cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Acute and Chronic Starvation on Insulin Binding to Isolated Human Adipocytes

Abstract The effects of acute and chronic starvation on insulin binding to isolated human adipocytes from obese subjects was studied. Three days of fasting led to a 38% increase in the ability of adipocytes to bind a tracer concentration of [125I]- insulin; this was due to enhanced receptor affinity with no change in receptor number. Fourteen days of fasting led to a greater increase (150%) in insulin binding due to a further rise in receptor affinity as well as an increase in receptor number to near normal levels. An increase in receptor affinity can be due to an increase in ka or a decrease in kd. In both acute and chronic starvation, the rates at which insulin dissociates from its receptors decreased (t½ = 32 ± 4, 46 ± 6, and 62 ± 5 min for the baseline period, 3-day fast, and 14-day fast, respectively), and the magnitude of these changes correlated quite well with the magnitude of the increase in receptor affinity. The dissociation of [125I]insulin was accelerated in the presence of a high concentrati...
Relative Value of Continuous Production Testing and Artificial Insemination in Michigan Herds

Summary Records of milk and fat produced by each cow during a single day of test were obtained from 87 Holstein herds that had never been enrolled on any production-testing program. Each record was adjusted to its 305-day mature-equivalent, and the average lactation computed for each herd. By this same procedure, averages were obtained for all Holstein herds on test five or more consecutive years in the same counties as the nontested herds. Herds were classified into four groups by the proportions of cows sired by bulls in artificial insemination units, 100% A.I., more than 50% A.I., less than 50% A.I., and herds with no cows sired by A.I. bulls. Testing herds averaged 1,600 lb milk and 70 lb of fat more than nontested herds. Testing was superior to not testing in all degrees of A.I. There was not a significant difference in production between any of the A.I. groups.
Synthesis and Characterization of Organically Soluble Polyaniline and Polyaniline Block Copolymers

Abstract An emulsion process has been developed for the direct synthesis of the emeraldine salt of polyaniline (PANI) that is soluble in organic solvents. The process entails forming an emulsion composed of water, a water soluble organic solvent (e.g., 2-butoxyethanol), a water insoluble organic acid (e.g., dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid) and aniline. The resulting product is truly soluble in organic solvents such as xylene and toluene, of high molecular weight (Mw >22,000) and film forming. The emulsion polymerization process was also employed to synthesize ABA triblock polymers of polyaniline where the B block is a diamine terminated polymer and the A block is polyaniline. As cast, PANI films were only moderately conductive (10 −5 S/cm). However, PANI conductivity could be enhanced by up to five orders of magnitude by treatment of the films with surfactants or low molecular weight alcohols and ketones. Blends of PANI and plasticizers such as toluenesulfonamide were found to exhibit conductivities up to 100 S/cm. X-ray diffraction studies of cast PANI films help to explain the conductivity enhancement by showing that surfactant and solvent treatments significantly increase the crystallinity and long range ordering of the polymer.
A Self-Steering Receiver Array Using Jointly Coupled Oscillators and Phased-Locked Loops

This paper presents an analog circuit scheme to steer phased-array receivers in the direction of an incoming signal. The proposed circuit technique utilizes a coupled-oscillator array along with a coupled-phased-locked loop to auto-align an N-element receive array towards the direction of the incident RF signal. A four-element receiver array is implemented in 45-nm CMOS SOI process and achieves auto-steering range of ±35° from broadside. A three-element version of the array demonstrates higher auto-steering angle covering ±70° range. The receiver also performs signal demodulation for the incident modulated RF signal, allowing high-data rate communication. A 60-Mbps 64-QAM modulated RF signal is demodulated with error-vector-magnitude (EVM) less than 4% across the steering angle range. The chip area is 3.45 mm2 including a pad frame with 30-mW/element power consumption. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an analog self-steering array in an integrated circuit.
Letter regarding article by Weitzman et al, "tobacco smoke exposure is associated with the metabolic syndrome in adolescents".

To the Editor: Weitzman et al1 found a relationship between exposure to tobacco smoke and risk of developing metabolic syndrome among adolescents. They speculate that tobacco smoke exposure may increase the risk of insulin resistance, which in turn may contribute to an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Other studies may lend some insights into this process. Recent studies indicate that epigenetic mechanisms may be involved in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.2–4 There is growing evidence that variations in DNA methylation patterns may play a role in insulin resistance.3 The promoters of …
Dipyridamole inhibits sickling-induced cation fluxes in sickle red blood cells

