cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Storm-induced inner-continental shelf circulation and sediment transport: Long Bay, South Carolina

Abstract Long Bay is a sediment-starved, arcuate embayment located along the US East Coast connecting both South and North Carolina. In this region the rates and pathways of sediment transport are important because they determine the availability of sediments for beach nourishment, seafloor habitat, and navigation. The impact of storms on sediment transport magnitude and direction were investigated during the period October 2003–April 2004 using bottom mounted flow meters, acoustic backscatter sensors and rotary sonars deployed at eight sites offshore of Myrtle Beach, SC, to measure currents, water levels, surface waves, salinity, temperature, suspended sediment concentrations, and bedform morphology. Measurements identify that sediment mobility is caused by waves and wind driven currents from three predominant types of storm patterns that pass through this region: (1) cold fronts, (2) warm fronts and (3) low-pressure storms. The passage of a cold front is accompanied by a rapid change in wind direction from primarily northeastward to southwestward. The passage of a warm front is accompanied by an opposite change in wind direction from mainly southwestward to northeastward. Low-pressure systems passing offshore are accompanied by a change in wind direction from southwestward to southeastward as the offshore storm moves from south to north. During the passage of cold fronts more sediment is transported when winds are northeastward and directed onshore than when the winds are directed offshore, creating a net sediment flux to the north–east. Likewise, even though the warm front has an opposite wind pattern, net sediment flux is typically to the north–east due to the larger fetch when the winds are northeastward and directed onshore. During the passage of low-pressure systems strong winds, waves, and currents to the south are sustained creating a net sediment flux southwestward. During the 3-month deployment a total of 8 cold fronts, 10 warm fronts, and 10 low-pressure systems drove a net sediment flux southwestward. Analysis of a 12-year data record from a local buoy shows an average of 41 cold fronts, 32 warm fronts, and 26 low-pressure systems per year. The culmination of these events would yield a cumulative net inner-continental shelf transport to the south–west, a trend that is further verified by sediment textural analysis and bedform morphology on the inner-continental shelf.
Latitudinal Variation of Pacific Herring Fecundity

Abstract Fecundity relationships of 156 female herring (Clupea harengus pallasi) from Prince William Sound were studied. Upon comparison with other North American populations of Pacific herring, we found a progressive decrease in fecundity at a particular body size with increasing latitude. We also found an increase in mean length and mean fecundity of spawner with latitude.
Characterization of an alternative oxidase activity of Histoplasma capsulatum

Histoplasma capsulatum possesses a branched mitochondrial electron transport chain, with both cyanide-sensitive and -insensitive oxygen-consuming activities. The latter, carried out by a single subunit enzyme termed 'alternative oxidase', is the focus of this report. AOX1 cDNA clones were isolated and direct evidence that the cDNA ORF encodes functional alternative oxidase is reported. Also reported are the generation of an antiserum to the AOX1 protein product, and specific detection in vivo of the mRNA and protein products of the AOX1 gene. Finally, initial studies of regulation of H. capsulatum AOX1 gene expression demonstrated that RNA abundance was increased after hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress and after inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport enzymes with antimycin A or sodium cyanide. This pattern of regulation is consistent with the hypothesis that alternative oxidase contributes to survival of H. capsulatum after oxidative or metabolic stress and may be important for virulence of this pathogenic organism. The GenBank Accession Nos for the cDNA sequences reported in this paper are AF133236, AF133237 (AOX1).
The Mott insulator model of the Si(111)-(2 × 1) surface

Theoretical cluster calculations for the Si(111)–(2×1) surface lead to a description in which there is a singly occupied dangling bond on each surface atom. These orbitals are weakly coupled, forming a nondegenerate, nonmetallic two-dimensional Mott insulator, a description involving very strong electron correlation effects. Strong experimental support for this Mott insulator description is provided by (i) the magnitude of Si(2p) core level shifts, (ii) the dispersion of the dangling bond energy bands, and (iii) the absolute ionization potential from the dangling bond levels.
Distant synchrony and the one-way velocity of light

A number of physical processes and experimental procedures are listed which appear to be inexplicable in the context of the conventionality thesis of Reichenbach and Grunbaum. Distant synchrony can be produced by procedures based on the free displacement or rotation of elastic solids. Results are expected to agree with Einstein's definition of distant synchrony (by means of light signals, assuming isotropy). The one-way velocity of light can be measured using a rotating shaft, slotted disks, and one stationary clock.
Legal trends and agricultural biotechnology: effects on developing countries

The application of agricultural biotechnology in developing nations is influenced by certain current legal trends. In addition to the traditional issues of intellectual property and environmental safety, the practical regulatory issues that restrict biotechnology research and application are considered in this review.
The Use of Whole Saliva in the Differential Diagnosis of Sjögren's Syndrome:

Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) is a chronic, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is characterized by (1) generalized exocrine gland dysfunction, (2) serologic abnormalities, and (3) organ-system changes. Oral changes are a prominent feature of this disease. Among these are xerostomia and hypofunction of the salivary glands. Given the intimate relationship between SS and the salivary glands, it is reasonable to postulate that whole saliva (WS) contains the stigmata associated with the presence of this disease. But few studies have been conducted on this secretion. Indeed, WS has largely been neglected and ignored by physicians, dentists, and scientists. Objections to its use have included the fact that it is "impure", that it does not adequately represent what is present in the salivary glands, that no standards have been established for its rate of flow, and that findings based on it lack specificity. Yet, it is this secretion which coats and protects the hard and soft oral tissues, enables us to prepare our food for digestion, and assists our speech. This review will demonstrate that there is a uniqueness and constancy to whole saliva and that it may be used to diagnose the presence of SS. "Screening tests", which include several simple-to-perform sialometric, chemical, and microbiologic procedures, may be conducted in doctors' offices to establish the "profile" of an SS patient. Electrophoretic studies may be used to study the nature of the salivary proteins, and an immunologic test, which is performed on WS and utilizes Western Blot Autoantibody Strips (ImmunoVision, Springdale, AR), may be used to establish the definitive diagnosis of SS.
An elasto-plastic constitutive model for brittle-ductile transition in porous rocks

Abstract A unified elasto-plastic constitutive model based on the observed behavior of porous rocks is proposed. The model utilizes the concept of critical state (CS), used for soils in the Cam clay models, to separate brittle dilatant deformations from the compactive ones. The CS represents ultimate (residual) state of stress at which large shear deformantions occurs with steady level of stresses and fixed porosity. The Cam-clay phenomenology is combined with the poroelasticity theory to develop a comprehensive elasto-plastic model for porous rocks. The yield surface is allowed to evolve with both plastic volumetric and deviatoric strain such that dilatant hardening/softening and compactive yielding can be predicted. The potential function is assumed to have the same form as the yield function, but the constants have different values to predict non-associative dilatancy. The model parameters are evaluated from the experimental data of sandstones and the model capabilities are demonstrated through the calculated mechanical response in triaxial tests under a wide range of confining pressures.
Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri biofilms produce antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory factors

Background Commensal-derived probiotic bacteria inhibit enteric pathogens and regulate host immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract, but studies examining specific functions of beneficial microbes in the context of biofilms have been limited in scope.
Home and hospital antibiotic treatment prove similarly effective in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Home intravenous antibiotic treatment has added to therapeutic options against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients leading to increased flexibility. A prospective clinical study was carried out to compare home and hospital iv antibiotic treatment in CF patients with chronic P. aeruginosa infection. Patients and Methods: Treatment courses were planned selectively, exacerbations were excluded. 28 consecutive hospital courses (group 1) were compared with 30 home care courses (group 2). Chest physiotherapy and nutrition therapy were carried on in both groups. Antibiotic treatment in both groups consisted of tobramycin and ceftazidime, with equal dosage and application. Groups were compared using clinical, inflammatory and microbiological parameters. Results: There was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in peripheral leukocyte counts before and after therapy in both groups. The same was true for forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1; p ≤ 0.05), weight for height (p ≤ 0.005) and for Pseudomonas counts (p ≤ 0.005) in sputa. There was no statistical difference between the two groups for any of the parameters tested. Conclusion: It is concluded that, when exacerbations are excluded, home iv therapy is an effective therapeutic option in CF. Long-term comparison is still needed to effectively evaluate the pros and cons of home and hospital antibiotic treatment in CF.
Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposite Particles for In Vitro Imaging and Encapsulated Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells

Paradigm-shifting modalities to more efficiently deliver drugs to cancerous lesions require the following attributes: nanoscale-size, targetability, and stability under physiological conditions. Often, these nanoscale drug delivery vehicles are limited due to agglomeration, poor solubility, or cytotoxicity. Thus, we have designed a methodology to encapsulate hydrophobic antineoplastic chemotherapeutics within a 20−30 nm diameter, pH-responsive, nonagglomerating, nontoxic calcium phosphate nanoparticle matrix. In the present study, we report on calcium phosphate nanocomposite particles (CPNPs) that encapsulate both fluorophores and chemotherapeutics, are colloidally stable in physiological solution for an extended time at 37 °C and can efficaciously deliver hydrophobic antineoplastic agents, such as ceramide, in several cell model systems.
Triboelectrostatic separation of fly ash and charge reversal

