cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Field Experimental Test of the Moderating Effects of Growth Need Strength on Productivity

The literature on growth need strength (GNS) as a moderator in organizational research, particularly the job characteristics model of work motivation, is reviewed. This review reveals a preponderance of inappropriate cross-sectional surveys and few appropriate experimental tests in the field on the GNS moderator hypothesis. Next, an incremental model of growth opportunity is contrasted with that of the general level of motivating potential. It is proposed that one should manipulate growth opportunities (increments) being offered to employees in an experimental design to test GNS as a moderator in a theory of motivation. A field experiment using this approach is described. Growth opportunities were manipulated by a vertical collaboration offer based on the leader-member exchange (LMX) model. Results of this experiment demonstrated statistically significant interaction effects between GNS and growth opportunity. As predicted, only high GNS employees responded to the growth opportunity (a 55% increase in quantity produced). This increase in quantity was not made at the expense of quality; the number of errors per week also decreased for this group. The implications of these results for future research on the moderating effects of GNS are discussed. The job characteristics model (Hackman & Lawler, 1971; Hackman & Oldham, 1976) hypothesizes that employee growth need strength (GNS) will moderate the relationship between job characteristics and work outcomes. Growth needs are denned as strong needs for personal challenge and accomplishment, for learning, and for professional development. The model assumes that not all employees appreciate jobs high in motivating potential. Only employees having strong growth needs are predicted to develop strong internal motivation when working on complex, challenging jobs. Others, with less strong needs for growth, will be less likely to take advantage of opportunities for professional development provided by a job high in motivating potential. The concept of growth need strength (GNS) is crucial to the theory of work motivation underlying the job characteristics
Inhibition of nuclear migration of wild-type SV40 tumor antigen by a transport-defective mutant of SV40-adenovirus 7 hybrid virus.

Abstract A mutant of the defective SV40-adenovirus 7 hybrid, PARA, induces the synthesis of SV40 large T-antigen (T-ag) that is not transported to the nucleus and accumulates in the cytoplasm of infected or transformed cells. The effect of this cT mutation on the transport of wild-type (WT) T-ag was examined by coinfection experiments. Immunofluorescence staining for T-ag revealed that when SV40-transformed green monkey kidney cells were infected with the cT mutant of PARA [PARA(2cT)] there was a total loss of nuclear T-ag (nT-ag) reactivity concomitant with the appearance of cytoplasmic T-ag (CT-ag) reactivity. The dominance of the cT-ag phenotype was also manifest in cells coinfected with PARA(2cT) and either SV40 or WT PARA, both of which induce nT-ag during single infection. Two lines of evidence indicate that the absence of nuclear T-ag reactivity in coinfected cells is due to a failure of migration of WT T-ag into the nucleus, rather than an inhibition of its synthesis. First, coinfection of cells with SV40 and either helper adenovirus or PARA-adenovirus populations, at the multiplicities of infection employed in these studies, did not reduce the yields of infectious SV40. Second, cells coinfected with PARA(2cT) and deletion mutants of SV40 which encode T-ag polypeptides of reduced molecular weight expressed the cT-ag phenotype, while the presence of the deleted forms of T-ag was confirmed by immunoprecipitation and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The observation that the replication of infectious SV40 is not inhibited in cells coinfected with PARA(2cT) and expressing the cT phenotype indicates that levels of nuclear T-ag below the limits of detection by immunofluorescence are sufficient to promote SV40 DNA synthesis. The dominant effect of the cT mutation was specific for transport of SV40 T-ag, since normal migration of adenovirus tumor and virion antigens as well as SV40 virion antigen occurred. Several possible mechanisms for the dominance of the CT-ag phenotype are presented.
Impact of blend ratio on the co-firing of a commercial torrefied biomass and coal via analysis of oxidation kinetics

Abstract Incorporation of torrefied biomass into coal-fired power plants could potentially lower the SO x and net CO 2 emissions resulting from electricity generation. However, concerns over lower heating values and slightly higher ash content of torrefied biomass suggest that blending it with coal in industrial boilers may be preferable to complete fuel transition. By studying the oxidation kinetics of coal-torrefied biomass blends in a thermogravimetric analyzer at a heating rate of 100 °C/min, we find an additive nature among the fuels for peak mass loss rates and enthalpies of combustion. The activation energy required to initiate decomposition decreases from 132.6 to 77.6 kJ/mol as the torrefied biomass increases from 0 to 100 wt%, with a sharp decrease between 0 and 40 wt%. Data suggest that incorporation of torrefied biomass into coal-fired boilers is dependent on the ability to sacrifice heating value for the lower emissions of SO x and net CO 2 garnered using bio-coal.
Determinants of organizational commitment in working women: Some implications for organizational integration

