cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stratigraphy of washover deposits in Florida: implications for recognition in the stratigraphic record

Abstract Twelve washover deposits were cored on the west-central Gulf Coast of Florida to provide data to permit development of a model to help identify washover facies in the stratigraphic record. Typical modern washover stratigraphy displays landward-dipping plane beds comprised of well-sorted sand with distinct laminae of shells and heavy minerals. Five subfacies are delineated which show variations in composition, texture, and bioturbation throughout the washover facies. These subfacies represent differences in flow conditions during overwash, position relative to sea level, and variable degrees of reworking after deposition. Three shell assemblages aid in identification of washover deposits. Backbarrier sediments composed of shoreface/open water species or mixed shoreface/backbarrier species may potentially be washover in origin. Sediments with purely backbarrier/quiet water shell species are likely to have been deposited independently of washover activity. Examination of washover deposits of differing ages reveals that preservation of washover stratigraphy is not exclusively a function of time. Reworking of small-scale stratification can occur in as short as a decade; however, this same stratification was found to be preserved in deposits several hundred years old. Destruction of original washover signatures is related to the position of the deposits relative to sea level, and the rate and depth of burial. Even after the destruction of small-scale stratigraphic features, washover deposits may still be identified as such due to their texture, composition, and shell assemblages. Key features in recognizing the facies after bioturbation and reworking are: (1) the presence of clean sand in otherwise muddy backbarrier sediments, (2) the landward thinning of the facies, and (3) the presence of shoreface shells or mixed shoreface/backbarrier shells on landward portions of the barrier island system. If reworking is severe and/or there are limited subsurface data, distinguishing washovers from genetically similar deposits (e.g. flood tidal deltas and spillover deposits) in the stratigraphic record is difficult and when considered out of stratigraphic context may not be recognizable.
Unexpected applications of secondary metabolites

Secondary metabolites have been found to have interesting applications over and above their well-known medical uses, e.g., as antimicrobials, etc. These alternative applications include antitumor, cholesterol-lowering, immunosuppressant, antiprotozoal, antihelminth, antiviral and anti-ageing activities. Polyene antibiotics, such as amphotericin B, are of use as antiprion agents, antitumor drugs and against leishmaniasis. Other microbial natural products that show antibiotic activity are used against cancer e.g., doxorubicin, neomycin, β-lactams, bleomycin and rapamycin. Macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin, improve pulmonary function in patients suffering from panbioncholitis. Pigments like prodigiosin and shikonin have antitumor activity, while violacein has anti-ulcer and antitumor activity and also acts as an antiprotozoal agent. Statins, in addition to lowering cholesterol and LDL levels, also decrease elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels independent of their cholesterol effects. Immunosuppressants have many alternative effects: (i) Cyclosporin is proving useful in treatment of inflammatory disease such as asthma and muscular dystrophy. (ii) Rapamycin is extremely useful in preventing restenosis of stents grafted in balloon angioplasty. (iii) Tacrolimus and ascomycin help in treating inflammatory skin disease such as allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis. Artemisinin, an antimalarial agent, is also showing antitumor activity. Other natural products, including those from plants (betulinic acid and shikonin), animals (bryostatins) and microbes (squalestatin and sophorolipids) have a multiplicity of potentially useful actions. Unexpected functions of known secondary metabolites are continuously being unraveled, and are fulfilling some of the needs of present day medicine and show great promise for the future.
Automated Visual Cognitive Tasks for Recording Neural Activity Using a Floor Projection Maze

Neuropsychological tasks used in primates to investigate mechanisms of learning and memory are typically visually guided cognitive tasks. We have developed visual cognitive tasks for rats using the Floor Projection Maze 1,2 that are optimized for visual abilities of rats permitting stronger comparisons of experimental findings with other species. In order to investigate neural correlates of learning and memory, we have integrated electrophysiological recordings into fully automated cognitive tasks on the Floor Projection Maze 1,2 . Behavioral software interfaced with an animal tracking system allows monitoring of the animal's behavior with precise control of image presentation and reward contingencies for better trained animals. Integration with an in vivo electrophysiological recording system enables examination of behavioral correlates of neural activity at selected epochs of a given cognitive task. We describe protocols for a model system that combines automated visual presentation of information to rodents and intracranial reward with electrophysiological approaches. Our model system offers a sophisticated set of tools as a framework for other cognitive tasks to better isolate and identify specific mechanisms contributing to particular cognitive processes.
Diminished Response to Recombinant Factor Vlla in a Patient with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Objective:To describe the hypotheses that may explain a diminished hemostatic response in a patient receiving multiple doses of recombinant coagulation factor Vila (rFVIIa) for off-label treatment of bleeding events.Case Summary:A 70-year-old female with a significant history of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was admitted for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The patient developed thrombocytopenia and persistent hemorrhage postoperatively that was refractory to conventional therapy for ITP. She experienced an initial hemostatic response to rFVIIa after receiving 3 doses. During her second trial of rFVIIa a few days later, the duration of hemostatic effect was approximately half that of the first. The patient then received rFVIIa almost daily over the following 9 days to which she remained unresponsive, ultimately resulting in death. All doses in this patient were 9.6 mg (101 μg/kg), except the last, which was 4.8 mg (50.5 μg/kg).Discussion:Several hypotheses may explain this patient's re...
Collective behaviors and networks

