cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of financial performance of companies with female CEOs and companies without female CEOs

Despite the plethora of research on women serving in senior management positions, there is still a dearth of efforts concerning the relationship between gender and the financial bottom line. The fundamental question remains: Is the financial performance of companies with female top executives, however scarce the data may be, different from the financial performance of those with male top executives? If there are differences, then how significant are the differences, and in which areas? The purpose of this study is to examine the financial performance of companies with executive-level women, those who are sitting in boardrooms, and compare them with those without female executives. Using statistical analyses, this study will conduct hypothesis tests to examine differences in financial performance between companies with female CEOs and those without. Conclusions will be drawn based on these statistical analyses.
THE COMBINATION OF SALTS AND PROTEINS : II. A METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATION OF COMBINED IONS FROM MEMBRANE POTENTIAL MEASUREMENTS.

A method is described for measuring membrane potentials of gelatin-salt solutions, and it is pointed out that such measurements, together with the analysis of the solutions, allow the calculation of the concentration of ions combined with the protein. The values for the combined ions obtained in this way for ZnCl(2), KCl, LiCl, and HCl agree quite well with those obtained by direct concentration cell measurements.
Displacement-based seismic assessment of existing reinforced concrete buildings

Seismic assessment of existing reinforced concrete frame and shear wall buildings is discussed. Building on an earlier preliminary assessment procedure incorporating aspects of capacity design into a systems approach for assessment, suggestions are made towards a displacement-based, rather than forced-based approach to determining available capacity. Based on results from recent experimental programs, procedures are proposed for assessing member strength including column and beam-column joint shear strength, that result in less conservative estimates of performance than would result from application of existing code rules.
Characterization of a ferroelectric liquid crystal-based time delay unit for phased array antenna applications

An experimental demonstration of a photonic time delay unit (PTDU) based on ferroelectric liquid crystal devices and Thompson polarization beamsplitters (TBSs) is presented. High signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) (>96 dB) and optical polarization extinction ratios (ER,/spl sim/40 dB) are demonstrated for the PTDU using an active noise filter technique. Using a 5 V peak square wave switch drive signal, a 70 /spl mu/s switching speed is demonstrated for this PTDU that can be used in fast (e.g., 5000 beam/s) beam scanning phased array systems. A shorter switching speed of 35 /spl mu/s is also observed using a high 15 V peak transitional voltage driving signal.
OPTIMAL DESIGN FOR SINGLE AXIS ROTATIONAL MANEUVERS OF A FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE

An optimization problem for rotational maneuvers of a flexible structure is considered. Both structural parameters and active control torques are to be determined so that a specific cost functional is minimized. Obtaining a numerical solution to the problem is shown to be practical if reduced-order structural models are employed. The time and frequency nature of the problem is discussed, and numerical examples are presented for a single a xis slew maneuver of a symmetric four boom structure.
Response to Comment on “Expression of Helios in Peripherally Induced Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells”

We recently reported in the The Journal of Immunology that Helios is expressed in peripherally induced T regulatory cells (Treg), precluding the use of this transcription factor as a marker of thymically-derived natural Treg ([1][1]). We noted differences in the optimal conditions for Helios and
Effects of Gender, Ethnicity, and Work Experienceon College Students’ Credit Card Debt: Implications for Wealth Advisors

This study examines the effects of gender, ethnicity, and work experience on college students’ credit card debt and reveals that ethnicity, gender, and work experience are important factors affecting the amount of college students’ credit card debt. Male students tend to have more credit card debt than female students, whereas students without work experience tend to accrue more credit card debt than students with work experience. Hispanic and African-American students tend to accumulate more credit card debt than Caucasian, Asian, Pacific-Islander, and other students. More important, the three-way interaction effect shows that African-American male students with work experience and Hispanic female students without work experience tend to amass the highest levels of credit card debt. Financial educators and wealth advisors should encourage responsible behavior, such as reducing existing debt, among these vulnerable groups of college students. They should also ensure that effective educational programs on using credit cards are available to college students and that the educational programs enhance their financial learning and experience of using credit cards.
Glutamate Transporters Contribute to the Time Course of Synaptic Transmission in Cerebellar Granule Cells

Transporters are thought to assist in the termination of synaptic transmission at some synapses by removing neurotransmitter from the synapse. To investigate the role of glutamate transport in shaping the time course of excitatory transmission at the mossy fiber–granule cell synapse, the effects of transport impairment were studied using whole-cell voltage- and current-clamp recordings in slices of rat cerebellum. Impairment of transport byl-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (PDC) produced a prolongation of the decay of the AMPA receptor-mediated current after a repetitive stimulus, as well as prolongation of single stimulus-evoked EPSCs when AMPA receptor desensitization was blocked. PDC also produced a prolongation of both single and repetitive-evoked NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs. Enzymatic degradation of extracellular glutamate did not reverse the PDC-induced prolongation of AMPA receptor-mediated current after a repetitive stimulus, suggesting that transporter binding sites participate in limiting glutamate spillover. In current-clamp recordings, PDC dramatically increased the total area of the EPSP and the burst duration evoked by single and repetitive stimuli. These data indicate that glutamate transporters play a significant role in sculpting the time course of synaptic transmission at granule cell synapses, most likely by limiting the extent of glutamate spillover. The contribution of transporters is particularly striking during repetitive stimulus trains at physiologically relevant frequencies. Hence, the structural arrangement of the glomerulus may enhance the contribution of transporters to information processing by limiting the extent of glutamate spillover between adjacent synapses.
Oligomeric assembly is required for chaperone activity of the filamentous γ-prefoldin

