cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Selfish Voter Paradox and the Thrown-Away Vote Argument *

The probability that an individual's voting in a presidential election will determine the outcome being negligible, it is argued that participation is irrational if predicated on principles that are either egocentric or act-prospective. Voter participation, if rational, must rely on some over-arching principle that is (a) Sociotropic, (b) Axionomic, (c) Collective-distributive, and (d) Neutrofactual. A distinctively ethical component must be involved, such that all purely “economic,” “cost-benefit” models postulating selfish voter rationality are incoherent. The notion of “helping” to elect one's candidate is criticized and rejected unless formulated in a special way. An important pragmatic consequence of the analysis is that the idea (relied on by the two major parties) of “wasting one's vote” on a third party candidate is shown to be invalid or of more limited application than generally assumed. If a sizeable minority (e.g., college students) were educated to reject that argument, politics might be profoundly affected.
Defects of Mitochondrial DNA Replication

Mitochondrial DNA is replicated by DNA polymerase γ in concert with accessory proteins such as the mitochondrial DNA helicase, single-stranded DNA binding protein, topoisomerase, and initiating factors. Defects in mitochondrial DNA replication or nucleotide metabolism can cause mitochondrial genetic diseases due to mitochondrial DNA deletions, point mutations, or depletion, which ultimately cause loss of oxidative phosphorylation. These genetic diseases include mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes such as Alpers or early infantile hepatocerebral syndromes, and mitochondrial DNA deletion disorders, such as progressive external ophthalmoplegia, ataxia-neuropathy, or mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy. This review focuses on our current knowledge of genetic defects of mitochondrial DNA replication (POLG, POLG2, C10orf2, and MGME1) that cause instability of mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial disease.
Involvement of Catecholamines and Glucocorticoids in Ethanol‐Induced Suppression of Splenic Natural Killer Cell Activity in a Mouse Model for Binge Drinking

Ethanol (EtOH) suppresses splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in a mouse binge drinking model. Direct effects of EtOH and its metabolites are not the major cause of this suppression. Also, catecholamines do not completely explain this suppression. This implicates the involvement of other neuroendocrine mediators in this suppression. Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that RU 486 at a dosage of 100 mg/kg did not affect EtOH-induced suppression of NK cell activity. However, in the present study, RU 486 at a dosage of 200 mg/kg partially blocked the suppression of NK cell activity induced by EtOH. Moreover, corticosterone at levels expected in the free (unbound) form in EtOH-treated mice decreased NK cell activity in vitro. Nadolol in combination with RU 486 blocked the suppression of NK cell activity in EtOH-treated mice. Although there were reasons to suspect that EtOH-induced changes in the levels of growth hormone or prolactin might also contribute to the suppression of NK cell activity; evidence obtained herein did not indicate such involvement. Thus, glucocorticoids and catecholamines seem to be involved in EtOH-induced suppression of NK cell activity. Together, with the direct effects of EtOH, these neuroendocrine mediators seem to be sufficient to explain all of the suppression of NK cell activity caused by EtOH.
THE VALIDITY OF MORAL THEORIES

. We can usefully draw an analogy between ethics and science, despite the significant differences between them. We can then see the ways in which moral theories can indeed be “tested,” not by empirical experience but by moral experience. This can be expected to lead to rival moral theories, but in science also we have rival theories. I argue that we should demand more than coherence of our moral theories, as we do of our scientific theories. I try to show how the “testing” of moral theories can be carried out and how this can allow us to accept some moral theories as valid.
Validation of a tape-mediated ACTFL/ILR-scale based test of Chinese speaking proficiency

This paper reports the results of a validation study of the 'semi-direct' Chinese Speaking Test (CST), involving a direct comparison of examinee performance on the CST with performance on the 'live' ACTFL/ILR interview.
A flow‐through hydroponic system for the study of root restriction

Abstract We have developed a flow‐through system (FTS) to study the effects of root restriction stress on plants grown in hydroponic culture. The system was designed to permit the use of varied culture container volumes (from 25 to 1500 cm3) and dimensions (2.5 to 10 cm. dia. and 5 to 20 cm h.). The modular FTS design is divided into two nutrient delivery systems, one for large‐volume containers and the other for small‐volume containers. Each plant was grown in a modified Hoagland solution in a separate container. Nutrient solutions were aerated and the pH was automatically controlled at 6.0 ± 0.2. This report describes the FTS and presents growth data for tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. ‘Better Bush') grown for a 57 day period. Our observations, when compared to the findings of a root restriction study made by Ruff, et al. 1987 (J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 112: 763–769), indicate that similar characteristics result for the same tomato cultivar grown in either pot culture by Ruff, et al. 19...
Isolation and Characterization of Two Novel Bacteria Afipia cberi and Mesorhizobium hominis from Blood of a Patient Afflicted with Fatal Pulmonary Illness

