cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-Insemination Selection Dominates Pre-Insemination Selection in Driving Rapid Evolution of Male Competitive Ability

Sexual reproduction is a complex process that contributes to differences between the sexes and divergence between species. From a male9s perspective, sexual selection can optimize reproductive success by acting on the variance in mating success (pre-insemination selection) as well as the variance in fertilization success (post-insemination selection). The balance between pre- and post-insemination selection has not yet been investigated using a strong hypothesis-testing framework that directly quantifies the effects of post-insemination selection on the evolution of reproductive success. Here we use experimental evolution of a uniquely engineered genetic system that allows sperm production to be turned off and on in obligate male-female populations of Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that enhanced post-insemination competition increases the efficacy of selection and surpasses pre-insemination sexual selection in driving a polygenic response in male reproductive success. We find that after 30 generations post-insemination selection increased male reproductive success by an average of 5- to 7-fold. Contrary to expectation, enhanced pre-insemination competition hindered selection and slowed the rate of evolution. Furthermore, we found that post-insemination selection resulted in a strong polygenic response at the whole-genome level. Our results demonstrate that post-insemination sexual selection plays a critical role in the rapid optimization of male reproductive fitness. Therefore, explicit consideration should be given to post-insemination dynamics when considering the population effects of sexual selection.
What is the Ethical Impact of Gender Non-Conforming Names?

Names? What is in a name? This article endeavors to investigate what is in a name. Names are an important part of an individual’s identity. Names, depending on one’s culture, defines and identifies...
Response to Comment on “CD226 Is Specifically Expressed on the Surface of Th1 Cells and Regulates Their Expansion and Effector Functions”

We recently described that CD226 is specifically expressed on differentiated Th1 T cells ([1][1]). Using a novel rat 10E5 mAb, we find that ∼40% of CD4+T cells purified from the spleen of C57BL/6 express CD226. Upon activation, CD226 is up-regulated on all CD4+ T cells, independent of their Th
Import Liberalisation And Development Of The Indian Computer Industry

The Indian computer industry has come a long way since its total reliance on imports from a few multinationals in the 1960s. However, the current round of import liberalisation is producing an increasing number of features redolent of that earlier period. This article investigates the relationship between import liberalisation and development of industrial production, exports and technological capabilities. It concludes that import liberalism cannot be regarded as the optimum strategy for any country wishing to develop local production capabilities, and that some measure of import protection has to be in place for this development to take place. However, the case is made for a reactive government policy which can apply varying degrees of protection or liberalisation as the circumstances of external change and industrial development demand. Therefore, both the timing and phasing of policy changes will be important. Technical change and other factors are shown to have mediated some outcomes and to have constrained policy choices.
Novel Reactivity of a Dinuclear d10-d10 Palladium Complex

Abstract The novel dinuclear complex, Pd2(μ-dcpe)2, exists as a monomer-dimer equilibrium in solution. Stereoelectronic factors which control the reactivity of this system are discussed.
Effects of combined radiation and burn injury on the renin-angiotensin system.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in wound repair; however, little is known pertaining to RAS expression in response to thermal injury and the combination of radiation plus burn injury (CRBI). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that thermal injury modifies expression of RAS components and CRBI delayed this up-regulation of RAS. Skin from uninjured mice was compared with mice receiving local thermal injury or CRBI (injury site). Skin was analyzed for gene and protein expression of RAS components. There was an initial increase in the expression of various components of RAS following thermal injury. However, in the higher CRBI group there is an initial decrease in AT(1b) (vasoconstriction, pro-proliferative), AT(2) (vasodilation, differentiation), and Mas (vasodilation, anti-inflammatory) gene expression. This corresponded with a delay and decrease in AT(1) , AT(2) , and MAS protein expression in fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The reduction in RAS receptor positive fibroblasts and keratinocytes correlated with a reduction in collagen deposition and keratinocyte infiltration into the wounded area resulting in a delay of reepithelialization following CRBI. These data support the hypothesis that delayed wound healing observed in subjects following radiation exposure may be in part due to decreased expression of RAS.
Event-triggered adaptive dynamic programming for continuous-time nonlinear system using measured input-output data

In this paper, we propose a novel event-triggered adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) method using only the input-output data. Event-triggered method is widely used for its computational efficiency capacity. Comparing with the traditional method which updates the controller periodically, the event-triggered method only updates the controller when it is necessary and therefore the computation is reduced. Generally, the triggered condition is based on the system current and sampled states. In this paper, we consider a neural-network-based observer to recover the system dynamics using the measured input-output data. The triggered instants are calculated according to the recovered state. Stability analysis of the proposed approach is presented. We verify our proposed method through a robot-arm example.
Messages about sex in the workplace: A content analysis of primetime television

