cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin A supplementation in very low birth weight neonates: rationale and evidence.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most prevalent form of chronic lung disease in infancy. Among the 3.9 million births in the United States in 1997, approximately 55 000 newborn infants weighed <1500 g at birth.1 Among these very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, 49 000 infants would be expected to be discharged alive at the end of their first hospitalization (Vanderbilt experience 1998). At an estimated incidence of 24% among the VLBW survivors (Vanderbilt experience 1998), 12 000 new cases of BPD would be expected to emerge annually, making BPD the leading cause of chronic lung disease in infancy. The pathogenesis of BPD involves factors causing injury to an immature lung and factors inhibiting its healing.2,,3 The lung injury can result from such insults as hyaline membrane disease, barotrauma or volutrauma from mechanical ventilation, oxygen toxicity, and airway infection associated with prolonged tracheal intubation.4 The lung healing can be influenced by nutrients, antioxidants, inflammatory cells, eicosanoids, growth factors, peptide hormones, and components of extracellular matrix.5 The role of the essential micronutrient vitamin A (retinol) in the promotion of orderly growth and differentiation of regenerating epithelial tissues makes vitamin A an important nutrient during recovery from lung injury.6,,7 This review focuses on the pathophysiology of vitamin A deficiency in relation to BPD, examines the evidence for vitamin A deficiency in VLBW neonates, and provides guidelines for vitamin A supplementation as an approach toward amelioration of lung disease among the VLBW survivors. Vitamin A promotes normal growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. Vitamin A deficiency, therefore, affects various organ systems, including the lung.6 The histopathologic changes in the respiratory system generally precede other consequences of vitamin A deficiency involving the genitourinary system, eye, and skin.6 Vitamin A deficiency results in a progressive sequence of …
Towards Validation of an Adaptive Flight Control Simulation Using Statistical Emulation

Traditional validation of flight control systems is based primarily upon empirical testing. Empirical testing is sufficient for simple systems in which a.) the behavior is approximately linear and b.) humans are in-the-loop and responsible for off-nominal flight regimes. A different possible concept of operation is to use adaptive flight control systems with online learning neural networks (OLNNs) in combination with a human pilot for off-nominal flight behavior (such as when a plane has been damaged). Validating these systems is difficult because the controller is changing during the flight in a nonlinear way, and because the pilot and the control system have the potential to co-adapt in adverse ways traditional empirical methods are unlikely to provide any guarantees in this case. Additionally, the time it takes to find unsafe regions within the flight envelope using empirical testing means that the time between adaptive controller design iterations is large. This paper describes a new concept for validating adaptive control systems using methods based on Bayesian statistics. This validation framework allows the analyst to build nonlinear models with modal behavior, and to have an uncertainty estimate for the difference between the behaviors of the model and system under test.
The unusual dynamics of parasite actin result from isodesmic polymerization

Previous reports have indicated that parasite actins are short and inherently unstable, despite being required for motility. Here, we re-examine the polymerization properties of actin in Toxoplasma gondii (TgACTI), unexpectedly finding that it exhibits isodesmic polymerization in contrast to the conventional nucleation-elongation process of all previously studied actins from both eukaryotes and bacteria. TgACTI polymerization kinetics lacks both a lag phase and critical concentration, normally characteristic of actins. Unique among actins, the kinetics of assembly can be fit with a single set of rate constants for all subunit interactions, without need for separate nucleation and elongation rates. This isodesmic model accurately predicts the assembly, disassembly, and the size distribution of TgACTI filaments in vitro, providing a mechanistic explanation for actin dynamics in vivo. Our findings expand the repertoire of mechanisms by which actin polymerization is governed and offer clues about the evolution of self-assembling, stabilized protein polymers.
A Myristoyl/Phosphoserine Switch Controls cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Association to Membranes

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase [protein kinase A (PKA)] mediates a myriad of cellular signaling events, and its activity is tightly regulated in both space and time. Among these regulatory mechanisms is N-myristoylation, whose biological role has been elusive. Using a combination of thermodynamics, kinetics, and spectroscopic methods, we analyzed the effects of N-myristoylation and phosphorylation at Ser10 on the interactions of PKA with model membranes. We found that, in the absence of lipids, the myristoyl group is tucked into the hydrophobic binding pocket of the enzyme (myr-in state). Upon association with lipid bilayers, the myristoyl group is extruded and inserts into the hydrocarbon region of the lipid bilayer (myr-out state). NMR data indicate that the enzyme undergoes conformational equilibrium between myr-in and myr-out states, which can be shifted byeither interaction with membranes and/or phosphorylation at Ser10. Our results provide evidence that the membrane binding motif of the myristoylated C-subunit of PKA (PKA-C) steers the enzyme toward lipids independent of its regulatory subunit or an A-kinase anchoring protein, providing an additional mechanism to localize the enzyme near membrane-bound substrates.
Dieback of Acacia koa in Hawaii: ecological and pathological characteristics of affected stands

