cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cellular contribution from dermis and cartilage to the regenerating limb blastema in axolotls

Using the triploid/diploid cell marker in the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, we have analyzed the extent to which cells derived from the dermis and the skeleton contribute to the regenerating limb blastema. We found that dermal cells contribute 43% of the blastemal cell population whereas cells derived from skeletal tissue contribute only 2%. When compared to the availability of cells at the plane of amputation, dermal cells overcontribute by greater than twofold whereas skeletal cells undercontribute by several-fold. These data correlate with the effects that these two tissues have on the formation of the limb pattern during regeneration; dermis has a dramatic influence on pattern and skeletal tissue has virtually no effect. It is suggested that the fibroblasts present in the dermis and in other parts of the limb form virtually all of the mesodermal tissues in the regenerate with the exception of the muscle.
Characterization of Valvular Interstitial Cell Function in Three Dimensional Matrix Metalloproteinase Degradable PEG Hydrogels

Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) maintain functional heart valve structure and display transient fibroblast and myofibroblast properties. Most cell characterization studies have been performed on plastic dishes; while insightful, these systems are limited. Thus, a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) degradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel system is proposed in this communication as a useful tool for characterizing VIC function in 3D. When encapsulated, VICs attained spread morphology, and proliferated and migrated as shown through real-time cell microscopy. Additionally, fibronectin derived pendant RGD was incorporated into the system to promote integrin binding. As RGD concentration increased from 0 to 2000 microM, VIC process extension and integrin alpha(v)beta(3) binding increased within two days. By day 10, integrin binding was equalized between conditions. VIC morphology and rate of process extension were also increased through decreasing the hydrogel matrix density presented to the cells. VIC differentiation in response to exogenously delivered transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was also examined within the hydrogel networks. TGF-beta1 increased expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) and collagen-1 at both the mRNA and protein level by day 2 of culture, indicating myofibroblast differentiation, and was sustained over the course of the study (2 weeks). These studies demonstrate the utility, flexibility, and biological activity of this MMP-degradable system for the characterization of VICs, an important cell population for tissue engineering viable valve replacements and understanding valvular pathobiology.
Drug resistance, patent resistance: Indian pharmaceuticals and the impact of a new patent regime

This article highlights potential public health effects of India's Patents Act of 2005, which was implemented to conform to the requirements of the World Trade Organisation's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Agreement (TRIPS), a new legal regime that will likely have a significant impact on access to HIV/AIDS medications in much of the world. This new patent law may play a role in keeping new antiretroviral (ARV) medications, including improved first-line medications and second-line drugs that are being developed for first-line drug resistant HIV, financially out of reach for many people living with HIV/AIDS in poor countries. India's drug industry, which had thrived under earlier patent laws that protected processes but not products in the case of medications, had brought down the price of ARV drugs in South Asia and Africa by more than 90%. While most existing drugs are grandfathered under the new patent laws, newer ARV medications may be barred from manufacture by Indian companies. This article analyses the effects of the coming together of this new legal regime, the global political economy and emerging resistance to HIV/AIDS medications, and evaluates efforts to mitigate the negative public health effects of the new patent laws.
Streptonigrin and related compounds III. Synthesis and microbiological activity of destrioxyphenylstreptonigrin and analogues

Synthesis of three tricyclic analogues of streptonigrin, based on the 2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoline-5,8-dione system and with the characteristic substitution pattern of rings A and C of streptonigrin is described. The C-ring precursor, in the form of a substituted 2-acetylpyridine was condensed with either 3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-nitrobenzaldehyde or 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-nitrobenzaldehyde, followed by reductive cyclization and oxidation to the corresponding quinones 12 and 29. The 7-amino substitution was introduced in 12 via bromination and azidation. The 6-amino substitution was introduced through direct reaction of 29 with sodium azide. Destrioxyphenylstreptonigrin 2 was twice as active and the 6-amino-7-inethoxy analogue 4 was as active as streptonigrin in a microbiological assay. A 4′-bromo analogue of 2 was 60% as active as streptonigrin.
Non-muscle myosin II regulates survival threshold of pluripotent stem cells

When cultured as single cells, embryonic stem cells have low viability. Here, blebbistatin, a non-muscle myosin II inhibitor, is shown to enhance the cloning efficiency, viability and adhesion of both human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro.
Investigation of statistics strategies for improving the discriminating power of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for chemical and biological warfare agent simulants

Abstract Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy spectra of bacterial spores, molds, pollens and nerve agent simulants have been acquired. The performance of several statistical methodologies–linear correlation, principal components analysis, and soft independent model of class analogy–has been evaluated for their ability to differentiate between the various samples. The effect of data selection (total spectra, peak intensities, and intensity ratios) and pre-treatments (e.g., averaging) on the statistical models have also been studied. Results indicate the use of spectral averaging and weighting schemes may be used to significantly improve sample differentiation.
Response of test masses to gravitational waves in the local lorentz gauge

