cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cyclic analysis of the gabor-type auxiliary discharge thermionic converter

Abstract A cyclic analysis of a Gabor-type auxiliary discharge thermionic energy converter is presented. An overall charge balance for the system is believed to be the key in understanding the behavior of the ions and hence the converter performance. The analysis takes into account the phenomenon discovered by Gabor of the reflection of slow ions at the electrodes. A so-called critical equaion is developed and discussed. The parameters in this equation can be determined from few measurements and data available in the literature. A sample calculation is presented to give an order of magnitude of the parameters involved and their relative importance.
Cost per patient-year in response using a claims-based algorithm for the 2 years following biologic initiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

AbstractObjective:To estimate cost per patient-year in response during 2 years following biologic initiation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:Adults newly initiating biologics for RA (etanercept, abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, or infliximab) between January 2009 and July 2011 were identified in the MarketScan Commercial Database. Eligible patients were continuously enrolled 6 months before (pre-index) and 24 months after (post-index) their first (index) biologic claim. Biologic effectiveness was assessed using six criteria during 2-year follow-up: treatment adherence ≥80%, no biologic dose escalation, no biologic switch, no new disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, no new/increased glucocorticoid dose, and limited intra-articular joint injections (≤2). After a 90-day period of non-response for a treatment failure, effectiveness or failure of subsequent treatment was assessed again for the index biologic or new biologic (after switching). Post-index RA-related medical...
Protracted climatic effects of massive smoke injection into the atmosphere

Climate perturbations caused by sudden injections of aerosols into the atmosphere have received increased attention with the realization that fires started by a nuclear war might release sufficient quantities of smoke to block sunlight from the Earth's surface and dramatically reduce temperatures over land1–3. Three-dimensional atmospheric general circulation models which include aerosol transport indicate that much of the smoke could survive in the atmosphere for months or more4–6, implying significant climatic effects on such timescales, but these models generally assume fixed sea surface temperature and sea ice, and therefore cannot properly simulate cooling for more than a few weeks. This report describes a general circulation model run in which the foregoing assumptions are relaxed and the climate impact of massive smoke loading is assessed for four months of simulated time. Two competing long-term effects are apparent: positive feedback on surface cooling due to enhanced sea ice formation, and surface warming at some latitudes due in part to heat transport from the upper troposphere, where smoke aerosols absorb sunlight.
Turing Instability in Inhomogeneous Arrays of Diffusively Coupled Reactors

We study the competition between the Turing instability to steady patterns and the Hopf instability to oscillations in diffusively coupled open reactors. Our approach is based on exact, analytical criteria for the occurrence of these instabilities in arrays of coupled reactors. We consider a general two-variable kinetic model that represents an activator−inhibitor scheme with a complexing agent or substrate for the activator. We apply our results to the Lengyel−Epstein model of the chlorine dioxide−iodine−malonic acid reaction. Using symbolic computation software, we derive exact conditions for the Turing and Hopf bifurcations in small, linear arrays of coupled reactors with an inhomogeneous concentration profile of the substrate. Our main result is the determination of the critical substrate concentration profile, above which the Turing instability occurs before the Hopf instability. This provides the condition for stationary Turing patterns to be experimentally observable in arrays of coupled reactors.
GENETIC STRUCTURALISM AND THE ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Shortly before his death in 1970 Lucien Goldmann reflected on the work he had done in the past twenty-five years. His goal had been the development of a dialectical method for the analysis of literary creativity which would lead first to a scientific sociology of knowledge and from there to a dialectical study of human reality in general.1 Although his efforts were cut short, Goldmann did leave a theoretical model which has applications far beyond the sociology of literature. In what follows, I will describe the model Goldmann referred to as genetic structuralism, and I will show how its creator was able to use it to generate several provocative hypotheses on the relations between human consciousness and social organization.
Aversion Therapy for Alcoholism: Chemical, Electrical, or Verbal Imaginary?

Aversion therapy approaches to alcoholism treatment and related experiments using nonhuman subjects have been critically reviewed. The traditional goal of such aversion therapy has been the inducti...
Apportionment of global human genetic diversity based on craniometrics and skin color

A number of analyses of classical genetic markers and DNA polymorphisms have shown that the majority of human genetic diversity exists within local populations (approximately 85%), with much less among local populations (approximately 5%) or between major geographic regions or "races" (approximately 10%). Previous analysis of craniometric variation (Relethford [1994] Am J Phys Anthropol 95:53-62) found that between 11-14% of global diversity exists among geographic regions, with the remaining diversity existing within regions. The methods used in this earlier paper are extended to a hierarchical partitioning of genetic diversity in quantitative traits, allowing for assessment of diversity among regions, among local populations within regions, and within local populations. These methods are applied to global data on craniometric variation (57 traits) and skin color. Multivariate analysis of craniometric variation shows results similar to those obtained from genetic markers and DNA polymorphisms: roughly 13% of the total diversity is among regions, 6% among local populations within regions, and 81% within local populations. This distribution is concordant with neutral genetic markers. Skin color shows the opposite pattern, with 88% of total variation among regions, 3% among local populations within regions, and 9% within local populations, a pattern shaped by natural selection. The apportionment of genetic diversity in skin color is atypical, and cannot be used for purposes of classification. If racial groups are based on skin color, it appears unlikely that other genetic and quantitative traits will show the same patterns of variation.
Trophic cascades in rocky shore tide pools: distinguishing lethal and nonlethal effects

