cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromatin regulators of genomic imprinting

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon in which genes are expressed monoallelically in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Each chromosome is imprinted with its parental identity. Here we will discuss the nature of this imprinting mark. DNA methylation has a well-established central role in imprinting, and the details of DNA methylation dynamics and the mechanisms that target it to imprinted loci are areas of active investigation. However, there is increasing evidence that DNA methylation is not solely responsible for imprinted expression. At the same time, there is growing appreciation for the contributions of post-translational histone modifications to the regulation of imprinting. The integration of our understanding of these two mechanisms is an important goal for the future of the imprinting field. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin and epigenetic regulation of animal development.
Projector augmented wave formulation of Hartree-Fock calculations of electronic structure

The projector augmented wave (PAW) formalism developed by Bl\"ochl [Phys. Rev. B 50, 17953 (1994)] has been demonstrated to be an accurate and efficient pseudopotential-like scheme for electronic-structure calculations within density-functional theory. We have extended this formalism to treat the integral-differential equations of Hartree-Fock (HF) theory, demonstrating that the PAW-HF method is able to calculate valence energies with the same accuracy as the frozen-core orbital approximation. We show that for some elements, electrons in core states provide significant contributions to the valence exchange energy and we develop schemes for incorporating their effects into the PAW-HF formalism.
Identification of direct competition for, and indirect influences on, striatal muscarinic cholinergic receptors: in vivo [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding in rats.

Abstract [ 3 H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binds to specific muscarinic receptors of rat striatum, in vivo. The binding is saturable and displaceable by muscarinic drugs. Clozapine and thioridazine are unique antipsychotic agents with low liability for extra-pyramidal side-effects, and both displaced QNB, while several other neuroleptics did not. In addition to this apparent direct competition for cholinergic receptors, morphine and amphetamine increased QNB binding by indirect influences on muscarinic receptors. In vivo QNB binding not only confirms in vitro findings, but it also detects indirect, probably transsynaptic, alterations of muscarinic cholinergic receptor dynamics.
The management challenge of Grand Anse Beach erosion, Grenada, West Indies

Abstract This paper summarizes the efforts of the Organization of American States Department of Regional Development (OAS/DRD) to assist the Government of Grenada in planning for the management of the Grand Anse Beach area, the Island's most important tourism asset. The quality of the beach and its nearshore reef system have decreased in recent years primarily due to mismanagement of upland areas in the watershed. The paper identifies several inter-related land use management problems and presents a policy and institutional framework for addressing integrated coastal zone management for Grand Anse and for other beach areas in the country.
The occurrence of chaetognaths, pteropods and euphausiids in relation to deep flow reversals in the Straits of Florida

Abstract Distributions of chaetognaths, euthecosomatous pteropods and euphausiids were examined in relation to deep flow reversals in the Florida Straits off Miami during four 3- to 10-day periods in 1972 to 1974. Species occurrences were evaluated in terms of the known horizontal and vertical ranges of each species and compared with simultaneously observed physical data. Neritic chaetognaths and epipelagic pteropods and chaetognaths frequently occurred with mesopelagic and meso-bathypelagic forms during pulses of deep southwestward flow indicating a downward movement of shallow oceanic waters. The data are consistent with the postulated presence of downwelling along the lower edge of the thermal front roughly defined by the 10 to 15°C isotherms. The relative fractions of epipelagic species found below 600 m and the presence of certain species e.g. Sagitta tenuis and Eukrohnia hamata , suggest that the deep water consists of a mixture of coastal, shallow oceanic, and deep oceanic waters from both local and northern regions.
Algorithms, software and sequential optimal sampling schedule designs for pharmacokinetic and physiologic experiments

Abstract The problem of designing optimal blood sampling protocols for kinetic experiments in pharmacology, physiology and medicine is briefly described, followed by a presentation of several interesting results based on sequentially optimized studies we have performed in more than 75 laboratory animals. Experiences with different algorithms and design software are also presented. The overall approach appears to be highly efficacious, from the standpoints of both laboratory economics and resulting model accuracy. Optimal sampling schedules (OSS) have a number of different time points equal to the number of unknown parameters for a popular class of models. Replication rather than distribution of samples provide maximum accuracy when additional sampling is feasible; and specific replicates can be used to weight some parameter accuracies more than others, even when a D-optimality criterion is used. Our sequential experiment scheme often converged in 1 step and resulting optimal sampling schedules were reasonably robust, allowing for biological variation among the animals studied.
STALKING THE “AHA” FACTOR IN PRODUCT INNOVATION—ACCIDENT OR DESIGN?

