cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mouse interferon-inducible RNA-dependent protein kinase Pkr gene: cloning and sequence of the 5′-flanking region and functional identification of the minimal inducible promoter

Abstract The RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is implicated in the antiviral and antiproliferative actions of interferon (IFN). As an extension of our structural characterization of the exon–intron organization of the mouse Pkr gene, we now have isolated and characterized the mouse Pkr promoter region required for IFN-inducible transcription. Transient transfection analyses, using reporter constructs possessing various 5′-flanking fragments of the Pkr gene, led to the identification of a functional IFN-inducible promoter. A single IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) was present in a minimal 44-nt TATA-less promoter identified by deletion analysis; the 13-nt ISRE differed from previously described ISRE elements in that the 3′-nt was a purine instead of a pyrimidine. The sequence immediately upstream of the ISRE possessed the 15-nt KCS element that was exactly conserved in sequence and position between the mouse and human Pkr promoters. A single gamma IFN-activated sequence (GAS)-like element and multiple recognition sites for factors including NF-κB and NF-IL6 involved in responses to various cytokine and hormone signals in inflammatory responses were also present in the 5′-flanking region. Northern blot analysis showed efficient IFN-α induced accumulation of 2.4 kb, 4.5 kb and approx. 6 kb Pkr transcripts, but neither IFN-γ nor IL-6 induced detectable Pkr mRNA accumulation in L cells.
High-density mapping of pulmonary veins and left atrium during ibutilide administration in a canine model of sustained atrial fibrillation

Ibutilide can prolong refractory period and terminate reentry. Whether ibutilide has the same effects on pulmonary vein (PV) focal discharge (FD) is unclear. We induced sustained atrial fibrillatio...
Structural and Functional Consequences of Bypass Grafting with Autologous Vein

An understanding of the consequences of autologous vein grafting reveals both the reasons why cryopreserved allogenic veins are being used clinically and how they are most likely to be expected to fail. Autologous vein bypass grafts are characterized by a series of distinct biological properties that influences their in vivo patency. Current surgical practice ensures that the endothelium of vein grafts is preserved at the time of implantation and that there is minimal damage to the smooth muscle cells. After implantation, the endothelial cells show varying degrees of morphological changes that are maximal within the first 3 days after grafting. In autografts, extensive endothelial denudation does not appear to occur. During the initial grafting period, the smooth muscle cells change from a contractile phenotype to a synthetic phenotype, migrate from the media, proliferate in the intima, and lay down connective tissue. Thereafter, endothelial cell changes regress and the smooth muscle cells return to their contractile phenotype. Perioperative manipulation of vein grafts results in decreased endothelial cell function but preservation of smooth muscle cell responsiveness. Postoperatively endothelial cell-mediated relaxation to acetylcholine is lost and smooth muscle cell contractility is decreased. Within 7 days after implantation, smooth muscle cell contractility returns and, with time, becomes markedly greater than that of the control vein. Endothelium-mediated relaxation to acetylcholine never returns in vein grafts and this loss of endothelial cell function appears to be related to receptor-coupled G-protein defects. Smooth muscle cell contractility remains abnormal. Many of the intimal hyperplastic lesions in vein grafts progress to stenosis or become sites of accelerated atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evapotranspiration predictions: a comparison among GLEAMS, Opus, PRZM-2, and RZWQM models in a humid and thermic climate

Abstract Environmental fate models are increasingly used to evaluate potential impacts of agrochemicals on water quality to aid in decision making. However, errors in predicting processes like evapotranspiration (ET), which is rarely measured during model validation studies, can significantly affect predictions of chemical fate and transport. This study compared approaches and predictions for ET by GLEAMS, Opus, PRZM-2, and RZWQM and determined effects of the predicted ET on simulations of other hydrology components. The ET was investigated for 2 years of various fallow–corn growing seasons under sprinkler irrigation. The comparison included annual cumulative daily potential ET (ET p ), actual ET, and partitioning of total ET between soil evaporation ( E s ) and crop transpiration ( E t ). When measured pan evaporation was used for calculating ET p (the pan evaporation method), Opus, PRZM-2, and RZWQM predicted 74, 65, and 59%, respectively, of the 10-year average ET reported for a nearby site. When the energy-balance equations were used for calculating ET p (the combination methods), GLEAMS, Opus, PRZM-2, and RZWQM predicted 84, 105, 60, and 72% of the reported ET, respectively. The pan evaporation method predicted a similar amount of ET to the combination methods for bare soil, but predicted less ET when both E s and E t occurred. RZWQM reasonably predicted partitioning of ET to E s , while GLEAMS and Opus over-predicted this partitioning. A close correlation between soil water storage in the root zone and ET suggests that accurate soil water content predictions were fundamental to ET predictions. ©
Impaired distal nephron acidification in chronically phosphate depleted rats

