cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Monte Carlo methods for Bayesian multivariate regression models with heavy-tailed errors

We consider Bayesian analysis of data from multivariate linear regression models whose errors have a distribution that is a scale mixture of normals. Such models are used to analyze data on financial returns, which are notoriously heavy-tailed. Let @p denote the intractable posterior density that results when this regression model is combined with the standard non-informative prior on the unknown regression coefficients and scale matrix of the errors. Roughly speaking, the posterior is proper if and only if n>=d+k, where n is the sample size, d is the dimension of the response, and k is number of covariates. We provide a method of making exact draws from @p in the special case where n=d+k, and we study Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms that can be used to explore @p when n>d+k. In particular, we show how the Haar PX-DA technology studied in Hobert and Marchev (2008) [11] can be used to improve upon Liu's (1996) [7] data augmentation (DA) algorithm. Indeed, the new algorithm that we introduce is theoretically superior to the DA algorithm, yet equivalent to DA in terms of computational complexity. Moreover, we analyze the convergence rates of these MCMC algorithms in the important special case where the regression errors have a Student's t distribution. We prove that, under conditions on n, d, k, and the degrees of freedom of the t distribution, both algorithms converge at a geometric rate. These convergence rate results are important from a practical standpoint because geometric ergodicity guarantees the existence of central limit theorems which are essential for the calculation of valid asymptotic standard errors for MCMC based estimates.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the successful treatment of traumatic adult respiratory distress syndrome : case report and review

We present the case of a 25-year-old, 28-week pregnant woman with two gunshot wounds to the chest. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was begun within 12 hours, despite poor results in prior studies and the need for anticoagulation postoperatively, since oxygenation was rapidly deteriorating despite aggressive treatment. The patient ultimately made a full recovery
Optimal periodic control of activated sludge processes: II. comparison with conventional control for structured sludge kinetics

Abstract Earlier computational studies of optimal periodic operation of wastewater treatment plants are extended to include comparisons with classical control performance and to consider a structured sludge kinetics model. For two quite different examples, periodic control reduces effluent BOD and/or its variability relative to conventional control. Furthermore, the optimal periodic control for structured sludge kinetics can be substantially different from the Monod/decay sludge kinetics result, illustrating the importance of accurate identification of sludge kinetics for optimizing activated sludge process performance.
Contrast Difference Images can be used to Improve Fluorescence Recovery with DRIFT

Fluorescence tomography of tracers enhances accuracy when MRI Gadolinium-contrast difference is used as implicit prior data. This approach improves over using simpler post-contrast images, yet preserves the elegance of non-segmentation based priors.
The invention of graphene electronics and the physics of epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide

Graphene electronics was officially invented at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2003 after experimental and theoretical research on graphene properties starting from 2001. This paper focuses on the motivation and events leading to the invention of graphene electronics, as well as on recent developments. Graphene electronics was originally conceived as a new electronics paradigm to incorporate the room-temperature ballistic and coherent properties of carbon nanotubes in a patternable electronic material. Graphene on silicon carbide was chosen as the most suitable material. Other electronics schemes, involving transferred (exfoliated and chemical vapor deposition-produced) graphitic materials, that operate in the diffusive regime may not be competitive with standard methods and may therefore not significantly impact electronics. In recent years, epitaxial graphene has improved to the point where graphene electronics according to the original concept appears to be within reach. Beyond electronics, epitaxial graphene research has led to important developments in graphene physics in general and has become a leading platform for graphene science as well.
Defensive Reactions to Group-Relevant Information

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that possession of a strong social identity would motivate people to arrive at a conclusion which supported their previous beliefs when respondi...
Chemical analysis of marker substances

Abstract The development of chemical assay procedures for potential marker substances will depend on, and be determined by, three basic factors: (1) the nature of the substance used, (2) the characteristics of the biological samples obtained, and (3) the varieties of information required. Once these have been delineated, the analytical methodology can be specifically characterized in terms of specificity and sensitivity; accuracy, precision, and reliability; and ease, cost, and safety. The specific details of a method must be based on the three factors mentioned above. Thus, a procedure having an ultimate sensitivity limit of more than a micromole per milliliter will be useless if the maximum expected marker concentration in the sample is less than a micromole per milliliter. Similarly, a procedure utilizing gas-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry costing many thousands of dollars is overkill if only a simple, inexpensive thin-layer chromatography procedure is needed to merely confirm the presence of the marker in a sample of urine or blood. Finally, the potential utility of the marker substance will be constrained by nonscientific factors such as cost, time, and convenience. These factors may depend on the ultimate applications of marker substance use, but they must also be addressed in any assay development program. The overall characteristics of a chemical assay procedure for marker substances will be discussed in terms of a model based on similar procedures for the chemical assay of foreign organic compounds in biological materials.
The Duffy protein: a malarial and chemokine receptor

