cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomic analysis of genetic markers associated with inherited cardiomyopathy (round heart disease) in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Summary In turkeys, spontaneous cardiomyopathy or round heart (RH) disease is characterised by dilated ventricles and cardiac muscle hypertrophy. Although the aetiology of RH is still unknown, the disease can have a significant economic impact on turkey producers. In an initial attempt to identify genomic regions associated with RH, we utilised the chicken genome sequence to target short DNA sequences (sequence-characterised amplified regions, SCARs) identified in previous studies that had significant differences in frequency distribution between RH+ and RH− turkeys. SCARs were comparatively aligned with the chicken whole-genome sequence to identify flanking regions for primer design. Primers from 32 alignments were tested and target sequences were successfully amplified for 30 loci (94%). Comparative re-sequencing identified putative SNPs in 20 of the 30 loci (67%). Genetically informative SNPs at 16 loci were genotyped in the UMN/NTBF turkey mapping population. As a result of this study, 34 markers were placed on the turkey/chicken comparative map and 15 markers were added to the turkey genetic linkage map. The position of these markers relative to cardiac-related genes is presented. In addition, analysis of genotypes at 109 microsatellite loci presumed to flank the SCAR sequences in the turkey genome identified four significant associations with RH.
Maintaining focus: An introduction to anthropogenic fire

Abstract The capture of fire by the genus Homo changed forever the natural history of the Earth. Even today fire appears at the core of many popular scenarios for an environmental apocalypse. Yet the larger history of fire - the varied ways human societies have sought to use and control fire, the trajectory of change over centuries if not millennia - is not well known. This paper sketches a conceptual framework for understanding the ecology of anthropogenic fire and how such fire practices compete with natural ignition sources and with the industrial combustion of fossil fuels.
A Progress report on the chipping quality of 33 potato varieties

Thirty-three Maine-grown varieties of potatoes were studied to determine their comparative suitability for use in chip-making. In this study the varieties that proved to be unsuitable for chip-making, since they did not make a salable product even when stored at 55° F. or could not be satisfactorily conditioned (desugared) at 70° following storage at 40°, were Earlaine 2, Green Mountain, Menominee, Mohawk, Pontiac, Potomac, Red Warba, Sequoia, Triumph, Warba, White Rose, and Seedling 24642.
COHESION IN CUBIC REFRACTORY MONOCARBIDES, MONONITRIDES, AND MONOXIDES.

Abstract The coincidence of high-temperature strength and metallic electrical conductivity suggests an admixture of covalent and metallic bonding. Previously the simple application of these models has led to apparently antithetical explanations of material properties. In refractory compounds, several kinds of binding must exist. It is possible to assume that although different bonding mechanisms are operative, there are continuous transitions from one dominant bond type to another, corresponding to the situation encountered in the modern theory of alloys. This paper relates the intrinsic mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties as observed experimentally, to the valence electron concentration. Our approach is to describe the electronic band structure in terms of electronic molecular orbitals (taken as a linear combination of atomic orbitals) involved in cation-cation and cation-anion interactions. The degree of anion and cation interaction can be largely described by the overlap integrals associated with clusters of atomic orbitals. Thus properties which characterize bonding and stability in these compounds can be related to the average valence electron concentration per molecule, MX, and thereby directly to the atomic orbitals. Maximum stability or optimum binding energy, characterized by properties such as maximum melting point and low vaporization rate at high temperatures, is achieved by that crystal structure in which nearly all the bonding orbitals are occupied and antibonding orbitals vacant. Since in the solid, energy states derived from both types of interactions broaden into bands and overlie each other in energy, maximum stability occurs for a valence electron concentration (V.E.C.) between 8 and 9 valence electrons per molecule.
Arginine-rich, cell penetrating peptide-anti-microRNA complexes decrease glioblastoma migration potential

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of gene regulators originating from non-coding endogenous RNAs. Altered expression, both up- and down-regulation, of miRNAs plays important roles in many human diseases. Correcting miRNA dysregulation by either inhibiting or restoring miRNA function may provide therapeutic benefit. However, efficient, nontoxic miRNA delivery systems are in need. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been widely exploited for protein, DNA, and RNA delivery. Few have examined CPP transfection efficiency with single stranded anti-miRNA. The R8 peptide condensed both siRNA and anti-miRNA. Greater than 50% of cells had anti-miRNA/R8 complexes associated and in these cells 68% of anti-miRNA escapes the endosome/lysosome. Single-stranded antisense miR-21 inhibitor (anti-miR-21) administered using the R8 peptide elicited efficient downstream gene upregulation. Glioblastoma cell migration was inhibited by 25% compared to the negative control group. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of miRNA modulation with anti-miR-21/R8 complexes, which has laid the groundwork for further exploring octaarginine as intracellular anti-miRNAs carrier.
Entry Deterrence and the Free Rider Problem

The public good aspect of entry prevention is examined in an industry characterized by an established oligopoly facing a potential entrant. Although incumbent firms act noncooperatively, underinvestment in entry-deterrence does not occur and in fact incumbents may find themselves in a Pareto dominated arrangement (in terms of profits) by preventing entry.
Plasma prostaglandins during the intravenous infusion of angiotensin II in pregnant women.

