cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroimaging Studies of Antidepressant Placebo Effects: Challenges and Opportunities

Over the last two decades, neuroscientists have used antidepressant placebo probes to examine the biological mechanisms implicated in expectancies of mood improvement.However, findings from these studies have yet to elucidate a model-based theory that would explain the mechanisms through which antidepressant expectancies evolve to induce persistent mood changes. Compared to other fields, the development of experimental models of antidepressant placebo effects faces significant challenges, such as the delayed mechanism of action of conventional antidepressants and the complex internal dynamics of mood. Still, recent neuroimaging studies of antidepressant placebo effects have shown remarkable similarities to those observed in other disciplines (e.g., placebo analgesia), such as placebo-induced increased µ-opioid signaling and blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) responses in areas involved in cognitive control, the representation of expected values and reward and emotional processing. This review will summarize these findings and the challenges and opportunities that arise from applying methodologies used in the field of placebo analgesia into the field of antidepressant placebo effects.
Unemployment and men's entrance into female-dominated jobs.

Abstract Despite the contraction of many male-dominated occupations, men have made limited progress in entering female-dominated jobs. Using monthly employment histories from the SIPP, we examine whether individual economic conditions—such as a period of unemployment—are associated with men subsequently pursuing female-dominated work. Specifically, we ask whether men are more likely to enter female-dominated jobs after unemployment, compared to men who take a new job directly from employment. We find that unemployment significantly increases the odds of men entering female-dominated work among men who make job transitions. By examining changes in occupational prestige as well as wage differences before and after unemployment, we also find that entering a female-dominated job (compared to other job types) may help men mitigate common scarring effects of unemployment such as wage losses and occupational prestige downgrades. Accordingly, this study reveals a critical occupational route that may allow men to remain upwardly mobile after involuntary unemployment.
Post-Heart Transplant Outcomes of Sensitized Patients Who Have Undergone Desensitization Therapy

Purpose Sensitized patients awaiting heart transplantation (HTx) are at increased risk for mortality as their waitlist time is lengthened due to incompatible donors and a subsequently narrowed donor pool. Therefore, these patients undergo desensitization therapies to lower circulating antibodies and to restore the donor pool for these patients. These patients subsequently undergo HTx; however it has not been well established as to their longer-term outcome following HTx. Methods Between 2010 and 2014 we assessed 42 patients awaiting HTx who were sensitized (average cPRA 84%) and subsequently underwent desensitization therapy prior to HTx. These patients then underwent HTx and were followed for 5-year outcome. Endpoints post-HTx included 5-year survival, 5-year freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), 5-year freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE: myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention/angioplasty, new congestive heart failure, pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement, stroke), and 1-year freedom from rejection (any treated rejection (ATR), acute cellular rejection (ACR), antibody mediated rejection (AMR)). Patients were compared to a contemporaneous group of HTx patients that did not receive desensitization therapy prior to HTx conditional to 1-year survival (n=329) for the same endpoints. Results Sensitized patients that received desensitization therapy prior to HTx had significantly lower freedom from AMR. There is a trend for increased freedom from NF-MACE in this desensitized group. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of survival, freedom from CAV, and freedom from ACR. Conclusion Sensitized patients awaiting HTx who undergo desensitization therapy appear to have decreased freedom from first-year AMR. However, these patients appear to have comparable outcome (ie survival and CAV) at 5-years post-HTx to HTx patients that do not undergo desensitization therapy.
Excited States of K 40

Using a magnetic spectrograph in conjunction with an electrostatic generator, the region of excitation in ${\mathrm{K}}^{40}$ has been studied up to 1 Mev, using the ${\mathrm{K}}^{39}(d, p){\mathrm{K}}^{40}$ reaction. Excited states in ${\mathrm{K}}^{40}$ have been found at 0.032, 0.800, and 0.893 Mev, the $Q$ value for the ground-state reaction being 5.576\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}0.010 Mev.
Restart science stronger after COVID-19.