Because television has the potential to shape cultural beliefs about both sexual norms and appropriate workplace behavior, it seems important to examine TV’s portrayal of “sexual etiquette” in the workplace. In a content analysis of two episodes of every primetime comedy aired on all broadcast and cable networks during fall 2000, we coded every sexual remark and behavior made in a workplace scene. Across all networks, 85 percent of programs and one in four workplace interactions contained some type of sexual content. Overall, a viewer is likely to hear eleven sexual remarks and see two to three sexual behaviors in a workplace setting per hour; this jumps to twenty-three remarks and nine behaviors on cable networks. Sexual remarks were mostly explicit, made in an office setting, by White men, and were rarely (1.4%) about sexual harassment or discrimination. Although sexual content in the workplace was generally less common on broadcast than cable networks, a broadcast network (Fox) actually had the highest overall rate, with sexual content in 38 percent of workplace scenes. Given that research suggests that TV teaches youth about sexuality and cultivates sexual attitudes and beliefs consistent with televised portrayals, it is alarming that youth may learn from television that sex in the workplace is not only commonplace, but also to be tolerated and enjoyed.
Electrocardiogram before starting stimulant medications: To order or not?

D is an 8-year-old boy brought to his paediatrician for evaluation. His mother is concerned as his teacher has been frequently complaining that he is very restless and often disturbs the rest of the class by getting up on some pretext or the other. He is unable to concentrate on his work and gets distracted very easily. He makes many careless mistakes and can hardly finish his tasks on time. He is frequently reprimanded for talking during class. He often answers out of turn or before the question has been completed; however, so far, he has been managing to get passing grades. At home, he is constantly on the go while he is awake. If he is forced to sit, like at mealtimes, he fidgets a lot. He also needs to be constantly nagged to do everything, even his daily activities such as brushing his teeth, or he forgets to do them or leaves them incomplete. He takes ages to finish his food. It is a major job to get him to do his homework. His mother says that at home he has been like that since the last 2 to 3 years, but now she is concerned because of the difficulties he is experiencing at school as well. After obtaining his medical history, examination, and getting response from parents and teachers – using Vanderbuilt Assessment Scales – the paediatrician diagnoses him to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Besides behavioural interventions, he considers medications for his management. The paediatrician is debating the merits of performing electrocardiogram and/or referring the boy to a cardiologist before starting stimulant medications. If you were caring for this patient, how would you proceed?
Manganese Fractionation Using a Sequential Extraction Method to Evaluate Welders’ Shielded Metal Arc Welding Exposures During Construction Projects in Oil Refineries

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has conducted an occupational exposure assessment study of manganese (Mn) in welding fume of construction workers rebuilding tanks, piping, and process equipment at two oil refineries. The objective of this study was to evaluate exposures to different Mn fractions using a sequential extraction procedure. Seventy-two worker-days were monitored for either total or respirable Mn during stick welding and associated activities both within and outside of confined spaces. The samples were analyzed using an experimental method to separate different Mn fractions by valence states based on selective chemical solubility. The full-shift total particulate Mn time-weighted average (TWA) breathing zone concentrations ranged from 0.013–29 for soluble Mn in a mild ammonium acetate solution; from 0.26–250 for Mn0,2+ in acetic acid; from non-detectable (ND) – 350 for Mn3+,4+ in hydroxylamine-hydrochloride; and from ND – 39 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) for insol...
Dual Targeting of Topoisomerase IV and Gyrase To Reduce Mutant Selection: Direct Testing of the Paradigm by Using WCK-1734, a New Fluoroquinolone, and Ciprofloxacin

Quinolones that act equally against DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are a desirable modality to decrease the selection of resistant strains. We first determined by genetic and biochemical studies in Staphylococcus aureus that the primary target enzyme of WCK-1734, a new quinolone, was DNA gyrase. A single mutation in gyrase, but not topoisomerase IV, caused a two- to fourfold increase in the MIC. Studies with purified topoisomerase IV and gyrase from S. aureus also showed that gyrase was more sensitive than topoisomerase IV to WCK-1734 (50% inhibitory concentration, 1.25 and 2.5 to 5.0 μg/ml, respectively; 50% stimulation of cleavage complex formation, 0.62 and 2.5 to 5.0 μg/ml, respectively). To test the effect of balanced activity of quinolones against the two target enzymes, we measured the frequency of selection of mutants with ciprofloxacin (which targets topoisomerase IV) and WCK-1734 alone and in combination. With the combination of ciprofloxacin and WCK-1734, each at its MIC, the ratio of frequency of mutants selected was significantly lower than that with each drug alone at two times their respective MICs. We further characterized resistant strains selected with the combination of ciprofloxacin and WCK-1734 and found evidence to suggest the existence of novel mutational mechanisms for low-level quinolone resistance. By use of a combination of differentially targeting quinolones, this study provides novel data in direct support of the paradigm for dual targeting of quinolone action and reduced development of resistance.
Conflict over the age of the Universe

