cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic search for switch-like behavior in type II toxin–antitoxin systems

Bistable switch-like behavior is a ubiquitous feature of gene regulatory networks with decision-making capabilities. Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are hypothesized to facilitate a bistable switch in toxin concentration that influences the dormancy transition in persister cells. However, a series of recent retractions has raised fundamental questions concerning the exact mechanism of toxin propagation in persister cells and the relationship between type II TA systems and cellular dormancy. Through a careful modeling search, we identify how sp: bistablilty can emerge in type II TA systems by systematically modifying a basic model for the RelBE system with other common biological mechanisms. Our systematic search uncovers a new combination of mechanisms influencing bistability in type II TA systems and explores how toxin bistability emerges through synergistic interactions between paired type II TA systems. Our analysis also illustrates how Descartes' rule of signs and the resultant can be used as a powerful delineator of bistability in mathematical systems regardless of application.
Associations of patient-centered medical home with quality of care, patient experience, and health expenditures: A STROBE-compliant cross-sectional study.

In efforts to improve the delivery of quality primary care, patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model has been promoted. However, evidence on its association with health outcomes has been mixed. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of PCMH model on quality of care, patient experience, health expenditures.This was a cross-sectional study of the 2015-2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Medical Organization Survey linked data, including 5748 patient-provider pairs. We examined twenty-four quality of care measures (18 high-value and 6 low-value care services), health service utilization, patient experience (patient-provider communication, satisfaction), and health expenditure.Of 5748 patients, representing a weighted population of 56.2 million American adults aged 18 years and older, 44.2% were cared for by PCMH certified providers. 9.3% of those with PCMHs had at least one inpatient stay in the past year, which was comparable to the 11.4% among those with non-PCMHs. Similarly, 17.4% of respondents cared for by PCMH and 18.5% cared for by non-PCMH had at least one ED visit. Overall, we found no significant differences in quality of care measures (neither high-nor low-value of care) between the two groups. The overall satisfaction, the experience of access to care, and communication with providers were also comparable. Patients who were cared for by PCMHs had less total health expenditure (difference $217) and out-of-pocket spending (difference $91) than those cared for by non-PCMHs; however, none of these differences reached the statistical significance (adjusted P > 0.05 for all).This study found no meaningful difference in quality of care, patient experience, health care utilization, or health care expenditures between respondents cared for by PCMH and non-PCMH. Our findings suggest that the PCMH model is not superior in the quality of care delivered to non-PCMH providers.
Positional-based cloning ‘fail-safe’ approach is overpowered by wheat chromosome structural variation

Positional-based cloning is a foundational method for understanding the genes and gene networks that control valuable agronomic traits such as grain yield components. In this study, we sought to positionally clone the causal genetic variant of a 1000-grain weight (TGW) quantitative trait loci (QTL) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) chromosome arm 5AL. We developed heterogenous inbred families (HIFs) (>5,000 plants) for enhanced genotypic resolution and fine-mapped the QTL to a 10-Mbp region. The transcriptome of developing grains from positive and negative control HIF haplotypes revealed presence-absence chromosome arm 5AS structural variation and unexpectedly no differential expression of genes within the chromosome arm 5AL candidate region. Evaluation of genomic, transcriptomic, and phenotypic data, and predicted function of genes, identified that the 5AL QTL was the result of strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) with chromosome arm 5AS presence or absence (HIF r2 = 0.91). Structural variation is common in wheat, and our results highlight that the redundant polyploid genome's masking of such variation is a significant barrier to positional cloning. We propose recommendations for more efficient and robust detection of structural variation, including transitioning from a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to a haplotype-based approach to identify positional cloning targets. We also present nine candidate genes for grain yield components based on chromosome arm 5AS presence or absence, which may unveil hidden variation of homoeolog dosage-dependent genes across the group five chromosome short arms. Taken together, our discovery demonstrates the phenotypic resiliency of polyploid genomic structural variation and highlights a considerable challenge to routine positional cloning in wheat.
Distinct Psychological Characteristics Predict Resilience and Recovery Throughout Widowhood

Abstract The dual process model proposes that early and later bereavement involve different types of stressors and adaptation processes (Stroebe & Schut, 1999, 2010). It is thus possible that different factors facilitate adaptation during early months versus subsequent years following widowhood. Elevated depressive symptoms, though prevalent after widowhood, may indicate problematic adaptation as they are associated with poor long-term physical and mental health outcomes. We predicted that neutral death acceptance would be associated with less increase in depression during early widowhood (when confronted with loss-oriented stressors) whereas perceived control would predict depressive symptom decline during later widowhood (when adapting to controllable restoration-oriented stressors). Older adults (N = 265) reported on neutral death acceptance, perceived control, and depression before widowhood and on depression 0.5, 1.5, and 4 years after the death of their spouse. Bilinear spline growth modeling revealed that, on average, depressive symptoms increased from before to 0.5 years after spouse death and fell from 0.5 to 4 years after spouse death. Neutral death acceptance predicted a smaller increase in depression from before to 0.5 years after spouse death, as well as a smaller subsequent decrease in depression from 0.5 to 4 years after spouse death. Perceived control predicted a larger decrease in depression from 0.5 to 4 years after spouse death. Neutral death acceptance and perceived control had unique associations with resilience and recovery throughout early and later widowhood. These variables may be fruitful targets in interventions for depression throughout the full course of widowhood.
Complications of Midfacelifting

