cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Whey protein isolate edible coatings : Effect on the rancidity process of dry roasted peanuts

Dry-roasted peanuts were coated with whey protein isolate (WPI)/glycerol solutions. Accelerated rancidity tests of uncoated and coated nuts were performed. Coating thickness and environmental relative humidity were studied as factors that affected rancidity. In addition, the effect of limiting the amount of WPI solution absorbed by the nutmeat on the performance of the coating was evaluated. WPI/glycerol edible coatings delayed the oxidative deterioration of dry-roasted peanuts. Greater thickness and lower relative humidity resulted in more effective coatings. Therefore, the mechanism of protection of the coatings relies on its properties as an oxygen barrier. The continuity of the coating was shown to be critical for its effectiveness. In addition, limiting the WPI solution migration into the nutmeat did not improve the effectiveness of the WPI coating. Keywords: Whey protein; coatings; peanuts; rancidity
Assessing the effects of divestiture on Bell telephone laboratories

Abstract Testimony in the antitrust suit filed by the U.S. government against the American Telephone and Telegraph Company included a number of predictions of the effects on Bell Telephone Laboratories of restructuring A T& T. This paper examines these predictions, analyzing the conceptual and theoretical basis for them, discussing their relevance to the operations of Bell Labs before divestiture, and analyzing the accuracy of the predictions with the limited evidence on the structure and performance of the Labs since divestiture in 1984. The modest performance of these predictions underlines the imperfect state of theoretical undcrstanding of the organization of research and innovation.
The role of type I interferon production by dendritic cells in host defense

Type I interferons (IFN) and dendritic cells (DC) share an overlapping history, with rapidly accumulating evidence for vital roles for both production of type 1 IFN by DC and the interaction of this IFN both with DC and components of the innate and adaptive immune responses. Within the innate immune response, the plasmacytoid DC (pDC) are the "professional" IFN producing cells, expressing specialized toll-like receptors (TLR7 and -9) and high constitutive expression of IRF-7 that allow them to respond to viruses with rapid and extremely robust IFN production; following activation and production of IFN, the pDC subsequently mature into antigen presenting cells that help to shape the adaptive immune response. However, like most cells in the body, the myeloid or conventional DC (mDC or cDC) also produce type I IFNs, albeit typically at a lower level than that observed with pDC, and this IFN is also important in innate and adaptive immunity induced by these classic antigen presenting cells. These two major DC subsets and their IFN products interact both with each other as well as with NK cells, monocytes, T helper cells, T cytotoxic cells, T regulatory cells and B cells to orchestrate the early immune response. This review discusses some of the converging history of DC and IFN as well as mechanisms for IFN induction in DC and the effects of this IFN on the developing immune response.
Evolutionary conservation and diversification of Rh family genes and proteins

Abstract Rhesus (Rh) proteins were first identified in human erythroid cells and recently in other tissues. Like ammonia transporter (Amt) proteins, their only homologues, Rh proteins have the 12 transmembrane-spanning segments characteristic of transporters. Many think Rh and Amt proteins transport the same substrate, , whereas others think that Rh proteins transport CO2 and Amt proteins NH3. In the latter view, Rh and Amt are different biological gas channels. To reconstruct the phylogeny of the Rh family and study its coexistence with and relationship to Amt in depth, we analyzed 111 Rh genes and 260 Amt genes. Although Rh and Amt are found together in organisms as diverse as unicellular eukaryotes and sea squirts, Rh genes apparently arose later, because they are rare in prokaryotes. However, Rh genes are prominent in vertebrates, in which Amt genes disappear. In organisms with both types of genes, Rh had apparently diverged away from Amt rapidly and then evolved slowly over a long period. Functionally divergent amino acid sites are clustered in transmembrane segments and around the gas-conducting lumen recently identified in Escherichia coli AmtB, in agreement with Rh proteins having new substrate specificity. Despite gene duplications and mutations, the Rh paralogous groups all have apparently been subject to strong purifying selection indicating functional conservation. Genes encoding the classical Rh proteins in mammalian red cells show higher nucleotide substitution rates at nonsynonymous codon positions than other Rh genes, a finding that suggests a possible role for these proteins in red cell morphogenetic evolution.
Self-Reported Sleep Correlates with Prefrontal-Amygdala Functional Connectivity and Emotional Functioning

