cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Power (>300 mW) On-Chip Laser With Passively Aligned Silicon-Nitride Waveguide DBR Cavity

We demonstrate a high-power on-chip 1550-nm laser implemented by passive flip-chip integration of a curved-channel, double-pass InGaAsP/InP slab-coupled optical waveguide amplifier (SCOWA) onto a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) containing a silicon nitride (SiN) waveguide and distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) grating. The combined chip-scale SCOW external cavity laser (SCOWECL) has single mode emission with 312 mW of optical power at a drive current of 2.5 A, and exhibits a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 55 dB, peak photon conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10%, low relative-intensity noise (RIN) of ∼160 dB/Hz, and an integrated linewidth of 192 kHz. Additionally, we demonstrate a multi-wavelength SCOWECL array comprised of four SCOWAs coupled to SiN-waveguide DBR gratings. The four-element array generates 80 mW per channel when the SCOWAs are driven in parallel (1.25 A/channel) with ∼1-nm wavelength spacing centered at 1533 nm. We describe the fabrication and hybrid integration processes. The measured SCOWA-to-waveguide coupling loss is estimated to be 1.6 +/−1.0 dB which agrees well with the simulation.
Imaging of benign cervicofacial vascular anomalies and associated syndromes

Cervicofacial vascular anomalies can result in morbidity, pain, and cosmetic concerns in affected individuals. Each anomaly has its own unique natural history, treatment, and associations with unde...
Risk of Acute Liver Failure in Patients With Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Evaluation of Hy’s Law and a New Prognostic Model

Background & Aims Few studies have evaluated the ability of laboratory tests to predict risk of acute liver failure (ALF) among patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI). We aimed to develop a highly sensitive model to identify DILI patients at increased risk of ALF. We compared its performance with that of Hy's Law, which predicts severity of DILI based on levels of alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin, and validated the model in a separate sample. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 15,353 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members diagnosed with DILI from 2004 through 2010, liver aminotransferase levels above the upper limit of normal, and no pre-existing liver disease. Thirty ALF events were confirmed by medical record review. Logistic regression was used to develop prognostic models for ALF based on laboratory results measured at DILI diagnosis. External validation was performed in a sample of 76 patients with DILI at the University of Pennsylvania. Results Hy's Law identified patients that developed ALF with a high level of specificity (0.92) and negative predictive value (0.99), but low level of sensitivity (0.68) and positive predictive value (0.02). The model we developed, comprising data on platelet count and total bilirubin level, identified patients with ALF with a C statistic of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–0.96) and enabled calculation of a risk score (Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity ALF Score). We found a cut-off score that identified patients at high risk patients for ALF with a sensitivity value of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.71–0.99) and a specificity value of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.75–0.77). This cut-off score identified patients at high risk for ALF with a high level of sensitivity (0.89; 95% CI, 0.52–1.00) in the validation analysis. Conclusions Hy's Law identifies patients with DILI at high risk for ALF with low sensitivity but high specificity. We developed a model (the Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity ALF Score) based on platelet count and total bilirubin level that identifies patients at increased risk for ALF with high sensitivity.
Labyrinthine convergence on vestibular nuclear neurons using natural and electrical stimulation.

Publisher Summary In this chapter, neurons in the vestibular nuclei are examined by extracellular recording in cats with cervical cord transections, and are physiologically identified by their response to angular acceleration in the plane of the horizontal canal. They are then tested with natural and/or electrical labyrinthine stimulation. On natural stimulation of otolith receptors and the anterior and posterior canals, approximately 40% of type I and II horizontal canal neurons show no convergence at all; about 35% have convergence only from otolith receptors; about 10% from one or both vertical canals and about 10% from the otolith plus one or two canals. Tonic neurons receive convergence information about twice as often as did kinetic neurons. Sections of the brain stem vestibular commissural fibers do not alter these figures significantly. Single shock electrical stimulation of individual horizontal and anterior canal nerves and, less frequently, posterior canal nerves is performed while recording from neurons naturally responsive to horizontal canal stimulation. Unit thresholds are compared to eye movement and N 1 field thresholds. Convergence, principally determined by differences in latency, from single vertical canals is shown to take place on a minority of tonic I and II neurons, thus confirming the natural stimulation findings. No electrical stimulation is performed on the otolith receptors, those receptors that show the most frequent convergence on natural stimulation.
Culture, autonomy, and personal jurisdiction in adolescent-parent relationships.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the interplay between autonomy and authority as conceptualized in the research and theorizing in cultural and developmental psychology. It provides a description of several divergent perspectives on the role of culture in development. Research suggests that researchers need to treat individuals'’ orientations toward autonomy and authority as heterogeneous within cultures rather than considering individuals to have homogeneous orientations that vary across cultures. This claim is elaborated by considering the findings from several different lines of research. The chapter also discusses research on adolescent-parent conflict. A theoretical perspective for understanding adolescents'’ and parents'’ divergent views of conflict is presented, and research examining adolescents'’ and parents'’ interpretations of conflict using diverse samples of adolescents and parents is discussed. The investigations that have examined children's and parents'’ beliefs about autonomy and authority and related to broader developmental and cultural concerns with these issues are reviewed. The chapter concludes with an examination of current conceptualizations of autonomy drawn from culture theories and research on adolescent development.
Feasibility of Gunshot Residue Detection Via Its Organic Constituents. Part II: A Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method