None of the previously described procedures in this text is without complications, and, despite the best intentions, surgical experience, and skills, complications may occur. Meticulous preoperative planning and patient counseling are crucial. Should a complication occur, it is important to promptly recognize it, inform the patient, and provide a plan for the course of treatment. The surgeon should provide reassurance that the complication is manageable or refer the patient elsewhere if it is beyond his or her expertise. Patience is vital for both the surgeon and the patient: some repairs are best carried out after a certain amount of time. During this waiting period, the patient should be seen early and often for reassurance and to let her/him know that the surgeon is aware and that he/she cares. The best treatments for complications, of course, are to avoid them. However, if a complication does occur, it is crucial to be able to manage it effectively and in a timely fashion. It is important for the patient to continue to have confidence in the surgeon to allow them to undergo a secondary revision procedure.
The Marginalization of Pineros in the Pacific Northwest

Mexican immigrants constitute the majority of forest labor on federal lands in the Pacific Northwest today. These immigrant forest workers, or pineros, do manually intensive forest labor and face unsafe working conditions, with little protection from labor violations. This article compares the varying experiences of social and political marginality among pineros, loggers, and nonimmigrant reforestation workers over time. In particular, I focus on media coverage to indicate the extent to which forest workers' concerns are visible to elected officials and the general public, and on organizations that address or represent various groups of workers. This comparison shows that pineros are more marginal than other groups of forest workers, and that legal status and limited language proficiency contribute to their marginality.
Derivative Polynomials, Euler Polynomials, and Associated Integer Sequences

Let $P_n$ and $Q_n$ be the polynomials obtained by repeated differentiation of the tangent and secant functions respectively. From the exponential generating functions of these polynomials we develop relations among their values, which are then applied to various numerical sequences which occur as values of the $P_n$ and $Q_n$. For example, $P_n(0)$ and $Q_n(0)$ are respectively the $n$th tangent and secant numbers, while $P_n(0)+Q_n(0)$ is the $n$th Andre number. The Andre numbers, along with the numbers $Q_n(1)$ and $P_n(1)-Q_n(1)$, are the Springer numbers of root systems of types $A_n$, $B_n$, and $D_n$ respectively, or alternatively (following V. I. Arnol'd) count the number of "snakes" of these types. We prove this for the latter two cases using combinatorial arguments. We relate the values of $P_n$ and $Q_n$ at $\sqrt3$ to certain "generalized Euler and class numbers" of D. Shanks, which have a combinatorial interpretation in terms of 3-signed permutations as defined by R. Ehrenborg and M. A. Readdy. Finally, we express the values of Euler polynomials at any rational argument in terms of $P_n$ and $Q_n$, and from this deduce formulas for Springer and Shanks numbers in terms of Euler polynomials.
Making Mosquito Taxonomy Useful: A Stable Classification of Tribe Aedini that Balances Utility with Current Knowledge of Evolutionary Relationships

The tribe Aedini (Family Culicidae) contains approximately one-quarter of the known species of mosquitoes, including vectors of deadly or debilitating disease agents. This tribe contains the genus Aedes, which is one of the three most familiar genera of mosquitoes. During the past decade, Aedini has been the focus of a series of extensive morphology-based phylogenetic studies published by Reinert, Harbach, and Kitching (RHK 2) enhance the ability of taxonomists to accurately place new species into genera; 3) maintain the progress toward a natural classification based on monophyletic groups of species; and 4) correct the current classification system that is subject to instability as new species are described and existing species more thoroughly defined. We do not challenge the phylogenetic hypotheses generated by the above-mentioned series of morphological studies. However, we reduce the ranks of the genera and subgenera of RH&K to subgenera or informal species groups, respectively, to preserve stability as new data become available.
Genetics of Apoptosis

Publisher Summary The genetic analysis of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, provides important information on the biology of naturally occurring cell death. Identification of genes regulating apoptosis has confirmed that this process follows a similar paradigm in all multicellular organisms. The genetic study of programmed cell death in the invertebrates Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster has led to the identification of genes regulating this process. These genes function in many different steps of the apoptotic program—for example, initiation, execution of the death sentence, and removal of the cell corpses. Homologs of these cell death genes have been found in higher eukaryotes, suggesting that this process is conserved through evolution. This chapter focuses on advances in understanding of apoptosis achieved through the use of genetic tools. Special emphasis is given on classical genetic model systems such as C. eleguns , Drosophila , mice, and viruses. Genetic studies in C. elegans were the first to show that cell death might be under the control of specific “death” genes. The knowledge gained from the genetics of apoptosis is of upmost importance because it is likely to help in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying all cell suicide.
Community of Philosophical Inquiry as a Discursive Structure, and Its Role in School Curriculum Design.