Triboelectrostatic separation has been investigated as a method for separating unburned carbon from coal combustion fly ash. It was found that when a fly ash is exposed to moisture before it undergoes separation, the charging properties of the components of the fly ash change significantly. The mineral and carbon components of the fly ash appear to charge oppositely to how they were charged before exposure to moisture. A correlation was found between the degree of charge reversal and the relative amounts of leachable ions, especially calcium and sodium ions, present on the surface of the ash.
Externally refuelled optical filaments

Plasma channels induced in air by femtosecond-laser filamentation are useful for many applications, including attosecond physics and spectroscopy and remote sensing. By appropriately employing a surrounding auxiliary dressing beam to continuously supply energy to the filament, the natural range of the plasma column has been extended by at least one order of magnitude.
Opposed-flow flame spread over polymeric materials: influence of phase change

A numerical model for flame spread over polymeric surfaces is constructed. The dependence of the flame spread rate on phase change and thermal properties is investigated by varying three non-dimensional parameters, St, k # l, and C # Pl. Quantitative comparisons indicate that the numerical model provides excellent agreement to an analytical formula in the cases of variable latent heat of the phase change, variable liquid thermal capacity, and variable thermal conductivity. However, the deRis formula yields a constant spread rate higher than the numerical result and is independent of phase change. Qualitatively, with the increase of St ,o r with the decrease of k # l or C # Pl, the flame spread rate increases. In addition, k # l is the strongest determinant of the influence of the thickness of the liquid region. The mechanisms of flame spread at the steady state are interpreted by applying an energy balance principle for the control volume upstream of the flame leading edge. It is found that a ratio between the total heat applied to the condensed material upstream of the flame leading edge and the spread rate reveals the physical mechanisms that control the preheating of the condensed material to the ignition temperature. The dependence of flame structure on St, k # l, and C # Pl is studied. It is found that with the increase of St or k l, or with the decrease of C # Pl, the size of the flame increases. These results indicate that flame size dependence follows the magnitude of the spread rate when the properties of the condensed material are variable. © 2001 by The Combustion Institute
Deficit thinking redux: cultural deficit discourse and an urban community and school in Fiji

Cultural deficit thinking comprises a complex of coded labels and descriptive variables that focus an essentializing, critical lens on the parenting, values and ‘home environment’ of the poor and working class. With origins in the US, cultural deficit discourse's cooptation in Fiji is revealed in language used by school staff to assess Fijian students and parents identified with low-income housing estates. To understand how and why Fijians in housing estates were singled out for deficit labeling first requires excavating the colonial roots of cultural deficit models endogenous to Fiji, as Fijians became the conspicuous focus of local forms of surveillance and cultural reform during colonialism. It also requires exploring the context for the cooptation of deficit thinking, as efforts were directed to explain and redress lower Fijian educational attainment on the eve of Fiji's political independence.
Effect of 6-month adherence to a very low carbohydrate diet program

To determine the effect of a 6-month very low carbohydrate diet program on body weight and other metabolic parameters.Fifty-one overweight or obese healthy volunteers who wanted to lose weight were placed on a very low carbohydrate diet (<25 g/d), with no limit on caloric intake. They also received nutritional supplementation and recommendations about exercise, and attended group meetings at a research clinic. The outcomes were body weight, body mass index, percentage of body fat (estimated by skinfold thickness), serum chemistry and lipid values, 24-hour urine measurements, and subjective adverse effects.Forty-one (80%) of the 51 subjects attended visits through 6 months. In these subjects, the mean (+/- SD) body weight decreased 10.3% +/- 5.9% (P <0.001) from baseline to 6 months (body weight reduction of 9.0 +/- 5.3 kg and body mass index reduction of 3.2 +/- 1.9 kg/m(2)). The mean percentage of body weight that was fat decreased 2.9% +/- 3.2% from baseline to 6 months (P <0.001). The mean serum bicarbonate level decreased 2 +/- 2.4 mmol/L (P <0.001) and blood urea nitrogen level increased 2 +/- 4 mg/dL (P <0.001). Serum total cholesterol level decreased 11 +/- 26 mg/dL (P = 0.006), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased 10 +/- 25 mg/dL (P = 0.01), triglyceride level decreased 56 +/- 45 mg/dL (P <0.001), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level increased 10 +/- 8 mg/dL (P <0.001), and the cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio decreased 0.9 +/- 0.6 units (P <0.001). There were no serious adverse effects, but the possibility of adverse effects in the 10 subjects who did not adhere to the program cannot be eliminated.A very low carbohydrate diet program led to sustained weight loss during a 6-month period. Further controlled research is warranted.
Adenovirus E1A N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequence Requirements for Repression of Transcription In Vitro and In Vivo Correlate with Those Required for E1A Interference with TBP-TATA Complex Formation