This is the second in a series of publications to examine the feasibility of tests for gunshot residue based on volatile or volatilizable organic constituents (VOC), either present in the original smokeless powder formulation or produced during firing.
Baryons and Mesons with Beauty

Recent experimental findings of several mesons and baryons with "beauty" and "charm" as flavors remind us of the days when strangeness was discovered, and how its inclusion led to SU(3)-flavor symmetry with enormous success in the classification of the "proliferated" states into SU(3) multiplets. One of the key elements was the successful application of the first order perturbation in symmetry breaking, albeit what then appeared to be huge mass differences, and the prediction of new states that were confirmed by experiments. In this note, we venture into the past and, applying the same techniques, predict some new "beauty-" and "charm-" flavored hadrons. If these new states are confirmed experimentally, it may provide a useful phenomenological model for classifying numerous states that are found to be in the PDG data and could invite further theoretical challenges towards our understanding of symmetry breaking.
A call to action and evolution.

Dr. Wattana and Dr. Todd's case study illustrates how Press Ganey and other such surveys may influence physicians to “please” patients. Pleasing patients is rewarded with higher patient satisfaction ratings that reflect favorably upon the physician, the department, and the hospital. Ms. Cowan notes that the problem lies in the surveys themselves: the surveys promote an assumption that patient satisfaction is an index of physician competence . Competent doctors practicing good medicine may receive poor Press Ganey satisfaction ratings because they are practicing good pain medicine. In the ED and often in broader pain medicine, Press Ganey ratings are virtually meaningless because the metric …
The Role of Twinning in Brittle Fracture Of Ti-Aluminides

The important roles of (111)[11 2 ] twinning in cleavage fracture of single-phase γ-TiAl and TiAl 3 are assessed on the basis of theoretically calculated elastic constants, shear fault energies, and cleavage energies. The importance of elastic anisotropy in both homogeneous twin nucleation theory and dislocation models for twin nucleation is emphasized. The twin-slip conjugate relationship makes an important contribution to the strain compatibility for localized plasticity at a crack tip of Mode-I type. The intrinsic brittleness of these aluminides is attributed to a combined effect of the low mobility of slip and twin dislocations and the relatively low cleavage strength. The effect of the resolved normal stress on the twin plane is to enhance twinning activity at a (110) crack tip, leading to transformation toughening of shear type.
DENDRITIC GROWTH DURING LIQUID TO SOLID PHASE TRANSITIONS

Some of the current controversial interpretations of dendritic growth data, including the recent space shuttle experimental data, have been reviewed here. Theoretical estimates of the tip temperatures of high purity succinonitrile dendrites, based on the space shuttle growth data, suggest a heretofore unsuspected influence of dendritic sidebranching effects on the tip itself. This has been neglected in all of the current theoretical analyses of dendritic growth. A simple method of investigating dendritic sidebranching effects is also described here.
Unconventional First Days: Encouraging Students To Wonder about Social Life and Learning.

THE FIRST DAY Of a college course is important. Some sociologists advise teachers to see the first class as a meeting of "strangers in a strange land" (Goldsmid and Wilson 1980:160). These strangers will "develop a definition of the situation as they perceive each other" (Dorn 1987:61). Students may quickly create impressions of their college professors and courses (Ambady and Rosenthal 1993). Their early impressions may significantly color their experiences throughout the semester (Ambady and Rosenthal 1992; Dorn 1987:62-3). Consequently, sociologists advise professors how to conduct the first class. Their reasonable advice, however, may confirm students' expectations about first meetings and courses instead of challenging them. I discuss one unconventional first day and a modification of it intended both to encourage students to wonder about social life and to challenge their expectations about learning. Unconventional first days can intrigue students and put into practice how they will explore social life throughout the semester.
Complexity, land-use modeling, and the human dimension: Fundamental challenges for mapping unknown outcome spaces

Abstract Land-use systems are characterized by complex interactions between human decision-makers and their biophysical environment. Mismatches between the scale of human drivers and the impacts of human decisions potentially threaten the ecological sustainability of these systems. This article reviews sources of complexity in land-use systems, moving from the human decision level to human interactions to effects over space, time and scale. Selected challenges in modeling such systems and potential resolutions are discussed, including strategies to empiricize complex models and methods for linking models across human and natural systems. Illustrative examples from published literature and an ongoing research project focused on timber harvest and carbon sequestration are used throughout the paper. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of remaining challenges to modeling indirect and cross-scale linkages and of the potential utility of complex models of land systems.
Is it More Difficult to Cannulate the Right Internal Jugular Vein in Morbidly Obese Patients than in Nonobese Patients

