cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transactivation of the EGF receptor mediates IGF-1-stimulated shc phosphorylation and ERK1/2 activation in COS-7 cells

The receptor for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) mediates multiple cellular responses, including stimulation of both proliferative and anti-apoptotic pathways. We have examined the role of cross talk between the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mediating responses to IGF-1. In COS-7 cells, IGF-1 stimulation causes tyrosine phosphorylation of the IGF-1R beta subunit, the EGFR, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and the Shc adapter protein. Shc immunoprecipitates performed after IGF-1 stimulation contain coprecipitated EGFR, suggesting that IGF-1R activation induces the assembly of EGFR.Shc complexes. Tyrphostin AG1478, an inhibitor of the EGFR kinase, markedly attenuates IGF-1-stimulated phosphorylation of EGFR, Shc, and ERK1/2 but has no effect on phosphorylation of IGF-1R, IRS-1, and protein kinase B (Akt). Cross talk between IGF-1 and EGF receptors is mediated through an autocrine mechanism involving matrix metalloprotease-dependent release of heparin-binding EGF (HB-EGF), because IGF-1-mediated ERK activation is inhibited both by [Glu(52)]Diphtheria toxin, a specific inhibitor of HB-EGF, and the metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline. These data demonstrate that IGF-1 stimulation of the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway and the EGFR/Shc/ERK1/2 pathway occurs by distinct mechanisms and suggest that IGF-1-mediated "transactivation" of EGFR accounts for the majority of IGF-1-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and subsequent activation of the ERK cascade.
A new method for calculating volumes of blood required for partial exchange transfusion.

PARTIAL EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION is an effective and rapid method of correcting severe anemia in patients unable to tolerate the increased intravascular volume associated with conventional transfusion therapy? 2 It is an especially useful technique in patients with clinical manifestations of congestive heart failure secondary to a markedly reduced red blood cell mass?- ~ The utility of partial exchange transfusion in the pediatric population has been well documented. 5-7 A problem in using this procedure in children is the estimation of the volume of exchange blood required to achieve a desired increase in the level of hemoglobin (or hematocrit). In the paper by Nieburg and Stockman, ~ a formula for estimation of partial exchange volume was presented, based on the assumption that the increase in hemoglobin concentration during the course of the procedure is a linear function of the volume exchanged. In fact, however, the incremental change in hemoglobin concentration during exchange transfusion is greatest during the early phase and progressively diminishes during the course of blood exchange?
A Geocomputational Heuristic for Coverage Maximization in Service Facility Siting

Siting service facilities in order to maximize regional coverage is important when budget resources are limited. Various approaches exist for addressing this particular planning problem for discrete or continuous representations of potential facility sites and demand to be served. In cases where both candidate facility sites and service demand are continuous, approaches for maximizing regional coverage have only examined the siting of a single facility. In this article, a geocomputational approach is proposed for addressing multiple facility siting when demand is continuously distributed and facilities may be located anywhere in the region. Emergency warning siren location is used to highlight the developed approach.
Congenital neoplasms of the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium (medulloepithelioma)

Background: Most reports on intraocular medulloepithelioma have been single case descriptions. The authors reviewed ten patients with intraocular medulloepithelioma, discuss some little known clinical features of this entity, and make diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations. Patients and Methods: The records of the authors' patients with histopathologically confirmed medulloepithelioma were reviewed, and the clinical features, diagnostic problems, management, histopathology, and prognosis were assessed. Results: Of the ten patients, nine were children, ranging in age from 2 months to 10 years, and one patient was 58 years of age at the time of clinical presentation. In seven patients, there was a delay in diagnosis, ranging from 3 to 28 months, and four patients underwent surgery for cataract, glaucoma, or other secondary conditions while the tumor was unsuspected. All patients had a nonpigmented ciliary body mass and a notched or subluxated lens, and six had neovascular glaucoma and evident cysts in the mass. The authors' initial management was enucleation in four patients and local resection in six. Of the six patients managed by local resection, five eventually required enucleation, four because of local tumor recurrence and one because of ocular inflammation and discomfort. Pathologically, nine tumors were classified as malignant (5 teratoid, 4 nonteratoid) and one as benign. In one patient (the adult), metastasis to the parotid gland developed. Conclusion: Intraocular medulloepithelioma generally occurs in the first decade of life as a nonpigmented ciliary body mass. It has a tendency to cause secondary neovascular glaucoma, a characteristic lens notch and subluxation, and a neoplastic cyclitic membrane. Enucleation is the best treatment for advanced cases. For smaller circumscribed lesions, local resection may be attempted, but such treatment is followed frequently by local recurrence. Although most medulloepitheliomas are cytologically malignant, distant metastasis is uncommon.
Post-Discharge Adverse Events Among Urban and Rural Patients of an Urban Community Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND There has been little research to examine post-discharge adverse events (AEs) in rural patients discharged from community hospitals.
Histone deacetylase inhibition-mediated post-translational elevation of p27KIP1 protein levels is required for G1 arrest in fibroblasts.

