cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Splay faults imaged by fluid-driven aftershocks of the 2004 Mw 9.2 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake

High-precision teleseismic double-difference locations and focal mechanisms of aftershocks of the A.D. 2004 M w 9.2 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake illuminate an active imbricate fault system in the accretionary prism offshore northern Sumatra. They reveal repeated failure of a shallow northeast-dipping thrust fault above the megathrust, which we interpret to be the reactivation of a splay fault that rises from the megathrust at ∼55 km depth and cuts through the overriding Sunda plate. The projected intersection of the splay fault with the seafloor correlates with a recently active thrust fault seen in postseismic bathymetry data west of the Aceh basin. A spatiotemporal analysis of the streaky aftershock distribution indicates that ascending fluids released from the subducting oceanic crust along inherited seafloor fabric may control brittle fracture in the overriding plate. We speculate that if the splay fault was active coseismically, it may have led to amplified vertical uplift of the forearc ridge and contributed to generating the cataclysmic near-field tsunami that struck the northwest Sumatra coast following the 2004 rupture.
A Pressor Response Associated with Drinking in Rats

SummaryWhen angiotensin II is injected into the cerebral ventricles of the rat, drinking and a short latency pressor response are produced. We have found that the pressor response has two components. The first component is always associated with angiotensin injections. The second component, however, is associated with drinking behavior. If water is not available, the second pressor component is absent. We have investigated this drinking-associated pressor response and find that it is not only seen when angiotensin is the stimulus, but also in normal or carbachol-induced drinking. The effect is not due to head position during drinking or hypoxia but it is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system since it is abolished by alpha-adrenergic blockage.We are grateful for the technical assistance of Judy Phipps and to Dr. J. Farber for advice. This work was supported by Program Project Grant No. HI07007 to W. E. H., NSF Grant No. BNS75-16364 to M. I. P. and Grant No. MRIS 7737.03 from the Veterans Administratio...
Elevated platelet in Kawasaki disease and association with serum thrombopoietin,interleukin-3,interleukin-6

Objective To study the number of platelet in children with Kawasaki disease and analyze its association with serum thrombopoietin(TPO),interleukin-3(IL-3) and interleukin-6(IL-6).Methods Thirty-five children with Kawasaki disease(KD) and 25 healthy children as control were recruited.Peripheral blood PLT,MPV,PDW were measured using automatic hematocyte analyzer and serum TPO,IL-3 and IL-6 levels were detected by ELISA methods.Results The number of platelet was slightly increased in acute phase((329.17±111.88)×109/L vs(275.12±71.09)×109 /L,(P0.05)),and significantly increased in convalescent phase((528.54±185.22)×109 /L vs(329.17±111.88)×109/L,(P0.001)).MPV in KD acute phase was also significantly higher than that in control group((8.68±1.33) fl vs(7.78±1.03) fl,(P0.001)).The serum levels of TPO,IL-3 and IL-6 in acute phase were significantly increased than those in convalescent phase and those in control group.There were significant inverse correlations between the number of platelet and TPO,IL-3,IL-6 levels,and positive correlations between MPV and TPO,IL-6.Conclusions Elevation of serum TPO,IL-3 and IL-6 may be mainly responsible for thrombocytosis in Kawasaki disease.
Brief report: Clinical effects of fenfluramine in ten autistic subjects

It is commonly believed today that approximately 40% of autistic children have elevated blood serotonin. The phenomenon has stimulated investigators to attempt to manipulate and observe blood serotonin levels and concurrent clinical phenomena in these persons. In 1971 Ritvo et al. described attempts to lower blood serotonin levels by L-DOPA adminstration and to observe associated clinical and physiological changes. They showed that the medication could indeed produce a decrease in blood serotonin and its metabolites, but they detected no consistent clinical changes in the subjects studied. Fenfluramine, an anorexigenic amine "diet drug" first marketed in the 1960s, was found to alter blood serotonin levels in animals and 5-HIAA levels in man. In 1982 Geller, Ritvo, Freeman, and Yuwiler administered fenfluramine to three autistic patients with high blood serotonin. They showed that fenfluramine did in fact reduce blood serotonin, and that associated with this reduction were substantial improvements in performance on IQ tests and in the Ward Symptom Rating Scale. Clinical observations during the treatment period also indicated increased social respon
Electrode and bacterial survival with iontophoresis in synthetic urine.

AbstractUrinary catheters, especially in patients with long-term catheter requirements, frequently are a source of infection. Iontophoresis has been proposed as a method to decrease or eliminate such infections. Several types of material were examined for their potential use as electrodes in an iontophoretic catheter system. Silver, copper and nickel electrodes did kill microorganisms but did not show longevity. Carbon and gold electrodes showed longevity and killing of microorganisms. Gold proved to be somewhat better than carbon in killing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a broth. Few organisms survived iontophoresis. Those few that survived (mainly Klebsiella in broth), when rechallenged by iontophoresis, did not show any striking resistance to iontophoresis. Our data support the proposition that inclusion of electrodes, depending on the electrode type, in a catheter probably will decrease or eliminate a bacterial population in urine and, thus, may help prevent catheter-related infections and their sequelae.
Rare disease clinical trials: Power in numbers.

The limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) encompass a collection of genetic muscle diseases with proximal-predominant weakness of the limbs. Thirty-two of these disorders are named via the common nomenclature, including 8 autosomal-dominant (LGMD1A-H) and 24 autosomal-recessive (LGMD2A-X) disorders.1 In addition, numerous other genetic muscle diseases, including Bethlem myopathy, dystrophinopathies, ryanodine receptor–associated myopathies, and many more, may clinically present with similar proximal-predominant weakness.2 Therefore, current genetic testing panels targeting neuromuscular weakness frequently encompass >75 genes. These disorders are quite rare, each with minimum prevalence estimates of 0.01–0.60 cases per 100,000 persons.3 LGMD2A (attributable to mutations in the gene for calpain-3) and LGMD2B (attributable to mutations in the gene for dysferlin) consistently are the 2 most prevalent LGMD subtypes in a variety of ethnic cohorts.
An optically-gated AuNP–DNA protonic transistor

Bio-interface transistors, which manipulate the transportation of ions (i.e. protons), play an important role in bridging physical devices with biological functionalities, because electrical signals are carried by ions/protons in biological systems. All available ionic transistors use electrostatic gates to tune the ionic carrier density, which requires complicated interconnect wires. In contrast, an optical gate, which offers the advantages of remote control as well as multiple light wavelength selections, has never been explored for ionic devices. Here, we demonstrate a light-gated protonic transistor fabricated from an Au nanoparticle and DNA (AuNP–DNA) hybrid membrane. The device can be turned on and off completely by using light, with a high on/off current ratio of up to 2 orders of magnitude. Moreover, the device only responds to specific light wavelengths due to the plasmonic effect from the AuNPs, which enables the capability of wavelength selectivity. Our results open up new avenues for exploring remotely controlled ionic circuits, in vivo protonic switches, and other biomedical applications.
Ownership of Natural Resources Beneath the Surface: An Appraisal of the American and Nigerian System.

Regulation of oil and gas laws mostly flows from the resource ownership system adopted by the country from inception. This is the reason behind the sharp differences between the Nigerian and American oil and gas natural resource ownership. Both countries’ legal system, though evolved from the common law have developed different theories of natural resource ownership. While Nigeria embraced government ownership, the United States have evolved to private ownership leaving individuals in control of natural resources. This short paper looks at the evolution and practice, sources of the theories of ownership and its impacts on oil and gas exploration in Nigeria and United States.
Adult Mouse Liver Contains Two Distinct Populations of Cholangiocytes

Summary The biliary system plays an important role in several acquired and genetic disorders of the liver. We have previously shown that biliary duct epithelium contains cells giving rise to proliferative Lgr5 + organoids in vitro . However, it remained unknown whether all biliary cells or only a specific subset had this clonogenic activity. The cell surface protease ST14 was identified as a positive marker for the clonogenic subset of cholangiocytes and was used to separate clonogenic and non-clonogenic duct cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Only ST14 hi duct cells had the ability to generate organoids that could be serially passaged. The gene expression profiles of clonogenic and non-clonogenic duct cells were similar, but several hundred genes were differentially expressed. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that clonogenic duct cells are interspersed among regular biliary epithelium at a ∼1:3 ratio. We conclude that adult murine cholangiocytes can be subdivided into two populations differing in their proliferative capacity.
The utility of monitoring trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-specific IgG to predict IgE-mediated sensitization in an immunosurveillance program.

Background Workplace exposure to trimellitic anhydride (TMA) can elicit TMA-specific IgE (sIgE), which may lead to occupational asthma (OA). An occupational immunosurveillance program (OISP) has been implemented to monitor TMA exposure and immunologic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TMA-specific IgG (sIgG) responses can discriminate between TMA-exposed workers with and without sIgE responses. Methods Serum TMA-specific antibody (IgG, IgG4, and IgE) levels were estimated longitudinally (years 2006 to 2014) in TMA-exposed workers recruited in low, medium, and high exposure areas. sIgG and sIgE titers plotted against exposure duration were compared between workers with (a) sIgG only and (b) with sIgG who developed sIgE. Results Among 92 TMA-exposed workers continuously monitored for sIgG and sIgE, 38 developed sIgG; 11 developed a sIgE response 342.38 ± 186.03 days posthire and were removed from exposure. The average detection time of sIgG in removed workers (159 ± 92 days) was significantly shorter than for actively exposed workers with only sIgG (346 ± 187 days). Workers with earlier sIgG responses of higher titer (mean value 42.25 μg/mL) compared to delayed responders with lower sIgG titers (mean value 14.79 μg/mL) more frequently developed sIgE responses. Hierarchical clustering showed the initial magnitude and exposure time required for detectable sIgG production discriminated between workers with only sIgG from workers who subsequently produced sIgE. Conclusions This study demonstrates the utility of longitudinally monitoring TMA-specific antibodies in an OISP as exposed workers with early sIgG responses and of higher magnitude are more likely to develop TMA sIgE sensitization.
Lattice Energetics and Correlation-Driven Metal-Insulator Transitions: The Case of Ca 2 RuO 4