The goal of this thematic series is to provide a discussion venue about recent advances in the study of networks and their applications to the study of collective behavior in socio-technical systems. The series includes contributions exploring the intersection between data-driven studies of complex networks and agent-based models of collective social behavior. Particular attention is devoted to topics aimed at understanding social behavior through the lens of data about technology-mediated communication. These include: modeling social dynamics of attention and collaboration, characterizing online group formation and evolution, and studying the emergence of roles and interaction patterns in social media environments.
Jerry Cohen's Why Not Socialism? Some Thoughts

In his book Why Not Socialism?, G.A. Cohen described several kinds of inequality that would be acceptable under socialism, yet nonetheless harmful to community. I describe another kind of inequality with this property, deriving from the legitimate transmission of preferences and values from parents to children. In the same book, Cohen proposes that the designing of a socialist allocation mechanism is a key problem for socialist theory. I maintain this is less of a problem than he believes. Finally, some thoughts on the “law of motion of socialist ethos” are offered.
Ranking and selection with multiple "targets"

Managers of large industrial projects often measure performance by multiple attributes. In previous work, we developed a multiattribute ranking and selection procedure to allow tradeoffs between conflicting objectives. More recent developments in ranking and selection incorporate the notion of "constraints", or "targets", that must be satisfied. In this paper we demonstrate how some forms of single attribute utility functions can be used to create a target or constraint. We re-analyze our original problem under the assumption that there are unacceptable levels for some attributes.
Patient-Centered Medical Home Among Small Urban Practices Serving Low-Income and Disadvantaged Patients

PURPOSE Research on the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model and practice redesign has not focused on the unique challenges and strengths of very small primary care practices serving disadvantaged patient populations. We analyzed the practice characteristics, prior experiences, and dimensions of the PCMH model that exist in such practices participating in the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) of the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. METHODS We obtained descriptive data, focusing on PCMH, for 94 primary care practices with 5 or fewer clinicians serving high volumes of Medicaid and minority patient populations in New York City. Data included information extracted from PCIP administrative data and survey data collected specifically for this study. RESULTS Survey results indicated substantial implementation of key aspects of the PCMH among small practices serving disadvantaged patient populations, despite considerable potential challenges to achieving PCMH implementation. Practices tended to use few formal mechanisms, such as formal care teams and designated care or case managers, but there was considerable evidence of use of informal team-based care and care coordination nonetheless. It appears that many of these practices achieved the spirit, if not the letter, of the law in terms of key dimensions of PCMH. CONCLUSIONS Small practices can achieve important aspects of the PCMH model of primary care, often with informal rather than formal mechanisms and strategies. The use of flexible, less formal strategies is important to keep in mind when considering implementation and assessment of PCMH-like initiatives in small practices.
Intact mutS in Laboratory-Derived and Clinical Glycopeptide-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus Strains

The mutS gene of the methyl-directed mismatch repair system was sequenced in 10 parent and glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus strains. The mutS gene was intact in all strains studied. Hence, mutations in this gene had played no role in the development of vancomycin resistance in these strains.
Investigating the Interplay between Energy Efficiency and Resilience in High Performance Computing

Energy efficiency and resilience are two crucial challenges for HPC systems to reach exactable. While energy efficiency and resilience issues have been extensively studied individually, little has been done to understand the interplay between energy efficiency and resilience for HPC systems. Decreasing the supply voltage associated with a given operating frequency for processors and other CMOS-based components can significantly reduce power consumption. However, this often raises system failure rates and consequently increases application execution time. In this work, we present an energy saving undervaluing approach that leverages the mainstream resilience techniques to tolerate the increased failures caused by undervaluing. Our strategy is directed by analytic models, which capture the impact of undervaluing and the interplay between energy efficiency and resilience. Experimental results on a power-aware cluster demonstrate that our approach can save up to 12.1% energy compared to the baseline, and conserve up to 9.1% more energy than a state-of-the-art DVFS solution.
Caries lesion development and biofilm composition responses to varying demineralization times and sucrose exposures

