cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic association tests in the presence of epistasis or gene‐environment interaction

A genetic variant is very likely to manifest its effect on disease through its main effect as well as through its interaction with other genetic variants or environmental factors. Power to detect genetic variants can be greatly improved by modeling their main effects and their interaction effects through a common set of parameters or “generalized association parameters” (Chatterjee et al. [2006] Am. J. Hum. Genet. 79:1002–1016) because of the reduced number of degrees of freedom. Following this idea, I propose two models that extend the work by Chatterjee and colleagues. Particularly, I consider not only the case of relatively weak interaction effect compared to the main effect but also the case of relatively weak main effect. This latter case is perhaps more relevant to genetic association studies. The proposed methods are invariant to the choice of the allele for scoring genotypes or the choice of the reference genotype score. For each model, the asymptotic distribution of the likelihood ratio statistic is derived. Simulation studies suggest that the proposed methods are more powerful than existing ones under certain circumstances. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Uniformity of Tire‐Wheel Assemblies

Abstract Interactions between the tire and wheel of an assembly are adding extra nonuniformities to those of the tire and wheel themselves. The additional nonuniformities are not small. In one example their average effect on the radial force was 25 to 30 N for two commercial wheels, and 10 N for a precision‐machined wheel. Interaction forces are acting randomly and hence are seriously disturbing any tire‐wheel matching effort. A simple statistical model is suggested, describing their distribution and allowing an estimation of their effects on tire‐wheel matching. At this time no leading cause for the existence of interaction forces is known; they seem to accrue from many different minor sources. It is to be hoped that the continuous refinements achieved in the tire and wheel manufacturing processes will eventually reduce all non‐uniformities, including interaction forces, to levels that would render tire‐wheel matching unnecessary.
The pivotal role of CXCL12 (SDF-1)/CXCR4 axis in bone metastasis

Tumor cells are known to adapt to and utilize existing physiological mechanisms to promote survival and metastasis. The role of the microenvironment in the establishment of a metastatic lesion has become increasingly important as several factors secreted by stromal cells regulate metastatic pattern in a variety of tumor types. Tumor cells interact with osteoblasts, osteoclasts and bone matrix to form a vicious cycle that is essential for successful metastases. Here we review the current concepts regarding the role of an important chemokine/chemokine receptor (SDF-1 or CXCL12/CXCR4) pathway in tumor development and metastasis. CXCL12 secretion by stromal cells is known to attract cancer cells via stimulation of the CXCR4 receptor that is up regulated by tumor cells. CXCL12/CXCR4 activation regulates the pattern of metastatic spread with organs expressing high levels of CXCL12 developing secondary tumors (i.e., the bone marrow compartment). CXCL12 has a wide range of effects in regards to tumor development but the primary role of CXCL12 appears to be the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells and the establishment of the cancer stem-like cell niche where high levels of CXCL12 recruit a highly tumorigenic population of tumor cells and promotes cell survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
A model of steam reforming of iso-octane: The effect of thermal boundary conditions on hydrogen production and reactor temperature

Abstract Steam reforming of iso-octane in a monolithic type reactor was simulated by a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model. The variations of hydrogen production and reactor temperature along the length of the reactor were calculated at isothermal, adiabatic and constant heat flux conditions. The reaction rate expressions based on steam reforming of methane in the Langmuir-Hinshelwood format were used to model steam reforming of iso-octane. The difference between the simulated results and experimental data on hydrogen produced was less than 18%. The results indicated that a large drop in temperature was in the first one-tenth of the reactor under adiabatic conditions with inlet temperatures of 600–900 °C. To achieve the same mole fraction of hydrogen (0.27, dry basis) at the exit of the reactor, the maximum temperature difference across the reactor was much smaller at certain heat flux conditions than that at adiabatic conditions. Further, rate of hydrogen production may be evenly distributed in the reactor under certain conditions of constant heat flux.
Weights of evidence for intelligible smart environments

Smart environments are improving their performance and services by increasingly using ubiquitous sensing and complex inference mechanisms. However, this comes at a cost of reduced intelligibility, user trust and control. The Intelligibility Toolkit was developed to support the automatic generation and provision of explanations to help users understand context-aware inference. We have extended the toolkit to generate explanations for a wider range of inference models and to provide two styles of explanations --- rule traces and weights of evidence. We describe explanations generated from several inference models for a smart home dataset for activity recognition. This demonstrates the versatility of using the Intelligibility Toolkit to retain explanatory capabilities across different inference models.
Intravascular Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine

