cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lysosomal targeting and accumulation of aminoglycoside antibiotics in sensory hair cells.

Abstract Our recent study demonstrated that aminoglycoside antibiotics are taken up into sensory hair cells of the inner ear by receptor-mediated endocytosis (E. Hashino, M. Shero, Endocytosis of aminoglycoside antibiotics in sensory hair cells, Brain Res. 704 (1995) 135–140). To elucidate the intracellular trafficking pathway of aminoglycosides following endocytotic uptake, we administered kanamycin to neonatal chicks for 1 or 5 days (400 mg/kg/day) and determined the location of kanamycin within the hair cells at various time points using immunogold electron microscopy. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of immunogold staining revealed that: (1) kanamycin was primarily localized in vesicles beneath the cuticular plate 27 h postinjection; (2) the number of vesicles per hair cell and the number of gold particles per vesicle increased over time; (3) individual vesicles tended to increase in size over time, presumably due to aggregation of smaller vesicles; and (4) in pathological hair cells, immunogold was dispersed throughout the entire subcellular region. Light microscopic observations of the basilar papilla stained with the same antibody confirmed the temporal changes in the kanamycin distribution. Moreover, results obtained from acid phosphatase cytochemistry indicated that vesicles accumulating kanamycin were mainly lysosomes. These results suggest that internalized aminoglycosides are transported via vesicular traffic into lysosomes where they accumulate over time and lead to disruption of lysosomes. The time of diffusion of kanamycin was closely related to the time of cell death, suggesting that lysosomal rupture could be a direct trigger for the hair cell degeneration.
Plasmin desensitization of the PAR1 thrombin receptor: kinetics, sites of truncation, and implications for thrombolytic therapy

It has been hypothesized that protease-activated receptors may be activated and attenuated by more than one protease. Here, we explore a desensitization mechanism of the PAR1 thrombin receptor by anticoagulant proteases and provide an explanation to the enigma of why plasmin/tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) can both activate and deactivate platelets prior to thrombin treatment. By using a soluble N-terminal exodomain (TR78) as a model for the full-length receptor, we were able to unambiguously compare cleavage rates and specificities among the serum proteases. Thrombin cleaves TR78 at the R41-S42 peptide bond with a kcat of 120 s-1 and a KM of 16 microM to produce TR62 (residues 42-103). We found that, of the anticoagulant proteases, only plasmin can rapidly truncate the soluble exodomain at the R70/K76/K82 sites located on a linker region that tethers the ligand to the body of the receptor. Plasmin cleavage of the TR78 exodomain is nearly equivalent to that of thrombin cleavage at R41 with similar rates (kcat = 30 s-1) and affinity (KM = 18 microM). Specificity was demonstrated since there is no observed cleavage at the five other potential plasmin-cleavage sites. Plasmin also cleaves the TR78 exodomain at the R41 thrombin-cleavage site generating transiently activated exodomain. We directly demonstrated that plasmin cleaves these same sites in full-length membrane-embedded receptor expressed in yeast and COS7 fibroblasts. The rate of plasmin truncation is similar between the extensively glycosylated COS7-expressed receptor and the nonglycosylated yeast-produced receptor. Mutation of the R70/K76/K82 sites to A70/A76/A82 eliminates plasmin truncation and desensitization of thrombin-dependent Ca2+ signaling and converts PAR1 into a plasmin-activated receptor with full agonist activity for plasmin. Plasmin does not desensitize the Ca2+ response of platelets or COS7 cells to SFLLRN consistent with intermolecular ligand-binding sites being located to the C-terminal side of K82. Truncation of the wild-type receptor at the C-terminal plasmin-cleavage sites removes the N-terminal tethered ligand or preligand, thereby providing an effective pathway for PAR1 desensitization in vivo.
A Mechanomolecular Model for Chromosome Movement During Mitosis

During mitosis chromosomes attach to dynamic microtubules in order to move to the cell equator. Kinetochores facilitate chromosome movement by maintaining a floating grip on inserted polymerizing or depolymerizing microtubules. In many vertebrates, chromosomes experience striking oscillatory movement both close to a pole and around the equator. Several chemical species that affect microtubule dynamics as well as proteins that bind to the microtubule lattice have been localized at kinetochores. Yet, there is no clear understanding of the force producing mechanism at microtubule attachment sites, and of how movement is controlled and coordinated at kinetochores so that a chromosome pinpoints the cell equator. Here we develop a mathematical model of chromosome motility that addresses the above two questions. First, we consider force production at kinetochores by developing a molecular motor model that describes molecular scale interactions between several kinetochore binders and an inserted microtubule. We find that for weak binding and low activation energies, the motor produces velocities that are fairly insensitive to loads and depend on the inserted polymer growth/shortening rates, in agreement with chromosome movement data. Then, we incorporate the molecular motor into a chromosome movement model in which motility results due to feedback between mechanical loads that arise from spindle-chromosome interactions and kinetochore chemical reactions that involve a force sensing kinase and a microtubule depolymerase.Numerical simulations show that kinetochore chemical control of movement is a robust mechanism for chromosome oscillations and centering at the equator. Further, we observe that proper transition between mitotic stages is strongly influenced by kinetochore reactions, which indicates that motility does not solely result from “tug of war” between opposing forces. We find that our proposed mechanism is sufficient to recreate chromosome movement from prometaphase to anaphase, in good agreement with experimental data.
Application of the Stainton Syringe Method to the Analysis of Mercury in Natural Waters

