cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Lappish Herding Leader: A Structural Analysis

S OCIOLOGISTS and social anthropologists usually discuss leadership in small groups as the resultant of either psychological or situational determinants. The leader is a leader either because of certain personality attributes or because he is forced into his position by social needs in response to a given task or situation. In this paper I propose a third, and complementary, approach to the problem of leadership. I will use the concept of social structure to show how certain basic organizational features of Kdnkitim Lapp society are manifested in the person of the Lappish herding leader. The K6nkaima Lapps of Karesuando Parish, Sweden are reindeer nomads whose cultural relations, subsistence activities, kinship system and marriage residence patterns I have described elsewhere (Pehrson 1950, 1951, 1954a, 1954b). Turning to leadership among these Lapps, the social anthropologist is faced with a society lacking any internal centralized political organization. Instead of a tribal chief, the K6nkaimi Lapps have an elected representative who deals with the Swedish government and whose position is in fact created by that government. Thus, K6nkaimi Lappish political organization derives from sources external to K6nktimii Lappish social structure. It is this latter structure-based on traditional ties of kinship and local group affiliationwhich I designate "K6nkima Lapp society" and with provides the framework for my discussion of leadership. Two attributes of K kaiimkii Lapp society especially recommend its consideration to sociologists as well as to ethnologists working with the problem of leadership. In the first place, narrow range is a basic characteristic of K6nkaimai Lapp social units. In 1952 there were 193 K6nkiimii Lapps distributed among five summer migratory groups-or bands-ranging in size from 19 to 51 persons. These summer groups customarily split up into several winter bands because of reindeer forage conditions and for other reasons. Thus there were ten winter bands containing from 7 to 28 persons in 1952. These small summer and winter bands invite comparison with small groups of the type analyzed by Whyte (1943) and Homans (1950), a comparison which suggests the following problem: What generalizations may be made as to the nature of leadership in small groups? Bilateralism is the second characteristic of Kankiimai Lapp society which invites sociological comparison in the realm of leadership. The Lapp may
Suboptimal Control of Switched Systems With an Application to the DISC Engine

The growing stringency of fuel economy, emissions, and drivability requirements has led to proliferation of powertrain systems that have multiple discrete operating modes. Systematic approaches to the development of optimal and robust control systems for such powertrains are needed to contain their increased development times and costs. In this paper, we propose a new approach for controlling switched systems that is applicable to powertrain systems with multiple operating modes. Our approach reduces the complexity of computing a control law to a linear programming problem defined over a finite number of states in each operating mode. The methodology is designed to be suitable for practical applications while, under appropriate conditions, providing near-optimal performance. An application to the direct injection stratified charge engine with two distinct operating modes is given to illustrate our approach.
Theory of the propagation dynamics of spiral edges of diffusion flames in von Kármán swirling flows

This analysis addresses the propagation of spiral edge flames found in von Karman swirling flows induced in rotating porous-disk burners. In this configuration, a porous disk is spun at a constant angular velocity in an otherwise quiescent oxidizing atmosphere. Gaseous methane is injected through the disk pores and burns in a flat diffusion flame adjacent to the disk. Among other flame patterns experimentally found, a stable, rotating spiral flame is observed for sufficiently large rotation velocities and small fuel flow rates as a result of partial extinction of the underlying diffusion flame. The tip of the spiral can undergo a steady rotation for sufficiently large rotational velocities or small fuel flow rates, whereas a meandering tip in an epicycloidal trajectory is observed for smaller rotational velocities and larger fuel flow rates. A formulation of this problem is presented in the equidiffusional and thermodiffusive limits within the framework of one-step chemistry with large activation energies. Edge-flame propagation regimes are obtained by scaling analyses of the conservation equations and exemplified by numerical simulations of straight two-dimensional edge flames near a cold porous wall, for which lateral heat losses to the disk and large strains induce extinction of the trailing diffusion flame but are relatively unimportant in the front region, consistent with the existence of the cooling tail found in the experiments. The propagation dynamics of a steadily rotating spiral edge is studied in the large-core limit, for which the characteristic Markstein length is much smaller than the distance from the center at which the spiral tip is anchored. An asymptotic description of the edge tangential structure is obtained, spiral edge shapes are calculated, and an expression is found that relates the spiral rotational velocity to the rest of the parameters. A quasiestatic stability analysis of the edge shows that the edge curvature at extinction in the tip region is responsible for the stable tip anchoring at the core radius. Finally, experimental results are analyzed, and theoretical predictions are tested.
THE OCCURRENCE, DETECTION, AND AVOIDANCE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA TRANSLOCATIONS IN MAMMALIAN SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGEOGRAPHY

The generation and analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data has become routine in mammalogy. Unfortunately, these analyses can be confounded because fragments of the mitochondrial genome are contained in the nucleus of most eukaryotes. Furthermore, these nuclear fragments of mitochondrial genes, or numt pseudogenes, are often represented hundreds of times in mammalian nuclear genomes. Most modern analyses of mtDNA rely on the polymerase chain reaction to generate a population of molecules that can be sequenced. Templates for DNA sequencing reactions should be homogenous, and in the case of mtDNA, cytoplasmic in origin. The unwanted (and often unwitting) amplification of numts results in a heterogenous mixture of nuclear and cytoplasmic amplicons or, if a numt is preferentially amplified, a near-homogenous mixture of the wrong (nuclear) template. These nuclear sequences can cause major—although often cryptic—problems in the analyses of systematic or phylogeographic data. Here, we review the occurrence, detection, and avoidance of numts in mammals. Furthermore, we isolate a cytochrome-b numt and its corresponding mitochondrial sequence in the North American prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) to illustrate various methods to detect numts. Finally, we present approaches by which numts, once identified, can be utilized in molecular studies.
The anterograde and retrograde retrieval ability of a patient with amnesia due to encephalitis

A patient with amnesia due to encephalitis was previously described in 1976 as having normal short-term memory and an intact ability to perform semantic analysis. Despite this ability, his retention beyond the limits of short-term memory was nearly nil. The present investigation sought to evaluate more completely the nature of this patient's retrieval deficit using a series of paradigms developed subsequent to his initial testing. Once again it was discovered that while his intact analytic abilities allowed retention of material in working memory, as soon as that working capacity was exceeded, retrieval of information became nearly impossible. It became apparent that the patient could not discriminate between a cue's most recently analyzed associate and the strongest existing associate to that cue in his semantic hierarchy. An analysis of his retrograde memory ability showed that he could retrieve almost no real episodes of either a public or private nature from his past. Instead, he seemed to rely on generalizations from his semantic memory to reconstruct "probable" events.
RoverBug: Long Range Navigation for Mars Rovers

After Mars Pathfinder’s success, a demand for new mobile robots for planetary exploration arose. These robots must be able to autonomously traverse long distances over rough, unknown terrain, under severe resource constraints. We present the “RoverBug” algorithm, which is complete, correct, requires minimal memory, and uses only on-board sensors, which are guided by the algorithm to sense only the data needed for navigation. The implementation of RoverBug on the Rocky7 Mars Rover prototype at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is described, and experimental results from operation in simulated martian terrain are presented.
Pressure Distribution under the Foot during Static Activities

The distribution of the ground-to-foot supportive forces at various sites under the foot during static leaning acts are reported in this study. A strain gauge ring transducer assembly was constructed to measure the vertical loads under the five metatarsals, and the heel during forward leaning (tilting of the pelvis on the lower extremities) from the symmetric vertical stance. The distribution of the ground reactions appears to favour the lateral metatarsals with comparatively lower contribution by the structurally larger first metatarsal. The distribution, however, is greatly influenced by the placement of the foot on the transducers— reflecting sensitivity to change in the relative intersegmental geometry and the resulting force/transmission network internally. Similar changes are observed in the theoretically predicted pressure distribution pattern obtained by using a comprehensive three-dimensional foot model.
Climbing rough vertical surfaces with hierarchical directional adhesion

Prior research in biology and mechanics has shown the importance of hierarchy to the performance of dry adhesive systems on rough surfaces. The gecko utilizes several levels of hierarchy that operate on length scales from millimeters to 100s of nanometers in order to maneuver on smooth and rough vertical surfaces ranging from glass to rock. The gecko's hierarchical system serves two main purposes: it permits conformation to the surface for a large effective area of contact, and it distributes the load evenly among contacting elements. We present a new two-tiered directional adhesive system that provides these capabilities for a gecko-inspired climbing robot. The distal features consist of wedge-shaped structures with a base width of 50 µm and a height of approximately 180 µm. The wedges are mounted atop angled cylindrical features, 380 µm in diameter by approximately 1 mm long. Together, the proximal and distal features bend preferentially in the direction of inclination when loaded with a tangential force, achieving a combination of directional adhesion and conformation to rough surfaces. Using this system, a four legged robot that was previously restricted to climbing smooth surfaces is able to climb vertical surfaces such as a wood panels, painted metals, and plastics. On rougher surfaces, the two-tiered system improves adhesion by a factor of five compared to the wedge features alone. The hierarchical system also improved alignment and performance for large patch sizes.
A “DARLING OF THE MOB”: THE ANTIDISCIPLINARITY OF THE JACK SHEPPARD TEXTS

The story of Jack Sheppard, a jailbreaker hanged for theft in 1724, inspired William Harrison Ainsworth in 1839 to write a historical romance chronicling and fictionalizing Sheppard's exploits. Though first published in a middle-class magazine, Ainsworth's serialization of Sheppard's career in Jack Sheppard: A Romance (1839–1840) subsequently caused a sensation among lower-class audiences for whom the novel was not originally intended. The wide dissemination of Sheppard's story among the lower classes in ballads, songs, cheap plagiarisms, and theatrical performances created a moral panic for contemporary middle-class critics who were concerned with the implications of such material in lower-class culture. Thus, despite the novel's initial reception in the middle-class press as another pleasant and harmless romance, it soon became reviled as a source of inspiration for would-be Jack Sheppards everywhere.
Unsatisfactory SurePath Liquid-based Papanicolaou Tests : Causes and Significance