After all is said about new product strategy, we are still faced with the elusive prospect of generating a successful idea. Where do we look? How do ideas happen? Can they be made to occur? And, how do we know at the outset that the concepts we create will bring us into the winner's circle? Let's get down to fundamentals. Our quest is usually success driven. If that is so, the scenario is product turnaround or next generation, and that requires product innovation, and that can come from idea management. Success centers around the prospect of having a better and presumably profitable mousetrap in the right place at the right time. How can we devise strategies for dreaming up such a mouse‐trap? Can we chart a direct path from the present to some undefined product configuration in the future? For the most part that process in industry is often chancy or subject to happenstance. Management mindset sometimes presumes that in some strange way the right ideas and concepts will come forth from within the organization, although it is generally not known how this is to be achieved. We often rely on the belief or hope that a solution will emerge which will achieve an innovative “aha” breakthrough that will increase the prospects for product success. Leaving aside inspiration, wishful thinking, hunch, luck, and other subjective approaches, I would like to identify a few ways by which the “aha” factor might be more aggressively pursued and more consistently bagged.
Glucose effects on memory: behavioral and pharmacological characteristics.

Recent findings indicate that post-training glucose injections can modulate memory storage for inhibitory (passive) avoidance training. Experiment I extended these findings to determine whether glucose, like other memory modulating treatments, enhances memory storage when administered after training with low footshock and impairs memory storage after high footshock training. In Experiment I, male Sprague—Dawley rats were trained in a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task using either a brief footshock (0.5 mA, 0.7 s) or slightly more intense footshock kept on until escape (0.7 mA, mean escape latency = 3.4 s). Immediately after training, each rat received a subcutaneous injection of glucose (100 mg/kg). When tested for retention performance 24 h later, the glucose-injected animals exhibited enhanced retention performance for low footshock training and impaired retention for high footshock training. Experiment II determined whether pretreatment with adrenergic antagonists blocked the effects of glucose on memory. Pretreatment with the α- or β-adrenergic receptor antagonists, phenoxybenzamine, or propranolol, respectively, had no effect on acquisition or retention in animals trained with the brief footshock and did not affect glucose facilitation of that memory. In animals trained to escape footshock, phenoxybenzamine did not attenuate the amnesia produced by glucose. Propranolol-pretreated animals had impaired retention whether or not they received post-training amnestic injections of glucose; glucose had no effect on retention in these amnestic animals. These findings add further support to the view that glucose release after training and treatment may represent a physiological response subsequent to epinephrine release in modulating memory storage processing.
Pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the lumbar dorsal root ganglion in patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study

Background No proof of efficacy, in the form of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), exists to support pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) for chronic lumbar radicular (CLR) pain. We determined the feasibility of a larger trial (primary objective), and also explored the efficacy of PRF in decreasing pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) and improving the Oswestry Disability Index. Methods This was a single-center, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded RCT. Patients were randomized to a placebo group (needle placement) or a treatment group (PRF at 42°C for 120 seconds to the DRG). Patients were followed up for 3 months post procedure. Outcomes with regard to pain, Oswestry Disability Index score, and side effects were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Results Over 15 months, 350 potential patients were identified and 56 were assessed for eligibility. Fifteen of them did not meet the selection criteria. Of the 41 eligible patients, 32 (78%) were recruited. One patient opted out before intervention. Three patients were lost to follow-up at 3 months. Mean VAS differences were not significantly different at 4 weeks (-0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.29, 1.57) or at 3 months (-0.76, 95% CI, -3.14, 1.61). The difference in mean Oswestry Disability Index score was also not significantly different at 4 weeks (-2%, 95% CI, -14%, 10%) or 3 months (-7%, 95% CI, -21%, 6%). There were no major side effects. Six of 16 patients in the PRF group and three of 15 in the placebo group showed a >50% decrease in VAS score. Conclusion The recruitment rate was partially successful. At 3 months, the relative success of PRF-DRG was small. A large-scale trial to establish efficacy is not practically feasible considering the small effect size, which would necessitate recruitment of a challengingly large number of participants over a number of years. Until clear parameters for application of PRF are established, clinicians will need to use their individual judgment regarding its clinical applicability, given the present evidence.
A simple alternative to the likelihood ratio test in a logistic discrimination problem

We consider the problem of hypothesis-testing under a logistic model with two dichotomous independent variables. In particular, we consider the case in which the coefficients β1, and β2 of these variables are known on an a priori basis to not be of opposite sign. For this situation we show that there exists a simple nonparametric altenative to the likelihood ratio test for testing H0: β1 = β2 = 0 VS.H1 at least one β1 = 0. We find the asympotic relative efficiency of this test and show that it exceeds 0.90 under a wide range of conditions. We also given an example.
Release of specific protease during mitotic cycle of L5178Y murine leukaemic cells by sublethal autolysis

