cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wing inertia and whole-body acceleration: an analysis of instantaneous aerodynamic force production in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)flying across a range of speeds

We used a combination of high-speed 3-D kinematics and three-axis accelerometer recordings obtained from cockatiels flying in a low-turbulence wind tunnel to characterize the instantaneous accelerations and, by extension, the net aerodynamic forces produced throughout the wingbeat cycle across a broad range of flight speeds (1-13 m s(-1)). Our goals were to investigate the variation in instantaneous aerodynamic force production during the wingbeat cycle of birds flying across a range of steady speeds, testing two predictions regarding aerodynamic force generation in upstroke and the commonly held assumption that all of the kinetic energy imparted to the wings of a bird in flapping flight is recovered as useful aerodynamic work. We found that cockatiels produce only a limited amount of lift during upstroke (14% of downstroke lift) at slower flight speeds (1-3 m s(-1)). Upstroke lift at intermediate flight speeds (7-11 m s(-1)) was moderate, averaging 39% of downstroke lift. Instantaneous aerodynamic forces were greatest near mid-downstroke. At the end of each half-stroke, during wing turnaround, aerodynamic forces were minimal, but inertial forces created by wing motion were large. However, we found that the inertial power requirements of downstroke (minimum of 0.29+/-0.10 W at 7 m s(-1) and maximum of 0.56+/-0.13 W at 1 m s(-1)) were consistent with the assumption that nearly all wing kinetic energy in downstroke was applied to the production of aerodynamic forces and therefore should not be added separately to the overall power cost of flight. The inertial power requirements of upstroke (minimum of 0.16+/-0.04 W at 7 m s(-1) and maximum of 0.35+/-0.11 W at 1 m s(-1)) cannot be recovered in a similar manner, but their magnitude was such that the power requirements for the upstroke musculature (minimum of 54+/-13 W kg(-1) at 7 m s(-1) and maximum of 122+/-35 W at 1 m s(-1)) fall within the established range for cockatiel flight muscle (<185 W kg(-1)).
Chromium (D-phenylalanine)3 improves obesity-induced cardiac contractile defect in ob/ob mice.

DONG, FENG, XIAOPING YANG, NAIR SREEJAYAN, AND JUN REN. Chromium (D-phenylalanine)3 improves obesity-induced cardiac contractile defect in ob/ob mice. Obesity. 2007;15:2699–2711. Objective: Low-molecular weight chromium compounds, such as chromium picolinate [Cr(pic)3], improve insulin sensitivity, although toxicity is a concern. We synthesized a novel chromium complex, chromium (D-phenylalanine)3 [Cr(D-phe) 3 ], in an attempt to improve insulin sensitivity with reduced toxicity. The aim of this study was to compare the two chromium compounds on cardiac contractile function in ob/ob obese mice. Research Methods and Procedures: C57BL lean and ob/ob obese mice were randomly divided into three groups: H 2 O, Cr(D-phe)3, or Cr(pic)3 (45 g/kg per day orally for 6 months). Results: The glucose tolerance test displayed improved glucose clearance by Cr(D-phe)3 but not Cr(pic)3. Myocytes from ob/ob mice exhibited depressed peak shortening (PS) and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (dL/ dt), prolonged time-to-PS and time-to-90% relengthening (TR90), reduced electrically stimulated rise in intracellular Ca 2 (fura-2 fluorescence intensity), and slowed intracellular Ca 2 decay. Although a 3-month Cr(D-phe) 3 treatment for a separate group of ob/ob and lean 2-month-old mice only rectified reduced dL/dt in ob/ob mice, all mechanical and intracellular Ca 2 abnormalities were significantly attenuated or ablated by 6 months of Cr(D-phe)3 but not Cr(pic)3 treatment (except TR90). Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca 2 ATPase activity and Na-Ca 2 exchanger expression were depressed in ob/ob mice, which were reversed by both Cr(D-phe)3 and Cr(pic)3, with a more pronounced effect from Cr(D-phe)3. Cr(D-phe)3 corrected reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and improved basal phosphorylation of Akt and insulin receptor, as well as insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and insulin receptor in ob/ob myocytes. Heart homogenates from ob/ob mice had enhanced oxidative stress and protein carbonyl formation compared with the lean group, which were attenuated by both Cr(D-phe)3 and Cr(pic)3. Discussion: Our data suggest that the new Cr(D-phe)3 compound possesses better cardio-protective and insulin-sensitizing properties against obesity.
Cut! that's a wrap: regulating negative emotion by ending emotion-eliciting situations.