Sickling-induced cation fluxes contribute to cellular dehydration of sickle red blood cells (SS RBCs), which in turn potentiates sickling. This study examined the inhibition by dipyridamole of the sickling-induced fluxes of Na+, K+, and Ca++ in vitro. At 2% hematocrit, 10 μM dipyridamole inhibited 65% of the increase in net fluxes of Na+ and K+ produced by deoxygenation of SS RBCs. Sickle-induced Ca++ influx, assayed as 45Ca++uptake in quin-2–loaded SS RBCs, was also partially blocked by dipyridamole, with a dose response similar to that of Na+and K+ fluxes. In addition, dipyridamole inhibited the Ca++-activated K+ flux (via the Gardos pathway) in SS RBCs, measured as net K+ efflux in oxygenated cells exposed to ionophore A23187 in the presence of external Ca++, but this effect resulted from reduced anion conductance, rather than from a direct effect on the K+channel. The degree of inhibition of sickling-induced fluxes was dependent on hematocrit, and up to 30% of dipyridamole was bound to RBC membranes at 2% hematocrit. RBC membrane content of dipyridamole was measured fluorometrically and correlated with sickling-induced flux inhibition at various concentrations of drug. Membrane drug content in patients taking dipyridamole for other clinical indications was similar to that producing inhibition of sickling-induced fluxes in vitro. These data suggest that dipyridamole might inhibit sickling-induced fluxes of Na+, K+, and Ca++ in vivo and therefore have potential as a pharmacological agent to reduce SS RBC dehydration.
Open source development and the World Wide Web: a certain tension

The development of the World Wide Web over the course of the past ten years has run rampant. The course it has taken has been both swift and unpredictable. The largest distributed system in the world began as a utopian notion of an interconnected and open web of information, the dream of the academic and intellectual alike. Today it is indeed a massive interconnected web of communication and content, but the content, largely on the more popular, if not pornographic, end of the mass media spectrum, is not what the founders intended.Coinciding with the rapid growth of the web has been the equally speedy rise of the open source development community, which can best be understood as a distributed system in its own right. Indeed, the development of the web has been, outside of the Linux project, the largest arena for open source development. And current trends, witnessed by such significant open source projects as Mozilla and Apache, seem to suggest that the open source way of doing things is quickly becoming the web way of doing things. However, there is a certain tension growing between those who would like to control, for economic profit or for the gratification of control itself, the direction of the web's development and those open source developers who are responsible for a large portion of that growth. This paper explores the natural relationship, as well as the growing tension within this relationship, between the open source development community and the World Wide Web.
Thermodynamic and kinetic study of transport and reaction phenomena in gallium nitride epitaxy growth

Abstract An iodine vapor phase epitaxy (IVPE) system has been designed and built to grow high quality thick gallium nitride film at the growth rate up to 80 μm/h with the deposition temperature of 1050 °C and the pressure of 200 torr. Numerical and experimental studies have been performed to investigate heat and mass transport and reaction phenomena in a vertical reactor. Geometrical parameters and operating conditions are optimized to achieve high and uniform GaN deposition rate. Gas phase and surface reactions in the growth chamber have been analyzed thermodynamically and kinetically, and primary transport species and important reactions are identified. The rate expressions for different surface reactions are determined and their contributions to the GaN deposition rate are studied for different V/III ratios. The sticking probability of the main reactants and adsorption activation energy are calculated.
Monitorización de la presión venosa central en el contexto asistencial agudo

La monitorizacion de la PVC supone en la actualidad un procedimiento de cuidados estandarizado. Ponga al dia sus conocimientos para garantizar la seguridad del paciente
Catecholamines Modulate Chicken Immunoglobulin M and Immunoglobulin G Plaque-Forming Cells

Norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) function as chemical messengers in the central nervous and the endocrine systems of the chicken. The effects of in vivo and in vitro exposure of NE and E on IgM and IgG splenic plaque-forming cell (pfc) formation were determined to the antigen SRBC. Six-week-old Line UNH 105 New Hampshire chickens were injected i.v. with NE (500 micrograms/kg BW) or E (100 micrograms/kg BW) followed by 1 mL of 5% SRBC 30 min later. Five days after antigen injection, IgM and IgG pfc were assayed. Compared with controls, in vivo NE suppressed (P < .05) IgM and IgG pfc formation. In vitro NE treatment of splenic lymphocytes reduced (P < .05) IgM pfc but did not affect IgG pfc numbers. In vivo treatment with E increased (P < .05) IgM pfc whereas in vitro E exposure increased (P < .05) IgM pfc. Immunoglobulin G pfc were suppressed (P < .05) by both in vivo and in vitro E exposure. The presence of surface receptors for NE and E on splenic lymphocytes was determined using in vitro incubation with antagonists to alpha and beta receptors. These data suggest that there are alpha and beta receptor sites on lymphocytes for NE and E, and that these catecholamines have a regulatory role in plaque cell proliferation.
The Mass of the Neutron

THE mass of the neutron is considered by Chadwick1 to be above 1.003 and probably to lie between 1.003 and 1.008. He gives the most probable value as determined by bombardment of boron by particles as 1.0067. The validity of this value rests on the assumption that rays are not emitted in the process. Curie and Joliot2 give a much higher (1.012) and Lawrence and others3 a much lower (1.0002) value.
Epistemic relativism and semantic blindness

