cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extending multicriteria decision making by mixing t‐norms and OWA operators

We consider the problem of multicriteria decision making. We indicate how the evaluation of an alternative involves a determination of the degree to which subsets of criteria are satisfied by the alternative. This calculation is based upon an anding of the satisfactions of the individual criteria in the subsets. We consider the possibility of using t-norms other than the Min for the and operation. Using this generalization we develop an extension of the OWA operators, called the TOWA, which involves a mixing of the t-norm with the OWA operator. We extend this generalization to other aggregation techniques, the Choquet and Sugeno integrals. We introduce the concept of the Power of a t-norm to provide an ordering over the t-norm operators. We look at Power of a number of families of t-norm. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 20: 453–474, 2005.
Occurrence of Amoebae In and Around the Mushroom Laccaria trullisata

. Studies performed with the basidiomycete Laccaria trullisata collected from the sandy beach at the Hempstead Lake State Park, Long Island, New York, during the growing seasons of 1979 and 1980, have demonstrated a carposphere (equivalent to rhizosphere) effect. This region exerts a positive influence on the population density of amoebae when numbers are compared with those obtained in the bare sand 5 cm away. Moreover, amoebae have been shown to exist in, and have been recovered from, internal tissue of the cap (72%) and stalk (91%) of these mushrooms. A partial characterization of three strains of amoebae isolated from the internal tissue of L. trullisata and established in clonal culture is presented.
A laboratory study of factors influencing methane uptake by soils

Abstract Concern that increasing atmospheric concentrations of CH4 will contribute to global climatic change has stimulated research to assess the potential of soils to serve as a sink for atmospheric CH4. Laboratory studies were performed to identify factors influencing CH4 uptake by soils collected from a variety of ecosystems. Freshly collected samples from wetland and forest systems were all capable of depleting atmospheric concentrations of CH4, whereas none of the samples collected from cultivated fields were capable of CH4-uptake when incubated under near tropospheric concentrations of CH4. However, exposure of cultivated soils to high concentrations of CH4 (more than 1000 μl l−1) for several days induced uptake. When active soils were exposed to elevated concentrations, their initial rates of CH4-uptake also increased. Incubation of two active soils for periods of more than 12 h under atmospheres containing CH4 concentrations in excess of their Km values (51 and 192 μmol CH4) caused an exponential increase in the rate of CH4-uptake, whereas incubation under low CH4 concentrations caused a rapid decline in activity. Little difference in CH4-uptake was observed when H2O content was adjusted between 25% and 75% of pore volume, but air-drying completely inhibited CH4-uptake. Saturation of soil decreased the average rate of CH4-uptake by 56%, presumably because of reduced gaseous diffusion. Optimal CH4 consumption occurred in samples incubated at temperatures between 20 and 30°C and was greatly reduced at 40°C. Amending soils with clover residues reduced CH4-uptake by an average of 43%. Also, addition of 7 μmol NHn4+ g−1 inhibited CH4-uptake, whereas additions of 7 μmol NO3− g−1 had no effect. The inhibitory effects of NH4+ appear irreversible and persist after nitrification of added NH4+. Because of the association of methanotrophic activity with CH4 supply, recently drained or intermittently flooded soils are apt to display the greatest capacity for CH4-uptake.
Medical Students' Perceptions of and Willingness to Treat Patients Who Are HIV Infected1

The purpose of this study is to examine the independent and joint influences of a patient's mode of acquisition of illness (blood transfusion vs. multiple sexual partners), attributions of responsibility (self-blame vs. chance blame), and sexual orientation (homosexual vs. heterosexual) on female and male medical students' attitudes toward and willingness to treat a patient who is HIV infected. One hundred nineteen 1st through internship-year medical students were randomly assigned to read and respond to case vignettes. Greater consistency between attribution of blame and mode of acquisition was related to more positive perceptions. Furthermore, the patient's sexual orientation influenced the providers' willingness to offer treatment, particularly for male medical students. Implications concerning health practices and medical education are considered.
Mechanism for the occurrence of paramagnetic planes within magnetically ordered cerium systems.

