cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulated emission of a microcavity dressed exciton and suppression of phonon scattering.

The threshold behavior of the stimulated parametric emission of dressed excitons in a microcavity is studied. The inelastic-phonon-scattering rates of the dressed exciton are calculated and are shown to be smaller than the bare quantum-well exciton values. The results describe the recently observed thresholdless photoemission behavior and predict a large stability for the dressed exciton modes inside a quantum-well microcavity.
Performance consistency of normal observers in forced-choice tachistoscopic visual line bisection.

Abstract Pseudoneglect (PN) refers to the leftward error exhibited by normal observers on line bisection tasks (Bowers and Heilman, Neuropsychologia, 18, (1980) 491–8). Although a thorough review of the literature has shown PN to be relatively robust (Jewell and McCourt, Neuropsychologia, 38, (2000) 93–110), controversy remains concerning the reliability of the phenomenon, with some studies reporting a relatively high incidence of normal subjects with rightward bisection errors. The present experiment assesses the consistency of bisection performance in normal young observers. Right-handed subjects (N=22) participated in a tachistoscopic forced-choice line bisection task. Each subject participated in 7–16 experimental sessions separated by at least 24 h (total bisection measurements=317). Individual bisection performance could thus be evaluated with respect to within-subject variability measures. An eyetracker recorded gaze position during the task in one session. A highly significant mean group bisection error of −0.26° (P
Teaching Earnings per Share: A Schematic Approach

Abstract The proliferation of increasingly technical accounting standards has made it necessary for instructors to develop more effective presentation methods. This article presents a one-page learning aid that has been used successfully by the authors in teaching earnings per share, historically one of the most difficult topics for students to grasp. The one-page outline provides the student with a systematic approach that can be used to solve complex earnings-per-share calculations while simultaneously providing a meaningful learning experience.
The biochemical nature of the cell periphery of the salt gland secretory cells of fresh and salt water adapted mallard ducks.

Both ruthenium red and dialyzed iron techniques indicated that anionic protein-carbohydrates were associated with the plasmalemma of secretory cells in mallard salt glands. Digestion of the tissue with neuraminidase prior to dialyzed iron staining provided evidence that much of the anionic nature of this surface was due to sialic acid. These results were confirmed by biochemical assays showing that the salt-gland tissue contained a relatively high sialic-acid content and that the amount of sialic acid increased with salt-water adaptation. Possible roles of these anionic sites are discussed in relation to currently accepted hypotheses of electrolyte transport.
Measurements of index of refraction in the deep and vacuum ultraviolet using the minimum-deviation method

We discuss a procedure for making accurate measurement of the index of refraction, its dispersion, and its temperature dependence, in the deep ultraviolet (near 193 nm), using precision goniometric spectrometers and the minimum deviation method. Measurements of the indices of fused silica and calcium fluoride near 193 nm, with a fractional accuracy of 7 ppm, are discussed. These measurements revealed differences in the indices between different grades of fused silica. Accurate values of the temperature dependencies were determined from measurements of the indices at several temperatures in a 20 degree Celsius range about 20 degrees Celsius. A procedure to measure the index of calcium fluoride in the vacuum ultraviolet region (157 nm) using a N2 purge housing is discussed.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Copyright and distance education

Distance educators are concerned about copyright and unsure about how current Copyright Law applies, since many areas are gray in this environment. No guidelines currently exist, although there is discussion, and scenarios have been developed by the Working Group on Intellectual Property Fair Use Conference Subcommittee on Distance Learning that merit consideration. This paper reviews copyright concerns and issues for those involved with distance education, presents suggestions, and highlights resources available to assist readers on the subjects of copyright and intellectual property.
Accomplishments and limitations of physics

Abstract The following is an edition of Professor Wigner's speech based on Pamela Solomo's speed writing and Carroll Alley's video recording. His original plan was to speak on “Fundamental Symmetries governing the Laws of Nature.” However, in view of diversified interests of the audience including many high school students, Professor Wigner kindly changed his plan and decided to speak on a more general subject.
The fluid mechanics of the semicircular canals

A mathematical model for the unsteady fluid-dynamic response of the semicircular canals is developed. The endolymph is assumed to be an incompressible Newtonian fluid and the presence and effects of both the utricle and the cupula are specifically accounted for. A first approximate solution is obtained using a singular perturbation method. It is shown that the canal can be modelled as a heavily damped, second-order system which behaves as an angular-velocity meter. A comparison of the model response with experimental results is made; fairly good agreement is found.
Victims Deserve More: The Building of a Forensics Academy.