As the scientific enterprise and its supporting institutions rebuild from the disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we must support the graduate students and young investigators whose developing careers have been interrupted or irretrievably damaged. Even before the pandemic, the next generation of the scientific workforce faced problems such as limited job opportunities and narrow career training, inadequate mentoring, and a less diverse and inclusive scientific establishment ( [1][1] , [2][2] ). Studies of these challenges have yielded recommendations for at least partial solutions, but few changes have been implemented ( [1][1] , [2][2] ). The pandemic has now increased the urgency of these issues, which must be addressed if science is to thrive in the future. More than 60% of new Ph.D.s will not pursue careers in academic research. Graduate curricula must therefore be at least partially redesigned to accommodate their broader career interests ( [3][3] ). Mentorship quality can be improved with appropriate faculty training ( [4][4] ). The lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in science must be taken seriously and ameliorated. Resources may have to be redistributed to ensure that younger scientists have independent careers earlier than has become common. Let us not waste the opportunity presented by this crisis to address longstanding problems. As we rebuild, we should look hard at our own enterprise, make some changes, and restart science stronger. 1. [↵][5]National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century (National Academies Press, 2018). 2. [↵][6]National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, The Next Generation of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Researchers: Breaking Through (National Academies Press, 2018). 3. [↵][7]Council of Graduate Schools, Understanding Career Pathways for Program Improvement (Council of Graduate Schools, 2015). 4. [↵][8]National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM (National Academies Press, 2019). [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [6]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [7]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [8]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text"
Blinded By the Sun: Incumbent Response to Shifting Customer Demands in Regulated Electricity Markets

An understudied question in the strategy literature is whether firms in regulated, monopoly-like, markets respond to uncoordinated customer preferences. Conventional wisdom would suggest that due t...
Problematic news framing of #MeToo

Mainstream US news coverage of #MeToo reprises some of the central limitations of news coverage of rape and sexual assault from prior decades. However, #MeToo coverage also includes some indication...
No population left behind: Improving paediatric drug safety using informatics and systems biology.

Adverse drugs effects (ADEs) in children are common and may result in disability and death. The current pediatric drug safety landscape, including clinical trials, is limited as it rarely includes children and relies on extrapolation from adults. Children are not small adults but go through an evolutionarily conserved and physiologically dynamic process of growth and maturation. Novel quantitative approaches integrating observations, from clinical trials and drug safety databases, with dynamic mechanisms can be used to systematically identify adverse drug effects unique to childhood. In this perspective, we discuss three critical research directions using systems biology methodologies and novel informatics to improve pediatric drug safety, namely child versus adult drug safety profiles, age-dependent drug toxicities, and genetic susceptibility of ADEs across childhood. We argue that a data-driven framework that leverages observational data, biomedical knowledge, and systems biology modeling will reveal previously unknown mechanisms of pediatric adverse drug events and lead to improved pediatric drug safety.
Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) learn the constitutive law of viscoelasticity

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) have demonstrated very impressive performances in learning sequential data, such as in language translation and music generation. Here, we show that the intrinsic computational aspect of RNNs is very similar to that of classical stress update algorithms in modeling history-dependent materials with an emphasis on viscoelasticity. Several numerical examples are designed, including 1-dimensional and 3-dimensional cases, which testify the ability of RNN model to compute the viscoelastic response when predicting on unseen test data. Additionally, it is found that the RNN model trained only on linear and step strain inputs can perform very well on prediction of completely different quadratic strain inputs, demonstrating certain level of generalization ability in extrapolation. Moreover, it is observed that the extrapolation ability depends on the types of strain inputs. The performance is better for continuous strain inputs than that for jump strain inputs. The differences in the generalization ability of RNN models in viscoelasticity and other history-dependent materials are discussed. It suggests that RNN data-driven modeling can be an alternative to the conventional viscoelasticity models.
Conversational User Interfaces As Assistive Interlocutors For Young Children’s Bilingual Language Acquisition

Children in international and cross-cultural families in and outside of the US often learn and speak more than one language. Challenges can arise for these children in terms of communicating with other children and being able to fully participate in school and society using the primary country language, in developing relationships with distant relatives in other languages, and with the lack of opportunities for practising additional languages within a small community of speakers. Recent research shows that some parents use screen media content to acquaint their children with their parent’s native language, and to also help them become proficient in the language of communication in the country that they reside in. We leverage the qualities of screen media in aiding children with language learning, and try to translate those qualities into the design of a CUI for children to explore the potential of designing conversational user interfaces which can double as assistive language aids. By reviewing the relevant literature about the role of screen media content in young children’s language learning, and interviewing a subset of parents raising multilingual children, we present a preliminary list of objectives to guide the design of conversational user interfaces for young children’s bilingual language acquisition.
Regulation A+ Crowdfunding

Using a hand-collected data set on the Regulation A+ filings, I provide detailed information on the age, size, number of employees, financial statement items, and industrial and geographical distributions of companies that use Regulation A+. Testing the effect of Regulation A+ on the local economy, I find that the amount raised through this method of financing is negatively associated with ensuing unemployment rate. In addition, I investigate whether this new method of financing is substituting or complementing venture capital (VC) financing. The data analysis shows that Regulation A+ facilitates access to financing in regions and industries that could not attract VC-financing ex-ante. Finally, I find evidence consistent with successful Regulation A+ offerings in a region attracting ensuing VC investments through decreasing uncertainty and search cost.
Differentiating induced versus spontaneous subduction initiation using thermomechanical models and metamorphic soles.