Semantic blindness is the inability to recognize semantic features of terms one can competently use. A theory that implies semantic blindness incurs a burden to explain how one can competently use a term without realizing how the term works. An argument advanced in favor of epistemic relativism is that its main competitors, contextualism and subject-sensitive invariantism, imply that speakers suffer from semantic blindness regarding ‘knows’ while relativism has no such implication. However, there is evidence that relativism also implies semantic blindness regarding ‘knows,’ apparently crippling the case for relativism. In this paper I argue that the semantic blindness that affects relativism is not a problem at all. First, the blindness is not as widespread as it appears. It does not prevent ordinary speakers from expressing important epistemic truths. Further, I provide an error theory for relativism that has three features that render it unproblematic: (1) there is evidence independent of relativism that people make this error, (2) relativism predicts this error; it is not an ad hoc rescue, (3) the error only occurs in rare and obscure situations. People are fallible and finite, and assuming relativism is true, they make mistakes exactly where we should expect them to.
Transporters and xenobiotic disposition

Metabolism alone does not adequately account for the observed intersubject variability in drug disposition or response. Carrier-mediated processes, or transporters, are increasingly recognized to be importantly involved in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. Thus for many drugs, transport and metabolism must be considered together to better predict drug disposition in vivo. Accordingly, this review will outline relevant background information regarding drug transporters and the role of such transporters in the drug disposition process.
Laboratory study of nitrification, denitrification and anammox processes in membrane bioreactors considering periodic aeration

The possibility of using membrane bioreactors (MBRs) in simultaneous nitrification-anammox-denitrification (SNAD) by considering periodic aeration cycles was investigated. Two separate reactors were operated to investigate the effect of different anammox biomass in the presence of nitrifying and denitrifying biomass on the final nitrogen removal efficiency. The results illustrated that the reactor with higher anammox biomass was more robust to oxygen cycling. Around 98% Total Nitrogen (TN) and 83% Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies were observed by applying one hour aeration over a four-hour cycle. Decreasing the aeration time to 30, 15, and 2 min during a four-hour cycle affected the final TN removal efficiencies. However, the effect of decreasing aeration on the TN removal efficiencies in the reactor with higher anammox biomass was much lower compared to the regular reactor. The nitrous oxide (N2O) emission was a function of aeration as well, and was lower in the reactor with higher anammox biomass. The results of q-PCR analysis confirmed the simultaneous co-existence of nitrifiers, anammox, and denitrifiers in both of the reactors. To simulate the TN removal in these reactors as a function of the aeration time, a new model, based on first order reaction kinetics for both denitrification and anammox was developed and yielded a good agreement with the experimental observations.
Trusted P2P Media Delivery to Mobile Devices

Broadband Internet connectivity has reached mobile devices. Smart Phones are the Internet access devices of choice for a whole new generation of users. Data of all forms and shapes is becoming easily accessible: large multi-media files are being routinely downloaded onto a plethora of end user devices. Peer-to-peer content delivery enables massive scale in the amount of data volume that can be efficiently delivered. The openness of delivery demands adaptive and robust management of intellectual property rights. In this paper we describe a framework and its implementation to address the central issues in content delivery: a scalable peer-to-peer-based content delivery model, paired with a secure access control model that enables data providers to reap a return from making their original content available. Peers that contribute to the content delivery are also rewarded. Our prototype implementation - which includes a client for the Android platform for mobile phones - serves as proof of concept for our approach.
Construct no idols

Abstract A constructivist perspective views knowledge as indeterminate. Human beliefs bear no necessary direct relationship to reality, yet we tend to objectify them and treat them as real. I liken this tendency to idolatry, the xwrship of a created image as though it were the ultimate. Idolatry occurs when we believe that we know a final truth. I consider some implications of this metaphor for constructivist thought, including the notion that hypotheses originally served only to account for observations, but with the success of modern science, people have come to treat them as though they represent truth. To transcend idolatry requires active recognition that humans invent constructs and that our understanding of reality requires awareness of the central role of human participation. We might facilitate this process by becoming more aware of the metaphorical use of language. I discuss a technique from semantics, which elaborates on Kelly's suggestion that we view language as invitational, as a useful tool...
Obstetrician/gynecologists: Primary care physicians for women

Abstract Health care reform has emerged as a major political issue. As a result changes in the delivery system, as originally proposed, would adversely affect access of patients to obstetrician/gynecologists. Because more than 60% of our members function as primary care providers and surveys of patients indicate more than half view their obstetrician/gynecologist as their primary care physician, active plans were undertaken to change this proposal. As a result, changes in education as well as some practice concepts will need to occur for obstetrician/gynecologists. Some of these are underway. Others are proposed.
Factors Modifying Frost Tolerance of Legume Species