A relatively inexpensive, simple and precise method for the analysis of sub-nanogram quantities of mercury in natural waters is described. Through a combination of a solvent extraction procedure an...
Regulation of immunity by self-reactive T cells

A basic principle of immunology is that lymphocytes respond to foreign antigens but tolerate self tissues. For developing T cells, the ability to distinguish self from non-self is acquired in the thymus, where the majority of self-reactive cells are eliminated. Recently, however, it has become apparent that some self-reactive T cells avoid being destroyed and instead differentiate into specialized regulatory cells. This appears to be beneficial. Subpopulations of self-reactive T cells have a strong influence on self tolerance and may represent targets for therapeutic intervention to control a variety of autoimmune diseases, tumour growth and infection.
The new problems

The Brown web site announcing the death of Paris Kanellakis was one of the 90,000 active websites, running on one of 13 million IP servers. Since that time, the Internet and the worldwide web have grown by several orders of magnitude, and they have changed the way the world communicates, learns, expresses itself, and does business. The research agenda in Theory and Databases has also been affected: The Internet and the web are the first computational artefacts that were not designed in any direct, conventional sense, and must therefore be understood by the scientific method: the development and verification of falsifiable theories. There is an emergent field that uses concepts from Game Theory, Graph Theory, and Algorithms and Complexity in order to develop a mathematical methodology appropriate for such study.
On the state estimation of structures with second order observers

The use of Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) control synthesis techniques implies the availability of full state feedback. For vibration control of structures, usually only a limited number of states are measured from which an observer model reconstructs the full state. It is shown that using second order observers is a viable technique for reconstructing the unmeasured states of structures under mildly restrictive conditions. Moreover, the computational advantages of the second order observer as compared to a first order observer indicate that significantly larger observer models may be utilized. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the performance of second order observers. The implications of second order observers in the development of Controls-Structures Interaction (CSI) technology is discussed.
Integrin Response To Altered Actin-Myosin Mechanochemistry In Cardiac Myocytes

Altered contractility in cardiac myocytes associated with motor protein mutations has been implicated in several pathologies such as familial hypertrophic (FHC) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies. The mechanism(s) by which these altered contractile forces result in cell phenotype changes are poorly understood. However, they are generally believed to involve mechanotransduction of force by cell adhesion molecules such as the integrin class of proteins. Here we investigate the use of blebbistatin and other small molecule effectors of actin-myosin mechanochemistry as a chemical model for the reduced contractile force associated with the pathogenesis of DCM. In order to establish intercalated-disk cell associations in vitro that are representative of in vivo conditions, we employ micropatterned cardiac myocyte cell culture, where the extracellular matrix proteins collagen and laminin are printed onto the culture vessel surface in 10μm wide lines. Fluorescent polymer microspheres (0.25μm dia.) are embedded in the collagen layer. As the beads move from myocyte contraction, the movement amplitude is measured by nanometer-resolution position analysis, both in the presence of blebbistatin and in the rescue state where blebbistatin is removed. Relative force generation is calculated from the position analysis data and matrix modulus. Cells are then fixed and prepared with fluorescent antibodies for observation of connexin-43 and β1 integrin expression and localization by confocal microscopy. By employing micropatterned cardiac myocyte cell culture, optical contractile force measurement, and subsequent observation of the expression and localization of connexin-43 and β1 integrin, we assess the changes in integrin activity due to blebbistatin-induced reduction in contractile force.
CHARACTERIZATION OF GeSi/Si STRAIED LAYER SUPERLATTICE AVALANCHE PHOTODIODE

We report the material and device characterization of SiGe/Si strained layer superlattice (SLS) avalanche photodiodes (APDs). The active absorption and multiplication region of the device consists of ten periods of Si0.5Ge0.5/Si SLS. The device exhibits an optical response at 1.3 µm and has a cutoff at 1.5 µm at normal incidence. The device shows a linear photoresponse as a function of the load resistance upto 0.1 MΩ. Avalanche breakdown as evidenced by the positive temperature dependence of the breakdown voltage has been demonstrated. The temperature coefficient of the breakdown voltage is measured to be 0.01 V/K. Multiplication factors in excess of 50 have been obtained. The measured excess noise factor is even lower than that of Si, due to the enhanced ionization ratio in this SLS-APD as compared to that in bulk Si.
Mirror Systems: Engineering Features, Benefits, Limitations And Applications