Hybridization of moderately delocalized f electrons with band electrons gives rise to a highly anisotropic two-ion interaction. Previously it has been shown that such an interaction explains the experimentally observed unusual magnetic behavior of CeBi, yielding a phase transition from a higher-temperature type-I (\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}) to a lower-temperature type-IA (\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\uparrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}\ensuremath{\downarrow}) antiferromagnetic structure. If the hybridization-mediated interaction is the key to understanding the magnetic behavior of such moderately delocalized f-electron systems, we should expect to be able to understand on this basis the even more unusual magnetic behavior of CeSb. In CeSb, there is a sequence of magnetic structures in which the higher-temperature structures involve a periodic stacking of paramagnetic {001} planes alternating with magnetically ordered {001} planes of [001]-moment alignment. In this paper we show that such a coexistence of paramagnetic and magnetically ordered ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ sites can be understood on the basis of the hybridization-mediated interionic interaction when there are cubic crystal-field (CF) interactions of comparable strength. The tendency to form paramagnetic planes is found to increase with increasing CF strength (${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ ground state); and the stability of the up-down paramagnetic plane arrangement at high temperatures is shown to arise from the reconciliation of the magnetic ordering with the CF interactions. We also find that for a certain range of parameters a different novel situation occurs, with a fully nonmagnetic (singlet) ground state for the ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ ion. This singlet state is not Kondo-like, and occurs in such a way that the system would be expected to fluctuate between two differently polarized states, one of which is the singlet state.
Lychnophora (Compositae: Vernonieae), a genus endemic to the Brazilian Planalto

Distributionmaps, specimen citations, synonymies, descriptions, taxonomic commentaries and a key are provided for the 11 species ofLychnophora Mart. (Vernonieae: Compositae). One new species,Lychnophora diamantinana Coile & Jones, is described and several are excluded from the genus. Chromosome counts ofn = 17 for four species ofLychnophora are reported together with field observations for many species. The genus is remarkable for its morphological adaptation to fire and xeric habitats and for its elaborate speciation in a limited geographical area.
Resistance to extinction as a function of sequence of intertrial nonreinforcement and level of acquisition

Two experiments investigated the effects of differential level of acquisition training on resistance to extinction generated by intertrial nonreinforcement (ITN). In Experiment 1, four groups received 18 acquisition trials: One group received a nonreinforced placement after 50% of the six daily reinforced trials (placement N-length of 1, Group ITN-1), a second group received three consecutive nonreinforced placements after one of the six daily reinforced trials (placement N-lengths of 3, Group ITN-3), a third group received a 50% partial reinforcement schedule (Group PRF), and a fourth group received continuous reinforcement (Group CRF). In Experiment 2, the ITN-1, ITN-3, and PRF conditions were again used in an identical procedure except that 48 acquisition trials were given. Following limited acquisition, Group ITN-3 was less resistant to extinction than Group ITN-1, while the reverse was true following extended training. These results suggest that sequence of placements, rather than simply their presence or absence, is an important factor in determining resistance to extinction.
Chronic vitamin E deficiency promotes vitamin C deficiency in zebrafish leading to degenerative myopathy and impaired swimming behavior

We hypothesized that zebrafish (Danio rerio) undergoing long-term vitamin E deficiency with marginal vitamin C status would develop myopathy resulting in impaired swimming. Zebrafish were fed for 1 y a defined diet without (E-) and with (E+) vitamin E (500 mg α-tocopherol/kg diet). For the last 150 days, dietary ascorbic acid concentrations were decreased from 3500 to 50 mg/kg diet and the fish sampled periodically to assess ascorbic acid concentrations. The ascorbic acid depletion curves were faster in the E- compared with E+ fish (P < 0.0001); the estimated half-life of depletion in the E- fish was 34 days, while in it was 55 days in the E+ fish. To assess swimming behavior, zebrafish were monitored individually following a "startle-response" stimulus, using computer and video technology. Muscle histopathology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining on paramedian sections of fixed zebrafish. At study end, E- fish contained 300-fold less α-tocopherol (p < 0.0001), half the ascorbic acid (p = 0.0001) and 3-fold more malondialdehyde (p = 0.0005) than did E+ fish. During the first minute following a tap stimulus (p < 0.05), E+ fish swam twice as far as did E- fish. In the E- fish, the sluggish behavior was associated with a multifocal, polyphasic, degenerative myopathy of the skeletal muscle. The myopathy severity ranged from scattered acute necrosis to widespread fibrosis and was accompanied by increased anti-hydroxynonenal staining. Thus, vitamin E deficiency in zebrafish causes increased oxidative stress and a secondary depletion of ascorbic acid, resulting in severe damage to muscle tissue and impaired muscle function.
Abstract 988: Oncogenic PI3K mutations lead to NF-κB-dependent cytokine expression following growth factor deprivation

