cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thapsigargin elevates and potentiates the ability of progesterone to increase intracellular free calcium in human sperm: Possible role of perinuclear calcium

The effect of thapsigargin on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was examined in swim up human sperm. Thapsigargin elevated [Ca2+]i in a dose dependent manner, with maximal effects observed with 10 microM. The increase in [Ca2+]i was relatively slow in taking 3-4 min to reach a maximal level. The increase in [Ca2+]i was inhibited when extracellular Ca2+ was chelated with EGTA, thus the source of Ca2+ for the increase was extracellular. The effect of thapsigargin to stimulate Ca2+ influx was also observed using the Mn2+ quenching of intracellular Fura-2. Thapsigargin pre-treatment of sperm was able to potentiate the effects of progesterone to elevate [Ca2+]i. Progesterone pre-treatment also potentiated the ability of thapsigargin to elevate [Ca2+]i. Further evidence to support the idea that thapsigargin was promoting Ca2+ influx was the fact that thapsigargin potentiated ionomycin (an agent that can increase Ca2+ cycling across phospholipid membranes) induced elevations in [Ca2+]i. Conversely, ionomycin also potentiated thapsigargin induced elevations in [Ca2+]i. It is concluded from these studies that high concentrations of thapsigargin are able to stimulate Ca2+ influx in human sperm by a mechanism not involving the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase pump since this organelle is absent in mature sperm. However, a likely site of action of thapsigargin in mature sperm is at the level of the nuclear membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase pump which is identical to the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase pump and is sensitive to inhibition by thapsigargin.
Molecular determinants in the bioactivation of the dopaminergic neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)

Nineteen analogs of the dopaminergic neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) have been used as probes to study the structural parameters that influence MAO-catalyzed oxidation. In this study, the efficiency of enzyme-catalyzed substrate oxidation was found to be unrelated to parameters such as the ionization potential, dipole moment, net atomic charge at C5 and the dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the tetrahydropyridine moiety. Conformational analysis revealed that substitution at the C2′ position of MPTP yields atropisomers. It is suggested that one of these atropisomers would be either inactive or substantially less active than the other. Therefore, the relative oxidative efficiency and toxicity of these compounds reported earlier may have been significantly underestimated. Based on the conformational analysis and other data, a rudimentary model of the MAO substrate site has been developed which partially explains the substrate specificities of MAO A and MAO B. Each substrate binding site can be divided into two regions, (a) an amine-binding pocket (for the tetrahydropyridine moiety), and (b) a ‘bulky substituent’ region (for the phenyl group and its substituents). The length of the substrate binding site (measured along the long axis of MPTP) is approximately 8.5 A, and the width of the ‘amine-binding’ pocket is approximately 2.5 A (from C3 to C5). The ‘bulky substituent’ region contains a central area for binding the phenyl group of MPTP. This central area is flanked by two hydrophobic pockets, P2′ and P3′. In MAO A, the pocket P2′-A is oriented 45–135° relative to the plane of the tetrahydropyridine moiety, with a radius of 3.1 A from C2′ of the phenyl ring. The radius of a similar but smaller pocket, P2′-B, in MAO B, is approximately 2.7 A. In MAO B, the pocket P3′-B (radius 2.36 A from C3′) is larger than a similar pocket P3′-A (radius 1.70 A from C3′) in MAO A. The foregoing characterization suggests that differences in the size and topography of both of the substituent pockets play an important role in determining the substrate specificities of these two isozymes.
Development and chromosomal constitution of nuclear-transplants derived from male germ cells.

Nuclei of spermatogonial cells derived from juvenile and adult (Rana pipiens) were transplanted singly into enucleated eggs to determine whether germ cell nuclei are developmentally totipotent. Control nuclear transfers from undetermined somatic cells promoted genuine cleavage in 77% of the injected eggs and 54% of the complete blastulae derived from this series developed into normal larvae. In contrast to the control study, eggs transplanted with germ cell nuclei formed genuine blastulae in 13% of the cases, and most of the complete blastulae arrested before completing gastrulation. However, three embryos derived from adult germ cell nuclei did attain advanced stages of organogenesis and one of these developed into an abnormal feeding larva. These individuals are the most advanced nuclear-transplants obtained so far from nuclei of normal adult cells in vivo. Chromosome analyses performed on a sample of nuclear-transplants derived from germ cells revealed gross chromosomal abnormalities in all individuals except the larva. It is concluded, that even though germ cell nuclei are genetically totipotent, they, like somatic nuclei, undergo developmental restrictions during their process of cell differentiation, and after transplantation to host eggs, give rise to abnormal nuclear-transplants accompanied in most cases by karyotypic alterations. The significance of the developmental restrictions observed in germ cell nuclei is interpreted as an expression of chromosomal differentiation.
PREDICTING RISKS OF LARCENY THEFT VICTIMIZATION: A ROUTINE ACTIVITY ANALYSIS USING REFINED LIFESTYLE MEASURES