Renal tubular bicarbonate reabsorption and acidification were evaluated in phosphate depleted rats (PD) and controls. After 33 days of phosphate depletion, urine pH of PD rats (N=5, 6.36±0.15) was significantly higher than control (N=5, 5.64±0.09,P<0.005) following an NH4Cl load. Urinary titratable acid of PD rats (9.6±1.8) was significantly reduced compared to control (117.2±19.7 μEq/3 h,P<0.001), whereas NH 4 + excretion was not different. The plasma HCO 3 − thresholds at which bicarbonaturia occurred (approximately 25 mEq/l) were identical in controls and phosphate depleted rats during isotonic bicarbonate infusion. The higher urine pH of phosphate depleted rats following NH4Cl administration was not due to low urinary phosphate as 3-day phosphate depleted rats could normally acidify urine after NH4Cl (pH=5.86±0.09,N=6 vs. control 5.87±0.08,N=6,P=N.S.) despite urinary phosphate excretion as low as in 33-day PD rats. These data indicate the presence of impaired distal tubular acidification in chronically phosphate depleted rats.
SU‐E‐T‐493: Analysis of the Impact of Range and Setup Uncertainties On the Dose to Brain Stem and Whole Brain in the Passively Scattered Proton Therapy Plans

Purpose: To quantify the impact of range and setup uncertainties on various dosimetric indices that are used to assess normal tissue toxicities of patients receiving passive scattering proton beam therapy (PSPBT). Methods: Robust analysis of sample treatment plans of six brain cancer patients treated with PSPBT at our facility for whom the maximum brain stem dose exceeded 5800 CcGE were performed. The DVH of each plan was calculated in an Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) version 11 applying ±3.5% range uncertainty and ±3 mm shift of the isocenter in x, y and z directions to account for setup uncertainties. Worst-case dose indices for brain stem and whole brain were compared to their values in the nominal plan to determine the average change in their values. For the brain stem, maximum dose to 1 cc of volume, dose to 10%, 50%, 90% of volume (D10, D50, D90) and volume receiving 6000, 5400, 5000, 4500, 4000 CcGE (V60, V54, V50, V45, V40) were evaluated. For the whole brain, maximum dose to 1 cc of volume, and volume receiving 5400, 5000, 4500, 4000, 3000 CcGE (V54, V50, V45, V40 and V30) were assessed. Results: The average change in the values of these indices in the worst scenario cases from the nominal plan were as follows. Brain stem; Maximum dose to 1 cc of volume: 1.1%, D10: 1.4%, D50: 8.0%, D90:73.3%, V60:116.9%, V54:27.7%, V50: 21.2%, V45:16.2%, V40:13.6%,Whole brain; Maximum dose to 1 cc of volume: 0.3%, V54:11.4%, V50: 13.0%, V45:13.6%, V40:14.1%, V30:13.5%. Conclusion: Large to modest changes in the dosiemtric indices for brain stem and whole brain compared to nominal plan due to range and set up uncertainties were observed. Such potential changes should be taken into account while using any dosimetric parameters for outcome evaluation of patients receiving proton therapy.
Computing Zeros of Sections of Vector Bundles Using Homotopies and Relocalization

An algorithm is described for computing fixed points on a Grassmannian manifold. The method can be applied in the more general setting of solving equations on abstract smooth manifolds into vector bundles. This development is part of a project to compute economic equilibria in the presence of incomplete markets.
Spermatogenesis of the Southwestern Corn Borer, Diatraea grandiosella. 2. Resumption in Diapause Larvae,

Spermatogenesis was examined during the mature larval diapause of the Diatraca grandiosella Dyar. Diapause larvae were exposed to 3 environmental regimes, 30°C 24L:0D, 30°C 12L:12D, and 23°C 12L:12D, to vary the rate of diapause development. Results showed that during the 1st phase of diapause development the testes became yellow and shrunken, spermatogenesis was arrested, and secondary spermatocytes degenerated. Degeneration was completed within 20 days in larvae held at 23°C 12L:12D and in 60 days in those held at 30°C 12L:12D. Primary spermatocytes in the pachytene stage of meiosis were the most mature stage of the germ cells which remained. A resumption of spermatogenesis occurred during the last phase of diapause development. Follicles containing germ cells in all stages of differentiation were found before the larvae entered the postdiapause pupal molting cycle. A similar arrestment and resumption of spermatogenesis was found during diapause development of field-collected larvae. The effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on spermatogenesis was examined using 63-day-old diapause larvae which had been exposed to a regime of 30°C 24L:OD for 24 days. Results showed that within 42 hours of treatment differentiation of the germ cells resumed, and secondary spermatocytes were present. This finding suggests that ecdysone is secreted at a low titer during the last phase of diapause development. This titer is apparently sufficient to cause resumption of spermatogenesis but inadequate to initiate the pupal molting cycle.
Interleukin-1β regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured human endometrial stromal cells