Because victims deserve more, The American Academy of Applied Forensics at Central Piedmont Community College was created to link cutting-edge forensics research to its field applications. It does this by enhancing the knowledge, skill, and ability levels of crime scene investigators, thereby increasing the likelihood that truth will be revealed and justice served.
Optimal surface characteristics for instruments for use in laser neurosurgery

In recent years, the C02 laser has proved to be a valuable instrument in neurosurgery. Its primary role has been in the ablation of tumors, although it may also be used in intricate dissection of other tissues. The C02 laser beam can be focused and used with a microscope and micromanipulator. This, coupled with the principle that 90% of the radiation is absorbed in the first 0.03 mm. of water makes the instrument exquisitely precise in Lumor removal while sparing tissues which must be preserved. This precision makes for an instrument which usually has a high degree of safety. However, while it usually is quite innocuous, this powerful tool carries the potential for injury.(2) The otolaryngologists report serious injury by inadvertent ignition of endotracheal tubes by laser.(1) This can result in extensive injury to the airway and lungs due to heat and smoke. In the neurosurgical operating room, injury can occur either by the beam striking structures directly or indirectly. Other instruments are usually present in the surgical field during laser use. Hand-held or self-retaining retractors, suction devices, or probes are used to retract or manipulate structures or to evacuate smoke or fluids. These may be inadvertently passed into the path of the beam or may be struck by a moving beam. The injury can be divided into that in which tissues in contact with the instruments are burned by the instrument which absorbs the energy and heats up, and injuries which occur by energy which is reflected off of an instrument. Both the patient and the surgical personnel are at risk from this reflected energy. Reflected power can even ignite surgical drapes. Measures are routinely taken to help reduce the risks of injury. These include the requirement that safety glasses are used by all operating room personnel. Delicate structures within the surgical field are covered with moist cottonoids. Instrument design should incorporate features which reduce the risk of injury due to reflection and absorption of energy. Many companies offer the service of "ebonizing" instruments with the claim that they will improve the safety of laser surgery. Unfortunately, there have been few studies performed which ascertain the ideal characteristics of instrument design. This study was performed to determine whether varying certain characteristics of the surface of an instrument can reduce surgical risks. Flat brain retractors were used to control for variation in the beam striking a curved surface. Identical retractors were prepared 128 / SPIE Vol. 1428 Three-Dimensional Bioimaging Systems and Lasers in the Neurosciences (1991) O-8194-0518-3/91/$4.OO with surfaces with various grades of roughness and with different surface materials. Each retractor was tested for absorption and for reflection of energy.
Looking back to the future: from the development of the gene concept to toxicogenomics.

Initial progress in the science of ‘genetics’ in the first half of the 20th century was mainly driven by studies utilizing mutations and consequent changes in phenotype. The structural and functional nature of the gene was far from being understood. That state of understanding started changing from the 1940s. In the following decades, with the discovery of the double helix followed by the discoveries on gene structure and expression, there was a period when the structural and functional aspects of the gene could be conceived in terms of one entity, the cistron. However, the discovery of intervening sequences caused this unified concept to fall apart, making the gene concept a subject of philosophical debate again. Meanwhile, over time, technological progress in molecular biology had the field forge ahead rapidly, ultimately leading to the sequencing of the human genome and genomes of other species, and giving birth to the science of genomics. Developments in genomics have given rise to certain applied sub...
Size Dependent Femtosecond Electron Cooling Dynamics in CdSe Quantum Rods

Electronic relaxation dynamics of photoexcited CdSe quantum rods have been studied with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Samples with the same length, ∼30 nm, but with different diameters, 2.5 and 8.0 nm, were investigated. We found that the intraband energy relaxation is about 8 times faster in the thin rods than in the thick ones. A comparison is made between relaxation dynamics in quantum rods and dots, and different relaxation mechanisms are discussed.
The Generalizability of Critical Thinking: Paranormal Beliefs Versus Statistical Reasoning

Abstract The generalizability of general (content-independent) critical thinking ability, assessed by the Cornell Critical Thinking Test, was assessed in university undergraduates. Study 1 (N = 97) examined the relationship between performance on the Cornell test and level of belief in paranormal phenomena. Study 2 (N = 109) examined the relationship between the Cornell test scores and statistical reasoning in novices. Cornell test scores accounted for a significant proportion of the variability in statistical reasoning, but not in level of belief in the paranormal. Level of purported paranormal experience was not related to either Cornell test score or intelligence, but it was a significant predictor of paranormal belief. The pattern of results suggested that, although the evaluation of paranormal claims is amenable to critical thinking, it is more likely to be characterized by “axiological” approaches. The distinction between critical thinking skills and the disposition to apply them suggests a multivar...
Transcription Termination at the thr Attenuator EVIDENCE THAT THE ADENINE RESIDUES UPSTREAM OF THE STEM AND LOOP STRUCTURE ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR TERMINATION