The design and building of mirror systems, as contrasted with refractors, is flourishing. This is particularly true in the areas of ground-based and spaceborne astronomical telescopes, spaceborne wide-field mapping and surveillance systems, and X-ray telescopes. In the case of large astronomical telescopes, the Cassegrainian 2-mirror configuration, particularly the Ritchey-Chretien form, still is dominant because of its simplicity and versatility for narrow field imaging. Innovations revolve about the areas of cost reduction through the minimization of overall size in the midst of increasing the collecting aperture. In the case of spaceborne applications, all-reflective systems become even more necessary due to the requirements of broader spectral regions and wavelengths for which no suitable transmitting materials are available. Wide-field configurations are increasingly in demand in order to increase the information rate in mapping and surveillance applications. To this is added the spaceborne explorations in the far-UV and X-ray regions with grazing incidence reflective configurations. In all of these pursuits, the designs are seen to originate in the works of Newton, Schwarzschild, and Schmidt.
Comparison of bottom-up proteomic approaches for LC-MS analysis of complex proteomes

Discovery-based proteomic studies aim to answer important biological questions by identifying as many proteins as possible. In order to accomplish this lofty goal, an effort must be placed on determining an optimal workflow that maximizes protein identifications. In this study, we compare protein extraction, digestion and fractionation methods for bottom-up proteomics using a human colon cancer cell line as our model system. Four different buffers for protein extraction, two digestion approaches, as well as three sample fractionation methods were evaluated in order to determine an accessible workflow that gives maximal protein identifications. Samples comparing these workflows were analyzed via UPLC paired with tandem MS on a Q-Exactive mass spectrometer. Our goal is to determine an optimal workflow to enable users to maximize protein identifications. Our results show that an increased number of confident protein identifications are attained with a filter-aided digestion approach as compared to an in-solution digestion. Overall SDS-PAGE fractionation leads to higher numbers of identifications than SCX SpinTip and reverse phased cartridge platforms. The novel aspect of this work is the comparison of two readily available, offline platforms for fractionation in reference to a traditional technique, SDS-PAGE.
Discovering and analyzing deviant communities: Methods and experiments

Botnets continue to threaten the security landscape of computer networks worldwide. This is due in part to the time lag present between discovery of botnet traffic and identification of actionable intelligence derived from the traffic analysis. In this article we present a novel method to fill such a gap by segmenting botnet traffic into communities and identifying the category of each community member. This information can be used to identify attack members (bot nodes), command and control members (Command and Control nodes), botnet controller members (botmaster nodes), and victim members (victim nodes). All of which can be used immediately in forensics or in defense of future attacks. The true novelty of our approach is the segmentation of the malicious network data into relational communities and not just spatially based clusters. The relational nature of the communities allows us to discover the community roles without a deep analysis of the entire network. We discuss the feasibility and practicality of our method through experiments with real-world botnet traffic. Our experimental results show a high detection rate with a low false positive rate, which gives encouragement that our approach can be a valuable addition to a defense in depth strategy.
Even Mild Renal Insufficiency Is a Risk for Mortality after Heart Transplant

Purpose Renal failure has been a consistent risk factor for mortality after heart transplantation. From the ISHLT Registry approximately one third of patients have an abnormal creatinine after heart transplantation. There has been concern that development of even mild renal insufficiency in the first year after transplant may portend poor outcome. We reviewed our experience in patients with mild renal insufficiency at 1 year after heart transplantation for long-term outcome. Methods and Materials Between 1994-2010, we evaluated 384 heart transplant patients with serum creatinine Results Patients with mild renal insufficiency (creatinine 1.2-1.5mg/dl) at one year after transplant had significantly lower survival compared to patients with normal creatinine (84% vs 91%, p=0.026). There was no difference in 1-year rejection or 5-year freedom from CAV or NF-MACE between groups. ( Table ) Upon multivariate analysis,creatinine (up to 1.5mg/dl)was an independent risk factor for 5-year mortality (HR 4.3, p=0.027). Conclusions Mild renal insufficiency up to serum creatinine of 1.5mg/dl at one year post heart transplant appears to be a risk factor for 5-year mortality. Avoiding any renal impairment in first year after transplant appears to be paramount. Outcomes Creatinine ≤1.1 at 1-Year (N=206) Creatinine 1.2-1.5 at 1-Year (N=178) p-value 5-Year Actuarial Survival 91% 84% 0.026 5-Year Freedom from CAV 76% 74% 0.654 5-Year Freedom from NF-MACE 91% 92% 0.764 1-Year Freedom from Any-Treated Rejection 80% 84% 0.296
Spontaneous Cell Polarization Through Actomyosin-Based Delivery of the Cdc42 GTPase

