cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing and assessing practicing spoken french: a multimedia program for improving speaking skills

Reported in this article are the development and evaluation ofPracticing Spoken French (PSF), a multimedia program designed to assess the effects of subtitled video on oral communicative performance of fifth-semester college students of French. The rationale for the development of an alternative to current computer-based initiatives for speaking practice is presented. This is followed by a description of three aspects of the PSF program: design, visual input, and technical features. The results of the field test conducted with PSF are presented, and the strengths and limitations of the program are discussed. Implications and recommendations are offered for computer-assisted language learning (CALL) design and research.
Bringing Ethics into the Classroom: Making a Case for Frameworks, Multiple Perspectives and Narrative Sharing

This article argues for the need to discuss the topic of ethics in the classroom and presents five frameworks of ethics that have been applied to education. A case analysis used in workshops with educators in the field of Special Education is described, and the benefits of sharing narratives are discussed. The authors offer suggestions, grounded in education literature, for addressing ethics explicitly and for developing a critically reflective perspective toward ethical decision-making.
Feedback r-passivity of Lagrangian systems for mobile robot teleoperation

One of the key challenges in mobile robot teleoperation is master-slave kinematic dissimilarity: master device (e.g., joystick) has a bounded workspace, while slave mobile robot can/should cover an unbounded workspace. A direct master-position/slave-velocity coupling has been frequently used for this, which, yet, in general, violates passivity of the closed-loop system, since the master system with position output cannot be passive. In this paper, we propose a new notion of feedback r-passivity of general multi-dimensional Lagrangian systems, which allows us to achieve such master-position/slave-velocity coupling while enforcing passivity. Its applications to tele-driving of dynamic and kinematic WMRs with constant communication delay are also presented.
Intermittent hypoxia: A low-risk research tool with therapeutic value in humans

Intermittent hypoxia has generally been perceived as a high-risk stimulus, particularly in the field of sleep medicine, because it is thought to initiate detrimental cardiovascular, respiratory, co...
Effect of Contact Residual Stress on Proof Testing

Theoretical predictions are made of strength distributions after proof testing accounting for the possibility of a contact residual stress. Assuming a simple power-law relationship between subcritical crack velocity and the stress intensity factor, the amount of crack growth, hence strength degradation, that occurs during a proof stress cycle is determined. The results clearly show that the contact residual stress can strongly influence the after-proof strength distribution so that after-proof strengths can become weaker than the initial. The results are consistent with experimental observations with soda–lime glass; thus, the importance of accounting for the contact residual stress is emphasized.
HIPAA and Disaster Research: Preparing to Conduct Research

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted in 1996 and implemented in 2003, continues to have a profound impact on the ability to carry out research. Many disaster research methodologies are not affected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule and are likely to be appropriate for waivers because of the nature of disaster research. Still other types of studies may require special considerations that researchers must be aware of when planning research methodologies.
Posttransplant diabetes mellitus in kidney allograft recipients: incidence, risk factors, and management.

Background. Posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), associated with the use of immunosuppressants, occurs at varying rates in kidney transplant recipients. Methods. Five transplant centers conducted a retrospective review of 435 kidney recipients completing at least 6 months of follow-up to determine risk factors, incidence, and management strategies for posttransplant glucose intolerance. A distinction was made between hyperglycemia and diabetes. Results. The incidence of PTDM was found to be 4.9%. Among tacrolimus-treated patients it was 5.7%, compared with 3.3% among cyclosporine-treated patients (P0.453). Mean daily maintenance doses of prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were significantly lower in tacrolimus-treated patients. Significantly more tacrolimus-treated patients were prednisone-free (9.0%/0%; P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the absence of an antiproliferative agent correlated with the development of PTDM (odds ratio3.56; P0.01). Conclusions. Based on this study, we propose management guidelines specifically for glucose intolerance developing after renal transplantation. Maintenance of blood glucose levels within strict limits is recommended, and the contribution of immunosuppressive agents to the development of PTDM is accounted for. Gradual tapering of prednisone and tacrolimus is proposed for patients who develop PTDM but also bear minimal risk of rejection. Tapering and eventual withdrawal of insulin should be attempted once blood glucose levels normalize. Switching to the alternative calcineurin inhibitor should only be considered as a late intervention. Tacrolimus therapy should be considered even in patients at high risk for diabetes, because the benefit of reduced acute rejection incidence and severity, as demonstrated in other studies, outweighs the risk of PTDM.
A Cost-Shaping Linear Program for Average-Cost Approximate Dynamic Programming with Performance Guarantees