Abstract The Escherichia coli thr operon attenuator has a structure similar to other Rho-independent terminators. The DNA sequence immediately 5′ to the termination site is dG+dC-rich and contains a region of dyad symmetry that, when transcribed into RNA, encodes a hairpin structure in the transcript. It also contains a stretch of 9 consecutive dA-dT residues immediately distal to the region of dyad symmetry which encode uridine residues at the 3′ end of the terminated transcript. In addition, the thr attenuator has a stretch of 6 dA-dT residues immediately upstream of the region of dyad symmetry which encode 6 adenines. These adenines could potentially pair with the distal uridines to form a hairpin structure extended by as much as 6 A-U base pairs. In this report we have examined the role of the upstream adenines in transcription termination. We used templates that specify mismatches or create new base pairs in the potential A-U secondary structure of the transcript as well as templates that delete segments of the A residues upstream of the hairpin. We conclude that A-U pairing is not required for efficient transcription termination at the thr attenuator. This conclusion is likely to apply to other Rho-independent terminators that contain hairpin-proximal dA-dT residues.
Radio Shack: One for the Road

To expand our computer resources and provide our staff with access to computers outside of the library, we decided to purchase Radio Shack[i.e., Tandy] model 100 computers, which cost approximately S400 when we purchased them. The low cost made it possible to purchase enough microcomputers to distribute them to many divisions throughout the library. Their portability and ease of use made them appealing to all levels of users.
A year in the life of one Emerging Leader

Purpose – This paper seeks to report on the American Library Association's Emerging Leaders program and its effectiveness.Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the Emerging Leaders experience and provides a general overview of the program through first‐hand experience, personal research, interviews, and general observations.Findings – Currently very little has been published about the Emerging Leaders program. Library professionals do not have access to reliable unbiased information, if they would like to research the program before applying. The Emerging Leaders experience, renowned for its networking and learning opportunities, effectively prepares library professionals to become leaders.Originality/value – The paper provides a personal insight into the Emerging Leaders program.
From Niches to Riches: Anatomy of the Long Tail

Dozens of markets of all types are in the early stages of a revolution as the Internet and related technologies vastly expand the variety of products that can be produced, promoted and purchased. Although this revolution is based on a simple set of economic and technological drivers, the authors argue that its implications are far-reaching for managers, consumers and the economy as a whole. This article looks at what has been dubbed the "Long Tail" phenomenon, examining how customers derive value from an important characteristic of Internet markets: the ability of online merchants to help consumers locate, evaluate and purchase a far wider range of products than they can typically buy via the traditional brick-and-mortar channels. The article examines the Long Tail from both the supply side and the demand side and identifies several key drivers. On the supply side, the authors point out how e-tailers' expanded, centralized warehousing allows for more offerings, thus making it possible for them to cater to more varied tastes. On the demand side, tools such as search engines, recommender software and sampling tools are allowing customers to find products outside of their geographic area. The authors also look toward the future to discuss second order amplified effects of Long Tail, including the growth of markets serving smaller niches.
Predicting Trial, Repeat, and Sales Response from Alternative Media Plans

A recent article by the author (Zufryden, 1981) reported empirical results from the use of a new methodology (ZAPEM) that relates exposures from particular TV media schedules to consumer purchase-response behavior. The methodology, unlike its predecessors, predicts measures of media effectiveness that include a brand's trial, cumulative penetration, and repeat-purchase patterns as a function of alternative TV media plans. Hence, in contrast to previous methodologies that utilize lower-level media effectiveness criteria such as reach, frequency, cost-per-thousand, awareness, or even attitude change, the approach ties directly to higher-level, sales-related, company objectives. The approach can be implemented on the basis of individual purchase panel data (i.e., such as that from MRCA or NPD Research, Inc.) from matched test markets during media weight tests. The approach can similarly be based on purchase data from UPC scanner panels such as that available from TRIM or the Behaviorscan system.
Collective construction with multiple robots

We study the problem of construction by autonomous mobile robots focusing on the coordination strategy employed by the robots to solve a simple construction problem efficiently. In particular we address the problem of constructing a linear 2D structure in a planar bounded environment. A "minimalist" single-robot solution to the problem is given, as well as two multi-robot solutions, which are natural extensions to the single-robot approach, with varying degrees of inter-robot communication. Results show that with minimal inter-robot communication (1 bit of state), there is a significant improvement in the system performance. This improvement is invariant with respect to the size of the environment.
Relative Contribution of the Cell Wall, Cytoplasmic Membrane, and Cytoplasm to the Gram-Positive Characteristic of Bacillus megaterium