Routine activity theory has long been plagued by a heavy reliance on proxy measures of lifestyles, which typically include demographic variables that are regularly used as measures of lifestyle and behavior. This reliance on indirect measures forces researchers to suppose how and why these indicators are related to victimization risks. Using detailed measurements of activities and specific structural aspects of communities is clearly more desirable and beneficial when seeking to explain variances in victimization risks. This research advances theoretical understandings of victimization risks through an analysis of specific social activities, aspects of neighborhoods, and contribution of each to the risks of larceny victimization for college students. We find that greater specificity in measuring lifestyles is warranted, for it is not just leaving one's home and going out in public that increases one's risk for victimization (a typical finding of routine activity theory scholars), but where one goes and what one does that are the important larceny victimization predictors.
Antiviral treatment of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a substantial health problem worldwide. Most patients infected with HCV remain chronically infected, with an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although they are associated with toxicities and low sustained viral response rates, interferon alfa and ribavirin have been the mainstay of treatment until recently. New direct acting antivirals, specifically designed to inhibit three viral proteins (the NS3/4A protease, the NS5A protein, and the NS5B RNA dependent RNA polymerase) are now becoming available. The NS3/4A inhibitor simeprevir and NS5B inhibitor sofosbuvir have recently been licensed and can reduce the length of antiviral treatment, improve response rates, and allow for interferon-free regimens for some HCV genotypes. Several other newer direct acting antivirals have shown promise in clinical studies and are likely to be licensed soon. These agents seem to facilitate the use of shortened courses of combination interferon-free therapy, which are associated with high (>95%) sustained response rates and relatively few toxicities. These regimens have also been successful in patients who were previously difficult to treat, including those with cirrhosis, HIV coinfection, and those who have undergone liver transplantation. The high cost of these agents may be the biggest challenge to their implementation worldwide.
Trends in public attitudes toward educational spending

During the 1970s, only about half of the adult American population wanted to allocate more money to education. But in the 1980s, almost two-thirds of those surveyed have wanted to spend more on education. Using the 1972–86 NORC General Social Surveys (of which there are a dozen replications — each with about 1500 respondents), this paper outlines the sources of this increase in support for educational spending. Over time, while education has been consistently given a higher priority by members of younger birth cohorts, and respondents educated beyond high school, racial differences have narrowed and regional differences have been reversed. In this decade, whites and non-Southerners are increasingly supportive of more spending on education than they were earlier. Finally, while rural/urban differences on education as a national spending priority have remained, this trend is less independent of larger social forces than the others. These results imply that to be most effective in producing increased allocations from public sources, educators and their political supporters should recognize those particular segments of the population who may be most responsive to calls for increased funding.
THE NARROWING OF CRYSTAL SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS IN A SONICATOR-MSMPR CRYSTALLIZER SYSTEM

Obtaining small crystals of a narrow crystal size distribution is an important problem in many pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and ceramic processing applications. This paper describes the use of a two-stage system to reproducibly produce pilot-scale quantities of a ceramic precursor powder. The population balance is used to determine the crystal size distributions obtained from a staged crystallization system. The staged crystallization system consists of two units, a mininucleator (sonicator) and an MSMPR crystallizer. Experimental and theoretical studies of this system showed that the use of the mininucleator leads to narrowing of the crystal size distribution obtained from the MSMPR crystallizer. The resulting expression for the population density distribution allows direct fitting of experimental log population density data from the second stage to determine the growth and nucleation kinetics for both the mininucleator and the MSMPR crystallizer
A health impact assessment of proposed public transportation service cuts and fare increases in Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A.).

Transportation decisions have health consequences that are often not incorporated into policy-making processes. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a process that can be used to evaluate health effects of transportation policy. We present a rapid HIA, conducted over eight weeks, evaluating health and economic effects of proposed fare increases and service cuts to Boston, Massachusetts' public transportation system. We used transportation modeling in concert with tools allowing for quantification and monetization of multiple pathways. We estimated health and economic costs of proposed public transportation system changes to be hundreds of millions of dollars per year, exceeding the budget gap the public transportation authority was required to close. Significant health pathways included crashes, air pollution, and physical activity. The HIA enabled stakeholders to advocate for more modest fare increases and service cuts, which were eventually adopted
Two-modulator generalized ellipsometry: experiment and calibration

A two-modulator generalized ellipsometer is described that is capable of measuring all 16 elements of a sample Mueller matrix with four measurements made at different azimuthal orientations of the polarization state generator and polarization state detector. If the sample can be described with a Mueller-Jones matrix, only a single measurement is needed. Only two calibration steps are needed to determine the fundamental operating parameters of the instrument. A reflection measurement from silicon is presented as an example, which illustrates that the elements of the Mueller-Jones matrix can be measured to an accuracy of ~0.1-0.2%.
Hunting satisfaction and reciprocal exchange: Initial support from a lottery‐regulated hunt

