cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proposed wireless system could interfere with key GPS receivers, U.S. officials testify

[1] A proposed $14 billion network that would increase broadband wireless access poses significant interference problems for existing GPS signals used for some critical U.S. federal science and public safety systems, said officials from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other experts at an 8 September hearing of the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The officials cautioned that a terrestrial wireless network plan proposed by LightSquared LLC—which includes using frequencies adjacent to the GPS band—needs additional testing before it is given a green light by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In addition, the officials said that although they hope there is a win-win solution to increasing broadband wireless options without harming GPS signals, a recently revised plan that LightSquared indicates would reduce interference to a large majority of GPS receivers still would present problems for a number of high-precision GPS systems.
Increase in γ-Glutamylcysteine Synthetase Activity as a Mechanism for Butylated Hydroxyanisole-Mediated Elevation of Hepatic Glutathione

Previous studies have demonstrated that dietary administration of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and other phenolic antioxidants increases hepatic glutathione (GSH). The purpose of this study was to examine whether BHA increases GSH by increasing the activity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic GSH biosynthesis. Male Swiss-Webster mice were fed BHA in the diet at various doses (0.05-0.75%, w/w, of diet) for 14 days. An additional study examined the effects of 0.75% BHA on hepatic GSH and GCS activity at 1, 4, 8, and 14 days, and at various times following cessation of the BHA diet. BHA increased both GSH and GCS activity in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. At the maximal dose of 0.75% BHA, hepatic GSH and GCS activity was increased by 1.5-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively, by Day 8, and remained at this level at Day 14. GSH was initially depleted at 1 day on the BHA diet, but had returned to control levels at Day 4. Upon removal of the BHA diet, both GCS and GSH returned to control values within 4 days. Hepatic cytosolic GCS activity from BHA-treated mice was inhibited by GSH in a manner similar to that of GCS from untreated mice. These data demonstrate that GCS activity is increased by BHA, and that this increase may be responsible for the elevation of hepatic GSH after BHA treatment observed previously. Whether the BHA-mediated increase in GCS activity is the result of enhanced transcriptional activation of the GCS gene, or results from stabilization of existing GCS enzyme activity, requires further investigation.
Zirconium transport dynamics in the Purex solvent extraction process

The primary objective of the study was to develop and validate experimental and mathematical procedures that can be used to determine the fundamental mechanisms of the Purex (plutonium and uranium) extraction process. The mechanisms of this solvent extraction process have been established by classical chemical engineering principles. In the past, modeling of transport phenomena for the solvent extraction of spent nuclear fuel by the Purex process has typically relied solely on diffusion, relied solely on chemical reaction, combined diffusion and chemical reaction in a semiempirical fashion, or combined diffusion and chemical reaction in a nonclassical chemical engineer manner. The study was conducted with the single Purex species, aqueous Zr 4+ , to simplify the chemistry and modeling mathematics. The validated procedures and model are applicable to most all Purex species
FETI domain decomposition methods for scalar advection–diffusion problems

Abstract In this paper, we show that iterative substructuring methods of finite element tearing and interconnecting type can be successfully employed for the solution of linear systems arising from the finite element approximation of scalar advection–diffusion problems. Using similar ideas as those of a recently developed Neumann–Neumann method, we propose a one-level algorithm and a class of two-level algorithms, obtained by suitably modifying the local problems on the subdomains. We present some numerical results for some significant test cases. Our methods appear to be optimal for flows without closed streamlines and possibly very small values of the viscosity. They also show very good performances for rotating flows and moderate Reynolds numbers. Therefore, the algorithms proposed appear to be well-suited for many convection-dominated problems of practical interest.
Detecting the collagen-based hydrogels degradation by multiphoton microscopy (MPM)

Collagen is widely used in tissue engineering applications because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Detecting collagen microstructure can help to accelerate its applications in tissue engineering. In this study, we followed the changes in microstructure of collagen hydrogels that were digested with collagenase by MPM using Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) and Two photon Fluorescence (TPF) signals. The collagen hydrogels were modified by cross-linkers genipin, EDC or EDC+NHS. For unmodified collagen hydrogels, SHG images showed degradation was underway by about 20 min. For collagen hydrogels modified with EDC or EDC+NHS, preliminary data did not indicate obvious degradation after 22 hours. Modification with genipin induced new fibers that had TPF centered at about 490 nm and 600 nm. The SHG signals were weaker in genipin modified collagen hydrogels. TPF images illustrated that the degradation of the newly induced fluorescent fibers at the surface of the materials was underway after about 2 hours.
Another health insurance gap: Gaining and losing coverage among natives and immigrants at older ages

Abstract As the immigrant population grows older and larger, limitations on access to health insurance may create a new subgroup of people who remain outside or on the margin of coverage. Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data from the 2004 and 2008 panels, we address the health insurance gap between foreign-born and native-born adults among those aged 50–64 and the 65 and older, two sub-populations that have received relatively little attention in past research. We argue that current practices leave a significant minority of older foreign-born residents inconsistently covered or without any insurance. We find that health insurance coverage for older immigrants is both less likely and more episodic even when compositional differences in SES and assimilation are controlled.
Detection of posttraumatic cartilage injury using quantitative T1rho magnetic resonance imaging. A report of two cases with arthroscopic findings.