Despite the critical role of subduction in plate tectonics, the dynamics of its initiation remains unclear. High-temperature low-pressure metamorphic soles are vestiges of subduction initiation, providing records of the pressure and temperature conditions along the subducting slab surface during subduction initiation that can possibly differentiate the two end-member subduction initiation modes: spontaneous and induced. Here, using numerical models, we show that the slab surface temperature reaches 800–900 °C at ~1 GPa over a wide range of parameter values for spontaneous subduction initiation whereas for induced subduction initiation, such conditions can be reached only if the age of the overriding plate is <5 Ma. These modeling results indicate that spontaneous subduction initiation would be more favorable for creating high-temperature conditions. However, the synthesis of our modeling results and geological observations indicate that the majority of the metamorphic soles likely formed during induced subduction initiation that involved a young overriding plate. The mechanism of subduction initiation is a key to modern plate tectonics. Here, using numerical modeling and geological observations, the authors find that the majority of active and paleo subduction zones with metamorphic soles likely formed during induced subduction initiation that involved a young overriding plate.
Very High Resolution Solar X-ray Imaging

We report results from a recent flight of the Normal Incidence X-ray-Telescope (NIXT), a sounding rocket payload which has obtained sub-arcsecond images of the Solar x-ray corona, We find that the loops, which were observed by earlier experiments on Skylab and on sounding rockets, are resolved into numerous long, thin loops. The lengths of coronal loops vary from several arcseconds to several arcminutes, and in nearly all cases the transverse sizes of the loops are only a few arcseconds; the aspect ratios (length:width) range from ~ 2 to > 20. We also observe that the coronal loops terminate very precisely in areas of enhanced chromospheric emission as seen, for instance, in Hα. These enhancements He directly below the tapered ends of coronal loops and are seen in network, plage, and in the penumbrae of sunspots; there are no hot loops terminating in sunspot umbrae.
Un Manifesto Economico Per I Paesi Del Golfo Persico Esportatori Di Petrolio ( An Economic Manifesto for the Oil Exporting Countries of the Persian Gulf)

I paesi del Golfo Persico esportatori di petrolio hanno fallito dal punto di vista economico e sociale. E tempo di adottare un approccio radicalmente nuovo alla gestione dei ricavi petroliferi finche vi sono ancora riserve di petrolio e di gas. Noi proponiamo un approccio finalizzato ad azzerare il livello dei ricavi disponibili per i governi, istituendo allo stesso tempo un formale “Fondo petrolifero per tutte le generazioni”. Fondi petroliferi sono stati ipotizzati e realizzati anche da altri, ma nella nostra proposta il governo perderebbe (col tempo) qualunque accesso ai ricavi petroliferi; sottraendo denaro facile ai governi e ai sovrani, la probabilita di sprechi, corruzione e guerre risulterebbe ridotta, e vi sarebbe maggiore possibilita di adottare e mettere in pratica politiche economiche razionali finalizzate ad accrescere l’equita tra le generazioni.(The oil-exporting countries of the Persian Gulf have failed economically and socially. It is time for a radical new approach to managing oil revenues while oil and gas reserves last. We propose an approach to cut the level of oil revenues available to governments to zero while incorporating a formal “Oil Fund for All Generations”. Others have proposed and implemented oil funds but in our proposal the government would (in time) lose all access to oil revenues; by taking easy money away from governments and rulers, the likelihood of waste, corruption and wars will be reduced, and there will be better chance of adopting and implementing rational economic policies to enhance equity across generations.)Article originally published in the volume 59 issue 236 of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Quarterly Review (also known as BNL Quarterly Review).
Perianal findings in infants 18 months of age or younger

Due to the recent increase in the number of cases of suspected sexual assault, a need has arisen for better knowledge and understanding of the genital anatomy in the prepubertal girl. In spite of the fact that abuse involving the rectum has been reported in up to 40% of young girls assaulted,1 little normative data exists on the appearance of the anorectal region. In the single study of perianal findings in nonabused girls, McCann et al2 documented that findings previously reported to be suggestive of sexual abuse, including erythema, smooth areas, skin tags, and anal dilation, commonly occurred in 161 female subjects up to 11 years old.
Condensed thymine films at the mercury/water interface

Abstract Condensed films provide ideal systems to distinguish between electron transfer with or without adsorption, i.e., between so-called inner- and outer-sphere electrode reactions. The one-electron reductions of europium(III) and vanadium(III) at an electrode covered with a condensed thymine film are unaffected by the film pressure, and therefore do not involve direct contact with the electrode, whereas the rate of the one-electron reduction of Co(NH 3 ) 3+ 6 varies with film pressure, as do the two-electron atom transfer reductions of cadmium(II) and lead(II). Apparently, the reduction of Co(NH 3 ) 3+ 6 involves direct contact with the mercury.
Identifying Participants in the Personal Genome Project by Name