SUBLETHAL autolysis is postulated to be the process by which degradative enzymes may modify cell plasma membrane macromolecules without causing cell death1,2. Malignant or virally transformed cells can be agglutinated by various agglutinins; their untransformed counterparts are not agglutinated, but normal cells become agglutinable upon mild treatment of the cells with a proteolytic enzyme3. Therefore, elevated levels of degradative enzymes may be important for maintenance of the malignant or transformed state through sublethal autolysis, which constantly modifies cell plasma membrane surfaces. This report shows that L5178Y cells release small amounts of a protease active at pH 7.8 and that release of this enzyme is almost exclusively in the M period of the L5178Y mitotic cycle. Rubin4 reported that small amounts of trypsin or Pronase produced an overgrowth phenomenon in cells; that is, contact-inhibited cells were released from contact inhibition and proceeded through a subsequent round of mitosis. Rubin4 has also isolated from cells infected with Rous sarcoma virus a similar non-dialysable, thermolabile overgrowth-stimulating factor.
Generating Code from Scenario and State Based Models to Address Crosscutting Concerns

Core application concerns are often modeled using either scenarios or state machines. Crosscutting concerns can also be modeled using either scenarios or state machines. Both scenario and state machine models can be used to generate code. When core and crosscutting concern models are the same type it is relatively straightforward to weave them together and generate code. However, when they are of dissimilar types a new approach must be taken. This paper describes how a core concern modeled as a scenario can be used with a crosscutting concern modeled with a state machine (and vice versa) to generate code.
Reduction of noise-induced streak artifacts in X-ray computed tomography through penalized-likelihood sinogram smoothing

We present a statistically principled sinogram smoothing approach for X-ray computed tomography (CT) with the intent of reducing noise-induced streak artifacts. Noise-induced streak artifacts arise in CT when some subset of the transmission measurements capture relatively few photons because of high attenuation along the measurement lines. Attempts to reduce these artifacts have focused on the use of adaptive filters that attempt to tailor the degree of smoothing to the local noise levels in the measurements. While these approaches involve loose consideration of the measurement statistics to determine smoothing levels, they are not explicitly statistical methods in that they do not explicitly model the statistical distribution of the measurement data. In this work, we present an explicitly statistical approach to sinogram smoothing in the presence of photon-starved measurements. It is an extension of a nonparametric sinogram smoothing approach using penalized Poisson likelihood functions that we have previously developed for emission tomography. Because the approach explicitly models the data statistics it is naturally adaptive - it will smooth more variable measurements more heavily than it does less variable measurements. We find that it significantly reduces streak artifacts and noise levels without comprising image resolution.
Genetic-epigenetic interaction in lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a genetically complex autoimmune disease. A large body of evidence suggests an important role for epigenetic variation, particularly DNA methylation changes, in the pathogenesis of lupus. We recently performed a comprehensive evaluation of the DNA methylome in lupus T cells and identified a number of differentially methylated loci that can contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. By analyzing the interaction between genetic risk, T-cell DNA demethylation, and the SLEDAI scores, we demonstrated that the (genetic risk)/(T-cell DNA methylation) ratio increased directly with disease activity in lupus patients. Furthermore, men with lupus require a higher genetic risk and/or lower T-cell DNA methylation levels to achieve a lupus flare of equal severity to women, suggesting genetic-epigenetic interaction in explaining the sex bias in lupus. We have also established the genetic region containing methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) as a lupus susceptibility locus. MeCp-2 is a key transcription factor critically involved in regulating the expression of methylation-sensitive genes, and directly recruits DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). Indeed, recent data from our group demonstrate that the lupus-associated variants in MECP2 induce DNA methylation changes in key inflammatory genes. Our data suggest that efforts to study genetic-epigenetic interactions in lupus will further our understanding of the disease pathogenesis and might help to explain, at least in part, the missing heritability in lupus.
Performance impact of imitation in Multi-Objective Security Service Provisioning

This paper presents the results of a case study conducted by author in order to provide evidence in support of the notion that the use of imitation (recall) has a positive impact on dynamic selection of cryptographic algorithms in Multi-Objective Security Service Provisioning (MOSSP) applications. The case study included the use of a full-scale proof-of-concept prototype designed and developed by author using Microsoft. NET. The prototype was equipped with Runtime Optimal Cryptographic Algorithm Selector (ROCAS) engine that chose provider ciphers by either exploration using a hybrid Genetic Algorithm (GA) or imitation (recall) via the history of past decisions. In the case of hybrid GA, ROCAS used Weighted Metric Method to find optimal providers (servers) ciphers with security, speed, and energy attributes for a diverse array of security services demanded by requesters (clients) with often competing security, speed, and energy objectives. The results of hybrid GA's optimal cipher selections were written to DBMS to be used in future recall. As in biological life, the results of the case study show that the use of imitation (recall), i.e. bypassing the hybrid GA's search and selection process, has a positive impact on performance of MOSSP applications.
Temporal genetic variation of mitochondrial DNA and the female effective population size of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