Cartilage injuries following trauma are a common problem and can lead to premature, secondary osteoarthritis. Standard magnetic resonance imaging techniques can detect cartilage breakdown associated with morphological changes, such as decreases in cartilage thickness and volume, but it cannot detect early changes of the cartilage matrix. There is a need for a noninvasive method with which to diagnose articular cartilage abnormalities at early stages in order to initiate early treatment prior to the macroadaptive changes seen on radiographs. Early events in the development of cartilage breakdown include the loss of proteoglycans, changes in water content, and molecular-level changes in collagen1,2. Early diagnosis of cartilage injury requires the ability to detect changes in proteoglycan concentration and collagen integrity noninvasively before gross morphological changes occur. Standard cartilage-dedicated magnetic resonance imaging techniques such as T2-weighted, proton-density-weighted fast-spin-echo sequences and spoiled gradient-echo sequences are inconclusive in quantifying early degenerative changes, especially biochemical changes such as proteoglycan loss3. It appears that T1rho-weighted imaging can provide quantitative measures of pathologic cartilage matrix changes. Previous studies have demonstrated significant differences in T1rho relaxation times when patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis have been compared with normal controls4. In the present study, we describe two cases in which cartilage injuries were not detected with standard morphological magnetic resonance imaging but in which T1rho-weighted imaging was able to detect cartilage abnormalities in vivo that were confirmed at the time of arthroscopy. The patients were informed that data concerning these cases would be submitted for publication. Case 1. A forty-five-year-old man presented with a three-week history of pain in the right knee following a motor-vehicle accident. Clinical examination demonstrated a moderate intra-articular knee effusion, a positive grade-2 Lachman test, and a positive pivot-shift test. The patient also had mild discomfort on the McMurray …
A collocated method for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations inspired by the Box scheme

We present a new finite-difference numerical method to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using a collocated discretization in space on a logically Cartesian grid. The method shares some common aspects with, and it was inspired by, the Box scheme. It uses centered second-order-accurate finite-difference approximations for the spatial derivatives combined with semi-implicit time integration. The proposed method is constructed to ensure discrete conservation of mass and momentum by discretizing the primitive velocity-pressure form of the equations. The continuity equation is enforced exactly (to machine accuracy) at the collocated locations, whereas the momentum equations are evaluated in a staggered manner. This formulation preempts the appearance of spurious pressure modes in the embedded elliptic problem associated with the pressure. The method shows uniform order of accuracy, both in space and time, for velocity and pressure. In addition, the skew-symmetric form of the non-linear advection term of the Navier-Stokes equations improves discrete conservation of kinetic energy in the inviscid limit, to within the order of the truncation error of the time integrator. The method has been formulated to accommodate different types of boundary conditions; fully periodic, periodic channel, inflow-outflow and lid-driven cavity; always ensuring global mass conservation. A novel aspect of this finite-difference formulation is the derivation of the discretization near boundaries using the weak form of the equations, as in the finite element method. The method of manufactured solutions is utilized to perform accuracy analysis and verification of the solver. To assess the applicability of the new method presented in this paper, four realistic flow problems have been simulated and results are compared with those in the literature. These cases include a lid-driven cavity, backward-facing step, Kovasznay flow, and fully developed turbulent channel.
Monitoring blood flow and photobleaching during topical ALA PDT treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is currently used as a clinical treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancers. In order to optimize PDT treatment, vascular shutdown early in treatment must be identified and prevented. This is especially important for topical ALA PDT where vascular shutdown is only temporary and is not a primary method of cell death. Shutdown in vasculature would limit the delivery of oxygen which is necessary for effective PDT treatment. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) was used to monitor relative blood flow changes in Balb/C mice undergoing PDT at fluence rates of 10mW/cm2 and 75mW/cm2 for colon-26 tumors implanted intradermally. DCS is a preferable method to monitor the blood flow during PDT of lesions due to its ability to be used noninvasively throughout treatment, returning data from differing depths of tissue. Photobleaching of the photosensitizer was also monitored during treatment as an indirect manner of monitoring singlet oxygen production. In this paper, we show the conditions that cause vascular shutdown in our tumor model and its effects on the photobleaching rate.
Mercury in lichens and reindeer hair from Alaska: 2005–2007 pilot survey