A major advance towards understanding the Duffy blood group system has been achieved with the cloning of FY, a single-copy gene located in the 1q22->q23 region of chromosome 1. The product of FY Is an acidic glycoprotein (gp-Fy), which spans the plasma membrane seven times and has an exocellular N-terminal domain and an endocellular C-terminal domain. The system consists of four alleles, five phenotypes, and five antigens. FYA, FYB, FYB(ES), and FYB(WK) are the alleles; Fy(a+b-), Fy(a-b+), Fy(a+b+), Fy(a-b+(wK)), and Fy(a-b-), are the phenotypes, and Fy(a), Fy(b), Fy3, Fy5, and Fy6 are the antigens. Fy(a-b-), or Duffy-negative individuals, lack the Duffy protein on erythrocytes and are predominantly African and American blacks. They have the FYB(Es) allele with a mutation in the promoter region, which abolishes the expression of the protein in erythrocytes only. In the few cases of non-black Fy(a-b-) individuals, a nonsense mutation prevents the synthesis of gp-Fy. In Fy(a-b+(wk)) erythrocytes, the Fy(b) antigen is weakly expressed due to a reduced amount of the protein. The Fy5 antigen includes the Rh protein, and the Fy6 antigen is defined by a murine monoclonal antibody. Gp-Fy is produced in several cell types, including endothellal cells of capillary and postcapillary venules, epithelial cells of kidney collecting ducts, and lung alveoli, as well as PurkinJe cells of the cerebellum. The Duffy protein plays a role in inflammation and in malaria Infection. The protein is a member of the superfamily of chemokine receptors and is the receptor to which certain malarial parasites bind to invade red blood cells. The parasite-specific binding site, the binding site of chemokines, and the major antigenic domains are located in overlapping regions at the exocellular N terminus of the Duffy protein.
Customer retailer loyalty in the context of multiple channel strategies

Abstract With an increasingly competitive retail environment and decreasing customer switching costs, customer retailer loyalty is a critical goal for merchants of all types. We investigate customer retailer loyalty in the context of multiple channel retailing strategies. Results show that multiple channel retail strategies enhance the portfolio of service outputs provided to the customer, thus enhancing customer satisfaction and ultimately customer retailer loyalty. These results suggest that multiple channel retailing can be a useful strategy for building customer retailer loyalty.
Sickle cell disease: current therapeutic approaches

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder characterised by polymerisation of deoxygenated intracellular sickle haemoglobin (HbS), leading to the deformation of red blood cells (RBC) ...
Adaptation of the Vogt–Mizaikoff F-test to determine the number of principal factors responsible for a data matrix and comparison with other popular methods†

The statistical method developed by Vogt and Mizaikoff for the purpose of determining the number of principal factors responsible for a given test vector is adapted to determine the rank of the data matrix, i.e. the number of principal factors responsible for the entire data matrix. The adapted method is compared with other well-established methods, namely the IND function, the Malinowski F-test and the Faber–Kowalski F-test, using real chemical data as well as modeled data. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection of Human Airway Epithelial Cells Is Polarized, Specific to Ciliated Cells, and without Obvious Cytopathology

Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease requires efficient gene transfer to airway epithelial cells after intralumenal delivery. Most gene transfer vectors so far tested have not provided the efficiency required. Although human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common respiratory virus, is known to infect the respiratory epithelium, the mechanism of infection and the epithelial cell type targeted by RSV have not been determined. We have utilized human primary airway epithelial cell cultures that generate a well-differentiated pseudostratified mucociliary epithelium to investigate whether RSV infects airway epithelium via the lumenal (apical) surface. A recombinant RSV expressing green fluorescent protein (rgRSV) infected epithelial cell cultures with high gene transfer efficiency when applied to the apical surface but not after basolateral inoculation. Analyses of the cell types infected by RSV revealed that lumenal columnar cells, specifically ciliated epithelial cells, were targeted by RSV and that cultures became susceptible to infection as they differentiated into a ciliated phenotype. In addition to infection of ciliated cells via the apical membrane, RSV was shed exclusively from the apical surface and spread to neighboring ciliated cells by the motion of the cilial beat. Gross histological examination of cultures infected with RSV revealed no evidence of obvious cytopathology, suggesting that RSV infection in the absence of an immune response can be tolerated for >3 months. Therefore, rgRSV efficiently transduced the airway epithelium via the lumenal surface and specifically targeted ciliated airway epithelial cells. Since rgRSV appears to breach the lumenal barriers encountered by other gene transfer vectors in the airway, this virus may be a good candidate for the development of a gene transfer vector for CF lung disease.
Postpartum depression: a disorder in search of a definition