We linked names and contact information to publicly available profiles in the Personal Genome Project. These profiles contain medical and genomic information, including details about medications, procedures and diseases, and demographic information, such as date of birth, gender, and postal code. By linking demographics to public records such as voter lists, and mining for names hidden in attached documents, we correctly identified 84 to 97 percent of the profiles for which we provided names. Our ability to learn their names is based on their demographics, not their DNA, thereby revisiting an old vulnerability that could be easily thwarted with minimal loss of research value. So, we propose technical remedies for people to learn about their demographics to make better decisions.
Pulse-Height Measurements of Recoils from B 10 ( n , α ) Li 7

Thin films of boron deposited over a small area by vacuum evaporation have been exposed to the National Bureau of Standards thermal-neutron flux in pulse ionization chambers. Pulse ionization measurements in the past have yielded ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$-to-${\mathrm{Li}}^{7*}$ pulse ratios considerably higher than the energy ratio of 1.753 from momentum conservation. Under suitable operating conditions we have obtained ratios as low as 1.778. Columnar recombination appears to cause most of this variation. The probability of the reaction ${\mathrm{B}}^{10}(n, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$ going to the ground state was determined to be 6.52\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 percent.
Performance evaluation of battery-life-aware routing schemes for wireless ad hoc networks

Advances in battery technology have fallen behind that of CPU technology. Since each node in an ad hoc wireless network operates on batteries, power consumption becomes an important factor. To maximize the lifetime of ad hoc wireless networks, the power consumption rate of each mobile host must be evenly distributed. Also, the overall transmission power for each connection request must be minimized. These two objectives, however, cannot be satisfied concurrently with existing ad hoc routing algorithms. Hence, we present a new power-aware routing scheme to satisfy these two constraints simultaneously. Simulation results reveal that our proposed scheme outperforms others.
Effect of oxygen on the stability and inducibility of the biodegradative capability of benzoate

Anoxic zones in biological nitrogen removal systems are typically open to the atmosphere and receive oxygen from the atmosphere and the recirculation flow from the aerobic zone. This raises the question of how such oxygen input might influence the stability and inducibility of the enzyme systems involved in biodegradation of aromatic compounds. To investigate this, various amounts of oxygen were added to mixed culture denitrifying chemostats receiving benzoate at 667 mg/h as chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the stability and inducibility of the culture’s benzoate biodegradative capability (BBC) were tested in aerobic and anoxic fed-batch reactors (FBRs). Cultures from chemostats receiving oxygen at 0, 33, 133, 266, and 466 mg O2/h lost almost all of their anoxic BBC within one hour after being transferred to an aerobic FBR and the first three cultures did not recover it upon being returned to anoxic conditions. The last two cultures recovered their anoxic BBC between 9 and 16 h during the 16 h aerobic exposure period that preceded their return to anoxic conditions and continued to increase their anoxic BBC as they were retained under anoxic conditions. In contrast, the culture from a chemostat receiving oxygen at 67 mg O2/h retained its anoxic BBC longer, recovered it within 3 h after its return to anoxic conditions, and increased it linearly thereafter. None of the cultures developed any aerobic BBC during the 16 h aerobic exposure period in FBRs. The results suggest that higher oxygen inputs into anoxic reactors helped the mixed microbial cultures recover and/or induced anoxic BBC more easily when they were exposed to alternating aerobic/anoxic environments. The exceptional behavior of the culture from the chemostat receiving oxygen at a rate of 67 mg O2/h may have been caused by the presence of a protective mechanism against the toxic forms of oxygen.
Expression of the rice CDPK-7 in sorghum: molecular and phenotypic analyses

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an important source for food, feed, and possesses many agronomic attributes attractive for a biofuels feedstock. A warm season crop originating from the semi-arid tropics, sorghum is relatively susceptible to both cold and freezing stress. Enhancing the ability of sorghum to tolerate cold and freezing offers a route to expand the acreage for production, and provides a potential drought avoidance strategy during flowering, an important parameter for protection of yield. Targeted perturbation of the signal transduction pathway, that is triggered by exposure to abiotic stress in plants, has been demonstrated in model systems as an avenue to augment tolerance. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are key players in a plant’s response to environmental assaults. To test the impact of modulating CDPK activity in sorghum as a means to enhanced abiotic stress tolerance, we introduced a constitutively expressed rice CDPK-7 (OsCDPK-7) gene construct. Sorghum transformants carrying this cassette, were not improved in cold or salt stress under the conditions tested. However, a lesion mimic phenotype and up-regulation of a number of pathogen related proteins, along with transcripts linked to photosynthesis were observed. These results demonstrate that modulating the Ca signaling cascade in planta via unregulated enhanced CDPK activity can lead to off-type effects likely due to the broadly integrated nature of these enzymes in signaling.
High resolution velocity/depth spectra estimation for seismic profiling