Reindeer and caribou are terrestrial herbivores, that feed on lichens and are used for commercial and subsistence food products. Caribou are a key component of the arctic food web and the bioaccumulation of toxic contaminants, such as mercury (Hg), needs to be monitored to establish a baseline as the arctic environment is impacted by both climate change and future industrial development. A changing climate in Alaska is influencing plant species composition, fire regime, melting and flooding events, and thus, impacting Hg bioavailability in the food chain. Industrial development in Asia is also projected to increase the atmospheric global pool of Hg from increased coal combustion. Reindeer, a domesticated representative of caribou, can be used as a terrestrial biomonitor for metal exposure. In this study total mercury concentrations were measured in lichens and in hair of grazing reindeer on defined ranges across Alaska to establish a baseline for future hypothesis development and testing regarding Hg deposition. The Hg mean level for Seward Peninsula lichens on the Davis Range was 37.4 ng g -1 , on the Gray Range 47.1 ng g -1 , on the Kakaruk Range 42.2 ng g -1 , and 41.7 ng g -1 on the Noyakuk Range. Lichen Hg levels on St. Lawrence Island was 46.6 ng g -1 . Methyl mercury levels in lichens were found to be below detection levels. Reindeer grazing on these ranges had mean Hg hair levels of 14.6 ng g -1 (Davis herd), 83.4 ng g -1 (Gray herd), and 40.3 ng g -1 (Noyakuk herd). Two reindeer on St. Lawrence Island had an average of Hg of 43.0 ng g -1 Sample sizes ranged from n=2 to n=11. Hg mean levels in lichen on Seward Peninsula were higher than Hg means of two ranges in northern Mongolia. The Hg levels observed in this study indicate that Hg levels in Alaska are low at this time and pose no risk to the health of reindeer or human subsistence harvesters. A significant relationship between Hg in lichens on the ranges and the Hg in reindeer on those ranges has not been established. There are insufficient data on Hg levels in many areas of the north and more information is needed on location specific and time trends in Hg concentrations. Lichens and reindeer hair provide a good, non-invasive method of monitoring metal exposure changes in Alaskan ecosystems.
Circular RNA oligonucleotides. Synthesis, nucleic acid binding properties, and a comparison with circular DNAs

We report the synthesis and nucleic acid binding properties of two cyclic RNA oligonucleotides designed to bind single-stranded nucleic acids by pyr.pur.pyr-type triple helix formation. The circular RNAs are 34 nucleotides in size and were cyclized using a template-directed nonenzymatic ligation. To ensure isomeric 3'-5' purity in the ligation reaction, one nucleotide at the ligation site is a 2'-deoxyribose. One circle (1) is complementary to the sequence 5'-A12, and the second (2) is complementary to 5'-AAGAAAGAAAAG. Results of thermal denaturation experiments and mixing studies show that both circles bind complementary single-stranded DNA or RNA substrates by triple helix formation, in which two domains in a pyrimidine-rich circle sandwich a central purine-rich substrate. The affinities of these circles with their purine complements are much higher than the affinities of either the linear precursors or simple Watson-Crick DNA complements. For example, circle 1 binds rA12 (pH 7.0, 10 mM MgCl2, 100 mM NaCl) with a Tm of 48 degrees C and a Kd (37 degrees C) of 4.1 x 10(-9) M, while the linear precursor of the circle binds with a Tm of 34 degrees C and a Kd of 1.2 x 10(-6) M. The complexes of circle 2 are pH-dependent, as expected for triple helical complexes involving C(+)G.C triads, and mixing plots for both circles reveal one-to-one stoichiometry of binding either to RNA or DNA substrates. Comparison of circular RNAs with previously synthesized circular DNA oligonucleotides of the same sequence reveals similar behavior in the binding of DNA, but strikingly different behavior in the binding of RNA. The cyclic DNAs show high DNA-binding selectivity, giving relatively weaker duplex-type binding with complementary RNAs. The relative order of thermodynamic stability for the four types of triplex studied here is found to be DDD >> RRR > RDR >> DRD. The results are discussed in the context of recent reports of strong triplex dependence on RNA versus DNA backbones. Triplex-forming circular RNAs represent a novel and potentially useful strategy for high-affinity binding of RNA.
Perioperative GMCSF limits the proangiogenic plasma protein changes associated with colorectal cancer resection

