cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photophosphorylation in Attached Leaves of Helianthus annuus at Low Water Potentials.

The in situ response of photophosphorylation and coupling factor activity to low leaf water potential (ψL) was investigated using kinetic spectroscopy to measure the flash-induced electrochromic absorption change in attached sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv IS894) leaves. The electrochromic change is caused by the formation of an electric potential across the thylakoid membrane associated with proton uptake. Since depolarization of the thylakoid membrane following flash excitation is normally dominated by proton efflux through the coupling factor during ATP formation, this measurement can provide direct information about the catalytic activity of the coupling factor. Under low ψL conditions in which a clear nonstomatal limitation of net photosynthesis could be demonstrated, we found a strong inhibition of coupling factor activity in dark-adapted leaves which was probably caused by an increase in the energetic threshold for the activation of the enzyme at low ψL. While this result supported earlier in vitro findings, we further discovered that the light-dependent reduction of coupling factor reversed any observable effect of low ψL on the energetics of activation or on photophosphorylation competence. Furthermore, coupling factor was reduced, even in severely droughted sunflower, almost immediately upon illumination. Based on these measurements, we conclude that the nonstomatal limitation of photosynthesis observed by us and others in droughted plants cannot be explained by impaired coupling factor activity.
Chemical modification and structural analysis of protein isolates to produce hydrogel using Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) wastes.

Recovery and alteration of fish protein from wastes and its use has been regarded as a promising alternative to develop useful products once polymer gels have a high capacity of water uptake. This study aims to produce hydrogel, a super absorbent biopolymer from modified fish protein, in order to evaluate the protein structure. In the modified proteins, analyses of the extent of modification of the lysine residues, electrophoresis, and electrometric titration were performed. In the hydrogels were realized assays of swelling water. The proteins with more modifications were shown as 63.5% and 75.9% of lysine residues, from fish protein isolate obtained with alkaline and acid solubilization, respectively. The modified protein in that same rate presented 332.0 and 311.4 carboxyl groups. Accordingly, the hydrogel produced from alkaline and acid isolates reached a maximum water uptake in 24 h of 79.42 and 103.25 gwater/gdry gel, respectively.
Orientation Behavior of Fibers in Concentrated Suspensions

A mathematical model is developed to predict the orientation distribution function of rigid fibers in concentrated suspensions. The model contains a phenomenological term to account for interactions between fibers. Predictions of the model are tested against experiments in simple shear flow, using suspensions of nylon monofilaments in silicone oil. The results compare favorably for steady-state distributions, though the theory predicts a more rapid approach to steady state than actually occurs. The model predicts, and experiments show, that fiber orientation is not reversible when the flow is reversed. The model is useful for predicting the effects of processing on fiber orienta tion in short fiber composites.
Introduction to Sea Island Folklife.

The Sea Islands of the United States are located along the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia, extending almost 400 miles from the southern border of North Carolina to the northern border of Florida. The islands themselves, actually a part of the coastal plain, are readily accessible by sea through the streams, riverine, and brackish marshes which separate them from the mainland. Some of the islands are located far enough out in the ocean to require boats for transportation, while others are now connected (since 1930s) to the mainland by bridges or causeways, making access possible by car or bus. The continuing inaccessibility of some rural islands such as Sapelo and Daufuskie, a key factor in their economic and social life, perpetuates the isolation that has so significantly operated to preserve the folklore and culture of the Sea Island area. These islands have been written about as a source of interesting cultural phenomena since before the days of the American Revolution (Jones, 1960: 67-97, 118). Often the accounts in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries tended to stress the exotic nature of the customs of the people, and these attitudes
OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION IN INNER-CITY MARKETS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

We argue that inner-city markets pose a challenge for business managers and entrepreneurs because many do not understand how to address significant social and institutional factors that exist in these markets. These factors around inner-city business opportunities may lead entrepreneurs with limited knowledge and experience in these markets to overlook or undervalue viable business opportunities. We propose that the combination of entrepreneurs' inner-city experience and social and institutional factors around business opportunities will explain patterns of opportunity recognition. This paper describes a study of 146 subjects that experimentally tests this hypothesis along two dimensions: the evaluation of business opportunity and the entry decision.
Changes in myofibrillar gene expression during fiber-type transformation in the claw closer muscles of the snapping shrimp, Alpheus heterochelis

Abstract Isotopes of a number of crustacean myofibrillar proteins have been identified with sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide electrophoresis, and their distribution in muscles of the snapping shrimp has been examined. Fast-slow differences in distribution have been observed for myosin light chains and tropomyosin. In contrast, three troponin T subunits have been resolved, each specific to one of the three muscles examined. This result suggests that expression of crustacean contractile proteins is not accomplished by a simple coexpression of a battery of slow or fast isotopes. In addition, the expression of these proteins was examined during the quasi-developmental fiber-type transition of the main claw closer muscle during the reversal of claw asymmetry in response to the loss of the large snapper appendage. The changes observed appear similar to the cross-innervation induced changes in gene expression of vertebrate muscle.
Parricides in the Media A Content Analysis of Available Reports Across Cultures