The aim of this research was to study the effect of varying incubation times and sucrose exposures on lesion development and biofilm composition using a multi-species biofilm caries model. Two studies were conducted. In study 1, enamel specimens were divided into four groups, inoculated with a mixed overnight culture of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei, Actinomyces naeslundii, Streptococcus parasanguis and Streptococcus salivarius, and exposed to circulating trypticase soy broth + 5% (w/v) sucrose (TSBS; 30 min, three times per day (3 × /day)) and a mineral washing solution containing 0.25 p.p.m. fluoride (22.5 h/day) for 2, 5, 6 or 8 days. In study 2, additional enamel specimens were divided into four groups and exposed to the same biofilm for 7 days, but with variations in the feeding schedule: TSBS 3×/day for 5 min, TSBS 3×/day for 15 min, TSBS 3 × /day for 30 min, or TSBS 3×/day for 30 min + 1×/day for 15 min. At the end of each study, bacterial colonization counts and lesion size were determined. In study 1, specimens developed significantly deeper carious lesions with longer demineralization time (average lesion depth was 52.16 μm, 67.86 μm, 84.91 μm, and 99.97 μm, respectively, for 2, 5, 6, and 8 days). In study 2, there was no significant difference in size between the lesions developed at feeding schedules of 3 × /day for 5 or 15 min. Lesions exposed to longer (30 min) and more frequent feeding schedules (4×/day) were significantly larger than the other groups. In both studies, all five bacterial species were able to colonize the enamel and were present in all groups at the end of the experiments, with predominance of lactobacilli over S. mutans. In conclusion, larger lesions were observed with increased incubation time and more frequent feeding schedules, with small variations in biofilm composition.
The Global Responses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to Physiological Levels of Copper

Copper (Cu) is a required micronutrient, but it is highly toxic at high concentrations. Therefore, the levels of Cu must be tightly regulated in all living cells. The phagosome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been shown to have variable levels of Cu. Previously, we showed that M. tuberculosis contains a copper-sensitive operon, cso, that is induced during early infection in mice. In this study, we showed that ctpV, a gene in the cso operon, is a copper-responsive gene and most likely encodes an efflux pump for Cu. Furthermore, the transcription of key genes in the cso operon is induced by Cu ions and not by other ions, such as Ni and Zn ions. To elucidate copper-responsive genes other than those in the cso operon, we utilized DNA microarrays to profile mycobacterial responses to physiological levels of Cu. A transcriptome analysis identified a novel set of 30 copper-responsive genes in M. tuberculosis, one-half of which were induced only when toxic levels of Cu were added. Interestingly, several transcriptional regulators, including the furA gene, were induced during toxic Cu exposure, indicating that there was a generalized response to oxidative stressors rather than a Cu-specific response. In general, the Cu-induced transcriptome generated should help elucidate the role of the Cu response in maintaining M. tuberculosis survival during infection and could provide novel targets for controlling this virulent pathogen.
Fuel Burn Estimation Using Real Track Data

*A procedure for estimating fuel burned based on actual flight track data, and drag and fuel-flow models is described. The procedure consists of estimating aircraft and wind states, lift, drag and thrust. Fuel-flow for jet aircraft is determined in terms of thrust, true airspeed and altitude as prescribed by the Base of Aircraft Data fuel-flow model. This paper provides a theoretical foundation for computing fuel-flow with most of the information derived from actual flight data. The procedure does not require an explicit model of thrust and calibrated airspeed/Mach profile which are typically needed for trajectory synthesis. To validate the fuel computation method, flight test data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration were processed. Results from this method show that fuel consumed can be estimated within 1% of the actual fuel consumed in the flight test. Next, fuel consumption was estimated with simplified lift and thrust models. Results show negligible difference with respect to the full model without simplifications. An iterative takeoff weight estimation procedure is described for estimating fuel consumption, when takeoff weight is unavailable, and for establishing fuel consumption uncertainty bounds. Finally, the suitability of using radar-based position information for fuel estimation is examined. It is shown that fuel usage could be estimated within 5.4% of the actual value using positions reported in the Airline Situation Display to Industry data with simplified models and iterative takeoff weight computation.
Disease Gene Patents: Overcoming Unethical Constraints on Clinical Laboratory Medicine

The rapidly growing number of disease gene patents--patents that claim all methods for diagnosis of a particular genetic condition--threatens the ability of physicians to provide medical care to their patients. In the past, patented diagnostic tests were made broadly available to the medical community in the form of test kits or licenses to use the patented test. Disease gene tests, however, are being monopolized by a small number of providers. Monopolization of medical testing services: (a) threatens to restrict research activities; (b) creates unacceptable conflicts of interest; (c) may reduce patient access to testing; (d) may lead to inequitable extensions of patent terms on tests and related discoveries; and (e) grants to patent holders the ability to dictate the standard of care for testing, and to otherwise interfere with the practice of medicine. Because of the risks raised by monopolization, amendment of the patent law to require compulsory licensing of physicians providing medical services is recommended.
Using simplicity to control complexity