Prefoldins (PFDs) are molecular chaperones with a distinctive jellyfish-shape that have a general role in de novo protein folding in Archaea and in the biogenesis of cytoskeleton proteins in eukaryotes. In general, PFDs are hetero-hexameric protein assemblies consisting of two α and four β subunits. However, a PFD variant called gamma-prefoldin (γPFD), isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, exhibits a unique filamentous structure that is composed of hundreds of monomeric subunits. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the morphology of the γPFD filament and its ability to prevent protein aggregation. A chaperone assay demonstrated that γPFD must be in a filamentous assembly for functional activity and the distal regions of the coiled-coils are required for binding of non-native proteins. Molecular dynamic simulations were used to model the interactions between in silico thermally denatured protein substrates and the coiled-coils of a γPFD filament. During molecular dynamic simulations at 300 and 353 K, each coiled-coil was highly flexible, enabling it to widen the central cavity of the filament to potentially capture various non-native proteins. Docking molecular dynamic simulations of γPFD filaments with unfolded citrate synthase or insulin showed a size-dependence between the substrate and the number of interacting coiled-coils. To confirm this observation, we generated filaments containing specific numbers of subunits, and showed that between six and eight γPFD subunits are required for chaperone activity to prevent citrate synthase from thermal aggregation. These results provide insights into structure-function relationships of oligomeric chaperones and illuminate the potential role of γPFD in its native environment.
The capacity of wireless networks

When n identical randomly located nodes, each capable of transmitting at W bits per second and using a fixed range, form a wireless network, the throughput /spl lambda/(n) obtainable by each node for a randomly chosen destination is /spl Theta/(W//spl radic/(nlogn)) bits per second under a noninterference protocol. If the nodes are optimally placed in a disk of unit area, traffic patterns are optimally assigned, and each transmission's range is optimally chosen, the bit-distance product that can be transported by the network per second is /spl Theta/(W/spl radic/An) bit-meters per second. Thus even under optimal circumstances, the throughput is only /spl Theta/(W//spl radic/n) bits per second for each node for a destination nonvanishingly far away. Similar results also hold under an alternate physical model where a required signal-to-interference ratio is specified for successful receptions. Fundamentally, it is the need for every node all over the domain to share whatever portion of the channel it is utilizing with nodes in its local neighborhood that is the reason for the constriction in capacity. Splitting the channel into several subchannels does not change any of the results. Some implications may be worth considering by designers. Since the throughput furnished to each user diminishes to zero as the number of users is increased, perhaps networks connecting smaller numbers of users, or featuring connections mostly with nearby neighbors, may be more likely to be find acceptance.
Asymptotic analysis of MMSE detection in asynchronous CDMA systems: an equivalence result

We consider the analysis of linear MMSE detection in a CDMA system that employs random spreading sequences. The key features of the analysis are that the users are allowed to be completely asynchronous and the chip waveform is assumed to be the ideal band-limited sine waveform. We show that the asymptotic signal to interference ratio (SIR) at the detector output is the same as that in an equivalent chip synchronous system. Hence, synchronous analyses can provide useful guidelines for the performance in asynchronous band-limited systems.
Abnormal vaginal pH and Mycoplasma genitalium infection.

Study Objective Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a sexually transmitted pathogen linked to female morbidity, but testing for MG is not standardized. We aimed to determine which point-of-care (POC) vaginal tests could predict MG infection.
Adrenal cells in tissue culture. VIII. Dissociation of the steroidogenic and glycolytic effects of cyclic nucleotides and adrenocorticotropin

In monolayer cultures of mouse adrenal cortex tumor cells, high concentrations of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and 3′,5′-cyclic cytidine monophosphate (1.0 to 10.0mm produce steroidogenic responses equivalent to maximally stimulating levels of adrenocorticotropin. 3′,5′-Cyclic guanosine monophosphate and other cyclic nucleotides are not steroidogenic. Although the steroidogenic action of adrenocorticotropin is accompanied by an increased rate of glycolytic activity, the cyclic nucleotides stimulate steroidogenesis without increasing glycolysis. The data suggest that adrenocorticotropin can effect certain alterations in adrenal metabolism by a mechanism which does not involve the adenyl cyclase system.
The West Mageik Lake Sill Complex as an analogue for magma transport during the 1912 Eruption at the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Alaska

