cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New edition of a good ichthyology textbook

The advent of a second edition of the world’s most widely adopted ichthyology textbook is important news for those involved in the study of fishes. The success of a revised edition depends on the extent of the revision, including response to criticism of the original and, especially, if it is brought completely up to date. In this case, the new edition is important, not only because it meets these criteria but also due to the addition of a fourth author (B.W. Bowen) who, among other contributions, wrote the chapter on fish genetics, a critical subject that had been almost completely overlooked. In the process of reviewing a revised edition of a successful book, it becomes important to pay attention to the changes that have been made and to evaluate their importance to the overall work. The text consists of six parts that contain a total of 26 chapters. Upon opening the volume, it seemed odd to have the front cover repeated as a second page following the title page. Another oddity was the inclusion of two tables of content, the first one entitled “Brief contents” and the second “
Optical emission spectroscopy studies of the influence of laser ablated mass on dry inductively coupled plasma conditions

The amount of ablated mass can influence the temperature and excitation characteristics of the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and must be taken into account to ensure accurate chemical analysis. The ICP electron number density was investigated by using measurements of the Mg ionic to atomic resonant-line ratios during laser ablation of an aluminum matrix. The ICP excitation temperature was measured by using selected Fe lines during laser ablation of an iron matrix. A Nd:YAG laser (3 ns pulse duration) at 266 nm was used for these ablation-sampling studies. Laser energy, power density, and repetition rate were varied in order to change the quantity of ablated mass into the ICP. Over the range of laser operating conditions studied herein, the ICP was not significantly influenced by the quantity of solid sample. Therefore, analytical measurements can be performed accurately and fundamental studies of laser ablation processes (such as ablation mass roll-off, fractional vaporization) can be investigated using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).
Latino/a Theology: Doing Theology Latinamente

Latino/a Theology is rising among theologians of Latin American descent in the United States. This article describes five characteristics: 1) it is specific to the cultural context of marginalized Hispanic history; 2) it focuses on the theme of mestizaje/mulatez, the biological and cultural mixing of European Spanish with Africans and indigenous Americans; 3) it derives from popular religion; 4) it deals with everyday life, lo cotidiano; 5) like liberation theology, it emphasizes praxis.
Comparison of statistical procedures in analytic hierarchy process using a ranking test

Several statistical procedures for estimation of the priority parameters in the setup of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) exist in the literature. The purpose of this article is to make appropriate comparisons of such statistical methods. Pairwise comparison matrices are simulated using different statistical distributions of the error part used in the procedures. Priority parameters are estimated for each simulated pairwise comparison matrix using the method suggested. Standard nonparametric statistical procedures are applied to check whether the order of the priority estimates is consistent with that of their parameter values irrespective of the choice of particular statistical procedure. Statistical procedures based on the reciprocal matrices are also compared with the eigenvalue method.
Stability properties of solitary waves in a complex modified KdV system

Abstract Solitary wave solutions are studied for a system of coupled complex modified Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations with perturbations that break the Hamiltonian symmetry, and parameter regimes corresponding to linear instability and stability of the solitary waves are found. In addition, perturbation formulas are found for eigenvalues bifurcating from zero. The relative strengths of self- and cross-phase modulation determine the linear stability of the waves; in the non-Hamiltonian case, the location of bifurcating eigenvalues suggests a possible regime of bistability, where both “vector” (two-channel) and “scalar” (one-channel) solitary waves may persist. The proof requires the use of recently developed perturbation formulas based on the Evans function, as well as other spectral-theoretic tools.
Commodity Exports and Real Income in Africa

It has been argued that if several developing countries expand exports, they are likely to experience a decline in their terms of trade, export revenues, and real incomes. The general case for this export pessimism has lost much of its force, but remains very much alive for some specific countries and commodities - particularly the export of cocoa, coffee, and tea, which exhibit low price elasticity. The authors of this paper systematically analyze this issue for cocoa, a commodity for which many African countries have a large share in world exports. Their concern is chiefly with the problems that arise from low price elasticity of demand in the world market and their implications for trade policy. They find that increasing productivity in one African country through new investments would benefit that country - but the other African countries would lose. On the whole, the African countries would gain, however, so the gains to the country with expanded output would dominate the losses for the other countries. The return on the new investments for Africa as a whole would be positive - although significantly lower than returns for the country in which the new investments were made. This paper examines how real incomes and tax and export revenues compare under existing taxes. It analyzes the impact of export expansion on real income, export and tax revenues, and compares the effects of export expansion by African countries with that by non-African countries.
Coupling impedance measurements of the SNS RF cavity and extraction kicker magnet