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) has the following goal: “to provide clear descriptions of diagnostic categories in order to enable clinicians and investigators to diagnose, communicate about, study, and treat people with various mental disorders.” The DSM-IV also includes specifiers for mood disorders that are intended to increase diagnostic specificity and create homogeneous subgroups, drive treatment selection, and improve the prediction of prognosis. With postpartum onset is a specifier with two requirements: 1) a time criterion (onset of episode within 4 weeks after birth), and 2) application to the current or most recent episode of four diagnoses (major depressive disorder; major depressive, manic, or mixed episode in bipolar I or II disorder; or brief psychotic disorder). However, the term postpartum depression has been used to describe a broad variety of childbearing-related mood episodes not included in the DSM-IV definition. Gaynes et al. (2005) used an expanded concept of perinatal depression (during pregnancy through one year postpartum) in their report (commissioned by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) to inform national policy. From a public health perspective, women, families and communities suffer regardless of when the maternal episode begins. The purpose of this paper is to examine the DSM-IV definition of with postpartum onset and challenges in its clinical and research application. Our goal is to frame the discussion about the specifier as revisions of the DSM and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are considered. We focus on major depressive disorder (MDD) to highlight the ways in which the definition of the postpartum onset specifier might be modified.
Structural characterization of the fusion of two pentapeptide repeat proteins, Np275 and Np276, from Nostoc punctiforme: Resurrection of an ancestral protein

The Nostoc punctiforme genes Np275 and Np276 are two adjacently encoded proteins of 98 and 75 amino acids in length and exhibit sequences composed of tandem pentapeptide repeats. The structures of Np275 and a fusion of Np275 and Np276 were determined to 2.1 and 1.5 A, respectively. The two Nostoc proteins fold as highly symmetric right-handed quadrilateral β-helices similar to the mycobacterial protein MfpA implicated in fluoroquinolone resistance and DNA gyrase inhibition. The sequence composition of the intervening coding region and the ability to express a fused protein by removing the stop codon for Np275 suggests Np275 and Np276 were recently part of a larger ancestral pentapeptide repeat protein.
Breastfeeding Education: A Physician and Patient Assessment

In the study presented here, Likert scaled surveys derived from the Surgeon General’s Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding (2000) were mailed to 400 practicing physicians in a Midwestern state to assess medical school breastfeeding education. In addition, 500 surveys were mailed to women in the same Midwestern state who had given birth within the last year to determine what type of breastfeeding information they were receiving from their attending physicians. The purpose of this study is to analyze physician breastfeeding education and to ascertain if the data collected from the physicians is congruent with the data collected from the women who had recently given birth. Results of this study indicate that while the majority of physicians reported sufficient levels of breastfeeding education while in medical school, women participating in this study reported that they did not receive compendious breastfeeding information from their attending physicians.
Misoprostol attenuates acetic acid-induced damage in rabbit distal small intestine.

The influence of misoprostol pretreatment (100 μg/loop intraluminally) on small intestinal damage induced by acetic acid was evaluated in anesthetized rabbits. In this model injury was induced by intraluminal administration into loops of distal small intestine, of a solution of calcium gluconate (50 mg/ml) and acetic (200 mM). After 3 hr damage was associated with increase in loop fluid volume, loop fluid protein levels and epithelial permeability to51Cr-EDTA, all of which were attenuated by misoprostol pretreatment. Similar protective effects were noted 45 min after the insult, suggesting that misoprostol may be therapeutically useful in conditions where the epithelial barrier is compromised.
The role of expectancy in fear reduction

Systematic desensitization was compared with a highly credible expectancy modification procedure and a waiting list control condition in the modification of fear of snakes in a clinical population. Subjects' expected anxiety and self-efficacy were measured during pre- and posttreatment assessment periods, and credibility and predicted posttreatment anxiety levels were assessed during the first treatment session. There were no significant differences in improvement between the two treated groups, although both showed significantly greater improvement than was found in waiting list control subjects. Expected anxiety was highly correlated with behavioral and self-report measures of fear at pre- and posttreatment assessment. In addition, unlike credibility ratings, predictions of posttreatment fear levels made during the first treatment session were highly correlated with measures of actual posttreatment fear. Exceptionally high correlations between expected fear and self-efficacy suggest that these are a single construct. The results support the hypothesis that the intensity of experienced fear varies as a function of the expectancy for its occurrence. They also raise questions about the construct validity of self-efficacy measures.
The effects of electric shock on responding maintained by cocaine injections in a choice procedure in the rhesus monkey.