We recently isolated and discovered new Bradyrhizobiaceae microbes from the cryopreserved culture broth of blood samples from 3 patients with poorly defined illnesses using modified SP4 media and culture conditions coupled with genomic sequencing. Using a similar protocol, we studied a previously cryopreserved culture broth of blood sample from a patient who had succumbed to an acute onset of fulminant pulmonary illness. We report that two phases of microbial growth were observed in the re-initiated culture. Biochemical and genomic characterization revealed microbes isolated from the first phase of growth were new Afipia species of Bradyrhizobiaceae, tentatively named A. cberi with a ~ 5 MB chromosome that was different from those of all previously known Afipia microbes including the newly discovered A. septicemium. The microbes isolated from the second phase of growth were prominent sugar assimilators, novel Phyllobacteriaceae, phylogenetically most closely related to Mesorhizobium and tentatively named M. hominis with a ~ 5.5 MB chromosome. All A. cberi isolates carry a circular ~ 140 KB plasmid. Some M. hominis isolates possess a circular ~ 412 KB plasmid that can be lost in prolonged culture or passage. No antibiotics resistant genes could be identified in both of the A. cberi and M. hominis plasmids. Antibiotic susceptibility studies using broth culture systems revealed isolates of A. cberi could be sensitive to some antibiotics, but all isolates of M. hominis were resistant to essentially all tested antibiotics. However, the cell-free antibiotics susceptibility test results may not be applicable to clinical treatment against the microbes that are known to be capable of intracellular growth. It remains to be determined if the 2 previously unknown Rhizobiales were indeed pathogenic and played a role in the pulmonary disease process in this patient. Specific probes and methods will be developed to re-examine the diseased lungs from patient's autopsy.
Interleukin-10 production by a B-cell line derived from human post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine known to regulate growth and differentiation in activated human B cells. We studied IL-10 production in a B-cell line derived from Epstein-Barr virus associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated IL-10 mRNA within the cells. Transcripts of the virally encoded homologue BCRF-I were not detected. ELISA assays demonstrated translation of IL-10 message into the corresponding cytokine, and its subsequent secretion into the culture medium. The rate of 3 H-thymidine incorporation by the PTLD cells was not affected by immunologic neutralization of the secreted cytokine, or, by addition of exogenous recombinant IL-10 to the culture medium. Thus, IL-10 does not have an autocrine growth regulatory role in this PTLD line.
Fast Regulation Service Provision via Aggregation of Thermostatically Controlled Loads

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 755 requires scheduling coordinators to procure and compensate more for regulation resources with faster ramping rates. Thermostatically Controlled Loads (TCLs) are a tremendous demand-side resource for providing fast regulation service due to their population size and their ability of being turned ON or OFF simultaneously. In this paper, we consider modeling and control of a collection of TCLs to provide such regulation service. We first develop a non-uniform bin state transition model for aggregate modeling of a collection of TCLs. The non-uniform model presents a potential for more accurate prediction while requiring fewer number of bins (reducing the complexity of the model) than the existing uniform bin models. We also propose a randomized priority control strategy to manipulate the power consumption of TCLs to track a regulation signal, while preventing short cycling, and reducing wear and tear on the equipment. The proposed control strategy is decentralized in the sense that each TCL makes its own decision solely based on a common broadcast command signal. This framework reduces the communication and computational efforts required for implementing the control strategy. We provide illustrative simulations to show the accuracy of the developed non-uniform model and efficacy of the proposed control strategy.
Optimal Refueling Station Location and Supply Planning for Hurricane Evacuation

Fuel supply shortages that have emerged in recent hurricane events underscore the weakness of existing emergency logistics planning processes. An effective modeling approach is central to refueling station location and supply planning decisions. This paper documents a research effort based on a simulation-optimization framework integrating a mixed integer program formulation and a mesoscopic simulation model. The mesoscopic simulation model was incorporated with decision rules to select refueling stations, methods to model the impact of stalled vehicles on traffic flow, and a formula to accumulate each vehicle's fuel consumption under various running speed conditions. The mixed integer program formulation is aimed at maximizing the served demand by deciding which stations to operate and how much fuel to supply given limited resources. The interplay between the simulation model and the optimization model continues until convergence. The proposed modeling approach is applied to a case study based on the I-4...
New insights in antiplatelet therapy for patients with ischemic stroke

Background Acute treatment and long-term secondary prevention of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) include initiation of antiplatelet therapy. Antiplatelet agents currently used in the treatment of ischemic stroke and TIA are aspirin, clopidogrel, and dipyridamole. Review summary The safety and efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in patients with ischemic stroke, including a discussion of recent trial data and its influence on treatment guidelines, are presented. A brief discussion of the use of antiplatelet therapy in preventing stroke and embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation is also presented. For secondary prevention of ischemic events in patients with a history of stroke, clinical trials have shown the addition of dipyridamole to aspirin to be more effective than aspirin alone. The therapies are also similar from a standpoint of bleeding. The combination of aspirin and clopidogrel was not shown to be more efficacious and caused more bleeding than aspirin alone when evaluated for secondary prevention. However, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel may have some benefit in the acute stroke setting or in the prevention of thrombotic events in patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot or will not take warfarin. Conclusions Antiplatelet therapy is an important component of acute and long-term treatment of ischemic stroke and TIA. Ongoing clinical trials may help to refine what treatment regimens are best suited for acute and long-term therapy.
Time and a Theory of the Visible