Abstract This study explores the satisfaction of 228 adults with hunting during a state‐regulated lottery hunt in which the day of the hunt was randomly assigned. An analysis of covariance indicated that cohorts, based on the day that subjects hunted, were significantly different with respect to satisfaction with the hunt (p < .037). The cohort with the greatest satisfaction was intermediate with regard to the ratio of number of deer harvested per day to number of hunters, although the mean differences were not statistically significant. It was concluded that reciprocal exchange, which is the interplay among factors associated with hunting, provides a framework for understanding hunter satisfaction. Suggestions for future research are also included to explore further the explanatory contributions of reciprocal exchange.
Is brain health in the eye of the beholder

Arteriolar disease of the brain manifests itself structurally as lacunar infarcts and leukoaraiosis, and may also lead to cognitive dysfunction. Although the pathogenesis of leukoaraiosis is somewhat controversial, its strong association with vascular risk factors, in particular hypertension, implies a microvascular etiology. These subclinical brain changes and their associated effects on cognition are likely to be associated with microvascular disease in other organs. In the article by Haan et al.1 in this issue of Neurology ®, the association between retinal microvascular changes and cerebral outcomes (i.e., cognitive performance and subclinical brain lesions and volume) is evaluated in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). In this WHI study, although retinopathy is found infrequently (in 7.6% of 511 participants), it is associated with worsening over 10 years on cognitive assessment with the modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) and with larger ischemic volumes on brain MRI (using a composite measure of lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities [WMH]). This parallels other epidemiologic studies that have demonstrated associations between retinal microvascular disease and MRI evidence of small vessel disease (lacunar infarcts or WMH)2 and between …
The weaver mutation of GIRK2 results in a loss of inwardly rectifying K+ current in cerebellar granule cells

The weaver mutation in mice results in a severe ataxia that is attributable to the degeneration of cerebellar granule cells and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Recent genetic studies indicate that the GIRK2 gene is altered in weaver. This gene codes for a G-protein-activated, inwardly rectifying K+ channel protein (8). The mutation results in a single amino acid substitution (glycine-->serine) in the pore-forming H5 region of the channel. The functional consequences of this mutation appear to depend upon the co-expression of other GIRK subunits--leading to either a gain or loss of function. Here, we show that G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ currents are significantly reduced in cerebellar granule cells from animals carrying the mutant allele. The reduction is most pronounced in homozygous neurons. These findings suggest that the death of neurons in weaver is attributable to the loss of GIRK2-mediated currents, not to the expression of a nonspecific cation current.
The Epidemiology of Human Telomeres: Faults and Promises

There are neglected but growing problems in the epidemiological field of telomere biology. The focus of the field has been on leukocyte telomere dynamics, which ostensibly register the accruing burden of oxidative stress and inflammation. Important as they are, studies that have examined associations between leukocyte telomere length and indices of aging and diseases of aging also include many that are compromised by poor epidemiological and laboratory methodology. The shortcomings of these studies muddle findings, undermine conclusions, and compromise the ability of the field to attain its goals, which include a better understanding of human aging. Specific steps are delineated to resolve these problems. They include a call for an impartial evaluation of the two major methods (Southern blots and quantitative polymerase chain reaction) currently in use to measure telomere parameters and a proposal for a working model to test the potential connections of leukocyte telomere dynamics with human aging and longevity.
Wallerian degeneration in rabbit optic nerve: cellular localization in the central nervous system of the S-100 and 14-3-2 proteins.

— The S-100 and 14-3-2 proteins, which are found only in nervous tissues, were measured in degenerating rabbit optic nerve at 0, 5 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150 and 200 days after unilateral enucleation in order to obtain indications of the cellular localization of these proteins in the central nervous system. S-100 increased and 14-3-2 decreased (both approximately 70 per cent) in cut nerves by 200 days of degeneration. Changes in amounts of the proteins were related to cellular alterations which characterize the degenerative process, as demonstrated by electron microscopy. In uncut nerves (intact eye) from these experimental animals, S-100 increased and 14-3-2 decreased slightly at 5 days, after which time the levels of each returned to those approximating the content in corresponding nerves from unoperated control animals. No appreciable change in total soluble proteins was measured in degenerating or intact nerves. Since S-100 increased and 14-3-2 decreased in the degenerating optic nerve as it became relatively enriched in glial constituents but impoverished in axonal content, it is suggested that S-100 is primarily a glial protein and 14-3-2 predominantly a neuronal protein in the central nervous system.
SENP1-mediated GATA1 deSUMOylation is critical for definitive erythropoiesis