This Letter uses density functional, dynamical mean field, and Landau-theory methods to elucidate the interplay of electronic and structural energetics in the Mott metal-insulator transition. A Landau-theory free energy is presented that incorporates the electronic energetics, the coupling of the electronic state to local distortions and the coupling of local distortions to long-wavelength strains. The theory is applied to ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}$. The change in lattice energy across the metal-insulator transition is comparable to the change in electronic energy. Important consequences are a strongly first order transition, a sensitive dependence of the phase boundary on pressure and that the geometrical constraints on in-plane lattice parameter associated with epitaxial growth on a substrate typically change the lattice energetics enough to eliminate the metal-insulator transition entirely.
The roles of writing knowledge, motivation, strategic behaviors, and skills in predicting elementary students’ persuasive writing from source material

A core tenet of the model of domain learning is that learning is shaped by cognitive and motivational forces. In writing, these catalysts include learners’ knowledge, motivation, strategic behaviors, and skills. This study tested this proposition at two time points (Fall and Spring) with 179 fifth-grade students (52% were girls), examining if writing knowledge, motivation, strategic behavior, and skills each made a statistically significant and unique contribution to predicting writing quality and output on social studies persuasive writing tasks, after variance due to the other catalysts and reading comprehension were first controlled. Three of the four catalysts (writing knowledge, strategic behaviors, and skills) each accounted for statistically significant and unique variance in predicting writing quality, number of words, or both at each assessment point. These findings provided partial support for the model of domain learning as applied to writing.
Exploiting policy structure for solving MDPs with large state space

Markov decision processes provide good models for many systems, including wireless communication networks. The goal herein is to develop optimal control policies for wireless networks. While classical methods such as value iteration and policy iteration have been employed to determine optimal policies in a moderate complexity manner; they still suffer from complexity challenges for very large scale networks. Previously, subspace approximation has been employed to find optimal controllers in reduced dimensions. Herein, an alternative approach is considered wherein the properties of the policy structure are exploited to determine solutions in a reduced dimension. The numerical results show that this new approach achieves a faster convergence rate with a negligible loss of performance.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders: A Neurobiological Hypothesis

This review covers basic research on brain serotonin, especially the neurophysiology of serotonergic neurons in behaving animals. An attempt is made to relate these data to obsessive compulsive disorders in humans.
Fast Non-Linear Methods for Dynamic Texture Prediction

This paper aims to develop a fast dynamic-texture prediction method, using tools from non-linear dynamical modeling, and fast approaches for approximate regression. We consider dynamic textures to be described by patch-level non-linear processes, thus requiring tools such as delay-embedding to uncover a phase-space where dynamical evolution can be more easily modeled. After mapping the observed time-series from a dynamic texture video to its recovered phase-space, a time-efficient approximate prediction method is presented which utilizes locality-sensitive hashing approaches to predict possible phase-space vectors, given the current phase-space vector. Our experiments show the favorable performance of the proposed approach, both in terms of prediction fidelity, and computational time. The proposed algorithm is applied to shading prediction in utility scale solar arrays.
Your Phone Tells Us The Truth: Driver Identification Using Smartphone on One Turn

Due to the extensive use of smart devices using them to study the driving behaviors has attracted a lot of researchers. This work demonstrates the problem of identifying drivers based on their driving style using smart phones. For this purpose the turns done by the drivers are being studied. Different sensors are embedded in the smart phones which are being used in order to extract some features to distinguish different drivers. Experiments are being done with four drivers and the results show that our system can distinguish them with high accuracy of 92% using only one turn.
A Comparison of Neural Network Methods for Accurate Sentiment Analysis of Stock Market Tweets

Sentiment analysis of Twitter messages is a challenging task because they contain limited contextual information. Despite the popularity and significance of this task for financial institutions, models being used still lack high accuracy. Also, most of these models are not built specifically on stock market data. Therefore, there is still a need for a highly accurate model of sentiment classification that is specifically tuned and trained for stock market data.
Burden of non-fatal opioid overdose hospitalizations on Medicaid

Background: The Medicaid population experienced an elevated risk of opioid overdose death. Higher risks of a health condition or worse health outcomes could mean high costs imposed on publi...
Opportunistic Computed Tomography and Spine Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Study Design:Narrative review.Objective:This article seeks to provide a narrative review regarding the ability of opportunistic information available from computed tomography (CT) scans to guide de...
Optimal location problem for variable speed limit application areas