The effects of predators on the density of their prey can have positive indirect effects on the abundance of the prey's resource via a trophic cascade. This concept has strongly influenced contemporary views of how communities are structured. However, predators also can transmit indirect effects by inducing changes in prey traits. We show that the mere presence of predator risk cues can initiate a trophic cascade in rocky shore tide pools. In large (mean surface area =9 m2), natural tide pools, we manipulated crab density and their foraging ability to examine the relative importance of lethal (density-mediated) and non-lethal (trait-mediated) predator effects to algal community development. We found that perceived predation risk reduced snail density as much as the direct predation treatment, showing that green crab predation was not an important factor regulating local snail density. Instead, snail emigration away from resident crabs appears to be the most important factor regulating local snail density. As a result, the abundance of ephemeral green algae was similar in the predation risk and direct predation treatments, suggesting that the consumption of snails by crabs plays a minimal role in mediating the trophic cascade. Increased attention to trait-mediated effects that are transmitted by predator-induced changes in prey behavior may change our view of how predators exert their strong influence on community structure.
PDA-assisted simulated clinical experiences in undergraduate nursing education: a pilot study.

Abstract Background. Descriptive literature on use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in nursing education exists; but, quantitative outcome-driven studies of efficacy are lacking. Few studies have explored the integration of technologies like simulated clinical experiences (SCEs) with informatics competencies. Aim. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if nursing students' knowledge and attitude scores following a PDA-assisted SCE would be equivalent to textbook-assisted scores. Method. Using a convenience sample of first-semester baccalaureate students and an equivalence design, multiple lessons were learned about the use of PDAs in the context of SCE. Results/Conclusion. Learning was supported through use of PDAs in place of traditional text references; students viewed PDAs as beneficial resources in the provision of care; PDA use prompted reflection and triggered important need-learning connections; orientation to the use of PDAs promoted positive student attitudes; and use of PDAs helpe...
DNA methylation profile of 28 potential marker loci in malignant mesothelioma

Patients with malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive cancer associated with asbestos exposure, usually present clinically with advanced disease and this greatly reduces the likelihood of curative treatment. MM is difficult to diagnose without invasive techniques; the development of non-invasively detectable molecular markers would therefore be highly beneficial. DNA methylation changes in cancer cells provide powerful markers that are potentially detectable non-invasively in DNA shed into bodily fluids. Here we examined the methylation status of 28 loci in 52 MM tumors to investigate their potential as molecular markers for MM. To exclude candidate MM markers that might be positive in biopsies/pleural fluid due to contaminating surrounding non-tumor lung tissue/DNA, we also examined the methylation of these markers in lung samples (age- or environmentally induced hypermethylation is frequently observed in non-cancerous lung). Statistically significantly increased methylation in MM versus non-tumor lung samples was found for estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1; p = 0.0002), solute carrier family 6 member 20 (SLC6A20; p = 0.0022) and spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK; p=0.0003). Examination of associations between methylation levels of the 28 loci and clinical parameters suggest associations of the methylation status of metallothionein genes with gender, histology, asbestos exposure, and lymph node involvement, and the methylation status of leucine zipper tumor suppressor 1 (LZTS1) and SLC6A20 with survival.
Cognition in Patients With Burn Injury in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Population

Abstract Objective To analyze potential cognitive impairment in patients with burn injury in the inpatient rehabilitation population. Design Rehabilitation patients with burn injury were compared with the following impairment groups: spinal cord injury, amputation, polytrauma and multiple fractures, and hip replacement. Differences between the groups were calculated for each cognitive subscale item and total cognitive FIM. Patients with burn injury were compared with the other groups using a bivariate linear regression model. A multivariable linear regression model was used to determine whether differences in cognition existed after adjusting for covariates (eg, sociodemographic factors, facility factors, medical complications) based on previous studies. Setting Inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Participants Data from Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation from 2002 to 2011 for adults with burn injury (N=5347) were compared with other rehabilitation populations (N=668,816). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Comparison of total cognitive FIM scores and subscales (memory, verbal comprehension, verbal expression, social interaction, problem solving) for patients with burn injury versus other rehabilitation populations. Results Adults with burn injuries had an average total cognitive FIM score ± SD of 26.8±7.0 compared with an average FIM score ± SD of 28.7±6.0 for the other groups combined ( P P Conclusions Adults with burn injury have worse cognitive FIM scores than other rehabilitation populations. Future research is needed to determine the impact of this comorbidity on patient outcomes and potential interventions for these deficits.
Tracking Control of Robot Manipulators with Bounded Torque Inputs