Improving the reliability and availability of increasingly complex software is a serious challenge, especially in efforts to protect society's critical functions. Is it true that building diverse, redundant systems provides robustness? This article investigates the relationship between software complexity, reliability, and development resources. It also presents a forward-recovery approach based on the idea of using simplicity to control complexity as a way to improve the robustness of complex software systems.
Going beyond the single number: Using probabilistic risk assessment to improve risk management

Abstract Recent efforts aimed at improving risk characterization emphasize the importance of uncertainty analyses and endorse probabilistic techniques as useful tools for performing them. One feature of explicitly including uncertainty and variability in risk assessments is that subsequent decision‐making analyses (e.g., benefit‐cost analyses) can use distributions of risk as inputs. This paper describes how probabilistic techniques can be used to characterize uncertainty and variability in risk throughout the spectrum of analytical tools used to support decisions. Different types of decision criteria determine the appropriate treatment of uncertainty and variability in the risk assessment, as well as the types of other analyses that may be used, and the value of performing them. Key issues discussed include the need to develop default distributions, decision criteria, and good examples for the probabilistic approach, and the extent to which risk assessors should be involved in decision analyses for risk ...
Efficient use of nonequilibrium measurement to estimate free energy differences for molecular systems

A promising method for calculating free energy differences F is to generate nonequilibrium data via "fast-growth" simulations or by experiments—and then use Jarzynski's equality. However, a difficulty with using Jarzynski's equality is that F estimates converge very slowly and unreliably due to the nonlinear nature of the calculation—thus requiring large, costly data sets. The purpose of the work presented here is to determine the best estimate for F given a (finite) set of work values previously generated by simulation or experiment. Exploiting statistical properties of Jarzynski's equality, we present two fully automated analyses of nonequilibrium data from a toy model, and various simulated molecular systems. Both schemes remove at least several kBT of bias from F estimates, compared to direct application of Jarzynski's equality, for modest sized data sets (100 work values), in all tested systems. Results from one of the new methods suggest that good estimates of F can be obtained using 5- 40-fold less data than was previously possible. Extending previous work, the new results exploit the systematic behavior of bias due to finite sample size. A key innovation is better use of the more statistically reliable information available from the raw data.
Attraction of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) and Its Predators to Natural Attractants and Synthetic Semiochemicals in Northern California: Implications for Population Monitoring

Effective management of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) relies on accurate assessments of pest and predator populations. Semiochemicals provide a powerful tool for attracting bark beetles and associated predators, but the extent to which trap catches resect actual population densities are poorly understood. We conducted Þeld experiments in California during 2 consecutive yr to determine how attraction of Ips pini (Say) and its major predators to synthetic pheromones vary from each other and from attraction to natural volatiles emitted from colonized hosts. Synthetic lures consisted of different ratios of the () and (Ð) enantiomers of ipsdienol, the primary pheromone component of I. pini, with or without lanierone, an additional component that synergizes attraction in some populations. I. pini was consistently attracted to either 3()/97() ipsdienol or infested host plant material. Lanierone had no effect on the attraction of I. pini. Coleopteran predators showed a range of responses, more of which coincided with I. pini.Temnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim) (Trogositidae) was attracted to infested host materials and all synthetic lures. Enoclerus lecontei (Wolcott) (Cleridae) preferentially responded to higher ratios of ()-ipsdienol, and its attraction was strongly enhanced by lanierone. Enoclerus sphegeus F. was most attracted to infested hosts and exhibited a preference for ()- over ()-ipsdienol. Our results suggest that preferences of bark beetles and predators for bark beetle pheromones at the regional scale should be considered before deploying semiochemicals. These results are also consistent with a model of co-evolving responses to pheromones by predators and their prey. The roles of plant volatiles should be further investigated, both to improve monitoring programs and from an ecological perspective.
Characterization of Isomers in Solid Aluminum tris-(Quinoline-8-olate) by 27Al NMR

Aluminum tris-(quinoline-8-olate) (Alq3) is the most widely used electron transport material for organic light emitting diodes. The Alq3 molecule exists as two different isomers: meridianal and facial, which differ by the symmetry of the arrangement of ligands around the aluminum ion. Various crystalline polymorphs of Alq3 have been identified to contain one of these isomers. In this paper we present experimental results that show that the facial and meridianal isomers of Alq3 can be distinguished in the solid state by 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy under magic angle spinning (MAS). Our results prove that the recently discovered δ-phase of Alq3 exclusively contains the facial isomer. The same technique is also used to characterize the amorphous deposit of Alq3 showing that it is the meridianal isomer that predominantly exists in the amorphous state.
Automatic Language Recognition Via Spectral and Token Based Approaches

Automatic language recognition from speech consists of algorithms and techniques that model and classify the language being spoken. Current state-of-the-art language recognition systems fall into two broad categories: spectral- and token-sequence-based approaches. In this chapter, we describe algorithms for extracting features and models representing these types of language cues and systems for making recognition decisions using one or more of these language cues. A performance assessment of these systems is also provided, in terms of both accuracy and computation considerations, using the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) language recognition evaluation benchmarks.
The Study of Consumer Behaviour with Special Reference to Business Standard Newspaper