The adenovirus (Ad) E1A 243R oncoprotein encodes an N-terminal transcription repression domain that is essential for early viral functions, cell immortalization, and cell transformation. The transcription repression function requires sequences within amino acids 1 to 30 and 48 to 60. To elucidate the roles of the TATA-binding protein (TBP), p300, and the CREB-binding protein (CBP) in the mechanism(s) of E1A repression, we have constructed 29 amino acid substitution mutants and 5 deletion mutants spanning the first 30 amino acids within the E1A 1-80 polypeptide backbone. These mutant E1A polypeptides were characterized with regard to six parameters: the ability to repress transcription in vitro and in vivo, to disrupt TBP-TATA box interaction, and to bind TBP, p300, and CBP. Two regions within E1A residues 1 to 30, amino acids 2 to 6 and amino acid 20, are critical for E1A transcription repression in vitro and in vivo and for the ability to interfere with TBP-TATA interaction. Replacement of 6Cys with Ala in the first region yields the most defective mutant. Replacement of 20Leu with Ala, but not substitutions in flanking residues, yields a substantially defective phenotype. Protein binding assays demonstrate that replacement of 6Cys with Ala yields a mutant completely defective in interaction with TBP, p300, and CBP. Our findings are consistent with a model in which the E1A repression function involves interaction of E1A with p300/CBP and interference with the formation of a TBP-TATA box complex.
Marine Chemical Technology and Sensors for Marine Waters: Potentials and Limits

A significant need exists for in situ sensors that can measure chemical species involved in the major processes of primary production (photosynthesis and chemosynthesis) and respiration. Some key chemical species are O2, nutrients (N and P), micronutrients (metals), pCO2, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), pH, and sulfide. Sensors need to have excellent detection limits, precision, selectivity, response time, a large dynamic concentration range, low power consumption, robustness, and less variation of instrument response with temperature and pressure, as well as be free from fouling problems (biological, physical, and chemical). Here we review the principles of operation of most sensors used in marine waters. We also show that some sensors can be used in several different oceanic environments to detect the target chemical species, whereas others are useful in only one environment because of various limitations. Several sensors can be used truly in situ, whereas many others involve water brought into a flow cell via tubing to the analyzer in the environment or aboard ship. Multi-element sensors that measure many chemical species in the same water mass should be targeted for further development.
Ectopic Atoh1 expression drives Merkel cell production in embryonic, postnatal and adult mouse epidermis.

Merkel cells are mechanosensitive skin cells whose production requires the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Atoh1. We induced ectopic Atoh1 expression in the skin of transgenic mice to determine whether Atoh1 was sufficient to create additional Merkel cells. In embryos, ectopic Atoh1 expression drove ectopic expression of the Merkel cell marker keratin 8 (K8) throughout the epidermis. Epidermal Atoh1 induction in adolescent mice similarly drove widespread K8 expression in glabrous skin of the paws, but in the whisker pads and body skin ectopic K8+ cells were confined to hair follicles and absent from interfollicular regions. Ectopic K8+ cells acquired several characteristics of mature Merkel cells in a time frame similar to that seen during postnatal development of normal Merkel cells. Although ectopic K8+ cell numbers decreased over time, small numbers of these cells remained in deep regions of body skin hair follicles at 3 months post-induction. In adult mice, greater numbers of ectopic K8+ cells were created by Atoh1 induction during anagen versus telogen and following disruption of Notch signaling by conditional deletion of Rbpj in the epidermis. Our data demonstrate that Atoh1 expression is sufficient to produce new Merkel cells in the epidermis, that epidermal cell competency to respond to Atoh1 varies by skin location, developmental age and hair cycle stage, and that the Notch pathway plays a key role in limiting epidermal cell competency to respond to Atoh1 expression.
Adequate Vitamin D Status May Prevent Subsequent Tooth Loss

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Prospective study of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and tooth loss. Zhan Y, Samietz S, Holtfreter B, Hannemann A, Meisel P, Nauck M, Volzke H, Wallaschofski H, Dietrich T, Kocher T. J Dent Res 2014;93(7):639-44. Reviewer Amy E. Millen, PhD Purpose/Question The authors analyzed data from a prospective, population-based study in northeast Germany to examine the association between baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH)]D) concentrations, a marker of vitamin D status, and the occurrence of tooth loss and the progression of periodontal disease and caries status over a mean 5.9 years of follow-up. Source of Funding German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant 01ZZ96030, 01ZZ0701). The Ministry of Education, Research, and Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (Government). Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontal Inflammatory Disease (grant 290246), Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union (Government). GABA, Switzerland, Immunodiagnostic Systems (Industry) Type of Study/Design Cohort study (prospective) Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Japanese Multinationals in the United States: Continuity and Change, 1879–1990