Koa (Acacia koa) is an endemic Hawaiian tree that serves as a keystone species in the upper elevation forests of all the main islands. In the Mauna Loa Strip area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, mature koa stands are suffering from an unexplained dieback that has increased in severity since it was first noticed approximately 25 years ago. The dieback is often evident in patches, and generally spreads within stands in a radial fashion from a localized infection center. Entire crowns of affected trees become wilted, with foliage gradually progressing from an apparent healthy to a completely chlorotic condition. Although most trees die soon after the onset of symptoms, some trees are able to survive crown death by producing epicormic shoots on the lower portions of the trunk. Previously published studies reported that a vascular wilt fungus (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. koae) was associated with koa seeds and the rhizosphere of healthy and dieback-affected koa stands. The purpose of this study was to characterize the stand structure, soil conditions, and physiological condition of dieback-affected trees, and to assess the possible role of F. oxysporum f. sp. koae in the current dieback stands. This fungus was isolated from branches of symptomatic koa in dieback-affected stands and roots from healthy and dieback-affected stands. Possible differences in the pathogenicity and virulence of F. oxysporum f. sp. koae isolates obtained from the roots of healthy koa in unaffected stands and those from branches of dieback-affected koa were determined by greenhouse inoculations of koa seedlings. Healthy koa saplings in stands unaffected by dieback were also inoculated to determine if disease symptoms could be induced by inoculation of injured roots in the field. Both branch and root isolates were pathogenic; with the percent mortality of inoculated seedlings ranging from 30 to 60% for all isolates. Disease severity between branch and root isolates was not significantly different. Wilt symptoms were not observed in field inoculations of koa saplings after 8 months. Investigation of the dieback stand structure determined that the larger size classes (i.e., DBH > 3 cm) were all affected equally, with the smallest size class (i.e., 0‐3 cm DBH) having the lowest percentage of dieback at each site. Soil from dieback stands had higher water content and was more acidic than that from neighboring unaffected stands. Phyllodes on epicormic shoots of dieback trees had a reduced area, mass, and mass to area ratio. Phyllodes on dieback trees also had reduced stomatal conductance and higher (less negative) leaf water potential. Results from the greenhouse inoculations demonstrated that F. oxysporum f. sp. koae is pathogenic to koa, but the pathogen’s activity in the field may be influenced by predisposing factors
PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE CALIFORNIA THRASHER (TOXOSTOMA REDIVIVUM) BASED ON NESTED-CLADE ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIATION

Abstract Distribution of genealogical lineages within a species is likely the result of a complicated series of ecological and historical events. Nested-clade analysis is specifically designed as an objective phylogeographic approach for inferring evolutionary processes on a spatial and temporal scale for small subclades within a larger set of intraspecific relationships. Here, we use nested-clade analysis as well as other phylogeographic methods to investigate the evolutionary history of California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) populations. Inferences resulting from nested clade analysis suggest a history that includes past fragmentation, range expansion, and isolation-by-distance. Along with root information, those inferences enable the construction of a biogeographic scenario for this species involving general southern ancestry, an early north–south division, northward range expansion, and a southward back-expansion into an already populated southern region. Isolation-by-distance is also identified, p...
Proteomics-Based Identification of Differentially Abundant Proteins from Human Keratinocytes Exposed to Arsenic Trioxide.

Introduction: Arsenic is a widely distributed environmental toxicant that can cause multi-tissue pathologies. Proteomic assays allow for the identification of biological processes modulated by arsenic in diverse tissue types. Method: The altered abundance of proteins from HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line exposed to arsenic was quantified using a label-free LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry workflow. Selected proteomics results were validated using western blot and RT-PCR. A functional annotation analytics strategy that included visual analytical integration of heterogeneous data sets was developed to elucidate functional categories. The annotations integrated were mainly tissue localization, biological process and gene family. Result: The abundance of 173 proteins was altered in keratinocytes exposed to arsenic; in which 96 proteins had increased abundance while 77 proteins had decreased abundance. These proteins were also classified into 69 Gene Ontology biological process terms. The increased abundance of transferrin receptor protein (TFRC) was validated and also annotated to participate in response to hypoxia. A total of 33 proteins (11 increased abundance and 22 decreased abundance) were associated with 18 metabolic process terms. The Glutamate--cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), the only protein annotated with the term sulfur amino acid metabolism process, had increased abundance while succinate dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur subunit, mitochondrial precursor (SDHB), a tumor suppressor, had decreased abundance. Conclusion: A list of 173 differentially abundant proteins in response to arsenic trioxide was grouped using three major functional annotations covering tissue localization, biological process and protein families. A possible explanation for hyperpigmentation pathologies observed in arsenic toxicity is that arsenic exposure leads to increased iron uptake in the normally hypoxic human skin. The proteins mapped to metabolic process terms and differentially abundant are candidates for evaluating metabolic pathways perturbed by arsenicals.
Global Adoption of Convenience Foods