Case presentation: A 38-year-old man underwent angiography 2 weeks after a non–ST-segment myocardial infarction. He was overweight and prehypertensive, with a blood pressure of 134/86 mm Hg. His biochemical parameters included low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 127 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 38 mg/dL, and C-reactive protein (CRP) 3.2 mg/L. Angiography revealed mild disease throughout the coronary arteries and a hazy appearance that involved the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging revealed diffuse and extensive atherosclerosis with evidence of plaque rupture at multiple sites (Figure 1). In the presence of no significant luminal stenoses, the patient was treated medically with aspirin and low-dose statin therapy. Figure 1. Illustrative example of coronary angiography of the left anterior descending artery that appears to be free of irregularities, apart from a hazy appearance in the proximal segment. A representative cross-sectional tomographic image obtained by IVUS examination (top right) within the proximal segment (white arrow on angiogram) revealed substantial atheroma within the arterial wall. The bottom right segment illustrates a tomographic image of atheroma containing significant ulceration (5 o’clock) at the site of the gold arrow on the angiogram. The application of IVUS in this case highlights a number of important points with regard to the natural history of atherosclerosis and its modification by use of established medical therapies. The ability to image the entire arterial wall represents a significant advantage over coronary angiography. In the presence of minimal luminal stenoses, IVUS imaging in patients with coronary symptoms typically reveals extensive and diffuse atherosclerosis.1 Application of serial IVUS imaging in prospective clinical trials has enabled a greater understanding of the impact of antiatherosclerotic interventions on patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). Ultrasonic coronary imaging has revealed essential details about the natural history of atherosclerosis. Atheroma formation begins at a …
EEG changes after fluphenazine enanthate and decanoate based on analog power spectra and digital computer period analysis.

Quantitative EEG investigations, using an analog frequency analyzer and digital computer period analysis, were carried out following single parenteral injection of two long-acting fluphenazine derivatives, decanoate and enanthate. Both quantitative methods of analysis demonstrated that fluphenazine decanoate and enanthate produce significant EEG alterations which are similar to changes induced both by fluphenazine hydrochloride and by other known major tranquilizers (EEG profile of major tranquilizers). Maximum EEG changes occurred during the first week after enanthate, while they occurred during the second week following decanoate injection. These findings confirmed the metabolic and behavioral studies in animals regarding the long action of both compounds and, in particular, they demonstrated that the activity of fluphenazine decanoate is longer in duration than fluphenazine enanthate.
14-3-3ζ as a predictor of early time to recurrence and distant metastasis in hormone receptor-positive and -negative breast cancers

The 14-3-3ζ gene, on 8q22, is often amplified in breast cancer and encodes a survival factor that interacts with and stabilizes many key signaling proteins. We examined the relationship between the expression of 14-3-3ζ, estrogen receptor α (ERα), and other parameters ( tumor size, grade, nodal status, progesterone receptor, HER2, EGFR, and p53) in matched primary and recurrence tumor tissue and how these factors impact time to recurrence, properties of the recurred tumors, and site of metastasis. In this cohort of over 100 patients, median time to recurrence was 3 years (range 1–17 years). Our analyses of primary tumor microarray cores revealed that 14-3-3ζ status was significantly correlated with tumor grade, size, and ERα. Women with 14-3-3ζ-positive and ERα-negative tumors had the earliest time to recurrence (median 1 yr, p < 0.001, hazard ratio 2.89), while median time to recurrence was 7 years for 14-3-3ζ-negative and ER-positive tumors. Of recurred tumors, 70–75 % were positive for 14-3-3ζ, up from the 45 % positivity of primary tumors. High expression of 14-3-3ζ also correlated with site of recurrence and showed a propensity for distant metastases to lung and chest wall. Multifactor correlation regression analysis revealed 14-3-3ζ to be a non-redundant, independent variable that adds clinical strength in predicting risk for early recurrence in ER-positive and -negative breast cancers, providing information beyond that of all other clinical pathological features examined. Thus, high expression of 14-3-3ζ in the primary tumor was significantly associated with earlier time to recurrence and with distant metastasis. Furthermore, even when the primary breast cancers were negative-low for 14-3-3ζ, the majority acquired increased expression in the recurrence. The findings underscore the detrimental role played by 14-3-3ζ in tumor aggressiveness and suggest that reducing its expression or interfering with its actions might substantially improve the clinical outcome for breast cancer patients.
Anatomic correlates of ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis

In utero sonographic diagnoses from forty-five malformed infants were correlated with their autopsy findings. Fifty-two malformations were diagnosed prenatally in 42 of the patients but 90 additional malformations were not. Nine sonographically diagnosed abnormalities were not confirmed at autopsy. Factors compromising sonographic diagnosis included: limited examinations, small fetal size, timing of examination, oligohydramnios, fetal position, nature of the malformation and unfamiliarity of the ultrasonographer with specific malformation syndromes. In utero ultrasonography is an invaluable tool of diagnosing congenital malformations but has limitations.
Influence of filler content and interphase properties on large deformation micromechanics of particle filled acrylics