This study proposed and examined determinants of organizational commitment in working women. Among the selected determinants of role stress, personal characteristics, and satisfaction with various aspects of the organization, satisfaction with promotional opportunities was die best predictor of commitment. Experienced role stress was the second best determinant, although the observed relationship was inverse. Other variables such as age, education, and need for achievement, found to be antecedents of organizational commitment in earlier empirical studies, failed to predict commitment in this heterogeneous sample of working women. Findings were discussed in terms of the implications for further research and theory development in the area of organizational commitment as well as for the integration of women into modern work organizations.
Sickness behavior induced by endotoxin can be mitigated by the dietary soluble fiber, pectin, through up-regulation of IL-4 and Th2 polarization

Peripheral activation of the immune system by infectious agents triggers the brain-cytokine system causing sickness behaviors which profoundly impact well-being. Dietary fiber is a beneficial foodstuff that, from a gastrointestinal tract perspective, exists in both insoluble and soluble forms. We show that a diet rich in soluble fiber protects mice from endotoxin-induced sickness behavior by polarizing mice Th2 when compared to a diet containing only insoluble fiber. Mice fed soluble fiber became less sick and recovered faster from endotoxin-induced sickness behaviors than mice fed insoluble fiber. In response to intraperitoneal endotoxin, mice fed soluble fiber had up-regulated IL-1RA and reduced IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the brain as compared to mice fed insoluble fiber. Importantly, mice fed soluble fiber had a basal increase in IL-4 in the ileum and spleen which was absent in MyD88 knockout mice. Con-A stimulated splenocytes from mice fed soluble fiber showed increased IL-4 and IL-5 and decreased IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-gamma when compared to mice fed insoluble fiber. Likewise, endotoxin-stimulated macrophages from mice fed soluble fiber demonstrated decreased IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-12 and nitrate and increased IL-1RA, arginase 1 and Ym1 when compared to mice fed insoluble fiber. Finally, the behavioral protection afforded by feeding mice soluble fiber was reduced in IL-4 knockout mice, as was the impact of soluble fiber on Con-A stimulated splenocytes and endotoxin activated macrophages. These data show that a diet rich in soluble fiber protects against endotoxin-induced sickness behavior by polarizing mice Th2 and promoting alternative activation of macrophages.
Barack Obama and the Politics of Race The Myth of Postracism in America

Many scholars across racial lines argue that the historic election of Barack Obama as the first African American president of the United States marks the dawning of a “postracial era” in our country. Despite this claim and unprecedented enthusiasm that abounds within African American circles about the direction of race relations in this country, there seems to be a glaring ideological disconnect between the desire and reality of a race-free society. Focusing attention on this disconnect and the symbolic capital of “hope” that Obama’s presidency constitutes for the Black community, this article exposes the potential pitfalls of wholesale investment in postracial thinking, particularly for the most economically vulnerable African American populations. Chief among the questions that the authors ask is how African Americans can productively address the continuing challenges of race-centric oppression under an Obama administration that is itself an embodiment of this postrace thinking.
TTY phone: direct, equal emergency access for the deaf

Seeking to enable direct and equal access for the Deaf to emergency call centers, we analyze the current state of the emergency phone system in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Leveraging teletypewriter (TTY) technology mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to be installed in all emergency call centers in the United States, we developed software that emulates a TTY on a smart phone. We present an Instant Messaging style interface for mobile phones that uses the existing emergency infrastructure and allows Deaf users to communicate directly with emergency operators.
Constitutively active stimulatory G-protein alpha s in beta-cells of transgenic mice causes counterregulation of the increased adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and insulin secretion

To evaluate the effect of chronically elevated adenylyl cyclase, we targeted the expression of a constitutively active mutant alpha-subunit (alpha s+) of Gs to the insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells of transgenic mice. As assessed by the polymerase chain reaction, expression of alpha s+ mRNA was restricted to the transgenic pancreas. Histological analysis by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry for insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin appeared normal in transgenic islets. Pancreatic insulin content was quantitatively the same for alpha s+ transgenic and control mice. Comparisons of glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, and islet cAMP revealed the expected differences between alpha s+ transgenic and control mice; in every case, however, responses to glucose alone were normal, and the differences were observed only when measurements were performed in the presence of isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), an inhibitor of cAMP phosphodiesterase. 1) In vivo, ip glucose tolerance was normal in alpha s+ trans...
Binary adsorption and desorption rates of propylene-propane mixtures on 13 X molecular sieves

Abstract The experimental adsorption and desorption rate data for pure propylene, pure propane, and propylene-propane mixtures on 13 X molecular sieves are presented for different temperatures and compositions; these rate data were efficiently determined using the differential sorption bed system described by Liapis et al. (Liapis et al. (1992) Rates and equilibria of adsorption and desorption of propane and propylene on 13 X molecular sieves determined experimentally using a differential sorption bed system. Sep. Technol. 2, 141–154). Propylene is the most preferentially adsorbed component, and the desorption rates of propylene and propane are slower than the adsorption rates. Mathematical models were constructed and solved, and it was found that the two-component model could provide a quantitative measure of the interactions between propylene and propane, and could describe the behavior of binary adsorption kinetics including the overshoot of the equilibrium loading by the less preferentially adsorbed propane. The theoretical results indicate that the desorption rates are not described by the same intracrystalline diffusion coefficients as the adsorption rates.
Human GMP synthetase