Abstract Some studies consider variable speed limit (VSL) control as a viable option to prevent traffic breakdown at bottlenecks by limiting the mainline flow with reduced speed limits. However, few studies consider the location of the application area as a design variable of the problem. This paper explains why the location of a VSL control area is crucial to prevent the capacity drop phenomenon at lane drop bottlenecks. We first define two types of stationary states, congested and uncongested, inside a lane drop bottleneck assuming the Lighthill-Whitham Richards model with bounded acceleration. In particular, the characteristics of these stationary states and their admissible conditions are discussed thoroughly. If the speed limit imposed is low enough, the location of the VSL application area is irrelevant to ensure an uncongested stationary state inside the bottleneck. However, for a given range of speed limits, the location of the VSL application area should be designed carefully to allow for uncongested stationary states and prevent the occurrence of the capacity drop. We formulate an optimization problem and show that, contrary to the general belief, the larger the speed limit, the farther the VSL application area should be from the bottleneck. Finally, the results are extended to other types of bottlenecks, such as sag or tunnel bottlenecks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to analytically identify, formulate, and solve the optimal location problem for variable speed limit application areas. It makes fundamental contributions to both traffic flow theory (by analyzing the stationary states for VSL-controlled bottlenecks) and traffic control (by determining the optimal location of a VSL application area). Moreover, the results presented are of practical relevance because they can help to establish some guidelines for practitioners to implement VSL control strategies.
Emerging investigator series: quantifying silver nanoparticle aggregation kinetics in real-time using particle impact voltammetry coupled with UV-vis spectroscopy

The aggregation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as they encounter biological and environmental systems can dictate their fate and transport. Here, we present a rapid, affordable, and robust analytical method for quantifying AgNP aggregation that combines a single particle electrochemistry technique called particle impact voltammetry (PIV) with the strengths of UV-vis spectroscopy. This orthogonal technique, designated PIV/UV-vis, enables the quantitative evaluation of aggregation kinetics by simultaneously measuring changes in the redox behavior of individual AgNPs and spectroscopic changes in the bulk AgNP colloidal solution. We demonstrate that the frequency of AgNP collisions measured by PIV is correlated to the concentration of monodisperse AgNPs in solution. In this way, aggregation can be quantified by the disappearance of AgNP collisions, much like in UV-vis where aggregation is quantified by the rate of disappearance of the localized surface plasmon resonance band of monodisperse AgNPs. The PIV/UV-vis technique was validated by determining the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of 40 nm AgNPs in the presence of monovalent and divalent cations. The CCC values determined by PIV and UV-vis were in excellent agreement with one another and were determined as 43 ± 4 and 43 ± 3 mM Na+ and 3.0 ± 0.3 and 3.0 ± 0.1 mM Mg2+, respectively. Using dynamic light scattering, aggregation was confirmed by monitoring changes in AgNP hydrodynamic diameter and results show a clear distinction in aggregation behavior above the CCC. Further, zeta potential measurements were used to monitor changes in AgNP surface charge as another measure of colloidal stability. Overall, PIV/UV-vis is a powerful technique to measure AgNP aggregation due to its speed, affordability, reproducibility, and potential broad applicability.
Changes in Patent Ductus Arteriosus Treatment Strategy and Respiratory Outcomes in Premature Infants.

Objective To evaluate whether change in patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management strategies over time had an impact on respiratory outcomes in premature infants. Study design Prospectively collected data were included from all preterm infants born at 23-30 weeks gestational age with PDA admitted to the Children's Hospital of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007 (epoch 1) and January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 (epoch 2). The 2 epochs were compared for approach with PDA diagnosis and subsequent management strategies and respiratory outcomes. Results Significantly fewer infants were treated for PDA in epoch 2 (54%) compared with epoch 1 (90%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that infants in epoch 2, with later PDA diagnosis and less frequent PDA treatment, had greater odds of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), composite of BPD or death, and more treatment with postnatal steroids than in epoch 1. Conclusions The change in approach to diagnosis and management of PDA, from a more proactive and aggressive approach during the earlier epoch 1 to a more expectant approach during the subsequent epoch 2, was associated with worse respiratory outcomes, including increase in BPD and in BPD or death.
Genetic and in utero environmental contributions to DNA methylation variation in placenta.