High resolution methods such as the so called maximum likelihood or maximum entropy procedures have found extensive use in spectral analysis and array processing. In all of these applications the spectral signals have been sinusoids or planewaves respectively. This led to a very close coupling to harmonic analysis as spectra or wave number functions. If one examines the general structure of these methods, the procedures are more closely related to parameter estimation so that one can consider the analysis nonstationary, or nonhomogeneous signal fields. One such situation exists in seismic profiling when the reflected signal structure presents a hyperbolic wavefront. Results will be presented showing the application of the generalized from of these high resolution methods to a proposed six channel array system for work to be done with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute - International Decade of Ocean Exploration Program.
Blends of poly(ϵ-Caprolactone) with poly(vinyl chloride). I. Morphology

The morphology of blends of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. The observations made with the optical microscope and electron microscopes indicate that for the blends rich in PCL, the samples are almost completely filled with spherulites composed of lamellas radiating from the spherulite center and twisting regularly. As the concentration of PVC increases, the texture of the spherulites becomes increasingly coarse and open. The results of the elementary analysis, made with an x-ray spectrometer, indicate a uniform distribution of chlorine atoms in the blends regardless of the composition. X-Ray diffraction studies reveal that the unit cell dimensions of PCL are not changed by the presence of PVC. It is believed that the PVC molecules were trapped within the spherulites and rejected preferentially into interlamellar regions. The results of differential scanning calorimetry measurement show that the crystallinity of PCL decreases with increasing PVC content. PCL in the blend containing more than 70% PVC exhibits no tendency to crystallize. The blends show a depression of the melting point of PCL. Over a wide range of composition, the blends display a single glass transition intermediate between the transition of the respective components. The glass transition shows a systematic increase with PVC concentration.
Conformational adaptation of muscle: Implications in cardiomyoplasty and skeletal muscle ventricles

Abstract In dynamic cardiomyoplasty and other forms of musclepowered cardiac assist, the stretch that should be applied to the skeletal muscle to obtain optimal resting tension remains unclear. To test the hypothesis that skeletal muscle is capable of conformational adaptation over time, the effect of altered resting tension on the chronic performance of a skeletal muscle ventricle was studied. In 7 mongrel dogs, skeletal muscle ventricles constructed from the latissimus dorsi muscle were stimulated to contract for 12 weeks against an implantable mock circulation. The preload pressure was altered, thereby varying the resting tension of the latissimus dorsi. One group (group I; n=5) was maintained at a preload of 80 mm Hg, whereas a second group (group II; n=2) was maintained at 20 mm Hg. Adaptation to preload was observed. After 12 weeks, the pressure increase generated by the skeletal muscle ventricle at a preload of 20 mm Hg was only 35 ± 2 mm Hg for group I compared with 44 ± 5 mm Hg for group II. At a preload of 80 mm Hg, the pressure increase was 61 ± 4 mm Hg for group I and only 34 ± 6 mm Hg for group II. Adaptation of the latissimus dorsi to a new resting tension has important implications in the use of skeletal muscle for cardiac assist. Stretching the latissimus dorsi to its in situ length during cardiomyoplasty is not required for future muscle performance to be optimal.
History of model development at Temple, Texas

Model development at Temple, Texas, USA has a long history. Prior to the actual model development research, a hydrological data collection programme was established at Riesel, Texas (about 60 km northeast of Temple) in 1937. Data collected from the Riesel watersheds during 1937–2006 have been valuable in developing and testing models at Temple, as well as at other locations. Actual modelling research began in the mid-1960s with the development of single event models that served as building blocks for the comprehensive models of today. The focus of the early models was on surface water hydrology (rainfall excess, unit hydrographs and flood routing) and sediment yield. The models currently supported at Temple (ALMANAC, EPIC, APEX and SWAT) are continuous and operate on spatial scales ranging from individual fields to river basins. These models have been used worldwide in many projects dealing with soil and water resources and environmental management.
The Paretian Liberal Paradox and ecological economics