Abstract 1. 1. The specific activity of GMP synthetase was measured in several human tissues and found to be highest in cultured skin fibroblasts, followed by bone marrow, leukocytes, erythrocytes. placenta, and liver. 2. 2. The enzyme from fibroblasts was purified approximately 50-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration. 3. 3. The K m values were determined to be 4.9μM for XMP, 270μM for ATP. and 340 μM for glutamine. 4. 4. Ammonium sulfate could replace glutamine as the amino donor but was much less efficient. 5. 5. The enzyme was specific for ATP as the energy source. 6. 6. Unlike the calf thymus enzyme, the human enzyme has no requirement for a reduced sulfhydryl compound. 7. 7. Human GMP synthetase is inhibited by ATP, dATP, azaserine, and hydroxylamine.
Line-based recognition using a multidimensional Hausdorff distance

A line-feature-based approach for model based recognition using a four-dimensional Hausdorff distance is proposed. This approach reduces the problem of finding the rotation, scaling, and translation transformations between a model and an image to the problem of finding a single translation minimizing the Hausdorff distance between two sets of points in a four-dimensional space. The implementation of the proposed algorithm can be naturally extended to higher dimensional spaces to efficiently find correspondences between n-dimensional patterns. The method performance and sensitivity to segmentation problems are quantitatively characterized using an experimental protocol with simulated data. It is shown that the algorithm performs well, is robust to occlusion and outliers, and that it degrades nicely as the segmentation problems increase. Experiments with real images are also presented.
Deficiencies in immunoassay methods used to monitor serum Estradiol levels during aromatase inhibitor treatment in postmenopausal breast cancer patients

Optimal care for breast cancer patients undergoing aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment is ensured when estradiol (E2) levels are adequately suppressed. To assess treatment efficacy accurately, it is important to measure the serum E2 levels using a well validated assay method with high sensitivity and specificity. This translates into the urgent need to evaluate various E2 immunoassay kits, which are frequently used in hospital settings to measure E2 serum levels in patients undergoing AI treatment, so clinicians obtain accurate and reliable measurements allowing appropriate clinical decision making. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of different commercially available and commonly used E2 immunoassay kits regarding measurement of E2 levels in the serum of postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with AIs, in comparison to a highly accurate and reliable mass spectrometry assay. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from 77 postmenopausal breast cancer patients who were treated with an AI. Serum E2 levels were measured by 6 immunoassay methods and by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which served as the standard for comparison. Analysis of E2 by LC-MS/MS showed that 70% of the samples had levels that were <5 pg/ml. Three of the assays carried out with commercial E2 immunoassay kits had poor sensitivities and were not able to detect E2 levels <10 or <20 pg/ml. Although two of the E2 assays using commercial kits demonstrated a better sensitivity (5 pg/ml), the measured E2 values were substantially higher than those obtained by LC-MS/MS. The assay with the sixth commercial E2 kit grossly underestimated the true E2 values. E2 assays carried out with commercial E2 immunoassay kits lack the accuracy to measure the very low serum E2 levels found in patients being treated with AIs. Serum samples from such patients should be sent to laboratories that use a mass spectrometry assay.
Flexural Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams by Mechanically Attaching Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strips

The current method of bonding fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening strips to concrete structures requires extensive time and semiskilled labor. An alternative method is to use a commercial off-the-shelf powder-actuated fastening system to attach FRP strips to concrete. A series of flexural tests were conducted on 15 304.8×304.8×3,657.6mm (12×12×144in.) reinforced concrete beams. Two beams were tested unstrengthened, 12 were strengthened with mechanically fastened FRP strips, and one was strengthened with a bonded FRP strip. The effects of three different strip moduli, different fastener lengths and layouts, and predrilling were examined. Three of the beams strengthened with mechanically attached FRP strips showed strengthening comparable to the beam strengthened with a bonded FRP strip. The same three beams strengthened with mechanically attached FRP strips also showed a greater ductility than the beam strengthened with a bonded FRP strip.
Cover Picture: A Powerful Combinatorial Screen to Identify High-Affinity Terbium(III)-Binding Peptides (ChemBioChem 4/2003)

The cover picture shows the chemistry and biology used to develop a new protein labeling strategy based on lanthanide-binding peptides. Focused peptide libraries are screened to identify oligopeptide motifs of dual function: the peptides bind TbIII with remarkably high affinity and promote intense TbIII luminescence. The peptide sequences are then genetically encoded to create recombinant fusion proteins that possess a site-specific and minimally invasive fluorophore. Further information can be found in the two articles by Imperiali and co-workers on pp. 265–271 and pp. 272–276.
A Major Dilemma in Psychotherapy Outcome Research: Disentangling Therapists From Therapies