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification of proteins (SUMOylation) and deSUMOylation have emerged as important regulatory mechanisms for protein function. SENP1 (SUMO-specific protease) deconjugates SUMOs from modified proteins. We have created SENP1 knockout (KO) mice based on a Cre–loxP system. Global deletion of SENP1 (SENP1 KO) causes anemia and embryonic lethality between embryonic day 13.5 and postnatal day 1, correlating with erythropoiesis defects in the fetal liver. Bone marrow transplantation of SENP1 KO fetal liver cells to irradiated adult recipients confers erythropoiesis defects. Protein analyses show that the GATA1 and GATA1-dependent genes are down-regulated in fetal liver of SENP1 KO mice. This down-regulation correlates with accumulation of a SUMOylated form of GATA1. We further show that SENP1 can directly deSUMOylate GATA1, regulating GATA1-dependent gene expression and erythropoiesis by in vitro assays. Moreover, we demonstrate that GATA1 SUMOylation alters its DNA binding, reducing its recruitment to the GATA1-responsive gene promoter. Collectively, we conclude that SENP1 promotes GATA1 activation and subsequent erythropoiesis by deSUMOylating GATA1.
Production and operations management

The historical development of research on production and operations management was traced from its roots in firm cost and efficiency studies through systems analysis research. This research made an important contribution to improved performance of firms. Reasons for the sharp decline of research in this area were examined. One reason relates to the fact that research problems had less direct relevance to the firm. Information needs of firms and others were examined. This provided the basis for identifying needed research. While a number of research problem areas were described, two were discussed in depth: comparative performance information and expert systems.
Nature of the Fine-Scale Defects and Radiation Hardening in Stainless Steels Neutron-Irradiated at 550K

Our understanding of radiation effects in stainless steels irradiated at temperatures below annealing stage V (<573K) remains unclear. The microstructure under these conditions has been loosely described in terms of Frank loops and “black spot” damage, the latter of which is typically considered to be 4-5 nm or less in size. To further clarify the nature of these defects, 6 stainless steels heats neutron irradiated at 550K from 0.6 to 13.3 dpa have been characterized by TEM. The microstructure is comprised of a very high density of small Frank loops present in sizes as small as 1 nm and perhaps lower, which could be of both vacancy and interstitial-type. The density of the visible loops is already established at the lowest dose available, however, the microstructure continues to evolve as the dose increases. The size distributions of the Frank loops change from a narrow symmetric distribution to a much broader size distribution with a bimodal distribution beginning to form at the higher doses.
A new computationally efficient method for the analysis of planar transmission lines and complex MMIC elements

Microstrip and coplanar transmission line components have been analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The FDTD computational mesh is truncated by imposing absorbing boundary conditions on the walls of the mesh, thus simulating outgoing waves appropriate to an open structure. The residual reflection from these boundaries introduces significant error in the frequency-domain parameters derived by Fourier transformation of the time-domain voltages and currents. In this paper, we have developed a new computationally-efficient method called the geometry rearrangement technique (GRT) to cancel the dominant contribution to such reflection. We have applied the GRT to compute the effective dielectric constant of planar transmission lines and the scattering parameters of MMIC components. The computed results have been found to be in good agreement with published data, thus indicating the effectiveness of the GRT in canceling boundary reflection. This research is applicable to efficient characterization of MMIC elements and high-density microwave and millimeter-wave packages, which are currently being investigated in aerospace research. >
Analytical Approach for Investigating Bristle/Backplate Hysteresis Phenomenon in Brush Seals

Brush seals are an important innovation, increasing the efficiency of turbomachinery for both land-based and aeronautical applications. However, a performance drawback termed brush seal hysteresis has been reported that can promote seal leakage, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the brush seal system. It is generally recognized that hysteretic behavior may be attributed to complex frictional forces that are generated within the brush seal during service, and that appropriate steps must be undertaken to understand, quantify, and minimize this source of inefficiency in brush seal performance. This paper focuses on investigating hysteresis phenomenon that can be traced to a mechanical interaction between the bristle and back plate of the brush seal. To this end, a mechanics-based model is developed that can forecast both bristle deformation and friction forces that arise between the lateral surface of the bristle and the edge of the back plate. The model uses general bending theory to examine three-dimensional deformation of the fiber that is caused by transient, flow-induced axial loads within the jet engine. Correctness of solutions obtained from the model is validated by a direct comparison with known results that have been published in the literature. On the basis of the mechanics model, a friction force path-based approach is proposed for quantifying brush seal hysteresis, and results are presented indicating that the model can successfully forecast a stick-slip phenomenon that naturally arises due to the axial flow of gases through the annular interspace between the rotor and brush seal back plate.
Characterizing mobility and network usage in a corporate wireless local-area network