We introduce a new algorithm based on linear programming for optimization of average-cost Markov decision processes (MDPs). The algorithm approximates the differential cost function of a perturbed MDP via a linear combination of basis functions. We establish a bound on the performance of the resulting policy that scales gracefully with the number of states without imposing the strong Lyapunov condition required by its counterpart in de Farias and Van Roy [de Farias, D. P., B. Van Roy. 2003. The linear programming approach to approximate dynamic programming. Oper. Res.51(6) 850--865]. We investigate implications of this result in the context of a queueing control problem.
Lindemanns' criterion and the necessary condition for a melting curve maximum

Abstract Assuming that the generalized Lindemann's criterion adequately describes the melting process, it is shown that the softening of a branch of the frequency spectrum with pressure is associated with the occurrence of fusion curve maximum as well as a negative melting slope. By characterizing the number of “soft” modes through 〈γ〉 and σ 1 2 , the average and approximate width of the mode gamma distribution of the solid, a qualitative as well as a quantitative condition for a fusion curve maximum can be established for a model potential.
Biophilia as an Environmental Virtue

Beginning with E. O. Wilson’s notion of biophilia, our “innate tendency to focus on life and life-like processes,” I construct an environmental virtue with the same name that meets certain criteria an environmental virtue should meet. I argue that this virtue can have its status as a virtue by its contribution to human flourishing, while having care for live nature as its target, and care about live nature as its affective content. I explore its characteristics as both an individual and a collective virtue, and finally show how cultivation of it might serve to unite various communities in the cause of preserving biodiversity.
Instruction embedding for improved obfuscation

Disassemblers generally assume that assembly language instructions do not overlap, therefore, an obvious obfuscation against such disassemblers is to overlap instructions. This is difficult to implement, however, as the number of instructions existing in a program which can be overlapped are typically very few. We propose a modification of instruction overlapping which instead embeds the hexadecimal representation of an instruction in the memory offset and immediate operand of an inserted instruction. We implement a obfuscator which is capable of embedding a limited number of instructions and find that it is able to hide 23% of an X86 assembly program's total instructions on average. This is significantly higher than results reported by past works using standard instruction overlapping obfuscations which were only able to hide 1% of instructions.
Genetic Control of Translesion Synthesis on Leading and Lagging DNA Strands in Plasmids Derived from Epstein-Barr Virus in Human Cells

ABSTRACT DNA lesions in the template strand block synthesis by replicative DNA polymerases (Pols). Eukaryotic cells possess a number of specialized translesion synthesis (TLS) Pols with the ability to replicate through DNA lesions. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpesvirus family, infects human B cells and is maintained there as an extrachromosomal replicon, replicating once per cycle during S phase. Except for the requirement of the virus-encoded origin-binding protein EBNA1, replication of plasmids containing the EBV origin of replication ( oriP ) is controlled by the same cellular processes that govern chromosomal replication. Since replication of EBV plasmid closely mimics that of human chromosomal DNA, in this study we examined the genetic control of TLS in a duplex plasmid in which bidirectional replication initiates from an EBV oriP origin and a UV-induced cis- syn TT dimer is placed on the leading- or the lagging-strand DNA template. Here we show that TLS occurs equally frequently on both the DNA strands of EBV plasmid and that the requirements of TLS Pols are the same regardless of which DNA strand carries the lesion. We discuss the implications of these observations for TLS mechanisms that operate on the two DNA strands during chromosomal replication and conclude that the same genetic mechanisms govern TLS during the replication of the leading and the lagging DNA strands in human cells. IMPORTANCE Since replication of EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) origin-based plasmids appropriates the cellular machinery for all the steps of replication, our observations that the same genetic mechanisms govern translesion synthesis (TLS) on the two DNA strands of EBV plasmids imply that the requirements of TLS Pols are not affected by any of the differences in the replicative Pols or in other proteins that may be used for the replication of the two DNA strands in human cells. These findings also have important implications for evaluating the significance of results of TLS studies with the SV40 origin-based plasmids that we have reported previously, in which we showed that TLS occurs similarly on the two DNA strands. Since the genetic control of TLS in SV40 plasmids resembles that in EBV plasmids, we conclude that TLS studies with the SV40 plasmids are as informative of TLS mechanisms that operate during cellular replication as those with the EBV plasmids.
Balancing Adherence Concerns with the Risks of HIV Disease Progression

The appropriate time to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection is an area of much debate and some scientific study. In the absence of opportunistic infection, HIV-related symptoms, pregnancy, or comorbidities that may trigger the use of ART (e.g., hepatitis B), treatment guidelines have focused primarily on the CD4 lymphocyte count and plasma HIV RNA level and have suggested immunologic and virologic thresholds for the initiation of ART [1, 2]. These thresholds are an attempt to balance the benefits of therapy with the limitations of therapy, the major limitations being the development of drug resistance and/or drug toxicity. The rapid development of new antiretroviral agents and the results of recent clinical trials that support higher rates of efficacy and lower toxicity with contemporary treatment regimens have led to recent changes in treatment guidelines, including recommendations to initiate ART at somewhat higher CD4 cell counts [1, 2]. Recent data also suggest that earlier initiation of ART may be beneficial in pre-
Bladder Cancer-associated Nuclear Matrix Proteins