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is a high intensity machine with peak currents in the accumulator ring reaching /spl sim/50 A at the 1.4 MW design level. This unprecedented beam intensity necessitates a careful investigation of coupling impedances posing as potential performance limitations. Impedance estimates of accelerator components pointed to the RF cavities and extraction kickers as the major contributors to the impedance budget and extensive measurements were performed on their prototypes. Impedance measurements were performed using the standard wire method.
Mechanics and Prediction of Turbulent Drag Reduction with Polymer Additives

This article provides a review of recent progress in understanding and predicting polymer drag reduction (DR) in turbulent wall-bounded shear flows. The reduction in turbulent friction losses by the dilute addition of high–molecular weight polymers to flowing liquids has been extensively studied since the phenomenon was first observed over 60 years ago. Although it has long been reasoned that the dynamical interactions between polymers and turbulence are responsible for DR, it was not until recently that progress had been made to begin to elucidate these interactions in detail. These advancements come largely from numerical simulations of viscoelastic turbulent flows and detailed turbulence measurements in flows of dilute polymer solutions using laser-based optical techniques. This review presents a selective overview of the current state of the numerics and experimental techniques and their impact on understanding the mechanics and prediction of polymer DR. It includes a discussion of areas in which our ...
Cavernous weathering, dynamical instability and self‐organization

Cavernous weathering may be conceptualized as a self-reinforcing process, characterized by positive feedback within the weathering system. A morphometric study of caverns in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA, demonstrates the applicability of a dynamically unstable, or conditionally unstable, model of cavernous weathering systems. Outcrop surfaces displaying caverns tend to show increasing fragmentation of the surface in the early stages of cavernous weathering, succeeded by convergent evolution of the surface in which caverns tend to grow and coalesce. A paradoxical relationship exists between the weathering system output at the scale of individual forms and the outcrop scale: caverns tend toward minimum interior surface area by developing a spheroidal form, yet the outcrop surface tends toward maximum exposed surface area by increasing the degree of fragmentation of the surface. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive time-varying spectral analysis for multiple narrowband signals

An adaptive technique to compute the Fourier coefficients of a time-varying spectrum is presented. The algorithm performs a least squares decomposition of the signal onto a nonharmonic Fourier basis. The algorithm updates the spectral estimate on a sample by sample basis in the time domain. This technique produces a signal decomposition with very good localization in both time and frequency domains. The detection of tones spaced closer than expected by the uncertainty principle (super-resolution) is shown by computer simulation. Computational complexity issues of the new method are also discussed. >
Formation of catharanthine, akuammicine and vindoline in Catharanthus roseus suspension cells

Abstract Catharanthine and akuammicine, together with ajmalicine and strictosidine, were isolated from a culture strain of Catharanthus roseus suspension cells. The biosynthetic capability of the cultured cells to produce akuammicine, catharanthine and vindoline was confirmed by feeding experiments with dl -tryptophan-[3- 14 C] to yield the radioactive alkaloids.
Regulation of streptokinase expression by CovR/S in Streptococcus pyogenes: CovR acts through a single high affinity binding site

The important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (the group A streptococcus or GAS) produces many virulence factors that are regulated by the two-component signal transduction system CovRS (CsrRS). Dissemination of GAS infection originating at the skin has been shown to require production of streptokinase, whose transcription is repressed by CovR. In this work we have studied the interaction of CovR and phosphorylated CovR (CovR-P) with the promoter for streptokinase, Pska. We found that, in contrast to the other CovR-repressed promoters, Pska regulation by CovR occurs through binding at a single ATTARA consensus binding sequence (CB) that overlaps the −10 region of the promoter. Binding of CovR to other nearby consensus sequences occurs upon phosphorylation of the protein, but these other CBs do not contribute to the regulation of Pska by CovR. Thus, binding at a specific site does not necessarily indicate that the site is involved in regulation by CovR. In addition, at Pska, CovR binding to the different sites does not appear to involve cooperative interactions, which simplifies the analysis of CovR binding and gives us insight into the modes of interaction that occur between CovR and its specific DNA-binding sites. Finally, the observation that regulation of transcription from Pska occurs at a very low concentration of phosphorylated CovR may have important implications for the regulation of virulence gene expression during GAS infection.
RF power for the Next Linear Collider