The possible relation between prostaglandin production and the sensitivity of pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension to the pressor effects of angiotensin II was investigated. Plasma prostaglandin levels were determined in four groups of women before, during, and after intravenous infusion of angiotensin II. Concentrations of the stable metabolites of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F(2α), and prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin) was quantified by specific radioimmunoassay in the plasma of nonpregnant women, women pregnant in the late third trimester, and women pregnant in the late third trimester with pregnancy-induced or chronic hypertension. Plasma prostaglandin concentrations did not change significantly during angiotensin II infusion in any of the four groups of women. Levels of the prostacyclin metabolite, however, were significantly higher in the hypertensive pregnant women than in the normotensive pregnant women.
Can We Overcome Historic Injustices

It is a common hope that historical injustices can be superseded by serious efforts in the present to arrange things justly for the future. This paper tries to determine what it might mean to arrange things justly in the relevant way, and considers the kinds of social changes that might be necessary to achieve this. As this paper argues, human societies are always shot through with patterns of inherited inequalities of wealth and power that we currently have no determinate blueprint for eliminating, even if most persons were motivated to uphold the rules of a just society (stipulated here as a Rawlsian one). Given its basic nature, wealth can never be distributed in ways that do not arbitrarily advantage some persons over others in morally troubling ways (at least within complex market economies), and much the same seems true of political power. Thus “arranging things justly for the future” cannot entail literal equality between individuals, but only some broader and more complex notion of fairness, including on fairness between those who have benefited from or suffered by historical injustices. But how does one pursue this kind of more complex fairness? The paper suggests some possible means for trying to do so, and also suggests some of the unavoidable limits that such an exercise must necessarily face.
Coenzyme binding in yeast pyruvate decarboxylase. Kinetic studies with thiamine diphosphate analogues.

A kinetic investigation of the behavior of apopyruvate decarboxylase from Saccharomyces carlsbergensiswith thiamine pyrophosphate analogues gave the values of 23 μM as the Km for thiamine pyrophosphate and 20 μM as the Km for 2′-ethylthiamine pyrophosphate. The Vfor the latter compound was 25%, that of thiamine pyrophosphate. Inhibitor constants, Ki, were determined for the following competitive inhibitors of thiamine pyrophosphate with the apoenzyme, (the values are for the pyrophosphate esters): tetrahydrothiamine, 6.5 μM; oxythiamine, 20 μM; 2′-n-butyIthiamine, 45 μM; 2′-methoxythiamine, 70 μM; pyrithiamine, 78 μM; 2′-demethylthiamine, 220 μM; 2′-hydroxythiamine, 380 μM. None of the inhibitors exhibited coenzyme activity. A hydrophobic interaction of the 2′-methyl group of thiamine pyrophosphate with the apoenzyme has been proposed and a model for the coenzyme binding site of pyruvate decarboxylase, consisting of a pyrophosphate and a pyrimidine binding region, is discussed.
Tetramerization of SAMHD1 Is Required for Biological Activity and Inhibition of HIV Infection

SAMHD1 is a dGTP-activated dNTPase that has been implicated as a modulator of the innate immune response. In monocytes and their differentiated derivatives, as well as in quiescent cells, SAMHD1 strongly inhibits HIV-1 infection and, to a lesser extent, HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) because of their virion-associated virulence factor Vpx, which directs SAMHD1 for proteasomal degradation. Here, we used a combination of biochemical and virologic approaches to gain insights into the functional organization of human SAMHD1. We found that the catalytically active recombinant dNTPase is a dGTP-induced tetramer. Chemical cross-linking studies revealed SAMHD1 tetramers in human monocytic cells, in which it strongly restricts HIV-1 infection. The propensity of SAMHD1 to maintain the tetrameric state in vitro is regulated by its C terminus, located outside of the catalytic domain. Accordingly, we show that the C terminus is required for the full ability of SAMHD1 to deplete dNTP pools and to inhibit HIV-1 infection in U937 monocytes. Interestingly, the human SAMHD1 C terminus contains a docking site for HIV-2/SIVmac Vpx and is known to have evolved under positive selection. This evidence indicates that Vpx targets a functionally important element in SAMHD1. Together, our findings imply that SAMHD1 tetramers are the biologically active form of this dNTPase and provide new insights into the functional organization of SAMHD1.
A Two-Stage Disaggregate Attribute Choice Model

