cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ACOUSTIC EMISSION MONITORING USING TWO‐WAVE MIXING INTERFEROMETER

An optical fiber Bragg grating (FBGs) based sensor system designed for the local detection of acoustic emissions (AE) in engineering structures is presented. The system uses an array of surface mounted FBG sensors, each with a spectral reflectivity in the C‐band. The sensor responds to the local dynamic strain caused by propagating acoustic emissions by a shift in its spectral reflectivity spectrum, which is monitored with a two‐wave mixing photorefractive interferometer based spectral demodulator. In this work, we present the results detailing the detection of high frequency AE responses on a metallic plate, specifically focusing on the FBG sensor sensitivity to the AE propagation distance. The frequency response of the sensor system to AE signals induced by pencil‐lead breaks is evaluated.
Effect of microcapsule size on the performance of self-healing polymers

The influence of microcapsule diameter and crack size on the performance of self-healing materials is investigated. These epoxy-based materials contain embedded Grubbs' catalyst particles and microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). Autonomic repair is triggered by rupture of the microcapsules in response to damage, followed by release of DCPD into the crack plane where it mixes with the catalyst and polymerizes. The amount of liquid that microcapsules deliver to a crack face is shown to scale linearly with microcapsule diameter for a given weight fraction of capsules. In addition, self-healing performance reaches maximum levels only when sufficient healing agent is available to entirely fill the crack. Based on these relationships, the size and weight fraction of microcapsules can be rationally chosen to give optimal healing of a predetermined crack size. By using this strategy, self-healing is demonstrated with smaller microcapsules and with lower weight fractions of microcapsules than have been possible in previous self-healing systems.
Tunneling measurement of the superconducting energy gap in NbSe2

Abstract NbSe 2 CPb and NbSe 2 -C-In tunnel junctions with carbon barriers 20–200 A thick have been used to determine the energy gap Δ NbSe 2 . The average value obtained for tunneling perpendicular to the layers was 2 Δ ‖ c = 1.24 ± 0.04 meV. Magnetic field dependence and anisotropy are discussed.
Traditional religion, fundamentalism, and institutional transition in the 20th century

Abstract That religion remains an institutional force in American society is clear; what is not as clear is the understanding of the transformations it has undergone during the past century. This paper attempts to explain changes in fundamentalism in the United States, as it developed and persisted alongside traditional and modernist forms of religion. Traditional religion may include but is not defined by fundamentalist religion, as demonstrated by a consideration of several relevant dimensions of religiosity. The shifts in discourse and mission within fundamentalism are assessed in light of the Scopes trial, which was the first event that consolidated the resources of fundamentalism in their totality. One dramatic result of the trial has been a shift in the types of religiosity of fundamentalism, increasingly accompanied by a “this worldly” form discourse which has further separated it from much of traditional religion.
A class of inference procedures for validating the generalized Koziol-Green model with recurrent events

The problem of validity of a model on the informativeness of the right-censoring random variable on the inter-event time with recurrent events is considered. The generalized Koziol-Green model for recurrent events has been used in the literature to account for informativeness in the estimation of the gap time distribution or the cumulative hazard rate function. No formal procedure for validating such assumption has been developed for a recurrent failure time data. In this manuscript, we propose procedures for assessing the validity of the assumed model with recurrent events. Our tests are based on the scaled difference of two competing estimators of the cumulative hazard rate possessing nice asymptotic properties. Large sample properties of the proposed procedures are presented. The asymptotic results are applied for the construction of @g^2 and Kolmogorov-Smirnov type tests. Results of a simulation study on Type-I error probabilities and powers are presented. The procedures are also applied to real recurrent event data.
Dance as Our Source in Dance/Movement Therapy Education and Practice

The 12th International Panel of the American Dance Therapy Association has investigated the cultural foundations of dance that are the source of dance/movement therapy education and practice. This article addresses how the diversity of ethnic dance styles may have therapeutic implications and what social or psychological functions these dance forms fulfill in their unique cultures. This article also provides both historic and present-day illustrations of the impact of cultural forms on therapy. Similarities were apparent in the use of traditional folkdances, particularly those in circle formations and the cross-cultural experience of simple, repetitive communal movements that are at the foundation of dance/movement therapy sessions worldwide. Diversity was demonstrated in the description of the origins (both from nature and human sources) of each culture’s unique dance and in the distinctive, descriptive stories that “tell the tale” of every folk form.
Spherical unirational homotopy groups

