cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring the impact of multi-class teams in an immersive learning environment on student learning experience and engagement

This project examines student learning experience and engagement utilising both multi-class interdisciplinary teams in an immersive learning environment to address the need for a strong subject-oriented business core education while breaking down the silos to reflect the integrative and interdependent nature of corporate working environments in business school education. The interdisciplinary teams were formed from students across two courses in a business school: Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Managerial Accounting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The immersive learning environment simulated a working environment where members of the Accounting department worked with members of the production, sales and information technology (IT) departments in a make-to-order manufacturing company. The students worked together to adjust their company operations in response to changing market demands and fluctuating raw materials costs in multiple simulation rounds. The student assessments indicated positive learning experiences and engagement working in multi-class interdisciplinary teams in an immersive learning environment.
Enhancement of antimicrobial diversity in situ through relaxed symbiont specificity in an insect/actinomycete partnership

ABSTRACT Some insects form symbioses in which actinomycetes provide defense against pathogens by making antimicrobials. The range of chemical strategies employed across these symbioses, and how these strategies relate to insect social behavior and mechanisms of symbiont transmission, remains underexplored. Here, we assess subsocial passalid beetles Odontotaenius disjunctus (known as bessbugs), and their frass (fecal material), as a model insect/actinomycete system. Through chemical and phylogenetic analyses, we found that O. disjunctus associates with an exceptionally wide variety of actinomycetes and antimicrobials. Metabolites detected directly in frass displayed both synergistic and antagonistic inhibition of a fungal entomopathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae, and multiple streptomycete isolates inhibited this pathogen when co-cultivated directly in frass. Together, these findings support a model in which coprophagy as a vertical transmission mechanism leads to relaxed symbiote specificity, resulting in a rich and dynamic repertoire of antimicrobials that insulates O. disjunctus against the evolution of pathogen resistance.
Local government growth from a tri-sector perspective

This study seeks to explain government growth from a tri-sector perspective. Specifically, it examines how the for-profit and nonprofit sectors impact government growth. Market failure theory predi...
Chile, tierra de encanto (1937). La propaganda turística en los inicios del turismo de masas

espanolEste articulo analiza el documental de viaje sobre Chile del realizador norteamericano James FitzPatrick, titulado Chile, tierra de encanto (1937). A partir de el se comprenden los alcances de la imagen turistica sobre Chile en la decada de 1930. Las investigaciones sobre los distintos registros narrativos en torno a la experiencia del viaje y del turismo han tenido un importante desarrollo en las ultimas decadas en el marco de los estudios culturales y de las representaciones. Los tradicionales diarios de viaje, pasando por las fotografias y postales como herramientas de registro y de promocion, hasta el cine como medio para acercar los destinos turisticos a publicos de distintas regiones del mundo, se han transformado en un excelente material para comprender como determinados destinos son presentados y el tipo de imagen que se construye sobre ellos. EnglishThis article analyzes the travel documentary about Chile by the American director James FitzPatrick, entitled Chile, land of charm (1937). From it are understood the scope of the tourist image on Chile in the 1930s. The research on the different narrative registers around the experience of travel and tourism has developed significantly in the last decades in the frame of cultural studies and the representations. The traditional travel journals, including the photographs and postcards as registration and promotion tools, and the cinema as a means to bring tourist destinations to publics from different regions of the world, have become an excellent material to understand how certain destinations they are presented and the type of image that is built on them.
GeoBalance: workload-aware partitioning of real-time spatiotemporal data

Numerous scientific disciplines have witnessed tremendous growth in the amount of spatial data produced over the past decade. To handle the volume and velocity of such data, researchers have embraced distributed systems, which partition data among multiple nodes to provide scalability and high availability. Previous work on partitioning large spatiotemporal data focuses on bulk-ingestion and static partitioning, hence is unable to handle dynamic data and querying workloads which is common for real-time data. In this paper we develop GeoBalance as a workload-aware partitioning approach for spatiotemporal data that can adapt partitions on-the-fly without disrupting the data ingestion/retrieval process. GeoBalance employs a spatial evolutionary algorithm to incrementally tune the partitions according to a geo-aware partitioning fitness function. In addition, we perform a rolling migration from one partitioning scheme to another to ensure that data ingestion and retrieval is not compromised during the partition change period. We conduct multiple experiments using a write-intensive hybrid workload of Twitter data and random hotspots, to demonstrate that the GeoBalance partitioning approach outperforms statically defined partitions and other partitioning algorithms such as k-d tree.
Dimensionality Reduction for Signal Detection