Abstract Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in regulating GnRH mRNA expression in cultured human endometrial stromal cells using a modified semiquantitative competitive reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Design A controlled study. Setting Clinical and academic research setting in a university medical center. Patient(s) Women undergoing hysterectomy for nonmalignant indications. Intervention(s) Confluent stromal cell cultures treated with steroid hormones were stimulated with IL-1β and attenuated by anti-IL-1β antibody or IL-1 receptor antagonist. Main outcome measure(s) The human endometrial stromal cell expression of GnRH and its receptor were determined by PCR. Interleukin-1β-mediated regulation of stromal cell GnRH mRNA expression was determined by quantitative competitive PCR. Result(s) The GnRH and GnRH receptor mRNA expression were amplified in cultured stromal cells by PCR and two rounds of nested PCR, respectively. Treatment with IL-1β stimulated stromal cell GnRH mRNA expression at concentrations of IL-1β above 10 IU/mL. Recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist and anti-IL-1β antibody attenuated the increase of gene expression of GnRH initiated by IL-1β. Conclusion(s) These results provide indirect evidence that IL-1β may play a crucial role at the level of embryo–maternal interaction by regulating stromal cell expression of GnRH and its receptor, both known to be important in mediating trophoblast invasion and placental hormone regulation.
Stress, workload, sexual well-being and quality of life among physician residents in training.

Summary Objectives: To assess the impact of stress and workload on sexual health and quality of life (QOL) of the medical residents in training. Design and subjects: A total of 339 male and female medical residents from 11 specialties were surveyed. Level of stress, sexual health and QOL were measured using validated questionnaires. Results: Overall, 49% of the female and 11% of male residents had sexual dysfunction, and 47% and 34% respectively indicated being very to mostly dissatisfied with their sexual life. Both the frequency of sexual activity and quality of relationship with partner decreased during residency compared with the time immediately prior to residency. This decline was irrespective of gender, specialty or year of residency. A majority of residents (75% of women and 54% of men) were identified to be at high levels of stress using a validated questionnaire. In women, stress negatively influenced most domains of sexual health including desire, arousal and satisfaction; in men, satisfaction was significantly affected by high levels of stress. Long hours of work (> 70 h per week) impacted sexual health less profoundly than did stress. Among both male and female residents, QOL was significantly lower among residents who experienced sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction compared with those with normal sexual functioning. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of stress-management efforts in residency programmes and provide evidence that limiting work hours alone may not lead to significant improvement in sexual health and QOL during residency.
Characteristics of Mean Velocity in the Tip Region of Turbomachinery Rotor Exit

This paper reports the experimental study of the three-dimensional characteristics of the mean velocity in the annulus-wall boundary layer and wake mixing region of a moderately loaded compressor rotor blade. The measurements reported were obtained using a three-sensor hot-wire probe at the exit of the rotor. They consisted of tangential surveys at several axial and radial locations downstream of the compressor rotor blade passage. The variation of the streamwise, normal, and radial velocity profiles and their decay characteristics are derived from this data. The measurements reveal the highly complex and three-dimensional nature of the annulus-wall flowfield and the nature of the interaction of the annulus-wall boundary layer, the blade boundary layers and wake, and the secondary flow associated with the tip region.
The synthesis of matrix components by chondrocytes in vitro in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine

Abstract The thymidine analogue, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BudR), depresses, but does not completely suppress chondroitin sulfate production by chondrocytes in cell culture. In the presence of BudR, chondroitin 6-sulfate is the predominant chondroitin sulfate isomer synthesized, while in control cultures chondroitin 4-sulfate synthesis predominates. Furthermore, in the presence of BudR the synthesis of other sulfated glycosaminoglycans (predominantly heparan sulfate) and uncharacterized glycoprotein components are greatly stimulated, while the amount of hyaluronic acid and collagen synthesized is little affected. In general, the pattern of glycosaminoglycan synthesis observed in BudR-treated chondrocytes is very similar to the pattern observed in differentiating chondrogenic tissue. It is, therefore suggested that BudR renders ineffective the normal control mechanisms for the regulation of glycosaminoglycan production acquired by chondrocytes during the course of their differentiation.
An Overview of Leveraged Buy-Out Transactions

In this short expository note I provide an overview of leveraged buy-out transactions (“LBOs”). I show in detail how an LBO transaction is structured and financed, as well as the typical return profile. I also provide a sample transaction accompanied by financial projections, debt repayment schedules and exit and IRR analyses for the sponsors.
Intravenous and oral zidovudine pharmacokinetics and coagulation effects in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-infected hemophilia patients.