Spherical unirational homotopy objects as an example of a homotopy theory internal to the category of algebraic varieties over a field are introduced. Calculations of homotopy groups of spheres are made when the l-sphere is involved. The fundamental groups of the general and special linear groups are determined. A polynomial representation of 2 in the usual second homotopy group of the complex sphere is found. Let k be a field whose characteristic is not 2 and VAR the category of algebraic varieties defined over k. For this and other notions from algebraic geometry, see [4]. Then VAR* will denote the category of based algebraic varieties, whose objects are of the form (V, *) with * E I/ (the basepoint of a variety will always be denoted * unless there is possible confusion) and whose morphisms f : (V, *) + ( W, *) are the morphisms in VAR such that f(*) = *. We call the subset S”(k) of k”+l defined by 2 X1 +*.*+x,2+, = 1 a k-n-sphere. Pick a base point * for S”(k). We will show in Section 3 that there are isomorphisms in VAR sending any choice of basepoint for S”(k) to any other choice of basepoint. Thus the homotopy objects that we define below will be (up to an equivalence of functors) independent of choice of basepoint for S”(k). Let (X, *) be a based algebraic variety. Consider the collection [(S”(k), *), (X, *)] of maps (S”(k), *) -+(X, *) in VAR*. Then we associate to (X, *) the nth spherical unirational homotopy object (group operations are defined only in certain cases).
RNA movement between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Abstract The past year has been significant advances in our understanding of the mechanism of RNA movement between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The emerging view is that proteins bind to and escort RNAs to their proper subcellular location. The discovery of peptide signals that target nuclear export and the identification of novel protein mediators of RNA export are examples of significant recent discoveries.
Monitoring for new multiple congenital anomalies in the search for human teratogens.

The ability of birth defects monitoring to detect new human teratogenic and mutagenic agents may be limited if only isolated defects are monitored. Surveillance for “new” multiple congenital anormalies (MCA) may improve the detection of environmental agents associated with new defect patterns. To evaluate the feasibility of such monitoring, we examined data from two programs:1) the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP), which ascertains infants with serious defects diagnosed in the first year of life, and, 2) the Italian Multicenter Register for Congenital Malformations (IPIMC), which ascertains newborn infants with birth defects from many hospitals in Italy. We focused on 24 relatively serious defects and defect groups. For a baseline period (MACDP: 1968–1988, 581,000 births; IPIMC: 1986–1989, 448,000 births), We identified all possible combinations of defects occurring in the same baby. For a test period (MACDP: 1989–1990, 77,000 births; IPIMC: 1990, 91,500 births), we identified babies with “new” MCA (i.e., combinations of defects not observed before in the system). During this period in MACDP, of the 85 babies with two or more defects, 9 babies had new MCAs. In IPIMC, of the 54 babies with two or more defects, 10 babies had new MCAs. A review of the records of infants with new MCAs in MACDP and IPIMC did not identify commonalities in maternal characteristics. This analysis illustrates the feasibility of monitoring for new MCAs in surveillance systems. This approach, complemented by an evaluation of exposures, may be a powerful additional tool in searching for human teratogens and mutagens. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Risk-return analysis of fast-food versus casual-dining restaurants: who moved my cheeseburger?

The study demonstrates how a hypothetical investor or a restaurant industry executive can assess the risk-adjusted performance of fast-food and casual-dining restaurant segments by using both traditional and contemporary risk-adjusted performance measures. This study focuses on 24 casual-dining and 18 fast-food restaurants that are publicly traded on major U.S. stock exchanges. The results revealed that casual-dining firms out-performed fast-food restaurants in all performance aspects: mean return, standard deviation, the Sharpe Ratio, the Sortino Ratio, and the Upside Potential Ratio. The article offers suggestions for potential investors about how to utilize downside risk measures in their capital investment decisions.
A Molecular Fluorescence Spectrometer That Corrects for the Effects of Quenching

A fluorescence spectrometer has been constructed that simultaneously determines fluorescence intensity and excited-state lifetime. The ratio of intensity to lifetime is used to correct for the reduction in fluorescence intensity caused by collisional quenching. A frequency-domain technique is used to determine the excited-state lifetime in real-time. Computer-driven data acquisition provides instantaneous readout of the fluorescence intensity, the excited-state lifetime, and the ratio of these quantities. Correction for quenching by oxygen is demonstrated.
Interference and Sharing at Medium Frequency: Skywave Propagation Considerations

A considerable amount of work dealing with nighttime skywave propagation has been done; however, some areas remain to be explored. For example, short-term variation of field strengths has been overlooked. Daytime propagation is far from being quantitatively understood. Also, it is not quite possible to determine interfering signal levels which may be present for a small percentage of time with high accuracy. During sunspot cycles 18 and 19, the Federal Communications Commission conducted an extensive field-strength measurement program in the midlatitude areas of North America. These and other data are revisited with a new emphasis, namely interference and sharing. This paper discusses, among other things, determination of field strengths exceeded for different percentages of time (1 to 99%), diurnal variation of field strengths, favorable conditions for daytime skywave propagation, effect of magnetic storms, frequency dependence as observed at daytime and nighttime. *Views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and should not be interpreted as official FCC policy.
Constructivist Pedagogy and How We Learn: Educational Psychology Meets International Studies