A choice procedure was used to determine the ability of electric shock to suppress cocaine-maintained responding in a situation where cocaine was also available on a second level without shock. In each session rhesus monkeys were allowed to self-inject cocaine five times in the presence of a stimulus. Thirty minutes after the fifth injection a second dose of cocaine could be self-injected five times in the presence of a different stimulus. At the onset of the injection of this dose a 5 or 10 mA electric shock was delivered. Thirty minutes later choice trials began in which both stimuli were present and monkeys could choose one of the two doses of cocaine. Electric shock was delivered at the onset of the injection of one of these alternatives. Initially, both doses of cocaine were 0.1 mg/kg. The dose of cocaine associated with electric shock was systematically increased until it was preferred to the dose not associated with electric shock. The results indicate that although responding main-tained by cocaine can be suppressed by punishment, this effect can be attenuated by increasing magnitude of reinforcement.
HACE1 (HECT domain and ankyrin repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1).

Review on HACE1 (HECT domain and ankyrin repeat containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1), with data on DNA, on the protein encoded, and where the gene is implicated.
Population pressure, labor availability, and agricultural disintensification : the decline of farming on Rusinga Island, Kenya.

Despite a steady increase in population since the 1930s, farmers on Rusinga Island in Kenya have abandoned many traditional intensive agricultural practices, including the construction of hillside terraces. At the same time, low crop yields have led to a chronic shortage of food on the island. This paper, based on an analysis of archival materials and a detailed agronomic study of the farming system, analyzes the causes of this process of disintensification. Labor scarcity resulting from migrant wage employment and the growing importance of the fishing industry has been a major factor in the decline of agriculture on the island. The loss of soil conservation practices and serious weed infestations have contributed to the collapse of farm productivity. This study highlights the importance of understanding not only the local ecology but also the broader political and economic environment in order to explain farmers' decisions and the process of agricultural change.
Metal–metal bond photochemistry as a tool for understanding the photochemical degradation of plastics

Abstract Research from the author’s laboratory is reviewed on the photochemistry of polymers that have metal–metal bonds incorporated into their backbones. These polymers are useful for studying the mechanistic aspects of polymer photodegradation because irradiation with visible light causes photolysis of the metal–metal bonds with subsequent degradation of the polymer backbone. The relative simplicity of the degradation process in these polymers facilitates detailed mechanistic studies. In contrast, the degradation pathways in “regular” polymers are intricate, and consequently it is difficult to do detailed mechanistic studies of photodegradation. Two mechanistic studies involving the metal–metal-bond-containing polymers are reviewed. The first study investigated why the kinetics of photochemical degradation are biphasic. Using the polymers with metal–metal bonds, it was shown that the biphasic kinetics arise because the photochemically generated radicals are initially formed in one of two environments. In one environment, a radical trap is within the immediate reactive sphere of the radical; in the other environment, no radical trap is present. The second study examined the temperature dependence of the photochemical degradation reactions in the polymers. The temperature dependence was shown to arise from secondary chain movements of the polymers. It is emphasized that similar studies using regular polymers would have been more difficult to carry out and interpret.
The Brookhaven muon (g−2) storage ring high voltage quadrupoles

The design, construction, and operation of the electrostatic quadrupoles used in the muon ðg � 2Þ experiment E821 of BNL are described in detail. A new lead design allowed the construction of a very reliable system which could operate for hundreds of thousands pulses with no sparking. The new design also made possible the elimination of systematic errors associated with the E; B fields generated by the low energy trapped electrons present in Penning traps under medium vacuum conditions. r 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Evolvability limits: a case study concerning the modular evolvable capacities (MECs) of a new neural net model for a second generation brain building machine BM2

This paper concerns a case study of the limits to which desirable properties can be evolved in a particular kind of neural network circuit (module). It has been the decade long dream of the author to evolve neural network modules in their 10,000s at electronic speeds in special evolvable hardware, and then to assemble them into a gigabyte of memory to build artificial brains. But such an dream is only realizable if the (modular) evolvable capacities (MECs) of such modules (i.e. a qualitative and quantitive measure of the quality of the evolution) are sufficiently high to make the effort worthwhile. This paper shows how the evolvable capacities of a module using a new neural network model (called DePo) was stretched to its limits. This paper makes the claim that evolutionary engineering is all about "pushing up MECs".
Continuum generation by perturbation of soliton

Lumped perturbations of a soliton, such as gain, filtering, and amplitude and phase modulation, are considered. A new formalism is developed to compute the continuum generated by these perturbations through the use of adjoint functions. An exact expression for the continuum in the far field is obtained.
Parallel and distributed simulation: an overview

A review of the state of the art in parallel and distributed simulation (PADS) is given. Sample performance results of currently used PADS techniques are presented using a network of workstations. The results demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of these techniques, and verify the logic of the current directions in PADS research.
Orogen-parallel extension and oblique tectonics; the relation between stretching lineations and relative plate motions

