cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Pathways for Homologous Recombination in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

The genes in the RAD52 epistasis group of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are necessary for most mitotic and meiotic recombination events. Using an intrachromosomal inverted-repeat assay, we previously demonstrated that mitotic recombination of this substrate is dependent upon the RAD52 gene. In the present study the requirement for other genes in this epistasis group for recombination of inverted repeats has been analyzed, and double and triple mutant strains were examined for their epistatic relationships. The majority of recombination events are mediated by a RAD51-dependent pathway, where the RAD54, RAD55 and RAD57 genes function downstream of RAD51. Cells mutated in RAD55 or RAD57 as well as double mutants are cold-sensitive for inverted-repeat recombination, whereas a rad51 rad55 rad57 triple mutant is not. The RAD1 gene is not required for inverted-repeat recombination but is able to process spontaneous DNA lesions to produce recombinant products in the absence of RAD51. Furthermore, there is still considerably more recombination in rad1 rad51 mutants than in rad52 mutants, indicating the presence of another, as yet unidentified, recombination pathway.
Defects in Cutaneous Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Angiotensin-(1-7) Production in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is associated with increased plasma angiotensin II (Ang II). Ang II administered in the presence of NO synthase inhibition with nitro-L-arginine (NLA) and Ang II type 1 receptor blockade with losartan produces vasodilation during local heating in controls. We tested whether this angiotensin-mediated vasodilation occurs in POTS and whether it is related to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Ang-(1-7). We used local cutaneous heating to 42 degrees C and laser Doppler Flowmetry to assess NO-dependent conductance at 4 calf sites in 12 low-flow POTS and in 12 control subjects 17.6 to 25.5 years of age. We perfused Ringer's solution through intradermal microdialysis catheters and performed local heating. We perfused one catheter with NLA (10 mmol/L)+losartan (2 microg/L) and repeated heating, and NLA+losartan+Ang II (10 micromol/L), repeating heating a third time. A second catheter received NLA+losartan+Ang II, heated, perfused NLA+losartan+Ang II+DX600 (1 mmol/L; a selective ACE2 inhibitor), and reheated. A third catheter received NLA+losartan+Ang II, heated, perfused NLA+losartan+Ang II+Ang-(1-7) (100 micromol/L), and reheated. The fourth catheter received Ang-(1-7) then reheated a second time only. Angiotensin-mediated vasodilation was present in control but not POTS. Ang-mediated dilation was eliminated by DX600, indicating an ACE2-related effect. Ang-mediated vasodilation was restored in POTS by Ang-(1-7). When administered alone during locally mediated heating, Ang-(1-7) improved the NO-dependent local heating response. ACE2 effects are blunted in low-flow POTS and restored by the ACE2 product Ang-(1-7). Data imply impaired catabolism of Ang II through the ACE2 pathway. Vasoconstriction in POTS may result from a reduction in Ang-(1-7) and an increase in Ang II.
Signal limitations in tip-enhanced Raman scattering: the challenge to become a routine analytical technique.

The fundamental parameters and limitations that determine the signal strength in tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) are discussed. A semiquantitative analysis of the Raman signal expected in different experimental geometries and with different sample systems is presented, taking into account experimental parameters including Fresnel factor, numerical aperture of the illumination and collection optics, detection efficiency, and the Raman scattering cross section of the material. A top/side-on illumination geometry is essential for the study of nontransparent samples. It can yield the highest signal levels when strong tip–sample coupling using a metallic substrate provides large field enhancement. In contrast, axial/through-sample illumination is limited to transparent sample materials. Although conceptually simpler in experimental implementation and despite high numerical aperture signal collection efficiency, signals are generally weaker due to limited field enhancement. Crystalline solids with small Raman cross sections and dense molecular/biological systems with unavoidable far-field background provide the biggest challenge for TERS analysis yet at the same time hold the most exciting outstanding scientific questions TERS has the potential to answer.
Commensal Foraging Between Double-crested Cormorants and a Southern Stingray

Abstract We describe a commensal relationship between Double-crested Cormorant, (Phalacrocorax auritus) and a southern stingray (Dasyatis americana). Three cormorants were observed closely following a large southern stingray in a shallow turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) bed near Long Key, Florida and feeding upon a small fish disturbed by the stingray's benthic foraging. This represents an example of a commensal relationship in which one participant benefits while the other is unaffected.
Factors Associated with Acquisition and Clearance of Human Papillomavirus Infection in a Cohort of US Men: A Prospective Study

