cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
User-centered systems engineering approach to design and modeling of smarter products

Employing user-centered design principles along with systems engineering methodology to the development of smarter products has the potential of establishing a novel field of research. This paper introduces a novel user-centered human factors knowledge management framework for collaborative design and modeling of the next generation of smarter products. A conceptual framework and practical application of user-centered systems engineering approach to support smarter product development is proposed. The human systems component in collaborative systems engineering aims to ensure that human considerations, for users and designers, have a prominent place in the integrated design and development of sustainable smarter products throughout the total system lifecycle [12]. Future challenges that collaborative user-centered systems engineering techniques are likely to face in this domain are also discussed.
Genetically based population variation in aphid association with ants and predators

A species’ genotype can have extended consequences for the structure of the surrounding community, but few studies have investigated the extended consequences of genetic variation in animals. Accordingly, I examined the importance of genetically based variation among five populations of the ant-tended aphid Aphis asclepiadis for its interactions with both ants and predators. In a common environment, aphid source population accounted for 23 and 17% of the variation in the occurrence of ants and predators, respectively. Ant exclusion increased predator abundance, accounting for 25% of variation, but there was no detectable influence of ants on aphid abundance. There was an indication that aphid source populations varied in honeydew quality, but this was uncorrelated with rates of ant attendance. This study provides the first evidence for genetic variation in aphids for attractiveness to ants, and underscores the important link between intra-specific genetic variation in aphids and the processes governing arthropod community structure.
Contemporary ethical issues in labor-management relations

Numerous labor-management issues possess ethical dimensions and pose ethical questions. In this article, the authors discuss four labor-management issues that present important contemporary problems: union organizing, labor-management negotiations, employee involvement programs, and union obligations of fair representation. In the authors view, labor and management too often view their ethical obligations as beginning and ending at the law's boundaries. Contemporary business realities suggest that cooperative and enlightened modes of interaction between labor and management seem appropriate.
Enzyme studies in human liver and adipose tissue.

DURING an investigation of metabolic and hormonal control mechanisms in humans, a number of potentially adaptive enzymes in human liver and adipose tissue were investigated with regard to their possible regulatory function.
Information measures for generalized gamma family

The objective of this paper is to integrate the generalized gamma (GG) distribution into the information theoretic literature. We study information properties of the GG distribution and provide an assortment of information measures for the GG family, which includes the exponential, gamma, Weibull, and generalized normal distributions as its subfamilies. The measures include entropy representations of the log-likelihood ratio, AIC, and BIC, discriminating information between GG and its subfamilies, a minimum discriminating information function, power transformation information, and a maximum entropy index of fit to histogram. We provide the full parametric Bayesian inference for the discrimination information measures. We also provide Bayesian inference for the fit of GG model to histogram, using a semi-parametric Bayesian procedure, referred to as the maximum entropy Dirichlet (MED). The GG information measures are computed for duration of unemployment and duration of CEO tenure.
Spatial patterning of metabolism by mitochondria, oxygen, and energy sinks in a model cytoplasm.

Summary Metabolite gradients might guide mitochondrial localization in cells and angiogenesis in tissues [1, 2]. It is unclear whether they can exist in single cells, because the length scale of most cells is small compared to the expected diffusion times of metabolites. For investigation of metabolic gradients, we need experimental systems in which spatial patterns of metabolism can be systematically measured and manipulated. We used concentrated cytoplasmic extracts from Xenopus eggs [3] as a model cytoplasm, and visualized metabolic gradients formed in response to spatial stimuli. Restriction of oxygen supply to the edge of a drop mimicked distance to the surface of a single cell, or distance from a blood vessel in tissue. We imaged a step-like increase of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) reduction ∼600 μm distant from the oxygen source. This oxic-anoxic switch was preceded on the oxic side by a gradual rise of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψ) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, extending over ∼600 μm and ∼300 μm, respectively. Addition of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-consuming beads mimicked local energy sinks in the cell. We imaged Δψ gradients with a decay length of ∼50–300 μm around these beads, in the first visualization of an energy demand signaling gradient. Our study demonstrates that mitochondria can pattern the cytoplasm over length scales that are suited to convey morphogenetic information in large cells and tissues and provides a versatile model system for probing of the formation and function of metabolic gradients.
Involvement of tryptophan residues in colchicine binding and the assembly of tubulin.

Abstract Chemical modification of tubulin with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide, a reagent selective for tryptophan, inhibits tubulin's colchicine binding and in vitro assembly activities. Loss of colchicine binding shows a linear relationship with the modification of tryptophan residues, and is complete when not more than five residues are modified. GTP affords partial protection against this loss of colchicine binding. The in vitro assembly of tubulin is somewhat less sensitive, since microtubules are formed from tubulin dimers possessing 3–4 but not five modified residues. Furthermore, two of the eight tryptophans per dimer are reactive when tubulin is assembled into microtubules.
Midbody sealing after cytokinesis in embryos of the sea urchin Arabacia punctulata.