Abstract Large deformation response of alumina trihydrate (ATH) filled poly(methyl metacrylate) PMMA over a wide temperature range was investigated. A multi-particle unit cell model of PMMA/ATH composite with different volume fractions was employed to study the influence of interphase properties and interparticle distance. The model constitutes of amorphous polymer matrix, rigid fillers and interphase between filler and matrix. Polymer matrix was modeled using a thermodynamically consistent dual-mechanism viscoplastic model, whereas fillers were assumed as linear elastic. In numerical simulations, the interphase between filler and matrix was modeled through a user defined interphase model and matrix material was modeled through a user defined material model. Damage evolution in PMMA/ATH at large deformations due to particle debonding was studied based on a critical stress criterion. Composite elastic modulus results from finite element analysis of unit cell model were compared with analytical model predictions (Mori–Tanaka, Eshelby, Lielens models) at different temperatures for various volume fractions of fillers. The influence of interphase characteristics, interparticle distance and temperature on large deformation response of PMMA/ATH was examined through multi-particle unit cell model.
Macrocyclic Peptoid–Peptide Hybrids as Inhibitors of Class I Histone Deacetylases

We report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the first macrocyclic peptoid-containing histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. The compounds selectively inhibit human class I HDAC isoforms in vitro, with no inhibition of the tubulin deacetylase activity associated with class IIb HDAC6 in cultured Jurkat cells. Compared to the natural product apicidin (1), one inhibitor (compound 10) showed equivalent potency against K-562 cells, but was more cytoselective across a panel of cancer cell lines.
How will we fund our roads? A case of decreasing revenue from electric vehicles

Abstract Annual expenditures for transportation infrastructure have recently surpassed the funding available through tax and fee collection. One large source of revenue generation for transportation infrastructure is use fees that are charged through taxes on gasoline both on a federal and state level. A massive adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States would result in significantly lower gasoline consumption and thus reduce the revenue collected to maintain the U.S. transportation infrastructure. We investigate how different vehicles will change the annual fee collected on a marginal basis. In addition, we assess the effects of adoption of alternative vehicles on revenues using several projections of alternative vehicles adoption, both on a state-by-state basis and at the national level. We find that baseline midsize and compact vehicles such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Civic generate approximately $2500–$4000 in tax revenue over their lifetime. Under the current funding structure, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) such as the Nissan Leaf generate substantially less at $400–$1300, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) such as the Chevrolet Volt generate $1500–$2700. Even in states with high lifetime fees due to fuel taxes, such as California, revenue generation can be upwards of 50% lower than in states with high registration fees such as Colorado. Total annual revenue generation decreases by about $200 million by 2025 as a result of EV adoption in our base case, but in projections with larger adoption of alternative vehicles could lead to revenue generation reductions as large as $900 million by 2025. Potential schemes that charge user fees on alternative fuel vehicles to overcome the decrease in revenue include a flat annual registration fee at 0.6% of the vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) or 2 per mile fee.
A Model for Quadrat Sampling with “Visibility Bias”

Abstract In aerial census data “visibility bias” is present because of the failure to observe some animals. A model is presented for quadrat sampling of randomly occurring groups whose size follows a single parameter power series distribution when there is a probability q > 0 of missing single animals. Maximum likelihood estimates of group density, average group size, and the visibility bias parameter, q, are presented. Examples with moose census data are worked out.
Correlation Techniques in Two-Channel Linearly Polarized Radar Systems

ABSTRACT The theory and measurement of the electromagnetic correlation between orthogonal linearly polarized returns In two-channel precipitation radars is summarized. The relationship of the properties of precipitation particles to the cross-correlation as a function of polarization direction is discussed. Also considered is the relationship of correlation in a linearly polarized radar system to the corresponding circular polarisation characteristics. The formulation for the cross-correlation at linear polarization is extended to Include coverage of more general models of the distribution function for precipitation particle canting angle. Typical experimental results showing measured values of cross-correlation with rotating linear polarization are presented.
An Advanced Modern Course on Circuit Theory

This paper presents a description of the experiences encountered in offering one section of a required multisectioned course as an advanced section. A description is given of the techniques used in teaching the course. Some details concerning the types of students who chose to take such a course and those who chose to avoid it are presented.
TATA-binding Protein Residues Implicated in a Functional Interplay between Negative Cofactor NC2 (Dr1) and General Factors TFIIA and TFIIB