Many collisional orogens exhibit two distinct deformation phases. The first, and relatively early, phase forms within an obliquely subducting continent and is characterized by regionally consistent stretching lineations subparallel to the orogen and to associated isoclinal and sheath folds. Second-phase folds and stretching lineations develop during and after imbrication of the subducting plate into the overriding plate, and they become progressively disharmonic with stretching lineations oriented perpendicular to the orogen. Structural morphology and stretching lineations indicate that a fundamental kinematic transition occurs as material is imbricated from footwall to hanging wall. Kinematic modeling, based on modern oblique convergent boundaries, and considerations of buoyancy forces suggest that only the relatively early structures reflect the relative plate motion, but that the correspondence is not simple. In particular, the orientation of stretching lineations is a function of finite strain, kinematics of deformation, and angle of subduction and convergence, and it will consistently underestimate the angle of oblique convergence. Second-phase structures reflect isostatic emergence of the hanging wall and are independent of relative plate convergence. Examples are drawn from the south-central Canadian Rockies, the Western Alps, the Variscides of Ireland and France, and the Himalaya.
The clinical electrophysiology of intravenous indecainide.

Abstract The electrophysiologic effects of indecainide, a new class IC antiarrhythmic agent, were assessed in 10 patients with left ventricular dysfunction and inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia. Indecainide was administered intravenously in a dose of 60 to 90 mg/kg at a rate of 12.5 to 15 μg/kg/min. Indecainide had no effect on sinus node function or atrial and ventricular effective refractory periods. The AH (106 ± 13 vs 130 ± 24 msec, p p p p
Temporal Distribution of Serum Levels of LH and FSH in Adult Male Golden Hamsters Exposed to Long or Short Days

Serum levelsof LH and FSH were measuredat4-h intervals over a 24-h time period in adult male hamsters either maintained on photostimulatory long days (LD 14:10) or exposed to a nonstimulatory photoperiod (LD 6:18) for 60 days. Regardless of the time of day animals were sacrificed, serum gonadotropin levels were always high in hamsters maintained on LD 14:10 than in animals maintained on LD 6:18.
Dream kitsch and the debris of history An interview with Martin Jay

In this interview, Martin Jay discusses the relation between consumption and his work in intellectual history. Beginning with some personal reflections on his own relation to consumer society, Jay proceeds to discuss the influence of the emergence of the department store on French intellectual thought, the scopic regimes of shopping malls, the ambivalent relation of the Frankfurt School to consumption, alternatives to the Marxists’ valorization of production and the commodification of experience. In addition, he draws on the work of Walter Benjamin to suggest new approaches to the study of consumption. He concludes by discussing the advantages and drawbacks to a theoretical approach to consumption.
Progression of osteoarthritis as a state of inertia

Objectives To test whether knees which recently developed disease were at higher risk for subsequent x-ray progression than knees which had been stable, suggesting that recent change produces further change and recent stability yields subsequent stability (a pattern of inertia). Methods We used central readings of the annual posteroanterior x-rays obtained in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) focusing on change in Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade and change in semiquantitative joint space. We examined whether knees that had developed incident disease (KL grade 2) were at higher risk of subsequent progression than knees that were already grade 2 and had had stable disease. We combined data from multiple examinations. Using generalised estimating equations to adjust for the correlation between knees, we carried out logistic regression evaluating the risk for disease progression testing incident versus stable disease adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, quadriceps strength and mechanical alignment. Results 1562 OAI subjects with grade 2 disease had a mean age of 61.8 years, mean BMI of 29.4, and 61.7% were women. Of knees with stable disease, 4.1% showed progression within the next 12 months in KL grade versus 13.7% in those with incident disease (adjusted OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.4 to 6.7). For progression of joint space loss, we found a similar relation with incident versus stable disease (adjusted OR 5.3; 95% CI 3.6 to 7.9). Conclusions Knee osteoarthritis radiographic progression follows a pattern of inertia. Factors that trigger the transition from stable disease to progression should be sought.
Dynamic compressive behavior of unidirectional IM7/5250-4 laminate after thermal oxidation

Abstract Fiber reinforced high temperature polymer matrix composites are currently gaining wide usage in aircraft structures, especially in airframe and engine inlet casing. The failure of composites in worst-case operational conditions mandates the extensive investigation of the mechanical behavior, and the durability in long-term performance and service life under thermal oxidation. In this work, unidirectional IM7 carbon fiber reinforced high-temperature BMI resin composite (IM7/5250-4) were isothermally aged in air for 2 months at 195 °C and 245 °C, respectively. The dynamic behavior of thermally aged composites was investigated on a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) in three principal directions. The results indicate that thermal oxidation leads to significant reduction in both stiffness and strength of the composites. Optical micrographs of fracture surface and failure pattern of composite after SHPB impact reveals oxidation induced debonding along the fiber–matrix interface due to oxygen diffusion under long-term exposure to elevated temperatures.
Parents Coping With Infants Requiring Home Cardiorespiratory Monitoring

