cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are profits from subdivision development higher in areas with more regulations? A case study of South Kingstown, Rhode Island and some implications for land use planning

Little is known about the relationship between land use regulations and profits from subdivision development. Using data from a heavily regulated market, this article presents analyses that for the first time determine actual profits from subdivision development. This study found an average profit, measured by internal rates of return, of 29%, which is statistically greater than what scholars consider normal. Profits decreased as time to complete the subdivision increased. Profits also decreased because of delays due to regulations and voluntary decisions by developers. The findings suggest that higher profits could be attainable in more-regulated areas because regulations may create amenities whose value exceeds the costs of providing them, while the same regulations may make it difficult for outside developers to enter the market thus limiting competition among developers. The findings suggest that policy makers should be cautious about regulations that create amenities when these regulations may inhibi...
RESPONSE OF CIRCULAR CLAMPED PLATES TO SQUARE WAVE STRESS PULSES.

An account is given of an experimental investigation of the reeponse of clamped circular mild-steel plates of various thicknesses subjected to rectangular stress pulses over a small circular region. The stress pulses were transmitted to the plates through a 1/2-in.-diam shock bar and the strain-time responses of the plates were measured. The stress-wave interactions between the bar and the plates were measured for a number of thicknesses and the effect of the applied stress on the extent of the plastic deformation was determined. It was found that the elastic response was accurately predicted by the theory of Sneddon and the plastic response behaved according to a simple modification of this theory. The interaction between the stress pulse and plates of various thickness was theoretically predicted and found to be in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. The final plate deflections were theoretically predicted using a rigid viscoplastic theory and was in substantial agreement with the data. From this theory, the data were analyzed to determine the visco-plastic constant or relaxation time of the material. It is proposed that this testing arrangement is a suitable and convenient method for determining dynamic yield properties under biaxial-loading conditions.
A Pragmatic Approach to More Efficient Corporate Disclosure

SYNOPSIS: This paper uses a Pragmatic theory of language (drawn from philosophy and linguistics) to diagnose the causes of excessive financial disclosure and propose a regulatory solution. The diagnosis is that existing disclosure regulations are one sided, effectively encouraging firms to disclose any information that might be relevant, but failing to discourage disclosure of information that adds little to what investors already know. This one-sidedness limits investors' ability to draw inferences that items the firm chooses not to disclose are not newsworthy (an inference Pragmatic theorists call “implicature”). The solution is to encourage or require firms to supplement comprehensive disclosures with an “elevated” disclosure that is brief enough to force firms to be selective in choosing what information to include. Regulations can enhance implicature through rules that prohibit firms from elevating disclosures that are less newsworthy than disclosures that are not elevated.
On the Use of an Adaptive, Hybrid-Isentropic Vertical Coordinate in Global Atmospheric Modeling

Abstract This article is one in a series describing the functionality of the Flow-Following, Finite-Volume Icosahedral Model (FIM) developed at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory. Emphasis in this article is on the design of the vertical coordinate—the “flow following” aspect of FIM. The coordinate is terrain-following near the ground and isentropic in the free atmosphere. The spatial transition between the two coordinates is adaptive and is based on the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) paradigm. The impact of vertical resolution trade-offs between the present hybrid approach and traditional terrain-following coordinates is demonstrated in a three-part case study.
A review of the African Elapsoidea semiannulata complex (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Abstract The status of the three subspecies of Elapsoidea semiannulata is reviewed on the basis of additional material. Typical E. s. semiannulata is extensively parapatric with both E. S. boulengeri and E. sundevallii fitzsimonsi in northeastern Namibia, with no sign of intergradation, so E. boulengeri is reinstated as a full species. Elapsoidea semiannulata moebiusi is retained as a west African subspecies with ventral counts usually above 150. whereas the typical form has counts below 150.
Biosensor-Based Approach Identifies Four Distinct Calmodulin-Binding Domains in the G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1