Butyrate, a non-toxic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC), has potential as an anti-tumor agent because it imposes a reversible G 1 block in normal cells yet induces apoptosis in tumor lines. As a potent reactivator of fetal globin transcription, butyrate is used clinically in the treatment of hemoglobinopathies. The anti-proliferative effect of butyrate and its derivatives on in vivo erythroid cell maturation, however, has limited their utility. The molecular mechanisms underlying the G 1 arrest induced by butyrate and related SCFAs remain unclear. One model, drawing on tumor cell data, proposes that HDAC inhibition and subsequent transcriptional induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p21 C I P are required. However, because of potentially confounding genetic mutations present in tumor models, we examined SCFA effects on CKIs in a non-transformed growth control model. Using murine 3T3 fibroblasts, we find p27 K I P 1 is also strongly induced. Unlike previously described effects of butyrate and HDAC inhibition on p21 C I P , p27 K I P 1 induction did not occur at the transcriptional level; instead, the stability of the p27 K I P 1 protein increased. Other structurally unrelated HDAC inhibitors, including trichostatin A (TSA), induced p27 K I P 1 similarly. p27 K I P 1 was found in cyclin E/Cdk2 complexes, concomitant with suppression of cdk2 activity. Elevation of p27 K I P 1 is required for the observed G 1 blockade, as p27 K I P 1 -deficient fibroblasts were resistant to HDAC inhibition-induced arrest. These data suggest a novel activity for HDAC inhibitors and demonstrate a critical role for p27 K I P 1 in mediating G 1 arrest in response to these drugs.
Raman spectroscopy provides a noninvasive approach for determining biochemical composition of the pregnant cervix in vivo

Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, occurs in approximately 12% of pregnancies in the United States and is the leading cause of infant mortality and (1-3). Temporary and long-term morbidity of the infant can result, costing an estimated $26 billion each year in the US (1). Preterm birth is traditionally classified into two groups: indicated preterm birth and spontaneous preterm birth. The former is induced labour or caesarean section, initiated by the patient's healthcare provider due to complications in the mother or fetus, and the latter occurs spontaneously with over half of the cases having an unknown cause, which is the syndrome focused on in this paper (4). Poor understanding of cervical remodelling in preparation for labour and delivery is a contributory factor to the unacceptably high rates of spontaneous preterm birth over the past 30 years. However, the preterm birth rate has shown small and steady decreases since 2007 in the United States (5-8). Current clinical practice for assessing preterm birth risk begins by completing a detailed medical history to account for risk factors such as previous preterm birth. Transvaginal ultrasound measurements of the cervix have demonstrated that a short cervix (less than 25mm prior to 24 weeks of gestation) is correlated with an increased risk for preterm birth (9). Patients with a history of preterm birth are recommended to have transvaginal ultrasound measurements every two weeks from 16 to 23 weeks of gestation (10). If a short cervix is identified, cervical cerclage (sewing the cervix closed), or prescribing progesterone may be recommended based on the patient's history and current situation (10, 11). Such interventions based upon cervical length measures have significantly reduced preterm birth and perinatal death rates. These measurements have also demonstrated that cervical shortening occurs weeks to months before subsequent preterm birth, suggesting that the cervix might be a prime source of important early information about preterm birth risk. Clinicians need tools that can quantitatively and objectively obtain biochemical information from the cervix, so that they can assess the risk of premature remodelling to have adequate time to intervene. In vivo Raman spectroscopy has the potential to provide such a tool. Preliminary findings highlighted in this paper demonstrate the ability of this technique to detect biochemical changes in the pregnant mouse cervix over the course of gestation and identify features that signify impending parturition.
922 TREATMENT OF MURINE AND HUMAN BONE MARROW WITH MONO-CLONAL ANTIBODIES TO T LYMPHOCYTES TO PREVENT GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE (GVHD)

