cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The action of cyclodiene pesticides on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract The effects of a number of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides have been studied on isolated rat liver mitochondria. Inhibition of mitochondrial function was found to be dependent upon the ratio of pesticide to protein, and to some extent upon the type of pesticide. Most of the pesticides tested exerted more than one effect depending upon the concentration. At low concentrations (less than 20–25 nmoles/mg protein). State 3 respiration, DNP-activated respiration and valinomycin-induced swelling were inhibited by certain cyclodienes. These results cannot be explained by inhibition of the electron transport chain or uncoupling. They appear to be associated with restrictions of ion movements across the membrane (DNP, valinomycin-K + complex, ADP). On increasing the concentration of pesticide, lysis of the membranes and uncoupling can be induced. The electron transport chain can also be inhibited, but only with 5–10 times greater concentrations of pesticide than required for uncoupling. In general, the cyclodiene pesticides are slightly more effective inhibitors than the non-cyclodienes tested.† The effectiveness of the cyclodienes is, however, dependent upon its stereochemical properties. These findings suggest that the cyclodienes may inhibit mitochondria in a common, and, perhaps, specific manner. The specificity and mode of action of cyclodienes was found to be similar to that described earlier (B.D. Nelson and C. Williams, Agric. fd Chem. 19 , 339 (1971)), using growing yeast cells as the test system.
Inferring video QoE in real time

Inferring the subjective perception of a video stream in real time continues to be a stiff problem. This article presents MintMOS: a lightweight, no-reference, loadable kernel module to infer the QoE of a video stream in transit and offer suggestions to improve it. MintMOS revolves around one-time offline construction of a k-dimensional space, which we call the QoE space. A QoE space is a known characterization of subjective perception for any k parameters (network dependent/ independent) that affect it. We create N partitions of the QoE space by generating N video samples for various values of the k parameters and conducting subjective surveys using them. Every partition then has an expected QoE associated with it. Instantaneous parameters of a real-time video stream are compared to the precomputed QoE space to both infer and offer suggestions to improve QoE. Inferring QoE is a lightweight algorithm that runs in linear time. We implemented MintMOS by creating an actual QoE space using three parameters and 27 partitions by conducting surveys with 77 human subjects. In a second set of surveys using 13 video clips, MintMOS's predictions were compared to 49 human responses. Results show that our MOS predictions are in close agreement with subjective perceptions.
Herbert Butterfield, the English School and the Civilizing Virtues of Diplomacy

This article seeks to establish the elements of a diplomatic theory of international relations and argues that this is implicit in the works of Herbert Butterfield on international relations, historiography, diplomatic history and Christian ethics. As a founding member of the British Committee on the Theory of International Politics, Butterfield shared with his colleagues the conviction that diplomacy and diplomatic systems lie at the heart of what happens, might happen and ought to happen in international relations. Like his colleagues, however, he failed to produce a work on diplomacy that attracted the sort of attention garnered by their work in other areas, for example on international systems and societies. Indeed, his own theoretical work on diplomacy is often regarded as a blind alley exhibiting nostalgia for the ‘old diplomacy’ of eighteenth-century Europe or a fatal attraction towards the more scientistic elements of political realism. It is argued, however, that in the broader corpus of Butterfield's work there is to be found a theory of diplomacy advocating self-restraint and charity towards others based upon recognizing both our common humanity and the impossibility of achieving a full understanding of one another. For Butterfield, this would have been a theory applied to states; but, employing one of Butterfield's own techniques for interrogating dead historians, it is argued that this holds up as a theory of how to conduct relations between groups that regard themselves as distinctive, hold their separation from one another to be a good and, hence, value their independence.
Constant-number Monte Carlo simulation of population balances

A Monte Carlo method for the simulation of growth processes is presented, in which the number of particles is kept constant, regardless of whether the actual process results in a net loss (as in coagulation) or net increase (as in fragmentation) of particles. General expressions are derived for the inter-event time, number concentration, and expected average size as a function of time. The method is applied to two coagulation models, constant kernel and Brownian coagulation, and it is shown to provide an accurate description of the dynamical evolution of systems undergoing coagulation. This algorithm allows for indefinitely long simulations. The error scales as the inverse square root of the number of particles in the simulation and grows logarithmically in time.
Safety of Transesophageal Echocardiography

Since its introduction into the operating room in the early 1980s, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has gained widespread use during cardiac, major vascular, and transplantation surgery, as well as in emergency and intensive care medicine. Moreover, TEE has become an invaluable diagnostic tool for the management of patients with cardiovascular disease in a nonoperative setting. In comparison with other diagnostic modalities, TEE is relatively safe and noninvasive. However, the insertion and manipulation of the ultrasound probe can cause oropharyngeal, esophageal, or gastric trauma. Here, the authors review the safety profile of TEE by identifying complications and propose a set of relative and absolute contraindications to probe placement. In addition, alternative echocardiographic modalities (e.g., epicardial echocardiography) that may be considered when TEE probe placement is contraindicated or not feasible are discussed.
Reactive oxygen species mediated calcium oxalate crystal-induced expression of MCP-1 in HK-2 cells