Constructivism and problem-based learning are two concepts that have recently been embraced by the educational community as teachers and professors are trained to meet the needs and demands of their students and the community at large. We discuss the assumptions and premises of constructivism and problem-based learning, and the findings of a study implementing these concepts with international relations as the content in a high-tech problem-based simulation called ICONS. The findings are discussed in terms of the constructivist problem-based learning model and the application to various content fields in education.
Incomplete biochemical adaptation of vein grafts to the arterial environment in terms of prostacyclin production

Biochemical (or functional) adaptation of venoarterial grafts has been demonstrated recently. We reexamined one aspect of this biochemical "arterialization" process: prostacyclin (PGI2) production by canine venoarterial autologous grafts and the responsiveness of this biosynthetic pathway to maximal stimulation with substrate enhancement. Four reversed autologous grafts (femoral vein) were interposed into both carotid and femoral arteries in eight dogs. After 12 weeks, the grafts were removed, and radioimmunoassay was used to determine luminal surface production of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolite of PGI2) in both the basal and stimulated (27 mumol/L arachidonic acid [AA]) states. PGI2 production by the venous autologous grafts was compared with that of control native artery and vein. We confirmed that PGI2 production (measured in nanograms per milliliter) by control artery was greater than vein under both basal conditions (5.8 +/- 0.4 [+/- SEM] vs. 2.7 +/- 0.5, p less than 0.001) and stimulated conditions (8.8 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.5 +/- 0.4, p = 0.002); moreover, AA stimulation significantly increased PGI2 production in both native artery and vein compared with basal PGI2 production. Under basal conditions, graft PGI2 production (6.3 +/- 1.6 ng/ml) was not significantly different than basal arterial levels (p = 0.8) but was higher than basal venous levels (p = 0.05). However, in marked contrast to both native artery and vein, the vein graft flow surface showed no significant response to substrate enhancement with AA: basal (6.3 +/- 1.6 ng/ml) vs. stimulated (5.9 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) (p = 0.8). These observations confirm that canine venoarterial autologous grafts undergo biochemical "arterialization"; however, this process appears to be an incomplete one.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Choosing the best hardware form-factor for the airborne domain of the Joint Tactical Terminal (JTT) and Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS)

Shrinking budgets, shortened design cycles, and the ready availability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products and technology encourage future intelligence and tactical terminals, such as the JTT and the JTRS, to embrace widely- accepted, commercial standards and practices. Deployment of COTS products must however be balanced by any requirements for a robust environment, especially in the airborne domain which shows a bi-modal distribution of environments. The relatively benign requirement of landbased, inhabited-cabin/cargo, command posts, transports and tankers are contrasted with the needs of highly-mobile, tactical platforms, many of which are carrier-based. The use of commercial products and 19" rack-mount versus SEM-E, fully-ruggedized COTS and ATR for hardware module and chassis form-factors parallels these two distinct environmental constraints. The key to success is the application of a common architecture consisting of a "core" hardware design hosting common software modules for both airborne sub-domains.
Performance of DS-CDMA cellular forward channel with Nakagami-square-lognormal fading model

We developed the forward channel model for a DS-CDMA cellular system operating in a slow-flat Nakagami-fading and lognormal-shadowing environment. Forward error correction is integrated into the analysis by applying convolution encoding with soft-decision decoding. The worst-case probability of bit error for a mobile user at the edge of the center cell of a seven-cell cluster is developed using Gaussian approximation. We also incorporate user distribution and power control and antenna sectoring into our analysis.
Exploratory Study on Developing a Body Measurement Method Using Motion Capture

This was an exploratory study on measuring body surface measurement change in motion using a motion capture system. The purpose was to test the reliability of a motion capture system as a new body measurement method, and to investigate body surface measurement changes in motion. Using an optical motion capture system, this study focused on the measurement changes on the back of the body while the subject performed an arm rotation test. The results of this study suggested that the motion capture system can be used as a body measurement method, especially for measuring the body in continuous movement. The results of the body surface measurement change in the arm rotation motion test showed that upper body measurements increased or decreased corresponding to the shoulder joint and scapula movement. The shoulder width (-38.45%), back width (16.08%), and back arc at the armpit (27.69%) exhibited the most change.
Increased Probability of Expression from Modified Retroviral Vectors in Embryonal Stem Cells and Embryonal Carcinoma Cells