The local Lorentz gauge represents a natural coordinate frame for an observer to analyze the effect of gravitational waves on detectors, and has been widely used to describe the response of resonant bars. Its application to laser interferometers has thus far been restricted to the long-wavelength regime, in which the separation between the test masses is much less than the wavelength of the gravitational waves. In this paper we show that the local Lorentz gauge can be used for calculations of geodesic deviations of the masses even when their separation is comparable to or greater than the wavelength of the gravitational waves. We find that a complete description of the gravitational waves in this gauge requires taking into account three different effects: displacements of the test masses, the gravitational redshift of light propagating between the masses, and variations in the rates of stationary clocks, all of which are induced by the gravitational wave. Only when taken together do these three effects represent a quantity which is translationally invariant and which can be observed in experiments. This translationally invariant quantity is identical to the response function calculated in the transverse traceless gauge.
Mechanical system reliability and risk assessment

A new methodology is reported for the prediction of the reliability of mechanical structures subject to multiple failure modes, including noncritical damage. The reduction of system reliability due to accumulated damage is quantitatively estimated by updating the critical system failure states at each level of damage. Correlated design variables are automatically accounted for in the system reliability calculations. Second-order reliability bounds are reported which are unbiased to the ordering of the events. A system risk assessment methodology is also reported that accounts for the cost of multiple types of failure modes and includes the effect of inspection success on reducing the consequences of system failure. Application of the new technology is illustrated for a simplified system model of an aeropropulsion rotor system. However, the methodology is general and is applicable to any engineering system. A ai
Relative entropy: free energy associated with equilibrium fluctuations and nonequilibrium deviations.

Using a one-dimensional macromolecule in aqueous solution as an illustration, we demonstrate that the relative entropy from information theory, ${\ensuremath{\sum}}_{k}{p}_{k}\mathrm{ln}{(p}_{k}{/p}_{k}^{*}),$ has a natural role in the energetics of equilibrium and nonequilibrium conformational fluctuations of the single molecule. It is identified as the free energy difference associated with a fluctuating density in equilibrium, and is associated with the distribution deviate from the equilibrium in nonequilibrium relaxation. This result can be generalized to any other isothermal macromolecular system using the mathematical theories of large deviations and Markov processes, and at the same time provides the well-known mathematical results with interesting physical interpretations.
Parallel silicide contacts

Parallel silicide contacts consisting of PtSi and NiSi with fixed ratios of contact areas were prepared for current‐voltage and capacitance‐voltage measurements of Schottky barrier height. These measurements were analyzed with models assuming a linear combination of thermionic emission currents or junction capacitances. The measured and the computed values of barrier height have been found to agree very well. A systematic diagnosis of parallel contacts under a variety of conditions is presented in the Appendix.
Behavioral and electrophysiological characterization of Dyt1 heterozygous knockout mice.

DYT1 dystonia is an inherited movement disorder caused by mutations in DYT1 (TOR1A), which codes for torsinA. Most of the patients have a trinucleotide deletion (ΔGAG) corresponding to a glutamic acid in the C-terminal region (torsinAΔE). Dyt1 ΔGAG heterozygous knock-in (KI) mice, which mimic ΔGAG mutation in the endogenous gene, exhibit motor deficits and deceased frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (sEPSCs) and normal theta-burst-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal CA1 region. Although Dyt1 KI mice show decreased hippocampal torsinA levels, it is not clear whether the decreased torsinA level itself affects the synaptic plasticity or torsinAΔE does it. To analyze the effect of partial torsinA loss on motor behaviors and synaptic transmission, Dyt1 heterozygous knock-out (KO) mice were examined as a model of a frame-shift DYT1 mutation in patients. Consistent with Dyt1 KI mice, Dyt1 heterozygous KO mice showed motor deficits in the beam-walking test. Dyt1 heterozygous KO mice showed decreased hippocampal torsinA levels lower than those in Dyt1 KI mice. Reduced sEPSCs and normal miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents (mEPSCs) were also observed in the acute hippocampal brain slices from Dyt1 heterozygous KO mice, suggesting that the partial loss of torsinA function in Dyt1 KI mice causes action potential-dependent neurotransmitter release deficits. On the other hand, Dyt1 heterozygous KO mice showed enhanced hippocampal LTP, normal input-output relations and paired pulse ratios in the extracellular field recordings. The results suggest that maintaining an appropriate torsinA level is important to sustain normal motor performance, synaptic transmission and plasticity. Developing therapeutics to restore a normal torsinA level may help to prevent and treat the symptoms in DYT1 dystonia.
Modulation of phospholipases A2 and C activities against dilauroylphosphorylcholine in mixed monolayers with semisynthetic derivatives of ganglioside and sphingosine