Pharmacokinetic and coagulation studies were carried out over a 12-week period with 11 asymptomatic hemophilia patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection receiving zidovudine (ZDV). The patients received 300 mg every 4 h while awake (the accepted dose at the time of this study); consecutive 24-h intravenous (i.v.) and 12-h oral pharmacokinetic studies were conducted at weeks 1, 6, and 12. Coagulation studies were conducted at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12. The numbers of units of factors VIII and IX and cryoprecipitate transfused during the 12-week periods before, during, and after ZDV treatment were recorded. Following i.v. and oral ZDV administration, the concentration in plasma declined rapidly over the first 4 h, and in some patients, ZDV was still detectable at 4 to 10 h. The i.v. total clearances (means +/- standard deviations) were 14.9 +/- 7.3, 11.2 +/- 3.7, and 15.1 +/- 4.7 ml/min/kg of body weight. The i.v. distribution volumes were 1.08 +/- 0.5, 1.0 +/- 0.4, and 1.65 +/- 1.4 liters/kg. The bioavailabilities were 0.54 +/- 0.22, 0.46 +/- 0.19, and 0.59 +/- 0.13 at weeks 1, 6, and 12, respectively. The pattern of ZDV-glucuronide (GZDV) disposition was similar to that of ZDV, and the peak plasma GZDV-to-ZDV ratio was higher after oral dosing, consistent with first-pass metabolism. In some individuals, up to 33% of an i.v. dose was excreted unchanged. At weeks 6 and 12, greater than 300 mg of total ZDV (GZDV plus ZDV) was recovered in the urine of some patients, suggesting tissue redistribution. Concentration in plasma after oral ZDV administration were variable, both within and between patients. The von Willebrand antigen level consistently decreased throughout the study but was not accompanied by a parallel change in ristocetin cofactor A activity, and no clinical adverse effects on coagulation were noted. This study demonstrates that ZDV can be used in hemophilia patients without worsening of their bleeding tendencies. The clinical significance of decreased ZDV clearance and the prolonged terminal elimination phase of ZDV will require further study with patients receiving chronic ZDV.
Efficient receiver algorithms for DFT-spread OFDM systems

For the 3GPP LTE uplink transmissions, the DFTspread OFDM technique has been adopted as the air interface in order to reduce the peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR). In this scheme, each data symbol is spread over many tones by a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) operation at the transmitter before being sent to the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulator. Moreover, more than one user can be scheduled over the same frequency and time resource block (RB) via space-division multiple-access (SDMA). The conventional receiver technique for such DFT-spread OFDM systems involves tone-by-tone single-tap equalization followed by an inverse DFT operation. In this paper, we propose a more powerful receiver technique for DFT-spread OFDM systems that consists of an efficient linear pre-filter and a two-symbol soft output demodulator. The proposed method can be applied to both single-user per RB (DFT-S-OFDMA) and multiple users per RB (DFT-S-OFDMSDMA) systems and it offers significant performance gains over the conventional method, especially in the high-rate regime, with little attendant increase in computational complexity.
GLSVLSI 2008 invited/keynote talk

Distributed smart camera systems are physically distributed systems that perform real-time embedded computer vision. These systems perform large amounts of real-time computing at high rates, which has implications for the architectures of the nodes. In this talk, we will discuss the VLSI support that is required to make distributed smart cameras possible.
Split intein mediated ultra-rapid purification of tagless protein (SIRP).

Rapid and efficient tag removal remains a significant problem in recombinant protein purification. Using an engineered DnaE intein from Nostoc punctiforme, we developed a split intein mediated ultra-rapid purification (SIRP) method for the purification of tagless recombinant protein from E. coli lysate in less than 1 h. This system exhibits extraordinarily rapid thio-induced C-terminal cleavage with about 50% completion within 30 s at both 22°C and 6°C. This is the fastest C-terminal cleavage activity reported to date for inteins. Although the reaction kinetics slow down after the first minute, >90% cleavage completion is achieved within 30 min at 22°C, or within 3 h at 6°C. The ultra-rapid cleavage kinetics are made possible by the positioning of the purification tag at the split junction to the C-terminus of the intein N-fragment, thus avoiding potential steric hindrance of the critical interaction between the N- and C-extein. Target proteins are cleaved to >72% completion after 1 h of intein reaction regardless of the identity of the N-terminal amino acid except in the cases of threonine (50% cleavage) and proline. The C-terminal cleavage reaction can be effectively inhibited by divalent Zn(2+) under non-reducing conditions. Importantly, the association of the intein N- and C-fragments is reversible, enabling the column-bound intein N-fragment bait protein to be regenerated for multiple usages and further reducing the cost of protein purification. SIRP technology should provide a useful tool for the purification of tagless proteins and peptides.
Aged garlic extract modulates glutathione redox cycle and superoxide dismutase activity in vascular endothelial cells

In this study the effect of an aged garlic extract (AGE) on glutathione (GSH) redox cycle and activity of antioxidant enzymes was investigated. Confluent monolayers of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) were incubated with varying concentrations of AGE for 8–48 h, washed, and then lysed with Triton X-100. Biochemical assays were performed with the lysate. AGE caused both dose- and time-dependent increases in intracellular GSH level, glutathione disulphide (GSSG) reductase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while GSSG level was decreased. These results suggest that the antioxidant effect of AGE may be due to its modulation of the GSH redox cycle and SOD activity in vascular endothelial cells. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intense stratification leads to phytoplankton nutrient limitation and reduced microzooplankton grazing in the southeastern Bering Sea