Study objectives Prior research suggests that sleep deprivation is associated with declines in some aspects of emotional intelligence and increased severity on indices of psychological disturbance. Sleep deprivation is also associated with reduced prefrontal-amygdala functional connectivity, potentially reflecting impaired top-down modulation of emotion. It remains unknown whether this modified connectivity may be observed in relation to more typical levels of sleep curtailment. We examined whether self-reported sleep duration the night before an assessment would be associated with these effects. Design Participants documented their hours of sleep from the previous night, completed the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Setting Outpatient neuroimaging center at a private psychiatric hospital. Participants Sixty-five healthy adults (33 men, 32 women), ranging in age from 18-45 y. Interventions N/A. Measurements and results Greater self-reported sleep the preceding night was associated with higher scores on all scales of the EQ-i but not the MSCEIT, and with lower symptom severity scores on half of the psychopathology scales of the PAI. Longer sleep was also associated with stronger negative functional connectivity between the right ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Moreover, greater negative connectivity between these regions was associated with higher EQ-i and lower symptom severity on the PAI. Conclusions Self-reported sleep duration from the preceding night was negatively correlated with prefrontal-amygdala connectivity and the severity of subjective psychological distress, while positively correlated with higher perceived emotional intelligence. More sleep was associated with higher emotional and psychological strength.
Importance of the anisotropic interaction in molecular solid H2 at high pressure

Abstract We find that by using a quantum crystal formalism the relatively small anisotropic molecular interactions in hydrogen can resolve the large discrepancy between the experimental equation of state and several recent theories in the solid phase at high pressure. This does not require the introduction of any new intermolecular potential.
Saturn ionosphere - Theoretical interpretation

Voyager 1 high latitude and Pioneer 11 equatorial ionospheric structure indicate a solar EUV-controlled ionosphere with a possible molecular ion in the topside. Vibrationally excited H2 in the high latitudes may be an important loss mechanism. Dynamical effects are expected to be important for determining the peak density and its location.
Have Absolute Price Levels Converged for Developed Economies? The Evidence since 1870

Abstract We compare price level and income convergence since 1870 for eleven developed economies using implicit price deflators derived from the GDP data of Maddison (1995, 2001, 2003). We find that “sigma” and “beta” convergence for prices occurs later and to a lesser extent than income. Price levels converge after 1950 while income convergence begins in the 1880s. We find no evidence for stochastic price convergence or for “club” price convergence.
The role of conjunctival biopsy in the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report.

W egener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multisystem disease of unknown pathogenesis characterized by necrotizing granulomas of the upper and lower respiratory tract, systemic small-vessel vasculitis and focal necrotizing glomerulonephritis.1 Upper or lower respiratory tract involvement develops in all patients, and 85% of patients eventually manifest renal involvement, which heralds a worse prognosis.2 Ophthalmic disease is the presenting feature in nearly one-sixth of patients and ultimately develops in most cases. 1 Straatsma3 classified the ocular manifestations in WG as contiguous or focal. Contiguous ocular involvement results from direct spread of paranasal sinus disease and may lead to nasolacrimal duct obstruction, proptosis, and orbital abscess or cellulitis. Focal ocular disease may present as conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, comeoscleral ulceration, uveitis and granulomatous vasculitis of the retina and optic nerve.4 The most common ophthalmic presentation is proptosis from orbital inflammation. 36 Prompt recognition of ocular involvement is critical as approximately 8% of patients with WG permanently lose vision, 1 but the clinical distinction from other entities in the early phase of the disease is often difficult.
The Phenomenological Failure of Groundwork III

Abstract Henry Allison and Paul Guyer have recently offered interpretations of Kant's argument in Groundwork III. These interpretations share this premise: the argument moves from a non-moral, theoretical premise to a moral conclusion, and the failure of the argument is a failure to make this jump from the non-moral to the moral. This characterization both of the nature of the argument and its failure is flawed. Consider instead the possibility that in Groundwork III, Kant is struggling toward something rather different from this, not trying to pull the moral rabbit out of the theoretical hat, but instead seeking a proto-phenomenological grounding of morality: a grounding that begins from first personal felt experiences that already possess moral content, and proceeds to its further practical claims via attentive reflection on these felt experiences. This paper brings this assumption to our reading of Groundwork III, showing that in doing so we acquire a deeper appreciation both of the argument, and the r...
The monofunctional alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine triggers apoptosis through p53-dependent and -independent pathways.