BACKGROUND: The introduction of liquid-based Papanicolaou (Pap) tests (LBPTs) has reduced the incidence of unsatisfactory Pap tests (UPTs), but little is known about their causes and significance, especially in the case of SurePath LBPTs. METHODS: All unsatisfactory LBPTs from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006 were retrieved. The characteristics of patients, providers, and LBPTs; the reason for UPTs; and any cytologic or histologic follow-up within 24 months were recorded. Negative Pap tests that were evaluated immediately after a UPT served as a control group. RESULTS: Of 243,006 Pap tests (95.5% SurePath LBPTs), 0.23% were unsatisfactory. Scant cellularity was the primary cause of SurePath UPT. Women in this UPT group were older, had more diagnostic Pap tests taken, less frequently were taking contraceptives or were pregnant, and were more likely to be menopausal or posthysterectomy. The 278 women who had UPTs had significantly higher rates of follow-up Pap tests (65.1% vs 22.2%), abnormal Pap tests (5.4% vs 1.4%), biopsies (10% vs 1%), and abnormal biopsies (5% vs 1%) than the 284 women in the control group, including 7 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN-1), 1 woman with CIN-2, 4 women with CIN-3, and 2 women with endometrial hyperplasia. The UPT rates varied little between provider groups (physicians vs nonphysicians and gynecologists vs nongynecologists). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of UPTs in a predominantly SurePath LBPT-screened population was very low and was caused mainly by low cellularity. Similar to conventional Pap smears, unsatisfactory SurePath LBPTs had a higher risk of significant histologic abnormalities on follow-up than negative satisfactory Pap tests and could have benefited from a repeat Pap test or other evaluation, according to current management guidelines. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Interlimb coupling in a simple serial behavior: A task dynamic approach

Abstract Whereas rhythmic interlimb actions are characterized by an invariant spatio-temporal relation between the oscillating limbs, in serially coordinated movements the individual components' motions are discrete or intermittent, with little or no temporal overlap with other components' motions. An experimental and modeling framework is presented that systematically extends purely parallel rhythmic coordination towards serial rhythmic coordination. In two experiments subjects rhythmically moved a pendulum with the right hand in continuous fashion and performed a single, discrete cycle with a pendulum in the left hand every n th right-hand cycle. This pattern was rhythmic but not homogeneous in that it consisted of a globally repetitive sequence of unimanual and bimanual cycles. In Experiment 1, the two wrist-pendula's eigenfrequencies were identical, and the task involved a discrete cycle every fourth and fifth unit. The major results of the kinematic analyses were: (1) coupling during the bimanual cycle affected the amplitude, not the period of the continuous oscillations; (2) the discrete hand's movement showed characteristics of a damped oscillator displaying a “ringing” after its task-specified cycle; (3) the relative phase measures demonstrated immediate synchronization of the “discrete” event. Experiment 2 additionally manipulated the eigenfrequency difference δ between the two hands in the same task. The results from Experiment 1 were generalized with the additional findings: (4) While the amplitude magnification during the coupled cycle was indifferent to δ , the periods during the coupled cycle were affected by the discrete event; (5) relative phase at the coupled cycle was a function of δ in accordance with results in parallel interlimb coordination. These results were simulated by a three-layered task-dynamic network of coupled oscillators. This stratification allows for the assembly of a time-invariant dynamic regime that gives rise to seemingly discrete consequences on the level of the endeffector movements. PsycINFO classification : 2330
Evaluating Teachers as Social Agents: Students’ Ratings of Domain Appropriate and Domain Inappropriate Teacher Responses to Transgressions

This study examined if students evaluate teachers as respondents to social transgression on the basis of whether the teacher provides responses that are concordant with the domain (i.e., moral or conventional) of the transgressions. Findings were that students rated domain appropriate (DA) teacher responses higher than domain inappropriate (DIA) or domain undifferentiated (command) responses. In addition, subjects were found to generalize their ratings of responses to their ratings of the teachers. Subjects rated teachers employing DA responses higher than subjects employing DIA responses
The broken genome: Genetic and pharmacologic approaches to breaking DNA

The RecQ family of DNA helicases consists of specialized DNA unwinding enzymes that promote genomic stability through their participation in a number of cellular processes, including DNA replication, recombination, DNA damage signaling, and DNA repair pathways. Mutations resulting in the inactivation of some but not all members of the RecQ helicase family can lead to human syndromes which are characterized by marked chromosomal instability and an increased predisposition to cancer. An evolutionarily conserved interaction between RecQ helicases and topoisomerase 3s has been established, and this interaction is important in the regulation of recombination and genomic stability. Topoisomerases are critical in the cell because they relieve helical stress that arises when DNA is unwound. Topoisomerases function by breaking and rejoining DNA. By inhibition of the rejoining function, topoisomerase inhibitors are potent chemotherapeutic agents that have been used successfully in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and other cancers. This review discusses the roles of RecQ helicases in genomic stability, the interplay between RecQ helicases and topoisomerase 3s, and current and future prospects for targeting these interactions to develop novel anticancer therapies.
Changes in the fibrinolytic enzyme system following intravascular coagulation induced by thrombin and endotoxin.