Most of the semisynthetic ganglioside and sphingosine derivatives studied here decreased the rate as well as the extent of hydrolysis of monomolecular layers of dilauroylphosphorylcholine (dlPC) by both phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and C (PLC). For PLA2, the rate of enzymatic activity was inversely correlated (p < 0.001) with the duration of the latency period of the enzymatic reaction. The correlation between the rate of activity and the latency period was not statistically significant for PLC. The potency to inhibit PLA2 and PLC was not significantly correlated with the presence of specific chemical groups. Also, the inhibitory effect is not correlated to changes of the substrate intermolecular spacing or surface potential caused by the sphingolipids (SLs). Conversely, for PLA2 the variation of the kinetic parameters of the reaction with the molecular polarization vector of the SLs are statistically significant (p < 0.01). The rate of phospholipid degradation by PLA2 decreased, and the lag times tended to become longer, with increasing values of the SLs' polarization vector. The kinetic parameters of the reaction with PLC did not show statistically significant correlation with the polarization vector of the SLs. Our results suggest that the configuration of the electrostatic field across the interface is more important than are formal charges or specific chemical moieties in modulating the activity of PLA2. Inhibition of phospholipase activities of these types by specific SLs or their metabolites may be important as supramolecular regulatory steps at the membrane level of the amplification of lipid-mediated signaling pathways.
The Influence of Personality and Demographic Variables on Ethical Decisions Related to Insider Trading

Abstract We investigated the influence of the following variables on individuals' ethical decisions related to insider trading: interpersonal competitiveness, locus of control, need for achievement, self-esteem, religious beliefs, frequency of attendance at religious services, social class, parents' annual income, year in college, college major, college GPA, exposure to an ethics course, age, and gender. Upper division business students (N = 201) were asked to read eight vignettes that depicted ethical dilemmas involving insider trading and to indicate what they would do in each case. The findings indicated that interpersonal competitiveness, locus of control, religious beliefs, age, and gender may be important influences on individuals' levels of ethicality.
The New ATVB Editorial Team

On July 1, 2012, a new team of editors enthusiastically takes the helm of the journal. We are excited to continue to assist in the ascent of a journal that has provided numerous significant contributions to the areas of science included in its name. Ever since the start of the journal in January 1981, it has been led by dedicated editorial teams that were headed consecutively by Ed Bierman, Alan Fogelman, Don Heistad, Mark Taubman, and Ed Fisher. Our …
Structural Changes in Turbulent Environments: A Study of Small and Mid-Size Chinese Organizations

Case studies on nine mid-size Chinese organizations were created to establish whether or not the long-recognized principle that increasing environmental uncertainty must be met with organizations a...
Simple Shadow Remova

Given the location of shadows, how can we obtain high-quality shadow-free images? Several methods have been proposed so far, but they either introduce artifacts or can be difficult to implement. We propose here a simple method that results in virtually error and shadow-free images in a very short time. Our approach is based on the insight that shadow regions differ from their shadow-free counterparts by a single scaling factor. We derive a robust method to obtain that factor. We show that for complex scenes - containing many disjointed shadow regions - our new method is faster and more robust than others previously published. The method delivers good performance on a variety of outdoor images
Bale Location Effects on Nutritive Value and Fermentation Characteristics of Annual Ryegrass Bale Stored in In-line Wrapping Silage

In southeastern regions of the US, herbage systems are primarily based on grazing or hay feeding with low nutritive value warm-season perennial grasses. Nutritious herbage such as annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) may be more suitable for preserving as baleage for winter feeding even with more intensive production inputs. Emerging in-line wrapped baleage storage systems featuring rapid wrapping and low polyethylene film requirements need to be tested for consistency of storing nutritive value of a range of annual ryegrass herbage. A ryegrass storage trial was conducted with 24-h wilted 'Marshall' annual ryegrass harvested at booting, heading and anthesis stages using three replicated in-line wrapped tubes containing ten round bales per tube. After a six-month storage period, nutritive value changes and fermentation end products differed significantly by harvest stage but not by bale location. Although wilted annual ryegrass exhibited a restricted fermentation across harvest stages characterized by high pH and low fermentation end product concentrations, butyric acid concentrations were less than 1 g/kg dry matter, and lactic acid was the major organic acid in the bales. Mold coverage and bale aroma did not differ substantially with harvest stage or bale location. Booting and heading stage-harvested ryegrass baleage were superior in nutritive value to anthesis stage-harvested herbage. Based on the investigated nutritive value and fermentation characteristics, individual bale location within in-line tubes did not significantly affect preservation quality of ryegrass round bale silages.
Alcohol Consumption and the Diet‐Heart Controversy