Abstract The TATA-binding protein (TBP) plays a key role in transcription initiation. Several negative cofactors (NC1, NC2, and Dr1) are known to interact with TBP in a manner that prevents productive interactions of transcription factors TFIIA and TFIIB with promoter-bound TBP. To gain insights into the regulatory interplay on the surface of TBP, we have employed mutant forms of TBP to identify amino acid residues important for interactions with the negative regulatory cofactor NC2 and the general factor TFIIB. The results show the involvement of distinct domains of TBP in these interactions. Residues (Lys-133, Lys-145, and Lys-151) in the basic repeat region are important for interactions with NC2, as well as with TFIIA (Buratowski, S., and Zhou, H. (1992) Science 255, 1130-1132; Lee, D. K., DeJong, J., Hashimoto, S., Horikoshi, M., and Roeder, R. G. (1992) Mol. Cell. Biol. 12, 5189-5196), whereas a residue (Leu-189) in the second stirrup-like loop spanning S2′ and S3′ is required for interaction with TFIIB. In addition, we demonstrate that NC2 is identical to the previously cloned negative cofactor Dr1. The implications of these results for TBP structure and function are discussed.
Composition and functional properties of an unusual proteinaceous fibrous material from cucumber fermentation

The composition and functional properties of an unusual proteinaceous fibrous material that developed on the surface of cucumber fermentation brines were investigated. Protein, ash, oil, total carbohydrate, and moisture contents of the fermentation brine protein (FBP) were 72.5, 3.2, 0.7, 20.2, and 3.0%, respectively. SDS-PAGE revealed two major components with molecular masses >200 kDa. FBP was a good source of essential amino acids. Solubility of FBP in water was 8.0, 0.0, 2.4, 34.4, and 57.1% at pH 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0, respectively. The foaming capacity of FBP was higher than that of egg albumen at pH 8.0 (30.0 versus 5.5 mL) and pH 10.0 (35.5 versus 7.0 mL). The emulsifying activity of FBP was less than that of bovine serum albumin at all pH values except for pH 6.0. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that FBP was stable up to 130 °C under experimental conditions.
The Effect of Vertical Shear on Tropical Cyclone Intensity Change

Abstract The effect of vertical shear on tropical cyclone intensity change is usually explained in terms of “ventilation” where heat and moisture at upper levels are advected away from the low-level circulation, which inhibits development. A simple two-layer diagnostic balance model is used to provide an alternate explanation of the effect of shear. When the upper-layer wind in the vortex environment differs from that in the lower layer, the potential vorticity (PV) pattern associated with the vortex circulation becomes tilted in the vertical. The balanced mass field associated with the tilted PV pattern requires an increased midlevel temperature perturbation near the vortex center. It is hypothesized that this midlevel warming reduces the convective activity and inhibits the storm development. Previous studies have shown that diabatic heating near the storm center acts to reduce the vertical tilt of the vortex circulation. These studies have also shown that there is an adiabatic process that acts to redu...
The electroretinogram of the iguana and tokay gecko

Abstract Using the electroretinogram as the criterion of retinal activity, dark-adaptation, CFF, suppression, and hypothermia were investigated in the Iguana iguana and Gekko gekko . The ERGs of both species display properties of a simplex type of retinal organization, with that of the iguana being consistent with a pure cone retina and that of the gecko consistent with a pure rod retina. The degree of suppression was significantly greater in the gecko than the iguana. During hypothermia there was a progressive decrease in the size of all components of the ERG, but all components were present even at 5°.
Crystal structure of the protein kinase domain of yeast AMP-activated protein kinase Snf1

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master metabolic regulator, and is an important target for drug development against diabetes, obesity, and other diseases. AMPK is a hetero-trimeric enzyme, with a catalytic (α) subunit, and two regulatory (β and γ) subunits. Here we report the crystal structure at 2.2 A resolution of the protein kinase domain (KD) of the catalytic subunit of yeast AMPK (commonly known as SNF1). The Snf1-KD structure shares strong similarity to other protein kinases, with a small N-terminal lobe and a large C-terminal lobe. Two negative surface patches in the structure may be important for the recognition of the substrates of this kinase.
THE FORCE FREQUENCY RELATIONSHIP: A BASIS FOR CATALOGING CHANGES IN CONTRACTILITY

The force frequency relationship (FFR) describes the way cardiac contractility depends on the rate and pattern of stimulation. The FFR fulfills one of the requirements for an index of contractility: When the maximum rate of tension developed in a contraction (Fmax) is used to measure contractility, the FFR is independent of muscle length. (Circ. Res. 33:665, 1973) We show here that the FFR also fulfills another requirement for an index of contractility, namely that changes in the inotropic state of the muscle are distinguishable from changes in muscle length. Inotropic changes in the FFR fell into three classes: 1. Both ouabain (5×10−7M) and increase in Ca concentration (up to 10mM) increased contractility following the regular contraction much more than following an extrasystolic contraction. 2. Phenylephrine 5×10−5M increased contractility following the extrasystolic contraction much more than following the regular one. 3. The actions of isoproteranol and norepinephrine in small doses 10−6M, Fmax in the steady state contraction exceded that of the post extrasystolic contraction. We conclude that the FFR provides a valuable basis for distinguishing length changes from changes in inotropy and cataloging the actions of positive inotropic agents.
Comparison of measured and forecast traffic volumes on urban interstate highways