The ages of the oldest stars in our Galaxy can be estimated by comparing stellar populations in globular clusters to calibrated stellar models. The best data give cluster ages of about 15.8 ± 2.1 Gyr, which conflicts with the age of the Universe estimated from measurements of the Hubble constant and the 'standard' cosmological model of a flat, matter-dominated universe (8–13 Gyr).
The thermally activated martensitic phase transformation in AgZn

Abstract An unusual martensitic phase transformation was studied in the alloy Ag-37.8 atom % Zn. The transformation is unusual in that it occurs at elevated temperatures, and unlike most martensitic transformations, it can be suppressed by rapid quenching. Samples quenched from high temperatures, to retain the body-centered cubic (b.c.c.) β phase and then reheated in salt, transform to a face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) martenaite at temperatures in the interval 250–320°C. The crystallographic orientation relationship for the transformation established in this investigation is one degree from (110)F//(111)B, [001]F//[011]B, where the subscripts F and B refer to the f.c.c. martensite and b.c.c. β phase, respectively. A theoretical analysis of the crystallography based in the theory of Bowles and Mackenzie is in excellent agreement with these experiments.
Adaptive Channel Estimation Aided Log-Map Turbo Decoder Implementationfor DS-CDMA Based Mobile Systems

Practical implementation of convolutional turbo codec is impeded by the difficulty of real-time execution in high transmission rate communication systems due to high computational complexity, iterative block decoding structure, as well as the requirement of accurate on-line channel reliability estimation for maximum-likelihood decoding. Relying on innovative channel estimation techniques involving DS-CDMA specific noise/interference variance estimation and fading channel variation tracking, this paper provides a low-complexity all-digital design of an iterative SISO log-MAP turbo decoder for DS-CDMA based mobile communication systems. The issues of quantization and data flow in both pre-decoder processing module and iterative trellis decoding module are prudently addressed to ensure highly efficient hardware implementation. The efficient design strategies applied confine the decoding complexity while leading to an excellent performance within 0.2 dB of the software decoder.
A novel approach to the management of an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with crossed-fused renal ectopia.

Background Crossed-fused renal ectopia is a rare anomaly that poses a therapeutic challenge in the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Such challenges include preservation of renal blood flow in the setting of multiple aberrant renal arteries and ureteral anomalies. Several surgical approaches to this dilemma, including the use of traditional surgical techniques, have been described in the literature. We describe a novel approach to the management of a 7-cm inflammatory AAA associated with crossed renal ectopia with fusion. Methods During routine surveillance computed tomography angiography (CTA) in a 63-year-old man, a rapidly enlarging AAA with new inflammatory changes was detected. The aneurysm had increased in size from 4.8 to 7 cm over a period of 6 months. At the time of presentation, he was found to be hemodynamically stable. Findings from the laboratory tests conducted at the time of admission were normal, with a baseline glomerular filtration rate of 91.2 mL/min and creatinine of 1. The CTA revealed significant thickening of the aortic wall, suggestive of aortic inflammation, the presence of crossed renal ectopia with fusion, and numerous anomalous renal arteries. We identified two right renal arteries arising from the proximal aneurysm sac and three left renal arteries arising from the common iliac arteries. Given the aortic inflammation, an open repair approach was considered high risk compared with an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). However, given the uncharacteristic arterial anatomy, a staged surgical and endovascular management option was selected. We performed an aortic debranching and renal artery revascularization, followed by an EVAR. Results We preserved renal function and excluded the aneurysm. The patient was discharged on the postoperative day 6 without periprocedural complications. A CTA was performed at 1- and 6-month follow-up period. This revealed a type 2 endoleak, which was confirmed by MR angiography. However, the aneurysm diameter had decreased in size from 7 to 6.3 cm in 1 month, and from 6.3 to 5.5 cm in 6 months. No further intervention was performed. Conclusion Inflammatory AAAs associated with crossed-fused renal ectopia can be successfully managed with aortic debranching and renal artery revascularization followed by an EVAR. This epitomizes the growing role for advanced endovascular therapies in conjunction with open surgical techniques.
Biomarkers in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that inhibits cognitive functions and has no cure. This report reviews the current diagnostic standards for AD with an emphasis on early diag...
A Monte Carlo study of subdiffusive displacements of interacting particles in a percolating system