Cell polarization can occur in the absence of any spatial cues. To investigate the mechanism of spontaneous cell polarization, we used an assay in yeast where expression of an activated form of Cdc42, a Rho-type guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) required for cell polarization, could generate cell polarity without any recourse to a preestablished physical cue. The polar distribution of Cdc42 in this assay required targeted secretion directed by the actin cytoskeleton. A mathematical simulation showed that a stable polarity axis could be generated through a positive feedback loop in which a stochastic increase in the local concentration of activated Cdc42 on the plasma membrane enhanced the probability of actin polymerization and increased the probability of further Cdc42 accumulation to that site.
Trades, quotes, inventories, and information

Abstract This empirical examination of the relation between trades and quote revisions for New York Stock Exchange-listed stocks is designed to ascertain asymmetric-information and inventory-control effects. This study finds that negative autocorrelation in trades consistent with inventory-control behavior characterizes low-volume stocks, but not high-volume stocks. The evidence of inventory control in the impact of trades on quote revisions is inconclusive. The information content of trades, on the other hand, is found to be substantial. There is also strong evidence that large trades convey more information than small trades.
Radio, secondary orality, the search for community, and “a prairie home companion”

Although it assembled the audience for our televisual world, radio is probably one of the most overlooked oral/aural media among those that makeup what Walter Ong has termed “secondary orality,” Ong and others argue that, in comparison to primal orality and print, this secondary orality profoundly influences and predominates modern thought, and motivates each individual's search for social as well as inner character and meaning. After exploring primary and secondary orality and examining the relationship of radio to secondary orality, as viewed by media critic and practitioner Tony Schwartz, the author presents a brief analysis of one media‐created community of secondary orality—the listeners to public radio's variety show, “A Prairie Home Companion.” This analysis demonstrates how radio functions to fabricate both mediate and immediate surrogate communities, how the program reflects elements of both primary and secondary orality, and considers the strengths and shortcomings of the surrogate community of ...
Using Colorimetric Techniques and Capability Analysis to Develop Standard Placebo Tablets for Clinical Studies

Solid dosage forms used in clinical trials are often accompanied by matching placebos that are used to blind the innovator product. In this article, the authors describe a study that was successfully used to develop standard placebo tablets to match active tablets manufactured using the so-called material-sparing paradigm. We outline the experimental procedures and results and propose the formulation and process for implementing the standard placebo concept in clinical programs. We look at several factors including tablet thickness, hardness, composition, color, and surface characteristics. The study evaluates formulations containing microcrystalline cellulose/lactose (MCC/lactose) and microcrystalline cellulose/dicalcium phosphate (MCC/DCP) each in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios. Tablets weighing 100 and 500 mg with the respective thickness of 0.123 ± 0.01 and 0.222 ± 0.02 in. were found to be appropriate for the study. The WIE-313 color index for the lactose-containing tablets was found to be distinguishable from the tablets with DCP. However, the 1:1 MCC/lactose formulations show no significant difference in appearance from the 2:1 MCC/lactose formulation. The same is true for the two MCC/DCP formulations. The conclusions regarding formulation and ratio effects are consistent for samples analyzed from the two sites studied. Finally, hardness and friability data suggest that formulations containing the higher levels of MCC are more robust. We conclude that the 2:1 MCC/lactose and 2:1 MCC/DCP formulations will effectively blind a majority of the active tablets produced using the material-sparing paradigm. Maintaining a clinical supply inventory of standard placebo blend and tablets should dramatically improve manufacturing lead time and efficiency by reducing the additional personnel, equipment, and scheduling constraints that result from the high placebo demands.
Value of an electrode catheter in diagnosis of Ebstein's disease.

Various features of Ebstein's disease, an unusual congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve, are discussed briefly. Cardiac catheterization with the use of an electrode catheter in such a case is described. The pathophysiologic changes as illustrated by simultaneous intracardiac potentials and pressures are discussed.
Nuclear export of the yeast mRNA-binding protein Nab2 is linked to a direct interaction with Gfd1 and to Gle1 function

Nuclear export of mRNA is mediated by interactions between soluble factors and nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Nab2 is an essential RNA-binding protein that shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The mechanism for trafficking of Nab2-bound mRNA through the NPC has not been defined. Gle1 is also required for mRNA export, and Gle1 interactions with NPC proteins, the RNA helicase Dbp5, and Gfd1 have been reported. Here we report that Nab2, Gfd1, and Gle1 associate in a complex. By using immobilized recombinant Gfd1, Nab2 was isolated from total yeast lysate. A similar biochemical assay with immobilized recombinant Nab2 resulted in coisolation of Gfd1 and Gle1. A Nab2-Gfd1 complex was also identified by coimmunoprecipitation from yeast lysates. In vitro binding assays with recombinant proteins revealed a direct association between Nab2 and Gfd1, and two-hybrid assays delineated Gfd1 binding to the N-terminal Nab2 domain. This N-terminal Nab2 domain is distinct from its RNA binding domains suggesting Nab2 could bind Gfd1 and RNA simultaneously. As Nab2 export was blocked in a gle1 mutant at the restrictive temperature, we propose a model wherein Gfd1 serves as a bridging factor between Gle1 and Nab2-bound mRNA during export.
Low temperature behaviour of short channel GaAs MESFETs