Stephen Turner's The Social Theory of Practices (1994) is an interesting, important, provocative and amusing book. Its message is that practice-talk, currently running rampant in science and technology studies, as elsewhere in academic life, is overblown and unjustifiably pretentious, essentially about nothing that makes sense, and needs to be deflated. Instead of talking about practice we should only talk about individual habits, about which there is actually little to say. Habits are, as Turner puts it, 'effectively opaque to analysis' (p. 105). Saying this out loud is Turner's 'form of atonement for past enthusiasms' (p. ix). Now, I see the point of Turner's arguments, and, more than that, I agree with them, but still I disagree with his deflationary conclusion. I think that practice remains a fascinating topic for analysis, having just written a book on the subject (Pickering, 1995). So I want to explore this tension, and my resolution of it is that Turner and I subscribe to different ideas about what social theory is. There are, as it were (though I will qualify this formulation later), two different games one can play. One consists of telling causal stories that trade upon a visible/invisible contrast in the realm of the social. This is the game that Turner plays, as well as the authors he criticizes, and one which he wants to see begin and end with habits. The second game, the game I want to play, happens entirely in the domain of visible phenomena, and takes the form of the analysis of enduring patterns of practice. To get from one game to the other, I will suggest, we need to think seriously about time.
Symptoms of Depression Depend on Rigid Parenting Attitudes, Gender, and Race in an At-Risk Sample of Early Adolescents

Trajectories of depressive symptoms were compared between European American and African American boys and girls from ages 8 to 14 in a longitudinal sample of 130 children born to adolescent mothers...
Clinical Investigation of a Radiopaque Composite Restorative Material

A radiopaque composite restorative material was developed using a ternary eutectic dimethacrylate liquid formulation as the binder and a BaF 2 -containing glass and fused silica as the reinforcing fillers. One hundred and ten restorations were placed with this newly developed material. The restorations will be observed for an extended time. They had sufficient radiopacity and yet were esthetically pleasing. Postoperative radiographs showed comparatively radiolucent areas in and around many of the restorations. These radiolucencies were usually caused by unfilled spaces at the tooth restoration interface.
Integrating The Wall Street Journal Into AIS Courses

While it is important for accounting information systems (AIS) students to understand computer technology, internal controls and business processes, such knowledge is of little use without reference to appropriate contexts. Integrating Wall Street Journal (WSJ) readings and discussions into AIS classes can enrich learning by stimulating discussions based on real-life experiences. This article illustrates how the WSJ can be used in AIS courses to reinforce learning in key areas, such as information privacy, data security, identity theft, and business continuity.
Antibodies to carcinogen-DNA adducts in mice chronically exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract Antibodies specific for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts have previously been reported in human sera. In this study, we examined the association between mixed PAH exposure and PAH-DNA adduct specific antibodies in BALB/c mice. Mice were treated either by i.p. injection or by intragastric (i.g.) intubation with a mixture of seven different PAHs [benzo(a)pyrene (BP), benz(a)anthracene (BA), fluoranthene (FA), dibenz(a,h)anthracene (DBA), 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), chrysene (Ch), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BF)] at three doses (0, 15, 150 μg of each PAH) twice a week for 8 weeks. Sera were screened by direct ELISA for antibodies recognizing DNA modified by diolepoxides or epoxides of each PAH injected. In i.p. treated mice, the sera were slightly more reactive to DNAs modified with diolepoxides of BP, BA, or Ch or an epoxide of DBA than to unmodified DNA. In i.g. treated mice, the sera were more reactive to DNAs modified with diolepoxides of BA or BF than to unmodified DNA. For some PAHs, a dose-response effect was observed between sera reactivity to PAH metabolites and the dose of PAH administered. However, there was considerable variation in the immune responses among individual mice within each treatment group. When tested by competitive ELISA, none of the sera could discriminate between modified and unmodified DNA. This animal study suggests that an assessment of previous carcinogen exposure by measuring DNA adduct-specific antibodies requires further validation prior to its application to the human monitoring of carcinogen exposure.
Fetal bisphenol A exposure: Concentration of conjugated and unconjugated bisphenol A in amniotic fluid in the second and third trimesters