We studied genetic drift of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype frequencies in a natural population of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) from the northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The amount of genetic drift observed across temporally adjacent year classes (1986–89) was used to estimate variance effective (female) population size (Nef). Nef was estimated to be 14 308 and the ratio of female effective size to adult female census size was approximately 0.004, which is among the lowest value reported for vertebrate animals. Low effective size relative to census size among red drum in the northern Gulf may result from yearly fluctuations in the number of breeding females, high variance in female reproductive success, or both. Despite low genetic effective size relative to census size, the genetic effective population size of red drum in the northern Gulf appears sufficiently large to preclude potentially deleterious effects of inbreeding.
Effect of repeated haloperidol administration on phencyclidine discrimination in rats.

Abstract Wiley, Jenny L.: Effects of repeated haloperidol administration on phencyclidine discrimination in rats. Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. & Biol. Psychiat. 1995, 19(4): 699–711. 1. 1. Previous research has shown that acute doses of haloperidol block many of themotor stimulatory effects of phencyclidine (PCP) and other PCP-like drugs. In addition, when given acutely, haloperidol produces partial attenuation of PCP's discriminative stimulus effects in rats. 2. 2. Haloperidol is often administered chronically in clinical situations; hence, it is important to investigate the effects of repeated, as well as acute, dosing with this drug. 3. 3. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of repeated administration of haloperidol on PCP discrimination in rats. Rats were trained to discriminate PCP (2.0 mg/kg) from saline in a two-lever drug discrimination procedure and were tested with cumulative doses of PCP before and after repeated administration of saline and of haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg/day). 4. 4. Discrimination training was suspended during the two 14–15-day repeated dosing regimens. Suspended training with repeated saline administration had little effect on the dose-effect curve for % PCP-lever responding. 5. 5. Repeated administration of haloperidol produced some diminution of PCP discrimination. After haloperidol, the ED 50 for % PCP-lever responding was 1.4 mg/kg, compared to the pre-haloperidol ED 50 of 0.7 mg/kg. 6. 6. These results are consistent with those of acute dosing studies with haloperidol in PCP-trained rats and suggest that repeated administration of haloperidol may disrupt PCP's discriminative stimulus effects, although most rats were still able to discriminate the higher doses of PCP.
Moments and characteristic polynomials for square lattice graphs

The method of moments is used to derive closed analytical expressions for the characteristic polynomials of square lattice graphs. We obtain exact analytical formulae for three-dimensional cubic lattices, square lattices, tubular square lattices, and cylindrical square lattices containing any number of vertices.
Hyaline globules in mammary myofibroblastoma: a case report.

A 52-year-old otherwise healthy woman presented with a solitary firm mass in the right breast. Histopathological evaluation of the 1.5-cm mass showed a mammary myofibroblastoma of the conventional spindle-cell type. High-power examination of hematoxylin–eosin-stained sections showed round, eosinophilic, intracytoplasmic, as well as extracellular, hyaline globules. These 5- to 20-µm globules appeared gray with a pinkish rim on Masson’s trichrome stain. Immunohistochemically, the hyaline globules were strongly reactive with smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, desmin, and caldesmon. Histologically similar inclusion bodies have been reported in phylloides tumors—including those with myoid differentiation. To our knowledge, this is the first description of hyaline globules, a peculiar histological curiosity with no known clinical significance, in mammary myofibroblastoma.
Measured response of the equatorial thermospheric temperature to geomagnetic activity and solar flux changes

Fabry-Perot inteferometer determinations of thermospheric temperatures from 630.0-nm nightglow line-width measurements have been carried out for the period April-August 1983 from Arequipa, Peru (16.4-deg S, 71.5-deg W geographic; 4.4-deg S magnetic). The nightly variation of the thermospheric temperature T(n) measured on 62 nights is compared with MSIS model predictions and found to agree occasionally with the model but, on average, to exceed model predictions by about 180 K. The largest differences, 400-500 K, often occur during strongly increasing geomagnetic activity such as sudden commencements. The rapid increases in T(n) may result from energetic neutrals precipitating at low latitudes from the ring current or from energy carried to equatorial regions from high-latitude (auroral oval) heat sources by gravity waves and equatorward neutral winds.
The effect of wind on combustion waves with reactant depletion

A simple model for the propagation of an exothermic reaction is proposed accounting for reactant depletion and for heat transport via advection (wind). To study travelling-wave solutions, we assume that the reactant ignites at a specified temperature. The speed of propagation of the resulting combustion wave depends on ambient wind conditions. This dependence on wind conditions is determined explicitly for simple reaction dependence on temperature, and stability is examined. An existence criterion is determined for general reaction dependence on temperature. It is shown that no travelling wave can exist if there is too great a headwind and that tailwinds do not cause such extinction. We also determine conditions on the reaction rate term for which only a single temperature maximum is allowed. Numerically obtained temperature profiles are included to demonstrate these results.
Fault-tolerant on-board computing for robotic space missions