The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) has been demonstrated to participate in many cellular functions, but its regulatory inputs are not clearly understood. Here we describe a new approach that identifies GPER as a calmodulin-binding protein, locates interaction sites, and characterizes their binding properties. GPER coimmunoprecipitates with calmodulin in primary vascular smooth muscle cells under resting conditions, which is enhanced upon acute treatment with either specific ligands or a Ca2+-elevating agent. To confirm direct interaction and locate the calmodulin-binding domain(s), we designed a series of FRET biosensors that consist of enhanced cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins flanking each of GPER’s submembrane domains (SMDs). Responses of these biosensors showed that all four submembrane domains directly bind calmodulin. Modifications of biosensor linker identified domains that display the strongest calmodulin-binding affinities and largest biosensor dynamics, including a.a. 83–93, 150–175, 242–259, 330–351, corresponding respectively to SMDs 1, 2, 3, and the juxta-membranous section of SMD4. These biosensors bind calmodulin in a strictly Ca2+-dependent fashion and with disparate affinities in the order SMD2>SMD4>SMD3>SMD1, apparent Kd values being 0.44±0.03, 1.40±0.16, 8.01±0.29, and 136.62±6.56 µM, respectively. Interestingly, simultaneous determinations of biosensor responses and suitable Ca2+ indicators identified separate Ca2+ sensitivities for their interactions with calmodulin. SMD1-CaM complexes display a biphasic Ca2+ response, representing two distinct species (SMD1 sp1 and SMD1 sp2) with drastically different Ca2+ sensitivities. The Ca2+ sensitivities of CaM-SMDs interactions follow the order SMD1sp1>SMD4>SMD2>SMD1sp2>SMD3, EC50(Ca2+) values being 0.13±0.02, 0.75±0.05, 2.38±0.13, 3.71±0.13, and 5.15±0.25 µM, respectively. These data indicate that calmodulin may regulate GPER-dependent signaling at the receptor level through multiple interaction sites. FRET biosensors represent a simple method to identify unknown calmodulin-binding domains in G protein-coupled receptors and to quantitatively assess binding properties.
Two-Step FRET as a Structural Tool

The power of FRET to study molecular complexes is expanded by the use of two or more donor/acceptor pairs. A general theoretical framework for distance measurements in three-chromophore systems is presented. Three energy transfer schemes applicable to many diverse situations are considered: (I) two-step FRET relay with FRET between the first and second chromophores and between the second and third, (II) FRET from a single donor to two different acceptors, and (III) two-step FRET relay with FRET also between the first and third chromophores. Equations for the efficiencies involving multiple energy transfer steps are derived for both donor quenching and sensitized emission measurements. The theory is supported by experimental data on model systems of known structure using steady-state donor quenching, lifetime quenching, and sensitized emission. The distances measured in the three-chromophore systems agree with those in two-chromophore systems and molecular models. Finally, labeling requirements for diagno...
Remark on the propagator of the radial oscillator.

Using a hybrid approach, based on the recursion relations for shape-invariant potentials developed by Das and Huang [Phys. Rev. D 41, 3241 (1990)] and a time-dependent transformation of variables, we derive the propagator for a radial oscillator. Although this is not a new result, we explicitly show that time-dependent transformations are very beneficial even within the context of time-independent Hamiltonians in quantum mechanics
Foxp4 is dispensable for T cell development, but required for robust recall responses.

Transcription factors regulate T cell fates at every stage of development and differentiation. Members of the Foxp family of forkhead transcription factors are essential for normal T lineage development; Foxp3 is required for T regulatory cell generation and function, and Foxp1 is necessary for generation and maintenance of naive T cells. Foxp4, an additional member of the Foxp family, is highly homologous to Foxp1 and has been shown to dimerize with other Foxp proteins. We report the initial characterization of Foxp4 in T lymphocytes. Foxp4 is expressed in both thymocytes and peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We used a CD4Cre mediated approach to evaluate the cell autonomous role for Foxp4 in murine T lymphocytes. T cell development, peripheral cellularity and cell surface phenotype are normal in the absence of Foxp4. Furthermore, Foxp3+ T regulatory cells develop normally in Foxp4 deficient animals and naive Foxp4 deficient CD4 T cells can differentiate to inducible T regulatory cells in vitro. In wild-type T cells, expression of Foxp4 increases following activation, but deletion of Foxp4 does not affect T cell proliferative responses or in vitro effector T cell differentiation. In vivo, despite effective control of Toxoplasma gondii and acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections, effector cytokine production during antigen specific recall responses are reduced in the absence of Foxp4. We conclude that Foxp4 is dispensable for T cell development, but necessary for normal T cell cytokine recall responses to antigen following pathogenic infection.
BDDC and FETI-DP without matrices or vectors

Abstract The connection between the BDDC (balancing domain decomposition by constraints) algorithm and the FETI-DP (finite element tearing and interconnecting dual–primal) algorithm is discussed in the language of function spaces, operators and linear functionals.
Problems with Medical Instrumentation Experienced by Patients with Disabilities

Methods employed to conduct a national survey designed to identify some of the difficulties that people with disabilities have experienced as patients using medical instrumentation for healthcare are described, and results from the survey are presented. A Delphi study was conducted to refine the questionnaire, which was then distributed nationally, primarily via the Internet. The initial respondent pool was not representative of the racial, ethnic, age, and disability distribution of the population and data gathering is ongoing. Preliminary results are that a majority of respondents reported moderate to extreme difficulty with a range of common medical equipment and furniture, such as examination tables and weight scales. Subsequent studies will evaluate the identified problems in greater depth.
Altered structural and mechanistic properties of mutant dihydropteridine reductases.