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic compound widely used in polycarbonate plastics. The placental enzyme β-glucuronidase may deconjugate BPA into its "free" active form. We sought to quantify levels of conjugated and free BPA in second and third trimester amniotic fluid. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to measure BPA concentrations in 20 second trimester and 20 third trimester amniotic fluid specimens. Total BPA was detected in 16/20 second trimester samples; levels ranged from non-detectable to 0.75ng/mL (median 0.47ng/mL). Free BPA was detected in 9/20 second trimester samples; levels ranged from 0.31 to 0.43ng/mL (median 0.38ng/mL). Total BPA was detected in 2/20 third trimester samples. Free BPA was detected in 1/20 (0.42ng/mL). When detected, free BPA comprised 83% and 91% of total BPA in second and third trimester amniotic fluid, respectively. Placental β-glucuronidase may deconjugate BPA, increasing fetal exposure to free BPA.
ESTIMATE OF CREATININE CLEARANCE IN PRETERM INFANTS DURING NG THE FIRST MONTH OF LIFE

Previous work enables us to derive an equation for estimating creatinine clearance based on body length and serum creatinine in children and infants beyond the first month of life. The purpose of the present study was to derive a simple equation for measuring creatinine clearance in appropriate for gestational age, preterm infants during the first month of life. To date, approximately one-half of the study has been completed. In 33 infants, 28-36 weeks' gestation, creatinine clearance was calculated from measurements of serum and urine (24 hour collection) creatinine. Post-natal age ranged from 4-30 days. Gestational age, post-natal age, sex, Apgar Scores, weight, length, head circumference, serum creatinine, and aminoglycoside therapy, were subjected to multiple regression analysis. The ratio of body weight to serum creatinine had the best correlation with creatinine clearance (r =0.63; p<0.01). The regression equation is y=7.92033 + 0.00665 weight/serum creatinine (standard error of the estimate = 6.39). The predicted creatinine clearance differed from the observed creatinine clearance by [0.09-15.11 ml/min/1.73m2]. The addition of more patients will likely improve the ability to determine a stable coefficient for predicting creatinine clearance. Validation of the regression equation on a prospective sample will then be performed.
Metagenomic and metabolic profiling of nonlithifying and lithifying stromatolitic mats of Highborne Cay, The Bahamas.

Background Stromatolites are laminated carbonate build-ups formed by the metabolic activity of microbial mats and represent one of the oldest known ecosystems on Earth. In this study, we examined a living stromatolite located within the Exuma Sound, The Bahamas and profiled the metagenome and metabolic potential underlying these complex microbial communities. Methodology/Principal Findings The metagenomes of the two dominant stromatolitic mat types, a nonlithifying (Type 1) and lithifying (Type 3) microbial mat, were partially sequenced and compared. This deep-sequencing approach was complemented by profiling the substrate utilization patterns of the mats using metabolic microarrays. Taxonomic assessment of the protein-encoding genes confirmed previous SSU rRNA analyses that bacteria dominate the metagenome of both mat types. Eukaryotes comprised less than 13% of the metagenomes and were rich in sequences associated with nematodes and heterotrophic protists. Comparative genomic analyses of the functional genes revealed extensive similarities in most of the subsystems between the nonlithifying and lithifying mat types. The one exception was an increase in the relative abundance of certain genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism in the lithifying Type 3 mats. Specifically, genes associated with the degradation of carbohydrates commonly found in exopolymeric substances, such as hexoses, deoxy- and acidic sugars were found. The genetic differences in carbohydrate metabolisms between the two mat types were confirmed using metabolic microarrays. Lithifying mats had a significant increase in diversity and utilization of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur substrates. Conclusion/Significance The two stromatolitic mat types retained similar microbial communities, functional diversity and many genetic components within their metagenomes. However, there were major differences detected in the activity and genetic pathways of organic carbon utilization. These differences provide a strong link between the metagenome and the physiology of the mats, as well as new insights into the biological processes associated with carbonate precipitation in modern marine stromatolites.
The Facticity of Medieval Narrative: A Case Study of the Hebrew First Crusade Narratives

In the early stages of the modern rewriting of medieval Jewish history, the sources most consulted and adduced were narrative. As the enterprise has matured, further source genres have been discovered and utilized, thus allowing for improved understanding of the medieval Jewish experience. Of late, the reliability of narrative sources has come under question, but at the same time these narrative sources have been utilized in new and creative ways. To be sure, both the questioning and the innovative utilization of medieval Jewish narrative sources have been profoundly influenced by similar tendencies among general medievalists, as they seek to refine their tools of historical reconstruction.
Monolayer Transistor Using a Highly Ordered Conjugated Polymer as the Channel

Field-effect transistor structures based on polydiacetylene (PDA) derivatives have been fabricated. Monolayer channels of UV polymerized pentacosa-10,12-diynoic ethanolamide exhibit modulation of source-drain current on application of a gating voltage. Comparison of the two-dimensional crystal morphology of this material with several closely related derivatives that show no gating suggests that a high degree of alignment and order in the polymer chains is necessary for the observed transistor action.
A Mayan ontology of poultry: Selfhood, affect, animals, and ethnography