Little is known about the potentially powerful set of emotion regulation (ER) processes that target emotion-eliciting situations. We thus studied the decision to end emotion-eliciting situations in the laboratory. We hypothesized that people would try to end negative situations more frequently than neutral situations to regulate distress. In addition, motivated by the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation with Emotion Regulation framework, we hypothesized that failed attempts to end the situation would prompt either a) greater negative emotion or b) compensatory use of a different ER process, attentional deployment (AD). Fifty-eight participants (18-26 years old, 67% women) viewed negative and neutral pictures and pressed a key whenever they wished to stop viewing them. After key press, the picture disappeared (‘success’) or stayed (‘failure’) on screen. To index emotion, we measured corrugator and electrodermal activity, heart rate, and self-reported arousal. To index overt AD, we measured eye gaze. As their reason for ending the situation, participants more frequently reported being upset by high- than low-arousal negative pictures; they more frequently reported being bored by low- than high-arousal neutral pictures. Nevertheless, participants’ negative emotional responding did not increase in the context of ER failure nor did they use overt AD as a compensatory ER strategy. We conclude that situation-targeted ER processes are used to regulate emotional responses to high-arousal negative and low-arousal neutral situations; ER processes other than overt AD may be used to compensate for ER failure in this context.
A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF PANDALID SHRIMP (DECAPODA: CARIDEA) FROM THE WESTERN PACIFIC

Abstract A new genus and new species of pandalid shrimp, Calipandalus elachys, is described on the basis of the specimens from Taiwan, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia in the western Pacific Ocean. Calipandalus new genus resembles Bitias Fransen, 1990, in the lack of an exopod on the third maxilliped, the short rostrum, and the presence of arthrobranchs on the four anterior pereopods. It is distinguished from Bitias by the presence of tegumental scales, the moderately spaced, fixed dorsal teeth on the rostrum proper, the short antennular stylocerite, and the peculiar structures of the mandibular palp and the chela of the second pereopod. The new species also bears similarity to particular species of Plesionika Bate, 1888, although the absence of an exopod on the third maxilliped sets the new species apart from Plesionika.
Higher Urinary Lignan Concentrations in Women but Not Men Are Positively Associated with Shorter Time to Pregnancy

Phytoestrogens have been associated with subtle hormonal changes, although effects on fecundity are unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the association between male and female urinary phytoestrogen (isoflavone and lignan) concentrations and time to pregnancy (TTP) in a population-based cohort of 501 couples desiring pregnancy and discontinuing contraception. Couples were followed for 12 mo or until pregnancy. Fecundability ORs (FORs) and 95% CIs were estimated after adjusting for age, body mass index, race, site, creatinine, supplement use, and physical activity in relation to female, male, and joint couple concentrations. Models included the phytoestrogen of interest and the sum of the remaining individual phytoestrogens. FORs 1 a shorter TTP. Urinary lignan concentrations were higher, on average, among female partners of couples who became pregnant during the study compared with women who did not become pregnant (median enterodiol: 118 vs. 80 nmol/L; P < 0.10; median enterolactone: 990 vs. 412 nmol/L; P < 0.05) and were associated with significantly shorter TTP in models based on both individual and couples’ concentrations (couples' models: enterodiol FOR, 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.26; enterolactone FOR, 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.21). Male lignan concentrations were not associated with TTP, nor were isoflavone concentrations. Sensitivity analyses showed that associations observed are unlikely to be explained by potential unmeasured confounding by lifestyle or other nutrients. Our results suggest that female urinary lignan concentrations at levels characteristic of the U.S. population are associated with a shorter TTP among couples who are attempting to conceive, highlighting the importance of dietary influences on fecundity.
Approximately optimum confidence bounds on series system reliability for exponential time to failure data

SUMMARY For a series system with exponentially distributed survival times for independent subsystems, there exist optimum uniformly most accurate unbiased exact confidence bounds on the probability of system survival until a specified time; see Lentner & Buehler (1963) and the doctoral dissertation of A. H. El Mawaziny. Calculation of these optimum exact confidence bounds, however, must be performed iteratively by means of a high-speed computer. Moreover, their calculation can be extremely expensive in terms of computer time, and in certain cases there are serious problems of loss of precision as the number of subsystems increases. An approximation is derived which can, if necessary, be evaluated by hand and which agrees with the optimum lower confidence bound on the probability of system survival to within about a unit in the second decimal place in the many and varied cases examined. Numerical examples are given and comparisons made with other approximate confidence bounds.
The effectiveness of scaling and root planing with curets designed for deep pockets

This study evaluates the effectiveness of subgingival scaling and root planing with longer shank, thinner blade, rigid curets compared to the standard rigid Gracey curet. A total of 35 non-molar teeth from 7 patients provided 140 root surfaces for evaluation; 52 root surfaces were instrumented with the rigid longer shank curets; 52 with the standard rigid Gracey curets; and 36 provided untreated controls. A bilateral matched design was utilized where contralateral teeth in the same arch were instrumented. Instrumentation was standardized at 15 minutes per tooth. Both scaled and unscaled teeth were extracted immediately after the experimental procedures. They were viewed under a stereomicroscope with a 0.10 mm grid to assess the percent of surface covered by calculus and unaltered cementum. The curet efficiency was also evaluated. The results indicated a significant treatment effect compared to the controls in relation to the percentage of residual calculus and curet efficiency. However, there was no significant difference between the rigid longer shank and standard rigid Gracey curets. There was a difference noted when tooth surfaces were evaluated. Mesial tooth surfaces had the least remaining calculus and demonstrated the best curet efficiency.
A23187 Inhibits Adrenal Protein Synthesis and the Effects of Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on Steroidogenesis and Phospholipid Metabolism in Rat Adrenal Cells in Vitro: Further Evidence Implicating Phospholipids in the Steroidogenic Action of ACTH