Abstract Aims Colorectal resection (CR) increases plasma VEGF levels which may promote residual tumor growth. This study assessed the effect of perioperative GMCSF on plasma levels of sVEGFR1, Ang-1 and Ang-2 and also the impact of post-GMCSF plasma on in vitro endothelial cell (EC) growth and invasion. Ang-2 increases while sVEGFR1 and Ang-1 impede angiogenesis. Methods Fifty-nine CR cancer patients were randomized to 7 perioperative doses of GMCSF or saline for 3 days prior and 4 days after CR. Blood samples were taken pre-drug (PreRx) and on several postoperative days (POD). Protein levels were assessed and PreRx and POD 5 plasma added to EC cultures after which branch point formation (ECBPF) and invasion (ECI) were measured. Results sVEGFR1 levels were significantly higher on POD 1 and POD 5 in both groups but the GMCSF POD 5 level was twice the control value ( p = 0.002). Ang-2 levels were higher on PODs 1 and 5 in both groups ( p p = 0.03). Ang-1 decreases were noted in all ( p = not significant, ns). The control group POD 5 ECBPF was 35.8% greater than Pre Rx ( p = 0.001) while the GMCSF result was 18.0% lower ( p = ns); the control POD 5 median percent change from baseline was greater than the GMCSF result( p = 0.008). The POD 5 ECI was +12.2% for the control group vs. baseline ( p = ns) and −17.2% for the GMCSF group ( p = ns): the control median percent change was greater than in the GMCSF group( p = 0.045). Conclusion CR-related plasma changes are proangiogenic (>Ang-2) and anti-angiogenic (>sVEGFR1); the net effect is promotion of in vitro ECBPF. GMCSF limits the proangiogenic changes (higher POD 5 sVEGFR1 levels and lower Ang-2 elevations, lower POD 5 ECBPF and ECI). The clinical import of these effects is unclear; perioperative GMCSF has anti-angiogenic plasma effects that may limit tumor growth. Further investigation is warranted.
Adaptability of Schistosoma mansoni of human origin to mice and hamsters

Abstract Cercariae derived from A. glahratus exposed to miracidia hatched from stools of Puerto Rican patients infected with S. mansoni were used for exposure of mice and hamsters. In every instance viable eggs of S. mansoni were demonstrated in the stools of the infected animals 6 to 7 1 2 weeks after exposure. In view of the present findings the gradual adaptation of human strains of S. mansoni to mice and hamsters would appear to be unnecessary.
Agonistic Moderation Administrating With the Wisdom of Sophrosyne

The article argues that despite frequent debates about the excesses of government, public administration lacks a systematic theoretical examination of the concept of moderation. To that end, the ar...
Sensing and Acutuation of Composite Piezoelectric Materials for Smart Joint Applications

Piezoelectric materials have the ability to provide desired transformation from mechanical to electrical energy and vice versa. When a mechanical force is applied to the piezoelectric material an electrical voltage is generated and when an electrical voltage is applied to the piezoelectric material it gets strained or mechanically deformed. Owing to these characteristics piezoelectric materials can be used as a sensor, an actuator, as well as a power generation unit. The high brittleness property of the original piezoelectric material is one of the major constraints in using them in engineering applications. In order to overcome this difficulty the composite piezoelectric materials were developed. The piezoelectric fiber material is flexible and can sustain large deformation without being damaged, and is compatible with the composite structures processing procedure; which makes it an ideal material to be used as an embedded sensor, power harvesting device, and a force actuator within the composite structures. The smart joint can be designed to have the piezoelectric materials embedded in them, wherein the piezoelectric materials can detect the various loads that act on the composite joint and could provide the required counter-balancing force to the externally applied input excitation forces acting on the joint; and thereby could reduce or even eliminate the effects of stress concentrations at the composite joint. High stress concentrations are one of the principal causes of structural failures as it may cause unexpected high stresses exceeding stress level caused by design loads. In this work our main objectives are to study the sensing and force generation capabilities of various commercially available composite piezoelectric configurations through series of experimentations; and to compare their performances in order to use them in the smart joint applications; and eventually, to reduce the detrimental effects of stress concentrations in the structures. Firstly, the sensing capabilities of these piezoelectric materials were investigated at various input frequencies and amplitudes of the vibration loads. Secondly, the tensile and bending force generation capabilities of these piezoelectric materials were inspected with respect to various input excitation voltages. The results of these experiments confirm that the voltage signals generated from these materials are proportional to the amplitudes of mechanical movement, with good response to high frequencies, even at micrometer deformation domain; but the force generation is relatively low under the input conditions investigated.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The political economy of roll-call voting in the “multi-party” congress of the United States

The Congress of the United States can be characterized as a “mult-party” system where each legislator has a unique position on a liberal-conservative dimension. This dimension correctly classifies over 80 percent of individual roll call votes. Previous attempts to explain roll-call voting by economic characteristics of constituencies have not been developed within a spatial model of choice. Within the context of a spatial model, constituency characteristics representing state “averages” do not succeed as explanatory variables and add little, if anything, to the explanatory power of liberal-conservative position. This point is documented by the analysis of 568 Senate roll calls for 1977 and a spezific set of coal-mine roll calls previously analyzed by Kalt and Zupan.
Pathogenesis of Emphysema: Assessment of Basic Science Concepts Through Clinical Investigation