Abstract Low temperature operation of GaAs MESFETs is of interest for special applications which impose a low ambient temperature on the semiconductor devices and as a way to improve performance because of higher electron mobility, lower leakage currents and reduced thermal noise. This paper focuses on the low temperature d.c. characteristics of short channel GaAs MESFETs with very shallow and highly doped channels. The physics of the device is discussed and the theoretical analysis illustrated with experimental results obtained on devices with gate lengths 1 2 μm over the temperature range 4.2–300 K
Rates and Extents of Antifungal Activities of Amphotericin B, Flucytosine, Fluconazole, and Voriconazole against Candida lusitaniae Determined by Microdilution, Etest, and Time-Kill Methods

Amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, and voriconazole alone and in combination were evaluated against isolates of Candida lusitaniae. MICs were determined by broth microdilution and Etest, and time-kill studies were conducted. Amphotericin B resulted in fungicidal activity against most isolates, whereas fluconazole, voriconazole, and flucytosine produced primarily fungistatic activities. The addition of flucytosine to amphotericin B resulted in a faster rate and greater extent of kill for isolates for which the MICs of amphotericin B were elevated.
Modulation of Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 as a Therapeutic Target for Small Molecule Intervention in Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington disease are devastating disorders with no therapeutic approaches to ameliorate the underlying protein misfolding defect inherent to poly-glutamine (polyQ) proteins. Given the mounting evidence that elevated levels of protein chaperones suppress polyQ protein misfolding, the master regulator of protein chaperone gene transcription, HSF1, is an attractive target for small molecule intervention. We describe a humanized yeast-based high-throughput screen to identify small molecule activators of human HSF1. This screen is insensitive to previously characterized activators of the heat shock response that have undesirable proteotoxic activity or that inhibit Hsp90, the central chaperone for cellular signaling and proliferation. A molecule identified in this screen, HSF1A, is structurally distinct from other characterized small molecule human HSF1 activators, activates HSF1 in mammalian and fly cells, elevates protein chaperone expression, ameliorates protein misfolding and cell death in polyQ-expressing neuronal precursor cells and protects against cytotoxicity in a fly model of polyQ-mediated neurodegeneration. In addition, we show that HSF1A interacts with components of the TRiC/CCT complex, suggesting a potentially novel regulatory role for this complex in modulating HSF1 activity. These studies describe a novel approach for the identification of new classes of pharmacological interventions for protein misfolding that underlies devastating neurodegenerative disease.
Learning Control in the Presence of Measurement Noise

This paper examines the properties of learning control algorithms for linear MIMO systems in the presence of measurement noise. The only information used about the measurement errors is the magnitude upper bounds on the errors. Several control algorithms that are convergent (that is result in asymptotically perfect tracking) under perfect measurements are considered. It is shown that despite the imperfect measurements the learning controller can improve the tracking performance by driving the tracking error asymptotically within certain bounds which depend on the upper bound on the disturbance and the system parameters. The results help the designer to assess the extend of performance deterioration of learning control systems under influence of measurement errors.
Pump-probe nonlinear phase dispersion spectroscopy: molecular contrast of pigmented and non-pigmented samples

Pump-probe nonlinear phase dispersion spectroscopy is a novel method that delivers molecular information of pigmented and non-pigmented samples by probing four dimensions: phase, amplitude, wavelength, and pump-probe time-delay. Its potential for molecular imaging is explored.
University Technology Transfer: in Tough Economic Times

In 1907, Frederick Cottrell, professor of chemistry at the University of California-Berkeley and father of the modern academic patent, worried that if universities became too directly involved in p...
Modifiable risk factors for adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy among breast cancer patients