This article traces the development of the theory and practice of what is known as ‘community of inquiry’ as an ideal of classroom praxis. The concept has ancient and uncertain origins, but was seized upon as a form of pedagogy by the originators of the Philosophy for Children program in the 1970s. Its location at the intersection of the discourses of argumentation theory, communications theory, semiotics, systems theory, dialogue theory, learning theory and group psychodynamics makes of it a rich site for the dialogue between theory and practice in education. This article is an exploration of those intersections, and a prospectus of its possible role in the formation and reformulation of school curriculum. It will be argued here that, when formulated as community of philosophical inquiry in particular, it offers the possibility of ‘philosophising’ the school curriculum in general, by extending the concept-work that doing philosophy entails to all of the disciplines. The article begins with an attempt at an operational definition of the term as, move to an analysis of its dynamics, offers an example of its use in a mathematics classroom, and finishes with a schematic view of its whole-curriculum and whole-school possibilities. One of the most notable pedagogical windfalls that followed on the
Partial activation of Fucus eggs with calcium lonophores and low-sodium seawater

Abstract Cell wall material is secreted from unfertilized eggs of the marine brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. following exposure to calcium ionophores in normal seawater. A response to 5 μM ionomycin is observed from about one-third of the experimental population after 30 min and from most eggs after 1.5 hr of exposure. Secretion in response to 10 μM A23187 requires about 4 hr of exposure to the ionophore. Normal cell wall formation (triggered by fertilization) is initiated at one area of the egg surface but spreads evenly, in contrast to the patchy secretion stimulated by ionophores. Patchy secretion of cell wall material also occurs 2.5 hr after eggs are placed in low-sodium (N-methylglucamine-substituted) ASW. Eggs lyse within minutes when exposed to 5 μM ionomycin in 2.5 mM Na+ (450 mM N-methylglucamine) artificial seawater (ASW). Eggs become pear-shaped at about the time fertilized controls germinate in response to treatments such as low-sodium ASW and calcium ionophores, but they do not cleave normally. Choline has side effects upon Fucus eggs and is not recommended as a sodium substitute in this system. These results suggest that Na + Ca 2+ antiport might be one mechanism by which fucoid eggs regulate internal free calcium, and they offer a possible explanation for the relative insensitivity of fucoid eggs to calcium ionophores.
Understanding the switching mechanism of polymer memory

Abstract Polymer memory is one of the potential candidates for next generation non-volatile memory application. In the past, we have demonstrated memory devices with polymer films embedded with nanoparticles and donor/acceptor molecules. We also reported a stackable polymer memory architecture using a photo-cross-linkable polymer. Recently, we concentrated our efforts in improving the understanding of the working mechanism of the polymer memory device. Using cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy with samples prepared by focused-ion beam, we found that nanoscale non-uniformities at the electrode dominated the device characteristics. A new model involving the formation and annihilation of conductive filaments was proposed. With this information, we designed a dynamic programming scheme to manipulate the localized paths through a feedback circuit and optimization algorithm. It has been experimentally demonstrated that this new operation improves the endurance of the memory device. This paper reviews our recent work in the study of the switching mechanism of polymer memory.
Yeast super-suppressors are altered tRNAs capable of translating a nonsense codon in vitro

Abstract tRNA isolated from two different yeast super-suppressor strains translates a known nonsense mutation in vitro, whereas tRNA from a closely related nonsuppressing strain does not. Suppression was assayed by translation of RNA isolated from an amber coat mutant of bacteriophage Qβ (GB11) in a protein-synthesizing system derived from mouse tissue culture cells (L cells). Suppressed forms of Qβ coat protein synthesized in vitro were quantitatively detected by a specific immunoprecipitation assay. The L-cell protein-synthesizing system also responds to E. coli suppressor tRNA. This indicates that the biochemical mechanism for nonsense suppression is very similar in yeast and E. coli. These findings also provide additional evidence that the amber codon (UAG) functions as one of the mammalian chain-terminating codons. Since the suppression assay utilizes protein-synthesizing components isolated from mammalian cells, it should prove useful in the search for mammalian nonsense suppressors.
How Messages Affect Their Senders: A More General Model of Message Effects and Implications for Deliberation