A new approach to the problem of dimensionality reduction is proposed. The specific application is to the detection of signals in noise, although it should be applicable to other signal processing problems of current interest. Using a minimum mean square error estimator of the likelihood ratio one can determine a low dimensional statistic, not necessarily linear in the data, that performs well for detection, i.e., with minimal loss of information. If a sufficient statistic does exist for the problem then the proposed approach yields the well known result that one should use the likelihood ratio of the sufficient statistic for detection. Other interesting relationships are explored and some specific examples given.
A second-order PDE technique to construct distance functions with more accurate derivatives

In this paper we demonstrate the use of an anisotropic PDE to improve the behavior of first and second derivatives of a distance function. We begin by deriving a property of these derivatives and showing a natural relationship between this property and the antigeometric heat flow. We then construct a PDE that combines a known first-order PDE with the antigeometric flow and then demonstrate its effectiveness with a discrete simulation.
Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is defined as the involvement of a child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator, including contacts for sexual purposes, prostitution, pornography, and other sexually exploitive activities. CSA allegations are addressed in a variety of psycholegal contexts, including, but not limited to, child custody evaluations in a family court, child protection proceedings in dependency court, personal injury cases in civil proceedings, and prosecution of legal charges in criminal and military courts. Few areas of psychological evaluation involve such a variety of complex evaluation issues and potentially serious consequences for faulty conclusions. Keywords: sexual abuse; child prostitution
Effects of Assimilable Organic Carbon and Free Chlorine on Bacterial Growth in Drinking Water

Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) is one of the most important factors affecting the re-growth of microorganisms in drinking water. High AOC concentrations result in biological instability, but disinfection kills microbes to ensure the safety of drinking water. Free chlorine is an important oxidizing agent used during the disinfection process. Therefore, we explored the combined effects of AOC and free chlorine on bacterial growth in drinking water using flow cytometry (FCM). The initial AOC concentration was 168 μg.L-1 in all water samples. Without free chlorine, the concentrations of intact bacteria increased but the level of AOC decreased. The addition of sodium hypochlorite caused an increase and fluctuation in AOC due to the oxidation of organic carbon. The concentrations of intact bacteria decreased from 1.1×105 cells.mL-1 to 2.6×104 cells.mL-1 at an initial free chlorine dose of 0.6 mg.L-1 to 4.8×104 cells.mL-1 at an initial free chlorine dose of 0.3 mg.L-1 due to free chlorine originating from sodium hypochlorite. Additionally, free chlorine might be more obviously affected AOC concentrations than microbial growth did. These results suggested that AOC and free chlorine might have combined effects on microbial growth. In this study, our results showed concentrations determined by FCM were higher than those by HPC, which indicated that some E. coli detected by FCM might not be detected using HPC in drinking water. The level of free chlorine might restrain the consumption of AOC by inhibiting the growth of E. coli; on the other hand, chlorination might increase the level of AOC, thereby increase the potential for microbial growth in the drinking water network.
Erythema following transcutaneous PO2 monitoring.

Transcutaneous Po 2 (tcPo 2 ) monitoring has become a reliable adjunct in the care of the critically ill neonate. 1 The heated electrode applied to the skin produces local hyperthermia and vasodilation, "arterializing" the capillary bed under the electrode. Huch et al 1 have noted no skin damage or irritation from hyperthermia for up to seven hours of application. However, others have noted lesions ranging from slight erythema to small vesicles, persisting from several hours to several days. 2-4 Bossi et al 5 noted erythema disappearing within 24 hours in every patient. To define the incidence and severity of these lesions we prospectively studied this aspect in infants undergoing tcPo 2 monitoring.
Streptococcal infections in pregnancy: A study of 48 bacteremias

During a 4-year period, 48 obstetric patients with aerobic streptococcal bacteremia were identified. The isolates were group B (31); group D, enterococci (5); group A (4); group D, not enterococci (3); Streptococcus pneumoniae (3); and viridans streptococci (2). The most common diagnoses were endometritis (36) and chorioamnionitis (8). For all streptococcal genital infections, the clinical presentation included early-onset fever, often with few localizing signs. Only one patient had a chronic debilitating disease. There was an excellent correlation between genital and bloodstream isolates (36 of 42). Maternal response to therapy was good, with no deaths nor episodes of septic shock. Possible infectious complications developed in two fetuses and four neonates. The microbiologic and clinical features of aerobic streptococci were reviewed, and the outcome in obstetric patients and that in other adults were compared.
Generalized mean spherical approximations for polar and ionic fluids

Generalized mean spherical approximations are solved for polar and ionic fluids. They are generalizations of previous mean spherical results in the sense that more general forms for the direct correlation function c(12) are considered than heretofore. In the case of a polar fluid, c(12) outside a hard‐sphere core is taken to be a sum of an ideal dipole term, a Yukawa term, and two short‐ranged terms, one of which is a shielded dipolar interaction, the other of which is a shielded ``classical Heisenberg'' interaction. In the ionic case, c(12) outside the core is taken to be the sum of Coulomb and Yukawa terms. In both cases, the coefficients of all terms can be independently adjusted. Two applications of our generalized mean spherical results are discussed. The first generates improved approximations with built‐in thermodynamic consistency. The second is a more straightforward use of the generalization to provide mean spherical approximations for a wider class of potentials.
Upper Extremity Transplantation in Non-Human Primates: An Orthotopic Model for Translational Research

Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) offers unparalleled restoration of function and form following devastating musculoskeletal and soft tissue injury. However, the potential adverse effects of life-long immunosuppression remain a significant cause for concern. Therefore, while the surgical techniques necessary for VCA have developed rapidly, the immunological aspects of these procedures and the potential functional significance of immunological processes on vascularized composite allografts remain areas in which further research is required. The functional complexity of these procedures, combined with the preclinical nature of many of the research questions, necessitates the use of large animal models to most effectively address some of the outstanding hypotheses. Cynomolgus macaques are among the premier large animal models for immunological research. This manuscript describes development of an orthotopic model of upper extremity transplantation in cynomolgus macaques. Following study of the...
Bacterial expression, characterization, and disulfide bond determination of soluble human NTPDase6 (CD39L2) nucleotidase: implications for structure and function.

The ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) control extracellular nucleotide concentrations, thereby modulating many important biological responses, including blood clotting and pain perception. NTPDases 1-4 are oligomeric integral membrane proteins, whereas NTPDase5 (CD39L4) and NTPDase6 (CD39L2) are soluble monomeric enzymes, making them more amenable to thorough structural and functional analyses than the membrane-bound forms. Therefore, we report here the bacterial expression, refolding, purification, and biochemical characterization of the soluble portion of human NTPDase6. Consistent with the enzyme expressed in mammalian cells, this recornbinant NTPDase6 efficiently hydrolyzes GDP, IDP, and UDP (specific activity of approximately 500(10 μmol mg - 1 h - 1 ), with slower hydrolysis of CDP, ITP, GTP, CTP, ADP, and UTP and virtually no hydrolysis of ATP. The K m for GDP (130 ′ 30 μM) is similar to that determined for the soluble rat NTPDase6 expressed in mammalian cells. The secondary structure of the refolded enzyme was determined by circular dichroism to be 33% α-helix, 18% β-sheet, and 49% random coil, consistent with the secondary structure predicted from the amino acid sequence of soluble NTPDase6. Four of the five cysteine residues in the soluble NTPDase6 are highly conserved among all the NTPDases, while the fifth residue is not. Mutation of this nonconserved cysteine resulted in an enzyme very similar to wild type in its enzymology and secondary structure, indicating that this cysteine exists as a free sulfhydryl and is not essential for structure or function. The disulfide pairing of the other four cysteine residues was determined as Cys 2 4 9 -Cys 2 8 0 and Cys 3 4 0 -Cys 3 5 4 by HPLC and mass spectral analysis of tryptic peptides. Due to conservation of these cysteine residues, these two disulfide bonds are likely to exist in all NTPDases. A structural model for NTPDase6, incorporating these and other findings obtained with other NTPDases, is proposed.
UVA photoirradiation of retinyl palmitate--formation of singlet oxygen and superoxide, and their role in induction of lipid peroxidation.

Abstract We have previously reported that photoirradiation of retinyl palmitate (RP) in ethanol with UVA light results in the formation of photodecomposition products, including 5,6-epoxy-RP and anhydroretinol (AR). Photoirradiation in the presence of a lipid, methyl linoleate, induced lipid peroxidation, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed. In the present study, we employ an electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trap technique to provide direct evidence as to whether or not photoirradiation of RP by UVA light produces ROS. Photoirradiation of RP by UVA in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMP), a specific probe for singlet oxygen, resulted in the formation of TEMPO, indicating that singlet oxygen was generated. Both 5,5-dimethyl N-oxide pyrroline (DMPO) and 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl 5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (BMPO) are specific probes for superoxide. When photoirradiation of RP was conducted in the presence of the DMPO or BMPO, ESR signals for DMPO- OOH or BMPO- OOH were obtained. These results unambiguously confirmed the formation of superoxide radical anion. Consistent with a free radical mechanism, there was a near complete and time-dependent photodecomposition of RP and its photodecomposition products. ESR studies on the photoirradiation of 5,6-epoxy-RP and AR indicate that these compounds exhibit similar photosensitizing activities as RP under UVA light.
Nist role in radiometric calibrations for remote sensing programs at NASA, NOAA, DOE and DOD

