cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crystal structures of type i dehydroquinate dehydratase in complex with quinate and shikimate suggest a novel mechanism of schiff base formation

A component of the shikimate biosynthetic pathway, dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHQD) catalyzes the dehydration of 3-dehydroquniate (DHQ) to 3-dehydroshikimate. In the type I DHQD reaction mechanism a lysine forms a Schiff base intermediate with DHQ. The Schiff base acts as an electron sink to facilitate the catalytic dehydration. To address the mechanism of Schiff base formation, we determined structures of the Salmonella enterica wild-type DHQD in complex with the substrate analogue quinate and the product analogue shikimate. In addition, we determined the structure of the K170M mutant (Lys170 being the Schiff base forming residue) in complex with quinate. Combined with nuclear magnetic resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry data that revealed altered binding of the analogue to the K170M mutant, these structures suggest a model of Schiff base formation characterized by the dynamic interplay of opposing forces acting on either side of the substrate. On the side distant from the substrate 3-carbony...
Fluctuating Environments, Sexual Selection and the Evolution of Flexible Mate Choice in Birds

Environmentally-induced fluctuation in the form and strength of natural selection can drive the evolution of morphology, physiology, and behavior. Here we test the idea that fluctuating climatic conditions may also influence the process of sexual selection by inducing unexpected reversals in the relative quality or sexual attractiveness of potential breeding partners. Although this phenomenon, known as ‘ecological cross-over’, has been documented in a variety of species, it remains unclear the extent to which it has driven the evolution of major interspecific differences in reproductive behavior. We show that after controlling for potentially influential life history and demographic variables, there are significant positive associations between the variability and predictability of annual climatic cycles and the prevalence of infidelity and divorce within populations of a taxonomically diverse array of socially monogamous birds. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that environmental factors have shaped the evolution of reproductive flexibility and suggest that in the absence of severe time constraints, secondary mate choice behaviors can help prevent, correct, or minimize the negative consequences of ecological cross-overs. Our findings also illustrate how a basic evolutionary process like sexual selection is susceptible to the increasing variability and unpredictability of climatic conditions that is resulting from climate change.
An exploration of Suzuki aryl cross coupling chemistry involving [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives

Suzuki aryl cross coupling reactions using derivatives of [2.2]paracyclophane were examined. A variety of aryl boronic acids and pinacolate esters were successfully cross coupled with 4-bromo[2.2]paracyclophane under standard Suzuki conditions. Whilst an excellent tolerance for electron donating and withdrawing groups was observed, cross coupling reactions with highly sterically demanding borates (e.g. mesityl) were unsuccessful. The preparation and stability of the previously unreported [2.2]paracyclophanyl-4-boronic acid, -pinacolate ester and -dimethyl ester are described, along with the utility of these systems in Suzuki aryl cross coupling reactions. Application of this methodology led to a dicyclophane containing two [2.2]paracyclophane units separated by a 4–4′connected biphenyl spacer group.
Policy alternatives to the average cost pricing of natural gas

Abstract Current regulation of wholesale and retail natural gas encourages overconsumption of gas and discourages desirable entry of solar heaters, heat pumps, and other ‘new’ residential and commercial energy technologies. This paper uses the tools of public finance to compare the desirability of alternative policies with that of current regulation. The alternatives include marginal cost pricing with consumer compensation, average cost pricing with taxes and/or subsidies, and utility ownership of new energy technologies. A number of fiscal equivalences are established and utility ownership is shown to be a crude form of average cost pricing with a subsidy. Full ranking of the alternatives will require additional information on the administrative and political nature of the alternatives.
Identification of surface vibrations on clean and oxygen covered Pt(111) surfaces with high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)

Abstract Clean and oxygen covered {111} recrystallized Pt surfaces were studied by EELS after surface preparation at 150≤T≤1650K. The clean surface shows Stokes as well as anti-Stokes lines of surface phonons at ± 195 −1 . Adsorption of small amounts of ( −2 monolayers) of O 2 or H 2 leads to substrate-derived phonon losses at ±380cm −1 . Oxygen exposure at different pressures, times and temperatures leads to atomic and/or molecular adsorption as well as oxide-related features which have been identified by EELS.
Stresses in a constrained transversely isotropic elastic solid caused by a moving dislocation

An unbounded, transversely isotropic elastic solid whose elastic constants obey the constraint (c11–c44) (c33–c44)=(c13+c44)2 is excited by a suddenly applied moving dislocation. Explicit expressions are obtained for the plane stress field induced by the (constant speed) dislocation moving parallel to the material symmetry axis. The speed of the dislocation may be sub-, tran-, or super-sonic with respect to the material wave speeds. An unexpected result is the existence of a special dislocation speed, in the transonic range, which causes the Mach head wave to be annihilated.
Influence of batrachotoxin, veratridine, grayanotoxin I and tetrodotoxin on uptake of Na-22 by rat brain membrane preparations