This article has three key themes: ontology (what kinds of beings there are in the world), affect (cognitive and corporeal attunements to such entities), and selfhood (relatively reflexive centers of attunement). To explore these themes, I focus on women's care for chickens among speakers of Q'eqchi' Maya living in the cloud forests of highland Guatemala. Broadly speaking, I argue that these three themes are empirically, methodologically, and theoretically inseparable. In addition, the chicken is a particularly rich site for such ethnographic research because it is simultaneously self, alter, and object for its owners. To undertake this analysis, I adopt a semiotic stance towards such themes, partly grounded in the writings of the American pragmatists Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and George Herbert Mead, and partly grounded in recent and classic scholarship by linguists, psychologists, and anthropologists. (Linguistic anthropology, political economy, ontology, affect, selfhood, animals, chickens, Mesoamerica, Maya, Q'eqchi')*
Generalised wideband ambiguity function of a coherent ultrawideband random noise radar

A coherent ultrawideband (UWB) random noise radar system has been developed and field tested at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). A heterodyne correlation technique based on a time-delayed and frequency-shifted replica of the transmit waveform is used to inject coherence within this system. The radar's combined range and range rate resolution characteristics were investigated using the generalised wideband ambiguity function. As in the narrowband random noise waveform case, range and range rate resolutions can be controlled independently, the former being inversely related to the transmit bandwidth, while the latter is inversely related to the bandwidth of the integrating filter. It is also shown that UWB waveforms are not suitable for accurate range rate estimation due to the extended Doppler-spread parameter, i.e. the product of the transmit bandwidth and the target range rate, unless the correlator is matched in the delay rate as well.
Forks and Hope: Pursuing Understanding in Different Ways

L'A. commente un article paru dans Applied Linguistics (14/3, septembre 1993) sur le theme de la construction theorique dans l'acquisition d'une langue seconde. Il examine, de maniere critique, certaines idees communes dans ce domaine
Essay Review: Enrichment and Therapy In Depth

Chernick, Beryl and Chernick, Noam. In touch. Guerin, Philip J., Jr. Family therapy. L'Abate, Luciano. Enrichment: Structured interventions with couples, families, and groups.
Performance comparison of exome DNA sequencing technologies

Whole exome sequencing by high-throughput sequencing of target-enriched genomic DNA (exome-seq) has become common in basic and translational research as a means of interrogating the interpretable part of the human genome at relatively low cost. We present a comparison of three major commercial exome sequencing platforms from Agilent, Illumina and Nimblegen applied to the same human blood sample. Our results suggest that the Nimblegen platform, which is the only one to use high-density overlapping baits, covers fewer genomic regions than the other platforms but requires the least amount of sequencing to sensitively detect small variants. Agilent and Illumina are able to detect a greater total number of variants with additional sequencing. Illumina captures untranslated regions, which are not targeted by the Nimblegen and Agilent platforms. We also compare exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the same sample, demonstrating that exome sequencing can detect additional small variants missed by WGS.
Evaluations of Risk: Do Organizational or Individual Biases Prevail?

The article presents findings of a study by Gerry McNamara and Philip Bromiley, which investigates competing influences of individual and organizational factors on the risk assessments made by individual decision makers using a banking system as model. More specifically, McNamara wanted to know whether decision makers in organizations give greater weight to their own biases or to organizational considerations when assessing risk. McNamara and Bromiley examined 523 risk assessment decisions made by bankers when giving out a loan. The survey found that bankers saw only limited risk in lending to new customers, while overestimating the risk associated with lending to existing customers.
Abstract 2598: Dietary compounds EGCG and sulforaphane differentially reactivate ER-α in African American and Caucasian breast cancer cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Breast cancer will affect 1 out of 8 women in their lifetimes and is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women of all races. African American (AA) women, in particular, have a higher breast cancer mortality rate than women of other ethnicities, revealing a clear ethnic disparity. Additionally, AA women tend to have larger, more aggressive tumors and are more likely to be diagnosed with estrogen receptor-α (ER-α)- negative and triple negative breast cancers. While sSocio-economic, cultural and environmental factors are thought to contribute to these disparitiess; however, the extent these aspects play in influencing tumor growth and development is not clearly defined. We sought to address the important question pertaining to the relative contribution of diet in breast cancer disparities and epigenetic modifications. We determined theTo do so we observed the effects of bioactive dietary compounds, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), found in green tea, and sulforaphane (SFN), found cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts and cauliflower, on breast cancer cells. In order to determine whether ethnicity played a role in these effects breast cancer cells derived from AA and Caucasian (CAU) women that were treated separately or in combination with EGCG and/or SFN. Cell lines were evaluated for cell viability, cellular responses and expression of several genes including ER-α and those associated with epigenetic modifications. We found that AA breast cancer cells displayed distinct variations in response to ECGG and SFN treatments when compared to CAU cell lines. In particular,Specifically, AA-derived cell lines had a delayed ER-α reactivation at a higher dose than did CAU cells. Further, differential expression of several epigenetic modifiers and cancer-related genes was observed in AA cells. These results support the hypothesis that differences variations in gene expression in AA women with breast cancer may be influenced by diet and that innate biological variances based on ethnicity may contribute to these dissimilarities. Citation Format: Tabitha M. Hardy, Olayode O. Babatunde, Trygve O. Tollofsbol. Dietary compounds EGCG and sulforaphane differentially reactivate ER-α in African American and Caucasian breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2598. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2598
Gastrointestinal complications of Russell-Silver syndrome: a pilot study.

Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is a genetic syndrome with clinical manifestations of intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, normal head circumference, body asymmetry, and distinctive facial appearance. We followed an infant diagnosed with RSS who had occurrence of multiple gastrointestinal complications. Although there are a number of published reports describing gastrointestinal problems associated with RSS, specific gastrointestinal diseases have not been recognized as major features. We hypothesize that gastrointestinal complications may be more frequent in RSS cases than previously reported. To address our hypothesis, we developed a pilot study of RSS cases to identify and characterize associated gastrointestinal complications. Surveys were distributed by MAGIC, a support group for individuals with RSS. Surveys included information on the objective and subjective characteristics used to diagnose RSS, as well as descriptions of gastrointestinal problems. Completed surveys were returned on 135 individuals. We used strict diagnostic guidelines to determine affected status of children reported in our survey. Of the 135 surveys completed, 65 were determined to have clear-cut RSS. The diagnoses were made without knowledge of the gastrointestinal symptoms of any of the subjects. Of the 65 subjects with "clear cut" RSS, 50 (77%) had gastrointestinal symptoms. Major specific symptoms included gastroesophageal reflux disease (34%), esophagitis (25%), food aversion (32%), and failure to thrive (63%). A common theme in gastrointestinal complications of RSS is significant gastroesophageal reflux that includes esophagitis and food aversion. Results of this survey suggest that there is an association of gastrointestinal complications with RSS that should be addressed in diagnosis as well as management protocols for children with this condition.
Nonstationary Synchronization of Equatorial QBO with SAO in Observations and a Model

It has often been suggested that the period of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) has a tendency to synchronize with the semiannual oscillation (SAO). Apparently the synchronization is better the higher up the observation extends. Using 45 yr of the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) data of the equatorial stratosphere up to the stratopause, the authors confirm that this synchronization is not just a tendency but a robust phenomenonin the upper stratosphere. A QBO period starts when a westerly SAO (w-SAO) descends from the stratopause to 7 hPa and initiates the westerly phase of the QBO (w-QBO) below. It ends when another w-SAO, a few SAO periods later, descends again to 7 hPa to initiate the next w-QBO. The fact that it is the westerly but not the easterly SAO (e-SAO) that initiates the QBO is also explained by the general easterly bias of the angular momentum in the equatorial stratosphere so that the e-SAO does not create a zero-wind line, unlike the w-SAO. The currently observed average QBO period of 28 months, which is not an integer multiple of SAO periods, is a result of intermittent jumps of the QBO period from four SAO to five SAO periods. The same behavior is also found in the Two and a Half Dimensional Interactive Isentropic Research (THINAIR) model. It is found that the nonstationary behavior in both the observation and model is caused not by the 11-yr solar-cycle forcing but by the incompatibility of the QBO’s natural period (determined by its wave forcing) and the ‘‘quantized’’ period determined by the SAO. The wave forcing parameter for the QBO period in the current climate probably lies between four SAO and five SAO periods. If the wave forcing for the QBO is tuned so that its natural period is compatible with the SAO period above (e.g., at 24 or 30 months), nonstationary behavior disappears.
Mechanism for High Velocity Turbulent Jet Combustion From Passive Prechamber Spark Plug

Next generation passive prechamber spark plugs for high BMEP natural gas engines require long ignition delay for durability, fast combustion for efficiency, and low COV for lean engine operation. Additionally, a successful plug should have long life, low cost, and have a robust knock margin, with best-in-class NOx vs. fuel consumption.This paper discusses the underlying physics of the novel passive prechamber spark plug, the Woodward–Lean Quality Plug (WW-LQP.) The WW-LQP has demonstrated good ignition delay, fast combustion, and low COV at λ > 1.8+, while improving fuel consumption by more than 1% on a lean natural gas engine.The key operating principles are developed for achieving complete combustion of the prechamber “charge”, leading to high prechamber pressure rise and resulting in high velocity turbulent flame jets, which in-turn provides for fast combustion in the main chamber. The design physics are verified by CFD simulations and on-engine experiments, including pressure measurements in both the prechamber and main combustion chamber.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Quantitative determination of glucose in serum by isotope dilution mass spectrometry following gas liquid chromatography with fused silica column