Background. Our understanding of factors associated with acquisition and clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in men has been limited. This study sought to determine factors associated with those aspects of HPV infection in a cohort of US men. Methods. A total of 285 men aged 18 – 44 years were monitored every 6 months for 18 months. Risk-factor information was obtained at each visit by use of a self-administered questionnaire. A continuous-time 2-state Markov model was applied. Results. Lifetime number of sex partners reported at enrollment was the most significant risk factor for acquisition of all types of HPV. Men reporting 16 lifetime sex partners were at significantly elevated risk of any HPV infection (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 2.8 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1–7.1]), oncogenic HPV infection (AHR, 9.6 [95% CI, 2.4 –37.8]), and nononcogenic HPV infection (AHR, 3.6 [95% CI, 1.3–9.9]), compared with those reporting 0 – 4 partners. Circumcised men were 3 and 6 times more likely to clear infection with any and oncogenic HPV types, respectively. In addition, having had 16 lifetime sex partners was associated with greater likelihood of clearance of oncogenic HPV infection (AHR, 4.9 [95% CI, 1.2–19.8]). Conclusion. The key factor associated with acquisition of HPV was lifetime number of sex partners, whereas circumcision was the most significant determinant for clearance of any HPV infection and oncogenic HPV infection. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men contributes significantly to infection and subsequent cervical disease in women [1– 4]. Studies of HPV infection in heterosexual couples have shown that males’ sexual behavior and HPV infection status are significantly associated with their female partners’ risk of precancerous le
Economic, Racial, and Cultural Influences on the Growth and Maturation of Children

1. Elinor A. Graham, MD, MPH* 1. *Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Wash After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand the differential impact of obesity in children of different races and socioeconomic status. 2. Identify variations in patterns of puberty in different racial groups. 3. Appreciate how race may affect bone age readings and bone density in children. The socioeconomic status of a child’s family, their race as a marker of genetic traits, and family cultural practices all influence the physical growth of children. Understanding the importance of these three factors can help clinicians recognize the wide range of growth variations found in a diverse pediatric population. This review examines these factors in relationship to the adiposity epidemic in developed countries; changes in growth patterns of refugee and immigrant children whose families relocate to developed countries; and racial differences in physical manifestations of puberty, skeletal growth, and bone density. As each of these areas is reviewed, it will be apparent that some unhealthy growth variations affect minority and low-income children disproportionately. Further, many pediatric growth norms have been based on data from European populations that are not representative of the world’s diverse population and must be modified when applied to children of other races. Finally, interventions to prevent practices that may have unhealthy growth outcomes need to be targeted to child populations at greatest risk and to be sensitive to cultural and family lifestyles. Overweight and obesity have increased globally among children, adolescents, and adults and now are recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being one of the most important public health issues. The problem is most prominent in developed countries and in large urban areas. Among developed countries, the United States has the highest prevalence of overweight children and adolescents in the world. The definition of being overweight is based on body mass index (BMI), which is calculated as …
Biological time-keeping mechanisms: A need for broader perspectives?

Biological time-keeping mechanisms play fundamental roles in the regulation of behavior and physiology, disruption of which can lead to increased incidence of many disorders. Consequently, these mechanisms continue to be investigated intensively. For almost four decades they have been known to be able to store and program complex behaviors, and to be susceptible to the influences of light and day length. Yet present-day research concerns almost exclusively the means by which circadian and lesser time intervals are measured. Even within this narrow focus disagreements exist. Some early studies of small nocturnal rodents and primates running in exercise wheels illustrate the program-clock-like capabilities of endogenous time-keeping mechanisms and their degrees of susceptibility to external influences, such as artificial twilights and shortened light cycles. Broadening perspectives for research on biological clocks to take into account these often overlooked capabilities and susceptibilities could lead to a deeper understanding of them.
The effect of depolarization on expression of the human proenkephalin gene is synergistic with cAMP and dependent upon a cAMP-inducible enhancer

Membrane depolarization is a critical component of neural signaling; in recent years there also has been a great deal of evidence that membrane depolarization can regulate neural gene expression. Therefore, excitatory neurotransmission may be an important mechanism of neural plasticity. We have investigated the intracellular pathways and DNA regulatory elements through which membrane depolarization activates expression of the neural gene encoding human proenkephalin. In PC12 and C6-glioma cells, depolarization-induced expression of a transfected proenkephalin fusion gene was proportional to extracellular calcium concentration and was inhibited by verapamil. Activation of the gene by KCl-induced depolarization or the calcium ionophore A23187 was dependent upon and synergistic with cAMP in PC12 and C6-glioma cells, but neither depolarization nor treatment with A23187 affected cAMP levels. Trifluoperazine and W7 inhibited depolarization-induced gene expression but did not affect expression induced by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin. At the level of the DNA, depolarization-induced activation is conferred on the proenkephalin gene by a previously characterized cAMP-inducible enhancer. Multiple copies of a single component element of that enhancer, containing the CGTCA sequence motif characteristic of cAMP regulatory elements, can reconstitute the entire repertoire of responses to both cAMP and depolarization. These data suggest a model in which membrane depolarization activates gene expression through a calcium-dependent pathway, potentially involving calmodulin, and in which the transcriptional responses to both cAMP and calcium are transduced by the same DNA element.
Concurrent Differentiation of Marrow Stromal Cells to Osteogenic and Vasculogenic Lineages