Variability in seedling death of legumes because of spring frost in the USA and Canada is associated with several factors. Experiments were conducted to evaluate factors that modify frost tolerance of seedling legumes. Experiment 1 was comprised of two hardenings, three freezing temperatures, eight legume species, and four growth stages. Experiment 2 had three temperatures, four durations of temperature, and four legume species. Experiment 3 included three soil types, two soil water levels, and two legume species. At each growth stage, legume seedlings were placed in a programmable freezing chamber at 3°C and temperature decreased/increased 1°C h -1 to and from a minimum freezing temperature. Duration of minimum freezing temperature was 1 h for Experiments 1 and 3 and varied according to the treatment in Experiment 2. Hardening increased seedling survival up to 40% over unhardened seedlings across growth stages and species. Forage legumes were more frost tolerant than soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) at all temperatures. Increase in duration of freezing temperature decreased the frost tolerance of all species when freezing temperature was near the LT 50 (temperature that kills 50% of seedlings). Seedling survival of both alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) and soybean was greater in light-textured soil than the heavy-textured soil with soil water at field capacity. However, one-third of field capacity soil water allowed greater seedling survival in the heavy-textured than the light-textured soil. The results suggest that the factors studied should be considered to assess the frost tolerance of legume seedlings.
"That's nasty" to curiosity: early adolescent cognitions about sexual abstinence.

Abstract Purpose Effective sex education for early adolescents should make use of age-appropriate cultural models about sexual abstinence. However, little is known about how early adolescents view this topic. We describe developmental differences in cognitions about sexual abstinence among high-risk early adolescents. Methods After institutional review board approval and informed consent, we interviewed 22 11–14-year-olds, using a qualitative, two-stage interview. Participants were first asked a series of open-ended questions about sexual abstinence, and then asked to explain their answers. Interviews were transcribed, organized by age, and read in their entirety. Codes were developed from the literature, field notes, and transcripts. Key concepts were identified and models were developed with a focus on developmental change. Results We observed three distinct views of sexual abstinence, “That's Nasty,” “Curious,” and Normative. All viewed abstinence as a starting point and sex as a transition to adulthood. “That's Nasty” participants identified sex as distasteful, displayed limited understanding of sex, and viewed abstinence as appropriate for kids like themselves. Curious participants expressed a desire for information about sex, and a sense of missing something important. Normative participants viewed the transition from abstinence to sexual experience as part of a normal, albeit challenging, transition to adulthood. Conclusions Participants demonstrated differences in cognitions about sexual abstinence, related to age and development. The transition from viewing sex as distasteful to curiosity appears to be a time of both vulnerability and openness, and may provide an opportunity for intervention.
Complications and Failure to Rescue After Laparoscopic Versus Open Radical Nephrectomy

Purpose: Since to our knowledge the population level impact of laparoscopy on post-radical nephrectomy morbidity and mortality remains unknown, we compared the rates of postoperative complications and failure to rescue (the fatality rate in patients with a complication) in patients treated with laparoscopic vs open radical nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: Using linked SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)-Medicare data we identified patients with kidney cancer who were treated with laparoscopic or open radical nephrectomy from 2000 through 2005. After measuring the frequency of postoperative complications and failure to rescue we fit multivariate logistic regression models to estimate the association of these outcomes with surgical approach, adjusting for patient characteristics, cancer severity and surgery year. We also assessed the relationship between case volume, complications and failure to rescue.Results: We identified 2,108 (26%) and 5,895 patients (74%) treated with laparoscopic and ...
Complete 180° rotatory dislocation in a mobile-bearing knee prothesis

Dislocation of the rotator platform in mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty is a well-documented, albeit uncommon, phenomenon. A review of the literature has revealed multiple case reports describing spin out to 90° or complete extrusion of the polyethylene component. Closed reduction may be attempted in the acute presentation followed by revision if instability persists. We present a case of a 57-year-old woman who had a partial rotatory subluxation of her polyethylene component and underwent closed reduction resulting in a full 180° spinout. To our knowledge, this has not been described in the literature and should be considered as a possibility after closed reduction attempts. She was treated successfully with open exploration and poly exchange using a larger component.
Effects of split-pit on elemental concentrations of peach fruit during pit hardening

Abstract Split-pit and normal peach fruit ( Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) ‘Junegold’ were sampled during endocarp (pit) hardening in 1981, 1982 and 1985. Split-pit fruit were heavier than normal fruit, primarily because of the heavier than normal exocarp and mesocarp (flesh). Flesh weight showed the same linear increase with time during pit hardening in both split-pit and normal fruit, and water content in the flesh remained constant. Water content in the pit was higher in normal fruit at the start of pit hardening, but at the end of pit hardening the reverse was true. Water content in the pit decreased linearly with time during pit hardening in split-pit fruit and in normal fruit. The Ca concentration in the pit and the flesh was lower in split-pit fruit than in normal fruit. The detailed study of 1985 showed that concentrations of K, Zn, Mn and Fe in the pit were lower in split-pit fruit than in normal fruit near the start of pit hardening, and were equivalent by the end of pit hardening. The 1985 study also showed that the flesh of split-pit fruit had lower than normal concentrations of P, K, Mg, Zn, Mn and Cu during pit hardening. The Fe concentration in the flesh was lower in split-pit fruit than in normal fruit only near the start of pit hardening. Sprays of calcium nitrate (1% w:v) applied before and near the start of pit hardening in 1982 increased Ca concentrations in the pit and the flesh reduced fruit weight, but did not reduce the incidence of split-pit.
Monophasic versus biphasic transthoracic countershock after prolonged ventricular fibrillation in a swine model.