GVHD is the major limitation to human allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). A murine model of BMT was developed to study acute and chronic GVHD due to non-major histocompatibility region (MHR) antigens. Lethally irradiated C57B1/6 mice were transplanted with bone marrow and spleen cells from LP mice. When recipients were transplanted with 1-10 × 106 spleen cells in addition to 10 × 106 bone marrow cells, 31 of 91 animals developed acute GVHD, 19 chronic GVHD, and 41 no GVHD. The in vitro removal of mature T lymphocytes by treatment with a monoclonal antibody to murine T lymphocytes and complement eliminated GVHD in all of 50 recipients. Recipient mice developed normal hematocrits, adult hemoglobin electrophoretic patterns, and normal T cell function by three months. Human bone marrow cells treated with a monoclonal antibody to mature T lymphocytes (OKT-3) and complement had no residual detectable T cells as determined by E-rosette formation (16% pretreatment; 0%, post-treatment) or by indirect immunofluorescence(17% pre; 0% post). The total number of nucleated cells was reduced by 50% during treatment with no decrease in the frequency of hematopoietic precursors (BFU-E colonies). The use of monoclonal antibodies to remove mature T lymphocytes from human bone marrow may be an effective method to prevent human GVHD.
The Ian's pizza tribe: Reconceptualizing cross-cultural research in the digital age

Abstract This special issue reconceptualizes the meaning of cross-cultural research and challenges researchers to broaden their scope to include a variety of cultures, including virtual ethnicities. This introductory article provides commentary on the thirteen articles that follow in this special issue on cross-cultural research in business. Many of the articles follow the traditional cross-national approach. However, several take a broader view, recognizing that different cultures can take shape both outside and within national boundaries. This conclusion is particularly true in this age when digital technologies change the way humans interact and broaden human networks around which cultures form. Such cultures are virtual ethnicities built around fictive kin.
Diagnosis and grading of bladder cancer and associated lesions.

Substantial progress has occurred in the classification and grading of urothelial neoplasms during the past year, chiefly as a result of a consensus effort by pathologists representing the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP). 34 The results of these collaborative efforts are presented in the WHO/ISUP 1998 consensus report, with standardized terminology that allows a valid comparison of results from around the world. 34 The consensus opinion expressed in this report is considered a work in progress that has not yet been formally evaluated and endorsed by urologists, cancer registrars, or others. The term transitional cell was formally discouraged and the term urothelial or urothelium recommended; thus urothelial neoplasms are referred to as urothelial carcinoma rather than transitional cell carcinoma. This suggestion resulted from an awareness of the unique nature of the urothelial lining; it is not a transition from one type of epithelial cell to another. The term superficial was also abandoned. The consensus group unanimously approved the recommendation to avoid imprecise language that lumps two tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stages (Ta and T1) into a single diagnostic "bin." The classification of flat neoplastic lesions of the bladder is presented in Table 1 and the classification of papillary neoplastic lesions in Table 2.
HOW MANAGERS INFLUENCE SUPERIORS: A STUDY OF UPWARD INFLUENCE TACTICS

A field study was conducted to investigate the methods used by subordinate managers to influence superiors. Unlike previous upward influence studies, the investigation provides a detailed picture of upward influence approaches, addresses the issue of how managers combine influence tactics, and examines both the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of successful and unsuccessful influence episodes. Successful influence attempts were found to enhance long‐term influence, to encourage managers to become more active in trying to influence superiors, and to be associated with increased earnings, advancement, and improved confidence.
U.S. Drug and Biologic approvals in 1996

Since the introduction of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992, the mean approval time for new drugs has decreased from 29.9 months (1992) to 17.8 months (1996). In 1996, 53 new drugs and 9 new biologicals were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the U.S. market. Drug Dev. Res. 40:275–291, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Probabilistic structural analysis of space truss structures for nonuniform thermal environmental effects

A three-bay, space, cantilever truss is probabilistically evaluated to quantify the range of uncertainties of vibration frequencies and truss free end vertical displacements due to nonuniform thermal loads, applied loads and moments (mechanical loads), and combination of both. The truss members are assumed to be made from (1) aluminum tubes or (2) high modulus graphite-fiber/intermediate modulus epoxy-matrix composite tubes. Cumulative distribution function results show that certain combination of thermal loads with mechanical loads reduce the probabilistic vibration frequencies and increase the magnitude of the truss free end vertical displacements for the aluminum truss. However, for the composite truss, the thermal effects on the probabilistic vibration frequencies are not as substantial as that for an aluminum truss. This can be attributed to the large differences in the values of coefficient of thermal expansion. Finally, the sensitivities associated with the uncertainties in the structural, material and load variables (primative variables) are investigated. Results indicate that vibration frequencies and truss free end vertical displacements are sensitive to the uncertainties in spacial (geometry) variables as well as member modulus.
Enhancement of Nitrate Reductase Activity by Benzyladenine in Agrostemma githago.