Abstract Forecasts of 1975 average daily traffic (ADT) on 78 interstate highway segments were compared with measurements of 1975 ADT on the same segments. The forecasts were made in 1968 and 1972. It was found that the 1968 and 1972 forecasts tended to over-estimate 1975 ADT by 24 and 21% respectively. Possible sources of this forecasting bias include the residual effects of the 1973–1974 gasoline shortage and errors in traffic assignment techniques.
Screening for CKD: A Pro and Con Debate

Should doctors screen asymptomatic patients for CKD? Screening for a disease is useful if it leads to improved outcomes for those so identified. Screening also carries risks: false-positive tests may cause anxiety and unnecessary procedures. Overdiagnosis is a risk ( i.e. , identifying individuals
Regular Solution Theory for Low Pressure Carbon Dioxide Solubility in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids: Ionic Liquid Solubility Parameter from Activation Energy of Viscosity

The low pressure solubility of carbon dioxide in eight commercially available room temperature ionic liquids was measured at 10, 25, and 40 °C using a transient thin liquid film technique. In this paper, carbon dioxide solubility is reported as the Henry’s law constant for each system. Experimental results were interpreted using regular solution theory where Eyring’s reaction rate theory was successfully applied to estimate the solubility parameter of each ionic liquid from its activation energy of viscosity. Consistent with the regular solution theory, the carbon dioxide solubility was found to be inversely proportional to the solubility parameter of the ionic liquid, and Henry’s law constants were successfully correlated with the square of the difference between ionic liquid and carbon dioxide solubility parameters.
p-Adic almost periodic functions

Abstract A bounded function f from an abelian group G into a complete nonarchimedean valued field K is said to be almost periodic (fϵ AP(G→K)) if its translates form a compactoid in the uniform topology. The goal of this paper is the theorem below.
Silicon‐Base Cermets and Related Observations

Chemical reactions involving silicon in various atmospheres at elevated temperatures were studied. Formation conditions of silicon sub-oxides were determined. Silicon-base cermets in the systems silicon-titanium dioxide and silicon-titanium carbide were investigated along with combinations of titanium carbide and titanium silicides. The oxidation resistances of specimens were measured. Specimens were prepared by slip-casting techniques involving no plasticizers.
Ab initio studies of tetracyanoethylene-based organic magnets

Abstract We study electronic and geometric structures of a single tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and metal–TCNE clusters that constitute a transition metal ion (Mn,V) and an organic molecule in the presence of solvent, CH2Cl2, via density functional theory (DFT) methods. For TCNE, the particular attention is given to its π → π * transition, when the molecule is in - 1 valence state. Electronic levels of the molecule obtained from DFT calculations are compared with those obtained from Huckel methods. In the case of metal–TCNE clusters, energetics of magnetic interaction between a metal ion and the organic molecule, electronic structure, onsite Coulomb energies and binding energies are calculated.
Ventricular Tachycardia with Congenital Ventricular Diverticulum

A 24-year-old man presented with symptomatic, recurrent, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). He was found to have a basal inferior left ventricular diverticulum. His sustained VT was reproduced by programmed electrical stimulation and was unresponsive to procainamide, tocainide, propafenone, and flecainide. Endocardial mapping followed by resection and cryoablative surgery was performed. The patient had only one recurrence after 18 months, with subsequent control with procainamide for over 14 months.
Beam profiling using correlation systems

Abstract Two techniques are described in which ultrasound beam profiles are measured by means of the radiation reflected from a hemispherical target whose effective reflecting diameter is less than a wavelength. One method employs a modified directional Doppler system to measure narrow-band beam patterns. The other method is a modification of a random signal flaw detection system and is used to measure broad-band beam patterns. Highly sensitive correlation detectors are used in both techniques to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the received echoes. As the target is scanned across the beam, in a plane approximately parallel to the aperture, the phase of the correlation reference signal must be adjusted to compensate for changes in time-of-flight of the received echo. The broad-band beam profiling technique uses a manual phase compensation technique. The narrow-band system employs a phase quadrature method to achieve the required phase compensation.
Re-evalution of “Typothorax”meadei, a Late Triassic aetosaur from the United States

Aetosaur specimens from Howard County, Texas, USA, namedTypothorax meadei by Sawin (1947) represent a new genus here namedLongosuchus (type and only species -L. meadei). Longosu-chus is characterised by the possession of seven dentary teeth, a dentary excluded from the ventral margin of the lateral mandibular fenestra and by the angular, spinose lateral scutes throughout the dorsal region with lateral horns which have faceted sides.Longosuchus is found in mid-late Carnian strata in Texas, New Mexico and North Carolina, USA. Aetosaurs can be used to distinguish three successive biochrons in Late Triassic strata of the American Southwest, which are, in ascending order of age, theLongosuchus biochron, theStagonolepis biochron and theTypothorax biochron.
The emergence of accounting as a global profession - an introduction