Abstract A computer-simulation model is introduced to study the transport properties of interacting particles of concentration p in a percolating system near the percolation threshold. A nearest neighbor interaction is considered among the particles and the accessible sites of the percolating substrate. The transport behviour is found to be concentration p and temperature ( T ) limited in a specific p - T regime. The subdiffusive behaviour at high temperatures seems consistent with the anomalous diffusion of a noninteracting lattice gas. The rms displacement seems consistent with the anomalous diffusion of a noninteracting lattice gas. The rms displacement of the particles ( R tr ) exhibits ultra-slow power-law diffusion at low temperatures at a moderate concentration p . The rms displacement of the center of mass of the particles ( R cm ) on the other hand shows a diffusion like power-law behaviour before it saturates in a certain temperature regime.
A learning-based methodology for dynamic scheduling in distributed manufacturing systems

SUMMARY To enhance productivity in a distributed manufacturing system under hierarchical control, we develop a framework of dynamic scheduling scheme that explores routeing flexibility and handles uncertainties. We propose a learning-based methodology to extract scheduling knowledge for dispatching parts to machines. The proposed methodology includes three modules: discrete-event simulation, instance generation, and incremental induction. First, a sophisticated simulation module is developed to implement a dynamic scheduling scheme, to generate training examples, and to evaluate the methodology. Second, the search for training examples (good schedules) is successfully fulfilled by the genetic algorithm. Finally, we propose a tolerance-based learning algorithm that does not only acquire general scheduling rules from the training examples, but also adapts to any newly observed examples and thus facilitates knowledge modification. The experimental results show that the dynamic scheduling scheme significantly...
Trends in Androgen Prescribing in the United States, 2001 to 2011

Although commercial sales of androgen replacement therapy (ART) have increased substantially in recent years,1,2 to our knowledge, no national population-based studies of this treatment have been reported. In view of the conflicting evidence on the risks and benefits of ART,3-7 understanding androgen prescribing patterns in the United States is important from both a clinical and a public health perspective. We used data from Clinformatics DataMart (CDM), one of the nation's largest commercial health insurance populations, to examine androgen prescribing patterns in the United States over the past decade.
Computer-based FMS facilities design tool

FMS layout design is a complex process, involving a large number of alternatives, which contributes generously to the usual two-year FMS planning lead time. The need for a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use methodology or tool which can reduce this large number of alternatives to a more reasonable figure has motivated this research. A survey of existing FMSs was undertaken with the intention of identifying some of the more common (dominant) types of layouts, and to develop, if possible, a methodology for the selection of such layouts. However, almost every FMS was found to have a unique layout. For a given FMS under consideration, the capabilities with respect to the parts which can be manufactured is essentially given. The determining features of the resultant design of the FMS, therefore, are primarily based upon the design of the material handling system which integrates the FMS. However, as the number of machines in a FMS increase, the number of part sequences and alternate configurations increase at a dr...
Some hydrogen abstraction reactions of the CF3CCl2 radical

The gas phase photolysis of CF3CCl3 in the presence of several alkanes has been used to obtain Arrhenius parameters for the abstraction of hydrogen atoms by the CF3CCl2 radical: Activation energies of 9.6 and 8.0 kcal/mole are found for abstraction from secondary and tertiary C–H bonds, respectively. The Arrhenius parameters are compared to those for CCl3 and CF3 radicals.
Lateralized processes in face recognition

In this paper a model is presented in which face recognition is analysed into several stages, each of which may be independently lateralized. Evidence is reviewed which suggests that lateralization is important at all stages of processing a face. Early visuospatial processing, and the creation and comparison of facial representations, appear to be carried out more efficiently by the right hemisphere. Comparisons based on discrete, namable features of faces may yield a left hemisphere advantage. It is also proposed that faces may activate semantic information, including names, more efficiently in the left hemisphere. The model is useful in resolving inconsistencies in the degree and direction of asymmetries found in face-recognition tasks. Suggestions are also made for future research.
Iron oxide nanoparticle hyperthermia and chemotherapy cancer treatment

The benefit of combining hyperthermia and chemotherapy to treat cancer is well established. However, combined therapy has not yet achieved standard of care status. The reasons are numerous and varied, however the lack of significantly greater tumor cell sensitivity to heat (as compared to normal cells) and the inability to deliver heat to the tumor in a precise manner have been major factors. Iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) hyperthermia, alone and combined with other modalities, offers a new direction in hyperthermia cancer therapy via improved tumor targeting and an improved therapeutic ratio. Our preliminary studies have demonstrated tumor cell cytotoxicity (in vitro and in vivo) with IONP heat and cisplatinum (CDDP) doses lower than those necessary when using conventional heating techniques or cisplatinum alone. Ongoing studies suggest such treatment could be further improved through the use of targeted nanoparticles.
Auditory input to a vocal nucleus in the frog Rana pipiens: hormonal and seasonal effects.