This article is a content analysis of news reports of parricide cases occurring worldwide. An extensive search of online databases found coverage of more than 200 cases of children killing parents reported in the news media. Data pertaining to incidents, case-related variables (e.g., weapons used, other charges), and the processing of offenders from the initial charge through conviction and sentencing are examined. To the extent possible, media accounts are used to classify cases according to motive and Heide's three types of parricide offenders. Twelve significant differences are discussed between U.S. and non-U.S. cases of parricide with respect to characteristics of parricide incidents, motives and other areas of clinical interest in reported parricide offenders, and Heide's typology. The article concludes with a discussion of media representations of the phenomenon versus the actual occurrence, several observations that emerged from these news accounts, and directions for future research.
A quantitative description of the stimulus

A formula for the stimulus is derived. The essential postulates and assumptions are based on Gestalt theory.
Selective metabolic stimulation of the subfornical organ and pituitary neural lobe by peripheral angiotensin II

Abstract The subfornical organ is a major receptor area for one of the principal stimuli of thirst, the octapeptide, angiotensin II. In conscious water-sated rats, we examined the effects of intravenous infusion of angiotensin II on the rat of glucose utilization in the subfornical organ and in structures anatomically and functionally connected with it. Angiotensin II produced pressor and drinking responses and increased glucose utilization selectively in the subfornical organ and pituitary neural lobe and in no other brain structure. Treatment with the angiotensin II antagonist, sar 1 -leu 8 -angiotensin II, before intravenous administration of angiotensin II prevented metabolic stimulation of the subfornical organ and neural lobe. Captopril, an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme, was administered to homozygous Brattleboro rats, which normally have elevated rates of glucose utilization in the subfornical organ. Captopril reduced subfornical organ glucose metabolism to a level similar to that found in control animals. These results demonstrate that peripheral angiotensin II stimulates glucose metabolism in the subfornical organ under conditions in which it provokes drinking and pressor responses. The findings suggest that circulating angiotensin II is responsible for the high rat of glucose utilization observed in the subfornical organ of Brattleboro rats homozygous for diabetes insipidus.
A Combinatorial Proof of a Recursion for the q-Kostka Polynomials

The Kostka numbers K?? play an important role in symmetric function theory, representation theory, combinatorics and invariant theory. The q-Kostka polynomials K??(q) are the q-analogues of the Kostka numbers and generalize and extend the mathematical meaning of the Kostka numbers. Lascoux and Schutzenberger proved one can attach a non-negative integer statistic called charge to a semistandard tableau of shape ? and content ? such that the Kostka polynomial K??(q) is the generating function for charge on those semistandard tableaux. We will give two new descriptions of charge and prove several new properties of this statistic. These new descriptions of charge will be used to give a combinatorial proof of a content reducing recursion for the q-Kostka polynomials originally proved by A. M. Garsia and C. Procesi (1992, Adv. in Math.94, 82?138).
Strengthening Curriculum through student Learning Outcome Assessment in Experiential Learning

Abstract All undergraduate Hospitality Management students at the University of Central Florida are required to participate in three semesters of cooperative education (co-op) experience. Through these work-integrated learning experiences, students and their supervisors evaluate the development of student competencies each semester. Using an evaluation method developed by Cates and Cedercreutz (2008), the longitudinal learning outcome data provided by supervisors is analyzed and graphed, creating a visual image of the strengths and weaknesses in student learning over time. In this paper, data for 242 Hospitality Management majors and 140 Event Management majors at UCF are presented based on 41 competencies. Examples of how the use of this assessment method can be used in Hospitality Management programs and curriculum reviews are presented.
Impact of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Degradation Products on Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity for Platinum Electrocatalysts

The impact of model membrane degradation compounds on the relevant electrochemical parameters for the oxygen reduction reaction (i.e. electrochemical surface area and catalytic activity), was studied for both polycrystalline Pt and carbon supported Pt electrocatalysts. Model compounds, representing previously published, experimentally determined polymer electrolyte membrane degradation products, were in the form of perfluorinated organic acids that contained combinations of carboxylic and/or sulfonic acid functionality. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids of carbon chain length C1 – C6 were found to have an impact on electrochemical surface area (ECA). The longest chain length acid also hindered the observed oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance, resulting in a 17% loss in kinetic current (determined at 0.9 V). Model compounds containing sulfonic acid functional groups alone did not show an effect on Pt ECA or ORR activity. Lastly, greater than a 44% loss in ORR activity at 0.9V was observed for diacid model compounds DA-Naf (perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxa-5-sulfonic pentanoic) acid) and DA-3M (perfluoro(4-sulfonic butanoic) acid), which contained both sulfonic and carboxylic acid functionalities.
Experiments with an adaptable-wall wind tunnel for large lift