It is clear that alpha 1AT deficiency leads to early onset pulmonary emphysema. With the lead provided by the deficiency state, studies aimed at the linkage between alpha 1AT and its target enzyme, neutrophil elastase, have provided useful information about the pathogenesis of emphysema due to cigarette smoking. alpha 1AT represents the predominant antielastase of the lower respiratory tract. This observation implicates neutrophil elastase as the enzyme responsible for lung destruction, since affinity studies demonstrate that alpha 1ATs physiologically relevant function is the inhibition of neutrophil elastase. However, because of the inexorably slow nature of the emphysema process, demonstration of the protease-antiprotease imbalance in the lungs of smokers has been difficult. Studies using sensitive assays for alpha 1AT function and for neutrophil elastase's presence have added new support for the protease-antiprotease theory, and evaluation of related disorders such as the adult respiratory distress syndrome and cystic fibrosis have provided corraborative evidence. Finally, studies that have indicated that the major site of the protease-antiprotease imbalance is the microenvironment of protease-producing cells offer a new direction for future research into the pathogenesis of emphysema.
Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

The homeodomain and adjacent CVC domain in the visual system homeobox (VSX) proteins are conserved from nematodes to humans. Humans with missense mutations in these regions of VSX2 have microphthalmia, suggesting both regions are critical for function. To assess this, we generated the corresponding mutations in mouse Vsx2. The homeodomain mutant protein lacked DNA binding activity and the knock-in mutant phenocopied the null mutant, ocular retardation J. The CVC mutant protein exhibited weakened DNA binding; and, although the corresponding knock-in allele was recessive, it unexpectedly caused the strongest phenotype, as indicated by severe microphthalmia and hyperpigmentation of the neural retina. This occurred through a cryptic transcriptional feedback loop involving the transcription factors Mitf and Otx1 and the Cdk inhibitor p27Kip1. Our data suggest that the phenotypic severity of the CVC mutant depends on the weakened DNA binding activity elicited by the CVC mutation and a previously unknown protein interaction between Vsx2 and its regulatory target Mitf. Our data also suggest that an essential function of the CVC domain is to assist the homeodomain in high-affinity DNA binding, which is required for eye organogenesis and unhindered execution of the retinal progenitor program in mammals. Finally, the genetic and phenotypic behaviors of the CVC mutation suggest it has the characteristics of a recessive neomorph, a rare type of genetic allele.
The Developmental Costs of High Self‐Esteem for Antisocial Children

Two hypotheses—high self-esteem leads children to act on antisocial cognitions (disposition-activating hypothesis) and high self-esteem leads children to rationalize antisocial conduct (disposition-rationalizing hypothesis)—were investigated in two longitudinal studies. In Study 1 (N= 189; mean age = 11.1 years), antisocial behavior was aggression; in Study 2 (N= 407; mean age = 10.8 years) it was avoidance of the mother. In both studies, there was little evidence for the disposition-activating hypothesis but considerable support for the disposition-rationalizing hypothesis. Over time, aggressive children with high self-esteem increasingly valued the rewards that aggression offers and belittled their victims, and avoidant children with high self-esteem increasingly viewed their mother as harassing and uninvolved. For antisocial children, high self-esteem carries costs.
Some antigenic relationships between crude extracts and purified fractions of ragweed pollen

Abstract The capacities of two crude ragweed pollen extracts and of two purified fractions to inhibit the specific antibody binding of I 131 -labeled ragweed pollen extract (I ∗ RW) have been studied. Although the majority of antigenic groups capable of inhibiting the I ∗ RW binding capacity had been removed from the purified fractions (Pool C and Fraction IV z ), both probably contained at least trace amounts of most, if not all, of the antigens present in crude ragweed extracts. Pool C and Fraction IV z had similar but demonstrably different capacities to inhibit the I ∗ RW-antiserum reaction. Whether the antigenic differences between Pool C and Fraction IV z were associated with skin-test reactive molecules is not known. The antigenic differences between Pool C and Fraction IV z were amplified by the use of related, but not identical, antibody populations in the inhibition test used for these studies. The useful role which antibody and antigen heterogeneity plays in the interpretation of the inhibition test has been discussed and is applicable to other I 131 -labeled antigen-antibody inhibition test systems.
Effects of recreational use on branchiopod egg and ephippia density, Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon emigrant trails National Conservation Area, Nevada, USA

