abstract mathematical concepts and derivations. An effort is made to establish certain principles and criteria, mainly through intuitive reasoning.
Computer simulations of coaxial vircators

A study of the efficiency of a coaxial virtual cathode oscillator is presented. The coaxial geometry has many physical parameters that can be changed to alter performance. The parameters of interest include the placement of a ring cut in the anode base and the polarity of the system. The ring creates a decelerating field for the electrons and tends to keep them in the right-phased region of the virtual cathode. The ring is varied in width and in position from the center line with the results normalized to the no ring geometry. The results for a positively and negatively pulsed system are also given. Comparisons of frequency, efficiency, and particle dynamics of the positively and negatively pulsed systems are given. MAGIC, a 2-1/2 dimensional particle-in-cell code, and SOS, a 3 dimensional particle-in-cell code, are used to simulate the different geometries.
Pepperoni or Broccoli? On the Cutting Wedge of Feminist Environmentalism

Feminist environmentalism has become a significant intellectual and social policy force across fields as diverse as public health, political economy, philosophy, science, and ecology. Feminist environmental theory and activism together are challenging and redefining foundational principles, from animal rights to the environmental economy of illness and well-being, from global political economy to the role of Big Science as the primary arbiter of the state of the environment. Animal rights is one of the most intellectually challenging and innovative areas of intellectual activity and social activism, and within feminist environmentalism is one of the most radical subfields. This paper provides an overview of activity in this subfield, starting from the observation that feminist environmental scholarship and grassroots activism on animal rights pivot around three concerns: elucidating the commonalities in structures of oppressions across gender, race, class, and species; developing feminist-informed theorie...
UV-patternable inorganic-organic hybrid materials tailored for use in electro-optic modulators

ABSTRACT Passive sol-gel materials play an important role in the development of electro-optic(EO) polymer-based modulators, because of their variety of available refractive indices. They can be used to form passive waveguide transitions to minimize coupling loss or as cladding la yers for the EO polymer. The demands for these two applications are different. For waveguide transitions the most important factor is the optical loss. Cladding layers should have a relatively high conductivity at elevated temperatures to improve poling efficiency. Both demands are addressed in this study. The synthesis of low loss (down to 0.45 dB/cm) sol- gel materials is shown. Slab waveguides as well as ridge waveguides were fabricated and characterized by liq uid prism measurements and cut-back lo ss measurements, respectively. For use in cladding layers surrounding the EO polymer, materials with higher conductivity were developed. The conductivity of the materials was increased, (3·10 -9 S/m) through the use of a silane, which allows in situ formation of proton donating functionalities. All developed materials can be used as solvent free resins, which enables classic photolithography as well as patterning by UV-imprinting. The available refractive index range (at 1.55 µm) is from 1.495 to 1.562. Keywords: sol-gel, polymer modulator, low loss, conductivity
Encontrando lo que nunca estuvo perdido. Conciencia de clase y conflicto de clases en el régimen neoliberal chileno

En esta investigacion se examinan las pautas generales del conflicto de clases en la sociedad chilena contemporanea. Para ello, se examina la manera en que las clases sociales poseen distintas orientaciones sociopoliticas sobre tematicas referentes al conflicto de clases. Mas especificamente, esta investigacion recurre a la literatura sobre conciencia de clase para analizar tres componentes centrales de la conciencia de clase de los individuos: 1) Identidad de clase, 2) Percepciones del conflicto de clase, 3) Actitudes hacia la intervencion del Estado en la economia (en tanto este tema es un punto central de los regimenes neoliberales). A partir de una serie de modelos de regresion logistica ordinal se examina que componentes de la conciencia de clase se encuentran mas polarizados. Asi, se busca entender la manera en que el conflicto de clases expresado en la polarizacion de opiniones y actitudes se estructura en un regimen neoliberal que –como el chileno– esta caracterizado por niveles importantes de despolitizacion, por la debilidad de actores colectivos de clase trabajadora (sindicatos) y por la ausencia practicas de partidos que representen los intereses de la clase trabajadora. Los hallazgos muestran que a pesar de este escenario desfavorable, la clase continua siendo un aspecto central en la configuracion de orientaciones ideologicas antagonicas, lo cual puede ser la fuente de importantes conflictos politicos en el futuro.
An Opportunity for Empiricism.

