cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional Screen of Paracrine Signals in Breast Carcinoma Fibroblasts

Stromal fibroblasts actively participate in normal mammary gland homeostasis and in breast carcinoma growth and progression by secreting paracrine factors; however, little is known about the identity of paracrine mediators in individual patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize paracrine signaling pathways between breast carcinoma cells and breast carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAF) or normal mammary fibroblasts (NF), respectively. CAF and NF were isolated from breast carcinoma tissue samples and adjacent normal mammary gland tissue of 28 patients. The fibroblasts were grown in 3D collagen gel co-culture with T47D human breast carcinoma cells and T47D cell growth was measured. CAF stimulated T47D cell growth to a significantly greater degree than NF. We detected a considerable inter-individual heterogeneity of paracrine interactions but identified FGF2, HB-EGF, heparanase-1 and SDF1 as factors that were consistently responsible for the activity of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. CAF from low-grade but not high-grade carcinomas required insulin-like growth factor 1 and transforming growth factor beta 1 to stimulate carcinoma growth. Paradoxically, blocking of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloprotease stimulated T47D cell growth in co-culture with NF. The results were largely mirrored by treating the fibroblasts with siRNA oligonucleotides prior to co-culture, implicating the fibroblasts as principal production site for the secreted mediators. In summary, we identify a paracrine signaling network with inter-individual commonalities and differences. These findings have significant implications for the design of stroma-targeted therapies.
Integrating metrics into a large-scale software development environment

Software metrics have been shown to be indicators of software complexity. These complexity indicators identify error-prone, unmaintainable software, which if identified early can be rewritten and/or thoroughly tested. However, the integration of metric use into commercial situations faces practical resistance from budget and deadline restrictions. This paper presents an experiment that introduces a nondisruptive method for integrating metrics into a large-scale commercial software development environment.
Choroidal Melanomas With a Collar-Button Configuration: Response Pattern After Iodine 125 Brachytherapy

Results: Thirty-four of the 93 eyes contained tumors with a collar-button configuration. Sixteen (47%) of the 34 eyes demonstrated a postbrachytherapy response pattern characterized by persistence of the collar-button, while the body of the tumor demonstrated shrinkage. During followup, the color of the collar-button configuration changed from light brown to dark chocolate (16 [47%] of 34 eyes). Subsequently, irregularly clumped, darkly pigmented debris was observed to slough from the surface of the collarbutton configuration into the vitreous cavity (7 [21%] of 34 eyes). The debris was comprised largely of pigmentladen macrophages in 1 eye in which a vitrectomy was performed. In another eye, histopathologic study of spherical clusters of intravitreal brown-colored debris identified malignant melanoma cells. Conclusions: A distinctive postbrachytherapy regression pattern of melanoma with a collar-button configuration has been identified. The main body of the tumor shrinks, whereas the collar-button configuration persists, appears more prominent, gradually changes to a darker color, and may then shed pigmented debris into the vitreous cavity. This pigmented debris may be composed of pigment-laden macrophages and/or melanoma cells. Clinical characteristics of the vitreous debris may help distinguish malignant invasion by melanoma cells from infiltration by nonmalignant debris and macrophages. Arch Ophthalmol. 1999;117:771-775
Application of a laser trap as a viscometer

A laser tweezer (LT) along with advanced imaging techniques has been widely applied to manipulate and study living as well as nonliving microscopic objects. In this study we present yet another novel application of LTs for a precise measurement of the viscosities of fluids in a micro-volume flow. We have demonstrated this novel application by measuring the viscosity of a fetal bovine serum (FBS) using a LT constructed from a single intensity gradient laser trap. By calibrating the LT using dielectric silica micro-beads in a fluid with a known viscosity, specifically water, and by suspending same size of silica beads in the FBS and trapping with the same trap, we have determined the viscosity of the FBS at different temperatures. We have used the relationship between the trapping and Stoke' s drag force for a constant drag speed to determine the viscosity. We have also analyzed the viscosities determined in comparison with corresponding viscosities measured using an Ostwald viscometer.
Reprint of "How do components of real cloud water affect aqueous pyruvate oxidation?"