We compare the structure and intrusive history of the West Mageik Lake sill complex to possible conduits for magma transport during the 1912 eruption at the nearby Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes (VTTS), on the Alaska Peninsula, to shed light on some of the enigmatic aspects of the 1912 eruption, including its unusual feeder system and eruptive sequence. At West Mageik Lake, Late Tertiary (?) rhyolitic magma propagated along a roughly east-west trend as sills that followed bedding planes and through-going joint sets in the Jurassic Naknek siltstone. This demonstrates the feasibility of arc-parallel transport of rhyolitic magma as sills at shallow crustal levels.
Role of tensile stress and strain in the induction of cell death in experimental vein grafts

Tensile stress and strain are known to induce vascular cell proliferation, a process that is physiologically counterbalanced by cell death. Here we investigate whether tensile stress and strain regulate vascular-cell death by using an end-to-end anastomosed rat vein graft model. In such a model, the circumferential tensile stress in the graft wall was increased by approximately 140 times immediately after surgery compared with that in the venous wall. This change was associated with an increase in the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells at 1, 6, 24, 120, 240, and 720h with two distinct peaks at 1 and 24h (10.1+/-3.5 and 14.4+/-3.2%, respectively) compared with that in control jugular veins (0.4+/-0.5 and 0.5+/-0.5% at 1 and 24h, respectively). When tensile stress and strain in the vein graft wall were reduced by using a biomechanical engineering approach, the rate of cell death was reduced significantly (3.6+/-1.1 and 1.6+/-0.5% at 1 and 24h, respectively). Furthermore, DEVD-CHO, a tetrapeptide aldehyde that inhibits the activity of caspase 3, significantly suppressed this event. These results suggest that a step increase in tensile stress and strain in experimental vein grafts induces rapid cell death, which is possibly mediated by cell death signaling mechanisms.
A modular data link layer for underwater networks

A re-usable software architecture suitable for underwater acoustic networking research has been designed and an initial version developed and demonstrated. The core of the software is a modular data link-layer that includes medium access control (MAC) and methods for discovery, plus an interface to hardware-specific device drivers that connect to specific acoustic modems. The goal is to provide this common framework to the community as open-source, so that it can be used to speed up development and testing of new ad-hoc networks. The architecture can be described in several interfaces and adapters. Three interfaces represent portions of the data link layer (DLL) , logical link control (LLC), and MAC plus physical-layer control. The adapters include one for the operating system, a link protocol interface, and a protocol adapter. All of these interfaces and adapters are described, along with a reference implementation that includes the WHOI Micro-Modem.
Central Causes of Dizziness

Vestibular physical therapy has become a mainstay in the management of patients with balance disorders manifesting as dizziness and disequilibrium. Numerous concept papers,1–20 case studies,21–29 case series with no controls,30–44 and controlled studies45–49 support the use of rehabilitation techniques for patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. There is less evidence supporting the use of rehabilitation techniques for patients with central vestibular disorders. Several concept papers,6,9,17,50–54 case studies,4,23,55–59 and case series with no controls17,23,30,31,33,36,38–40 have been published regarding central vestibular disorders. In addition, 2 textbooks on the subject of vestibular rehabilitation60,61 provide ample evidence that this treatment for patients with balance disorders appears to be very promising (Tab. 1). Only a few controlled studies,45–49 however, have addressed the efficacy of physical therapy for patients with peripheral vestibular disorders, and none of these controlled studies have addressed patients with central vestibular pathology. Articles that specifically addressed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo62–65 are not included in Table 1. Most of the studies cited in the case series group in Table 1 had few patients with central dysfunction, and rarely were these patients differentiated from the patients with peripheral vestibular disorders, making it difficult to reach any definitive conclusions. View this table: Table 1. References for Concept Papers, Case Studies, Case Series With No Controls, and Controlled Studies Regarding Physical Therapy for Patients With Peripheral or Central Vestibular Disorders Overall, patients with central vestibular disorders have worse outcomes of rehabilitation than do patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.53 Patients with central disorders often cannot be progressed as quickly …
Developmental trajectories, critical windows and phenotypic alteration during cardio-respiratory development ☆

Embryo-environment interactions affecting cardio-respiratory development in vertebrates have been extensively studied, but an equally extensive conceptual framework for interpreting and interrelating these developmental events has lagged behind. In this review, we consider the conceptual constructs of "developmental plasticity", "critical windows", "developmental trajectory" and related concepts as they apply to both vertebrate and invertebrate development. Developmental plasticity and the related phenomenon of "heterokairy" are considered as a subset of phenotypic plasticity, and examples of cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic plasticity illustrate the variable outcomes of embryo-environment interactions. The concept of the critical window is revealed to be overarching in cardio-respiratory development, and events originating within a critical window, potentially mitigated by "self-repair" capabilities of the embryo, are shown to result in modified developmental trajectories and, ultimately, modified adult phenotype. Finally, epigenetics, fetal programming and related phenomena are considered in the context of potentially life-long cardio-respiratory phenotypic modification resulting from embryo-environment interactions.
Arthropod diversity and abundance on feral and cultivated Humulus lupulus (Urticales: Cannabaceae) in Idaho.