One of the cellular responses to DNA damaging events is the activation of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. Apoptosis is an important process in limiting tumorigenesis by eliminating cells with damaged DNA. This view is reinforced by the finding that many genes with pro-apoptotic function are absent or altered in cancer cells. The tumor suppressor p53 performs a significant role in apoptotic signaling by controlling expression of a host of genes that have pro-apoptotic or pro-survival function. The SN1 DNA alkylating agent N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) triggers apoptosis and the upregulation/phosphorylation of p53; however, the mechanism(s) governing MNNG-induced cell death remain unresolved. We observed that the human lymphoblastoid cell line WTK-1, which expresses mutant p53, shows far less sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of MNNG than the closely related, p53-normal line TK-6. Exposure to 15 μM MNNG (LD50 at 24 h in TK-6) leads to a kinetically slower rate of apoptotic onset in WTK-1 cells compared to TK-6 as judged by viability assays and approaches that directly examine apoptotic onset. Similar results were obtained using an unrelated human lymphoblastoid line B310 expressing reduced levels of p53 due to E6 oncoprotein expression, indicating that MNNG activates both p53-dependent and -independent apoptotic mechanisms and that these two mechanisms are discernable by the rates which they trigger apoptotic onset. We document, during time points corresponding to peak apoptotic response in TK6, WTK-1, B310, and B310-E6, that these cell lines show marked decreases in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and increases in cytochrome c within the cytosolic fraction of MNNG-treated cells. Consistent with these events, we observed that both caspase-9 and -3 are activated in our panel of lymphoblastoid cells after MNNG exposure. We also found, using both broad spectrum and specific inhibitors, that blocking caspase activity in TK-6 and B310 cells had a significant effect on apoptotic advance, but that this treatment had no effect on entry of WTK-1 or B310-E6 cells into apoptosis. Finally, the PARP inhibitors benzamide and 6(5H)-phenanthridinone exerted notable inhibition of PARP activity and the nuclear translocation of the mitochondrial protein AIF (apoptosis-inducing factor) in MNNG-treated cells; however, these compounds exhibited no detectable inhibitory effects on MNNG-induced death in human lymphoblastoid cells. These observations suggest that PARP activity is not required during MNNG-triggered apoptosis in this cell type. Taken together, our observations support the conclusion that MNNG activates multiple apoptogenic pathways that contain both common and unique mechanisms.
Look for a Good Deal on Social Security

Is there an opening to seek a compromise on social security with the Republicans? This former Clinton administration economist thinks there may well be. It will not be to everyone's liking, he says, but it may be the best we can hope for.
Allosteric Regulation of the Hsp90 Dynamics and Stability by Client Recruiter Cochaperones: Protein Structure Network Modeling

The fundamental role of the Hsp90 chaperone in supporting functional activity of diverse protein clients is anchored by specific cochaperones. A family of immune sensing client proteins is delivered to the Hsp90 system with the aid of cochaperones Sgt1 and Rar1 that act cooperatively with Hsp90 to form allosterically regulated dynamic complexes. In this work, functional dynamics and protein structure network modeling are combined to dissect molecular mechanisms of Hsp90 regulation by the client recruiter cochaperones. Dynamic signatures of the Hsp90-cochaperone complexes are manifested in differential modulation of the conformational mobility in the Hsp90 lid motif. Consistent with the experiments, we have determined that targeted reorganization of the lid dynamics is a unifying characteristic of the client recruiter cochaperones. Protein network analysis of the essential conformational space of the Hsp90-cochaperone motions has identified structurally stable interaction communities, interfacial hubs and key mediating residues of allosteric communication pathways that act concertedly with the shifts in conformational equilibrium. The results have shown that client recruiter cochaperones can orchestrate global changes in the dynamics and stability of the interaction networks that could enhance the ATPase activity and assist in the client recruitment. The network analysis has recapitulated a broad range of structural and mutagenesis experiments, particularly clarifying the elusive role of Rar1 as a regulator of the Hsp90 interactions and a stability enhancer of the Hsp90-cochaperone complexes. Small-world organization of the interaction networks in the Hsp90 regulatory complexes gives rise to a strong correspondence between highly connected local interfacial hubs, global mediator residues of allosteric interactions and key functional hot spots of the Hsp90 activity. We have found that cochaperone-induced conformational changes in Hsp90 may be determined by specific interaction networks that can inhibit or promote progression of the ATPase cycle and thus control the recruitment of client proteins.
The virtual temporal bone, a tele-immersive educational environment

Abstract This paper describes the development of the virtual temporal bone, a new method of teaching the complex anatomy of the middle and inner ear utilizing virtual reality and current networking technology. Virtual reality technology allows a better visualization of these three-dimensional structures than conventional media because it supports stereo vision, viewer-centered perspective, large angles of view, and interactivity. Two or more ImmersaDeskTM systems, drafting table format virtual reality displays, are networked together providing an environment where teacher and student share a high quality three-dimensional anatomical model, and are able to converse and to point in three dimensions to indicate areas of interest. This project was realized by the teamwork of otologic surgeons, medical artists and sculptors, computer scientists and computer visualization experts.
Anomalous exponents in thermally activated random walks.