Abstract During July and August 2004, we used the seawater dilution technique to investigate relationships among environmental conditions, phytoplankton growth, and microzooplankton grazing in the southeast Bering Sea. During summer 2004 the southeast Bering was unusually warm and strongly stratified. Compared with previous observations in the subarctic Pacific and Bering Sea, mixed-layer phytoplankton growth rates were typical (average 0.35 d−1) while microzooplankton grazing rates were low (average 0.13 d−1). Phytoplankton growth rates were strongly nutrient-limited, increasing to an average of 0.69 d−1 in response to N+P addition. The largest phytoplankton cells (>20 μm) grew at the highest rates both with and without added nutrients. However, all phytoplankton size classes ( 20 μm) responded strongly to nutrient addition, and all showed equivalent growth increases in response to added ammonium versus nitrate. In contrast to growth, microzooplankton grazing rates did not vary with phytoplankton size class. Microzooplankton biomass ranged from 11 to 118 μg C L−1 and was dominated by ciliates and, especially, heterotrophic dinoflagellates. Estimated microzooplankton biomass-specific grazing on phytoplankton was generally low (
Facing Carrie Buck

hree generations of imbeciles are enough."' Few phrases are as well known among scholars of bioethics as this remark by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. in his opinion in Buck v. Bell. The Buck case arose as a challenge to a 1924 Virginia law authorizing the sexual sterilization of people designated as "socially inadequate." The law explicitly adopted eugenic theory, affirming the proposition that tendencies to crime, poverty, mental illness, and moral failings are inherited in predictable patterns. The social costs of those conditions could be erased, the eugenicists thought, and Carrie Bucks case went to court to establish a constitutional
Networked multimedia event exploration

This paper describes a novel, interactive multimodal framework that enables a network of friends to effectively visualize and browse a shared image collection. The framework is very useful for geographically disconnected friends to share experiences. Our solution involves three components - (a) an event model, (b) three new spatio-temporal event exploration schemes, and (c) a novel technique for summarizing the user interaction. We develop a simple multimedia event model, that additionally incorporates the idea of user viewpoints. We also develop new dissimilarity measures between events, that additionally incorporate user context. We develop three, task driven, event exploration environments - (a) spatio-temporal evolution, (b) event cones and (c) viewpoint centric interaction. An original contribution of this paper is to summarize the user-interaction using an interactive framework. We conjecture that an interactive summary serves to recall the original content better, than a static image-based summary. Our user studies indicate that the exploratory environment performs very well.
What are the roles of philosophy in music education

In this philosophical essay, the purposes and limits of philosophy are clarified, and two metaphors for the philosopher's work in music education—the architect and building inspector—are described....
Linking the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry With Medicare Claims Data Validation of a Longitudinal Cohort of Elderly Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization

Background—The National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry was recently linked with longitudinal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) claims data. The degree to which this linked cohort is representative of the overall CathPCI Registry and CMS PCI populations is unknown. Methods and Results—CathPCI Registry records were linked to CMS inpatient claims using indirect identifiers. We examined the degree to which hospitals and patients in the linked cohort are representative of the elderly (≥65 years) CathPCI Registry and CMS populations. From 2004 to 2006, 1492 hospitals filed CMS PCI claims and 663 contributed CathPCI Registry data. Of these hospitals, 643 (97%) were linked across data sources. Compared with all CMS PCI hospitals, the linked data set contained fewer governmental, northeastern, southern, and low-volume (<200 beds) sites. Among CMS beneficiaries, 993 351 PCI procedures were performed, including 398 508 (40.1%) at centers in the linked database. Of these, 341 916 (86%) were linked ...
Two components in the radiation sensitization of bacterial spores by p-nitroacetophenone: the -OH component.

Summaryp-Nitroacetophenone (PNAP) sensitizes Bacillus megaterium spores under anoxic conditions to the lethal effects of 50 kVp X-rays. Concentrations between ∼ 5 × 10−4 M and 3·8 × 10−3 M produce the maximum effect, an increase of about 30 per cent over the anoxic response when the spores are irradiated in water. Compounds that scavenge ·OH decrease, but cannot completely eliminate, this maximum amount of sensitization. These results indicate that PNAP acts to increase spores' radiation sensitivity through two separable types of chemical reactions: one which involves ·OH and one which does not. Possible mechanisms responsible for these two components of damage are discussed.In these experiments 1/15 M phosphate buffer acts in several unexpected ways. This concentration itself increased the anoxic spore response by about 9 per cent (relative to the anoxic response in water). In addition, although the maximum amounts of sensitization were the same, the amounts of sensitization from lower PNAP concentration...
An Examination of the Role of Attitudinal Characteristics and Motivation on the Cheating Behavior of Business Students

This study examines cheating behaviors among 422 business students at two public Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited business schools. Specifically, we examined the simultaneous influence of attitudinal characteristics and motivational factors on (a) reported prior cheating behavior, (b) the tendency to neutralize cheating behaviors, and (c) likelihood of future cheating. In addition, we examined the impact of in-class deterrents on neutralization of cheating behaviors and the likelihood of future cheating. We also directly tested potential mediating effects of neutralization on cheating behavior. Using structural equations modeling procedures, we conducted an assessment of the validity of a modified version of the K. J. Smith, Davy, Rosenberg, and Haight (2002) model of cheating behavior and its antecedents. The modified model included motivation as a potential predictor of cheating behavior. Results supported the differentiation of the theoretical constructs within the speci...
Interplay of developmentally regulated gene expression and heterochromatic silencing in trans in Drosophila.