The early diagnosis of bladder cancer is central to the effective treatment of the disease. Presently, there are no methods available to easily and specifically identify the presence of bladder cancer cells. The prevailing method for the detection of bladder cancer is the identification of bladder cancer cells by morphological examination of exfoliated cells or biopsy material by a pathologist. A hallmark of the malignant or transformed phenotype is an abnormal nuclear shape, the presence of multiple nucleoli, and altered patterns of chromatin organization. Nuclear structural alterations are so prevalent in cancer cells that they are commonly used as markers of transformation for many types of cancer. Nuclear shape is determined by the nuclear matrix, the dynamic skeleton of the nucleus. The nuclear matrix is the structural component of the nucleus that determines nuclear morphology, organizes the DNA in a three-dimensional fashion that is tissue specific, and has a central role in the regulation of a number of nuclear processes, including the regulation of DNA replication and gene expression. Previous investigations into prostate and breast cancer have revealed that nuclear matrix protein (NMP) composition undergoes alterations with transformation and that the nuclear matrix can serve as a marker for the malignant phenotype. In this study, we have identified NMPs with which it is possible to differentiate human bladder tumors from normal bladder epithelial cells. We examined the NMP composition of 17 matched tumor and normal samples from patients undergoing surgery for bladder cancer. We have identified six proteins present in all tumor samples that are not present in the corresponding normal samples and three proteins that are unique to the normal bladder tissues in comparison with the tumor samples. Five of the six bladder cancer-associated proteins were also identified in three human bladder cancer cells lines examined (253j, UMUC-2, and T24). Therefore, we have demonstrated that nuclear matrix composition is able to differentiate bladder cancer from normal bladder tissue and may provide useful tools for early detection and recurrence of the disease. Importantly, these markers may provide valuable tools for cytopathological screening for bladder carcinoma.
Does Garbage in the Diet Improve Reproductive Output of Glaucous Gulls

Abstract. Anthropogenic subsidies are used by a variety of predators in areas developed for human use or residence. If subsidies promote population growth, these predators can have a negative effect on local prey species. The Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) is an abundant predator in northern Alaska that is believed to benefit from garbage as a supplemental food source, but this supposition has never been tested. In summer 2008 and 2009, we recorded the Glaucous Gull's diet and reproduction at 10 breeding colonies in northern Alaska. Colonies were in industrial, residential, and undeveloped areas and ranged from 5 to 75 km from the nearest landfill. By colony, garbage occurred in zero to 85% of pellets and food remains produced during the chick-rearing period, and the average number of chicks fledged per pair ranged from zero to 2.9. Random-forest analysis indicated that percent occurrence of garbage in the diet was the second most important factor (after number of eggs per pair) explaining variance in ...
Congenital Abnormalities Occurring in a Beagle Breeding Colony

SUMMARY The recorded history of a beagle breeding colony, showing the number and types of congenital abnormality, occurring over an eight-year period, is described. Particular reference is made to some 1 500 progeny, representing five generations related to a single stud dog, in which a higher proportion of abnormalities occurred than in the rest of the colony. Andersen (1957) has reported 12 malformations in a group of 1 157 beagle pups, 2 of which had combined adactylia and thoracic or abdominal fissures. He also found a tendency to increased neonatal loss as the brood bitch advanced in age, and concluded that optimal reproductive performance was obtained at the age of 3 years. Reinert & Smith (1963) found 2 abnormalities in ]21 litters, 1 pup with adactylia and 1 with a double pelvis and four hind limbs. McKelvie & Andersen (1963) reported 2 cases of hydrocephalus and 1 of cleft palate in 65 autopsied pups that died within 48 hours of birth in a group of 250 litters; they stated that the genetic make-up of the sire can contribute to neonatal mortality of the progeny. Stevenson (J 963) reported congenital diaphragmatic hernia in 2 pups in a single litter from a group of 90 closely-related pups. In a survey of abnormalities in pedigree dogs, carried out in association with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club of Great Britain, Hodgman (]963) recorded 6 cases of hip dysplasia and 6 of uterine inertia in beagles. The number of beagles examined and the age at which the conditions were observed were not stated. Fox (1964a) discussed a case of polyarthrodysplasia in a beagle puppy. The difficulties associated with inbreeding were discussed by McKelvie, Shultz, Parcher & Rosenblatt (1966), who made life-span studies and adopted random selection to maintain heterogeneity. From these reports it may be expected that congenital defects will be linked with the age of the parents at the time of conception, their genetic patterns, and environmental and geographical factors. Other possible causes of congenital defects are poor nutrition, viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, and exposure to chemicals or to vibrational energies of various wavelengths.
Nitric oxide in Tanzanian children with malaria: inverse relationship between malaria severity and nitric oxide production/nitric oxide synthase type 2 expression.