When rat bone marrow stromal (BMS) cells were seeded on aligned type I collagen scaffolds and cultured in osteogenic media, they underwent simultaneous maturation and differentiation into osteogenic and vascular cell lineages. In addition, these cells produced mineralized matricellular deposits. BMS cells were seeded in Petri dish or the collagen scaffold, cultured in osteogenic media for 3, 6, and 9 d and subsequently processed for immunohistochemical and cytochemical analysis. Immunolocalization of lineage-specific proteins were visualized using confocal microscopy and mRNA transcript analysis was performed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content significantly increased over the observed period of time in an osteogenic medium. Sheets of abundant Pecam (CD31), Flk-1 (VEGFR-2), tomato lectin (TL/LEL), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive cells were observed in the collagen scaffolds. Nascent capillary-like vessels were also seen amidst the osteoblasts in osteogenic culture, augmenting the maturation and differentiation of BMS cells into osteoblasts. In our in vitro study, concurrent differentiation of BMS cells, a heterogeneous cell population with multilineage differentiation potential, to osteogenic and vascular lineages demonstrated that the substrates (three-dimensional (3-D), collagen type I, aligned fibrils) had a profound effect on guiding the differentiation pathway of BMS cells.
Complex domain backpropagation

The backpropagation algorithm is extended to complex domain backpropagation (CDBP) which can be used to train neural networks for which the inputs, weights, activation functions, and outputs are complex-valued. Previous derivations of CDBP were necessarily admitting activation functions that have singularities, which is highly undesirable. In the derivation, CDBP is derived so that that it accommodates classes of suitable activation functions. One such function is found and the circuit implementation of the corresponding neuron is given. CDBP hardware circuits can be used to process sinusoidal signals all at the same frequency (phasors). >
Order Preferencing and Market Quality on U.S. Equity Exchanges

We present a detailed view of market quality in the presence of preferencing arrangements. A unique dataset provides the opportunity to measure trading costs of marketable orders and fill rates and ex post costs of limit orders across trading venues. For market orders, we find the primary exchange provides the lowest execution costs. However, the preferencing exchanges are no worse than, and in most cases better than, the nonpreferencing regional exchanges. For limit orders, the regionals execute limit orders more frequently than the primary market and with an ex post execution cost that is not very different from the primary market. We analyze the execution quality of retail order flow on the primary and regional U.S. equity exchanges. Over the past decade the market share of regional exchanges in retail-size orders has risen dramatically. In 1996 the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) had a market share of only 47% for transactions of size less than 1,000 shares; lower for orders less than 500 shares. This order flow migration has sparked heated debate among stakeholders in the trading process about both the fairness and the economic rationale for trading away from the primary exchange. 1
A descriptive economic analysis of HMO mergers and failures, 1985-1992.

This study examines all 81 health maintenance organization (HMO) mergers that occurred in the United States from 1985 to 1992. The primary emphasis is on describing organizational factors that are associated with mergers, identifying market environments in which mergers are more likely to occur, and analyzing the financial status of merging HMOs. Overall, the study presents an up-to-date portrait of mergers in this important health care industry. We found that HMO mergers are relatively rare, but, over time, a substantial proportion of HMOs and their enrollees are affected by mergers. Ouranalys is suggests that some financially weak HMOs might have failed if they had not merged into stronger plans. This finding gives qualified support to the failing-company antitrust defense for HMO mergers. However, mergers between large, financially sound HMOs may have anticompetitive effects on consumers of HMO services.
Effects of ovarian input on GnRH and LH secretion immediately postovulation in pony mares.

The potential involvement of ovarian factors in regulating GnRH and LH postovulation was studied in ovarian intact (Group 1; n=3) and ovariectomized (OVX; Group 2; n=3) mares (OVX within 12 hr of ovulation). Blood samples were collected every 10 min for 6 hr from jugular vein (JV) and intercavernous sinus (ICS) during estrus and on Day 8 postovulation for LH and GnRH analysis. Additionally, JV samples were collected twice daily (12-hr intervals) for 30 days for LH and progesterone (P4) analysis. A significant treatment × day effect (P<0.0001) describes declining plasma LH concentration in intact mares, and regression analysis indicated that response curves were not parallel (P<0.001). Plasma LH concentrations remained elevated in OVX mares. LH increased further in OVX mares by Day 8 post-OVX (P<0.06), reflecting the increased (P<0.07) LH episode amplitude. GnRH decreased from estrus to Day 8 in both groups reflecting an effect of sampling period (P<0.03). GnRH episode amplitude declined (P<0.08) from estrus (62.8±3.1 pg/mL) to Day 8 (46.3±3.1 pg/mL) in OVX mares, but not in control mares (intact estrus, 36.5±6.4; intact Day 8, 37.5±7.3; OVX estrus, 62.8±3.1; OVX Day 8, 46.3±3.1 pg/mL). In conclusion, we propose that postovulatory LH decline requires ovarian feedback in mares, and that OVX alters GnRH secretory dynamics such that LH concentrations does not decline postovulation and, in fact, is further elevated with time after OVX.
Sleep-Physiological Characteristics as Potential Biological Markers in Affective Disorders

