cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Part IV: How Do Reputations Affect Corporate Performance?: The Value of Corporate Reputation: Evidence from the Equity Markets

A question invariably recurs in discussions about corporate reputation: are they cause, consequence, or epiphenomenon? That is: do they have an independent causal effect on corporate performance; are they a consequence of good financial performance? Or are they an incidental by-product? The second day of the conference began with a review of avail- able evidence of the possible financial impact of corporate reputations. The following panelists discussed their prepared papers: The Value of Corporate Reputation: Evidence from the Equity Markets - Rajendra K. Srivastava, University of Texas at Austin; Thomas H. McInish, Memphis State University; Robert A. Wood, Memphis State University; Anthony J. Capraro, University of Texas at Austin. The Effect of Financial and Media Reputations on Performance - David L. Deephouse, Louisiana State University. The Value of a Firm's Corporate Reputation: How Reputation Helps Attain and Sustain Superior Profitability - Peter W. Roberts, University of New South Wales; Grahame R. Dowling, University of New South Wales. Stock Market Valuation of Reputation for Corporate Social Performance - Brad Brown, University of Virginia. Sustainable Competitive Advantage and Firm Performance: The Role of Intangible Resources - G. Steven McMillan, The American College; Maheshkumar P. Joshi, St. Joseph's University. Has the Influence of Financial Performance on Reputation Measures Been Overstated? - A. J. Capraro, University of Texas at Austin; Rajendra K. Srivastava, University of Texas at Austin.
Calculation of the non-inductive current profile in high-performance NSTX plasmas

The constituents of the current profile have been computed for a wide range of high-performance plasmas in NSTX [M. Ono, et al., Nuclear Fusion 40, 557 (2000)]; these include cases designed to maximize the non-inductive fraction, pulse length, toroidal-β, or stored energy. In the absence of low-frequency MHD activity, good agreement is found between the reconstructed current profile and that predicted by summing the independently calculated inductive, pressure-driven, and neutral beam currents, without the need to invoke any anomalous beam ion diffusion. Exceptions occur, for instance, when there are toroidal Alfven eigenmode avalanches or coupled m/n=1/1+2/1 kink-tearing modes. In these cases, the addition of a spatially and temporally dependent fast ion diffusivity can reduce the core beam current drive, restoring agreement between the reconstructed profile and the summed constituents, as well as bringing better agreement between the simulated and measured neutron emission rate. An upper bound on the fast ion diffusivity of ~0.5-1 m2/sec is found in “MHD-free” discharges, based on the neutron emission, time rate of change of the neutron signal when a neutral beam is stepped, and reconstructed on-axis current density.
Organizational Bridges from Research to Practice: Cases in Medical Practice

Human performance and human error in medicine have emerged as critical health care issues affecting the entire practice of medical treatment and health care delivery. Human factors professionals, particularly members of the HFES, can make major contributions to health care systems, but there is a lack of transition between problem domains. Since the human factors profession has been built on the study and improvement of high-risk systems, the current state of medical practice is clearly an opportune environment in which to operate. This panel will address several practical “ironies” of the current challenges to build improved bridges between key aspects of HFES expertise and the needs of the medical community.
Abundance and distribution of large medusae in surface waters of the northern California Current

Abstract We used surface trawls to quantify abundance and distribution of four large medusae— Chrysaora fuscescens , Aurelia labiata , Phacellophora camtschatica , and Aequorea sp.—in the northern California Current, a coastal upwelling area, during June and August 2000 and 2002. C. fuscescens was most abundant, with a maximum of 77 per 1000 m 3 (or 64 mg C/m 3 ). Densities of A. labiata reached 10 per 1000 m 3 (26 mg C/m 3 ). Although medusae were widespread throughout the study region, a large proportion of the total catch of each species tended to be concentrated at relatively few stations. When we analyzed how the variability in distribution of medusae related to a suite of environmental parameters, latitude and either distance from shore or water depth proved important during each cruise. Analysis by species suggested habitat partitioning by C. fuscescens and A. labiata : C. fuscescens was more likely to be caught in nearshore shelf waters north of Cape Blanco, compared to A. labiata , which was more prevalent in south of Cape Blanco. These biological patterns were likely the result of a combination of physical processes, including advection and aggregation within regions of weak surface flow, coordinated behavior such as vertical migration, and location of benthic polyp stages. Studies such as this one provide important baseline information for ecosystem models and can be used to help evaluate impacts of jellyfish blooms in coastal upwelling regions.
Statistical significance of MUC-6 results