Bartholomew, J. W. (University of Southern California, Los Angeles), and Thomas Cromwell. Relative contribution of the cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane, and cytoplasm to the gram-positive characteristic of Bacillus megaterium. J. Bacteriol. 90:643-647. 1965.-A comparison of the roles of the cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane, and cytoplasmic components revealed that the intact cell wall was the dominant contributor to the gram-positive state. Protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium were confirmed as being gram-negative, as reported by Gerhardt et al. The "gram-positive protoplast" report of Amano et al. was shown to be a laboratory-produced artifact, resulting from the comparison of smears made from saline suspensions of Escherichia coli cells with smears made from formalin-sucrose suspensions of B. megaterium protoplasts.
Possible mechanisms for protecting NCα bonds in helical peptides from electron-capture (or transfer) dissociation

Abstract Ab initio electronic structure simulations are carried out on small alanine-based peptide fragments with an excess electron added to a Coulomb-stabilized amide OCN π* orbital that forms a C O − radical anion center. A focus of the study is to determine to what extent and by what means helix-involved N C α bonds are “protected” against cleavage compared to similar bonds in non-helical peptides. The primary findings, many of which support earlier suggestions, include: (1) There is little or no increase in the energy barriers for N C α bond cleavage caused by an amino acid being in a helix where its carbonyl oxygen is involved in a hydrogen bond to an H N bond of an amino acid displaced by one helix turn. (2) When an electron attaches to a helix-involved Coulomb-stabilized OCN π* orbital and the N C α bond cleaves, three hydrogen bonds act to bind together the c and z fragment ions. One of these hydrogen bonds is especially strong (ca. 16 kcal mol −1 ) because it involves a negatively charged oxygen center. This suggests that the “protection” against N C α cleavage of helix-involved amino acids may, as others suggested earlier, result from the strong hydrogen bonding that binds the c and z fragment ions. (3) When an electron attaches to a helix-involved OCN π* orbital, an electron can migrate to the π* orbital of another amino acid one turn down the helix, but only by overcoming a barrier. After migrating to a new amino acid, N C α cleavage can occur at the latter site, also in line with what earlier workers have suggested. Suggestions of experiments that might test the hypotheses treated here are also put forth.
A Putative Rhamnogalacturonase Required for Sexual Development of Neurospora crassa

In previous work, the asd-1 (ascus development) gene of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa was identified as a gene expressed preferentially during the sexual cycle and shown to be essential for normal sexual development. The asd-1 gene has been sequenced and further characterized. It contains two introns, the first of which is in-frame and inefficiently or differentially spliced. The predicted ASD-1 protein has extensive homology with rhamnogalacturonase B of Aspergillus aculeatus, which cleaves the backbone within the ramified hairy regions of pectin. In homozygous asd-1 crosses, sexual development is initiated and large numbers of normal-sized asci are formed. Ascospore delineation does not occur, however, and no sexual progeny are produced. As most asd-1 asci contain eight nuclei, the two meiotic divisions and subsequent mitotic division typical of normal crosses seem to occur, but the haploid nuclei are not partitioned into ascospores. In wild-type crosses, the ASD-1 protein is present in large amounts in croziers and young asci, but it is only faintly detectable in more mature asci containing developing ascospores. Models to explain the possible role of a rhamnogalacturonase in sexual development are presented.
Tailored SMASH image reconstructions for robust in vivo parallel MR imaging.

The simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH) imaging technique uses spatial information from an array of RF coils to substitute for omitted encoding gradient steps and thereby to accelerate MR image acquisition. Since SMASH image reconstructions rely on the accurate generation of sinusoidally varying composite sensitivity functions to emulate the spatial modulations produced by gradients, the technique was originally believed to be limited to certain image planes or coil array configurations which were particularly suited to the generation of spatial harmonics. Several key improvements to the SMASH reconstruction procedure are described, taking advantage of various degrees of freedom in the spatial harmonic fit. The use of tailored fitting procedures, in combination with a numerical conditioning approach based on new observations about noise propagation in the fit, are shown to allow high-quality SMASH image reconstructions in oblique and double-oblique image planes, both in phantoms and in high-resolution cardiac MR images. Magn Reson Med 44:243-251, 2000.
Optimization of the Integrated Diagnostics in Equatorial Port Plug #3 of ITER for Minimal Interspace Dose Rate