In Rana pipiens, single unit recordings from the pretrigeminal nucleus (pre-V), a nucleus involved in call production, demonstrated neurons that respond to auditory stimuli. Most of these neurons had V-shaped tuning curves, with best excitatory frequencies between 200–1400 Hz, thresholds between 31–87 dB SPL, latencies between 10–50 ms, and Q (10 dB) between 1.3–5.1. The number of pre-V neurons that responded to acoustic stimulation increased after gonadotropin injections, and appeared to increase during the breeding season. In addition, a small number of neurons with more complex response properties, such as W-shaped tuning curves or sensitivity to white noise but not to pure tones, appeared after hormone treatments. The hormonal and possible seasonal effects on pre-V auditory activity suggest that the auditory input to this vocal nucleus may play a role in reproductive behavior.
Relative contributions of chemical exchange and other relaxation mechanisms in protein solutions and tissues

Transverse relaxation times T2 of water protons were measured in 5% protein solutions and soaked rat liver in different static magnetic fields (0.15 to 11 T). Protein molecular weight varied between 1.4 and 480 kDa in solutions of yarying degrees of deuteration. The data obtained are analyzed in terms of a model system consisting of three phases of different relaxation characteristics: protein protons, hydration layer water protons, and bulk water protons. The contributions to relaxation due to hydrodynamic effects on water protons, cross relaxation between the hydration layer water protons and the protein protons, and chemical exchange between the hydration layer water protons and the bulk water protons are separately estimated. The experimental results indicate that the “hydrodynamic interactions” are about the same magnitude in rat liver and all the proteins studied, but the contribution of the cross relaxation differs by several orders in different protein systems. Fast chemical exchange between the hydration layer water and the bulk water causes considerable shortening of T2 at high magnetic fields for all the protein solutions and rat tissue studied. Selected samples were studied at different temperatures (2 13-3 18 K) and with different intervals in the CPMG sequence. The rates of chemical exchange and fractional populations of different phases are determined, and the results obtained provide support for the model in which fast exchange among the different water phases is an important feature of the overall relaxation behavior.
Characterization of astrocyte‐specific conditional knockouts

Conditional gene knockouts are a very powerful tool for elucidating gene function in animal physiology and behavior. To obtain cell-specific knockouts, a promoter is utilized that drives expression of Cre recombinase specifically to the cell population of interest. We describe several transgenic lines of mice that were created in an attempt to obtain astrocyte-specific gene recombination. A 2 kb fragment from the human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter is utilized to drive expression of inducible Cre recombinase, with both the Tet-Off and tamoxifen responsive systems. We show data obtained from crosses with two Cre reporter lines, ROSA26R and an astrocyte Cre reporter created in our laboratory, to assess the cell specificity of gene recombination. Additionally, our system is shown to successfully recombine a floxed Connexin43 locus, although recombination is not as extensive as seen in crosses with reporter lines.
Accelerated Skin Graft Rejection Following Transfer of Cells Sensitized to a “Weak” Histocompatibility Antigen(s)

C3H/HeJ mice were immunized with either CBA/J or C57L/J skin grafts and then tested for secondary responses against both strains. Secondary responses were measured by six-day graft rejection, ability of syngeneic spleen cells to transfer skin-graft imnunity to sublethally irradiated mice, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in lethally irradiated CBA/J mice receiving C3H/HeJ spleen cells. Although failure to transfer a primary response against “Creak” histocompatibility antigens with syngeneic spleen cells was noted, the secondary responses demonstrated a cross-reacting antigen(s) which seems to be of greater imnunologic strength than the postulated H-13 difference. Possible explanations for this finding include the existence of multiple undescribed loci with cross-reacting alleles, or an increase in immunogenicity of “weak” transplantation antigens when acting in concert with “stronger” antigens.
Effect of Aspartic Acid Salts on Exhaustion Produced by Sleep Deprivation

Male rats were maintained on a constantly moving wheel in a study of prolonged sleep deprivation. Animals in three age groups were used, and aspartic acid salts were given to half the animals in each age group. The results showed that aspartic acid salts significantly inhibited performance of rats in this situation. Also, the same negative relationship between age and exhaustion time as that found by Webb and Agnew (2) was obtained.
A reconfigurable UWB system for real-time through wall imaging applications

A reconfigurable ultra-wideband system for through wall imaging application has been developed. The radar operating frequency can be selected to cover either 2–4 GHz or 8–10 GHz UWB bands. The lower UWB band is used to minimize through wall attenuation for relatively high loss wall materials, but the upper band can be utilized to achieve high image resolution for relatively low loss walls. A synthetic aperture radar has been developed that utilizes a wideband tapered slot Vivaldi array and covers an ultra wide frequency range, extending over 2–10 GHz; thus covering both regions. The developed beam-forming algorithm is based on near field models, and accounts for wall effects. Both the wave refraction and propagation speed changes are taken into considerations to obtain accurate images of various targets. Real-time experiments have been performed through both dry-walls and brick-walls to validate the performance of the radar system.
The effects of biological examples in idea generation