The articles in this volume deal with the globalization of professional accountancy since the midnineteenth century. This dimension of modernity responded to the growing need for information brought about by vast socioeconomic change. In business the exploitation first of coal and petroleum-based energy resources and later the creation of information-based technologies induced the evolution of improved economic measurement capabilities that exceeded those of the bookkeeping legacy inherited from the medieval past. Because of its tractability and high degree of abstraction, accounting became a critical medium for informing the mind’ eye about the varied activities of organizations of great scale, scope and complexity in business, government and other collective endeavors. These properties also facilitated the establishment of flexible quantitative constructs for coordinating the activities of the many interdependent groups that modern society had come to increasingly rely on to assure smooth functioning.
Aging Men’s Health-Related Behaviors

This conceptual review summarizes the current research on older men and their health-related behaviors with special attention given to the influence of the hegemonic masculinity framework over the ...
Do's, Don'ts, and Maybes: Legal Writing Punctuation - Part III

This article, which concerns controversies on how to use punctuation in legal writing, is a reprint of Part I of an article published in the New York State Bar Journal.
Some scripture is inspired by God : Late-nineteenth-century protestants and the demise of a common bible

“A New Testament which Needs neither a Glossary nor a Commentary.” So proclaimed the New York Evening Post on 21 May 1881, in a front-page story announcing the publication of the Revised Version of the Scriptures. The first major English translation since the King James Bible, the Revised New Testament was billed as the most accurate version ever, and the Post writer did not hesitate to hyperbolize. The printing of the Revision, the reporter declared, would probably “rank among the great events of the nineteenth century.” Meanwhile, as buyers snatched up the first Testaments in New York, a bigger sensation was building in Chicago. Dubbing the new translation nothing other than “the Bible as it is,” the Chicago Tribune printedthe entire Revised New Testament—from Matthew to Revelation—in its regular Sunday edition. Although the Tribune pilfered its scriptural text from the Bible's authorized publishers, the paper lambasted the rival Chicago Times (“the fraudulent newspaper concern on Wells Street”) for printing a “forged” Testament of its own. The unsavory competition in Chicago's fourth estate did not deter an eager public, who bought 107,000 copies of the Tribune's Testament alone. Demand for bound editions of the updated Bible was no less intense, with nationwide sales figures quickly surpassing one million.
Programming of neurotoxic cofactor CXCL-10 in HIV-1-associated dementia: abrogation of CXCL-10-induced neuro-glial toxicity in vitro by PKC activator

More than 50% of patients undergoing lifelong suppressive antiviral treatment for HIV-1 infection develop minor HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders. Neurological complications during HIV-1 infection are the result of direct neuronal damage by proinflammatory products released from HIV-1-infected or -uninfected activated lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, microglia and astrocytes. The specific pro-inflammatory products and their roles in neurotoxicity are far from clear. We investigated proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HIV-demented (HIV-D) and HIV-nondemented (HIV-ND) patients and studied their affect on neuroglial toxicity. Bioplex array showed elevated levels of signatory chemokines or cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, CXCL10, MCP-1 and PDGF) in the CSF of HIV-D patients (n = 7) but not in that of HIV-ND patients (n = 7). Among the signatory cytokines and chemokines, CXCL10 was distinctly upregulated in-vitro in HIV-1 (NLENG1)-activated human fetal astrocytes, HIV-1 (Ba-L)-infected macrophages, and HIV-1 (NLENG1)-infected lymphocytes. Virus-infected macrophages also had increased levels of TNF-α. Consistently, human fetal astrocytes treated with HIV-1 and TNF-α induced the signatory molecules. CXCL10 in combination with HIV-1 synergistically enhanced neuronal toxicity and showed chemotactic activity (~ 40 fold) for activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), suggesting the intersection of signaling events imparted by HIV-1 and CXCL10 after binding to their respective surface receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR3, on neurons. Blocking CXCR3 and its downstream MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway suppressed combined CXCL10 and HIV-1-induced neurotoxicity. Bryostatin, a PKC modulator and suppressor of CXCR4, conferred neuroprotection against combined insult with HIV-1 and CXCL10. Bryostatin also suppressed HIV-1 and CXCL10-induced PBMC chemotaxis. Although, therapeutic targeting of chemokines in brain may have adverse consequences on the host, current findings and earlier evidence suggest that CXCL10 could strongly impede neuroinflammation. We have demonstrated induction of CXCL10 and other chemokines/cytokines during HIV-1 infection in the brain, as well as synergism of CXCL10 with HIV-1 in neuronal toxicity, which was dampened by bryostatin.
Key Research Opportunities in Immune System Aging