Nitrate reductase activity in excised embryos of Agrostemma githago increases in response to both NO3− and cytokinins. We asked the question whether cytokinins affected nitrate reductase activity directly or through NO3−, either by amplifying the effect of low endogenous NO3− levels, or by making NO3− available for induction from a metabolically inactive compartment. Nitrate reductase activity was enhanced on the average by 50% after 1 hour of benzyladenine treatment. In some experiments, the cytokinin response was detectable as early as 30 minutes after addition of benzyladenine. Nitrate reductase activity increased linearly for 4 hours and began to decay 13 hours after start of the hormone treatment. When embryos were incubated in solutions containing mixtures of NO3− and benzyladenine, additive responses were obtained. The effects of NO3− and benzyladenine were counteracted by abscisic acid. The increase in nitrate reductase activity was inhibited at lower abscisic acid concentrations in embryos which were induced with NO3−, as compared to embryos treated with benzyladenine. Casein hydrolysate inhibited the development of nitrate reductase activity. The response to NO3− was more susceptible to inhibition by casein hydrolysate than the response to the hormone. When NO3− and benzyladenine were withdrawn from the medium after maximal enhancement of nitrate reductase activity, the level of the enzyme decreased rapidly. Nitrate reductase activity increasd again as a result of a second treatment with benzyladenine but not with NO3−. At the time of the second exposure to benzyladenine, no NO3− was detectable in extracts of Agrostemma embryos. This is taken as evidence that cytokinins enhance nitrate reductase activity directly and not through induction by NO3−.
Far-infrared wavefront dividing interferometry using nonperiodic diffraction pattern

A new type of wavefront dividing reflection interferometer for the far infrared is discussed. The interferometer uses two sets of interpenetrating rings, one fixed and the other movable for the production of an interferogram. The advantage of this interferometer compared to the lamellar grating is higher modulation of shorter wavelengths. This modulation advantage is also applicable to transmission-reflection beamsplitters in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A two mirror wavefront dividing interferometer may be constructed so small that it fits in the deqar of a He-cooled detector. Using this interferometer, asymmetric Fourier transform spectroscopy may be conducted, yielding simultaneously the optical constants n and k with a sample and a reference interferogram.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of x-ray polarization at the boron K edge in hexagonal BN

High-resolution absorption measurements were made at the $K$ edge of boron in hexagonal boron nitride using polarized synchrotron radiation and different orientations of the crystal axis. The work made use of the highly focused beam at the exit slit of a new grazing-incidence ultrahigh-vacuum monochromator at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Project. An isolated exciton line was observed at threshold (192 eV) which did not increase as the electric vector became parallel to the $c$ axis. On the other hand, a second shoulder or line at 195 eV increased rapidly when the crystal was rotated in the beam. The results can be understood in terms of excitons formed from particular regions of the Brillouin zone with selection rules appropriate to the layer crystal.
Cholesterol and Selected Attributes of Pork Tenderloin Steaks Heated by Conventional, Convection, and Microwave Ovens to Two Internal Endpoint Temperatures

Six treatment combinations for determination of cholesterol and selected quality attributes of pork tenderloin steaks were studied with three oven types (conventional, convection and microwave) and two internal endpoint temperatures (71°C and 77°C). In general, pork tenderloin steaks heated in the microwave oven had lower evaporative loss and higher drip loss. Cholesterol (wet weight basis) of the pork steaks was not affected by oven type; however, heating to the higher internal endpoint temperature (77°C) increased (concentrated) the cholesterol. On a dry weight basis, microwave-heated steaks contained more cholesterol when compared to conventional and convection-heated samples.
The Many Complexities in Treating and Studying Narcissism

In this commentary I examine conceptual and methodological issues in Dr. Riordan's (2012) presentation of three cases treated using Mitchell’s integrative model that combines aspects of Kernberg and Kohut's technical stances in the treatment of narcissism. Riordan proposes that Mitchell's integrative model provides a useful blend of Kernberg's focus on defense and Kohut's focus on empathy. He then provides case material to illustrate the benefits of Mitchell’s model. In discussing Riordan's paper, I focus on approaches to the case study method and present technical advances in Kernberg's approach that I believe address the concerns articulated by Riordan. These issues are examined in the current context of evidence-based practice.
The influence of urinary cortin-like material on sodium and potassium metabolism.