In engineering design, analogies can be used in conceptual design to aid in generating new and novel design ideas. In this paper, a cognitive study was performed to assess the impact of biological examples, which serve as surface dissimilar analogies, in the idea generation process during conceptual design. In this study, participants were exposed to biological examples during the idea generation process. These results were then compared to those of participants receiving no examples and to those receiving human-engineered examples. The results suggest that exposure to biological examples in idea generation can increase the novelty of design ideas generated after exposure without inhibiting the variety of the design ideas generated, unlike human-engineered examples which resulted in decreased variety.
The predominant form of fibroblast growth factor receptor expressed by proliferating human arterial smooth muscle cells in culture is type I

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and their specific receptors (FGFR) have diverse roles, including induction of proliferation in smooth muscle cells which contributes to restenosis after coronary artery balloon angioplasty. The relative levels of expression of the four major types of FGFR were studied in 13 different human arterial smooth muscle cell isolates. Cell lines were established by the explant technique from intima/media tissue samples obtained from patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass surgery or cardiac transplantation procedures. Expression of FGFR isoforms was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers for the conserved tyrosine kinase (TK) domain followed by Southern blotting with TK insert probes unique to each isoform. The data indicate that FGFR I is the major form of FGF receptor mRNA expressed by proliferating human arterial smooth muscle cells. This strongly suggests that it is this type of FGFR that mediates the signal transduction cascade associated with mitogenesis in proliferating human smooth muscle cells.
The relationship between primary production and the vertical export of particulate organic matter in a river-impacted coastal ecosystem

As part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Nutrient Enhanced Coastal Ocean Productivity program, we have conducted four research cruises, July–August 1990, March 1991, September 1991, and May 1992, in the Mississippi River plume and adjacent shelf regions. Over this time period, photic-zone-integrated primary production varied significantly in both the river plume and shelf study regions, with greatest variability observed in the river plume region. In the river plume and the adjacent shelf, highest production occurred during July–August 1990 (8.17 g C m−2 d−1 for the plume and 1.89–3.02 g C m−2 d−1 for the shelf) and the lowest during March 1991 (0.40–0.69 g C m−2 d−1 for the plume and 0.12–0.45 g C m−2 d−1 for the shelf). The vertical export of POC from the euphotic zone, determined with free-floating MULTITRAP sediment trap systems, also varied temporally in both study regions, with highest values occurring in May 1992 (1.80±0.04 g C m−2 d−1 for the plume and 0.40±0.02 g C m−2 d−1 for the shelf) and the lowest values occurring during July–August 1990 (0.29±0.02 g C m−2 d−1 for the plume and 0.18±0.01 g C m−2 d−1 for the shelf). The fraction of production exported out of the photic zone was highly variable and was dependent, in part, on phytoplankton species composition and on the grazing activities of microzooplankton and mesozooplankton. The lowest ratio of export to production coincided with the time when production was greated and the highest ratios occurred when production was the lowest.
Sensory and Chromatographic Analysis of Mixtures Formulated from Pure Odorants

SUMMARY Continuing the leads from previously published studies of four chemicals having different odors hut similar molecular weights and boiling points, this work centers on sensory examinations of the vapors over essentially water solutions of GLC-purified anethol, geranial, methyl salicylate, and safrol. Experienced profile-trained panelists examined the odors from two- and four-component mixtures of the odorants at multiple decimal fractions of odor-recognition threshold concentrations in terms of molarity. Findings for the two-component mixtures showed these possible phenomena: 1) intensification of one odorant with suppression of the other; 2) increase in total intensity of odor; 3) decrease in total intensity with development of a different odor character (i.e., blending); and 4) infrequently, no describable difference (i.e., no interaction). Interactions were also found for the four-component systems, which, because of greater complexity, more frequently showed tendencies toward blending. Sucrose, salt, and mono-sodium glutamate were added separately at their food-use levels (respectively 10, 1, and 0.1%) to a quaternary mixture and were found to have different effects. Sucrose emphasized the mixture's lemon-candy identity; salt clouded the solution and emphasized its root beer character; MSG disrupted the blend. In addition to these nonvolatiles, two odorous substances known to have odor-blending or fixative properties were examined for recognition threshold and effect on the quaternary blend when added at 1/10 their threshold concentrations. Nonalactone, at 1/10 10−9 g/ml, increased the soapy-oily character of the geranial. Exaltone, at 1/10 10−9 g/ml, blended the odor still further. The minimum change in concentration to give a detectable difference in odor strength (just noticeable difference) was determined for geranial at the profile intensity range of moderate. The jnd was found to he of the order of 100.2, representing about a 60% increase in concentration, which coincides with the 58% increase cited by other workers.
Modeling redirection in geographically diverse server sets