We examined the effects of ACTH and the Ca++ ionophore, A23187, on steroidogenesis and phospholipid metabolism during incubation of dispersed rat adrenal cells. Increasing doses of ACTH elicited nearly parallel increases in corticosterone production and adrenal inositide (mono- and di-) concentrations. As reported previously by other investigators in Y1 cells, A23187 inhibited ACTH- and cAMP-stimulated, but not basal or pregnenolone-stimulated, corticosterone production. A23187 also inhibited ACTH-induced increases in phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, and diphosphoinositide, and this was attended by inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein. These findings support our previous contentions that: 1) a labile protein is required for ACTH-induced increases in adrenal phospholipids in the phosphatidate-polyphosphoinositide-polyglycerophospholipid pathway; and 2) these phospholipids are involved in the steroidogenic action of ACTH.
Identifying aging-related genes in mouse hippocampus using gateway nodes.

High-throughput studies continue to produce volumes of metadata representing valuable sources of information to better guide biological research. With a stronger focus on data generation, analysis models that can readily identify actual signals have not received the same level of attention. This is due in part to high levels of noise and data heterogeneity, along with a lack of sophisticated algorithms for mining useful information. Networks have emerged as a powerful tool for modeling high-throughput data because they are capable of representing not only individual biological elements but also different types of relationships en masse. Moreover, well-established graph theoretic methodology can be applied to network models to increase efficiency and speed of analysis. In this project, we propose a network model that examines temporal data from mouse hippocampus at the transcriptional level via correlation of gene expression. Using this model, we formally define the concept of “gateway” nodes, loosely defined as nodes representing genes co-expressed in multiple states. We show that the proposed network model allows us to identify target genes implicated in hippocampal aging-related processes. By mining gateway genes related to hippocampal aging from networks made from gene expression in young and middle-aged mice, we provide a proof-of-concept of existence and importance of gateway nodes. Additionally, these results highlight how network analysis can act as a supplement to traditional statistical analysis of differentially expressed genes. Finally, we use the gateway nodes identified by our method as well as functional databases and literature to propose new targets for study of aging in the mouse hippocampus. This research highlights the need for methods of temporal comparison using network models and provides a systems biology approach to extract information from correlation networks of gene expression. Our results identify a number of genes previously implicated in the aging mouse hippocampus related to synaptic plasticity and apoptosis. Additionally, this model identifies a novel set of aging genes previously uncharacterized in the hippocampus. This research can be viewed as a first-step for identifying the processes behind comparative experiments in aging that is applicable to any type of temporal multi-state network.
Discrete Graph Hashing

Hashing has emerged as a popular technique for fast nearest neighbor search in gigantic databases. In particular, learning based hashing has received considerable attention due to its appealing storage and search efficiency. However, the performance of most unsupervised learning based hashing methods deteriorates rapidly as the hash code length increases. We argue that the degraded performance is due to inferior optimization procedures used to achieve discrete binary codes. This paper presents a graph-based unsupervised hashing model to preserve the neighborhood structure of massive data in a discrete code space. We cast the graph hashing problem into a discrete optimization framework which directly learns the binary codes. A tractable alternating maximization algorithm is then proposed to explicitly deal with the discrete constraints, yielding high-quality codes to well capture the local neighborhoods. Extensive experiments performed on four large datasets with up to one million samples show that our discrete optimization based graph hashing method obtains superior search accuracy over state-of-the-art un-supervised hashing methods, especially for longer codes.
Customizing treatment to the patient: adaptive treatment strategies.

Much research has documented both the wide heterogeneity in patient response in the treatment of drug dependence (Crits-Christoph et al., 1999) and the wide variety of available treatment options. Because of patient heterogeneity clinicians often must adapt the treatment to the patient to obtain an acute response. In practice adaptation is often achieved by implementing treatments (or variations of one treatment) sequentially in a trial and error fashion until a response is obtained. Even once an acute response has been achieved, there remains a high risk of relapse both during and following treatment (McLellan et al., 2000; McLellan, 2002; McKay et al., 2004), requiring trying more treatment alternatives. Taken together, these realities imply that in both the acute and long term treatment of drug dependence, clinicians must continually adapt and readapt the treatment to the patient.
Prospects and Challenges in Proteomics

Proteomics is one of the fastest growing areas in areas of research, largely because the global-scale analysis of proteins is expected to yield more direct understanding of function and regulation than analysis of genes. Although significant advances in the comprehensive profiling, functional
Unique classes of mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae G-protein translation elongation factor 1A suppress the requirement for guanine nucleotide exchange

