cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of the fatigue crack propagation threshold of fretting induced cracks in Ti–6Al–4V

Abstract A unique fatigue specimen was designed from the used fretting pads of Ti–6Al–4V fretting fatigue experiments. Many of these pads contained cracks that initiated and then arrested during the original fretting experiments. Heat tinting was used to mark the crack surface, and stress relief was applied to some specimens to remove load-history effects. The specimens were subjected to high cycle fatigue step testing and the threshold stresses were measured. The measured fretting crack sizes were used to calculate the crack propagation threshold, ΔKth. The results were analyzed for short crack and load history effects. Crack size effects were readily explained with a simple short crack model. No load history effects were noted for these fretting induced cracks.
Seismic Attenuation Structure of the Seattle Basin, Washington State, from Explosive-Source Refraction Data

We used waveform data from the 1999 SHIPS (Seismic Hazard Inves- tigation of Puget Sound) seismic refraction experiment to constrain the attenuation structure of the Seattle basin, Washington State. We inverted the spectral amplitudes of compressional- and shear-wave arrivals for source spectra, site responses, and one- and two-dimensional Q � 1 models at frequencies between 1 and 40 Hz for P waves and 1 and 10 Hz for S waves. We also obtained Q � 1 models from t* values calculated from the spectral slopes of P waves between 10 and 40 Hz. One-dimen- sional inversions show that Qp at the surface is 22 at 1 Hz, 130 at 5 Hz, and 390 at 20 Hz. The corresponding values at 18 km depth are 100, 440, and 1900. Qs at the surface is 16 and 160 at 1 Hz and 8 Hz, respectively, increasing to 80 and 500 at 18 km depth. The t* inversion yields a Qp model that is consistent with the amplitude inversions at 20 and 30 Hz. The basin geometry is clearly resolved in thet* inversion, but the amplitude inversions only imaged the basin structure after removing anom- alously high-amplitude shots near Seattle. When these shots are removed, we infer that Q � 1 values may be � 30% higher in the center of the basin than the one- dimensional models predict. We infer that seismic attenuation in the Seattle basin will significantly reduce ground motions at frequencies at and above 1 Hz, partially countering amplification effects within the basin.
The super towers of Hanoi problem: large rings on small rings

Abstract A variant of the classical Towers of Hanoi problem is proposed, in which the initial distribution of rings on the three towers is completely arbitrary (large rings on smaller rings are allowed). One of the three towers is chosen as destination, and the rearrangement of all the rings into classical small-on-large order on the destination tower is sought by obeying the usual rules governing ring movement. This problem is solved via a simple recursive algorithm, which is proved to be optimal, and its performance is analyzed.
Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Presenting as Isolated Persistent Epistaxis: A Very Rare Presentation

Nose bleed is the most common rhinological emergency. There are multiple risk factors for the development of epistaxis and it can affect any age group, but it is the elderly population with their associated morbidity who often require more intensive treatment and subsequent admission. Most cases of epistaxis occur in the Little’s area, a location readily accessible and treatable by cautery or anterior nasal packing. However, posterior epistaxis often requires more aggressive measures including posterior nasal packing and endoscopic cauterization. After posterior nasal packing, the two most common therapies for intractable epistaxis are transantral ligation of the internal maxillary artery and percutaneous embolization of the distal internal maxillary artery. However, optimal management of intractable posterior epistaxis remains controversial. We hereby report fourth case of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia in English literature, which presented as isolated persistent epistaxis and was treated by therapeutic plasmapheresis.
Expression of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channel mRNAs in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb

Abstract Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a large family of cation channels. The 28 TRP channel subtypes in rodent are divided into 6 subfamilies: TRPC1-7, TRPV1-6, TRPM1-8, TRPP2/3/5, TRPML1-3 and TRPA1. TRP channels are involved in peripheral olfactory transduction. Several TRPC channels are expressed in unidentified neurons in the main olfactory bulb (OB), but the expression of most TRP channels in the OB has not been investigated. The present study employed RT-PCR as an initial survey of the expression of TRP channel mRNAs in the mouse OB and in 3 cell types: external tufted, mitral and granule cells. All TRP channel mRNAs except TRPV5 were detected in OB tissue. Single cell RT-PCR revealed that external tufted, mitral and granule cell populations expressed in aggregate 14 TRP channel mRNAs encompassing members of all 6 subfamilies. These different OB neuron populations expressed 7–12 channel mRNAs. Common channel expression was more similar among external tufted and mitral cells than among these cells and granule cells. These results indicate that a large number of TRP channel subtypes are expressed in OB neurons, providing the molecular bases for these channels to regulate OB neuron activity and central olfactory processing.
Genes encoding 5S rRNA and tRNAs in the extremely thermophilic archaebacterium Methanothermus fervidus.