Internet server selection mechanisms attempt to optimize, subject to a variety of constraints, the distribution of client requests to a geographically and topologically diverse pool of servers. Research on server selection has thus far focused primarily on techniques for choosing a server from a group administered by single entity, like a content distribution network provider. In a federated, multi-provider computing system, however, selection must occur over distributed server sets deployed by the participating providers, without the benefit of the full information available in the single-provider case. Intelligent server set selection algorithms will require a model of the expected performance clients would receive from a candidate server set.In this paper, we study whether the complex policies and dynamics of intelligent server selection can be effectively modeled in order to predict client performance for server sets. We introduce a novel server set distance metric, and use it in a measurement study of several million server selection transactions to develop simple models of existing server selection schemes. We then evaluate these models in terms of their ability to accurately predict performance for a second, larger set of distributed clients. We show that our models are able to predict performance within 20ms for over 90% of the observed samples. Our analysis demonstrates that although existing deployments use a variety of complex and dynamic server selection criteria, most of which are proprietary, these schemes can be modeled with surprising accuracy.
Lay Understandings of Sex/Gender and Genetics: A Methodology That Preserves Polyvocal Coder Input

Lay understandings of the role of heredity and genetics in the production of human sex may be important in perceptions of the relative similarity and difference of men and women and therefore of the appropriateness of behaviors or social policies. We employed 17 focus groups segregated by gender and ethnicity (43 European American and 39 African American) to assess lay understandings of genetics and biological sex. To ensure the inclusion of multiple perspectives in results, we developed and applied a methodology we call “polyvocal coding.” Results show uneven incorporation of basic genetics, with substantial diversity of alternative understandings, especially with regard to sexual orientation. Different individuals, including both coders and participants, may interpret the same information about sex chromosomal inheritance as a fundamental quality of individual identity that constitutes essential and significant difference or as a component with limited impact on each person.
Linking Habitat with Associations of Woody Vegetation and Vines on Two Mid-Atlantic Barrier Islands

ABSTRACT Bissett, S.N.; Zinnert, J.C., and Young, D.R., 2014. Linking habitat with associations of woody vegetation and vines on two mid-Atlantic barrier islands. Coastal habitats are inherently vulnerable to global change, as they are the first areas impacted by sea level rise and to experience more frequent and intense storms. Shrubs and vines dominate the climax communities in these environments, and with comparatively long regeneration periods, they are highly vulnerable to shifting topography and climate. We investigated abiotic and biotic components of two barrier island landscapes with similar plant communities but different site histories to clarify relationships among physical factors, woody plants, and vines. On Hog Island, Virginia and at Duck, North Carolina, intrasite comparisons with reference to distance from shoreline and elevation were made to evaluate relationships between woody and vine communities, as well as edaphic characteristics. Elevation was significantly related to woody species...
Structural identification and finite element modeling of a 14-story office building using recorded data

Presented is a detailed case study on structural identification and Finite Element (FE) modeling of a 14-story office building. Specifically, system identification tools were used to identify the structural dynamic properties based on recorded seismic data. This identified model was compared with a model based on IBC 2000 using the fundamental period, design response spectral acceleration, and base shear. The two models were found to be about 20% different in these parameters. Then, a series of three-dimensional FE models were created to study various approaches for improving the accuracy of FE models quantitatively. Sensitivity study shows that the most effective ways to improve the accuracy of linear FE models are to refine the mass calculation and consider the panel zone rigidity of the beam/column connections for this type of structure. Simulated seismic responses were compared with the observed responses and it is found that a FE model can be calibrated to give a good prediction of earthquake response.
Structurally Distinct Ca2+ Signaling Domains of Sperm Flagella Orchestrate Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Motility

Summary Spermatozoa must leave one organism, navigate long distances, and deliver their paternal DNA into a mature egg. For successful navigation and delivery, a sperm-specific calcium channel is activated in the mammalian flagellum. The genes encoding this channel ( CatSpers ) appear first in ancient uniflagellates, suggesting that sperm use adaptive strategies developed long ago for single-cell navigation. Here, using genetics, super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, and phosphoproteomics, we investigate the CatSper-dependent mechanisms underlying this flagellar switch. We find that the CatSper channel is required for four linear calcium domains that organize signaling proteins along the flagella. This unique structure focuses tyrosine phosphorylation in time and space as sperm acquire the capacity to fertilize. In heterogeneous sperm populations, we find unique molecular phenotypes, but only sperm with intact CatSper domains that organize time-dependent and spatially specific protein tyrosine phosphorylation successfully migrate. These findings illuminate flagellar adaptation, signal transduction cascade organization, and fertility. PaperFlick
Automatic continuity of linear maps on spaces of continuous functions