Summary Nitric oxide (NO)-related activity has been shown to be protective against Plasmodium fakiparum in vitro. It has been hypothesized, however, that excess NO production contributes to the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. The purpose of this study was to compare markers of NO production [urinary and plasma nitrate + nitrite (NO~)], leukocyte-inducible nitric oxide synthase type 2 (NOS2), and plasma TNF-c~ and IL-10 levels with disease severity in 191 Tanzanian children with and without malaria. Urine NO excretion and plasma NOx levels (corrected for renal impairment) were inversely related to disease severity, with levels highest in subclinical infection and lowest in fatal cerebral malaria. Results could not be explained by differences in dietary nitrate ingestion among the groups. Plasma levels of IL-10, a cytokine known to suppress NO synthesis, increased with disease severity. Leukocyte NOS2 antigen was detectable in all control children tested and in all those with subclinical infection, but was undetectable in all but one subject with cerebral malaria. This suppression of NO synthesis in cerebral malaria may contribute to pathogenesis. In contrast, high fasting NO x levels and leukocyte NOS2 in healthy controls and asymptomatic infection suggest that increased NO synthesis might protect against clinical disease. NO appears to have a protective rather than pathological role in African children with malaria.
A new variable stiffness suspension system: passive case

Abstract. This paper presents the design, analysis, and experimental validation of the passive case of a variable stiffness suspension system. The central concept is based on a recently designed variable stiffness mechanism. It consists of a horizontal control strut and a vertical strut. The main idea is to vary the load transfer ratio by moving the location of the point of attachment of the vertical strut to the car body. This movement is controlled passively using the horizontal strut. The system is analyzed using an L2-gain analysis based on the concept of energy dissipation. The analyses, simulation, and experimental results show that the variable stiffness suspension achieves better performance than the constant stiffness counterpart. The performance criteria used are; ride comfort, characterized by the car body acceleration, suspension deflection, and road holding, characterized by tire deflection.
Are Jungian preferences really categorical?: an empirical investigation using taxometric analysis

The question of whether the Jungian preferences are categorical or continuous has been a debated issue. We empirically addressed this question using taxometric analysis. Two bootstraps taxometric methods (MAMBAC and MAXCOV-HITMAX) were used with three Jungian personality measures: the Singer–Loomis Type Deployment Inventory (SL-TDI), the Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire (PPSDQ), and the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Results suggested there is not a true, non-arbitrary taxon underlying Jungian preferences measured by any of these measures. In other words, the preferences appear to manifest as continuous dimensions. Possible future research and implications for the measurement of the Jungian constructs are discussed.
Vibrational modes of hydraulic fractures: Inference of fracture geometry from resonant frequencies and attenuation

Oscillatory seismic signals arising from resonant vibrations of hydraulic fractures are observed in many geologic systems, including volcanoes, glaciers and ice sheets, and hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs. To better quantify the physical dimensions of fluid-filled cracks and properties of the fluids within them, we study wave motion along a thin hydraulic fracture waveguide. We present a linearized analysis, valid at wavelengths greater than the fracture aperture, that accounts for quasi-static elastic deformation of the fracture walls, as well as fluid viscosity, inertia, and compressibility. In the long-wavelength limit, anomalously dispersed guided waves known as crack or Krauklis waves propagate with restoring force from fracture wall elasticity. At shorter wavelengths, the waves become sound waves within the fluid channel. Wave attenuation in our model is due to fluid viscosity, rather than seismic radiation from crack tips or fracture wall roughness. We characterize viscous damping at both low frequencies, where the flow is always fully developed, and at high frequencies, where the flow has a nearly constant velocity profile away from viscous boundary layers near the fracture walls. Most observable seismic signals from resonating fractures likely arise in the boundary layer crack wave limit, where fluid-solid coupling is pronounced and attenuation is minimal. We present a method to estimate the aperture and length of a resonating hydraulic fracture using both the seismically observed quality factor and characteristic frequency. Finally, we develop scaling relations between seismic moment and characteristic frequency that might be useful when interpreting the statistics of hydraulic fracture events.
Congenital Varices of the Esophagus