Abstract Methanothermus fervidus was shown to have two 5S rRNA-encoding genes linked in rRNA operons to 16S and 23S rRNA-encoding genes. Sequencing of a cloned 5S rRNA gene confirmed that M. fervidus is a member of the Methanobacteriales, although its 5S rRNA is also similar in both primary sequence and predicted secondary structure to the 5S rRNA of the non-methanogenic, but also extremely thermophilic archaebacterium, Thermococcus celer. Two clusters of tRNA genes have also been cloned and sequenced form M. fervidus. The smaller cluster, cloned in pET5401, is composed of 5′-tRNAThrUGU-tRNAProUGG-tRNAAspGUC-tRNALysUUU-3′ and the larger cluster, cloned in pET5475, is composed of 5′-tRNAAsnGUU-tRNAMetCAU-tRNAGluUUC-tRNALeuUAG-tRNA HisGUG-3′. The encoded tRNAs, with the exception of the tRNALeu, translate abundant codons in M. fervidus. The tRNA genes do not contain introns or encode 3′-terminal CCA residues. Homologous clusters of tRNA genes have been sequenced from Methanococcus vannielii and Methanococcus voltae, so that comparisons of transcription signals, gene organizations and primary sequences can be made and features possibly related to thermostability identified. During evolution, a 5S rRNA gene appears to have been incorporated into the cluster of tRNA genes in the methanococci but not in M. fervidus.
On bounding, interior and covering functions☆

Abstract We prove three theorems yielding sufficient conditions for a continuous function f : X → Y to have no isolated bounding points (i.e., points at which it is not an open mapping), to be interior a z (i.e., f ( z ) ϵ f ( X ) 0 ), and to have its image cover a segment. In the first theorem X and Y are rather general topological spaces and some applications to optimal control are discussed. In the second and third theorems X an Y are finite-dimensional and we use the concepts of ordinary and unbounded derivate containers which are a form of set-valued derivatives. The proof of the second theorem also involves the topological degree of f.
Colony dynamics in a primitively eusocial halictine bee Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Proximate control of colony dynamics was studied in the primitively eusocial halictine beeLasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrum using allozyme markers. The results indicate that workers produce on average 15% of the male brood (range=0–50%) in small laboratory colonies made up of unrelated, single-generation, uninseminated females. This proportion is not influenced by colony size, but is influenced by the relative size of the queen. Large queens are more successful in dominating their workers than are small queens, the queen being defined as the female that is the mother of most of the brood produced in the colony. Older and larger females tend to become queens. Thus, while small differences in age (up to 4 days) influence which female becomes a queen, her ability to control her workers is primarily influenced by her relative size. The proportion of reproduction that is co-opted by the queen is negatively correlated with colony reproductivity (the number of males/day/female). Colony reproductivity is also negatively correlated with the standard deviation in size among females.
Abandonment chronology of glacial Lake Agassiz's Northwestern outlet

Abstract Spillway scour lakes and basins in northwestern Saskatchewan were cored to determine when the spillways were abandoned. The cores contained the target contact of organic muck (gyttja) overlying inorganic sand or silty-clay rhythmites. New AMS radiocarbon dates on terrestrial macrofossils, in conjunction with previously published and unpublished data from the area, indicate that the spillways were abandoned between 9.07 and 9.59 14C kyr BP (10,220–10,810 cal yr BP). Of great interest is whether the channels are associated with northwestern drainage from glacial Lake Agassiz. The radiocarbon ages recording spillway abandonment are consistent with previous work, which claims that overflow through the northwestern outlet ended ∼ 9.5 14C kyr BP (10,700 cal yr BP); this is consistent with shifting drainage to the southern outlet at this time. The scarcity of dates from the northwestern outlets and other outlets of Lake Agassiz underscores the need to establish a tighter chronological control on outlet switching before outburst flooding from Lake Agassiz can be assumed to be the trigger for abrupt climate change.
Detailed soot field in a turbulent non-premixed ethylene/air flame from laser scattering and extinction experiments

Abstract A soot-containing turbulent non-premixed flame burning ethylene in atmospheric-pressure air was investigated by conducting nonintrusive laser scattering and extinction experiments at various axial and radial flame locations. Mean soot properties of principal interest—soot volume fraction, spherule (primary particle) diameter, and aggregate size and fractal dimension—were characterized based on the Rayleigh–Debye–Gans scattering theory, which can properly account for the actual particulate size and morphology. In situ evidence for the formation of precursor particles and their carbonization to mature soot, as well as the onset of the aggregation process, was observed low in the flame. Maximum mean soot volume fraction and spherule diameter were about 1 ppm and 28 nm, respectively, both peaking at similar axial locations. The mean number of spherules per aggregate continuously increased along the flame centerline with the cluster–cluster aggregation mechanism leading to a fractal dimension of 1.8. Radial variations of mean soot field were also observed with the possible exception of the aggregate radius of gyration. Decoupling of spherule and aggregate sizes during the present analysis of optical measurements allowed the separation of soot surface growth, oxidation, and aggregation processes. Such accurate descriptions of soot dynamics in a lightly sooting turbulent flame are valuable in assessing computational soot models and other particulate diagnostics.
Blocking HIF1α activity eliminates hematological cancer stem cells.