A number of key advantages make the immune system uniquely suited for studies of aging. The understanding of loss of immune function with aging has advanced to allow incisive evaluations of general theories of aging. Specifically, the time is ripe for examination of mechanisms leading to age-associated molecular and cellular defects in the immune system and testing of strategies to reverse identified defects. These and other opportunities are discussed in the following, with special focus upon aging of the innate immune system, the role of commensal bacteria and inflammation in immune aging, and the need for better and more precise models in mice and primates to facilitate these studies and provide translation toward clinical application of immune rejuvenation.
Measurement of Electrical Charge on Diesel Particles

Nanoparticles (Dp < 50 nm), which are formed as diesel engine exhaust cools and dilutes, constitute minority of total particle mass but majority of total particle number. There are several different theories to explain the nucleation of nanoparticles from diesel exhaust. The two main theories are homogeneous binary nucleation of sulfuric acid and water, and ion-induced nucleation. This study examined the ion-induced nucleation theory. In order to test the ionic nucleation theory, the charged fraction of the diesel particles were measured as a function of particle size using regular diesel fuel in this study. A very small amount of charge was found for the diesel nanoparticles in the nuclei mode, whereas there was a large charged fraction for the diesel particles in the accumulation mode. If ion-induced nucleation were the dominant mechanism for the nucleation of nanoparticles from diesel exhaust, one would expect a significant charge on the nuclei mode particles. The results from this study suggest that ion-induced binary nucleation is at least not a dominant mechanism for the nucleation of diesel exhaust when using regular diesel fuel. This study also examined the influence of metal additives on nucleation and particle charging. The metal additives examined are of the type used to enhance particle oxidation in diesel particulate filters. When used, the additives led to a large increase in the concentration of solid particles in the nuclei mode, and significantly raised the level of particle charge for particles of all sizes. When additives were used, some of the solid particles in the nuclei mode carried a charge. We believe that these metal related particles form early enough in the combustion process to be charged by ions present during and shortly after combustion.
Farnesoid X receptor–induced lysine-specific histone demethylase reduces hepatic bile acid levels and protects the liver against bile acid toxicity

Bile acids (BAs) function as endocrine signaling molecules that activate multiple nuclear and membrane receptor signaling pathways to control fed-state metabolism. Since the detergent-like property of BAs causes liver damage at high concentrations, hepatic BA levels must be tightly regulated. Bile acid homeostasis is regulated largely at the level of transcription by nuclear receptors, particularly the primary BA receptor, farnesoid X receptor, and small heterodimer partner, which inhibits BA synthesis by recruiting repressive histone-modifying enzymes. Although histone modifiers have been shown to regulate BA-responsive genes, their in vivo functions remain unclear. Here, we show that lysine-specific histone demethylase1 (LSD1) is directly induced by BA-activated farnesoid X receptor, is recruited to the BA synthetic genes Cyp7a1 and Cyp8b1 and the BA uptake transporter gene Ntcp, and removes a gene-activation marker, trimethylated histone H3 lysine-4, leading to gene repression. Recruitment of LSD1 was dependent on small heterodimer partner, and LSD1-mediated demethylation of trimethylated histone H3 lysine-4 was required for additional repressive histone modifications, acetylated histone 3 on lysine 9 and 14 deacetylation, and acetylated histone 3 on lysine 9 methylation. A BA overload, feeding 0.5% cholic acid chow for 6 days, resulted in adaptive responses of altered expression of hepatic genes involved in BA synthesis, transport, and detoxification/conjugation. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated downregulation of hepatic LSD1 blunted these responses, which led to substantial increases in liver and serum BA levels, serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and hepatic inflammation. Conclusion: This study identifies LSD1 as a novel histone-modifying enzyme in the orchestrated regulation mediated by the farnesoid X receptor and small heterodimer partner that reduces hepatic BA levels and protects the liver against BA toxicity. (Hepatology 2015;62:220-231)
Characterization of a member of the NnrR regulon in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.3 encoding a haem-copper protein.

Upstream of the nor and nnrR cluster in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.3 is a previously uncharacterized gene that has been designated nnrS. nnrS is only expressed when 2.4.3 is grown under denitrifying conditions. Expression of nnrS is dependent on the transcriptional regulator NnrR, which also regulates expression of genes required for the reduction of nitrite to nitrous oxide, including nirK and nor. Deletion analysis indicated the sequence 5′-TTGCG(N4)CACAA-3′, which is similar to sequences found in nirK and nor, is required for nnrS expression. Mutation of this sequence to the consensus Fnr-binding sequence by changing two bases in each half site caused nnrS expression to become nitrate independent. Inactivation of nnrS did not affect nitric oxide metabolism, nor did it affect expression of any of the genes involved in nitric oxide metabolism. However, taxis towards nitrate and nitrite was affected by nnrS inactivation. Purification of a histidine-tagged NnrS demonstrated that NnrS is a haem- and copper-containing membrane protein. Genes encoding putative orthologues of NnrS are sometimes but not always found in bacteria encoding nitrite and/or nitric oxide reductase.
Clinical and Infection Control Implications of Clostridium difficile Infection With Negative Enzyme Immunoassay for Toxin