G-proteins play critical roles in many cellular processes and are regulated by accessory proteins that modulate the nucleotide-bound state. Such proteins, including eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A (eEF1A), are frequently reactivated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, only the catalytic subunit of the GEF complex, eEF1Bα, is essential for viability. The requirement for the TEF5 gene encoding eEF1Bα can be suppressed by the presence of excess substrate, eEF1A. These cells, however, have defects in growth and translation. Two independent unbiased screens performed to dissect the cause of these phenotypes yielded dominant suppressors that bypass the requirement for extra eEF1A. Surprisingly, all mutations are in the G-protein eEF1A and cluster in its GTP-binding domain. Five mutants were used to construct novel strains expressing only the eEF1A mutant at normal levels. These strains show no growth defects and little to no decreases in total translation, which raises questions as to the evolutionary expression of GEF complexity and other potential functions of this complex. The location of the mutations on the eEF1A-eEF1Bα structure suggests that their mechanism of suppression may depend on effects on the conserved G-protein elements: the P-loop and NKXD nucleotide-binding element.
Backyard Cosmology: Abundance Observations of Nearby Galaxies

I present a number of examples of abundance observations of nearby galaxies which are relevant to questions of cosmology. Some examples are: the primordial helium abundance, the absolute abundances in galaxies, the relationship between abundance and luminosity, relative abundances and star formation histories, and the relationship between absolute abundance measurements and the star formation histories of individual galaxies.
More on monotone instrumental variables

Econometric analyses of treatment response often use instrumental variable (IV) assumptions to identify treatment effects. The traditional IV assum ption holds that mean response is constant acros s the subpopulations of persons with different values of an observed covariate. Manski and Pepper (2000) introduced monotone instrumental variable (MIV) assumptions, which replace equalities with weak inequalities. This paper presents further ana lysis of the MIV idea. We use an e xplicit response m odel to en hance understanding of the content of MIV and traditional IV assumptions. We study the identifying power of MIV assumptions when combined with the homogeneous linear response assumption maintained in many studies of treatment response. We also consider estimation of MIV bounds, with particular attention to finite-sample bias. This paper was prepared for the tenth anniversary issue of the Econometric Journal. Our research on monotone in strumental variables (MIVs) was first circulated in 1998, th e y ear that the journal beg an publication. We are grateful for this opportunity to report further findings on MIVs and, in doing so, to mark the tenth anniversary of both the journal and the subject. We have benefitted from the comments of a referee. Manski’s research was supported in part by NSF Grant SES-0549544.
Sandwich algorithms for Bayesian variable selection

Abstract Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms have greatly facilitated the popularity of Bayesian variable selection and model averaging in problems with high-dimensional covariates where enumeration of the model space is infeasible. A variety of such algorithms have been proposed in the literature for sampling models from the posterior distribution in Bayesian variable selection. Ghosh and Clyde proposed a method to exploit the properties of orthogonal design matrices. Their data augmentation algorithm scales up the computation tremendously compared to traditional Gibbs samplers, and leads to the availability of Rao-Blackwellized estimates of quantities of interest for the original non-orthogonal problem. The algorithm has excellent performance when the correlations among the columns of the design matrix are small, but empirical results suggest that moderate to strong multicollinearity leads to slow mixing. This motivates the need to develop a class of novel sandwich algorithms for Bayesian variable selection that improves upon the algorithm of Ghosh and Clyde. It is proved that the Haar algorithm with the largest group that acts on the space of models is the optimum algorithm, within the parameter expansion data augmentation (PXDA) class of sandwich algorithms. The result provides theoretical insight but using the largest group is computationally prohibitive so two new computationally viable sandwich algorithms are developed, which are inspired by the Haar algorithm, but do not necessarily belong to the class of PXDA algorithms. It is illustrated via simulation studies and real data analysis that several of the sandwich algorithms can offer substantial gains in the presence of multicollinearity.
Hierarchical polybenzimidazole-grafted graphene hybrids as supports for Pt nanoparticle catalysts with excellent PEMFC performance