Abstract The Optical Technology Division (OTD) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been actively involved in providing calibration support to establish SI traceable measurement support for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS) radiometric sensors. Specialized transfer standard radiometers traceable to the NIST spectroradiometric scales were built; they cover the visible and infrared spectral range up to 10 μm. An example of this effort has been the calibration support provided for the NASA's SeaWiFS program. The OTD has also developed the Thermal Infrared Transfer Radiometer (TXR) for NASA's EOS program, and measurements are planned at the calibration facilities for the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) and the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) that will fly on the Aura spacecraft. The TXR was used for the end-to-end radiometric calibration of a chamber at Los Alamos in support of DOE remote sensing programs. Plans also call for the TXR to be used in a feasibility test of calibration support for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program. The need to calibrate the performance of sensors for missile defense prompted the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) of the Department of Defense (DOD) to sponsor the development of the Low Background Infrared Calibration Facility (LBIR) at NIST. The LBIR facility has been providing calibration of blackbodies and detectors to BMDO/DOD missile test facilities for over ten years. Internationally, OTD has been actively participating in the intercomparisons with other national standard laboratories in the measurement of SI traceable radiometric quantities. The requirements for global warming and climate change studies show the need for high accuracy data from remote sensing platforms. This translates into the need for long term radiometric calibration support for space-based sensors during the course of the mission. As a possibility to provide real time radiometric calibration support for a variety of missions, we will explore the future prospects of deploying SI traceable transfer standard radiometers on the International Space Station or other such platforms. Such a program would allow for recoverable instruments that could be periodically intercompared with the absolute radiometric standards in the laboratory and thereby provide long term measurement assurance for space based radiometry.
Freeform fabrication of Ti3SiC2 powder-based structures: Part I—Integrated fabrication process

Abstract Ti3SiC2 carbide represents a new class of ceramics with unique electrical and mechanical properties. This paper presents a development of using three-stage fabrication process, i.e., three-dimensional layered printing, cold isostatic pressing, and sintering processing to freeform fabrication of three-dimensional Ti3SiC2 structures with complex geometry and high density. The three-stage fabrication process and their integration are described. Results of different processes and their effects on the geometric shrinkage and structural density of fabricated Ti3SiC2 components are presented and compared. Current studies reveal that the developed three-stage process was capable of fabricating fully dense (density>99%) structures with complex geometries based on pre-coated Ti3SiC2 powder.
Ferrous iron-dependent delivery of therapeutic agents to the malaria parasite

Background: The malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax generate significant concentrations of free unbound ferrous iron heme as a side product of hemoglobin degradation. The presence of these chemically reactive forms of iron, rare in healthy cells, presents an opportunity for parasite-selective drug delivery. Accordingly, our group is developing technologies for the targeted delivery of therapeutics to the intra-erythrocytic malaria parasite. These so-called ‘fragmenting hybrids’ employ a 1,2,4-trioxolane ring system as an iron(II)-sensing ‘trigger’ moiety and a ‘traceless’ retro-Michael linker to which a variety of partner drug species may be attached. After ferrous iron-promoted activation in the parasite, the partner drug is released via a β-elimination reaction. Methods: In this report, we describe three orthogonal experimental approaches that were explored in order to generate in vitro proof-of-concept for ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery from a prototypical fragmenting hyb...
Pre- and post-birth antecedents of 3- and 4-year-old attention, IQ, verbal expressiveness, task orientation, and capacity for relationships

Abstract The general hypothesis guiding this research is that certain preschool behaviors such as sustained attention are predominantly anticipated by pre-birth parent and early infant characteristics, whereas other behaviors such as positive parent-child mutuality are shaped by both earlier and concurrent influences. It was found that variations in the child's 36-month attention, 36-month verbal expressiveness, and 48-month verbal IQ all correlated significantly with the concurrent parent stimulation of cognitive and verbal experiences, but that when the influence of certain pre-birth and early postnatal variables was allowed in a path analysis, the concurrent correlations were no longer significant. For all three of these preschool behaviors, the mother's pre-birth verbal IQ was a significant influence. By contrast, for the child's 48-month modulation of aggression, the significant correlation with the concurrent parent transaction remained even after the pre-birth and postnatal characteristics had been allowed in the path analysis.
Sex change in the Mollusca.