Abstract The diversity and abundance of arthropods in feral and cultivated hop, Humulus lupulus L., in the major hop producing area of Canyon Co. in southern Idaho was measured during 2000 and 2001 from leaf and vacuum samples. A total of 133 arthropod species was collected from cultivated and feral hop during the 2-yr study. More species were collected using vacuum than leaf samples, but both methods indicated that feral sites were more diverse than cultivated sites. For leaf samples, the higher diversity of feral sites resulted from greater species evenness in feral than in cultivated sites. For vacuum samples, species evenness was similar, and species richness higher, in feral compared with cultivated sites. Cultivated hop had 5–10 times as many Tetranychus urticae Koch/leaf than feral hop; however, no statistically significant differences in the number of T. urticae/leaf on cultivated and feral hop were detected in either year. Hop plants in feral sites were infested with a greater number of Phorodon ...
Motor Control of Extraocular Muscle

Six pairs of extraocular muscles (EOMs) are innervated by three pairs of cranial nerves whose cell bodies lie in three cranial nerve nuclei on each side of the brain, namely the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nuclei. Early studies of the oculomotor system examined neuronal responses of extraocular motoneurons within these motor nuclei and developed a framework for understanding the motor control of EOM (Fuchs and Luschei 1970; Keller and Robinson 1971). Perhaps one of the most significant and elegant outcomes of some of these studies was the proposal for a “final common pathway” for eye movements (Robinson 1968, 1981). Thus, according to the oculomotor final common pathway theory, motoneuron innervation of EOM was independent of the type of eye movement that was being executed. While this framework still has validity in understanding the neural control of eye movements, there have been new developments in the last couple of decades that has brought about renewed interest in the oculomotor periphery and cast doubt on the so-called “final common pathway.” The goals of this chapter are to review ocular biomechanics and motor control of EOM while highlighting new developments and identifying issues that are yet unresolved. We have confined our discussion to the motor neurons and their effector organ, the eye. Central control of eye movements is outside the scope of this chapter.
Abstract 3043: Akt-mTorc2 signaling underlies cellular addiction to HER3 signaling in HER2-amplified cancers.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC HER2 amplified breast cancers are characterized by constitutive HER3 phosphorylation. Efforts to target the functionally relevant HER2-HER3 signaling complex in these tumor cells has proven difficult due to robust feedback signaling mechanisms that restore its signaling in the face of anything short of the complete inactivation of HER2 kinase activity. To study this in more depth, we used a combination of genetic and chemical genetic approaches designed to study the cellular adaptational responses to network perturbation. We find that positive or negative perturbation of any signaling node from upstream HER2 or HER3 down to the two mTor complexes results in compensatory responses that function to maintain homeostasis. The responses to various perturbations are mechanistically distinct, but taken together reveal an uncompromising core topology driven by a concentric Akt-mTorc2 positive-feedback loop buffered by HER3 and PHLPP nodes. While mTorc1 signaling is also subject to feedback regulation, it is not involved in the core topology and its output is not always protected in these tumors. The central role of mTor is consistent with its known functions as a master regulator of cellular homeostasis highly conserved across eukaryotes. But the inclusion of HER3 in this central homeostatic network is a tumor cell anomaly. To better delineate how this homeostatic network is altered in tumor cells, we compared and contrasted the network topology in a panel of HER2-amplified cancer cells with a panel of immortalized breast epithelial cells. Much of the feedback circuitries are preserved across tumor and untransformed cells. But the driving Akt-mTorc2 positive-feedback loop is lacking in untransformed cells. This is due to the fact that Akt drives mTorc2 signaling in tumor cells but not in untransformed cells. Consistent with a central role of mTorc2 in these tumors, knockdown of Rictor, but not Raptor, is lethal in HER2-amplified SkBr3 tumor cells. These studies reveal a key alteration of Akt-mTor signaling in HER2 driven tumors that underlies the pathological incorporation of HER3 into an mTor-driven network, thus putting the HER2-HER3 tumor driver under the protection of this evolutionarily ancient pathway, highly competent at homeostasis. Citation Format: Dhara N. Amin, Deepika Ahuja, Gregory S. Ducker, Paul Yaswen, Kevan Shokat, Mark Moasser. Akt-mTorc2 signaling underlies cellular addiction to HER3 signaling in HER2-amplified cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3043. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3043
Online Steady-State Detection for Process Control Using Multiple Change-Point Models and Particle Filters

Steady-state detection is critical in process performance assessment, fault detection, and process automation and control. We proposed a robust online steady-state detection algorithm using multiple change-point model and particle filtering techniques. The steady-state detection problem is formulated as a multiple change-point problem using a segmented linear model. A particle filtering algorithm with stratified importance sampling and partial Gibbs move is developed to estimate this model. A generic timeliness improvement strategy is proposed to reduce the detection delay. Extensive numerical analysis shows that the proposed method is more accurate and robust than the other existing methods.
Effects of Dimethoate on Honey Bee Colonies