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL While growth factor-independent signaling and proliferation are well-established hallmarks of cancer, little is known regarding growth factor-independent changes in gene expression which occur downstream from oncogenes. The PI3K pathway is one of the most commonly misregulated signaling pathways in human cancers. Here, MCF10A cells expressing the two most common PI3K mutations, PIK3CA E545K and H1047R, were used to identify the repertoire of genes altered by oncogenic PI3K mutations following growth factor deprivation. This gene set most closely correlated with gene signatures from claudin-low and basal-like breast tumors, and categorical enrichment analyses suggested that NF-κB target genes were dramatically upregulated by these mutations. An IKKα inhibitor was used to identify the subset of PI3K-driven genes that is NF-κB dependent. Interestingly, virtually all of these NF-κB dependent genes were secreted proteins, suggesting a paracrine role for this gene set. Among these genes was IL-6, a cytokine frequently expressed in tumors which plays a critical role in generating a tumor-promoting microenvironment. Consistent with this, conditioned media from cells expressing the E545K or H1047R mutations led to increased STAT3 activation in recipient THP-1 monocytes or normal epithelial cells in a NF-κB and IL-6-dependent manner. Together, these data define a PI3K-driven, NF-κB-dependent gene expression profile which may play a critical role in promoting a microenvironment amenable to tumor progression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 988. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-988
Progression of Alzheimer's disease in black and white patients: The CERAD experience, Part XVI

We compared the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in CERAD-enrolled black and white patients, as indicated by changes in selected clinical and neuropsychology measures, over a 1-year time interval. Of 225 black and 935 white AD patients who were enrolled, 148 (66%) black and 770 (82%) white patients remained in the study. Of these, 82 black and 532 white patients provided complete in-person information on first annual re-evaluation. Overall, with age, education, initial level of performance on each measure, and stage of disease at entry controlled, race had a very mild effect on change in disease (8 df multivariate analysis of variance [MANOVA], p < 0.047). Black patients showed less decline than white patients, most notably for the CERAD Boston Naming test (p < 0.02) and the third and final trial of the 10-item Word List Learning task (p < 0.003). Although unadjusted data indicate that black and white patients appear to differ notably at entry, our findings indicated that differences in progression of the dementing process are minor, suggesting that course of AD is comparable in these racial groups. Examination over a longer period is difficult because of the high attrition rate of black patients.
Testing the differential predation hypothesis for the invasion of rusty crayfish in a stream community: laboratory and field experiments

1. We tested the hypothesis that the non-native rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) is less vulnerable to predators than two native species (O. propinquus and O. obscurus) it is replacing in streams of the upper Susquehanna River catchment (New York, U.S.A.). 2. We used laboratory experiments to compare species-specific predation rates by smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) on crayfish of equal size and field tethering experiments to compare relative predation rates between native O. propinquus and non-native O. rusticus by the suite of crayfish predators in our system. We predicted that crayfish size would affect predation rate but that predation rates would be equal among species when size was controlled. 3. We also tested for two potential artefacts of tethering. We tethered crayfish in cages to test whether the ability to escape from tethers is size specific, and we tested whether tethering alters differential predation among crayfish species by the smallmouth bass. 4. In the laboratory, smallmouth bass predation on rusty crayfish was lower than on either of the native species. In the field, predation risk for tethered crayfish was inversely related to size but did not differ among species when size was taken into account. Because rusty crayfish in the field experiment were slightly larger than the native species, as in nature, mortality was overall lower for the rusty crayfish. 5. In cages, smaller crayfish were more probably to escape from tethers than larger ones, an artefact that may partially confound results from our tethering experiments. Unexpectedly, tethering nearly eliminated predation by smallmouth bass. This artefact prevented us from testing for an interaction of tethering with differential predation and means that the results of field tethering experiments do not include any contribution from smallmouth bass predation. 6. Our experiments highlight the importance of explicitly considering potential artefacts that could confound results. 7. Our results indicate that differential predation contributes to the rusty crayfish's invasion of a stream community. In our study system, predation rates on rusty crayfish are lower than for native species mostly because of selection by predators for smaller crayfish; species-specific characteristics such as behaviour that further reduce predation may also contribute, especially where smallmouth bass predation is important.
A micromechanical method to predict the fracture toughness of cellular materials

The Mode I, Mode II and mixed mode fracture toughness of a cellular medium is predicted by simulating the crack propagation using a finite element model. Displacement boundary conditions are applied such that they correspond to a given value of stress intensity factor in a homogeneous solid that has the same elastic constants as the cellular medium. The crack propagation is simulated by breaking the crack tip strut when the maximum stress in that strut exceeds the strength of the strut material. Based on the finite element results a semi-empirical formula is also derived to predict the Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness of cellular solids as a function of relative density. The results show that the displacements and stresses in the foam near the crack tip are very similar to that in an equivalent homogeneous material, and continuum fracture mechanics concepts can be applied to predict the fracture of a cellular medium. The forces acting in the crack tip strut can be considered as the resultant of stresses over an effective length in the corresponding continuum model. A relation for this effective length has been derived in terms of the relative density of the cellular medium.
Unpacking Agenda Control in Congress: Individual Roll Rates and the Republican Revolution

The twelve years following the Republican revolution provide ideal ground to test existing theories of congressional behavior and organization. The authors examine the incidence of individual roll rates in the U.S. House to “unpack” the degree to which the 1994 election produced a change in agenda control and examine how it affected roll rates. Then, to understand differences in agenda control, we compare majority and minority party roll rates before and after the election. The results confirm majority party influence over the House agenda and show that the Republican leadership exhibited remarkably similar behavior to the Democrats prior to 1995.
Genetic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance identified in Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Enteroccocus spp. isolated from U.S. food animals.

