cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A39: The role of YAP in regulating glycogen metabolism in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is driven largely by oncogenic KRAS mutations, making KRAS and its downstream effectors, in theory, ideal candidates for therapeutic intervention. Unfortunately, attempts to directly inhibit KRAS or its effectors have either been unsuccessful or ineffective and, as a result, there is much interest in identifying novel downstream effectors of oncogenic KRAS signaling. Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been shown to be an essential mediator of oncogenic KRAS signaling during PDAC progression as well as a marker for poor prognosis in PDAC patients. YAP is required for tumor recurrence and is able to compensate for loss of oncogenic KRAS in several cancer types, suggesting interplay between these pathways. YAP is a transcriptional co-activator that partners with transcription factors to control organ size, and upregulation of YAP is frequently observed in human cancers. Downstream target genes of YAP include cyclins and growth factors involved in proliferation, but YAP also induces stem cell properties, drug resistance, and metastasis, suggesting the presence of additional targets that affect various cellular processes. As KRAS is a major regulator of cellular metabolism and can upregulate scavenging pathways, such as autophagy and macropinocytosis, we hypothesize that YAP may also play a role in metabolic reprogramming of pancreatic cancers based on its importance in tumor initiation and progression. Our data demonstrate that YAP depletion in PDAC cells leads to dysregulated glycogen metabolism through regulation of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-Glc), the direct glucosyl donor for glycogen synthesis. UDP-Glc is synthesized from glucose-1-phosphate and uridine triphosphate (UTP) by UDP-Glc pyrophorphorylase 2 (UGP2), the sole enzyme responsible for this reaction in mammalian cells. YAP-depleted cells showed corresponding decrease of UGP2 mRNA and protein levels in a panel of PDAC cell lines. TCGA provisional dataset analysis showed a statistically significant tendency towards co-occurrence (p Citation Format: Sung Eun (Monica) Kim, Jacqueline Galeas, Frank McCormick. The role of YAP in regulating glycogen metabolism in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers; 2018 Dec 9-12; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(5_Suppl):Abstract nr A39.
A Formal Model of Ratio Decidendi

Any complete account of legal analysis using precedents must include a model of ratio decidendi, the content of a precedent that is authoritative as to subsequent cases. Predicting, advocating, and justifying the binding effect of a precedent on subsequent cases all require identifying the authoritative elements of the precedent and showing how they can apply to subsequent cases involving different facts. Although the very existence of ratio decidendi is a disputed question among legal scholars, a functioning system of precedent rests on the assumption that some consensus can be reached concerning the the authoritative content of precedents (MacCormick, 1987) p. 157.
Information Acquisition in Matching Markets: The Role of Price Discovery

We explore the acquisition and flow of information in matching markets through a model of college admissions with endogenous costly information acquisition. We extend the notion of stability to this partial information setting, and introduce regret-free stability as a refinement that additionally requires optimal student information acquisition. We show regret-free stable outcomes exist, and finding them is equivalent to finding appropriately-defined market-clearing cutoffs. To understand information flows, we recast matching mechanisms as price-discovery processes. No mechanism guarantees a regret-free stable outcome, because information deadlocks imply some students must acquire information sub optimally. Our analysis suggests approaches for facilitating efficient price discovery, leveraging historical information or market sub-samples to estimate cutoffs. We show that mechanisms that use such methods to advise applicants on their admission chances yield approximately regret-free stable outcomes. A survey of university admission systems highlights the practical importance of providing applicants with information about their admission chances.
Calcifying Pseudoneoplasm of the Neuraxis Involving the Posterior Skull Base: A Case Report and Literature Review:

Calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the neuraxis is an uncommon, nonneoplastic fibro-osseous lesion of the central nervous system. At the time of this report, at least 150 cases have been reported in the literature. Because of the rarity of this lesion, it is often diagnostically challenging for radiologists and pathologists alike. In this article, we present a case of a 44-year-old woman with a 5.8-cm intracranial/skull base calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the neuraxis that was concerning for osteosarcoma on initial frozen section. Permanent sections revealed bone and fibrous stroma, calcifications, and nests of histiocytes with granuloma formation. Scattered, focally dense inflammatory foci and spindled cells outlining abundant large nodules of chondromyxoid matrix were also present. In this case report, we also reviewed recent literature for clinical presentations, radiologic findings, and histologic differential diagnoses. Familiarity with this lesion is important to avoid misdiagnosis leading to unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment.
Rapid and Reproducible Characterization of the Wavelength Dependence of Aquatic Photochemical Reactions Using Light-Emitting Diodes

Arguably, the largest knowledge gap in the aquatic photochemistry discipline is the wavelength dependence of sunlight-driven reaction rates in surface waters. Here, we introduce a new light-emittin...
Transportation Fuel Resiliency: Case Study of Tampa Bay:

This case study presents findings from an analysis of the emergency preparation and response for Hurricane Irma, the most recent hurricane impacting the Tampa Bay region. The Tampa Bay region, in p...
The Role of GPS/INS in Mapping the Earth’s Gravity Field in the 1990’s