IT HAS BEEN demonstrated that urinary extract contains material which possesses certain biological activities similar to those of the steroid hormones of the adrenal tfortex. Extracts of normal men's urine showed the following biological activities when tested on the adrenalectomized rat: 1. Increased resistance to low environmental temperatures (Dorfman, Horwitt and Fish, 1942). 2. Maintained life (Dorfman and Horwitt, 1943). 3. Increased liver glycogen deposition in the fasting animal (Horwitt and Dorfman, 1943). 4. Prolonged the average work performed by the gastrocnemius muscle (Shipley, Dorfman and Horwitt, 1943). 5. Prevented water intoxication (Schiller and Dorfman, 1943). It has also been reported that the urine of postoperative patients contains material which is biologically active in the adrenelectomized rat with respect to life maintenance, resistance to low environmental temperatures, and glycogen deposition in the liver of the fasted animal (Weil and Browne, 1939a and 1939b; Venning, Hoffman...
Localization of agonist- and antagonist-binding domains of human corticotropin-releasing factor receptors.

The CRF receptors, CRFR1 and CRFR2, are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Despite their considerable sequence similarity, CRFR1 and CRFR2 have quite different affinities for the peptide ligand rat/human CRF. Previous studies using chimeric receptors between human CRFR1 and CRFR2 have identified three potentially important regions in the second and third extracellular domains of CRF receptor for the binding of rat/human CRF. The present report further demonstrates that these same three regions also affect the binding of urocortin and sauvagine, two other members of the CRF peptide family, albeit to different extents. We also show that a fourth region in the third extracellular domain, Asp254, has been identified to be important for sauvagine but not CRF or urocortin binding. Thus, the three peptide ligands not only interact with a different set of regions on CRFR1 and CRFR2 but also differentially interact with some of the same regions. These data could, at least in part, account for t...
Association between the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene and multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Phenylethanolamine N -methyltransferase (PNMT), the terminal enzyme of the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway, catalyzes the conversion of norepinephrine (NE) to epinephrine (EPI). PNMT is a candidate gene for multiple sclerosis (MS) for two reasons. PNMT is known to map to a region identified in two genome screens for MS and it directly regulates the amounts of NE and EPI, both of which play a significant role in the modulation of the innate immune response. The frequencies of two promoter polymorphisms of the PNMT gene showed genetic association in a case-control study of 108 patients with MS and 774 ethnically and age-matched control subjects. In subjects with MS, significant differences in the frequency of the GG genotype at the G−387A marker and the AA genotype at the G−182A marker were observed. Additionally, when both markers were combined and evaluated, highly significant differences between the polymorphism distributions in patients with MS and control subjects were detected. The data suggest that these promoter polymorphisms of the PNMT gene, both independently and cumulatively, show association with MS.
Challenges in Building a Trustworthy Network

An open challenge in trustworthy computing is the development of a trustworthy network since network plays an essential role of current computing infrastructure (e.g., grid computing, cloud computing, etc.). In order to have a trustworthy network, security, privacy, and reliability must be protected on every major network component. For instance, if there is no trusted mechanism to enforce security protection of every data transaction on major network components, a network cannot be relied on performing trustworthy computing. It has been observed that trustworthy network cannot be practically achieved if there is no trusted integration of major network components. In this paper, we discuss the challenges in building a trustworthy network and develop a trustworthy network model that is both scalable and interoperable with existing and future network architectures.
Growth and Asymptotic Sets of Subharmonic Functions

We study the relation between the growth of a subharmonic function in the half spaceR n+1 + and the size of its asymptotic set. In
Depression, desperation, and suicidal ideation in college students: results from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention College Screening Project at Emory University

The objective of this investigation was to examine suicidal ideation and depression in undergraduate college students who participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-sponsored College Screening Project at Emory University. The principal measure of depressive symptoms was the nine-item depression module from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Additional questions were focused on current suicidal ideation, past suicide attempts, and episodes of deliberate self-harm and on symptoms of anxiety and distress. Seven hundred and twenty-nine students participated over a 3-school-year interval (2002-2005). Most notably, 11.1% of the students endorsed current (past 4 weeks) suicidal ideation and 16.5% had a lifetime suicide attempt or self-injurious episode. Students with current suicidal ideation had significantly higher depression symptom severity than those without suicidal ideation (t = -9.34, df = 706, P<.0001, d = 1.9), and 28.5% of the students with PHQ-9 scores of 15 or higher reported suicidal ideation compared to 5.7% of those with lower scores (chi(2) = 56.29, df = 1, P<.0001, two-tailed). Suicidal ideation was prominently associated with symptoms of desperation (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.6, P<.001). The vast majority of students with moderately severe to severe depression (85%) or current suicidal ideation (84%) were not receiving any psychiatric treatment at the time of assessment. These results suggest that there is a strong relationship between severity of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in college students, and that suicidal feelings and actions are relatively common in this group. This underscores the need to provide effective mental health outreach and treatment services to this vulnerable population. As this analysis was based on data collected at a single institution, the results may not be representative of all college students or young adults.
Effect of Temperature on Egg Yolk Characteristics of Eggs from Young and Old Laying Hens