Under severe hyperoxaluric conditions calcium oxalate crystals often deposit in the renal interstitium and produce localized inflammation. We have proposed that renal epithelial cells exposed to CaOx crystals produce chemoattractants such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). MCP-1 synthesis is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). HK-2 cells of human renal epithelial line were exposed to CaOx crystals for different lengths of time. The culture media was tested for cell injury marker LDH, and subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the secretion of MCP-1 protein. Cell expression of MCP-1 was assessed by Western blot analysis. Gene expression was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The data clearly showed that the HK-2 cells express MCP-1 gene and protein. The MCP-1 mRNA expression was increased following exposure to CaOx crystals, which was reduced upon treatment with free radical scavengers, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Results indicate that CaOx crystals strongly induce MCP-1 synthesis and secretion by the HK-2 cells and production is mediated by intracellular ROS production. Based on these and other data, antioxidant therapy and blockade of rennin-angiotensin system may prove beneficial for the prevention of end stage renal disease caused by hyperoxaluria and CaOx crystal deposition.
Control of Damage in Composite Laminates by Ply-Stacking Designs: Characteristic Failure Signatures and Safety Criteria

Structural designs for composite laminated systems can be optimized for a fail-safe in-service performance by introducing the built-in cumulative-damage-indicators for the progressive degradation of material properties. This design methodology is based on the concepts of the characteristic failure signature (CFS), cumulative-damage states and a load-drop sequence that characterize the stress-strain response and progressive accumulation of damage. The cumulative damage mechanics is based on the three-dimensional laminate analysis that is used to predict nonlinear response of composites, accumulation of damage and failure behavior. An earlier-developed nonlinear analysis involves an incremental formulation that couples the three-dimensional laminate analysis with a progressive ply-failure methodology, which has been tested in the World-Wide Exercise on Composites Failure Theories. The failure signatures are shown to have unique safety features that depend on the ply stacking sequence and predominant loading. To refine the analysis of micromechanical damage a model for the macro-to-micro coupling is introduced. Various examples of failure envelopes, characteristic failure signatures, a safety criterion and the safe CFSs that lead to the desired controlled failures are discussed for symmetric balanced laminates.
DX centers in GaAs and GaSb

We propose a $DX$ center, $\ensuremath{\beta}$-cation-cation-bonded (CCB)-$DX$, in III-V semiconductors based on first-principles calculations. Detailed structural and energetic analyses show that the relative stability of the $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}\mathrm{CCB}\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}DX$ center with respect to two other previously proposed ones strongly depends on the size of the dopant atom. We find that the $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}\mathrm{CCB}\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}DX$ center is most stable when a small group-VI atom replaces the host anion in III-V semiconductors. With the discovery of this $DX$ center, several $DX$-related phenomena can be explained consistently.
Kartagener's Syndrome with Corrected transposition* Conducting System Studies and Coronary Arterial Occlusion Complicating Valvular Replacement

An 18-year-old man whose sister has classic Kartagener's syndrome was found to have sinusitis, bronchiectasis, and corrected transposition with normal visceral situs Congenital complete heart block was secondary to absence of conducting-system pathways between a small posterior atrioventricular node and the transposed His bundle and bundle branches. No anterior atrioventricular node was present. Prosthetic valvular replacement of the left-sided (morphologic right) atrioventricular valve was complicated by coronary arterial occlusion by suture, with subsequent myocardial infarction. The case appears to represent an unusual variant of Kartagener's syndrome with the abnormality of laterality being expressed as corrected transposition.
Multirigid registration of MR and CT images of the cervical spine

We present our work on fusion of MR and CT images of the cervical spine. To achieve the required registration accuracy of approximately 1mm, the spine is treated as a collection of rigid vertebrae, and a separate rigid body transformation applied to each (Hawkes). This in turn requires segmentation of the CT datasets into separate vertebral images, which is difficult because the narrow planes separating adjacent vertebrae are parallel to the axial plane of the CT scans. We solve this problem by evolving all the vertebral contours simultaneously using a level set method, and use contour competition to estimate the position of the vertebral edges when a clean separation between adjacent vertebrae is not seen. Contour competition is based in turn on the vertical scan principle: no part of a given vertebra is vertically below any part of an inferior vertebra. Once segmentation is complete, the individual rigid body transforms are then estimated using mutual information maximization, and the CT images of the vertebrae superimposed on the MR scans. The resultant fused images contain the bony detail of CT and the soft tissue discrimination of MR and appear to be diagnostically equivalent, or superior, to CT myelograms. A formal test of these conclusions is planned for the next phase of our work.
Validity of Self‐Reports of Caffeine Use