Our research paper is based on the study of overall consumer behaviour towards selection of financial newspaper with special reference to Business Standard Newspaper in Pune. The study of consumer behaviour helps organizations in improvisation of their marketing strategies by understanding the consumer's psychology while evaluating different alternatives and selecting the best one available. The study also emphasizes on environmental factors influencing the buying decision. This study helps the firms to know about the customer's needs and provide customized products as desired by the customers thereby leading to customer satisfaction and boost in the sales. This study also focuses on formulation new marketing strategies for increasing the sales and maximization of profits and improvisation or modification of existing strategies used by the business by providing the customers with tailor made products to effectively reach the consumer.
Levels of Immunization to Rotavirus LLR Vaccine Strains among Children in a District of Shanghai

[Objective] To assess the levels of neutralizing antibodies to rotavirus LLR vaccine strains and the infection condition among children aged 0-5 years old in Shanghai, 2012, in the hope of providing the scientific basis for vaccine research. [Methods] The rotavirus LLR antibody was detected by neutralization test on the sera specimens of 210 healthy children who visited a child health clinic in Shanghai Jing'an District from June to August 2012. The obtained data were analyzed by statistical methods. [Results] The positive rate of rotavirus LLR antibody among the 210 sera specimens was 27.1%, and the geometric mean titer(GMT) of LLR specific neutralizing antibody was 1 : 35.36. To be specific, the positive rate of rotavirus LLR antibody and the GMT were 16.0% and 1 : 28.72 for infants aged 0-6 months, 2.5% and 1 : 25.88 for children aged 7-11 months, 20.0% and 1 : 30.78 for children aged 1-2 years, 20.0% and 1 : 32.99 for children aged 2-3 years, 56.67% and 1 : 54.84 for children aged 3-4 years, 63.33% and 1 : 44.55 for children aged 4-5 years. There were no significant differences in the positive rate and the GMT between the 1-2 age group and the 2-3 age group. The 3-4 and the 4-5 age groups reported higher positive rates and GMTs than other age groups. Also, the 3-4 and the 4-5 age groups showed no differences in the positive rate. [Conclusion] The level of neutralizing antibodies to LLR strains is low in the children of 0-3 years old, particularly in those aged 7-11 months, indicating that they may be the high-risk population of rotavirus.
An Evolutionarily Conserved PLC-PKD-TFEB Pathway for Host Defense

The mechanisms that tightly control the transcription of host defense genes have not been fully elucidated. We previously identified TFEB as a transcription factor important for host defense, but the mechanisms that regulate TFEB during infection remained unknown. Here, we used C. elegans to discover a pathway that activates TFEB during infection. Gene dkf-1, which encodes a homolog of protein kinase D (PKD), was required for TFEB activation in nematodes infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Conversely, pharmacological activation of PKD was sufficient to activate TFEB. Furthermore, phospholipase C (PLC) gene plc-1 was also required for TFEB activation, downstream of Gαq homolog egl-30 and upstream of dkf-1. Using reverse and chemical genetics, we discovered a similar PLC-PKD-TFEB axis in Salmonella-infected mouse macrophages. In addition, PKCα was required in macrophages. These observations reveal a previously unknown host defense signaling pathway, which has been conserved across one billion years of evolution.
A novel 37-Kd adhesive membrane protein from cloned murine bone marrow stromal cells and cloned murine hematopoietic progenitor cells

The adhesion of hematopoietic progenitor cells to bone marrow stromal cells is critical to hematopoiesis and involves multiple effector molecules. Stromal cell molecules that participate in this interaction were sought by analyzing the detergent-soluble membrane proteins of GBI/6 stromal cells that could be adsorbed by intact FDCP-1 progenitor cells. A single-chain protein from GBI/6 cells having an apparent molecular weight of 37 Kd was selectively adsorbed by FDCP-1 cells. This protein, designated p37, could be surface-radiolabeled and thus appeared to be exposed on the cell membrane. An apparently identical 37-Kd protein was expressed by three stromal cell lines, by Swiss 3T3 fibroblastic cells, and by FDCP-1 and FDCP-2 progenitor cells. p37 was selectively adsorbed from membrane lysates by a variety of murine hematopoietic cells, including erythrocytes, but not by human erythrocytes. Binding of p37 to cells was calcium-dependent, and was not affected by inhibitors of the hematopoietic homing receptor or the cell-binding or heparin-binding functions of fibronectin. It is proposed that p37 may be a novel adhesive molecule expressed on the surface of a variety of hematopoietic cells that could participate in both homotypic and heterotypic interactions of stromal and progenitor cells.
Are human luteinizing granulosa cells a site of action for progesterone and relaxin