Genetic and prenatal environmental factors shape fetal development and cardiometabolic health in later life. A key target of genetic and prenatal environmental factors is the epigenome of the placenta, an organ that is implicated in fetal growth and diseases in later life. This study had two aims: (1) to identify and functionally characterize placental variably methylated regions (VMRs), which are regions in the epigenome with high inter-individual methylation variability; and (2) to investigate the contributions of fetal genetic loci and 12 prenatal environmental factors (maternal cardiometabolic-,psychosocial-, demographic- and obstetric-related) on methylation at each VMR. Akaike's information criterion was used to select the best model out of four models [prenatal environment only, genotype only, additive effect of genotype and prenatal environment (G + E), and their interaction effect (G × E)]. We identified 5850 VMRs in placenta. Methylation at 70% of VMRs was best explained by G × E, followed by genotype only (17.7%), and G + E (12.3%). Prenatal environment alone best explained only 0.03% of VMRs. We observed that 95.4% of G × E models and 93.9% of G + E models included maternal age, parity, delivery mode, maternal depression or gestational weight gain. VMR methylation sites and their regulatory genetic variants were enriched (P < 0.05) for genomic regions that have known links with regulatory functions and complex traits. This study provided a genome-wide catalog of VMRs in placenta and highlighted that variation in placental DNA methylation at loci with regulatory and trait relevance is best elucidated by integrating genetic and prenatal environmental factors, and rarely by environmental factors alone.
Osteosarcoma Overview

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy of bone and patients with metastatic disease or recurrences continue to have very poor outcomes. Unfortunately, little prognostic improvement has been generated from the last 20 years of research and a new perspective is warranted. OS is extremely heterogeneous in both its origins and manifestations. Although multiple associations have been made between the development of osteosarcoma and race, gender, age, various genomic alterations, and exposure situations among others, the etiology remains unclear and controversial. Noninvasive diagnostic methods include serum markers like alkaline phosphatase and a growing variety of imaging techniques including X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission as well as combinations thereof. Still, biopsy and microscopic examination are required to confirm the diagnosis and carry additional prognostic implications such as subtype classification and histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The current standard of care combines surgical and chemotherapeutic techniques, with a multitude of experimental biologics and small molecules currently in development and some in clinical trial phases. In this review, in addition to summarizing the current understanding of OS etiology, diagnostic methods, and the current standard of care, our group describes various experimental therapeutics and provides evidence to encourage a potential paradigm shift toward the introduction of immunomodulation, which may offer a more comprehensive approach to battling cancer pleomorphism.
The Impact of Political Connectedness on Firm Value and Corporate Policies: Evidence from Citizens United

We examine the effects of political connections on firm value and corporate policies by exploiting an exogenous Supreme Court decision (Citizens United) that lifted long-standing restrictions on corporate political contributions. We find a significant negative market reaction to politically connected firms surrounding the announcement of Citizens United. Additionally, there is a significant increase in the cash holdings of politically connected firms relative to before the event and relative to non-politically connected firms. For politically connected firms, this result is exacerbated by poor corporate governance quality. Collectively, these findings are consistent with a positive association between agency costs and political connections.
Does the Executive Labor Market Discipline? Labor Market Incentives and Earnings Management

This paper investigates the role of outside options in the executive labor market on earnings management decisions. To proxy for executives’ outside options, we use the number of times other firms cite the executive’s firm as a compensation peer. We find that executives with more citations conduct less earnings management. Exploiting the 2006 SEC requirement for compensation peer disclosure as a quasi-natural shock to executives’ awareness of outside options, we show that the executives who should be more responsive to outside options significantly reduce earnings management. Cross-sectional tests support a labor market discipline channel of outside options. Finally, we exploit state-level recognition of Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine and enforcement of non-compete agreements as cross-sectional restrictions on labor mobility and show that the impact of peer citations on reducing earnings management is stronger when there are fewer restrictions on mobility.
Gut Microbiome Features Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Hispanics, a Population at High Risk for Fatty Liver Disease

Background and aims Hispanics are disproportionately affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Preventive strategies and non-invasive means to identify those in this population at high risk for liver fibrosis, are urgently needed. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiome signatures and related biological functions associated with liver fibrosis in Hispanics and identify environmental and genetic factors affecting them. Approach and results Subjects of the population-based Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (n=217) were screened by vibration-controlled transient elastography (FibroScan). Among them, 144 (66.7%) had steatosis and 28 (13.0%) had liver fibrosis. The gut microbiome of subjects with liver fibrosis was enriched with immunogenic commensals (e.g. Prevotella copri, Holdemanella, Clostridiaceae 1) and depleted of Bacteroides caccae, Parabacteroides distasonis, Enterobacter and Marinifilaceae. The liver fibrosis-associated metagenome was characterized by changes in the urea cycle, L-citrulline biosynthesis and creatinine degradation pathways, and altered synthesis of B vitamins and lipoic acid. These metagenomic changes strongly correlated with the depletion of Parabacteroides distasonis and enrichment of Prevotella and Holdemanella. Liver fibrosis was also associated with depletion of bacterial pathways related to L-fucose biosynthesis. Alcohol consumption, even moderate, was associated with high Prevotella abundance. The single nucleotide polymorphisms rs3769502 and rs7573751 in the NCK2 gene positively associated with high Prevotella abundance. Conclusion Hispanics with liver fibrosis display microbiome profiles and associated functional changes that may promote oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory environment. These microbiome signatures, together with NCK2 polymorphisms, may have utility in risk modeling and disease prevention in this high-risk population.
The Effect of Store Image on Store Loyalty Mediated by Customer Satisfaction and Trust