The effectiveness of dietary changes as a means of reducing blood lipid levels and ultimately controlling the development of coronary heart disease has been debated for many years. The possible effects of alcohol consumption on blood lipids were usually not considered. Our findings indicate a significant positive correlation between the extent of coronary artery occlusion and total plasma cholesterol levels and a negative association between the coronary occlusion and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Since moderate alcohol consumption increases the HDL cholesterol levels, one can also postulate that it affects coronary artery lesions. The attenuating effect of alcohol on the coronary occlusion was negated by sporadic drinking of large amounts of alcohol. In evaluating the possible effect of alcohol on coronary artery disease, it is also necessary to consider its addictive potential as well as other untoward sequelae of alcohol consumption such as hypertension, damage to the myocardium, and increased prevalence of malignancies.
New calibration technique of current-steering DAC

High accuracy Digital to Analog Converters (DACs) are becoming increasingly important as the common used building block in communication systems. Dynamic performance of such DACs at high frequencies is of particular interest with the increasing of the update rate. For the DACs' performance, the dynamic performance is often characterized by the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) and the SFDR is limited by the spectral harmonics that are attributed by system nonlinearities. In this paper, the dynamic nonlinearity is analyzed and its effect on the output waveform is discussed. A novel approach is proposed to calibrate the dynamic errors. The validity of this technique is demonstrated with a 12-bit current steering DAC. Simulation results show the SFDR can be correspondingly significantly improved by using this calibration scheme.
Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Inducible Factors: Master Regulators of Metastasis

Hypoxia is a common condition found in a wide range of solid tumors and is often associated with poor prognosis. Hypoxia increases tumor glycolysis, angiogenesis and other survival response as well as invasion and metastasis by activating relevant gene expressions through hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). HIF-1α and HIF-2α undergo oxygen-dependent regulation and their overexpression is frequently associated with metastasis and poor clinical outcomes. Recent studies show that each step of the metastasis process, from the initial epithelial-mesenchymal transition to the ultimate organotropic colonization, can potentially be regulated by hypoxia, suggesting a master regulator role of hypoxia and HIFs in metastasis. Furthermore, modulation of cancer stem cell self-renewal by HIFs may also contribute to the hypoxia-regulated metastasis program. Hypoxia-induced metastatic phenotype may be one of the reasons for the modest efficacy of antiangiogenic therapies and may well explain the recent provocative findings that antiangiogenic therapy increased metastasis in preclinical models. Multiple approaches to targeting hypoxia and HIFs, including HIF inhibitors, hypoxia-activated bioreductive prodrugs and gene therapies may become effective treatments to prevent or reduce metastasis.
Efficient organization of large multidimensional arrays

Large multidimensional arrays are widely used in scientific and engineering database applications. The authors present methods of organizing arrays to make their access on secondary and tertiary memory devices fast and efficient. They have developed four techniques for doing this: (1) storing the array in multidimensional "chunks" to minimize the number of blocks fetched, (2) reordering the chunked array to minimize seek distance between accessed blocks, (3) maintaining redundant copies of the array, each organized for a different chunk size and ordering and (4) partitioning the array onto platters of a tertiary memory device so as to minimize the number of platter switches. The measurements on real data obtained from global change scientists show that accesses on arrays organized using these techniques are often an order of magnitude faster than on the unoptimized data. >
Otologic complications following the use of a high-speed air-turbine handpiece

Interstitial emphysema from the use of a high-speed, air-turbine handpiece resulted in otalgia and symptomatic hearing loss as a result of dysfunction of the eustachian tube. Subcutaneous emphysema in the facial and neck tissues as a result of the use of high-speed, air-turbine handpieces has been reported previously in both the medical and dental literature. This case adds otalgia and dysfunction of the eustachian tube to the list of possible sequelae. The symptoms of unilateral hearing loss, ear pain, and dysfunction of the eustachian tube in this patient were noted after restoration of a Class V cavity in a mandibular left canine.
Asynchronous distributed algorithms for optimal coverage control with sensor networks

A sensor network consists of a collection of (possibly mobile) sensing devices that can coordinate their actions through wireless communication and aim at performing various tasks (e.g., surveillance, environmental monitoring) over a region sometimes referred to as the “mission space”. The performance of a sensor network is sensitive to the location of its nodes in the mission space. This leads to the basic “coverage control” problem of properly, and possibly optimally, deploying sensors in order to meet the overall system's objectives [1],[2],[3],[4],[5]. Clearly, to achieve such a goal, the nodes must share, at least partially, their state information. However, this may require a large amount of information exchange. Moreover, sensor nodes are frequently small, inexpensive devices with limited resources. Aside from energy required to move (if nodes are mobile), communication is known to be by far the largest consumer of the limited energy of a node [6], compared to other functions such as sensing and computation. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce communication between nodes to the minimum possible. This in turn imposes a constraint on the optimization task performed by each node, since it requires that actions be taken without full knowledge of other nodes' states. Standard synchronization schemes require that nodes periodically exchange state information which is clearly inefficient and, in fact, unnecessary since often the state of a node may not have changed much or may have only changed in a predictable way. This motivates us to seek not only distributed but also asynchronous optimization mechanisms in which a node communicates with others only when it considers it indispensable; in other words, each node tries to minimize the cost of communication by transmitting state information only under certain conditions and only as a last resort. This poses questions such as “what should the conditions be for a node to take such communication actions?” and “under what conditions, if any, can we guarantee that the resulting optimization scheme possesses desirable properties such as convergence to an optimum?”
Differences in fungal and bacterial physiology alter soil carbon and nitrogen cycling: insights from meta-analysis and theoretical models