Abstract Two of the most basic considerations in collective choice are the Pareto principle and some minimal protection of individual rights. In his Impossibility Theorem, Sen (1970) shows that there is a potential inconsistency between preference sovereignty (as expressed by the Pareto condition) and the protection of minimal rights (a liberal or liberty condition). The Paretian Liberal Paradox (PLP), and the extensive debate surrounding it, prompts serious reconsideration of the traditional welfare economics approach. The critique of welfarism made by the PLP is of central importance for environmental issues given pervasive externalities, missing markets, uncertainty, and potential irreversibilities. Making collective choice decisions on these issues may require using explicit “non-utility” information and restricting individual preference sovereignty. We explore the implications of the PLP for long-term environmental policy and the transdisciplinary field of ecological economics. As a simple pedagogical device relying on sparse principles, the PLP stimulates an increased awareness of the potential conflict between preferences and rights. Recognition of the PLP focuses attention on what counts as admissible information in collective choice rules. For example, consideration of the PLP illuminates differences in the informational requirements of alternative sustainability concepts.
Unexpected roles for core promoter recognition factors in cell-type-specific transcription and gene regulation

The eukaryotic core promoter recognition complex was generally thought to play an essential but passive role in the regulation of gene expression. However, recent evidence now indicates that core promoter recognition complexes together with 'non-prototypical' subunits may have a vital regulatory function in driving cell-specific programmes of transcription during development. Furthermore, new roles for components of these complexes have been identified beyond development; for example, in mediating interactions with chromatin and in maintaining active gene expression across cell divisions.
Race differences in sexual activity among adolescent women: The role of neighborhood characteristics.

A sociologist applied individual and aggregate-level 1982 data on 11620 observations and 1180 first intercourse events to multivariate hazard models to examine the role of neighborhood characteristics in determining racial differences in nonmarital sexual activity of US adolescents. The hypothesis is that racially-differentiated community environments generate and maintain race differences in fertility-related behaviors. The dependent variable is risk of nonmarital first intercourse. Socioeconomic status of the neighborhood (p < 0.05) and labor market experiences of neighborhood women (p < 0.001) were very important determinants of the strong race difference in risk of first intercourse. Both white and black female adolescents were more likely to have nonmarital sexual intercourse when the potential consequences of this sexual activity (as evidenced by the economic characteristics of the neighborhood and the experiences and behaviors of neighborhood adults) appeared rather low. When these potential costs appeared high however they tended to delay first intercourse. There were no cross-level race interactions suggesting that black and white female teens respond alike to structural constraints and opportunities. These findings indicate that race differences in adolescent sexual activity and its negative consequences will continue as long as the US has segregated housing patterns.
Estimation of two similarity parameters from polarized radiation measurements within a medium

Abstract Equations are derived for estimating two independent similarity parameters that are combinations of low-order coefficients of the radiative-transfer matrix for the scattering of polarized light. One set of equations requires only polarized radiation measurements of asymptotic irradiances and scalar irradiances that persist deep in the interior of an optically- thick medium, while a second set of equations requires only collimated zenith and nadir measurements.
Low-Mass Drell-Yan Pairs at RHIC and LHC

We summarize the calculation of Drell-Yan transverse-momentum distributions using QCD perturbation theory. In particular, the transversemomentum spectrum of low-mass Drell-Yan pairs is calculated with all-order resummation. We demonstrate that the transverse-momentum distribution of low-mass Drell-Yan pairs is an advantageous source of constraints on the gluon distribution and its nuclear dependence. We argue that low-mass Drell-Yan pairs in the forward region provide a good and clean probe of small-x gluons at RHIC and LHC.
Evaluation of remote-sensing methods used to differentiate forested wetlands

Accurate assessment of forested wetlands is essential for forest managers in the development of management plans because these areas are considered unsuitable for timber production and therefore affect the allowable sale quantity of the forest. Three methods of quantifying wetland habitats using Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery were evaluated to determine the most effective method of assessing this forest resource. The methods of evaluating the TM imagery were the Kauth-Thomas transformation, principal component analysis (PCA), and a maximum likelihood supervised classification algorithm using TM bands 2, 3, 4, and 5. A summer and winter TM scene was used to allow for those areas that are seasonal and may be dry for periods of the year. The results of this study revealed that the maximum likelihood supervised classification using TM bands 2, 3, 4, and 5 was the most effective method of quantifying wetland habitats. However, this method was the most time consuming and required the user to have good ancillary data and skills in site selection and assessment of those signatures used as input into the algorithm.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Inefficiency of Dual Channel in E-business: Asymmetric Cost Structure and Customer Behavior

One challenging question E-business executives face is whether to construct the direct Internet channel in addition to the traditional retail channel. In this paper, we develop a model for strategic dual channel investment under uncertainty and strategic customer behaviors. Based on this model, we provide analytical solutions for thresholds that dual channel makes less profit than a single channel. Moreover, we studied the role of a cost structure for the Internet channel based on this threshold. Companies are likely to have wider inefficiency region as the cost for the Internet channel increases. We provide numerical examples to analyze the effects of price volatility, uncertainty, on the inefficiency of dual channel and the effects of an asymmetric cost structure.
Optimizing the Mechanical Performance in Semi-Crystalline Polymers: Roles of Melt Temperature and Skin-Core Crystalline Morphology of Nylon:

Crystalline texture and mechanical (tensile and flexural) properties of injection molded nylon 6 were evaluated to understand the influence of one of the key-processing variable, the melt temperature (Tmlt). We find that mechanical properties are sensitive to Tmlt only below ∼250°C. Rapid quenching of the surface produces a skin with lower crystallinity than the core, which cools more slowly; this difference in the rate of cooling produces γ crystalline form in the skin and α crystalline form in the core. Higher tensile strength at yield, lower elongation at break and higher flexural strength were observed in specimens molded at lower Tmlt. These characteristics are associated with thicker and less ordered skin, and a lower crystallinity core. The role of the Tmlt on micro-structure and mechanical properties of injection molded nylon 6, the development of skin and core morphologies, and the role of the residual stresses in the core are discussed.
Soil Carbon Dioxide Flux in Response to Wheel Traffic in a No‐Till System

SUMMARY Th e reduction in short-term CO 2 fl ux by wheel traffi c com-paction under no-till was reasonably consistent for the soils and cropping system examined in this study and indicates that com-paction from wheel traffi c contributes to the spatial variability of fi eld measurements of soil surface CO 2 fl ux. Because the spatial variability of CO 2 fl ux measurements oft en masks diff erences in CO 2 fl ux among soil management practices (Rochette et al., 1991; Duiker, 2000), this has important implications for characterizing or comparing the soil CO 2 fl ux of various combinations of tillage, cropping, and management systems. For example, with the no-till system and traffi c pattern in our study, 25% of the fi eld surface area was in rows, 45% in untracked interrows, and 30% in tracked interrows. Using cumulative CO 2 fl ux data for 2004 (Table 2) as an example and integrating to determine a fi eld average would re-sult in a value of 167 g C m −2 . If measurements were made only in the row position, the fi eld estimates would overestimate the fl ux by 22%. If measurements were made only in the tracked interrow, they would underestimate the fl ux by 32%. Additionally, although our study was conducted in a no-till system, wheel traffi c in tilled systems during planting operations probably would have had a similar eff ect. For example, Kaspar et al. (1991, 1995) found that the bulk density of wheel-tracked interrows did not diff er among chisel-plow and no-till tillage systems aft er planting. Th is would seem to indicate that fi eld measurements of CO
Micromachined deformable mirrors for dynamic wavefront control

The design, manufacture, and testing of optical quality surface micromachined deformable mirrors (DMs) is described. With such mirrors, the shape of the reflective surface can be modified dynami-cally to compensate for optical aberrations and thereby improve image resolution in telescopes or microscopes. Over several years, we have developed microelectromechanical system (MEMS) processing technologies that allow production of optical quality of surface micromachined mirrors. These process steps have been integrated with a commercial foundry process to produce deformable mirrors of unprecedented quality. The devices employ 140 electrostatic actuators. Measurements of their performance detailed in this paper include 2µm of useful stroke, 3nm position repeatability, >90% reflectivity, and flatness better than 20nm RMS. A chemo-mechanical polishing process has been used to improve surface quality of the mirrors, and a gold coating process has been developed to improve the reflectivity without introducing a significant amount of stress in the mirror mem-brane. An ion bombardment technique has been developed to flatten mirrors. These silicon based deformable mirrors have the potential to modulate spatial and temporal features of an optical wave-front, and have applications in imaging, beam-forming, and optical communication systems. Design considerations and performance evaluation of recently fabricated DMs are presented.
Human Choice Reaction Time within and among Sense Modalities

Human choice reaction time was studied as a function of sense modality and inter- versus intrasensory coding at three levels of stimulus strength. Unlike the case in earlier studies, stimulus strength was equated across sense modalities. Classical findings were supported for strength and modality; intersensory coding was superior to intrasensory coding.
Prostate cancer: seminal vesicle sparing: a continuing trend?

Data indicate that rates of seminal vesicle invasion at prostatectomy are falling, making seminal vesicle sparing surgery more viable, especially in low-risk patients. These changes can be viewed as part of a general trend towards lower-risk cancer at presentation.
Up-regulation of MicroRNA-155 in Macrophages Contributes to Increased Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) Production via Increased mRNA Half-life in Alcoholic Liver Disease *