Abstract Objective Breast cancer incidence and mortality are declining due to improvements in early detection and treatment. One advance in treatment is the development of adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Despite strong evidence linking AET to better health outcomes, AET adherence continues to be suboptimal. This study tests the hypothesis that patient beliefs about medication mediate the relationship between frequency of physician communication and AET adherence. Methods This cross-sectional study utilizes data from patient self-report and medical chart abstraction ( N =200). Survey measures included frequency of physician communication, patient beliefs about medicine, AET adherence, and demographic characteristics. Results Necessity beliefs mediated the relationship between frequency of physician communication and medication adherence (necessity beliefs β =.18, p β =.13, p >.05). There was no evidence of medication concerns mediating the relationship between frequency of physician communication and medication adherence. Conclusion More frequent physician communication that shapes what patients believe about AET importance may be associated with greater AET adherence; however, frequent physician communication that shapes patient concerns about side effects may not be associated with greater AET adherence. Practice implications Research is needed to enhance understanding of the type of physician communication that is most consistently associated with patient beliefs about medication and AET adherence.
The Critical Importance of Understanding Cultural Diversity from a Global Perspective for Family and Consumer Sciences Research and Practice

As the demographics of the United States and the rest of the world shift and global processes grow in importance, it is critical to examine the impact of these issues in the family and consumer sciences (FCS) and related fields. This special issue of the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal focuses on cultural diversity from a global perspective. It highlights the importance of understanding worldwide social trends and the new opportunities and challenges that are emerging in an increasingly interrelated world. This issue also serves as a platform for an interdisciplinary exploration of the intersection of FCS-related fields and the social transformation in which we find ourselves. It aims to generate a discussion on how the interface between FCS research and global phenomena is applied to practice with the intent of preparing professionals for an increasingly diverse world.
U.S. online shopping: Facts, fiction, hopes and dreams

Abstract Much online shopping research has been viewed from the seller׳s side, i.e., volume, timing and the like. This paper looks at online shopping/buying from the buyer׳s view. Based on 285,000+ individual responses from an online U.S. panel, the questionnaires, gathered between 2006 and 2013, form the analytical base. Findings include an increase in online shopping volume among a declining customer base. Consumer reported details such as leading online retailers (Amazon.com), online product preferences, comparisons of online and fixed location research and buying scenarios, buying influences and the like are discussed. Managerial implications and suggestions for future research are included.
Genetic Variation in Water-Use Efficiency and Its Relation to Photosynthesis and Productivity in Lentil Germplasm

Lentil (Lens culinaris L.) is predominantly grown in semi-arid regions, and improving water-use efficiency (WUE, dry matter/transpiration) has been of longstanding interest. Our objective was to evaluate germplasm for WUE and determine how WUE was related to photosynthesis and yield. In greenhouse experiments, variation in carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), a potential estimator of WUE, was observed among 32 diverse lentil accessions. Direct determination of the leaf net CO 2 assimilation to stomatal conductance ratio (Ag/CO 2 ) and WUE showed that PI 477921 cv. Redchief, with low Δ, had higher Ag/CO 2 and WUE than PI 543920 cv. Crimson with high Δ. Negative correlations (n = 20) were found between A/gCO 2 and Δ (r = −0.65**), and WUE and Δ (r = −0.61**). Values of Δ were also correlated with root to shoot ratios (r = 0.89**), indicating that high WUE and increased dry matter partitioning to shoots were related. Nine germplasm accessions were grown in the field at Pullman, WA, in 1991 and at Central Ferry, WA, in 1992. Grain weight was positively correlated with total shoot weight (including grain) at Pullman (r = 0.94**, n = 9) and with harvest index (HI) at Central Ferry (r = 0.79**, n = 9). At Central Ferry, Δ and HI were positively correlated (r = 0.67**, n = 9), indicating an association between increased dry matter partitioning to grain and lower WUE. The results show that genetic variation for WUE is present in lentil germplasm and can be estimated by Δ; however, Δ was not correlated with grain weight at either location. Because shoot weight and HI were more closely associated with yield than Δ, these traits would apparently be more effective for improving lentil productivity than selection for WUE
587 LEUKOCYTOSIS, MONOCYTOSIS AND INCREASED PERIPHERAL BLOOD COLONY STIMULATING ACTIVITY (CSA) IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE

587 LEUKOCYTOSIS, MONOCYTOSIS AND INCREASED PERIPHERAL BLOOD COLONY STIMULATING ACTIVITY (CSA) IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE
Diagnostic Approach to Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in the Critical Care Setting

Considerable progress has been made during the last 30 years in the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of venous thromboembolism. This article discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of the disease as well as the diagnostic uncertainty that exists in the critical care setting. Diagnostic approaches for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are considered, including clinical prediction rules, D-dimer, contrast venography, duplex ultrasonography, computed tomographic angiography and venography, magnetic resonance imaging, ventilation–perfusion scanning, chest radiograph, arterial blood gases, electrocardiography, and echocardiography.
Phenomenological theory of photochromic media: optical data storage and processing with bacteriorhodopsin films