Background The placement of an internal jugular vein (IJV) catheter is considered to be more difficult in morbidly obese patients. The objective of this study was to compare the success of simulated IJV puncture between morbidly obese patients and a nonobese control group.
Medical Illness and Comorbidities in Drug Users: Implications for Addiction Pharmacotherapy Treatment

Providing effective medical care to those with substance use disorders can be a challenge to clinicians. In this article, we briefly summarize issues that occur frequently in the medical treatment of substance users. The focus of this article is twofold. The first is to briefly summarize common co-occurring medical illnesses in those manifesting substance use disorders with an emphasis on issues related to providing effective treatment for these diseases in this population. Using specific examples of frequently occurring comorbid medical illness in substance users, including infectious diseases (hepatitis C and HIV disease), sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy as examples, the complexities of medical care for this population is demonstrated. Second, this article addresses some of the difficulties encountered in pharmacotherapy aimed specifically at treatment of substance use disorders. For example, difficulties in managing concomitant opiate therapy in those requiring medications for medical illness that may have strong and adverse interactions with opiates are addressed. Adverse events reported for some substance use disorder pharmacotherapies are also highlighted. We conclude with a brief review of models of care that have been effective in addressing the needs of this challenging population that can provide additional means for enhancing the clinical care of substance users.
Protonated High Energy Density Materials: N4 Tetrahedron and N8 Octahedron

Previous theoretical studies have demonstrated that tetrahedral N4 should be an extraordinarily effective high energy density material. But this species has thus far resisted laboratory efforts directed to its synthesis. Ab initio electronic structure methods have been used to examine the Td N4 and Oh N8 nitrogen clusters, including their protonated forms. We have optimized geometries using DZP, TZ2P, and TZ2P(f,d) basis sets with the Hartree−Fock self-consistent-field (SCF) method, second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), single and double excitation configuration interaction (CISD), coupled-cluster (CCSD and CCSD(T)) methods, and three DFT/Hartree−Fock hybrid (B3LYP, B3P86, BHLYP) methods. Harmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities have been obtained at the SCF, MP2, B3LYP, B3P86, and BHLYP levels of theory. The vertex protonated Oh N8 and Td N4 structures are found to represent minima on their respective potential energy surfaces. The bond protonated Td N4 molecule was dete...
Google, Profiling, and Privacy

Antitrust questions put a useful spotlight on the privacy issues of online profiling by those who sell advertising on the Web. These questions apply not just to Google but to any site that uses personal information and behavior data to develop and use individual users' profiles. But simply assuring advertisers a fair marketplace won't be sufficient to guarantee user privacy. We know that many users are willing to give up some privacy protection for short-term convenience, but we shouldn't conclude from these chokes that privacy means the sum total of whatever people end up choosing.
Unstable states produced in multiparticle reactions

Abstract Normalized wavefunctions for unstable-particle states are constructed to meet the following physically plausible specifications. The wavefunctions of such states should enter into the theoretical production cross section in the same manner as the boundstate wavefunctions of stable particles. The cross section for the production of an unstable particle should be equal to the breakup cross section integrated over the resonance minus the background. For this purpose the multiparticle reaction cross section is brought into a form such that final-state resonances and interference corrections can be exhibited explicitly. The present theory is limited to unstable particles that decay into one or several two-body channels. For heuristic purposes, rearrangement and breakup scattering for three simple particles is treated numerically. For two particles interacting via a local potential, the wavefunction of the unstable state and the scattering phase shifts are computed with a simple algebraic technique. In order to treat complex multiparticle systems, we extend the resonance theory of simple two-particle systems to resonances in multiparticle two-body channels.
Development of Story Characters in Gender-Stereotypic and -Nonstereotypic Occupational Roles

This research examined the creative writing responses of 140 third- and sixth-grade boy and girl writers to story characters cast in either stereotypic (male mechanic and female nurse) or nonstereotypic (female mechanic and male nurse) occupational roles. The 560 stories were examined for maintenance of character in assigned occupational role, development of character along gender-stereotypic and -nonstereotypic lines, and evidence of gender change in the lead character. Results suggested that development of character was consistent with gender expectations for the lead character in the stereotypic stories and in the nonstereotypic female mechanic story. For the nonstereotypic male nurse story, the development of character was consistent with the author's gender. Further evidence of stereotypic thinking occurred in those nonstereotypic stories where the lead character's gender was changed to be consistent with the stereotype of the occupational role. These findings support previous research on gender diff...
Selecting the best system: a decision-theoretic approach