This paper examines the problem of link position tracking control of robot manipulators with bounded torque inputs. An adaptive, full-state feedback controller and an exact model knowledge, output feedback controller are designed to produce semi-global asymptotic link position tracking errors. Simulation results are provided to validate the theoretical concepts, and a comparative analysis demonstrates the benefits of the proposed controllers.
Operational Water Consumption and Withdrawal Factors for Electricity Generating Technologies: A Review of Existing Literature

This report provides estimates of operational water withdrawal and water consumption factors for electricity generating technologies in the United States. Estimates of water factors were collected from published primary literature and were not modified except for unit conversions. The water factors presented may be useful in modeling and policy analyses where reliable power plant level data are not available. Major findings of the report include: water withdrawal and consumption factors vary greatly across and within fuel technologies, and water factors show greater agreement when organized according to cooling technologies as opposed to fuel technologies; a transition to a less carbon-intensive electricity sector could result in either an increase or a decrease in water use, depending on the choice of technologies and cooling systems employed; concentrating solar power technologies and coal facilities with carbon capture and sequestration capabilities have the highest water consumption values when using a recirculating cooling system; and non-thermal renewables, such as photovoltaics and wind, have the lowest water consumption factors. Improved power plant data and further studies into the water requirements of energy technologies in different climatic regions would facilitate greater resolution in analyses of water impacts of future energy and economic scenarios. This report provides the foundation for conducting water use impact assessments of the power sector while also identifying gaps in data that could guide future research.
Cost Structure, Customer Profitability, and Retention Implications of Self-Service Distribution Channels: Evidence from Customer Behavior in an Online Banking Channel

This paper uses the context of online banking to investigate the consequences of using self-service distribution channels to alter customer interactions with the firm. Using a sample of retail banking customers observed over a 30-month period at a large U.S. bank, we test whether changes in service consumption, cost to serve, and customer profitability are associated with the adoption of online banking. We find that customer adoption of online banking is associated with (1) substitution, primarily from incrementally more costly self-service delivery channels (automated teller machine and voice response unit); (2) augmentation of service consumption in more costly service delivery channels (branch and call center); (3) a substantial increase in total transaction volume; (4) an increase in estimated average cost to serve resulting from the combination of points (1)--(3); and (5) a reduction in short-term customer profitability. However, we find that use of the online banking channel is associated with higher customer retention rates over one-, two-, and three-year horizons. The documented relationship between the use of online banking and customer retention remains positive even after controlling for self-selection into the online channel. We also find evidence that future market shares for our sample firm are systematically higher in markets with high contemporaneous utilization rates for the online banking channel. This finding holds even after controlling for contemporaneous market share, suggesting it is not simply the result of increased market power leading to the acquisition of online banking customers.
Primitive Genetic Polymers

Since the structure of DNA was elucidated more than 50 years ago, Watson-Crick base pairing has been widely speculated to be the likely mode of both information storage and transfer in the earliest genetic polymers. The discovery of catalytic RNA molecules subsequently provided support for the hypothesis that RNA was perhaps even the first polymer of life. However, the de novo synthesis of RNA using only plausible prebiotic chemistry has proven difficult, to say the least. Experimental investigations, made possible by the application of synthetic and physical organic chemistry, have now provided evidence that the nucleobases (A, G, C, and T/U), the trifunctional moiety ([deoxy]ribose), and the linkage chemistry (phosphate esters) of contemporary nucleic acids may be optimally suited for their present roles-a situation that suggests refinement by evolution. Here, we consider studies of variations in these three distinct components of nucleic acids with regard to the question: Is RNA, as is generally acknowledged of DNA, the product of evolution? If so, what chemical and structural features might have been more likely and advantageous for a proto-RNA?
Racial and mental illness stereotypes and discrimination: an identity-based analysis of the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings

The Virginia Tech and Columbine High shootings are 2 of the deadliest school massacres in the United States. The present study investigates in a nationally representative sample how White Americans’ causal attributions of these shooting moderate their attitudes toward the shooter’s race. White Americans shown a vignette based on the Virginia Tech shooting were more likely to espouse negative beliefs about Korean American men and distance themselves from this group the more they believed that the shooter’s race caused the shooting. Among those who were shown a vignette based on the Columbine High shooting, believing that mental illness caused the shooting was associated with weaker negative beliefs about White American men. White Americans in a third condition who were given the Virginia Tech vignette and prompted to subtype the shooter according to his race were less likely to possess negative beliefs about Korean American men the more they believed that mental illness caused the shooting. There was no evidence for the ultimate attribution error. Theoretical accounts based on the stereotype and in-group-out-group bias literature are presented. The current findings have important implications for media depictions of minority group behavior and intergroup relations.
Analysis of Echocardiograms in a Large Heterogeneous Cohort of Patients With Friedreich Ataxia