Thermally activated nearest-neighbor random walks in an exponential band of trap states are used as a simulation model of electron transport in disordered solids. Dispersive transport and carrier thermalizaton appear exactly as in the nonlocal multiple-trapping model. At low temperature the fracton dimension for the random walk is temperature dependent, even for forced walks where time dispersion of the hopping rate is eliminated. The distribution of hopping rates is understood in terms of a two-site ``dithering'' process. At higher temperature, an abrupt crossover to continuous-time random-walk-like behavior is observed.
Dirichlet’s Problem and Complex Lightning Bolts

We consider the Dirichlet problem in the plane with entire data on algebraic curves. More specifically we will be interested in where singularities develop when a solution is continued analytically. Our approach relies on the annihilator method from functional analysis. The annihilating measures are supported on finite sets called lightning bolts.
A flat, timing-driven design system for a high-performance CMOS processor chipset

We describe the methodology used for the design of the CMOS processor chipset used in the IBM S/390 Parallel Enterprise Server - Generation 3. The majority of the logic is implemented by standard cell elements placed and routed flat, using timing-driven techniques. The result is a globally optimized solution without artificial floorplan boundaries. We will show that the density in terms of transistors per mm2 is comparable to the most advanced custom designs and that the impact of interconnect delay on the cycle time is very small. Compared to custom design, this approach offers excellent turn-around-time and considerably reduces overall effort.
On medium access control for high data rate ultra-wideband ad hoc networks

A critical challenge in ultra-wideband (UWB) system design is that a receiver usually needs tens of microseconds or even tens of milliseconds to synchronize with transmitted signals; this is known as the timing acquisition problem. Such a long synchronization time causes significant overhead, since the data rate of UWB systems is expected to be very high. We address the timing acquisition problem at the medium access control (MAC) layer, and propose a general framework for medium access control in UWB systems; in this framework, a transmitting node can aggregate multiple upper-layer packets into a larger burst frame at the MAC layer. Furthermore, we design a MAC protocol based on the framework, and analyze its saturation throughput performance. Compared to sending each upper-layer packet individually, which is a typical situation in exiting MAC protocols, the proposed MAC can drastically reduce the synchronization overhead. Numerical and simulation results show that the proposed MAC can significantly improve the performance of UWB networks, in terms of both throughput and end-to-end delay.
An aircraft-based data analysis method for discerning individual fluxes in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape

Abstract The utility of aircraft-based flux data is hindered in heterogeneous landscapes by the averaging length required for proper flux calculations. In regions where the scale of heterogeneity is smaller than the traditional 3–5 km averaging length, it has been problematic to relate measured flux signals to an individual land use. This paper introduces the “Flux Fragment” method (FFM) which is based on traditional eddy-covariance flux techniques but uses a conditional sampling scheme to better segregate flux signals by surface type with aircraft-based data. Flux measurements from a low-flying aircraft and from towers were obtained as part of a campaign in the ‘patchy’ agricultural landscape of the Midwestern United States. The fluxes from maize and soybean were computed and compared to the tower-based flux signals from both land uses. The FFM-derived fluxes of CO 2 clearly discern the maize and soybean signals in all midday flights and display the same diurnal patterns as observed using the flux towers. The quantitative match between airborne and fixed measures of CO 2 exchange is good, but displays significant discrepancies. The discrepancies arise, we argue, from the natural variation in flux within the same land-use class over the landscape, a variation invisible to a single tower. Spatially averaged fluxes from the FFM complement towers’ temporal coverage to provide an improved basis for scaling local fluxes to regional estimates based on total areas of each land use.
Thymosin-induced differentiation of murine thymocytes in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures.

A modified purification procedure has been developed for bovine thymosin, and chemical characterization studies have been initiated. Amino acid analyses of acid hydrolysates reveal that thymosin fraction 8 contains approximately 108 residues of which half are aspartic and glutamic acid. The molecule contains one histidine, one cysteine, one tyrosine, and no tryptophan. Nucleotides are completely absent. From the composition and from electrophoretic studies using SDS-polyacrylamide gels, fraction 8 has an estimated molecular weight of 12,200. Preliminary studies suggest the presence of subunits. Partially purified thymosine (fraction 5) contains several heat-stable acidic proteins with molecular weights that range from 1,200 to 14,000. It is not yet known whether all of the biological activity ascribed to thymosin fraction 5 resides within a single molecular species (fraction 8) or whether multiple thymic factors must act in concert to endow the host with its normal complement of immunity. The low specific activity of thymosin fraction 8 in some of the bioassays could reflect the removal of one or more active components that must be present for full expression of biological activity. Other studies using a radioimmunoassay and a rosette bioassay indicate that thymosin is present in the blood of animals and man and thatmore » thymosin levels are altered in patients with known (or suspected) immunodeficiency disease and with age.« less
Bayesian Statistics: An Introduction