Wireless local-area networks are becoming increasingly popular. They are commonplace on university campuses and inside corporations, and they have started to appear in public areas [17]. It is thus becoming increasingly important to understand user mobility patterns and network usage characteristics on wireless networks. Such an understanding would guide the design of applications geared toward mobile environments (e.g., pervasive computing applications), would help improve simulation tools by providing a more representative workload and better user mobility models, and could result in a more effective deployment of wireless network components.Several studies have recently been performed on wire-less university campus networks and public networks. In this paper, we complement previous research by presenting results from a four week trace collected in a large corporate environment. We study user mobility patterns and introduce new metrics to model user mobility. We also analyze user and load distribution across access points. We compare our results with those from previous studies to extract and explain several network usage and mobility characteristics.We find that average user transfer-rates follow a power law. Load is unevenly distributed across access points and is influenced more by which users are present than by the number of users. We model user mobility with persistence and prevalence. Persistence reflects session durations whereas prevalence reflects the frequency with which users visit various locations. We find that the probability distributions of both measures follow power laws.
The Importance of Clostridia in Experimental Intestinal Strangulation

Abstract Hemorrhagic and ischemic strangulation of closed intestinal segments was studied in germ-free rats individually monocontaminated with one of eight separate species of clostridia. Ischemic strangulation was found to be as deadly as hemorrhagic strangulation in the presence of clostridia. Some clostridia were very toxic whereas others were relatively innocuous. The clostridia, ranked in the order of decreasing lethality, were: Clostridium perfringens type A, C. septicum , C. histolyticum , C. haemolyticum , C. bifermentans , C. sporogenes , C. tertium , and C. novyi type A. All species were readily established in the gastrointestinal tract of the nonoperated germ-free rat. The clostridia appear to be one of the most potentially lethal groups of organisms commonly found in the intestinal tract of human beings and animals.
Hormone-Sensitive Lipase Overexpression Increases Cholesteryl Ester Hydrolysis in Macrophage Foam Cells

Atherosclerosis is a complex physiopathologic process initiated by the formation of cholesterol-rich lesions in the arterial wall. Macrophages play a crucial role in this process because they accumulate large amounts of cholesterol esters (CEs) to form the foam cells that initiate the formation of the lesion and participate actively in the development of the lesion. Therefore, prevention or reversal of CE accumulation in macrophage foam cells could result in protection from multiple pathological effects. In this report, we show that the CE hydrolysis catalyzed by neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase (nCEH) can be modulated by overexpression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in macrophage foam cells. For these studies, RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, were found to be a suitable model of foam cell formation. HSL expression and nCEH activity in these cells and in peritoneal macrophages were comparable. In addition, antibody titration showed that essentially all nCEH activity in murine macrophages was accounted for by HSL. To examine the effect of HSL overexpression on foam cell formation, RAW 264.7 cells were stably transfected with a rat HSL cDNA. The resulting HSL overexpression increased hydrolysis of cellular CEs 2- to 3-fold in lipid-laden cells in the presence of an acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor. Furthermore, addition of cAMP produced a 5-fold higher rate of CE hydrolysis in cholesterol-laden, HSL-overexpressing cells than in control cells and resulted in nearly complete hydrolysis of cellular CEs in only 9 hours, compared with <50% hydrolysis in control cells. Thus, HSL overexpression stimulated the net hydrolysis of CEs, leading to faster hydrolysis of lipid deposits in model foam cells. These data suggest that HSL overexpression in macrophages, alone or in combination with ACAT inhibitors, may constitute a useful therapeutic approach for impeding CE accumulation in macrophages in vivo.
Realization of User Level Fault Tolerant Policy Management through a Holistic Approach for Fault Correlation

Many modern scientific applications, which are designed to utilize high performance parallel computers, occupy hundreds of thousands of computational cores running for days or even weeks. Since many scientists compete for resources, most supercomputing centers practice strict scheduling policies and perform meticulous accounting on their usage. Thus computing resources and time assigned to a user is considered invaluable. However, most applications are not well prepared for unforeseeable faults, still relying on primitive fault tolerance techniques. Considering that ever-plunging mean time to interrupt (MTTI) is making scientific applications more vulnerable to faults, it is increasingly important to provide users not only an improved fault tolerant environment, but also a framework to support their own fault tolerance policies so that their allocation times can be best utilized. This paper addresses a user level fault tolerance policy management based on a holistic approach to digest and correlate fault related information. It introduces simple semantics with which users express their policies on faults, and illustrates how event correlation techniques can be applied to manage and determine the most preferable user policies. The paper also discusses an implementation of the framework using open source software, and demonstrates, as an example, how a molecular dynamics simulation application running on the institutional cluster at Oak Ridge National Laboratory benefits from it.
Nonlocal male mountain white-crowned sparrows have lower paternity and higher parasite loads than males singing local dialect