This paper describes an approach to providing software fault tolerance for future deep-space robotic National Aeronautics and Space Administration missions, which will require a high degree of autonomy supported by an enhanced on-board computational capability. We focus on introspection-based adaptive fault tolerance guided by the specific requirements of applications. Introspection supports monitoring of the program execution with the goal of identifying, locating, and analyzing errors. Fault tolerance assertions for the introspection system can be provided by the user, domain-specific knowledge, or via the results of static or dynamic program analysis. This work is part of an on-going project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The sloABCR Operon of Streptococcus mutans Encodes an Mn and Fe Transport System Required for Endocarditis Virulence and Its Mn-Dependent Repressor

Streptococcus mutans belongs to the viridans group of oral streptococci, which is the leading cause of endocarditis in humans. The LraI family of lipoproteins in viridans group streptococci and other bacteria have been shown to function as virulence factors, adhesins, or ABC-type metal transporters. We previously reported the identification of the S. mutans LraI operon, sloABCR, which encodes components of a putative metal uptake system composed of SloA, an ATP-binding protein, SloB, an integral membrane protein, and SloC, a solute-binding lipoprotein, as well as a metal-dependent regulator, SloR. We report here the functional analysis of this operon. By Western blotting, addition of Mn to the growth medium repressed SloC expression in a wild-type strain but not in a sloR mutant. Other metals tested had little effect. Cells were also tested for aerobic growth in media stripped of metals then reconstituted with Mg and either Mn or Fe. Fe at 10 μM supported growth of the wild-type strain but not of a sloA or sloC mutant. Mn at 0.1 μM supported growth of the wild-type strain and sloR mutant but not of sloA or sloC mutants. The combined results suggest that the SloABC proteins transport both metals, although the SloR protein represses this system only in response to Mn. These conclusions are supported by 55Fe uptake studies with Mn as a competitor. Finally, a sloA mutant demonstrated loss of virulence in a rat model of endocarditis, suggesting that metal transport is required for endocarditis pathogenesis.
Chromatin Landscape and Epigenetic Signatures in Neurological Disorders: Emerging Perspectives for Biological and Clinical Research

The chapter provides an overview of the recent breakthroughs in the understanding of the role of epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone posttranslational modifications and DNA methylation, in the onset and progression of two neurodegenerative disorders, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We also summarize the latest advances in the development of safe and effective therapeutic approaches based on the modulation of epigenetic mechanisms in these disorders. In particular, preclinical investigation proved the ability of several histone deacetylase inhibitors and compounds targeting DNA methylation to slow disease progression and improve clinical parameters. Elucidating the epigenetic components of neurodegeneration may also lead to the identification of disease-specific signatures, paving the way for the discovery of new biological markers.
Why Tax Incentives may be an ineffective tool to encouraging Investment? – The role of Investment Climate

In this paper we first analyze theoretically how the investment climate affects the impact of the corporate tax rate on investment. We do so in a model where the tax revenues are used to improve the investment climate. We find that if the investment climate is very effective at enhancing the productivity of capital, capital can react positively to a rise of the tax rate. However, this result is only true if a higher tax rate yields extra tax revenues. We also determine the conditions under which an improvement of the investment climate increases the opposition of capital to a rise in the tax rate. This is only the case if the investment climate is very complementary to capital or if the complementarity of the investment climate is much higher at low levels of the investment climate than at high levels of the investment climate. In the end, whether an improved investment climate increases or decreases the opposition of capital to a rise in the tax rate is an empirical question. We test the model using a cross section of 80 countries ranging from very bad to very good investment climate countries. With FDI as a percentage of GDP as the dependent variable, a unique series of Marginal Effective Tax Rates as the tax variable and several investment climate variables are used to find two important results. First, an improvement of the investment climate increases the opposition of capital to a rise in the tax rate. Second, in the worst investment climate countries capital reacts not negatively to a rise in the tax rate. These results lead to the important policy implication that for bad investment climate countries it is ineffective to lower the tax rate to compensate for the bad investment climate. Instead, they should focus on improving the basic investment climate.
Templates for inoculation and microscopic observation of micro cell cultures.