Experiments have been carried out in a demonstration wind tunnel of the adaptable-wall type designed for the testing of high-lift configurations, such as powered-lift V/STOL aircraft. The simulated flight vector makes a large angle (30-40 deg) relative to the tunnel axis, so that the model's wake lies in a benign position. Simulation of flight at the desired speed and angle is accomplished by iteratively matching conditions at an interface within the tunnel to the calculated, updated outer flowfield. Measurements were made with a traversing laser-Doppler-anemometer system. The test model in these experiments was a V/STOL transport aircraft model with lower-surface blown wing flaps. Under test conditions, the powered wing-wake made a large angle with the flight direction, and wake positions were measured and are shown. Results show that the iterative procedure successfully reduced matching discrepancies at the interface. Typically, the best match was reached after about six or eight iterations, and this match represents precise simulation at the model to within 1% of stream speed.
Applications of Nanofluids: Current and Future:

Nanofluids are suspensions of nanoparticles in fluids that show significant enhancement of their properties at modest nanoparticle concentrations. Many of the publications on nanofluids are about u...
Combining Probability and Non-Probability Sampling Methods: Model-Aided Sampling and the O*NET Data Collection Program

This paper presents a brief synopsis of the historical development of hybrid sampling designs that combine traditional probability based sampling techniques with non-probability based quota designs to create model-aided sampling (MAS) designs. The MAS approach is illustrated for an application to a national business establishment survey called the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Data Collection Program. Through simulation, we provide evidence that the estimates for this survey were not substantively biased by the MAS approach while data collection costs were substantially reduced. For reference in this paper, a model-based sample design uses a model to create quotas in various categories thought to be related to the study variables of interest and then uses a non-random sampling mechanism to obtain the requisite number of respondents in each quota cell. Inference is based solely on the model. By contrast, a model-aided sample design (1) starts with a probability based sample of units combined with quotas to ensure minimum and maximum respondent sample sizes. A combination of the probability based design and the model are used for inference.
Intentional actions, plans, and information systems

If urban development plans were just target patterns to be achieved, conventional data structures in Geographic information systems (GIS) would be sufficient. Urban development plans have a strong spatial component, but recent literature in planning emphasizes that plans are about actions and relationships among them. These relationships include interdependence, substitutability, priority, and parthood. In order to support planning, GIScience should devise data structures and queries to support reasoning with these relationships. This article shows how relationships encoded within each of a set of plans, using a recently developed data model, can be used to infer the relationships of actions among these plans. Simple databases and use cases based on real situations in McHenry County, Illinois are used to demonstrate that these relationships can be encoded and queried. The results demonstrate that previously discovered semantic relationships can be used to discover additional relationships across plans, th...
Polarizable atomic multipole X-ray refinement: application to peptide crystals.

Recent advances in computational chemistry have produced force fields based on a polarizable atomic multipole description of biomolecular electrostatics. In this work, the Atomic Multipole Optimized Energetics for Biomolecular Applications (AMOEBA) force field is applied to restrained refinement of molecular models against X-ray diffraction data from peptide crystals. A new formalism is also developed to compute anisotropic and aspherical structure factors using fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of Cartesian Gaussian multipoles. Relative to direct summation, the FFT approach can give a speedup of more than an order of magnitude for aspherical refinement of ultrahigh-resolution data sets. Use of a sublattice formalism makes the method highly parallelizable. Application of the Cartesian Gaussian multipole scattering model to a series of four peptide crystals using multipole coefficients from the AMOEBA force field demonstrates that AMOEBA systematically underestimates electron density at bond centers. For the trigonal and tetrahedral bonding geometries common in organic chemistry, an atomic multipole expansion through hexadecapole order is required to explain bond electron density. Alternatively, the addition of inter­atomic scattering (IAS) sites to the AMOEBA-based density captured bonding effects with fewer parameters. For a series of four peptide crystals, the AMOEBA–IAS model lowered Rfree by 20–40% relative to the original spherically symmetric scattering model.
ICU Admissions After Actual or Planned Hospital Discharge : Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes in Patients With Cancer