In 1975, in Australia, the author was making his first acquaintance with geodesy, in what he then believed to be a temporary departure from electrical engineering, by working all-night computer shifts to create a world data base of gravity values for the late Ron Mather. Much of the world is covered by oceans and, at that time, judging from the scant information going into Ron’s data base, little was known of the gravity field over much of those oceans. Most data was from sparse and highly diverse ship and submarine surveys. Over the continents, the situation varied dramatically from region to region: one could see the outline of Australia in a density plot of gravity stations, thanks to the intensive geophysical prospecting that had been made there in search of minerals. But little could be seen of Africa, South America, and of far away Antarctica hardly anything at all.
Genetic correlations for litter weight weaned with growth, prolificacy, and wool traits in Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee sheep.

Total litter weight weaned at 120 d postpartum per ewe lambing is often believed to be a measure of range ewe productivity. Genetic correlations for litter weight weaned at 120 d with prolificacy, growth, and wool traits for Columbia, Polypay, Ram- bouillet, and Targhee sheep were estimated using REML with animal models. Observations per breed ranged from 5,140 to 7,083 for litter weight weaned, from 5,140 to 7,095 for prolificacy traits, from 7,750 to 9,530 for growth traits, and from 4,603 to 18,443 for wool traits. Heritability estimates for litter weight weaned were low and ranged from 0.02 to 0.11. Fraction of variance due to permanent environmental effects av-
Retrieval of Sulfate and Silicate Ash Masses in Young (1 to 4 Days Old) Eruption Clouds Using Multiband Infrared HIRS/2 Data

HIRS/2 data in 6 infrared bands (bands 5-10) are used together with atmospheric corrections to demonstrate a new method for retrieving optical depths and sizes for mixtures of sulfate and silicate particles in 1- to 4-day old volcanic clouds of El Chichon, 1982. Simulated sizes for ash and sulfates and radiative transfer calculations are used to generate optical depths for the 6 HIRS/2 bands. Properties of clouds are retrieved by the non-negative least squares fitting of the observed optical depths with a set of theoretically calculated reference mixtures of simulated particle sizes for ash and sulfates. Results suggest that the total mass of fine (1-15 μm in radius) silicate particles in the clouds decreased from 3600 kT to 120 kT in the first three days of cloud drifting, which is in reasonable agreement with other independent estimates. Sulfate aerosol masses represent 8-10% of the fine silicate masses and this percentage remains approximately constant as the silicate cloud decays. The results from this model are compared with those from contemporaneous two-band infrared advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) data by using an earlier independent model. Maximum masses of sulfate aerosol estimated are about 4% of the mass of sulphur dioxide in the same clouds estimated by the total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) sensor during the same few days. These observations suggest that catalysis of the sulphur dioxide to sulfuric acid conversion by ash is minimal and that falling silicates efficiently scavenge sulfate aerosols. Refinement of the multiband, multicomponent retrievals is still needed to improve assumptions.
The hydrolysis of mono-, di-, and triglutamate derivatives of folic acid with bacterial enzymes.

Abstract A soil organism of the genus Flavobacterium was isolated from a medium containing folic acid as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen (ATCC 25012). This organism resembles but is not identical with a previously described strain, Flavobacterium polyglutamicum. It utilizes the glutamate released from pteroylmonoglutamate by the action of an intracellular enzyme, folate amidase. The relative rates of enzymatic hydrolysis of a variety of analogues of pteroylmonoglutamate were determined in order to characterize the substrate specificity of folate amidase. Gel filtration was used to separate folate amidase from two other bacterial enzymes: one that acts on α-glutamylglutamate and another that splits γ-glutamylglutamate. Enzyme fractions that hydrolyzed γ-glutamylglutamate also released free glutamate from pteroyl-γ-diglutamate and pteroyl-γ,γ-triglutamate.
Incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw among users of bisphosphonates with selected cancers or osteoporosis

Purpose To quantify the incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) by bisphosphonate exposure among two cohorts of patients. Methods In a retrospective cohort study, we identified cohort members via health insurance claim diagnosis codes and identified potential cases of ONJ that were confirmed with medical record review. One cohort included patients aged ≥40 years with breast or prostate cancer or multiple myeloma; the other cohort included men aged ≥60 years and women ≥50 years with osteoporosis. For each cohort, we calculated sex- and age-standardized incidence of ONJ by exposure to oral bisphosphonates and intravenous bisphosphonates. Results In the cancer cohort (n = 46 542), sex- and age-standardized incidence of ONJ (n = 26 probable or possible cases) adjusted for abstraction proportion was 0.29 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07–0.52) among those unexposed to bisphosphonates and 5.3 (95%CI, 1.9–8.7) after intravenous bisphosphonate use. Controlling for covariates, the rate ratio for intravenous use versus no use was 8.8 (95%CI, 2.0–38). Patients with multiple myeloma had a rate 4.5 times that of patients with breast cancer. In the osteoporosis cohort (n = 31 244), sex- and age-standardized ONJ (n = 11 probable or possible cases) incidence was 0.26 per 1000 person-years (95%CI, 0.06–0.47) among those unexposed to bisphosphonate and 0.15 (95%CI, 0.00–0.36) after oral bisphosphonate use. Conclusion Among patients with selected cancers, incidence of ONJ was higher among those with multiple myeloma and users of intravenous bisphosphonates. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single Daily Busulfan Dosing for Infants with Nonmalignant Diseases Undergoing Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Transplantation