SUMMARY In connection with the description of a case of congenital varices of the esophagus in a child, the author bas reviewed the literature on the subject and reached the conclusion that two or three of the previously reported cases were congenital while the others must be ruled out from this point of view. A number of criteria are set up for recognizing congenital varices of the esophagus.
New General Principle of Mechanics and Its Application to General Nonideal Nonholonomic Systems

In this paper we develop a general minimum principle of analytical dynamics that is applicable to nonideal constraints. The new principle encompasses Gauss's Principle of Least Constraint. We use this principle to obtain the general, explicit, equations of motion for holonomically and/or nonholonomically constrained systems with non-ideal constraints. Examples of a nonholonomically constrained system where the constraints are nonideal, and of a system with sliding friction, are presented.
Chromosomal position of a VH gene segment determines its activation and inactivation as a substrate for V(D)J recombination

Complete IgHC gene rearrangement occurs only in B cells in a stage-specific and ordered manner. We used gene targeting to reposition a distal VH gene segment to a region just 5′ of the DH gene cluster and found its activation to be highly dependent on the chromosomal domain within which it resides. The targeted VH gene segment rearranged at a higher frequency than its endogenous counterpart, its rearrangement was no longer ordered, and its ability to be silenced by allelic exclusion was lost. Additionally, the targeted VH gene segment lost lineage specificity, as VDJH rearrangement was observed in thymocytes. These data suggest that locus contraction, mimicked by proximal targeting, can override any regulation imposed by DNA sequences immediately surrounding VH gene segments.
LPA, HGF, and EGF utilize distinct combinations of signaling pathways to promote migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells.

Background: Various pathways impinge on the actin-myosin pathway to facilitate cell migration and invasion including members of the Rho family of small GTPases and MAPK. However, the signaling components that are considered important for these processes vary substantially within the literature with certain pathways being favored. These distinctions in signaling pathways utilized are often attributed to differences in cell type or physiological conditions; however, these attributes have not been systematically assessed. Methods: To address this question, we analyzed the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cell line in response to various stimuli including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and determined the involvement of select signaling pathways that impact myosin light chain phosphorylation. Results: LPA, a potent stimulator of the Rho-ROCK pathway, surprisingly did not require the Rho-ROCK pathway to stimulate migration but instead utilized Rac and MAPK. In contrast, LPA-stimulated invasion required Rho, Rac, and MAPK. Of these three major pathways, EGF-stimulated MDA-MB-231 migration and invasion required Rho; however, Rac was essential only for invasion and MAPK was dispensable for migration. HGF signaling, interestingly, utilized the same pathways for migration and invasion, requiring Rho but not Rac signaling. Notably, the dependency of HGF-stimulated migration and invasion as well as EGF-stimulated invasion on MAPK was subject to the inhibitors used. As expected, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), a convergence point for MAPK and Rho family GTPase signaling, was required for all six conditions. Conclusions: These observations suggest that, while multiple signaling pathways contribute to cancer cell motility, not all pathways operate under all conditions. Thus, our study highlights the plasticity of cancer cells to adapt to multiple migratory cues.
What's new on the web?: the evolution of the web from a search engine perspective

We seek to gain improved insight into how Web search engines shouldcope with the evolving Web, in an attempt to provide users with themost up-to-date results possible. For this purpose we collectedweekly snapshots of some 150 Web sites over the course of one year,and measured the evolution of content and link structure. Our measurements focus on aspects of potential interest to search engine designers: the evolution of link structure over time, the rate ofcreation of new pages and new distinct content on the Web, and the rate of change of the content of existing pages under search-centric measures of degree of change.Our findings indicate a rapid turnover rate of Web pages, i.e.,high rates of birth and death, coupled with an even higher rate ofturnover in the hyperlinks that connect them. For pages that persistover time we found that, perhaps surprisingly, the degree of contentshift as measured using TF.IDF cosine distance does not appear to beconsistently correlated with the frequency of contentupdating. Despite this apparent non-correlation, the rate of content shift of a given page is likely to remain consistent over time. That is, pages that change a great deal in one week will likely change by a similarly large degree in the following week. Conversely, pages that experience little change will continue to experience little change. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the potential implications ofour results for the design of effective Web search engines.
Race/Ethnic and Nativity Disparities in Later Life Physical Performance: The Role of Health and Socioeconomic Status Over the Life Course