Trends in the types of foods Americans purchase are evident just by looking around the grocery store. Foods stuffs requiring extensive preparation are being replaced by convenience products that require little time, energy, or preparation. Food companies constantly invest in research and development of new convenience foods to make daily life easier for consumers. The objective of this study is to determine whether the demand for convenience foods is growing around the globe, and if so, to identify the various drivers responsible for the increase in demand. Secondary data were collected for 67 different countries on the quantity and value for four different food types of convenience food: frozen processed foods, chilled processed foods, meal replacement products, and sweet and savory snacks. Data were also found on potential drivers of convenience such as age, income, food budget, etc. All data had 10 years of information (1998 to 2007) and were collected through databases from Euromonitor or the World Bank and analyzed using regression analysis. The three biggest drivers of convenience foods were found to be possession of a color TV, possession of a microwave, and median age of the population.
Terrain representation using right-triangulated irregular networks

A quadtree-based triangulation, sometimes called an RTIN, is a common hierarchical representation of terrain for 3D visualization. In this paper we focus on the memory/error bound trade-os for using RTINs with planar and quadratic surface patches over triangles.
Transitioning a Team to Agile Test Methods

This experience report describes the challenges and initial steps taken to move a large development team from traditional waterfall test phases to agile test methods. In late 2007, our development team started the transition to incorporate agile practices of user stories, daily scrums and time-boxed iterations. This paper focuses on the changes in test strategies necessary to support agile.
An indicator displacement system for fluorescent detection of phosphate oxyanions under physiological conditions

Abstract A fluorogenic chemosensing system is described and shown to selectively detect pyrophosphate under physiological conditions. In the best case, pyrophosphate and hydrogen phosphate are capable of displacing a fluorescent coumarin-derived indicator from a bis Zn 2+ -dipicolylamine coordination compound with association constants of 10 7 and 10 5 M −1 , respectively.
Instability of an inhomogeneous bacterial suspension subjected to a chemo-attractant gradient

The stability of a suspension of chemotactic bacteria confined in an infinitely long channel and subjected to a stationary, linear chemo-attractant gradient is investigated. While swimming, individual bacteria exert force dipoles on the fluid, which at the continuum level lead to a stress depending upon the bacterial orientation and number density fields. The presence of the attractant gradient causes bacteria to tumble less frequently when swimming along the gradient, leading to a mean orientation and a non-zero chemotactic drift velocity . To study the coupling between the previously analysed orientation shear instability mechanism of bacterial suspensions and the new chemotaxis-driven instability, a new set of continuum equations that consistently account for weak chemotaxis, rotation of bacteria by weak fluid shear and weak non-continuum effects along with their coupled effects has been derived. The stability analysis of those equations showed that the orientation shear mechanism has only a negligible influence on the critical concentration for the present chemotaxis-induced instability when the suspension depth is large, and it is the latter that has the lowest critical concentration.
Using clinical decision support to maintain medication and problem lists A pilot study to yield higher patient safety

To investigate whether clinical decision support that automates the matching of ordered drugs to problems (clinical diagnoses) on the problem list can enhance the maintenance of both medication and problem lists in the electronic medical record, we designed a clinical decision support system to match ordered drugs on the medication list and ongoing problems on the problem list. We evaluated the capability and performance of this clinical decision support system in medication-problem matching using physician expert chart audits to match ordered drugs to ongoing clinical problems. A clinical decision support system was shown to be useful in improving medication-problem matches in 140 randomly selected audited patient encounters in three inpatient units. Enhanced maintenance of both the medication and problem lists can permit the exploitation of advanced decision support strategies that yield higher patient safety.
Discordant effects of rosiglitazone on novel inflammatory biomarkers

Background Although rosiglitazone favorably affects myriad intermediate markers of atherosclerosis, it appears to increase myocardial infarction (MI) risk. We analyzed the effects of rosiglitazone on a panel of 8 novel circulating biomarkers, 4 of which are independently associated with atherosclerosis: lymphotoxin β receptor, peptidoglycan recognition protein 1, chemokine ligand 23, and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) as well as on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Methods Blood samples were analyzed at baseline and after 6 months of study treatment from subjects with type 2 diabetes with or at high risk for coronary artery disease in a randomized trial comparing rosiglitazone versus placebo. Results Data from 111 subjects (rosiglitazone 55, placebo 56) were analyzed. Mean age was 56 years, 41% were women, and 66% were nonwhite. Compared with baseline values, rosiglitazone adversely affected levels of lymphotoxin β receptor (1.7 vs 2.4 ng/mL, P = .002), peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (29.0 vs 30.1 ng/mL, P = .01), and chemokine ligand 23 (0.76 vs 0.84 ng/mL, P = .02) and favorably affected levels of sRAGE (inversely associated with atherosclerosis, 1.1 vs 1.4 ng/mL, P = .003) and hs-CRP (0.42 vs 0.31 ng/mL, P = .02); no changes were observed with rosiglitazone in the other biomarkers. In the placebo group, change was observed only for sRAGE (1.0 vs 1.1 ng/mL, P = .046). Conclusion Rosiglitazone adversely affected 3 novel biomarkers and favorably affected a fourth previously associated with atherosclerosis while improving hs-CRP, as has previously been shown. Whether these complex effects on circulating inflammatory biomarkers contribute to the signal of increased MI risk with rosiglitazone and whether pioglitazone has similar effects warrant further investigation.
Detection of feigned head injury symptoms on the MMPI-2 in head injured patients and community controls