Selective targeting of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has the potential to prevent cancer relapse. Wang et al. (2011) report that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) represses Notch signaling to maintain CSC subsets from lymphoma, and that blocking HIF1α activity eliminates lymphoma and human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) CSCs.
Impact of the Number of users on Error Probabilities in Multiuser Diversity Systems

Multiuser diversity gain has been investigated well in terms of a system capacity formulation in the literature. In practice, however, designs on multiuser systems with nonzero error rates require a relationship between the error rates and the number of users within a cell. Considering a best-user scheduling, where the user with the best channel condition is scheduled to transmit per scheduling interval, our focus is on the uplink. We assume that each user communicates with the base station through a single-input multiple-output channel. We derive a closed-form expression for the average BER, and analyze how the average BER goes to zero asymptotically as the number of users increases for a given SNR. Note that the analysis of average BER even in SI SO multiuser diversity systems has not been done with respect to the number of users for a given SNR. Our analysis can be applied to multiuser diversity systems with any number of antennas.
The sex matching heuristic in employment decisions

The usage of a “sex matching heuristic” in the evaluation of job applicants was investigated. Specifically, we hypothesized that subjects would evaluate applicants more favorably when their gender matched both the sex-role orientation of the job and the predominant gender of future subordinates. Evidence of the first type of sex matching was found only among male subjects who evaluated female applicants. There was an unexpected, but consistent effect for subordinate gender. Applicants who would be supervising predominantly male subordinates were seen as having better job futures than applicants who would be supervising predominantly female subordinates. Both absence of sex matching and the presence of subordinate gender effects were explained by the consideration of when people use stereotypes and the continued existence of stereotypes about the competence of men and women.
Forecasting bifurcation morphing: Application to cantilever-based sensing

Two novel techniques are proposed to en- hance the bifurcation morphing method as applied to cantilever-based sensors. First, nonlinear feedback ex- citations with added time delay are employed to min- imize the sensitivity of the sensors to small variations in the unavoidable time delay. Second, a novel ap- proach to forecast bifurcations is applied to the sen- sors. This approach significantly reduces the time re- quired to obtain bifurcation diagrams. Both techniques are demonstrated experimentally in detecting mass variations of a test cantilever beam. This cantilever- based sensor operating based on the bifurcation mor- phing method is shown to be accurate, quick and ro- bust when these techniques are utilized.
Glider CT: reconstructing flow fields from predicted motion of underwater gliders

The motion of underwater gliders is strongly affected by ocean currents, which would benefit from a precise map of flow velocity with fine resolution. In this paper, we propose a novel method for reconstructing depth-averaged flow fields leveraging a motion prediction system. The method is based on the fact that the difference between the actual GPS location where a glider comes to the surface and the predicted surfacing position is determined by a line integral of depth-averaged ocean currents along the underwater trajectory of the glider. Even though the underwater trajectories of a glider can not be directly observed, the motion prediction system can be employed to estimate such trajectories. When multiple gliders are involved, we are able to formulate the problem of reconstructing a depth-averaged flow field as a nonlinear estimation problem that has strong connections with algorithms in computerized tomography (CT). However, extensions to CT algorithms are necessary due to the nonlinear nature and practical constraints of the flow reconstruction problem. As a first step towards solving this problem, this paper develops iterative algorithms with demonstrated success in simulations.
Influence of male copulatory behavior on sperm transport, pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in female rats.

Abstract The relations between the multiple intromission pattern of the male rat and the induction of pseudopregnancy and passage of sperm into the female's uterus were investigated. During the early portions of the estrous period, 3 intromissions including ejaculation and vaginal plug deposit, were sufficient and probably necessary for the rapid transport of a maximal number of sperm into the uterus, both in intact females and spayed rats in artificial estrus. The intromission threshold for induction of pseudopregnancy was much higher than that for normal sperm transport; 5 or fewer intromissions were almost completely ineffective, whereas pseudopregnancy occurred in 67 per cent of rats that received 6–9 intromissions and 86 per cent that received 10–16 intromissions. The vaginal plug was neither necessary nor sufficient for inducing pseudopregnancy. Multiple intromissions and ejaculation were separated in time by as much as 5 hr with little if any detrimental effect on pregnancy rate or litter size, provided these events occurred in the normal mating sequence. Females that received the ejaculation before the series of intromissions had a greatly reduced probability of pregnancy and smaller litters. Stimulation necessary for successful pregnancy was reduced near the end of heat. The mechanisms by which intromissions affect sperm transport are discussed and the functional utility of the normal mating sequence and multiple intromission pattern are related to the female's reproductive physiology.
A Rapid Technique for Otolith Removal from Salmonids and Catostomids