Specific nuclear staining for progesterone receptor (PR) was detected by immunocytochemistry in human granulosa cells (GCs) obtained from in vitro fertilization protocols. The percent of PR-positive cells (60% to 80%) remained unchanged during 7 days of culture in media containing fetal calf serum, in the absence or presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or the progesterone antagonist RU486. Progesterone (P) production by GCs cultured on extracellular matrix from bovine corneal endothelial cells was stimulated by hCG and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). However, addition of RU486 or human relaxin had no effect on control, hCG-, or PGE2-stimulated P production. Thus, the receptor data are consistent with an autocrine action of P in luteinizing GCs, but initial experiments in cell culture did not define a role for P or relaxin in modulating luteal steroidogenesis.
DNA Extraction from Dry Seeds for RAPD Analyses

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) has emerged from biotechnological research as a practical genetic identity determinant useful in plant breeding, seed production, and seed testing programmes. This report describes a DNA extraction procedure from dry seeds of maize (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), soyabean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) that can be successfully employed in subsequent RAPD amplification of DNA fragments. The technique also extracted DNA from dry peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds, but no amplification fragments were observed following RAPD amplification. This procedure is inexpensive, simple, fast, avoids the use of growing plant tissue, and is applicable to a number of crops.
Wearable alcohol monitoring device with auto-calibration ability for high chemical specificity

Multimodal electrochemical method comprising open circuit potential and amperometric technique has been implemented to improve the specificity of the ethanol detection in a fuel cell sensor system. A miniaturized device with LMP91000 potentiostat and a processing unit has been constructed containing simple auto-calibration algorithm. The developed processing unit consist of a low power microcontroller (MSP430F5529LP). The sensing unit composed of a three electrode proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell sensor, where Nafion is the PEM. In these studies, the signal due to interference has been eliminated with the support of algorithm and multimodal electrochemical method. The results show that the sensor can detect ethanol as low as 5ppm. The constructed device was validated by comparing it with the commercially available potentiostat, and the response was similar in both devices.
Bullets, fragments and bullet deformation

Publisher Summary For centuries, humans have been exposed to bullets and fragments generated from artillery shells and bomb explosions. Over the years, as technology has advanced in the areas of explosive powders, bullets, guns, rifles, and highly efficient delivery systems for bombs, the ballistic threat for police and military has increased. In certain parts of the world, lower cost rifles and bullets are available in the open markets for anyone at a negligible cost. Both police (and other law enforcement officers) and military (including peacekeepers) face these types of threats, both as part of their training and in real-life situations. This chapter discusses the common bullets identified by police and the military, including international agencies working for the safety of police and law enforcement agencies. It focuses on the type of fragments used in laboratory testing in the US and other parts of the world.
The Staying Power of Civil Rights Litigation: Policing Post Settlement

This paper focuses on the staying power of civil rights litigation post-settlement. Specifically, through an examination of Battle v. City of New York, I focus on the usage of civil rights litigation settlements in bringing down an entrenched practice, like stop and frisk, as well as discussing the legacy of Battle itself. Though I do not purport to make any definitive statements regarding the efficacy of civil rights litigation on the whole, I draw tentative conclusions about the propensity for civil rights litigation to break down a widespread and illegal practice. I make these conclusions while focusing on a single case and dealing with a specific issue of law, i.e., the constitutionality of passenger searches under the Taxi/Livery Robbery Inspection Program (TRIP).
Intestinal IRE1 Is Required for Increased Triglyceride Metabolism and Longer Lifespan under Dietary Restriction.

Dietary restriction (DR) is one of the most robust lifespan-extending interventions in animals. The beneficial effects of DR involve a metabolic adaptation toward increased triglyceride usage. The regulatory mechanism and the tissue specificity of this metabolic switch remain unclear. Here, we show that the IRE1/XBP1 endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling module mediates metabolic adaptation upon DR in flies by promoting triglyceride synthesis and accumulation in enterocytes (ECs) of the Drosophila midgut. Consistently, IRE1/XBP1 function in ECs is required for increased longevity upon DR. We further identify sugarbabe, a Gli-like zinc-finger transcription factor, as a key mediator of the IRE1/XBP1-regulated induction of de novo lipogenesis in ECs. Overexpression of sugarbabe rescues metabolic and lifespan phenotypes of IRE1 loss-of-function conditions. Our study highlights the critical role of metabolic adaptation of the intestinal epithelium for DR-induced lifespan extension and explores the IRE1/XBP1 signaling pathway regulating this adaptation and influencing lifespan.
Photonic crystal properties of self-assembled Archimedean tilings