Objectives. We examine race/ethnic and nativity differences in objective measures of physical performance (i.e., peak expiratory flow, grip strength, and gait speed) in a nationally representative sample of older Whites, Blacks, and Hispan ics. We also examine whether detailed measures of childhood and adult health and socioeconomic status (SES) mediate race/ethnic differences in physical performance. Method. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study, a population-based sample of older Americans born before 1947, and 3 measures of physical performance. Nested ordinary least squares models examine whether childhood and adult health and SES mediate race/ethnic differences in performance. Results. We find large and significant race/ethnic and nativity differences in lung function, grip strength, and gait speed. Adjusting for childhood and current adult health and SES reduces race/ethnic differences in physical performance but does not eliminate them entirely. Childhood health and SES as well as more proximal levels of SES are important determinants of race/ethnic disparities in later life physical performance. Discussion. The analysis highlights that a large proportion of race/ethnic and nativity disparities result from health and socioeconomic disadvantages in both early life and adulthood and thus suggests multiple intervention points at which disparities can be reduced.
Two-settlement electricity markets with price caps and Cournot generation firms☆☆☆

Abstract We compare two alternative mechanisms for capping prices in two-settlement electricity markets. With sufficient lead time, forward market prices are implicitly capped by competitive pressure of potential entry that will occur when forward prices rise above some backstop price. Another more direct approach is to cap spot prices through a regulatory intervention. In this paper we explore the implications of these two alternative mechanisms in a two-settlement Cournot equilibrium framework. We formulate the market equilibrium as a stochastic equilibrium problem with equilibrium constraints (EPEC) capturing congestion effects, probabilistic contingencies and horizontal market power. As an illustrative test case, we use the 53-bus Belgian electricity network with representative generator costs but hypothetical demand and ownership structure. Compared to a price-uncapped two-settlement system, a forward cap increases firms’ incentives for forward contracting, whereas a spot cap reduces such incentives. Moreover, in both cases, more forward contracts are committed as the generation resource ownership structure becomes more diversified.
A Toxoplasma gondii mutant highlights the importance of translational regulation in the apicoplast during animal infection

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite of all warm-blooded animals. We previously described a forward genetic screen to identify T. gondii mutants defective in the establishment of a chronic infection. One of the mutants isolated was disrupted in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of an orthologue of bacterial translation elongation factor G (EFG). The mutant does not have a growth defect in tissue culture. Genetic complementation of this mutant with the genomic locus of TgEFG restores virulence in an acute infection mouse model. Epitope tagged TgEFG localized to the apicoplast, via a non-canonical targeting signal, where it functions as an elongation factor for translation in the apicoplast. Comparisons of TgEFG expression constructs with wild-type or mutant 3'UTRs showed that a wild-type 3'UTR is necessary for translation of TgEFG. In tissue culture, the TgEFG transcript is equally abundant in wild-type and mutant parasites; however, during an animal infection, the TgEFG transcript is increased more than threefold in the mutant. These results highlight that in tissue culture, translation in the apicoplast can be diminished, but during an animal infection, translation in the apicoplast must be fully functional.
Kairos, Free Speech, and the Material Conditions of State Power in the United States: The Case of World War I

This article considers versions of kairos within the context of World War I and the 1917 Espionage Act, a U.S. law that significantly narrowed parameters for free speech to protect the national interest. Many political activists and pacifists who perceived the war as an opportune moment for a critique of state power and corporate interests suffered material consequences for making such a critique—or remained silent for fear of consequences. While affirming the materiality of kairos and the centrality of body performance, I suggest an expanded version embodying the principle that freedom to respond to kairotic moments is always a product of struggle.
An assessment of emission event trends within the Greater Houston area during 2003–2013

Emission events are upsets (unavoidable breakdowns in process or operation) or unscheduled maintenance, startup, or shutdown activities within industrial facilities that can release large amounts of pollutants for several hours or days, potentially causing air quality to exceed standards established to protect the environment and human health. The Greater Houston area is home to the largest petrochemical complexes in the United States, so the likelihood of emission events is higher in this area than in other areas in the nation. Notable emission events in the Greater Houston area have caused unexpected explosions, fires, and releases of toxic chemicals, which have killed workers and triggered various health issues among nearby communities. Understanding how to minimize these emission events can help protect the health of Houstonians. In this study, we analyzed emission event data for the Greater Houston area extracted from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) emission event database during 2003–2013 for criteria and other selected pollutants to identify annual and seasonal trends and industrial classification patterns. We evaluated 7273 emission events and found that total event incidents and releases from nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) have generally decreased from 2003 to 2013, whereas particulate matter (PM) event emissions have generally increased during this period. Our seasonal analyses demonstrated that emission events were more likely to occur during winter for several pollutants. We also found that emission events were mainly generated from the chemical manufacturing and petroleum and coal products manufacturing industries. In addition, we found strong interrelationships between different pairs of pollutants during these emission events. We compared these results against regulatory policy and found potential gaps within the state regulations and TCEQ emission event database explaining our findings, and we provided recommendations on closing these gaps. Our study could drive policy change to lower emission events in the Greater Houston area, potentially improving air quality and reducing the health impacts from these events.
Beam Induced Reactions in Metal-Film Systems