Activation of Kupffer cells (KCs) by gut-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Toll-Like Receptors 4 (TLR4)-LPS-mediated increase in TNFα production has a central role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. Micro-RNA (miR)-125b, miR-146a, and miR-155 can regulate inflammatory responses to LPS. Here we evaluated the involvement of miRs in alcohol-induced macrophage activation. Chronic alcohol treatment in vitro resulted in a time-dependent increase in miR-155 but not miR-125b or miR-146a levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, alcohol pretreatment augmented LPS-induced miR-155 expression in macrophages. We found a linear correlation between alcohol-induced increase in miR-155 and TNFα induction. In a mouse model of alcoholic liver disease, we found a significant increase in both miR-155 levels and TNFα production in isolated KCs when compared with pair-fed controls. The mechanistic role of miR-155 in TNFα regulation was indicated by decreased TNFα levels in alcohol-treated macrophages after inhibition of miR-155 and by increased TNFα production after miR-155 overexpression, respectively. We found that miR-155 affected TNFα mRNA stability because miR-155 inhibition decreased whereas miR-155 overexpression increased TNFα mRNA half-life. Using the NF-κB inhibitors, MG-132 or Bay11-7082, we demonstrated that NF-κB activation mediated the up-regulation of miR-155 by alcohol in KCs. In conclusion, our novel data demonstrate that chronic alcohol consumption increases miR-155 in macrophages via NF-κB and the increased miR-155 contributes to alcohol-induced elevation in TNFα production via increased mRNA stability.
Fastener Failure Detection Using a Surface Acoustic Wave Strain Sensor

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) strain sensors are presented for use in the detection of aircraft fastener failures. SAW sensors have the potential for the development of passive wireless systems. The SAW devices employed four orthogonal frequency coding spread spectrum reflectors in two banks on a high temperature piezoelectric substrate. Three SAW devices were attached to a cantilever panel with removable side stiffeners. Damage in the form of fastener failure was simulated by removal of bolts from the side stiffeners. During testing, three different force conditions were used to simulate static aircraft structural response under loads. The design of the sensor, the panel arrangement and the panel testing results are reported. The results show that the sensors successfully detected single fastener failure at distances up to 655 mm from the failure site under loaded conditions.
Perceived risks and benefits of smoking: differences among adolescents with different smoking experiences and intentions.

Abstract Background . Explanations of adolescent smoking often make reference to adolescents' beliefs that they are invulnerable to harm. However, empirical examination of whether adolescents do acknowledge risks. Further, few studies have considered perceived benefits in adolescents' behavioral decisions. This study examined perceived smoking-related physical and social risks and benefits between adolescents who have vs. have not smoked and do vs. do not intend to smoke. Methods . Three hundred and ninety-five students (mean age = 14.0) completed a survey concerning their smoking experiences, intentions, and perceived risks and benefits of smoking. Results . Adolescent smokers and those who intend to smoke estimated their chance of experiencing a smoking-related negative outcome as less likely than did nonsmokers and non-intenders. Smokers and intenders also reported the chance of addiction as less likely than did others. In contrast, adolescent smokers and intenders perceived the chance of experiencing a smoking-related benefit as more likely than did nonsmokers and non-intenders. Conclusions . The data suggest that rather than solely focusing on health risks as a way to deter adolescent smoking, the role of perceived social risks and benefits in adolescents' smoking may be an additional critical focus for intervention. In addition, efforts should be made to increase adolescents' awareness of the addictive nature of cigarettes.
Stored-grain insects and their control in New Jersey.

A study initiated in New Jersey in 1955 showed a total of 53 species of insects found in and around stored-grain structures and included 36 species of Coleoptera, 5 species of Lepidoptera, 1 species of Psocoptera, 9 species of parasitic Hymenoptera, and 2 species of predacious Heteroptera. Twenty-eight bins were treated at harvest in 1956 with pyrethrins emulsion at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 p.p.m., a pyrethrins dust at 1.5 p.p.m., malathion emulsion at 25.0 p.p.m., and malathion dust at 5.0 p.p.m. The most effective treatments were the pyrethrins dust and the malathion dust and emulsion. Twenty-one bins were treated at harvest in 1957 with a pyrethrins emulsion at 1.5 and 2.0 p.p.m., a pyrethrins dust at. 1.5 p.p.m., and malathion dust at 5.0 p.p.m. A fumigant containing 3.5% ethylene dibromide, 10.0% ethylene dichloride, 10.0% carbon bisulphide, and 76.5% carbon tetrachloride was applied to seven bins 6 weeks after harvest. The latter treatment, plus malathion dust and the highest dosage of the pyrethrins emulsion, provided the most effective protection against insects. Species such as the foreign grain beetle ( Ahasverus advena Waltl) and a hairy fungus beetle (Typhaea stercorea (L.)) were abundant only in 1956 when the grain had an average moisture content of 14.0% at initial storage. The saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.)) and the rusty grain beetle (Laemophloeus ferrugineus (Steph.)), especially the former, were abundant both years. The Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.)) was observed infesting wheat, corn, rye, and barley in the field. The fumigant mixture applied at the manufacturer's recommendations, was also very effective in reducing heavy insect infestations in 10 bins of wheat in the fall of 1956.