Gene expression from the Moloney murine leukemia retrovirus (Mo-MuLV) is highly restricted in embryonic carcinoma (EC) and embryonic stem (ES) cells. We compared levels of expression in PA317 fibroblasts, F9 (EC) cells, and CCE (ES) cells by Mo-MuLV-based vectors and vectors based on our previously reported MND backbone, which has alterations to address three viral elements implicated as repressors of expression by Mo-MuLV: the enhancer, the primer binding site, and the negative-control region. Expression was evaluated with three reporter genes, the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, whose expression was measured by enzymatic assay and by Northern blotting; a truncated nerve growth factor receptor (tNGFR), whose expression was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) as a cell surface protein; and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), whose expression was measured intracellularly by flow cytometry. We found significantly higher levels of CAT activity (5- to 300-fold) and greater quantities of vector-specific transcripts in ES and EC cells transduced with the modified MND-CAT-SN vector than in those transduced with L-CAT-SN. Northern blot analysis indicated that long terminal repeat transcripts from MND-CAT-SN are >80 times more abundant than the L-CAT-SN transcripts. FACS analysis of tNGFR expression from a pair of vectors, L-tNGFR-SN and MND-tNGFR-SN, indicated that only 1.04% of the CCE cells containing the L-tNGFR-SN vector expressed the cell surface reporter, while the MND-tNGFR-SN vector drove expression in 99.54% of the CCE cells. Of the F9 cells containing the L-tNGFR-SN vector, 13.32% expressed tNGFR, while 99.89% of the F9 cells transduced with MND-tNGFR-SN showed expression. Essentially identical results were produced with an analogous pair of vectors encoding EGFP. In unselected pools of F9 cells 48 h posttransduction, the L-EGFP-SN vector drove expression in only 5% of the population while the MND-EGFP-SN vector drove expression in 88% of the cells. After more than 3 weeks in culture without selection, the proportion of cells showing expression from L-EGFP-SN decreased slightly to 3% while expression from the MND-EGFP-SN vector persisted in 80% of the cells. Interestingly, in the few ES and EC cells which did show expression from the L-tNGFR-SN or L-EGFP-SN vectors, the magnitude of reporter expression was similar to that from the MND-tNGFR-SN or MND-EGFP-SN vector in nearly all cells, suggesting that the MND vectors are far less susceptible to position-dependent variegation of expression than are the Mo-MuLV-based vectors. Therefore, the modified retroviral vector, MND, achieves higher net levels of expression due to a greater frequency of expression, which may be useful for the expression of exogenous genes in EC and ES cells.
Orconectes (Procericambarus) raymondi (Decapoda: Cambaridae), a new species of crayfish from southern Ohio

Abstract A new species of crayfish, Orconectes (Procericambarus) raymondi, is described from unglaciated portions of south-central Ohio, North America. Of the recognized members of the subgenus, it is morphologically most similar to Orconectes (P.) putnami, found in Kentucky and Tennessee and is easily separated from it by the presence of a strong rostral carina. It is distinguished from other recognized members of the subgenus by the rostral carina, mandible structure, and a first form male gonopod having a central projection approximately 50% of total gonopod length. An amended version of Taylor's key to the members of the Orconectes juvenilis complex is provided.
The role of selenium in protecting plants against prairie dog herbivory: implications for the evolution of selenium hyperaccumulation.

Some plants can hyperaccumulate the element selenium (Se) up to 10,000 mg Se kg−1 dry weight. Hyperaccumulation has been hypothesized to defend against herbivory. In laboratory studies high Se levels protect plants from invertebrate herbivores and pathogens. However, field studies and mammalian herbivore studies that link Se accumulation to herbivory protection are lacking. In this study a combination of field surveys and manipulative field studies were carried out to determine whether plant Se accumulation in the field deters herbivory by black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). The Se hyperaccumulator Astragalus bisulcatus (two-grooved milkvetch) occurs naturally on seleniferous soils in the Western USA, often on prairie dog colonies. Field surveys have shown that this Se hyperaccumulator is relatively abundant on some prairie dog colonies and suffers less herbivory than other forb species. This protection was likely owing to Se accumulation, as judged from subsequent manipulative field experiments. When given a choice between pairs of plants of the Se hyperaccumulator Stanleya pinnata (prince’s plume) that were pretreated with or without Se, prairie dogs preferred to feed on the plants with low Se; the same results were obtained for the non-hyperaccumulator Brassica juncea (Indian mustard). Plants containing as little as 38 mg Se kg−1 DW were protected from herbivory. Taken together these results shed light on the functional significance of Se hyperaccumulation and the possible selection pressures driving its evolution. They also have implications for the use of plants in Se phytoremediation, or as Se-fortified crops.
Preferential treatment for short flows to reduce web latency

In this paper, we propose short flow differentiating (SFD) algorithm to reduce the user-perceived web latency. This algorithm gives short flows preferential treatment. We implement SFD algorithm as a simple differentiated services policy and evaluate its performance in simulation. We find that SFD algorithm reduces the transmission latency of short flows and the response time to retrieve representative web pages by about 30%. Using web traces, we demonstrate that 99% web pages would be transferred faster. SFD penalizes long flows, but the penalty is well bounded. We further evaluate how different schemes trade-off the performance between short and long flows.
Case study of a knowledge-based system which plans molecular genetic experiments

A logic-based approach to planning recombinant DNA experiments is presented. Plans are constructed by attempting to match lists of constraints with existing molecules, with failure resulting in rule-directed decomposition of these constraints to create subproblems. Several AI techniques which are not traditionally associated with planning but which find application for this problem domain are used. These include an object-oriented paradigm to help reduce the size of the search space and to afford an approach to efficient machine learning and the use of simulation to solve aspects of the frame problem and other real-world difficulties idiosyncratic to molecular genetics. The resulting system is capable of solving tasks which could not be addressed by previous attempts at planning in this problem domain. >
Sympathetically maintained pain and dystonia blocked by systemic but not regional intravenous phentolamine1