Abstract A technique for otolith removal is described that requires less than 1 min and seldom requires a search. The otoliths are removed through the mouth and take no more time than that needed to take scale samples or fin rays. The method has been used successfully with Salmo, Salvelinus, Oncorhynchus, and Catostomus species.
Formation of packaging units in cricket late spermatid nuclei as visualized by spreading techniques

The nuclear organization of a particular step of cricket late spermiogenesis was examined by an electron microscope study of spermatids dispersed by air-liquid surface tension. Cell spreading techniques facilitate a display of condensing spermatid nuclei sufficient to allow interpretation of chromatin packaging processes. Results indicate that nuclei of late developing cricket spermatids are integrated by multiple packaging units as the result of an orderly aggregation of individual chromatin fibers. Each packaging unit consists of a thick fascicle, formed by the alignment of smooth chromatin fibers, which frays out into tassels of looped fibers.
High density barium sulfate suspension for MRI: Optimization of concentration for bowel opacification

In this in vitro study of a potential oral MRI contrast agent, barium sulfate suspension (BSS), the object was to examine the effect of varying barium sulfate concentration on signal intensity while keeping suspension additives the same; and to optimize the concentration of a specific preparation of BSS. A phantom was used to test suspensions with concentrations of barium sulfate ranging from 90% to 220% w/v. T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gradient echo sequences all showed a decrease in signal as concentration was increased to 170%. Between 170% and 220%, the signal intensity was constant on the T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences. With the proton density and gradient echo sequences, there was a slower rate of decline in the signal intensity in the 170 to 220% range of BSS concentrations. We conclude that BSS with a concentration in the range of 170% to 220% w/v is optimum for the specific preparation used. We speculate that the behavior of the signal-to-noise ratio with changing concentration is explained by factors including proton density, T1 relaxation enhancement, diffusion effects, and magnetic field inhomogeneity, depending on the particular pulse sequence used.
The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network—A Successful Model

In 2008, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Bureau of Energy and Recycling, funded a pilot project creating a network of Sustainability Centers. The pilot project demonstrated that networked campus sustainability centers are an efficient mechanism to reach consumers, business, and industry. All 48 community colleges are now members of the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network (ICCSN).
Degradation of Bimetallic Model Electrocatalysts: An In Situ X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study**

One of the major challenges in the development of clean energy fuel cells is the performance degradation of the electrocatalyst, which, apart from poisoning effects, can suffer from corrosion due to its exposure to a harsh environment under high potentials. In this communication, we demonstrate how interactions of Pt with a transition metal support affect not only, as commonly intended, the catalytic activity, but also the reactivity of Pt towards oxide formation or dissolution. We use two well-defined single-crystal model systems, Pt/Rh(111) and Pt/Au(111) and a unique x-ray spectroscopy technique with enhanced energy resolution to monitor the potential-dependent oxidation state of Pt, and find two markedly different oxidation mechanisms on the two different substrates. This information can be of great significance for future design of more active and more stable catalysts. We have studied the potential-induced degradation of Pt monolayer model electrocatalysts on Rh(111) and Au(111) single-crystal substrates. The anodic formation of Pt oxides was monitored using in situ high energy resolution fluorescence detection x-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD XAS). Although Pt was deposited on both substrates in a three-dimensional island growth mode, we observed remarkable differences during oxide formation that can only be understood in terms of strong Pt-substrate interactionsmore » throughout the Pt islands. Anodic polarization of Pt/Rh(111) up to +1.6 V vs. RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) leads to formation an incompletely oxidized passive layer, whereas formation of PtO2 and partial Pt dissolution is observed for Pt/Au(111).« less
Regulating ion pumps to control cell volume

Abstract Cells can control their volume, while in osmotic equilibrium with the environment, by ion pumps. To maintain a steady state the pump flux must be matched to the leak flux. It is proposed that the pump flux may be regulated by sensors responding to the internal sodium concentration. Since the sensitivity to a given increment in sodium concentration (due to diffusion leaks through the membrane) would be amplified if the internal sodium concentration were kept low, this consideration may justify the general observation that cells actively create a low sodium interior in a high sodium environment. Furthermore, sensitivity to small changes in internal sodium concentration would be increased if sodium were a co-operative allosteric activator of the pump mechanism; such kinetic characteristics have been reported for a membrane adenosine triphosphatase.
Mechanism of Recruitment of WASP to the Immunological Synapse and of Its Activation Following TCR Ligation