The problem of selecting the best system from a nite set of alternatives is considered from a Bayesian decision-theoretic perspective. The framework presented is quite general, and permits selection from two or more systems, with replications that use either independent or common random numbers, with unknown mean and covariance for the output, and permits Gaussian or non-Gaussian simulation output. For the case of unknown means and variance with common random numbers, the framework provides a probability of correct selection that does not suer from problems associated with the Bonferroni inequality. We indicate some criteria for which the Bayesian approach and other approaches are in general agreement, or disagreement. The probability of correct selection can be calculated either by quadrature or by Monte Carlo simulation from the posterior distribution of the parameters of the statistical distribution of the simulation output. We also comment on expected-value decision-making versus optimization criteria based on other functionals of the distribution of the output.
Increasing the odds of successful growth: the critical prelude to moving “beyond the core”

Adjacency judgments – which, if any, related businesses should your firm expand into – are among the most difficult and critical decisions senior executives face as they search for sources of sustained and profitable growth. These determinations can make or break a company. The key is in understanding how to systematically boost your odds of success by moving into territories at the fringes of your core business. “How” begins with an in‐depth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of your core. For companies in leadership positions, the chances for adjacency success are nearly three times higher than for followers. But for distant followers, adjacencies are almost never the answer. Rather, their perilous route to success comes from three strategies: shrinking to grow around a smaller, stronger core; consolidating with another competitor to build scale; or coming out with a breakthrough product. The cases show examples of strategies for a range of core business situations.
Should we adopt micro-interintimal dissection: a novel and worthwhile advance in carotid surgery technique, but does it prevent restenosis and early neurological deficits?

therosclerotic cervical carotid artery disease is a significant contributor to the annual incidence of ischemic A stroke, which remains a leading cause of death, and was responsible for almost 130,000 fatalities in the United States in 2011 alone (14). A recent meta-analysis suggests that the prevalence of moderate and severe carotid stenosis (>50% luminal stenosis) is relatively common (6). Almost two decades ago, the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study and the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial defined the 5-year cumulative risk of ipsilateral ischemic stroke among asymptomatic patients with more than 60% stenosis to be as high as 12% (8, 12). Among the symptomatic patient population—defined as those patients who have previously experienced a hemispheric transient ischemic attack, nondisabling stoke, or amaurosis fugax—the cumulative risk of ipsilateral ischemic stroke within 3e5 years of diagnosis was even higher, approximately 20%e25%, if the degree of luminal stenosis was greater than 70% (9, 19).
Lipid Phase Perturbations and the Unfolded Protein Response

Recent studies of the consequences of ganglioside accumulation in lysosomal storage disease and free cholesterol accumulation in cell membranes in atherosclerosis suggest an unexpected link between perturbation of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane's lipid phase, induction of the unfolded protein response, and cell death.
Gaussian Curvature in Propagation Problems in Physics and Engineering

The computation of the Gaussian curvature of a surface is a requirement in many propagation problems in physics and engineering. A formula is developed for the calculation of the Gaussian curvature by knowledge of two close geodesics on the surface, or alternatively from the projection (i.e., image) of such geodesics. The formula will be very useful for problems in general relativity, civil engineering, and robotic navigation.
Regret aversion and opportunity dependence

This paper provides an axiomatic model of decision making under uncertainty in which the decision maker is driven by anticipated ex post regrets. Our model allows both regret aversion and likelihood judgement over states to coexist. Also, we characterize two special cases, minimax regret with multiple priors that generalizes Savage's minimax regret, and a smooth model of regret aversion.
Molecular ultrasound imaging using a novel tumor-bearing animal model with variable target receptor expression

Molecular ultrasound (US) imaging of overexpressed endothelial receptors has been shown to increase tumor visualization within a region-of-interest and is of particular interest in cancer research. This study used an in vivo animal model system for evaluating targeted microbubble (MB) contrast agents. 2LMP breast cancer-bearing mice (N = 6) expressed varying intratumoral levels of the target hemagglutinin (HA) receptor through adenoviral (Ad) vector modulation. Animals were administered a “low” and then a “high” Ad vector dose following initial US imaging. Anti-HA antibody-labeled or control MBs were prepared and molecular US imaging was performed 24 hours after Ad vector infection using a SONIX Tablet ultrasound system (Ultrasonix Medical Corp). Custom Matlab programs were developed to evaluate US image intensity from data collected using a MB destruction-replenishment technique. Results showed intratumoral enhancement due to targeted MB accumulation was significantly increased in the “high” Ad vector dosed animals compared to the same animals administered a “low” Ad vector dose (P = 0.001). Control MBs showed no significant differences between imaging days (P = 0.96). Additionally, targeted MBs on average produced a 10.5-fold increase in intratumoral image intensity for the “low” HA receptor group and an 18.8-fold increase in image intensity for the “high” HA receptor group compared to control MBs.
A similarity solution for steady-state gravitational circulation in fjords