According to Internationa Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) integration procurement arrangements, the installment of diagnostics in a port should not increase the shutdown dose rate (SDDR) in the port interspace area by no more than ${\sim}{\rm 50}~\mu{\rm Sv}/{\rm h}$ above the baseline, assuming another 50 $\mu{\rm Sv}/{\rm h}$ is attributed to contribution from the port structure and other ITER in-vessel components, such that the upper SDDR limit of 100 $\mu{\rm Sv}/{\rm h}$ is not exceeded $10^{6}~{\rm s}$ after shutdown. It was found that placing the initial design of the motional stark effect (MSE) and the charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) in the equatorial port #3 resulted in an increase in the SDDR that far exceeded the limit. When we follow the optimization process discussed in this paper, substantial reduction in the port interspace SDDR was achieved. The results of this paper show that even when we combine the optimized CXRS and MSE diagnostics with a third glow discharge diagnostic, the excess of the SDDR over the baseline value did not exceed the allowed upper limit. This paper is based on utilizing the 3-D CAD-based ATTILA code for assessing the SDDR.
An alternative index for assessing profile similarity in bioequivalence trials.

In a typical bioequivalence trial, summary measures of the plasma concentration versus time profile are used to compare two formulations of a drug product. Commonly used measures include area under the curve (AUC), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (Tmax). Equivalence of these summary measures, in general, does not guarantee equivalence of the entire profile. Rescigno and Chinchilli and Elswick propose indices which measure profile similarity, but can be overly sensitive to unimportant differences and are not easily interpreted pharmacologically. We propose an alternative index based on smoothing the relative difference between bioavailability profiles. This provides a method for assessing bioequivalence over the entire profile which has a familiar interpretation and can be tuned to provide a compromise between the insensitivity to pattern differences of summary measures and the oversensitivity of pointwise comparisons. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Period–luminosity relations for red supergiant variables – II. The distance to M101

ABSTRA C T We report the discovery of 42 red supergiant variables (RSVs) in the late-type spiral galaxy M101. Periods for the luminosity variation of these RSVs were determined from 20 epochs of ground-based CCD photometry in the Kron‐Cousins R band obtained with the KPNO 2.1-m and WIYN 3.5-m telescopes over a span of three years. The periods found were in the range 200‐1300 days. Using the relationship between the RSV periods and their luminosity in the Kron‐Cousins I band, we estimate a reddening-corrected distance modulus to M101 of 29:40 ^ 0:16 mag (based on a distance modulus of 18:5 ^ 0:1 mag for the Large Magellanic Cloud). This distance is consistent with the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project Cepheid distances of 29:34 ^ 0:17 mag for the outer field of M101 and 29:21 ^ 0:17 mag for the inner field.
Extratropical tropopause transition layer characteristics from high-resolution sounding data

[1] Accurate determination of the tropopause is important for applications such as dynamical analysis and forecasting, radiative transfer calculations, and the diagnosis of chemical transport in the atmosphere. In this paper, we examine how well the extratropical tropopause is determined in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction high-resolution Global Forecast System (GFS) model analysis over the continental United States using high-resolution aircraft and radiosonde data. The GFS analyses and sounding data compare well, with RMS differences of approximately 600 m, which is comparable to the vertical resolution of the model. The GFS tropopause is a good proxy in areas without in situ observations, but near the subtropical jet the GFS analysis often mistakenly identifies the secondary rather than the primary tropopause. We also explore an alternative method to identify the tropopause by fitting a smoothed step function to the static stability profile. This new approach provides a measure of the depth of the troposphere-stratosphere transition and facilitates the study of the dynamical behavior of the tropopause region. In particular, using the transition depth, we are able to identify the statistical behavior of temperature in profiles with deep or shallow tropopause transition layers.
AFM Feature Definition for Neural Cells on Nanofibrillar Tissue Scaffolds

Summary: A diagnostic approach is developed and implemented that provides clear feature definition in atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of neural cells on nanofibrillar tissue scaffolds. Because the cellular edges and processes are on the same order as the background nanofibers, this imaging situation presents a feature definition problem. The diagnostic approach is based on analysis of discrete Fourier transforms of standard AFM section measurements. The diagnostic conclusion that the combination of dynamic range enhancement with low-frequency component suppression enhances feature definition is shown to be correct and to lead to clear-featured images that could change previously held assumptions about the cell–cell interactions present. Clear feature definition of cells on scaffolds extends the usefulness of AFM imaging for use in regenerative medicine. SCANNING 34: 316–324, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of cropland and forest surface temperatures across the conterminous United States

a b s t r a c t Global climate models (GCM) investigating the effects of land cover on climate have found that replacing extra-tropical forest with cropland promotes cooling. We compared cropland and forest surface tem- peratures across the continental United States in 16 cells that were approximately 1◦ × 2◦ using 1 km2 MODIS land surface temperature (LST) data and land cover from the 0.0009 km 2 National Land Cover Database (NLCD). We found that forest surface temperatures tended to be cooler than cropland surface temperatures. This relationship held for spring, summer, fall, and annually. In winter, cropland surface temperatures were cooler than forest surface temperatures except in the southeastern United States, where forest surface temperatures were also cooler in winter. The difference between cropland and for- est surface temperatures was driven by daytime maxima, which tended to be twice as large as differences in nighttime minima. The dominance of daytime maxima was influenced by the degree of continentality. For cells on coastal margins or with a high proportion of inland lakes, differences between cropland and forest nighttime minima tended to be very small. In more continental locations croplands were noticeably cooler at night which often led to insignificant differences between cropland and forest average surface temperatures.
Regular Multicomponent Exercise Increases Physical Fitness and Muscle Protein Anabolism in Frail, Obese, Older Adults