OBJECTIVE We sought to compare the defibrillation efficacy of a low-energy biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) waveform and a conventional higher-energy monophasic truncated exponential (MTE) waveform after prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF). BACKGROUND Low energy biphasic countershocks have been shown to be effective after brief episodes of VF (15 to 30 s) and to produce few postshock electrocardiogram abnormalities. METHODS Swine were randomized to MTE (n = 18) or BTE (n = 20) after 5 min of VF. The first MTE shock dose was 200 J, and first BTE dose 150 J. If required, up to two additional shocks were administered (300, 360 J MTE; 150, 150 J BTE). If VF persisted manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was begun, and shocks were administered until VF was terminated. Successful defibrillation was defined as termination of VF regardless of postshock rhythm. If countershock terminated VF but was followed by a nonperfusing rhythm, CPR was performed until a perfusing rhythm developed. Arterial pressure, left ventricular (LV) pressure, first derivative of LV pressure and cardiac output were measured at intervals for 60 min postresuscitation. RESULTS The odds ratio of first-shock success with BTE versus MTE was 0.67 (p = 0.55). The rate of termination of VF with the second or third shocks was similar between groups, as was the incidence of postshock pulseless electrical activity (15/18 MTE, 18/20 BTE) and CPR time for those animals that were resuscitated. Hemodynamic variables were not significantly different between groups at 15, 30 and 60 min after resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS Monophasic and biphasic waveforms were equally effective in terminating prolonged VF with the first shock, and there was no apparent clinical disadvantage of subsequent low-energy biphasic shocks compared with progressive energy monophasic shocks. Lower-energy shocks were not associated with less postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction.
A Psychometric Analysis of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory

Because of the association that researchers have recently delineated between compulsive sexual behavior and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and drug abuse, it is paramount that a psychometrically sound measure of compulsive sexual behavior is made available to all healthcare professionals working in disease prevention and other areas. This article reports the findings from a psychometric analysis of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI) in a sample of 482 racially and ethnically diverse men and women. The current study provides further evidence for the score reliability and the score validity of the CSBI in this sample. Construct-related validity was assessed using the multi-trait multi-method approach. These analyses extend previous findings for the psychometric properties of the CSBI in a more diversified sample.
PRECAMBRIAN GRENVILLE OR PALEOZOIC QUARTZITE IN THE DEKALB AREA IN NORTHERN NEW YORK: REPLY

Numerous scattered bodies of quartzite in marble in the Precambrian Grenville complex in northern New York have been identified and mapped as Paleozoic outliers for more than 50 years. Detailed examinations, however, show that some of these bodies of quartzite are stratigraphically and structurally an integral part of the Precambrian Grenville assemblage. They contain neominerals in equilibrium with the metamorphic minerals in the surrounding Precambrian rocks. The massiveness and relative competence of much of the quartzite and the relative incompetence and extensive flowage of marble adjacent to the quartzite masses are responsible for the preservation of sedimentary fabric features in the quartzite. Most of the quartzite bodies are in part conglomeratic, containing clasts of known derivation. These conglomerates indicate a pre-Grenville unconformity and the stratigraphic sequence and age relationships of some of the Grenville complex formations.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL "SENSE-OF-CONTROL" PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND BULIMIA NERVOSA '

To investigate control and self-control issues for patients with eating disorders, 10 individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa were compared to two sex-matched groups of 9 and 50 adults on the Shapiro Control Inventory. Analysis of variance and subsequent planned comparisons showed significant differences indicative of pathology between the eating-disordered group and one or both comparison groups on the general domain sense of control scale and the positive sense of control scale. Three of the four mode scales and the domain-specific sense of control scale were also in the expected direction. Several clinically relevant individual items also supported this trend. The discussion notes the clinical importance of refining how control is measured for eating-disordered populations.
Electronic, counterion and medium effects on the bonding mode of the seleno-cyanate ion in trans-hydridoselenocyanatotetrakispiperidineiriduium(III) complexes