Abstract Busulfan (Bu) is widely used in conditioning regimens for infants undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT), but the best approach to administer Bu in this population is still unknown. Here, we report a single-center experience of the use of a test dose to guide dose adjustment of intravenous (i.v.) Bu therapy in infants. Between 2004 and 2013, 33 infants younger than 1 year with nonmalignant conditions received allogeneic peripheral blood or cord blood HPCT after a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen consisting of fludarabine, antithymocyte globulin, and 2 single daily doses of i.v. Bu. Pharmacokinetic results of a test dose of i.v. Bu (.8 mg/kg) were used to determine the dose of 2 single daily i.v. Bu regimen doses, adjusted to target an area under the curve (AUC) of 4000 μMol*minute per day in a first cohort (n = 12) and 5000 μMol*minute in a second cohort (n = 21). The mean Bu clearance in our infant patients was found to be 3.67 ± 1.03 mL/minute/kg, and the test dose clearance was highly predictive of the regimen dose clearance. The mean AUC achieved after the first single daily regimen dose was 3951 ± 1239 in the AUC 4000 cohort and 4884 ± 766 for the AUC 5000 cohort. No patient in either cohort developed hepatic sinusoidal obstructive syndrome or seizures attributable to Bu. Primary graft failure occurred in 4 patients and secondary graft failure occurred in 3, predominantly in the AUC 4000 cohort (6 of 7). Among the engrafted patients (n = 28), 16 achieved full donor chimerism and 9 patients attained stable mixed chimerism. Overall survival of patients at 6 years after transplantation was 59.5% for the AUC 4000 cohort and 85.4% for the AUC 5000 cohort, with primary graft failure in the first cohort being a major contributor to morbidity. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of graft failure increased significantly if cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells were used or if total Bu exposure was below 4000 μMol*minute per day for 2 days. The difference in clinical outcomes between the 2 cohorts supports the conclusion that targeting a higher Bu AUC of 5000 μMol*minute per day for 2 days improves donor engraftment in infants with nonmalignant conditions undergoing RIC HPCT without increasing toxicity. Measuring i.v. Bu pharmokinetics using a test dose allows timely adjustment of single daily regimen doses and optimization of total Bu exposure, resulting in an effective and safe regimen for these infants.
Chapter 4 Membrane Permeability Barriers to Ionic and Polar Solutes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the membrane permeability barriers to ionic and polar solutes. It mentions that no single model of transbilayer transport can describe all solute permeation processes. The chapter explains the basic model proposed by Overton, which accounts for transport of small neutral solutes. It describes exceptions to the Overton rule and shows the ways in which recent advances have expanded our understanding of this fundamental process. Overton's ideas about membrane permeability arose from experimental evidence gathered in numerous investigations on the osmotic properties of both plant and animal cells at the end of the past century. Many of his experiments were aimed at the assessment of the plasmolytic potency of nonionic solutes in cells. In a typical experiment, a cell was placed in a hypertonic solution and the resultant shrinkage of the cell (plasmolysis) was observed either visually or by weight measurements. Solute molecules that were relatively membrane impermeable caused permanent plasmolysis. The chapter also presents a review on the process of calculation of the permeability coefficient for a solute, according to the solubility–diffusion mechanism. The solubility–diffusion model can also account for the transport of monovalent cations and halide ions in typical lipid bilayers, but it must take into account other energy barriers, particularly Born energy and hydrophobic energy related to the size of the hydrated ion.
Effects of glucose and other energy substrates on the hyperactivated motility of macaque sperm and the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction.

: Energy sources in sperm capacitation media have various effects on mammalian sperm and are required for stimulation of hyperactivated motility and/or acrosome reactions in some species. The present experiments were performed to investigate the energy substrate requirement for these two functions of macaque sperm. Semen from six cynomolgus macaques was washed through 60% Percoll, resuspended, and washed with Biggers, Whitten, and Whittingham media. In one set of experiments, sperm were incubated in the complete capacitation medium or in medium without glucose. In another set of experiments, the complete medium was used for comparison with medium containing no energy substrates. The absence of glucose did not affect survival of sperm during a 6-hour incubation period; however, removal of all energy substrates resulted in a decrease in percent motility by 3 hours. Sperm were incubated for 1 hour prior to evaluation of sperm motility by computer-aided sperm analysis and sperm-zona binding experiments. During the last 30 minutes of incubation, half of the aliquots of sperm suspensions were treated with activators (ACT; caffeine and dbcAMP, 1 mM each). As previously reported, when sperm were incubated in complete medium and treated with ACT there were changes in sperm movements that are consistent with hyperactivation. Similar or greater changes were observed in sperm that were incubated prior to treatment with ACT in glucose-free medium or in medium without any energy substrates. Whether sperm were incubated in complex medium or in glucose-free medium, sperm binding to zonae was enhanced when the sperm were treated with ACT. The absence of glucose in the incubation medium had no deleterious effect on the zona-induced acrosome reaction, which could be demonstrated whether or not sperm were treated with ACT. Sperm incubated in medium without energy substrates were also capable of binding to the zona pellucida and of undergoing the acrosome reaction following treatment with ACT. However, the percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm on the zonae was significantly lower when sperm were incubated in medium without any substrates. These results indicate that macaque sperm, like human sperm, do not require energy substrates in incubation media in order to undergo capacitation in vitro, although energy substrates may be necessary for optimal capacitation.
Security in innovative new operating systems