Cytokinesis consists of a contractile phase followed by sealing of the connecting midbody to form two separated cells. To determine how soon the midbody sealed after cleavage furrow contraction, the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow CH(457.3 M.W.) was microinjected into cells at various intervals after cleavage had begun. Mitotic PtK2 cells were recorded with video-microscopy so that daughter cells in the epithelial sheet could be identified for several hours after cell division. One daughter cell of each pair followed was microinjected to determine whether the dye diffused into the other daughter cell. For intervals up to four hours after the beginning of cytokinesis, diffusion took place between daughter cells. After this time the dye did not spread between daughter cells. In sea urchin blastomeres of the first, second and third divisions, Lucifer Yellow passed between daughter blastomeres only during the first 15 min after cytokinesis. If one cell of a two-cell, four-cell or eight-cell embryo was microinjected more than 15 min after the last cleavage, the dye remained in the injected cell and was distributed to all progeny of that cell, resulting in blastulae that were eigher one-half, one-quarter or one-eighth fluorescent, respectively. Thus, although cleavage furrow contraction takes approximately the same amount of time in sea urchin blastomeres and PtK2 cells, the time of midbody sealing differs dramatically in the two cell types. Our results also indicate the importance of knowing the mitotic history of cells when injecting dyes into interphase cells for the purpose of detecting gap junctions.
Social projection as a function of cognitive mechanisms: Two meta-analytic integrations

Two meta-analyses were conducted on the results of previous research examining two distinct species of social projection: under-/overestimation of consensus, and false consensus. These meta-analyses were guided by an interest in the relative contributions of cognitive mechanisms and motivational mechanisms to social projection. The following patterns were observed in these meta-analyses: the majority significantly underestimates its own consensus; the minority significantly overestimates its own consensus; the minority's overestimation is substantially greater than the majority's underestimation; the majority's tendency to underestimate increases, and the minority's tendency to overestimate decreases, as actual consensus increases; estimates of consensus made before behavioural choices are generally larger; estimates of consensus are larger when the consensus estimation question asks for estimation of consensus for one's own group; false consensus effects are significant and of moderate magnitude; false consensus decreases as the difference in the relative size of the majority and the minority increases; false consensus is largest when estimates of consensus are made before choices; and false consensus is largest when the consensus estimation question asks for estimates of consensus for one's own group. Discussion considers the implications of these results for the relative contributions of cognition and motivation to social projection. I am quite sure that the average man is built just as I am; otherwise, I should not be making this revelation of my inside. Mark Twain (1908) Something About Repentance.
Image contrast enhancement based on the intensities of edge pixels

Abstract Histogram modification can improve the contrast of an image. Histogram equalization has been the most popular histogram modification technique. However, the technique has the tendency to magnify local noise for images with large homogeneous regions. In this paper we suggest a new histogram modification technique which utilizes the intensity distribution of the edge pixels of an image. We first identify the edge pixels of an image. Then the intensity histogram of the edge pixels is constructed. An intensity transformation function is derived from the edge-pixel histogram and then applied to the entire image. In general, this transformation will increase the intensity difference between neighboring homogeneous regions. We also have suggested three tools to measure the performance of contrast-enhancing methods. The three measurements are image contrast value, image information loss value, and local intensity variance value. Our goal for enhancing is to significantly increase an image's contrast value while keeping both the information loss value and the local intensity variance value low. In the experiments, we have compared the performance of the suggested method with that of the ordinary histogram equalization technique and the local area histogram equalization (LAHE) technique using both synthetic and real images. The results were then evaluated by the three tools. The suggested method performed very well both analytically and visually.
Radial Transport Along the Human Acinar Tree

A numerical model of an expanding asymmetric alveolated duct was developed and used to investigate lateral transport between the central acinar channel and the surrounding alveoli along the acinar tree. Our results indicate that some degree of recirculation occurs in all but the terminal generations. We found that the rate of diffusional transport of axial momentum from the duct to the alveolus was by far the largest contributor to the resulting momentum in the alveolar flow but that the magnitude of the axial momentum is critical in determining the nature of the flow in the alveolus. Further, we found that alveolar flow rotation, and by implication chaotic mixing, is strongest in the entrance generations. We also found that the expanding alveolus provides a pathway by which particles with little intrinsic motion can enter the alveoli. Thus, our results offer a possible explanation for why submicron particles deposit preferentially in the acinar-entrance region.
Emerging Depression Is Associated With Face Memory Deficits in Adolescent Girls