Purpose: This study aims to identify the influence of store image on store loyalty in the context of the Bangladesh retail market. It also observes the mediating roles of trust and customer satisfaction on store image and store loyalty. Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study based on survey data. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The study used a non-probability, convenience sampling technique. Responses from 534 supermarket shoppers were included for analysis. Partial Least Square (PLS) based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. Results: The results revealed that the store image has a direct relationship with store loyalty. The study also validates an indirect relationship between store image and store loyalty via customer satisfaction and trust. Implications: This paper contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge to formulate effective retail marketing strategies which may affect customer loyalty. The results of the study also have a contribution to the overall development of the retailing industry of Bangladesh. Originality: This study envisioned a unique model considering the multi-dimensional hierarchical concept of store image and customer loyalty. Additionally, this study validated the intervening role of trust between store image and store loyalty which is a pioneering attempt in this regard. Limitations: The study would have been made more effective if other variables like service quality, store choice, purchase intention, store reputation affecting store loyalty, etc. were also included. In addition, the use of non-probability sampling (convenience sampling) also restricts the generalizability of the findings.
The Tale of Two Green Islands in the Azores Archipelago

In this chapter we present our proposed modeling, simulation, and IT design approach to enabling sustainable socio-ecological energy systems. We summarize the methods introduced in this book and explain why and how their systematic use could enhance long-term system performance. It is illustrated how enhancing carefully designed IT could enable clean low-cost electricity provision to two islands in the Azores Archipelago. The explicit dependence of sustainable electricity service on data-driven predictions, decisions, and automation is discussed. Major new concepts in each chapter contributed to this book are summarized. Finally, the first-of-its-kind repository of real-world island data for assessing the role of software and automation in an island system, given in http://extras.springer.com, is briefly described.
Multiband excitation vocoder

A speech model, referred to as the multiband excitation model, is presented. In this model the band around each harmonic of the fundamental frequency is declared voiced or unvoiced. Estimation methods for the parameters of the model are developed and methods to synthesize speech from the model parameters are described. To illustrate a potential application of the speech model, an 8 kb/s vocoder is developed and its performance is evaluated. Both informal listening and intelligibility tests show that the vocoder has very good performance both in speech quality and intelligibility, particularly for noisy speech. >
Etiology and Pathophysiology

Initially considered to be relatively benign and uncommon, one-third of patients with psoriasis have arthritis, and a majority of those affected experience a chronic, progressive course [1],[2]. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by its unique clinical manifestations, characteristic radiographic findings, and the absence of rheumatoid factor. Patients often present with focal inflammation at multiple sites that include skin, joints, and tendon insertion sites or entheses. Clues to the pathogenesis of the disease have arisen out of observations that reveal a strong family history of psoriasis in PsA patients, an association of skin and joint disease with class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles, and paternal transmission. Environmental factors such as trauma or infection have also been shown to trigger skin and joint inflammation. The uncovering of the pathogenesis of PsA has been limited by small numbers of studies, the paucity of appropriate animal models, and the confounding presence of a disease within a disease, whereby factors associated with psoriasis can obscure those related to arthritis.
Morphology and Reproductive Processes of the L Forms of Bacteria II. Comparative Study of L Forms and Mycoplasma with the Electron Microscope

Representative electron micrographs, from the study of eight strains of L forms and one strain of Mycoplasma, are presented. A- and B-type L forms were derived from two strains of Proteus, two other L forms were derived from a diphtheroid and from a staphylococcus strain, and two strains (designated as LX) were isolated from L forms derived from a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus and from a staphylococcus. The Mycoplasma strain was isolated from goats. Sections were made of young colonies grown within agar and from parts of surface colonies embedded in the agar. B-type L colonies of Proteus were produced by inoculation of bacteria into media containing penicillin. The large bodies developing from the bacteria and the organisms in B-type L colonies of Proteus, like the parent bacteria, had a cell wall consisting of a plasma membrane and an outer cell wall. The loss of rigidity in the cell wall indicated an alteration in its structure. The A-type L cultures of Proteus consisted of irregular branching masses extending in several directions, of small dense organisms corresponding to the elementary corpuscles present in cultures of Mycoplasma, and of intermediary forms. In contrast to the B-type, all organisms in the A-type colonies were surrounded by a single unit membrane corresponding to the plasma membrane of bacteria. The structures inside the cell membrane, both in the A- and B-type, seemed to correspond to the structure of the parent bacteria, which contained ribosomes and threads of DNA. The elementary corpuscles formed chains and filaments, and, apparently, these corpuscles took part in the multiplication by gradual enlargement. The organisms seen in the cultures of all L forms and Mycoplasma studied, except in the B-type L forms of Proteus, corresponded in size, shape, and structure, as well as in the development of elementary corpuscles, to the organisms in the A-type L form of Proteus. In contrast to the spherical organisms usually seen in broth cultures, the organisms in young cultures of Mycoplasma, which were grown within the agar, were similar in morphology, as well as in the discernible structure of the organisms, to L forms. Significant morphological and structural differences were not apparent between the L forms and Mycoplasma (in cultures grown within agar media) under the conditions of this investigation.
How to Test for Multiple Realization