Onion, Allium cepa L, plants were sprayed with dimethoate. Nectar samples collected from these plants over a 2-wk period contained up to 7 ppm dimethoate. There was a gradual reduction in nectar contamination over the sampling period. Colonies of Apis mellifera L. that fed on sugar solutions containing 5.0, 1.0, 0.2, or 0 ppm dimethoate were compared for adult survival, comb building, honey storage, and ability to produce offspnng. The bees could choose between sugar solutions with or without dimethoate; nevertheless, colonies that received dimethoate were seriously damaged at all concentrations tested.
Proximate and mineral content of fast foods

Pizzas, Mexican-American style foods, and submarine sandwiches were analyzed for proximate and mineral composition, and the nutrients compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances for teen-agers. Fast foods can be a source of considerable nutrition. More nutritional analyses of fast foods are warranted and should be encouraged.
Familial Forms of Hypercalciuria

AbstractThe pathogenesis of calcium oxalate stone formation in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria remains incompletely understood. Several lines of evidence suggest that inherited abnormalities of mineral metabolism may contribute to stone formation, including high frequency of calcium stone disease and hypercalciuria in first degree relatives of stone formers, similar phenotypic expression of hypercalciuria of the absorptive variety in several members of an affected kindred, and breeding of male and female hypercalciuric rats increases the magnitude and frequency of hypercalciuria among offspring. The causes of hypercalciuria are reviewed and possible molecular mechanisms are discussed.
Begriff und Einteilung

Gleichungen von der Form \( [tex]f\left({x,y,\frac{{dy}}{{dx}},\frac{{d{y^2}}}{{d{x^2}}}\cdots}\right)=0[/tex \), also Beziehungen zwischen der unabhangigen Veranderlichen x, einer Funktion y von x und Ableitungen von y nach x, heisen Differentialgleichungen. Derartige Beispiele sind: $$\frac{{dy}}{{dx}} = y' = a; $$ (1) $${\text{y' = ax;}}$$ (2) $$y' = {e^x};$$ (3) $$y' = ay;$$ (4) $$yy' - a{x^2} = b;$$ (5) $$ [tex]\frac{{d{y^2}}}{{d{x^2}}}={y^{''}}=a[/tex] $$ (6) $$ [tex]{y^{''}}=a{x^2}[/tex] $$ (7) $$ [tex]{y^{''}}-wy = 0[/tex] $$ (8) $$ay - by' + cy = 0; $$ (9) $$ay'' + by' + cy = d\sin x $$ (10) .
Definition of Conotruncal Anomalies

Conotruncal anomalies are malformations of the infundibulum (conus arteriosus) and great arteries (truncus arteriosus) that have abnormal ventriculo-arterial alignments and connections: tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosus, interrupted aortic arch type B, transposition of the great arteries, double-outlet right ventricle, double-outlet left ventricle, anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries. Normally related great arteries have complete right-left (R-L) asymmetry in the development and anatomy of the subarterial conal free walls, with involution of the subaortic conal free wall musculature and good growth and expansion of the subpulmonary conal free wall musculature.
New Frontier and White Revolution

The one break in the prevailing pattern of US-Iranian relations came in the early months of the Kennedy administration when it appeared for a short time that the whiz kids of the New Frontier might transform ties with the shah.
Relax: A Sterically Relaxed Donor–Acceptor Approach for Color Tuning in Broadly Absorbing, High Contrast Electrochromic Polymers

A family of five electrochromic polymers (ECPs) based on 3,4-dioxythiophenes (XDOTs) (where X = ethylene (E) and propylene (Pro)) or a 3,4-diacyclic-substituted dioxythiophene (AcDOT, Ac) as main chain donors coupled in a random fashion with the sterically relaxed (i.e., low torsional energy barriers to planarity) donor–acceptor–donor unit EDOT–BTD–EDOT (EBE, BTD = 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) were synthesized using direct heteroarylation polymerization conditions. Designed as broadly light absorbing materials to improve overall contrast, ECPs were solution spray-cast into thin films, and their electrochromic properties were measured and compared against the previously reported ECP-Black (random copolymer composed of ProDOT and BTD). These new polymers exhibit enhanced integrated contrasts across the visible region (380–780 nm, Δ%Tint) larger than 45%, the highest achieved being ∼52%, a substantial improvement over ECP-Black (Δ%Tint = ∼32%). Increasing torsional strain of the main chain donor units moves the s...
Gender Inequality and Knowledge Production in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Studies show that co-authorship of scholarly articles in criminology and criminal justice journals are stratified by gender: males are more likely to publish with males, females are more likely to publish with males. Increasing co-authorship has led some to claim that the intellectual contributions of females may be devalued, systematically putting them at a disadvantage for tenure and promotion decisions. Despite the importance of understanding gender inequality in knowledge production, no studies have examined the mechanisms that produce this outcome. Using data from 656 publications in five journals, we examine the structure of gender and co-authorship by testing two mechanisms that may generate a gendered distribution among scholarly articles. Although females exhibit a greater proclivity toward co-authorship with males, we show that this is a consequence of higher productivity among males. The tendency for males to have higher productivity than females in publications actually increases the likelihoo...
Computing with dynamical systems