A principal criterion by which new operating systems are judged is the level of performance that they provide for applications. To this end, new operating systems have sought novel approaches to performance enhancement. A theme common to many of these initiatives is that of specialization. Instead of an operating system designed to serve all applications (either equally well or equally badly), the operating system is adapted to serve the needs of the application. The intent is not to provide a different static operating system for each application but to allow the operating system to be dynamically modified or specialized to best serve each application. The five operating system efforts presented are: the Exokernel Project, the Fluke Project, the Fox Project, the Scout Project, and the SPIN Project. The authors hope to give an overview of the innovative techniques being used to enhance performance in these systems and to discuss the effect of those enhancements on one's ability to reason about the security properties of systems.
A Mean-Variance Approach to Withdrawal Rate Management: Theory and Simulation

Withdrawal rate management of retirement portfolios (decumulation) is explored in a traditional mean-variance context. The paper demonstrates that improvements in the composition of portfolios and in the management of withdrawal rates can both be thought of as increasing the opportunity cost price of annuitizing and reducing the optimal risk of portfolios. Increases in age are shown to have three separate components: decreasing remaining expected lifespan; decreasing variability of remaining lifespan; and increasing variability of returns over remaining holding period. The difficulty of employing a mean-variance approach when a portion of the variation in returns is absorbed by variation in the ending portfolio is noted.The second portion of the paper demonstrates these principles with simulation analysis. A zero-tolerance (MAXSAFE) approach, as proposed by Bengen, is combined with a multiple-factor withdrawal management strategy, as developed by Stout and Mitchell, to generate a series of risk-return frontiers based on data from 1926-2008.Improvements in risk-return relationships are found using more restrictive withdrawal rate management approaches than previously reported in the literature. Restricting withdrawal rates when retirees no longer have 1.45 times the present value of their expected withdrawals combined with limitations on withdrawal rate increases allow most retirees to experience average withdrawal rates in excess of 5.5% with average withdrawal rates in excess of 6% and with only a .1% chance of ruin before death.
Habitat segregation among trophic morphs of the Cuatro Ciénegas cichlid (Herichthys minckleyi)

Herichthys minckleyi is an endangered, trophically polymorphic cichlid endemic to the Cuatro Cienegas basin of Coahuila, Mexico. A molariform morph has stout pharyngeal teeth whereas a papilliform morph has numerous fine pharyngeal teeth. Individuals with intermediate pharyngeal dentition also exist, as does yet another morph, called piscivore. Previous studies indicated that morphs utilize different food sources, thus suggesting morph-specific spatial segregation, since food resource availability is spatially heterogeneous. We present data from an observational study of all morphs (but focusing on the three most common, normal-bodied ones – molariform, papilliform and intermediate) in a single spring pool, Poza Mojarral Oeste. We analyzed morph distribution in relation to habitat types, and document morph-specific differences in feeding behavior. Spatio-temporal habitat partitioning was also investigated. Habitat use by molariform, papilliform, and intermediate morphs was found to be non-random. Morphs differed in habitat use, albeit with considerable overlap. Strong segregation among morphs was not detected in any season or time of day, but habitat use patterns varied seasonally within each morph and were consistently different among morphs. All morphs behave basically as feeding generalists. This endangered species may prove more difficult to manage than other, non-polymorphic species. It is clearly important to manage not only for the maintenance of the species, but also for maintenance of its different morphs, which our study indicates may each require different mixes of habitat types. We thus hypothesize that any changes in habitat heterogeneity will lead to altered proportions of the different morphs of the species.
TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN THE NUTRIENT CHEMISTRY OF THE CARIACO BASIN