In interpreting results of psychotherapy outcome studies, particularly those of comparative studies, it is often difficult to disentangle the effects due to the treatments per se from those that may be due to differential competence and other characteristics of the therapists carrying out the treatments. This article attempts to address this general dilemma in psychotherapy outcome research, drawing on the experience and findings of the NIMH Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program. Issues discussed include the nature of the overall therapist sample, variability in therapist efficacy, therapist characteristics, training and supervision of therapists, and adherence and competence in carrying out a treatment. Implications discussed include the need to provide, both in presentations of the results of individual outcome studies and in dissemination of information regarding “empirically validated treatments,” critical information about the therapists carrying out the treatment.
CHOLESTATIC PROPERTIES AND HEPATIC TRANSPORT OF STEROID GLUCURONIDES

In summary, the data suggest that E217G is transported by both MOAT and P-glycoprotein into bile, but that P-glycoprotein serves as the target site for cholestasis. We postulate that this target site may be accessed from either the intracellular compartment or the canaliculus, and that MOAT serves as the major delivery route for E217G to the canaliculus. At low, physiologic concentrations of E217G, MOAT-mediated excretion into bile is a detoxification mechanism, serving to prevent intracellular accumulation of a toxic metabolite. However, following administration of high, cholestatic doses, MOAT-mediated excretion into bile results in very high concentrations in bile, on the other of 2-3 mM (see Fig. 4). It is likely that the hydrophobic nature of E217G allows it to partition from bile into the canalicular membrane, from which it can access P-glycoprotein and thus induce cholestasis. Much work is still needed to validate this model of E217G cholestasis. Definitive evidence of P-glycoprotein-mediated transport of E217G must be obtained in cell lines transfected with P-glycoprotein where MRP is absent. More importantly, the mechanism by which interaction of E217G with P-glycoprotein influences bile flow is unknown. Higgins and colleagues have provided evidence that P-glycoprotein regulates a Cl- channel in a manner analogous to that of CFTR, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. While Cl- channels have been shown to be important in the regulation of the volume of the hepatocyte in the presence of altered osmotic conditions, a role for this channel in bile flow has not been demonstrated. Nevertheless, these studies implicate a role of P-glycoprotein in the regulation of bile secretion by the liver.
Dynamic voltage and cache reconfiguration for low power

In this work, we propose a combined Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS) and Dynamic Cache Reconfiguration (DCR) online algorithm that dynamically adapts the processor speed (i.e., voltage) and the cache subsystem to the workload requirements for the purposes of saving energy. The workload is considered to be a set of tasks with real-time deadlines. Our online algorithm is invoked as part of the OS scheduler, which performs standard earliest deadline first (EDF) task scheduling first. Then, our online algorithm, determines an ideal voltage/cache configuration for the current executing task.
Alternative majority-voting methods for real-time computing systems

Two techniques that provide a compromise between the high time overhead in maintaining synchronous voting and the difficulty of combining results in asynchronous voting are proposed. These techniques are specifically suited for real-time applications with a single-source/single-sink structure that need instantaneous error masking. They provide a compromise between a tightly synchronized system in which the synchronization overhead can be quite high, and an asynchronous system which lacks suitable algorithms for combining the output data. Both quorum-majority voting (QMV) and compare-majority voting (CMV) are most applicable to distributed real-time systems with single-source/single-sink tasks. All real-time systems eventually have to resolve their outputs into a single action at some stage. The development of the advanced information processing system (AIPS) and other similar systems serve to emphasize the importance of these techniques. Time bounds suggest that it is possible to reduce the overhead for quorum-majority voting to below that for synchronous voting. All the bounds assume that the computation phase is nonpreemptive and that there is no multitasking. >
Preservation of Ejaculated Mouse Spermatozoa from Fertile C57BL/6 and Infertile Hook1/Hook1 Mice Collected from the Uteri of Mated Females

Methods routinely used to preserve mouse spermatozoa require that the male be killed to recover spermatozoa from the epididymides. Here we obtained multiple samples of ejaculated spermatozoa from normal fertile C57BL/6 and infertile Hook1/Hook1 (formerly known as azh/azh) mutant males from uteri after mating, thus avoiding termination of the males. Ejaculated sperm were preserved by conventional cryopreservation or by rapid freezing without cryoprotection, and were injected into the oocytes by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The proportions of oocytes that survived, became activated, and developed into two-cell embryos were similar when comparing the two preservation methods in wild-type versus Hook1/Hook1 mice and tested mice versus controls (fresh and rapid-frozen epididymal and fresh ejaculated sperm). Two-cell embryos were transferred into the oviducts of pseudopregnant females, and fetal development was examined at Day 15 of gestation. A total of 39%-54% of transferred embryos produced with preserved ejaculated sperm implanted. Live, normal fetuses (11%-17%) were obtained in all examined groups and from all males included in the study. More implants (71%-82%) and fetuses (28%-31%) were noted in controls. Lower developmental potentials of embryos produced with preserved ejaculated sperm might be due to their capacitation status; the majority of sperm retrieved from the uterus were capacitated. This study bears significance for the maintenance and distribution of novel mouse strains. The method is applicable for all types of mice, including those with male infertility syndromes. The sole requirement is that the male of interest is able to copulate and its ejaculate contains spermatozoa.
Resting and task-modulated high-frequency brain rhythms measured by scalp encephalography in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex.