Abstract The actions of a number of sodium channel-specific neurotoxins on the uptake of Na-22 by osmotically sensitive membrane preparations from rat brain were studied using a glass-fiber filter assay. Under control conditions, there was Na-22 uptake that reached saturation within 5 min, and was insensitive to tetradotoxin (10 μM). Batrachotoxin (Kdapp = 0.2 μM), veratridine (Kdapp = 1 μM) and grayanotoxin I (Kdapp = 30 μM), which increase sodium conductance in electrogenic membranes, stimulated Na-22 uptake approximately 2-fold over control levels. This additional Na-22 uptake was markedly dependent on the ionic strength of the media, associated with subfractions of the preparation enriched in plasma membranes, and completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin (10 μM). It was highly labile, showing only a minor decrease in activity within the first 4–6 h after preparation of the membranes, but disappearing within 24 h at 4° C. It is suggested that the toxins-activated Na-22 uptake, which is tetrodotoxin-sensitive, results from the actions of these toxins on the macromolecular channel complex which controls resting and action potential sodium conductance.
An examination of sensitivity of WRF/Chem predictions to physical parameterizations, horizontal grid spacing, and nesting options

Abstract An accurate representation of meteorological processes is important to the accurate predictions of meteorology and air quality. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF/Chem) is utilized to examine the sensitivity of air quality predictions to two planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes and three land-surface models (LSMs). Model simulations with different PBL schemes and LSMs are conducted over the Houston–Galveston area for a 5-day summer episode from the 2000 Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS-2000). Sensitivity to horizontal grid spacing (12 vs. 4 km) and nesting methods (1- or 2-way) is also studied. Model predictions are evaluated with available surface and aircraft observations. Both meteorological and chemical predictions at the surface and aloft show stronger sensitivity to LSMs than to the PBL schemes. The model predictions also show a stronger sensitivity to horizontal grid spacing using 1-way nesting than 2-way nesting and to the nesting method at 4 km than 12 km. The benefits (or disbenefits) of using more complex meteorological schemes, finer horizontal grid spacing, and more sophisticated 2-way nesting may vary and must be evaluated for specific episodes. The results from this study also indicate a need to refine model treatments at a fine grid spacing and the current 2-way nesting method used in WRF/Chem for improvement of model performance.
Detection of Lucké herpes virus antigens in infected frog pronephric cells.

A frog pronephric cell line, infected with herpes virus derived from Lucke renal carcinomas ofRana pipiens was examined for the presence of Lucke herpes virus antigens. Non-infected pronephric cells were controls. Antiserum to purified Lucke tumor herpes virus was applied in blind tests to the normal and virus infected cells. Both cytoplasmic and nuclear fluorescence was found in the herpes virus infected cells after indirect immunofluorescence with the antiserum. Infected cells cultivated at the optimum growth temperature of 25° C or maintained at 9° C, a temperature inducive to herpes virus replication, showed equivalent fluorescence reactions. No fluorescence was found in the normal pronephric cell line. Examination of parallel herpes infected cells showed cytopathic effect in monolayers by light microscopy, and nuclear or cytoplasmic immunofluorescence. Electron microscopic examination revealed proviral elements in nuclei and sparsely scattered herpes virus coincident with cytoplasmic fluorescence.
Privacy policies of air travel web sites: a survey and analysis

Abstract Numerous airlines and online intermediaries are using their web sites to sell airline tickets to passengers. From consumer's perspective as well as from regulator's perspective, privacy policies adopted by the online vendors are receiving critical attention. A survey of privacy policies of US air travel web sites indicates that significant differences exist among majors, nationals and intermediaries. Further, air travel industry seems to lag behind other industries in implementing fair information practices. Overall, results suggest that the air travel industry has a long way to go in addressing privacy concerns shared by consumers as well as regulators.
Electronic structure and interfacial properties of Ge nanoclusters embedded in amorphous silica

Abstract Silicon and germanium nanoparticles embedded in silica glass matrix have shown intriguing photoluminescence properties different from bulk crystals. In this paper, we report structural and electronic properties of a series diamond-structured germanium nanoparticles (diameter up to 1.6 nm) embedded in silica glass matrix obtained from periodic ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on models generated using the bond-switching algorithm. These large-scale DFT calculations involved hundreds of atoms and the results provide detailed atomic and electronic structural information of the embedded system including the semiconductor/glass interfaces. It was found that there exists 2–3% tensile strain in the embedded germanium nanocluster. The valance band and conduction band electron density distributions are mostly localized on the germanium cluster, different from silicon clusters. Particle size dependence of bandgap, i.e. the quantum confinement effect, has been observed in the embedded systems. The germanium/silica interfacial band energies are found to be around 1 J/m 2 from DFT calculations.
Bind Us Together: Repentance, Ugandan Martyrs, and Christian Unity