In the area of sleep research, an impressive body of objective data on sleep-related “markers” associated with affective illness now exists. The most publicized alteration in sleep during depressive episodes is the shortening of the time from sleep onset to the beginning of the first rapid eye movement (REM) period, i.e., shortened REM latency (Kupfer and Foster 1972; Kupfer and Thase 1983). Progress has also been made in further defining and quantifying other features of sleep including non-rapid eye movement (NREM) activity and slow-wave sleep (Gillin and Borbely 1985; Reynolds and Kupfer 1987; Reynolds et al. 1987).
Ductile Crack Initiation Behavior of Prestrained Steels

Ductile crack initiation behaviors were experimentally and analytically investigated using compressively prestrained notched round bar specimen (lower stress triaxiality condition) and four point bend specimen (higher stress triaxiality condition). The materials used were SM400B and HT780. It was observed that ductile crack initiation of notched round bar specimen occurred at the center of specimen and was caused by coalescence of micro voids. Ductile limit curves, which are the relationships between equivalent plastic strain and stress triaxiality factor at ductile crack initiation, were obtained using FE-analyses and experimental results. Ductile crack initiation of four point bend specimens as cracked specimens could be evaluated using ductile crack initiation limit curves obtained from notched round bar specimens if the positions of void nucleation at crack tip are properly considered. It has been found that ductile crack initiation limits can be evaluated using ductile limit curves under both low and high constraint conditions (stress triaxiality conditions.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Swine From Slaughterhouses in Lima, Peru, and Georgia, U.S.A

Toxoplasma gondii is an important pathogen transmitted by food, with raw or undercooked meat as the main foodborne source of toxoplasmosis. In Peru, 2–4 million people have antibodies to T. gondii. It is believed that more than 60 million people in the United States are infected with T. gondii. In this study, the prevalence of T. gondii in pigs from Peru and the United States was determined by Western blot. The presence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii from serum samples was determined. Blood samples were collected from 137 pigs at a slaughterhouse in Lima, Peru, and 152 pigs at a slaughterhouse in Georgia. Of the serum samples collected from swine, 27.7% (n = 38) from Peru and 16.4% (n = 25) from the United States were positive for T. gondii. Swine represent a significant source of human infection with T. gondii in Peru and the United States.
An investigation on the property and fast implementation of a ray-driven method for inversion of the attenuated Radon transform with variable focusing fan-beam collimators

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is based on the measurement of radiation emitted by a radiotracer injected into the patient. Because of photoelectric absorption and Compton scatter, the gamma photons are attenuated inside the body before arriving at the detector. A quantitative reconstruction must consider the attenuation, which is usually non-uniform. Novikov had derived an explicit inversion formula for the non-uniformly attenuated Radon transform for SPECT reconstruction of parallel-beam collimated projections. In our previous work, we extended his work to variable focusing fan-beam (VFF) collimators. A ray-driven analytical inversion formula for VFF reconstruction with non-uniform attenuation was derived. The drawback of ray-driven based reconstruction is time consuming. In this work, we proposed a fast implementation method. Based on the property of ray-driven strategy, we calculated the reconstruction contribution of every ray for every reconstruction point in advance and saved them into database. When performing the reconstruction, we loaded the saved database, multiplied it by the corresponding rays and added the contributions of all rays together. The final image is then obtained efficiently by computing a divergence equation from the contributions. In addition to the software optimization, we utilized the texture mapping architecture of PC graphics/video card to accelerate the speed of the image reconstruction. We further investigated the property of the associated artifacts in the analytical inversion of the attenuated Radon transform. The artifacts were remarkably reduced when more projections were sampled to mitigate the problem of wide bandwidth of discrete Hilbert transform.
Nocturnal Social Cues Attract Migrating Yellow-breasted Chats