Simple, inexpensive plastic templates have been devised to aid in proper identification of cell cultures in microtiter plates during inoculation and microscopic observation. These have resulted in greater accuracy in performing and reading tests and in a saving of the microbiologists’ time.
Indirect Price Discrimination and Robinson-Patman:

This article is a case study of how one firm unwillingly violated Section 2(d) of the Robinson-Patman Act by merely participating in a cooperative advertising plan.It shows that the Federal Trade C...
Faculty Socialization into the Advising Role: An Examination of Information and Information Sources that Shape Role Learning

Faculty advisors at four institutions completed questionnaires designed to categorize the information they received when learning advising responsibilities. They identified role-set members who provided this information and its usefulness by type. They receive more organizational (policies and procedures) information than any other type of advising information, which they rate high in usefulness. While they receive formal appraisal information less often than any other type and rate it lowest in usefulness, faculty members receive informal appraisal messages from students. The findings warrant further investigation of the influence of students as socialization agents in the faculty advisor role-learning process.
The mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter: regulation by auxiliary subunits and signal transduction pathways

Mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis, the Ca2+ influx-efflux balance, is responsible for the control of numerous cellular functions, including energy metabolism, generation of reactive oxygen species, sp...
Alternative anaerobic enrichments to the bacteriological analytical manual culture method for isolation of Shigella sonnei from selected types of fresh produce.

Alternative methods of reducing oxygen during anaerobic enrichment in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Shigella culture method were evaluated and compared to the current and less practical GasPak method. The alternative anaerobic methods included the use of reducing agents in Shigella broth and reducing culture container headspace volume to minimize atmospheric effects on oxygen concentration in Shigella broth during enrichment. The reducing agents evaluated were sodium thioglycollate, L-cystine, L-cysteine, titanium(III) citrate, and dithiothreitol, each at concentrations of 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01%. The use of Oxyrase for Broth with the enrichment medium (Shigella broth) was evaluated at concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 microL/mL. Recoveries of chill- and freeze-stressed S. sonnei strains 357 and 20143 were determined with each anaerobic method, including the GasPak method, using inoculation levels ranging from 10(0)to 10(3) cells. For each anaerobic method, strain, inoculation level, and stress type, 5 replicate enrichments were evaluated by streaking to MacConkey agar for isolation. The numbers of cultures with each method from which S. sonnei was isolated were used to compare the alternative anaerobic methods to the GasPak method. The alternative anaerobic method with which chill- and freeze-stressed S. sonnei strains 357 and 20143 were isolated most consistently was the use of Oxyrase for Broth in Shigella broth at a concentration of 20 microL/mL. This method was compared to the GasPak anaerobic method in evaluations on the recovery of S. sonnei strains 357 and 20143 from artificially contaminated test portions of parsley, cilantro, green onions, strawberries, carrots, and celery. A third anaerobic method included the use of 0.5 cm mineral oil overlay on cultures containing Oxyrase for Broth at concentrations of 20 microL/mL. Recovery rates of strain 357 were significantly greater (p 0.05) between the GasPak and Oxyrase for Broth anaerobic methods occurred when mineral oil overlay was used with Oxyrase for Broth. The use of Oxyrase for Broth with a 0.5 cm mineral oil overlay is a practical alternative for anaerobic enrichment with the BAM method in the analysis of some produce types. Differences in recovery among the different produce types and methods occurred between S. sonnei strains 357 and 20143, emphasizing the need for additional S. sonnei strains in future evaluations.
Economic Analysis of Cotton Management Strategies Integrated Pest

In an attempt to combat problems of insect resistance and the increasing cost of new insecticides, integrated pest management (IPM) systems have been developed for many crops, including cotton. Cotton IPM systems include such components as scouting to determine when control actions should be taken, planting trap crops, and using short season varieties of cotton. Regardless of the component(s) of IPM systems for cotton, when a decision is made that a direct control action is warranted, the control action most often used is the application of insecticides. Thus, although IPM strategies may reduce the frequency of insecticide applications and consequently reduce the possible problem of insecticide resistance, the use of conventional, broad-spectrum insecticides continues to be the primary control tool when insect outbreaks occur.
Content-Related Repairing of Inconsistencies in Distributed Data

Conditional functional dependencies (CFDs) are a critical technique for detecting inconsistencies while they may ignore some potential inconsistencies without considering the content relationship of data. Content-related conditional functional dependencies (CCFDs) are a type of special CFDs, which combine content-related CFDs and detect potential inconsistencies by putting content-related data together. In the process of cleaning inconsistencies, detection and repairing are interactive: 1) detection catches inconsistencies, 2) repairing corrects caught inconsistencies while may bring new inconsistencies. Besides, data are often fragmented and distributed into multiple sites. It consequently costs expensive shipment for inconsistencies cleaning. In this paper, our aim is to repair inconsistencies in distributed content-related data. We propose a framework consisting of an inconsistencies detection method and an inconsistencies repairing method, which work iteratively. The detection method marks the violated CCFDs for computing the inconsistencies which should be repaired preferentially. Based on the repairing-cost model presented in this paper, we prove that the minimum-cost repairing using CCFDs is NP-complete. Therefore, the repairing method heuristically repairs the inconsistencies with minimum cost. To improve the efficiency and accuracy of repairing, we propose distinct values and rules sequences. Distinct values make less data shipments than real data for communication. Rules sequences determine appropriate repairing sequences to avoid some incorrect repairs. Our solution is proved to be more effective than CFDs by empirical evaluation on two real-life datasets.
Grievance Attribution, Mobilization and Mass Opposition to Authoritarian Regimes: Evidence from June 1953 in the GDR