Abstract The investigator used a semistructured interview and McCubbin's Familial Invulnerability Test to examine how mothers and fathers cope with caring for a cardiorespiratory-monitored infant in the home. Content analysis of interview data showed that the persistent gravity of the situation and fears of incompetency in managing their infant's care, coupled with inadequate respite, were the greatest source of hardship for parents. Informational and emotional support from family members and professionals were resources used to manage this experience. Both emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies were used to cope with this situation.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON EPISTATIC INTERACTIONS: VIABILITIES OF CYTOCHROME C GENOTYPES IN INTERPOPULATION CROSSES

Abstract The genetic incompatibilities that underlie F2 hybrid breakdown and reproductive isolation between allopatric populations may be susceptible to environmental interactions. Here we show that epistatic interactions between cytochrome c (CYC) alleles and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation are dramatically influenced by environmental temperature in interpopulation hybrids of the copepod Tigriopus californicus. CYC is a nuclear-encoded gene that functionally interacts with electron transport system (ETS) complexes composed in part of mtDNA-encoded proteins. Previous studies have provided evidence for functional coadaptation between CYC and ETS complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) and for cytoplasmic effects on the fitness of CYC genotype in copepod hybrids. In this study, selection on CYC genotype is shown to continue into advanced generation hybrids (F2–F8) increasing the likelihood that CYC itself is involved in the interaction (and not a linked factor). Relative viabilities varied markedly between co...
Bactericidal Actions of a Silver Ion Solution on Escherichia coli, Studied by Energy-Filtering Transmission Electron Microscopy and Proteomic Analysis

Bactericidal actions of the silver ion on Escherichia coli as a model microorganism were studied using energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM), two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). EFTEM observations demonstrated that the silver ion readily infiltrates the interior of E. coli, contrary to the early hypothesis that it resides initially in the cell membrane area. Furthermore, 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS indicated that the expression of a ribosomal subunit protein as well as that of some other enzymes and proteins is affected by the silver ion. The present results demonstrate for the first time that one of the major bactericidal functions of the silver ion is its interaction with the ribosome and the ensuing inhibition in expression of the enzymes and proteins essential to ATP production.
The influence of light propagation direction on the stress-induced polarization dependence of silicon waveguides

This letter studies the effects of light propagation direction on the stress-induced polarization dependence of silicon-based waveguides. Silicon is an anisotropic material, so the stresses and the corresponding change of polarization dependence vary with the light propagation directions. The analyses show that when the light propagates in lang010rang directions on (100) silicon, the stress-induced changes of refractive index and the birefringence in effective index are about 20% more sensitive to the stresses than those when the light propagates in lang011rang directions
A Reactive Oxygen-Generating System Activates Nuclear Factor-κB and Releases Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Coronary Smooth Muscle Cells☆

Background. Recently we reported that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) from porcine coronary arteries and smooth muscle cells cultured from those vessels. It has also been reported that plasma levels of TNF-α are elevated after myocardial infarction. Since it is known that the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) occurs during ischemia and ROI are suggested activators of the nuclear regulatory factor κB (NF-κB), we tested the hypothesis that release of TNF-α from smooth muscle cells could also be stimulated with a ROI-generating system. Materials and Methods. Smooth muscle cells were isolated from porcine coronary arteries. Confluent cells in 48-well culture dishes were treated for 30 min with 0.003 units/ml xanthine oxidase (XO) and 2 mM hypoxanthine (HX) added to the culture medium. The medium was then removed and the cells were washed three times and fresh medium without HX-XO was added. Then, at 1, 3, and 6 h the medium was removed and analyzed for biologically active TNF-α. In other experiments, smooth muscle cells were treated with 20 μg/ml LPS for 6 h and aliquots of medium analyzed for TNF-α. Untreated cells served as controls. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Extracts of total cell protein were prepared and activation of NF-κB was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results. Treatment of cells with HX-XO stimulated release of TNF-α, which rose to a maximum of 17.5 ± 1.7 units/mg cell protein at 6 h. This was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than release stimulated by LPS (10.2 ± 1.0 units/mg at 6 h) or TNF-α detected in the culture medium from untreated control cells (4.2 ± 0.9 units/mg protein at 6 h). Both HX/XO and LPS activated NF-κB. Conclusions. These results support the conclusion that coronary smooth muscle cells are a potential source of TNF-α during events that are associated with formation of ROI such as myocardial ischemia.
Advanced solar dynamic power systems for future space missions

A design and analysis study has been conducted to evaluate the applicability of solar dynamic power generation systems to a wide variety of future space missions. The most promising approach is to limit peak power cycle temperatures to approximately 1090 K by the utilization of lithium fluoride as a thermal energy storage medium which allows energy to be stored at a moderate temperature (1121 K). It was found that the Stirling system has potentially the highest performance, assuming that future test results of space systems fulfil theoretical predictions. Brayton systems, such as those being developed for the Space Station Freedom, will provide competitive performance with lower development risk. >
Shh and Fgf8 act synergistically to drive cartilage outgrowth during cranial development