Nutrient data have been collected monthly at the CARIACO time series site in the Cariaco Basin since 1995, providing a unique picture of the cycling of NO3 − , NO2 − ,N H 4 + ,P O 4 3− and SiO2 in this permanently anoxic system underlying a major coastal upwelling zone. Our data indicate that nutrients for phytoplankton growth are primarily supplied by upwelling of subsurface water on a seasonal basis. In addition, coastal runoff seems to supply important amounts of silica and ammonium to surface waters. We saw no indication of local nitrogen fixation in the Cariaco surface waters. In the suboxic zone, our data to date are not of sufficiently high enough resolution to resolve all important features. However, at least partial phosphate removal appears to occur in a zone above the first appearance of sulfide, and associated with intermittent intrusions of oxygenated water. In the suboxic zone, there appear to be thin layers where ammonium and nitrite coexist, potentially permitting anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) to take place. In the deep waters, concentrations of ammonium, phosphate and silica continue to increase at a rate consistent with prior studies. However, in the upper part of the anoxic zone, there is evidence for sulfide removal, probably associated with oxygen intrusions.
ac susceptibility studies of the weak itinerant ferromagnet Sr Ru O 3 under high pressure to 34 GPa

The dependence of the Curie temperature ${T}_{\mathit{\text{Curie}}}$ on nearly hydrostatic pressure has been determined to $17.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ for the weak itinerant ferromagnet $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ru}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ in both polycrystalline and single-crystalline forms. ${T}_{\mathit{\text{Curie}}}$ is found to decrease under pressure from $162\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}42.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ at $17.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ in nearly linear fashion at the rate $d{T}_{\mathit{\text{Curie}}}∕dP\ensuremath{\simeq}\ensuremath{-}6.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}∕\mathrm{GPa}$. No superconductivity was found above $4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in the pressure range from $17\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}34\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$. Room-temperature x-ray diffraction studies to $25.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ reveal no structural phase transition but indicate that the average Ru-O-Ru bond angle $\ensuremath{\beta}$ passes through a minimum near $15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$. The bulk modulus and its pressure derivative were determined to be ${B}_{o}=192(3)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ and ${B}_{o}^{\ensuremath{'}}=5.0(3)$, respectively. Parallel ac susceptibility studies on polycrystalline $\mathrm{Ca}\mathrm{Ru}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ at 6 and $8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ pressure found no evidence for either ferromagnetism or superconductivity above $4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$.
Do Negative Consumption Experiences Hurt Manufacturers or Retailers? The Influence of Reasoning Style on Consumer Blame Attributions and Purchase Intention

Negative consumption experiences adversely influence consumer perceptions of manufacturers and retailers. The author theorizes and finds that analytical thinkers are more likely than holistic thinkers to attribute the cause of the negative consumption experience to the manufacturer, resulting in lower repurchase intention of the manufacturer brand. In contrast, holistic thinkers are more likely than analytical thinkers to attribute the cause of the negative consumption experience to the retailer, resulting in lower repurchase intention at the retailer. These findings are important to marketing managers at both ends of the marketing supply chain—manufacturers and retailers—who deal with consumers with diverse cultural backgrounds.
Primary photochemistry and photoisomerization of retinal at 77 degrees K in cattle and squid rhodopsins

The relative quantum yields of the photoreactions Rhodopsin in equilibrium Bathorhodopsin in equilibrium Isorhodopsin over an extended wavelength region have been determined in cattle and squid rhodopsins at 77 degrees K. The quantum yields were found to be wavelength independent and unchanged for samples suspended in D2O. The rhodopsin-bathorhodopsin forward and backward quantum yields sum to larger than one. These results are consistent with the previous suggestion that the excited singlet potential of rhodopsin has a single minimum along the 11–12 torsional coordinate. The values of the quantum yields are important for evaluating dynamic models of the rhodopsin-bathorhodopsin transition. We conclude that equilibration in the common excited state afer excitation of rhodopsin, as previously suggested, does not occur. Models involving molecular excitation trajectories conserving torsional momenta and excited state to ground state surface crossings better fit the data, and a semiquantitative analysis is presented. Probabilities of surface crossings are calculated.
Conflict in maritally distressed military couples

Abstract Military couples, because of their lifestyles, may have unique marital stressors. This study investigated whether distressed military couples, compared to distressed civilian couples, are at greater risk for specific marital problems. Prior to marital therapy, 30 military and 30 civilian couples completed a marital satisfaction assessment packet containing the Areas of Change Questionnaire, the Marital Adjustment Scale, and the Marital Status Inventory. Results indicated same-sex differences across groups, and cross-sex differences within groups. Most importantly, military wives were more likely to be physically abused than civilian wives, and they more often requested that their husbands drink less, work late less, and express more emotion. Military men were less encouraging of their wives having nonsexual outside relationships.
Modeling Multi-Modal Morning Commute in a One-to-One Corridor Network