Abstract This study was designed to observe the effect of yolk temperature and age of laying hens on physical properties of the vitelline membrane. Instron measurements were made using a back extrusion cell. Egg yolks from young and old hens were adjusted to four temperatures: 1.7, 12.8, 23.8, and 35 C. Yolk index showed significant differences at all temperature treatments. Greater sensitivity to temperature was observed for the young pullet eggs with regard to yolk index and compression distance. There were no significant differences observed in peak area and egg yolk membrane breaking strength in both age groups as related to yolk temperature. Eggs from young hens were found to have yolks with a significantly higher breaking strength than that noted from older birds.
Iterative methods for robust estimation under bivariate distributional uncertainty

We propose an iterative algorithm to approximate the solution to an optimization problem that arises in estimating the value of a performance metric in a distributionally robust manner. The optimization formulation seeks to find a bivariate distribution that provides the worst-case estimate within a specified statistical distance from a nominal distribution and satisfies certain independence condition. This formulation is in general non-convex and no closed-form solution is known. We use recent results that characterize the local "sensitivity" of the estimation to the distribution used, and propose an iterative procedure on the space of probability distributions. We establish that the iterations of solutions are always feasible and that the sequence is provably improving the estimate. We describe conditions under which this sequence can be shown to converge to a locally optimal solution. Numerical experiments illustrate the effectiveness of this approach for a variety of nominal distributions.
Family, Peer, and Staff Social Support in Nursing Home Patients: Contributions to Psychological Well-Being:

This study examined whether nursing home patients identified social support as coming from institutional peers and staff as well as family members. Associations among social support from those three sources, psychological well-being, and motivation to participate in treatment were explored in 32 patients. A majority described peer and staff support networks that were as large as or larger than their family support network. Subjective perceptions of support, but not size of network, were associated with well-being. Perceived support from peers was associated with less depression, greater positive affect, and greater motivation. Perceived support from staff and family was less consistently associated with well-being and motivation. Results suggest that peer and staff support contribute to the well-being of older adults and may complement family support during inpatient admissions or residential stays. Clinical and programmatic interventions that facilitate peer and staff support might enhance patient well-b...
NetWeAvers: an R package for integrative biological network analysis with mass spectrometry data

Summary: The discovery of functionally related groups in a set of significantly abundant proteins from a mass spectrometry experiment is an important step in a proteomics analysis pipeline. Here we describe NetWeAvers (NetworkWeighted Averages) for analyzing groups of regulated proteins in a network context, e.g. as defined by clusters of protein-protein interactions. NetWeAvers is an R package that provides a novel method for analyzing proteomics data integrated with biological networks. The method includes an algorithm for finding dense clusters of proteins and a permutation algorithm to calculate cluster P-values. Optional steps include summarizing quantified peptide values to single protein values and testing for differential expression, such that the data input can simply be a list of identified and quantified peaks.
Labor Supply, Taxes, and Government Spending: A Microeconometric Analysis

The effect of government spending on labor supply behavior is critical to predicting the balanced-budget effect of income taxes and to estimating the marginal social cost of public funds. Yet, its very existence, not to mention direction and magnitude, has not been empirically investigated. This research estimates a labor supply function that incorporates income taxation and government spending using microeconomic data for men and women. The empirical results suggest that public sector spending may have a significant effect on labor supply, thereby leading to estimates of the marginal social cost of public funds that differ from those typically calculated.
Framework for Modeling the Uncertainty of Future Events in Life Cycle Assessment

One limitation of Life Cycle Assessment is that it relies on the expectation of what will happen to a product as predicted at the point of creation. However, changes in technology, the economy, and end-of-life treatment practices may alter future emissions. This paper describes a study done to develop a model to improve the accuracy of estimated emissions by incorporating uncertainty into the expected impacts of a product by considering events that alter the phases that have not occurred. A case study using this model on a laptop shows use phase GHG emissions reduced by up to 55% in one scenario.
The Next Generation of Monitoring and Control Systems Using Synchronized Sampling Technology and Multifunctional IEDs

This paper discusses implementation of the next generation solution for power system control and monitoring. The new design is based on the use of synchronized sampling technology and multifunctional intelligent electronic designs (lEDs). The advantages of such systems are discussed pointing out new benefits to be gained by different users. The new solution enables full use of field recorded IED data by various utility groups such as protection engineers, dispatchers, maintenance crews, asset managers, and independent system operators. The deployment strategy and examples of initial steps are presented making reference to the specific on-going project aimed at field deployment of the solution
Power and sample size for ordered categorical data