Bind Us Together argues that in naming both the Anglican and Catholic Ugandans killed in the mid 1880s as “martyrs” a visible unity is implied that is useful in contemporary ecumenical theology. By recounting the story of the Ugandan martyrs told through both Catholic and Protestant sources, I am able to perform the Christian unity that I am arguing for. I also engage historical and theological obstacles to my argument. The historical obstacle is brought about by the mutual condemnation of both Catholic and Protestant martytrs by each side during the 16th century. The theological obstacle is the work of Ephraim Radner. Being indebted to Radner's understanding of repentance, I use John Paul II to overcome both of these obstacles. I conclude by discussing more explicitly the connections between the Ugandan martyrs and church unity showing that these martyrs provide Christians with language to speak intelligibly about Christian unity today.
Toward a Theory of the Informal Economy

Economic activity taking place within the informal sector—traditionally defined as activity unregulated by law but governed by custom or personal ties—represents an emerging frontier for management researchers with interests from alleviating poverty at the bottom of the economic pyramid to entrepreneurship, innovation, or organizational functioning in advanced knowledge economies. A substantial portion of the world's economic activity takes place informally, with many developing nations having more than one half of their output derived from the informal sector and the advanced economies witnessing an increase in informal economic activity. I review the literature in economics, sociology, political science and public policy, and management and show that defining the informal economy proves problematic; current definitions of the informal economy fail to converge around a unitary construct. I then use these disparities in the literature to generate a model of the informal economy clear enough to foster a di...
Effects of chronic melatonin and saline injections on pituitary adrenal secretion.

Es wurde festgestellt, dass Melatonin, ein angebliches Hormon aus der Pinealis, keine spezifische Wirkung auf die Sekretion von ACTH aus dem Hypophysenvorderlappen hat.
Focus on molecules: syndecan-1.

Syndecan-1 (NP_001006947.1) is a widely expressed cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan whose molecular cloning as ‘syndecan’ (Saunders et al, ’89), later known as syndecan-1, was the springboard for the discovery of syndecans-2 through -4. Expression in the eye has been documented in corneal, limbal (GDS2433) and conjunctival epithelial cells, meibomian (GDS1361) and lacrimal (NEIBank) glands, and in retina and retinal pigmented epithelium/choroid (NEIBank). The syndecan-1 gene ‘SDC1’ consists of five exons extending over 24.6 kb in human chromosome 2. Ensembl release 57 lists thirty-four orthologues ranging from sea squirt to human. After cleavage of the signal peptide, syndecan-1 in humans is 288 amino acids long with a theoretical molecular weight and pI respectively of 30 kDa and 4.5. Migration in SDS PAGE however appears as a high molecular weight smear because glycosylation is extensive with substitution by as many as three heparan sulfate and two chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans (Fig. 1). Heparan sulfate polymerization is initiated on serines 37 (15* [*after signal peptide cleavage]), 45 (23*) and 47 (25*) within the respective amino terminal core protein sequences DGSGD and NFSGSGA. Chondroitin sulfate can be substituted on serines 207 (185*; EGSGE) and 217 (195*; ETSGE) in proximity with the ectodomain cleavage site RKE and the adjacent transmembrane domain. One N-linked glycosylation site is predicted on asparagine 43 (22*; NFSG; NetNGlyc 1.0). NetOGlyc 3.1 reveals 33 potential sites of O-glycosylation most between between amino acids 68 (46*) and 180 (158*) (Fig. 1). The human core protein sequence is subject to some variation with four known nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms: proline 19 to leucine within the signal peptide, threonine 75 (53*) to methionine, leucine 136 (114*) to glutamine, and glycine 259 (237*) to valine (Fig. 1). Variation is also introduced at the level of alternative splicing. Variant transcripts code for mature core proteins of 169, 215 and 288 amino acids, the latter translated as the wild type
Nano-engineered surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with patterned structures on the distal end of optical fibers

This paper describes the development of fiber optic sensor probes and planar substrates containing patterned nanostructures such as nanoholes in gold films, as well as gold nanoparticles, nano-pillars, nanorods, and nano-islands. Several methods of producing gold nanofeatures on fiber tips and planar substrates were investigated such as annealing of thin gold films and focused ion beam (FIB) milling. A Hitachi FB-2100 FIB milling machine with a gallium ion source was employed to form the nanoparticles from 20-100 nm gold films deposited on the fiber tip. Nano-engineered gold features were also formed by coating planar substrates and fiber tips with thin gold films (4-10 nm) and annealing these thin films. Excitation of surface plasmons in gold nanostructures leads to substantial enhancement in the Raman scattering signal obtained from molecules attached to the nanostructure surface. In this work, a comparison was made between the SERS signals obtained from the gold substrates developed by employing the different procedures mentioned above. Fiber samples and planar substrates with these nanostructures were coated with SERS active dyes such as pmercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA) and cresyl fast violet (CFV). It was observed that the SERS signal obtained from these gold nanofeatures was much higher than that obtained from a continuous gold film and that the SERS enhancement was shape and size dependent.
Kaizen Events: Assessing the Existing Literature and Convergence of Practices