Abstract In this paper, we study the morning commute problem with three modes: transit, driving alone and carpool. The transit mode uses its own separate guideway, but the auto modes can access two parallel routes to reach the destination – a freeway and an arterial road (AR). Carpoolers are assumed to share their fuel costs and road tolls, in addition to their advantage of using specially provided facilities (HOV lanes). However, there is an added cost of carpooling: the cost associated with pick-up and drop-off. We analyze the interactions among the three modes and how different factors affect their mode shares and network performance. This is achieved by first deriving the departure time equilibrium for the transit mode (in the same fashion as is done for the auto modes), then establishing equilibrium within each mode. The shares among the modes are determined by a nested logit model. Finally, a time-varying toll on the freeway is proposed to completely eliminate the congestion on the freeway. Some intriguing findings of this study include: (1) enlarging HOV facilities, which offers a travel advantage for carpoolers over solo-drivers, may reduce transit ridership and increase auto travel, and it does not necessarily reduce the total travel cost on the network when the network is highly congested; (2) the rise of gas price may first entice auto commuters to carpool. However, as the gas price increases further, both carpoolers and solo-drivers will eventually switch to use the transit mode; and (3) a flat freeway toll can also reduce the total network travel cost.
The jurisprudents analogy: Argumentation and the new rhetoric

This essay examines the “jurisprudential analogy” offered by Toulmin and Perelman as a conceptual framework for the study of argument. An attempt is made to assess the impact of such a juridical model upon the new rhetoric.
Propagation losses in dielectric image guides

The authors calculated the propagation losses of a dielectric image guide using the effective dielectric constant (EDC) method to a higher order of approximation. It was found that there exist a minimum in the waveguide attenuation that has not been alluded to in the literature, and also a peak in the imaginary parts of the transverse propagation constant relate to dimensional resonances within the waveguide. These results imply that the propagation losses will be lowered and the fields will be more effectively confined within the waveguide at frequencies close to the cutoff. >
Detection of pregnancy in sheep by means of ultrasound.

A METHOD with which rapidly and accurately to detect pregnancy in sheep during the first half of gestation would be of considerable value to the sheep industry. Early detection of pregnancy would enable the producer to supply adequate food to feed pregnant and barren ewes rationally and control infertility. Although pregnancy can be detected in ewes by radiology1,2 and laparotomy3,4, radiology requires expensive equipment and may have adverse effects on the foetus while laparotomy requires surgery. We have found foetal electrocardiography difficult to interpret with sheep because of the high level of noise; however, the technique may be useful in detecting pregnancy in other species.
Opening Fronts in HIV Vaccine Development: Tracking the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies.

The challenges posed by the biology of the virus remain a barrier to obtaining a complete cure using current antivirals and to developing a working vaccine that will protect from infection and clear disease. Researchers are keenly working to uncover how to elicit long-term broadly neutralizing antibody responses in humans that will protect against infection from all HIV clades and to ensure that people already infected will also have a chance at clearing the virus and being cured. In “Bedside to Bench,” Florian Klein and Henning Gruell discuss a recent study that tracked how broadly neutralizing antibodies developed in an HIV-infected individual during the natural course of the disease. The findings will help create a roadmap to identify the necessary steps to induce antibody maturation for achieving a broad and potent protective humoral response. Another important aspect that defies HIV eradication in infected individuals is the existence of viral reservoirs that allow the virus to hide from antiviral killing. In “Bench to Bedside,” Robert Siliciano peruses recent advances in animal models providing evidence that eliciting effector memory cellular responses to HIV may help eradicate—or prevent the establishment of—latent reservoirs. This strategy could contribute to clearing HIV in treated infected individuals and add to the protection of a humoral vaccine response.
Modern Approaches to Understanding and Managing Organizations

The article presents a review of the book “Modern Approaches to Understanding and Managing Organizations,” by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal.
Postthaw survival and fertility of frozen bull spermatozoa treated with antibiotics and detergent.

Five factorial experiments were conducted, each with 10 bulls, three extenders, and six antibiotic treatments to determine safe levels of new antibiotics to add to bull spermatozoa. Dicloxacillin, cephapirin, ceforanide, gentamicin, and minocin were added at five concentrations to whole milk, egg yolk-Tris, and egg yolk-Tris detergent (sodium triethanolamine lauryl sulfate) extenders with penicillin and streptomycin as a control. Semen was extended to 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, packaged in .5-ml straws, frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen, and thawed at 35 degrees C for 30 s. Two people assessed postthaw percentage of motile spermatozoa from two straws per treatment. Bulls and extenders always affected sperm motility significantly. Percentage of intact acrosomes of spermatozoa was assessed in selected treatments but did not differ in any experiment. Sodium triethanolamine lauryl sulfate tended to improve cryopreservation of spermatozoa. Percentage of motile spermatozoa in milk declined when concentrations of dicloxacillin exceeded 200 micrograms/ml or when gentamicin, as Gentocin, exceeded 500 micrograms/ml. Minocin was toxic at all levels tested in egg yolk and was nontoxic to sperm in milk extender at concentrations less than or equal to 100 micrograms/ml. Cephapirin and ceforanide were innocuous at all concentrations tested (200 to 2000 micrograms/ml). Fertility with cephapirin (500 micrograms/ml) added to an extender containing control antibiotics resulted in a 56-d nonreturn rate of 75.5 versus 72.1% for the control.
Time course of alterations in lung lymph and bronchial blood flows after inhalation injury