Abstract Stratified estuaries with relatively deep, laterally constricted basins are commonly referred to as fjords. The dominant circulation mode in fjords which receive ample fresh-water runoff is gravitational convection, which takes place primarily near the surface in a brackish phase with one or two current reversals. This paper is concerned with an analysis of steady-state gravitational circulation in the near-surface zone. Approximate analytic expressions are obtained for the velocity components and the density distribution in a fjord segment where conditions for a similarity analysis are satisfied. The method is illustrated by applications to Hood Canal and the central basin of Puget Sound, Washington, and to Knight Inlet on the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. Comparisons of measured and computed salinity and velocity profiles indicate that the circulation patterns are reasonably well represented by the approximate solutions. The flow description given here may be of some use in studies of pollutant dispersal and biological production in fjords.
Maternal Avoidant Coping Mediates the Effect of Parenting Stress on Depressive Symptoms during Early Adolescence

We examined maternal avoidant coping as a mediator between maternal parenting stress and maternal depressive symptoms during early adolescence. Three years of self-report data were collected from 173 mothers, beginning when mothers’ adolescents were in 6th grade and aged 11–13 years. Utilizing longitudinal path analysis, results indicated that avoidant coping at time two mediated the association between parenting stress at time one and depressive symptoms at time three. Additionally, the reverse direction of effects was examined, revealing that the relation between parenting stress and avoidant coping was unidirectional, while the relation between avoidant coping and depressive symptoms was bidirectional. Our results suggest that during early adolescence, mothers who experience more stress in the parenting role are more likely to engage in higher levels of avoidant coping when faced with parenting problems. In turn, a mother’s long-term avoidant reactions to parenting problems may predict increases in depressive symptoms. Moreover, our findings of a bidirectional relation between avoidant coping and depressive symptoms suggest that prior levels of depression might serve as a barrier to efficient and effective coping. The present study may inform preventive intervention efforts aimed at decreasing the use of avoidance in response to parenting stressors by increasing adaptive parental coping with stressors, and providing appropriate support and resources for parents.
Base‐hydrolyzed starch‐polyacrylonitrile (S‐PAN) graft copolymer. S‐PAN‐1:1, PAN M.W. 794,000

Starch-polyacrylonitrile (S-PAN) graft copolymer consisting of one part starch and one part polyacrylonitrile (M. W. 794,000) was hydrolyzed with aqueous KOH at 80 and 100°C to polyelectrolytes containing carboxyl and amide functionality but void of infrared-detectable amounts of nitrile. Viscosities of potassium salts of the polyelectrolytes in water were pH dependent with peak viscosities at 8.5. These dispersions were characterized by unusually high viscosities, 15,000 to 26,500 cp at 1% concentration, and by the ability to retain significant viscosities, 300 to 950 cp, upon dilution to 0.03% concentrations. A 1% dispersion of hydrolyzed S-PAN had a viscosity of 5,000 cp in the presence of 8% KCl; however, the depressing effect of added salts on viscosity of aqueous dispersions of hydrolyzed S-PAN increases as the valence of the cation increases.
High birth weight increases mammary tumorigenesis in rats

Epidemiological studies have investigated whether a high birth weight is associated with increased breast cancer risk, but the results remain inconclusive. This study was designed to determine whether high birth weight increases later susceptibility to carcinogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis in an animal model and to determine mechanisms mediating this association. Pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats were fed either a control or a high-fat diet during the extent of gestation. Maternal exposure to the high-fat diet increased pregnancy leptin levels and offspring's birth weight, but had no effect on pregnancy estradiol or insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. Changes in the offspring's mammary gland morphology and protein expression were assessed. The mammary epithelial tree of the high-birth-weight offspring was denser, contained more terminal end buds and exhibited higher number of proliferating cells. Further, their mammary glands expressed lower levels of ER-α, but higher levels of activated MAPK. No alterations in apoptosis were noted. High-birth-weight rats developed 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumors significantly earlier, and tumors grew larger than in the controls. The tumors in this group expressed higher levels of leptin receptor and activated Akt, and contained fewer apoptotic cells than those in the controls. Our results indicate that high birth weight is related to shortened latency to develop mammary tumors—perhaps reflecting an increase in activated MAPK levels and increased tumor growth—perhaps caused by a lower apoptotic response due to higher leptin receptor and activated Akt levels in the tumors. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Stochastic DG Placement for Conservation Voltage Reduction Based on Multiple Replications Procedure