Bird song often varies geographically, and when this geographic variation has distinct boundaries, the shared song types are referred to as song dialects. We investigated the role of song dialect in male mating success in a wild breeding population of mountain white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha). In 2 of 3 years, males singing unusual songs (‘‘nonlocal’’ males) had lower total fertilization success (measured by microsatellite paternity analysis) than did males singing the local dialect (‘‘local’’ males). Similarly, females produced disproportionately more young with local than with nonlocal males. However, dialect was not a significant predictor of male mating success when controlling for other factors that might affect paternity. Instead, the low mating success of nonlocal males was apparently due to an interaction between song dialect and parasite load. Nonlocal males were more severely infected by bloodborne Haemoproteus than were local males, although they did not differ in any other measured aspect of quality. Immigrant birds may be immunologically disadvantaged, possibly due to a lack of previous experience with the local parasite fauna, resulting in low mating success. Key words: Haemoproteus, parasite load, parasite resistance, paternity, song dialect, white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha. [Behav Ecol 13:682–689 (2002)]
Revisiting the Rise of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Using Search Query Surveillance.

Introduction Public perceptions of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) remain poorly understood because surveys are too costly to regularly implement and, when implemented, there are long delays between data collection and dissemination. Search query surveillance has bridged some of these gaps. Herein, ENDS' popularity in the U.S. is reassessed using Google searches. Methods ENDS searches originating in the U.S. from January 2009 through January 2015 were disaggregated by terms focused on e-cigarette (e.g., e-cig ) versus vaping (e.g., vapers ); their geolocation (e.g., state); the aggregate tobacco control measures corresponding to their geolocation (e.g., clean indoor air laws); and by terms that indicated the searcher's potential interest (e.g., buy e-cigs likely indicates shopping)—all analyzed in 2015. Results ENDS searches are rapidly increasing in the U.S., with 8,498,000 searches during 2014 alone. Increasingly, searches are shifting from e-cigarette- to vaping-focused terms, especially in coastal states and states where anti-smoking norms are stronger. For example, nationally, e-cigarette searches declined 9% (95% CI=1%, 16%) during 2014 compared with 2013, whereas vaping searches increased 136% (95% CI=97%, 186%), even surpassing e-cigarette searches. Additionally, the percentage of ENDS searches related to shopping (e.g., vape shop ) nearly doubled in 2014, whereas searches related to health concerns (e.g., vaping risks ) or cessation (e.g., quit smoking with e-cig s) were rare and declined in 2014. Conclusions ENDS popularity is rapidly growing and evolving. These findings could inform survey questionnaire development for follow-up investigation and immediately guide policy debates about how the public perceives the health risks or cessation benefits of ENDS.
Self Quenching of the Nd 4F3/2 Manifold

An alternate approach to describe self quenching of the Nd 4F3/2 manifold is developed using computed self quenching and diffusion parameters. Two general regimes exist, one associated with slow diffusion and another associated with fast diffusion. Disparate results are obtained for Nd:YLF, Nd:YAG, as well as Nd:LaSc3(BO3)4 and are compared with experimental results. Calculated results are in general agreement with the experimental results.
The role for dental professionals in preventing child abuse and neglect.

The topic of child maltreatment is difficult because all practitioners wish that child abuse and neglect did not happen. The intent of this article is to show all dental professionals that a through understanding of their involvement in this issue can lead to a feeling of acceptance--an acceptance that we can do something to stop this Language: en
Impact of the Striped Lynx Spider (Araneae: Oxyopidae) and Other Natural Enemies on the Cotton Fleahopper (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Texas Cotton

Natural predation on nymphs and adults of the cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter), was assessed during 108 h of visual observation in an insecticide-free cotton field in central Texas. Predaceous arthropods of 13 species (from nine families) were observed to forage on the fleahopper. More than 80% of the predation events observed were attributable to spiders. The striped lynx spider, Oxyopes salticus Hentz, was dominant among the predators observed eating fleahoppers (15 records of feeding in action). Cotton fleahoppers composed ≈25% of the total prey of O. salticus during June and July. It was estimated during midseason that once every 4 d, one O. salticus would kill one cotton fleahopper. The assessment of the killing power of O. salticus, based on the predation rate and the predator-to-prey ratio (i.e., number of O. salticus individuals per fleahopper), suggests that these spiders are important mortality agents of the cotton fleahopper (≥15% prey mortality per day in the middle of the growing season). Additional fleahopper mortality is attributable to other predaceous arthropods such as Peucetia viridans (Hentz) (Oxyopidae), jumping spiders (Salticidae), crab spiders (Thomisidae), web-building spiders (Araneidae, Dictynidae, Theridiidae), damsel bugs (Nabidae), and ants (Formicidae).
Stimulation of irritable tissues by means of an alternating magnetic field.

SummaryStimulation of frog nerves and of excised frog muscles submerged in Ringer's solution has been obtained without the use of electrodes by means of sinusoidal alternating magnetic fields. This effect is due to eddy currents induced in conductive tissues and their surroundings. Visual and non-visual sensations have been induced in human subjects by non-homogeneous alternating magnetic fields adjacent to the brain.
CO2 reduction catalyzed by mercaptopteridine on glassy carbon.