Abstract MMPI-2 results from 39 moderately to severely head injured (HI) and 44 community volunteer (CV) participants given instructions to feign symptoms or answer honestly during an analog forensic neuropsychological examination were compared. No significant effects for HI or the interaction between the HI and instruction set (IS) factors were noted on either clinical or selected validity scales (F, Fb, F(p), Ds2, FBS). However, the main effect of IS was significant for both clinical and validity scales (median Cohen’s d=1.34 and 1.39, respectively). Most validity scales were characterized by perfect specificity rates but low to modest sensitivity, whereas FBS had both moderate sensitivity and specificity. Logistic regressions showed that the F and Ds2 scales made a significant contribution independent of motivational tests to the identification of feigning during neuropsychological examination.
Use of a Clinical Pathway To Manage Unsuspected Radiographic Findings

Study objectives To describe our 5-year experience with a clinical pathway used to ensure the timely communication and evaluation of unsuspected radiologic findings (URFs) noted on clinically requested chest imaging. Design Prospective data collection on clinical practice. Setting Academically affiliated Veterans Affairs medical center. Participants Pulmonary physicians, nurses, and radiologists. Results Over a period of 5 years, 1,629 URFs were referred to the pathway (from chest radiographs, 1,359 [83.4%]; from CT scans, 270 [16.6%]). Most URFs (78%) were nodules, with a specific diagnosis made in one third of URFs, and with a specific diagnosis thought to be clinically significant in another one third of URFs. The most common diagnosis was neoplasm, with over two thirds of these diagnoses being lung cancer. One third of lung cancers detected were either stage 1 or 2, with 1 in 17 of all URFs being stage IA lung cancer. The cost of the pathway was estimated at $28,600 per year. Conclusions URFs noted on chest imaging are frequently clinically significant, and a systematic approach to managing URFs, such as a clinical pathway, can significantly improve care in a large teaching hospital.
Modulational instability of a strip beam in a bulk type I quadratic medium.

The evolution of a strip (one-dimensional) fundamental beam with propagation distance owing to spatial modulational instabilities was analyzed in a quadratic medium near type??I phase matching. We obtained the gain coefficient for the modulational instability and showed that the wave evolves into a clean periodic sequence of solitary waves and does not reproduce the incident beam.
Sex Differences in Attitude Expression: A Generational Explanation

Females have consistently shown higher DK response rates than males in surveys. Using the 1972 Center for Political Studies National Election Study, this sex difference is shown to be a largely generational phenomenon which is much greater among older than younger respondents. It also declines at higher levels of political knowledge and interest. Finally, using the CPS 1972-76 national panel, DK response rate shows high test-retest reliability. Ronald B. Rapoport is an Associate Professor of Government, College of William and Mary. The data for this study were made available by the Inter-University Consortium for Social and Political Research. Neither the Consortium nor the original collectors of the data are responsible for the analyses or interpretations presented here. The author would like to acknowledge the insightful suggestions of Jere Bruner on this project, and the helpful comments of Alan Abramowitz, Fritz Gaenslen, John McGlennon, Patricia Rapoport, and the anonymous reviewers on an earlier draft of this article. Public Opinion Quar-terly Vol. 46.86-96 ? 1982 by The Trustees of Columbia University Published by Elsevier North-Holland, Inc. 0033-362X/82/0046-86/$2.50 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.127 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 06:10:40 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms SEX DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDE EXPRESSION 87 data in their own right, and reveal something important about respon-
Spatial and Physical Characteristics of Rejolladas in Northern Yucatán, Mexico: Implications for Ancient Maya Agriculture and Settlement Patterns