The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AR) in bacteria isolated from U.S. food animals has increased over the last several decades as have concerns of AR foodborne zoonotic human infections. Resistance mechanisms identified in U.S. animal isolates of Salmonella enterica included resistance to aminoglycosides (e.g. alleles of aacC, aadA, aadB, ant, aphA, and StrAB), -lactams (e.g. blaCMY-2, TEM-1, PSE-1), chloramphenicol (e.g. floR, cmlA, cat1, cat2), folate pathway inhibitors (e.g. alleles of sul and dfr), and tetracycline (e.g. alleles of tet(A), (B), (C), (D), (G) and tetR). In the U.S., multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms in Salmonella animal isolates were associated with integrons, or mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as IncA/C plasmids which can be transferred among bacteria. It is thought that AR Salmonella originates in food animals and is transmitted through food to humans. However, some AR Salmonella isolated from humans in the U.S. have different AR elements than those isolated from food animals, suggesting a different etiology for some AR human infections. The AR mechanisms identified in isolates from outside the U.S. are also predominantly different. For example the extended spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs) are found in human and animal isolates globally; however, in the U.S., ESBLs thus far have only been found in human and not food animal isolates. Commensal bacteria in animals including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. may be reservoirs for AR mechanisms. Many of the AR genes and MGEs found in E. coli isolated from U.S. animals are similar to those found in Salmonella. Enterococcus spp. isolated from animals frequently carry MGEs with AR genes, including resistances to aminoglycosides (e.g. alleles of aac, ant, and aph), macrolides (e.g. erm(A), erm(B),and msrC), and tetracyclines (e.g. tet(K), (L), (M), (O), (S)). Continuing investigations are required to help understand and mitigate the impact of AR bacteria on human and animal health.
County Governments and Democratic Decision Making Explaining Why Counties Seek Approval of Local Option Sales Taxes

Local option sales taxes have become an important source of local revenue across the United States. Thirty-three of the 50 states have granted authorization to their counties or cities (or both) to levy local option sales taxes, and said taxes generated nearly $50 billion in 2005, which accounted for 11% of all local tax revenue nationwide. Even though local option sales taxes have significant impacts on a county’s ability to fund programs and services, little has been written about the decisions of counties to place such taxes on the ballot. Using demographic, fiscal, and political variables, a model is developed that explains the decision to place a county transportation sales tax on the ballot. Modeling and analysis reveal that counties behave strategically as the impact of demographic, fiscal, and political factors on the decision to place a local option sales tax on the ballot is shaped by whether the county is making an initial attempt to adopt, a subsequent attempt to adopt after voter rejection, or a renewal attempt when an existing local option sales tax is nearing its sunset date.
Cutaneous and Systemic Plasmacytosis

A 67-year-old Chinese man presented with a longstanding history of asymptomatic, brown-red macules that diffusely involved his trunk and the extremities and was associated with generalized lymphadenopathy. His serum protein electrophoresis revealed a polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. No monoclonal Bence Jones protein was detected in the urine. Flow cytometry of his peripheral blood revealed a normal polyclonal population of B and T cells. Histopathologic examination demonstrated a dense nodular infiltrate of lymphocytes and numerous mature plasma cells in the reticular dermis. Immunoperoxidase studies for kappa and lambda light chains failed to demonstrate clonality. In addition, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement studies failed to reveal a monoclonal band. A bone marrow biopsy showed no abnormality. Cutaneous and systemic plasmacytosis is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous infiltrates in which plasma cells predominate.
Changes That Don't Improve Matters

the committee were able to prevail over the more "hot headed right wingers" who wished to exclude graduate students and set up classes of membership in order to disenfranchise either the "leftist rabble rousers" or their constituency. The issue, in other words, was whether to exclude people from voting or to do as the American political system does-make the vote a mere symbolic expression. In all their liberal-moderate wisdom the committee chose the latter. But the last third of the Hawkinson-Rosenblum
Pulmonary Vascular Barrier Regulation by Thrombin and Edg Receptors

Lung vascular permeability is directly determined by the integrity of the endothelial cell (EC) monolayer, which involves dynamic regulation by the actomyosin cytoskeleton with subsequent effects on cell—cell and cell—matrix interactions. Although the list of biochemical and biophysical agonists that alter EC barrier regulation is extensive, in this chapter we consider two in particular—the barrier-disruptive serine protease thrombin and barrier-enhancing sphingosine-1-phosphate, an activator of the Edg receptor. Both agonists, via elaborate receptor-specific and tightly orchestrated signaling pathways, offer important insights into lung vascular barrier regulation with respect to the role of individual cellular components and signaling events that target the endothelial cytoskeleton. Additionally, we detail the combined effect of thrombin and cyclic stretch, mechanistically distinct agonists, to provide further insight into lung vascular regulation. Our understanding of EC barrier regulation and lung vascular permeability has advanced remarkably in only a short time and, with the use of newly available technologies, will undoubtedly continue to rapidly evolve.
Nonstandard Work and Economic Crisis: What Changes Should We Expect?