Although Friedreich ataxia (FA) is associated with cardiomyopathy, the severity and evolution of cardiac disease is poorly understood. To identify factors predicting cardiomyopathy in FA, we assessed echocardiograms from a large heterogenous cohort and their relation to disease traits. The most recent echocardiograms from 173 subjects with FA were analyzed in a core laboratory to determine their relation to disease duration, subject age, age of onset, functional disability score, and GAA repeat length. Mean age of the cohort was 19.7 years, mean age of disease onset was 10.6 years, and mean shorter GAA length was 681 repeats. Echocardiograms collectively illustrated systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and hypertrophy. Measurements of hypertrophy correlated moderately with each other (r = 0.39 to 0.79) but not with measurements of diastolic dysfunction (r
Interactive effects of salinity and adult extract upon settlement of the estuarine barnacle Balanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854)

Abstract Balanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854) is distributed in mesohaline regions of estuaries worldwide. In Chesapeake Bay, USA, it occurs intermediately along a horizontal salinity gradient between two congeners, oligohaline B. subalbidus (Henry, 1973) and the more polyhaline B. eburneus (Gould, 1841). Laboratory reared cyprids of B. improvisus were exposed to slate substrata treated or untreated with conspecific settlement factor as salinity was varied. Peak settlement occurred at salinities of 10 and 15ℵ on treated substrata, reflecting an interactive effect of these two parameters. Settlement on untreated substrata was low and showed no salinity pattern. Cyprids of B. improvisus settled in significantly greater numbers on intrathan on interspecific settlement factor adsorbed to slate, and they settled in lowest numbers on settlement factor from B. eburneus compared to B. subalbidus. In addition, surface effects upon settlement were less obvious as age of cyprids increased.
Evidence of infectivity of airborne porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and detection of airborne viral RNA at long distances from infected herds

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) spread rapidly after being diagnosed in the USA in April 2013. In this study we assessed whether PEDV could become airborne and if so, whether the virus was infectious. Air samples were collected both from a room containing experimentally infected pigs and at various distances from the outside of swine farms experiencing acute PEDV outbreaks. Results indicated presence of infectious PEDV in the air from experimentally infected pigs and genetic material of PEDV was detected up to 10 miles downwind from naturally infected farms. Airborne transmission should be considered as a potential route for PEDV dissemination.
Early Retirement in the Three Types of Welfare States

The main purpose of this study was to examine the labor force participation rate of 55- to 64-year-olds across countries and by gender on the basis of Esping-Andersen's typology of welfare states. The author investigated the influence of a country's socioeconomic characteristics on work participation using data from nine Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries from 1984 to 2001. The results show that classifying countries according to Esping-Andersen's typology provides insight into how a set of country-level socioeconomic conditions and policies may influence individual work decisions. The results also show that men and women respond differently to economic and demographic changes at the country level. Conclusions imply that policy interventions to reverse patterns of early retirement need to consider country-level economic and demographic characteristics and their interaction, along with policies that would change financial incentives facing individuals.
The influence of rotational frontogenesis and its associated shearwise vertical motions on the development of an upper-level front

The total quasi-geostrophic (QG) vertical motion is partitioned into transverse and shearwise couplets oriented parallel to, and along, the geostrophic vertical shear, respectively, in order to examine the role of rotational frontogenesis, and its associated shearwise circulation, in the life cycle of an upper-front/jet system in northwesterly flow. In particular the analysis emphasizes two aspects of that role: (1) the influence of shearwise ω on scalar frontogenesis, and (2) the effect of rotational frontogenesis, and its associated vertical circulation, on the initiation of along-flow cold air advection during upper frontogenesis. The case-study analysis reveals that shearwise subsidence persistently and significantly contributes to scalar frontogenesis throughout the life cycle. The transverse subsidence contribution to scalar frontogenesis is initially weak but grows more substantial after the establishment of along-flow cold air advection near the base of the thermal trough. Prior work has argued that the development of along-flow cold air advection arises from a cyclonic rotation of ∇θ promoted either by contributions from tilting or horizontal kinematics. From the QG perspective adopted in the present study, the tilting and kinematic rotations are seen as interconnected aspects of a single, underlying dynamical process: rotational frontogenesis, in which the rotation of ∇θ produced by vertical vorticity is accompanied by a discrete vertical circulation (the shearwise circulation) that provides the subsidence upshear of the vorticity maximum required to initiate along-flow cold air advection. It is further suggested that the characteristic distribution of the kinematic and tilting contributions to rotation of ∇θ in the vicinity of an upper-tropospheric vorticity maximum underlies the observed preference for the development of upper-level fronts in northwesterly flow. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Joint Requirement for Rac and ERK Activities Underlies the Mid-G1 Phase Induction of Cyclin D1 and S Phase Entry in Both Epithelial and Mesenchymal Cells