A two-stage disaggregate attribute choice model is proposed and empirically implemented. The first stage of the model is attribute processing to screen the number of alternatives down to a lesser number. The second stage is brand alternative processing which considers the attributes simultaneously while allowing for tradeoffs among the attributes. This two-stage approach is then applied to the same real world data set as two single stage disaggregate models, logit and Maximum-Likelihood-Hierarchical MLH which are state of the art models representing the alternative and attribute processing approaches, respectively. The predictive accuracy of the two-stage approach compares favorably to the single stage models. In addition, it seems to offer diagnostic information that can provide managerial insights not found in the output of the single stage model.
Relationship of Generalized and Regional Adiposity to Insulin Sensitivity in Men With NIDDM

Abdominal obesity, particularly excess intraperitoneal fat, is considered to play a major role in causing insulin resistance and NIDDM. To determine if NIDDM patients accumulate excess intraperitoneal fat, and whether this contributes significantly to their insulin resistance, 31 men with mild NIDDM with a wide range of adiposity were compared with 39 nondiabetic, control subjects for insulin sensitivity (measured using euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique with [3-3H]glucose turnover) and total and regional adiposity (assessed by hydrodensitometry and by measuring subcutaneous abdominal, intraperitoneal, and retroperitoneal fat masses using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and truncal and peripheral skinfold thicknesses using calipers). MRI analysis revealed that intraperitoneal fat was not increased in NIDDM patients compared with control subjects; in both groups it averaged 11% of total body fat. NIDDM patients, however, had increased truncal-to-peripheral skinfolds thickness ratios. In NIDDM patients, as in control subjects, amounts of truncal subcutaneous fat showed a stronger correlation with glucose disposal rate than intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal fat; however, NIDDM patients were more insulin resistant at every level of total or regional adiposity. Further, no particular influence of excess intraperitoneal fat on hepatic insulin sensitivity was noted. We conclude that NIDDM patients do not have excess intraperitoneal fat, but that their fat distribution favors more truncal and less peripheral subcutaneous fat. Moreover, for each level of total and regional adiposity, NIDDM patients have a heightened state of insulin resistance.
Optical rotatory dispersion of Chromatium cytochrome c552.

Abstract Chromatium cytochrome c552 contains two covalently linked hemes and one tightly bound flavin. The optical rotatory dispersion of the oxidized, reduced, and carbon monoxide-reduced forms of the cytochrome was studied between 185 and 600 nm. It showed a rather featureless optical rotatory dispersion in the visible and aromatic regions but large anomalous rotations with a prominent peak flanked by two small troughs in the Soret region. Reduction or reaction with carbon monoxide increased the magnitude of rotation at the positive extremum, accompanied by a general sharpening of the optical rotatory dispersion profile. Analysis of these dispersion curves gave a set of Cotton effects of opposite signs. In the oxidized form, four Cotton effects were resolved from the dispersion curve and were located at 426.4, 416.1, 406.1, and 360.6 nm with rotational strengths of -0.25, -0.24, +0.55, and -0.07 Debye magneton, respectively. The net rotational strength of these Cotton effects approximated zero. Similar results were obtained in the reduced form which had transitions at 420.6(-), 413.4(+), and 347.2 nm(-), and in the carbon monoxide-reacted form with transitions at 416.6(-), 412.0(+), 410.2(+), and 342.1 nm(-). The Kronig-Kramer transform computed for each form of the cytochrome gave a split circular dichroic spectrum comparable to that experimentally observed. These results could possibly mean that (a) coupled heme interaction might exist in the molecule, (b) the immediate environment of the prosthetic groups might be affected by the oxidation state of the hemes or their reaction with carbon monoxide, and (c) the sharing of the carbon monoxide by the two hemes might not be exactly equal.
Decision tree SAR models for developmental toxicity based on an FDA/TERIS database.

Humans are exposed to thousands of environmental chemicals for which no developmental toxicity information is available. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) are models that could be used to efficiently predict the biological activity of potential developmental toxicants. However, at this time, no adequate SAR models of developmental toxicity are available for risk assessment. In the present study, a new developmental database was compiled by combining toxicity information from the Teratogen Information System (TERIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. We implemented a decision tree modeling procedure, using Classification and Regression Tree software and a model ensemble approach termed bagging. We then assessed the empirical distributions of the prediction accuracy measures of the single and ensemble-based models, achieved by repeating our modeling experiment many times by repeated random partitioning of the working database. The decision tree developmental SAR models exhibited mo...
Evolutionary computation: a unified approach

The field of Evolutionary Computation has experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years, resulting in a wide variety of evolutionary algorithms and applications. The result poses an interesting dilemma for many practitioners in the sense that, with such a wide variety of algorithms and approaches, it is often hard to se the relationships between them, assess strengths and weaknesses, and make good choices for new application areas. This tutorial is intended to give an overview of a general EC framework that can help compare and contrast approaches, encourages crossbreeding, and facilitates intelligent design choices. The use of this framework is then illustrated by showing how traditional EAs can be compared and contrasted with it, and how new EAs can be effectively designed using it. Finally, the framework is used to identify some important open issues that need further research.
Distributions of Daily Extreme Winds and Wind Turbine Operation