This paper argues that in all areas of communication theory, we should give greater consideration to the possibility of expression affecting the expresser. A general model of the effects of messages on both senders and receivers is introduced, organizing and resolving contradictions in past research by distinguishing between effects of the expectation of expression, effects of message composition, and effects of a message being released to others. When applied to deliberation, the model results in several experimentally testable explanations of causal mechanisms involved in deliberation’s predicted effects, a stronger basis for the distinction between deliberative and argumentative discussion, and several tentative practical recommendations for encouraging open-mindedness in deliberation. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.2007.00306.x When both scholars and laypeople attempt to explain communication, they most often do so using a reception-effects paradigm in which all effects of communication are assumed to result from message reception. Communication is thought of in terms of several related metaphors, such as information flow and information transmission (Krippendorff, 1993), all of which imply that preexisting information travels in some form from one actor to another and then has its effects, if any, on arrival. This paradigm guides our thinking away from several possibilities, including that the act of expression might change the message sender, that expressed ideas often do not exist intact, if at all, in the sender’s mind prior to expression, and that attention to— and thus effects of—received messages may result from the expectation of being able to respond. This paper offers a general model of the effects of both sending and receiving messages, organizes the disconnected but substantial empirical evidence for its expression-effects propositions, and illustrates the model’s utility by using it to generate alternative explanations of some of the predicted effects of deliberation.
Deformation of Oriented Lamellar Block Copolymer Films

Highly ordered, near-single-crystal lamellar films of a triblock copolymer (polystyrene−polybutadiene−polystyrene, PS/PB/PS) were used to study the deformation mechanism of a structure of alternating glassy−rubbery layers, at different orientations of the deformation axis relative to the layer normal. Synchrotron radiation was used for simultaneous in-situ deformation and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. These were augmented with direct imaging of the structure by transmission electron microscopy. The deformation mechanism depends on the orientation of the force with respect to the structure. Loading parallel to the lamellae results in yielding by propagation of a stable macroscopic neck. The glassy PS layers break up at the neck front, releasing the rubbery layers to achieve high strain. The morphology that develops by deformation of the structure in other directions is an ensemble of new tilt boundaries oriented along the deformation axis. The lamellar normals tilt away from the deformation ax...
Mechanisms of differentiation of U937 leukemic cells induced by GM-CSF and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3

The human monoblast cell line, U937, was employed to elucidate early events associated with differentiation induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and 1,25-dihydroxy-Vitamin D3 (VD3). Exposure of cells to a combination of GM-CSF and VD3 resulted in an up-regulation of c-fos mRNA within 1 h and a marked down-regulation of c-myc mRNA by 24 h and this was associated with a shift of cell population from the S phase to the G0 + G1 phase of the cell cycle by 18%. This was followed by a marked enhancement of monocyte-associated cell surface antigens [OKM1 (CD11b), LeuM3 (CD14), M77.7], as determined by monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Functional characteristics such as nitroblue-tetrazolium reduction, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase activity, and phagocytic capability occurred. Cells treated with GM-CSF or VD3 alone showed only minor changes. These results demonstrate a potent synergistic effect of GM-CSF and VD3 on induction of U937 differentiation. This differentiation was partially blocked by H7, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Changes in c-myc and c-fos mRNA expressions and a shift in cell cycle were shown to be early events in this process.
Increased sensitivity of adenylate cyclase activity in the striatum of the rat to calmodulin and GppNHp after chronic treatment with haloperidol.

Suuunary--Chronic treatment of rats with haloperidol causes behavioral supersensitivity to dopaminergic agonists and an increase in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase activity in the striatum to stimulation by dopamine. In this study the authors examined whether chronic treatment with haloperidol could elicit a change in sensitivity of adenylate cyclase in the striatum of the rat for guanyl nucleotides and the endogenous Ca 2+-binding protein, calmodulin. These agents increase the activation of adenylate cyclase activity by dopamine but act beyond the level of the dopamine receptor. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with either 0.6 mg/kg haloperidol or vehicle for 14 days. Four days after the last injection, the animals were sacrificed and the activity of adenylate cyclase was measured in a EGTAwashed particulate preparation of the striatum. There was an increase in the activation of adenylate cyclase activity by calmodulin and GppNHp but not by guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in particulate fractions of the striatum from rats treated with haloperidol as compared to controls. The sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to calmodulin was increased S-fold in particulate fractions from rats treated with haloperidol as opposed to vehicle-treated rats. The lack of change in activation by GTP was not due to an altered activity of GTPase in rats treated with haloperidol. In animals treated for 14 days but not withdrawn from haloperidol there was no statistically significant increase in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to calmodulin. There was no change in activation of the enzyme by GppNHp or GTP as compared to control. The activation of adenylate cyclase by calmodulin was not affected when haloperidol was added in vitro to the assay or after the acute injection of rats with haloperidol. These results demonstrate that the development of dopaminergic supersensitivity after withdrawal from chronic blockade of dopamine receptors resulted in increased sensitivity of post-receptor coupling mechanisms, as well as in changes in the receptor-mediated activity. In previous studies, increases in DA-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity were found with this treatment regimen. In this study it was shown that although basal activity was not changed, there was a selective increase in the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to stimulation by calmodulin and GppNHp after chronic receptor blockade. These findings support previous observations suggesting a regulatory role for calmodulin in dopaminestimulated adenylate cyclase activity.
Energy gap suppression and instability in superconducting tin films under strong quasiparticle injection