Since fungi and bacteria are the dominant decomposers in soil, their distinct physiologies are likely to differentially influence rates of ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. We used meta-analysis and an enzyme-driven biogeochemical model to explore the drivers and biogeochemical consequences of changes in the fungal-to-bacterial ratio (F : B). In our meta-analysis data set, F : B increased with soil C : N ratio (R2 = 0.224, P < 0.001), a relationship predicted by our model. We found that differences in biomass turnover rates influenced F : B under conditions of C limitation, while differences in biomass stoichiometry set the upper bounds on F : B once a nutrient limitation threshold was reached. Ecological interactions between the two groups shifted along a gradient of resource stoichiometry. At intermediate substrate C : N, fungal N mineralisation fuelled bacterial growth, increasing total microbial biomass and decreasing net N mineralisation. Therefore, we conclude that differences in bacterial and fungal physiology may have large consequences for ecosystem-scale C and N cycling.
The Meaning of Admission and the Effect of Waivers Under the Immigration and Nationality Act

The recent call for immigration reform has drawn attention to the intricacies of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Act creates a framework for controlling the admission and removal of aliens. Some aliens who would ordinarily be inadmissible or removable are eligible for certain waivers. This article discusses the meaning of admission, its application in different contexts, and its relationship to those waivers.
The effects of sub-lethal doses of methylmercury and copper, applied singly and jointly, on the immune response of the blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) to viral and bacterial antigens.

The exposure of blue gouramis to 9 ppb of methylmercury, copper, or methylmercury + copper resulted in an apparent decrease in the immune response of these fish to both infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus andProteus vulgaris. The two toxicants jointly, however, produced no greater or lesser effect than when each compound was applied singly.
Is Marketing Defaulting Its Responsibilities

Can marketing fulfill the broad opportunities available to it and the demands made upon it, while concentrating on a limited scope of its domain? As a discipline, it has been repeatedly redefined b...
Acute mechanical dilation of the ureter: an experimental study.

Abstract Forty-three kidney donor ureters were mechanically dilated in vitro with Van Buren sounds to an average of 21.2F. Thirty-three of these ureters, with an average pre-dilation diameter of 11.3F, could be dilated an additional average of 10.6F. The average dilated/nondilated diameter ratio in these ureters was 1.9. These experimental data suggest an undilated pelvic ureteral diameter and a manually dilated ureteral diameter of approximately the same size cited in the clinical literature.
Local flap reconstruction of defects after excision of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Once nonmelanoma skin cancers are excised according to oncologic principles, local flaps are designed to close defects created by excision. Facial defect reconstruction poses the interesting challenge of satisfactorily finding the most aesthetic and functional flap. It requires not just a knowledge of the flap, but an ability to think and plan in three dimensions. This article considers the different regions of the face and discusses the key flaps available to reconstruct defects in these areas.
Ureteroscopy: a 10-year perspective.

Les premiers uteroscopes rigides permettaient de visualiser tout l'uretre, mais les interventions etaient limitees aux lithiases de petite taille. Leurs performances ont ete ameliorees par l'apparition des techniques de fragmentation des lithiases, par ultrasons puis par methodes electrohydrauliques et laser. Dans un second temps se sont developpes les ureteroscopes flexibles, puis deflectibles. La technique s'ameliore constamment avec la miniaturisation des accessoires et l'affinement des techniques de dilatation ureterale. L'ureteroscopie est maintenant en competition avec la lithotripsie extracorporelle, mais sa place dans le diagnostic, en complement des methodes radiologiques et cytologiques, est croissante
Rapid Preparation and Quality Control of Technetium-99m MAG3™