Background Unexpected ICU admissions may result from early or premature discharge from the hospital. We sought to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients admitted to the ICU after actual or planned hospital discharge and to analyze whether the need for ICU admission was related or unrelated to the associated hospitalization. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all adult ICU admissions between January 2004 and December 2006 at a tertiary care cancer center and identified the following two groups of patients: those patients admitted directly to the ICU within 48 h of actual hospital discharge (group A); and those patients admitted to the ICU within 48 h of planned hospital discharge (group B). Results Of 60,462 patients discharged from the hospital during the study period, 826 patients (1.4%) required readmission to the hospital within 48 h of discharge; of these, 13 patients (1.5%) were admitted directly to the ICU (group A). An additional 12 patients were admitted to the ICU within 48 h of a planned hospital discharge (group B). The majority of these 25 patients (68%) [groups A and B] required ICU admission for a condition that was related to the previous or current hospitalization. The overall hospital mortality rate for both groups was 16%. Conclusions A small, but unique group of patients is admitted to the ICU within 48 h of actual or planned hospital discharge. Worsening of the underlying condition that necessitated the previous or current hospitalization often is the reason for ICU admission. Whether ICU admission could have been prevented by continued hospital care or improved diagnostic evaluation during the prior or current hospitalization requires further study.
A Multidiscipinary Approach to Improving Skin‐to‐Skin Contact Immediately After Birth

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program To educate labor and delivery staff about the complex institutional changes necessary to increase skin‐to‐skin rates based on Baby Friendly criteria. Establishing a major practice change in a large labor and delivery unit with more than 6,000 births annually proved a difficult task for nursing staff alone. Meeting the goal of having 90% of healthy newborns to remain undisturbed for at least 1 hour after birth in direct skin‐to‐skin contact with the mother became a major challenge. Since 2009, nursing staff initiatives to improve skin‐to‐skin contact in the labor and delivery unit had only limited success. A team made up of pediatricians, lactation specialists, and postpartum and labor and delivery staff was formed to take on the task of defining guidelines for skin‐to‐skin contact. As challenges and barriers were identified, input from anesthesia, administration, information services, clerical staff, hospital clinics, and community services became essential. Proposed Change To improve rates for skin‐to‐skin contact in the labor and delivery room and ultimately improve breastfeeding rates in the community. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Survey nursing staff for baseline of current skin‐to‐skin practice. Identify barriers and team development, including all departments associated and plans to remove barriers. Continue to monitor skin‐to‐skin rates and survey staff and patients. This presentation will highlight the paths traveled to achieve success, crediting teamwork on all levels to implement practice change. Nursing champions for skin‐to‐skin contact reached out to ancillary personnel in disciplines affecting newborn care. Barriers identified by staff survey, observation, and trial and error were addressed individually. Labor and delivery nursing staff took on the challenge of keeping mothers and infants together for 1 hour after birth, and with the dedication of all supporting departments they soon achieved success. Implications for Nursing Practice Success in improving skin‐to‐skin rates in labor and delivery depends on the cooperation and flexibility of every discipline involved in the care of mothers and newborns. Skin‐to‐skin contact rates increased dramatically in a relatively short period, and patients and nurses expressed satisfaction about these changes. The statistics collected indicate an impressive improvement in skin‐to‐skin contact rates. Patient and staff surveys support the growing satisfaction with the changes implemented. Involving all stakeholders helped to identify and address sustainability of our new practice.
Disk edema in an overweight woman.

Abstract A 46-year-old extremely obese black woman presented with headaches, blurred vision, and visual obscurations. Her exam was notable for bilateral severe papilledema, retinal hemorrhages, and lethargy, Her CAT scan was normal, and a spinal tap revealed a very high opening pressure. Although this patient's presentation mimicked pseudotumor cerebri, the lethargy and retinal hemorrhages were atypical. Her hospital evaluation was notable for elevation of the serum bicarbonate level, and she was subsequently found to have hypoxia and hypercapnia on a blood gas. The patient was diagnosed as Pickwickian syndrome, with obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment of the pulmonary problem resulted in dramatic improvement in her eye findings and her lethargy, and optic nerve sheath fenestration was not necessary
Reconfiguring the software radio to improve power, price, and portability

Most modern software-defined radios are large, expensive, and power-hungry, and this diminishes their utility in low-power, size-constrained settings like sensor networks and mobile computing. We explore the viability of scaling down the software radio in size, cost, and power, and show that an index card-sized, sub-$150, 'AA' battery-powered system is possible using off-the-shelf components. Key to our approach is that we leverage an integrated, reconfigurable, flash-based FPGA with a hard ARM Cortex-M3 microprocessor which simultaneously enables lower power and tighter hardware/software integration than prior designs. This architecture allows us to implement timing-critical MAC protocols and validate the speculated performance of several recent MAC/PHY primitives and protocols including Backcast, A-MAC, and Glossy using an IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio implementation that interoperates with commercial radios. The work also identifies several enhancements in the underlying hardware components that could improve power, performance, and flexibility.
Purification and Characterization of Chalcone Isomerase from Soybeans