The effects of inhalation injury on the pulmonary microvascular fluid flux and bronchial blood flow were examined in a long-term study of sheep (N = 13). They were insufflated with either 48 breaths of cotton smoke (n = 8) or air (n = 5) while they were deeply anesthetized with halothane. After injury, anesthesia was discontinued and the animals were mechanically ventilated throughout the experimental period (24 hours). Bronchial blood flow increased significantly at all time points recorded and reached its peak 20 minutes after the inhalation trauma (11 +/- 1 ml/hr to 106 +/- 18 ml/hr; p less than 0.05). Thereafter, bronchial blood flow decreased to a value that was six to eight times above the baseline measurement for the remainder of the study period. With these changes in blood flow, there was a concomitant increase in lung lymph flow. This variable gradually increased and was 633% of the baseline value (6 +/- 1 ml/hr to 44 +/- 8 ml/hr) 24 hours after the challenge with smoke. The control animals showed little or no change in cardiopulmonary function during the experimental period. There is no correlation between the increase in bronchial blood flow and lung lymph flow patterns after cotton smoke inhalation injury.
Effects of tourism growth on air quality: The case of Las Vegas

(1995). Effects of tourism growth on air quality: The case of Las Vegas. Journal of Sustainable Tourism: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 135-142.
THE EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) AND IGF-I ON CLOHOGENIC GROWTH OF HEMATOPOIETIC CELLS IN LEUKEMIC PATIENTS DURING ACTIVE DISEASE AND DURING REMISSION

The number of survivors of childhood leukemia treated with GH for growth failure is increasing. The debate around the direct or indirect relationship of GH and IGF-I to the occurence of malignancy, especially in the case of GH therapy in patients with leukemia, is still unresolved. After we have studied the effect of GH and IGF-I on bone marrow (BM) of patients with acute leukemia (ALL and AML) in active disease, we studied patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in remission. We have shown that GH increases blast colony count (BCC) by a mean of 68% and 77% at a GH concentrations of 250 and 300 ng/ml respectively. IGF-I increased BCC in all patients by 50, 93 and 105% at IGF-I concentrations of 0.05, 0.25 and 0.5 ng/ml respectively and in AML patients by 33, 58 and 65% in the presence of same concentrations. In colony forming assay did not reveal stimulation of peripheral blood blast colony forming by GH or IGF-I. In contrats with our in vitro data (as previously reported by us) that suggest that GH and IGF-I may promote blast cell proliferation, this effect was not on cells obtained from leukemia patients in remission.
Evoked surface-positive potentials in isolated mammalian olfactory cortex

Summary Surface potentials were recorded in olfactory cortex of the guinea pig in vitro following stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract. In agreement with other investigators, stimulation of slices incubated at 37 °C evoked a surface negative wave in prepyriform cortex, olfactory tubercle and periamygdaloid cortex, but the surface-positive wave seen in vivo was absent. Variations in slice thickness indicated that the surface-negative wave was generated superficially since it could be evoked in slices as thin as 0.28 mm and that the surface-positive wave was generated from deeper layers since it could not be seen in slices less than 0.46 mm thick. To provide adequate oxygenation, the thicker slices were incubated at ambient temperatures. At these temperatures, 0.46–0.78 mm thick slices exhibited surface negative waves over the entire olfactory cortex, including entorthinal cortex, as well as sequential surface-negative and surface-positive waves over the periamygdaloid cortex. Optimum conditions were obtained with slices 0.52 mm thick, incubated in Krebs solution containing2.5m M Ca 2+ at 23–27 °C. Under these conditions evoked potentials were well maintained up to 1–2 days. Such slices demonstrated intracellular Na + , K + and water contents similar to those of thinner slices incubated at 37 °C. The surface positivity was sensitive to changes in calcium, magnesium and stimulus-frequency in a manner suggesting a synaptic potential.
Cell-penetrating peptides can confer biological function: regulation of inflammatory cytokines in human monocytes by MK2 inhibitor peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides have been used as a method of delivering biologically active peptide for over two decades. In this paper, we covalently attached four different cell-penetrating peptides to a peptide that inhibits a kinase important in inflammation, mitogen-activated protein kinase activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAP2 or MK2). We evaluated the specificity, toxicity, and functionality of these therapeutics in an in vitro model of inflammation using THP-1 monocytes. When treated with the MK2 peptide inhibitors, activated THP-1 human monocytes challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed a decrease in TNF-α and IL-6 excretion without apparent toxicity. In addition, western blot analysis revealed decreases in the phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a downstream substrate of MK2. These results suggested that our peptides inhibited MK2 activity in vitro and should be investigated further as a potential therapeutic for applications involving inflammation. Furthermore, our results suggested that cell-penetrating peptides can be bioactive.
Cushing's disease: transient secondary adrenal insufficiency after selective removal of pituitary microadenomas; evidence for a pituitary origin.