Nine single genetic mutants of rat dihydropteridine reductase (EC 1.6.99.7), D37I, W86I, Y146F, Y146H, K150Q, K150I, K150M, N186A, and A133S and one double mutant, Y146F/K150Q, have been engineered, overexpressed in Escherichia coli and their proteins purified. Of these, five, W86I, Y146F, Y146H, Y146F/K150Q, and A133S, have been crystallized and structurally characterized. Kinetic constants for each of the mutant enzyme forms, except N186A, which was too unstable to isolate in a homogeneous form, have been derived and in the five instances where structures are available the altered activities have been interpreted by correlation with these structures. It is readily apparent that specific interactions of the apoenzyme with the cofactor, NADH, are vital to the integrity of the total protein tertiary structure and that the generation of the active site requires bound cofactor in addition to a suitably placed W86. Thus when the three major centers for hydrogen bonding to the cofactor are mutated, i.e. 37, 150, and 186, an unstable partially active enzyme is formed. It is also apparent that tyrosine 146 is vital to the activity of the enzyme, as the Y146F mutant is almost inactive having only 1.1% of wild-type activity. However, when an additional mutation, K150Q, is made, the rearrangement of water molecules in the vicinity of Lys150 is accompanied by the recovery of 50% of the wild-type activity. It is suggested that the involvement of a water molecule compensates for the loss of the tyrosyl hydroxyl group. The difference between tyrosine and histidine groups at 146 is seen in the comparably unfavorable geometry of hydrogen bonds exhibited by the latter to the substrate, reducing the activity to 15% of the wild type. The mutant A133S shows little alteration in activity; however, its hydroxyl substituent contributes to the active site by providing a possible additional proton sink. This is of little value to dihydropteridine reductase but may be significant in the sequentially analogous short chain dehydrogenases/reductases, where a serine is the amino acid of choice for this position.
Aberrations Arising from Decentrations and Tilts

Equations for the third-order aberrations in the meridional plane of a symmetrical optical system in the presence of finite tilts and decentrations are derived, based on the stop-shift equations of H. H. Hopkins. To demonstrate the application of these formulas and to show the degree of agreement between these equations and an exact ray trace, a numerical example is included.
Computer graphics representation of a statistical model used with a computer-aided diagnosis

Abstract A description of computer graphics of a multidimensional model that is used with computeraided diagnosis or prognosis is presented. The model is discussed and computer graphics of the model are developed. The computer graphics are suitable as visual supplements for presenting the computer-aided diagnostic model to individuals who may be inexperienced in multivariate statistics.
Probabilistic formulations of the multifacility weber problem

The problem considered is to locate one or more new facilities relative to a number of existing facilities when both the locations of the existing facilities, the weights between new facilities, and the weights between new and existing facilities are random variables. The new facilities are to be located such that expected distance traveled is minimized. Euclidean distance measure is considered; both unconstrained and chance-constrained formulations are treated.
Isolation of ganglion cells from the retina.

Abstract A microdissection technique was developed to isolate cellular layers of the goldfish retina. Three regions of the neural retina, the photoreceptor-interneuron layer (PL), the vascular layer (VL), and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) were recovered. A cleavage plane between the PL and GCL occurred at the level of the inner plexiform region as shown by light microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy found the predominant cells of the PL to include rods and cones while the VL contained a capillary network that arose from the retinal artery. The GCL consisted of pear-shaped ganglion cells about 5 μm in size with single, unbranched axons with diameters of about 0.5 μm. This preparation was virtually free of other cell types or debris. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that axons of the GCL were unmyelinated in contrast to those fibers distal to the optic nerve head. On the basis of morphology, microdissection could isolate a single population of retinal neurons free of glia. Biochemical indicators were used to determine the degree of separation of the GCL from the PL and VL. Markers of the cholinergic system, acetylcholinesterase and α-bungarotoxin binding, predominate only within the PL. These findings are consistent with known histochemical features of the retina and suggest that the GCL is not contaminated by the neighboring photoreceptor-interneuron region. Ganglion cell axons distal to the optic nerve head are myelinated and contain high levels of the marker enzyme 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphodiesterase. In contrast, this enzymatic activity is not detected within the unmyelinated axons of the glia free GCL preparation. To examine retinal events during axonal regeneration, transection of ganglion cell axons was carried out at the level of the optic tract. Axotomy led to stimulated amino acid incorporation detected within the GCL and not other regions of the retina. This specific response of the GCL was observed both in vivo and in vitro indicating that isolated ganglion cells remain intact and biologically active. Microdissection provides, therefore, a population of retinal ganglion cells that may be used to analyze the biochemical events of neuronal regeneration.
Schottky barriers fabricated on glow discharge A-Si:H films deposited under bias