Abstract The results of infrared spectral studies of the complexes trans-[Ir(pip)4(H)CNSe]Y (pip = piperidine; CNSe− = selenocyanate ion, bonding mode unspecified; Y = NCSe−, B(C6H5)−4, and ClO−4), both in the solid state and in solution, having shown them to be ideal systems for the investigation of ambidentate ligand bonding mode controls. The greater stability of the N-bound selenocyanate, with SeCN− as the counterion, both in the solid state and in solution (irrespective of solvent dielectric), serves to further confirm the existence of antisymbiosis in an octahedral complex of a class (b) metal involving a strong trans-director (H−) with no π-bonding capability. The greater stability of the Se-bound selenocyanate, with B(C6H5)−4 as the counterion, in the solid state is a clear-cut example of counterion bonding mode control. The selenocyanato—tetraphenylborate complex was found to be subject to a KBr-assisted isomerization in the solid state, and all three complexes were observed to undergo a heterogeneous KBr-catalyzed ionization of the coordinated SeCN− ion in DMSO solution, when studied in KBr cells. In CH2Cl2 solution, where minimal KBr catalysis is observed, hydride transfer to the solvent, with a concomitant loss of NCSe− to give a five-coordinate intermediate, which recombines with NCSe− to form trans-[Ir(pip)4(SeCN)2]+, occurs instead over an extended time period. The vCN frequency frequency of the non-coordinated NCSe− is very sensitive to the solvent dielectric, suggesting the existence of H-bonding to the amine proton of the piperidine ligands in the low dielectric solvents. The complexes trans-[Ir(pip)4(H)X] ClO4 (X = NCS−, CN−) were included in the study, for purposes of comparison. The vIrH frequency exhibited by the cyanide complex was found to be very low, due to the strong trans-influence of the cyanide group.
Is quantum gravity unpredictable

An investigation of Hawking's proposal that the inclusion to topologically non-trivial manifolds in the functional integral of quantum gravity leads to the loss of quantum coherence is carried out. We discuss some of the problems associated with Hawking's $-matrix theory, including the breakdown of the connection between symmetry principles and conservation laws. It is proposed to use Kaluza-Klein theories to study this issue, since these theories contain well-defined euclidean instantons. These can be used to perform explicit semiclassical calculations of the effects of space-time foam. A general method is presented for constructing Kaluza-Klein instantons based on solutions of ordinary Yang-Mills theory. It is argued that none of these will lead to a breakdown of quantum mechanics. The physical effects of space-time foam are discussed in some detail using explicit instantons of a four-dimensional Kaluza-Klein theory.
Cyclic Di-GMP Stimulates Biofilm Formation and Inhibits Virulence of Francisella novicida

ABSTRACT Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative bacterium that is highly virulent in humans, causing the disease tularemia. F. novicida is closely related to F. tularensis and exhibits high virulence in mice, but it is avirulent in healthy humans. An F. novicida-specific gene cluster (FTN0451 to FTN0456) encodes two proteins with diguanylate cyclase (DGC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) domains that modulate the synthesis and degradation of cyclic di-GMP (cdGMP). No DGC- or PDE-encoding protein genes are present in the F. tularensis genome. F. novicida strains lacking either the two DGC/PDE genes (cdgA and cdgB) or the entire gene cluster (strain KKF457) are defective for biofilm formation. In addition, expression of CdgB or a heterologous DGC in strain KKF457 stimulated F. novicida biofilms, even in a strain lacking the biofilm regulator QseB. Genetic evidence suggests that CdgA is predominantly a PDE, while CdgB is predominantly a DGC. The F. novicida qseB strain showed reduced cdgA and cdgB transcript levels, demonstrating an F. novicida biofilm signaling cascade that controls cdGMP levels. Interestingly, KKF457 with elevated cdGMP levels exhibited a decrease in intramacrophage replication and virulence in mice, as well as increased growth yields and biofilm formation in vitro. Microarray analyses revealed that cdGMP stimulated the transcription of a chitinase (ChiB) known to contribute to biofilm formation. Our results indicate that elevated cdGMP in F. novicida stimulates biofilm formation and inhibits virulence. We suggest that differences in human virulence between F. novicida and F. tularensis may be due in part to the absence of cdGMP signaling in F. tularensis.
Life history strategy, identity consolidation, and psychological well-being

Abstract Previous research has shown that individual differences in life history strategies co-vary with a large array of variables to the extent that latent variables from a number of psychological measures load on a single (Super-K) factor. Similar to research on the Super-K factor, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that various measures of identity would load on a single factor and that this latent variable would in turn be associated with other variables reflecting life history strategy and psychological well-being, making a Super-K factor. A sample of 248 university students were administered a variety of questionnaires related to identity, life history strategy, and psychological well-being. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the hypothesized Super-K factor and the relationship remained even when controlling for variance in social-desirable responding. The results are discussed in terms of the association between Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development and life history theory.
Ecological research can augment restoration practice in urban areas degraded by invasive species—examples from Chicago Wilderness