Inspired by self-assembly of binary colloidal mixtures, we simulate the photonic properties of Archimedean tilings composed of triangular and square cross-section rods. Large isotropic photonic bandgaps up to 29.6% (TE) and 29.3% (TM) are found for the 32·4·3·4 Archimedean tiling due to its high rotational symmetry. For each particle geometry, the relative dielectric contrasts were varied independently over the range e = 2 to 16, consistent with the assembly of binary materials. Mode field distributions indicate that the bandgaps originate from Lorenz-Mie scattering for high dielectric particles in an air matrix (i.e., direct structures). For the inverted structures, bandgaps arise due to the redistribution of the mode field into air pores or into complementary regions of the high dielectric material. Equifrequency contour analysis and finite difference time domain simulations are performed for direct structures with high e square rods and low e triangular rods and vice versa. Negative refraction occurs a...
Assessment of an atmospheric transport model for annual inverse estimates of California greenhouse gas emissions

Atmospheric inverse estimates of gas emissions depend on transport model predictions, hence driving a need to assess uncertainties in the transport model. In this study we assess the uncertainty in WRF-STILT (Weather Research and Forecasting and Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport) model predictions using a combination of meteorological and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements. WRF configurations were selected to minimize meteorological biases using meteorological measurements of winds and boundary layer depths from surface stations and radar wind profiler sites across California. We compare model predictions with CO measurements from four tower sites in California from June 2013 through May 2014 to assess the seasonal biases and random errors in predicted CO mixing ratios. In general, the seasonal mean biases in boundary layer wind speed (< ~ 0.5 m/s), direction (< ~ 15°), and boundary layer height (< ~ 200 m) were small. However, random errors were large (~1.5–3.0 m/s for wind speed, ~ 40–60° for wind direction, and ~ 300–500 m for boundary layer height). Regression analysis of predicted and measured CO yielded near-unity slopes (i.e., within 1.0 ± 0.20) for the majority of sites and seasons, though a subset of sites and seasons exhibit larger (~30%) uncertainty, particularly when weak winds combined with complex terrain in the South Central Valley of California. Looking across sites and seasons, these results suggest that WRF-STILT simulations are sufficient to estimate emissions of CO to up to 15% on annual time scales across California.
Abstract IA27: Exploiting the inhibition of cullin-RING-ligases in DSB repair as a therapeutic strategy

While single component E3 ubiquitin ligases have established roles in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, the function of multicomponent cullin-RING-ligases (CRL) in DSB repair is only beginning to emerge. FBXW7 is a substrate recognition component of Skp1-Cullin1-F-box E3 ubiquitin ligases previously known only to regulate the proteasomal degradation of substrates such as Cyclin E and MCL1. Given that FBXW7 loss promotes genomic instability, we hypothesized that FBXW7 may have a direct function in DSB repair. To establish the functions of FBXW7 in DSB repair, we first demonstrated the rapid localization of FBXW7 to DSB sites in an ATM-dependent manner. Subsequently, we found that FBXW7 depletion impaired nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ), but not homologous recombination (HR) repair, resulting in persistent radiation-induced DSBs. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of FBXW7 in NHEJ revealed that FBXW7 interacts with and promotes K63-linked ubiquitination of XRCC4. This ubiquitination of XRCC4 promotes interaction between the XRCC4/XLF/LIG4 and DNAPK/KU70/KU80 complexes to facilitate NHEJ. To begin to therapeutically leverage this mechanism, strategies to both pharmacologically inhibit FBXW7-CRLs and to exploit FBXW7 mutations occurring in human cancers are being developed. To address the former, pevonedistat (MLN4924), an agent which inhibits CRLs via inhibition of cullin-neddylation, inhibits FBXW7-mediated XRCC4 ubiquitination and NHEJ. This activity leads to increased sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiation and represents a strategy that may be particularly effective in cancers with other DSB repair defects. As another strategy to leverage the mechanisms of FBXW7 in NHEJ, loss-of-function mutations in the WD domain of FBXW7 which occur frequently in human cancers are being explored. These mutations render cells defective in NHEJ and more sensitive to DNA damage. Thus, we hypothesize that inhibition of other DSB repair pathways (e.g. alternative-end-joining) may be an effective therapeutic strategy for FBXW7 mutant cancers. These novel mechanisms of NHEJ regulation as well as their implications in the treatment of human cancers with an emphasis on pancreatic and colorectal cancers will be discussed. This work was supported by NIH grants R01CA163895, P50CA130810, R01CA118762, R01CA156744, and R01CA171277. Citation Format: Meredith Morgan. Exploiting the inhibition of cullin-RING-ligases in DSB repair as a therapeutic strategy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on DNA Repair: Tumor Development and Therapeutic Response; 2016 Nov 2-5; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2017;15(4_Suppl):Abstract nr IA27.
Micellization and Single-Particle Encapsulation with Dimethylammoniopropyl Sulfobetaines.