The effort to develop larger-scale computing systems introduces a set of related challenges: Large machines are more difficult to synchronize. The sheer quantity of hardware introduces more opportunities for errors. New approaches to hardware, such as low-energy or neuromorphic devices are not directly programmable by traditional methods.
Concerted Genetic Function in Blood Traits

The hematopoietic system plays a major role in human health. Two studies by Astle et al. and Chen et al. published in this issue of Cell use genome-wide association and functional genomics approaches to provide deep insights into the role of genetic variants in hematological traits. We discuss these discoveries and future strategies toward completing our understanding of the genetic basis for variation in human traits.
Renal, metabolic and cardiovascular considerations of SGLT2 inhibition

The kidney has a pivotal role in maintaining glucose homeostasis by using glucose as a metabolic fuel, by producing glucose through gluconeogenesis, and by reabsorbing all filtered glucose through the sodium-glucose cotransporters SGLT1 and SGLT2 located in the proximal tubule. In patients with diabetes, the maximum glucose reabsorptive capacity (TmG) of the kidney, as well as the threshold for glucose spillage into the urine, are elevated, contributing to the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia. By reducing the TmG and, more importantly, the threshold of glucosuria, SGLT2 inhibitors enhance glucose excretion, leading to a reduction in fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels and improvements in both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. The beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibition extend beyond glycaemic control, however, with new studies demonstrating that inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption reduces blood pressure, ameliorates glucotoxicity and induces haemodynamic effects that lead to improved cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this Review we examine the role of SGLT2 and SGLT1 in the regulation of renal glucose reabsorption in health and disease and the effect of SGLT2 inhibition on renal function, glucose homeostasis, and cardiovascular disease.
Distinguishing Intake of New Synthetic Cannabinoids ADB-PINACA and 5F-ADB-PINACA with Human Hepatocyte Metabolites and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: ADB-PINACA and its 5-fluoropentyl analog 5F-ADB-PINACA are among the most potent synthetic cannabinoids tested to date, with several severe intoxication cases. ADB-PINACA and 5F-ADB-PINACA have a different legal status, depending on the country. Synthetic cannabinoid metabolites predominate in urine, making detection of specific metabolites the most reliable way for proving intake in clinical and forensic specimens. However, there are currently no data on ADB-PINACA and 5F-PINACA metabolism. The substitution of a single fluorine atom distinguishes the 2 molecules, which may share common major metabolites. For some legal applications, distinguishing between ADB-PINACA and 5F-PINACA intake is critical. For this reason, we determined the human metabolic fate of the 2 analogs. METHODS: ADB-PINACA and 5F-PINACA were incubated for 3 h with pooled cryopreserved human hepatocytes, followed by liquid chromatography—high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. Data were processed with Compound Discoverer. RESULTS: We identified 19 and 12 major ADB-PINACA and 5F-ADB-PINACA metabolites, respectively. Major metabolic reactions included pentyl hydroxylation, hydroxylation followed by oxidation (ketone formation), and glucuronidation of ADB-PINACA, and oxidative defluorination followed by carboxylation of 5F-ADB-PINACA. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend ADB-PINACA ketopentyl and hydroxypentyl, and ADB-PINACA 5-hydroxypentyl and pentanoic acid, as optimal markers for ADB-PINACA and 5F-ADB-PINACA intake, respectively. Since the 2 compounds present positional isomers as the primary metabolites, monitoring unique product ions and optimized chromatographic conditions are required for a clear distinction between ADB-PINACA and 5F-ADB-PINACA intake.
An Inverse Aluminum Battery: Putting the Aluminum as the Cathode

Aluminum has long been regarded as a promising anode for energy storage because of its high energy density and low cost, but its application is hindered by the inability of cathodes to provide reversible Al3+ insertion. In contrast, we show how the use of Al as cathode enables a rechargeable high-energy battery. The battery comprises a molten sodium anolyte and a molten NaAl2Cl7 catholyte, separated by a NaSICON solid Na+ electrolyte. It is operated at 200 °C to overcome the ceramic separator kinetics and to keep sodium and NaAl2Cl7 in the molten state. Because of the simple composition and trivalence of Al, the sodium anolyte and NaAl2Cl7 catholyte together show a high energy density of 366 Wh kg–1, although its voltage is only about 1.55 V and only 60% of the capacity can be realized. The high energy density, low-cost, and internal safety make this new cell chemistry applicable to the large-scale energy storage market.
Complex decorrelation averaging in optical coherence tomography: a way to reduce the effect of multiple scattering and improve image contrast in a dynamic scattering medium

We demonstrate that complex decorrelation averaging can reduce the effect of multiple scattering and improve optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging contrast. Complex decorrelation averaging calculates the product of an A-scan and the complex conjugate of a subsequent A-scan. The resultant signal is the product of the amplitudes and the phase difference. All these resulting complex signals at a particular location are then averaged. We take advantage of the fact that complex averaging, in contrast to conventional magnitude averaging, is sensitive to phase decorrelation. Sample motion that increases signal phase variance results in lower signal magnitude after complex averaging. Such motion preferentially results in a faster decorrelation of the multiple scattering signal when compared to the single scattering signal with each scattering event spreading the phase. This indicates that we may reduce multiple scattering by implementing complex decorrelation averaging to preferentially reduce the magnitude of the multiply scattered light signal in OCT images. By adjusting the time between phase-differenced A-scans, one can regulate the amount of measured decorrelation. We have performed experiments on liquid phantoms that give experimental evidence for this hypothesis. A substantial improvement in OCT image contrast using complex decorrelation averaging is demonstrated.
Rous Sarcoma Virus RNA Stability Element Inhibits Deadenylation of mRNAs with Long 3'UTRs.