Much of the skeleton and connective tissue of the vertebrate head is derived from cranial neural crest. During development, cranial neural crest cells migrate from the dorsal neural tube to populate the forming face and pharyngeal arches. Fgf8 and Shh, signaling molecules known to be important for craniofacial development, are expressed in distinct domains in the developing face. Specifically, in chick embryos these molecules are expressed in adjacent but non-overlapping patterns in the epithelium covering crest-derived mesenchyme that will give rise to the skeletal projections of the upper and lower beaks. It has been suggested that these molecules play important roles in patterning the developing face. Here, we directly examine the ability of FGF8 and SHH signaling, singly and in combination, to regulate cranial skeletogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. We find that SHH and FGF8 have strong synergistic effects on chondrogenesis in vitro and are sufficient to promote outgrowth and chondrogenesis in vivo, suggesting a very specific role for these molecules in producing the elongated beak structures during chick facial development.
Ocular amyloidosis and secondary glaucoma

Abstract Objective To report the clinical and histopathologic findings in two cases of secondary glaucoma associated with amyloidosis. Design Two case reports. Methods Retrospective review of clinical findings, course, and treatment of the two patients. The histopathologic findings from available biopsy material were also reviewed. Main outcome measures Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field changes, and surgical outcome. Results The first case describes a 76-year-old woman with orbital amyloidosis who developed gradual unilateral elevation of IOP that was poorly responsive to medical therapy and underwent filtration surgery. Episcleral venous pressure was elevated on the affected side, and histopathologic analysis of the conjunctival tissue confirmed perivascular amyloid deposits, further suggesting raised episcleral venous pressure to be a possible mechanism of glaucoma. The second case describes a 47-year-old white woman with familial amyloid neuropathy with a transthyretin cys-114 mutation. The association of glaucoma with this mutation has not been described previously. Persisting elevation of IOP in one eye was initially responsive to topical antiglaucoma medications but eventually required filtration surgery. Amyloid particles were found in the aqueous and on the lens surface. Histopathologic analysis of the aqueous and sclerectomy specimens demonstrated amyloid, suggesting outflow obstruction as a possible mechanism of glaucoma. Conjunctival buttonholing complicated filtration surgery in both cases, and the leaks eventually resolved with good control of IOP. Conclusions Amyloid associated with glaucoma may involve different pathophysiologic mechanisms. The elevated IOP may not respond well to medical therapy. Cautious surgical manipulation of the conjunctiva is warranted in these cases.
Pressing Peanuts with a Ring-Cage Screw Press1

A ring-cage screw press was examined as a means of reducing protein insolublization and chemical browning of peanut protein during prepressing of peanuts. It was found possible to prepress uncooked peanuts with moderate heat exposure. Effects of conditioning temperature, screw press pressure and screw press temperature on quality of peanut flour were surveyed. Some protein damage occurred during conditioning but the greatest amount of protein insolublization occurred during screw pressing. The rate of post screw press cooling had little effect on protein solubility. The ring-cage screw press was able to press conditioned peanuts to 5–10% residual oil with less heat damage than occurs in cooking and screw pressing, as commercially practiced. Improved pressing conditions for producing food-grade peanut flour using the ringcage screw press were identified as conditioning seed to 60°C within 6 min. and pressing at 60°C. Increased soluble protein and less chemical browning resulted in ring-cage screw pressed, solvent extracted flour than occurring in conventionally processed peanut flour.
Fully differential receiver chipset for 40 Gb/s applications using GaInAs/InP single heterojunction bipolar transistors

Advent of multimedia applications, which require data links with ever-increasing capacity, is necessitating highspeed optical communication systems and driving research and development for high-speed ICs operating at 40 Gb/s. These optical fiber communication systems require high performance and low power chipsets, which incorporate useful service functions. We report on the design and characterization of a fully-differential 40 Gb/s receiver chipset, which includes a transimpedance amplifier and a limiting amplifier for SONET/SDH STS-768/STM-256 applications. The chipset is realized using a GaInAs/InP single heterojunction bipolar transistor (SHBT) process with a nominal f/sub T/>150GHz and f/sub max/>180GHz.
Integrating Cloud Computing Services Using Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)

Cloud computing is evolving as an important IT service platform with its benefits of cost effectiveness and global access. To become a widely adopted IT infrastructure and service platform, cloud computing has to be integrated with other systems in organizations. In academia, there is very limited study of cloud computing integration. In practice, the industry lacks a comprehensive systems integration architecture or tools that can integrate any system universally. Built upon Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) as an integration backbone, this article proposes an universal integration architecture. With this architecture, any system or service (e.g., ERP and cloud computing) can easily be integrated through the ESB without needing software redevelopment. In order to fully support the enterprise-level business operations in a heterogeneous computing environment, this architecture also introduces a rule-based business process management (BPM) engine to streamline business process management across disparate systems.
Librarian as Advisor: Information Search Process of Undecided Students and Novice Researchers.