When conceived as an empirical claim, it is natural to wonder how one might test the hypothesis of multiple realization. I consider general issues of testability, show how they apply specifically to the hypothesis of multiple realization, and propose an auxiliary assumption that, I argue, must be conjoined to the hypothesis of multiple realization to ensure its testability. I argue further that Bechtel and Mundale (1999) go astray because they fail to appreciate the need for this auxiliary assumption.
X-Ray Evolution of Clusters of Galaxies

I review the evidence for the evolution of the X-ray luminosity of clusters of galaxies with cosmic epoch. Such evolution has been found in two independent studies. I discuss the constraints that this evolution places on the primordial density fluctuation spectrum.
Hyperbolic phenomena in the flow of viscoelastic liquids

In this paper I discuss concepts of viscosity, elasticity, hyperbolicity. Hadamard instability and change of type in the flow of viscoelastic fluids.
EVIDENCE ON THE ROLE OF TAXES ON FINANCING CHOICE: CONSIDERATION OF MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

In this study we examine the effect of firms' marginal tax rates on incremental and overall reliance on mandatorily redeemable preferred stock (MRPS). Similarities in the cash flows associated with debt and MRPS, as well as similarities in the claims of holders of debt and MRPS on the assets of issuing firms, suggest that MRPS may be viewed as a substitute for debt. However, important differences in the tax treatment of MRPS and debt suggest that firms that cannot make full use of interest tax shields may be able to finance more efficiently using MRPS instead of debt. The results indicate that, both incrementally and overall, firms with low marginal tax rates rely more heavily on MRPS than debt relative to firms with high tax rates. This finding is consistent with the proposition that firms that cannot make full use of interest tax shields finance incrementally using equity rather than debt.
Dynamic range expansion applied to mass spectrometry based on data-dependent selective ion ejection in capillary liquid chromatography fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance for enhanced proteome characterization.

The characterization of cellular proteomes is important for understanding biochemical processes ranging from cell differentiation to cancer development. In one highly promising approach, whole protein extracts or fractions are digested (e.g., with trypsin) and injected into a packed capillary column for subsequent separation. The separated peptides are then introduced on-line to an electrospray ionization source of a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer for the detection of peptide accurate mass tags that serve as biomarkers for their parent proteins. In this work, we report the use of data-dependent selective external ion ejection in conjunction with FTICR and on-line capillary LC separations for the enhanced characterization of peptide mixtures and a yeast extract proteome. The number of peptides identified in an LC-FTICR analysis of a yeast proteome digest employing data-dependent rf-only dipolar ejection of the most abundant ion species prior to ion accumulation was 40% ...
Quantitative estimation and identification of o-alkyl glycerols as alkyl iodides and their hydrocarbon derivatives

Abstract Alkyl monoiodides and alkyl diiodides were synthesized from saturated and monounsaturated O-alkyl glycerols or fatty alcohols. Monoiodides were separated from diiodides by thin-layer chromatography. Total, saturated and monounsaturated O-alkyl glycerols were determined from the absorbance of their alkyl iodide derivatives at 257 nm. Alkyl iodides were converted to alkanes by reductive dehalogenation and to alkenes by dehydrohalogenation. Compounds in the alkyl iodide, alkane and alkene series, were separated from their homologues and identified by gas-liquid chromatography.
Integrin α5β1 Expression Is Required for Inhibition of Keratinocyte Migration by Ganglioside GT1b