Double tunnel junctions have been used to investigate the properties of superconducting Sn films under quasiparticle injection. At high injection level, the gap is discontinuously suppressed to zero from a finite value. This instability for ambient T/sub a/>T/sub lambda/, the lambda temperature of liquid helium, results from the film current exceeding its critical value. Below the instability the general behavior of the gap suppression is shown to be consistent with the modified heating model.
Comparison of methods for determining the centers of extensive air showers

Monte Carlo techniques are used to generate extensive air shower data. Two methods of determining the core location of the shower have been investigated: the method of least squares and the method of maximizing the likelihood function. The likelihood function method gives a precision of shower center location two times better than the X2 method for small numbers of detected particles.
A direct preparation of [(h5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2(h2-alkene)]+ complexes from [(h5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]2

Abstract Iron—olefin complexes of the type [(h5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2(h2-alkene)]+BF44− are produced in the reaction of (h5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]2 with triphenylmethyl tetrafluoroborate in the presence of alkenes. For substrates which react with trityl cation, pre-oxidation of [C5H5Fe(CO)2]2 followed by addition of alkene also affords the complexes, although in lower yields. Mechanistic aspects of these reactions are discussed.
Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects

The earliest recorded account of an atrial septa! defect (ASD) was in the 15th century, when Leonardo da Vinci described a "perforating channel" in the atrial septum during post-mortem evaluation of a heart.1 Clinical diagnosis in a living patient would not occur until the early 20th century. In 1953, Dr. Gibbon at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia performed the first ASD repair on cardiopulmonary bypass, and two decades later Ors. King and Mills performed the first transcatheter closure of secundum ASDs.2·3 The device was deployed in only half of their carefully selected patients, however, since the delivery sheaths were large and the devices bulky and difficult to deploy. Now, due to dramatic advances in device design and cardiac imaging, percutaneous transcatheter techniques can safely and reliably close secundum ASDs and patent foramen ovalae {PFO).
Simultaneous aggregation and release from platelets monitored continuously in plasma.

Abstract A method and apparatus are described for continuously monitoring the release of ATP from platelets simultaneously with the aggregation-induced changes in light transmission. The method involves stirring platelet-rich plasma with firefly extract in a vial close to the face of a photo-multiplier with intermittent illumination with a well collimated light beam. Chemiluminescence is linear in the concentration of ATP secreted into the plasma during the course of the experiment. Examples of the method show that release and aggregation proceed simultaneously when platelets are stimulated with ADP or collagen, and that no release occurs during the lag period following stimulation by collagen or during aggregation stimulated by small amounts of ADP.
Health, lifespan and economic activity: why poor nations remain poor and rich nations rich

The level of health attained by a nation's citizens will affect their economic behavior in many important respects. We focus on one of these – the effect of health on expected lifespan. When individuals expect to live for a longer period of time, they plan accordingly earlier in their lives. Specifically, longer–lived individuals have a greater incentive early in life to devote a larger and perhaps longer portion of their time to human capital accumulation. This can take the form of a longer schooling period, greater attention to studying while at school, or a greater willingness to engage in an apprenticeship or other low–wage learning–by–doing work. The incentive to learn is perhaps more important in the learning process than more easily measured items such as school attendance. We apply this analysis to the long–standing puzzle of why some nations have remained permanently in a state of underdevelopment and impoverishment. We demonstrate that expected lifespan can affect income levels, and we note that income levels can affect health and thereby lifespan. This mutual dependence can cause rich countries to remain rich and poor nations to remain poor. If the analysis is valid, there are important policy implications including: public health expenditures can have very long–term benefits; health resources directed at older citizens can contribute to economic development; and without adequate health and concomitant lifespan, individuals will not have sufficient incentive to take advantage of educational opportunities no matter how many resources are made available to them.
Constraints from Os-isotope variations on the origin of Lena Trough abyssal peridotites and implications for the composition and evolution of the depleted upper mantle