This study evaluates the importance of rejolladas to the Ancient Maya in and around the Classic Maya center of Xuenkal, Yucatan State, Mexico. Rejolladas are collapse sinkholes with bases above the local water table. We present a spatial and physical analysis of 186 rejolladas in a 10 × 10 km area centered on Xuenkal. Basal diameters range from ∼22 to 264 m, areas range from 0.04 to 5.48 ha, and depths range from 4 to 12 m. Spatial density ranges from 0 to 8 rejolladas/km2 with higher densities coinciding with known Ancient Maya settlements. Within Xuenkal, residential groups tend to be organized around and focused on the rejolladas. Some rejolladas have modified slopes that may be remnants of terraces or entry paths. High-resolution satellite imagery analysis demonstrates that rejolladas have denser and healthier vegetation than the surrounding landscape especially in the dry season. Microclimate data demonstrate that the bottom of rejolladas has less extreme diurnal temperature ranges, lower daytime highs, higher atmospheric moisture, and significantly higher and more stable soil moisture. Based on the archaeology at Xuenkal, it appears that the Ancient Maya recognized and actively exploited these environmental microniches for intensive cultivation both locally and regionally.
Fault dictionary size reduction through test response superposition

The exceedingly large size of fault dictionaries constitutes a fundamental obstacle to their usage. We outline a new method to reduce significantly, the size of fault dictionaries. The proposed method partitions the test set and a combined signature is stored for each partition. The new approach aims to provide high diagnostic resolution with a small number of combined signatures. The experimental results show a considerable decrease in the storage requirement of fault dictionaries.
The importance of situating culture in cross-cultural IT management

An approach to understanding cross-cultural information technology (IT) management issues that focuses on the implicit aspects of culture is described and applied. It is based upon a theoretical framework called situating culture which acknowledges that cultural understanding is locally situated, grounded in actual behaviors, and embedded in everyday, socially negotiated work practices. To show how this theoretical framework can be used in cross-cultural IT management, it is applied to an examination of the interplay among multiple contextual influences-the national cultures of the host and home countries, the IT industry culture, and the organizational culture of a particular firm-in examples of the cross-cultural IT workplace drawn from the published literature. Management implications of applying the situating culture approach in the cross-cultural IT workplace are then provided.
THE MOTION OF ATMOSPHERIC VORTICES AND THE GENERAL CIRCULATION

Abstract Atmospheric vortices are treated as masses of air with certain distributions of vorticity, with or without solid boundaries. It is shown that in the northern hemisphere the effect of the vorticity distribution in the surrounding fluid is such as to exert a horizontal force driving cyclonic vortices toward regions of higher absolute vorticity and anticyclonic vortices toward regions of lower absolute vorticity. Thus, cyclonic vortices are in general driven toward the north and anticyclonic vortices toward the south, because of the general northward increase of the vertical component of absolute vorticity. However, in the case of a very strong jet of westerlies, the absolute vorticity has a strong maximum toward the north and minimum to the south. The force then acts in the reverse direction in some regions, driving a cyclone situated to the north of the maximum of absolute vorticity southward, and an anticyclone situated to the south of the minimum of absolute vorticity northward. Thus, cut-off lo...
Tortured Language: Lawful Permanent Residents and the 212(h) Waiver

Recent amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act have greatly expanded the grounds for removal of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and, at the same time, constricted judicial review of agency decisions to deport immigrants. Language added to the 212(h) waiver of inadmissibility has increased the number of LPRs that are now ineligible for relief from removal by barring certain LPRs from applying for a waiver if, since the date of their admission, they have committed an aggravated felony or have failed to accrue seven years of continuous presence. The controversy discussed in this Note stems from differing interpretations of this statutory provision. Nine courts of appeals have ruled that an aggravated felony or lack of continuous residence bars relief under section 212(h) only for those noncitizens who were admitted to the country as LPRs following inspection at a port of entry. In removal proceedings outside of those circuits, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) holds that relief is unavailable to all LPRs convicted of an aggravated felony or who fail to meet the residence requirements after acquiring LPR status, regardless of the manner in which they acquired that status. The Eighth Circuit alone has followed that ruling (leaving only the First and Twelfth Circuits without an opinion on the issue). This Note describes the split over section 212(h) against the backdrop of current trends in immigration law around statutory interpretation and the agency deference doctrine. It analyzes the current state of U.S. Supreme Court deference to the BIA to understand how this issue might play out in the Court and argues that the plain meaning of the statute supports the
Striking for Freedom: The 1831 Uprising at Golden Grove Plantation, Cat Island

Although the study of colonial Bahamian slave resistance has advanced in recent decades, key episodes of insurrection have yet to be fully explored. Recent investigation of primary source materials related to an 1831 uprising at Golden Grove, Joseph Hunter’s plantation at Cat Island, suggests that its causes and consequences were more complex than have hitherto been acknowledged. Juxtaposition of an official narrative, espoused by slave owners, with a counternarrative, by at least some slaves, emphasizes historical multi-vocality. Details of the case, which reached London at a time of accelerating abolitionism, underscore several broader themes in the history of West Indian slavery. These include the pervasive nature of resistance, the place of amelioration laws in stimulating rebellion, and the role of authoritative slaves in kin to labor strikes. The degree to which scholars stress confrontational resistance at Cat Island and other Bahamian locations has important implications for contemporary political discourse.
Cropping system effects on giant foxtail (Setaria faberi) demography: I. Green manure and tillage timing