The electrophysiological correlates of cognitive deficits in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are not well understood, and modulations of neural dynamics by neuroanatomical abnormalities that characterize the disor- der remain elusive. Neural oscillations (rhythms) are a fundamental aspect of brain function, and have dominant frequencies in a wide frequency range. The spatio-temporal dynamics of these frequencies in TSC are currently unknown. Using a novel signal decomposition approach this study investigated dominant cortical frequencies in 10 infants with TSC, in the age range 18-30 months, and 12 age-matched healthy controls. Distinct spectral character- istics were estimated in the two groups. High-frequency (in the high-gamma ((50 Hz) and ripple ((80 Hz) ranges), non-random EEG components were identified in both TSC and healthy infants at 18 months. Additional components in the lower gamma (30-50 Hz) ranges were also identified, with higher characteristic frequencies in TSC than in controls. Lower frequencies were statistically identical in both sub-groups. A significant shift in the high- frequency spectral content of the EEG was observed as a function of age, independently of task performance, pos- sibly reflecting an overall maturation of developing neural circuits. This shift occurred earlier in healthy infants than in TSC, i.e., by age 20 months the highest dominant fre- quencies were in the high gamma range, whereas in TSC dominant frequencies above 100 Hz were still measurable. At age 28-30 months a statistically significant decrease in dominant high frequencies was observed in both TSC and healthy infants, possibly reflecting increased myelination and neuronal connection strengthening with age. Although based on small samples, and thus preliminary, the findings in this study suggest that dominant cortical rhythms, a fundamental aspect of neurodynamics, may be affected in TSC, possibly leading to impaired information processing in the brain.
Prevalence of antibodies to human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 virus-like particles in relation to cervical HPV infection among college women

A human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) virus-like particle (VLP)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum antibody to capsid proteins in 376 sexually active college women who were also screened for the presence of genital HPVs by PCR and interviewed for demographic and behavioral risk factors for HPV infection. The seroprevalence was 46% in women with HPV-16 DNA in the genital tract. The corresponding values for women who harbored other HPV types or no HPV in the genital tract were 30 and 19%, respectively (HPV-16 group versus no-HPV group; odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 8.9). The antibody response was significantly higher among women with a high viral load than among those with a low viral load (median optical density value, 0.838 versus 0.137, P = 0.009). Comparable levels of seroreactivity were observed among women infected with HPV types distantly or closely related genetically to HPV-16. Seroreactivity was significantly associated with an age of 25 to 30 years (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.4), three or more lifetime sexual partners (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1 to 10), and history of a sexually transmitted disease other than HPV (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.5 to 6.3). The percent seropositivity increased linearly with number of lifetime sexual partners until reaching a plateau at 35% for women with more than six partners (chi for linear trend, P < 0.001). The low sensitivity of HPV-16 VLP-based ELISA may limit the usefulness of the assay as a diagnostic test for HPV-16 infection. However, the assay appears to have adequate specificity and should be useful as an epidemiological marker of HPV-16 infection and sexual behavior.
Drosophila Rolling Blackout Displays Lipase Domain-Dependent and -Independent Endocytic Functions Downstream of Dynamin

Drosophila temperature-sensitive rolling blackout (rbots) mutants display a total block of endocytosis in non-neuronal cells and a weaker, partial defect at neuronal synapses. RBO is an integral plasma membrane protein and is predicted to be a serine esterase. To determine if lipase activity is required for RBO function, we mutated the catalytic serine 358 to alanine in the G-X-S-X-G active site, and assayed genomic rescue of rbo mutant non-neuronal and neuronal phenotypes. The rboS358A mutant is unable to rescue rbo null 100% embryonic lethality, indicating that the lipase domain is critical for RBO essential function. Likewise, the rboS358A mutant cannot provide any rescue of endocytic blockade in rbots Garland cells, showing that the lipase domain is indispensable for non-neuronal endocytosis. In contrast, rbots conditional paralysis, synaptic transmission block and synapse endocytic defects are all fully rescued by the rboS358A mutant, showing that the RBO lipase domain is dispensable in neuronal contexts. We identified a synthetic lethal interaction between rbots and the well-characterized dynamin GTPase conditional shibire (shits1) mutant. In both non-neuronal cells and neuronal synapses, shits1; rbots phenocopies shits1 endocytic defects, indicating that dynamin and RBO act in the same pathway, with dynamin functioning upstream of RBO. We conclude that RBO possesses both lipase domain-dependent and scaffolding functions with differential requirements in non-neuronal versus neuronal endocytosis mechanisms downstream of dynamin GTPase activity.
(S,S)‐1,2‐Bis(1‐methyl­benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐1′,2′‐bis­(methoxy)ethane