The Next Linear Collider (NLC) will require unprecedented amounts of power at a higher frequency than has been used previously for such applications. Two general applications have been considered and/or are still under consideration as RF power sources: systems that use RF pulse compression and systems that directly generate and use the large peak power needed to drive a section of an accelerator. Conventional klystrons and gyroklystrons are examples of RF sources that would require pulse compression to meet the requirements of the NLC. The relativistic klystron and variations of the two-beam accelerator have been considered for directly generating the peak power needed. Cost and efficiency arguments further restrict the range of options. A recent candidate is the cross field amplifier (CFA), which may have a cost advantage if it can be used in a mode without a pulsed modulator and without a thermionic cathode. The CFA could fit into either of the above categories or could be a category of its own if economy of large scale production allowed one to consider using from 10/sup 4/ to 10/sup 5/ relatively low peak power sources. >
Medical interpreter knowledge of cancer and cancer clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients with limited English proficiency may need specialized assistance to communicate with health professionals about cancer and clinical trials. METHODS: Medical interpreters working in several Boston-area hospitals were invited to participate in training sessions about cancer and cancer clinical trials. We did a pre and post survey-based assessment of knowledge of basic concepts in cancer and clinical trials, and post assessment of satisfaction, among 97 interpreters in cancer training and education sessions and 79 participants in clinical trial training and education sessions. RESULTS: Participants had a range of prior experience with interpretation in the context of cancer and clinical trials. Training increased mean accuracy from 49% to 72% in knowledge items about cancer, and from 72% to 78% in knowledge about clinical trials. Interpreters reported several areas of concern with respect to standards of practice. CONCLUSIONS: Pretest surveys of medical interpreters revealed several areas of important knowledge gaps about cancer and clinical trials. Posttest assessment showed that training can be useful to improving short-term accuracy, but that more work is needed to develop curricula and testing measures to address these knowledge gaps. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Comment on possible experimental investigation of the microscopic proton—Electron model of the genetic code

Example observations from experimental genetics that support the microscopic proton-electron code model of genetic information are reviewed. Possible experimental tests are suggested concerning the influence of the microscopic proton-electron code of DNA on long-term stability of genetic information in genetic systems that replicate infrequently.
Vitamin D Deficiency: What a Pain It Is

years and older than 60 years had vitamin D deficiencies, with the younger group having significantly lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The association between nonspecific musculoskeletal pain and vitamin D deficiency was suspected because of a higher prevalence of these symptoms during winter than summer. The study patients ranged in age from 10 to 65 years, and all had symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Of the more than 90% of patients who were medically evaluated for persistent musculoskeletal pain 1 year or more before screening, none had been tested previously for vitamin D deficiency. See also page 1463.
Distributions of Charged Defects in Mixed Ionic‐Electronic Conductors I. General Equations for Homogeneous Mixed Ionic‐Electronic Conductors

General analytical solutions to transport equations are presented for a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) subject to various electrical and chemical conditions at the surfaces. The derived general expressions can be used to predict the steady-state distributions of defects and electrical potential within the MIEC as a function of an external stimulus for transport: an electric field, a gradient in chemical potential, or a combination of the two. Also, variations in conductivities, transference numbers, current carried by each type of defect, and chemical potential of oxygen within the MIEC can be readily calculated under different conditions. Analyses indicate that the distribution of mobile defects is approximately linear when the amount of uniformly distributed immobile charges is sufficiently small while the electrical potential distributes nearly linearly when the amount of uniformly distributed immobile charges is sufficiently large. In addition, the derived equations can be used to determine the transport properties of an MIEC from observed steady-state behavior of the MIEC under controlled conditions. The derived expressions are applicable to a variety of MIECs with vastly different transport properties, ranging from MIECs with predominant ionic disorders to the ones with overwhelming electronic disorders, from MIECs with intrinsic disorders to the ones with significant extrinsic disorders, and from the MIECs with uniform properties to the ones switching transport character through their thicknesses. Further, and in particular, the derived equations can provide valuable guidance in optimizing performances of devices or systems based on MIECs and in improving or redesigning MIECs for various applications.
First results with a nonlinear digital, orbit feedback system at the NSLS

We report on the first experimental results with a nonlinear digital orbit feedback system for the NSLS X-ray ring. The system uses the existing RF receivers and orbit corrector magnets (trims) as well as parts of the NSLS control components. The orbit measurement micro was upgraded to a Motorola 68040 CPU in order to achieve the necessary data rate. Filtering and orbit correction calculations are done in a dedicated HP 742 rt micro. The system operates at a 555 Hz data rate, and achieves a bandwidth of 15-20 Hz.
Optimizing complex queries based on similarities of subqueries

As database technology is applied to more and more application domains, user queries are becoming increasingly complex (e.g. involving a large number of joins and a complex query structure). Query optimizers in existing database management systems (DBMS) were not developed for efficiently processing such queries and often suffer from problems such as intolerably long optimization time and poor optimization results. To tackle this challenge, we present a new similarity-based approach to optimizing complex queries in this paper. The key idea is to identify similar subqueries that often appear in a complex query and share the optimization result among similar subqueries in the query. Different levels of similarity for subqueries are introduced. Efficient algorithms to identify similar queries in a given query and optimize the query based on similarity are presented. Related issues, such as choosing good starting nodes in a query graph, evaluating identified similar subqueries and analyzing algorithm complexities, are discussed. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed similarity-based approach is quite promising in optimizing complex queries with similar subqueries in a DBMS.
Future manned systems advanced avionics study COTS for space