Many workers experience nonstandard work arrangements, such as being part time, an independent contractor, or working non-daytime hours. This article reviews existing literature and presents primary data on the United States' nonstandard workforce to make predictions about its possible growth during the current economic crisis. Analyses suggest substantial but temporary growth in the involuntary part-time workforce, as well as continued long-term growth of part-time primary earners. There will likely be a cyclical decline in temporary-help employment, contrasted with continued long-term growth of independent contractors. Existing research does not suggest growth in the prevalence of nonstandard schedules.
A new approach to the modeling and control of postoperative pain

Contributions which the technology of control engineering can make to the relief of postoperative pain are explored. A human-operated, closed-loop, analgesic drug injection system has been designed to alleviate chronic pain. In this system, a patient presses a button when pain relief is required. A computer interfaces the button to the patient's drug injection pump. A patient pain model has been developed to describe the dynamics of the human physiological and psychological responses to chronic pain. A pharmacokinetic model of analgesia is also included. The pain model has been validated by adjusting its parameters so that its behavior mimics actual button-pressing records of self-administered analgesia. A modified Smith delay compensator (SDC) and IPFM (integral pulse frequency modulation) controller are used to compensate for the inherent nonlinearity of the system and to obtain the high performance required. The results of this simulation study are found to be promising. The control algorithms proposed have shown an improvement in the performance of self administered analgesia systems. The simulated patients obtained good pain relief without excessive button-pressing, and without undesirable high concentrations of opioids being observed. The SDC/IPFM controller architecture has been found to be robust in the presence of pain noise and pharmacokinetic plant parameter changes. >
Dopamine and iron in the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Abstract Background and purpose : The evaluation of the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) stems largely from recognition of the information provided by both pharmacological treatment of the disorder and the secondary forms of the disorder. This article examines the pathophysiological implications of each of these clinical aspects of RLS. Patients and methods : The article reviews the existing literature in relation to possible pathology suggested by the clinical data. It will then explore other data supporting each of the possible pathologies and examine the relationships between these pathologies. Results : The pharmacological treatment data strongly support a dopaminergic abnormality for RLS. Other pharmacological data and some imaging data also support this, although the data are not entirely consistent. The secondary forms of RLS strongly support an iron deficiency abnormality for RLS, further documented by several other studies. Some animal studies have shown a relation between iron deficiency and dopaminergic abnormalities that have some similarity to those seen in the RLS patient. Conclusions : It is concluded that there may be an iron–dopamine connection central to the pathophysiology of RLS for at least some if not most patients with this disorder.
An automatic electrical resistance soil-moisture measuring system

Abstract The design, calibration and operation of a reliable yet simple automatic scanning and recording electrical resistance system for the measurement of soil moisture are described.
Rate of Thermal Dehydration of Kaolinite in Vacuum

The dehydration of kaolinite was carried out in a vacuum to evaluate the kinetics without the marked effect of water vapor. Samples of carefully fractionated particles were used and the effect of surface area was determined. At pressures in the order of 1μ of Hg the reaction was found to be diffusion-controlled, with an activation energy of 43.5 kcal. The rate of dehydration was found to decrease linearly with increasing water vapor at moderate pressures. A change from parabolic to first-order kinetics was observed with increasing pressures.
Bisphosphonamidate Clodronate Prodrug Exhibits Selective Cytotoxic Activity against Melanoma Cell Lines

Bisphosphonates are used clinically to treat disorders of calcium metabolism and malignant bone disease and are known to inhibit cancer cell growth, adhesion, and invasion. However, clinical use of these agents for the treatment of extraskeletal disease is limited due to low cell permeability. We recently described a bisphosphonamidate prodrug strategy for efficient intracellular release of bisphosphonates, including clodronate (CLO), in NSCLC cells. To evaluate anticancer activity of this prodrug class across many cancer cell types, the bisphosphonamidate clodronate prodrug (CLO prodrug) was screened against the NCI-60 cell line panel, and was found to exhibit selectivity toward melanoma cell lines. Here, we confirm efficient cellular uptake and intracellular activation of this prodrug class in melanoma cells. We further demonstrate inhibition of melanoma cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and an anti-tumor effect of CLO prodrug in a xenograft model. These data suggest a novel therapeutic application for the CLO prodrug and potential to selectively target melanoma cells.
Mismatch Repair Processing of Carcinogen-DNA Adducts Triggers Apoptosis