Abstract:With the increasing popularity of Kaizen events as a process improvement initiative, the amount of Kaizen event literature has also increased. This article includes a systematic literature review of the Kaizen event body of knowledge, assessing the quality of the literature and synthesizing the literature to find convergent, variant, and divergent practices. The findings indicate that the literature is dominated by trade press and industry case works, with a growing number of academic publications. Several identified themes from the data synthesis were convergent, e.g., the importance of team member authority/autonomy and having a well-defined problem scope, while others were divergent, e.g., the level of functional and hierarchical heterogeneity and Kaizen event deployment. In order to advance the Kaizen event body of knowledge, future research should include more systematic academic investigations and theory-testing works, particularly of these divergent findings.
Androgen and Progestin Stimulation of Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity in the Mouse Kidney

This study was designed to characterize mouse kidney ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity as an androgenic end point and to use ODC activity to detect an androgenic effect of antiandrogens. Enzyme activity was not affected by freezing the whole kidney or the 15,000 X g supernatant for up to 7 days. ODC activity in female mice had a diurnal variation that peaked at midday. This diurnal variation did not affect the androgenic response of ODC. Enzyme activity was lower in females than in males and, in both sexes, could be induced further to similar levels with testosterone treatment. A single dose of crystalline testosterone induced a marked increase in activity, which peaked sharply, up to 100-fold above baseline, 12-17 h after treatment. Enzyme activity could be maintained with continued treatment for at least 28 days and reached levels up to 1,000-fold above baseline. The response was specific for androgens and required a functional androgen receptor. Other hormones had permissive effects. The early androgen-stimulated response (less than 24 h) was partially diminished by hypophysectomy. Propylthiouracil reduced both early and chronic responses. Genetic factors were also involved. The testosterone-stimulated response of C57BL/6J mice was consistently approximately half that of DBA/2J mice. Using this very specific and sensitive increase in ODC activity as an end point, we did not detect an androgenic response to treatment with the antiandrogens, cyproterone acetate (6-chloro - 17 alpha - acetoxyl - 1,2 alpha - methylene - 4,6- pregnadiene- 3,20-dione) and flutamide (4'-nitro-3'-trifluoromethylisobutyranilide), despite an increase in RNA polymerase activity. The functionality of the polymerase activity induced by antiandrogens thus remains in question. These data suggest that mouse renal ODC activity can be a useful tool for future study of androgen action at the physiological and molecular level.
PS224. Mouse Arteriovenous Fistula Recapitulates the Course of Human Fistula Maturation

Methods: The 2-hour and 24-hour attachment of Staphylococcus aureus TCH1516 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01-UW was determined on polytetrafluoroethylene, Dacron, nitinol, cobalt chromium, and Viabahn endoprosthesis. Individually and in combination, concentrations at 104, 105, 106, 107, and 108 were tested on 2-mm sections of each graft. After each time interval, the prosthetics were rinsed to remove nonattached bacteria, sonicated to release the attached bacteria, spiral plated, and then analyzed for the attached concentration. Results: After 2 hours, there was a significant difference in the median attachment rates on Dacron (14%) compared with nitinol (2.1%), cobalt (1.4%), and Viabahn (0.73%) across all bacterial combinations (P < .05). Pseudomonas aeruginosa achieved the greatest attachment at most concentrations, regardless of the material. At the 24-hour mark, the median attachment for each concentration was greater than the highest initial concentration (108), with nitinol and cobalt having a statistically significant lower attachment (P < .05). Conclusions: Initial attachment is consistently poor, regardless of inoculation concentration, but greater on the synthetic grafts compared with metal stents. However, after 24 hours in a nutrient-poor environment, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are still able to achieve full attachment throughout.
Effect of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors on Global and Regional Cortical Thickness

Global and regional cortical thicknesses based on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images acquired at 1.5 T and 3 T were measured on a relatively large cohort of 295 subjects using FreeSurfer software. Multivariate regression analysis was performed using Pillai's trace test to determine significant differences in cortical thicknesses measured at these two field strengths. Our results indicate that global cortical thickness is not affected by the field strength or gender. In contrast, the regional cortical thickness was observed to be field dependent. Specifically, the cortical thickness in regions such as parahippocampal, superior temporal, precentral and posterior cingulate is thicker at 3 T than at 1.5 T. In contrast regions such as cuneus and pericalcarine showed higher cortical thickness at 1.5 T than at 3 T. These differences appear to be age-dependent. The differences in regional cortical thickness between field strengths were similar in both genders. Further, male vs. female differences in regional cortical thickness were observed only at 1.5 T and not at 3 T. Our results indicate that magnetic field strength has a significant effect on the estimation of regional, but not global, cortical thickness. In addition, the pulse sequence, scanner type, and spatial resolution do not appear to have significant effect on the measured cortical thickness.
Radiation protection and dosimetry: an introduction to health physics