The brownDominant (bwD) allele of Drosophila contains a heterochromatic block that causes the locus to interact with centric heterochromatin. This association silences bw+ in heterozygotes (trans-inactivation) and is dependent on nuclear organizational changes later in development, suggesting that trans-inactivation may not be possible until later in development. To study this, a P element containing an upstream activating sequence (UAS)–GFP reporter was inserted 5 kb from the bwD insertion site. Seven different GAL4 driver lines were used and GFP fluorescence was compared in the presence or the absence of bwD. We measured silencing in different tissues and stages of development and found variable silencing of GFP expression driven by the same driver. When UAS–GFP was not expressed until differentiation in the eye imaginal disc it was more easily trans-inactivated than when it was expressed earlier in undifferentiated cells. In contrast to some studies by other workers on silencing in cis, we did not find consistent correlation of silencing with level of expression or evidence of relaxation of silencing with terminal differentiation. We suggest that such contrasting results may be attributed to a potentially different role played by nuclear organization in cis and trans position-effect variegation.
Active demonstrations for enhancing learning

Demonstrations can be very effective at engaging students, generating interest in a topic, and enhancing student learning. A key component to an effective demonstration is active student engagement throughout the entire process. This means students are involved in discussing the purpose of the demo; predicting what will happen during the demo; discussing who developed theories to help us understand what happens during the demo; and comparing observations to predictions, as opposed to simply passively watching a demonstration. Demonstrations can occur at three different stages of a course topic: as an introduction, as a wrap-up and an aid used throughout the class discussion of a topic. Depending on when they occur, different types of learning outcomes are achieved. This paper presents a model for infusing demonstrations into an engineering science class and the use of this model during a semester. Assessment includes components from both faculty and students, as well as from a faculty development professional who is an instructor in a different discipline.
Negative Scarcity And The Praxeology Of Open Source Software

Economics, which in its 20th-century sense deals only with optimizing the exchange of values, may be generalized to praxeology (von Mises 1949,) a comprehensive science of human action. Under a generalized praxeological definition of scarcity there are contexts in which the scarcity of software becomes negative, so that a rational maximization of return on investment in developing such software occurs when the software is opened to free distribution under a GPL-equivalent license.
Collective and Elective Ethnicity: Caste Among Urban Muslims in India

This article explores how the significance of ethnic identity can vary within a stable population, using caste among Muslims in Hyderabad, India as a case study. While some Hyderabadi Muslims are still embedded in ethnic networks, most now experience ethnicity as elective and do not rely on a corporate caste group for their social connections. This reflects a decline in the value of caste identities, which no longer provide economic or political resources. Increasingly, Muslims seek status through education, profession, or income. Thus, most Muslims in Hyderabad experience caste membership, identity, and networks in a weakened or attenuated way.
Self-Confirming Price Prediction for Bidding in Simultaneous Ascending Auctions

Simultaneous ascending auctions present agents with the exposure problem: bidding to acquire a bundle risks the possibility of obtaining an undesired subset of the goods. Auction theory provides little guidance for dealing with this problem. We present a new family of decisiontheoretic bidding strategies that use probabilistic predictions of final prices. We focus on selfconfirming price distribution predictions, which by definition turn out to be correct when all agents bid decision-theoretically based on them. Bidding based on these is provably not optimal in general, but our experimental evidence indicates the strategy can be quite effective compared to other known methods.
Introduction to the Bootstrap World

The bootstrap has made a fundamental impact on how we carry out statistical inference in problems without analytic solutions. This fact is illustrated with examples and comments that emphasize the parametric bootstrap and hypothesis testing.
Reevaluating the theoretical model underlying the neurodevelopmental theory. A literature review.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the foundations of a prevalent physical therapy technique based on the current research on motor control. The concep­ tual framework of the neurodevelopmental theory, as described in the writings of the Bobaths, is presented. Their explanations of central nervous system disorders and recommendations for intervention are based upon a unidirectional model of the nervous system in which postural and voluntary motion become two separate and distinct entities. Systems theory is an alternative model of nervous system structure. In systems theory, the organism is a circular network of interacting yet autonomous subsystems, rather than a vertical structure of descending controls. Relevant research that supports the systems viewpoint is discussed and applied to the theories in the neurodevelopmental approach. Thus, another model is offered for understanding the functioning of the central nervous system when it is intact and when it is in a pathological state.
Automatic localization of epileptic spikes in eegs of children with infantile spasms