Abstract The intravenous infusion of thrombin into pregnant and nonpregnant rats results in intravascular clotting leading to rapid depletion of circulating fibrinogen and slow activation of the fibrinolytic system. Small doses of bacterial endotoxin (0.075 mg.) injected intravenously into pregnant and nonpregnant rats results in disseminated intravascular coagulation leading to less rapid depletion of circulating fibrinogen and slow activation of the fibrinolytic system. Pregnant rats are more sensitive to bacterial endotoxin than nonpregnant rats. The lethal dose in pregnant rats is 0.4 mg. while in the nonpregnant rat it is 1.6 mg. Lethal (large) doses of bacterial endotoxin cause a more severe and rapid activation of the fibrinolytic system than small doses of endotoxin. The combination of intravascular clotting and activation of fibrinolysis may be an important factor contributing to the rapid onset of endotoxin shock in the rat. The persistence of glomerular thrombi in pregnant rats is probably due to the diminished activatability of the fibrinolytic system in pregnancy.
An evolutionary algorithmic approach to learning a Bayesian network from complete data

Discovering relationships between variables is crucial for interpreting data from large databases. Relationships between variables can be modeled using a Bayesian network. The challenge of learning a Bayesian network from a complete dataset grows exponentially with the number of variables in the database and the number of states in each variable. It therefore becomes important to identify promising heuristics for exploring the space of possible networks. This paper utilizes an evolutionary algorithmic approach, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to perform this search. A fundamental problem with a search for a Bayesian network is that of handling cyclic networks, which are not allowed. This paper explores the PSO approach, handling cyclic networks in two different ways. Results of network extraction for the well-studied ALARM network are presented for PSO simulations where cycles are broken heuristically at each step of the optimization and where networks with cycles are allowed to exist as candidate solutions, but are assigned a poor fitness. The results of the two approaches are compared and it is found that allowing cyclic networks to exist in the particle swarm of candidate solutions can dramatically reduce the number of objective function evaluations required to converge to a target fitness value.
Studying the Impact of Spatial Involvement on Training Mental Rotation with Minecraft

Previous research demonstrates a shift from negative behavioral consequences to positive cognitive development in understanding the effects of computer gameplay across multiple age groups. However, there are still questions about which aspects of gameplay have an impact on those positive consequences. This work-in-progress focuses on the role of spatial involvement via different control schemes by implementing a training regimen through Minecraft for mental rotation in order to understand the impact of aspects of involvement on the training outcome. The project utilizes Minecraft to recreate a proven engaging experience for players, making training mental rotation more accessible. Comparing different levels of spatial involvement will be used to understand factors of the experience's impact. Further, the work extends game training endeavors in psychology using digital media. A target outcome is an improved understanding of what aspects of digital games are relevant for successful training applications.
Study on mosquito species and their carried pathogens at Zhejiang port

Objective To investigate and analyze the species,density and seasonal fluctuation of mosquitoes as well as the main mosquito-borne pathogens at Zhejiang port in an effort to provide a scientific basis for the development of effective measures for the control and prevention of the insects and mosquito-borne diseases.Methods Mosquitoes captured by mosquito collection devices were identified and classified.Fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to detect pathogens carried by mosquitoes,including dengue virus,Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV),West Nile virus(WNV),malaria parasites and other pathogens.Results The mosquitoes captured at Zhejiang port belonged to one family,five genera and twelve species.Culex pipiens pallens or Cx.pipiens quinquefasciatus were found to be dominant species,accounting for 57.87% of the total mosquitoes,followed by Anopheles sinensis,constituting 23.75%.The average density was 0.38/(light·hour) with its peak activity being from June to August.The test results of dengue virus,JEV,WNV and malaria parasites and other pathogens were negative.Conclusion The dominant species at Zhejiang port are consistent with the data collected locally,with different features seen at each port.There is a potential for outbreak of imported malaria at Zhejiang port,but little possibility of mosquitoes being infected with dengue virus and other pathogens is seen.The lower density of mosquitoes at Taizhou and Shengsi ports may be associated with the special environment at Taizhou port and the endemic island climate at Shengsi port.Mosquito density at the airports is significantly higher than that at the harbor,which is probably related to the unique environment and higher population density there.
1-affine completeness of compatible modules