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon films were deposited in a three electrode dc glow discharge system under the substrate bias. The composition of the films, using infrared spectroscopy, has been investigated. The photovoltaic parameters of the fabricated Au and Pt Schottky barrier structures have been measured. The purpose of this study was to determine if polarization of the substrates influence the properties of the deposited a-Si:H films.
Intraocular Pressure and the Rate of Visual Field Loss in Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma

We measured the rate of change of visual field threshold values over time (mean follow-up, 44.9 ± 17.4 months) by trend analysis in 40 eyes of 40 patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Twenty-eight eyes had stable visual fields, and two eyes had significant visual field improvement. Ten eyes had significant visual field deterioration and showed a correlation between indices of intraocular pressure (standard error of the mean, P = .02; standard deviation, P = .04; and range, P = .05) and the rate of visual field loss in the superonasal region of the visual field, such that the greater the variation of intraocular pressure the greater the rate of loss. The group losing visual fields had a higher mean visual field threshold value and significantly less optic disk pallor and cupping at the start of the study than the stable visual field group. Thus, a significant rate of visual field loss occurred at an earlier stage of the disease and showed a correlation with intraocular pressure in this stage.
Is propositional learning necessary for human autonomic classical conditioning

Additional support is presented for the necessity of awareness of the CS-US relation in human autonomic conditioning. However, possible limitations and exceptions regarding this general rule are discussed. Limitations include the lack of relationship between conditioned response (CR) strength and degree of awareness, and an important exception may be the finding of conditioning with backwardly masked CSs of a biologically prepared nature.
Petrolatum and other hydrophobic emollients reduce UVB-induced damage

Emollients are well known to benefit dry and inflamed skin. We wished to evaluate the therapeutic effects of various emollients on acute and chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation photodamage. Albino hairless mice were treated with petrolatum, Vaseline petroleum jelly (VPJ), mineral oil, lanolin, cold cream and sun protection factor-2 (SPF-2) sunscreen. The UV source was a bank of Westinghouse FW tubes (peak emission at a wavelength of 313 nm). Chronic studies assessed protection against tumorigenesis and dermal damage. Protection against sunburn-cell formation was also assessed. Striking inhibition of tumorigenesis was found with VPJ (by about 95%) add lanolin (by about 54%) whereas mineral oil greatly enhanced tumorigenesis (by about 40%). VPJ was also protective against dermal damage and it reduced the number of sunburn cells. With an SPF of about 2, it is likely that some of the VPJ protection was due to sunscreening. However, the fact that VPJ applied post-UV-irradiation reduced the incidence of tumours ...
Marginal gerontology and the curriculum palette.

The thrust of human development over the life course is individuation. Birth groups grow more heterogeneous with age. Aside from there being a number of commonalities among members of cohorts, the stamp of life lived tends to increase individual differences, whether these be in organ functioning or other physical measures or social, psychological or economic characteristics. At the same time, there are large modal tendencies with age that have import for policy making, service planning, and social institutions. This article asks: How does gerontology reconcile the individual and the group? What must educational gerontology do to help capture individuation? How can the educational gerontology curriculum encourage not just the accumulation of facts and information but a deeper wisdom, a knowing, about what it means to grow older? This article suggests that our content, our methods, and our values have limitations. The standard educational gerontology curriculum provides the primary colors or core for unders...
A Family of Linearizations of Autonomous Ordinary Differential Equations with Scalar Nonlinearity

Abstract This paper deals with a method for the linearization of nonlinear autonomous differential equations with a scalar nonlinearity. The method consists of a family of approximations which are time independent, but depend on the initial state. The family of linearizations can be used to approximate the derivative of the nonlinear vector field, especially at equilibrium points, which are of particular interest, it can be used also to determine the asymptotic stability of equilibrium point, especially in the non-hyperbolic case. Using numerical experiments, we show that the method presents good agreement with the nonlinear system even in the case of highly nonlinear systems.
Megafaunal butchering at Lubbock Lake, Texas: A taphonomic reanalysis

Abstract Five seasons of excavation in Feature Area 2-1 of the Lubbock Lake Landmark, Texas, exposed a megafaunal bone accumulation in sands and gravels deposited by a late Pleistocene meandering stream. Many bone specimens exhibit evidence of alteration, supporting interpretation of the feature as an in situ , secondary meat-processing area; the gravels are interpreted as the point bar of a meandering stream. Faunal remains lying stratigraphically above the point bar have been considered to form a separate, noncultural feature produced by stream flooding. However, rose diagrams and analysis of adjusted residuals demonstrate that a statistically significant amount of bone in each feature is aligned along axes of preferred orientation. Further, the orientation patterns and statistical analyses of both features exhibit the same trends, suggesting that the same processes affected both. Although the evidence does not rule out a role of human behavior, it does demonstrate that stream currents significantly influenced feature structure.
Report on a Survey of the Membership of the American Political Science Association