to Health Physics.- Scientific Fundamentals.- Radioactive Atoms-Nature and Behavior.- Interaction of Radiation with Matter.- Quantities and Units in Radiation Protection.- Biological Effects of Radiation.- The Basis for Regulation of Radiation Exposure.- Health Physics Instrumentation.- External Dose Assessment.- Internal Dose Assessment.- Radiation Protection Practice/Evaluation.- Environmental Monitoring for Radiation.- Nonionizing Radiation.
Behavioural ecology of the Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)

The Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, has declined in numbers in many areas in recent years probably as the result of over-killing and habitat alteration. In the 544 km2 Royal Chitawan National Park in the Nepal terai, we estimated there were a minimum of 55 bears or a crude density of 0˙1/km2. During peak concentrations in the lowlying riverine forest/tall grass habitat in March, the ecological density was 0˙5/km2. Cubs still with their mothers comprised 24 % of the 161 bears classified between December 1972 and November 1975. Females comprised 48% of the adults classified. Average size of 24 litters was 1˙6 (1–2). Seventy-two per cent of the observations were of lone individuals. Three (an adult female with two cubs), was the largest group of bears seen. The only extended social group observed was the female-young unit although newly independent siblings may remain together for a short time. Maternal relations, adult interactions, tree marking, ranging, feeding and anti-predatory behaviour are described. Examination of 139 droppings showed that these bears fed on at least 17 different fruits (47% occurrence), flowers, grass, honey, and six different insects (52% occurrence). Fruits were an important food from March to June with individual species predominating throughout their fruiting season. Termites, including Odontotermes obesus, were in the diet for most of the year. The Sloth bear was not observed preying on mammals and according to other observers, only rarely feeds on carrion. The ecological basis for selected aspects of Sloth bear biology and behaviour is discussed.
Phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type ii and the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (ampa) receptor in response to a threonine-devoid diet

Abstract The anterior piriform cortex (APC) functions as a chemosensor for indispensable amino acid deficiency and responds to this deficiency with increased activity, as indicated by observations including averaged evoked-potentials and c- fos expression in the APC. Little is known of the intracellular signaling mechanisms that mediate this deficiency-related increase in neuronal excitability, but previous studies have shown effects on intracellular Ca 2+ in deficient APC slices in vitro . In the present study we hypothesized that indispensable amino acid deficiency increases intraneuronal Ca 2+ , resulting in autophosphorylation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII) in vivo . Results demonstrated that phosphorylation levels of CaMKII (pCaMKII) in APC neurons increased at 20 and 40 min after a single meal of threonine-devoid diet. Phosphorylation of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor subunit (GluR1) at the serine 831 (S831) site was modestly increased in the APC in response to a threonine-devoid meal. The GluR1 subunit also showed increased phosphorylation at the 845 (S845) site, suggesting additional signaling mechanisms. Although phosphorylation of CaMKII was sustained, phosphorylation of the GluR1 subunit returned to control levels by 40 min. These effects of amino acid deficiency did not occur throughout the brain as neither CaMKII nor GluR1 showed increased phosphorylation in the neocortex. These findings support the notion that calcium and glutamate signaling in the APC, but not throughout the brain, are triggered during early responses to amino acid deficiency. They also suggest that longer-term changes in APC neurons in response to such a deficiency may be mediated at least in part by CaMKII.
STUDIES ON THE OXIDATION AND REDUCTION OF IMMUNOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES : IX. THE ERYTHROCYTE-COMBINING PROPERTY OF PNEUMOCOCCUS HEMOTOXIN.

The investigation dealt particularly with the combination of pneumococcus hemotoxin with red blood cells. The reduced or hemolytically active form of the hemotoxin was known to possess the property of erythrocyte combination. The results obtained in this study indicate that the hemolytically inactive, reversibly oxidized form exists in two different modifications; one retains the property of erythrocyte combination while the other lacks this property. The influence of the combining property of the hemotoxin upon the mechanism of hemolysis and upon the inhibition of the hemolytic reaction was also investigated.
Spin-free quantum chemistry. XV. Spin-only neutron diffraction

The cross section for elastic neutron diffraction is analyzed for the spin-only case, in which the orbital contributions to the magnetic moment density are negligible. For systems specified by spin-free Hamiltonians, we show that the magnetic moment density is calculated from the unpaired electron density, a spin-free quantity, which is equivalent to the spin density. The computation of the unpaired electron density is outlined and examples are discussed. The scattering cross section for an infinite interaction range Heisenberg model exhibits a temperature dependence which parallels that of the spontaneous magnetization. With a knowledge of the unpaired electron density one may determine the magnetic space group symmetry.
The signaling adaptors and pathways activated by TNF superfamily