Cyclin D1 gene induction is a key event in G1 phase progression. Our previous studies indicated that signaling to cyclin D1 is cell type-dependent because the timing of cyclin D1 gene expression in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells is very different, with epithelial cells first expressing cyclin D1 in early rather than mid-G1 phase. In this report, we induced a mesenchymal phenotype in MCF10A cells by long-term exposure to TGF-β and used the control and transitioned cells to examine cell type specificity of the signaling pathways that regulate cyclin D1 gene expression. We show that early-G1 phase cyclin D1 gene expression in MCF10A cells is under the control of Rac, whereas mid-G1 phase cyclin D1 induction requires parallel signaling from Rac and ERK, both in the control and transitioned cells. This combined requirement for Rac and ERK signaling is associated with an increased requirement for intracellular tension, Rb phosphorylation, and S phase entry. A similar co-regulation of cyclin D1 mRNA by Rac and ERK is seen in primary mesenchymal cells. Overall, our results reveal two mechanistically distinct phases of Rac-dependent cyclin D1 expression and emphasize that the acquisition of Rac/ERK co-dependence is required for the mid-G1 phase induction of cyclin D1 associated with S phase entry.
Web-based learning: pros, cons and controversies

Advantages of web-based learning (WBL) in medical education include overcoming barriers of distance and time, economies of scale, and novel instructional methods, while disadvantages include social isolation, up-front costs, and technical problems. Web-based learning is purported to facilitate individualised instruction, but this is currently more vision than reality. More importantly, many WBL instructional designs fail to incorporate principles of effective learning, and WBL is often used for the wrong reasons (eg for the sake of technology). Rather than trying to decide whether WBL is superior to or equivalent to other instructional media (research addressing this question will always be confounded), we should accept it as a potentially powerful instructional tool, and focus on learning when and how to use it. Educators should recognise that high fidelity, multimedia, simulations, and even WBL itself will not always be necessary to effectively facilitate learning.
Diverse sequences within Tlr elements target programmed DNA elimination in Tetrahymena thermophila.

Tlr elements are a novel family of ∼30 putative mobile genetic elements that are confined to the germ line micronuclear genome in Tetrahymena thermophila . Thousands of diverse germ line-limited sequences, including the Tlr elements, are specifically eliminated from the differentiating somatic macronucleus. Macronucleus-retained sequences flanking deleted regions are known to contain cis -acting signals that delineate elimination boundaries. It is unclear whether sequences within deleted DNA also play a regulatory role in the elimination process. In the current study, an in vivo DNA rearrangement assay was used to identify internal sequences required in cis for the elimination of Tlr elements. Multiple, nonoverlapping regions from the ∼23-kb Tlr elements were independently sufficient to stimulate developmentally regulated DNA elimination when placed within the context of flanking sequences from the most thoroughly characterized family member, Tlr1. Replacement of element DNA with macronuclear or foreign DNA abolished elimination activity. Thus, diverse sequences dispersed throughout Tlr DNA contain cis -acting signals that target these elements for programmed elimination. Surprisingly, Tlr DNA was also efficiently deleted when Tlr1 flanking sequences were replaced with DNA from a region of the genome that is not normally associated with rearrangement, suggesting that specific flanking sequences are not required for the elimination of Tlr element DNA.
Substitution of an essential adenine in the U1A–RNA complex with a non‐polar isostere

The RNA recognition motif (RRM) binds to single-stranded RNA target sites of diverse sequences and structures. A conserved mode of base recognition by the RRM involves the simultaneous formation of a network of hydrogen bonds with the base functional groups and a stacking interaction between the base and a highly conserved aromatic amino acid. We have investigated the energetic contribution of the functional groups involved in the recognition of an essential adenine, A6, in stem‐loop 2 of U1 snRNA by the N-terminal RRM of the U1A protein. Previously, we found that elimination of individual hydrogen bond donors and acceptors on A6 destabilized the complex by 0.8‐1.9 kcal/ mol, while mutation of the aromatic amino acid (Phe56) that stacks with A6 to Ala destabilized the complex by 5.5 kcal/mol. Here we continue to probe the contribution of A6 to complex stability through mutation of both the RNA and protein. We have removed two hydrogen-bonding functional groups by introducing a U1A mutation, Ser91Ala, and replacing A6 with tubercidin, purine, or 1-deazaadenine. We find that the complex is destabilized an additional 1.2‐2.6 kcal/mol by the elimination of the second hydrogen bond donor or acceptor. Surprisingly, deletion of all of the functional groups involved in hydrogen bonds with the U1A protein by substituting adenine with 4-methylindole reduced the binding free energy by only 2.0 kcal/mol. Experiments with U1A proteins containing mutations of Phe56 suggested that improved stacking interactions due to the greater hydrophobicity of 4-methylindole than adenine may be partly responsible for the small destabilization of the complex upon substitution of 4-methylindole for A6. The data imply that hydrophobic interactions can compensate energetically for the disruption of the complex hydrogen-bonding network between nucleotide and protein.
End Sequencing and Chromosomal in silico Mapping of BAC Clones Derived from an indica Rice Cultivar, Kasalath