Two statistical distributions are fitted to a set of extreme wind data and the Fisher-Tippett Type I is shown to be superior. Daily extremes are examined for their influence on wind turbine operation. Formulas are given for converting annual extreme wind statistics to daily or monthly extremes. A daily extreme of 40 mph is experienced about 1 day out of 10 and 56 mph about 1 day out of 100 at 50 m in Kansas.
Metabolic cycle, cell cycle, and the finishing kick to Start

Slowly growing budding yeast store carbohydrate, then liquidate it in late G1 phase of the cell cycle, superimposing a metabolic cycle on the cell cycle. This metabolic cycle may separate biochemically incompatible processes. Alternatively it may provide a burst of energy and material for commitment to the cell cycle. Stored carbohydrate could explain the size requirement for cells passing the Start point.
Aroclor 1254 pretreatment effects on DNA repair in rat hepatocytes elicited by in vivo or in vitro exposure to various chemicals

Inducers of liver mixed function oxidase (MFO) activities have profound effects on the genotoxicity of substances that undergo metabolic activation by the MFO system. The polychlorinated biphenyl mixture Aroclor 1254 is a broad-spectrum inducer of liver MFO activities that has been employed as a pretreatment to augment the metabolic activation capabilities of rat liver fractions used in a number of short-term tests for genotoxicity, including the Ames Salmonella/bacterial mutagenicity assay. The present study was designed to characterize the effects of Aroclor pretreatment of rats on the DNA repair responses elicited by various chemicals in the in vitro hepatocyte primary culture/DNA repair (HPC/DR) assay as well as the in vivo/in vitro HPC/DR assay. The amount of DNA repair produced in vitro by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), o-aminoazotoluene (o-AT), and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was significantly greater in hepatocytes derived from Aroclor-pretreated rats than in control rat hepatocytes; in vitro responses to dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), benzidine (BZ), and 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) were not significantly affected by Aroclor pretreatment. DNA repair elicited by the direct-acting alkylating agents methyl methanesulfonate and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was also not increased by Aroclor pretreatment, which indicated that Aroclor does not exert a general stimulatory effect on the hepatocellular DNA repair capacity. Therefore, the pretreatment-related potentiation of DNA repair observed for 6 out of 12 compounds tested in vitro was considered to be due to enhanced metabolic activation. These results suggested that pretreatment with Aroclor may increase the sensitivity of the in vitro HPC/DR assay to certain compounds. In contrast, Aroclor pretreatment had little effect on the amount of hepatocellular DNA repair elicited by in vivo administration of DMN, DEN, o-AT, 2-AAF, 3-MC, or AFB1, which indicated that this pretreatment regimen may have little utility for improving the sensitivity of the in vivo/in vitro HPC/DR assay.
Connections of the lateral and medial divisions of the goldfish telencephalic pallium

Biotinylated dextran amine and fluorescent carbocyanine dye (DiI) were used to examine connections of the lateral (Dl) and medial (Dm) divisions of the goldfish pallium. Besides numerous intrinsic telencephalic connections to Dl and Dm, major ascending projections to these pallial divisions arise in the preglomerular complex of the posterior tuberculum, rather than in the dorsal thalamus. The rostral subnucleus of the lateral preglomerular nucleus receives auditory input via the medial pretoral nucleus, lateral line input via the ventrolateral toral nucleus, and visual input via the optic tectum, and it projects to both Dl and Dm. The anterior preglomerular nucleus and caudal subnucleus of the lateral preglomerular nucleus receive auditory input via the central toral nucleus and project to Dm. This pallial division also receives chemosensory information via the medial preglomerular nucleus. The central posterior (CP) nucleus, which receives both auditory and visual inputs, also projects to Dm and is the only dorsal thalamic nucleus projecting to the pallium. Thus, both Dl and Dm clearly receive multisensory inputs. Major projections of CP and projections of all other dorsal thalamic nuclei are to the subpallium, however. Descending projections of Dl are primarily to the preoptic area and the caudal hypothalamus, whereas descending projections of Dm are more extensive and particularly heavy to the anterior tuber and nucleus diffusus of the hypothalamus. The topography and connections of Dl are remarkably similar to those of the hippocampus of tetrapods, whereas the topography and connections of Dm are similar to those of the amygdala.
A New Species of Subulura (Nematoda: Subuluroidea) from Ground Squirrels, Spermophilus spilosoma Bennett, 1833, in New Mexico

A description is presented of a new species of Subulura Molin, 1860, Subulura novomexicanus, collected from the spotted ground squirrel, Spermophilus spilosoma Bennett, 1833, in New Mexico. The males are 24 to 29 mm long, precloacal sucker 1.7–2.0 mm from posterior end, spicules subequal 0.83–1.0 long, and gubernaculum Y-shaped 0.21–0.39 mm long. Females are 34–39 mm long, vulva near middle of body 14.06–22.00 mm from anterior end, and eggs 0.04–0.05 mm long by 0.03–0.04 mm wide. The new species is distinguished from Subulura ungulatus Erickson, 1938 in being longer and having spicules that are distinctively different in size and form. It also differs from Subulura nevadense Babero, 1973 in being longer and having a larger egg size and smaller spicules. The new species is most similar to Subulura andersoni (Cobbold, 1876) (Thwaite, 1927); however, the males of this species are smaller and they have broad cervical alae, and the adults occur in squirrels of India. Reexamination of S. ungulatus showed 11 pai...
Sample preparation technique for cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy of quantum wire structures.