A novel methodology is proposed for identifying epileptiform discharges associated with individuals exhibiting Infantile Spasms (ISS) also known as West Syndrome, which is characterized by electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings exhibiting hypsarrythmia (HYPS). The approach to identify these discharges consists of three stages: first - construct the time-frequency domain (TFD) of the EEG recording using matching pursuit TFD (MP-TFD), second - decompose the TFD matrix into two submatrices (W, H) using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), and third - use the decomposed spectral and temporal vectors to locate the epileptiform discharges, referred to as spikes, during intervals of HYPS. The method was applied to an EEG dataset of five individuals and the identification of spike locations was compared with those which were visually identified by the epileptologists and those obtained using commercially available clinical analysis software. The MP-TFD method resulted in average true positive and false negative percentages of 86% and 14%, respectively, which represents a significant improvement over the clinical software, which achieved average true positive and false negative percentages of 4% and 96%, respectively.
The red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the West Indies: distribution of natural enemies and a possible test bed for release of self-sustaining biocontrol agents

Abstract Sample collections of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were taken from 20 islands of the West Indies and evaluated for the presence of key pathogens and parasites of this invasive pest ant. We hypothesized that bottleneck events during the introduction of this ant species in the West Indies would have resulted in populations devoid, or nearly so, of natural enemies. Monogyne and polygyne social forms were found throughout the islands surveyed with monogyny being more prevalent (65%) compared with polygyny (35%). Among 254 samples, only 25 (~10%) tested positive for the presence of pathogens or parasites. The microsporidian Kneallhazia solenopsae was the most prevalent pathogen detected; it was found in 20 colonies. A second microsporidian species, Vairimorpha invictae, was shown to be present in a polygyne sample collected from St. Croix—the first detection of this pathogen outside South America. Similarly, Solenopsis invicta densovirus (SiDNV) was detected in one polygyne sampl...
Entanglement in ground and excited states of gapped free-fermion systems and their relationship with Fermi surface and thermodynamic equilibrium properties.

We study bipartite entanglement entropies in the ground and excited states of free-fermion models, where a staggered potential, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{s}$, induces a gap in the spectrum. Ground-state entanglement entropies satisfy the ``area law'', and the ``area-law'' coefficient is found to diverge as a logarithm of the staggered potential, when the system has an extended Fermi surface at ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{s}=0$. On the square lattice, we show that the coefficient of the logarithmic divergence depends on the Fermi surface geometry and its orientation with respect to the real-space interface between subsystems and is related to the Widom conjecture as enunciated by Gioev and Klich [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 100503 (2006)]. For point Fermi surfaces in two-dimension, the ``area-law'' coefficient stays finite as ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. The von Neumann entanglement entropy associated with the excited states follows a ``volume law'' and allows us to calculate an entropy density function ${s}_{V}(e)$, which is substantially different from the thermodynamic entropy density function ${s}_{T}(e)$, when the lattice is bipartitioned into two equal subsystems but approaches the thermodynamic entropy density as the fraction of sites in the larger subsystem, that is integrated out, approaches unity.
Myocardial infarction induces structural and functional remodelling of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system.

Key points Intrinsic cardiac (IC) neurons undergo differential morphological and phenotypic remodelling that reflects the site of myocardial infarction (MI). Afferent neural signals from the infarcted region to IC neurons are attenuated, while those from border and remote regions are preserved post-MI, giving rise to a ‘neural sensory border zone’. Convergent IC local circuit (processing) neurons have enhanced transduction capacity following MI. Functional network connectivity within the intrinsic cardiac nervous system is reduced post-MI. MI reduces the response and alters the characteristics of IC neurons to ventricular pacing. Abstract Autonomic dysregulation following myocardial infarction (MI) is an important pathogenic event. The intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS) is a neural network located on the heart that is critically involved in autonomic regulation. The aims of this study were to characterize structural and functional remodelling of the ICNS post-MI in a porcine model (control (n = 16) vs. healed anteroapical MI (n = 16)). In vivo microelectrode recordings of basal activity, as well as responses to afferent and efferent stimuli, were recorded from intrinsic cardiac neurons. From control 118 neurons and from MI animals 102 neurons were functionally classified as afferent, efferent, or convergent (receiving both afferent and efferent inputs). In control and MI, convergent neurons represented the largest subpopulation (47% and 48%, respectively) and had enhanced transduction capacity following MI. Efferent inputs to neurons were maintained post-MI. Afferent inputs were attenuated from the infarcted region (19% in control vs. 7% in MI; P = 0.03), creating a ‘neural sensory border zone’, or heterogeneity in afferent information. MI reduced transduction of changes in preload (54% in control vs. 41% in MI; P = 0.05). The overall functional network connectivity, or the ability of neurons to respond to independent pairs of stimuli, within the ICNS was reduced following MI. The neuronal response was differentially decreased to ventricular vs. atrial pacing post-MI (63% in control vs. 44% in MI to ventricular pacing; P < 0.01). MI induced morphological and phenotypic changes within the ICNS. The alteration of afferent neural signals, and remodelling of convergent neurons, represents a ‘neural signature’ of ischaemic heart disease.
Mood Disorders and Suicide