Abstract Chemical oxidation of dissolved volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds within fog and cloud droplets in the atmosphere could be a major pathway for secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. This proposed pathway consists of: (1) dissolution of organic chemicals from the gas phase into a droplet; (2) reaction with an aqueous phase oxidant to yield low volatility products; and (3) formation of particle phase organic matter as the droplet evaporates. The common approach to simulating aqueous SOA (aqSOA) reactions is photo-oxidation of laboratory standards in pure water. Reactions leading to aqSOA formation should be studied within real cloud and fog water to determine whether additional competing processes might alter apparent rates of reaction as indicated by rates of reactant loss or product formation. To evaluate and identify the origin of any cloud water matrix effects on one example of observed aqSOA production, pyruvate oxidation experiments simulating aqSOA formation were monitored within pure water, real cloud water samples, and an aqueous solution of inorganic salts. Two analysis methods were used: online electrospray ionization high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-HR-ToF-MS), and offline anion exchange chromatography (IC) with quantitative conductivity and qualitative ESI-HR-ToF-MS detection. The apparent rate of oxidation of pyruvate was slowed in cloud water matrices: overall measured degradation rates of pyruvate were lower than in pure water. This can be at least partially accounted for by the observed formation of pyruvate from reactions of other cloud water components. Organic constituents of cloud water also compete for oxidants and/or UV light, contributing to the observed slowed degradation rates of pyruvate. The oxidation of pyruvate was not significantly affected by the presence of inorganic anions (nitrate and sulfate) at cloud-relevant concentrations. Future bulk studies of aqSOA formation reactions using simplified simulated cloud solutions and model estimates of generated aqSOA mass should take into account possible generation of, or competition for, oxidant molecules by organic components found in the complex matrices typically associated with real atmospheric water droplets. Additionally, it is likely that some components of real atmospheric waters have not yet been identified as aqSOA precursors, but could be distinguished through further simplified bulk oxidations of known atmospheric water components.
Off-resonance positive contrast imaging of a passive endomyocardial catheter in swine

The use of off-resonance methods in interventional MRI may be valuable since active devices that provide positive signal enhancements are currently not approved for human use. This study investigated the capacity of a low flip angle steady-state free precession (FLAPS) method for generating off-resonance positive contrast surrounding a susceptibility-shifted endomyocardial Stiletto catheter in excised swine hearts and in live swine. Consistent with theory, discernable positive contrast surrounding the interventional device was visualized under ex-vivo (CNR of 24 ± 2.1 in the left ventricular (LV) chamber and 18 ± 2.7 in LV myocardium) and in-vivo conditions (CNR of 22 ± 3.9 in aorta, 16 ± 4.1 in the LV chamber and 13 ± 0.9 in LV myocardium). The findings show that off-resonance imaging with the FLAPS method may be used for passive device visualization with positive contrast. Further studies are necessary prior to clinical translation.
Self-Consistent Field and Some X-Ray Terms of the Sodium Atom

Self-consistent field functions were found for neutral sodium, for which they are tabulated, and for the six internally ionized states $1s$, $2p$, $1s2s$, $2p2s$, $1s2p$, ${(2p)}^{2}$, these figures denoting in each case the quantum symbols of the missing electrons. With these functions the corresponding atomic energies were computed by the method of Fock and Slater. Applying a first-order correction for relativity and spin-orbit interaction, a close check is obtained between the observed and calculated frequency of Na $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$, the deviation being of the order of 0.1 percent. Finally the energy parameters of the Fock equations were computed to the first order in the exchange for the $2s$ and $2p$ electrons in the singly ionized states and are compared with the corresponding ionization energies, which they exceed by about 10 percent.
Listening and questioning

In the article that follows, I take up a debate that has arisen over the past three years concerning the following issue: Does every act of listening involve the listener in questioning? I argue that the answer to the questions is yes. I give background on the question and then consider one instance of listening that may suggest no role for questioning to play. Drawing upon Gadamer, I present an argument in support of my claim. I conclude with an implication for research.
Glutamate uptake system in the presynaptic vesicle: Glutamic acid analogs as inhibitors and alternate substrates

A variety of naturally occurring amino acids, their isomers, and synthetic analogs were tested for their ability to inhibit uptake of [3H]glutamate into presynaptic vesicles from bovine cerebral cortex. Strongest inhibition (Ki<1mM) was observed fortrans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (t-ACPD) anderythro-4-methyl-L-glutamic acid (MGlu), while 4-methylene-L-glutamic acid (MeGlu) was only moderately inhibitory (Ki=∼3mM), indicating that the synaptic vesicle glutamate translocator has higher affinity forrans-ACPD and MGlu than for glutamate. A few other amino acids, e.g., 4-hydroxyglutamic acid, S-carboxyethyl cysteine, and 5-fluorotryptophan, were slightly inhibitory; alll- anddl-isomers of protein amino acids and longer chain acidic amino acids were without measurable inhibition. Potassium tetrathionate and S-sulfocysteine exhibited strong to moderate noncompetitive or irreversible inhibition. Inhibition by t-ACPD, MGlu, or MeGlu was competitive with glutamic acid. Each of these competitive inhibitors was also taken up by the vesicle preparation in an ATP-dependent manner, as indicated by their being recovered unchanged from filtered vesicles. Similar results were obtained with reconstituted vesicles, while glutamate uptake by partially purified rat synaptosomes was inhibited only by MGlu. These results indicate that the glutamate translocator of presynaptic vesicles has stringent structural requirements distinct from those of the plasma membrane translocator and the metabotropic type of postsynaptic glutamate receptor. They further suggest possible structural requirements of pharmacologically significant compounds that can substitute for glutamic acid in the presynaptic side of glutamatergic synapses, thus serving to moderate or control glutamate excitation and associated excitotoxic effects in these neurons.
Teaching operating systems and machine architecture—more on the hands-on laboratory approach