Relentlessly progressive sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) with dystonia in a patient with CRPS1 was consistently responsive to systemic phentolamine, but not responsive at all to regional intravenous phentolamine. Sympatholysis was only transiently effective. Our observations suggest that neural activity that caused the pain and drove the dystonia probably originated in sympathetic-sensory coupling within dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) rather than in abnormally adrenosensitive afferent endings in the extremity.
Trajectory Rectification and Path Modeling for Video Surveillance

Path modeling for video surveillance is an active area of research. We address the issue of Euclidean path modeling in a single camera for activity monitoring in a multi- camera video surveillance system. The paper proposes (i) a novel linear solution to auto-calibrate any camera observing pedestrians and (ii) to use these calibrated cameras to detect unusual object behavior. During the unsupervised training phase, after auto-calibrating a camera and metric rectifying the input trajectories, the input sequences are registered to the satellite imagery and prototype path models are constructed. This allows us to estimate metric information directly from the video sequences. During the testing phase, using our simple yet efficient similarity measures, we seek a relation between the input trajectories derived from a sequence and the prototype path models. We test the proposed method on synthetic as well as on real-world pedestrian sequences.
The Triple Bottom Line: What is the Impact on the Returns to Agribusiness?

The objective of this research is to examine the share values of publicly traded U.S. agribusiness firms to determine if they are influenced by the adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. Adoption of sustainability initiatives that are in line with the requirements of CSR were made based upon a firm’s inclusion on a Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). To accomplish this task, we utilize an event study methodology. Typically, we find that the share values of agribusinesses react negatively, at least in the short-term, when the announcement is made that the firm will become a member of the DJSI.
A fast procedure for computing the distance between complex objects in three-dimensional space

An algorithm for computing the Euclidean distance between a pair of convex sets in R/sup m/ is described. Extensive numerical experience with a broad family of polytopes in R/sup 3/ shows that the computational cost is approximately linear in the total number of vertices specifying the two polytopes. The algorithm has special features which makes its application in a variety of robotics problems attractive. These features are discussed and an example of collision detection is given. >
Pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial drugs

Pharmacodynamics relates the fluctuating drug concentrations in blood and at the site of infection after a dose of an antimicrobial drug is given (ie, pharmacokinetics) to the time course of the antimicrobial effects at the site of the infection, and to toxic effects. Only the antimicrobial effects are discussed in this article. Knowledge of the antimicrobial pharmacodynamic characteristics of a drug (inhibition of growth, rate and extent of bactericidal action, and postantibiotic effect [PAE]) provides a more rational basis for determination of optimal dosing regimens in terms of the dose and the dosing interval. This article reviews concepts of antimicrobial pharmacodynamics, the effect of pharmacodynamics on the emergence of resistant bacterial subpopulations, and the development pharmacodynamic breakpoints for use in the design of trials of these drugs and in treatment of infected patients.
Recombinant human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase Fc fusion: analysis of N- and O-linked glycans and identification and elimination of a xylose-based O-linked tetrasaccharide core in the linker region.

Recombinant human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase Fc fusion (huLCAT-Fc) is a chimeric protein produced by fusing human Fc to the C-terminus of the human enzyme via a linker sequence. The huLCAT-Fc homodimer contains five N-linked glycosylation sites per monomer. The heterogeneity and site-specific distribution of the various glycans were examined using enzymatic digestion and LC-MS/MS, followed by automatic processing. Almost all of the N-linked glycans in human LCAT are fucosylated and sialylated. The predominant LCAT N-linked glycoforms are biantennary glycans, followed by triantennary sugars, whereas the level of tetraantennary glycans is much lower. Glycans at the Fc N-linked site exclusively contain typical asialobiantennary structures. HuLCAT-Fc was also confirmed to have mucin-type glycans attached at T407 and S409. When LCAT-Fc fusions were constructed using a G-S-G-G-G-G linker, an unexpected +632 Da xylose-based glycosaminoglycan (GAG) tetrasaccharide core of Xyl-Gal-Gal-GlcA was attached to S418. Several minor intermediate species including Xyl, Xyl-Gal, Xyl-Gal-Gal, and a phosphorylated GAG core were also present. The mucin-type O-linked glycans can be effectively released by sialidase and O-glycanase; however, the GAG could only be removed and localized using chemical alkaline β-elimination and targeted LC-MS/MS. E416 (the C-terminus of LCAT) combined with the linker sequence is likely serving as a substrate for peptide O-xylosyltransferase. HuLCAT-Fc shares some homology with the proposed consensus site near the linker sequence, in particular, the residues underlined PPPE416GS418GGGGDK. GAG incorporation can be eliminated through engineering by shifting the linker Ser residue downstream in the linker sequence.
Industry Pay Gap and Mergers and Acquisitions