Abstract The Lena Trough is a highly oblique, sparsely magmatic, ultra-slow spreading center located at the smallest distance between North America and Eurasia in the Arctic basin. Competing models suggest that it is either floored by oceanic mantle abyssal peridotites (APs) exposed by lithospheric necking, or by subcontinental mantle exposed in a still juvenile rift. To distinguish between these hypotheses, we have examined mineral major and trace element and whole rock Os-isotope variations in Lena Trough peridotites. Lena Trough peridotites are predominantly LREE-depleted, similar to other AP suites, and have 187Os/188Os ranging from ∼0.118 to 0.130 ( Ave. = 0.1244 ). This distribution is nearly identical to that of abyssal peridotites globally. Both the REE patterns and the Os-isotope distribution of the Lena Trough peridotites differ starkly from subcontinental mantle xenoliths sampled at Svalbard adjacent to Lena Trough. This suggests that Lena Trough is a site of oceanic spreading, although mid-ocean ridge volcanism as such has not yet begun. Highly refractory APs from several settings have Os- and Hf-isotope compositions indicating ancient (>1 Ga) melt depletion. Some researchers have proposed that at least some APs do not directly sample the convecting upper mantle source of MORB, but instead sample highly melt-depleted residues either entrained in the convecting mantle or present as a buoyant “slag” floating atop the less-depleted MORB-source mantle. However, ocean island peridotite xenoliths and APs reveal an essentially identical, non-Gaussian distribution of Os-isotopes and also span a similar range in Hf-isotopes. The similar mean and distribution of Os-isotopes between APs and ocean island xenoliths indicate that these two sample types derive from the same heterogeneous mantle reservoir. This similarity is inconsistent with the AP “slag hypothesis” due to the significantly greater depth of origin of ocean island xenoliths with respect to APs. Global correlation between peridotite fertility indices (e.g., whole rock Al2O3, spinel Cr#) and 187Os/188Os in both APs and ocean island xenoliths suggests ancient melting events have played a role in their petrogenesis, with an average age of melt depletion of ∼1.5 Ga. However, APs display a much steeper correlation than ocean island xenoliths, but have a similar y-intercept. The contrasting trends can be explained by recent on-ridge melt extraction superimposed on an ancient melt-depletion trend. The average Os-isotope composition of both APs and ocean island xenoliths is distinctly sub-chondritic, and requires significantly greater average melt depletion of the upper mantle (>10%) than suggested by previous inversions of MORB compositions.
Correlational and Known-Group Comparison Validation of a Workplace Prejudice/Discrimination Inventory

A new inventory designed to assess perceptions of prejudice and discrimination experiences on the job was developed. Three approaches to validating it were employed. First, factor analysis was done for responses from one set of workers then replicated with responses from a second sample. These analyses indicated that a single significant factor accounted for a large proportion of the variance in responses to 15 of the 16 items on the inventory. Second, to begin to develop its place in a nomological network, a study was done in which the prejudice/discrimination inventory scores were correlated with other theoretically relevant constructs. Finally, a known-group comparison approach was taken in which scores on the inventory were contrasted from three groups of respondents known to differ in perceptions of workplace prejudice/discrimination levels. Both the correlational and the comparative data generally supported the validity of the instrument
Children's behavioral patterns, the Five-Factor model of personality, and risk behaviors

Although relations between children’s personality and health behaviors have been identified, previous research has relied primarily on survey assessments. The present study used behavioral observations to examine children’s (n = 94, mean age = 10.07 years) behavioral patterns in relation to their participation in risk behaviors 1 year later. Results contribute to previous reports linking specific personality traits to children’s likelihood of participation in risky behaviors. Specifically, girls’ participation in risky behavior was related to the expression of behavioral patterns associated with neuroticism, introversion, and disagreeableness, while boys participation in risk behaviors was related to behavioral patterns associated with extraversion and disagreeableness. Findings are discussed in terms of their potential for contributing to health promotion efforts aimed at identifying children most at risk for adopting unhealthy behaviors. � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Differential dependence on cysteine from transsulfuration versus transport during T cell activation.

Abstract The synthesis of glutathione, a major cellular antioxidant with a critical role in T cell proliferation, is limited by cysteine. In this study, we evaluated the contributions of the xC- cystine transporter and the transsulfuration pathway to cysteine provision for glutathione synthesis and antioxidant defense in naive versus activated T cells and in the immortalized T lymphocyte cell line, Jurkat. We show that the xC- transporter, although absent in naive T cells, is induced after activation, releasing T cells from their cysteine dependence on antigen-presenting cells. We also demonstrate the existence of an intact transsulfuration pathway in naive and activated T cells and in Jurkat cells. The flux through the transsulfuration pathway increases in primary but not in transformed T cells in response to oxidative challenge by peroxide. Inhibition of the transsulfuration pathway in both primary and transformed T cells decreases cell viability under oxidative-stress conditions. Antioxid. Redox Signal...
Is Chilling a Prerequisite for Flowering and Fruiting in ‘Arbequina’ Olives?