The “hands-on” laboratory approach to teaching operating systems has been used at West Virginia University since August 1971 [3, 6, 8]. In 1977 a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-11/34 system replaced the IBM 1130 system previously used for the course. The course is now using an (DEC) LSI-11 and is much improved.This paper focuses on the student projects which are the major part of the course. The “hands-on” laboratory course as currently being taught is discussed and compared to other techniques for teaching operating systems.
Retail and Service Encounters: The Inter-Cultural Tourist Experience

This study explores consumer perceptions of inter-cultural retail and service encounters. Previous research has shown that culture influences perceptions of service received. This research builds on what is known with the use of a consumer ritual research framework that involves the use of a semi-structured, thick-description method to examine similarities to and differences from what is considered a typical tourist encounter. The themes identified provide evidence of a “culture cushion” that serves an insulating role in reducing the potential negativity relative to overall perceptions and evaluations of the experience.
Expansions, contractions, and fragility of the spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 pentanucleotide repeat in yeast

Spinocerebellar ataxia 10 (SCA10) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by large-scale expansions of the (ATTCT)(n) repeat within an intron of the human ATXN10 gene. In contrast to other expandable repeats, this pentanucleotide repeat does not form stable intra- or interstranded DNA structures, being a DNA unwinding element instead. We analyzed the instability of the (ATTCT)(n) repeat in a yeast experimental system, where its expansions led to inactivation of the URA3 reporter gene. The inactivation was due to a dramatic decrease in the mRNA levels owing to premature transcription termination and RNA polyadenylation at the repeat. The rates of expansions strongly increased with the repeat's length, mimicking genetic anticipation in human pedigrees. A first round of genetic analysis showed that a functional TOF1 gene precludes, whereas a functional RAD5 gene promotes, expansions of the (ATTCT)(n) repeat. We hypothesize that repeat expansions could occur upon fortuitous template switching during DNA replication. The rate of repeat contractions was elevated in the Tof1 knockout strain, but it was not affected by the RAD5 gene. Supporting the notion of replication irregularities, we found that (ATTCT)(n) repeats also cause length-dependent chromosomal fragility in yeast. Repeat-mediated fragility was also affected by the Tof1 and Rad5 proteins, being reduced in their absence.
Down syndrome candidate region 1-like 1 (DSCR1-L1) mimics the inhibitory effects of DSCR1 on calcineurin signaling in endothelial cells and inhibits angiogenesis

In endothelial cells, binding of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to VEGF receptor 2 leads to the activation of the serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin, dephosphorylation of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NF-AT) transcription factors, translocation of NF-AT to the nucleus, and expression of angiogenesis-related genes such as Cox-2. Down syndrome candidate region 1 (DSCR1) is transactivated by NF-AT nuclear translocation, and subsequently inhibits calcineurin activity, forming a negative feedback loop. While DSCR1 has a clearly defined role as an endogenous inhibitor of VEGF-calcineurin-mediated angiogenesis in endothelial cells, the function of the DSCR1 family member, DSCR1-like 1 (DSCR1-L1), has not yet been investigated in endothelial cells. Here we show that a panel of pro-angiogenic factors, including VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiopoietin 1, hepatocyte growth factor, as well as triiodo- l -thyronine (T 3 ), does not induce DSCR1-L1 up-regulation in endothelial cells, while VEGF potently up-regulates DSCR1. To investigate the effects of DSCR1-L1 on endothelial cell function, we cloned the gene into a lentiviral vector and overexpressed DSCR1-L1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Constitutive DSCR1-L1 overexpression prevented the nuclear translocation of NF-ATc1 in response to VEGF, underscoring its role as a calcineurin inhibitor. Additionally, DSCR1-L1-transduced cells inhibited VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation by 36, 77, and 39%, respectively, compared to cells infected with control virus. Overexpression of DSCR1-L1 in the transformed endothelial cell line Sven 1 ras also resulted in decreased proliferation. Our findings demonstrate that DSCR1-L1 is constitutively expressed in endothelial cells and acts similar to DSCR1 in inhibiting calcineurin activity and restraining VEGF-mediated angiogenesis.
The relation of germ cell degeneration to modifications of the testicular structure of Plethodontid salamanders