In conjunction with a discussion of the FY 1974-75 Budget at its April, 1974, meeting, the Council of the American Political Science Association instructed the Executive Director to survey the membership of the Association as to their attitudes toward the usefulness of PS in form and content. In order to take full advantage of the resources needed to conduct this survey, the National Office conceived a broader study of membership attitudes toward Association activities. The final questionnaire was approved by the Council. On June 7, 1974, the questionnaire was mailed to 1,000 individuals selected randomly from the membership files of the Association. A second mailing was sent to those who had not responded on July 9. A total of 530 completed questionnaires were received for a response rate of 53 percent.* The demographic characteristics of the membership, as reflected in the sample, are portrayed in Table 1.
Convex Programming Formulations for Rate Allocation in Video Coding

A rate control technique for video encoding under complex transmission scenarios is presented. A typical application for this method is the transmission of video over variable bit rate channels while accounting for restrictions on the end-to-end delay and decoder buffer size. That the resulting multiple constraints on the source and channel rates may be relaxed without loss of optimality into a set of linear inequality constraints-though they are usually expressed in nonlinear form-is a key insight of this paper. This allows for a systematic treatment of a large class of rate constraints and leads to a convex programming (CP) formulation for rate control. Approximation of the frame distortion-rate data by piecewise linear functions further facilitates an efficient solution based on linear programming (LP), a special case of CP. The LP method provides bounds for the deviation from optimality. Results for a standard video test set show that the proposed method provides solutions with mean square error (MSE) distortion value within 2% of the global minimum across a range of rates. The proposed technique is also applied in conjunction with a perceived distortion measure. Results exhibit significant reduction in blocking artifacts and flicker compared to the use of MSE
Sensory Evaluation of Baked Foods Incorporating Different Levels of Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles from Soft White Winter Wheat

Baguettes, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate chip cookies containing 0, 12.5% or 25% distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from soft white winter wheat substituted for flour (w/w) were evaluated by an experienced panel to determine how much DDGS could successfully be incorporated into baked products. Panelists were unable to differentiate control cookies from those containing 12.5% DDGS. Attribute analyses of seven flavor and four texture traits were conducted, and overall acceptability was determined for products found to be different in their sensory properties. Both the control and experimental cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies were rated as highly acceptable. The baguettes containing DDGS were found to be less acceptable than the control because of a stronger flavor and/or off-flavor.
Rate constants for hydrogen abstraction reactions of No3 in aqueous solution

Rate constants have been measured by pulse radiolysis for the reactions of the NO 3 radical with five cyclic ethers and a series of alcohols. Rate constants ranged from 3.5×10 4 M −1 s −1 for deuterated methanol to 1.1×10 7 M −1 s −1 for tetrahydrofuran. The rate constants for the reactions of NO 3 with the alcohols 1-propanol to 1-heptanol were found to be linearly dependent on the number of CH 2 groups with a group reactivity of 6.4×10 5 M −1 s −1
The febrile parturient: choice of anesthesia

Fever is a common clinical problem in labor and delivery suites - worldwide. The febrile parturient presents a unique diagnostic dilemma and therapeutic challenge to both an obstetrician and an anesthesiologist involved in her care. Fever can result from a variety of infectious microorganisms, tissue trauma, malignancy, drug administration, endocrine and immunological disorders. However, infection is by far the most common cause of fever in the parturient. The infectious etiology of fever in a parturient may be pregnancy specific, such as chorioamnionitis, or not specific to pregnancy, such as urinary tract infection. The risk to the mother and the fetus is significantly increased in pregnancy complicated by infection and fever. The diverse clinical manifestations of various infectious disorders combined with the unique anesthetic implications of pregnancy may result in life-threatening complications and significantly impact upon the practice of obstetric anesthesia. The diagnosis of infection in pregnancy often raises questions about the safety of neuraxial anesthesia in febrile patients. Despite this concern, and lack of universal guidelines, it has now been well established that the presence of infection and fever in labor does not always contraindicate the administration of regional anesthesia. The decision whether to administer regional anesthesia or not in a febrile parturient should be based on an individual risk-to-benefit ratio.
Physiologic and pathophysiologic relationship between the electroencephalogram and the regional cerebral blood flow.