Conservation voltage reduction (CVR) and distributed-generation (DG) integration are popular strategies implemented by utilities to improve energy efficiency. This paper investigates the interactions between CVR and DG placement to minimize load consumption in distribution networks, while keeping the lowest voltage level within the predefined range. The optimal placement of DG units is formulated as a stochastic optimization problem considering the uncertainty of DG outputs and load consumptions. A sample average approximation algorithm-based technique is developed to solve the formulated problem effectively. A multiple replications procedure is developed to test the stability of the solution and calculate the confidence interval of the gap between the candidate solution and optimal solution. The proposed method has been applied to the IEEE 37-bus distribution test system with different scenarios. The numerical results indicate that the implementations of CVR and DG, if combined, can achieve significant energy savings.
The Protein Invasion: A Broad Review on the Origin of the Translational System

Translation, coded peptide synthesis, arguably exists at the heart of modern cellular life. By orchestrating an incredibly complex interaction between tRNAs, mRNAs, aaRSs, the ribosome, and numerous other small molecules, the translational system allows the interpretation of data in the form of DNA to create massively complex proteins which control and enact almost every cellular function. A natural question then, is how did this system evolve? Here we present a broad review of the existing theories of the last two decades on the origin of the translational system. We attempt to synthesize the wide variety of ideas as well as organize them into modular components, addressing the evolution of the peptide-RNA interaction, tRNA, mRNA, the ribosome, and the first proteins separately. We hope to provide both a comprehensive overview of the literature as well as a framework for future discussions and novel theories.
Calorimetric and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies on the interaction of glycophorin with phosphatidylserine/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine-d62 mixtures.

Abstract Glycophorin has been isolated in pure form from human erythrocyte membranes and reconstituted into lipid vesicles composed of binary mixtures of bovine brain phosphatidylserine (PS) and acyl-chain perdeuterated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ( DPPC -d 62 ). The effect of protein on lipid melting behavior and order has been monitored with differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The phase diagram for PS/DPPC -d 62 is consistent with that previously reported for PS/DPPC (Stewart et al. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 556, 1–16) and indicates that acyl chain perdeuteration does not greatly alter the lipid mixing characteristics. The use of deuterated lipid allows the examination of lipid order by FT-IR of each lipid component in the binary mixtures as well as in the ternary (lipid/lipid/protein) systems. Addition of glycophorin to a 30:70 PS/DPPC -d 62 binary lipid mixture results in a preferential glycophorin /PS interaction leading to bulk lipid enriched in DPPC -d 62 . This is revealed in two ways: first, through cooperative calorimetric transitions increased in temperature from the binary lipid system and second, through FT-IR melting curves of the DPPC -d 62 component which shows transitions increased in both onset and completion temperatures in the presence of protein. In addition, non-cooperative melting events are observed at temperatures below the onset of phase separation. The FT-IR data are used to assign these non-cooperative events to the melting of the PS component. For the 50:50 lipid mixture with protein, two transitions are observed in the DSC experiments. The IR results indicate that both lipid components are involved with the lower temperature event.
The Effect of Feeding Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Related Compounds on Lipids in the Laying Hen

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and three structurally related side-chain analogs were fed to laying hens to determine relationships of structure to effects on lipid metabolism. Hubbard broiler breeder hens were fed either a standard laying mash control diet or the control diet containing DEHP, 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH), 2-ethylhexanal (2-EHALD), or 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA). Experimental treatments lowered feed consumption, body weight, and egg production. The DEHP and side-chain analog diets lowered plasma total lipids. DEHP, 2% 2-EH, and 1% 2-EHA diets lowered plasma free cholesterol. Liver weights were not significantly changed, but liver fat was reduced. Lipid classes were measured by quantitative thin layer chromatography densitometry. The decreases observed in plasma lipids occurred primarily in the triglyceride fraction. Liver lipid decreases occurred mainly in triglyceride and free fatty acid classes. Hen egg yolk percent fat, lipid classes, and free and total cholesterol were unaffected by any DEHP or side-chain analog diets. Plasma and liver hypolipidemic effects were observed with all of the oxidation state structural analogs of DEHP's side chain, but 2% 2-EH was the most effective treatment. These results suggest that the active portion of DEHP may be the metabolite, 2-EH, formed in vivo by hydrolysis of DEHP's ester bond.
PURIFICATION OF GAMMA -CRYSTALLIN FROM HUMAN LENSES BY ACETONE PRECIPITATION METHOD

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to develop a new purification method for human lens ?-crystallin by utilizing its unique property of remaining soluble during acetone precipitation of water soluble (WS) proteins. METHODS. The WS protein fractions from lenses of donors of different ages were precipitated with 50% acetone (v/v) and the supernatant and precipitated protein fractions were collected following centrifugation. Among lens crystallins, ?-crystallin remained soluble (recovered in the supernatant following centrifugation) while other crystallins were precipitated. To determine the recovery of maximal levels of ?-crystallin as soluble protein during acetone precipitation, the WS proteins were precipitated under different conditions, and both supernatant and precipitated fractions were quantified for proteins and analyzed by size-exclusion chromatographic and Western blot methods. Based on these results, a three-step purification procedure for ?-crystallin was developed which consisted of acetone pr...
Efficient long-term quality-of-inference (QoINF)-aware context determination in pervasive care environments