A faithful compatible module G of a nearring R is 1-affine complete if R equals the set of congruence preserving functions of G that are 0-preserving. The study of 1-affine complete expanded groups G can be approached from this perspective by considering G as a module for the nearring of 0-preserving polynomial functions of G. In this paper, we obtain some strong conditions on the minimal R-ideals of G, when R has dccr and G is 1-affine complete, by using results from papers on units of such nearrings. We then go on to apply these results to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for G to have a composition series in which each factor of G by a series term is 1-affine complete.
Meeting report for Odd Pols 2016: Ann Arbor 2.0

The Tenth International Conference on Transcription by RNA Polymerases I, III, IV and V (the 'Odd Pols') was held June 24-28, 2016 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA and organized by David Engelke, Deborah Johnson, Richard Maraia, Lawrence Rothblum, David Schneider, Andrzej Wierzbicki and Astrid Engel. The organizers are grateful for the support from the Rackham Graduate School of the University of Michigan for providing the meeting venue. The environment provided a great background with unexpected encounters with fireflies, free live music and a festive fireworks display. The meeting was composed of eleven oral sessions and a poster session. The keynote speaker, Dave Engelke, opened the meeting with his presentation entitled "A personal history of pol III transcription - how we got here from the 'good old days'." The meeting drew attendees from sixteen countries that shared their research discoveries. Here we present some of the highlights from the meeting using summaries provided by the participants.
Quantitative proteomic profiling of the extracellular matrix of pancreatic islets during the angiogenic switch and insulinoma progression

The angiogenic switch, the time at which a tumor becomes vascularized, is a critical step in tumor progression. Indeed, without blood supply, tumors will fail to grow beyond 1 mm3 and are unlikely to disseminate. The extracellular matrix (ECM), a major component of the tumor microenvironment, is known to undergo significant changes during angiogenesis and tumor progression. However the extent of these changes remains unknown. In this study, we used quantitative proteomics to profile the composition of the ECM of pancreatic islets in a mouse model of insulinoma characterized by a precisely timed angiogenic switch. Out of the 120 ECM proteins quantified, 35 were detected in significantly different abundance as pancreatic islets progressed from being hyperplastic to angiogenic to insulinomas. Among these, the core ECM proteins, EFEMP1, fibrillin 1, and periostin were found in higher abundance, and decorin, Dmbt1, hemicentin, and Vwa5 in lower abundance. The angiogenic switch being a common feature of solid tumors, we propose that some of the proteins identified represent potential novel anti-angiogenic targets. In addition, we report the characterization of the ECM composition of normal pancreatic islets and propose that this could be of interest for the design of tissue-engineering strategies for treatment of diabetes.
Potential energy curves for diatomic molecules

The purpose of this paper is to give a simple expression for the potential-energy function for diatomic molecules for which one can solve exactly the Schrodinger equation for both discrete and continuous energy parameters,E. The analytical expression for this potential curve is illustrated numerically. The possible appearance of the hump and the double-minimum in the potential curve has also been investigated.
Teachers, students, and ideological bias in the college classroom

Discussions surrounding ideology and free speech on college and university campuses continually occur in the popular press. In this forum, Herbeck chronicles several heated clashes over free speech...
Vibrations that live long and prosper.

Molecular vibrations can be highly effective promoters of gas-phase chemistry. Now, measurements show that excited vibrational states can survive on metal surfaces far longer than expected — reshaping our understanding of how vibrational excitation might also promote or modify heterogeneously catalysed chemistry on metals.
Factors associated with initiating long-acting reversible contraception immediately after first-trimester abortion.

Abstract Objective The objective was to identify predictors of postabortion long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) initiation to increase providers' understanding of motivators of contraceptive choices. Study design We prospectively enrolled a cohort of women having abortions at Results During the study period, 1072 (64.5%) chose an immediate postabortion LARC method and 590 (35.5%) chose another method. Compared to the group of women who chose a non-LARC method, women who chose a LARC method were more likely to have a surgical abortion and were younger, more likely to be Hispanic, more likely to live greater than 70 miles from the clinic, more likely to have a nonurban address and less likely to have had a prior abortion. Conclusions We found that the differences in the demographic and reproductive factors of women choosing and receiving postabortion LARC were those which have been shown to be associated with difficulty in accessing contraception. Providers should offer a full range of contraceptive options to women immediately postabortion. Implications Postabortion LARC is more likely to be utilized by women from groups who have been shown to have difficulty accessing traditional family planning clinical care: those who are young, do not live in a city and are from groups with recognized health disparities. Offering postabortion LARC increases the options for these women.
Quaking-Induced Conversion Assays for the Detection and Diagnosis of Prion Diseases