Abstract Sex change in the Mollusca is almost exclusively protandric (male to female), and has only been reported among gastropods and bivalves. The adaptive value of protandry in these two classes most likely relates to the limited availability of females, and the consequent size-independent nature of male reproductive success (versus the size-dependent nature of reproductive success in females). In two well studied distantly related prosobranch gastropod superfamilies, Calyptracea and Patellacea, individuals of some species respond to local ecological changes by altering the age at which they change sex, although the critical ecological changes appear to be different. The physiological switch that activates sex change also appears to be different: it is found in the cemtral nervous system of the calyptracean Crepidula fornicata , and actually within the gonads of the patellacean Patella vulgata . Although the taxonomic breadth of studies on sex change is necessarily limited, and many questions remain to be answered, research on the Mollusca has produced a remarkable range of perspectives on sex change — from evolutionary to proximal; further research will benefit greatly from this breadth of knowledge.
On two-phase frozen and flashing flows in safety relief valuesRecommended calculation method and the proper use of the discharge coefficient

Abstract Many relief scenarios involve the discharge of a two-phase fluid mixture, and the proper method for sizing the relief valve for these conditions is the subject of considerable discussion. Sizing a valve is based on the flow through an isentropic nozzle, the pressure–density relation for the fluid properties, and a discharge coefficient ( K d ) to match the calculated mass flux to that measured for the flow of air or water in the actual valve. For single-phase flow, this is straightforward, since the fluid properties are simple and measured values of K d are available. For two-phase flow, the density–pressure relation is complex and no values of K d are available, so a variety of “models” have been proposed in the literature to address this problem. Since the various models produce various results, the appropriate value of K d required to match the model to the actual valve will depend on the model. This paper utilizes a simple, rigorous method for sizing relief valves for two-phase flow that utilizes the fluid properties directly and hence does not require a “model” for these properties. It is shown how this method can be applied to two-phase frozen or flashing (equilibrium or non-equilibrium) nozzle flows, and how the available values for K d for single-phase flow can be used directly with this method, depending on the critical state of flow in the nozzle, to accurately predict two-phase flow in any valve. The calculations are compared with data from the literature for frozen air/water and flashing steam/water flows in actual safety relief valves.
An analysis of the ABO blood group clines in Europe

With estimates of the fitnesses of the genotypes and selection by incompatibility for the ABO locus which seem reasonable given the state of knowledge, a computer model has been developed to replicate the clines of the A and B genes in Europe. With a fitness change in the BB and BO genotypes of as little as 0.5%, the differences in the frequencies in East and West Europe can be maintained at equilibrium. Appreciable changes in the amount of migration does not affect the equilibrium frequencies in the two areas significantly, while with no selection through incompatibility the equilibrium frequencies were changed about 5%.
Synergistic antifungal action of 8-quinolinol and its bischelate with copper(II) and with mixed ligand chelates composed of copper(II), 8-quinolinol, and aromatic hydroxy acids.

Antifungal studies were made of mixtures of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8-quinolinol and its bischelates with copper(II), zinc(II), and manganese(II) and with mixed ligand chelates composed of 8-quinolinol, copper(II) and a second ligand including salicylic acid, 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid, and 4-bromo-3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Mixtures of the MICs of the bischelates of 8-quinolinol with copper(II) and zinc(II) and copper(II) and manganese(II), as well as 7-iodo-8-quinolinol and its bischelate with copper(II), and 8-quinolinol and 5-iodo-8-quinolinol were also studied against six fungi: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Trichoderma viride, Myrothecium verrucaria, Mucor cirinelloides, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. With the exceptions of the mixtures of 8-quinolinol and (8-quinolinolato)(3,5-diiodosalicylato)copper(II) and (8-quinolinolato)(4-bromo-3-hydroxy-2-naphthoato)copper(II) against M. cirinelloides, all of the test organisms were inhibited by 40% or less of each mixture containing 8-quinolinol. Bischelates of 8-quinolinol with copper(II) and zinc(II) and copper(II) and manganese(II) inhibited five fungi at 50% of the mixtures of the MICs. Mucor cirinelloides was not inhibited by bis(8-quinolinolato)copper(II), bis(8-quinolinolato)zinc(II), or by bis(7-iodo-8-quinolinolato)copper(II). The following conclusions were drawn: (1) there is synergism between 8-quinolinols and their metal chelates; (2) the mechanisms of fungitoxicity of 8-quinolinols and their metal chelates are different; (3) the fungitoxic actions of the chelates of 8-quinolinols with different metals appear to be additive; (4) the mechanisms of fungitoxicity of 8-quinolinol and 5-iodo-8-quinolinol are different; (5) the toxicity of 8-quinolinols is due to the concerted action of the ligands and their metal chelates, whereas when the toxicant is the preformed metal chelate, toxicity is due to the chelate alone.
The Rhythm of the Saints: A Generational Perspective on Management History

This paper examines the potential relationship between the history of American generations and the development of American management thought. The paper reviews the recently developed generational theory of American history, along with the generational concept itself. Then, the leading thinkers in the history of the management discipline are classified according to their generational membership. The potential theoretical and research implications of the interplay of managerial and historical generations are then discussed.
The role of SREBP-1c in nutritional regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression.