A study of the male sexual cycles of five species of Plethodontid salamanders indicated that annually occurring non-functional regions at the anterior and posterior ends of the testis are associated with the two types of germ cell degeneration: (1) extensive degeneration of secondary spermatogonia in the anterior region; (2) complete degeneration in the posterior region, beginning with the young spermatocytes, of all germ cells except the primary spermatogonia. The improbability of the posterior degenerations being caused by a suggested climatic action is discussed. The presence only in urodeles of a caudo-cephalic polarity of spermatogenesis over the length of the testis and of these degenerations seem more than a coincidence. The abortive spermatogenetic cycle of immature males shows a caudo-cephalic sequence and the stages of degeneration that are identical with the adult. Inanition experiments indicate that the formation of secondary spermatogonia and the ability to form sperm are not synonomous. It is suggested, therefore, that normally more of the testis is activated than can be brought to a successful spermatogenesis. Since spermatogenesis moves caudo-cephalically, the posterior end will be left outside the functional zone, and consequently the cells degenerate. The anterior degenerations and the failure of anterior end of the testis to be involved in spermatogenesis, mark the anterior regulation of the spermatogenetic process. Degenerations can be regarded as the by-product of the regulation of overactivation.
Electro-optical properties of dilute solutions of flexible molecules ; the wormlike chain model

A theory of propagation and scattering of light in dilute solutions of flexible chain molecules is developed. The solvent is represented as a continuous isotropic dielectric medium. The polymer molecules are modelled as dielectric objects which may have an anisotropic dielectric tensor. The theory, applied to the wormlike chain model, represents the polymer molecules as flexible cylinders of constant cross section and with an isotropic internal dielectric constant. The increment in the refractive index of the solution and the isotropic and anisotropic light scattering intensities due to the presence of the chain molecules are derived. The numerical results of our model for the depolarization ratio as a function of the contour length and the persistence length of the polymer and of the refractive index of the solvent are presented and compared with the corresponding results for the popular bond additive approximation (BAA). It is found that the differences between our model and this approximation are due t...
A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic mathematical model accurately describes the activity of voriconazole against Candida spp. in vitro.

We developed a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) mathematical model that fits voriconazole time–kill data against Candida isolates in vitro and used the model to simulate the expected kill curves for typical intravenous and oral dosing regimens. A series of Emax mathematical models were used to fit time–kill data for two isolates each of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis. PK parameters extracted from human data sets were used in the model to simulate kill curves for each isolate. Time–kill data were best fit by using an adapted sigmoidal Emax model that corrected for delays in candidal growth and the onset of voriconazole activity, saturation of the number of Candida and the steepness of the concentration–response curve. The rates of maximal killing by voriconazole (kmax) were highly correlated with the growth rates (ks) of the isolates (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.9861). Simulations using PK parameters derived from the human data sets showed fungistatic effects against each of the isolates. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the activity of voriconazole against Candida isolates can be accurately described using a mathematical model. In the future, it might be possible to devise optimal dosing regimens of voriconazole using the model and PK data collected in vivo.
Moral nuclear deterrence – the ascendancy of missile defense

Purpose – The strategic standoff, known as mutual assured destruction (MAD) by the USA and nuclear parity by Russia, has been overtaken by the advance of technology and the demise of the Soviet Union. Pacing technology is being exploited by an increasingly mature missile defense. If implemented comprehensively, it could have widespread and revolutionary ramifications. This paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The article describes the historical background of America's nuclear strategy, from Eisenhower to the Obama Administration. It then traces the history of missile defense and arms limitation and develops the context of the interaction between them. It is found that nuclear arsenals should not be reduced to zero because that would put rogue nations in a position where they could intimidate the world. Finally, the evolution of computer chip technology, as embodied by Moore's law, is traced. The recommendation is made to proceed with the reduction of nuclear stockpiles to the...
Reproductive Health After Cancer

Recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances in oncology have led to greater survival rates in children and reproductive aged adults with malignancies. However, while cancer therapies improve long-term survival, such treatments can lead to a variety of reproductive problems including abnormal pubertal development, infertility, premature gonadal failure, and sexual dysfunction [1, 2]. As more children and young adults survive cancer and lead productive lives, these concerns are becoming increasingly important.
Agent sensing with stateful resources

In the application of multi-agent systems to real-world problems, agents often suffer from bounded rationality where agent reasoning is limited by 1) a lack of knowledge about choices, and 2) a lack of resources required for reasoning. To overcome the former, the agent uses sensing to refine its knowledge. However, sensing can also require limited resources, leading to inaccurate environment modeling and poor decision making. In this paper, we consider a novel and difficult class of this problem where agents must use stateful resources during sensing, which we define as resources whose state-dependent behavior changes over time based on usage. Specifically, such sensing changes the state of a resource, and thus its behavior, producing a phenomenon where the sensing activity can and will distort its own outcome. We term this the Observer Effect after the similar phenomenon in the physical sciences. Given this effect, the agent faces a strategic tradeoff between satisfying the need for 1) knowledge refinement, and 2) avoiding corruption of knowledge due to distorted sensing outcomes. To address this tradeoff, we use active perception to select sensing activities and model activity selection as a Markov decision process (MDP) solved through reinforcement learning where an agent optimizes knowledge refinement while considering the state of the resource used during sensing.
Transgenic Approaches to Define the Functional Role of Dual Site Phospholamban Phosphorylation