The relationship between self-reports of caffeine ingestion on two occasions and measured plasma concentrations of caffeine and its major metabolites was examined. A subject population [25 men and 25 women, age 20-45 years (mean: 28.7 yr)] that was enrolled in a benzodiazepine pharmacokinetic study underwent general medical screening on two occasions, each including detailed caffeine histories. Before beginning their scheduled study, plasma samples were obtained and evaluated by HPLC for caffeine, paraxanthine, theophylline, and theobromine. These values were compared with estimates of caffeine consumption in mg/day generated from both histories. There was no significant difference between plasma levels of caffeine, metabolites, or caffeine plus metabolites for categories corresponding to reports of low, intermediate or high caffeine use. A self-reported caffeine consumption of greater than 300 mg/day (high) did correlate, however, with a significant smoking history. The authors conclude that self-reports of caffeine ingestion do not accurately reflect acute exposure, and that if caffeine use is of importance in a given setting, reports should be confirmed by biochemical means.
Bilateral Dacryocystoceles as a Cause of Neonatal Respiratory Distress

Results: This is a report of a 2 day-old female who had progressively worsening episodes of desaturations throughout the first day of life. A #5 French catheter was passed through both nasal cavities into the nasopharynx, but a #8 French catheter could not be passed. The infant required endotracheal intubation for progressive respiratory distress. A Computer tomography (CT) of the head revealed bilateral dacryocystoceles causing significant narrowing of the nasal cavities bilaterally. The baby was taken to the operating room for marsupialization of the cyst and lacrimal duct probing with silicone tube placement. The patient was extubated immediately after the procedure and was discharged home shortly thereafter.
Systematic review: comparing routine and selective invasive strategies for the acute coronary syndrome.

Qayyum and associates performed a systematic review of 10 randomized trials to compare the effects of managing all patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome invasively or selec...
Thermal and Electrical Conductivities of Tungsten and Tantalum

An investigation was made of the variation with temperature of the resistance, thermal conductivity, and Wiedemann-Franz ratio of pure tungsten and tantalum wires. Measurements were made of the resistance, as a function of power input, of the wires suspended in vacuum and thermostated at 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, 273\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 373\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The resistivity of the wires was determined from the resistance at zero power input. A method was developed for calculating the thermal conductivity from the resistance at zero power input and the slope of the resistance versus power input curve. Limitations were found on the method, particularly lack of available data on the emissivity of tantalum at the temperatures used. An anomaly was observed in the variation with temperature of the resistance of tantalum.
Order and disorder in open systems

In isolated physical systems differences in pressure, temperature, and chemical potential tend to even out. This principle of decay is called the second law of thermodynamics. It can be derived from the assumed randomness of molecular motion. The second law was postulated by the French physicist Sadi Carnot in his 1824 paper Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire [1], which presented the view that the work done by heat engines, including car engines are due to the flow of heat from a hot to cold body. Entropy is a measure of how much this evening-out process has progressed. Entropy is a measure of disorder. The entropy change dS of a system undergoing any infinitesimal reversible process is given by dq / T, where dq is the heat supplied to the system and T is the absolute temperature of the system. The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy in an isolated system increases. This means that the limiting state of an isolated system is a state of maximum disorder.
Electrical Aspects of Adsorbing Colloid Flotation. XIX. Viscosity and the Structures of Mixed Micelles

Abstract Viscosity measurements on mixed surfactant solutions containing the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 and a number of other cosurfactants (dodecanoic acid, dodecyl amine, sodium dodecylsulfate, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, dodecyl alcohol, and sodium dodecylphosphate) indicate the presence of two quite different ‘types of micelles’. Solutions containing an electrically neutral cosurfactant exhibit very large viscosities, indicating the presence of extended micellar structures. Solutions containing a charged cosurfactant exhibit much lower viscosities, indicating that the micelles in these solutions are small spherical or ellipsoidal structures. Evidently coulombic repulsions destabilize the extended structures when charged surfactants are present in the micelles. The effects of pH and ionic strength are consistent with this interpretation.
Breaches of trust: Remedies and standards in the American private art museum

(1983). Breaches of trust: Remedies and standards in the American private art museum. International Journal of Museum Management and Curatorship: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 53-70.
Relative sensitivity of kidney and bone to the amino-terminal fragment b-PTH (1–30) of native bovine parathyroid hormone: Implications for assessment of bioactivity of parathyroid hormone fragments in vivo and in vitro