A high carbohydrate diet up-regulates the transcription of enzymes of triglyceride biosynthesis (lipogenesis) in the mammalian liver. This treatment stimulates hepatic insulin signaling, leading to transcription of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). SREBP-1c has been implicated as a major factor that up-regulates lipogenic genes in response to carbohydrate feeding. However, we presented evidence for another factor, carbohydrate response factor, which is also involved in this response, and we proposed a model wherein SREBP-1c and carbohydrate response factor are independent transcription factors that act in response to insulin and glucose, respectively. In this study, we examined the contribution of SREBP-1c to the expression of lipogenic genes in glucose- and insulin-treated primary rat hepatocytes using an inducible adenovirus system. We found that SREBP-1c overexpression leads to a modest induction of fatty acid synthase, S14, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNAs to 20% (fatty acid synthase), 10% (S14), and 5% (acetyl-CoA carboxylase) of the induction seen by high glucose and insulin treatment. Restoring insulin to cells overexpressing SREBP-1c did not further increase these mRNA levels. In contrast, adenovirus-expressed SREBP-1c did not induce pyruvate kinase mRNA, suggesting that induction of this gene is SREBP-1c-independent. SREBP-1c does indeed play a role in the induction of lipogenic enzyme genes in response to insulin treatment, but it is not sufficient for the induction seen when hepatocytes are treated with insulin and high glucose.
A Theoretical Model of a Molecular-Motor-Powered Pump

The motion of a cylindrical bead in a fluid contained within a two-dimensional channel is investigated using the boundary element method as a model of a biomolecular-motor-powered microfluidics pump. The novelty of the pump lies in the use of motor proteins (kinesin) to power the bead motion and the few moving parts comprising the pump. The performance and feasibility of this pump design is investigated using two model geometries: a straight channel, and a curved channel with two concentric circular walls. In the straight channel geometry, it is shown that increasing the bead radius relative to the channel width, increases the flow rate at the expense of increasing the force the kinesins must generate in order to move the bead. Pump efficiency is generally higher for larger bead radii, and larger beads can support higher imposed loads. In the circular channel geometry, it is shown that bead rotation modifies the force required to move the bead and that shifting the bead inward slightly reduces the required force. Bead rotation has a minimal effect on flow rate. Recirculation regions, which can develop between the bead and the channel walls, influence the stresses and force on the bead. These results suggest this pump design is feasible, and the kinesin molecules provide sufficient force to deliver pico- to atto- l/s flows.
Design Optimization of Liquid-Phase Flow Patterns for Microfabricated Lung on a Chip

Microreactors experience significant deviations from plug flow due to the no-slip boundary condition at the walls of the chamber. The development of stagnation zones leads to widening of the residence time distribution at the outlet of the reactor. A hybrid design optimization process that combines modeling and experiments has been utilized to minimize the width of the residence time distribution in a microreactor. The process was used to optimize the design of a microfluidic system for an in vitro model of the lung alveolus. Circular chambers to accommodate commercial membrane supported cell constructs are a particularly challenging geometry in which to achieve a uniform residence time distribution. Iterative computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to optimize the microfluidic structures for two different types of chambers. The residence time distributions of the optimized chambers were significantly narrower than those of non-optimized chambers, indicating that the final chambers better approximate plug flow. Qualitative and quantitative visualization experiments with dye indicators demonstrated that the CFD results accurately predicted the residence time distributions within the bioreactors. The results demonstrate that such a hybrid optimization process can be used to design microreactors that approximate plug flow for in vitro tissue engineered systems. This technique has broad application for optimization of microfluidic body-on-a-chip systems for drug and toxin studies.
Transcriptional inhibition by an oxidized abasic site in DNA.

2-Deoxyribonolactone (dL) is an oxidized abasic site in DNA that can be induced by γ-radiolysis, ultraviolet irradiation, and numerous antitumor drugs. Although this lesion is incised by AP endonuc...
CDP-choline: neuroprotection in transient forebrain ischemia of gerbils.

CDP-choline is a rate-limiting intermediate in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), an important component of the neural cell membrane. The ability of CDP-choline to alter phospholipid metabolism is an important function in the treatment of ischemic injury. Exogenous treatment with CDP-choline stimulates PtdCho synthesis and prevents release of free fatty acids (FFA), especially arachidonic acid (AA), after ischemia/reperfusion. Phase III clinical trials of CDP-choline in the treatment of stroke are currently underway. Here we report the neuroprotection by CDP-choline in transient forebrain ischemia of gerbils. CDP-choline significantly attenuated the blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction after ischemia with 6-hr reperfusion, and considerably reduced the increase of AA in FFA and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) synthesis at 1 day. Edema was significantly elevated after 1 and 2 days, but attained maximum at 3-day reperfusion. CDP-choline substantially attenuated edema at 3 days. Ischemia resulted in 80 +/- 8% CA(1) hippocampal neuronal death after 6-day reperfusion, and CDP-choline provided 65 +/- 6% neuroprotection. CDP-choline may act by increasing PtdCho synthesis via two pathways: (1) conversion of 1, 2-diacylglycerol to PtdCho, and (2) biosynthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, thus stabilizing the membrane and reducing AA release and metabolism to leukotriene C(4). This would result in decreased toxicity due to AA, leukotrienes, oxygen radicals, lipid peroxidation, and altered glutamate uptake, thus limiting BBB dysfunction, edema and providing neuroprotection.
Culture of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts in estuarine net pens and returns of adults from two smolt releases.