Abstract The inhomogeneous surface of state-of-the-art carbon supports leads to a weak Pt–C interaction and, thereby, the non-uniform dispersion of Pt nanoparticles and is responsible for the poor activity and stability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In order to improve the surface uniformity, polybenzimidazole (PBI) has been covalently grafted onto both carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) and graphene by surface-initiated polymerization. Pt nanoparticles decorated on PBI-grafted carbon black and graphene show much narrower particle size distribution and smaller average particle size than on their pristine counterparts. Oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) carried out on a rotating disk electrode (RDE) show the higher activity of Pt/PBI-XC72 and Pt/PBI-graphene than Pt/XC72 (ETEK-BASF) and Pt/graphene, respectively. With the insertion of negatively charged SO3H-carbon black (FCB) between positively charged PBI-graphene sheets, the lamellar structure of the graphene becomes more expanded, further enhancing the ORR activity and giving rise to a higher mass activity of 183 mA/mgPt at 0.9 V vs. RHE on Pt/PBI-graphene+FCB than the 101 mA/mgPt of Pt/PBI-graphene and the 149 mA/mgPt of commercial Pt/XC72. The accelerated degradation testing (ADT) with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations demonstrated that the PBI functionalization helps to strongly anchor Pt nanoparticles on the surface of both the carbon black and the graphene, which slows down the dissolution and migration/coalescence of the Pt nanoparticles during the durability tests. Furthermore, Pt/PBI-XC72 and Pt/PBI-graphene+FCB cathode catalysts have been applied in PEMFCs and they show encouraging mass activities in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) configuration. The beginning of life (BOL) MEA performance of the Pt/PBI-graphene+FCB shows a dramatic increase of the limiting current from ca.500 mA/cm2 to 2250 mA/cm2, which further confirms the effective prevention of graphene restacking because of FCB insertion. In addition, the presence of the highly stable graphitic structure of graphene leads to the significant enhancement of durability during accelerated stress tests (AST) in PEMFCs: where the cell voltage at 1500 mA/cm2 after 1000 cycles (1.0–1.5 V) can be retained >60% for Pt/PBI-graphene+FCB while for Pt/XC72, it decays more rapidly to 0 V. This study suggests the promise of using Pt/PBI-graphene+FCB hybrid cathode catalysts in fuel cells to achieve the DOE targets (i.e.
Speech-Enabled Applications

As humans, we see, hear, feel and smell. Human interaction is enriched by the resulting redundancy introduced by multimodal communication. In contrast, computer interfaces have relied primarily on visual interaction — today’s interfaces are like the silent movies of the past! As we approach the turn of the century, computers now have the ability to talk, listen and perhaps, even understand. Technological advances in the areas of speech synthesis and recognition, combined with the availability of computational power on the desktop that a few years ago could be found only in research labs, makes it possible to enrich human-computer interaction in ways that would once have counted as pure science-fiction.
When Political Crimes Are Inside Jobs: Detecting State Crimes Against Democracy

Public administration theory and practice tend to overlook the possibility of state political criminality in liberal democracies. This article proposes a policy science to detect state crimes against democracy (SCADs), using social and political theory to understand when, why, how, and by whom such crimes are likely to be committed. After defining SCADs and differentiating them from other types of political crimes, the article analyzes SCADs in terms of antidemocratic tendencies posited by theories of liberal democracy. SCADs are traced to specific institutional objectives by analyzing patterns in SCAD targets, timing, and modus operandi. The role played by career civil servants in exposing government crimes and deceptions suggests that professional public administrators are a critical line of defense against the criminalization of the state.
Generation of Species Cross-reactive Aptamers Using “Toggle” SELEX

Species cross-reactivity facilitates the preclinical evaluation of potentially therapeutic molecules in animal models. Here we describe an in vitro selection strategy in which RNA ligands (aptamers) that bind both human and porcine thrombin were selected by "toggling" the protein target between human and porcine thrombin during alternating rounds of selection. The "toggle" selection process yielded a family of aptamers, all of which bound both human and porcine thrombin with high affinity. Toggle-25, a characteristic member, inhibited two of thrombin's most important functions: plasma clot formation and platelet activation. If appropriate targets are available, the toggle strategy is a simple measure that promotes cross-reactivity and may be generalizable to related proteins of the same species as well as to other combinatorial library screening strategies. This strategy should facilitate the isolation of ligands with needed properties for gene therapy and other therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
Materials Science Applications of the New National Institute of Standards and Technology Powder Diffractometer

The new high-resolution neutron powder diffractometer BT-1 at the NIST reactor has proven to be a powerful and versatile instrument in its first year of operation. With 32 detectors arranged at 5{degree} intervals and a 12{degree} 2{theta} scan range, powder diffraction patterns can be collected to 167{degree} 2{theta}. There is a choice of three monochromator take-off angles (75{degree}, 90{degree}, and 120{degree}) so that the peak-width minimum can be matched to the d-spacing range that is most important for each sample; all choices have a wavelength close to 1.54 {angstrom}. Data can be collected on sample sizes ranging from 200 mg to 30 g. Temperatures of 0.3 K to 1,400 K are routinely available, and a magnetic field of 7T can be applied with a superconducting magnet. Typical data collection times range from 1--12 hours depending upon sample size and desired resolution. Examples are given of a variety of materials applications.
The type three secreted effector SipC regulates the trafficking of PERP during Salmonella infection

Salmonella enterica Typhimurium employs type III secreted effectors to induce cellular invasion and pathogenesis. We previously reported the secreted effector SipA is in part responsible for inducing the apical accumulation of the host membrane protein PERP, a host factor we have shown is key to the inflammatory response induced by Salmonella. We now report that the S. Typhimurium type III secreted effector SipC significantly contributes to PERP redistribution to the apical membrane surface. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating a role for SipC in directing the trafficking of a host membrane protein to the cell surface. In sum, facilitation of PERP trafficking appears to be a result of type III secreted effector-mediated recruitment of vesicles to the apical surface. Our study therefore reveals a new role for SipC, and builds upon previous reports suggesting recruitment of vesicles to the cell surface is important for Salmonella invasion.
Draft Genome Sequence of New Leprosy Agent Mycobacterium lepromatosis.