Numerous plays playas occur on valley floors of endorehic basins in arid regions of the western USA. Their openness makes them attractive for hiking, vehicle travel, military, and other uses when dry. Branchiopod crustacean dormant egg banks survive in these systems and are a rich food resource for migrating birds. Brachniecta gigas Lynch, 1937, B. mackini Dexter, 1956, and Lepiduras lemmoni Holmes, 1895, and Moina cf. macrocopa (Straus, 1820) occur in the Black Rock Desert playa, Nevada, USA. We collected playa egg bank samples to determine effects of human use in three studies. We compared intact egg and ephippia density in virgin playa areas with: 1) a heavily used vehicle track, and 2) recreational camping and vehicle activity mitigated by dust abatement in Black Rock City (site of the Burning Man Festival). We also attempted to quantify changes in intact egg and ephippia density through repeated vehicle travel over a track on virgin playa. We found no observed decrease in intact egg or ephippia density attributed to incrementally increased vehicle travel over virgin playa, which may be attributed to strength of the playa substrate matrix. Differences in intact egg and ephippia density were substantially lower in heavily used vehicle tracks than in adjacent playa, but differences were not statistically significant. Density of intact eggs and ephippia in Black Rock City were lower following the festival, but differences were statistically significant only for eggs in camping areas and not roads. Weak effects observed on these roads may be attributed to dust abatement that maintained substrate density.
Evidence-Based Policy Reorganizing Social Services Through Accountable Care Organizations and Social Impact Bonds

Economic austerity has provided the rationale for a transformation of social programs from unconditional entitlements to evidence-based policy (Edsall, 2012). This transition emphasizes accountability not only with respect to the cost of programs but outcomes as well. While cost–benefit analysis has been used in the past to evaluate specific initiatives, the next era of social policy institutionalizes evidence-based policy through new structures, such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). This change has significant implications for social work insofar as most social programs have been predicated on common sense, good intentions, or practice wisdom, but rarely on empirical evidence. As evidence-based policy replaces unconditional entitlements, lawmakers will prefer program activities that are substantiated through field experiments, especially randomized controlled trials, which show lower cost while producing superior outcomes, over predecessors. Accordingly, social service employment opportunities will shift toward more effective programs and away from programs that have not demonstrated comparable efficacy.
Convincing DSS users that complex models are worth the effort

Many management science/operations research (MS/OR) models have been developed to improve decision making. Too often, these models are underutilized. Users generally favor less effortful strategies. The challenge then is to increase the users' willingness to expend effort. We perform a study using cognitive feedforward and feedback to increase awareness of the improved accuracy to be obtained from complex models. Models of increasing complexity are presented to subjects with feedback regarding their accuracy. Participants overwhelmingly indicated an intention to use the most complex model. The implication for decision support system (DSS) designers is that users will expend more effort if the potential accuracy gains are made more salient.
Heat island and oasis effects of vegetative canopies: Micro-meteorological field-measurements

Dry-bulb temperature, dew-point, wind speed, and wind direction were measured in and around an isolated vegetative canopy in Davis CA from 12 to 25 October 1986. These meteorological variables were measured 1.5 m above ground along a transect of 7 weather stations set up across the canopy and the upwind/downwind open fields. These variables were averaged every 15 minutes for a period of two weeks so we could analyze their diurnal cycles as well as their spatial variability. The results indicate significant nocturnal heat islands and daytime oases within the vegetation stand, especially in clear weather. Inside the canopy within 5 m of its upwind edge, daytime temperature fell by as much as 4.5 °C, whereas the nighttime temperature rose by 1 °C. Deeper into the canopy and downwind, the daytime drop in temperature reached 6 °C, and the nighttime increase reached 2 °C. Wind speed was reduced by ~ 2 ms−1 in mild conditions and by as much as 6.7 ms−1 during cyclonic weather when open-field wind speed was in the neighborhood of 8 ms−1. Data from this project were used to construct correlations between temperature and wind speed within the canopy and their corresponding ambient, open-field values.
A double seismic zone in New Britain and the morphology of the Solomon Plate at intermediate depths

We have studied the spatial configuration of earthquakes in the New Britain subduction zone by inverting regional and teleseismic P, PKP, and pP arrival times using a hypocentroidal decomposition method. A previously unreported intermediate depth double seismic zone exists along a small, 70 km long segment of the slab. In this region, centroid moment tensor mechanisms suggest that the upper zone of seismicity shows horizontal, along-strike compression and the lower zone shows downdip tension. This contrasts with most previously studied double seismic zones, which generally show downdip compression in the upper zone. We propose that along-strike, rather than downdip compressional stresses exist in the upper seismicity plane due to membrane and lateral bending stresses resulting from the shape of the New Britain trench, which undergoes a 40° change in strike between 148° and 152° longitude. The double seismic zone is bounded by a tear in the slab which accommodates the majority of the change in strike that the slab must undergo. These results suggest that double seismic zones can show very rapid lateral variations controlled by the local tectonics, and that along-strike membrane and bending stresses resulting from slab morphology can be significant in producing double seismic zones.
Application of Readability Indices to Multiple-Choice Items on Certification/Licensure Examinations