Adenylate cyclase activation in renal cortical membranes is widely used to assess the potency of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and hormonal fragments. Recent studies, however, suggest that the structural requirements for biological activity of PTH in bone may differ from those in kidney. In isolated perfused canine bone, cyclic AMP production is markedly increased by syn-b-PTH (1–34) whereas intact b-PTH (1–84) has minimal effect. Furthermore, a potent inhibitor of PTH stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, Nle8Nle18Tyr34 syn-b-PTH (3–34) NH2, devoid of biological activity in kidney, is an agonist in isolated bone. The present studies examine the effects in bone and kidney of the amino-terminal fragment b-PTH (1–30), prepared by cleavage of intact b-PTH (1–84) by Cathepsin Bin vitro. In basolateral canine renal cortical membranes, b-PTH (1–30) was less active than syn-b-PTH (1–34) in its ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase. Half maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by b-PTH (1–30) was 50 nM compared with 2 nM for syn-b-PTH (1–34). Maximum enzyme activation by b-PTH (1–30) reached only 50% of the activation by syn-b-PTH (1–34). Addition of Gpp(NH)p (1 mM) increased the affinities for both peptides. The relative difference in potency, however, remained unchanged. In contrast, in isolated bone, b-PTH (1–30) and syn-b-PTH (1–34) were equipotent in increasing cyclic AMP production. These data provide further evidence for differences in the structural requirements for PTH activity in bone and kidney and suggest that bioassays of PTH and PTH fragments in kidney may not accurately reflect the effects of PTH in bone.
A case of segmental paternal isodisomy of chromosome 14

Uniparental disomy of chromosome 14 (UPD 14) results in one of two distinct abnormal phenotypes, depending upon the parent of origin. This discordance may result from the reciprocal over-expression and/or under-expression of one or more imprinted genes. We report a case of segmental paternal isodisomy for chromosome 14 with features similar to those reported in other paternal disomy 14 cases. Microsatellite marker analysis revealed an apparent somatic recombination event in 14q12 leading to proximal biparental inheritance, but segmental paternal uniparental isodisomy distal to this site. Analysis of monochromosomal somatic cell hybrids containing either the paternally inherited or the maternally inherited chromosome 14 revealed no deletion of the maternally inherited chromosome 14 and demonstrated the presence of paternal sequences from D14S121 to the telomere on both chromosomes 14. Thus, the patient has paternal isodisomy for 14q12-14qter. Because the patient shows most of the features associated with paternal disomy 14, this supports the presence of the imprinted domain(s) distal to 14q12 and suggests that the proximal region of chromosome 14 does not contain imprinted genes that contribute significantly to the paternal UPD 14 phenotype.
Semiconductor laser-induced fluorescence detection in capillary electrophoresis using a cyanine dye

Cy5, an activated carboxyl cyanine fluorophore, was characterized by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using a semiconductor laser at 652 nm to induce fluorescence. Hydrolysis of the activated Cy5 in the presence of ammonia results in the formation of a mono- and diamide and a dicarboxylic acid. A Cy5-labeled oligonucleotide M13 primer for DNA sequencing (M13mp18 template) was synthesized with a purity of better than 95%. The labeled primer was analyzed by liquid chromatography, using UV-visible detection, and by CE, monitored by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Analysis of the Cy5-labeled oligonucleotide primer by CE-LIF in a 9% polyacrylamide gel-filled capillary indicated the purity of the major Cy5-oligonucleotide primer was greater than 90%. The detection sensitivity for Cy5-based CE-LIF detection system with a 2.5-mW red semiconductor laser is about 10−10M.
Evidence for the enzymatic transfer of N-acetylglucosamine from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine into dolichol derivatives and glycoproteins by calf brain membranes☆

Abstract Incubating white matter membranes with UDP- N -acetyl-[ 14 C]glucosamine in the presence of Mg 2+ and AMP resulted in the labeling of two major glycolipids, a minor glycolipid and several membrane-associated glycoproteins. The addition of AMP protected the labeled sugar nucleotide from degradation by a membrane-bound sugar nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity. While no labeled oligosaccharide lipid was recovered in a CHCl 3 CH 3 OHH 2 O (10:10:3) extract after incubating with only UDP- N -acetyl-[ 14 C] glucosamine, Mg 2+ , and AMP, the inclusion of unlabeled GDP-mannose led to the formation of an N -acetyl-[ 14 C]glucosamine-labeled oligosaccharide lipid that was soluble in CHCl 3 CH 3 OHH 2 O (10:10:3). The [ GlcNAc - 14 C]oligosaccharide unit was released by treatment with 0.1 N HCl in 80% tetrahydrofuran at 50 °C for 30 min and appears to have the same molecular size as the lipid-linked [ mannose - 14 C] oligosaccharide, formed enzymatically by white matter membranes as judged by their elution behavior on Bio-Gel P-6. The incorporation of N -acetyl-[ 14 C]glucosamine into glycolipid was stimulated by exogenous dolichol monophosphate, but inhibited by UMP or tunicamycin, a glucosamine-containing antibiotic. Although UMP and tunicamycin drastically inhibited the labeling of glycolipid, these compounds had very little effect on the labeling of glycoproteins. The major glycolipids have the chemical and Chromatographic characteristics of N -acetylglucosaminylpyrophosphoryldolichol and N,N ′-diacetylchitobiosylpyrophosphoryldolichol. When the labeled glycoproteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, four labeled polypeptides were observed, having apparent molecular weights of 145,000, 105,000, 54,000, and 35,000. Virtually all of the N -acetyl-[ 14 C]glucosamine was released when the labeled glycopeptides, produced by pronase digestion, were incubated with an exo-β- N -acetylglucosaminidase, indicating that all of the N -acetyl-[ 14 C]glucosamine incorporated under these conditions is attached to white matter membrane glycoproteins at nonreducing termini.
Efficacy of ex vivo OPG gene therapy in preventing wear debris induced osteolysis.