We propose a new method for computing power and sample size for linear rank tests of differences between two ordered multinomial populations. The method is flexible in that it is applicable to any general alternative hypothesis and for any choice of rank scores. We show that the method, though asymptotic, closely approximates existing exact methods. At the same time it overcomes the computational limitations of the exact methods. This advantage makes our asymptotic approach more practical for sample size computations at the planning stages of a large study. We illustrate the method with data arising from both proportional and non-proportional odds models in the two ordered multinomial setting.
The dysarthria—clumsy hand syndrome: A distinct clinical entity related to pontine infarction

Using magnetic resonance imaging, we studied 6 patients with the dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome. All were found to have pontine infarctions contralateral to the symptomatic side. Clinically, these patients exhibited dysarthria; "clumsiness," characterized by dysmetria, dysrhythmia, dysdiadochokinesia and sometimes truncal and gait ataxia; and mild ipsilateral weakness. Previous clinical-anatomical correlations for this syndrome are limited by inconsistencies in clinical diagnostic criteria and low-resolution imaging methods. In our patients, and in a review of the literature, the overwhelming majority of patients with the dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome had pontine infarcts. We conclude that if rigid clinical criteria are used, the label of the dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome predicts a lesion in the contralateral basis pontis.
Sarcocystis fayeri in skeletal muscle of horses with neuromuscular disease

Recent reports of Sarcocystis fayeri-induced toxicity in people consuming horse meat warrant investigation on the prevalence and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. infection in horses. Sarcocysts in skeletal muscle of horses have been commonly regarded as an incidental finding. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of sarcocysts in skeletal muscle of horses with neuromuscular disease. Our findings indicated that S. fayeri infection was common in young mature horses with neuromuscular disease and could be associated with myopathic and neurogenic processes. The number of infected muscles and number of sarcocysts per muscle were significantly higher in diseased than in control horses. S. fayeri was predominantly found in low oxidative highly glycolytic myofibers. This pathogen had a high glycolytic metabolism. Common clinical signs of disease included muscle atrophy, weakness with or without apparent muscle pain, gait deficits, and dysphagia in horses with involvement of the tongue and esophagus. Horses with myositis were lethargic, apparently painful, stiff, and reluctant to move. Similar to humans, sarcocystosis and cardiomyopathy can occur in horses. This study did not establish causality but supported a possible association (8.9% of cases) with disease. The assumption of Sarcocysts spp. being an incidental finding in every case might be inaccurate.
Constitutive Activation of Two-Component Response Regulators: Characterization of VirG Activation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Response regulators are the ultimate modulators in two-component signal transduction pathways. The N-terminal receiver domains generally accept phosphates from cognate histidine kinases to control output. VirG for example, the response regulator of the VirA/VirG two-component system in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, mediates the expression of virulence genes in response to plant host signals. Response regulators have a highly conserved structure and share a similar conformational activation upon phosphorylation, yet the sequence and structural features that determine or perturb the cooperative activation events are ill defined. Here we use VirG and the unique features of the Agrobacterium system to extend our understanding of the response regulator activation. Two previously isolated constitutive VirG mutants, VirGN54D and VirGI77V/D52E, provide the foundation for our studies. In vivo phosphorylation patterns establish that VirGN54D is able to accumulate phosphates from small-molecule phosphate donors, such as acetyl phosphate, while the VirGI77V/D52E allele carries conformational changes mimicking the active conformation. Further structural alterations on these two alleles begin to reveal the changes necessary for response regulator activation.
Reality-Based Haptic Force Models of Buttons and Switches

Accurate models of the feel of physical objects are essential to improving the realism of haptic simulations. This paper presents a method for automatically obtaining experimentally based models of general passive, nonlinear devices for use in haptic playback applications, with specific emphasis on modeling switches and buttons. The method, based on the exponentially weighted least-squares (EWLS), allows estimation of position- and direction-dependent parameters of a general nonlinear model. Results are presented for two push-button switches.
Infrared Spectra of Layer‐Structure Silicates

The relations between the structure, crystal chemistry, chemical bonds involved, and the infrared spectra of layer-structure silicates established on the basis of recent experiments are discussed and summarized.
The development of alarm-call response behaviour in free-living juvenile Belding's ground squirrels