The title compound, C20H22N4O2, exhibits twofold site symmetry and adopts a stepped or kinked conformation in the solid state, with the approximately planar N-methyl benz­imidazole fragments corresponding to the run and the 1′,2′-bis­(methoxy)ethane fragment to the rise. When viewed along the b axis, the mol­ecules stack in a herringbone pattern as layers along a. Intermolecular distances suggest that the mol­ecules are held in the lattice largely by C—H⋯π interactions with little, if any, π⋯π bonding. Examination of the displacement parameters suggests that the mol­ecules librate about axes approximately parallel to the a axis and passing near the center of mass of the mol­ecules. Bond distances in the imidazole group lie within one s.u. of the average reported for 19 structures containing comparable benz­imidazole fragments.
Automatically indexing documents: content vs. reference

Authors cite other work in many types of documents. Notable among these are research papers and web pages. Recently, several researchers have proposed using the text surrounding citations (references) as a means of automatically indexing documents for search engines, claiming that this technique is superior to indexing documents based on their content [1,2]. While we ourselves have made this claim, we acknowledge that little empirical data has been presented to support it. Therefore, in the limited space available we present a terse overview of a study comparing reference to content as bases for indexing documents. This study indicates that reference identifies the value of documents more accurately and with a greater diversity of language than content.
WSN19-3: Optimal Sensor Distribution for Maximum Exposure in A Region with Obstacles

Sensor networks have been envisioned to enhance the ability of human beings in observing the environment and understanding the world. A potential application of a sensor network is to detect the presence or absence of a target in a region of interest. Many heuristics have been proposed in literature for placing sensors to achieve better coverage in the monitored region. However, none of them guarantee an optimal sensor deployment especially when there are obstacles in the region. Unlike the prior work, this paper focuses on the problem of determining the optimal sensor distribution in a region with or without obstacles. The detection performance is characterized using a metric called ldquoexposurerdquo, which is defined as the least probability of detecting a target over all possible target locations subject to a fixed false alarm probability. A linear programming based approach is proposed to find the optimal sensor distribution by maximizing the exposure in a given region with or without obstacles. The optimal sensor distribution can also be used as weights of sensor measurements taken at different locations for decision-making.
The art of survival during viral persistence

Central nervous system infection by the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) results in chronic demyelination characterized by viral persistence in the absence of infectious virus. CD8 + T cells inhibit acute viral replication via cell type‐specific effector mechanisms. Perforin-mediated cytolysis controls virus in microglia/macrophages and astrocytes, whereas interferon (IFN)-∞ regulates viral replication in oligodendroglia. JHMV infection of antibody-deficient mice confirmed a primary role of cellular immunity and a redundant role for humoral immunity during acute infection. However, infectious virus reactivates in antibody-deficient mice following viral clearance. This observation suggests that virus-specific T cells in the central nervous system are unable to control viral persistence. Reactivation in antibody-deficient mice is not associated with increased T-cell infiltration, but is prevented via transfer of neutralizing antibody. A vital role for humoral immunity during persistence is supported by the accumulation and retention of virus-specific antibody secreting cells following clearance of infectious virus. Thus, cell-mediated immune responses control acute infection, whereas humoral immunity maintains viral persistence. Therefore, although the central nervous system provides an environment for prolonged retention of both T cells and plasma cells, plasma cells are critical in maintaining persistent virus at undetectable levels. The low turnover of virus, T cells, and B cells constitute a unifying feature of persistent infection, illustrating the dichotomy between distinct immune effectors in regulating acute and persistent central nervous system infection.
Cognitive Development and Learning in the Pediatric Organ Transplant Recipient

Although organ transplantation is considered a viable treatment approach for end-stage organ disease, few empirical investigations have assessed the effects of transplantation on the cognitive development and learning of pediatric organ transplant recipients. This article reviews studies evaluating neurocognitive changes following organ transplantation in pediatric end-stage renal and liver disease. Despite numerous methodological problems inherent in the investigations examined, the findings of some studies are suggestive of potential neurocognitive benefits associated with organ transplantation. Recommendations are made regarding methodological improvements for future investigations assessing neurocognitive outcomes of organ transplantation.
Substanitial enhancements to a multiple model adaptive estimator for target image tracking