Urban biodiversity conservation needs a firm scientific foundation, one that draws upon active and regionally calibrated research programs. Until recently this foundation has not existed. In this paper we examine the way in which the emerging discipline of restoration ecology in an urban context can learn from the experiences of ongoing restoration projects and in turn how novel insights from research of urban soils can help these projects define and reach their goals. Limitations on collaboration between academic researchers and practitioners continues be problematic. We discuss a model whereby this impediment may be removed. A case study of Rhamnus cathartica, an invader of Midwestern woodlands which modifies some important soil ecosystem properties will be used to illustrate the potential for engagement between research and practice.
Delineation of a FOXA1/ERα/AGR2 Regulatory Loop That Is Dysregulated in Endocrine Therapy–Resistant Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM), remains a frontline clinical therapy for patients with ERα-positive breast cancer. However, the relatively rapid development of resistance to this drug in the metastatic setting remains an impediment to a durable response. Although drug resistance likely arises by many different mechanisms, the consensus is that most of the implicated pathways facilitate the outgrowth of a subpopulation of cancer cells that can either recognize tamoxifen as an agonist or bypass the regulatory control of ERα. Notable in this regard is the observation here and in other studies that expression of anterior gradient homology 2 (AGR2), a known proto-oncogene and disulfide isomerase, was induced by both estrogen (17β-estradiol, E2) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) in breast cancer cells. The importance of AGR2 expression is highlighted here by the observation that (i) its knockdown inhibited the growth of both tamoxifen-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cells and (ii) its increased expression enhanced the growth of ERα-positive tumors in vivo and increased the migratory capacity of breast cancer cells in vitro. Interestingly, as with most ERα target genes, the expression of AGR2 in all breast cancer cells examined requires the transcription factor FOXA1. However, in tamoxifen-resistant cells, the expression of AGR2 occurs in a constitutive manner, requiring FOXA1, but loses its dependence on ER. Taken together, these data define the importance of AGR2 in breast cancer cell growth and highlight a mechanism where changes in FOXA1 activity obviate the need for ER in the regulation of this gene. Implications: These findings reveal the transcriptional interplay between FOXA1 and ERα in controlling AGR2 during the transition from therapy-sensitive to -resistant breast cancer and implicate AGR2 as a relevant therapeutic target. Mol Cancer Res; 12(12); 1829–39. ©2014 AACR.
Protective order legislation: Trends in state statutes

Abstract Very little research has examined state legislation on protective orders. This study examined recent state statutes and compared the findings with a landmark 1988 study. Results indicated that more recent laws provided greater access to victims and expanded their eligible populations to include categories that were excluded in earlier legislation (i.e., dating partners, sexual partners, and same-sex partners). Orders increased slightly in duration and there were more access to them outside of normal working hours. Compared with earlier legislation, newer laws were more apt to authorize judges to fashion remedies that address financial matters. Penalties for violations remained relatively stable, although states were increasingly willing to use enhanced sanctions for repeat offenders. States continued to use mandatory arrest to enforce orders, although this trend was not as pronounced as one might have anticipated. Finally, legislators incorporated many aspects of new federal legislation into state statutes.
Loss of AS160 Akt substrate causes Glut4 protein to accumulate in compartments that are primed for fusion in basal adipocytes.

The Akt substrate AS160 (TCB1D4) regulates Glut4 exocytosis; shRNA knockdown of AS160 increases surface Glut4 in basal adipocytes. AS160 knockdown is only partially insulin-mimetic; insulin further stimulates Glut4 translocation in these cells. Insulin regulates translocation as follows: 1) by releasing Glut4 from retention in a slowly cycling/noncycling storage pool, increasing the actively cycling Glut4 pool, and 2) by increasing the intrinsic rate constant for exocytosis of the actively cycling pool (kex). Kinetic studies were performed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to measure the effects of AS160 knockdown on the rate constants of exocytosis (kex), endocytosis (ken), and release from retention into the cycling pool. AS160 knockdown released Glut4 into the actively cycling pool without affecting kex or ken. Insulin increased kex in the knockdown cells, further increasing cell surface Glut4. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or Akt affected both kex and release from retention in control cells but only kex in AS160 knockdown cells. Glut4 vesicles accumulate in a primed pre-fusion pool in basal AS160 knockdown cells. Akt regulates the rate of exocytosis of the primed vesicles through an AS160-independent mechanism. Therefore, there is an additional Akt substrate that regulates the fusion of Glut4 vesicles that remain to be identified. Mathematical modeling was used to test the hypothesis that this substrate regulates vesicle priming (release from retention), whereas AS160 regulates the reverse step by stimulating GTP turnover of a Rab protein required for vesicle tethering/docking/fusion. Our analysis indicates that fusion of the primed vesicles with the plasma membrane is an additional non-Akt-dependent insulin-regulated step.
Design, build, and test of an autonomous inverted pendulum cart