F-actin polymerization following engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR) is dependent on WASP and is critical for T cell activation. The link between TCR and WASP is not fully understood. In resting cells, WASP exists in a complex with WIP, which inhibits its activation by Cdc42. We show that the adaptor protein CrkL binds directly to WIP. Further, TCR ligation results in the formation of a ZAP-70-CrkL-WIP-WASP complex, which is recruited to lipid rafts and the immunological synapse. TCR engagement also causes PKCtheta-dependent phosphorylation of WIP, causing the disengagement of WASP from the WIP-WASP complex, thereby releasing it from WIP inhibition. These results suggest that the ZAP-70-CrkL-WIP pathway and PKCtheta link TCR to WASP activation.
Solid-State Photoelectron-Spectroscopy with Synchrotron Radiation

Synchrotron radiation sources, providing intense, tunable, polarized, and stable beams of ultraviolet and x-ray photons, are having a great impact on biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, and other areas of research. Synchrotron radiation has revolutionized solid-state photoelectron spectroscopy by enhancing its capabilities for investigating the electronic behavior of solids and solid surfaces. Several fundamental photoemission techniques that rely on synchrotron radiation are discussed in this article. These techniques have an adjustable tunable surface sensitivity and provide the first direct mapping of the electronic band structure. Recent applications of photoelectron spectroscopy for studies of chemisorption geometries and surface structures are discussed.
Seizures from valproate-carbapenem interaction.

Abstract Background Antiepileptic medication interactions can complicate the management of epilepsy, by either increasing or reducing the effective serum concentrations thereby causing adverse effects or loss of seizure control. Results A 14-year-old girl with well-controlled juvenile absence epilepsy lost control of her seizures acutely following the administration of carbapenem for pneumonia. Serum valproate concentrations fell by 90% within 48 hours following carbapenem and returned to baseline following its discontinuation. Conclusions Awareness of this clinically significant interaction alters clinical practice by avoiding carbapenem or temporary use of adjunctive medication to prevent the clinical consequences of this significant drug interaction.
Age and Structure of Mature Knobcone Pine Forests in the Northern California Coast Range, USA

An understanding of current structural conditions and disturbance history is a requisite for optimal management of forest ecosystems, especially for serotinous species such as knobcone pine (Pinus attenuata Lemmon). Knobcone pine is widely distributed in California, yet little is known regarding age and forest structure patterns. In this study, we quantify forest conditions of 21 mature knobcone pine stands in the northern Mayacmas Mountains, north Coast Range, California, USA. Characterized by complex terrain, knobcone pine forests occur in small patches interspersed with chaparral and mixed evergreen forests. Stands displayed unimodal, bimodal, and diffuse age distributions with predominant stand ages ranging from 42 yr to 70 yr, although trees ranged from 17 yr to 98 yr old. Knobcone pine stands appear to have been maintained by stand replacing fires. However, stands with uneven-aged structures were produced through the persistence of residual trees and low intensity fires that created secondary cohorts. Stands varied in density, ranging from 503 stems ha−1 to 2986 stems ha−1, with snags comprising 12 % to 40 % of total density. Wildfires that occurred from the 1930s to the 1960s, in addition to a large wildfire in 1981, created a heterogeneous landscape of knobcone pine forests. Older stands have lower canopy cover, high snag densities, and many trees with evidence of western gall rust (Peridermium harknessii) infections—signs that they are approaching their expected life spans. Risks and constraints associated with using stand replacing prescribed fire pose a challenge for managers of knobcone pine forests, and research may be needed to explore feasible treatment alternatives.
Aggregate/community-centered undergraduate community health nursing clinical experience.

Debate continues about the appropriateness of clinical experiences targeting aggregates in undergraduate community health nursing education. This paper describes a practical model to teach, through experience, the concepts of aggregate/community-centered practice at the baccalaureate level. As a voluntary alternative to the usual community assessment paper, groups of students worked in partnership with community groups to define health needs and to address one need. Sequential student groups focused the assessment and implemented a plan. The required time for each project varied. One project is described to illustrate the model. While independent community-centered practice is not expected of the B.S.N. graduate, the model described here develops comprehension of the concepts and process of such practice.
The Management Curriculum and Assessment Journey: Use of Baldrige Criteria and the Occupational Network Database

Improving the ability to set and assess learning outcomes for students has been a challenging task and not one that has been well documented or executed. This article presents a protocol for the development of a content- and skills-based management curriculum that is based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Performance Criteria and the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET database as a means to define learning outcomes and to assess skills-based performance measures. The O*NET database has career-related data for 965 occupations. Because the data are collected from thousands of job incumbents in a representative sample of the U.S. labor force, this database can be used to help determine the desired learning outcomes of employers. In this article we first look at existing means to evaluate the quality of an academic management program through the popular press ranking criteria and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) standards. Then the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program Crite...
Broadband 60-W HF linear amplifier