Mycobacterium lepromatosis is a newly discovered cause of leprosy. Here, we present a near-complete genome of M. lepromatosis from strain FJ924 obtained from a patient who died of leprosy. The genome contained 3,215,823 nucleotides and matched ~87% with the Mycobacterium leprae genome. This genome is likely the smallest of all mycobacterial genomes known to date.
Examining Genetic and Environmental Influences on Alcohol use and Externalizing Behaviors in African American Adolescents

Background: Genetic and environmental factors influence substance use behaviors in youth. One of the known environmental risk factors is exposure to life stressors. The aim of this project is to study the interaction between NR3C1 and CRHBP, genes thought to be involved in stress pathways, exposure to stressful life events, and adolescent alcohol use/misuse. Methods: The sample included 541 African American individuals (ages 13-18) from the Genes, Environment, and Neighborhood Initiative, a subset of the Mobile Youth Survey sample from whom DNA and more extensive phenotypic data were collected. Participants were selected from high poverty neighborhoods in Mobile, Alabama with potential exposure to a variety of extreme life stressors. Results: A measure of stressful life events was significantly predictive of alcohol use/misuse. In addition, this association was significantly dependent upon the number of putative risk variants at rs1715749, a SNP in CRHBP (p≤0.006). There was no significant interaction between NR3C1 and stressful life events with respect to alcohol use/misuse, after taking into account multiple testing. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CRHBP variants are potentially relevant for adolescent alcohol use/misuse among African American youth populations being reared within the context of stressful life events, and warrants replication.
Epidemiological analysis of intestinal infectious diseases in Xicheng district of Beijing from 2004 to 2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological pattern of intestinal infectious diseases in Xicheng district OF Beijing from 2004 to 2012,provide scientific basis for making prevention and control measures. Methods The epidemic data of intestinal infectious diseases were collected and statistically analyzed with descriptive epidemiology methods. Results A total of 9 kinds of 51 174 intestinal infectious diseases cases were reported in 9 years, the average annual incidence rate was 696.53/100 000. The highest incidence rate was 916.90/100 000 in 2006,and the lowest was 550.00/100 000 in 2012. Most cases were other infectious diarrhea accounted for 69.42%,followed by bacillary dysentery(25.57%) and hand-food-mouth disease(4.21%). 50.39% of patients were young and middle-aged. There were 26 806 male cases and 24 368 female cases,and the ratio of male- to- female was 1.10:1. 24.03% of cases were staff member,followed by retiree(20.40%) and students(13.34%). Conclusions A comprehensive strategy is required for improving the education effort of health behaviors,which requires government leadership,community involvement and the coordination of different departments.
Relating chloroethene respiration rates in Dehalococcoides to protein and mRNA biomarkers.

Molecular biomarkers could provide critical insight into myriad in situ microbial activities. In this study we explore correlations of both mRNA and protein biomarkers with chloroethene respiration rate in Dehalococcoides. In a series of continuously fed dechlorinating mixed-culture microcosm experiments (n = 26), we varied respiratory substrates, substrate ratios and feeding rates. Transcript levels for most biomarkers were responsive down to 0.01× the culture’s maximum respiration rate. The dehalogenase TceA and the Ni–Fe hydrogenase HupL transcripts were positively correlated (Pearson’s r of 0.89 and 0.88, respectively) with respiration rates on log–log plots between 1.5 and 280 μeeq/L-hr for mRNA abundances of 107 to 1010 transcripts/mL (0.07–230 transcripts/genome). These trends were independent of the types of chloroethene or electron donors fed. Other mRNA target levels plateaued or declined at respiration rates above 5 μeeq/L-hr. Using both relative and absolute protein quantification methods, we ...
Self‐Supported Lithium Titanium Oxide Nanosheet Arrays Decorated with Molybdenum Disulfide for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Hierarchical nanocomposites of lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12; LTO) nanosheet arrays decorated with molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) were synthesized by a hydrothermal approach. Compared to LTO, the as-synthesized composites showed much improved capacity (433 mA h g−1 after 70 cycles at various current densities), good rate capability (320 mA h g−1 and 210 mA h g−1 at 500 mA g−1 and 2000 mA g−1, respectively), outstanding cycle stability (174 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles at 5000 mA g−1), and a wide operating temperature range, extending from −15 to 55 °C when used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The excellent performance of the MoS2@LTO composites could be attributed to the improved conductivity and unique hierarchical structure that provides a high contact surface area and reduced diffusion paths for both ion and electron transport. The results give clear evidence of the usefulness of MoS2 when improving the electrochemical properties of LTO electrodes, promising advanced batteries with high capacity and long cycle life.
Diffuse reduction of cerebral grey matter volumes in Erdheim-Chester disease