Let C(S)and C(T) denote the sup-normed Banach spaces of real- or complex-valued continuous functions on the compact Hausdorff spaces S and T, respectively. A linear map A∶C(T)→C(S) is calledseparating if when two functions x and y from C(T) have disjoint cozero sets then so do Ax and Ay. In the spirit of [3] and [4], we show that separating maps are automatically continuous in some important cases (Theorems 2.4 and 2.5). If a separating map is continuous, then it must be a continuous multiple of a composition map (Theorem 2.2). If A is injective, separating and detaching (Def. 2.4) then S and T are homeomorphic (Theorem 2.1).
β-Adrenergic Modulation of GABAergic Inhibition in the Deep Cerebellar Nuclei of F344 Rats

Abstract The presence of norepinephrine (NE) and NE activated cells, in the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) of male F344 rats, was investigated using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology, during iontophoresis of the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISO). During extracellular electrophysiology, GABA was iontophoretically applied to the cell and ISO was then co-applied in an attempt to modulate the GABAergic inhibition of cell firing in the DCN. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive fibers in the DCN. Isoproterenol modulated GABAergic inhibition in 51% of the DCN cells recorded from. In addition, TH-positive fibers that appeared to make contact with DCN cells were found. Therefore, this study demonstrated that functional NE receptors exist in the DCN and NE appears to be present in fibers therein. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Geographic Information Systems: Unique Analytic Capabilities for the Traffic Safety Community

Geographic information systems (GIS) have been used for more than a decade to display crash sites. Now that their novelty has worn off, the traffic records community should ask what additional analytical benefits GIS can uniquely provide. A literature review illustrates that safety-related GIS analytical capabilities surpass the common practice of producing crash location pin maps. Additional useful GIS techniques include using grid-based modeling; producing increasingly accurate collision diagrams; verifying disparate sources of crash data; applying spatially based statistical applications; examining crash location patterns for causal factors; aligning public opinion with real data; and improving routing capabilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and hazardous material carriers. This research explores GIS analytic capabilities that can be practically applied to crash data evaluation. A case study demonstrates that despite limited budgets and imperfect data, GIS can still help to identify potential crash c...
ANALYSIS OF GAMMA-GAMMA ANGULAR CORRELATIONS INVOLVING MULTIPOLE MIXTURES

A method is outlined which provides for rapid analysis of directional correlations involving gamma rays of mixed multipolarity. Specific examples are given to illustrate the application to cascades in which one or both transitions involve a mixture of dipole and quadrupole radiation.
Derivation of a Bogomol'ny inequality in five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein theory

We prove an inequality bounding the mass from below by the electromagnetic charge in five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein theory without assuming the existence of globalU(1) symmetry.
Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on development and reproduction

As part of its mandate, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) prepares toxicological profiles on hazardous chemicals found at Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) National Priorities List (NPL) sites that have the greatest public health impact. These profiles comprehensively summarize toxicological and environmental information. This article, which constitutes the release of an important section of the Toxicological Profile for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (ATSDR 2000) into the scientific literature, focuses on the developmental and reproductive effects of this group of synthetic organic chemicals (PCBs) in humans and animals. Information on other health effects, toxicokinetics, mechanisms of toxicity, biomarkers, interactions, chemical and physical properties, potential for human exposure, and regulations and advisories is detailed in the profile. Interested readers are encouraged to consult the original toxicological profile for more information. Profiles can be requested from ATSDR's Information Center by telephone (1-888-42-ATSDR [1-888-422-8737] or E-mail: (atsdric@cdc.gov).
Dapoxetine for Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common form of male sexual dysfunction, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 20–30%.1 Although PE is not life threatening, it has significant impact on quality of life. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR)defines PE as “persistent or recurrent ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before, on, or shortly after penetration and before the person wishes it” that “causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty” and “is not due exclusively to the direct effects of a substance.”2 The International Society for Sexual Medicine, which recently modified the definition to include the threshold ejaculatory latency time, defines PEas “male sexual dysfunction characterized by ejaculation which always or nearly always occurs prior to or within 1 min of vaginal penetration; the inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and negative personal consequences such as distress, bother, frustration, and/or the avoidance of sexual intimacy.”3 The lack of ejaculatory control is consistent among all clinical definitions of PE and is a highly sensitive predictor of the condition.