Abstract In 1973, adult sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka , were transported from Nakvassin Creek, Baranof Island, southeastern Alaska, to a nearby research station and hatchery at Little Port Walter. Progeny from these fish were used for the study. The fry were initially cultured in freshwater, then transferred to an estuarine net pen as fingerlings (6.7 g) on 31 October 1974 for overwinter culture in seawater. Survival of the fingerlings from transfer until 21 April 1975 was 97%. Two groups of smolts were released from the net pen in 1975: an early group on 22 April and a late group on 7 June. The age, sex ratios, and size of returning adults from the two releases were similar. The proportion of the returning adults from each group, however, was significantly different ( P
A Low Temperature Liquid Crystal Exhibiting Smectic Morphology

Abstract I wish to report the discovery of a chemically homogeneous, stable, enantiotropic liquid crystal exhibiting smectic morphology at room temperature: 3-N-(4′-ethoxybenzilideneamino)-6-n-butylpyridine (EBBP).
Women's knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer risk factors, symptoms, detection methods, and treatments

Abstract This paper presents results from a survey of adult women that assessed knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding the causes, symptoms, detection methods, and treatment of breast cancer. The study population was determined through random selection of household telephone numbers from the Buffalo, New York area telephone directory. Completed interviews were collected from 563 women over the age of 18. Telephone interviews were conducted by trained interviewers, between April and July of 1985. Survey results are compared to those found in the 1979 National Cancer Institute nationwide survey on breast cancer to evaluate if there have been changes in public awareness about the disease. Differences in knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding breast cancer were also studied in relation to age, race, and educational background. Overall, women's knowledge about breast cancer has significantly increased since the 1979 survey. However, while more women can name mammography as a diagnostic tool only 15% ...
Introducing fixed-point iteration early in a compiler course

When teaching a course in compiler design, it is conventional to introduce the iterative calculation of least fixed points quite late in the course, in the guise of iterative data-flow analysis. In this paper I point out that the same mathematical and algorithmic ideas can be introduced much earlier, in the parsing portion of the course, as an explanation of the standard algorithm for computing the First sets of a context-free grammar. Doing so not only renders these techniques more familiar when they re-appear in data-flow analysis, it also provides a more sound foundation for the First algorithm than is typically offered. Moreover, these techniques deserve increased curricular prominence because they naturally lead to proofs of correctness for general non-deterministic algorithms that subsume multiple deterministic algorithms.
Charge-transfer as a mechanism for controlling molecular fragmentation

We investigate control over molecular fragmentation in the halogen substituted acetone 1,1-dibromo-3,3,3-trifluoroacetone using shaped ultrafast laser pulses. Following insight gained from closed-loop learning control experiments, further tests reveal that control over the CF3+/CHBr2+ ratio exploits a charge-transfer mechanism. We interpret the control in terms of adiabatic rapid passage.
Strength-Duration Curve of Nerve Excitation by Electrical Fields Associated with Discharge of Condensers

Summary1. Stimulation of nerve by electrical fields associated with the charging and discharging of condensers has been obtained, although the efficacy of increasing and decreasing fields is not identical; 2. a strength-duration curve of excitation with diminishing electrical fields associated with the discharge of condensers has been determined wherein E is at first a decreasing and then an increasing negatively accelerated function of the time. The region of inversion is between .0001 and .00038 mscs; 3. the curve is in marked contrast with those obtained by discharging condensers through nerve tissue, in that these (a) are not characterized by an inversion, (b) show E as a diminishing negatively accelerated function of the time;2 4. there are great differences in the stimulability of preparations.
Mechanism of TiO2/ZnO instability in latex paints

A strong interaction between titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in latex paints has been recognized for decades, yet the harmful consequence of this interaction—paint instability—remains an issue for many coatings manufacturers. An investigation into the chemical and physical changes that occur during paint aging has revealed the mechanism of this instability. The role of the TiO2 pigment grade was further explored, providing an understanding of the gel mechanism and stability performance.
Ligand-independent actions of the vitamin D receptor maintain hair follicle homeostasis