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis characterized by systemic inflammation and granulomatous infiltration of multiple organs including the central nervous system (CNS), bones, and retroperitoneum. CNS infiltration occurs in one third of patients, but cognitive changes are common in patients without CNS disease. Here we investigate whether there is a neuroanatomic basis to observed cognitive deficits, even in absence of CNS disease. We present a volumetric analysis of eleven ECD patients without CNS tumors or prior neurotoxic treatments. Compared to age-matched controls, ECD patients have diffuse, bihemispheric reduction in cortical thickness and subcortical gray matter. These findings provide the first corroborating evidence for neurologic disease in ECD patients without direct CNS infiltration.
Quality of Impressions and Work Authorizations Submitted by Dental Students Supervised by Prosthodontists and General Dentists

Preclinical fixed prosthodontics is taught by Department of Prosthodontics faculty members at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry; however, 86% of all clinical cases in academic year 2012 were staffed by faculty members from the Department of General Practice. The aims of this retrospective study were to quantify the quality of impressions, accuracy of laboratory work authorizations, and most common errors and to determine if there were differences between the rate of errors in cases supervised by the prosthodontists and the general dentists. A total of 346 Fixed Prosthodontic Laboratory Tracking Sheets for the 2012 academic year were reviewed. The results showed that, overall, 73% of submitted impressions were acceptable at initial evaluation, 16% had to be poured first and re-evaluated for quality prior to pindexing, 7% had multiple impressions submitted for transfer dies, and 4% were rejected for poor quality. There were higher acceptance rates for impressions and work authorizations for cases staffed by prosthodontists than by general dentists, but the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.0584 and p=0.0666, respectively). Regarding the work authorizations, 43% overall did not provide sufficient information or had technical errors that delayed prosthesis fabrication. The most common errors were incorrect mountings, absence of solid casts, inadequate description of margins for porcelain fused to metal crowns, inaccurate die trimming, and margin marking. The percentages of errors in cases supervised by general dentists and prosthodontists were similar for 17 of the 18 types of errors identified; only for margin description was the percentage of errors statistically significantly higher for general dentist-supervised than prosthodontist-supervised cases. These results highlighted the ongoing need for faculty development and calibration to ensure students receive the highest quality education from all faculty members teaching fixed prosthodontics.
Quantifying point defects in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films using resonant x-ray diffraction

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 is an interesting, earth abundant photovoltaic material, but has suffered from low open circuit voltage. To better understand the film structure, we have measured resonant x-ray diffraction across the Cu and Zn K-edges for the device quality thin films of Cu2ZnSnS4 (8.6% efficiency) and Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (3.5% efficiency). This approach allows for the confirmation of the underlying kesterite structure and quantification of the concentration of point defects and vacancies on the Cu, Zn, and Sn sublattices. Rietveld refinement of powder diffraction data collected at multiple energies is used to determine that there exists a high level of CuZn and ZnCu defects on the 2c and 2d Wyckoff positions. We observe a significantly lower concentration of ZnSn defects and Cu or Zn vacancies.
Theistic Modal Realism II: Theoretical Benefits

In Sections 1–7, I provide a detailed description of some of the advantages of theistic modal realism. The aim is to show specifically how theistic modal realism solves many of the intractable problems of philosophical theology. A detailed description of all of the advantages would require a much longer treatment. The aim is to give a good sense of the theoretical benefits that theistic modal realism affords traditional theists. I offer some concluding remarks in Section 8.
Conservation of social effects (Ψ) between two species of Drosophila despite reversal of sexual dimorphism.

Indirect genetic effects (IGEs) describe the effect of the genes of social partners on the phenotype of a focal individual. Here, we measure indirect genetic effects using the "coefficient of interaction" (Ψ) to test whether Ψ evolved between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. We compare Ψ for locomotion between ethanol and nonethanol environments in both species, but only D. melanogaster utilizes ethanol ecologically. We find that while sexual dimorphism for locomotion has been reversed in D. simulans, there has been no evolution of social effects between these two species. What did evolve was the interaction between genotype-specific Ψ and the environment, as D. melanogaster varies unpredictably between environments and D. simulans does not. In this system, this suggests evolutionary lability of sexual dimorphism but a conservation of social effects, which brings forth interesting questions about the role of the social environment in sexual selection.
Theoretical and Practical Studies on the Metabolic Engineering of Streptomyces for Production of Butanols