Mass opposition to authoritarian governments is caused both by economic grievances and by factors which facilitate mobilization. However, themes of collective action and mobilization do not feature prominently in studies of authoritarianism and democratization. In this paper, I show how grievances and mobilization interact to produce revolution with a county-level analysis of the 17 June, 1953 uprising against the socialist dictatorship in East Germany. I find that mobilization is at least as important as economic grievances in determining unrest outcomes. Construction workers with dense communications networks were significant instigators of unrest despite average levels of economic grievances. Citizens found it easier to reveal their preferences and mobilized in revolutionary bandwagons in urban areas. Independent farmers, who harbored intense grievances attributable directly to the regime, were associated with unrest despite obstacles to mobilization. Theories of authoritarianism and regime change should engage more deeply with questions of grievance attributability and mobilization to explain revolutionary threats.
Correlating Hydrogen Oxidation/Evolution Reaction Activity with the Minority Weak Hydrogen-Binding Sites on Ir/C Catalysts

Fundamental understanding of the active sites mediating hydrogen oxidation/evolution reaction (HOR/HER) is critical to the design of an efficient HOR/HER electrocatalyst for affordable hydrogen exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers. Here we report the existence of the most active sites on carbon supported iridium nanoparticles (Ir/C) for HOR/HER in alkaline electrolyte by investigating activities of Ir/C with varying particle sizes in the range of 3–12 nm. The distribution of surface sites is quantified by deconvoluting the Hupd desorption peak in cyclic voltammograms. The portion of the sites with the lowest hydrogen binding energy (HBE) increases with the increase of the particle size or the decrease of the total electrochemical active surface area (t-ECSA). The HOR/HER activity normalized to t-ECSA decreases as t-ECSA increases while it remains constant when normalized to the surface area of the sites with an average HBE of −0.33 eV, accounting for only about 15−30% of the total sites, shoulde...
Impacts of Thermal Processing on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Pyrolysis Oil Produced by a Modified Fluid Catalytic Cracking Pyrolysis Process

Accelerated aging was examined over a broad temperature range (40–290 °C) to determine the stability and different aging mechanisms for pyrolysis oil produced using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) of solid particulate biomass material. Oil properties, including water content, high-molecular-mass (HMM) lignin content, viscosity, molecular weight, and chemical composition, were measured both before and after the accelerated aging study. Notably, at all aging times and temperatures explored, all samples remained as a single phase. Chemical composition of the pyrolysis oils was monitored using infrared and mass spectroscopies. Oils aged at temperatures above 60 °C showed marked increases in HMM lignin content and molecular weight with increasing aging time. Calorimetry results indicated that, at and above 200 °C, there were alternate aging mechanisms that occur, including sugar decomposition. A rapid increase in the water content and shift in the HMM fraction molecular weight corroborated the decomposition of ...
Teaching Caregivers of Persons with Dementia to Address Pain

Objectives To compare the efficacy of Preventing Aggression in Veterans with Dementia (PAVeD) with that of usual care in decreasing incidence of aggression (primary outcome) and pain and improving depression, pleasant events, caregiver burden, and patient–caregiver relationship quality (secondary outcomes). Design Randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months Setting Houston, TX. Participants A total of 203 community-dwelling veterans with pain and dementia and their caregivers. Intervention PAVeD, 6 to 8 weekly sessions of 45-minute home visits with masters-level clinicians providing instruction to caregivers on recognizing pain, enhancing communication, and making daily activities pleasant and enjoyable, and at least two elective sessions. Measurements Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (primary outcome), Philadelphia Geriatric Pain Intensity Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Pleasant Events Schedule-AD, Burden Interview, Mutuality Scale (secondary outcomes), Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results There were no significant differences in aggression incidence between intervention and control groups, although the PAVeD group had significantly better mutuality than controls. Conclusions PAVeD may need to address a broader range and more in-depth coverage of aggression risk factors with person-centered tailoring to target certain types of distress. Interventions to prevent aggression may also need to address medical providers in addition to caregivers.
Push” and “Pull” A Qualitative Study of Factors that Contribute to Older Youth Leaving the 4-H Program