To investigate the molecular basis for the phenotypic diversity and evolutionary relationships within Oryza sativa, we performed large-scale end sequencing and chromosomal in silico mapping (mapping by sequence homology) of rice BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) clones derived from an indica rice cultivar, 'Kasalath'. In total, 78,427 high-quality BAC-end sequences (BESs) showing an average read-length of 482 bp with a total of 37.8 Mb of genomic sequences were obtained from 47,194 BAC clones. After removal of those BESs containing repetitive sequences and use of the high-quality genomic sequence of the japonica rice cultivar 'Nipponbare' as a reference standard, 12,170 clones with paired BESs were mapped in silico to the 12 chromosomes. These clones consisted of 450 contigs and showed a total physical length of 308.5 Mb, indicating a coverage of the rice genome of about 80%. Confirmation of the chromosomal positions of the Kasalath BAC clones mapped on chromosome 1 using specific DNA markers revealed that the map accuracy was extremely high: at least 94.8%. In general, the genomic composition and structure of all the chromosomes were highly conserved between the two subspecies. However, we still found evidence suggesting the existence of different components in the genome of the two subspecies within large chromosomal fragments, especially on chromosomes 11 and 12. Extensive analysis of the genomic sequences of Nipponbare and Kasalath revealed a frequency of 0.71 % for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1.23 sites per kilobase for indels (1-16 bp length), respectively. The BAC-based Kasalath map could become an invaluable resource, not only for the isolation of genes, but also for conducting extensive analyses of genomic sequences for comparative genomic studies within or between species.
Facilitation of male sexual behavior in adult male rats by the aromatization inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD)☆

Abstract Daily injections of the steroidal aromatization inhibitor, ATD, were given to castrated adult male rats, concurrently with either testosterone propionate (TP), estradiol-17β-benzoate (EB), or sesame oil. ATD (10 mg), given without TP or EB, maintained pre-castration levels of male sexual behavior. This dose of ATD did not inhibit the facilitatory effect of TP on male sexual behavior. At a 1 mg dose, ATD apparently still had a facilitatory effect on sexual behavior, albeit a reduced one, that was largely unaffected by the other concurrent hormone treatments. There was no clear evidence of a synergistic facilitation of male sexual behavior by the combined EB+ATD treatments. ATD had little or no significant effect on increasing seminal vesicle weight, though it did not inhibit the TP-stimulated increase in seminal vesicle weight. Results are interpreted in terms of a possible CNS mechanism of action of ATD and implications for the importance of aromatization in the mediation of the effects of testosterone on sexual behavior in rats.
Motion adaptive deinterlacer for DMD (digital micromirror device) based digital television

The paper describes a deinterlacer developed for use in display systems based on the DMD (digital micromirror device), a new digital display technology. The deinterlace algorithm performs motion adaptive interpolation, using median filtered interframe differences to generate the motion signal. The interpolation process is edge adaptive, using five different edge orientations computed from the original interlace picture. Progressive scan-rate individual bit plane level digital data is then used to drive the DMD display using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique. Real-time implementation is realized using the scan-line video processor (SVP). >
Octamer-primed sequencing technology: effects of dNTP supplementation

Octamer-primed sequencing is a directed DNA sequencing strategy that employs the use of a presynthesized octamer primer library. Together with electronic octamer sequencing technology (eOST) it provides a faster, less expensive way to obtain DNA sequence information and can be used as a valuable tool for gap closure in large-scale genomic sequencing. In this paper we discuss the effect of dGTP/TTP supplementation on octamer sequencing. We show that addition of 75 µM dGTP and 5 µM TTP can improve the sequencing success rate by increasing the length and accuracy of generated sequence information. We also discuss the effect of template base composition immediately downstream of the octamer primer on the outcome of octamer sequencing.
Prenatal alcohol exposure causes long-term serotonin neuron deficit in mice.