Enhancements to a previously devised multiple model adaptive estimator for target image tracking are developed and analyzed: (1) allowing some of the elemental filters to have rectangular fields-of-view and to be tuned for target dynamics that are harsher in one direction than others, (2) considering both Gauss-Markov acceleration models and constant turn-rate models for target dynamics, (3) tuning dynamics noise strengths as a function of sensor-to-target range, and (4) devising an initial target acquisition algorithm to remove important biases in the estimated target template to be used in a correlator within the tracker. Particularly good adaptation responsiveness is demonstrated in the multiple model algorithm's ability to handle harsh maneuver onset, yielding performance essentially equivalent to that of the best artificially informed tracking algorithm.
Effect of Downed Woody Debris on Small Mammal Anti-Predator Behavior

Anti-predator behavior can affect prey growth, reproduction, survival, and generate emergent effects in food webs. Small mammals often lower the cost of predation by altering their behavior in response to shrubs, but the importance of other microhabitat features, such as downed woody debris, for anti-predator behavior is unknown. We used givingup densities to quantify the degree to which downed woody debris alters perceived predation risk by small mammals in southeastern pine forests. We placed 14 foraging trays next to large downed woody debris, shrubs, and in open areas for 12 consecutive nights. Moon illumination, a common indicator of predation risk, led to a similar reduction in small mammal foraging in all three microhabitats (open, downed woody debris, and shrub). Small mammals perceived open microhabitats as riskier than shrub microhabitats, with downed woody debris habitats perceived as being of intermediate risk between shrub and open microhabitats. Despite the presumed benefits of the protective cover of downed woody debris, small mammals may perceive downed woody debris as a relatively risky foraging site in southeastern pine forests where the high diversity and abundance of rodent-eating snakes may provide a primary predatory threat.
Changes in the price relationship between investment-grade bonds and preferred stocks

THIS STUDY EXAMINES changes in the relationship between the prices of investmentgrade bonds and preferred stocks. The research explores theoretically the various causal factors likely to have affected the demand and supply of electric-utility preferred stocks relative to bonds and tests whether facts have been in accordance with theoretical expectations. Opinions expressed in the meager pre-existing literature were not in agreement as to the nature of the price relationship or its causes. The only study directly comparing the price relationship between bonds and preferreds was for an early period.' It did not show a reversal in the price relationship, nor did it compare securities of equal earnings protection. More recently some writers have contended that a price reversal has taken place, but the empirical evidence cited fails to show that the comparisons involve securities of equal earnings protection. Because earlier studies show that the degree of earnings coverage by issuers is the most important factor affecting judgment of instrument safety2 and because this variable was not used in previous studies, it is adopted as the variable for controlling comparability in this study. This study also includes experience of more recent years than earlier studies. In order to investigate the price relationship between bonds and preferred stocks, it was necessary to gather data on the relative prices (prospective yields) of both types of securities. Because different causal factors might have operated at different times and their importance may have differed with regard to grade of securities, relative prices were determined covering the period 1932 to 1968 for securities in each of 'three grades. These relative prices were determined at varying intervals for the years 1932-1954 and on an annual basis for the years 1954-1968. These data were used to investigate the price relationship between bonds and preferred stocks of equal earnings protection over time to determine whether, when, and why a reversal in the price relationship occurred. It was found that a reversal in the price relationship had occurred by 1968 and more specifically that:
Drug-eluting stents in patients with end-stage renal disease: meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: The study sought to examine the total weight of evidence regarding the use of drug eluting (DES) and bare metal stents (BMS) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Background: The potential superiority of DES over BMS in reducing target lesion or vessel revascularization (TLR or TVR) in patients with ESRD on dialysis has not been established. Small studies comparing DES to BMS in this population have yielded inconclusive results mainly due to the small sample size. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, CINAHL, and the Cochrane CENTRAL database of controlled clinical trials (December 2009) for controlled trials comparing DES to BMS in ESRD patients. We conducted a fixed-effects meta-analysis across seven eligible studies (n = 869 patients). Results: Compared with BMS-treated patients, DES-treated patients had significantly lower TLR/TVR (OR 0.55 CI: 0.39–0.79) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (OR 0.54; CI: 0.40–0.73). The absolute risk reduction (ARR) with DES in TLR/TVR was −0.09 (CI: −0.14 to −0.04; NNT 11) and in MACE was −0.13 (CI: −0.19 to −0.07; NNT 8). A trend towards lower incidence of all cause mortality was also noted with DES (OR 0.68; CI: 0.45–1.01). No significant differences were noted between both groups in the relative or absolute risk of myocardial infarction. Conclusion: The use of DES in patients with ESRD is safe and yields significant reduction in the risk of TLR/TVR and MACE. Larger randomized studies are needed to confirm the results of this meta-analysis and establish the appropriate stent choice in this high risk population. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
La repressione del dissenso a Firenze nell’età di Cosimo de’ Medici