Members of the TNF receptor superfamily play pivotal roles in numerous biological events in metazoan organisms. Ligand-mediated trimerization by corresponding homo- or heterotrimeric ligands, the TNF family ligands, causes recruitment of several intracellular adaptors, which activate multiple signal transduction pathways. While recruitment of death domain (DD) containing adaptors such as Fas associated death domain (FADD) and TNFR associated DD (TRADD) can lead to the activation of a signal transduction pathway that induces apoptosis, recruitment of TRAF family proteins can lead to the activation of transcription factors such as, NF-kappaB and JNK thereby promoting cell survival and differentiation as well as immune and inflammatory responses. Individual TNF receptors are expressed in different cell types and have a range of affinities for various intracellular adaptors, which provide tremendous signaling and biological specificities. In addition, numerous signaling modulators are involved in regulating activities of signal transduction pathways downstream of receptors in this superfamily. Most of the TNF receptor superfamily members as well as many of their signaling mediators, have been uncovered in the last two decades. However, much remains unknown about how individual signal transduction pathways are regulated upon activation by any particular TNF receptor, under physiological conditions.
Developmental Issues in Social Work Research

A fundamental issue normally addressed in assessing the capability for research development within practice professions is the availability of funding for both individuals and institutions. However, the issues discussed in this paper also require systematic attention if we are to realize the benefits that can come from the combination of a professional practice perspective and research cornpetence that social work practitioner- -researchers can contribute to research issues in mental health.
Human face identification from video based on frequency domain asymmetry representation using hidden markov models

In this paper we introduce a novel human face identification scheme from video data based on a frequency domain representation of facial asymmetry. A Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is used to learn the temporal dynamics of the training video sequences of each subject and classification of the test video sequences is performed using the likelihood scores obtained from the HMMs. We apply this method to a video database containing 55 subjects showing extreme expression variations and demonstrate that the HMM-based method performs much better than identification based on the still images using an Individual PCA (IPCA) classifier, achieving more than 30% improvement.
Value of Transition Zone Biopsy in Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer

Purpose: For patients on active surveillance there are limited data on transition zone sampling upon followup biopsy. We verified the value of transition zone biopsy in the active surveillance setting.Materials and Methods: Our study included 1,059 sets of prostate biopsies from a total of 534 patients on active surveillance at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Each set comprised at least 14 cores with 2 or more from the transition zone. Of these men 53 underwent radical prostatectomy.Results: Patients with tumors in the peripheral zone as well as the transition zone had a higher maximum Gleason score and an increased maximum percent of cancer per core than men with tumor in the peripheral or transition zone only. In 12 of the 534 patients (2.2%) the tumor on active surveillance biopsy was limited to transition zone core(s). Of the 534 patients 11 (2.1%) had tumor with a high Gleason score (greater than 6) or extensive involvement (greater than 50%) of any core exclusively on transition zone biopsy. However, in...
Causes and consequences of variation in energy storage in Drosophila melanogaster.

Variation in energy storage pools has as a proximate cause variation in rates of influx and efflux from the pools, and it may, as an ultimate consequence, result in variation in fitness. The possibility of this chain of causal links motivates attempts to quantify the genetic correlations among pool sizes, enzyme activities and fitness components. In this report, homogenates from 83 second chromosome replacement lines of Drosophila melanogaster were analyzed to determine the amounts of stored triacylglycerols and glycogen as well as the activities of 11 enzymes in relevant metabolic pathways. The viabilities and fecundities of these same lines were determined by a segregation test using the SM5 balancer chromosome. Analysis of covariance revealed significant differences among lines in quantities of stored triacylglycerols and glycogen, as well as in activities of the assayed enzymes. Significant broad-sense genetic correlations were detected for a number of enzyme pairs. Some of the traits showed a significant correlation with viability and fecundity, including lipid and glycogen storage. Multiple regression models that fitted fitness components to linear and quadratic functions of the biochemical traits yielded highly significant fits. The partial regression coefficients indicate the shape of the selection gradient, and instances of significant directional and stabilizing selection were detected.
Optimal Sequential Exploration: Bandits, Clairvoyants, and Wildcats