A great deal of attention has recently been focused on the extent of Japanese direct investment in the United States. In the following historical survey, Professor Wilkins details the size and scope of these investments from the late nineteenth century, showing that Japanese involvements in America have deep historical roots. At the same time, she analyzes the ways in which late twentieth century Japanese direct investment differs from the earlier phenomenon and attempts to explain why it has aroused such concern among both business leaders and the general public.
The role of event water, a rapid shallow flow component, and catchment size in summer stormflow

Seven nested headwater catchments (8 to 161 ha) were monitored during five summer rain events to evaluate storm runoff components and the effect of catchment size on water sources. Two-component isotopic hydrograph separation showed that event-water contributions near the time of peakflow ranged from 49% to 62% in the 7 catchments during the highest intensity event. The proportion of event water in stormflow was greater than could be accounted for by direct precipitation onto saturated areas. DOC concentrations in stormflow were strongly correlated with stream 18 O composition. Bivariate mixing diagrams indicated that the large event water contributions were likely derived from flow through the soil O-horizon. Results from twotracer, three-component hydrograph separations showed that the throughfall and O-horizon soil-water components together could account for the estimated contributions of event water to stormflow. End-member mixing analysis confirmed these results. Estimated event-water contributions were inversely related to catchment size, but the relation was significant for only the event with greatest rainfall intensity. Our results suggest that perched, shallow subsurface flow provides a substantial contribution to summer stormflow in these small catchments, but the relative contribution of this component decreases with catchment size. q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Language and interpretation of clinical trial outcomes: alternates, surrogates, and composites.

a l g a i m h a o i i h n p T c w e p a d s i i a The scientific writer of clinical trial outcomes bears a emanding responsibility for accuracy and precision. As the ontent of a new major scientific report finds its way rapidly nto the public arena, the outcomes reported by the invesigators are characteristically simplified, and occasionally istorted, by lay media and professional reporting services. he accuracy of information moved forward to the public omain relates, at least in part, to the clarity with which data re presented and discussed. The writer’s chore is further mpacted by endpoints used in study design. Mortality, and number of other single endpoints, is inherently precise and lear as primary endpoints. In contrast, interpretation of ther prespecified outcomes has become more complicated n recent years with the evolving popularity of composite ndpoints, intended to increase the power of trial design. Clinical trials of greatest interest are those addressing ommon clinical conditions and therapies that are practical nd useful for the clinician. Accordingly, atrial fibrillation AF) has attracted clinical trialists in recent years because of he increasing incidence of AF in an aging population, the ssociated risk of potentially devastating stroke, and new edical and interventional strategies. One trial addressing his arrhythmia—the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investiation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial—was deigned to test the benefit of heart rate control, compared to hythm control, as a primary strategy for management. FFIRM is among the largest and best designed of such linical trials. The two therapeutic strategies were tested gainst a primary endpoint of all-cause mortality. The data emonstrated equivalence of the two strategies with a hint hat the overall benefit might be a bit better in the rate ontrol than in the rhythm control group. Unfortunately, the cost to carry out a study like AFFIRM s substantial because of the relatively low mortality risk nd the limited impact of AF therapies on death among the opulation enrolled in the study. In this issue of Heart hythm, Wyse et al provide a secondary analysis of the
Design, fabrication, and performance of infrared and visible vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

This paper discusses the issues involving the design and fabrication of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). A review of the basic experimental structures is given, with emphasis on recent developments in distributed Bragg reflectors, gain media, as well as current and optical confinement techniques. The paper describes present VCSEL performance, in particular, those involving selective oxidation and visible wavelength operation.
The Lester Attitude toward Death Scale

This article publishes the Lester Attitude Toward Death Scale for the first time, together with data on its reliability and validity. The scale is different from other fear of death scales in its use of a scaled value approach that permits a measure of inconsistency in attitudes.
Estimates of core–mantle torques from rotational and gravitational data

SUMMARY In this study, the amount of core participation in rotational accelerations of the mantle is used to infer the strength of core‐mantle coupling at various tidal periods. Determining the role of the core in rotational fluctuations depends on our ability to quantify the contributions by the oceans, solid earth and atmosphere to the rotational signals. At lunar tidal nine-day and fortnightly periods, estimates of core participation are taken from the analysis of length-of-day data by Dickman & Nam (1995), which incorporated theoretical predictions of the oceanic and solid-earth contributions. Maximum torques at these two periods consistent with observation are estimated to be 1.5r10 16 and 2.4r10 17 N m, respectively. At seasonal periods, a novel approach is presented that employs time-dependent gravitational data to quantify all of the mass redistributions that excite seasonal changes in the length of day. Combined with rotational data, our efforts to constrain core participation meet with only limited success at the annual period, as a result of larger-than-optimal uncertainties in both the gravity data and especially the rotational signal. Because those error bars should improve over time, our gravitational approach can eventually be expected to provide useful bounds on annual axial torques between the core and mantle. At the semi-annual period, in contrast, all uncertainties are much smaller but the gravity data are not yet reliable.
POT1 Association with TRF2 Regulates Telomere Length