All retroviruses use their full-length primary transcript as the major mRNA for Group-specific antigen (Gag) capsid proteins. This results in a long 3′ untranslated region (UTR) downstream of the termination codon. In the case of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), there is a 7 kb 3′UTR downstream of the gag terminator, containing the pol, env, and src genes. mRNAs containing long 3′UTRs, like those with premature termination codons, are frequently recognized by the cellular nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) machinery and targeted for degradation. To prevent this, RSV has evolved an RNA stability element (RSE) in the RNA immediately downstream of the gag termination codon. This 400-nt RNA sequence stabilizes premature termination codons (PTCs) in gag. It also stabilizes globin mRNAs with long 3′UTRs, when placed downstream of the termination codon. It is not clear how the RSE stabilizes the mRNA and prevents decay. We show here that the presence of RSE inhibits deadenylation severely. In addition, the RSE also impairs decapping (DCP2) and 5′-3′ exonucleolytic (XRN1) function in knockdown experiments in human cells.
A robust prony method for power system electromechanical modes identification

This paper presents a robust parametric estimation method of the Prony exponential model that is able to suppress white impulsive noise. The method consists of the following steps. Firstly, the Prony parametric estimation problem is reformulated as a parameter estimation of an Auto-Regressive (AR) model of a known order. Secondly, the outliers of the complex-valued data samples, which are induced by impulsive noise, are identified and suppressed using the iteratively reweighted phase-phase correlator (IPPC); the latter is a robust estimator of correlation for complex-valued Gaussian processes, which has been extended here to handle outliers in the magnitude and in the phase angle of voltage phasor measurements. Finally, the Burg algorithm is applied using a robustly estimated autocorrelation sequence to estimate the AR parameters. The Burg algorithm is chosen over the Yule-Walker technique because it leads to stable AR models even when the processed data samples are of short durations and when the roots of the characteristic polynomial are close to the unit circle, which is precisely the case for power systems with poorly damped excited modes. The good performance of the proposed method is demonstrated on some simulations carried out on the two-area test system. The method is very fast to compute and compatible with real-time application requirements.
A novel non-power-producing fusion-fission breeder reactor

One of the potentially attractive applications of nuclear fusion is to breed fissile fuel for use in fission reactors. A fusion-fission breeder is examined, based on four unique concepts: operations in a non-power-producing mode, a low technology (low pressure and temperature) aqueous self-cooled blanket for breeding fissile fuel, the spherical torus confinement scheme (low-aspect-ratio tokamak), and the catalyzed deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fuel cycle. The breeding of fissile fuel is accomplished by dissolving a uranium salt, i.e., uranyl nitrate, in heavy water that cools both the first wall and blanket. The use of the catalyzed D-D fuel cycle eliminates the need for tritium breeding. The neutron wall loading for this reactor is only --0.5 MW/m/sup 2/, and the fusion power output is --1000 MW(thermal). Analysis of this novel reactor concept indicates a fissile breeding ratio of 1.34 fissile atom/source neutron using a 15-cm beryllium moderator/multiplier region and 7 mol% uranyl nitrate in the heavy water. A typical reactor using this blanket can produce more than 7400 kg of plutonium per operating year. This concept can provide fissile fuel at a cost that is comparable to previous fusion breeder designs but at a capital cost of about one-third that of the previous designs.
The B and Its Decays

Considerable theoretical attention has been focussed on B meson decay in the last few years. Part of the reason for this interest is the recognition that B decay measurements provide strong tests of the standard model of electroweak interactions. For example, the B lifetime and the ratio Γ(b → ulυ)/Γ(b → culυ) measure quark mixing angles1 (in the Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing scheme, for instance) that cannot be determined from the charm and strange sectors alone. Measurements of dileptons in B decay have also eliminated several classes of topless models from contention, while other “exotic” models, such as those that predict b → qll or b → \(b \to q\ell \ell orb \to \overline {qq} \ell\) l, have been ruled out2 by charged energy measurements and by the reconstruction of exclusive B decays.
Is stock market overpriced? A benchmark approach

The fact that stock market is unpredictable does not deter investors, pundits, and academicians from speculating about the next market move. This paper uses multiple benchmarks to judge the current...
Socioeconomic status and inflammation: a meta-analysis.