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that migrating birds use nocturnal conspecific song when selecting stopover habitat using data from the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens). We broadcast nocturnal song in unsuitable habitat (i.e., a manicured orchard) and alternated broadcast nights with nights where no song was broadcast. We caught significantly more individuals (8 males, 7 females) on mornings following treatments relative to control nights when no songs were broadcast (2.5 vs. 0 birds/morning, respectively). Eleven of 15 (73%) chats were removed from the nets after sunrise (mean = 32 min after sunrise, range = 5–60 min), and birds were captured on overcast, cloudy, and clear mornings. Only one bird was recaptured at the site, and only one male was detected singing at the site, suggesting individuals quickly left the area. Conspecific nocturnal songs for chats appear to be an important cue for selecting stopover habitat.
Semantic learning by an autonomous mobile robot

Describes the design and implementation of a learning system for control of an autonomous mobile robot. The robot learns reactive behaviors that allow it to retreat from potential collisions and to explore its environment by seeking out nearby objects. No external teaching input is required. Results from experiments with a real robot are presented. The learned reactive behaviors become the basis for the acquisition of more complex behaviors. Sensory/motor states are classified and then associated with lexical items to form a simple command language which is then used to direct the robot.
Nutrition and physical activity self-assessment for child care (NAP SACC): results from a pilot intervention.

Abstract Objective To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and reported impact of a nutrition and physical activity environmental intervention in child care. Design Self-assessment instrument completed pre- and post-intervention by randomly assigned intervention and comparison child care centers. Setting Child care centers in 8 counties across North Carolina. Participants A convenience sample of 19 child care centers (15 intervention and 4 comparison). Intervention Intervention centers completed the self-assessment instrument at baseline and then selected 3 environmental improvements to make over the 6-month intervention period with assistance from a trained NAP SACC Consultant. Main Outcome Measure Changes in pre- and post-intervention self-assesment of the nutrition and physical activity child care environment with additional process measures to evaluate project implementation, feasibility and acceptability. Analysis Comparison of pre- and post-test scores for the intervention group using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and descriptions of environmental changes. Results Intervention centers rated themselves higher at follow-up than at baseline, and relative to comparison centers, reported a variety of environmental nutrition and physical activity improvements confirmed by research staff. Conclusions and Implications The NAP SACC pilot intervention shows promise as an approach to promote healthy weight environments in preschool settings. Additional evaluation of the project is needed using a greater number of centers and a more objective outcome measure.
Proximate pathways underlying social behavior

The organism is the central unit integrating genomic, developmental, and environmental forces. Animal behavior is fundamental to this process. The integrative study of animal behavior demands numerous interdisciplinary approaches to tackle fundamental questions across multiple levels of organization, diverse taxonomic groups, and various spatial and temporal scales. Social behavior is well-suited for integrative studies since it is ubiquitous, and because sociality represents a pinnacle of biological complexity. We review five proximate pathways that may underlie vertebrate social behavior and its environmental connection: neural circuits, neuroendocrine regulation, gene expression, epigenetic regulation, and genome structure. We suggest researchers take both a ‘forward’ and ‘reverse’ genomics approach, and probe the mechanistic bases of animal social behavior by studying transitions between social states or phenotypes.
The Value Relevance of Brand Attitude in High-Technology Markets:

Abstract The authors assess the extent to which brand attitude, a key component of brand equity, has value relevance—that is, helps predict future earnings and thus firm value—in high-technology markets. Using data for firms in the computer industries, the authors find that changes in brand attitude are associated contemporaneously with stock return and lead accounting financial performance. The study also provides insights into the drivers of brand attitude. The authors find that both product attributes and peripheral cues shape brand attitudes in high-technology markets.
Is a Progressive City Possible? Reviving Urban Liberalism for the Twenty-First Century

This Essay highlights the challenges faced by policymakers at a time when the concept of the “progressive city” seems almost an oxymoron. The conventional wisdom holds that cities have little capacity to ameliorate economic inequality and other social ills and should instead focus on competing for and attracting rich, mobile residents and firms. This Essay urges resistance to this conventional wisdom, arguing for a less consumerist and more egalitarian approach to city policy. The Essay describes local efforts to improve workers’ welfare and suggests ways that progressive policymakers can address economic and social inequality despite local resource limits. It concludes by describing the political and structural impediments to a renewed urban liberalism.
The Determinants of Alcohol Preference in Animals

If an animal drinks a solution containing ethyl alcohol when another fluid is available, it is difficult to know what this selection actually means. Facing the scientist are exceedingly complex variables: those inherent in the environmental situation as well as those associated with the animal itself. We, the human observers, recording events and watching through the mesh of the cage, can only attempt to identify the factors which are responsible for the animal’s choice of an alcohol solution.
Electronic Issues in Secured Financing