The catalytic reduction of CO2 is of great current interest because of its role in climate change and the energy cycle. We report a pterin electrocatalyst, 6,7-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2-mercaptopteridine (PTE), that catalyzes the reduction of CO2 and formic acid on a glassy carbon electrode. Pterins are natural cofactors for a wide range of enzymes, functioning as redox mediators and C1 carriers, but they have not been exploited as electrocatalysts. Bulk electrolysis of a saturated CO2 solution in the presence of the PTE catalyst produces methanol, as confirmed by gas chromatography and 13C NMR spectroscopy, with a Faradaic efficiency of 10–23%. FTIR spectroelectrochemistry detected a progression of two-electron reduction products during bulk electrolysis, including formate, aqueous formaldehyde, and methanol. A transient intermediate was also detected by FTIR and tentatively assigned as a PTE carbamate. The results demonstrate that PTE catalyzes the reduction of CO2 at low overpotential and without the involv...
Comparison and Improvement of Effective Electromagnetic Model of Honeycomb Structure

Honeycomb structure is one kind of the structures that are widely used in radar absorbing materials,but it is difficult to design a honeycomb due to its high geometric complexity.This paper focuses on the research of the effective electromagnetic model of honeycomb structure.Both the strong fluctuation theory based model and variation method based model were compared with the experimental data.It can be found that the symmetry of the transverse effective parameters from these two models is obviously different from the asymmetry of that from experimental data.Based on the theoretical analysis of this phenomenon,a new parameter which represents the asymmetry of the transverse parameters of honeycomb structure was introduced to improve the effective models.The results of the numerical experiment show that it is a better choice to use variation method model to represent honeycomb structure than strong fluctuation theory model,and the improved models can represent the asymmetry of the transverse parameters of honeycomb structure accurately and improve its accuracy to some extend.
A Replication of “Political Influence behind the Veil of Peer Review” (Journal of Law and Economics 2009):

Using U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant panel data, Hegde and Mowery and Hegde look at political influence at the US congressional level on the allocation of these funds. Their key finding is that members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee and former New York Senator Al D’Amato as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee were able to indirectly steer NIH grant money to organizations in their home states. A reexamination of their evidence does not support that conclusion.
The Eden Years: April 7, 1955, to January 10, 1957

Lieutenant Colonel George Grivas, a retired Cypriot officer who had served in the Greek Army during both the First and Second World Wars, could not have been more pleased with his handiwork. At just after one o’clock in the morning on April 1, 1955, his organization—the Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA, the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters)—detonated a series of bombs in government buildings in Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca, causing damage to the exteriors of each and completely destroying the new transmitters of the Cyprus Broadcasting Service. Following the explosions, Grivas and his men distributed pamphlets in the vicinity of the attacks, calling on the Greek-Cypriot people to rise in support of Enosis. Each of the pamphlets was signed with the initials EOKA and Grivas’s nom de guerre, Dighenis. Before sunrise that morning, Grivas also dropped pamphlets in Turkish-Cypriot neighborhoods, assuring their residents that EOKA wished the Turks no harm but warning them against supporting the “British colonialists” in the coming struggle.1 Seemingly without warning, insurgency had come to Cyprus.
Valve Selection in End-Stage Renal Disease: Should It Always Be Biological?

Background When valve replacement is required in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is not clear if mechanical or bioprosthetic valve selection is better. We compared outcomes between ESRD patients who underwent either mechanical or biologic valve replacements at our institution. Methods All patients with ESRD who underwent either mitral or aortic valve replacement from 2002 to 2014 at our institution were reviewed (n = 215; mechanical = 64, biological = 151). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to test the hypothesis that a mechanical valve was correlated with improved long-term survival. Among patients younger than 65 years (n = 123) we also compared survival with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Similar unadjusted survival was found for patients who received either a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve (log-rank p = 0.55). Survival is clearly attenuated in this patient population, with only about half the patients younger than 65 years surviving beyond 2 years. In the proportional hazards model, a mechanical valve was not correlated with improved survival even when controlled for other variables, including shock, endocarditis, mitral valve replacement, and patient age (95% confidence interval for hazard ratio of mechanical valve: 0.64 to 1.62). Conclusions It appears that there is minimal difference in survival after operation for ESRD patients who undergo bioprosthetic or mechanical valve replacement, even in patients younger than 65 years. The attenuated survival of the ESRD population after valve replacement makes the increased burden of anticoagulation (particularly in hemodialysis patients) unattractive. It is likely that only a small portion of ESRD patients benefit from the increased durability of a mechanical valve.
Governing Competition and Collaboration in Network Industries Using Agent-Based Modeling: A Case-Study of US Air Transportation Network