Pulsed beams (laser, electron, or ion) and ion beams (ion beam mixing) have been used to induce structural and compositional changes in metal-metal and metal-semiconductor thin-film structures. Metastable crystalline and amorphous phases have been formed. Although ultra fast quenching occurs with both techniques, metastable phases are formed by quenching from the liquid with pulsed beams and from the solid-phase with ion-induced reactions. With both techniques metastable phases can be formed over a broader compositional range than with conventional melt-quench methods.
Abstract 2081: The unfolded protein response relieves stress in tumor cells by stimulating angiogenesis

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Abstract: During the avascular phase, tumor size is limited to 1-2 mm in diameter. When tumors exceed this size, the high stress imposed by limited glucose and oxygen in the microenvironment induces the unfolded protein response (UPR). Previous studies have shown that the UPR can promote survival, or activate apoptosis when there is prolonged or severe stress. Recent studies have suggested a role for the UPR in angiogenesis. However, the mechanism of UPR-regulated angiogenesis has not been extensively investigated. We hypothesize that tumor cells relieve stress caused by nutrient and oxygen deprivation by stimulating blood vessel growth via UPR-mediated induction of angiogenesis. To address this hypothesis, a human squamous cell carcinoma line, UM-SCC-81B, was subjected to glucose deprivation and mRNA array was used to evaluate expression of UPR proteins and angiogenesis mediators. This study revealed an increase in expression of several UPR proteins (Grp78, DDIT3, ATF3, ATF4, ATF6) ranging from 2 to 20-fold after 24 hours of glucose deprivation (0.1 mM glucose), and a 4.43, 3.06 and 2.59-fold increase in the expression of the pro-angiogenic VEGF, FGF2 and IL-6, respectively. Western blot, ELISA and q-PCR were used to verify these results. Western blot analysis showed a significant increase of Grp78 and DDIT3 protein expression. ELISA experiments revealed that after 24 hours of glucose deprivation, VEGF levels increased 3 folds as compared to the non-treated control, and that FGF2 and IL-6 were also upregulated (p < 0.05). q-PCR results further revealed that UPR markers (Grp78, DDIT3, ATF4) and angiogenesis mediators (VEGF, FGF2, IL-6) increased significantly (p < 0.05). Four other tumor cell lines (i.e. U87, glioma; MCF7, breast cancer; UM-SCC 11B and UM-SCC 17B, head and neck squamous carcinomas) were examined to determine the cell-type specificity of these responses. In all tumor cell lines examined, the upregulation of UPR proteins was associated with a significant increase in VEGF expression (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the UPR response is associated with the upregulation of critical pro-angiogenic factors in tumor cell lines. These data strongly suggest that targeting pathways involved in UPR regulation of angiogenesis is a promising strategy in combination with other conventional cancer therapies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2081. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2081
Insect Resistance and Glyceollin Concentration in Seedling Soybeans Support Resistance Ratings of Fully Developed Plants

Hypocotyls of PI 227687 and ‘Davis’ soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, were used in a dual-choice feeding preference assay with fifth-instar soybean loopers, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker). (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Constitutive resistance in hypocotyls of PI 227687 relative to ‘Davis’ soybean was consistent with the relative resistance previously found in fully developed plants. The chemical p -chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid elicited inducible insect resistance in both PI 227687 and ‘Davis’ hypocotyls. However, the induced insect resistance was greater in PI 227687 than in ‘Davis’ hypocotyls. Both constitutive and inducible resistances were associated positively with the glyceollin concentration in the assayed hypocotyls but not with the concentration of another isoflavonoid, coumestrol.
Effect of fatigue on maximal inspiratory pressure-flow capacity

The inspiratory muscles can be fatigued by repetitive contractions characterized by high force (inspiratory resistive loads) or high velocities of shortening (hyperpnea). The effects of fatigue ind...
Factors associated with the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) for Urology and Nephrology Journals

Purpose: The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is an index used to compare a journal's quality among academic journals and it is commonly used as a proxy for journal quality. We sought to examine the JIF in order to elucidate the main predictors of the index while generating awareness among scientific community regarding need to modify the index calculation in the attempt to turn it more accurate. Materials and Methods: Under the Urology and Nephrology category in the Journal Citations Report Website, the top 17 Journals by JIF in 2011 were chosen for the study. All manuscripts’ abstracts published from 2009-2010 were reviewed; each article was categorized based on its research design (Retrospective, Review, etc). T and correlation tests were performed for categorical and continuous variables respectively. The JIF was the dependent variable. All variables were then included in a multivariate model. Results: 23,012 articles from seventeen journals were evaluated with a median of 1,048 (range=78-6,342) articles per journal. Journals with a society affiliation were associated with a higher JIF (p=0.05). Self-citations (rho=0.57, p=0.02), citations for citable articles (rho=0.73, p=0.001), citations to non-citable articles (rho=0.65, p=0.0046), and retrospective studies (rho=-0.51, p=0.03) showed a strong correlation. Slight modifications to include the non-citable articles in the denominator yield drastic changes in the JIF and the ranking of the journals. Conclusion: The JIF appears to be closely associated with the number of citable articles published. A change in the formula for calculating JIF to include all types of published articles in the denominator would result in a more accurate representation.
To kill tumor cells or permanently paralyze them in senescence