The proliferation of electronic communications technologies has affected business transactions in myriad ways. Transacting parties enter into agreements electronically, transfer payments electronically, and create, acquire, and sell electronic assets that did not exist decades ago. Modern communications technologies also enable parties to gain control over tangible assets remotely. Many of these transactions are governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”), a statute first written in an era in which assets were tangible and contracts were written on paper and signed in ink. Recognizing the migration of electronic transactions to the electronic environment, the two sponsors of the UCC – the American Law Institute and the Uniform Law Commission – have modernized several UCC articles, including Article 9, which governs secured transactions. The two sets of amendments promulgated in 1999 and 2010 recognize both the electronic creation of a security interest and the development of electronic assets. Despite the modernization of Article 9, traps for the unwary remain.Electronic transactions raise potential issues under Article 9 of the UCC at each critical point in a secured transaction. In order for a secured party to foreclose on an asset and realize its value, the secured party must correctly describe the asset in its security agreement with the debtor. In order to have priority in the asset, and to be protected as a secured creditor in the debtor’s bankruptcy, the secured party must have perfected its security interest, usually by filing a financing statement that provides public notice of the security interest. The comprehensive revisions to Article 9 that were promulgated in 1999 incorporate and facilitate the use of electronic communications in secured transactions by enabling the use of such communications in both creating and perfecting security interests. Open questions remain, however, when the collateral itself is electronic and when creditors use electronic means to enforce their security interests. This chapter, part of the Research Handbook on Electronic Commerce Law, explains some of these potential issues.
Using Adolescent eHealth Literacy To Weigh Trust in Commercial Web Sites: The More Children Know, The Tougher They Are to Persuade

ABSTRACT As consumers improve their eHealth literacy skills, their trust in commercial web sites — even ones that provide reliable information — might decrease. Informed by the persuasion knowledge model, this study examined how much adolescents trusted and relied on commercial and brand web sites as a source of health information. Both before and after an eHealth literacy intervention among 182 middle-schoolers, students perceived commercial and brand web sites to be the least reliable and trustworthy sources of health information. Practical and managerial implications are discussed regarding advertisers9 efforts in the age of new media to uphold social responsibility and regain consumer trust.
The consequences of improperly describing oscillator strengths beyond the electric dipole approximation

The interaction between a quantum mechanical system and plane wave light is usually modeled within the electric dipole approximation. This assumes that the intensity of the incident field is constant over the length of the system and transition probabilities are described in terms of the electric dipole transition moment. For short wavelength spectroscopies, such as X-ray absorption, the electric dipole approximation often breaks down. Higher order multipoles are then included to describe transition probabilities. The square of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole are often included, but this results in an origin-dependent expression for the oscillator strength. The oscillator strength can be made origin-independent if all terms through the same order in the wave vector are retained. We will show the consequences and potential pitfalls of using either of these two expressions. It is shown that the origin-dependent expression may violate the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule and the origin-independent expression can result in negative transition probabilities.
Increased corneal epithelial permeability after overnight sleep.

Author(s): Leung, Tiana; Zhou, Yixiu; French, Heather M; Lin, Meng C | Abstract: PurposeTo investigate factors of ethnicity, sex, age, and diurnal variation on human corneal epithelial permeability.MethodsData of corneal epithelial permeability to sodium fluorescein (Pdc) were collected from 374 noncontact lens wearers at various times after awakening throughout the day. Mixed-effect models were developed to investigate the association between Pdc and factors of interest, including time awake (TA), age, sex, ethnicity, and interactions of these factors.ResultsTwo models evaluated the "Pdc recovery period" from awakening to 2 hours (Model 1) and the "Pdc plateau" period after TA of 2 hours (Model 2). In Model 1, Pdc declined significantly with length of awake time (P = 0.000), and showed higher Pdc with males (P = 0.098), although this sex difference was not observed after 2 hours (Model 2). Both models showed significantly higher Pdc in Asians than in non-Asians (P = 0.000) and increased Pdc with age (P = 0.048, P = 0.001).ConclusionsBaseline corneal epithelial barrier function increases after overnight sleep and varies significantly by ethnicity and age.
A Multi-Agent Based Simulation Framework for the Study of Human and Social Behavior in Egress Analysis

There exist a wide variety of computational tools for the simulation and design of exits. However, due to the scarcity of behavioral data, these tools rely heavily on the assumptions about human individual and social behaviors. Many of these assumptions have been found inconsistent or incorrect. This paper presents a multi-agent based framework for studying human and social behavior during building emergency evacuations. A prototype system has been developed, which is able to demonstrate some emergent human social behaviors, such as competitive, queuing, and herding behaviors.
THE ON-ORBIT ATTITUDE DETERMINATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE LANDSAT-D SPACECRAFT

The Landsat-D is an earth-oriented sun-synchronous spacecraft with a mean altitude of 708 kilometers. This spacecraft is to be launched in 1982 and is required to point the payload instruments with a 30 error of 108 arc-seconds. A strapdown rate-integrating gyro package, two strapdown star trackers, four reaction wheels, and three-axis magnetic torquer coils constitute the primary elements of the attitude control system onboard this spacecraft. The design of this attitude determination and control system is described. Direct matching star identification methods with a six state Kalman filter for attitude determination are shown to be very efficient algorithms.
The Explanation of the Quality Tracing Case for the Engine's Main Spare Parts