Phospholamban is a critical regulator of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity and myocardial contractility. Phosphorylation of phospholamban occurs on both Ser16 and Thr17 during isoproterenol stimulation. To determine the physiological significance of dual site phospholamban phosphorylation, we generated transgenic models expressing either wild-type or the Ser16 → Ala mutant phospholamban in the cardiac compartment of the phospholamban knockout mice. Transgenic lines with similar levels of mutant or wild-type phospholamban were studied in parallel. Langendorff perfusion indicated that the basal hyperdynamic cardiac function of the knockout mouse was reversed to the same extent by reinsertion of either wild-type or mutant phospholamban. However, isoproterenol stimulation was associated with much lower responses in the contractile parameters of mutant phospholamban compared with wild-type hearts. These attenuated responses were due to lack of phosphorylation of mutant phospholamban, assessed in 32P labeling perfusion experiments. The lack of phospholamban phosphorylation in vivo was not due to conversion of Ser16 to Ala, since the mutated phospholamban form could serve as substrate for the calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in vitro. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of Ser16 is a prerequisite for Thr17phosphorylation in phospholamban, and prevention of phosphoserine formation results in attenuation of the β-agonist stimulatory responses in the mammalian heart.
A Unified Approach to Intra-domain Security

While a variety of mechanisms have been developed for securing individual intra-domain protocols, none address the issue in a holistic manner. We develop a unified framework to secure prominent networking protocols within a single domain. We begin with a secure version of the DHCP protocol, which has the additional feature of providing each host with a certificate. We then leverage these certificates to secure ARP, prevent spoofing within the domain, and secure SSH and VPN connections between the domain and hosts which have previously interacted with it locally. In doing so, we also develop an incrementally deployable public key infrastructure which can later be leveraged to support inter-domain authentication.
Stalled Progress?: Gender Segregation and Wage Inequality Among Managers, 1980‐2000

Trends toward gender equality largely stalled in the 1990s, but the progress of women in management was mixed. Given the importance of managers as actors in the reproduction of inequality, and managerial positions as rewards in their own right, this study investigates the relative status of women in management over the past two decades, using U.S. Decennial Census data from 1980 to 2000. The authors find that women’s entry into management occupations slowed markedly in the 1990s. Furthermore, after decreasing in the 1980s, gender segregation among managers rebounded sharply upward in the 1990s. However, greater segregation coincided with a decreasing gender earnings gap, which largely resulted from narrowing gaps within integrated or male‐dominated managerial occupations. Finally, there remains a substantial earnings penalty for managers who work in female‐dominated occupations.
Competency verification in the health professions via limited focus measurement.

As American health professionals attempt to create assessment mechanisms to verify the competencies of practitioners, they are discovering that traditional norm-refer enced measurement strategtes are inappro priate. However , in their subsequent adoption of criterion-referenced measure ment strategies they have learned that these highly descriptive measures more clearly reveal not only what is being measured, but also what is not being measured. To create reliable assessment procedures for competency verification, a limited focus conception of measurement is proposed wherein manageable numbers of high-import competencies are validly assessed.
Brain electrical activity evoked by mental formation of auditory expectations and images.

Summary: Evidence for the brain’s derivation of explicit expectancies in an ongoing sensory context has been well established by studies of the P300 and processing negativity (PN) components of the event-related potential (ERP). "Emitted potentials" generated in the absence of sensory input by unexpected stimulus omissions also exhibit a P300 component and provide another perspective on patterns of brain activity related to the processing of expectancies. The studies described herein extend earlier emitted potential findings in several aspects. First, high-density (128-channel) EEG recordings are used for topographical mapping of emitted potentials. Second, the primary focus is on emitted potential components preceding the P300, i.e. those components that are more likely to resemble ERP components associated with sensory processing. Third, the dependence of emitted potentials on attention is assessed. Fourth, subjects’ knowledge of the structure of an auditory stimulus sequence is modulated so that emitted potentials can be compared between conditions that are identical in physical aspects but differ in terms of subjects’ expectations regarding the sequence structure. Finally, a novel task is used to elicit emitted potentials, in which subjects explicitly imagine the continuations of simple melodies. In this task, subjects mentally complete melodic fragments in the appropriate tempo, even though they know with absolute certainty that no sensory stimulus will occur. Emitted potentials were elicited only when subjects actively formed expectations or images. The topographies of the initial portion of the emitted potentials were significantly correlated with the N100 topography elicited by corresponding acoustic stimuli, but uncorrelated with the topographies of corresponding silence control periods.
A Strategic Agenda for Public Human Resource Management Research