Production of biofuels is a significant technical and commercial challenge To compete effectively with fossil fuels the efficiency of processes that convert sustainable feedstocks to biofuel has to be improved Ideally the ultimate aim is a single process that degrades the renewable feedstock quickly and delivers high titers of biofuel at a price that is competitive with equivalent fuel from fossil sources However the microbes that are currently being investigated for biofuel production fall into two categories those that degrade cellulosic feedstock but cannot make biofuels effectively and those that do make biofuels but are poor at degrading the cellulosic feedstock When biofuel production is engineered into cellulose degraders or cellulose degradation engineered into microbes with capability to produce biofuel another factor lignin content a toxic component in most sustainable feedstocks comes into play This review considers the latent opportunity to harness Streptomyces bacteria to address this issue
Aerobic fitness alters the capacity of mononuclear cells to produce pentraxin 3 following maximal exercise.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a vital regulator of innate immune function. Although plasma PTX3 concentrations are elevated with aerobic fitness, the cellular functions of PTX3 remain unknown in aerobically trained and untrained subjects. Thirty individuals (aerobically trained = 15 and untrained = 15) participated in a maximal exercise protocol to examine ex vivo PTX3 production from isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exposed to LPS or palmitate. The capacity of PTX3 to stimulate inflammatory cytokine production ex vivo was also examined. Elevated plasma PTX3 concentrations prior to exercise were positively associated with the percent change (pre to post exercise) in plasma PTX3 concentrations in all subjects, independent of cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max). In addition, elevated plasma PTX3 concentrations in aerobically trained subjects at rest predicted changes in the LPS- and palmitate-stimulated PTX3 production from isolated PBMCs following acute exercise. In response to PTX3 simulation, the capacity of PBMCs to produce the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was decreased following acute exercise in all subject (no changes in IL-6, TGF-β1, and TNF-α observed). However, the percent change in IL-6 production was positively associated with VO2max in all subjects, and in aerobically trained subjects only, positively associated with elevated plasma PTX3 concentrations at rest and in response to acute exercise. These results suggest that aerobic training enhances the utilization of plasma PTX3 concentrations to predict the capacity of mononuclear cells to produce PTX3, and potentially, its reciprocal role of PTX3 as an initiator of the innate immune response following maximal exercise.
A modular concept for hybridized manual transmissions

Manual transmissions combine the advantages of lowest weight, highest efficiency and lowest cost compared with all other light vehicle transmission types. This is reflected in the market share and the expected total volume of manual transmissions in the global markets. However, the concept of a manually shifted transmission needs to be adapted to upcoming market requirements: the need to integrate hybrid features in the powertrains to meet future legislated emission limits tightened NOx and particulate emission limits in cities and potential restrictions for the use of Diesel powered vehicles in inner city districts need for compatibility of today’s manual transmissions with advanced driver assistance functions The GETRAG concept to address this challenge is based on a step-by-step upgrade of the transmission’s function, where each step is building on the previous and provides a functional enhancement on it’s own. All components and functions are fully integrated into the transmission in consideration of the installation package in the vehicle engine bay thus minimizing the complexity and specific effort to offer hybrid and conventional powertrains versions in the same vehicle. The GETRAG hybrid manual transmission (HMT) concept offers specific advantages for small and mid size powertrains as a cost efficient option to create mild hybrid variants on the base of a 48V electric system. By the use of a standardized GETRAG hybrid part kit shared with the GETRAG Hybrid DCT program (6HDT200 / 7HDT300) the cost are held low while technical and development risks are minimized. For vehicle assembly the integrated solution offers the benefit of a fully tested unit ready to be mounted into the vehicle. The modularity of the system enables upgrade opportunities to automated hybrid transmissions (AHT) and – package neutral - to high voltage hybrid units for PHEVs and therefore purely electric driving in restricted inner cities.
Host Country Institutional Factors as Determinants of Direct Selling Industry Success

Direct selling firms must consider international expansion for long term survival (Franco 2010). The international direct selling industry is $114 billion in sales with 62.7 million salespeople. Direct selling has been described as a self-employed, entrepreneurial activity that leverages network forms of social capital through membership in social structures in a person to person selling environment.
The Aporia of Time-Analysis—Reflection Across the Transcendental Divide

The presentation of the phenomenological analysis of temporality that has been taken as the standard, Edmund Husserl’s The Phenomenology of Internal Time-Consciousness, is, as everyone knows, not Husserl’s full word on the subject, but really only the first of the three distinct series of studies he produced on the topic. Curiously, therefore, and paradoxically, while this standard treatment is taken as authoritative, it is recognized at the same time as only a first-state, first-level treatment that has been awaiting its further deepening and critical interpretation ever since its publication in 1928. True, portions of the work Husserl did in his second set of studies, the Bernau manuscripts of 1917–1918, were incorporated into the texts published in 1928;1 but both the Bernau set and the C-series remain to this day unedited and unpublished as a whole. The result is that, largely speaking, the thematic thrust of Husserl’s work through the second and third stage manuscripts is still only partially explicated. Individual papers by Rudolf Bernet have critical explications of Husserl’s classic analysis,2 and Klaus Held has done a fine job in his study of the C-series in his Lebendige Gegenwart; 3 but a full systematic interpretation of Husserl’s work through the three stages, in terms of the issues that drove his analyses and the conditions that either allow his work to succeed or hold it to inadequacy and limitation, this has not yet been adequately attempted.