Background: Previous work from this laboratory showed that prenatal alcohol exposure at approximately 100 mg/dl from embryonic day (E)7 to early midgestation reduced the number and retarded the migration of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the raphe nuclei in C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we report that the deficit of 5-HT neurons found in midgestation persisted on E18 and into young adulthood. Methods: Pregnant dams were treated from E7 to E18 in three groups—(1) the alcohol group, fed with liquid diet with 25% ethanol-derived calories; (2) the isocaloric pair-fed group; and (3) the chow group for analysis of concentrations of active caspase-3—to study apoptosis at E18 in the brainstem and the number of 5-HT neurons at E18 and postnatal day 45. The concentrations of active caspase-3 were determined by using a colorimetric assay, and the 5-HT neurons were determined by immunocytochemistry. Results: Prenatal alcohol exposure increased the concentration of active caspase-3 in the brainstem and caused reductions in brain weight by 20% and in the total number of 5-HT–immunostaining neurons in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei by 20% at E18 as compared with those of the pair-fed and chow controls. Continuous observation from prenatal to postnatal stages showed that the reduction of 5-HT–immunostaining neurons in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei persisted in the young adult stage. Conclusions: Upon prenatal alcohol exposure, an increased concentration of active caspase-3 and a decreased number of 5-HT–immunostaining neurons in the brainstem were observed at E18. The decreased number of 5-HT neurons persisted to the young adult stage of postnatal day 45. This suggests that ethanol has a long-lasting effect on 5-HT deficit. A fetal alcohol exposure–rendered lasting deficit of 5-HT and other transmitter systems may underlie the neuropsychiatric deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Podcasting for Corporations and Universities: Look Before You Leap

In the last year, podcasts have taken the world by storm. We see examples in myriad environments, from hobbyists creating their own "shows" to NPR releasing its programs through a vibrant network of podcasts. We see companies - from small businesses to large corporations like IBM - producing podcasts to connect with their clients and customers. We see schools and universities podcasting their classrooms. This article looks at two arenas where podcasts are flourishing: in corporations and universities. The subtitle of this article points to a trend we have noticed: both universities and corporations are developing podcasts, but we have seen less evidence that these podcasts are also accompanied with a sound legal policy. The result of this "leaping" into podcasts without "looking" into the legal implications is the topic of this article. Part 2 will introduce readers to the basics of podcasting, both in the practical sense of what a podcast is and also how it works. Part 3 will introduce the legal issues addressed in this article related to copyright and publicity rights. Parts 4 and 5 turn to specific legal questions one might consider in a corporate and university environment, respectively.
Migration and Population Studies of the Cotton Bollworm Moth (Heliothis Obsoleta FAB.)

A cart-type of screen trap, which was pushed along over cotton in the field, proved quite successful in obtaining information regarding the extent of local migration and the abundance of bollworm moths in the fields. Correlating these records with those taken in connection with oviposition, bollworm injury, and rate of plant growth, it was found that oviposition and the rate of plant growth were closely associated, but that there was no relation between the moth population and the oviposition in these fields.
EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTION IN REDUCING THE GENETIC LOAD IN POPULATIONS OF PEROMYSCUS POLIONOTUS DURING GENERATIONS OF INBREEDING.

It has been hypothesized that natural selection reduces the "genetic load" of deleterious alleles from populations that inbreed during bottlenecks, thereby ameliorating impacts of future inbreeding. We tested the efficiency with which natural selection purges deleterious alleles from three subspecies of Peromyscus polionotus during 10 generations of laboratory inbreeding by monitoring pairing success, litter size, viability, and growth in 3604 litters produced from 3058 pairs. In P. p. subgriseus, there was no reduction across generations in inbreeding depression in any of the fitness components. Strongly deleterious recessive alleles may have been removed previously during episodes of local inbreeding in the wild, and the residual genetic load in this population was not further reduced by selection in the lab. In P. p. rhoadsi, four of seven fitness components did show a reduction of the genetic load with continued inbreeding. The average reduction in the genetic load was as expected if inbreeding depression in this population is caused by highly deleterious recessive alleles that are efficiently removed by selection. For P. p. leucocephalus a population that experiences periodic bottlenecks in the wild, the effect of further inbreeding in the laboratory was to exacerbate rather than reduce the genetic load. Recessive deleterious alleles may have been removed from this population during repeated bottlenecks in the wild; the population may be close to a threshold level of heterozygosity below which fitness declines rapidly. Thus, the effects of selection on inbreeding depression varied substantially among populations, perhaps due to different histories of inbreeding and selection.
Di Gildene Royze: The Turei Zahav Synagogue in L'viv

This pictorial account of the Turei Zahav or the Nachmanowicz synagogue in L'viv, Ukraine, also known as Di Gildene Royze (The Golden Rose), is the third volume in the bilingual Studies of the Bet ...
Ureteral Calculi: Review of 17 Years of Experience at a Community Hospital