Deleting the OB folds encoding the telomeric single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding activity of the human telomeric protein POT1 induces significant telomere elongation, suggesting that at least one critical aspect of the regulation of telomere length is disrupted by this POT1(DeltaOB) mutant protein. POT1 is known to associate with two proteins through the protein interaction domain retained in POT1(DeltaOB)-the telomeric double-stranded DNA-binding protein TRF2 and the telomere-associated protein TPP1. We report that introducing a mutation that reduces association of POT1 with TRF2, but not a mutation that reduces the association with TPP1, abrogates the ability of POT1(DeltaOB) to promote telomere elongation. Mechanistically, expression of POT1(DeltaOB) reduced the association of TRF2 with POT1, RAP1, and TIN2; however, of these proteins, only ectopic expression of POT1 suppressed the telomere elongation induced by POT1(DeltaOB). Lastly, replacing endogenous POT1 with a full-length POT1 mutant defective in the association with TRF2 induced telomere elongation. Thus, we conclude that the association of POT1 with both ssDNA and TRF2 is critical for telomere length homeostasis.
Exercise-Related Ventilatory Abnormalities and Survival in Congestive Heart Failure

This retrospective study of 104 New York Heart Association class 1 to 4 heart failure patients undergoing exercise stress testing with gas exchange analysis demonstrated that the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide at anaerobic threshold is useful in determining prognosis in patients with severe congestive heart failure, particularly when used in combination with peak exercise oxygen consumption. A ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide >50 and peak oxygen consumption < or =15.0 ml/kg/min defines a very high-risk patient group who should be prioritized for transplantation.
The FLOWS Automatic Weather Station Network

Abstract This report describes in detail the FLOWS (FAA-Lincoln Laboratory Operational Weather Studies) automatic weather station network which is being used in the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar program to assess the radar detectability of wind shear and to help gain an understanding of microburst forcing mechanisms. The weather stations are descended from the PROBE stations originally operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The current instrumentation has been modified slightly but is largely the same as that originally used as is the hardware structure, but the data collection platforms are entirely new. Each station in the 30-station network transmits 1 min averages of temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation amounts, as well as peak wind speed, on a single GOES satellite channel. Performance results from the first 3 yr (1984–86) of mesonet operations are presented. During June and July 1986 the FLOWS network was collocated with the NCAR PAM-II n...
Explicating hypergonadotropism in postmenopausal women: a statistical model

Neurohormone secretion is viewed here as a variable (unknown) admixture of basal and pulsatile release mechanisms, convolved with individually fitted biexponential elimination kinetics. This construct allows maximum-likelihood estimates of both (regulated and constitutive) components of hormone secretion. Thereby, we infer that a prolonged slow-component half-life of gonadotropin removal and amplified pulsatile (and total) daily luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion rates jointly explicate the postmenopausal elevation in serum LH concentrations without a necessary rise in basal LH secretion rates. This biomathematical formulation should be useful in exploring other neuroregulatory mechanisms that underlie single or dual alterations in the basal versus pulsatile modes of hormone secretion.
Natural Selection, Causality, and Laws: What Fodor and Piatelli-Palmarini Got Wrong*

In their book What Darwin Got Wrong, Jerry Fodor and Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini construct an a priori philosophical argument and an empirical biological argument. The biological argument aims to show that natural selection is much less important in the evolutionary process than many biologists maintain. The a priori argument begins with the claim that there cannot be selection for one but not the other of two traits that are perfectly correlated in a population; it concludes that there cannot be an evolutionary theory of adaptation. This article focuses mainly on the a priori argument.
Two-photon holographic recording in stoichiometric Lithium niobate

Optically gated two-photon recording and nonvolatile readout in volume holographic data storage uses a pair of mutually incoherent light sources during recording and only one for readout. Substantial (up to two orders of magnitude) improvement in two-photon recording sensitivity can be achieved in stoichiometric partially reduced lithium niobate. By adding certain deep donor dopants (Fe and Mn) to near- stoichiometric LiNbO3 we can increase dark storage time and gating efficiency compared with undoped material. The recording mechanism involves small polarons as metastable shallow species and bipolarons (in undoped material) or extrinsic donors (in Fe- or Mndoped material) as deep levels.
Financial Markets Research in Marketing

Not too long ago the use of financial market data was viewed as outside the area of marketing and the interactions of marketing with the financial markets were little studied. Increasingly marketers are better appreciating the benefits of understanding how financial market data can be used to assess the value implications of marketing constructs and studying the effects of marketing variables on the financial markets. Marketing does not have a long track record of working with the financial markets theory and methods; work in this area is still evolving and, indeed, is in a state of flux. We focus on three reoccurring issues in this research domain: i) the use of VAR modeling in identifying financial market anomalies; ii) the limitations to working with levels models in valuation analyses; and iii) working with Tobin's Q as opposed to the stock return metric.
Abstract 2661: Healthcare utilization by race and sex among a nationally representative sample of adults with and without a personal history of cancer