Objective To examine the association between memory for previously encoded emotional faces and depression symptoms assessed over 4 years in adolescent girls. Investigating the interface between memory deficits and depression in adolescent girls may provide clues about depression pathophysiology. Method Participants were 213 girls recruited from a longitudinal, community-based study; the majority were African American. Scores on depressive screening measures at age 8 were used to increase the base rate of depression. Depression symptoms and diagnoses were assessed annually for 4 years. In year 4, when the girls were 12 to 13 years old, a face emotion encoding task was administered during which ratings were generated in response to sad, fearful, angry, and happy faces. A surprise memory task followed whereby participants identified which of two faces, displaying neutral expressions, they had seen previously. Results Girls with higher depression symptom levels from ages 9 to 12 years evidenced lower accuracy in identifying previously encoded emotional faces. Controlling for IQ, higher depression symptom level was associated with a memory deficit specific to previously encoded sad and happy faces. These effects were not moderated by race. Conclusions Individual differences in face memory deficits relate to individual differences in emerging, early adolescent depression, and may be vulnerability markers for depression.
Coselection of features and instances for unsupervised rare category analysis

Rare category analysis is of key importance both in theory and in practice. Previous research work focuses on supervised rare category analysis, such as rare category detection and rare category classification. In this paper, for the first time, we address the challenge of unsupervised rare category analysis, including feature selection and rare category selection. We propose to jointly deal with the two correlated tasks, so that they can benefit from each other. To this end, we design an optimization framework which is able to coselect the relevant features and the examples from the rare category (a.k.a. the minority class). It is well justified theoretically. Furthermore, we develop the Partial Augmented Lagrangian Method (PALM) to solve the optimization problem. Experimental results on both synthetic and real data sets show the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 3: 417‐430, 2010 © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wear behavior of low-cost, lightweight TiC/Ti–6Al–4V composite under fretting: Effectiveness of solid-film lubricant counterparts

The wear behavior of low-cost, lightweight 10-wt% TiC-particulate-reinforced Ti-6Al-4V matrix composite (TiC/Ti- 6Al-4V) was examined under fretting at 296, 423, and 523 K in air. Bare 10-wt% TiC/Ti-6Al-4V hemispherical pins were used in contact with dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), magnetron-sputtered diamondlike carbon/chromium (DLC/Cr), magnetron-sputtered graphite-like carbon/chromium (GLC/Cr), and magnetron-sputtered molybdenum disulphide/titanium (MoS2/Ti) deposited on Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb, and nickel-based superalloy 718. When TiC/Ti-6Al-4V was brought into contact with bare Ti-6Al-4V, bare Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb, and bare nickel-based superalloy 718, strong adhesion, severe galling, and severe wear occurred. However, when TiC/Ti-6Al-4V was brought into contact with MWNT, DLC/Cr, GLC/Cr, and MoS2/Ti coatings, no galling occurred in the contact, and relatively minor wear was observed regardless of the coating. All the solid-film lubricants were effective from 296 to 523 K, but the effectiveness of the MWNT, DLC/Cr, GLC/Cr, and MoS2/Ti coatings decreased as temperature increased.
An identification and investigation of software design guidelines for using encapsulation units

A study of computer science literature and psychology research was made to identify the types of conceptual units which should be captured within encapsulation units. Based on this study, guidelines were developed to aid in the architectural design and implementation of software systems, in order to make optimal use of encapsulation units. The guidelines encourage the software architect to: (1) use information hiding, (2) use data abstraction, (3) model real world objects, (4) isolate dependencies which are likely to change, (5) capture major data transformations, (6) generalize, and (7) isolate common definitions. An experiment was performed to investigate the consequent effects of guideline and encapsulation unit use during design and coding on the adaptive maintenance of a program. A blocked counterbalanced experimental design was used, with the individual subject providing the basic unit of analysis. The levels of the independent variable were provided by the design bases of the programs given to the subjects for maintenance. The dependent variables were measures of the maintenance process and product. An analysis of the experimental data indicated a few statistically significant differences but the results were inconclusive as to the relative effect of guideline and encapsulation unit use on the initial phases of the maintenance process. A detailed investigation of the subjects' final programs provided strong indications that programs designed with the aid of the guidelines and coded with encapsulation units were less likely to be corrupted during maintenance changes. It is therefore suggested that in the long run these programs would be more easily and successfully maintained. This dissertation describes the development of the guidelines, gives three major examples of their application, explains the impetus for the chosen experimental design, describes the experimental design, and presents the results of the data analysis and of the detailed investigation of the final programs.
Regulation of Kupffer cell TNF gene expression during experimental acute pancreatitis: The role of p38-MAPK, ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, and NF-κB