Antitumor agents can inhibit tumor growth by 4 major cellular mechanisms; suppressing proliferation, inducing differentiation, killing the cells or forcing them to senescence. Senescent cells (CS) are in permanent paralysis because they are unable to divide, penetrate the surrounding tissues, metastasize, and respond to treatment. In this short review, we will focus on cellular senescence (CS) induced by retinoids in mammary pre-malignant and tumor cells and its potential clinical implication. Novel information is provided about the role of retinoic acid receptor beta 5 (RARbeta5) in mediating the retinoid-induced senescent program.
Michigan Local Governments Report First Declines in Fiscal Health Trend Since 2010

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of their jurisdictions’ fiscal conditions and the actions they plan to take in the coming year given their financial situations. The findings are based on responses from eight statewide survey waves of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) conducted annually each spring from 2009 through 2016.
High-Power Electron Accelerators for Space (and other) Applications

This is a presentation on high-power electron accelerators for space and other applications. The main points covered are: electron beams for space applications, new designs of RF accelerators, high-power high-electron mobility transistors (HEMT) testing, and Li-ion battery design. In summary, the authors have considered a concept of 1-MeV electron accelerator that can operate up to several seconds. This concept can be extended to higher energy to produce higher beam power. Going to higher beam energy requires adding more cavities and solid-state HEMT RF power devices. The commercial HEMT have been tested for frequency response and RF output power (up to 420 W). Finally, the authors are testing these HEMT into a resonant load and planning for an electron beam test in FY17.
Post-War Beirut: Place Attachment and Interest Groups in Ayn Al-Mreisi

This paper examines post-war Beirut to explore the circumstances under which interest groups emerge in response to urban development projects, to privatization, and to the activities of regional and international investors. The paper refers to the postwar era in Beirut as a “postwar state of emergency,” where the roles of the state's institutions, development agencies, and private investors overlap, making it hard for urban communities to access services and to gain rights to spaces and services. In response, new leadership has emerged, alliances among the various groups have changed, and networks of neighbours and family members have been altered. These changes in alliances and relationships, a key theme in my study, will determine Beirut's future governance and political system. In this paper I discuss the relationship and the negotiation process between, on the one side, powerful actors—Solidere, investors and developers, and the Municipality of Beirut—and on the other, local interest groups—such as pr...
An Empirical Assist To Determine Whether An Activity Is Engaged In For A Profit

Taxpayers engage in activities for both tax and nontax reasons. Some of these undertakings are geared to earn a profit. Other activities provide personal pleasure and recreation. Regardless of the activity type, expenses are incurred and can be substantial. Depending on the type of engagement, profit may or may not be achieved. Naturally, many of these pursuits are undertaken for a number of consecutive years. Because of the tax benefits these activities possess, this issue remains highly litigated and closely scrutinized by the Internal Revenue Service. This study investigates the guidance delineated by the Service and creates a model of the significant variables that affect the judiciary’s decision-making. Backwards stepwise logistic regression is used to create the model. Chi-square is also used to determine statistical significance between the decision rendered and judge’s gender. Also, political affiliation of the judge is examined. The one variable (manner in which the taxpayer carries on an activity) model created correctly classifies 96.3% of the decisions made in the U.S. Tax Court. Additionally, a statistically significant difference is found between male and female judges. However, no difference is found based on the political affiliation of the judge.
Gender Differences and Intersectionality in Community Organizing

ABSTRACTLittle is known about perspectives and strategies of community practitioners and how gender influences organizing. Women and men community organizers were interviewed to gain perspective on the influence of gender on their respective organizing styles and approach, including perceived challenges and benefits associated with gender. Using grounded theory methodology, interview responses were analyzed and themes identified. Interesting differences emerged and responses compelled an intersectional approach to understanding the complexities of male and female responses about gender and other categories of power and oppression, including race, class and ability. Female organizers’ responses demonstrate that the women were more aware of their social position, compared to men. They described their experiences as being embedded in a dominant culture of White, male privilege. The male organizers tended to describe their experience absent of a cultural context or they described themselves as being targets o...