COTS/sup +/ has been defined as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, ruggedized and militarized components, and COTS technology. The study cites the benefits of integrating COTS/sup +/ in space, postulates a COTS/sup +/ integration methodology, and develops requirements and an architecture to achieve integration. Developmental needs and concerns were identified throughout the study. A total COTS/sup +/ system concept consisting of COTS/sup +/ hardware, software, systems, architecture, and their requirements is described. The concept was implanted from the bottom up into conceptual space avionic architectures representing different future manned mission vehicles. The bottom-up integrations met with future manned mission top-down requirements that were also developed in the study. Compatibility differences were resolved by changes to mission/vehicle requirements, architecture, and/or COTS/sup +/ product/testing requirements. >
Electricity infrastructure security: Toward reliable, resilient and secure cyber-physical power and energy systems

Electricity infrastructure touches us all — the key challenge, pertinent to this panel session, is to enable secure and very high-confidence sensing, communication and control of a heterogeneous, widely dispersed, yet globally interconnected system, which is a serious technological problem in any case. It is even more complex and difficult to control it for optimal efficiency and maximum benefit to the ultimate consumers while still allowing all its business components to compete fairly and freely. The North American power network may be considered to be the largest and most complex machine in the world — its transmission lines connect all the electric generation and distribution on the continent. In that respect, it exemplifies many of the complexities of electric power infrastructure and how technological innovation combined with efficient markets and enabling policies can address them. This network represents an enormous investment, including over 15,000 generators in 10,000 power plants, and hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission lines and distribution networks. With diminished transmission and generation capacities, and with dramatic increases in inter-regional bulk power transfers and diversity of transactions, the electric power grid is being used in ways for which it was not originally designed. Grid congestion and atypical power flows have been increasing during the last twenty five years, while customer expectations of reliability and cyber-physical security are rising to meet the needs of a pervasively digital world.
Gene mutations, atrial fibrillation, and the elusive cigar.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The term lone AF describes nonsyndromic atrial fibrillation that occurs in the absence of underlying structural heart disease or predisposing clinical conditions. A hereditable component leading to conduction abnormalities in AF has long been suspected, and epidemiological evidence of elevated risk for AF among first-degree relatives of probands was recently documented.1 The first AF-associated molecular defect was found in an affected Chinese family; initial studies narrowed the chromosomal location by linkage analysis, and Yihan Chen et al.2 found a specific gain-of-function mutation in KCNQ1, the gene for the α subunit of potassium channels. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 81, 26–28. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100061
A Highly Scalable Capacitorless Double Gate Quantum Well Single Transistor DRAM: 1T-QW DRAM

We propose a new kind of capacitorless DRAM: 1Transistor Quantum Well structure, which has a ldquostorage pocketrdquo for holes within the body. This memory gives the opportunity to engineer spatial hole distribution within the body of the device, which is not possible with the conventional 1T-DRAMs. Using this novel device, we demonstrate approximately two order-of-magnitude increase in the drain-current (Id) difference between the reads of two states of the memory.
Non-Steady State Free Radical Polymerization Kinetics at High Conversions: Entangled Regimes

We present a theory of non-steady state free radical polymerization kinetics at high conversions where entanglements are present. Our immediate aim is to explain apparently infinite experimental living chain lifetimes at conversions that are high, but very far from the onset of glassy behavior. In these “posteffect” studies, the time dependence of the total number of living chains is measured, after the steady state is interrupted by switching off primary radical production at t = 0. We find that infinite lifetimes are inevitable in posteffect when entanglements are present. Our starting point is a previous theoretical study of steady state entangled polymerizations according to which the principle termination mechanism for the majority long entangled chains is provided by the small population of short mobile unentangled chains. In posteffect, we find that the entire short living chain population disappears after a time scale τshort ≈ z/vp, where z is the conversion-dependent threshold for entanglement-do...
Aging and Alcohol Use Disorders: Diagnostic Issues in the Elderly

Alcohol use and use disorders in older people tend to be hidden and ignored by clinicians and scholars. Resulting misinformation about elderly alcohol problems can be found in such fundamental works as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised. Yet, an extensive literature about the nature of geriatric alcohol problems has developed recently. This article reviews that literature, comments on current research at several North American centers, and offers some new information from the author's study of more than 300 older male alcoholics. Many findings remain to be replicated and further verified. Nonetheless, several coherent strands of information seem to be well substantiated: (a) problem drinking in the elderly constitutes a public health problem of moderate proportion, especially in men; (b) most signs predict increasing problem drinking in coming generations of elderly women and men; (c) many cases of geriatric alcoholism have late onset; (d) many geriatric cases are not properly identified; and (e) present screening and diagnostic methods for alcohol use disorders lack adequate validation for older persons.
Migrainous phenomena in systemic lupus erythematosus