This article develops a strategic research agenda for public human resource management. The agenda originates from the perception that research about public human resources has matured during the Review of Public Personnel Administration’s 30 years of publication and now is an appropriate juncture to initiate an intentional and strategic agenda. The author identifies criteria for developing a strategic research agenda that seeks to advance useable knowledge about public human resource management, build theory, and mark out content distinctive to public institutions. The article inventories research as reported by the Review of Public Personnel Administration and two other leading human resource management journals. These inventories help to anchor the agenda in timely issues and to triangulate on distinctively public issues. The article concludes with five priority research agenda based on the criteria the author developed and the inventory of research: direct compensation, motivation, culture and politic...
Development of simple, robust finite elements based on refined theories for thick laminated beams

An approach for developing accurate, simple and robust two-noded C0 finite elements based on shear deformable and layerwise (zig-zag) laminated beam theories is presented. First, a new generalized form of high-order shear deformation and zig-zag laminate theories is described that allows the continuity requirement on the transverse deflection degree freedom to be reduced. An associated finite element model is then developed that employs the penalty function concept in conjunction with an interdependent element interpolation scheme, making the element very accurate and robust for application to thick and thin laminated beams. The element stiffness coefficients are exactly integrated without giving rise to shear locking, and a consistent force vector is derived. Comparison of numerical results using the refined laminate models with exact elasticity solutions demonstrates that the current model is capable of accurately simulating the response of thin and moderately thick laminates, with or without damage.
Changing Patterns of Ground‐Water Use in the United Statesa

The increasing use of ground water and its true role as a source of water supplies in the United States have sometimes been interpreted incorrectly. The total use of ground water has indeed increased tremendously during the last 20 years (by almost 80%), but so has the total use of water (over 70%). And ground water is still far from being a primary source of water supplies. In 1975, only 20% of the total amount of water withdrawn in the United States for various uses came from ground-water sources. Statistical analysis of ground-water data for the period 1950-1975 has shown that the ground-water usage is changing only very slowly. Relation of ground-water use to total water use expressed in percent was used as an indicator of changes of ground-water use patterns. This percentage has not changed significantly, and it has fluctuated around 19%. In 1975, only 6 States used more ground water than surface water for their water supplies, and in 23 States ground-water use was less than 10% of total use. Even more unfavorable is the magnitude of change in ratio of ground-water use relative to total water use. From 1955 to 1975 only 13 States show an increase in the ratio. In 28 States the ratio has decreased, and in 7 it has remained the same.
Extensive defoliation of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.) in New Jersey by a native moth, Coryphista meadii.

ABSTRACT: Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.) has rarely been observed to experience noticeable defoliation from insect or mammal herbivores, and this freedom from enemies is presumed to contribute to its invasiveness. However, during the summer of 2007, I observed extensive defoliation of current year's shoots on Berberis populations across central and northern New Jersey. Additional reports from volunteer observers showed that similar amounts of herbivory occurred in southern New York. I examined the upper 15 cm on a sample of 4868 current year's shoots on 320 plants in a population in New Jersey; of these shoots, 11.6% were completely defoliated, 65.3% were partially defoliated, and 23.1% showed no defoliation. Only 9% of plants showed no defoliation on any shoot; 87% of these were small plants with less than three stems per root base. The fraction of stems completely or partially defoliated was higher on larger plants (more stems per root base), but did not vary with slope position, plant dens...
Hydroxide ion as a bridging ligand for inner-sphere electron-transfer between Co(III) and Ti(III)

Abstract In M LiCl at 25 °C, Co(NH 3 ) 5 Br 2+ reacts with TiOH 2+ with k 2 = 0.18 M −1 s −1 . Co(NH 3 ) 5 F 2+ reacts with Ti 3+ with K 2 = 1 × 10 3 M −1 s −1 . For Co(en) 2 (H 2 O)(OH) 2+ ions, rate constants for reaction with Ti 3+ are 50 M −1 s −1 for trans and 20 M −1 s −1 for cis : for the same oxidants, rate constants for reaction with TiOH 2+ are 3 × 10 3 M −1 s −1 for cis and 4 × 10 3 M −1 s −1 for trans . The reactions with rate constants near 10 3 M −1 s −1 are interpreted as substitution-limited inner-sphere processes. Bromide ion is a poor bridging ligand for Co(III)-Ti(III) electron transfers while hydroxide ion and (especially) fluoride ion are efficient bridging ligands; cross-bridge interactions are more important for reactions of Ti(III) than for reactions of Cr(II)
Cooperative interaction between phosphorylation sites on PERIOD maintains circadian period in Drosophila.