AbstractIn the last 17 years 3,150 patients have been treated by one or both of us for ureteral calculous disease. Our operative mortality is zero and our operative morbidity is 0.68 per cent, with an over-all morbidity of 0.8 per cent. We believe that stone extractions decrease the length of hospital stay and the time lost from industry, home or school. Thus, it is a worthwhile, effective and safe procedure. We agree with other investigators who believe that ureteral catheters and antibiotics are not necessary for routine stone extraction. We will await further word on the etiology of this endemic disease.
Calcium oxychloride formation in pastes containing supplementary cementitious materials: Thoughts on the role of cement and supplementary cementitious materials reactivity

Over the last decade many concrete pavements in North America have begun to show excessive damage at the joints. This damage appears to be due to two primary causes: classic freeze-thaw damage due to local saturation caused by the pooling of water at the joints, and formation of an expansive phase known as calcium oxychloride due to a reaction between chloride-based deicing salts and calcium hydroxide in concrete. This letter explores the formation of calcium oxychloride in cementitious matrices based on constituent materials and mixture compositions. Low temperature differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to quantify the amount of calcium oxychloride and calcium hydroxide, respectively. Thermodynamic modeling was used to predict calcium hydroxide contents from the constituent material compositions. It is shown that calcium oxychloride contents are well correlated with calcium hydroxide contents in cementitious pastes. Supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash and slag, can reduce calcium oxychloride formation by reducing the amount of calcium hydroxide. Complexities in the determination of reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials based on their replacement level and different water-to-cement ratios are discussed. Although it is clear that supplementary cementitious materials are beneficial in reducing calcium oxychloride formation, additional analysis tools are needed to more accurately quantify the specific mechanisms (such as dilution, pozzolanic or hydraulic reaction, changes in cement hydration) that result in the beneficial aspects of each supplementary cementitious material.
The Pornography of Information

In her groundbreaking study, The Pornography of Representation (1986), Susanne Kappeler argued that pornography is a structure of representation in which women are rendered objects for the gaze of the male subject. Man-as-subject and woman-as-object are constructed in opposition to one another within this structure: “The objectification of woman is a result of the subjectification of man.” This simultaneously subjectifying and objectifying structure of representation, inherently violent in its reduction of a human being to an object of the gaze, action, and power of another, encodes and solidifies the social structures of hierarchy and domination in which it is embedded.
An Investigation of Ethical Environments of CPAs: Public Accounting versus Industry

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to investigate certified public accountants' (CPAs) perceptions of their ethical environments. More specifically, we compare the perceptions of CPAs in (1) public accounting firms to those in industry, and (2) perceptions of CPAs at Big 4 public accounting firms to those at non-Big 4 firms. The ethical environment is one component of overall organizational culture and is important for encouraging ethical decision making. Based on responses from 904 CPAs, we find CPAs working at public accounting firms perceive their ethical environments as significantly stronger than CPAs in industry (and other nonpublic accounting work settings). Additionally, within public accounting, CPAs at Big 4 firms perceive their ethical environments as significantly stronger than those working at non-Big 4 accounting firms. Implications for research and practice are discussed. Data Availability: Please contact the authors.
MOSFETs with 9 to 13 A thick gate oxides

In this work, NMOSFETs with gate oxides between 9 to 13 A have been fabricated and its behavior analyzed. An improved methodology of extracting gate oxide thickness from the MOSFET gate currents in the accumulation regime is proposed. Experimental evidence for a mobility reduction mechanism, namely Remote Charge Scattering, has been presented. The mobility was found to be degraded because of scattering by ionized impurities in the poly-gate.
Anaerobic Heme Degradation: ChuY Is an Anaerobilin Reductase That Exhibits Kinetic Cooperativity

Heme catabolism is an important biochemical process that many bacterial pathogens utilize to acquire iron. However, tetrapyrrole catabolites can be reactive and often require further processing for transport out of the cell or conversion to another useful cofactor. In previous work, we presented in vitro evidence of an anaerobic heme degradation pathway in Escherichia coli O157:H7. Consistent with reactions that have been reported for other radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine methyltransferases, ChuW transfers a methyl group to heme by a radical-mediated mechanism and catalyzes the β-scission of the porphyrin macrocycle. This facilitates iron release and the production of a new linear tetrapyrrole termed “anaerobilin”. In this work, we describe the structure and function of ChuY, an enzyme expressed downstream from chuW within the same heme utilization operon. ChuY is structurally similar to biliverdin reductase and forms a dimeric complex in solution that reduces anaerobilin to the product we have termed ana...
Teaching and Researching Entrepreneurship: the Small Business Institute 2016

Conference Report for the Small Business Institute Annual Academic Conference, held in New Orleans, LA from Feb. 10-13, 2016. The conference was attended by 150 small business and entrepreneurship professors, but also three business librarians. The conference consisted of board meetings, keynote speakers, the presentation of research papers, workshops on teaching strategies, future research topics, and social opportunities for networking and mentoring. The value of librarians attending a professors' conference is also discussed.