The political return of Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici (1389-1464) in Florence in 1434 does not lead the city to a noble constitutional order, legitimated, de iure, by the acknowledgement of ducal titles on the part of the empire. Cosimo’s mandate protracts until 1464, thus giving birth to a long period dominated by the family’s predominant influence on the city’s political, religious, cultural and artistic life. In this period, the Medici party seeks to abolish partisanship by organizing themselves in a uniformed way and by making the mere existence of the «guelfo» party (on power in Florence for over a century) redundant. However, even if the government is led by means of a constitutional system of republican origin, Cosimo achieves political control by inflicting exemplary punishment. The city’s identity remains marked by a council-like tradition and the political opponents’ voice continues to be suppressed by means of different ways of political exclusion. The attitude chosen by the Medici against the system’s opponents is one of life-long male line political discredit. By means of the political use of the Otto di guardia, Cosimo starts keeping tabs on the members of the opposition: among those left out there is nobody accused of having committed a crime or of having stolen money from the community; those confined are listed on the Otto di guardia code number 224 of the State of Florence archive and consequently persecuted by this judiciary, explicitly because of political reasons as representatives of anti Medici political parties.
Extending the range of validity of Fourier's law into the kinetic transport regime via asymptotic solution of the phonon Boltzmann transport equation

We derive the continuum equations and boundary conditions governing phonon-mediated heat transfer in the limit of a small but finite mean-free path from the asymptotic solution of the linearized Boltzmann equation in the relaxation time approximation. Our approach uses the ratio of the mean-free path to the characteristic system length scale, also known as the Knudsen number, as the expansion parameter to study the effects of boundaries on the breakdown of the Fourier description. We show that, in the bulk, the traditional heat conduction equation using Fourier's law as a constitutive relation is valid at least up to second order in the Knudsen number for steady problems and first order for time-dependent problems. However, this description does not hold within distances on the order of a few mean-free paths from the boundary; this breakdown is a result of kinetic effects that are always present in the boundary vicinity and require solution of a Boltzmann boundary layer problem to be determined. Matching the inner, boundary layer solution to the outer, bulk solution yields boundary conditions for the Fourier description as well as additive corrections in the form of universal kinetic boundary layers; both are found to be proportional to the bulk-solution gradients at the boundary and parametrized by the material model and the phonon-boundary interaction model (Boltzmann boundary condition). Our derivation shows that the traditional no-jump boundary condition for prescribed temperature boundaries and the no-flux boundary condition for diffusely reflecting boundaries are appropriate only to zeroth order in the Knudsen number; at higher order, boundary conditions are of the jump type. We illustrate the utility of the asymptotic solution procedure by demonstrating that it can be used to predict the Kapitza resistance (and temperature jump) associated with an interface between two materials. All results are validated via comparisons with low-variance deviational Monte Carlo simulations.
“But the Eskimos Knew Better”: Representations of Arctic Whaling in Charles Brower’s "Fifty Years Below Zero”

In this article, I examine Charles Brower’s Fifty Years Below Zero (1942) with respect to its depictions of Inupiaq subsistence whaling practices. Elaborating a theoretical framework that draws on scholarship produced by those working in the field of masculinity studies, I locate Brower’s memoir within the tradition of the American whaling narrative and compare it to two of its contemporaries, John A. Cook’s Pursuing the Whale (1926), and Hartson H. Bodfish’s Chasing the Bowhead (1936). I argue that, as a man familiar with Inupiaq culture, Brower possessed an attitude toward the Indigenous inhabitants of northern Alaska and Canada which was very different from that of Cook and Bodfish. I demonstrate that Cook and Bodfish go to great lengths to represent themselves and their employees as being isolated from the Yupik, the Inupiat, and the Inuvialuit. I also show that, throughout their narratives, they celebrate the achievements of white, American whalemen and dismiss the accomplishments of their Indigenous counterparts. Brower’s descriptions of Arctic whaling, meanwhile, praise these individuals for their courage, their boat-building technologies, and their knowledge of the behaviour patterns of bowhead whales. As I conclude, Fifty Years Below Zero ultimately reveals the remarkable impact that the Yupik, the Inupiat, and the Inuvialuit had on the American steam whaling trade and the significant amount of cultural exchange that occurred when individuals from these disparate communities interacted with one another.
Slices and Sacs: Limitations on Metabolic and Functional Studies in Kidney Cortex and Intestine

AbstractWhile all experimental models, whether based on isolated preparations in vitro or on intact animals, possess characteristic limitations, reliance on simplified systems mandates special care. On the basis of both older and new evidence, the present review emphasizes problems associated especially with the use of renal cortical slices and everted sacs of the small intestine. Although these preparations have found renewed acceptance, the significance of results obtained is still at times interpreted without due regard for physiological reality. Sacs and slices will undoubtedly continue to prove useful in the study of biological processes, but their application must be predicated upon recognition of what information they can or cannot yield.