Circadian rhythms in Drosophila rely on cyclic regulation of the period (per) and timeless (tim) clock genes. The molecular cycle requires rhythmic phosphorylation of PER and TIM proteins, which is mediated by several kinases and phosphatases such as Protein Phosphatase-2A (PP2A) and Protein Phosphatase-1 (PP1). Here, we used mass spectrometry to identify 35 “phospho-occupied” serine/threonine residues within PER, 24 of which are specifically regulated by PP1/PP2A. We found that cell culture assays were not good predictors of protein function in flies and so we generated per transgenes carrying phosphorylation site mutations and tested for rescue of the per01 arrhythmic phenotype. Surprisingly, most transgenes restore wild type rhythms despite carrying mutations in several phosphorylation sites. One particular transgene, in which T610 and S613 are mutated to alanine, restores daily rhythmicity, but dramatically lengthens the period to ∼30 hrs. Interestingly, the single S613A mutation extends the period by 2–3 hours, while the single T610A mutation has a minimal effect, suggesting these phospho-residues cooperate to control period length. Conservation of S613 from flies to humans suggests that it possesses a critical clock function, and mutational analysis of residues surrounding T610/S613 implicates the entire region in determining circadian period. Biochemical and immunohistochemical data indicate defects in overall phosphorylation and altered timely degradation of PER carrying the double or single S613A mutation(s). The PER-T610A/S613A mutant also alters CLK phosphorylation and CLK-mediated output. Lastly, we show that a mutation at a previously identified site, S596, is largely epistatic to S613A, suggesting that S613 negatively regulates phosphorylation at S596. Together these data establish functional significance for a new domain of PER, demonstrate that cooperativity between phosphorylation sites maintains PER function, and support a model in which specific phosphorylated regions regulate others to control circadian period.
The Index Coding problem: A game-theoretical perspective

The Index Coding problem has recently attracted a significant interest from the research community. In this problem, a server needs to deliver a set of packets to a group of wireless clients over a noiseless broadcast channel. Each client requests a subset of packets and has another subset given to it as side information. The objective is to satisfy the demands of all clients with the minimum number of transmissions. In this paper, we study the Index Coding problem from the game-theoretic perspective. We assume that each client is selfish and has a hidden private value for each packet it requests. The objective of the server is to maximize the value of social welfare that captures the trade-off between values of the transmitted packets and the transmission cost incurred by the server. The transmission process is decided through an auction in which the clients are required to submit bids to the server. Our goal is to design a truthful auction scheme that provides an incentive for each client to bid the true value of the packets and maximizes the value of the social welfare. The key challenge in this context is to determine the encoding functions of the transmitted packets. Since finding an optimal encoding function is an NP-hard problem, we propose efficient algorithms that identify the encoding functions as well as a payment scheme that provide an approximate solution and guarantee truthfulness.
Physiology and regulation of biological rhythms in laboratory animals : an overview

Biological rhythms have been observed in practically all groups of laboratory mammals and at every level of physiological and behavioural organization. Biological rhythms are classified according to their period as ultradian ( 24 h), and seasonal or circannual rhythms (~1 year). This review outlines what is known about the neurobiology of biological rhythms in mammals and describes the hierarchical order in which ultradian, circadian and infradian rhythms are related to each other. The article does not attempt to catalogue every physiological variable showing rhythmical fluctuations in laboratory mammals. Rather, it focuses on the basic concepts of circadian rhythms and recent advances made in our understanding of the physiology of the internal clock controlling circadian and other biological rhythms.
Niche tradeoffs, neutrality, and community structure: A stochastic theory of resource competition, invasion, and community assembly

Stochastic niche theory resolves many of the differences between neutral theory and classical tradeoff-based niche theories of resource competition and community structure. In stochastic niche theory, invading species become established only if propagules can survive stochastic mortality while growing to maturity on the resources left unconsumed by established species. The theory makes three predictions about community structure. First, stochastic niche assembly creates communities in which species dominate approximately equally wide "slices" of the habitat's spatial heterogeneity. These niche widths generate realistic distributions of species relative abundances for which, contrary to neutral theory but consistent with numerous observations, there are strong correlations among species traits, species abundances, and environmental conditions. Second, slight decreases in resource levels are predicted to cause large decreases in the probability that a propagule would survive to be an adult. These decreases cause local diversity to be limited by the inhibitory effects of resource use by established species on the establishment (recruitment) of potential invaders. If resource pulses or disturbance allowed invaders to overcome this recruitment limitation, many more species could indefinitely coexist. Third, the low invasibility of high diversity communities is predicted to result not from diversity per se, but from the uniformly low levels of resources that occur in high-diversity communities created by stochastic competitive assembly. This prediction provides a potential solution to the invasion paradox, which is the tendency for highly diverse regions to be more heavily invaded.
Mechanisms of chaperone suppression of polyglutamine disease: selectivity, synergy and modulation of protein solubility in Drosophila