Polysialoganglioside GT1b, a keratinocyte membrane glycosphingolipid, inhibits normal keratinocyte adhesion and migration on a fibronectin matrix. The specificity of the inhibition for cells plated on a fibronectin matrix and competition of GT1b inhibition with peptide RGDS suggest that GT1b abrogates the alpha 5 beta 1/fibronectin interaction. We examined the effects of GT1b on the adhesion and migration of keratinocyte-derived cell lines and correlated GT1b responsiveness and alpha 5 beta 1 integrin expression. GT1b (5 nM) significantly inhibited migration of normal human keratinocytes, immortalized keratinocytes, and squamous cell carcinoma SCC12F2 cells on fibronectin, but not on collagen I. Concentrations as high as 5 microM had no effect on SCC13 or HaCaT cells. Likewise, GT1b inhibited fibronectin-dependent cell adhesion of normal human keratinocytes, immortalized keratinocytes, and SCC12F2 cells, but had no effect on SCC13 or HaCaT cells. Flow cytometric and Western immunoblot analysis of integrin expression showed significantly decreased alpha 5 and beta 1 integrin expression in SCC13 and HaCaT cells compared to normal keratinocytes, immortalized keratinocytes, and SCC12F2 cells. Incubation with TGF-beta 1 increased alpha 5 beta 1 integrin expression and induced responsiveness to GT1b in HaCaT cells. These data imply that GT1b "response" requires sufficient expression of alpha 5 beta 1 and further suggest that the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of GT1b involves GT1b/alpha 5 beta 1 interaction.
English nationalism and the first World War

(1992). English nationalism and the first World War. History of European Ideas: Vol. 15, No. 1-3, pp. 363-368.
Analytical steady‐state solutions for water‐limited cropping systems using saline irrigation water

Due to the diminishing availability of good quality water for irrigation, it is increasingly important that irrigation and salinity management tools be able to target submaximal crop yields and support the use of marginal quality waters. In this work, we present a steady-state irrigated systems modeling framework that accounts for reduced plant water uptake due to root zone salinity. Two explicit, closed-form analytical solutions for the root zone solute concentration profile are obtained, corresponding to two alternative functional forms of the uptake reduction function. The solutions express a general relationship between irrigation water salinity, irrigation rate, crop salt tolerance, crop transpiration, and (using standard approximations) crop yield. Example applications are illustrated, including the calculation of irrigation requirements for obtaining targeted submaximal yields, and the generation of crop-water production functions for varying irrigation waters, irrigation rates, and crops. Model predictions are shown to be mostly consistent with existing models and available experimental data. Yet the new solutions possess advantages over available alternatives, including: (i) the solutions were derived from a complete physical-mathematical description of the system, rather than based on an ad hoc formulation; (ii) the analytical solutions are explicit and can be evaluated without iterative techniques; (iii) the solutions permit consideration of two common functional forms of salinity induced reductions in crop water uptake, rather than being tied to one particular representation; and (iv) the utilized modeling framework is compatible with leading transient-state numerical models.
Wie Jappe und Do Escobar sich prügelten: “Ein Nichts von einer Geschichte”?

(1995). Wie Jappe und Do Escobar sich prugelten: “Ein Nichts von einer Geschichte”? The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 70, No. 4, pp. 138-144.
Subsurface photodisruption in pig skin as monitored by high-frequency ultrasound

For diagnostic or therapeutic technologies using femtosecond laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) in turbid biological tissues, pulses of sufficient fluence must be delivered to the site of interest. As light attenuates and diffuses rapidly due to wavelength-dependent absorption and scattering, it is important to develop penetration optimization schemes. In this study, we use a high frequency (50MHz) ultrasonic technique to investigate the precision and penetration depth limitations of infrared femtosecond laser-induced photodisruption in excised pig skin. Optical parameters varied include laser fluence (energy density in J/cm 2 ) and focusing numerical aperture. Our ultrasonic method uses sensitive detection of laser-induced bubbles to measure breakdown extent. Using a geometrically focused Nd:Glass laser (1053 nm, 800 fs) source, we show that acoustically detectable bubbles can be produced as deep as 900 um into excised porcine skin. As penetration exceeds several hundred microns, however, multiple bubbles stacked at different depths can be produced with a single laser excitation. Secondary bubble creation is more likely at supra-threshold fluences or with low NA (≤ 0.4) focusing, where optical self-focusing may occur near threshold fluences. However, as the numerical aperture is increased (> 0.4) for deeper focusing, aberrations can severely distort the beam, increasing the perceived LIOB-threshold with maximal penetrations of less than 500um. Using an index matching fluid (i.e. aqueous glycerol solutions) to help reduce scattering, we are able to improve penetration. However, multiple breakdown sites and the corresponding reduction in precision is still likely in skin even with glycerol treatment.
The law of constant rejection

Improvements in analytical technique, study of multielement partitioning in natural systems, and improvements in ionic radius values have permitted construction of Onuma diagrams, in which the logarithm of partition coefficient is plotted versus ionic radius. The optimum radii, corresponding to crystallographic sites, do change in response to changes in major element composition for any particular mineral-type. In natural systems elements compete for sites rather than substituting for another element. It is proposed on empirical grounds, for equilibrium ionic bonding, that Onuma diagram curves for a particular lattice site are parabolic near optimum radius, linear elsewhere, parallel for different valences, and mirror images on opposite sides of optimum. Deviations may be due to overlapping peaks, liquid structure, polyvalence, bonding differences, contamination, kinetics, alteration, etc. However, dominant crystal-chemical control is indicated.