Sulfobetaines (SBs) are a class of zwitterionic surfactants with a reputation for enhancing colloidal stability at high salt concentrations. Here, we present a systematic study on the self-assembly of SB amphiphiles (sultaines or hydroxysultaines) in aqueous solutions, as a function of chain length and composition, ionic strength, and in the presence of alkanethiol-coated Au nanoparticles (GNPs). The diameters of the micelles assembled from SB and amidosulfobetaine (ASB) generally increase monotonically with chain length, although ASB micelles are smaller relative to alkyl SB micelles with similarly sized tailgroups, and oleyl sulfobetaine (OSB) micelles are slightly larger. SB amphiphiles can stabilize alkanethiol-coated GNPs in physiologically relevant buffers at concentrations well below their CMC, with size increases corresponding to single-particle encapsulation. SB-encapsulated GNPs were prepared by three different methods with SB:GNP weight ratios of 10:1, followed by dispersion in water or 1 M NaC...
Enthalpy of formation of uranium sesquicarbide

Abstract The enthalpy of formation of uranium sesquicarbide has been determined by means of oxygen bomb calorimetry and found to be ΔH f o (U 2 C 3 , 298.15 K) = −(43.4 ± 1.8) kcal mol −1 .
Contemporary Approaches to Gastric Carcinoma

Gastric carcinoma represents a fascinating disease in terms of the history, development, philosophy, and future of the field of surgical oncology. Many facets of gastric carcinoma intrigue us: the long-term decline in incidence in the United States and other western countries [1], the rapid improvement in stage that has been seen in Japan as a result of widespread population screening [2], the evolution of sophisticated histologic analysis separating better and poorer prognostic histologic types (Lauren classification) [3], the recent significant proximal shift in the location of gastric cancers [4], the inability to find any effective systemic therapy to improve prognosis [5], and the unsubstantiated enthusiasm for a far more radical surgical approach [6,7] to gastric cancer, including radical lymph node removal, recreating a philosophical trend and surgical strategy of the 1950s long since discredited in all other human cancer surgery. This last feature has led to several randomized trials comparing the extent of regional lymph node and stomach resection in an appropriate attempt to evaluate the revived surgical philosophy and strategy [6,8-10]. The history of gastric cancer surgery and the results of these recent prospective clinical trials reaffirms and supports basic surgical oncology principles.
Principios dialógicos en Martin Buber

El objetivo de este estudio es el de brindar una mirada a la vida, filosofia y relevancia de Martin Buber. En cada uno de estos aspectos, el objetivo es dar al lector un esquema claro y conciso de las caracteristicas importantes de los temas, en cada una de las cuatro areas mencionadas. Buber funda la filosofia dialogica dentro del contexto de su antropologia filosofica. Ademas de la obra monumental, Yo y Tu, Buber tiene otras dos obras de gran importancia en su desarrollo de una filosofia dialogica: “El Conocimiento del Hombre” y “Entre el Hombre y el Hombre”, que se utilizara como una especie de introduccion a la investigacion de “Yo y Tu”.
Linking R&D with Business Needs: Integrative Planning and Communication of Research

A Rockwell international, une planification iterative et un processus de revision aide a integrer le programme de planification technique avec les objectifs divisionnaires de l'entreprise
Abstract 42: Control of Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux and Atherogenesis by the Noncoding RNA MeXis

The ligand-dependent nuclear receptor LXR regulates the expression of genes involved in responses to excess cholesterol including Abca1. Macrophage-specific cholesterol efflux driven by Abca1 has been causally linked to the prevention and reversal of heart disease, but therapeutic strategies for targeting efflux pathways in macrophages have been elusive. Here, we define a novel regulatory axis controlling macrophage responses to cholesterol overload. We identify the lncRNA MeXis as an amplifier of LXR-dependent Abca1 gene transcription in macrophages. MeXis interacts with and guides the promoter binding of nuclear receptor transcriptional coactivators. Loss of MeXis in murine immune cells has a marked impact on chromosome architecture at the Abca1 locus, impairs cellular responses to cholesterol overload, and accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. Our findings identify MeXis as a transcriptional gatekeeper that modifies the actions of LXR in lipid-dependent control of macrophage gene expression. It is conceivable that therapeutic approaches that enhance MeXis activity might augment reverse cholesterol transport and reduce foam cell formation.
Basic Neuroscience Illuminates Causal Relationship Between Sleep and Memory: Translating to Schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia are often plagued by sleep disturbances that can exacerbate the illness, including potentiating psychosis and cognitive impairments. Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of schizophrenia with learning and memory being particularly impaired. Sleep disruptions often accompanying the illness and may be key mechanism that contribute to these core dysfunctions. In this special translational neuroscience feature, we highlight the role of sleep in mediating cognitive function, with a special focus on learning and memory. By defining dysfunctional sleep architecture and rhythms in schizophrenia, we focus on the disarray of mechanisms critical to learning and memory and postulate an association between sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments in the disorder. Lastly, we review preclinical models of schizophrenia and highlight exciting translational research that may lead to new therapeutic approaches to alleviating sleep disturbances and effectively improving cognitive function in schizophrenia.