This paper was motivated by the problem of developing an optimal policy for exploring an oil and gas field in the North Sea. Where should we drill first? Where do we drill next? In this and many other problems, we face a trade-off between earning (e.g., drilling immediately at the sites with maximal expected values) and learning (e.g., drilling at sites that provide valuable information) that may lead to greater earnings in the future. These “sequential exploration problems” resemble a multiarmed bandit problem, but probabilistic dependence plays a key role: outcomes at drilled sites reveal information about neighboring targets. Good exploration policies will take advantage of this information as it is revealed. We develop heuristic policies for sequential exploration problems and complement these heuristics with upper bounds on the performance of an optimal policy. We begin by grouping the targets into clusters of manageable size. The heuristics are derived from a model that treats these clusters as independent. The upper bounds are given by assuming each cluster has perfect information about the results from all other clusters. The analysis relies heavily on results for bandit superprocesses, a generalization of the multiarmed bandit problem. We evaluate the heuristics and bounds using Monte Carlo simulation and, in the North Sea example, we find that the heuristic policies are nearly optimal. Subject classifications: dynamic programming; multiarmed bandits; bandit superprocesses; information relaxations. Area of review: Decision Analysis.
Integration of omics sciences to advance biology and medicine

In the past two decades, our ability to study cellular and molecular systems has been transformed through the development of omics sciences. While unlimited potential lies within massive omics datasets, the success of omics sciences to further our understanding of human disease and/or translating these findings to clinical utility remains elusive due to a number of factors. A significant limiting factor is the integration of different omics datasets (i.e., integromics) for extraction of biological and clinical insights. To this end, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) organized a joint workshop in June 2012 with the focus on integration issues related to multi-omics technologies that needed to be resolved in order to realize the full utility of integrating omics datasets by providing a glimpse into the disease as an integrated “system”. The overarching goals were to (1) identify challenges and roadblocks in omics integration, and (2) facilitate the full maturation of ‘integromics’ in biology and medicine. Participants reached a consensus on the most significant barriers for integrating omics sciences and provided recommendations on viable approaches to overcome each of these barriers within the areas of technology, bioinformatics and clinical medicine.
A numerical model for methane production in managed sanitary landfills

A mathematical model for the production and transport of biogenic gases in a landfill is developed based on earlier work on the Mountain View Landfill Project in California. The present model incorporates biokinetic model equations for the microbial landfill ecosystems dynamics in a multi-layer, time-dependent gas flow and production model. It is based on first principles of the physics, chemistry, and microbiological processes controlling the production and transport of biogenic gases in a porous media context such as a landfill. The model includes chemical/biokinetic feedback loops for chemical parameter influence on microbiological rate processes. The resulting integrated biokinetic/gas transport model is based on the first principles governing the biokinetics of municipal landfill environment, and the physics of gas-migration. The model was calibrated and verified using approximately 4 years of methane production data from the Mountain View Controlled Landfill Project. Hydrolysis rate appears to be the most sensitive parameter controlling gas generation production. The model can be used to predict the rate and total production of methane in a landfill.
Using a hypothetical scenario to inform psychiatric advance directives.

Objectives: The study addressed whether a hypothetical psychiatric scenario is a feasible approach for eliciting psychiatric treatment preferences and identified consumer preferences regarding involuntary care. Methods: Community-residing adults with serious mental illness (N=150) voluntarily completed the Health Care Preferences Questionnaire to determine treatment preferences in response to the use of psychiatric medications, seclusion and restraint, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A vignette was used to determine preferences first with respect to an imaginary patient and then with respect to the respondent. Results: Few participants were distressed by the psychiatric scenario (7%). In regard to their own care, in an emergency most participants supported the use of involuntary treatments (medications, 70%; medication injection, 76%; and seclusion and restraint, 73%), with the exception of ECT (quick treatment, 32%; if life is in danger, 60%). Participants were less likely to support treatments for themselves than for an imaginary patient. The majority (65%) identified specific medication preferences. Conclusions: Scenarios about the state of medical and psychiatric health are a feasible method of identifying treatment preferences. They are well tolerated and may serve as a model for assisting persons with serious mental illness in considering difficult treatment decisions. (Psychiatric Services 58:1467–1471, 2007)
AN APPROACH FOR CALCULATING A CONFIDENCE INTERVAL FROM A SINGLE AQUATIC SAMPLE FOR MONITORING HYDROPHOBIC ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

The use of passive sampling devices (PSDs) for monitoring hydrophobic organic contaminants in aquatic environments can entail logistical constraints that often limit a comprehensive statistical sampling plan, thus resulting in a restricted number of samples. The present study demonstrates an approach for using the results of a pilot study designed to estimate sampling variability, which in turn can be used as variance estimates for confidence intervals for future n = 1 PSD samples of the same aquatic system. Sets of three to five PSDs were deployed in the Portland Harbor Superfund site for three sampling periods over the course of two years. The PSD filters were extracted and, as a composite sample, analyzed for 33 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds. The between-sample and within-sample variances were calculated to characterize sources of variability in the environment and sampling methodology. A method for calculating a statistically reliable and defensible confidence interval for the mean of a single aquatic passive sampler observation (i.e., n = 1) using an estimate of sample variance derived from a pilot study is presented. Coverage probabilities are explored over a range of variance values using a Monte Carlo simulation.
The Economic and Social Impact of Big Box Retailers: Discussion