Aging is associated with a decline in strength, endurance, balance, and mobility. Obesity worsens the age-related impairment in physical function and often leads to frailty. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a multi-component (strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance) exercise program to maintain physical fitness. However, the effect of such an exercise program on physical fitness in frail, obese older adults is not known. We therefore determined the effect of a 3 month-long multi-component exercise training program, on endurance (peak aerobic capacity [VO2peak]), muscle strength, muscle mass and the rate of muscle protein synthesis (basal rate and anabolic response to feeding) in nine 65-80 year-old, moderately frail, obese older adults. After 3 months of training, fat mass decreased (P <0.05) whereas fat-free mass, appendicular lean body mass, strength, and peak aerobic capacity (VO2 peak increased (all P <0.05). Regular strength and endurance exercise increased the mixed muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) but had no effect on the feeding-induced increase in muscle protein FSR (~0.02 %/h increase from basal values both before and after exercise training; effect of feeding: P = 0.02; effect of training: P = 0.047; no interaction: P = 0.84). We conclude that: i) a multi-component exercise training program has beneficial effects on muscle mass and physical function and should therefore be recommended to frail, obese older adults, and ii) regular multi-component exercise increases the basal rate of muscle protein synthesis without affecting the magnitude of the muscle protein anabolic response to feeding.
The acinar differentiation determinant PTF1A inhibits initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with fewer than 20% of people surviving for longer than twelve months after diagnosis. Two types of genetic mutation play important roles in pancreatic cancer. First, genes called oncogenes can be activated by mutations to drive unscheduled cell division. Second, the genes for tumor suppressors—proteins that prevent cells from dividing when they should not—can be switched off due to other mutations. Together, these mutations cause cells to over-proliferate and disrupt the structure of the pancreas. In a healthy pancreas, several different cell types perform various roles: acinar cells produce proteins that digest food, ductal cells carry these proteins to the intestine, and β cells produce insulin. Certain proteins are responsible for telling each of these cells what tasks to perform, which defines their so-called differentiation state. The protein PTF1A is crucial for establishing the differentiation state of acinar cells. In the most common form of pancreatic cancer, acinar cells are reprogrammed to become ductal cells. Moreover, pancreatic cancer cells contain much lower levels of PTF1A than normal pancreatic cells. To explore the connection between PTF1A and pancreatic cancer, Krah et al. deleted the gene for PTF1A in mice. This led to acinar cells being reprogrammed to become ductal cells. Additionally, when an oncogene mutation was activated at the same time as the gene for PTF1A was deleted, Krah et al. observed the rapid formation of large numbers of malignant pancreatic tumors in the mice. PTF1A therefore protects against pancreatic cancer by acting as a tumor suppressor and keeping acinar cells in their healthy, differentiated state. Unlike other tumor suppressors, however, PTF1A levels are reduced in cancer cells by a mechanism that does not involve a genetic mutation. Therefore, a future challenge is to determine how the amount of PTF1A protein is reduced, and in the longer term, to explore if it is possible to reverse cancer progression by forcing cancer cells back into their original differentiation state.
In Situ Hybridization and Oligomer Probes: Evaluation of Gene Expression During Development

Alteration of gene expression can result in numerous pathologies, including proliferative diseases, functional deficits, and developmental defects. Recent studies have suggested that changes in the expression domains of Homeotic (Hox) genes during development are associated with the induction of chemically induced developmental anomalies. Before meaningful data on the alteration of gene expression can be obtained, the heterogeneity of normal expressions within a species must be evaluated. In situ hybridization is a powerful technique that can detect perturbations in the spatial and/or temporal expression of genes. The hybridization protocol described here utilizes 33P end-labeled, single-stranded DNA oligomeric nucleotides. Some of the technical advantages to this approach are that (1) DNA probes are not sensitive to RNase, (2) the probes are based on published sequences and are chemically synthesized, (3) probes are end-labeled utilizing a terminal transferase reaction, producing probes of high specific ...
Predicting Recurrent Depression Using Vitamin D Levels