A novel cross-sectional sample preparation technique for quantum wire (QWR) structures is described. By coating a thin layer of Au with a designed pattern on the sample as a marker to indicate the position of the wire pattern, the location of the thinned area can be controlled precisely. An example of applying this technique to an InGaAs/GaAs QWR structure is demonstrated. This technique can also be applied to any other small dimensional structures or devices with specific regions of interest. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Solving Wicked Social Problems with Socio-computational Systems

Global climate change is one of the most challenging problems humanity has ever faced. Fortunately, a new way of solving large, complex problems has become possible in just the last decade or so. Examples like Wikipedia and Linux illustrate how the work of thousands of people can be combined in ways that would have been impossible only a few years ago. Inspired by systems like these, we developed the Climate CoLab—a global, on-line platform in which thousands of people around the world work together to create, analyze, and ultimately select detailed plans for what we humans can do about global climate change. The Climate CoLab has been operating since November 2009, and has an active community of thousands of users. In this article, we outline some of the challenges faced in developing the system, describe our current solutions to these problems, and report on our experiences.
Accessory proteins function as matchmakers in the assembly of the T4 DNA polymerase holoenzyme

Abstract Background: During bacteriophage T4 DNA replication, the 44/62 and 45 accessory proteins combine with the DNA polymerase to form a processive holoenzyme complex. Formation of this complex is dependent upon ATP hydrolysis by the 44/62 protein. It is uncertain, however, whether the 44/62 protein remains with the 45 protein as part of this protein ‘sliding clamp' during DNA synthesis, or whether it is required only for complex assembly. Results To address this issue, we have stoichiometrically assembled a processive T4 DNA polymerase holoenzyme complex, capable of strand-displacement synthesis, on a forked primer/template. By titrating the 44/62 protein to substoichiometric concentrations, we have shown that it can act catalytically to load on to the primer/template the 45 protein, which, in turn, combines with the DNA polymerase to form a processive complex. Two distinct complex species are formed: most of the complexes are highly stable, with a half life of 7 minutes, whereas the remainder have a half-life of 0.4 minutes. Precipitation of the protein–DNA complexes, followed by western blot analysis, verified that the complexes contain the DNA polymerase and 45 proteins, but not the 44/62 protein. Conclusion Using physiological protein concentrations, we have shown that the composition of the T4 protein sliding clamp consists solely of the 45 protein. The role of the 44/62 protein is that of a molecular matchmaker, in that it serves to load the 45 protein onto the DNA but does not remain an essential component of the processive complex.
Thermod7: A general two-dimensional numerical modeling program for heat conduction and advection, with special application to faults

Fundamental to the study of orogenic belts is the determination of metamorphic pressure-temperature paths and temperature-time (T-t) paths. Pressure-temperature (or depth-temperature, D-T) paths are commonly obtained through the Gibbs method modeling of garnet growth zoning and T-t paths are obtained through thermochronologic studies, but in both cases, the geologic significance can be difficult to interpret. If the recorded history is known to be associated with faulting, accurately determined D-T or T-t paths may be used to constrain the geometry, duration, sense (normal or reverse) and slip rate, with the aide of two-dimensional (2D) numerical modeling. In order to provide the modeling capability, Windows-based software has been written. The software also provides general capabilities for both 1D and 2D modeling of heat conduction, advection, and melt crystallization, within certain limitations. A graphical user interface leads users through the process of specifying models, and a tutorial provides instruction. provides instruction.
Steady‐state mass transfer with homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions

The study of mass transfer of a laminar fluid flowing in a tube with chemical reactions taking place inside the fluid and at the tube wall has been investigated quite extensively in the past with simplified assumptions. Theoretical and experimental investigations previously neglected one or more of the following effects: axial diffusion, homogeneous chemical reaction, and heterogeneous chemical reaction at the wall in order to get the concentration field of the diffusing species. These assumptions can generally lead to incomplete description of the process or erroneous conclusion of the phenomena (particularly in the entrance region of the tube). Relaxing these assumptions, only one asymptotic solution has been reported for this problem. Another method of analyzing this problem is by the dispersion model approximation. The objective of the present paper is to present a thorough, exact analysis of the problem of laminar-flow, convective diffusion with axial diffusion and homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions in a tube.
Association between microtensile bond strength and leakage in the indirect resin composite/dentin adhesively bonded joint.