Abstract Manipulation of cropping systems to improve weed management requires a better understanding of how crop- and soil-related factors affect weed life cycles. Our objective was to assess the impacts of timing of primary tillage and use of legume green manure on giant foxtail demography and soil properties. We measured giant foxtail seed survival and dormancy, seedling emergence and survival, and fecundity, in addition to soil phytotoxicity, chemical properties affecting soil fertility and soil water, in the transition between the wheat and corn phases of a wheat–corn–soybean crop sequence. Postdispersal predation of giant foxtail seeds was measured in all three phases of the crop sequence. Wheat was grown either as a sole crop (W) or underseeded with red clover (R), and residues from this phase were rototilled either in the fall (FT) or in spring (ST). There were strong interactions between Red clover and Tillage timing in their effects on giant foxtail recruitment and fecundity in corn. Giant foxtai...
CHIJMES: The Forgotten Story

This study was conducted in the hopes of probing the tension between the economic uses and socio-historical aspects of CHIJMES through adaptive reuse. The team conducted extensive research into historical backgrounds of similar heritage entities which were transformed in their uses. Further studies made were the reactions and underlying tensions with regards to a deconsecrated church maintaining its facade yet at the same time, having a government body stipulate its use as an entertainment hub.A relatively young country, Singapore is beginning to realize the importance of conservation. This research explores the arising tension between economic viability and preservation of heritage as a result of adaptive usage. Adaptive reuse is defined as the preservation of physical facade while reconstructing uses that might not be reflective of its original uses (Henderson, 2010). Studies have shown this mechanism has both its pros and cons. Our subject of research, the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel (CHIJ) is one of the two religious affiliated buildings that undertook a functional conversion and was constructed as an entertainment spot. The philosophy guiding Singapore’s conservation process reflects the notion that the importance of physical appearance over its historical merits. The underlying commerce motivated ethos, reinforced by an economic impetus, is important in determining the state of conservation.
APEX-Map: a parameterized scalable memory access probe for high-performance computing systems: Research Articles

The memory wall between the peak performance of microprocessors and their memory performance has become the prominent performance bottleneck for many scientific application codes. New benchmarks measuring data access speeds locally and globally in a variety of different ways are needed to explore the ever increasing diversity of architectures for high-performance computing. In this paper, we introduce a novel benchmark, APEX-Map, which focuses on global data movement and measures how fast global data can be fed into computational units. APEX-Map is a parameterized, synthetic performance probe and integrates concepts for temporal and spatial locality into its design. Our first parallel implementation in MPI and various results obtained with it are discussed in detail. By measuring the APEX-Map performance with parameter sweeps for a whole range of temporal and spatial localities performance surfaces can be generated. These surfaces are ideally suited to study the characteristics of the computational platforms and are useful for performance comparison. Results on a global-memory vector platform and distributed-memory superscalar platforms clearly reflect the design differences between these different architectures. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the U.S.A.
Acetylcholine content of tyrode solution perfused through muscles as affected by calcium and procaine hydrochloride.

Summary1. Dogs'denervated fibrillating muscles when perfused with Tyrode solution, Ca++ free Tyrode solution, or Ca++ free Tyrode solution containing 1 millimol of procaine hydrochloride per liter, continue to fibrillate and the perfusate from such muscles contains a heat labile material capable of inhibiting the heart of Venus mercenaria in vitro.2. Intact muscle perfused with Tyrode solution does not usually exhibit electrical activity and the perfusate from such inactive muscles does not inhibit the heart of Venus mercenaria.3. Innervated muscle perfused with eserin-ized Ca++ free Tyrode solution displays electrical activity similar to the fibrillation of denervation and the perfusate from such muscles contains a heat labile material capable of inhibiting the heart of Verms mercenaria in vitro.4. Perfusates subjected to alkaline hydrolysis obtained from denervated nbrillating muscle, or from innervated muscle rendered active by perfusion with Ca++ free solutions, do not contain a cardio-inhibitor subst...
Dynamics of the His79-heme alkaline transition of yeast Iso-1-cytochrome c probed by conformationally gated electron transfer with Co(II)bis(terpyridine)

Alkaline conformers of cytochrome c may be involved in both its electron transport and apoptotic functions. We use cobalt(II)bis(terpyridine), Co(terpy)22+, as a reagent for conformationally gated electron-transfer (gated ET) experiments to study the alkaline conformational transition of K79H variants of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c expressed in Escherichia coli, WT*K79H, with alanine at position 72 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yK79H, with trimethyllysine (Tml) at position 72. Co(terpy)22+ is well-suited to the 100 ms to 1 s time scale of the His79-mediated alkaline conformational transition of these variants. Reduction of the His79-heme alkaline conformer by Co(terpy)22+ occurs primarily by gated ET, which involves conversion to the native state followed by reduction, with a small fraction of the His79-heme alkaline conformer directly reduced by Co(terpy)22+. The gated ET experiments show that the mechanism of formation of the His79-heme alkaline conformer involves only two ionizable groups. In previous wor...
Experimental alteration of the ability of tumor cells to lyse plasma clots in vitro.