The article in great detail explained the tracing process during the production of the engine's main spare parts, combining with actual production, also the tracing case for the engine's main spare parts, as well as the infection of the different tracing case for the quality control, at the same time, focusing on the problem spare parts, how to distinguish, isolate them in order to avoid any accident if the unqualified spare parts are used by end customers. The article expatiated on three methods of tracing system, in which the QC department can carry out the quality tracing for spare parts much better on the condition of saving cost in high limits.
A Survey of Antibiotics-related Knowledge of the Parents of Children Patients in Department of Pediatrics and Their Needs for Health Education

Objective To explore the understanding of the parents of children patients in department of pediatrics about antibiotics-related knowledge and their needs for health education. Methods A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the anti-biotics-related knowledge of 290 parents of children patients in department of pediatrics. Results The parents knew less about the antibiotics-related knowledge, especially those against virus infection, about administration route of antibiotics and about risks of antibiotic abuse. The knowledge about antibiotic administration they expected to know was the indications, followed by methods, adverse reactions and the harms of antibiotic abuse in sequence. The explanation by doctors or nurses was the preferred route for acquiring the related knowledge. Conclusion Nurses play a key role in helping the parents to use antibiotics reasonably. Proper extension of visiting time can ensure the parents with antibiotics-taking instruction. Hospital health education media and mass media should be used to publicize standardized use of antibiotics so as to draw the attention to the problem of antibiotic abuse so that the society can take a prudent attitude to the use of antibiotics.
Let's Have a Tweetup: The Case for Using Twitter Professionally.

Social media use is very common and can be an effective way for professionals to discuss information and interact with colleagues. Twitter (Twitter, Inc, San Francisco, California) is a social media network where posts, termed tweets, are limited to 140 characters. Professional use of Twitter is ideal for physicians interested in both networking and education and is optimally used to facilitate in-person networking. Live-tweeting (posting real-time reactions to events) at professional meetings is also a popular and highly successful use of Twitter. Physicians report patient privacy as the top concern preventing use of social media for professional reasons, and although generally social media use is safe, it is essential to understand how to protect patient confidentially. Other social media platforms with potential for professional use include Facebook (Facebook, Inc, Menlo Park, California), Instagram (Facebook, Inc), YouTube (YouTube, LLC, San Bruno, California), and Periscope (Twitter, Inc). With Twitt...
Characterization of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α antiproliferative effects on human cells in culture

TNF is a macrophage-derived polypeptide known to cause hemorrhagic necrosis of transplanted tumors and is cytotoxic or cytostatic to a variety of malignant human cells in vitro. However, little is known about its mechanism of antiproliferative activity. Human cervical carcinoma (ME-180) cells in log-phase were treated with various doses of rTNF (from Genentech, Inc., Sp. Act. 5.7 x 10(7) U/mg) for 72 hours. Fifty percent inhibition of cell growth was obtained at a dose of 1000 U/ml (ID50). An identical ID50 was obtained for confluent cells. Maximal antiproliferative effects were observed only with 72 hours continuous exposure to rTNF. Exposure of cells to an ID50 dose for 12 hours or less resulted in no antiproliferative effect; similar to results obtained with murine TNF. The incorporation of [3H] uridine and [3H] thymidine was reduced by 25 and 40% respectively by 24 hours after TNF treatment. [3H] uridine incorporation rebounded to 170% of controls level 72 hours after TNF addition. There was a transient 40% decrease in [3H] leucine incorporation at 48 hours which recovered to control value by 72 hours. These studies show that TNF can suppress both DNA and RNA synthesis while protein synthesis is only transiently affected. Considering its short plasma half-life (approximately 20 min) in vivo, these studies also suggest that for optimal antiproliferative effect rTNF should be administered in a fashion which provides sustained drug levels.
“Foetal–Maternal Conflicts” and Adverse Outcomes in Human Pregnancies

During normal pregnancy, there is a fine equilibrium between foetal and maternal interests. Some pregnancy complications appear to arise from a conflict of interest between the foetuses, which is trying to maximize the supply of nutrients from the mother, and the latter who is trying to preserve her reproductive future. This chapter reviews accumulating evidence to support the hypothesis that abnormal foetal–maternal interactions may be the basis of some pregnancy complications associated with abnormal foetal growth, foetal death and maternal complication including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and thrombophilia.
Printed thermoelectric materials and devices: Fabrication techniques, advantages, and challenges