Eleven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also had headaches and/or visual hallucinations typical of those found in migraine. These migrainous symptoms were commonly associated with exacerbations of SLE and abated as disease activity subsided. In some cases corticosteroids were more effective than conventional antimigraine therapy in controlling headaches and scotomas. The data suggest that migraine-like phenomena may arise as a result of vascular dysfunction in SLE.
THE INFLUENCE OF DRAINAGE NETWORKS ON PATTERNS OF SOIL RESPIRATION IN A DESERT CATCHMENT

Hydrologie flow and connectivity act as important determinants of ecological pattern and process in heterogeneous landscapes. Here we examine how the routing of water through the drainage network of an upper Sonoran Desert basin influences landscape patterns of soil respiration (SR) at both seasonal and event-based timescales. At seasonal timescales, SR varied up to 13-fold with downstream position in the drainage network, and annual estimates of C02 efflux ranged from 185 g C-m~2-yr_1 to 1190 g C-m"2-yr_1 for sites arrayed along the same flow path. Spatial patterns of SR were unrelated to the carbon and water content of surface soils, but rather tracked changes in plant size and productivity, which in turn reflect downstream increases in groundwater availability. The relative importance of precipitation and temperature as drivers of SR also changed with landscape position, with the latter becoming more important in downstream locations. At the scale of individual precipitation events, SR increased up to 30-fold upon rewetting but typically returned to background levels within 24 h, even when soil moisture remained elevated. Unlike patterns observed at seasonal scales, event-based losses of C02 varied across the landscape as a function of the organic-matter content in surface soils. Results from labile carbon amendments confirm that C02 losses following precipitation pulses are initially constrained by substrate availability, not soil drying. By mediating spatial patterns of vegetation structure and soil resource availability, drainage networks represent an important physical template upon which belowground processes are organized in desert basins.
Synthesis of N-desmethyl derivatives of 17α-acetoxy-11β- (4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione and mifepristone1: Substrates for the synthesis of radioligands

The syntheses of N-desmethyl derivatives of CDB-2914 and the mono-N-desmethyl derivative of Mifepristone are described. We also describe the use of the mono-desmethyl derivatives as substrates for the synthesis of N-tritomethyl derivatives of CDB-2914 and Mifepristone with high specific activity (ca. 80 Ci/mmol), which serve as radioligands for radioimmunoassay.
A Conditioned Aversion Study of Sucrose and SC45647 Taste in TRPM5 Knockout Mice

Previously, published studies have reported mixed results regarding the role of the TRPM5 cation channel in signaling sweet taste by taste sensory cells. Some studies have reported a complete loss of sweet taste preference in TRPM5 knockout (KO) mice, whereas others have reported only a partial loss of sweet taste preference. This study reports the results of conditioned aversion studies designed to motivate wild-type (WT) and KO mice to respond to sweet substances. In conditioned taste aversion experiments, WT mice showed nearly complete LiCl-induced response suppression to sucrose and SC45647. In contrast, TRPM5 KO mice showed a much smaller conditioned aversion to either sweet substance, suggesting a compromised, but not absent, ability to detect sweet taste. A subsequent conditioned flavor aversion experiment was conducted to determine if TRPM5 KO mice were impaired in their ability to learn a conditioned aversion. In this experiment, KO and WT mice were conditioned to a mixture of SC45647 and amyl acetate (an odor cue). Although WT mice avoided both components of the stimulus mixture, they avoided SC45647 more than the odor cue. The KO mice also avoided both stimuli, but they avoided the odor component more than SC45647, suggesting that while the KO mice are capable of learning an aversion, to them the odor cue was more salient than the taste cue. Collectively, these findings suggest the TRPM5 KO mice have some residual ability to detect SC45647 and sucrose, and, like bitter, there may be a TRPM5-independent transduction pathway for detecting these substances.
Can clinical outcomes be used to detect neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis

Neuroprotection is a difficult concept to define in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS), a complex heterogeneous disease with an uncertain immunopathogenetic mechanism. Although treatment and natural history studies use clinical determinants and MRI metrics to assess disability, long-term progression, and the effects of disease-modifying drugs, the association between clinical and imaging outcomes is relatively modest. In the future, a composite measure comprising both clinical and imaging markers, along with investigational surrogates derived from molecular genetics and proteomics, may provide an accurate quantitative measure of neuroprotection. However, a consensus definition of "neuroprotection" applicable to MS needs to be established before such a tool can be validated and put to use.
Advanced laser ultrasonic receivers for industrial applications