Technetium-99m mertiatide (99mTc-MAG3) is a newly approved radiopharmaceutical with a renal clearance similar to iodine-131 O-iodohippurate. The radiolabeling of 99mTc requires a 10-min heating period in a boiling water bath and an additional 8–10 min for determining radiochemical purity with a relatively expensive Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. A microwave oven heating method is an effective way to reduce the heating time (13 sec) while maintaining excellent labeling efficiency for 99mTc-MAG3 (average 99%). A two-strip minipaper chromatography system with 1:1:2 chloroform/acetone/tetrahydrofuran and 0.9% NaCl as mobile phases is a simple and rapid (2–3 min) procedure for the routine quality control of 99mTc-MAG3. The preparation and quality control of 99mTc-MAG3 can be completed within 5 min with the combination of the microwave oven heating method and the mini-paper chromatography system.
Making Sense of Cinema: Empirical Studies into Film Spectators and Spectatorship

Making Sense of Cinema: Empirical Studies into Film Spectators and Spectatorship (2016) offers a fresh and thorough methodological starting point for future studies of film spectatorship through a ...
Dissipation of double-stranded RNA in aquatic microcosms

Silencing genes of a pest with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a promising new pest management technology. As part of the environmental risk assessment for dsRNA-based products, the environmental fate and the potential for adverse effects to on-target organisms should be characterized. In the present study, a nonbioactive dsRNA was spiked into the water column of a water and sediment microcosm to mimic drift from a spray application run off of unbound dsRNA or transport of plant tissues. Dissipation of dsRNA in the water column and partitioning into sediment was determined. The dsRNA rapidly dissipated in the water column and was below the limit of detection after 96 h. The levels detected in the sediment were not significant and may indicate rapid degradation in the water column prior to partitioning to sediment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1249-1253. © 2016 SETAC.
Climate-based policies may increase life-cycle social costs of vehicle fleet operation

Abstract Sustainability guidelines and regulations in the United States often focus exclusively on carbon or petroleum reductions. Though some of these policies have resulted in substantial progress toward their goals, the effects of these efforts on other social and environmental externalities are often ignored. In this study, we examine the life-cycle air pollutant emissions for alternative fuel and vehicle purchase scenarios at a military installation near a typical urban area in the United States (U.S.). We find that scenarios which minimize petroleum use or greenhouse gas emissions do not concomitantly minimize criteria air pollutant emissions. We also employ social cost methodologies to quantify economic externalities due to climate change and health-related air pollutant impacts. Accounting for the social costs of climate change and air pollution from vehicle use reveals that criteria air pollutants may have a greater total impact than greenhouse gas emissions in locations similar to the urban area examined in this study. Use of first-generation biofuels, particularly corn grain ethanol, may reduce net petroleum use at the cost of increased total health impacts. More comprehensive policies may be needed to ensure that sustainability policies result in a net benefit to society.
Analysing trade-offs between milk, feed and manure production on Dutch dairy farms

The abolition of milk quota fuels environmental concerns in the Netherlands. A microeconomic model is developed to analyse the technical relations between milk, roughage and manure production. Production functions for milk, feed and roughage are estimated based on milk quota and manure constraints. Together with an equation for manure production these are used to calculate the costs and benefits of dairy livestock expansion. It turns out that at the margin and at prevailing input and output prices and manure processing costs, it will be attractive for dairy farms to expand production, unless regulatory constraints prevent them from doing so.
Immunotherapy: The Wave of the Future in Bladder Cancer?

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UC) is one of the most common cancers and one of the most deadly. Metastatic UC is particularly hard to treat, because it is typically diagnosed when patients are elderly and have medical comorbidities. Many patients with metastatic UC are unable to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy, due to older age at diagnosis and comorbidities, and even when platinum chemotherapy can be administered, it has limited success in prolonging survival. Recently, improved understanding of molecular targets and immunologic characteristics of urothelial tumor cells has resulted in new therapeutic approaches that may help optimize first- and second-line therapy. The most exciting of these approaches is inhibition of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 or programmed cell death protein 1. These so-called "immune checkpoint" proteins are negative regulators of T-cell immune function, and inhibiting these proteins results in increased activation of the immune response to tumors. Two checkpoint inhibitors, atezolizumab and nivolumab, are now approved by the Food and Drug Administration as second-line therapy for advanced UC, and a wealth of clinical trials of these and other agents are ongoing. This review shows how oncology clinicians can incorporate checkpoint inhibitors into the management of patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC. It also introduces other forms of immunotherapy that are being investigated in bladder cancer: antibody-drug conjugates, vaccines, adoptive immunotherapy, and recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.
Emotional awareness in software development: theory and measurement