The relationship between the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) has been reviewed with special emphasis on physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Hyperventilation results in slowing of the EEG and decreased rCBF. It is concluded that decreased cerebral Po2 caused by decreased rCBF is the main factor responsible for EEG slowing and that increased cerebral pH only is of less importance in the EEG changes. This does not mean that the EEG slowing is caused by “classic hypoxia” since EEG slowing can occur without loss of consciousness and without changes in the aerobic-anaerobic cerebral glucose metabolism. Other mechanisms influenced by the cerebral Po2 also seem to be involved. The “cerebral activity” and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRo2) normally are related and result primarily in an EEG-CMRo2 coupling that is reflected in an EEG-rCBF coupling; when such coupling exists there is a positive correlation between EEG frequency, CMRo2, and rCBF. These couplings are illustrated by the changes in the EEG and in the CMRo2 or rCBF occurring during pharmacologic activation or depression of the central nervous system, during mental activity, during grand mal seizure, during dementia, and during various cerebral diseases. Several other factors than the CMRo2 also influence the EEG and the rCBF, as is most clearly illustrated in instances of physiologic and pathophysiologic uncoupling. Physiologic uncoupling occurs during slow wave sleep and during childhood when the EEG shows definite slowing but the rCBF and CMRo2 are normal or slightly increased. Pathophysiologic uncoupling develops with various acute brain lesions (anoxic lesions, ischemic lesions, etc.). In some instances, as in the phase after an epileptic grand mal seizure, only the EEG and rCBF show uncoupling whereas the EEG and CMRo2 remain coupled.
The Achilles' Heel of Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery

Copyright: © 2013 Robert Kovac S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. As our population ages, pelvic organ prolapse is becoming more common. A woman’s lifetime risk of surgery for pelvic organ prolapse is at least 11.1%, and almost one in three will need repair for recurrent prolapse [1]. Traditional repair for anterior vaginal wall prolapse has a high failure/recurrence rate of 40% to 60% and these techniques are based on surgical knowledge from a century ago. Back then the goal of pelvic organ prolapse surgery was to reduce the bulge, not correct the cause of prolapse. According to a questionnaire by the American Urogynecology Society, 80% of urogynecologists still perform this 100 year-old technique with its dismal current rates.
Growth at elevated ozone or elevated carbon dioxide concentration alters antioxidant capacity and response to acute oxidative stress in soybean (Glycine max)

Soybeans (Glycine max Merr.) were grown at elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) or chronic elevated ozone concentration ([O3]; 90 ppb), and then exposed to an acute O3 stress (200 ppb for 4 h) in order to test the hypothesis that the atmospheric environment alters the total antioxidant capacity of plants, and their capacity to respond to an acute oxidative stress. Total antioxidant metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activity, and antioxidant transcript abundance were characterized before, immediately after, and during recovery from the acute O3 treatment. Growth at chronic elevated [O3] increased the total antioxidant capacity of plants, while growth at elevated [CO2] decreased the total antioxidant capacity. Changes in total antioxidant capacity were matched by changes in ascorbate content, but not phenolic content. The growth environment significantly altered the pattern of antioxidant transcript and enzyme response to the acute O3 stress. Following the acute oxidative stress, there was an immediate transcriptional reprogramming that allowed for maintained or increased antioxidant enzyme activities in plants grown at elevated [O3]. Growth at elevated [CO2] appeared to increase the response of antioxidant enzymes to acute oxidative stress, but dampened and delayed the transcriptional response. These results provide evidence that the growth environment alters the antioxidant system, the immediate response to an acute oxidative stress, and the timing over which plants return to initial antioxidant levels. The results also indicate that future elevated [CO2] and [O3] will differentially affect the antioxidant system.
Neural Signals for the Detection of Unintentional Race Bias

We examined the hypothesis that unintentional race-biased responses may occur despite the activation of neural systems that detect the need for control. Participants completed a sequential priming task that induced race-biased responses on certain trials while electroencephalography was recorded. The error-related negativity (ERN) wave, a component of the event-related potential with an anterior cingulate generator, was assessed to index neural signals detecting the need for control. Responses attributed to race bias produced larger ERNs than responses not attributed to race bias. Although race-biased responses were prevalent across participants, those with larger ERNs to race-biased responses showed higher levels of control throughout the task (e.g., greater accuracy and slowed responding following errors). The results indicate that race-biased responses may be made despite the activation of neural systems designed to detect bias and to recruit controlled processing.
Role for the Rho-family GTPase Cdc42 in yeast mating-pheromone signal pathway

IN the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the process of conjugation of haploid cells of genotype MATa and MATαto form MATa/α diploids is triggered by pheromones produced by each mating type. These pheromones stimulate a cellular response by interaction with receptors linked to a heterotrimeric G protein. Although genetic analysis indicates that the pheromone signal is transmitted through the Gβγ dimer, the initial target(s) of G protein activation remain to be determined. Temperature-sensitive cells with mutations of the CDC24 and CDC42 genes, which are incapable of budding and of generating cell polarity at the restrictive temperature1–3, are also unable to mate4. Cdc24 acts as a guanylyl-nucleotide-exchange factor for the Rho-type GTPase Cdc425, which has been shown to be a fundamental component of the molecular machinery controlling morphogenesis in eukaryotic cells6–10. Therefore, the inability of cdc24 and cdc42 mutants to mate has been presumed to be due to a requirement for generation of cell polarity and related morphogenetic events during conjugation. But here we show that Cdc42 has a direct signalling role in the mating-pheromone response between the G protein and the downstream protein kinase cascade.
Multi-channel pricing for financial services