Abstract Aseptic loosening of prosthetic implants remains a serious orthopaedic problem and the greatest limitation to total joint arthroplasty. Central to the etiology of aseptic loosening is periprosthetic osteolysis at the bone–implant interface, which is caused by wear debris-induced inflammation. This inflammation produces the critical osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL, which directly stimulates osteoclastogenesis and osteoclastic bone resorption. A dominant factor known to counteract this process is the natural RANKL receptor antagonist protein OPG. Here we explore the potential of ex vivo OPG gene therapy for aseptic loosening by evaluating the efficacy of stably transfected fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) expressing OPG in preventing wear debris-induced osteoclastogenesis, in a mouse calvaria model. Although the stably transfected fibroblasts produced small amounts of OPG (0.3 ng/ml/72 h/10 6 cells), this protein was very effective in preventing osteoclastic resorption as determined in a bone wafer assay. More importantly, implantation of 10 7 FLS–OPG, together with 30 mg of Ti wear debris, onto the calvaria of mice, completely inhibited osteoclastogenesis 3 days after surgery. Animals given FLS–LacZ control cells, which persisted for 3 days as determined by X-gal staining, together with the Ti particles, had a 6-fold increase in osteoclastogenesis compared to controls without Ti. This increased osteoclastogenesis was completely inhibited by the FLS–OPG, as osteoclast numbers in the calvaria of these animals were similar to that seen in the SHAM controls.
Restricting cell movement: The role of Tspan18 in neural crest migration

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. July 2013. Major:Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics. Advisor: Laura S. Gammill. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 180 pages, appendix I.
Effects of stratification and shelf slope on nutrient supply in coastal upwelling regions

[1] An idealized, two-dimensional numerical modeling study is presented to investigate the effects of variable shelf slope and stratification on surface mixed layer (SML) nutrient supply during upwelling. As reported previously, the physical flow regime is governed by a topographic Burger number. Gradual shelf slope and weak stratification concentrate onshore transport in the bottom boundary layer (BBL) while steep slope and strong stratification increase the relative interior transport between the SML and BBL. In 20 day model simulations initialized with a linear nitrate profile, BBL nitrate flux decreases with increasing Burger number. The opposite is true for interior nitrate flux. Upwelling source depth is also investigated and increases more rapidly with weak stratification and steep slope. Both nitrate flux and source depth are well represented by an empirical model approaching an asymptotic value with time. Model experiments representing specific locations in major upwelling systems are analyzed to determine the impact of global variability in physical parameters on event-scale nitrate supply. After 5 days, nitrate flux into the SML is ∼45 mmol s−1 m−1 of coastline at a Peru site, ∼30 mmol s−1 m−1 at northern California and northwest Africa sites, and <2 mmol s−1 m−1 off Newport, Oregon. BBL flow dominates onshore transport in northwest Africa and northern California runs, while the interior contributes significantly at our Peru and Oregon sites. Nitrate flux estimates based on constant upwelling source depth are strongly dependent on source depth choice at our selected California Current sites and less so at selected Peru and Canary Current sites.
Body Temperature Influence on Time Perception

Abstract The chemical clock hypothesis implies a causal link between body temperature and the perception of duration. A strict interpretation of this construct requires a common slope value in an Arrhenius plot that relates time to temperature for every individual tested. Previous studies testing this proposition have confirmed a general relationship for data summed across multiple subjects. However, the same studies raise doubts as to whether this relationship holds for each and every individual tested. Unfortunately, these investigations have been limited by methodological constraints, thus, one could argue that the strong isomorphism intrinsic to the chemical clock hypothesis has yet to be fairly tested. In the present experiment, I sought to distinguish the effects of selective head temperature changes on the estimation of duration. Nonlinear decreases in estimated duration were observed with ascending deep auditory canal temperature. These findings support the contention of a thermally stable region ...
Aromatization and androgen stimulation of sexual behavior in male and female rats.