Emotions have an effect on developers' progress during software development tasks. The purpose of this position paper is to investigate the effects of emotional awareness, specifically type clarity, on developers' progress. A proposal for this investigation, and a discussion of the current work implicating the effects of emotion in software development, are presented.
Changes in lingual-alveolar contact pressure during speech over six months in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract Purpose This study compared lingual-alveolar contact pressures during consonant (LACP-Sp) production between adults with and without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) over three visits within six months and assessed the relationship between LACP-Sp and speech intelligibility. Methods Ten people with ALS and nine without read sentences with lingual-alveolar consonants embedded as LACP-Sp was recorded. Recordings were done at study entry, then three and six months after entry. Six of ten with ALS had bulbar symptoms detected in clinical encounter at the time of study enrollment (ALS-B); the remaining four had only spinal symptoms (ALS-S). Results Main and interaction effects varied across experimental stimuli. However, the pattern of results from the ANOVAs indicated that the ALS-B had lower LACP-Sp values than the other groups. Time main effects were present indicating a reduction in LACP-Sp. However, there were interaction effects for fricatives and/l/, with the ALS-S group demonstrating greater reduction over time than the other groups. Word intelligibility had moderate to large correlations with LACP-Sp but confidence intervals were broad and only a few were statistically significant. Conclusion LACP-Sp does decrease over time in people with ALS and may reflect a general weakening of the tongue. Confirmation of these group changes will require assessment with a larger sample size.
Medications for Sleep Schedule Adjustments in Athletes.

Context:Sleep schedule adjustments are common requirements of modern-day athletes. Many nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies exist to facilitate circadian rhythm shifts to maximize alertne...
Two deaths and a funeral: ritual inscriptions' affordances for mourning and moral personhood in Vietnam

My research was generously supported by the Social Science Research Council, the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Abroad Research Program, the UC Pacific-Rim Research Program, the UCLA Graduate Division and Asia Institute Wagatsuma Fellowships, and institutional grants from the Centre for Ethnography and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council at the University of Toronto. I am also indebted to many colleagues who over years helped me develop earlier versions for invited lectures at the University of Toronto, the College of the Holy Cross, and the University of Michigan's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, and presentations at meetings of the American Anthropological Association, the Association for Asian Studies, the Harvard East Asia Society, and the Society for Psychological Anthropology. I further benefited from extremely helpful comments from multiple American Ethnologist reviewers and editor-in-chief Niko Besnier. The tragedies that this article describes continue to leave me painfully grateful to the families in whose sorrows I share, and I remain committed, but struggling, to honor their loved ones. (Social Science Research Council; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Abroad Research Program; UC Pacific-Rim Research Program; UCLA Graduate Division; Asia Institute Wagatsuma Fellowships; Centre for Ethnography; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council at the University of Toronto)
Bettelheim’s Contribution to Anthropology

BETTELHEIM’S UNMASKING OF MALE’S WOMB ENVY is as fundamentally profound to our society as Freud’s presentation of female penis envy. Yet Bettelheim’s discovery has met with resounding silence in our psychoanalytic community, and a few tut-tuts or titters in the anthropological community. Paul sets the intellectual record straight by demonstrating that the ethnographic data following Bettelheim’s book confirms it—a rare opportunity in the social sciences.
Earnings Management? Erroneous Inferences Based on Earnings Frequency Distribution: A Reply to Durtschi and Easton (2009)

Durtschi and Easton [2009, DE2009] identify methodological issues with a large literature that attributed “discontinuities” in the earnings distribution around the zero profit line to earnings management. To address concerns raised by DE2009, we avoid inferences from the year-end distribution of deflated earnings, and focus, instead, on un-deflated earnings and EPS during the fourth quarter using the approach of Kerstein and Rai (2007). We find: 1 abnormal shifts of 1, 2, or 3 intervals away from small losses into the smallest profit interval 2) firms that are barely profitable after three quarters remaining so at an abnormal rate; and 3) firms avoiding and/or shifting away from the smallest loss interval at a higher rate than any of the 20 intervals surrounding the zero profit line. In addition, we find evidence that contradicts one of the main assertions made by DE2009, i.e., that for firms near the zero profit line after three quarters, the integral method of accounting severely dampens the income during the fourth quarter. Overall, our findings are consistent with earnings management to avoid smallest losses and achieve smallest profits.
Intersectional agencies: Navigating predominantly White institutions as an administrator of color

Administrators of color in predominantly White institutions (PWI) navigate from dual positions of privilege and marginalization. Within PWIs, administrators of color experience marginalization in t...
Acute Symptomatic Seizures and Provoked Seizures: to Treat or Not to Treat?