The DNA mismatch repair pathway is well known for its role in correcting biosynthetic errors of DNA replication. We report here a novel role for mismatch repair in signaling programmed cell death in response to DNA damage induced by chemical carcinogens. Cells proficient in mismatch repair were highly sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of chemical carcinogens, while cells defective in either human MutS or MutL homologs were relatively insensitive. Since wild-type cells but not mutant cells underwent apoptosis upon treatment with chemical carcinogens, the apoptotic response is dependent on a functional mismatch repair system. By analyzing p53 expression in several pairs of cell lines, we found that the mismatch repair-dependent apoptotic response was mediated through both p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways. In vitro biochemical studies demonstrated that the human mismatch recognition proteins hMutSalpha and hMutSbeta efficiently recognized DNA damage induced by chemical carcinogens, suggesting a direct participation of mismatch repair proteins in mediating the apoptotic response. Taken together, these studies further elucidate the mechanism by which mismatch repair deficiency predisposes to cancer, i.e., the deficiency not only causes a failure to repair mismatches generated during DNA metabolism but also fails to direct damaged and mutation-prone cells to commit suicide.
The Eδ enhancer controls the generation of CD4−CD8− αβTCR-expressing T cells that can give rise to different lineages of αβ T cells

It is well established that the pre-T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) is responsible for efficient expansion and differentiation of thymocytes with productive TCRbeta rearrangements. However, Ptcra- as well as Tcra-targeting experiments have suggested that the early expression of Tcra in CD4- CD8- cells can partially rescue the development of alphabeta CD4+ CD8+ cells in Ptcra-deficient mice. In this study, we show that the TCR E delta but not E alpha enhancer function is required for the cell surface expression of alphabetaTCR on immature CD4- CD8- T cell precursors, which play a crucial role in promoting alphabeta T cell development in the absence of pre-TCR. Thus, alphabetaTCR expression by CD4- CD8- thymocytes not only represents a transgenic artifact but occurs under physiological conditions.
MicroRNA (miRNA) in cancer

In recent years, there has been a tremendous and growing interest among researchers to investigate the role of mircoRNA (miRNA) in normal cellular as well as in disease processes. miRNAs are a family of small non-coding RNAs which were reported to regulate the expression of various oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The expression profiling of miRNAs has already entered into cancer clinics as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to assess tumor initiation, progression and response to treatment in cancer patients. This review summarizes: (i) the current understanding of interactions between miRNAs and their target genes, (ii) recent advances in the regulatory mechanisms that control the expression of genes related to carcinogenesis, and (iii) the role of miRNAs in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Effect of a-Receptor Stimulation on Cl Transport by Rat Submandibular Acini:

Dispersed salivary acini isolated from the rat submandibular gland by enzymatic digestion were used to study the effects of a-receptor stimulation on transmembrane transport of 36Cl. In the absence of secretagogue, the tracer accumulated in the cells in a time-dependent manner until a steady-state content of 6.8 ± 0.1 nmol/mg protein was attained after 3-5 min of incubation. Epinephrine (1 μmol/L) alone did not modify 36Cl accumulation but in the presence of the β-receptor blocker propranolol (1 μmol/L) caused a significant (21%) reduction in the isotope content of the cells to 5.2 ± 0.1 nmol/mg protein. In acini pre-loaded with 36Cl for 12 min, 1 μmol/L epinephrine caused a rapid but transient net efflux of tracer, but the isotope content subsequently increased to pre-stimulation levels. In the presence of propranolol, however, the efflux of 36Cl induced by epinephrine was larger and more sustained and was partially inhibited by the K-channel blocker quinidine (1 mmol/L) and significantly by the absence ...
A Labor Market Perspective on the Mobility of College Football Coaches

In the present paper, the effects of market constraints on the mobility of college football coaches are investigated. Moves of 1,260 senior and junior college coaches between the 1977-78 and 1978-79 academic years are connected to form chains of movement following White's vacancy chain model. The chains numbered 964. Internal exchange mobility proves to be small relative to mobility in and out of the market. Although chains of moves tend to pass through senior colleges affiliated with NCAA Division I, in general little movement is observed between levels of competitive affiliation. Comparison with prior studies following nonstructural approaches to mobility indicates that establishing the independence of individual moves is a necessary preliminary to such work. Mobility in occupations has been studied from various perspectives. Broadly speaking, there are three general approaches: the career or work history approach; the human capital approach; and the status attainment approach. Often these three overlap, differing only in the types of variables used to account for mobility. Also the three share an emphasis on the individual, usually to the exclusion of factors other than those earned or inherited. These various approaches have been criticized for a lack of atten
Is the Debate and “Pause” on Experiments That Alter Pathogens with Pandemic Potential Influencing Future Plans of Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows?