Laser-based ultrasound (LEU) is a promising method for noncontact-testing of materials, components, and structures. One critical element of an LEU system is the laser ultrasonic receiver. We describe recent progress on developing rugged, adaptive receivers that meet all the above requirements. Laser interferometers have been used for many years to detect small amplitude surface displacements that are produced when an ultrasonic wave reaches the detected surface.
Evolutionary Relationships Among Old World Fruitbats (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae) Based on 12S rRNA, tRNA Valine, and 16S rRNA Gene Sequences

Old World fruitbats were divided into the cynopterine, epomophorine, rousettine, eonycterine, and notopterine sections by Knud Andersen (1912). Among these, the eonycterine and notopterine sections together comprise the subfamily Macroglossinae, which includes forms with specializations for nectarivory. Single-copy DNA hybridization data argue against the monophyly of four of Andersen's sections and further suggest paraphyly or polyphyly of the Macroglossinae. DNA hybridization data provide support for an endemic African clade that includes Megaloglossus (an eonycterine), Epomophorus (an epomophorine), and Lissonycteris (a rousettine). Analyses of mitochondrial 12S rRNA-tRNA valine gene sequences corroborate the African clade but provide less resolution than hybridization data for most branches on the pteropodid tree. Here, we report 11 new 16S rRNA sequences and analyze a mitochondrial data set that includes 12S rRNA, tRNA valine, and 16S rRNA for 18 pteropodid genera. Parsimony, minimum evolution, and maximum likelihood were all employed in phylogenetic analyses. The addition of 16S rRNA sequences to the mitochondrial data set resulted in increased support for several clades, including Macroglossus + Syconycteris, Cynopterus + Thoopterus, Rousettus + the endemic African clade, and Eonycteris + Rousettus + the endemic African clade. Statistical tests suggest that another endemic African genus, Eidolon, is dissociated from the African clade and represents an independent invasion into Africa. We constructed a molecular phylogenetic framework that incorporated clades that were strongly supported by both single-copy DNA hybridization and 12S rRNA-tRNA valine-16S rRNA sequences. Using this framework as a backbone phylogenetic constraint, we then analyzed a morphological data matrix for 34 pteropodid genera with parsimony. Results of this analysis suggest that other epomophorines and Myonycteris (a cynopterine) are also part of the endemic African clade.
Generic Discrete-Event Simulation Model of a Prison

This essay describes a generic discrete-event simulation (DES) model of a prison system. The model tracks individual entities through a prison “career,” beginning with admission and ending with release from custody. Career stage transitions are modeled as discrete events that occur in real time. With each career transition (or state-change) the model pauses to update the appropriate subpopulation databases. Entities carry information tags into and through the model. The tags can be used to create arbitrary subpopulations for forecasting or analysis. We demonstrate the model by forecasting the population of a large corrections system conditioned on two policy interventions.
One-pot, exchange-free, room-temperature synthesis of sub-10 nm aqueous, noninteracting, and stable zwitterated iron oxide nanoparticles.

Stable aqueous dispersions of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized in one step in the presence of a zwitterionic siloxane as the stabilizing/capping/solubilizing ligand. The hydrodynamic diameter of the particles was tuned by controlling the concentration of zwitterion siloxane, which ultimately yielded monodisperse nanoparticles small enough for renal filtration (<6 nm diameter). The zwitterated nanoparticles were readily dispersed and stable in aqueous media in the pH range 6–9 but exhibited lower magnetization values than nonzwitterated materials due to amorphous content and spin canting, typical for particles of such size. Turbidimetry and light scattering studies revealed no interaction between the particles and proteins, suggesting the materials will circulate well in vivo.
Fashion globally: A cross-cultural and generational examination

Purpose – The aim of this study is to focus on consumers’ responses towards visual fashion ideal in hybrid magazine advertisements from a cross-cultural and generational perspective. Design/methodology/approach – This exploratory qualitative focus group study showed a set of validated advertisements to 64 female participants. Half of the sample was from the USA, the other half was from China. To examine generational differences, the interviewees were split by age in each group: half of the participants were between 18 and 34, and half were between the age of 45 and 65 years. Findings – Both Chinese and American target audiences viewed the trendy advertisements with an aspirational eye in which the advertisement was interpreted as representing an ideal self to which they aspired, one that they wanted to achieve but, for some reason(s), were not capable of achieving at the time. However, the degree of aspiration varied for Chinese and American audiences. Research limitations/implications – Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, future research may use survey and experimental research approaches. Practical implications – International marketers may need to design advertisements with more “realistic” imagery, while keeping the idealized Western style in Chinese advertising. Advertisers should also be cognizant of intergenerational influences in the Chinese market; many young Chinese women still rely on their mothers regarding fashion purchase decisions. Originality/value – This paper fills a need to understand both the similarities and the differences in marketing communications across cultures.
A Conjoint Model for Measuring Self- and Cross-Price/Demand Relationships:

The authors describe an approach to measuring self- and cross-price/demand relationships via conjoint analysis. The modeling “trick” is to characterize each brand as a separate price-related factor...
Growth and critical size at pupation for larvae of the screwworm developing in fresh wounds.