Network industries include a multitude of organizations and companies delivering valuable services and products for modern life. Surprisingly, the impact of the structural complexity of their underlying physical infrastructure on the behavior of these organizations has not been explored yet. The aim of this paper is to study the role of an initial network structure on the throughput of these complex systems, and to provide evidence for the value of using agent-based modeling (ABM) in governing competition and collaboration in network industries. A two-stage multiround game provides the mathematical foundation to examine the behavior of players in the complex interconnected structure of a network industry. The United States Air Transportation Network is used as the case study. The real data on the different elements of the system are embedded into an agent-based model to provide a descriptive model of behaviors within it. The outcome of the model shows path dependence in the system and highlights the impact of initial network conditions on the market. Moreover, this model provides evidence on the usefulness of ABM for understanding the interrelationships between economic behavior and the physical structure of the system.
Important patient characteristics differ prior to total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty between Switzerland and the United States

Outcomes after total knee (TKA) and hip (THA) arthroplasty are often generalized internationally. Patient-dependent factors and preoperative symptom levels may differ across countries. We compared preoperative patient and clinical characteristics from two large cohorts, one in Switzerland, the other in the US. Patient characteristics were collected prospectively on all elective primary TKAs and THAs performed at a large Swiss hospital and in a US national sample. Data included age, sex, education level, BMI, diagnosis, medical co-morbidities, PROMs (WOMAC pain/function), global health (SF-12). Six thousand six hundred eighty primary TKAs (US) and 823 TKAs (Swiss) were evaluated. US vs. Switzerland TKA patients were younger (mean age 67 vs. 72 years.), more obese (BMI ≥30 55% vs. 43%), had higher levels of education, more cardiac disease. Swiss patients had lower preoperative WOMAC pain scores (41 vs. 52) but pre-operative physical disability were comparable. 4,647 primary THAs (US) and 1,023 THAs (Swiss) were evaluated. US vs. Switzerland patients were younger (65 vs. 68 years.), more obese (BMI ≥30: 38% vs. 24%), had higher levels of education, more diabetes. Swiss patients had lower preoperative WOMAC pain scores (40 vs. 48 points). Physical disability was reported comparable, but Swiss patients indicated lower mental health scores. We found substantial differences between US and Swiss cohorts in pre-operative patient characteristics and pain levels, which has potentially important implications for cross-cultural comparison of TKA/THA outcomes. Reports from national registries lack detailed patient information while these data suggest the need for adequate risk adjustment of patient factors.
Recognizing and Reckoning With Unconscious Bias: A Workshop for Health Professions Faculty Search Committees.

Introduction As part of national efforts to reduce disparities in access to care, health professions schools have committed to increasing the proportion of faculty members from underrepresented min...
Nanopipettes as a tool for single nanoparticle electrochemistry

Nanopipettes provide a tool to reduce sample volumes to an extent that the behavior of single entities becomes apparent and, as we discuss here, enable measurement of the electrochemical behavior of single nanoparticles. For example, nanopipettes allow the electrocatalytic activity of individual nanoparticles to be measured in isolation and they also allow the dynamic motion of single nanoparticles near interfaces to be measured. This review highlights exemplar works from the previous 2 years on the different ways in which nanopipettes have been used to probe single nanoparticle electrochemistry.
Pr:RbPb2Cl5: temperature dependent spectra, dynamics and three-for-one excitation: erratum.

The temperature dependence of the absorption, fluorescence, and fluorescence lifetimes of states relevant to short-wave-infrared and mid-infrared laser operation have been measured in Pr:RbPb2Cl5. The 3600-5500-nm fluorescence grows strongly with temperature, and at room temperature represents the large majority of the observed photon flux. Intra-ionic decay processes cannot explain this dominance, but a combination of two cross-relaxation processes provides good agreement with the data. These results indicate a three-for-one process: the excitation of nearly three ions to the 3H5 manifold of Pr3+ by each one initially excited to 3F3, with the potential for exceptionally high efficiency excitation of mid-infrared laser materials.
Assessing Objective Recommendation Quality through Political Forecasting

Recommendations are often rated for their subjective quality, but few researchers have studied comment quality in terms of objective utility. We explore recommendation quality assessment with respect to both subjective (i.e. users’ ratings) and objective (i.e., did it influence? did it improve decisions?) metrics in a massive online geopolitical forecasting system, ultimately comparing linguistic characteristics of each quality metric. Using a variety of features, we predict all types of quality with better accuracy than the simple yet strong baseline of comment length. Looking at the most predictive content illustrates rater biases; for example, forecasters are subjectively biased in favor of comments mentioning business transactions or dealings as well as material things, even though such comments do not indeed prove any more useful objectively. Additionally, more complex sentence constructions, as evidenced by subordinate conjunctions, are characteristic of comments leading to objective improvements in forecasting.