Now Big Box retailers such as Wal-Mart are challenging not only local "mom and pop" retailers but national corporate retail firms such as Sears, JC Penny, A&P Supermarkets, and others. Just like the corporate retail firms did in the 1950s, Big Box Stores such as Wal-Mart have changed how America shops for commercial products, changed customer expectations of retail prices for these products, and changed the distributional structure of retail trade.
Modeling neural activity using the generalized inverse Gaussian distribution

Spike trains from neurons are often used to make inferences about the underlying processes that generate the spikes. Random walks or diffusions are commonly used to model these processes; in such models, a spike corresponds to the first passage of the diffusion to a boundary, or firing threshold. An important first step in such a study is to fit families of densities to the trains' interspike interval histograms; the estimated parameters, and the families' goodness of fit can then provide information about the process leading to the spikes. In this paper, we propose the generalized inverse Gaussian family because its members arise as first passage time distributions of certain diffusions to a constant boundary. We provide some theoretical support for the use of these diffusions in neural firing models. We compare this family with the lognormal family, using spike trains from retinal ganglion cells of goldfish, and simulations from an integrate-and-fire and a dynamical model for generating spikes. We show that the generalized inverse Gaussian family is closer to the true model in all these cases.
Towards Destructive Software Testing

Traditional software testing checks to see if a software product meets specifications. This generally involves testing to see if the software performs all the functions called for in the software requirements specifications (SRS). In contrast, this work-in-progress paper proposes a testing paradigm that does not have this objective. The proposed testing paradigm tests to see if a software product exhibits proper behavior when subject to improper usage or improper input. For lack of a more descriptive name and in compliance with similar testing performed on hardware systems, the new paradigm is called "destructive testing". As presented in this paper, destructive testing does not replace conventional testing, rather destructive testing supplements conventional testing (calls for additional testing beyond conventional testing). The paper discusses other uses of the term "destructive testing" as applied to software systems. Conventional testing techniques are ranked based on applicability to destructive testing. Techniques of incorporating destructive testing requirements into the SRS are proposed, the need and rational for destructive testing is discussed, and ongoing and future work in destructive testing is outlined
Urban School Reform and the Strange Attractor of Low-Risk Relationships

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, school leaders in a newly decentralized school system reached out to external organizations for partnerships—a job that had previously resided in the central office. The necessity of these contacts and the quantity of newly independent schools make a unique context for studying how school leaders think and act in relation to external partnerships. Iterative interviews with 10 New Orleans public school principals reveal a range of external partnerships that can be classified into a three part taxonomy consisting of charitable relationships, technical support relationships, and feedback relationships. A discussion of low-risk relationships and the importance of utilizing feedback relationships concludes the paper.
Centralized Control of Defense Acquisition Programs: A Comparative Review of the Framework from 1987 - 2003

Abstract : In the last three years, there has been a great deal of turbulence in defense acquisition policy. This has led to confusion within the acquisition workforce over the major policy thrusts, terminology, and unobvious implications of the changes. The new acquisition framework has added complexity, with more phases and delineations of activity -- and both the number and level of decision reviews have been increased. Decision reviews are typically used as top management level control gates, and are also a feature of centralized control within a bureaucracy. Although the current stated policy is to foster an environment supporting flexibility and innovation, the new framework will cause Program Managers to devote more time and other resources managing the decision bureaucracy. Moreover, the implicit aspects of the still new model have not been fully realized, and may result in policy that actually lengthens programs and delivers yesterday's technology tomorrow -- counter to goals of rapid transformation. The framework, and its associated requirements for senior level reviews, are opposed to the rapid and evolutionary policy espoused, and are counter to appropriate management strategies for a transformational era.
Mass-Energy and the Neutron in the Early Thirties

Einstein's mass-energy relationship was not confirmed experimentally until 1933 when Bainbridge showed that the Cockcroft-Walton experiment afforded a test of it. Earlier, however, it had been used constantly in the analysis of nuclear reactions, as can be seen in those involved in the determination of the mass of the neutron. Chadwick in 1932 was convinced that the neutron mass was about 1.0067 amu (atomic mass units), indicating that the neutron was a proton-electron compound, since that figure was less than the sum of the proton and electron masses. Chadwick's value was challenged in 1933 by Lawrence, who proposed a much lower value of 1.0006 amu, and by Curie and Joliot, who proposed a much higher value of 1.011 amu.Much controversy ensued; eventually, Chadwick and Goldhaber showed in 1934 that the neutron mass was about 1.0080 amu, greater than the sum of the proton and electron masses, proving that the neutron was a new elementary particle (which could decay spontaneously), and providing conclusive experimental support for excluding electrons from the nucleus. These results remained unchanged with further refinements in the last decimal place, the entire pursuit of which provided still further vindication of Einstein's massenergy relationship.