A phenomenological model for photochromic films incorporating bacteriorhodopsin (BR) molecules is developed. Equations for the propagation of electromagnetic waves inside a BR film and the temporal evolution of the volume population densities of the molecular states of BR are derived and subsequently coupled in a self-consistent fashion by means of an expression for the overall susceptibility of the film. Solutions for the scattered fields in a slab geometry are given in terms of the appropriate dyadic Green’s functions, and perturbative approximations through the Born and the Rytov methods are discussed. The theory provides an analytical framework within which various optical data storage and processing applications for BR films may be studied.
Prediction of protein secondary structure by mining structural fragment database

A new method for predicting protein secondary structure from amino acid sequence has been developed. The method is based on multiple sequence alignment of the query sequence with all other sequences with known structure from the protein data bank (PDB) by using BLAST. The fragments of the alignments belonging to proteins from the PBD are then used for further analysis. We have studied various schemes of assigning weights for matching segments and calculated normalized scores to predict one of the three secondary structures: α-helix, β-sheet, or coil. We applied several artificial intelligence techniques: decision trees (DT), neural networks (NN) and support vector machines (SVM) to improve the accuracy of predictions and found that SVM gave the best performance. Preliminary data show that combining the fragment mining approach with GOR V (Kloczkowski et al, Proteins 49 (2002) 154–166) for regions of low sequence similarity improves the prediction accuracy.
Gay and Lesbian Themes in Latin American Writing

Preface Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Adolfo Caminha's Bom-Crioulo: A Founding Text of Brazilian Gay Literature 3. Vampire Versions of Homosexuality: Seduction and Ruin 4. The Deconstruction of Personal Identity 5. The Sociopolitical Matrix 6. Optical Constructions 7. Narrations on the Self 8. Utopian Designs 9. Conclusions Notes: Translations of Quotations Bibliography Index
Superconductivity in the transition-metal series.

We study the possibility of describing superconductivity in the transition-metal series within the model of hole superconductivity. The band structures for transition metals are obtained within a tight-binding scheme using the parameters calculated by Papaconstantopoulos, and a rigid-band interpolation scheme is used to describe alloys. bcc, hcp, and fcc structures are considered. Under the assumption that superconductivity originates in the band with closest holelike character to the carriers at the Fermi surface, we obtain parameters in the model that reproduce the experimental values for ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. The absence of superconductivity at the beginning of the transition-metal series is naturally explained within this model. The possible effect of interband coupling within the model of Suhl et al. is also considered. Finally, the nature of the superconducting state and various observable properties are discussed.
Acidic saline-induced primary and secondary mechanical hyperalgesia in mice.

Abstract Most of our knowledge about chronic musculoskeletal pain is based on cutaneous pain models. To test the hypothesis that animals develop chronic muscular hyperalgesia following intramuscular acidic saline injections, primary hyperalgesia within the gastrocnemius muscle was analyzed compared to secondary cutaneous hyperalgesia in the hind paw that develops following intramuscular acid saline injection. Two acidic saline (pH 4) injections were administrated into the gastrocnemius of female CF-1 mice. The results indicate that mice developed a robust hypersensitivity bilaterally in primary (gastrocnemius muscle) secondary (cutaneous hind paw) sites that lasted up to 2 weeks. In addition, primary hyperalgesia correlated well with levels of Fos expression. Fos expression patterns in the spinal cord were different for primary secondary site stimulation. Hind-paw palpation stimulated ipsilateral Fos expression in the superficial spinal laminae at L4/L5 levels, bilaterally in deep laminae at L2-L5 spinal levels. In contrast, gastrocnemius compression stimulated widespread Fos expression in all regions of the ipsilateral dorsal horn within L2-L6 spinal segments. These findings indicate that acidic saline injection induces primary hyperalgesia in muscle that the patterns of Fos expression in response to primary vs secondary stimulation are strikingly different. Perspective This study assesses primary site muscular pain, which is the main complaint of people with musculoskeletal conditions, and identifies spinal patterns activated by noxious mechanical stimuli to the gastrocnemius. This study demonstrates approaches to test nociception arising from muscle aids in our understanding of spinal processing of primary secondary site hyperalgesia.
Epithelial cancer detection by oblique-incidence optical spectroscopy

This paper presents a study on non-invasive detection of two common epithelial cancers (skin and esophagus) based on oblique incidence diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (OIDRS). An OIDRS measurement system, which combines fiber optics and MEMS technologies, was developed. In our pilot studies, a total number of 137 cases have been measured in-vivo for skin cancer detection and a total number of 20 biopsy samples have been measured ex-vivo for esophageal cancer detection. To automatically differentiate the cancerous cases from benign ones, a statistical software classification program was also developed. An overall classification accuracy of 90% and 100% has been achieved for skin and esophageal cancer classification, respectively.
In the Classroom and on the Streets: How to Teach Qualitative Field Research to Criminology/Criminal Justice Graduate Students