We have demonstrated that Kupffer cell-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediates pancreatitis-associated liver injury. The aim of this study was to determine the role of p38 mi to gen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular stress-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), and nuclear factor-KB (NF-ΚB) in TNF gene expression within Kupffer cells. TNF and TNF-mRNA were measured in rat livers perfused with elastase. TNF, TNF-mRNA, NF-B activation, and phosphorylated p38-MAPK, SAPK/JNK, and ERK1/2 were determined in Kupffer cells treated with elastase. Elastase increased TNF and upregulated TNF-mRNA in livers (P<0.03) and Kupffer cells (P<0.001). Phosphorylated p38-MAPK, SAPK/JNK, and ERK1/2 and activated NF-B were detected in Kupffer cells at 7 minutes; at 60 minutes, TNF-mRNA peaked and NF-ΚB returned to baseline, whereas all three kinases remained activated. Gadolinium inhibited elastase-induced upregulation of TNF-mRNA (P < 0.001), TNF production (P<0.001), and attenuated SAPK/JNK, as well as ERK1/2, but not p38-MAPK. Both UO126 and SB203580 significantly inhibited elastase-induced upregulation of TNF-mRNA and TNF production (P<0.001), but only UO126 inhibited activation of NF-ΚB. It was concluded that pretranscriptional regulation of TNF gene expression in Kupffer cells follows an orderly activation of p38-MAPK, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK that may not converge on NF-ΚB. The seemingly limited duration of NF-ΚB activation may be important in "switching off" the cytokine cascade during acute pancreatitis.
Blind decoding of multiple description codes over OFDM systems via sequential Monte Carlo

We consider the problem of transmitting a continuous source through an OFDM system. Multiple description scalar quantization (MDSQ) is applied to the source signal, resulting in two correlated source descriptions. The two descriptions are then OFDM modulated and transmitted through two parallel frequency-selective fading channels. At the receiver, a blind turbo receiver is developed for joint OFDM demodulation and MDSQ decoding. Transformation of the extrinsic information of the two descriptions are exchanged between each other to improve system performance. A blind soft-input soft-output OFDM detector is developed, which is based on the techniques of importance sampling and resampling. Such a detector is capable of exchanging the so-called extrinsic information with the other component in the above turbo receiver, and successively improving the overall receiver performance. Finally, we also treat channel-coded systems, and a novel blind turbo receiver is developed for joint demodulation, channel decoding, and MDSQ source decoding.
Climate change is likely to worsen the public health threat of diarrheal disease in Botswana.

Diarrheal disease is an important health challenge, accounting for the majority of childhood deaths globally. Climate change is expected to increase the global burden of diarrheal disease but little is known regarding climate drivers, particularly in Africa. Using health data from Botswana spanning a 30-year period (1974-2003), we evaluated monthly reports of diarrheal disease among patients presenting to Botswana health facilities and compared this to climatic variables. Diarrheal case incidence presents with a bimodal cyclical pattern with peaks in March (ANOVA p < 0.001) and October (ANOVA p < 0.001) in the wet and dry season, respectively. There is a strong positive autocorrelation (p < 0.001) in the number of reported diarrhea cases at the one-month lag level. Climatic variables (rainfall, minimum temperature, and vapor pressure) predicted seasonal diarrheal with a one-month lag in variables (p < 0.001). Diarrheal case incidence was highest in the dry season after accounting for other variables, exhibiting on average a 20% increase over the yearly mean (p < 0.001). Our analysis suggests that forecasted climate change increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation may increase dry season diarrheal disease incidence with hot, dry conditions starting earlier and lasting longer. Diarrheal disease incidence in the wet season is likely to decline. Our results
Advective transport of CO2 in permeable media induced by atmospheric pressure fluctuations: 2. Observational evidence under snowpacks

[1] Meadow and forest CO2 amounts sampled beneath an approximately meter deep (steady state) snowpack at a subalpine site in southern Rocky Mountains of Wyoming are observed to vary by nearly 200 ppm over periods ranging from 4 to 15 days. This work employs the model of periodic, pressure-induced, advective transport in permeable media developed in part 1 of this study to investigate these CO2 fluctuations. With the aid of this physically based model, inferences are made about the nature of the physical properties of both the forcing mechanism and the snowpack that contribute to these periodic variations in undersnow CO2. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that the undersnow CO2 is being driven by advective flows induced by pressure fields created when the wind interacts with the local aerodynamic roughness elements (nearby mountain peaks, forest edges, snowdrifts). Nonharmonic spectral and cospectral techniques indicate that the wind modulates the low-frequency temporal dynamics of the undersnow CO2, whereas comparisons of the modeled and observed time lag between the surface forcing and the response of the undersnow CO2 suggest that site topography determines the horizontal structure of the wind (surface pressure) forcing. It is also suggested here that the snowpack is at most a weakly dispersive medium. Finally, because the model includes a CO2 source term in the soil underlying the snowpack, other findings suggest that both the wintertime CO2 fluxes emanating from the snowpack and the soil respiration rates may vary significantly between a meadow soil and a forest soil at this site.
Tradeoffs in knowledge-based construction of probabilistic models