Much has been said and written about the risks and benefits of certain experiments that alter pathogens with pandemic potential (PPP) (see recent references 1 to 3 and references within). The experiments in question alter transmissibility, virulence, host range, drug susceptibility, immune responses, and/or infectivity or stability. A debate and research “pause” for certain experiments using certain respiratory viruses (influenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS], and severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS] viruses) has electrified the scientific community, with strong “propause” advocates, strong “antipause” advocates, and everything in between. This letter is not about whether the experiments, debate, or pause is good or bad. This letter is about the potential impact of the debate and pause on graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and how their future plans may be affected. Policy makers, ethicists, cognitive scientists, epidemiologists, public health experts, biosafety experts, bioterror experts, mathematical modelers, principal investigators, and others have expressed their opinions in multiple forums, including at a recent meeting hosted by the National Academy of Sciences (15 to 16 December 2014 [http://bit.ly/16o0J5y]). However, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have not had a voice in this debate. Furthermore, virtually nothing is known about how this debate and research pause has influenced trainees and their future plans. The lack of information is a concern, considering that graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are the ones physically performing many of the relevant experiments. Furthermore, trainees are the scientists that will populate these fields in the future. To gain initial insight into how the debate and research pause have affected trainees, I created an informal survey 2 days before the National Academy of Sciences meeting. …
Expanding a Framework for a Non-Ideological Conceptualization of Spirituality in the Workplace

A review of the broad and varying conceptualizations of spirituality inform the critical need to categorize such conceptualizations. One such categorization, suggested by this paper, is a simple division between those conceptualizations which are more closely tied to religion and those which are not. This stance leads to the proposition that nonideological conceptualizations are more suited for the workplace. This paper highlights limitations of more ideological conceptualizations, presents the development of nonideological conceptualizations derived from nearly universal values, and expands upon a non-ideological workplace model.
Solution of Coupled Nonlinear Ecosystem Equations

An efficient procedure for solving an arbitrary number of coupled, nonlinear, vertically integrated transport equations can be achieved by exploiting unique features of both finite difference and finite element methods. A technique is derived that attains this end, and it is used in a preliminary simulation of a marine ecosystem. The technique is apparently independent of stability criteria, and as a result the time-step can be determined by the time-scales of the physical and biological processes simulated or by the time-step of a compatible hydrodynamic model. The method does not require linearization of the governing equations, and the biological interaction terms therefore retain their inherent nonlinearity. The computational cost is determined primarily by the physiography of the basin, rather than the number of component equations. Thus, relatively comprehensive ecosystems can be readily modeled.
Predicting the Presence of an Acute Coronary Lesion Among Patients Resuscitated From Cardiac Arrest

Background— A mechanism to stratify patients resuscitated from a cardiac arrest according to the likelihood of an acute coronary lesion would have significant utility. We thus sought to develop and validate a risk prediction model for the presence of an acute coronary lesion among patients resuscitated from an arrest. Methods and Results— All subjects undergoing coronary angiography after resuscitation from a cardiac arrest were identified in an ongoing institutional registry from 2009 to 2014. Backwards stepwise selection of candidate covariates was used to create a logistic regression model for the presence of an angiographic culprit lesion and internally validated with bootstrapping. A clinical point score was generated and its prognostic abilities compared with contemporary measures. Among 247 subjects undergoing coronary angiography after resuscitation from a cardiac arrest, 130 (52%) had an acute lesion in a coronary artery. A multivariable model—including angina, congestive heart failure symptoms, shockable arrest rhythm (ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia), and ST-elevations—had excellent discrimination (optimism corrected C-Statistic, 0.88) and calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow P =0.540) for an acute coronary lesion. Compared with electrocardiographic findings alone, a point score based on this model more accurately predicted the presence of an acute lesion among patients resuscitated from a cardiac arrest (integrated discrimination improvement, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.04–0.19; P <0.001). Conclusions— Patients with a cardiac arrest can be risk stratified for the presence of an acute coronary lesion using 4 easily measured variables. This simple risk score may be used to improve patient selection for emergent coronary angiography among resuscitated patients.
Transthoracic Port Placement Increases Safety of Total Laparoscopic Posterior Sectionectomy

Background Anatomic posterior sectionectomy is performed infrequently due to the challenges of controlling the right posterior portal pedicle (RPPP) while preserving the anterior pedicle (RAPP), difficulty of visualizing the drainage of the right hepatic vein into the IVC, and the potential for significant blood loss during the caval and hepatovenous dissection.
Spontaneous aryldiazonium film formation on 440C stainless steel in nonaqueous environments.