The design, construction and performance of a solid-state untuned 2-30 MHz amplifier is described. Operation is from 28 V dc. Overall CW efficiency is greater than 47 percent at 60-w unfiltered output. Amplifier efficiency for two-tone 60-W PEP output is greater than 31 percent. two-tone linearity over the frequency range is -30 dB or better at output powers from 5-60 W. Broadband transmission-line transformers wound on ferrite toroids are used throughout for impedance matching. Hybrids of similar construction are used for output-power adding.
Computing Wrench Cones for Planar Rigid Body Contact Tasks

The contribution of this paper is the expansion of the range of possibilities in the analysis, planning, and control of contact tasks. The successful execution of any contact task fundamentally req...
Microfluidic analysis of extracellular matrix-bFGF crosstalk on primary human myoblast chemoproliferation, chemokinesis, and chemotaxis.

Exposing myoblasts to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which is released after muscle injury, results in receptor phosphorylation, faster migration, and increased proliferation. These effects occur on time scales that extend across three orders of magnitude (100–103 minutes). Finite element modeling of Transwell assays, which are traditionally used to assess chemotaxis, revealed that the bFGF gradient formed across the membrane pore is short-lived and diminishes 45% within the first minute. Thus, to evaluate bFGF-induced migration over 102 minutes, we employed a microfluidic assay capable of producing a stable, linear concentration gradient to perform single-cell analyses of chemokinesis and chemotaxis. We hypothesized that the composition of the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) may affect the behavioral response of myoblasts to soluble bFGF, as previous work with other cell types has suggested crosstalk between integrin and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors. Consistent with this notion, we found that bFGF significantly reduced the doubling time of myoblasts cultured on laminin but not fibronectin or collagen. Laminin also promoted significantly faster migration speeds (13.4 μm h−1) than either fibronectin (10.6 μm h−1) or collagen (7.6 μm h−1) without bFGF stimulation. Chemokinesis driven by bFGF further increased migration speed in a strictly additive manner, resulting in an average increase of 2.3 μm h−1 across all ECMs tested. We observed relatively mild chemoattraction (∼67% of myoblast population) in response to bFGF gradients of 3.2 ng mL−1 mm−1 regardless of ECM identity. Thus, while ECM-bFGF crosstalk did impact chemoproliferation, it did not have a significant effect on chemokinesis or chemotaxis. These data suggest that the main physiological effect of bFGF on myoblast migration is chemokinesis and that changes in the surrounding ECM, resulting from aging and/or disease may impact muscle regeneration by altering myoblast migration and proliferation.
A zebrafish model of chordoma initiated by notochord-driven expression of HRASV12

Chordoma is a malignant tumor thought to arise from remnants of the embryonic notochord, with its origin in the bones of the axial skeleton. Surgical resection is the standard treatment, usually in combination with radiation therapy, but neither chemotherapeutic nor targeted therapeutic approaches have demonstrated success. No animal model and only few chordoma cell lines are available for preclinical drug testing, and, although no druggable genetic drivers have been identified, activation of EGFR and downstream AKT-PI3K pathways have been described. Here, we report a zebrafish model of chordoma, based on stable transgene-driven expression of HRASV12 in notochord cells during development. Extensive intra-notochordal tumor formation is evident within days of transgene expression, ultimately leading to larval death. The zebrafish tumors share characteristics of human chordoma as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin, which has some demonstrated activity in a chordoma cell line, delays the onset of tumor formation in our zebrafish model, and improves survival of tumor-bearing fish. Consequently, the HRASV12-driven zebrafish model of chordoma could enable high-throughput screening of potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of this refractory cancer.
Quantitative paleo-estimation: hypothetical experiments with extrapolation and the no-analog problem

Abstract We experiment with artificial data to test the response of five numerical techniques in extrapolating paleo-environments for no-analog conditions. No-analog conditions are those beyond the technique calibration (modern) data set and will be encountered in applications to the geologic past, though they may not be easy to recognize. In the ideal, a numerical technique will correctly extrapolate to no-analog conditions. Failing this, the technique will have a consistent, predictable error response to increasing no-analog conditions, as these are measured by a reliable index. The no-analog conditions that we used are a natural extension of the calibration conditions we created. Thus we test techniques for their response to shifting environmental conditions rather than for factors unrelated to the ecology of the taxa (e.g. post-depositional fossil preservation). Five numerical techniques we test with our hypothetical data are (1) multivariate regression of species percents, (2) correlation-based principal components with linear regression, (3) covariance-based principal components with linear regression, (4) correlation-based principal components with non-linear regression, and (5) the Imbrie and Kipp technique. All the techniques show increasing estimation error as conditions depart from those of the calibration data set. There are two main causes of error in our estimates: (1) the distorting effects of matrix closure on taxon abundances; and (2) generation of ratio no-analogs among species abundances because of non-linear responses to conditions departing progressively from the calibration range. With all the techniques, the distribution of error for no-analog conditions is complex. Non-linear regression with factors shows the least predictable error response. We found that currently developed no-analog indicators do not have a good correlation to estimation error. This means that better indicators, more closely linked to the accuracy of estimates, need to be developed.
Density of polyethylene