This research studies the effects of industry pay gap, measured as the difference in pays between a CEO at her firm and the highest-paid CEO at similar competing firms, on corporate risk taking and performance in mergers and acquisitions (M&As). We find that industry pay gap is positively related to acquisitiveness, focusing M&As and stock payment consideration but is negatively related to acquirer announcement abnormal stock returns. Further analysis indicates that acquirer CEOs on average earn larger pays following the M&As relative to their nonacquiring peers but the larger pays are not accompanied by the acquiring firms’ superior performance. Collectively, our evidence suggests that industry pay gap motivates CEOs to pursue M&As for their own benefits, which adversely affects acquirer shareholder value.
Patents, Partnerships, and the Pre-Competitive Collaboration Myth in Pharmaceutical Innovation

Public-private partnerships offer a promising alternative paradigm for pharmaceutical innovation in complex disease areas where there are both strong commercial interests and significant public need. They have the potential to reduce the tremendous waste associated with duplicative unsuccessful drug development efforts and to encourage the sharing of knowledge essential to accelerate pharmaceutical innovation. Patents threaten the potential of partnership strategies, however, by making it harder to sustain robust systems of knowledge sharing. Policymakers have tried to avoid this problem by focusing partnership strategies on areas deemed to be “pre-competitive” — areas of collaboration without competition and typically also without patents. This Article suggests that the current “pre-competitive” approach to partnership strategies in pharmaceutical innovation is fundamentally flawed for two reasons. First, it ignores the competitive market pressures that both shape what is deemed to be “pre-competitive” and fuel tensions within partnerships between sharing knowledge and staking out proprietary rights to gain competitive advantage. Second, it limits partnerships to areas where sharing already occurs instead of concentrating them in areas where greater sharing is badly needed but unlikely to occur. Instead of a “pre-competitive” partnership strategy, we need a partnership strategy that works in areas of competitive collaboration. To support such a strategy, we need to recalibrate the balance of access and exclusion to knowledge that patents and other sources of exclusivity provide in the drug discovery and development process. The Article concludes that a targeted statutory patent fair use may begin to push the pharmaceutical industry towards more collaborative innovation, and that public and private efforts to accelerate cures for Alzheimer’s disease provide a natural area for such an experiment.
Antineoplastic Agents. 595. Structural Modifications of Betulin and the X-ray Crystal Structure of an Unusual Betulin Amine Dimer1

The lupane-type triterpene betulin (1) has been subjected to a series of structural modifications for the purpose of evaluating resultant cancer cell growth inhibitory activity. The reaction sequence 7 → 11 → 12 was especially noteworthy in providing a betulin-derived amine dimer. Other unexpected synthetic results included the 11 and 13/14 → 17 conversions, which yielded an imidazo derivative. X-ray crystal structures of dimer 12 and intermediate 25 are reported. All of the betulin modifications were examined for anticancer activity against the P388 murine and human cell lines. Significant cancer cell growth inhibition was found for 4, 8, 9, 15/16, 19, 20, 24, and 26, which further defines the utility of the betulin scaffold.
THE EVOLUTION OF TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS: CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT IN BACTERIAL POPULATIONS.

Previous theoretical studies have shown that bacterial transposons can become established in populations by infectious transfer, even if they reduce the fitness of their host cells. Conditions for the persistence of "parasitic" transposons are, however, restrictive: i) transposition must be replicative, rather than conservative; ii) the rate of transposition must be greater than the loss in host fitness caused by the transposon; and iii) cells must exchange plasmids at rates greater than the fitness cost of the transposon. I sought to test the validity of the model underlying this theory by performing experiments with laboratory populations of the bacterium Escherichia coli, the conjugative plasmid R100, and the transposons Tn3 and Tn5. A plasmid-borne transposon was introduced at low frequency into a population of bacteria carrying the same plasmid without the transposon in a habitat where the transposon offered no benefit to its host. The fate of the invading transposon was followed by tracking the various bacterial populations appearing in the cultures. Using independent estimates of the parameters of the model, predicted population changes were generated with numerical solutions of the model, and these were compared to experimental results. Plasmids transferred into new hosts as predicted by the model, and the resulting transconjugant populations either maintained a steady low density or rose slowly in abundance. Transposition appeared to play no role in population changes. Abundance of all cell types fit theoretical predictions of a system with no transposition, despite evidence that transposition was taking place. This is exactly what the model predicted. It thus appears unlikely that deleterious or neutral transposons have much impact on the genetics of bacterial populations. This is consistent with the hypothesis that most bacterial transposons are not parasitic DNA, but rather invade and persist in populations by providing a fitness advantage to cells carrying them.
Treatment of hind limb ischemia using angiogenic peptide nanofibers