Energy-efficient determination of an individual's context (both physiological and activity) is an important technical challenge for assisted living environments. Given the expected availability of multiple sensors, context determination may be viewed as an estimation problem over multiple sensor data streams. This paper develops a formal, and practically applicable, model to capture the tradeoff between the accuracy of context estimation and the communication overheads of sensing. In particular, we propose the use of tolerance ranges to reduce an individual sensor's reporting frequency, while ensuring acceptable accuracy of the derived context. In our vision, applications specify their minimally acceptable value for a Quality-of Inference (QoINF) metric. We introduce an optimization technique allowing the Context Service to compute both the best set of sensors, and their associated tolerance values, that satisfy the QoINF target at minimum communication cost. Early experimental results with SunSPOT sensors are presented to attest to the promise of this approach.
Evidence of kidney chemical thermosuppression in temperature-acclimated hamsters.

Abstract 1. 1. Adult male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were acclimated at three environmental temperatures ( 35±0·5, 23±0.·5 and 6±1° C ) for 3–6 months. 2. 2. the body weight of the heat-acclimated hamsters was significantly lower than that of the controls, whereas there was no difference between the weight of the controls and cold-acclimated animals ( P ). The kidney weight ratios in each temperature group were significantly different ( P⩽0·001 ), being highest in the cold and lowest in the heat. 3. 3. The total kidney protein was highest in the cold-acclimated animals and lowest in the heat-acclimated animals ( P⩽0·001 ). 4. 4. The specific and total kidney alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity was elevated during cold acclimation and reduced during heat acclimation. 5. 5. The total kidney activity of isocitric dehydrogenase was significantly higher in the cold than in the control and heat-acclimated animals which were equal. 6. 6. The results support the concept that there are physiological-chemical-metabolic feedback mechanisms that increase the thermogenic response during cold acclimation and suppress it during heat acclimation.
Grd19/Snx3p functions as a cargo-specific adapter for retromer-dependent endocytic recycling.

Amajor function of the endocytic system is the sorting of cargo to various organelles. Endocytic sorting of the yeast reductive iron transporter, which is composed of the Fet3 and Ftr1 proteins, is regulated by available iron. When iron is provided to iron-starved cells, Fet3p–Ftr1p is targeted to the lysosome-like vacuole and degraded. In contrast, when iron is not available, Fet3p–Ftr1p is maintained on the plasma membrane via an endocytic recycling pathway requiring the sorting nexin Grd19/Snx3p, the pentameric retromer complex, and the Ypt6p Golgi Rab GTPase module. A recycling signal in Ftr1p was identified and found to bind directly to Grd19/Snx3p. Retromer and Grd19/Snx3p partially colocalize to tubular endosomes, where they are physically associated. After export from the endosome, Fet3p–Ftr1p transits through the Golgi apparatus for resecretion. Thus, Grd19/Snx3p, functions as a cargo-specific adapter for the retromer complex, establishing a precedent for a mechanism by which sorting nexins expand the repertoire of retromer-dependent cargos.
The global economic crisis and domestic political agendas

There is an ongoing debate within the economic voting literature about whether the economy's salience systematically fluctuates over time or is constant. The recent global economic slowdown provides leverage to test the proposition that voters give greater weight to economic performance when it is weak. Data on voters' issue priorities from 2000 to 2011 shows that voters were more likely to consider the economy an important issue during periods of bad or volatile economic performance. A weak economy also focuses voter attention on corruption and crime while reducing attention to social policy and foreign affairs. Crime rates, terrorist attacks, globalization, and the level of development also affect the economy's place on the electoral agenda. Thus one impact of the recent financial downturn was a shift toward economic voting in countries where it was deepest.
Modulation of ultraviolet light-, ethyl methanesulfonate-, and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis by retinol and retinoic acid in the primary rat hepatocyte.

Abstract The effects of retinol and retinoic acid on unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in primary Sprague-Dawley rat hepatocytes were studied in the presence and absence of known chemical and physical mutagens. Neither retinol nor retinoic acid caused a significant increase in UDS over solvent control at concentrations ranging from 1 microM to 50 microM. Retinol and retinoic acid did not significantly affect 200 micrograms/mL ethyl methanesulfonate(EMS)- or 32 J/m2 ultraviolet light(UV)-induced UDS at concentrations ranging from 1 microM to 50 microM. In contrast, retinol and retinoic acid significantly inhibited 2.5 micrograms/mL and 5.0 micrograms/mL 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene(DMBA)-induced UDS at concentrations of 1 microM or greater. Retinol- and retinoic acid-induced hepatocytotoxicity was studied in vitro using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release as an indicator of cytoxicity. Neither retinol nor retinoic acid caused significant increases in LDH release over solvent control 3 hours after treatment, whereas retinol caused a biologically significant increase in LDH release 24 hours posttreatment at concentrations of 50 microM and 100 microM. These data suggest that nontoxic concentrations of retinol and retinoic acid do not inhibit the DNA excision repair process but apparently affect the effective DNA adduct load due to the ultimate species of DMBA metabolite responsible for hepatocellular DNA damage.
Exocytosis and Endocytosis of Small Vesicles across the Plasma Membrane in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