One source of test invalidity in the area of licensure and certification testing is the reading level of the test. The purposes of this paper are to: (a) propose a model for evaluating the readability level of certification/licensure examinations; (b) evaluate selected readability indices in terms of their appropriateness for use in estimating the readability level of specific certification/licensure examinations; and (c) present an example of the application of this model to the readability analysis of a state licensure examination in cosmetology. Readability level is an important dimension of the validity of licensure and certification examinations. One potential basis for candidate appeal is the appropriateness of the readability level of the examination with respect to the tasks and functions of the profession.
Summary of results of 1991 ASFA apheresis survey

As part of gathering data for its Networking Directory, the Registry/Directory Committee of the American Society for Apheresis solicited data on the types of apheresis procedures performed, equipment used, and diseases treated in the year 1991. In this voluntary solicitation of the 266 centers responding, 94% were from the United States. For those centers reporting exact numbers of procedures performed out of all institutions doing the procedures 48, 221 therapeutic and 330,702 donor procedures were reported. The dominant type of equipment being used is the centrifugal type. For therapeutic procedures plasma exchange is the most prevalent procedure and for donor procedures it is plateletpheresis. For therapeutics, Guillain-Barre syndrome was the most prevalent disease treated by plasmapheresis and leukemias by cytapheresis. The survey methodology proved to be valuable in gathering the data on a voluntary basis. With subsequent surveys and refinement of its methodology the apheresis practices in the United States could be assessed quantitatively to provide information on the number and types of procedures being carried out. Such information is required to assess the impact of apheresis technology on health care, to project trends, and to review the cost impact of this technology. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
From a Natural Product Lead to the Identification of Potent and Selective Benzofuran-3-yl-(indol-3-yl)maleimides as Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Inhibitors That Suppress Proliferation and Survival of Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Recent studies have demonstrated that glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) is overexpressed in human colon and pancreatic carcinomas, contributing to cancer cell proliferation and survival. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of benzofuran-3-yl-(indol-3-yl)maleimides, potent GSK-3beta inhibitors. Some of these compounds show picomolar inhibitory activity toward GSK-3beta and an enhanced selectivity against cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK-2). Selected GSK-3beta inhibitors were tested in the pancreatic cancer cell lines MiaPaCa-2, BXPC-3, and HupT3. We determined that some of these compounds, namely compounds 5, 6, 11, 20, and 26, demonstrate antiproliferative activity against some or all of the pancreatic cancer cells at low micromolar to nanomolar concentrations. We found that the treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with GSK-3beta inhibitors 5 and 26 resulted in suppression of GSK-3beta activity and a distinct decrease of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) expression, leading to significant apoptosis. The present data suggest a possible role for GSK-3beta inhibitors in cancer therapy, in addition to their more prominent applications in CNS disorders.
Development of Vaccinia reporter viruses for rapid, high content analysis of viral function at all stages of gene expression

Vaccinia virus is the prototypical orthopoxvirus of Poxviridae, a family of viruses that includes the human pathogens Variola (smallpox) and Monkeypox. Core viral functions are conserved among orthopoxviruses, and consequently Vaccinia is routinely used to study poxvirus biology and screen for novel antiviral compounds. Here we describe the development of a series of fluorescent protein-based reporter Vaccinia viruses that provide unprecedented resolution for tracking viral function. The reporter viruses are divided into two sets: (1) single reporter viruses that utilize temporally regulated early, intermediate, or late viral promoters; and (2) multi-reporter viruses that utilize multiple temporally regulated promoters. Promoter and reporter combinations were chosen that yielded high signal-to-background for stage-specific viral outputs. We provide examples for how these viruses can be used in the rapid and accurate monitoring of Vaccinia function and drug action.
Inhibitory Properties of a Novel Human Kunitz-Type Protease Inhibitor Homologous to Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor†

In a previous report, we described the molecular cloning, expression, and partial characterization of a second human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), which we designated as TFPI-2 [Sprecher, C. A., et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 3353−3357]. Recombinant TFPI-2 inhibited the amidolytic activity of trypsin as well as that of factor VIIa in complex with tissue factor. TFPI-2 recently has been shown to be identical to placental protein 5 (PP5), a glycoprotein originally isolated from placenta that exhibits serine protease inhibitory activity. In the present study, we have examined TFPI-2/PP5 for its ability to inhibit a number of serine proteases involved in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, inasmuch as TFPI-2/PP5 prolonged the coagulation time of human plasma induced by either tissue factor or contact activation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition to its ability to inhibit the amidolytic and proteolytic activities of the factor VIIa−tissue factor complex, TFPI-2/PP5 strongly inhi...
Managing science data in the virtual observatory era