Abstract Purpose: Develop a methodology to correlate microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and leakage within the same site of a specimen and evaluate the predominate debond and leakage pathways . Materials and methods: A Class II (MO) slot cavity was prepared in 37 extracted human molars and restored with indirect resin composite restorations. The restored teeth were thermocycled 300X between 5 and 55°C and then stained with silver. Two specimens per tooth were obtained by diamond saw sectioning for measurement of leakage (μm) and microtensile bond strength (MPa) at the gingival wall and then tested for association with regression analysis. Scanning electron microscopy techniques and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to evaluate the debond and leakage pathways. Results: Association between leakage and bond strength was not significant ( t =1.31, p =0.198). All 74 samples debonded within the joint, predominantly at the hybrid layer-adhesive resin region with only one specimen including a small portion of resin cement in the debond pathway. Secondary and backscatter imaging and EDS analysis showed leakage in all samples that involved the hybrid layer. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a feasible method for evaluating leakage and bond strength at the joint interface within the same specimen.
Computational models of facial attractiveness judgments.

We designed two computational models to replicate human facial attractiveness ratings. The primary model used partial least squares (PLS) to identify image factors associated with facial attractiveness from facial images and attractiveness ratings of those images. For comparison we also made a model similar to previous models of facial attractiveness, in that it used manually derived measurements between features as inputs, though we took the additional step of dimensionality reduction via principal component analysis (PCA) and weighting of PCA dimensions via a perceptron. Strikingly, both models produced estimates of facial attractiveness that were indistinguishable from human ratings. Because PLS extracts a small number of image factors from the facial images that covary with attractiveness ratings of the images, it is possible to determine the information used by the model. The image factors that the model discovered correspond to two of the main contemporary hypotheses of averageness judgments: facial...
Search for non-standard radioactive decay based on distribution of activities

Standard radioactive decay occurs exponentially at a constant rate which, apart from a few well-understood exceptions, is unaffected by external conditions. Recent papers challenging standard decay have reported periodic variations in the decay rate of certain nuclei that correlate with geophysical or astrophysical periodicities. The effects are weak and their origins have been disputed. This paper proposes an alternative method to search for non-standard radioactive decay based on the distribution of decay events, rather than on deviations from the exponential decay law. It is shown that a time series of nuclear decays comprise a Mixed Poisson-Gauss distribution whose probability function is very sensitive to periodic variations in the decay rate.
Egg-laying hormone peptides in the aplysiidae family.

The neuropeptidergic bag cells of the marine mollusc Aplysia californica are involved in the egg-laying behavior of the animal. These neurosecretory cells synthesize an egg-laying hormone (ELH) precursor protein, yielding multiple bioactive peptides, including ELH, several bag cell peptides (BCP) and acidic peptide (AP). While immunohistochemical studies have involved a number of species, homologous peptides have been biochemically characterized in relatively few Aplysiidae species. In this study, a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS is used to characterize and compare the ELH peptides from related opisthobranch molluscs including Aplysia vaccaria and Phyllaplysia taylori. The peptide profiles of bag cells from these two Aplysiidae species are similar to that of A. californica bag cells. In an effort to characterize further several of these peptides, peptides from multiple groups of cells of each species were extracted, and microbore liquid chromatography was used to separate and isolate them. Several MS-based sequencing approaches are applied to obtain the primary structures of bag cell peptides and ELH. Our studies reveal that (α)-BCPs are 100 % conserved across all species studied. In addition, the complete sequences of (e)-BCP and ELH of A. vaccaria were determined. They show a high degree of homology to their counterparts in A. californica, with only a few amino acid residue substitutions.
Teaching Leadership in Public Administration

Graduates of public administration programs regularly find themselves in roles accorded substantial responsibility and authority. It is therefore crucial that these programs provide effective instruction that helps students develop leadership skills and attributes. The dilemma is that leadership concepts are not susceptible to traditional didactic instructional approaches, which are cognitively based. Leadership learning is best accomplished in the affective and behavioral domains as well as in the cognitive. We present a pedagogical model that we believe is more appropriate for teaching leadership in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. This model marries the key competencies of effective leaders with suitable teaching orientations. We illustrate how this model may be applied by describing a graduate leadership course we have developed and taught.
Resistant Hypertension and the Pivotal Role for Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists: A Clinical Update 2016

True resistant hypertension must be distinguished from apparent resistant hypertension, of which important causes include medication nonadherence, illicit drug use, and alcoholism. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be considered to rule out white coat hypertension. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, but the 2 pivotal factors include volume excess and the myriad effects of aldosterone. Aldosterone increases vascular tone because of endothelial dysfunction and enhances the pressor response to catecholamines. It also plays a crucial role in vascular remodeling of small and large arteries. Aldosterone also promotes collagen synthesis, which leads to increased arterial stiffness and elevation of blood pressure. Because aldosterone has been demonstrated to modulate baroreflex resetting, in cases of severe hypertension, there would be fewer compensatory mechanisms available to offset the blood pressure elevation.
Inequity Leads to Distress and a Reduction in Satisfaction: Evidence From a Priming Experiment:

Considerable research has shown that perceptions of inequity in relationships are associated with distress and relationship dissatisfaction, thus providing support for equity theory’s predictions. The evidence, however, is based primarily on correlational data, making it difficult to determine causality. The reverse causal direction could also explain the correlational findings—dissatisfaction could lead to perceptions of inequity. This study employed experimental priming, in which participants wrote a narrative about a past situation in their relationship, either an underbenefiting situation, an overbenefiting situation, or an equity situation (randomly assigned). Participants who were primed to think about a past underbenefiting inequity reported more distress than those who were primed to think about a past overbenefiting inequity; those who were primed for equity were the least distressed. In addition, the equity/inequity prime affected participants’ score on a satisfaction scale completed in regard t...
Modeling Particle Size Effects on Phase Stability and Transition Pathways in Nanosized Olivine Cathode Particles

Recent experiments show that nanosized olivine LiFePO4 has different phase transition and solubility behavior than that of larger cathode particles. The possibility of metastable or globally stable amorphous phase in nanosized LiFePO4 particles during delithiation is considered in a diffuse-interface model. At a small enough particle size, a lithiated crystalline phase can undergo amorphization upon charging instead of transforming directly to the delithiated crystalline phase at nanoscale particle sizes.
Large Magnetoresistance Anisotropy in Strained Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 Thin Films

We have studied the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) of strained Pr0.67Sr0.33MnO3 thin films by measuring the MR as a function of the angle between the magnetic field direction and the substrate normal (out-of-plane). The results show that the compressive- and tensile-strained ultrathin films (5-15 nm) grown on LaAlO3 (001) (LAO) and SrTiO3 (001) (STO) substrates show unusually large out-of-plane AMR, but with opposite signs. In contrast, the almost strainfree films on the NdGaO3 (110) substrates show much smaller AMR over all the temperature and field ranges studied. Thick films on LAO and STO substrates also show much smaller AMR.
Estimating the Effect of Health Insurance on Personal Prescription Drug Importation.

Personal prescription drug importation occurs in the United States because of the high cost of U.S. medicines and lower cost of foreign equivalents. Importation carries a risk of exposure to counterfeit (i.e., falsified, fraudulent), adulterated, and substandard drugs. Inadequate health insurance may increase the risk of importation. We use inverse probability weighted marginal structural models and data on 87,494 individuals from the 2011-2013 National Health Interview Survey to estimate the marginal association between no health insurance and importation within U.S. subpopulations. The marginal prevalence difference [95% confidence limits] for those without (prevalence = 0.031) versus those with health insurance was 0.016 [0.011, 0.021]. The prevalence difference was higher among persons who were Hispanic, born in Latin America, Russia, or Europe, traveled to developing countries, and did not use the Internet to fill prescriptions or to find health information. Health insurance coverage may effectively ...
Publicize or perish

The fate of the next 50 generations may well be determined in the next few months and years. Will the US Congress agree to a shrinking cap on greenhouse-gas emissions and legislation to achieve the transformation to clean energy? If not, you can forget about a global climate deal. But even if the bill passes and a global deal is achieved, both will need to be continuously strengthened in coming years, as the increasingly worrisome science continues to inform the policy, just as in the case of the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances.
Late-Onset Asthma Predicts Cardiovascular Disease Events: The Wisconsin Sleep Cohort.

Background Asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome with different clinical subtypes that is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that the late‐onset subtype of asthma is associated with a higher risk of incident CVD. Methods and Results Participants from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort free of CVD at baseline were followed for a mean (SD) of 13.9 (5.9) years for development of CVD (myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, coronary revascularization, heart failure, or CVD death). Late‐onset asthma was defined as physician‐diagnosed asthma at age ≥18 years. Multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, and CVD risk factors were used to assess associations of late‐onset asthma and incident CVD. The 1269 participants were 47.3 (8.0) years old; 166 participants had asthma (111 late‐onset, 55 early‐onset). Participants with late‐onset asthma compared to nonasthmatics were more likely to be female (67% versus 44%) and to have a higher body‐mass index (32.2 versus 29.4 kg/m2) ( P <0.05). Mean age of asthma diagnosis in the late‐onset group was 39.5 (9.6) years versus 8.9 (5.7) years in the early‐onset group ( P <0.0001). Late‐onset asthmatics had a higher adjusted risk of incident CVD than nonasthmatics (hazard ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.01–2.45, P =0.045). There was no interaction between body‐mass index and age of asthma diagnosis on incident CVD ( P =0.83). Conclusions In a large cohort study of adults followed prospectively for over a decade, late‐onset asthmatics had an increased risk of incident CVD events that persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and CVD risk factors.
Electrical properties of oven aged cable insulations based on XLPE and EPR