The density of polyethylene produced by free-radical-initiated batch polymerization at elevated pressures and temperatures was found to be determined by the amount of short-chain branching and the molecular weight. The short-chain branching was shown to depend solely upon the pressure and temperature of polymerization. This branching increased as the pressure was reduced or as the temperature was increased. The molecular weight was shown to have an important influence on the density at much higher molecular weight levels than previously reported (up to 50,000 Mn). The density increased as molecular weight decreased. At a constant polymerization pressure and temperature, the type and amount of initiator and chain-transfer agent had no effect on short-chain branching. Inasmuch as the type and amount of these substances do have an effect on molecular weight, they did affect density indirectly through the molecular weight. An equation relating the density, molecular weight, and polymerization pressure and temperature is given.
Disease and thermal acclimation in a more variable and unpredictable climate

Few studies have considered the effects of changes in climatic variability on disease incidence. Now research based on laboratory experiments and field data from Latin America shows that frog susceptibility to the pathogenic chytrid fungus is influenced by temperature variation and predictability through effects on host and parasite acclimation. Global climate change is shifting the distribution of infectious diseases of humans and wildlife with potential adverse consequences for disease control1,2,3,4. As well as increasing mean temperatures, climate change is expected to increase climate variability5,6, making climate less predictable. However, few empirical or theoretical studies have considered the effects of climate variability or predictability on disease, despite it being likely that hosts and parasites will have differential responses to climatic shifts6,7. Here we present a theoretical framework for how temperature variation and its predictability influence disease risk by affecting host and parasite acclimation responses. Laboratory experiments conducted in 80 independent incubators, and field data on disease-associated frog declines in Latin America6, support the framework and provide evidence that unpredictable temperature fluctuations, on both monthly and diurnal timescales, decrease frog resistance to the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Furthermore, the pattern of temperature-dependent growth of the fungus on frogs was opposite to the pattern of growth in culture, emphasizing the importance of accounting for the host–parasite interaction when predicting climate-dependent disease dynamics. If similar acclimation responses influence other host–parasite systems, as seems likely, then present models, which generally ignore small-scale temporal variability in climate7, might provide poor predictions for climate effects on disease.
Identification of pp120, an endogenous substrate for the hepatocyte insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, as an integral membrane glycoprotein of the bile canalicular domain.

Abstract An endogenous membrane-bound substrate of the insulin receptor beta-subunit tyrosine kinase in liver, pp120, has been identified as HA4, a 110-kDa membrane glycoprotein localized primarily to the bile canalicular domain of the hepatocyte. HA4 has been implicated in bile salt transport and cell adhesion. Monoclonal antibodies to HA4 were used to identify it as a substrate of the insulin receptor kinase. Anti-pp120 and anti-HA4 were found to cross-react, and phosphopeptide maps for each of the corresponding antigens were identical. The identification of pp120 as HA4 serves to link insulin action through the receptor tyrosine kinase activity to bile metabolism and raises questions pertaining to the intracellular site(s) of action of the insulin receptor.
Endo-glycosidase F and peptide N-glycosidase F release the great majority of total cellular N-linked oligosaccharides: use in demonstrating that sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides are frequently found in cultured cells.

Subtle modifications of N-linked oligosaccharides are known to mediate important biological functions. However, many of these modifications are destroyed by chemical treatment used to release oligosaccharides from the proteins. Therefore, enzymatic release of the intact, modified oligosaccharides is preferred. We have used a mixture of endoglycosidaseF and Peptide: N-glycosidaseF to release most, if not all, of the [2-3H]Man-labelled N-linked oligosaccharides from a wide variety of mammalian cell lines. This approach combined with biosynthetic radiolabelling could, therefore, be used to identify novel, rare or transient modifications of N-linked oligosaccharides. This treatment indeed released metabolically incorporated [35SO4] from each of 9 different cell lines demonstrating that sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides are much more common than previously believed.
Both rat and mouse T cell receptors specific for the encephalitogenic determinant of myelin basic protein use similar V alpha and V beta chain genes even though the major histocompatibility complex and encephalitogenic determinants being recognized are different.