Background: Men and minorities suffer higher burdens from cancer. Healthcare utilization differences may contribute to this major public health problem. Aim: To compare utilization of healthcare services by race and sex among adults with and without a history of cancer as measured by having at least one doctor9s visit within the last 12 months. Methods: We analyzed data from 7,229 responders to the 2007 Health Information and National Trends Survey (HINTS). We identified participants with and without a personal history of cancer and compared them by race and sex with having a doctor9s visit within the previous 12 months. We used logistic regression models to calculate Odd Ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The mean age of respondents was 54.1 years, 38.8% males, 76.1% whites, 9.4% blacks, and 8.6% Hispanics. Of the respondents, 88.8% had health insurance (92.5% whites, 78.9% blacks, and 69.1% Hispanics; P value Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2661. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2661
The In-Situ Measurement Of Biaxial Modulus And Residual Stress Of Multi-Layer Polymeric Thin Films

Polymeric coatings have been used in many ways from automobile paints to package coatings for integrated circuits. It is important to understand the mechanical properties of coatings in order to ensure fulfilling their designed functions. To measure these properties, in situ measurement techniques are desirable since these techniques measure the mechanical properties of coatings in the presence of the correct residual stress. In addition, the coatings most commonly used are multi-layer structures, a fact which increases the difficulty of the mechanical analysis. At present, the in situ mechanical behavior of multi-layer coatings has not been well characterized, and very few researchers have reported a satisfactory way to analyze multi-layer problems.
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine receipt in older persons with chronic disease: a population-based study.

Objective.To identify factors associated with receipt of the pneumococcal and influenza vaccines among community-dwelling older persons with chronic disease.Methods.A population-based sample of urban and rural Iowa adults age 65 years and older with one or more self-reported target medical condition
Reactions of Azine Anions with Nitrogen and Oxygen Atoms: Implications for Titan’s Upper Atmosphere and Interstellar Chemistry

Azines are important in many extraterrestrial environments, from the atmosphere of Titan to the interstellar medium. They have been implicated as possible carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands in astronomy, indicating their persistence in interstellar space. Most importantly, they constitute the basic building blocks of DNA and RNA, so their chemical reactivity in these environments has significant astrobiological implications. In addition, N and O atoms are widely observed in the ISM and in the ionospheres of planets and moons. However, the chemical reactions of molecular anions with abundant interstellar and atmospheric atomic species are largely unexplored. In this paper, gas-phase reactions of deprotonated anions of benzene, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, and s-triazine with N and O atoms are studied both experimentally and computationally. In all cases, the major reaction channel is associative electron detachment; these reactions are particularly important since they control the balance between negative ions and free electron densities. The reactions of the azine anions with N atoms exhibit larger rate constants than reactions of corresponding chain anions. The reactions of azine anions with O atoms are even more rapid, with complex product patterns for different reactants. The mechanisms are studied theoretically by employing density functional theory; spin conversion is found to be important in determining some product distributions. The rich gas-phase chemistry observed in this work provides a better understanding of ion-atom reactions and their contributions to ionospheric chemistry as well as the chemical processing that occurs in the boundary layers between diffuse and dense interstellar clouds.
Dynamic Response of the C2 Domain of Protein Kinase Cα to Ca2+ Binding

Ca2+-dependent conserved-region 2 (C2) domains target their host signaling proteins to anionic membranes. The Ca2+-binding event is a prerequisite for membrane association. Here, we investigate multiscale metal-ion-dependent dynamics of the C2 domain of protein kinase Cα (C2α) using NMR spectroscopy. Interactions with metal ions attenuate microsecond-timescale motions of the loop regions, indicating that preorganization of the metal-binding loops occurs before membrane insertion. Binding of a full complement of Ca2+ ions has a profound effect on the millisecond-timescale dynamics of the N- and C-terminal regions of C2α. We propose that Ca2+ binding allosterically destabilizes the terminal regions of C2α and thereby facilitates the conformational rearrangement necessary for full membrane insertion and activation of protein kinase Cα.
Regulation of dectin-1 in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells during host pathogen interactions