For years, 4-H has struggled with the complex issue of membership retention, especially among older youth. However, little research has been done concerning why 4-H members choose to leave the program. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the reasons for leaving 4-H with the ultimate goal of improving retention of older members. Specific objectives of the study were to (a) explore reasons why youth chose not to re-enroll in the program, (b) identify barriers to participation, and (c) determine what conditions would facilitate participation. Focus group participants consisted of older youth (n=16) who were enrolled in 4-H in a community club in 2007 in Erie County (Ohio), but who did not re-enroll in 2008. Significant findings from the study concerning the retention of older 4-H youth were related to (a) experiences with adult leaders, (b) experiences with competition, and (c) conflicts with other activities. Recommendations for theory, research, and practice are offered.
The Death of Animals in Medical School

Although live animals had been used in medical education for millennia, with recent changes at Johns Hopkins and the University of Tennessee, every core U.S. medical school curriculum has now ceased this practice. It is worth considering the causes and implications of this milestone.
Point Estimates of Test Sensitivity and Specificity from Sample Means and Variances

ABSTRACTIn a wide variety of biomedical and clinical research studies, sample statistics from diagnostic marker measurements are presented as a means of distinguishing between two populations, such as with and without disease. Intuitively, a larger difference between the mean values of a marker for the two populations, and a smaller spread of values within each population, should lead to more reliable classification rules based on this marker. We formalize this intuitive notion by deriving practical, new, closed-form expressions for the sensitivity and specificity of three different discriminant tests defined in terms of the sample means and standard deviations of diagnostic marker measurements. The three discriminant tests evaluated are based, respectively, on the Euclidean distance and the Mahalanobis distance between means, and a likelihood ratio analysis. Expressions for the effects of measurement error are also presented. Our final expressions assume that the diagnostic markers follow independent nor...
Emerald ash borer biocontrol in ash saplings: The potential for early stage recovery of North American ash trees

In many parts of North America, ash (Fraxinus) stands have been reduced by the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) invasion to a few surviving mature trees, saplings, basal sprouts, and seedlings. Without a soil seed bank for Fraxinus spp., tree recovery will require survival and maturation of these younger cohorts to reproductive age. Here we report and analyze the population dynamics of emerald ash borer and its associated natural enemies in ash saplings (2.5–5.8 cm DBH) in six deciduous forest stands in southern Michigan. At these sites, the outbreak population of the pest collapsed during the study, and a biocontrol agent introduced from China, the larval parasitoid Tetrastichus planipennisi, became widely established and increased in rates of parasitism. To assess the potential for ash recovery in these stands, we also quantified the abundance and crown condition of the ash saplings and surviving ash trees at the study sites. We found that T. planipennisi was the dominant biotic mortality factor in saplings, killing 36–85% of the late instar borer larvae. Neither woodpecker predation nor native parasitoids caused more than minor levels (<20%) of borer mortality in saplings. Life table analyses of these data further showed that the net population growth rate of the pest in saplings was near or under replacement levels, and that the introduced biocontrol agent reduced the pest’s net population growth rate in saplings at our study sites by over 50%. In addition, stand inventories found that healthy ash saplings (4–16 per 100 m2) and smaller (pole size) trees (2–9 per 100 m2) remained in the six study sites, despite an early high density population of the pest at the sites. These findings indicate that the introduced biocontrol agent T. planipennisi is providing significant biocontrol services, enhancing ash survival and promoting recovery of the ash in southern Michigan.
Epidemiology of suicide attempts among youth transitioning to adulthood

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for older adolescents and young adults. Although empirical literature has identified important risk factors of suicidal behavior, it is less understood if changes in risk factors correspond with changes in suicide risk. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed if there were different trajectories of suicidal behavior as youth transition into young adulthood and determined what time-varying risk factors predicted these trajectories. This study used four waves of data spanning approximately 13 years from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The sample included 9027 respondents who were 12–18 years old (M = 15.26; SD = 1.76) at Wave 1, 50% male, 17% Hispanic, and 58% White. The results indicated that 93.6% of the sample had a low likelihood for suicide attempts across time, 5.1% had an elevated likelihood of attempting suicide in adolescence but not young adulthood, and 1.3% had an elevated likelihood of attempting suicide during adolescence and adulthood. The likelihood of a suicide attempt corresponded with changes on depression, impulsivity, delinquency, alcohol problems, family and friend suicide history, and experience with partner violence. Determining how suicide risk changes as youth transition into young adulthood and what factors predict these changes can help prevent suicide. Interventions targeting these risk factors could lead to reductions in suicide attempts.
Abstract TP27: Endovascular Treatment Within 6 Hours is Safe and Benefitial in IV-tPA Ineligible Patients

Background: Treatment with IV tPA in acute stroke has restricted applicability due to its many contraindications. Indeed, the recent AHA guidelines provide only limited support to endovascular ther...