Sections of EPR and XLPE insulated electric power cables were oven aged at 175°C for a period of eight weeks. After 2, 4 and 8 weeks of aging, pieces of each cable were removed and samples were prepared for measurements of D.C. resistivity, dielectric constant, dielectric loss and A.C. breakdown strength. In each measurement, ASTM procedures, respectively D257, D150 and D149, were followed. All measurements were made at room temperature. Only the dielectric loss and D.C. resistivity changed with this aging. The loss tangent of the EPR remained unchanged at 6.9 × 10−3, whereas the loss tangent of the XLPE increased by about an. order of magnitude from its initial value of 2 × 10−4. The volume D.C. resistivity of the EPR remained nearly unchanged whereas the volume D.C. resistivity of the XLPE decreased by about a factor of six. For both insulations the surface resistivities decreased markedly (by about two orders of magnitude for the XLPE and by a factor of 40 for the EPR).
Energy-Efficient Task Scheduling on Multiple Heterogeneous Computers: Algorithms, Analysis, and Performance Evaluation

The problems of energy-constrained and time-constrained task scheduling on multiple heterogeneous computers are investigated as combinatorial optimization problems. For a given set of independent tasks, our strategy is to find a schedule of the tasks first, and then find a power allocation to the tasks, where the power allocation is performed in such a way that the total task execution time or the total energy consumption is minimized. We are able to find an optimal partition of a given workload and use a modified list scheduling (MLS) algorithm to generate a partition of the set of tasks that is an approximation of the optimal workload partition. Our simulation results demonstrate that when compared with optimal solutions, the MLS algorithm has excellent expected performance in solving the problems of energy-constrained and time-constrained scheduling of independent tasks on multiple heterogeneous computers. For precedence constrained tasks represented by a directed acyclic graph (dag), our level-by-level modified list scheduling (LL-MLS) algorithm schedules tasks level by level (LL) and schedules tasks in the same level by using the MLS algorithm. We are able to solve the problems of optimal energy/time allocation to the levels and optimal workload partition for all levels in a given dag. Our simulation results demonstrate that when compared with optimal solutions, the LL-MLS algorithm has excellent expected performance in solving the problems of energy-constrained and time-constrained scheduling of precedence constrained tasks on multiple heterogeneous computers.
Biometrics and Antidoping Enforcement in Professional Sport.

Efforts to enforce antidoping bans provide a useful avenue for discussing Karkazis and Fishman's (2017) investigation of biometrics in professional sports. In the United States, every major profess...
A cluster computing environment at a small institution to support faculty/student projects

The objective of this paper is to present the establishment of cluster computing lab at a minority serving institution that aims to provide computing resources to support faculty research activities and curriculum as well as undergraduate student research. The student participations in building, configuring, and maintaining the cluster in the lab will be addressed. In addition, faculty/students research activities from various departments and academic fields that utilizing the clusters will be described.
A deletion in the Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome 4 (Hps4) gene appears to be responsible for albinism in channel catfish

Albinism is caused by a series of genetic abnormalities leading to reduction of melanin production. Albinism is quite frequent in catfish, but the causative gene and the molecular basis were unknown. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the 250 K SNP array. The GWAS analysis allowed mapping of the albino phenotype in the Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome 4 (Hps4) gene, which is known to be involved in melanosome biosynthesis. Sequencing analysis revealed that a 99-bp deletion was present in all analyzed albino catfish at the intron 2 and exon 3 junction. This deletion led to the skipping of the entire exon 3 which was confirmed by RT-PCR. Therefore, Hps4 was determined to be the candidate gene of the catfish albinism.
Investigation of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths

The investigation of infant death is complex and requires synergy between multiple agencies including law enforcement, Child Protective Services, medicolegal death investigators, and forensic patho...
Cost-Effectiveness of Surveillance for Distant Recurrence in Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Optimal distant recurrence (DR) surveillance strategies for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are unknown. We performed a cost–effectiveness analysis of different imaging modalities performed at guideline-specified intervals. We developed a Markov model simulating lifetime outcomes for 54-year-old patients after definitive treatment for American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II-III extremity STS using four surveillance strategies: watchful waiting (WW), chest X-ray (CXR), chest computed tomography (CCT), and positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT). Probabilities, utilities, and costs were extracted from the literature and Medicare claims to determine incremental cost–effectiveness ratios (ICER). CCT was the most effective and most costly strategy with CXR the most cost–effective strategy at a societal willing-to-pay (WTP) of $100,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The ICER was $12,113/QALY for CXR versus $104,366/QALY for CCT while PET/CT was never cost–effective. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated CCT becomes the preferred imaging modality as the lifetime risk of DR increases beyond 33% or as the WTP increases beyond $120,000/QALY. Optimal DR surveillance imaging for stage II-III extremity STS should be individualized based on patients’ risks for DR. These results suggest CXR, or CCT performed at more protracted intervals, may be preferred for lower-risk patients (i.e., DR risk 33%). Further study of optimal strategies is needed. In the interim, these findings may help to refine guidelines to reduce resource overutilization during routine surveillance of lower-risk sarcoma patients.