Acute symptomatic and provoked seizures by definition occur in close proximity to an event and are considered to be situational. The treatment implications and likelihood of recurrence of acute symptomatic and provoked seizures differ from unprovoked seizures. In this article, the authors review the literature on acute symptomatic and provoked seizures with regard to therapeutic approach and risk of recurrence. In the acute period, patients who suffer from acute symptomatic and provoked seizures have higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Patients with acute symptomatic seizures in the setting of certain conditions including subdural hemorrhage, traumatic penetrating injuries, cortical strokes, neurocysticercosis, venous sinus thrombosis, and viral encephalitis have a higher rate of seizure recurrence although the rate of recurrence of seizures is less than that of patients with unprovoked seizures. In patients with acute symptomatic and provoked seizures, short-term treatment with anti-seizure medications is appropriate given the higher morbidity and mortality in the acute phase of illness. In patients with acute symptomatic seizures with persistent epileptiform activity on EEG and structural changes on imaging, longer-term treatment (i.e., a few months as opposed to 1 week) with anti-seizure medications can be considered due to high risk of seizure recurrence. If a patient subsequently has an unprovoked seizure, there is yet a higher risk of recurrence of seizures and likelihood of the development of epilepsy. In these patients, long-term seizure treatment can be considered, keeping in mind that although anti-seizure treatment may reduce risk of seizure recurrence in the short-term, it does not appear to influence long-term seizure remission rates.
Root Growth of Three Horticultural Crops Grown in Pine Bark Amended Cotton Gin Compost

Abstract In the southeastern United States, inconsistent pine bark (PB) supplies and overabundance of cotton gin by products warrant investigation about the feasibility of replacing PB with cotton gin compost (CGC) for container horticultural plant production. Most research on the use of composted organic substrates for horticultural plant production has focused on shoot growth responses, so there is a need to document the effect of these substrates on root growth. In 2004 ‘Blitz’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), ‘Hot Country’ lantana (Lantana camara Mill. ‘Hot Country’), and weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) were placed in Horhizotrons™ to evaluate root growth in 100% PB and three PB:CGC substrates containing by volume, 60:40 PB:CGC, 40:60 PB:CGC, and 0:100 PB:CGC. Horhizotrons™ were placed in a greenhouse, and root growth in all substrates was measured for each cultivar. Physical properties (total porosity, water holding capacity, air space, and bulk density) and chemical properties (electrical condu...
In-Law Relationships Before and After Marriage: Husbands, Wives, and Their Mothers-in-Law

Relationships with in-laws can play an important role in individuals' lives. Dimensions of the early relationship and expectations of the future relationship may affect subsequent in-law ties. Men and women engaged to be married and their mothers (N = 240) completed interviews prior to and 6 to 8 months following the wedding. At time 1, participants reported behavioral emotional and cognitive dimensions of the relationship and open-ended expectations of their future tie. Multilevel models revealed that when the parties had individual contact and positive feelings before the wedding, ties were stronger following marriage. For coded open-ended descriptions, if family members expressed concern that their in-law relationship would not be close or if they mentioned other social partners as causing potential future problems, they reported more negative relationship quality after the wedding.
The Irish Military Elite and the War of Independence 1918–22

The Great War affected Irish officers in numerous ways—attrition had cut a devastating swathe through the military elite as it had through the enlisted soldiers, and the process of mourning this ‘lost generation’ became inexorably entwined in the political situation playing out in Ireland. The War of Independence represented the eclipse of the Irish military elite: while some of its members sought to continue rendering service to their homeland in various capacities, many opted instead to leave Ireland, never to return home. Most officers were strongly unionist in their convictions, though there were notable exceptions. What they all agreed on was the vital importance of maintaining the connection between Ireland and the overseas empire (in order to ensure access to employment), and the maintenance of the King as the head of state (to satisfy the deeply felt crown loyalty that was an essential component of an officer’s identity). Some opted for extreme measures—either because of their background as colonial officers, or simply due to financial necessity—and joined the notorious Auxiliary Corps of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which was responsible for a string of brutal extralegal reprisals during the War of Independence. This chapter examines a number of open questions relating to the war, concerning the activities of nationalist officers in the conflict, and the question of whether the Auxiliary Corps indeed contained members of the Irish military elite. The chapter is framed by a discussion of the narrative of decline that accompanied the Irish establishment’s loss of social position in this period.
Simple methods for calculating activity of a parent-progeny system

Based on the original work of Rutherford (Radio-activity, 1905) and Bateman (Proc Camb Philos Soc 15:423-427, 1910), the authors designed two schemes consisting of explicit equations as simple methods for accurately obtaining activity of 90Sr and 90Y before they reach secular equilibrium. Application of the methods to the 90Sr/90Y system where 90Sr and 90Y are not in equilibrium will substantially reduce the time needed for determining activity of 90Sr because neither sequential measurements of 90Sr or 90Y (up to about 2 weeks) nor waiting for 90Sr and 90Y to reach equilibrium (more than 3 weeks) will be needed. We also implemented the explicit equations for decay/ingrowth correction of progeny's activity and applied them to the 95Zr/95Nb system. Using the equations, the authors corrected activity concentrations of 95Nb to a designated reference time from the activity concentrations measured from samples at different times, for instance, 2, 8, 15, and 29 days after a reference time. During those measurement times, 95Nb and 95Zr were not in equilibrium. The corrected 95Nb activity concentrations were within an accuracy of - 10%.