In a prospective study of 132 patients with a diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) by polymerase chain reaction, 43 (32%) had enzyme immunoassay (EIA) results negative for toxin. EIA-negative patients with CDI did not differ in clinical presentation from EIA-positive patients and presented a similar risk for transmission of spores.
Demography and Dispersal of Juvenile and Adult Brown-Headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, California, Estimated using Multistate Models

ABSTRACT. Despite recent progress in avian demography, much still needs to be learned about patterns of survival and dispersal across different ages and sexes of birds. This is expressly true for Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in light of their vagility and importance in the life history of many other bird species. We used multistate mark—recapture models to estimate annual survival and dispersal rates of Brown-headed Cowbirds across dialect subpopulations in the Sierra Nevada of California across the 1982–1988 breeding seasons. We estimated rates for male and female hatch-year (HY) and after-hatch-year (AHY) birds and found no evidence of differences in capture probabilities across sex and age states. To account for high apparent nonresidency, adult survival was estimated separately for the year following initial capture and for subsequent years. The latter estimates are near the midpoint of those from other studies (AHY females: 56.1%; after-second-year [ASY] males: 63.4%; second-year [SY] males...
Factors Affecting the Accumulation of Organic-Rich Deposits in a Modern Avulsive Floodplain: Examples from the Cumberland Marshes, Saskatchewan, Canada

Since the 1870s, the Saskatchewan River at the Cumberland Marshes (east-central Saskatchewan, Canada) has been undergoing progradational avulsion, resulting in development of a 500 km2 avulsion belt. The avulsion belt consists of an unstable network of active and abandoned channels, splays, and floodbasins, some containing small shallow lakes. Fine-grained deposits of varying total organic content (TOC) are currently accumulating within floodbasins inside, adjacent to, and outside the avulsion belt. The TOC of these deposits depends on factors that control the amount of siliciclastic sediment received by floodbasins. Five factors that affect TOC content are identified: distance from an active channel, position relative to the avulsion belt, presence of alluvial ridges, changes in local channel activity, and developmental stage of avulsion. A channel-to-basin trend of increasing TOC is present at many locations, reflecting greater suspended sediment loads received by near-channel areas, and locations within the avulsion belt generally accumulate sediment with lower TOC than those adjacent to or outside the belt. Alluvial ridges locally act as barriers to floodbasin deposition, and channel abandonment reduces suspended sediment to adjacent floodbasins, both of which increase TOC of sediment. Finally, as avulsion wanes, less siliciclastic sediment is distributed throughout the avulsion belt, resulting in increased TOC. In the geological record, such fine-grained avulsion deposits are likely to appear as intervals of mudrock between thin beds of coal or carbonaceous shale formed from organic-rich sediment deposited between avulsion events, a succession that is common in many ancient alluvial strata.
Unobtrusive but invasive: using screen recording to collect field data on computer-mediated interaction

We explored the use of computer screen plus audio recording as a methodological approach for collecting empirical data on how teams use their computers to coordinate work. Screen recording allowed unobtrusive collecting of a rich record of actual computer work activity in its natural work setting. The embedded nature of screen recording on laptops made it easy to follow the user's mobility among various work sites. However, the invasiveness of seeing all of the user's interactions with and through the computer raised privacy concerns that made it difficult to find people to agree to participate in this type of detailed study. We discuss measures needed to develop trust with the researchers to enable access to this rich, empirical data of computer usage in the field.
Distributed scene graph to enable thousands of interacting users in a virtual environment

Virtual environments are currently limited to no more than a hundred interacting users by the simulator-centric server architectures used for many of these applications. There are some potential new usages such as virtual concerts and sporting events involving hundreds or thousands of users and we seek to enable these exciting new applications. We propose a distributed scene graph (DSG) architecture which enables massive scaling of scene complexity and participants with the addition of hardware. A prototype implementation of the DSG components to manage client communications demonstrates an order of magnitude increase in the number of concurrent users. We present the design of this component within the DSG architecture, prototype implementation based on an open source virtual environment server and our experimental setup, workloads and results.
Higher Education in a Steady State: Some Productivity and Manpower Questions

services or increases in the supply of educational resources. Product differentiation, too, is a critical factor in the college market: witness the emphasis on the value of institutional diversity, particularly in an era of declining demand when some institutions are threatened. These immediate market influences must be kept clearly in mind if we are to survive today's depression in higher education. A longer run set of adjustments will also be necessary if we are to embrace an educational technology that reduces costs and makes it possible to educate succeeding generations of students either at reduced prices or with improved quality, or both. At the microeconomic or busi-