Bayesian Statistics is the school of thought that combines prior beliefs with the likelihood of a hypothesis to arrive at posterior beliefs. The first edition of Peter Lees book appeared in 1989, but the subject has moved ever onwards, with increasing emphasis on Monte Carlo based techniques.This new fourth edition looks at recent techniques such as variational methods, Bayesian importance sampling, approximate Bayesian computation and Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC), providing a concise account of the way in which the Bayesian approach to statistics develops as well as how it contrasts with the conventional approach. The theory is built up step by step, and important notions such as sufficiency are brought out of a discussion of the salient features of specific examples.This edition:Includes expanded coverage of Gibbs sampling, including more numerical examples and treatments of OpenBUGS, R2WinBUGS and R2OpenBUGS.Presents significant new material on recent techniques such as Bayesian importance sampling, variational Bayes, Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) and Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC).Provides extensive examples throughout the book to complement the theory presented.Accompanied by a supporting website featuring new material and solutions.More and more students are realizing that they need to learn Bayesian statistics to meet their academic and professional goals. This book is best suited for use as a main text in courses on Bayesian statistics for third and fourth year undergraduates and postgraduate students.
Efficiency Costs and the Demand for Income Redistribution

This study includes the marginal cost of redistribution (MCR) in analyzing the adjusted tax price faced by the median voter. The adjusted tax price is then used to analyze the degree to which efficiency costs change the level of income redistribution provided through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. The results of this article suggest that efficiency costs, on average, raise the cost of AFDC transfers by approximately 28% and reduces the level of AFDC redistribution by about 14.6%.
OBAYA (obesity and adverse health outcomes in young adults): feasibility of a population-based multiethnic cohort study using electronic medical records

Background: Although obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, we have only limited knowledge of the magnitude of these associations in young adults. A multiethnic cohort of young adults was established to close current knowledge gaps; cohort demographics, cohort retention, and the potential influence of migration bias were investigated. Methods: For this population-based cross-sectional study, demographics, and measured weight and height were extracted from electronic medical records of 1,929,470 patients aged 20 to 39 years enrolled in two integrated health plans in California from 2007 to 2009. Results: The cohort included about 84.4% of Kaiser Permanente California members in this age group who had a medical encounter during the study period and represented about 18.2% of the underlying population in the same age group in California. The age distribution of the cohort was relatively comparable to the underlying population in California Census 2010 population, but the proportion of women and ethnic/racial minorities was slightly higher. The three-year retention rate was 68.4%. Conclusion: These data suggest the feasibility of our study for medium-term follow-up based on sufficient membership retention rates. While nationwide 6% of young adults are extremely obese, we know little to adequately quantify the health burden attributable to obesity, especially extreme obesity, in this age group. This cohort of young adults provides a unique opportunity to investigate associations of obesity-related factors and risk of cancer in a large multiethnic population.
A Generalized Fault Coverage Model for Linear Time-Invariant Systems

This paper proposes a fault coverage model for linear time-invariant (LTI) systems subject to uncertain input. A state-space representation, defined by the state-transition matrix, and the input matrix, is used to represent LTI system dynamic behavior. The uncertain input is considered to be unknown but bounded, where the bound is defined by an ellipsoid. The state-transition matrix, and the input matrix must be such that, for any possible input, the system dynamics meets its intended function, which can be defined by some performance requirements. These performance requirements constrain the system trajectories to some region of the state-space defined by a symmetrical polytope. When a fault occurs, the state-transition matrix, and the input matrix might be altered; and then, it is guaranteed the system survives the fault if all possible post-fault trajectories are fully contained in the region of the state-space defined by the performance requirements. This notion of guaranteed survivability is the basis to model (in the context of LTI systems) the concept of fault coverage, which is a probabilistic measure of the ability of the system to keep delivering its intended function after a fault. Analytical techniques to obtain estimates of the proposed fault coverage model are presented. To illustrate the application of the proposed model, two examples are discussed.
LATENT HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF RABBITS AND MICE

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 induces a long-standing latent infection in the central nervous system of mice and rabbits. The infection was extablished in the brain stems of rabbits after corneal inoculation of the virus, and in the spinal cords of mice after rear footpad infection. In these animals, infectious virus could not be recovered by direct isolation from tissues; it was detected only after the tissues were maintained as organ cultures in vitro.
Two‐pronged survival strategy for the major cystic fibrosis pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lacking the capacity to degrade nitric oxide during anaerobic respiration

Protection from NO gas, a toxic byproduct of anaerobic respiration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is mediated by nitric oxide (NO) reductase (NOR), the norCB gene product. Nevertheless, a norCB mutant that accumulated ∼13.6 μM NO paradoxically survived anaerobic growth. Transcription of genes encoding nitrate and nitrite reductases, the enzymes responsible for NO production, was reduced >50- and 2.5-fold in the norCB mutant. This was due, in part, to a predicted compromise of the [4Fe–4S]2+ cluster in the anaerobic regulator ANR by physiological NO levels, resulting in an inability to bind to its cognate promoter DNA sequences. Remarkably, two O2-dependent dioxygenases, homogentisate-1,2-dioxygenase (HmgA) and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (Hpd), were derepressed in the norCB mutant. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies showed that HmgA and Hpd bound NO avidly, and helped protect the norCB mutant in anaerobic biofilms. These data suggest that protection of a P. aeruginosa norCB mutant against anaerobic NO toxicity occurs by both control of NO supply and reassignment of metabolic enzymes to the task of NO sequestration.
Evaluating a social media application for sustainability in the workplace