Socioeconomic status (SES), often conceptualized as income, education, or occupation, is associated with risk for disease morbidity and psychopathology. Recent research has focused on the potential biological mechanisms linking lower SES and poor outcomes; much of this work has examined the relationship between SES and markers of systemic inflammation. The strength of the estimated association between SES and inflammatory markers varies widely across individual studies. Thus, we used meta-analytic techniques to quantify the magnitude of this relationship. To accomplish this, PubMed and PsycINFO were searched for papers that reported on SES and two commonly measured systemic inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Peer-reviewed, empirical papers conducted in non-patient populations were included. Data from 43 papers (N = 111,156) reporting a total of 63 relevant effect sizes were included in analyses. SES, broadly defined, was significantly associated with both levels of CRP (Z = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.09–0.16) and IL-6 (Z = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.12–0.18); individuals with lower SES showed higher levels of systemic inflammation. Subanalyses demonstrated that studies operationalizing SES as either levels of income or educational attainment also found significant associations with both CRP and IL-6. Moderator analyses revealed that effect sizes varied based on sample characteristics and analysis approaches. Lower SES is associated with significantly elevated levels of inflammatory markers of disease risk. Thus, pro-inflammatory pathways are likely an important mechanism translating socioeconomic inequalities into mental and physical health disparities.
Prospective Evaluation of Unprocessed Core Needle Biopsy DNA and RNA Yield from Lung, Liver, and Kidney Tumors: Implications for Cancer Genomics.

Context. Targeted needle biopsies are increasingly performed for the genetic characterization of cancer. While the nucleic acid content of core needle biopsies after standard pathology processing (i.e., formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE)) has been previously reported, little is known about the potential yield for molecular analysis at the time of biopsy sample acquisition. Objectives. Our objective was to improve the understanding of DNA and RNA yields from commonly used core needle biopsy techniques prior to sample processing. Methods. We performed 552 ex vivo 18 and 20G core biopsies in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. DNA and RNA were extracted from fresh-frozen core samples and quantified for statistical comparisons based on needle gauge, biopsy site, and tissue type. Results. Median tumor DNA yields from all 18G and 20G samples were 5880 ng and 2710 ng, respectively. Median tumor RNA yields from all 18G and 20G samples were 1100 ng and 230 ng, respectively. A wide range of DNA and RNA quantities (1060–13,390 ng and 370–6280 ng, respectively) were acquired. Median DNA and RNA yields from 18G needles were significantly greater than those from 20G needles across all organs ( ). Conclusions. Core needle biopsy techniques for cancer diagnostics yield a broad range of DNA and RNA for molecular pathology, though quantities are greater than what has been reported for FFPE processed material. Since non-formalin-fixed DNA is advantageous for molecular studies, workflows that optimize core needle biopsy yield for molecular characterization should be explored.
Guerrilla networks: an anarchaeology of 1970s radical media ecologies

Author Michael Goddard (University of Westminster) is a well-established scholar on European media who has published in several languages. In this monograph, he uses a critical approach to analyze ...
Depression's response to fear tactics: An integration of health promotion principles, eye-tracking technology and clinical tools.

Abstract Objective The main objective of this study was to utilize eye-tracking technology and self-report measures to test the effectiveness of varying strengths of fear appeals when educating about the seriousness of depression and motivate depressed individuals to engage in health-information-seeking. Methods We analyzed data from 117 university employees affected by a range of depression symptoms who were randomly assigned to a low-threat, moderate threat, and high-threat message condition in a lab-based experimental setting. Attention patterns were captured while participants viewed the health message. A particular emphasis was placed on understanding the role of valence and arousal in determining attention patterns. Results Attentional processes induced emotions (valence) and intensity (arousal) and differed by strength of fear appeal, but were not influenced by symptoms of depression in this study. Arousal mediated the effects of strong fear appeals on attitudes toward information-seeking, whereas negative emotions did not. Conclusion and practice implications Until further research suggests otherwise, caution is warranted when utilizing fear appeals that are highly arousing for health education and promotion.
Cholinergic dimensions to carotid body chemotransduction.

Prevalent current opinion depicts the basic chemoreceptive unit in the carotid body as a glomus or Type I cell being a storehouse of several neurotransmitters; apposed to it is a neuron, properly called a dendrite, whose cell body is in the petrosal ganglion and whose axon terminates in nucleus tractus solitarius. Prevalent current opinion describes hypoxic chemotransduction in the following steps: (a) Hypoxia by some mechanism, perhaps involving a change in the configuration of a membrane protein, depolarizes the glomus cell, perhaps by altering the conductance of an ion channel in the membrane; (b) Extracellular calcium enters the glomus cell; (c) One or more excitatory neurotransmitters is released into the synaptic cleft between the glomus cell and the apposed neuron; (d) The neurotransmitter binds to a postsynaptic receptor; (e) An action potential is initiated in the neuron. OUR HYPOTHESIS: ACETYLCHOLINE IS AN ESSENTIAL EXCITATORY NEUROTRANSMITTER IN THE PROCESS OF HYPDXIC CHEMOTRANSD UCTION.