The seeding activity of prions has been exploited for the development of a number of ultrasensitive assays for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Among the more practical assays are those that use recombinant PrPSen (rPrPSen) as a substrate for prion-seeded conversion into amyloid fibrils, shaking rather than sonication, and fluorescence detection in multiwell plates. These include the amyloid seeding assay (ASA), real-time QuIC (RT-QuIC), and enhanced QuIC (eQuIC). Recent applications of RT-QuIC to the antemortem diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (sCJD) using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed improved specificity (nearly 100%) relative to assays for other CSF markers. Moreover, the RT-QuIC can be quantitative and as sensitive as animal bioassays, allowing measurements of prion seeding activity in CSF and nasal fluids. In hamster CSF, the time course of seeding activity accumulation can vary markedly with route of scrapie inoculation. To enhance sensitivity and to cope with inhibitor-laden sample types such as blood plasma, an immune capture step was integrated with RT-QuIC, giving rise to the eQuIC assay. eQuIC can detect up to 1014-fold dilutions of human CJD brain homogenate in blood plasma and discriminate plasma samples from scrapie-infected and uninfected rodents. Although further work is required to fully validate various applications of RT-QuIC, eQuIC, and related tests, these assays improve prospects for practical prion detection in humans, animals, biomaterials, and the environment.
Indirect Effects of DNA Sequence on Transcriptional Activation by Prokaryotic DNA Binding Proteins

Most prokaryotic transcriptional activators are sequence-specific DNA binding proteins which activate transcription at various promoters by increasing the rate of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase. In these organisms, the activator protein binds to a specific DNA sequence at or near the promoter, influencing RNA polymerase by making direct contacts with the promoter-bound polymerase. Several studies have shown that changing the juxtaposition of the activator binding site with respect to the promoter can dramatically influence the effectiveness of the activator protein (Gaston et al. 1990; Lavigne et al. 1992; Joung et al. 1993; Woody et al. 1993). These observations indicate that proper alignment of the activator surface and the RNA polymerase are crucial for functional catalysis of transcription initiation by the activator protein. Hence, alterations in the geometry of the ternary complex formed between the polymerase, the activator protein, and DNA may be expected to influence the efficiency of transcription initiation.
ABC-transporter activity and eicosanoid-signaling are required for germ cell migration a basal chordate

The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri provides a unique model to study germ cell migration, as long-lived germline stem cells (GSCs) constantly migrate to new germline niches as they develop during repetitive cycles of asexual reproduction. We have previously shown that migration of germ cells in Botryllus is directed by sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling. Here, we show that the ABC-transporters abcc1 and abcb1 are highly expressed in germ cells, and inhibition of ABC-transporter activity leads to a reduced migratory response towards S1P in vitro and failure of germ cell homing in vivo. ABC-transporters are highly conserved in the animal kingdom and are involved in the export of lipid-signaling molecules. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) produces arachidonic acid, which is further metabolized by cyclooxygenases (COX), or by Lipoxygenases (LOX) to eicosanoid signaling molecules. We show that in Botryllus, PLA2 activity is required for migration of germ cells towards low concentrations of S1P in vitro, as well as homing of germ cells in vivo. Botryllus lipoxygenase (bslox) has homology to the 3 human lipoxygenases 5-LOX, 12-LOX and 15-LOX. In humans, 12-LOX metabolizes arachidonic acid to12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-S-HETE), which stimulates migration of cancer cells and smooth muscle cells. We have identified a g-protein coupled receptor in Botryllus that is closely related to the human receptor for 12-S-HETE, GPR31. BSgpr31 is expressed in vasa-positive germ cells. In vitro, an inhibitor of all 3 types of lipoxygenases significantly reduces migration of Botryllus germ cells towards S1P, whereas specific inhibitors of COX1, COX2 or 5-LOX have no effect. 12-S-HETE rescues migration towards S1P in the presence of inhibitors of ABCC1, ABCB1, PLA2 or LOX. In vivo, inhibition of LOX inhibits homing of germ cells to secondary buds. We conclude that autocrine stimulation by production and ACB-transporter-mediated export of 12-S-HETE is required for migration of germ cells towards a chemotactic gradient of S1P. We hypothesize that signaling of 12-S-HETE through BSgpr31 enhances migratory activity during chemotaxis induced by low-level activation of the S1P-receptor. This is the first report of an eicosanoid signaling molecule regulating germ cell migration.
Porosity and Guest Inclusion in Cyclobenzoin Esters

Cyclotetrabenzoin esters form porous solid-state structures with infinite one-dimensional channels and a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of ∼570 m2 g–1. Their assembly appears not to involve any strong covalent or noncovalent bonds between individual molecules. The isobutyric ester of cyclotetrabenzoin includes molecules of CS2 within its central cavity in an arrangement resembling an insulated wire.
Combinatorial Sensor Design in Caulobacter crescentus for Selective Environmental Uranium Detection.