The growth of larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) in fresh wounds on sheep occurred in 3 phases. The lst phase (initial growth) was characterized by a slow increase in weight (from 0.3 to 11 mg) and was terminated after about 84 hours of feeding. The 2nd phase (critical growth) was characterized by attainment of the weight necessary for successful pupation (about 35–65 mg) and was terminated at about 120 hours after infestation, The third phase (postcritical growth) was characterized by an additional increase in weight beyond the critical weight that determined the size of the subsequent adult body; it was terminated by the migration of the larva from the wound (168–196 hours after infestation). Female flies from larvae weighing less than 40 rug after about 96 hours of feeding were frequently delayed in or were incapable of maturing eggs, However, the percentage with retarded ovarian development declined among flies from larvae weighing more than 56 mg after about 96 hours of feeding.
Study on Security of NGN Service Platform

Because the NGN service platform is an open platform, and it provides services on packet-based networks, there exist many security problems to be solved. This article discusses the security issues of NGN service platform in respects of open service interface and service deployment. It is noted that the security problem of the open interface can be solved by adding service management platform and service access gateway which brings the characteristics of authentication, authorization, accounting, encryption and integrality protection, while the security problem of service deployment can be solved by means of user digital certificate distribution, firewall and inbreak examining system, load control, user home address management, real-time display of access IP address and so on.
Observations on the long-term effects of child analysis. Implications for technique.

This paper examines the issue of the lasting influence of child analysis on subsequent development, focusing particularly on the normative developmental crisis of the transition from adolescence to...
Developmental considerations in neonatal failure.

Maintaining or establishing appropriate cardiac function in the newborn depends on a complex system of physiologic adjustments as the circulation matures. Failure of the young heart is often of circulatory, rather than myocardial, origin. To provide appropriate therapy, it is important to appreciate the mechanisms available to the infant for responding to stress.
Abstract 1967: Elucidation of signaling pathways that mediate gastrin-induced JNK activation and pGSK3β/Snail induction in gastric cancer cells

The gastrointestinal peptide hormone gastrin is known to regulate various cellular processes including proliferation, migration and metastasis in gastrointestinal cells. Our previous studies indicated that amidated gastrin (G-17) induced gastric cancer cell migration through two separate signaling axes. These revealed that inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β (GSK3β) was necessary to activate G17-induced migratory pathways in gastric cancer cells. Incubation of AGSE gastric cancer cells overexpressing CCK2 receptor (CCK2R) with G17 resulted in a dose and time dependent increase of GSK3βSer9 phosphorylation, indicative of an inhibition of the kinase. Treatment with G-17 was also associated with increased Snail expression, a downstream target of GSK3β and p21-activated protein kinases (PAKs). In a second pathway, G-17 also induced JNK phosphorylation through activation of Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MLK3). This axis also promotes gastric cancer cell migration via CCK2R. In the present study our goal was to determine whether PAKs, which are effectors for the Rho GTPases Cdc42 and Rac and are central players in cell proliferation, survival and motility, are involved in the G-17 effects on gastric cancer cells. Our studies showed that in AGSE cells when pretreated with a commercially available PAK4 inhibitor PF 3758309, G-17 was unable to phosphorylate GSK3β and G-17-induced Snail expression was markedly inhibited. G17-induced p-JNK expression was also significantly attenuated with PAK4 inhibitor pretreatment. The inhibitory effect was stronger when PAK4 inhibitor was used in combination with a pan-MLK inhibitor CEP11004. The involvement of PAK4 in G17-induced events were also confirmed by using the PAK4 siRNA. Knockdown of PAK4 inhibited G17-induced p-JNK expression which was more pronounced when both PAK4 and MLK3 were knocked down in AGSE gastric cancer cells. However, knocking down PAK4 alone does-not seem to inhibit G-17-induced p-GSK3β expression completely, which suggest the potential involvement of other PAK family members. Studies are currently underway to determine which PAK(s) is involved in mediating G17-pGSK3β-Snail axis and also to elucidate any crosstalk of PAK4 and MLK3 in this pathway. Elucidation of the signaling pathways that mediate G17-induced cellular events will be very important in designing therapeutic approaches in the future to restrict gastric cancer cell migration and metastasis. Citation Format: Aninda Basu, Goutam Sondarva, Sreevidya Santha, Ajay Rana, Basabi Rana. Elucidation of signaling pathways that mediate gastrin-induced JNK activation and pGSK3β/Snail induction in gastric cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1967. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1967
Detection of genetic loci associated with plasma fetuin-A: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from the CHARGE Consortium.