Prospects for specific immune intervention in T cell-mediated autoimmune disease via anti-idiotypic regulation depend on the degree of diversity of the responder cell antigen receptor repertoire. A highly heterogenous response against self epitopes offers little chance for such regulation. We report here that the Lewis rat autoimmune disease experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, generally considered to be a model of human multiple sclerosis, is caused by T cells that use a limited set of TCR V genes. We have cloned the rat TCR alpha and beta chain cDNAs from the Lewis rat x mouse T cell hybridoma 510, which retains the rat specificity for the encephalitogenic determinant of myelin basic protein (MBP). Using Northern blot analysis of T cell RNA with the cloned V region probes, we have found a specific, and near perfect, correlation between expression of TCR message hybridizing to the V alpha 510 and VB510 probes and specificity for the encephalitogenic determinant of MBP in both T cell hybridomas and encephalitogenic T cell clones. This restricted V gene usage provides a basis for observed idiotypic regulation of auto-reactive T cells, and possible therapy for autoimmune disease. A curious and unexplained observation is that the Lewis rat V alpha/V beta combination that dominates the encephalitogenic response to the 68-88 peptide of MBP is precisely the same V alpha/V beta combination used by the B10.PL mouse response to the encephalitogenic response to the 1-9 peptide of MBP.
Art, Artists, and Arts Audiences: Their Implications for the Psychology of Creativity

This article discusses the relevance of art, including artists and arts audiences, to the psychological study of creativity. To this end, the following topics and issues are covered: the reasons for psychology's interest in artistic creativity, scientific and other approaches, the thorny problem of definitions, the kinds of artistic creativity, the benefits of interdisciplinary study, and the salient facts. The article concludes with some directions for future research that expands the connections between the psychology of creativity and the arts.
Comprehension of the media

When people watch a movie, one of the viewers’ basic goals is to have a coherent understanding of what they are watching. To accomplish this, viewers construct mental representations of the movie as the movie unfolds. This representation includes information about the characters and situations within the movie, and prior expectations based on knowledge about the genre of movies, the director, and the actors and actresses starring in the movie. This combination of information provides the basis for understanding the movie as it unfolds and for predicting future events in the movie. Unfortunately, little research has focused on how people create a coherent understanding of what they are watching (but see Livingstone, 1987, 1989, 1990a, 1990b; Morley, 1992, 19890/1999). That is, communication scholars have tended to ignore comprehension, including in the first edition of Communication and Social Cognition (Berger & Roloff, 1982). However, a major breakthrough in the study of comprehension occurred in cognitive psychology the year after the first edition was published.
Designing Better Pension Benefits Statements: Current Status, Best Practices and Insights from the Field of Judgment and Decisionmaking

Decisionmaking on saving for retirement requires individuals to have knowledge on fundamental issues, such as the functioning of pension systems, portfolio allocation, future expected benefits, contribution histories and risks. Currently, the information provided in pension benefits statements vary widely by plan provider as well as by the nature of benefits offered. The inconsistency could occur partly because recommended best practices for, and empirical studies that test, the design and content of statements vary widely in the literature. Furthermore, little is known on how people think about saving for retirement. Insights from the fields of behavioral economics, and judgment and decisionmaking can fill some of these literature gaps by applying psychological theories to help better inform consumers about their financial decisions and retirement status using benefits statements. In this paper, the authors provide a normative and positive review of pension benefit statement design. They begin by reviewing best practices and recommendations provided from the trade literature. Next, they describe the content and design of a cross section of statements that are currently being used by plan providers. Finally, they review the academic literature on individuals’ understanding of, and information needs related to, pension benefits statements. The latter includes a description of the few studies explicitly researching pension statement design related questions, general behavioral and decisionmaking literature that can be applied to the content and presentation of information, and general literature on whether and to what extent uncertainty should be presented.
Malaysia in the New Millennium (B)

This case series (see also the A case, UVA-BP-0441) brings to life a dramatic juncture in the modern economic history of Malaysia. The Asian Financial Crisis, triggered by the devaluation of the Thai baht in July 1997, required a policy response by the Malaysian leadership. The two cases highlight the decision of Prime Minister Mahathir to impose capital controls and limit economic austerity, a policy mix that defied the conventional wisdom espoused by the leaders of many developed countries. This defiant move followed a series of economic-development initiatives instituted by Mahathir that promoted rapid economic growth and economic equality across ethnic groups. The cases permit an exploration of national leadership, and also allow students to explore the interplay between exchange-rate regimes and capital-control policies on a technical level. This case series is intended for use in courses covering the political economy as it relates to the international business environment.
Microstructure and Phase Separation of Pekk, Pekk and their Blends

Microstructures of PEEK|PEKK blends at both structural and lamellar levels were studied using simultaneously time-resolved small-angle and wide-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) with synchrotron radiations. Lamellar dimensions and unit cell parameters were determined, and phase separation within the blends were observed. A suitable two-phase growth model is proposed. It is concluded that when crystallized from the melt, PEEK and PEKK lamellae formed in separate lamellar bundles within a common spherulite.
Population-Based Nursing: Concepts and Competencies for Advanced Practice.Cupp Curley, A. L., & Vitale, P. A

This book is suitable for nurses who are studying for a DNP degree or those who are practicing in population health or health program design and management. In less than 300 pages, this book nicely...