Summary1. Mouse Sarcoma 180 cells, in the presence of mammalian serum, cause lysis of chicken plasma clots. 2. Mammalian aqueous humor has slight influence on the fibrinolytic process. 3. When Sarcoma 180 is grown in the presence of avian serum, no lysis occurs. If a sufficient quantity of chicken serum is added to a supernatant fluid containing mammalian serum there is a decrease in the amount of clot lysis. 4. Lysis of the plasma clot by Sarcoma 180 does not occur when mammalian serum previously heated to 56°C for 3 hours is used, or when all serum is omitted from the supernatant. 5. The different degrees of lysis obtained when sera from various mammalian orders are used may be due to differences in the amount of pronbrinolysin contained in the various sera. 6. There are two factors necessary for the lytic mechanism, tentatively classified as a pronbrinolysin from the serum, and an activator of the pronbrinolysin derived from the tissue.
Conciliatory States Elite Ethno-Demographics and the Puzzle of Public Goods Within Diverse African States

Existing theory associates ethnolinguistic diversity with a host of negative outcomes. This article analyzes the puzzle of Ghana, the 12th most diverse state globally, yet among the most peaceful, ...
Expression of nerve growth factor, its TrkA receptor, and several neuropeptides in porcine esophagus. Implications for interactions between neural, vascular and epithelial components of the esophagus.

UNLABELLED This study was aimed to determine the expression and localization of nerve growth factor (NGF) and several neural peptides in porcine esophagus. Transmural esophageal specimens were obtained from euthanized pigs. STUDIES 1) histologic evaluation, 2) expressions of NGF and its tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) receptor, calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and neuronal enolase using immunostaining and quantification of signal distribution and intensity. Immunostaining for NGF, CGRP, nNOS and neuronal specific enolase (NSE) showed their strong and differential expression and localization in the neuronal network. NGF was strongly expressed in the majority of neurons and nerves, distribution of TrkA was complementary; its signal was 1.5-fold weaker P nNOS > NGF > NES > TrkA. In addition to neural structures, nNOS, NGF and TrkA were expressed in keratinocyte progenitor cells of esophageal mucosa and in endothelial cells of blood vessels. We conclude that a strong expression of NGF in majority of esophageal neurons and nerves indicates important, but previously unrecognized regulatory roles in the esophagus; 2) This study showed expression of NGF and some of the neuropeptides in neural elements, keratinocyte progenitor cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels, which indicates local interactions between neural, epithelial and endothelial cells.
Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece

With Montenegro and Serbia engaged in the First World War from its outbreak, three other southeastern European countries hovered on the periphery of the fighting: Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. Since, like Italy, all three harbored desires to realize their nationalist aspirations at the expense of their neighbors, they could not ignore the opportunities presented by the war. With the fighting raging elsewhere in Europe between the two great power alliance systems, affiliation with one or the other side promised substantial benefits. Before acting, each remaining Balkan nation had to determine which side offered the greatest gains and the most likely chance of victory. At the same time, the two warring alliance systems, the entente (France, Great Britain, and Russia) and the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary and Germany) sought any possible advantage in the Balkans. The interest of both blocs in this region increased after the fighting had deadlocked elsewhere. Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, like their Serbian neighbor, had cast off Ottoman rule in the nineteenth century. All three regarded their borders as temporary, because significant numbers of their conationals lived close by under foreign rule. All three devoted much of their national energy and treasure toward the establishment of large national states based on historical and ethnic claims, on occasion resorting to war for this purpose. Bulgaria fought Serbia successfully to this end in 1885; Greece the Ottoman Empire unsuccessfully in 1897. In the recent Balkan Wars of 1912–13, all three countries participated to further their nationalist aims.
The Impact of Ingroup Favoritism on Trade Preferences

Using a population-based survey experiment, this study evaluates the role of ingroup favoritism in influencing American attitudes toward international trade. By systematically altering which countries gain or lose from a given trade policy (Americans and/or people in trading partner countries), we vary the role that ingroup favoritism should play in influencing preferences. Our results provide evidence of two distinct forms of ingroup favoritism. The first, and least surprising, is that Americans value the well-being of other Americans more than that of people outside their own country. Rather than maximize total gains, Americans choose policies that maximize ingroup well-being. Moreover, this tendency is exacerbated by a sense of national superiority; Americans favor their national ingroup to a greater extent if they perceive Americans to be more deserving. Second, high levels of perceived intergroup competition lead some Americans to prefer trade policies that benefit the ingroup and hurt the outgroup, over policies that help both their own country and the trading partner country. In order for a policy to elicit support, it is important not only that the U.S. benefit, but also that the trading partner country lose so that the U.S. achieves a greater relative advantage. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding bipartisan public opposition to trade.
An indeterminate universe of sets