Alopecia is a feature of vitamin D receptor (VDR) mutations in humans and in VDR null mice. This alopecia results from an inability to initiate the anagen phase of the hair cycle after follicle morphogenesis is complete. Thus, once the initial hair is shed it does not regrow. VDR expression in the epidermal component of the hair follicle, the keratinocyte, is critical for maintenance of the hair cycle. To determine which functional domains of the VDR are required for hair cycling, mutant VDR transgenes were targeted to the keratinocytes of VDR null mice. Keratinocyte-specific expression of a VDR transgene with a mutation in the hormone-binding domain that abolishes ligand binding restores normal hair cycling in VDR null mice, whereas a VDR transgene with a mutation in the activation function 2 domain that impairs nuclear receptor coactivator recruitment results in a partial rescue. Mutations in the nuclear receptor corepressor Hairless are also associated with alopecia in humans and mice. Hairless binds the VDR, resulting in transcriptional repression. Neither VDR mutation affects Hairless interactions or its ability to repress transcription. These studies demonstrate that the effects of the VDR on the hair follicle are ligand independent and point to novel molecular and cellular actions of this nuclear receptor.
Ubiquitin-specific Peptidase 20 Regulates Rad17 Stability, Checkpoint Kinase 1 Phosphorylation and DNA Repair by Homologous Recombination

Rad17 is a subunit of the Rad9-Hus1-Rad1 clamp loader complex, which is required for Chk1 activation after DNA damage. Rad17 has been shown to be regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We have identified a deubiquitylase, USP20 that is required for Rad17 protein stability in the steady-state and post DNA damage. We demonstrate that USP20 and Rad17 interact, and that this interaction is enhanced by UV exposure. We show that USP20 regulation of Rad17 is at the protein level in a proteasome-dependent manner. USP20 depletion results in poor activation of Chk1 protein by phosphorylation, consistent with Rad17 role in ATR-mediated phosphorylation of Chk1. Similar to other DNA repair proteins, USP20 is phosphorylated post DNA damage, and its depletion sensitizes cancer cells to damaging agents that form blocks ahead of the replication forks. Similar to Chk1 and Rad17, which enhance recombinational repair of collapsed replication forks, we demonstrate that USP20 depletion impairs DNA double strand break repair by homologous recombination. Together, our data establish a new function of USP20 in genome maintenance and DNA repair.
Anticonvulsant medication errors in children with epilepsy during the home-to-hospital transition.

Children with epilepsy are at risk of having their anticonvulsant regimens disrupted during the home-to-hospital transition. We sought to estimate the frequency of anticonvulsant medication errors during transition into the hospital in children with epilepsy hospitalized for reasons other than seizures, and to examine factors associated with the occurrence of such errors. We examined the medical records to identify errors related to anticonvulsant administration during the transition into the hospital and we examined potential risk factors for error occurrence. Errors were classified as relating to dosing quantity or missing a dose. Among 120 children, 29 (24%) experienced an anticonvulsant medication error. In a multivariable model, the risk factors of changes in responsibility for anticonvulsant administration and frequency of anticonvulsant administration were strongly associated with increased odds of errors. Anticonvulsant medication errors during the home-to-hospital transition may be unacceptably c...
Smooth and robust solutions for Dirichlet boundary control of fluid-solid conjugate heat transfer problems

We study a new optimization scheme that generates smooth and robust solutions for Dirichlet velocity boundary control (DVBC) of conjugate heat transfer (CHT) processes. The solutions to the DVBC of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are typically nonsmooth, due to the regularity degradation of the boundary stress in the adjoint Navier-Stokes equations. This nonsmoothness is inherited by the solutions to the DVBC of CHT processes, since the CHT process couples the Navier-Stokes equations of fluid motion with the convection-diffusion equations of fluid-solid thermal interaction. Our objective in the CHT boundary control problem is to select optimally the fluid inflow profile that minimizes an objective function that involves the sum of the mismatch between the temperature distribution in the fluid system and a prescribed temperature profile and the cost of the control.Our strategy to resolve the nonsmoothness of the boundary control solution is based on two features, namely, the objective function with a regularization term on the gradient of the control profile on both the continuous and the discrete levels, and the optimization scheme with either explicit or implicit smoothing effects, such as the smoothed Steepest Descent and the Limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS) methods. Our strategy to achieve the robustness of the solution process is based on combining the smoothed optimization scheme with the numerical continuation technique on the regularization parameters in the objective function. In the section of numerical studies, we present two suites of experiments. In the first one, we demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our numerical schemes in recovering the boundary control profile of the standard case of a Poiseuille flow. In the second one, we illustrate the robustness of our optimization schemes via solving more challenging DVBC problems for both the channel flow and the flow past a square cylinder, which use initial control profiles far from optimal and require the numerical continuation technique applied on regularization parameters. We believe our solution strategy is general and can be applied to other large-scale optimal control problems which involve multiphysics processes and require smooth approximations to the optimal control profile.