Thermoelectric (TE) devices enable increased efficiency and performance by converting waste heat to usable electricity or providing solid-state, localized cooling. Large-scale implementation of the technology is hindered by power conversion efficiency, manufacturing challenges, and material and system costs. Traditionally, inorganic compounds like bismuth telluride and lead telluride are used for their high performance, but they are brittle, scarce, and toxic. Organic compounds have lower power conversion efficiencies, but they are flexible, abundant, low-cost, environmentally benign, and solution-processable, making them suitable for large-scale, high-throughput manufacturing techniques such as roll-to-roll printing. Inorganic–organic hybrid composite materials can boost power conversions efficiencies while maintaining ease of processing. This review summarizes and compares four manufacturing techniques—inkjet, screen, and dispenser printing, and stereolithography—used to fabricate TE devices. Common challenges relevant to printed TE materials and devices are described, and recent research results using these techniques are also reviewed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44256.
MRI in Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

MRI studies in 26 patients, ages 3 to 25 years, with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) are reported from the Departments of Pediatric Neurology and Radiology, Hacettepe University, and SSK Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Optimizing the Level of Commitment in Demand Response

Demand response (DR) is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach for mitigating the uncertainties in renewable energy integration by taking advantage of the flexibility of the customers' demand. Existing DR programs, however, suffer from the inflexibility of commitment levels. In particular, these programs can be split into two classes depending on whether customers are fully committed or fully voluntary to provide demand response. Full commitment makes customers reluctant to participate, while the load serving entity (LSE) cannot rely on voluntary participation for reliability and dispatchability considerations. This paper proposes a generalized DR framework called Flexible Commitment Demand Response (FCDR) to allow for explicit choices of the level of commitment. We perform numerical simulations to demonstrate that the optimal level of commitment in FCDR brings in significant (around 50%) social cost reductions, consistently under various settings. This benefits both the LSE and customers simultaneously. Further, lower cost and higher levels of commitment can be simultaneously achieved with the optimal level of DR commitment.
When Do Women Collaborate? Explaining Between-Chamber Variation

“There is an impressive party discipline that dominates individual members who are part of that political party.” – Female Deputy, Jujuy, 2009 Party discipline is key to understanding legislative dynamics. In Chapter 2, I argued that women have incentives to collaborate more frequently than men with female colleagues to exert their influence on the legislative process. Nonetheless, not all women have the same opportunities to collaborate. In particular, some institutional contexts – such as the extreme party discipline described in the quote above – permit party leaders to constrain legislative behavior and disincentivize legislators from behaving independently of their political parties. In the case of Jujuy, a deputy describes one such environment in which political parties exercise absolute control over legislative behavior. “In the majority party, there are four or five who lead and direct the issues. The rest have to support them. They can present projects, but [party leaders] don't encourage it.” Given that women are typically absent from leadership, they likely wield very little influence in the chamber. Women may even be discouraged from introducing new issues to the legislative agenda or collaborating with female legislators in their own political parties. Instead, they are expected to toe the party line and provide unwavering support for party leaders. As the deputy from Jujuy sees it, “[Party leaders] end up eliminating the possibility for debates that enrich and cultivate different views – even debates within [their own parties].” Moreover, when political institutions give party leaders substantial control over legislators’ behavior, party leaders have very little tolerance for behavior that may be viewed as disloyal. In such environments, party leaders do not allow any disagreement from rank-and-file members. “Legislators can be very angry or even opposed to their part[ies], but the party discipline is very strong. There are legislators who are part of the majority party who have not opened their mouth[s]; they don't speak.” She indicates that legislators do not openly challenge party leaders. When legislators disagree with party leaders, their only option is to abstain from the discussion. In Chapter 2, I explained that strong party constraints of this nature limit women's legislative collaboration. Nonetheless, such uncompromising party discipline is not constant across all Argentine settings; rather, there is considerable variation both between and within legislative chambers.
On the threat to dielectric-based electronic devices and components from repetitive nonsinusoidal electrical overstresses — A review

Microelectronic devices and components are essentially dielectric-based monolithic structures with some additional metallization parts. These integrated circuits are highly susceptible to woundings arising from zappings due to electrical transients. presently, electrostatic discharge(ESD)-based repetitive over-stressings which may render the devices in a state of latent mode of failure are considered. 1 Such wounded or ‘rogue’ components may still be functional with deviatory characteristics, and are potentially prone to catastrophic failures on subsequent stress-repetitions. 2 The time-dependent degrading performance of wounded components is quantified via static-induced electrothermal effects in the device structure. The aging of the device is specified in terms of four possible damaging influences; namely, the elevated temperature, intensive electric field, depletory electromigration, and undue thermoelastic stresses. Based on the relative severity of these influences, a lethality endurance factor (L.E.F) is defined to estimate the failure time. Enhancement of severity due to pulsed waveform is also discussed. Lastly, the latent failure is regarded as the belated response due to slow endochronic growth of microfractures (creeping) caused by thermoelastic stresses arising from repetitive zappings.