For a proangiogenic therapy to be successful, it must promote the development of mature vasculature for rapid reperfusion of ischemic tissue. Whole growth factor, stem cell, and gene therapies have yet to achieve the clinical success needed to become FDA-approved revascularization therapies. Herein, we characterize a biodegradable peptide-based scaffold engineered to mimic VEGF and self-assemble into a nanofibrous, thixotropic hydrogel, SLanc. We found that this injectable hydrogel was rapidly infiltrated by host cells and could be degraded while promoting the generation of neovessels. In mice with induced hind limb ischemia, this synthetic peptide scaffold promoted angiogenesis and ischemic tissue recovery, as shown by Doppler-quantified limb perfusion and a treadmill endurance test. Thirteen-month-old mice showed significant recovery within 7 days of treatment. Biodistribution studies in healthy mice showed that the hydrogel is safe when administered intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or intravenously. These preclinical studies help establish the efficacy of this treatment for peripheral artery disease due to diminished microvascular perfusion, a necessary step before clinical translation. This peptide-based approach eliminates the need for cell transplantation or viral gene transfection (therapies currently being assessed in clinical trials) and could be a more effective regenerative medicine approach to microvascular tissue engineering.
Determination of pesticide residue cyhalothrin in pig liver by gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Objective To establish an assay to determine pesticide residue cyhalothrin in pig liver by gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionization(GC-MS/NCI)mode.Methods Specimens were subjected to ultrasonic-assistant extraction in ethyl acetate solvent,followed by clean-up treatment by gel permeation chromatography(GPC).The exact was then separated on HP-5MS column。Cyhalothrin was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operated by negative-ion chemical-ionization(GC-MS/NCI)in selected ion monitoring(SIM)mode.Results Recovery efficiency was 75.3%~107.6%at three spiked levels(0.001,0.005,0.020mg/kg),relative standard deviation(RSDs)was all≤7.1%.Limit of detection was 0.001mg/kg.Conclusion The established method was capable to eliminate fatty matrix interference,with high sensitivity,excellent selectivity,stability and reliability,and is applicable for analysis of cyhalothrin residue in pig liver.
Talin distribution and phosphorylation in thrombin-activated platelets

We have previously demonstrated that the subcellular distribution of the adhesion plaque protein, talin, changes dramatically in human platelets in response to platelet activation (Beckerle et al., J. Cell Biol. 109, 3333–3346, 1989). Talin is uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of resting platelets. However, when platelets are stimulated to become activated and adhesive, a significant amount of the talin population rapidly redistributes to a peripheral, submembranous location. In the present study we have examined talin phosphorylation and proteolytic cleavage as possible mechanisms by which talin9s subcellular distribution could be regulated in platelets. We have found that thrombin activation of platelets leads to a fourfold increase in talin phosphorylation. Proteolytic cleavage of talin, however, is not detected in washed platelets activated with thrombin for as long as 30 minutes. Because talin moves to a submembranous location upon platelet activation and has been shown to interact with integrins in vitro, we also investigated whether the major platelet integrin, GPIIb-IIIa, is required for talin redistribution. Using Glanzmann thrombasthenic platelets, which are deficient in GPIIb-IIIa, we found that talin redistribution occurs even in the absence of GPIIb-IIIa. Collectively, our studies suggest that neither proteolytic cleavage of talin nor interactions between talin and GPIIb-IIIa is required for the regulated redistribution of talin in thrombin-activated platelets. Phosphorylation of talin in response to thrombin activation may, however, be one mechanism utilized by platelets to regulate talin distribution and function in human platelets.
A survey of Physicians' Perspectives on the New York State Mandatory Prescription Monitoring Program (ISTOP)

Abstract Background Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have emerged as one tool to combat prescription drug misuse and diversion. New York State mandates that prescribers use its PDMP (called ISTOP) before prescribing controlled substances. We surveyed physicians to assess their experiences with mandatory PDMP use. Methods Electronic survey of attending physicians, from multiple clinical specialties, at one large urban academic medical center. Results Of 207 responding physicians, 89.4% had heard of ISTOP, and of those, 91.1% were registered users. 45.7% of respondents used the system once per week or more. There was significant negative feedback, with 40.4% of respondents describing ISTOP as “rarely” or “never helpful,” and 39.4% describing it as “difficult” or “very difficult” to use. Physicians expressed frustration with the login process, the complexity of querying patients, and the lack of integration with electronic medical records. Only 83.1% knew that ISTOP use is mandated in almost all situations. A minority agreed with this mandate (44.2%); surgeons, males, and those who prescribe controlled substances at least once per week had significantly lower rates of agreement (22.6%, 36.2%, and 33.0%, respectively). The most common reasons for disagreement were: time burden, concerns about helpfulness, potential for under-treatment, and erosion of physician autonomy. Emergency physicians, who are largely exempt from the mandate, were the most likely to believe that ISTOP was helpful, yet the least likely to be registered users. 48.4% of non-emergency physicians reported perfect compliance with the mandate; surgeons and males reported significantly lower rates of perfect compliance (18.2% and 36.8%, respectively). Conclusions This study offers a unique window into how one academic medical faculty has experienced New York's mandatory PDMP. Many respondents believe that ISTOP is cumbersome and generally unhelpful. Furthermore, many disagree with, and don't comply with, its mandatory use.
Flammability testing in the mining sector