Abstract It is generally thought that olives (Olea europaea) require several days (over 80 days) of chilling temperatures (7.2°C) for flower induction; minimum nighttime temperatures of 2-4°C and maximum daytime temperature of 15.5-19°C are considered optimum for flower and fruit production. Environmental chamber studies were conducted on potted olive trees for the purpose of defining flowering conditions for ‘Arbequina’. We repeatedly observed that good flower and fruit production in ‘Arbequina’ can be achieved even when the plants are not subjected to “chilling” temperatures or any chilling criteria that had previously been described necessary for flower and fruit production in olives. This phenomenon could be of great practical value because the results obtained can be exploited to cultivate olives in subtropical climates (e.g., southern and coastal Texas) where typical “chilling” temperatures are not commonly observed for prolonged periods of time.
Reverse‐LBOs, re‐LBOs and informational asymmetry hypothesis of LBO transactions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the informational asymmetry (informational advantage of managers) in leveraged buyout (LBO) transactions.Design/methodology/approach – Unlike previous studies of informational asymmetry in LBOs, this research uses a set of reverse‐LBO and re‐LBO firms. The paper proposes and empirically tests three hypotheses that draw on the informational advantage of managers in LBOs. Specifically, the value gain (VG) realized by the reverse‐LBO firms is compared with that realized by a control sample of firms; the wealth distribution between managers and pre‐buyout shareholders is studied; and, finally, the performance of re‐LBO firms relative to reverse‐LBO firms is evaluated.Findings – The results do not support the view that managers use buyouts to exploit their informational advantage. Specifically; the performance of LBO firms under the private ownership is comparable to those of matching public firms; the management team's return in a LBO deal is not significantly...
Electron stimulated desorption ion angular distributions of H2O and NH3 on Ru(001)

Abstract The recent experiments of Madey et al. on the Electron Stimulated Desorption Ion Angular Distributions (ESDIAD) of H 2 O and NH 3 on a Ru(001) surface are discussed using the reflection approximation for Franck-Condon ionization. In this approximation, ESDIAD data mirrors, the adsorbate wave function and therefore equilibrium bond angles as well as vibrational information can be extracted from it. It is also shown that image potential distortions of the desorbed ion trajectory from chemical bond directions are easily calculated and could be quite large although considerable uncertainty exists.
Quality of Rapport as a Setting Event for Problem Behavior: Assessment and Intervention

Relationship quality (rapport) between people with developmental disabilities and their caregivers has long been suggested as an important variable influencing the likelihood of problem behavior. However, to date, the association between rapport and problem behavior has not been systematically investigated. The authors evaluated a multimethod strategy for assessing rapport and then used the assessment information to develop a multicomponent intervention for problem behavior. In Study 1, a descriptive assessment was carried out in which rapport was operationally defined, and good and poor rapport dyads consisting of staff members and participants were identified. Then, a functional analysis of each participant's problem behavior was conducted with respect to the interaction of two factors: quality of rapport and task demands. The results of the assessment study indicated that when rapport was poor, levels of problem behavior were high; when rapport was good, levels of problem behavior were low. In Study 2,...
Personality-Relatedness and Reciprocity framework for analyzing retailer–consumer interactions

Abstract The article introduces four relational models from the social sciences that are relevant for classifying retailer–consumer interactions. Similarities between the relational models are identified and two continuous relational dimensions–personality-relatedness and reciprocity–are derived. The personality-relatedness dimension defines the degree to which consumers place importance on the retailer’s personality (values and culture); reciprocity describes the degree to which consumers place importance on comparative outcomes (the difference between the consumer’s and the retailer’s outcomes). The two relational dimensions establish the Personality-Relatedness and Reciprocity (PRR) framework—a relational framework suitable for analyzing a wide variety of retailer–consumer interactions. The framework informs propositions for future research. The article discusses theoretical contributions and managerially relevant implications of the PRR framework.
Finding Hamiltonian cycles in Delaunay triangulations is NP-complete

Abstract It is shown that it is an NP-complete problem to determine whether a Delaunay triangulation or an inscribable polyhedron has a Hamiltonian cycle. It is also shown that there exist nondegenerate Delaunay triangulations and simplicial, inscribable polyhedra without 2-factors.
Photosynthetic Responses to Light for Rainforest Seedlings Planted in Abandoned Pasture, Costa Rica