To the Editor: I read the report of Hoang et al1 on low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and depression with great interest. Of note, recently published guidelines on evaluation of vitamin D deficiency do not call for screening of persons with prior or current depression.2 A plausible clinical application of the findings of this study—if confirmed, especially in multiracial cohorts—would be to obtain 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with a history of depression and treat when indicated, in hope of preventing new episodes of depression.
An Assessment of Agricultural Trade Liberalization by the European Union in the Context of the WTO

The EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidizes exports, limits import, and controls production. These policies importantly affect production, consumption, trade and economic welfare of EU members and have systemic implications especially for developing countries and economies in transition. This paper reviews the evolution and present status of the EU's agricultural policies and assesses efforts at reform within the context of the WTO, including notably the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. It thereby provides a framework for evaluating future plans for liberalizing the EU's agricultural sector.
A Tale of Two Clams

The effect of command-and-control regulation of fisheries has been serious economic inefficiencies, safety hazards, detriments to the ecosystem, and failure to protect marine resources. Those results have provoked interest in the use of tradable property rights - known in fisheries as individual transferable quotas (ITQs) - to regulate marine resources. Initial research into the adoption of ITQs suggests the change dramatically boosts productivity. But, because of policy anticipation and efforts to game the implementation of an ITQ system, a simple comparison of productivity immediately before and after the official adoption of ITQs would yield an exaggerated measure of the actual productivity gains realized. The gains from ITQs are real, but they are smaller than what other researchers have claimed.
Southern pine beetles in central hardwood forests: frequency, spatial extent, and changes to forest structure

The southern pine beetle (SPB) is a major disturbance in pine forests throughout the range of southern yellow pines, and is a significant influence on forests throughout several Central Hardwood Region (CHR) ecoregions. At endemic levels, SPB colonizes individual stressed or lightning-struck trees, acting as a natural thinning agent. During outbreaks, tree mortality from SPB may impact CHR forests by indirectly converting stands to other species types, or changing the stand age and structure. Southern pine beetle can also create disturbance in stands by causing mortality in large clusters of pine trees or by hastening the succession from pine-hardwood forests to late-successional forest by killing single or groups of overstory pine trees. Populations are cyclical and have traditionally impacted CHR forests every 7–25 years, depending on location. The most significant outbreaks in this region in the past 65 years occurred 1974–1976 and 1997–2003, with the most recent impacting more than 405,000 ha, and caused an estimated economic loss of more than $1 billion across six states. In this chapter we examine the spatial extent and frequency of SPB outbreaks in the CHR. We also discuss the severity of disturbance caused by SPB to forests in this region over the past 65 years; how this disturbance has altered the resultant forests; and the potential impacts of changes in climate and anthropogenic effects on preventing infestations and reducing levels of tree mortality attributed to SPB.
Complete Genome Sequence of emm28 Type Streptococcus pyogenes MEW123, a Streptomycin-Resistant Derivative of a Clinical Throat Isolate Suitable for Investigation of Pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT We present here the complete genome sequence of Streptococcus pyogenes type emm28 strain MEW123, a streptomycin-resistant derivative of a pediatric throat isolate. The genome length is 1,878,699 bp, with 38.29% G+C% content. The genome sequence adds value to this virulent emm28 representative strain and will aid in the investigation of streptococcal pathogenesis.
SP0143 Progranulin meets TNF in inflammatory arthritis

Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNFa) has received the greatest attention because of its position at the apex of the pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade, and its dominance in the pathogenesis of inflammation. Anti-TNF therapies have been accepted as the effective approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis. In a global screen for the binding proteins of progranulin (PGRN), an autocrine growth factor with multiple functions, we found that PGRN bound to TNFR1 and TNFR2. PGRN-deficient mice were susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis, and administration of PGRN reversed inflammatory arthritis. More importantly, Atsttrin, an engineered protein composed of three PGRN fragments, exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity, which surpassed PGRN itself, in vivo . This talk will focus on the interplay between PGRN and TNF in inflammatory arthritis as well as the immunological mechanism involved. The talk will also highlight Atsttrin. Identification of PGRN as a ligand of TNFR and an antagonist of TNFα signaling not only betters our understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis, but also provides new therapeutic interventions for various TNFα-mediated pathologies and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Insights on Peptide Vaccines in Cancer Immunotherapy

Human tumor-associated antigens are generally weakly immunogenic and therefore able to escape detection by the immune system. Numerous studies have shown, however, that immune cells infiltrate many tumors, and that these cells are vital for keeping tumor burden in check. Immunotherapy can enhance this process by further stimulating tumor-recognizing cells while decreasing the function of immunosuppressive cells, such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, thereby creating a more immune-activating tumor microenvironment.
Sounders of the Alarm

Thirty years of attempts to bring the world to grips with the perpetual menace to human security
Pineal region tumors: a simplified management scheme.