Chalcone isomerase from soybean has been purified 11,000-fold over the crude extract. The purification procedure features pseudo-affinity chromatography on an Amicon Matrex Orange A column with selective elution by a product of the enzymatic reaction. The purified enzyme is greater than 99.5% pure and possesses a specificity activity of 340 IU/mg, which is 520-fold greater than previously reported. The apparent molecular weight of the chalcone isomerase is 24,000 as determined from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and from size exclusion chromatography under native conditions on Sephacryl S-200. The enzyme exists as a monomer that migrates on isoelectric focusing gels with a pI of 5.7. Amino acid analysis indicates that almost 50% of the residues are hydrophobic and yields a partial specific volume of 0.750 ml/g. Chalcone isomerase contains no carbohydrate moieties and has a blocked N terminus. The purified enzyme catalyzes the conversion of 2', 4',4-trihydroxychalcone (I) to (2S)-4',7-dihydroxyflavanone (II) at pH 7.6 with a second order rate constant, kcat/Km, of 1.1 X 10(9) M-1 min-1 and an apparent equilibrium constant, [II]/[I], of 7.6. The rate constant for the conversion of enzyme-bound substrate to the (2S)-flavanone, kcat = 11,000 min-1, exceeds the spontaneous conversion by 36 million-fold. The enzyme catalyzes the formation of (2S)-flavanone over 100,000-fold faster than to the (2R)-flavanone, indicating that the enzyme is highly stereoselective, yielding over 99.999% of the (2S)-flavanone.
Justices and Legal Clarity: Analyzing the Complexity of Supreme Court Opinions

Legal clarity is important to understand and measure because of its connection to the rule of law. We provide the first systematic examination of the clarity of Supreme Court opinions and discover five important results. First, certain justices systematically craft clearer opinions than others. Justices Scalia and Breyer write the clearest opinions while Justice Ginsburg consistently writes the most complex opinions. Second, ideology does not predict clarity. Third, all justices write clearer dissents than majority opinions, while minimum winning coalitions produce the clearest majority opinions. Fourth, justices across the board write clearer opinions in criminal procedure cases than in any other issue area. Finally, opinions that formally alter Court precedent render less clear law, potentially leading to a cycle of legal ambiguity.
Stretch Meat Grinder: A Novel Circuit Topology for Reducing Opening Switch Voltage Stress

The slow transfer of energy through capacitive hybrid (STRETCH) meat grinder is an inductive- capacitive current multiplication circuit that reduces switching requirements and achieves a high degree of current multiplication while possessing an energy density approaching that of a purely inductive system. Initially, the STRETCH meat grinder operates like a single-stage meat grinder; it increases the current through an inductor by switching out a coupled inductor. However, during switching in generic meat grinder circuits, leakage flux caused by imperfect coupling and the sudden change in current induces a voltage across the opening switch well beyond what modern solid-state switches can handle. The STRETCH meat grinder mitigates these problems by using a capacitor to recapture the energy in the leakage flux and to slow down the turnoff of current in one of the inductors. The energy from the leakage flux is then used to reverse the current on the turned-off inductor, thereby further increasing the current multiplication. A system comprising several STRETCH meat grinders in parallel can develop currents in the mega-ampere range without exceeding the capabilities of solid-state switches. Such a system could be used to power a railgun.
Pharmaceutical compounds in the wastewater process stream in Northwest Ohio.

In order to add to the current state of knowledge regarding occurrence and fate of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCP's) in the environment, influent, effluent and biosolids from three wastewater treatment facilities in Northwest Ohio, USA, and a stream containing effluent discharge from a rural treatment facility were analyzed. The three WWTP facilities vary in size and in community served, but are all Class B facilities. One facility was sampled multiple times in order to assess temporal variability. Twenty compounds including several classes of antibiotics, acidic pharmaceuticals, and prescribed medications were analyzed using ultrasonication extraction, SPE cleanup and liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The highest number of compounds and the greatest concentrations were found in the influent from the largest and most industrial WWTP facility. Short-term temporal variability was minimal at this facility. Many compounds, such as clarithromycin, salicylic acid and gemfibrizol were found at concentrations more than one order of magnitude higher than found in the effluent samples. Effluent waters contained elevated levels of carbamazepine, clindamycin and sulfamethoxazole. Differences in composition and concentration of effluent waters between facilities existed. Biosolid samples from two different facilities were very similar in PPCP composition, although concentrations varied. Ciprofloxacin was found in biosolids at concentrations (up to 46 μg/kg dry mass) lower than values reported elsewhere. Diclofenac survived the WWTP process and was found to persist in stream water incorporating effluent discharge. The low variability within one plant, as compared to the variability found among different wastewater treatment plants locally and in the literature is likely due to differences in population, PPCP usage, plant operations and/or local environment. These data are presented here for comparison with this emerging set of environmental compounds of concern. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Lipoid Pneumonia Due to Prolonged Ingestion of Mineral Oil