Abstract 6α-Fluorotestosterone, an androgen that is not aromatized in a standard assay system, stimulated sexual behavior in both male and female rats. In males, it was as effective as testosterone. 19-Nortestosterone also stimulated more male sexual behavior than would be expected on the basis of its aromatizability in standard assays. In other tests of the aromatization hypo we used the anti-estrogen, CI-628. This drug inhibited androgen-induced sexual receptivity in female rats, but did not inhibit androgen-induced sexual behavior in male rats. In females, CI-628 antagonized testosterone and 6α-fluorotestosterone equally. These data suggest that the structures of androgens, rather than their abilities to be aromatized, determine behavioral effectiveness.
The Interactive Effects of Behavioral Integrity and Procedural Justice on Employee Job Tension

Using data collected from 280 full-time employees from a variety of organizations, this study examined the effects of employee perceptions of the behavioral integrity (BI) of their supervisors on job tension. The moderating effect of procedural justice (PJ) on this relationship also was examined. Substitutes for leadership theory (Kerr and Jermier, 1978) and psychological contract theory (Rousseau, Empl Responsib Rights J 2:121–139, 1989) were used as the theoretical foundations for the hypothesized relationships. Results indicated a negative relationship between BI and job tension. PJ moderated this relationship such that it was weakened under conditions of high PJ. Implications for research and managers are discussed.
A two-level system of stochastic automata for periodic random environments

A class of nonstationary environments with unknown but periodically changing probabilistic characteristics is considered. It is proposed to optimize the performance in an environment from this class by using a two-level system of variable-structure stochastic automata. The first level estimates the unknown period while the second level operates suitably in the environment for one cycle assuming that this estimate is the true period of the environment. The average output of the environment in this cycle is used as the input to the first level to determine the next estimate of the period. The optimal performance of this two-level system of automata in periodic random environments is demonstrated through computer simulations.
Fault-tolerant control of an autonomous underwater vehicle under thruster redundancy

Abstract A novel approach to the allocation of thruster forces of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is investigated. Generally, the number of thrusters in an AUV is more than what is minimally required to produce the desired motion. We investigate how to exploit the excess number of thrusters to accommodate thruster faults during operation. First, a redundancy resolution scheme is presented that takes into account the presence of excess number of thrusters along with any thruster faults and determines the reference thruster forces to produce the desired motion. These reference thruster forces are utilized in the controller to generate the required motion. This approach resolves the thruster redundancy in the Cartesian space and allows the AUV to track the task-space trajectories with asymptotic reduction of the task-space errors. Results from computer simulations are presented to demonstrate the viability of the proposed scheme.
KIFC3 promotes mitotic progression and integrity of the central spindle in cytokinesis

Kinesin-14 motor proteins play a variety of roles during metaphase and anaphase. However, it is not known whether members of this family of motors also participate in the dramatic changes in mitotic spindle organization during the transition from telophase to cytokinesis. We have identified the minus-end-directed motor, KIFC3, as an important contributor to central bridge morphology at this stage. KIFC3’s unique motor-dependent localization at the central bridge allows it to congress microtubules, promoting efficient progress through cytokinesis. Conversely, when KIFC3 function is perturbed, abscission is delayed, and the central bridge is both widened and extended. Examination of KIFC3 on growing microtubules in interphase indicates that it caps microtubules released from the centrosome, both in the region of the centrosome and in the cell periphery. In line with other kinesin-14 family members, KIFC3 may guide free microtubules to their destination at the bridge and/or may slide and crosslink central bridge microtubules in order to stage the cells for abscission.
The effect of peripheral lymphoid cells on the incidence of lethal graft versus host disease following allogeneic mouse bone marrow transplantation.

Abstract Experiments were performed to study the role of circulating lymphoid cells in the incidence of lethal graft versus host disease (GVHD) in radiation-induced fully allogeneic mouse chimeras. The incidence of GVHD was reduced significantly in BALB/c → C57BL/6 radiation chimeras if bone marrow donors were exsanguinated immediately prior to marrow harvest. Chimeras resulting from the injection of bone marrow from bled donors exhibited only donor cells in spleen, bone marrow and peripheral blood and normal levels of Thy 1+ and Ia+ cells were found in each of these lymphoid compartments. The addition of as few as 3 × 10 4 peripheral mononuclear cells to the marrow from exsanguinated donors uniformly led to lethal GVHD. 51 Cr-labeled cell traffic studies revealed that prior exsanguination of marrow donors led to about a 70% reduction in the number of circulating mononuclear cells contaminating the bone marrow at the time of marrow harvest. This decrease in contaminating peripheral cells was calculated to be in the appropriate range to account for the decreased GVHD seen when marrow from exsanguinated donors was used. It thus appears that peripheral cells contaminating marrow can be an important factor in causing lethal GVHD in allogeneic radiation chimeras. These results raise the possibility that the fulminant GVHD seen in human marrow transplantation is in part due to the major contamination of bone marrow with peripheral blood that results from the techniques currently used for human bone marrow harvest.
Electromagnetic wave propagation in a chiral-material-filled rectangular waveguide