This paper presents a method for delivering a graduate seminar in qualitative methods specific to criminology/criminal justice with a goal of providing a course that is balanced between classic readings and time in the field. We provide an overview of the course structure, a sample reading list, and the means to carry out an in‐class fieldwork project over the course of a single semester, including research topics that have a proven track record for first‐time fieldworkers. Also discussed are bureaucratic challenges to fieldwork, physical and mental challenges, and potential dangers of fieldwork.
Preparation of high purity, anionic polymerization grade alkyl methacrylate monomers

A method has been developed which provides very pure alkyl methacrylate monomers for anionic polymerization. This method takes advantage of the chemistry of trialkylaluminum compounds-their reactivity with alcohols and moisture, and their complex formation with methacrylic esters which facilitates titration of impurities. When coupled with previously known polymerization techniques, this purification methodology allows for both the synthesis of narrow distribution poly(alkyl methacrylates) of controlled and predictable molecular weight and for the utilization of a wide variety of methacrylate monomers. The procedure described herein should be equally applicable to group transfer polymerization.
Studies of refinement and continuity in isogeometric structural analysis

Abstract We investigate the effects of smoothness of basis functions on solution accuracy within the isogeometric analysis framework. We consider two simple one-dimensional structural eigenvalue problems and two static shell boundary value problems modeled with trivariate NURBS solids. We also develop a local refinement strategy that we utilize in one of the shell analyses. We find that increased smoothness, that is, the “k-method,” leads to a significant increase in accuracy for the problems of structural vibrations over the classical C 0 -continuous “p-method,” whereas a judicious insertion of C 0 -continuous surfaces about singularities in a mesh otherwise generated by the k-method, usually outperforms a mesh in which all basis functions attain their maximum level of smoothness. We conclude that the potential for the k-method is high, but smoothness is an issue that is not well understood due to the historical dominance of C 0 -continuous finite elements and therefore further studies are warranted.
Monetary Impacts on Prices in the Short and Long Run: Some Evidence from New Zealand

This paper presents support for long-run monetary neutrality based on evidence that individual time series for money, manufacturing prices, and agricultural prices are nonstationary but cointegrated, with a stationary proportional long-run relationship among their levels. Dynamic simulations from a vector error-correction model with this restriction imposed show that monetary shocks shift relative prices in favor of agriculture in the short run and permanently raise nominal prices. Manufacturing price shocks have similar long-run effects but initially place agriculture in a cost-price squeeze, while agricultural price shocks are transitory and have little impact on the other series.
Getting Personal with Neoantigen-Based Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines

Despite years of preclinical efforts and hundreds of clinical studies, therapeutic cancer vaccines with the routine ability to limit or eliminate tumor growth in humans have been elusive. With advances in genome sequencing, it is now possible to identify a new class of tumor-specific antigens derived from mutated proteins that are present only in the tumor. These "neoantigens" should provide highly specific targets for antitumor immunity. Although many challenges remain in producing and testing neoantigen-based vaccines customized for each patient, a neoantigen vaccine offers a promising new approach to induce highly focused antitumor T cells aimed at eradicating cancer cells.
A charge-based model for short-channel MOS transistor capacitances

A model that conserves charge, is valid in the strong inversion regime, and is based on the quasi-static approximation is presented. Major second-order effects such as carrier velocity saturation, mobility degradation, and channel-length modulation are included in the derivation of current and charges. The theoretical predictions of the model are compared to both experimental and numerically simulated data and are found to be in good agreement over a wide range of gate and drain voltages and to confirm many properties that have been observed or predicted. >
The Top Executive on Undercover Boss The Embodied Corporate Persona and the Valorization of Self-Government

Reality television has customarily been studied as an arena where individuals perform who they are within episodic and often highly dramatic contexts. This work, however, finds that the program Und...
Understanding perceptual distortion in MPEG scalable audio coding

In this paper, we study coding artifacts in MPEG-compressed scalable audio. Specifically, we consider the MPEG advanced audio coder (AAC) using bit slice scalable arithmetic coding (BSAC) as implemented in the MPEG-4 reference software. First we perform human subjective testing using the comparison category rating (CCR) approach, quantitatively comparing the performance of scalable BSAC with the nonscaled TwinVQ and AAC algorithms. This testing indicates that scalable BSAC performs very poorly relative to TwinVQ at the lowest bitrate considered (16 kb/s) largely because of an annoying and seemingly random mid-range tonal signal that is superimposed onto the desired output. In order to better understand and quantify the distortion introduced into compressed audio at low bit rates, we apply two analysis techniques: Reng bifrequency probing and time-frequency decomposition. Using Reng probing, we conclude that aliasing is most likely not the cause of the annoying tonal signal; instead, time-frequency or spectrogram analysis indicates that its cause is most likely suboptimal bit allocation. Finally, we describe the energy equalization quality metric (EEQM) for predicting the relative perceptual performance of the different coding algorithms and compare its predictive ability with that of ITU Recommendation ITU-R BS.1387-1.