Pineal region tumors comprise 2.5–8.5 % of pediatric intracranial tumors, being more common in the Asian populations [1, 2]. These tumors are diverse in cell origin [3, 4], most commonly germ cell tumors (GCT) followed by pineal parenchymal tumors (PPT) (Fig. 1). Patients usually present with obstructive hydrocephalus, symptoms/signs of brainstem compression, or evidence of precocious puberty or diabetes insipidus from metachronous GCTs, which are bifocal tumors occurring in the pineal and suprasellar regions simultaneously [5, 6]. Brain and whole spine MRI with and without contrast should always be performed upon presentation (Fig. 2 and cover image) and prior to any procedure to assess for extent of disease [7]. Management of GCTs
Abnormal Brain Compliance as a Cause of Hydrocephalus in Children

The pathophysiologic sequences of events leading to the hydrocephalic State is usually attributed to an imbalance between CSF formation and absorption, with the excess CSF being stored in the ventricles. Intuitively one would expect the progressive increase in intracranial volume to create intracranial hypertension, a finding conspicuously absent in many hydrocephalics in the pediatric age group (DiRocco et al. 1975, Hayden et al. 1970). The failure in many studies to find intracranial hypertension leads to the inference that the biomechanical property of the brain and its coverings must be altered by the hydrocephalic process in order to dissipate pressure.
Using Agency Nurses to Fill RN Vacancies Within Specialized Hospice and Palliative Care

The use of agency nurses offers flexibility in filling registered nurse (RN) openings during times of shortage, yet little is known about their use in specialized palliative care. In an effort to fill this knowledge gap, this study determined whether significant relationships existed between full-time and part-time RN vacancies and the use of agency RNs within specialized hospices that deliver perinatal end-of-life care to women and their families in the event of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other neonatal complications resulting in death. This study used data from the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey and multivariate regression methods to estimate the association between RN vacancies and agency RNs use. Approximately 13% of perinatal hospices in 2007 used agency nurses. Increases in full-time RN vacancies are associated with a significant increase in the use of agency RNs, while part-time RN vacancies are associated with a significant decrease in agency RNs. These results suggest that full-time agency RNs were used as a supplemental workforce to fill vacancies until the full-time position is recruited. However, for part-time vacancies, the responsibilities of those positions shifted onto existing staff and the position was not filled.
Laser-chemical three-dimensonal writing of multimaterial structures for microelectromechanics

A patterning machine capable of 5*10/sup 4/ pixel per second random access scanning has been developed as a tool for laser microchemical fabrication of three-dimensional parts. The tool is designed to implement precision laser deposition and etching reactions through a direct interface to solid modeling CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/manufacturing) software. Initial results with the three-dimensional laser patterning machine demonstrate clean etching of germanium and silicon with micrometer depth control and speeds one to two orders of magnitude faster than electric discharge machining. High material selectivity has been exploited to write buried flow channels under oxide membranes. >
Silicon Demonstration of Hardware Trojan Design and Detection in Wireless Cryptographic ICs

Using silicon measurements from 40 chips fabricated in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC’s) 0.35- $\mu \text{m}$ technology, we demonstrate the operation of two hardware Trojans, which leak the secret key of a wireless cryptographic integrated circuit (IC) consisting of an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) core and an ultrawideband (UWB) transmitter (TX). With their impact carefully hidden in the transmission specification margins allowed for process variations, these hardware Trojans cannot be detected by production testing methods of either the digital or the analog part of the IC and do not violate the transmission protocol or any system-level specifications. Nevertheless, the informed adversary, who knows what to look for in the transmission power waveform, is capable of retrieving the 128-bit AES key, which is leaked with every 128-bit ciphertext block sent by the UWB TX. Moreover, through physical measurements and MATLAB simulations, we show that the attack facilitated by these hardware Trojans is robust to test equipment and communication channel noise. Finally, we experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of a popular hardware Trojan detection method, namely, statistical side-channel fingerprinting via trained one-class classifiers, in detecting the hardware Trojans introduced in our fabricated IC population.
The Missing Piece: The Case For Administrative Law In the MSPA Curriculum

Why is administrative law so neglected in the curricula of graduate public administration in the United States? In the light of professed adherence to democratic administration and rule of law, this gap in the academic education of public service professionals seems surprising and somewhat disconcerting. Public servants are not only empowered but obligated by law to use the power of the state to make decisions and take actions in the public interest. Yet, study of the theory, processes, and practices of administrative law seems to play little or no part in their preparation for these tasks.