1. Seven cases of lipoid pneumonia found at postmortem examination are presented. These represent 2 per cent of the postmortem examinations at this hospital for a three-year period. All of the cases had other serious illnesses but in at least four, lipoid pneumonia was believed to be an important contributory cause of death. The habitual use of mineral oil was believed to be the cause in all cases. 2. In the case of proliferative process due to a known foreign body, the term chronic pulmonary oleosis seems more appropriate than lipoid pneumonia.
The rationale for regulation: Shareholder losses under various assumptions about managerial cognition

The Rationale for Regulation: Shareholder Losses under Various Assumptions about Managerial Cognition ALFRED MARCUS University of Minnesota PHILIP BROMILEY University of Minnesota 1. INTRODUCTION Three types of regulation bolster the incentives for safe design and manu- facture provided by the product liability system: (1) direct controls influenc- ing how a product is used, (2) premarket restrictions that affect the characteristics of a product, and (3) recalls made after the product reaches the market. 1 When the costs of an accident or illness are difficult for the courts to measure or entail irreversible and noncompensable losses, and when the dangerous activity can be limited at reasonable expense, direct controls over product use and characteristics are economically justified. 2 This is the The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Mark Weber and Scott Hallstrom, who helped with the analysis of the data. Pat Hess, Isaac Fox, Gordon Alexander, and Robert Vigeland provided assistance in the early stage of this research. Robert Goodman, Barry Mit- nick, Fred Thompson, and an anonymous reviewer commented on an earlier draft. Funds from a University of Minnesota Graduate School Grant-in-Aid were used to complete this project. All findings and comments remain the responsibility of the authors. 1. The common law burdens the firm with a number of costs, including tort actions, if it manufactures unsafe products. The publicity surrounding these actions may result in lost sales, but regulation may be needed as well if tort remedies and market forces fail to provide timely and useful infom1ation about product characteristics (Posner). Consumer choice based on feed- back from product liability litigation is sometimes hindered by long delays in legal proceedings. In addition, cases settled out of court limit the feedback of relevant information. As a conse- quence, the government may need to intervene in some areas to provide adequate and inde- pendent assessments of product worthiness (Arrow). 2. See Wittman. For example, the courts are not able to measure the costs of an accident accurately, especially when it involves pain, suffering, and potential loss oflife, and the relation between speeding or drunken driving and accidents is generally accepted. ]oornal of Law, Economics, and Organization vol. 4, no. 2 Fall 1988 © 1988 by Yale University. All rights reserved. ISSN 8756-6222
Community structure of acorn weevils (Curculio): inferences from multispecies occupancy models

We tested whether community structure of insect seed predators is influenced by spatiotemporal variation in mast availability on host-tree species. Specifically, mast production and acorn weevil (Curculio L., 1758) occupancy were estimated annually from 2006 to 2008 for individual host trees in a sample of 74 northern red oaks (Quercus rubra L.), 100 white oaks (Quercus alba L.), and 81 shagbark hickories (Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch) in west-central Indiana, USA. Occupancy and vital rates of nine Curculio species on their primary host-tree species were derived using multispecies, multiseason (MSMS) models within a Bayesian framework, accounting for imperfect detection. Mast production of host trees had a strong positive effect on community-level occupancy and survival of Curculio. Mast production varied considerably between years and generally was spatially autocorrelated only at distances <2 km, which likely reduced interspecific resource competition. Derived estimates of mean weevil species richness pe...
Ridge‐like lower mantle structure beneath South Africa

Recent (ScS-S) results from probing the deep structure beneath southern Africa display strong delays of up to 10 s at distances beyond 90°. Such delays could be explained by long-period tomographic models containing smooth (weak) features with the addition of rough (strong) D″ structure (3–9% drops in shear velocities). However, these structures cannot explain the (SKS-S) differentials sampling the same region. To explain the (SKS-S) and (ScS-S) data sets simultaneously requires instead a large-scale ridge-like structure with a relatively uniform 3% reduction in shear velocity. The structure is about 1000 km wide and extends at least 1200 km above D″. It is orientated roughly NW-SE and leans toward the east at latitudes from 15° to about 30°. It proves difficult to explain such sharp features with thermal effects alone and, thus, the importance of high-resolution waveform modeling to establish their existence. To derive the above results, we developed a special algorithm by matching simulated synthetics to observed broadband waveforms. This is achieved by computing the various arrivals separately using generalized ray theory for a reference model and allowing the arrivals to shift in relative times to match the data. Tomographic models can then be constructed, or existing tomographic models can be altered, to match these data, and new 2-D synthetics can be constructed as well to better fit the waveform data. These updated synthetics can again be decomposed and reassembled, and the process can be repeated. This algorithm is applied to a combination of analog and digital data along a corridor from South America, producing the high-resolution 2-D model described above.
Effective immunotherapy of pre-existing tumor in a stringent rat mammary tumor model by targeting the rat neu, “self”, tumor-associated antigen using an alphavirus replicon based immunotherapy with in-vivo DC tropism