Howard Gardner, professor ofeducation and codirector ofProject Zero at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts), is recipient ofa MacArthur Prize Fellowship (1981-1986), the Grawemeyer Award in Education (1990), an American Psychological Association (APA) William James Award, and an APA National Psychology Awardfor Excellence in the Media . Gardner is author ofCreating Minds : An Anatomy of Creativity Seen Through the Lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Gandhi ; Leading Minds ; and Frames of Mind and coauthor, with D . H. Feldman and M. Csikszentmihalyi, of Changing the World : A Framework for the Study of Creativity . 0 David Lubinski, associate professor ofpsychology, director ofthe Psychometrics and Applied Individual Differences Division, and codirector of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) at Iowa State University (Ames), is coeditor, with R . V . Dawis, ofAssessing Individual Differences in Human Behavior : New Methods, Concepts, and Findings and coauthor, with R . V. Dawis, ofthe chapter "Aptitudes, Skills, and Proficiencies" in M. D . Dunnette and L . Hough (Eds .) Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Vol. 3, 2nd ed .) . a Camilla P. Benbow, distinguished professor, chair ofpsychology, and codirector ofSMPY and ofthe Office of Precollegiate Programs for Talented and Gifted (OPPTAG) at Iowa State University, is a member ofthe Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars and coeditor, with J. C . Stanley, of Academic Precocity and, with D . Lubinski, of the forthcoming Intellectual Talent : Psychometric and Social Issues .
Pose Scoring by NMR

Recently, we have developed a fast approach to calculate NMR chemical shifts using the divide and conquer method at the semiempirical level. To demonstrate the utility of this approach for characterizing protein−ligand interactions, we used the deviation of calculated chemical shift perturbations from experiment to determine the orientation of a ligand (GPI-1046) in the binding pocket of the FK506 binding protein (FKBP12). Moreover, we were able to select the native state of the ligand from a collection of decoy poses. A key hydrogen bond between O1 and HN in Ile56 was also identified. Our results suggest that ligand-induced chemical shift perturbations can be used to refine protein/ligand structures.
The efficacy of tepid sponge bathing to reduce fever in young children.

Tepid sponge baths distress febrile children, and their efficacy at reducing fever has not been established. This study compared fever reduction and with (1) acetaminophen alone and (2) acetaminophen plus a 15-minute tepid sponge bath. Twenty children, ages 5 to 68 months, who presented to the emergency department or urgent care center with fever of > or = 38.9 degrees C were randomized to receive (1) acetaminophen alone or (2) acetaminophen plus a 15-minute tepid sponge bath. All subjects received a 15-mg/kg dose of acetaminophen. Tympanic temperature was monitored every 30 minutes for 2 hours. Subjects were monitored for signs of discomfort (crying, shivering, goosebumps). Sponge-bathed subjects cooled faster during the first hour but there was no significant temperature difference between the groups over the 2-hour study period (P = .871). Subjects in the sponge bath group had significantly higher discomfort scores (P = .009).
An analysis of predictors of college students' ethical inclinations

Correlational and path analyses are used to examine the effects of four situations on self-reported ethical behaviors on four primary ethical dimensions among 323 undergraduate communication students in two mid-Atlantic public universities. The four situations are: the students' self-reported ethical beliefs, the students' perceptions of their professors' ethical beliefs, and the students' perceptions of both the beliefs and behaviors of their peers. The ethical dimensions, which form the basis for path models, are direct-testing, indirect-testing, indirect-substitution, and direct-substitution behaviors. Results indicate that different path models fit different types of behaviors. For example, professors' beliefs, as perceived by the students, have an indirect effect on students' behaviors, particularly in the indirect dimensions. Also, in three dimensions, interactions among professors' beliefs and most college students' beliefs and behaviors influence students' behaviors. An interpretation of these behaviors is suggested, based on an adaptation of the Ajzen and Fishbein theory of reasoned action.
The theologies of transparency in Europe: the limits and possibilities of ‘fusion’ in the EU transparency regime

The consideration of a transparency regime for the European Union has stimulated considerable response from the Brussels lobbying community. Somewhat predictably, the responses have congregated about two poles: one represented by a strident group of reform activists calling for complete openness with a strong legal component, the other taking a minimalist self-regulatory approach to the most fundamental issues. The basic positions of the competing sides seem to be immovable; embraced with all the fervour of religious ‘true believers’. At first blush the possibility for a meaningful compromise seems remote. However, the submissions may offer a limited way forward based on a fusion of principles held by many on both sides of the issue. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic & infrequent opioid exposure suppresses IL-2R expression on rhesus monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells following stimulation with pokeweed mitogen

In the present investigation, infrequent and chronic (daily) exposure of rhesus monkeys to morphine was investigated for their effect on cytokine receptor expression, interleukin (IL)-2 production, and nuclear factor κPB (NFκPB) levels following stimulation with PWM. In a time-dependent manner, peripheral blood mononuclearcells (PBMCs) from both infrequent- and daily-morphine treated monkeys displayed significantly less (40 ± 7%) IL-2 receptor compared to PBMCs from saline-treated controls. However, PBMCs from chronic opioid- and infrequent opioidtreated monkeys displayed similar levels of IL-4 and IL-7 receptors compared to saline-treated animals. Following stimulation with PWM, PBMCs from chronic opioid-treated monkeys produced elevated levels of IL-2 (870 ± 94 pg/ml) compared to IL-2 levels (463 ± 88 pg/ml) of PBMCs from saline-treated monkey. Likewise, PBMCs from chronic-morphine exposed monkeys had elevated levels (43%) of NFκPB compared to PBMCs from saline-treated (control) monkeys following 72 hou...