The goal of this research is to investigate the benefits of using a web-based social network to promote energy awareness, and influence energy-saving behavior of typical office workers. We propose that a social network integrated into the workplace environment - allowing people to track their own energy-related activities, to share this information, and to view and react to peers' activities - can take advantage of social influence to positively affect behavior. We are currently developing a prototype of such an application through iterative design. In the final phase of this work we will conduct experiments with a large number of subjects to test the ability of this application to influence attitudes and behaviors of office workers, and for providing a platform for commercial building operators to better communicate with occupants.
Numerical approach to statistical properties of resonance fluorescence

We formulate a numerical scheme to investigate the correlation of photons scattered by a two-level atom coupled to a waveguide, and compute the second-order correlation function. We also show that a three-dimensional resonance fluorescence experiment can be mapped into the one-dimensional situation studied here. The correlation functions for both cases show excellent agreement.
Establishing Leadership Studies in the Liberal Arts Curriculum Through Conflict Resolution Education

This article argues that leadership and conflict resolution coursework are integrally related, and should both be part of the liberal arts program. Specifically, this article has four objectives: to state the purposes of liberal arts education; to describe the aims of leadership education; to connect leadership studies to the liberal arts curriculum through conflict resolution education; and, to provide introductory pedagogical information on conflict resolution education. Finally, the article will describe the approach taken by the North Central College Leadership, Ethics and Values Program and Dispute Resolution Center to teach leadership by teaching conflict resolution.
An Investigation of the Language Skills of Students With Emotional Disturbance Served in Public School Settings

The purpose of this cross-sectional study, conducted with a random sample of 166 students with emotional disturbance (ED), was to establish, with attention to age and gender differences, the extent to which students with ED served in public school settings experience language skill deficits. This study also examined particular types of problem behaviors related to language skills. Students with ED showed moderate to large language deficits, which appeared to be more pronounced in the expressive language domain. The language deficits of a majority of the students were clinically significant. These language deficits appeared to be relatively stable across age and gender. Furthermore, externalizing behaviors were related to receptive and expressive language skills, whereas internalizing ones were not.
It's Funny Because It's True? The Simpsons, Satire, and the Significance of Religious Humor in Popular Culture

The Simpsons’ depiction of the evangelical Ned Flanders has become a well-known stereotype in contemporary American popular culture which has been discussed in academic and popular circles. This article uses a critical analysis of Flanders to challenge journalist Mark Pinsky’s assertion that The Simpsons is “funny because it’s true” (The Gospel According to the Simpsons: Bigger, and Possibly Even Better! Edition, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007, 226) and Conrad Hyers’ theorizing of humor’s religiousness by demonstrating that Flanders is a satire who contributes to ongoing political debates in the United States. This is accomplished through a cultural analysis of Flanders in light of political debates since the 1960s in which evangelicals have had a significant role. It is argued that Flanders’ actions are simultaneously mocked and praised in a way which denigrates evangelicals and their political participation while supporting the individual acts of piety and Christian morality which do not lead to behavioral prescriptions for others.
Thermomechanical Coupling in Viscoelastic Solids

Experimental data on the heat generated in polymeric specimens undergoing oscillatory deformations are presented. Various factors which affect the hysteresis, including strain amplitude, frequency and mode of loading, and ambient temperature are investigated. It is observed that not all of the energy added to a specimen during a cycle of deformation is dissipated as heat. A comparison of theory and experiment demonstrates that the remaining (or “stored”) energy must be accounted for in predicting the thermomechanical behavior of such materials.
Reduced voluntary running performance is associated with impaired coordination as a result of muscle satellite cell depletion in adult mice.