The ability to detect uranium (U) through environmental monitoring is of critical importance for informing water resource protection and nonproliferation efforts. While technologies exist for environmental U detection, wide-area environmental monitoring, i.e. sampling coverage over large areas not known to possess U contamination, remains a challenging prospect that necessitates the development of novel detection approaches. Herein, we describe the development of a whole-cell U sensor by integrating two functionally independent, native U-responsive two-component signaling systems (TCS), UzcRS and UrpRS, within an AND gate circuit in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. Through leverage of the distinct but imperfect selectivity profiles of both TCS, this combinatorial approach enabled greater selectivity relative to a prior biosensor developed with UzcRS alone; no cross-reactivity was observed with most common environmental metals (e.g, Fe, As, Cu, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cr, Al) or the U decay-chain product Th, and ...
Komplikationen bei Intraokularlinsen — Eine Analyse von explantierten Kunstlinsen

Wir berichten uber Haufigkeit und Art von Komplikationen bei Intraokularlinsen anhand einer Serie von 2500 explantierten Linsen. Die mikroskopische Aufarbeitung der eingesandten Praparate und ihre Korrelation mit klinischen Daten bestatigten die im Vergleich zu Hinterkammerlinsen grosere Komplikationsrate von Vorderkammer und irisgetragenen Linsen. Hornhautendotheldekompensation und pseudophake bullose Keratopathie waren bei Vorderkammer und irisgetragenen Linsen als Explantationsgrund am haufigsten. Dabei zeigten flexible Vor der kammer linsen mit offener Haptik im Vergleich zu Vorderkammerlinsen mit geschlossenen Bugeln eine deutlich geringere Komplikationsrate. Unvertraglichkeitsreaktionen auf Vorderkammerlinsen mit geschlossener Haptik traten auch noch Jahre nach zunachst komplikationslosem klinischen Verlauf ein. Wahrend bei Hinterkammerlinsen Gewebekomplikationen wie Entzundung, Glaukom, zystoides Makulaodem und Amotio retinae in den letzten Jahren deutlich nachgelassen haben, stehen Explantationen infolge Dislokation oder Dezentrierung heute im Vordergrund.
Care of Surgical and Other Fragile Models

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of rats, while also concentrating on pertinent rat surgical models. It discusses the care of common fragile models that require attention due to surgical procedures, experimental manipulation, or genetic modification. Before developing a surgical model for a given study, it is important for the surgeon to have a thorough knowledge of rat anatomy and the organ(s) of interest. The surgeon must have appropriate training to ensure good aseptic technique, gentle handling, and minimal dissection of the tissue, as well as appropriate use of surgical instruments and suture material. Care of both surgical and fragile models includes interventions such as modified husbandry, diet, administration of electrolytes and analgesics, heat support, urinary bladder management, and enhanced monitoring at time points relevant to the specific model.
GENIX: A GENI-based IXP Emulation

We present GENIX; a modular emulation framework that mimics the behavior of IXPs on a public test-bed. GENIX is implemented in Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) and capable of enumerating various interactions among ISPs, expected in the real world. GENIX is the first effort towards alleviating the complexities of large-scale emulation to abstract a lightweight design where IXP dynamics can be usefully applied. We test GENIX for its ability to handle large volumes of traffic flow and its performance during network congestion.
Proteolytic Restriction of Chordin Range Underlies BMP Gradient Formation.

Summary A fundamental question in developmental biology is how morphogens, such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), form precise signaling gradients to impart positional and functional identity to the cells of the early embryo. We combine rigorous mutant analyses with quantitative immunofluorescence to determine that the proteases Bmp1a and Tolloid spatially restrict the BMP antagonist Chordin in dorsoventral (DV) axial patterning of the early zebrafish gastrula. We show that maternally deposited Bmp1a plays an unexpected and non-redundant role in establishing the BMP signaling gradient, while the Bmp1a/Tolloid antagonist Sizzled is surprisingly dispensable. Combining computational modeling and in vivo analyses with an immobile Chordin construct, we demonstrate that long-range Chordin diffusion is not necessary for BMP gradient formation and DV patterning. Our data do not support a counter-gradient of Chordin and instead favor a Chordin sink, established by Bmp1a and Tolloid, as the primary mechanism that drives BMP gradient formation.
Abstract 17153: Race/Ethnicity, Education, and Health Status Predict Shared Decision Making in Hypertension Care in the Rich Life Project

Introduction: In shared decision making (SDM), clinicians and patients make decisions together using the best evidence, along with patients’ preferences and values. Though SDM is a strategy recomme...
Causal Effects of Schooling on Health Beliefs

Health beliefs, or individual perceptions on the effects of health actions and behaviors, have been shown to be an important driver of health behaviors and outcomes. Unfortunately, very little research exists on the determinants of health beliefs. Though higher educational attainment in form of formal schooling should in principle lead to better health beliefs, the relationship is confounded by omitted variables like motivation that may positively affect both education and health knowledge acquisition. In this paper I try to tackle two problems. I use data from India, a country characterized by tremendous variations in upper secondary educational achievements that allows me to see the effects of an extra year of upper secondary schooling on health beliefs. Additionally, I use arguably exogenous variations in age at menarche combined with poor sanitation facilities in schools in India to create a new instrument for schooling to control for the endogeneity. My results show that while education improves certain health beliefs such as reproductive health beliefs and AIDS awareness, it has no impact on other types of health belief like environmental health among ever-married women of age 15-49.
On levitation by blowing