For several years, the financial services industry has discovered the opportunities of different channels like the Internet, call-centers, WAP etc. Many banks built up separate direct banks focusing exclusively on the Internet and/or call-centers. Only recently, some banks started to reintegrate the direct banks with their traditional brick-and-mortar banks in order to offer services over several channels for the convenience of their customers. However, each channel induces additional fixed costs and the channels may influence each others' turnovers and profits. Therefore, the question of how to price different products and services in different channels arises. In order to solve this problem with regard to profit maximization, banks have to incorporate effects like customer's willingness-to-pay for certain products and services over different channels, cross-selling interdependencies between the channels and marginal costs of each channel. This paper will provide further insight into multi-channel pricing strategies based on price discrimination models especially discrimination by distribution channel. The innovation of this work will be the consideration of cross-selling aspects.
Cervical ependymoma in a male adolescent with neck and back pain.

Abstract Objective This case study addresses the clinical presentation, imaging manifestations, and management of an intramedullary ependymoma in an adolescent who presented for chiropractic evaluation with severe neck and back pain. The atypical manifestations of this disorder are emphasized. Clinical Features A 16-year-old male adolescent presented with severe neck and back pain and diffuse paresthesia extending into the dorsum of the forearm and wrist bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary mass extending from C1 to C7. Biopsy of this lesion indicated a grade III intramedullary ependymoma. Intervention and Outcome The patient underwent a successful resection of the tumor with minimal neurological deficit. At 4 months after resection, the follow-up examination yielded minimal discomfort in the neck and upper back, however there was severe cervical kyphosis. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed no evidence of intramedullary lesion. Conclusion Although it is a rare and slow growing neoplasm, early detection is critical for optimal postoperative functional outcome that is directly related to the preoperative functional status.
Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative-stress, apoptosis, and embryopathy

As the incidence of both type-1 and type-2 diabetes increases, more diabetes-related complications are being observed in pediatric patients. However, some diabetes-related issues in pediatric patients may be a carry-over or consequence of gestational or fetal diabetes. Elevated maternal glucose levels have been associated with increased incidence of spontaneous abortions, perinatal mortality, stillbirths, and congenital malformations. A few of these congenital malformations (embryopathy) in both humans and animals include skin discoloration; webbed toes; cleft lips and palates; congenital heart defects; and neural tube defects. While neural tube defects and congenital heart defects are the most frequent consequence of embryonic / fetal hyperglycemia, hyperglycemia-induced hepatic and renal developmental problems are also known. Hyperglycemia-induced embryopathy has been associated with reduced cell proliferation, oxidative-stress, increased rates of lipid peroxidation coupled with increased homocysteine levels, and apoptosis. Consequently, this review discusses embryonic hyperglycemia-induced reduced embryo viability, increased rates of oxidative-stress, increased lipid peroxidation rates coupled with elevated homocysteine levels, and increased apoptosis rates.
Hot or Not: An Analysis of Online Professor-Shopping Behavior of Business Students

With the proliferation of Web sites that allow students to praise or disparage their instructors depending on their whims, instructors across the country essentially are becoming subjects of comparison shopping by prospective students. Using a sample survey of 258 students majoring in business at a public university on the west coast of the United States, the author investigated the extent of instructor-shopping behavior via browsing and posting comments on the Internet as well as the students’ motivations behind such activities. An analysis of data suggests that nearly one third of students engage in online information sharing before signing up with a particular professor and that factors related to grade expectation affect the propensity to shop on the internet.
Green tea’s effect on anti-estrogen treatment

2251 We observed that green tea increases the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on the proliferation of multiple ER (estrogen receptor-α)-positive human breast cancer cells in vitro. The ID50 (inhibitory dose 50) for tamoxifen alone were as follows: 10.2 μM for MCF-7, 7.2 μM for ZR-75, and 8.4 μM for T47-D. We then demonstrated that the addition of 5 μg/ml of green tea extract decreased the ID50 of tamoxifen to 200 nM for MCF-7, 36 nM for ZR-75 and 30 nM for T47-D. It thus appears that green tea can add to tamoxifen’s effectiveness on ER-positive breast cancer cells. Further experiments showed that green tea did not affect substrate binding to the estrogen receptor. However, green tea decreased the level of estrogen receptors, blocked ER-dependent transcription, as well as estradiol-induced phosphorylation and nuclear localization of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). The addition of green tea to tamoxifen potentiated these ER-dependent activities. These results suggest that consumption of green tea during tamoxifen treatment may be beneficial for breast cancer patients.
Characterization of Bacterial Genomic Reference Materials