To evaluate the accuracy of glucose methods, we have set up an isotope dilution gas chromatographic mass spectrometric method where methyloxime trimethylsilyl derivatives of monosaccharides were separated with a SP-2100 fused silica column. An autodiluter was found suitable for delivering aliquots for derivatization: CV of 0.13% (aqueous) and 0.24% (serum). Ions at m/z 319 (non-labelled) and 323 (deuterium-labelled) were selected for glucose, galactose and mannose, and at m/z 307 and 311 for fructose. Optimization of ion monitoring with a Finnigan 4000 gas chromatograph mass spectrometer 6110 data system was limited to one scan per second without full compensation for 0.1 u shifts. A CV of 0.65% in isotope ratios was obtained for 30 injections (three per vial) of one glucose standard. A similar variation between duplicate injections was obtained with serum. Glucose measurements on 36 serum specimens (six individuals) were made by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and by both a manual (reference) and a flow-through method using hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Mean glucose by gas chromatography mass spectrometry was 5.57 mmol l−1; bias was −1.7% manually and +1.2% by the automated method. Average concentrations (mmol l−1) of other hexoses were low: mannose (0.058), fructose (0.015) and galactose (0.005). Glucose measurements of two control sera bracketed with standards showed satisfactory agreeement between the three methods. CV of 1.2 to 1.4% by gas chromatography mass spectrometry indicate that further refinements are required.
Free and total thyroid hormones in serum of Holstein cows.

Basic parameters are reported for free thyroxine and triiodothyronine in blood serum of dairy cattle. Free thyroxine ranged from a low of 1.47 ng/dl in the summer to 1.86 ng/dl in the spring and from 1.37 ng/dl in early lactation to 1.85 ng/dl in midlactation. The average free triiodothyronine went from a low of 2.98 pg/ml in winter to a high of 6.23 pg/ml in the fall and from 3.45 pg/ml in early lactation to 5.37 pg/ml in midlactation. The free fraction of the serum compared with the total fraction averaged .0267% for thyroxine and .291% for triiodothyronine. Free and total thyroxine were high in fall, low in winter, and intermediate in spring and summer. Free and total triiodothyronine showed a similar pattern with a greater magnitude in the variations. Even though the thyroid hormone secretion rate was higher in winter (earlier studies), increased tissue utilization kept serum concentrations low. Free and total thyroxine and triiodothyronine were low in early lactation due to high demands from peak milk production. Stage of lactation had a much greater influence on changes in serum thyroid hormones than did season.
Incorporating spatial variation of nitrification and denitrification rates into whole‐lake nitrogen dynamics

[1] Despite dramatic increases in nitrogen (N) loading to fresh waters and growing scientific attention on the changing N cycle, measurements of nitrification and denitrification rates in lakes are lacking. In particular, we know little about how these processes vary spatially within a lake, and how this potential spatial variation contributes to a lake's N dynamics. We measured sediment nitrification and denitrification rates at 40 sites in Gull Lake, Michigan (USA), and found that the shallow edge sediments ( 10 m deep, respectively). We scaled-up our sediment transformation rates across the lake to illustrate spatial variability in nitrification and denitrification. For whole-lake nitrification, the contribution of shallow edge, littoral, and profundal sediments followed in proportion to lake surface area of each habitat. In contrast, the contribution of each of these areas to whole-lake denitrification was not proportional to their respective surface areas, and instead was equal across the 3 habitat types, with each area contributing roughly 30% of the total N loss via denitrification. Spatially representative characterization of nitrification and denitrification in lentic ecosystems requires incorporation of the spatial variation in these transformations with a particular focus on littoral sediments, and this is often overlooked in studies of lentic N cycling. Furthermore, anthropogenic changes to lake shorelines that influence N cycling in littoral sediments may have a disproportionate effect on whole-lake ecosystem function.
Clinical Outcome following Autologous and Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplantation for Relapsed Diffuse Large-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Abstract High-dose chemotherapy followed by blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) is generally considered the best salvage option for patients with relapsed diffuse large–B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (DLCL). The relative roles for allogeneic and autologous BMT remain controversial. We reviewed the clinical outcome of 183 patients with relapsed DLCL who underwent BMT at Johns Hopkins University in 1985-2001. A total of 45 patients received T-cell–depleted HLA-matched allogeneic bone marrow (allo-BMT), and 138 patients received autologous marrow or peripheral blood stem cells (auto-BMT). The allo-BMT recipients had a higher proportion of patients with chemoresistant disease (P = .004) and had received more chemotherapy before BMT (P = .02). The auto-BMT recipients were older (P 40 years (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.7-3.4; P 40 years (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9; P = .03) appear to have a significant impact on relapse. Transplant-related mortality (TRM) was the cause of death for 51.1% of allo-BMT recipients and 23.9% of auto-BMT recipients (P
Autonomous Robot Motion Planning in Diverse Terrain Using Soft Computing