In many domains, the ability to use a knowledge base to automatically construct alternative probabilistic network models and then compare them is desirable. This paper makes two novel contributions towards achieving that goal: first, it analyzes a parameterized class of (a) static, and (b) temporal influence diagram, models which differ in the time-series process describing the temporal evolution of the system being modeled. Second, it applies general scoring metrics for comparing these models with respect to predictive accuracy and computational efficiency. The network rankings facilitate comparing the accuracy/efficiency tradeoffs entailed in using TIDs which differ in (1) the accuracy of capturing the temporal evolution of a dynamic system and (2) data and computational requirements. The scoring metrics are used to compare networks in which all variables evolve according to a Markov process with two novel domain-dependent network approximations. These approximations model the evolution of a parsimonious subset of variables rather than all variables. >
Exploring the Possibility of an Age of Purpose

There’s an emerging and enticing idea in the United States that we’re entering an age of purpose - that millennials, more than any other generation, are searching for purpose and purposeful work (Sheahan, 2005) and that we’re entering an era or economy of purpose (Hurst, 2014). Yet, measuring purpose is a relatively new endeavor - longitudinal studies of purpose do not exist, and millennials are also referred to as GenMe. What quantitative research we have suggests they (we) are increasingly materialistic, individualistic, and possessing narcissistic personality traits (Greenfield, 2013). Are we entering an era of purpose? This is an inspiring idea and we want it to be true, but is it? Using culturomics to explore trends in digitized literature reveals clear evidence substantiating a cultural trend - an unprecedented interest in purpose-in-life co-emerging with the millennial generation.
Adaptive wavepacket decomposition and quantization in wavelet-based image coding

Wavelet transform has recently emerged as a promising technique for image compression due to its flexibility in multiresolution representation of image signals. Current wavelet-based image compression techniques use compute intensive procedures for finding the optimal wave-packet decomposition and coefficient quantization for a given image. In this paper, we first propose an efficient wavepacket decomposition algorithm. We then propose a simple technique for finding quantization step-sizes in various wavelet bands when scalar quantization is employed. The proposed techniques provide a good coding performance at a substantially reduced complexity.
1D periodic bimetallic superstructures by co-assembly of ternary block copolymer/nanoparticle blends

The formation of hierarchical 1D periodic bimetallic superstructures by co-assembly of ternary block copolymer/particle blend systems is reported. The results point to the relevance of entropy-driven morphology selection processes in enthalpic neutral block copolymer/particle blends that should render the presented approach applicable to a wide range of polymer/particle compositions.
The Molecular Perspective: Cytochrome c and Apoptosis

The Oncologist 2004;9:226-227 www.TheOncologist.com Cytochrome c is at the very heart of life in our oxygenrich world, but at the same time, it is a skeleton key opening the door to death. Cytochrome c, shown in Figure 1, is an ancient protein, developed early in the evolution of life. Its essential function(s) have ensured that it has changed little in millions of years. You can look into yeast cells or plant cells and find molecules of cytochrome c that are nearly indistinguishable from our own. The familiar function of cytochrome c, taught in every biology class, is its role as a carrier of electrons. It is a small, mobile molecule that shuttles electrons through the last step of aerobic energy production. These electrons are obtained from the glucose that we break down for energy, they are shuttled through a series of proton pumping proteins, and they are placed finally on oxygen, which combines with hydrogen ions to form water. Cytochrome c shuttles these electrons in the narrow space between the two mitochondrial membranes. It diffuses from protein to protein, picking up electrons from one huge membrane-bound complex and placing them at their final destination on another. Fundamentals of Cancer Medicine The Oncologist
Multiple Functions of BCL-2 Family Proteins

BCL-2 family proteins are the regulators of apoptosis, but also have other functions. This family of interacting partners includes inhibitors and inducers of cell death. Together they regulate and mediate the process by which mitochondria contribute to cell death known as the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. This pathway is required for normal embryonic development and for preventing cancer. However, before apoptosis is induced, BCL-2 proteins have critical roles in normal cell physiology related to neuronal activity, autophagy, calcium handling, mitochondrial dynamics and energetics, and other processes of normal healthy cells. The relative importance of these physiological functions compared to their apoptosis functions in overall organismal physiology is difficult to decipher. Apoptotic and noncanonical functions of these proteins may be intertwined to link cell growth to cell death. Disentanglement of these functions may require delineation of biochemical activities inherent to the characteristic three-dimensional shape shared by distantly related viral and cellular BCL-2 family members.
Mechanical reliability evaluation of silicon nitride ceramic components after exposure in industrial gas turbines