*Work in progress data not shown Achromobacter xylosoxidans Delftia acidovorans Delftia sp. Homo sapiens Methylobacterium populi Pseudomonas fluorescens Enterobacter aerogenes Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Enterobacteria phage Cronobacter sakazakii Enterobacter sp. Erwinia sp. uncultured bacterium Citrobacter koseri Enterobacteriaceae bacterium Enterobacter cloacae synthetic construct Citrobacter rodentium Klebsiella pneumoniae Escherichia coli
Shopping Behavior, Expenditure Patterns, and Inner-City Food Prices:

comparing prices charged by supermarkets in high and low-income areas [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. This work indicates that although some price differences can be observed, charges of systematic price discrimination by chain stores cannot be sustained. Evidence of prices charged in smaller stores suggests similar conclusions. Despite the consistency of the findings which have been reported, unresolved issues remain because surveys of shelf prices for a particular market basket in a store sample are not necessarily relevant to the question of prices paid by a specific group of consumers who shop in a particular set of food stores. In a pilot study conducted within a neighborhood in North Philadelphia, wide variations in prices paid by different groups of inner-city consumers occurred because of differences in store selection and purchasing patterns. The differences in prices paid which may be attributed to behavioral variables far exceed the extent of variation in shelf prices between stores located in different income areas.
Pheochromocytomas of adrenals in male rats chronically injected with pituitary growth hormone.

SummaryThe long term administration of pituitary growth hormone to adult male rats of the Long-Evans strain resulted in progressive growth in body weight and length. Many neoplasms developed in the rats during this prolonged period, but the incidence in treated rats was not significantly different from that in controls, with the exception of tumors of the adrenal medulla. Pheochromo-cytomas occurred in 9 of 16 growth hormone injected rats and in none of the controls.
Hydrogel ocular sealant for wound closure during intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation.

We present a new technique for the sutureless closure of corneal incisions after intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) insertion. Twelve eyes of 7 patients with keratoconus were treated at our institution by the same surgeon with femtosecond laser–assisted ICRS implantation followed by slit-incision closure with a hydrogel ocular sealant. A retrospective review of clinical characteristics was performed over a mean follow-up of 5 months and compared with previously published data on traditional methods for wound management after ICRS insertion. All visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes were within expected limits. No adverse events were observed. Hydrogel ocular sealant was deemed to be a safe, effective, and surgeon-friendly option for wound closure during ICRS implantation. Financial Disclosure None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Elliptical Hotspot Detection: A Summary of Results

Given a set of points in Euclidean space, a minimum log likelihood ratio threshold, and a statistical significance threshold, Elliptical Hotspot Detection (EHD) finds elliptical hotspot areas where the concentration of activities inside is significantly higher than outside. The EHD problem is important to many fields, such as criminology, transportation engineering, and epidemiology. Related work (e.g., SatScan) enumerates only circular candidates using activities as centers, and may miss many significant ellipses. EHD problem is challenging for two reasons, namely the large enumeration space and the lack of monotonicity of the log likelihood ratio. To overcome the challenges and limitations of the related work, this paper proposes a novel algorithm for EHD. A case study on real crime data shows that our algorithm is able to find hotspots that cannot be detected by the related work. Experimental evaluation shows that the proposed algorithm saves substantial amount of computation compared to the naive approach.
Aging Promotes Sirtuin 3-Dependent Cartilage Superoxide Dismutase 2 Acetylation and Osteoarthritis.

Objective To quantify functional age-related changes in the cartilage antioxidant network in order to discover novel mediators of cartilage oxidative stress and osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology. Methods We evaluated histopathologic changes of knee OA in 10-, 20-, and 30-month-old male F344BN rats and analyzed cartilage oxidation according to the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione. Antioxidant gene expression and protein abundance were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and selected reaction–monitoring mass spectrometry, respectively. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) activity and acetylation were analyzed by colorimetric enzyme assays and Western blotting, respectively. We examined human OA cartilage to evaluate the clinical relevance of SOD2 acetylation, and we tested age-related changes in the mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT-3) in rats and mice. Results Cartilage oxidation and OA severity in F344BN rats increased with age and were associated with an increase in SOD2 expression and protein abundance. However, SOD2-specific activity decreased with age due to elevated posttranslational lysine acetylation. Consistent with these findings, SIRT-3 levels decreased substantially with age, and treatment with SIRT-3 increased SOD2 activity in an age-dependent manner. SOD2 was also acetylated in human OA cartilage, and activity was increased with SIRT-3 treatment. Moreover, in C57BL/6J mice, cartilage SIRT-3 expression decreased with age, and whole-body deletion of SIRT-3 accelerated the development of knee OA. Conclusion Our results show that SIRT-3 mediates age-related changes in cartilage redox regulation and protects against early-stage OA. These findings suggest that mitochondrial acetylation promotes OA and that restoration of SIRT-3 in aging cartilage may improve cartilage resistance to oxidative stress by rescuing acetylation-dependent inhibition of SOD2 activity.