Optimal motion planning is critical for the successful operation of an autonomous mobile robot. Many proposed approaches use either fuzzy logic or genetic algorithms (GAs), however, most approaches offer only path planning or only trajectory planning, but not both. In addition, few approaches attempt to address the impact of varying terrain conditions on the optimal path. This paper presents a fuzzy-genetic approach that provides both path and trajectory planning, and has the advantage of considering diverse terrain conditions when determining the optimal path. The terrain conditions are modeled using fuzzy linguistic variables to allow for the imprecision and uncertainty of the terrain data. Although a number of methods have been proposed using GAs, few are appropriate for a dynamic environment or provide response in real-time. The method proposed in this paper is robust, allowing the robot to adapt to dynamic conditions in the environment.
Rate-distortion optimization using structural information in H.264 strictly Intra-frame encoder

In this paper we employ Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) metric in the rate-distortion optimizations of H.264 strictly I-frame encoder to choose the best prediction mode(s). The SSIM is designed to improve on traditional metrics like PSNR and MSE, which have been proved to be inconsistent with human eye perception. The required modifications are done on the JVT reference software JM92 program. The simulation results show that there is reduction in bit rate by 3% while maintaining almost the same video quality and better encoding time
Community Members’ Assessment of the Physical Activity Environments in Their Neighborhood Parks: Utility of the Community Stakeholder Park Audit Tool

Objective. This study engaged community members to describe physical activity (PA) environments in parks and to examine if the PA environment in parks was related to the economic characteristics of...
Race, Literacy, and Real Estate Transactions in the Postbellum South

This article examines barriers that impeded the accumulation of land by African Americans in the postbellum South with a new data set of real estate transactions from 1880 Tennessee. We find that rates of purchase by African Americans differed little between plantation and non-plantation regions. We also find that parcels sold in plantation regions were relatively small, suggesting that African American accumulation of land was not hindered by plantation owners refusing to subdivide their properties. Additionally, we find blacks paid more than whites per acre of quality-constant land, although literacy at least partially mitigated the racial price discrimination.
Preparation process and dielectric properties of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3–P(VDF–CTFE) nanocomposites

Ceramic-polymer 0-3 nanocomposites, in which nanosized Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)TiO3 (BST) powders were used as ceramic filler and P(VDF-CTFE) 88/12 mol% [poly(vinylidene fluoridechlorotrifluoroethylene)] copolymer was used as matrix, were studied over a concentration range from 0 to 50 vol.% of BST powders. It is found that the solution cast composites are porous and a hot-press process can eliminate the porosity, which results in a dense composite film. Two different configurations used in the hot-press process are studied. Although there is no clear difference in the uniformity and microstructure of the composites prepared using these two configurations, the composite prepared using one configuration exhibit a higher dielectric constant with a lower loss. For the composite with 40 vol. BST, a dielectric constant of 70 with a loss of 0.07 at 1 kHz is obtained at room temperature. The composites exhibit a lower dielectric loss than the polymer matrix at high frequency. However, at low frequency, the composites exhibit a higher loss than the polymer matrix due to a low frequency relaxation process that appears in the composites. It is believed that this relaxation process is related to the interfacial layer formed between BST particle and the polymer matrix. The temperature dependence of the dielectric property of the composites was studied. It is found that the dielectric constant of these composites is almost independent of the temperature over a temperature range from 20 to 120 C. Key words: A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); B. Electrical Properties; E. Casting; E. Heat treatment; Dielectric properties.
Experimental Evaluation of the AIRWOLF Weather Advisory Tool for En Route Air Traffic Controllers

The objective of this study was to examine the potential benefits for air traffic controllers from the use of automated weather advisories. In a part-task simulation, we used a weather support tool called Automatic Identification of Risky Weather Objects in Line of Flight (AIRWOLF) that (a) detects conflicts between aircraft and hazardous weather, (b) alerts the controller, and (c) generates automatic weather advisories. During the simulation, air traffic control (ATC) subject matter experts responded to AIRWOLF alerts and either provided weather advisories to pilots via radio in two main conditions or provided data link communication in a third control condition. Automated advisories (a) eliminate the need for a manual production of weather advisories; (b) reduce the production time, voice duration, and overall advisory duration; and (c) reduce the cognitive workload associated with the dissemination of weather advisories. The results showed that the AIRWOLF tool could support air traffic controller weat...
Preclinical evidence for the potential of a bivalent fHBP vaccine to prevent Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C Disease

A bivalent factor H binding protein (fHBP) vaccine for the prevention of disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B is currently in clinical development. Since fHBP is also expressed by other meningococcal serogroups, anti-fHBP antibodies may have bactericidal activity against meningococci independent of serogroup. To begin examining the susceptibility of other meningococcal serogroups to anti-fHBP antibodies, meningococcal serogroup C invasive isolates (n = 116) were collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) sites during 2000–2001. These isolates were analyzed for the presence of the fhbp gene. All serogroup C isolates contained the gene, and sequence analysis grouped the proteins into two subfamilies, A and B. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that fHBP was expressed on the surface of ~70% of isolates in vitro with varying levels of expression. fHBP was accessible to antibodies on the cell surface even in the presence of the po...