Publisher Summary Many different types of materials are used in the mining industry and for many different purposes. Some of the materials are of natural origin, such as wood and oil. The materials used in the mining industry generally fall into three basic categories with respect to flammability. These categories are flammable, combustible, and non-combustible. These categories are applicable to both solid and liquid materials, although technical distinctions may divide the category of combustible into subclasses. The potential fire hazard of certain materials is always a concern where safety of mining personnel and others may be compromised. The level of fire safety chosen will differ depending on the type of material and the environment in which it is used or applied. Materials used for mine stoppings and non-asbestos packing gland material used in the stuffing boxes of coal mine electrical equipment require a flame test and several other different types of tests. Three flammability tests are required for determining the fire resistance of hydraulic fluids used in coal mining equipment. Most of the tests used to evaluate a material are small-scale laboratory tests. The largest test is a heated furnace test used to determine the fire rating of mine stoppings.
Korea: The Making of a POLIS?

The purpose of this chapter is to answer the question: has Korea succeeded in constructing a positive-feedback loop innovation system? After the theoretical discussion in the previous chapter the importance of this question is obvious. However, strategies for finding the answer are less transparent.
Home literacy environment profiles of children with language impairment: associations with caregiver- and child-specific factors

Background Numerous studies suggest a positive relationship between the home literacy environment (HLE) and children's language and literacy skills, yet very little research has focused on the HLE of children with language impairment (LI). Children with LI are at risk for reading difficulties; thus, understanding the nature and frequency of their home literacy interactions is warranted. Aims To identify unique HLE profiles within a large sample of children with LI, and to determine relevant caregiver- and child-specific factors that predict children's profile membership. Methods & Procedures Participants were 195 kindergarten and first-grade children with LI who were receiving school-based language therapy. Caregivers completed a comprehensive questionnaire regarding their child's HLE, and the extent to which their child engaged in shared book reading, were taught about letters, initiated or asked to be read to, and chose to read independently. Caregivers also answered questions regarding the highest level of maternal education, caregiver history of reading difficulties, and caregiver reading habits. Children completed a language and literacy battery in the fall of their academic year. Outcomes & Results Latent profile analyses indicated a three-profile solution, representing high, average and low frequency of the selected HLE indicators. Multinomial regression further revealed that caregivers’ own reading habits influenced children's profile membership, as did child age and language abilities. Conclusions & Implications These results highlight the considerable variability in the frequency of home literacy interactions of children with LI. Future work examining relations between familial reading practices and literacy outcomes for children with LI is warranted.
Intraoperative Near-Infrared Optical Imaging Can Localize Gadolinium-Enhancing Gliomas During Surgery.

Background Although real-time localization of gliomas has improved with intraoperative image guidance systems, these tools are limited by brain shift, surgical cavity deformation, and expense. Objective To propose a novel method to perform near-infrared (NIR) imaging during glioma resections based on preclinical and clinical investigations, in order to localize tumors and to potentially identify residual disease. Methods Fifteen patients were identified and administered a Food and Drug Administration-approved, NIR contrast agent (Second Window indocyanine green [ICG], 5 mg/kg) before surgical resection. An NIR camera was utilized to localize the tumor before resection and to visualize surgical margins following resection. Neuropathology and magnetic resonance imaging data were used to assess the accuracy and precision of NIR fluorescence in identifying tumor tissue. Results NIR visualization of 15 gliomas (10 glioblastoma multiforme, 1 anaplastic astrocytoma, 2 low-grade astrocytoma, 1 juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, and 1 ganglioglioma) was performed 22.7 hours (mean) after intravenous injection of ICG. During surgery, 12 of 15 tumors were visualized with the NIR camera. The mean signal-to-background ratio was 9.5 ± 0.8 and fluorescence was noted through the dura to a maximum parenchymal depth of 13 mm. The best predictor of positive fluorescence was enhancement on T1-weighted imaging; this correlated with signal-to-background ratio (P = .03). Nonenhancing tumors did not demonstrate NIR fluorescence. Using pathology as the gold standard, the technique demonstrated a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 45% to identify tumor in gadolinium-enhancing specimens (n = 71). Conclusion With the use of Second Window ICG, gadolinium-enhancing tumors can be localized through brain parenchyma intraoperatively. Its utility for margin detection is promising but limited by lower specificity. Abbreviations 5-ALA, 5-aminolevulinic acidEPR, enhanced permeability and retentionFDA, Food and Drug AdministrationGBM, glioblastomaICG, indocyanine greenNIR, near-infraredNPV, negative predictive valuePPV, positive predictive valueROC, receiver operating characteristicROI, region of interestSBR, signal-to-background ratioWHO, World Health Organization.