Several studies have recently been undertaken to examine the mechanical reliability and thermal stability of silicon nitride ceramic components that are currently being considered for structural application in industrial gas turbines. Specifically, ceramic components evaluated included a bow-shaped silicon nitride nozzle evaluated in an engine test rig, silicon nitride vanes exposed in an engine field test, and an air-cooled silicon nitride vane that is currently under development. Despite the differences in field test conditions all of the exposed silicon nitride ceramic components exhibited a significant material recession arising from the oxidation of silicon nitride and subsequent volatilization of the oxide (i.e., silica). The fracture strength of exposed airfoils was also decreased due to the formation of a subsurface damage zone induced by the turbine environments. In addition, studies indicated that the properties of as-processed ceramic components, especially in airfoil regions, were not always comparable to those generated from the standard specimens with machined surface extracted from production billets. The component characterization efforts provided an important insight into the effect of gas turbine environments on the material recession and mechanical reliability of materials as functions of exposure time and conditions, which were very difficult to obtain from a laboratory scale test.
An Aurora Kinase Homologue Is Involved in Regulating Both Mitosis and Cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei

The chromosomal passenger protein aurora kinases have been implicated in regulating chromosome segregation and cell division. Three aurora kinase homologues were identified (TbAUK1, -2 and -3) in the Trypanosome Genomic Data Base, and their expressions in the procyclic form of Trypanosoma brucei were knocked down individually by using the RNA interference technique. Only a knockdown of TbAUK1 arrested the cells in G2/M phase with each cell showing an extended posterior end, two kinetoplasts, and an enlarged nucleus, apparently the result of an inhibited kinetoplast multiplication and a failed mitosis. There is no mitotic spindle structure in the TbAUK1-depleted cell. The two kinetoplasts moved apart from each other but stopped just before cytokinesis, suggesting that cytokinesis was blocked in its early phase. Overexpression of TbAUK1 in the cells resulted in little change in cell growth. By immunofluorescence, TbAUK1 was primarily localized to the nucleus in interphase and to the mitotic spindle during apparent metaphase and anaphase. Thus, differing from other eukaryotes, TbAUK1 has an apparent triple function in coupling mitosis and kinetoplast replication with cytokinesis in T. brucei. T. brucei polo-like kinase, previously identified as the initiator of cytokinesis without apparent involvement in mitosis in the trypanosome, was either depleted or overexpressed in the TbAUK1-deficient cells. A dominant TbAUK1-depleted phenotype was demonstrated in both cases, suggesting that TbAUK1 plays an essential role in cytokinesis that cannot be affected by changes in the level of T. brucei polo-like kinase. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the function of an aurora B-like kinase is a prerequisite for polo-like kinase action in initiating cytokinesis. TbAUK1 is also the first identified protein that couples both mitosis and kinetoplast replication with cytokinesis in the trypanosome.
Radar imaging through cinder block walls and other periodic structures

Through-wall radar imaging is a challenging area of research due to the complex multi-layer and inhomogeneous structure of building walls. The wall distorts and attenuates the radar signal in a way that is not easy to predict, except in the most simple of cases. In this paper a general periodic model is developed and applied to the imaging algorithm. Periodic dielectric wall models for microwave transmission and reflection have been investigated by several researchers [1-5]. Floquet mode theory [6] is used to find the discrete plane wave directions that are uniquely determined by the period. Below a certain frequency there are no propagating Floquet modes, so only the specularly transmitted and reflected plane waves are present. In this case it is often possible to use an equivalent 3-layer homogeneous model as described in [4]. This makes it much easier to use a ray tracing code such as the NEC-Basic Scattering Code (NEC-BSC) [7] because the Fresnel plane wave reflection and transmission coefficients may be applied directly. Here we compare the 3-layer model with a volume periodic moment method solution. The goal is to generate model-based images using both approaches to see the effect of the periodicity on the image.
The Effect of Soaking on Protein and Mineral Loss in Orchardgrass and Alfalfa Hay

Nonstructural carbohydrates are usually targeted for reduction during hay soaking, however, other essential nutrients may also be lost. The objectives of this research were to determine the impact of water temperature and time of soaking on reduction of protein and minerals from alfalfa and orchardgrass hay. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with six replications (n = 192). Hay types included bud and flowering alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) and vegetative and flowering orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L). Flakes were soaked for 15, 30, and 60 minutes in 25 L of cold (22°C) and warm (39°C) water, and for 12 hours in cold water. Changes in crude protein concentration after soaking had no effect (P > .05) on alfalfa-bud or flowering orchardgrass hay. However, crude protein concentration increased (P = .02) as soaking length increased in vegetative orchardgrass, and decreased as soaking length increased (P .05) calcium (Ca) concentrations in flowering alfalfa and orchardgrass; however, Ca (P < .001) was reduced as soaking length increased in alfalfa-bud and vegetative orchardgrass hay. Reductions in phosphorus (P), potassium, and magnesium concentrations occurred with longer soaking times, resulting in high Ca:P ratios after 12 hours of soaking (P < .001). Soaking for 15-60 minutes did not result in nutrient deficiencies based on the requirements of a 500-kg horse in light work. However, supplementation of P after feeding hay soaked for 12 hours would be necessary to address high Ca:P ratios.
Three-dimensional myocardial strain reconstruction from tagged MRI using a cylindrical B-spline model