The analysis of wave propagation in a chiral-filled rectangular waveguide is presented. The validity of our formulation is established and hence corrects a statement in the literature regarding the longitudinal component of the magnetic field at the four corners of the chiral waveguide. Using this formulation and a finite-difference numerical method, some of the salient features of this device are described.
Numerical Study of Masonry-Infilled RC Frames Retrofitted with ECC Overlays

AbstractThis paper presents a nonlinear finite-element modeling method to evaluate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frames that have unreinforced masonry infill walls retrofitted with engineered cementitious composite (ECC) overlays. The method has been validated by results of shake-table tests conducted on a 2/3-scale, three-story, two-bay, infilled frame. Results of a numerical study conducted with the validated model have provided further insight into the performance of a structure retrofitted with this technique. A simplified analytical method to assess the shear capacity of an ECC overlay and determine the number and size of shear dowels required to prevent dowel failure has been proposed to ensure a more ductile behavior of the retrofitted structure. Results have shown that the performance of a retrofitted system can be greatly improved by preventing dowel failure so that the benefit of the ductile inelastic behavior of the ECC can be fully exploited. Furthermore, methods to estim...
Using Mixed Methods Effectively in Prevention Science: Designs, Procedures, and Examples

There is growing interest in using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to generate evidence about the effectiveness of health prevention, services, and intervention programs. With the emerging importance of mixed methods research across the social and health sciences, there has been an increased recognition of the value of using mixed methods for addressing research questions in different disciplines. We illustrate the mixed methods approach in prevention research, showing design procedures used in several published research articles. In this paper, we focused on two commonly used mixed methods designs: concurrent and sequential mixed methods designs. We discuss the types of mixed methods designs, the reasons for, and advantages of using a particular type of design, and the procedures of qualitative and quantitative data collection and integration. The studies reviewed in this paper show that the essence of qualitative research is to explore complex dynamic phenomena in prevention science, and the advantage of using mixed methods is that quantitative data can yield generalizable results and qualitative data can provide extensive insights. However, the emphasis of methodological rigor in a mixed methods application also requires considerable expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods. Besides the necessary skills and effective interdisciplinary collaboration, this combined approach also requires an open-mindedness and reflection from the involved researchers.
Self-appraisal in behavioural variant frontotemporal degeneration

Objective Previous work investigating deficits in self-appraisal in behavioural-variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD) has focused on a single domain: social/behavioural processes. We examined whether a domain-specific versus multi-domain model best explains degraded self-appraisal in bvFTD. Methods 49 patients with bvFTD and 73 patients with Alzheimer9s disease (AD) were administered quantitative assessments of episodic memory, naming and grammatical comprehension. Self-appraisal of cognitive test performance was assessed by asking patients to rate their performance immediately after completing each neuropsychological test. A discrepancy score was created to reflect the difference between patient performance on neuropsychological tests and self-appraisal of their test performance. Self-appraisal for each neuropsychological measure was related to grey matter (GM) density in each group using voxel-based morphometry. Results bvFTD patients were poor at evaluating their own performance on all cognitive tests, with no significant correlations between self-appraisal and actual performance. By contrast, poor self-appraisal in AD was restricted to episodic memory performance. Poor self-appraisal on each task in bvFTD and AD was related to reduced GM density in several ventral and rostral medial prefrontal regions. Crucially, poor self-appraisal for all domains in bvFTD was related to a specific area of reduced GM density in the subgenual cingulate (BA 25). Conclusion Poor self-appraisal in bvFTD affects multiple domains, and this multi-domain impairment pattern is associated with frontal disease in the subgenual cingulate.
Modeling the effect of habituation on banner blindness as a function of repetition and search type: gap analysis for future work

This paper provides a theoretical foundation to guide future work in online marketing research. Specifically, we target the phenomenon of banner blindness that prevents users from noticing online advertisements; thus, leading to a steady decline in revenues for online publishers and service providers. While habituation was identified as the main cause of banner blindness, there are competing behavioral models that predict different orienting response patterns as a function of repetition. This work bridges the theoretical gap between models in the marketing and ergonomics domains while illuminating an additional factor that has yet to be studied in this context -- search type. Finally, we outline future research steps to validate the user's response to online advertisements with an emphasis on a battery of physiological measurements.
Axial-Transverse Coupled Vibration Analysis of a Swinging Roller-Follower CAM Due to Flexible Follower Rod

In this paper, the equations of motion of a swinging roller-follower cam for rise-dwell-fall-dwell (RDFD) case are derived by applying Hamilton’s principle and the assumed mode method. The cycloidal displacement (sinusoidal acceleration) motion is used to describe the rise and the fall motions of the follower. The corresponding cam profile is determined using theory of envelopes. The follower rod is considered to be flexible and modeled as a Rayleigh beam including axial and transverse deflections. The roller rolls in the cam groove. The contact point between the cam and the roller is an unknown point though it is restrained in the cam groove. The contact point position depends not only on the rigid-body motions of the cam system but also the flexible vibrations of the follower rod. Two geometric constraints are formulated to restrict the roller motion and added to the Hamilton’s principle with Lagrange multipliers. The numerical integration method is applied to solve the non-linear differential-algebraic equations to obtain the vibration responses of the cam system. The numerical results for the studied cases show that the follower vibrates significantly especially for the case of high rotation speed of cam. The follower still vibrates during the dwell interval. The parameter effects including the cam rotation speed, the follower length and cross-sectional radius, and the total rise on the vibration behavior have been investigated.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The MKK7 gene encodes a group of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase kinases.