When Saccharomyces cerevisiae is starved of glucose, the gluconeogenic enzymes fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, isocitrate lyase, and malate dehydrogenase, as well as the non-gluconeogenic enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cyclophilin A, are secreted into the periplasm. In the extracellular fraction, these secreted proteins are associated with small vesicles that account for more than 90% of the total number of extracellular structures observed. When glucose is added to glucose-starved cells, FBPase is internalized and associated with clusters of small vesicles in the cytoplasm. Specifically, the internalization of FBPase results in the decline of FBPase and vesicles in the extracellular fraction and their appearance in the cytoplasm. The clearance of extracellular vesicles and vesicle-associated proteins from the extracellular fraction is dependent on the endocytosis gene END3. This internalization is regulated when cells are transferred from low to high glucose. It is rapidly occurring and is a high capacity process, as clusters of vesicles occupy 10%-20% of the total volume in the cytoplasm in glucose re-fed cells. FBPase internalization also requires the VPS34 gene encoding PI3K. Following internalization, FBPase is delivered to the vacuole for degradation, whereas proteins that are not degraded may be recycled.
Properties of acid beta-D-galactosidase isolated from I-cell disease brain and spleen.

— Acid 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-galactosidase activity from autopsied I-cell disease brain and spleen tissues was 28% and 35% respectively of normal activity. Acid β-d-gatactosidase (β-d-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.23) from two I-cell disease brains demonstrated a 5-fold increase over normal for the proportion of enzyme activity which did not adsorb to Concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, while acid β-d-galactosidase from two I-cell disease spleens demonstrated a 21–35-fold increase in the proportion of unadsorbed enzyme activity. Normal and I-cell disease acid β-d-galactosidase present in crude brain and spleen supernatant fluids and in preparations partially purified on Concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B had similar apparent Km values with respect to 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-galactopyranoside and GM1-ganglioside. Isoelectric focusing profiles of normal and I-cell disease acid β-d-galactosidase from crude brain and spleen-supernatant fluids and partially purified preparations were similar. Neuraminidase treatment and subsequent isoelectric focusing of the partially purified normal and I-cell disease enzyme preparations from brain and spleen revealed increases in the proportion of I-cell β-d-galactosidases found at neutral pH values, suggesting that the electrophoretic variations observed for the I-cell enzymes may not be attributed solely to changes in sialic acid composition.
Plastic deformation of polyethylene II. Change of mechanical properties during drawing

The crystallinity, elastic modulus, and tensile strength of samples of various draw ratios together with the true stress—strain curves of high-density polyethylene were determined to establish correlations with morphological changes occurring during deformation. Changes of crystallinity at draw ratios below 5, i.e., constancy during drawing of quenched film and a decrease during drawing of annealed film, are explained by the formation of microfibrils with crystallinity independent of the thermal history of the film. The microfibrils slide past each other at higher draw ratios, generating an increasing number of interfibrillar tie molecules, which is reflected in the increasing number of interfibrillar tie molecules, which is reflected in the increase of crystallinity, elastic modulus, and tensile strength. From the true stress—strain curves, the differential work density for the deformation of the volume element was calculated as a function of the draw ratio. It contains two components which reflect two different mechanisms of deformation. The first component, decreasing with increasing draw ratio, can be associated with the destruction of the original microspherulitic structure; the second one, increasing with increasing draw ratio, can be associated with the deformation of the new fiber structure, i.e., with the sliding motion of the microfibrils formed during the first deformation step.
Ethnic Differences in the Predictors of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Hospitalized Adolescents

This study examined psychosocial correlates of drug and alcohol abuse in hospitalized adolescents and the extent to which these associations may be affected by ethnicity. Four hundred fifty-eight psychiatric inpatients, ages 12–19, completed measures of psychological functioning, environmental stress, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse. Multiple regression analyses examined the joint and independent predictors of drug and alcohol abuse for European Americans, Latino Americans, and African Americans separately. Seven variables—age, depression, impulsivity, low self-esteem, delinquent predisposition, low peer insecurity, and history of child abuse—jointly predicted drug abuse for all groups, and predicted alcohol abuse for European Americans and Latino Americans. However, several differences were noted with respect to which variables made independent contributions to the model. Such differences may reflect distinct risk factors for drug and alcohol abuse in these three ethnic groups and may also have implication...