6042 Introduction: The majority of human tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are either minimally altered or malexpressed “self” antigens. Effective anti-tumor immunity must overcome intrinsic tolerance to TAAs and barriers derived from host:tumor interactions to mount a sufficiently potent anti-tumor immune response for tumor cell destruction. The immune system dendritic cell (DC), the most potent antigen-presenting cell, is a logical target for strategies designed to elicit robust immune responses. However, adoptive transfer of ex vivo manipulated DCs must overcome biological and regulatory hurdles. The Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE)-derived replicon particle (VRP) has in vivo tropism for murine DCs and may be advantageous for eliciting larger magnitude and more efficacious anti-tumor immune responses. Methods: These studies used VRPs encoding the reporter protein dsRed (VRP-dsRed), rat neu target antigen (VRP-rNeu) or an irrelevant antigen influenza hemagglutinin (VRP-HA) and a stringent animal model of a non-mutated “self” TAA in an effort to recapitulate the human clinical state. We used Fisher 344 rats and the syngeneic moderately immunogenic 13762 mammary tumor line, with moderate expression of rat neu. Immunizations, SC or IM administration, q3 weeks x 3 were used to establish anti-tumor immunity for challenge and mechanistic studies. For treatment studies, tumor was established 48 hr prior to initiation of immunizations q10 d. VRPs encoding dsRed were administered SC or in the footpad to evaluate the extent of in-vivo tropism for rat DCs, extending the report of in-vivo murine DC tropism (McDonald & Johnston, J Virol 2000). Data: Administration of VRP-dsRed revealed transfected DCs trafficking to draining lymph nodes DCs within 12 hr and persisting in excess of 84 hr. Immunization with VRP-rNeu resulted in significant antigen-specific, tumor challenge protection (p=0.002), the induction of immunologic memory, low titer antigen-specific antibody responses that were exclusively IgG2 supporting the induction of Th1 biased immune responses, and the ability for cellular transfer immunity by Winn assay. This immunotherapeutic strategy also demonstrated efficacy against pre-established tumor with delayed tumor outgrowth and cure of 20% of animals (p=0.022) by targeting a single TAA. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the VRP vector system has in-vivo tropism for rat DCs that both traffic and remain in secondary lymphoid tissues appropriately. This VRP based, single TAA antigen-specific, immunotherapeutic strategy overcomes tolerance to the “self” antigen neu and elicits very active Th1 anti-tumor immunity. These results support both further evaluation and rapid translation into clinical evaluations of this potent DC tropic vector-based immunotherapy.
Transcriptomics in type 2 diabetes: Bridging the gap between genotype and phenotype

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common, multifactorial disease that is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and their interactions. However, common variants identified by genome wide association studies (GWAS) explain only about 10% of the total trait variance for T2D and less than 5% of the variance for obesity, indicating that a large proportion of heritability is still unexplained. The transcriptomic approach described here uses quantitative gene expression and disease-related physiological data (deep phenotyping) to measure the direct correlation between the expression of specific genes and physiological traits. Transcriptomic analysis bridges the gulf between GWAS and physiological studies. Recent GWAS studies have utilized very large population samples, numbering in the tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of individuals, yet establishing causal functional relationships between strongly associated genetic variants and disease remains elusive. In light of the findings described below, it is appropriate to consider how and why transcriptomic approaches in small samples might be capable of identifying complex disease-related genes which are not apparent using GWAS in large samples.
How Intellectual Property Rights, Licensing and Foreign Direct Investments Shape the Technology Transfer Landscape in Small Developing Countries? Case Study of the Republic of Macedonia