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic infection and inflammation. Studies show that CF airways are frequently colonized with fungi. As a response, innate immune pattern recognition receptors sense the microbial threat and activate the immune response. Dectin-1 is a transmembrane receptor that plays a crucial part in the fungal recognition by host immune cells. It is expressed on myeloid cells, but few reports have described its inducible expression in pulmonary epithelial cell lines. However, the role of these receptors during pathogen recognition in CF lung disease remains incompletely understood. We used in vitro cell culture methods consisting of immortalized human bronchial epithelial (HBE) and cystic fibrosis (CFBE) cell lines and studied the expression and regulation of Dectin-1. The protein expression and localization of Dectin-1 was assessed using Fluorescence activated cell sorting and Immunofluorescence. mRNA levels were quantified using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We found that A. fumigatus induced higher intracellular Dectin-1 expression and mRNA in HBE cells, which was reduced in CFBE cells. Dectin-1 mRNA levels were higher and remained unchanged in CFBE cells after A. fumigatus challenge as compared to HBE cells. Localisation studies showed increased Dectin-1 expression after fungal stimulation in HBE cells. The overall expression of Dectin-1 was found to be lower in CFBE cells in comparison to HBE cells. In conclusion, the results shed a light on the biological role of CF bronchial epithelia in innate defence against A. fumigatus infection and the importance of Dectin-1 in this process.
Care continuity’s critical yet elusive role in healthcare

Barker and colleagues examine the association between continuity of care and unnecessary hospital admissions.1 Their person level study shows that patients with a usual source of primary care are less likely to have unnecessary hospital admissions. These findings corroborate a study my colleagues and I conducted to examine the …
Symptomatic Parietal Intradiploic Encephalocele—A Case Report and Literature Review

Encephalocele is a rare condition that consists of herniation of cerebral matter through openings of dura and skull. A majority of encephaloceles are congenital and manifest in childhood. We present a case of a 45-year-old man presenting with contralateral hemiparesis and found to have an extremely rare phenomenon of a symptomatic posttraumatic parietal intradiploic encephalocele (IE) manifesting 36 years following pediatric traumatic head injury. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed herniation of brain tissue into the intradiploic space. Surgical treatment with reduction of the encephalocele achieved near resolution of preoperative hemiparesis on follow-up. The pathogenesis and a literature review of IE are discussed.
Maxent-directed field surveys identify new populations of narrowly endemic habitat specialists

Background Rare or narrowly endemic organisms are difficult to monitor and conserve when their total distribution and habitat preferences are incompletely known. One method employed in determining distributions of these organisms is species distribution modeling (SDM). Methods Using two species of narrowly endemic burrowing crayfish species as our study organisms, we sought to ground validate Maxent, a commonly used program to conduct SDMs. We used fine scale (30 m) resolution rasters of pertinent habitat variables collected from historical museum records in 2014. We then ground validated the Maxent model in 2015 by randomly and equally sampling the output from the model. Results The Maxent models for both species of crayfish showed positive relationships between predicted relative occurrence rate and crayfish burrow abundance in both a Receiver Operating Characteristic and generalized linear model approach. The ground validation of Maxent led us to new populations and range extensions of both species of crayfish. Discussion We conclude that Maxent is a suitable tool for the discovery of new populations of narrowly endemic, rare habitat specialists and our technique may be used for other rare, endemic organisms.
Trust in Technicians in Paleontology Laboratories

New technologies can upset scientific workplaces’ established practices and social order. Scientists may therefore prefer preserving skilled manual work and the social status quo to revolutionary t...
Summary and Policy Recommendations

The 2011 census of Canada revealed a population growth of about 5.9 % from 2006 to 2011 (Statistics Canada 2012). However, Atlantic Canada’s population grew only by about 1.87 % (from 2.28 million in 2006 to 2.32 million in 2011). Immigration and fewer losses in net-migratory exchanges with other provinces led to this positive growth, which had been close to zero in the previous five-year period. However, the rate of population growth was still the slowest in the country; as a result, Atlantic Canada’s share of the national population declined from 7.2 to 6.9% between 2006 and 2011. Also, due to declining fertility rates and aging in the post-World War II period, the natural growth of population in the region has been on a more rapid decline than it has been nationally. Out-migration of population has been a chronic problem faced by population planners in the post-World War II period, so provinces in Atlantic Canada are now relying more on immigration to meet their demographic challenges.
Academic and Student Affairs in Collaboration: Creating a Culture of Student Success

AbstractCollaboration among academic affairs and student affairs occupies significant space in the higher education literature and remains an important topic discussed at many professional meetings. Seeking to partner with faculty in support of students has been a longstanding principle among student affairs practitioners in particular. The editors of Academic and Student Affairs in Collaboration argue past partnerships have often been ineffective, however. They and the various authors of this volume share ways they believe that authentic collaboration can occur and how it can be assessed to ensure and enhance student success outcomes. They build on past literature to argue that success remains possible through a collective and singular goal of student success, which fosters authentic collaboration among diverse areas. Readers interested in student success outcomes, retention and graduation in particular but also in other vital areas such as civic engagement, intercultural understanding, and ethical and p...