The ability of three aryldiazonium salts to spontaneously assemble onto the surface of type 440C stainless steel is investigated in acetonitrile and the model hydraulic fluids tributyl phosphate and hexamethyldisiloxane. Competition between native oxide growth and organic film growth at different diazonium salt concentrations is monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. At 1 mM diazonium salt, 70% of total assembly is complete within 10 minutes, though total surface coverage by organics is limited to ≈ 0.15 monolayers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms preferential bonding of organic molecules to iron over chromium, and adsorption of BF-4 onto the surface. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy reveals the ability of these films to self-heal when mechanically removed or damaged. Aging the diazonium salts in these nonaqueous environments demonstrates that up to 90% of the original diazonium salt concentration remains after 21 days at room temperature, while increasing the temperature beyond 50 °C results complete decomposition within 24 hours, regardless of solvent-salt combination.
Eocene and not Cretaceous origin of spider wasps: Fossil evidence from amber

Spider wasps had long been proposed to originate in the Late Cretaceous based on the Burmese amber fossil Bryopompilus interfector. We performed a morphological examination of this fossil and determined that it does not belong to Pompilidae or any other described hymenopteran family. Instead, we place it in the new family Bryopompilidae. The oldest verifiable member of the Pompilidae is from Baltic amber, which suggests that the crown group of the family probably originated in the Eocene, not in the Late Cretaceous as previously proposed. The origin of spider wasps appears to be correlated with an increase in spider familial diversity in the Cenozoic. We also add two genera to the extinct pompilid fauna: Tainopompilus Rodriguez and Pitts gen. nov. and Paleogenia Waichert and Pitts gen. nov., and describe three new species of fossil spider wasps: Anoplius planeta Rodriguez and Pitts sp. nov., from Dominican amber (Burdigalian to Langhian); Paleogenia wahisi Waichert and Pitts sp. nov., from Baltic amber (L...
Research and Application of Wildfire Monitoring Technology for Transmission Line Corridor

According to frequent trips of transmission lines caused by wildfire,which is difficult to be prevented,wildfire monitoring technologies for transmission line corridor are compared and analyzed,and technical characteristics and application ranges of every monitoring skill are discussed.The transmission line corridor wildfire monitoring system for Guangxi power grid is developed based on the satellite remote sensing wildfire monitoring technology,which realizes the wildfire discovering around transmission lines and wildfire alarming during transmission line operation.During two years operation of the system,more than 20 wildfires of transmission line corridors have been accurately and timely alarmed,which has obtained satisfactory monitoring effect.
Institutional Agents at a Hispanic Serving Institution: Using Social Capital to Empower Students:

As enrollment-driven postsecondary institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) must actively find ways to better “serve” their students. Guided by Stanton-Salazar’s social capital framework,...
Floral flexibility: Diversification of the flower.

Angiosperm evolution involves a major transition from spiral to whorled arrangements of floral organs. Examination of the genetic programs specifying floral organ identity in Nigella damascene, a species of Ranunculaceae with spiral flowers, illuminates the molecular basis of how spiral flowers can have flexible numbers of floral organs.
Energy Aware Persistence: Reducing Energy Overheads of Memory-based Persistence in NVMs

Next generation byte addressable nonvolatile memories (NVMs) such as PCM, Memristor, and 3D X-Point are attractive solutions for mobile and other end-user devices, as they offer memory scalability as well as fast persistent storage. However, NVM's limitations of slow writes and high write energy are magnified for applications that require atomic, consistent, isolated and durable (ACID) persistence. For maintaining ACID persistence guarantees, applications not only need to do extra writes to NVM but also need to execute a significant number of additional CPU instructions for performing NVM writes in a transactional manner. Our analysis shows that maintaining persistence with ACID guarantees increases CPU energy up to 7.3x and NVM energy up to 5.1x compared to a baseline with no ACID guarantees. For computing platforms such as mobile devices, where energy consumption is a critical factor, it is important that the energy cost of persistence is reduced.To address the energy overheads of persistence with ACID guarantees, we develop novel energy-aware persistence (EAP) principles that identify data durability (logging) as the dominant factor in energy increase. Next, for low energy states, we formulate energy efficient durability techniques that include a mechanism to switch between performance and energy efficient logging modes, support for NVM group commit, and a memory management method that reduces energy by trading capacity via less frequent garbage collection. For critical energy states, we propose a relaxed durability mechanism -- ACI-RD -- that relaxes data logging without affecting the correctness of an application. Finally, we evaluate EAP's principles with real applications and benchmarks. Our experimental results demonstrate up to 2x reduction in CPU and 2.4x reduction in NVM energy usage compared to the traditional ACID persistence.