The c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) group and is an essential component of a signaling cascade that is activated by exposure of cells to environmental stress. JNK activation is regulated by phosphorylation on both Thr and Tyr residues by a dual-specificity MAPK kinase (MAPKK). Two MAPKKs, MKK4 and MKK7, have been identified as JNK activators. Genetic studies demonstrate that MKK4 and MKK7 serve nonredundant functions as activators of JNK in vivo. We report here the molecular cloning of the gene that encodes MKK7 and demonstrate that six isoforms are created by alternative splicing to generate a group of protein kinases with three different NH2 termini (α, β, and γ isoforms) and two different COOH termini (1 and 2 isoforms). The MKK7α isoforms lack an NH2-terminal extension that is present in the other MKK7 isoforms. This NH2-terminal extension binds directly to the MKK7 substrate JNK. Comparison of the activities of the MKK7 isoforms demonstrates that the MKK7α isoforms exhibit lower activity, but a higher level of inducible fold activation, than the corresponding MKK7β and MKK7γ isoforms. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrates that these MKK7 isoforms are detected in both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of cultured cells. The presence of MKK7 in the nucleus was not, however, required for JNK activation in vivo. These data establish that the MKK4 and MKK7 genes encode a group of protein kinases with different biochemical properties that mediate activation of JNK in response to extracellular stimuli.
Competence in experts: The role of task characteristics☆☆☆

Abstract The previous literature on experts presents two contrasting views. Judgment and decision research has shown that experts make flawed decisions due, in part, to the biasing effects of judgmental heuristics. Cognitive science research, in contrast, views experts as competent and different from novices in nearly every aspect of cognitive functioning. An alternative view developed here, the Theory of Expert Competence, suggests that both analyses are correct, but incomplete. In particular, the theory assumes competence depends on five components: (1) a sufficient knowledge of the domain, (2) the psychological traits associated with experts, (3) the cognitive skills necessary to make tough decisions, (4) the ability to use appropriate decision strategies, and (5) a task with suitable characteristics. The latter is the focus of this paper. Insufficient attention has been paid to task and domain characteristics in prior research. Decision researchers have looked primarily at experts in behavioral domains (e.g., clinical psychology), whereas cognitive investigators have concentrated on experts in static domains (e.g., physics). Thus, the discrepancy in the conclusions drawn from the two literatures appears to be a function of the different domains studied. Although similar to approaches such as Cognitive Continuum Theory, the proposed theory contains several new components. In addition, the theory has implications both for the analysis of experts and for the design and use of expert systems.
Ecological principles affecting community structure and secondary production by zooplankton in marine and freshwater environments

The production dynamics of zooplankton have been studied within two alternative conceptual frameworks. Some workers have emphasized the species composition of communities and the reproductive success of individual species, whereas others have studied the flow of nutrients and energy among ecosystem components. The reduced phylogenetic diversity of lake plankton compared with marine systems has favored the development of species-based community ecology by limnologists. Theories that promote size structure as the salient community feature have been pioneered in marine systems and sometimes adopted for freshwater work. Empirical trends in physiological processes with organism size permit some rates to be estimated from size structure alone. With few exceptions, however, coefficients derived from log-transformed regression equations have been applied uncritically in models, and little regard has been given to the large estimation errors involved. Metrics that are based on differences between physiological processes, rather than absolute rates of individual processes, are important ecologically. Threshold food concentration is an example: it measures the relative performance of food acquisition ability compared to acquisition and maintenance costs. These integrative properties do not vary strictly with organism size and they illustrate the fact that biological entities can develop many alternative solutions to the problems they face. Such results imply that whenever resource exploitation influences community composition, organism-specific adaptations will prove more predictive than size structure.
SYNDEMICS AND HUMAN HEALTH: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

Use of the syndemics concept has diffused from medical anthropology to an array of health-related disciplines. This development reflects a growing awareness that diseases and disease sufferers do not exist in a vacuum and that many of the most damaging human epidemics are the possible or probable consequence, not of a single disease acting alone but of several diseases acting in tandem. Syndemics offer a useful conceptual framework for the study of global health inequality. As work guided by a syndemics perspective is conducted on a range of diseases and in diverse regions of the world, the practical health implications of this approach are beginning to unfold.