Faculty librarians who advise undecided students have found the experiences of novice researcher and advisee comparable: Both groups seek to solve a problem or answer a question by finding new info...
What Has Happened To International Diversification? Returns, Risks, And Correlations

Factors other than correlation must be considered in order to understand the reduced diversification effects of EAFE stocks in U. S. portfolio. The diminished importance of EAFE stocks as diversifying securities can be traced first to higher risk in comparison to the S&P 500 and corporate bonds. A comparison of returns to EAFE in the 1990s versus U. S. securities further demonstrates the lack of competitiveness of EAFE stocks for funds in optimized portfolios. Nevertheless, long-term average returns, risks, and correlations provide evidence in support of international diversification of U. S. portfolios.
Participation vs. Effectiveness of Paid Endorsers in Social Advertising Campaigns: A Field Experiment

We investigate the participation and effectiveness of paid endorsers in viral-for-hire social advertising. Specifically, we investigate (i) how the financial incentive affects endorsers’ participation and effectiveness in paid endorsement campaigns, (ii) what types of endorsers are most effective in generating online engagements (likes, comments, and retweets), and (iii) whether that varies across types of engagements that require different levels of efforts from followers. We conduct a field experiment with an invitation design in which we manipulate both incentives and a soft eligibility requirement to participate in the campaign. The latter provides a strong and valid instrument to separate participation from outcomes effects. Since likes, comments, and retweets are count variables, and since potential endorsers can self-select to participate in multiple campaigns, we use a Poisson lognormal model with sample selection and correlated random effects to analyze variations in participation and effectiveness. There are three main findings. (1) Payments higher than the average reward a potential endorser received in the past do not increase participation, whereas lower payments decrease participation. Neither gains nor losses affect performance. (2) Potential endorsers who are more likely to participate tend to be less effective. (3) Which characteristics are associated with effectiveness depends on whether success is measured in likes, comments, or retweets. These findings provide new insights on how marketers can improve social advertising campaigns by better targeting and incenting potential endorsers.​
The Relationships Among Knee Extensor Torques Produced During Maximal Voluntary Contractions Under Various Test Conditions

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships among measurements of torque produced during selected maximal voluntary contractions of the quadriceps femoris muscles. Subjects. Twenty nondisabled women, ranging in age from 21 to 33 years (X=25, SD=3.5), volunteered to participate in the study. Methods. The subjects were tested on a dynamometer. Subjects performed isometric contractions at 40 and 60 degrees of knee flexion and concentric and eccentric isokinetic contractions at velocities of 30°, 90°, 120° and 180°/s. Isometric knee extensor torques, concentric knee extensor peak torques, and eccentric knee extensor peak torques were determined for each subject. Coefficients of determination (r2) and linear regression equations were calculated to determine the strength and nature of the relationships among the measurements. Results. The coefficients of determination ranged from .60 to .94. Conclusion and Discussion. The torque measurements were moderately to highly correlated, suggesting that the measurements obtained during different maximal voluntary contractions may be assessing similar components of performance.
Active and Passive Cation Transport and Its Association with Membrane Antigens in Sheep Erythrocytes

Erythrocyte membrane transport physiology, in part, owes its recent advance to research on cation polymorphic erythrocytes of ruminants. Investigations on the genetics, physiology, biochemistry, and immunology of these cells, as reported up to 1978, have been extensively reviewed by Tucker (1971), Lauf (1975, 1978a,b), and Ellory (1977). The purpose of this article is to briefly update and summarize the present state of the art, drawing particular attention to recent investigations on the nature of the M antigen, on a C1−-activated passive K+ permeability, and on transport changes accompanying the development of the cation polymorphism in the adult erythrocytes of sheep.
Note on Use of phi as a Simplified Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient

Use of phi as a simplified partial rank correlation coefficient is described and illustrated.
Study of Path Planning Algorithm and Simulation for UAV

A Voronoi diagram is constructed based solely on the locations of the threats and no-fly zones.The Voronoi graph yields the optimal paths to travel between a set of threat central points to avoid the threats and no-fly zones.The vector graphics is consisted of line whose cost is calculated according to the special information of threats including range,location,killing probability and so on.Dijkstra's algorithm is used to get the initial optimal paths,and more,the paths are transformed into flyable paths according to UAV's initial state and capability limit.The simulation is completed under MATLAB platform and the simulation result is presented.