Plasma fetuin-A is associated with type 2 diabetes, and AHSG, the gene encoding fetuin-A, has been identified as a susceptibility locus for diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Thus far, unbiased investigations of the genetic determinants of plasma fetuin-A concentrations have not been conducted. We searched for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to fetuin-A concentrations by a genome-wide association study in six population-based studies. We examined the association of fetuin-A levels with ∼ 2.5 million genotyped and imputed SNPs in 9,055 participants of European descent and 2,119 African Americans. In both ethnicities, the strongest associations were centered in a region with a high degree of LD near the AHSG locus. Among 136 genome-wide significant (P < 0.05 × 10-8) SNPs near the AHSG locus, the top SNP was rs4917 (P =1.27 × 10-303), a known coding SNP in exon 6 that is associated with a 0.06 g/l (∼13%) lower fetuin-A level. This variant alone explained 14% of the variation in fetuin-A levels. Analyses conditioned on rs4917 indicated that the strong association with the AHSG locus stems from additional independent associations of multiple variants among European Americans. In conclusion, levels of fetuin-A in plasma are strongly associated with SNPs in its encoding gene, AHSG, but not elsewhere in the genome. Given the strength of the associations observed for multiple independent SNPs, the AHSG gene is an example of a candidate locus suitable for additional investigations including fine mapping to elucidate the biological basis of the findings and further functional experiments to clarify AHSG as a potential therapeutic target.
Abstract 172: The Role of Activin A in Maternal Diabetes-Induced Cardiac Malformations

Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy causes heart defects, especially atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs), in infants. Manifestation of AVSDs results from dysmorphogenesis of the endocardial cushions in the embryo, which is regulated by members of the transforming growth factor (TGF) β family. Among the TGFβs, we have previously observed that the inhibin βA gene, which encodes a protein to form homodimers as activin A, is markedly downregulated by maternal diabetes. To further determine the involvement of inhibin βA and its signaling in diabetic embryopathy, the levels of inhibin βA protein and activation of its downstream transcription factors, Smad2 and Smad3, were examined using immunohistochemical, proximity ligation, and immunoblot assays, and shown to be decreased in the embryonic hearts of diabetic mice induced via intravenous injection of streptozotocin. To investigate the role of activin A in hyperglycemia-induced cardiac malformations, mouse embryos at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) cultured in high glucose (22 mM) were treated with activin A (50 ng/ml) for 24 hours. The treatment rescued the development of the endocardial cushions and cell proliferation (BrdU-incorporation assay) in the myocardium, similar to those in normal glucose control (8.3 mM). The role of activin A in endocardial cell migration, an important process for cellularization of the cardiac jelly, was investigated by treating E10.5 endocardial cushion explants cultured in high glucose with activin A (50 ng/ml) in a collagen matrix-based assay system. The treatment significantly increased the number of migrating cells, compared with that in high glucose-treated group, to the level in the control group. These effects were associated with restoration of the activation of Smad2/3. The results demonstrate that the activin-Smad2/3 signaling system plays an important role in cardiac malformation in diabetic embryopathy.
Computational design and experimental characterization of a novel β-common receptor inhibitory peptide.

Abstract In short-term animal models of ischemia, erythropoietin (EPO) signaling through the heterodimeric EPO receptor (EPOR)/β-common receptor (βCR) is believed to elicit tissue protective effects. However, large, randomized, controlled trials demonstrate that targeting a higher hemoglobin level by administering higher doses of EPO, which are more likely to activate the heterodimeric EPOR/βCR, is associated with an increase in adverse cardiovascular events. Thus, inhibition of long-term activation of the βCR may have therapeutic implications. This study aimed to design and evaluate the efficacy of novel computationally designed βCR inhibitory peptides (βIP). These novel βIPs were designed based on a truncated portion of Helix-A from EPO, specifically residues 11–26 (VLERYLLEAKEAEKIT). Seven novel peptides (P1 to P7) were designed. Peptide 7 (P7), VLERYLHEAKHAEKIT, demonstrated the most robust inhibitory activity. We also report here the ability of P7 to inhibit βCR-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Specifically, we found that P7 βIP completely abolished EPO-induced NO production. The inhibitory effect could be overcome with super physiological doses of EPO, suggesting a competitive inhibition. βCR-induced angiogenesis in HUVEC’s was also abolished with treatment of P7 βIP, but P7 βIP did not inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. In addition, we demonstrate that the novel P7 βIP does not inhibit EPO-induced erythropoiesis with use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). These results, for the first time, describe a novel, potent βCR peptide inhibitor that inhibit the actions of the βCR without affecting erythropoiesis.
Methodological advances, opportunities, and challenges in AAC research.

Since its inception in 1985, the AAC journal has been publishing scientific articles related to the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that (a) report research concerning ass...