Caroline Atwater, a 27-year-old woman comes to you, her primary care physician (PCP), for an annual checkup. You review the Beck Depression Inventory, a checklist screening form she filled out in the waiting room and see that Ms. Atwater has been feeling depressed, having difficulty sleeping for several weeks and has lost 10 pounds in the past 2 months. She also doesn’t seem to have much of an appetite, and quit playing tennis a few months ago because she “doesn’t have enough energy for that anymore.”
Celiac Disease and Increased Risk of Epilepsy

Researchers at Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; and the Universities of Naples and Salerno, Italy examined the risk of developing epilepsy in a nationwide population-based sample of >28,000 patients with biopsy-verified celiac disease (CD).
Al-O-Al oxygen sites in crystalline aluminates and aluminosilicate glasses; high-resolution oxygen-17 NMR results

We report 17 O magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR data for crystalline NaAlO 2 and CaAl 2 O 4 at external magnetic fields of 9.4 and 14.1 T, as model compounds for Al-O-Al sites in tetrahedral networks. The former contains one peak with isotropic chemical shift (delta iso ) = 30.9 ppm and quadrupolar coupling constant (C Q ) nearly equal 1.8 MHz. The latter contains several peaks with delta iso ranging from 39 to 87 ppm and C Q nearly equal 1.5 to 2.4 MHz. Triple-quantum MAS (3QMAS) spectra of sodium and calcium aluminosilicate glasses with Si/Al<1 show clearly resolved peaks for Al-O-Al sites, removing ambiguity in the use of such spectra to explore the extent of aluminum avoidance in both glassy and crystalline materials. We also report 23 Na and 27 Al NMR data for the crystalline phases.
The Effects of Neighborhood Context on Youth Violence and Delinquency: Does Gender Matter?

This study examined the effects of neighborhood structural and social characteristics on offending among girls and boys aged 8–17 residing in 80 Chicago neighborhoods. The results demonstrated gender differences in contextual effects, although not in ways predicted by social disorganization theory. Collective efficacy and concentrated disadvantage were not significantly associated with self-reported offending among males. Among females, collective efficacy was related to higher rates of general delinquency and violence, while disadvantage reduced the likelihood of self-reported violence. These outcomes suggest that neighborhoods may impact individual offending in complex ways and highlight the importance of considering gender when researching contextual effects on youth offending.
Lessons Learned from Students Surveys in a Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Program

The development of the (CAST) curriculum was spearheaded at Winona State University in collaboration with the National Child Protection Training Center a decade ago. By 2007, a full minor program and core curriculum were established and had been shared across the country as a model curriculum for undergraduates seeking careers as child-serving professionals. This paper will briefly review the development of the CAST curriculum, will outline two data collection projects among CAST students, will summarize the findings from these two questionnaires, and will incorporate lessons learned from students to provide other CAST and CAST-like programs with insight from our experiences.
Is it a Container? Young Infants' Understanding of Containment Events.

The present research examined how certain features of a box affected 4.5-month-old infants' interpretation of containment events the box was involved in. If the box was a regular container, infants did not respond with increased attention when a tall cylinder became fully hidden after being lowered inside the box, consistent with previous research. In contrast, if a three-sided object (the box without its back) replaced the box, or if shown that the box had a removable back, infants were able to detect the height violations, 3 months earlier than they normally would. These results demonstrate how infants' perception or representation of objects interplays with their interpretation of physical events these objects involve in.
Arms Transfers and Military CapabilityMeasuring and Evaluating Conventional Arms Transfers

For the last several years the international transfer of conventional arms has grown to alarming proportions and touched off considerable concern among researchers who are attempting to decipher the seemingly increasing role which arms transfers play in international relations. In an attempt to come to grips with the arms transfer problem through systematic, data-based research, analysts have employed several measurement techniques. A close examination of the more commonly employed techniques reveals that each of them has limitations restricting it to a narrow set of arms transfers issues. One issue of arms transfers which has not yet been addressed satisfactorily concerns plausibly measuring military capability along a scale which has ratio as well as interval properties. In an effort to help solve this problem, a weapons capability measure based on multi-attribute utility theory is proposed.
Control of an azeotropic DWC with vapor recompression

Abstract The use of vapor recompression in a complex divided wall column (DWC) configuration for heterogeneous azeotropic distillation has been shown to provide steady-state economic advantages over conventional designs. The two segregated stripping sections in the DWC are separated by a wall and each has a reboiler. The column has a rectifying section whose overhead vapor is split into two streams. One goes to a condenser. The other goes to a compressor whose high-pressure outlet stream provides heat to one of the reboilers. The other reboiler is heated by steam. The two condensed overhead streams are fed to a decanter. The organic phase is refluxed to the top of the column. The aqueous phase is recycled by combining with the fresh feed. The dynamic controllability of this highly heat integrated and interacting process is studied in this paper. A detailed dynamic simulation is constructed, and an effective control structure is developed that handles large disturbances in throughput and feed composition. The numerical example considers the dehydration of tert-butanol using cyclohexane as the entrainer in heterogeneous azeotropic distillation.