In the last twenty years, many developing countries have undertaken serious reforms of their intellectual property rights (IPR) systems in terms of strengthening of their protection and regulating for more efficient enforcement. This process has been stimulated by numerous multilateral, regional and bilateral agreements, such as the TRIPS (Agreement on trade related aspects of intellectual property), the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), and a series of Partnership Agreements negotiated and concluded between the European Union and certain developing countries from Europe and the Middle East. In today’s globalized society, knowledge and information are at the core of the growth agenda, and are increasingly essential for gaining and maintaining competitive edge. It seems that the economic and political globalization have deepened the gap between the rich nations and the poor even more, contributing to the imbalanced distribution of material wealth and knowledge, where most of the intangible resources, protected by intellectual property rights (IPRs), are created and kept in developed nations. IPRs can be defined as monopoly rights given by the society for a limited period of time as a reward for creativity and innovativeness. Even though they are intended to promote scientific and social progress, in the case of small, landlocked developing countries they might act as inhibitor to knowledge and technology absorption and diffusion. It is beyond the scope of this paper to consider each of these issues in detail and their multifaceted interrelationships. Rather, this paper aims to contribute to the academic discussion on the impact of the degree of IPR protection on the intensity of technology transfer transactions through licensing and foreign direct investments (FDI) in small developing countries, by taking the example of the Republic of Macedonia.
Asynchronous and fault-tolerant recursive datalog evaluation in shared-nothing engines

We present a new approach for data analytics with iterations. Users express their analysis in Datalog with bag-monotonic aggregate operators, which enables the expression of computations from a broad variety of application domains. Queries are translated into query plans that can execute in shared-nothing engines, are incremental, and support a variety of iterative models (synchronous, asynchronous, different processing priorities) and failure-handling techniques. The plans require only small extensions to an existing shared-nothing engine, making the approach easily implementable. We implement the approach in the Myria big-data management system and use our implementation to empirically study the performance characteristics of different combinations of iterative models, failure handling methods, and applications. Our evaluation uses workloads from a variety of application domains. We find that no single method outperforms others but rather that application properties must drive the selection of the iterative query execution model.
Developing a comprehensive maltreatment intervention program

The dental health care professional must understand that every individual cannot be saved from maltreatment, but the task is not futile. Suspicion must be investigated. The responsibility for investigating reports of suspected maltreatment lies at the state level. Every state has established a protective service reporting agency. Begin by determining the names and addresses of the protective agencies in your area and the procedure for reporting suspected cases of maltreatment. Determine the most effective and thorough means of gathering current and relevant information on the detection and proper evaluation of maltreatment. Consider the knowledge and training that dental personnel need to make an intervention program successful. Decide now dental staff should proceed and what timetable should be set for the implementation of an intervention. Dental health care providers must be a part of coordinated effort involving all groups concerned with the welfare of the aged and the young. Be proactive not reactive. Additional information may be obtained from the ADA's Council on Dental Practice at 1-800-621-8099, ext. 2895; the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, Department of Health & Human Services, P.O. Box 1182, Washington, D.C. 20013 (703) 821-2986; or the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 510, Chicago, IL 60601. Reporting agencies include: local department of public welfare; local police department; state departments of public welfare; state department of health & human services; national child abuse hotline, toll free (1-800-422-4453).
Beyond Ussing's chambers: Contemporary thoughts on integration of transepithelial transport

In the mid-20th century, Hans Ussing developed a chamber that allowed for the simultaneous measurement of current and labeled probe flux across epithelia. Using frog skin as a model, Ussing used his results to propose mechanisms of transcellular Na(+) and K(+) transport across apical (exterior/luminal) and basolateral (interior) membranes that is essentially unchanged today. Others took advantage of Ussing's chambers to study mucosal tissues, including bladder and intestines. It quickly became clear that, in some tissues, passive paracellular flux, i.e., across the tight junction, was an important component of overall transepithelial transport. Subsequent work demonstrated that activation of the apical Na(+)-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 regulated paracellular permeability such that intestinal paracellular transport could coordinate with and amplify transcellular transport. Intermediates in this process include activation of p38 MAPK, the apical Na(+)/H(+) exchanger NHE3, and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). Investigators then focused on these processes in disease. They found that TNF induces barrier dysfunction via MLCK activation and downstream caveolin-1-dependent endocytosis of the tight junction protein occludin. TNF also inhibited NHE3, and both barrier loss and PKCα-dependent NHE3 inhibition were required for TNF-induced acute diarrhea, emphasizing the interplay between transcellular and paracellular transport. Finally, studies using immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease models showed that mice lacking epithelial MLCK were initially protected, but became ill as epithelial damage progressed and provided a tight junction-independent means of barrier loss. None of these advances would have been possible without the insights provided by Ussing and others using Ussing's ingenious, and still useful, chambers.
Determination of54Mn in foods

54Mn is analyzed in complex food ash of high cationic environment. The initial step is an extraction atpH 2.7 with hexane containing di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) to complex the54Mn and other nuclides. The manganese is reextracted into an alkaline EDTA buffer which is washed with 1% 8-hydroxyquinoline in chloroform containing 5% isoamyl alcohol. The54Mn is determined by gamma spectrometry with recoveries ranging from 96.6 to 99.4%.