The production of and responses to alarm calls by adult ground-dwelling squirrels has been widely documented, yet the development of alarm-call behaviours has not been systematically addressed. The responses of free-living Belding's ground squirrels, Spermophilus beldingi, to playbacks of conspecific (three alarm calls and juvenile squeals) and heterospecific (wren song) vocalizations were observed from natal emergence until the age of dispersal. Discrimination of thefive auditory stimuli was not present at emergence but developed within the next 5 days, with responsivity to whistle alarm calls, indicative of fast-moving predators, developing earlier than to trill alarm calls, associated with slow-moving predators. Response patterns (response duration, vigilant postures and initial responses) changed throughout the following 4 weeks, and approximated adult responses before juveniles dispersed. Juvenile responses were indirectly influenced by conspecifics, particularly the dam, as well as by the physical environment, including distance from the natal burrow and location within the meadow. Alarm-call responses appeared to be adapted to the juvenile's current stage of development, with younger juveniles making a trade-oV between information gathering and escape responses. The development of appropriate responses to each alarm call is hypothesized to be facilitated by observations of experienced ground-squirrels' responses. Despite their vulnerability, juveniles may not emerge with fully formed associations between alarm calls and responses if the local predator context changes over time, thus favouring plasticity in the response repertoire. ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Effect of Cleaning and Abrasion‐Induced Damage on the Weibull Strength Distribution of Sapphire Fiber

Fractographic analysis revealed the presence of concurrent flaw populations in sapphire fibers which were tensile tested in the as-received condition (sized and unsized) and after various cleaning procedures. The following flaw populations were identified: surface flaws attributed to handling and abrasion damage (type A), volume or internal flaws attributed to shrinkage voids which form during the manufacturing process (type B), localized fiber surface reaction flaws introduced during the flame-cleaning procedure (type C), and self-abrasion surface flaws intentionally introduced on unsized fibers (type D). The strength distribution associated with each flaw type was characterized using a censored data Weibull analysis for both the least-squares and maximum-likelihood estimation methods. The strength distribution for type C (flame-cleaning) flaws exhibited an approximately 20% degradation in strength compared to the distribution for type A flaws. The strength distribution for type D (self-abrasion) flaws exhibited an approximately 35% degradation in strength compared to the strength distribution for type A flaws. This result underscores the need for fiber sizings to prevent damage during shipping and handling. However, higher purity sizings and/or improved procedures for sizing removal are required to mitigate cleaning-induced fiber strength degradation during composite fabrication.
Molecular dynamics simulations of polyatomic-ion beam deposition-induced chemical modification of carbon nanotube/polymer composites

Considerable effort has been spent to incorporate carbon nanotubes into polymer matrices to exploit their extraordinary modulus and resistance to brittle failure. However, when as-synthesized nanotubes are used, the composites often fail through nanotube pullout due to poor adhesion between the nanotube and polymer matrix. Carbon nanotubes that are chemically functionalized, however, adhere more strongly to the polymer matrix because of efficient load-transfer through chemical bond formation between the polymer and the nanotube. In this work, the chemical modification of carbon nanotube/polystyrene composites via polyatomic ion beam deposition is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Several composite structures and incident ion energies are considered. The simulation results show that modification by ion beam deposition produces cross-links between otherwise unfunctionalized nanotubes and polymer backbone chains that serve to toughen the composite. High incident ion energies and compact composite structures are predicted to be optimum for effective chemical modification of the system.
Spatial Diversity Benefits by Means of Induced Fading

Multipath fading heavily contributes to the unreliability of wireless links and is normally seen as a negative phenomenon hindering proper radio communication. However, fading can also improve the chances of reliable communication over channels that would otherwise be unusable, as our experimental evidence shows. In the context of wireless sensor networks, we show that limited motion of the base station may be used to obtain a considerable spatial diversity benefit through the exploitation of induced fading. We compare our limited mobility approach to multi-antenna systems, which are commonly used to achieve spatial diversity, and we illustrate these concepts with the help of experimental results. Moreover, we analyze how spatial diversity relates to network lifetime
Catholicism, Poverty and the Pursuit of Happiness

ABSTRACT The following article is divided into three substantive sections. In the first section, “ontology, poverty and Catholicism,” I will attempt to lay out the basic parameters of a Catholic approach to the human person and the subsequent implications of that approach for understanding the question of poverty. In the second section, “liberalism, poverty and welfare in the U.S.,” I will juxtapose the Catholic approach with what is arguably the dominate orientation toward the human person and his or her relationship to property and wealth in the United States of America as derived from a certain brand of liberalism. In the third section, “poverty, religion and human rights in the U.S.,” I will try to make the case in the context of the history of the American welfare state and recent developments in the area of welfare reform, that the current consensus and mode of discourse surrounding poverty and welfare in the United States stands in direct opposition to the most fundamental aspects of Christianity i...