At least eight dominant human neurodegenerative diseases are due to the expansion of a polyglutamine within the disease proteins. This confers toxicity on the proteins and is associated with nuclear inclusion formation. Recent findings indicate that molecular chaperones can modulate polyglutamine pathogenesis, but the basis of polyglutamine toxicity and the mechanism by which chaperones suppress neurodegeneration remains unknown. In a Drosophila: disease model, we demonstrate that chaperones show substrate specificity for polyglutamine protein, as well as synergy in suppression of neurotoxicity. Our analysis also reveals that chaperones alter the solubility properties of the protein, indicating that chaperone modulation of neurodegeneration in vivo is associated with altered biochemical properties of the mutant polyglutamine protein. These findings have implications for these and other human neurodegenerative diseases associated with abnormal protein aggregation.
An empirical approach to evaluate creep responses in polymers and polymeric composites and determination of design stresses

Abstract This study presents determination of design stresses for high temperature polymer PMR-15 and carbon fiber/PMR-15 composites. The main purpose is to support design of structural components made of polymeric composites for high temperature applications. At elevated temperatures, polymers and polymeric composites show significant creep responses. Depending on the loading conditions (stress and temperature levels) and duration of loading, both transient and steady state creep responses are observed. An empirical model that is typically used for describing transient and steady state creep behaviors for metals and alloys at elevated temperatures is adopted to model creep responses of PMR-15. The rationale behind choosing the model is that the macroscopic creep responses of PMR-15 at elevated temperature are similar to the ones of metals and alloys tested at high temperatures. This creep model has been successfully used to determine design stresses for various metals and alloys operating at elevated temperatures. In order to determine creep responses of carbon fiber/PMR-15 composites a rule of mixture approach is adopted. A design criterion, which is to limit the permanent deformation to 0.2%, is considered for both polymer and composites. The design stresses and design spaces that satisfy the above design criterion are constructed for PMR-15 polymer, unidirectional carbon/polyimide lamina and [0/90] S symmetric laminate. As expected the mechanical performance of PMR-15 can be improved by adding carbon fiber. The proposed design spaces are useful in determining the maximum capacity of the materials under various loading conditions and duration, taking into account creep behaviors in materials, during the component design process.
Broadband transient absorption study of photoexcitations in lead halide perovskites: Towards a multiband picture

Ultrafast transient pump-probe measurements of thin ${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}{\mathrm{NH}}_{3}{\mathrm{PbI}}_{3}$ perovskite films over a wide spectral range from 350 to 800 nm reveal a family of photoinduced bleach (PB) and absorption (PA) features unequivocally pointing to the fundamentally multiband character of the underlying electronic structure. Excitation pump-energy dependent kinetics of three long-lived PB peaks at 1.65, 2.55, and 3.15 eV along with a broad PA band shows the involvement of band-edge thermalized carriers in all transitions and at least four, possibly more, electronic bands. The evolution of the transient signatures is described in terms of the redistribution of the conserved oscillator strength of the whole system. The multiband perspective opens up different directions for understanding and controlling photoexcitations in hybrid perovskites.
Flipping the Foreign Language Classroom and Critical Pedagogies A (New) Old Trend

Since the foundation of the Khan Academy (2006), a great deal of attention has been generated to the term flipped classrooms (also known as reverse or backwards classrooms), which is a (new) pedago...
A Research about Unskilled Worker's "Know-how":its Meaning,Legality and Modern Situation

This article pointed out that there in no real "unskilled" workers in the real production site,because know-how will play an important role.The article first defines descriptively the know-how as technical know-how and non-technical know-how according to the relationship with technology involved in the problem-solving.Then the author analyzed the justification from theoretic and practical perspectives,and its role in overcoming the alienation.At the end of the paper,the problem concerned about alternatives of modernity has been posed.
Type and mixtures of high-moisture corn in beef cattle finishing diets.

In three experiments consisting of three finishing trials each, five corn storage and(or) feeding treatments were evaluated: 1) dry whole (DWC); 2) whole high-moisture (WHMC); 3) mixture (MHMC) of ground (GHMC) or rolled (RHMC) high-moisture corn with WHMC; 4) GHMC stored in a bunker silo; and 5) RHMC, corn stored whole but fed in rolled form. In Exp. 1, gains and feed intakes of steers fed whole corn (DWC vs WHMC) were similar. Steers fed GHMC and RHMC had lower (P less than .05) gains and intakes than steers fed whole corn. However, feed to gain ratios were 9% better (P less than .10) for steers fed RHMC than for steers fed GHMC. In Exp. 1 and 2, gains of steers fed MHMC were intermediate to gains of steers fed whole (DWC and WHMC) or processed corn (GHMC and RHMC). Feed to gain ratios of steers fed whole or processed corn were similar to feed to gain ratios of steers fed MHMC. In Exp. 3, steers fed 28.6% moisture GHMC had lower (P less than .05) intakes and feed to gain ratios than steers fed 22.5% moisture GHMC. Intakes and feed to gain ratios decreased 1.2 and 1.4%, respectively, for each 1% increase in corn moisture. Data are interpreted to mean that the relative effect of corn moisture content on cattle performance depends on form of corn fed; positive associative effects of MHMC are negligible, but RHMC has a greater feed value than GHMC.