In this paper, we present a new method for reconstructing three-dimensional (3-D) left ventricular myocardial strain from tagged magnetic resonance (MR) image data with a 3-D B-spline deformation model. The B-spline model is based on a cylindrical coordinate system that more closely fits the morphology of the myocardium than previously proposed Cartesian B-spline models and does not require explicit regularization. Our reconstruction method first fits a spatial coordinate B-spline displacement field to the tag line data. This displacement field maps each tag line point in the deformed myocardium back to its reference position (end-diastole). The spatial coordinate displacement field is then converted to material coordinates with another B-spline fit. Finally, strain is computed by analytically differentiating the material coordinate B-spline displacement field with respect to space. We tested our method with strains reconstructed from an analytically defined mathematical left ventricular deformation model and ten human imaging studies. Our results demonstrate that a quadratic cylindrical B-spline with a fixed number of control points can accurately fit a physiologically realistic range of deformations. The average 3-D reconstruction computation time is 20 seconds per time frame on a 450 MHz Sun Ultra80 workstation.
UniFrac--an online tool for comparing microbial community diversity in a phylogenetic context.

Background: Moving beyond pairwise significance tests to compare many microbial communities simultaneously is critical for understanding large-scale trends in microbial ecology and community assembly. Techniques that allow microbial communities to be compared in a phylogenetic context are rapidly gaining acceptance, but the widespread application of these techniques has been hindered by the difficulty of performing the analyses. Results: We introduce UniFrac, a web application available at http://bmf.colorado.edu/unifrac, that allows several phylogenetic tests for differences among communities to be easily applied and interpreted. We demonstrate the use of UniFrac to cluster multiple environments, and to test which environments are significantly different. We show that analysis of previously published sequences from the Columbia river, its estuary, and the adjacent coastal ocean using the UniFrac interface provided insights that were not apparent from the initial data analysis, which used other commonly employed techniques to compare the communities. Conclusion: UniFrac provides easy access to powerful multivariate techniques for comparing microbial communities in a phylogenetic context. We thus expect that it will provide a completely new picture of many microbial interactions and processes in both environmental and medical contexts.
Institutional Investor Composition and Proxy Access Proposals

Does institutional ownership affect firm value when new proxy access rules are proposed? This paper analyzes whether the level and composition of institutional investor ownership impacts firm value on days when the US SEC proxy access proposals are announced. Using event-study methodology, the paper finds evidence indicating the number of institutional investors with significant corporate ownership has a small positive effect on firm value. When public pension funds are differentiated from other types of institutional investors, results show that public pension funds negatively impact stock value returns, while other types of institutional investors have a positive effect. Results are similar for institutional investors with smaller ownership stakes.
Wildlife Population Dynamics in Urban Landscapes

Species occur in urban landscapes under a wide range of conditions and densities, but knowing only the pattern of occurrence provides limited information about species-specific relationships with urbanization. Identifying the specific ways in which urban and non-urban wildlife populations differ and the underlying reasons for those differences is a challenging and complex task. After all, the response of a species to urbanization may be the consequence of wide variety of factors, including life history, behavioral, and physiological attributes that promote avoidance, tolerance, or preference for urban systems. The literature suggests that species that respond negatively to development tend to be habitat specialists, migratory, and/or sensitive to a wide range of human activities and disturbance, whereas species that respond positively are often generalists, omnivorous, multi-brooded, and behaviorally flexible. In this chapter we examine how urbanization affects population structure and demography of species occupying both urban and non-urban landscapes.
Integrating Entrepreneurship Services into Local Workforce Development Systems: Who is Doing It and How

ABSTRACTEntrepreneurship has been touted as a potential tool for reducing inequities and poverty in urban areas. This study examines how public workforce funds are being used to support entrepreneurship based on survey responses from administrators in four states. Results suggest that few workforce funds are being used to support entrepreneurship and when they are, it is more likely affluent communities than disadvantaged ones. This could mean that important opportunities for the most disadvantaged residents and communities are being overlooked. Universal access to the entrepreneurship option can play an important role in helping some of the unemployed achieve self-sufficiency.
How to Calculate Liquidity Financing for Non-Public Companies

I illustrate a model that uses simple statistical conventions to forecast future financing of the cash conversion cycle. The upper bound of a confidence interval provides the basis for the line-of-credit turnover ratio, and the credit line size. This simple method can easily be used by practitioners who have access to standard historical financial statements.
SerpinB1: A Global Regulator of Neutrophil Homeostasis