The Virtual Observatory (VO) movement is driven by the desire to deliver more powerful tools into the hands of research astronomers. The expectations of the scientists who use observing facilities and online services evolve year-to-year. A decade ago the observatory's data management responsibilities ended when the data were read out of the instrument and written to a disk at the telescope. Observers were satisfied to bring their own tape to the telescope, write the nights data onto the tape, and take it home. There are only a few major telescopes now that follow that procedure. It used to be standard practice for scientists to write major pieces of software to reduce and analyze data. That situation was revolutionized with IRAF (Tody 1986) data reduction software which was produced at an observatory and was tightly integrated with the instruments and observing procedures used at that observatory and at that time. Most observatories today have at least a primitive means of saving and protecting their data in an archive. In summary, science data management has evolved a great deal in the past decade. The VO movement is a reflection of this ongoing evolution.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of nanocrystalline mesoporous gallium oxide

Abstract Cubic-spinel type mesoporous gallium oxide nanoclusters were synthesized by employing tri-block copolymer and cationic surfactants as structure directing agents via self-assembly microwave-assisted heating. X-ray diffraction revealed the transition from semi-crystalline to fully crystalline mesophases as the MW heating time was increased from 15 to 120 min. These mesophases displayed 3–8 nm crystallites and unimodal pore sizes in the 3–7 nm range with specific surface areas as high as 360 m2/g. Due to their small crystallite size, high surface areas, unimodal pore sizes, wall nature, and thermal stability, these mesophases could be potentially used as heterogeneous catalysts.
Spatial heterogeneity in the wage curve

Abstract Blanchflower and Oswald argue that the wage curve is a predictable empirical relationship with the “unemployment elasticity of pay” of about −0.1. Using GWR I find evidence of significant spatial heterogeneity in the unemployment elasticity of pay for US counties.
Initial description of the developing soybean seed protein Lys-Nε-acetylome

Abstract Characterization of the myriad protein posttranslational modifications (PTM) is a key aspect of proteome profiling. While there have been previous studies of the developing soybean seed phospho-proteome, herein we present the first analysis of non-histone lysine-NƐ-acetylation in this system. In recent years there have been reports that lysine acetylation is widespread, affecting thousands of proteins in diverse species from bacteria to mammals. Recently preliminary descriptions of the protein lysine acetylome from the plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Vitis vinifera have been reported. Using a combination of immunoenrichment and mass spectrometry-based techniques, we have identified over 400 sites of lysine acetylation in 245 proteins from developing soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr., cv. Jack) seeds, which substantially increases the number of known plant NƐ-lysine-acetylation sites. Results of functional annotation indicate acetyl-proteins are involved with a host of cellular activities. In addition to histones, and other proteins involved in RNA synthesis and processing, acetyl-proteins participate in signaling, protein folding, and a plethora of metabolic processes. Results from in silico localization indicate that lysine-acetylated proteins are present in all major subcellular compartments. In toto, our results establish developing soybean seeds as a physiologically distinct addendum to Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings for functional analysis of protein Lys-NƐ-acetylation. Biological significance Several modes of peptide fragmentation and database search algorithms are incorporated to identify, for the first time, sites of lysine acetylation on a plethora of proteins from developing soybean seeds. The contributions of distinct techniques to achieve increased coverage of the lysine acetylome are compared, providing insight to their respective benefits. Acetyl-proteins and specific acetylation sites are characterized, revealing intriguing similarities as well as differences with those previously identified in other plant and non-plant species.
Longitudinal evaluation of economic and physical impact of Parkinson's disease

Abstract The cost of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease (PD) is largely unknown although clinical experience suggests that the impact of this disease is substantial. Longitudinal data is presented for health status, disease symptoms, functional status, and financial costs for 70 participants with PD or parkinsonism. The sample was dichotomized into those rating their health as excellent, good, or very good (‘good health’) and those rating their health as fair or poor (‘poor health’). The ‘poor health’ group were significantly more disabled at baseline. Symptoms increased between year 1 and 3 with greatest increases in fatigue, pain, and depression for the ‘good health’ group. At year 1, total direct cost/capita was about $5000/year for both groups; indirect costs were $5000 for the ‘good health’ group and $15,000/year for the ‘poor health’ group. By year 3, total expenditures increased over 25% for the ‘good health’ group and nearly doubled for the ‘poor health’ group, while percent costs that were compensated declined for groups. Out of pocket, expenses were as high as $3000/year for the ‘poor health’ group by year 3. Through analysis of the broad impact of PD, including non-neurological symptoms and economic ramifications, it is possible to better appreciate the impact of this chronic condition on overall quality of life.
A Terfenol based magnetostrictive diode laser magnetometer

A simple, rugged Terfenol-based magnetostrictive magnetometer prototype has been developed. Experiments were performed to determine the optimum operating point for the transducer and to study the characteristic of the diode laser sensor. A laboratory prototype has been constructed and evaluated under different field strengths and frequencies. Nonlinear responses were observed and their origin examined. The origin of the nonlinearity was interpreted as a result of running the diode laser sensor at an improper operating point. The device has an ultimate sensitivity of 160*10/sup -6/ A/m (=2 mu -Oe). >