Efforts to reforest tropical pasture with native tree species have increased in recent years, yet little is known about the physiology of most tropical trees. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of habitat on photosynthetic responses to light for seedlings of four native rainforest species (Calophyllum brasiliense, Ocotea glaucosericea, Ocotea whitei, and Sideroxylon portoricense) planted to facilitate tropical rainforest recovery in southern Costa Rica. Seedlings were planted in primary forest, in open abandoned pasture, and in the shade of remnant trees within the pasture. Growth, morphology, photosynthetic gas exchange responses to light, and chlorophyll fluorescence (an indication of the integrity of photosynthetic processes) were measured in the three habitats. Height and leaf area were generally greater for seedlings in tree shade compared to those in the forest and open pasture. Photosynthetic rates were higher for plants in open pasture and tree shade compared to those in the forest for two of the four species. Chlorophyll fluorescence results indicated flexibility in the photosynthetic processing of light energy that may help plants tolerate the bright light of the pasture. This study demonstrates that, for certain species, seedlings under remnant pasture trees do not exhibit the level of photosynthetic stress experienced in open abandoned pasture. Seedling responses to light, in combination with other factors such as increased nutrient input through litterfall, help explain the enhanced growth of seedlings under remnant pasture trees. Planting seedlings under remnant trees may increase the success of future efforts to restore tropical forest in abandoned agricultural land.
Subsurface Strata between Base of Osage Group and Top of Devonian Limestone in Illinois: ABSTRACT

The lithology of the formations between the base of the Osage group and the top of the Devonian limestone in Illinois, as revealed by subsurface studies, is described. A series of isopach maps and cross sections shows the lateral variations in thicknesses of the entire group of sediments and also of the upper Kinderhook, Rockford, and New Albany divisions. End_of_Article - Last_Page 943------------
Restricted Play: Synergy and the Limits of Interactivity in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Video Game

Although recent critical studies have begun to acknowledge the aesthetic connections that films and video games share, too often these studies neglect to extend an analysis to consumer culture. As video games now make up an important segment of the film industry’s market, this critical engagement is needed to extend the scholarship on video games. Specifically, this essay critically engages the concept of interactivity as an important theoretical construction in the study of video games. Through an analysis of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King video game, the authors discover that interactivity can be limited in a way that augments the synergistic connections between films and video games.
User-Independent Hand Motion Classification With Electromyography

Electromyographic (EMG) processing is an important research area with direct applications to prosthetics, exoskeletons and human-machine interaction. Current state of the art decoding methods require intensive training on a single user before it can be utilized, and have been unable to achieve both user-independence and real-time performance. This paper presents a real-time EMG classification method which generalizes across users without requiring an additional training phase. An EMG-embedded sleeve quickly positions and records from EMG surface electrodes on six forearm muscles. An optimized decision tree classifies signals from these sensors into five distinct movements for any given user using EMG energy synergies between muscles. This method was tested on 10 healthy subjects using leave-one-out validation, resulting in an overall accuracy of 79±6.6%, with sensitivity and specificity averaging 66% and 97.6%, respectively, over all classified motions. The high specificity values demonstrate the ability to generalize across users, presenting opportunities for large-scale studies and broader accessibility to EMG-driven applications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Calcium-dependent phosphodiesterase 1C inhibits renin release from isolated juxtaglomerular cells

Renin release from the juxtaglomerular (JG) cell is stimulated by the second messenger cAMP and inhibited by calcium. We previously showed JG cells contain a calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), which,...
Initial Strain Field and Fatigue Crack Initiation Mechanics

On single aluminum crystals under cyclic loadings, fresh slip lines appeared during the reversed loading, lying very close to, but not coincident with the slip lines formed in the forward loading. These slip lines indicate the start of extrusion or intrusion as commonly observed in fatigue specimens. An initial stress field is present in all metals. The initial stress field favorable to the aforementioned sequence of slip is one having a positive shear stress in one thin slice P and a negative one in a closely located thin slice Q. A forward loading causes a positive shear stress, which is of the same sign as the initial shear stress in P, but of opposite sign to that in Q. Hence the shear stress in P will reach the critical value first to cause slip. Due to the continuity of the stress field , slip in P relieves not only the positive shear stress in P but also in Q. This has the same effect as increasing negative shear stress in Q. During the reversed loading, Q has the highest negative shear stress and hence slides. Similarly, this slip causes P to be more ready to slide in the next forward loading. This process is repeated to cause a monotonic alternate sliding in P and Q. In this way, an extrusion or intrusion is nucleated. A crack can be started from an intrusion. The thin slices P and Q are considered to be in a most favorably oriented crystal located at a free surface. An initial stress field giving positive shear stress in P and negative in Q is calculated from an assumed initial inelastic strain field which, in turn, can be caused by distribution of dislocations. The buildup of plastic shear strain in P and Q causing the start of extrusion or intrusion is shown.