Anyone who has visited a science museum has seen the demonstration where a beach (or ping-pong) ball is suspended in mid-air at a fixed position by constant blowing from below. After a while, the ball inevitably tumbles to the ground but can easily be rebalanced, by hand, again at the suspension point. Here, we ask a different more delicate question. Can we blow the ball from rest, starting at the nozzle opening (x = 0), moving it up to the suspension point x = x* above the nozzle? We show that it is not possible to do this using constant blowing because the point at which the downward gravitational force balances the upward blowing force is an elliptic fixed point of the governing equations, so there is no transfer trajectory that connects the origin to x*. To overcome this problem, we design time-dependent blowing schedules that achieve the transfer, making use of orbit transfer ideas developed in the orbital mechanics literature. Then, we ask which of these time-dependent schedules are optimal? We show that, generally, it is bang–bang (on–off) blowing schedules that achieve the transfer in minimal time, using minimal energy (action) and minimal air volume. For certain parameter values, however, there are more complicated blowing schedules that are optimal (with respect to energy), which can be designed using the Pontryagin Maximum Principle (PMP) and singular control. We use elementary concepts from mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, and control theory and challenge the inclined experimentalist to try to implement some of these nonconstant blowing schedules in the lab.
Ring opening polymerization of β-acetoxy-δ-methylvalerolactone, a triacetic acid lactone derivative

We report here the synthesis and polymerization of a novel disubstituted valerolactone, β-acetoxy-δ-methylvalerolactone, derived from the renewable feedstock triacetic acid lactone (TAL). The bulk polymerization proceeds to 45% equilibrium monomer conversion at room temperature using diphenyl phosphate as the organic catalyst. The resultant amorphous material displays a glass transition temperature of 25 °C. The ring opening polymerization (ROP) behavior of the disubstituted valerolactone was examined, and the enthalpy () and entropy *() of polymerization were calculated to be −25 ± 2 kJ mol−1 and −81 ± 5 mol−1 K−1, respectively. The polymerization kinetics were also measured and compared to those of other substituted valerolactones reported in the literature. This report is the first to demonstrate the successful ROP of a disubstituted valerolactone as well as the first to establish the ROP of a derivative of TAL.
The Null Subject Phenomenon

One of the most noticeable characteristics of early language is the frequent absence of lexical subjects. Sentences like those in (1) have been attested in every study of the early periods in the acquisition of English (McNeil, 1966; Gruber, 1967; Menyuk, 1969; Bloom, 1970; Braine, 1976, among others). The following (non-imperative) sentences, taken from Bloom (1970), are representative of the general phenomenon.
Optimal eigenvalue shifting for continuous systems

A recursive method for selecting the state weighting matrix of a linear quadratic regulator problem in order to shift the open loop eigenvalues to a desired location is presented. This method is capable of shifting a complex pair to new complex or real locations. A minimization problem with linear and nonlinear constraints must be solved in order to find the desired state weighting matrix. >
Molded carrier rings for fine pitch surface mount packages

A molded carrier ring concept intended to reduce the incidence of bent leads and coplanarity rejects while providing increased output-to-mix potential and easy standardization for customers and equipment manufacturers is presented. The methodologies used to design a family of molded carrier rings around various quad-flat-pack and plastic quad-flat-pack package types are described. The algorithms and assumptions used to optimize the ring size and shape are discussed. Test contact design and performance, electrical characteristics, and thermal/mechanical modeling are also discussed. >
DIRECT OPTICAL DETECTION OF THE GROUND-STATE POPULATION CHANGES OF NEODYMIUM IN ETHYLSULFATE CRYSTALS

A method is described for optically detecting population changes in paramagnetic salts and applied to the ground state of neodymium ethylsulfate and neodymium in lanthanum ethylsulfate. By observing the transmitted right or left circularly polarized light, the population of one of the ground Zeeman levels is selectively monitored. The ground-state population is changed by paramagnetic resonance and thermal relaxation processes. Knowing the ground state, the circular polarization of the light, and the selection rules, information about the excited states can be obtained. The spin-lattice relaxation time between Zeeman sublevels of the ground state is also obtained. After pulsing the microwave resonance transition, the decay of the transmitted light is observed; the decay curve is related to the spin-lattice relaxation curve. Relaxation-time measurements in the temperature range of 1.87 to 2.16\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K were made in both the pure and dilute salt. The values ranged from 17 msec for the lower temperature to 11 msec for the higher temperature. The slope of the relaxation time versus the temperature $T$ indicates a temperature dependence for the relaxation time of ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}2.5}$ in this temperature range for the 3% neodymium in lanthanum ethylsulfate and ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}1.7}$ for the neodymium ethylsulfate crystal. The crystal $c$ axis was oriented parallel to the magnetic field of 4780 Oe; the microwave frequency was 23.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{9}$ cps.