The paper contains a description of the design, construction, and testing of an autonomous inverted pendulum on a cart. The cart is battery-powered, containing an on-board processor which implements real-time control. The dedicated local area network consists of a wireless communication link between the host computer, which issues supervisory commands, and in return receives state and control data from the processor on the cart. Included is a summary of various alternative configurations of the inverted pendulum, including salient details regarding the modeling, identification, and controller design for the apparatus, as well as a list of laboratory exercises. Finally, a URL link is included for the CAD drawings of the device, a parts list, control programs, and a video demonstration of the cart in operation.
A downstream element in the human β-globin promoter: Evidence of extended sequence-specific transcription factor IID contacts

We describe here the identification and characterization of a functional downstream element in the human adult β-globin promoter. The existence of this element was indicated by two mutations at +22 and +33 downstream of the β-globin transcriptional start site in humans with β-thalassemia. In vitro transcriptional analysis of these mutants, plus a third at +13, indicates that all three decrease transcription from the β-globin promoter. Scanning mutagenesis from +10 to +45 indicates that this region contains a functional cis element(s) in vitro, and we designated this element the DCE (downstream core element). The DCE functions in concert with the β-globin CATA box and initiator element, as well as in a heterologous, TATA-less context. A second set of mutants indicates that a particular geometry of the DCE and core promoter is necessary for promoter function. Lastly, DCE mutants show reduced affinity for transcription factor IID (TFIID). These data indicate that TFIID makes sequence-specific contacts to the DCE and that TFIID binding is necessary for DCE function.
The effect of rate sensitivity on history dependent forming limits of anisotropic sheet metals

history dependent forming limits of sheet metals are computed by examining the role of rate sensitivity of flow stress in forming limits for anisotropic materials. Assuming that necking or nonuniform deformation is caused by initial heterogeneity, the forming limits are computed by considering the flow theory and incorporating an isotropic hardening model for anisotropic materials. Representative results show some of the trends for changing forming limits with different parameters under complex nonproportional loading histories. The computed results agree well with published experimental data for different loading history, anisotropy, and rate sensitivity of sheet materials.
Improving the measurement algorithm for alignment

As semiconductor design rules decrease, tighter tolerances are required for alignment. Improvement of the measurement algorithm can make a considerable contribution to reduction of the overlay error. An algorithm makes the alignment accuracy greatly improved that utilizes wavelet transform and uses information about image asymmetry. Experimental result using the Alignment Data Logging System shows that there is a process that the algorithm reduces the overlay error from over 100nm (3(sigma) ) to under 50nm. Two other algorithms are also introduced that are an interpolation method that reduces error from image sampling and a mark recognition method that reduces measurement failures focusing on some kinds of symmetry of the alignment mark.
Periorbital urticaria and topical fluorescein

Topical fluorescein application is a routine component of the ophthalmic examination. Although complications of fluorescein angiography have been well documented, adverse reactions to topical application of this agent have not been previously reported. This report describes a case of topical fluorescein-induced urticaria.
Relationships of in Vitro Pathogen Inhibition and Soil Colonization to Potato Scab Biocontrol by Antagonistic Streptomyces spp

Abstract Spontaneous mutants of two scab-suppressive streptomycetes that were defective in in vitro pathogen inhibition activity were isolated. Morphological characterization of these mutants by rep-PCR genomic DNA fingerprinting or by fatty acid analysis indicated that the mutants of each parent were closely related to one another and to their respective parent, though the mutants could be differentiated from the parent strains and from one another. Despite the reduced in vitro pathogen inhibition activity, most of the mutants demonstrated significant scab biocontrol activity against pathogenic Streptomyces scabies strains. These results suggest that pathogen inhibition activity detected in vitro may not be an accurate predictor of scab biocontrol. Colonization of the suppressive strain or its mutants was generally reduced in the presence versus in the absence of the pathogen. In addition, colonization assays showed no significant differences in pathogen population density among the suppressive strain and mutant strain treatments.
Initiation Mechanisms and Development of Cumulus Convection

Abstract Two cases of deep convection are numerically simulated in a two-dimensional time-dependent model and compared with observations. Various aspects of the simulated convection include the cloud size, height, spacing, lifetime, vertical motion, time of occurrence and precipitation. Maximum cloud-top heights based upon quasi-uniform surface temperature changes, in accordance with the observed, are compared with numerical model results obtained by using various type and size perturbations.
The Effect of Gender Composition of Faculty on Student Retention

Abstract The gender composition of faculty is an important issue on many campuses. Substantial efforts are taken by colleges to hire a diverse faculty where women are equitably represented. Several papers suggest that female faculty can act as role models for female students. This issue is particularly emphasized in science and engineering programs. However, empirical research finds mixed support for this hypothesis. We provide a new test of this issue by examining whether female students have higher first-year retention rates when a greater percentage of their classes are taught by female faculty. There is a positive relationship between retention of female students and the percentage of their science and mathematics classes taught by female faculty. Also faculty gender has a greater impact on female students when their classes have few female students. Thus this study provides support for gender-based programs for hiring.