Of 12 patients with Cushing’s disease who had successful selective microadenoma resection documented by clinical remission and reversal of hypercortisolism, 11 developed postoperative hypoadrenalism with deficient adrenal responsiveness to exogenous ACTH. In addition, of 11 patients tested with hypoglycemia, all had subnormal cortisol responses, and 10 had deficient ACTH responses. Pituitary-adrenal function then gradually returned to normal; at last testing, normal cortisol responses to ACTH stimulation and insulin hypoglycemia were present in 8 of 12 and 6 of 11 patients, respectively, and 9 of 11 had normal plasma ACTH responses to hypoglycemia. Two patients with persistent hypoadrenalism had had prior incomplete bilateral adrenalectomies. The ACTH and glucocorticoid deficiency was not caused by the surgical procedure or hydrocortisone replacement, since it resolved despite replacement therapy; further, adrenal insufficiency did not occur in 10 acromegalic patients who received the same operation and i...
Role of magnetic resonance elastography in compensated and decompensated liver disease

Background & Aims Non-invasive predictors identifying subjects with compensated liver disease at highest risk for transitioning to a decompensated state are lacking. We hypothesized that liver shear stiffness as measured by magnetic resonance elastography is an important non-invasive predictor of hepatic decompensation. Methods Among patients with advanced fibrosis undergoing magnetic resonance elastography (2007–2011), a baseline cohort and follow up cohort (compensated liver disease) were established. Cause specific cox proportional hazards analysis adjusting for competing risks was utilized to determine the association between elevated liver shear stiffness and development of decompensation (hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, variceal bleeding). Results In the baseline cohort (n=430), subjects with decompensated liver disease had a significantly higher mean liver shear stiffness (6.8kPa, IQR 4.9–8.5) as compared to subjects with compensated liver disease (5.2kPa, IQR 4.1–6.8). After adjustment for Model for End Stage Liver Disease score, hepatitis C, age, gender, albumin, and platelet count, the mean liver shear stiffness (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.27) was independently associated with decompensated cirrhosis at baseline. Over a median follow up of 27months (n=167), 7.2% of subjects with compensated disease experienced hepatic decompensation. In the follow up cohort, the hazard of hepatic decompensation was 1.42 (95% CI 1.16–1.75) per unit increase in liver shear stiffness over time. The hazard of hepatic decompensation was 4.96 (95% CI 1.4–17.0, p =0.019) for a subject with compensated disease and mean LSS value ⩾5.8kPa as compared to an individual with compensated disease and lower mean LSS values. Conclusion Baseline liver shear stiffness assessed by magnetic resonance elastography is independently associated with decompensated liver disease.
Work and Love Among Emerging Adults Current Status and Future Directions

The literature on the association between work and love during the young adulthood years is relatively sparse. The articles in this special issue make a substantial contribution to the empirical ev...
Measuring gender differences: The expressive dimension and critique of androgyny scales

This paper calls for a new approach to the measurement of gender similarities and differences in personality. Critiques of current measures that are based on the measurement of stereotypical masculinity and femininity are reviewed, and an alternative measure is presented. It avoids many of the problems in the other scales by measuring expressiveness and instrumentality in such a way that they are not confounded with variables such as independence or autonomy. Results with this measure in five different samples are presented. These confirm our theoretical definitions of expressiveness and instrumentality, and suggest that only the expressive or relational dimension consistently differentiates samples of women and men.
The Utility of Shorter Epochs in Direct Motion Monitoring

This cross-sectional study using direct motion monitoring evaluated whether short epochs increased estimates of moderate or vigorous physical activity (MPA or VPA) and enhanced differences in daily VPA comparing overweight (OW) and nonoverweight (NOW) children. Seventy-seven children (ages 8–10 years) wore accelerometers for 7 days. We calculated two estimates (mean minutes per day) of MPA and VPA using motion counts based on a 15-s epoch and a calculated 60-s epoch produced by totaling each consecutive group of four 15-s motion counts. We compared estimates as a function of mean motion count·min-1 for sex, age, and status as OW or NOW. The results showed that a 15-s epoch produced higher estimates of VPA (mean difference of 7 min per day, p < .001). The average number of VPA minutes added using the 15-s epoch vs. the 60-s epoch was 8.8 for more active children compared with 5.8 for less active children (p < .001). There was no difference in VPA minutes between OW and NOW children. These findings suggest ...
Simulations and experimental study of electric field screening by the proximity of field emitters

Experiments and simulations were performed to investigate the electric field screening effects with two and four cathodes configuration. The experiments are run using carbon fiber field emitters with various spacing between fibers. Experiments and simulations show the current to be a strong function of the separation between the field emitters.
Using Unity to Teach Game Development: When You've Never Written a Game

Video games are ubiquitous and our students want to learn how to make them. As computer science professors we see incorporating games into our curricula as a great way of increasing student excitement, increasing retention, and teaching communication skills. The problem many of us face though is how to teach game development when you have never written a game. Searches of articles and course offerings from other colleges does not provide a lot of clarification on what is the best environment for teaching such a course. The solution that we have found after many attempts is to build a game development course around the Unity game engine, and in this paper we describe how we arrived at this decision. Unity is easy to learn, free, cross-platform, a real game engine, and known in the field of game development but not discussed in computer science literature with regard to this type of course.