Satellite cells, or muscle stem cells, have been thought to be responsible for all muscle plasticity, but recent studies using genetically modified mouse models that allow for the conditional ablation of satellite cells have challenged this dogma. Results have confirmed the absolute requirement of satellite cells for muscle regeneration but surprisingly also showed that they are not required for adult muscle growth. While the function of satellite cells in muscle growth and regeneration is becoming better defined, their role in the response to aerobic activity remains largely unexplored. The purpose of the current study was to assess the involvement of satellite cells in response to aerobic exercise by evaluating the effect of satellite cell depletion on wheel running performance. Four-month-old female Pax7/DTA mice (n = 8–12 per group) were satellite cell depleted via tamoxifen administration; at 6 months of age, mice either remained sedentary or were provided with running wheels for 8 weeks. Plantaris muscles were significantly depleted of Pax7+cells (≥90 % depleted), and 8 weeks of wheel running did not result in an increase in Pax7+ cells, or in myonuclear accretion. Interestingly, satellite cell-depleted animals ran ~27 % less distance and were 23 % slower than non-depleted animals. Wheel running was associated with elevated succinate dehydrogenase activity, muscle vascularization, lipid accumulation, and a significant shift toward more oxidative myosin heavy chain isoforms, as well as an increase in voltage dependent anion channel abundance, a marker of mitochondrial density. Importantly, these changes were independent of satellite cell content. Interestingly, depletion of Pax7+ cells from intra- as well as extrafusal muscle fibers resulted in atrophy of intrafusal fibers, thickening of muscle spindle-associated extracellular matrix, and a marked reduction of functional outcomes including grip strength, gait fluidity, and balance, which likely contributed to the impaired running performance. Depletion of Pax7-expressing cells in muscle resulted in reduced voluntary wheel running performance, without affecting markers of aerobic adaptation; however, their absence may perturb proprioception via disruption of muscle spindle fibers resulting in loss of gross motor coordination, indicating that satellite cells have a yet unexplored role in muscle function.
Radiation dose comparison of parathyroid planar scintigraphy, combined SPECT/CT, and multiphase 4DCT

422 Objectives Compare radiation doses for planar scintigraphy (P), SPECT/CT (S/CT), and 4DCT multiphase (4th=perfusion) in cases of difficult-to-detect parathyroid adenomas (PA) in pts with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Methods 4DCT was performed in 5 pts where no lesion was detected by P or S/CT. Nonenhanced CT was followed by 75cc iohexol 300 IV with multiphase 4DCT imaging at 30, 60, and 90 sec (Philips Brilliance 64-slice scanner (120 kvP, 180-300 mAs, 2.0 mm). Dual-phase (15 min,2 hr) multiview P extended from the nose to below the aortic arch after IV Tc-99m-MIBI. S/CT (same region, timepoints, camera as P) was performed (Philips Precedence 6-slice scanner (120 kVp,20 mAs,3.3 mm)). Radiation doses were calculated using Stanford’s RADAR (P, S/CT) and BCM’s effective dose calculator (4DCT) which utilizes DLP (dose-length product) info. Results P or S/CT evaluation gives the lowest radiation dose. Optimized 4DCT alone is similar if utilized as an initial study. Combined radiation dose is nearly doubled or tripled for P+S/CT+4DCT, and multiple localization studies in difficult cases even further increases total dose. Prior to 4DCT, Pt 1 had 3 nonlocalizing scintigraphic studies giving a total radiation dose of 35.7 mSv. Pt 5 had 3 nonlocalizing scintigraphic studies and 1 CT-neck prior to 4DCT with a total dose of 52.4 mSv. All pts were successfully localized and treated surgically. We are further optimizing our 4DCT protocol. (Further cases, data to be presented at meeting) Conclusions For PA localization, P alone provides the lowest dose. Nonlocalized lesions may require S/CT and/or 4DCT. Given the implications of localization for surgical morbidity, the benefit of additional exams likely outweighs the added radiation dose. Research Support Acknowledgement: Martin A. Lodge, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dept of Radiology
Energy dependence of the ρ Regge trajectory

If recent ideas on the renormalization of the Pomeron due to particle-production thresholds are coupled with the exchange-degeneracy constraints of the dual topological expansion, it follows that the nonvacuum Reggeons must also be renormalized. We apply this result to the rho trajectory. (AIP)
Pathophysiology of Ebola Virus Infection: Current Challenges and Future Hopes

The filoviruses, Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV), are among the deadliest viruses that cause disease in humans, with reported case fatality rates of up to 90% in some outbreaks. The high virulence of EBOV and MARV is largely attributed to the ability of these viruses to interfere with the host immune response. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or postexposure therapeutics, and treatment options for patients infected with EBOV are limited to supportive care. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of EBOV pathogenesis and its ability to subvert host immunity as well as several vaccines and therapeutics with respect to their evaluation in small animal models, nonhuman primates, and human clinical trials.
Charge-screening kinetics at sensitized TiO2 Interfaces

Excited-state electron injection at a sensitized TiO2 electrolyte interface generates a significant electric field. Ions and solvent molecules in the electrolyte respond to this field and reorganize from their dark equilibrium condition. Here we report the first kinetic study of such interfacial reorganization with acetonitrile electrolytes that contain LiClO4 or Mg(ClO4)2. The Mg2+ ions were found to most effectively shield surface-anchored sensitizers from electric fields, but the rates of screening were much slower than with Li+. Kinetic analysis based on the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts function revealed rate constants kLi+ = 5.3 × 104 s–1 and kMg2+ = 4.7 × 102 s–1. The smaller rate constant was attributed to the one-electron nature of excited-state injection that was charge-balanced by a monovalent cation and not by a divalent cation. The data show that electroabsorption spectroscopy can be utilized to probe screening dynamics initiated by photoinduced interfacial electron transfer.
Abstract 2556: Stat1 plays a major role in skin tumor promotion by chrysarobin but not TPA

The cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie promotion by diverse tumor promoting agents remain to be fully elucidated. Studies using Stat1 knockout (KO) mice have shown that they were highly resistant to two-stage skin carcinogenesis using chrysarobin as the promoter. In contrast, Stat1 KO mice treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) as the tumor promoter exhibited no significant differences in tumor formation. To further investigate mechanism(s) whereby Stat1 mediates skin tumor promotion by chrysarobin Stat1 KO mice and wild-type (WT) controls were treated with the respective tumor promoters and Stat1-dependent signaling pathways were evaluated. Mice deficient in Stat1 displayed an attenuated induction of epidermal Cox-2 mRNA and protein as well as reduced PGE2 levels compared to WT controls following topical application of chrysarobin, whereas, mice treated with TPA exhibited no significant differences in Cox-2 levels or PGE2 levels. Other results also suggest that Stat1 may regulate various cytokine/chemokines involved in the inflammatory response following chrysarobin treatment. Preliminary experiments have also shown that Stat1 KO mice exhibit reduced induction of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) following chrysarobin treatment, compared to WT controls. In contrast, treatment with TPA caused no significant differences in expression of IRF-1. Collectively, these findings suggest that chrysarobin may elicit a Stat1-dependent signaling response that is dependent on IRF-1, whereas TPA-mediated tumorigenesis is independent of this signaling pathway. These and other ongoing studies aimed at characterizing the role of Stat1 and IRF-1 signaling in chrysarobin-mediated tumor promotion will be presented. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2556. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2556
Reliability analysis of multiple-component series systems subject to hard and soft failures with dependent shock effects

ABSTRACTNew reliability models have been developed for systems subject to competing hard and soft failure processes with shocks that have dependent effects. In the new model, hard failure occurs when transmitted system shocks are large enough to cause any component in a series system to fail immediately, soft failure occurs when any component deteriorates to a certain failure threshold, and system shocks affect both failure processes for all components. Our new research extends previous reliability models that had dependent failure processes, where the dependency was only because of the shared number of shock exposures and not the shock effects associated with individual system shocks. Dependency of transmitted shock sizes and shock damages to the specific failure processes for all components has not been sufficiently considered, and yet for some actual examples, this can be important. In practice, the effects of shock damages to the multiple failure processes among components are often dependent. In this...
Baseline Investigation of the Intervention Trial for Chronic Non-infectious Disease Control and Prevention in Communities of Bangbu City

Objective To understand of Bengbu City community residents and the major chronic diseases are closely related to the occurrence of bad behavior and way of life status,for the development of highly targeted areas with community residents in Bengbu of chronic disease prevention provide the basis for comprehensive interventions.Methods Two urban communities,a total of 206 people,a "community residents with chronic disease nutrition survey" to investigate.Results Bengbu City pilot community groups chronic disease prevention and treatment knowledge awareness,prevention approach endorsed the rate is good,but the health of the formation rate still far from enough.Conclusion Responding to expesience of the pilot-communities targeted and long-term health education and health pvomotion should be strengthened.
Fathers and mothers with eating-disorder psychopathology: Associations with child eating-disorder behaviors.

Abstract Objective A limited literature suggests an association between maternal eating disorders and child feeding difficulties, and notes maternal concern about inadvertently transmitting eating disorders. Thus, parents may be an important target for eating-disorder research to guide the development of clinical programs. Methods The current study examined differences in child eating-disorder behaviors and parental feeding practices between a sample of parents (42 fathers, 130 mothers) exhibiting core features of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, or purging disorder, and a matched sample of parents ( n = 172) reporting no eating-disorder characteristics. Results Parents with eating-disorder psychopathology were significantly more likely than parents without eating-disorder characteristics to report child binge-eating and compulsive exercise. Parents with eating-disorder psychopathology reported greater perceived feeding responsibility, greater concern about their child's weight, and more monitoring of their child's eating than parents without eating-disorder characteristics; however, they did not differ significantly in restriction of their child's diet and pressure-to-eat. Child body mass index z -scores did not differ between parents with versus without eating-disorder characteristics. Conclusion Our findings suggest some important differences between parents with and without core eating-disorder psychopathology, which could augment clinical interventions for patients with eating disorders who are parents, or could guide pediatric eating-disorder prevention efforts. However, because our study was cross-sectional, findings could indicate increased awareness of or sensitivity to eating-disorder behaviors rather than a psychosocial cause of those behaviors. Longitudinal research and controlled trials examining prevention and intervention can clarify and address these clinical concerns.