In this paper, I develop a view on set-theoretic ontology I call Universe-Indeterminism, according to which there is a unique but indeterminate universe of sets. I argue that Solomon Feferman’s work on semi-constructive set theories can be adapted to this project, and develop a philosophical motivation for a semi-constructive set theory closely based on Feferman’s but tailored to the Universe-Indeterminist’s viewpoint. I also compare the emergent Universe-Indeterminist view to some more familiar views on set-theoretic ontology.
An Examination of Claims-based Predictors of Overdose from a Large Medicaid Program

BACKGROUND Health systems may play an important role in identification of patients at-risk of opioid medication overdose. However, standard measures for identifying overdose risk in administrative data do not exist. OBJECTIVE Examine the association between opioid medication overdose and 2 validated measures of nonmedical use of prescription opioids within claims data. RESEARCH DESIGN A longitudinal retrospective cohort study that estimated associations between overdose and nonmedical use. SUBJECTS Adult Pennsylvania Medicaid program 2007-2012 patients initiating opioid treatment who were: nondual eligible, without cancer diagnosis, and not in long-term care facilities or receiving hospice. MEASURES Overdose (International Classification of Disease, ninth edition, prescription opioid poisonings codes), opioid abuse (opioid use disorder diagnosis while possessing an opioid prescription), opioid misuse (a composite indicator of number of opioid prescribers, number of pharmacies, and days supplied), and dose exposure during opioid treatment episodes. RESULTS A total of 372,347 Medicaid enrollees with 583,013 new opioid treatment episodes were included in the cohort. Opioid overdose was higher among those with abuse (1.5%) compared with those without (0.2%, P<0.001). Overdose was higher among those with probable (1.8%) and possible (0.9%) misuse compared with those without (0.2%, P<0.001). Abuse [adjusted rate ratio (ARR), 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-2.10), probable misuse (ARR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.46-2.67), and possible misuse (ARR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.48-2.09) were associated with significantly more events of opioid medication overdose compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS Claims-based measures can be used by health systems to identify individuals at-risk of overdose who can be targeted for restrictions on opioid prescribing, dispensing, or referral to treatment.
Computational Model Predicts the Effects of Targeting Cellular Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer.

Reprogramming of energy metabolism is a hallmark of cancer that enables the cancer cells to meet the increased energetic requirements due to uncontrolled proliferation. One prominent example is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer with an overall five-year survival rate of 5%. The reprogramming mechanism in pancreatic cancer involves deregulated uptake of glucose and glutamine and other opportunistic modes of satisfying energetic demands in a hypoxic and nutrient-poor environment. In the current study, we apply systems biology approaches to enable a better understanding of the dynamics of the distinct metabolic alterations in KRAS-mediated pancreatic cancer, with the goal of impeding early cell proliferation by identifying the optimal metabolic enzymes to target. We have constructed a kinetic model of metabolism represented as a set of ordinary differential equations that describe time evolution of the metabolite concentrations in glycolysis, glutaminolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway. The model is comprised of 46 metabolites and 53 reactions. The mathematical model is fit to published enzyme knockdown experimental data. We then applied the model to perform in silico enzyme modulations and evaluate the effects on cell proliferation. Our work identifies potential combinations of enzyme knockdown, metabolite inhibition, and extracellular conditions that impede cell proliferation. Excitingly, the model predicts novel targets that can be tested experimentally. Therefore, the model is a tool to predict the effects of inhibiting specific metabolic reactions within pancreatic cancer cells, which is difficult to measure experimentally, as well as test further hypotheses towards targeted therapies.
Computer-Assisted Decision Support for Student Admissions Based on Their Predicted Academic Performance

Objective. To develop predictive computational models forecasting the academic performance of students in the didactic-rich portion of a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum as admission-assisting tools.Methods. All PharmD candidates over three admission cycles were divided into two groups: those who completed the PharmD program with a GPA ≥ 3; and the remaining candidates. Random Forest machine learning technique was used to develop a binary classification model based on 11 pre-admission parameters.Results. Robust and externally predictive models were developed that had particularly high overall accuracy of 77% for candidates with high or low academic performance. These multivariate models were highly accurate in predicting these groups to those obtained using undergraduate GPA and composite PCAT scores only.Conclusion. The models developed in this study can be used to improve the admission process as preliminary filters and thus quickly identify candidates who are likely to be successful in the PharmD...
The New Principle-policy Gap: How Diversity Ideology Subverts Diversity Initiatives:

Colorblind ideology is a dominant mode of thinking about race matters in the United States, but it is not the only racial ideology that operates today. The United States appears to be shifting towa...