SerpinB1 is an inhibitory serpin, which is broadly expressed at highly variable levels. It is encoded by an ancient gene—possibly the extant homologue of the serpin gene at the root of the clade B tree. Studies of gene-deleted mice in models of lung injury, infection, and inflammation identified SerpinB1 as a protective anti-inflammatory immunomodulator. Other studies document its disparate cell-specific functions. Here we review these studies and present a unifying hypothesis, which is that the multiplicity and diversity of known functions each reflects a different aspect of SerpinB1’s overruling function as a global regulator of neutrophil homeostasis.
Human Rights Without Distinction as to Language

The charter of the United Nations requires members to promote human rights without discrimination based on language, raising questions about the meaning of discrimination and about relevant policies and practices around the world. The UN itself chooses official and working languages. Governments choose the language(s) to be employed in their internal operations, in their relationships with the public, and in education. The choices necessarily differentiate, conferring benefits on some and imposing burdens on others. The general rule is that differentiation is nondiscriminatory when the grounds for it are sufficient, which means that judgment is necessary based on a weighing of costs and gains. The costs and gains are not only those of individuals but also those of groups, and the fixing of criteria for identifying the language groups that have legitimate claims is a significant pending problem.
Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) of Leyte Island, Philippine Islands with Descriptions of Five New Species and a Key to the Genera and Species

Examination of chiggers (larval Trombiculidae) from Leyte Island, Philippine Islands that are in the collection of the B. P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, has added 17 species to the 1 species previously recorded. Hosts include species of Rattus, bats, other small mammals, birds, and lizards. The 18 species of Trombiculidae belong in 14 genera. Five of the species are described as new: Odontacarus dracophilis, O. mahaplagensis, Schoengastiella dentata, S. birellasetosa, and Walchiella lobiensis. Nine previously described species are new records for Leyte Island and the Philippine Islands. A key is given to the genera and species occurring on Leyte Island.
Power switch lifetime extension strategies for three-phase converters

The recent advances and reports on failure precursors of power switches have led to estimation of lifetime as well as developing secondary control schemes to increase the lifetime of the converters. In this study, a secondary control scheme to extend the lifetime of the converter based on the identified failure precursors such as the on-state resistance variation for power MOSFETs and collector emitter voltage variation for IGBTs is proposed for three-phase converters. The controller switches the modulation scheme from SVPWM to discontinuous PWM, and adjusts the switching frequency, once the tracked failure precursor reaches to the defined threshold value. The tradeoff between the total harmonic distortion and lifetime extension at different modulation techniques and switching frequencies are addressed.
Serotonin induces Cl- secretion in human jejunal mucosa in vitro via a nonneural pathway at a 5-HT4 receptor.

We examined the effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on Na+ and Cl- flux (J) and short-circuit current (Isc) in human jejunal mucosa. Segments of jejunum, taken at the time of gastric bypass surgery, were stripped of the seromuscular layers (and attached neural ganglia) and mounted as flat mucosal sheets in Ussing chambers under short-circuit conditions. 5-HT (0.1-100 microM) produced a concentration-dependent rise in Isc (mean effective concn = 2.5 microM). Using 22Na and 36Cl, we measured flux across control tissues and in those exposed to 5-HT. 5-HT decreased both net JNa and JCl and increased Isc (-1.1 +/- 0.6, -1.7 +/- 0.6, and 0.6 +/- 0.1 mueq.cm-2.h-1, respectively). Thus the 5-HT-induced rise in Isc could be accounted for by reduced net JNa and JCl. 5-HT induced a significant (P < 0.05) Cl- secretion (serosal-to-mucosal flux) when glucose was included in the buffer bathing the mucosal surface. Neither tetrodotoxin, the adrenergic receptor antagonists prazosin and propranolol, nor the cholinergic receptor antagonists atropine and hexamethonium inhibited the change (delta) in Isc induced by 5-HT. 5-Methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT) and zacopride, known 5-HT4 receptor agonists, induced significant delta Isc. The 5-HT receptor antagonists N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1P), ketanserin (5-HT2), and ICS-205-930 (preferential for 5-HT3 at 0.1 microM had no effect on delta Isc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Rutile TiO2 as an Anode Material for Water-Splitting Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells

Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) use a wide bandgap metal oxide semiconductor functionalized with a light-absorbing dye and water-oxidation catalyst to harvest light and drive water oxidation, respectively. We demonstrate here that the rutile polymorph of TiO2 (r-TiO2) is a promising anode material for WS-DSPECs. Recombination between the injected electron and oxidized sensitizer with r-TiO2 is an order of magnitude slower than with anatase TiO2 (a-TiO2), with injection yields approaching 100%. Studies with a reductive quencher demonstrate that r-TiO2 is significantly more efficient than a-TiO2, while exhibiting greater dye stability. Furthermore, comparison of direct band gap excitation photocurrent generation for bare and sensitized r-TiO2 suggests that the sensitizer functions as a light harvester and redox mediator.