The results of the MUC-6 evaluation must be analyzed to determine whether close scores significantly distinguish systems or whether the differences in those scores are a matter of chance. In order to do such an analysis, a method of computer intensive hypothesis testing was developed by SAIC for the MUC-3 results and has been used for distinguishing MUC scores since that time. The implementation of this method for the MUC evaluations was first described in [1] and later the concepts behind the statistical model were explained in a more understandable manner in [2]. This paper gives the results of the statistical testing for the three MUC-6 tasks where a single metric could be associated with a system's performance.
Purification, Cloning, and Heterologous Expression of a Catalytically Efficient Flavonol 3-O-Galactosyltransferase Expressed in the Male Gametophyte of Petunia hybrida

Flavonols are plant-specific molecules that are required for pollen germination in maize and petunia. They exist in planta as both the aglycone and glycosyl conjugates. We identified a flavonol 3-O-galactosyltransferase (F3GalTase) that is expressed exclusively in the male gametophyte and controls the formation of a pollen-specific class of glycosylated flavonols. Thus an essential step to understanding flavonol-induced germination is the characterization of F3GalTase. Amino acid sequences of three peptide fragments of F3GalTase purified from petunia pollen were used to isolate a full-length cDNA clone. RNA gel blot analysis and enzyme assays confirmed that F3GalTase expression is restricted to pollen. Heterologous expression of the F3GalTase cDNA in Escherichia coli yielded active recombinant enzyme (rF3GalTase) which had the identical substrate specificity as the native enzyme. Unlike the relatively nonspecific substrate usage of flavonoid glycosyltransferases from sporophytic tissues, F3GalTase uses only UDP-galactose and flavonols to catalyze the formation of flavonol 3-O-galactosides. Kinetic analysis showed that the k(cat)/K(m) values of rF3GalTase, using kaempferol and quercetin as substrates, approaches that of a catalytically perfect enzyme. rF3GalTase catalyzes the reverse reaction, generation of flavonols from UDP and flavonol 3-O-galactosides, almost as efficiently as the forward reaction. The biochemical characteristics of F3GalTase are discussed in the context of a role in flavonol-induced pollen germination.
α7 Nicotinic receptor mediated protection against ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells

Ethanol caused a concentration-dependent loss of PC12 cells over a 24 h interval, accompanied by an increase in intracellular calcium. The specific α7 nicotinic receptor partial agonist DMXB attenuated both of these ethanol-induced actions at a concentration (3 μM) found previously to protect against apoptotic and necrotic cell loss. The α7 nicotinic receptor antagonist methylylaconitine blocked the neuroprotective action of DMXB when applied with but not 30 min after the agonist. These results indicate that activation of α7 nicotinic receptors may be therapeutically useful in preventing ethanol-neurotoxicity.
Frequency of Modeling Effects on the Acquisition and Retention of a Motor Skill

(1993). Frequency of Modeling Effects on the Acquisition and Retention of a Motor Skill. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 122-126.
Gamma knife radiosurgery for benign tumors with symptoms from brainstem compression.

Purpose: This study evaluated the role of radiosurgery in the management of symptomatic patients with brainstem compression from benign basal tumors. Methods and Materials: Over a 17-year, period 246 patients (202 vestibular schwannomas and 44 meningiomas) with brainstem compression from benign skull-base tumors were managed with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Median tumor volumes were 3.9 cm{sup 3} (range, 0.8-39.0 mL) and 6.6 mL (range, 1.6-25.1 mL) for vestibular schwannomas and meningiomas, respectively. For both tumors, a median marginal dose of 13 Gy was prescribed. Median follow-up of patients was 65 months for vestibular schwannomas and 60 months for meningiomas. Patients were categorized into four groups on the basis of the tumor-brainstem relationship on neuroimaging. Results: Preservation of function was stratified according to grade of brainstem compression. We analyzed the effect of radiosurgery on symptoms of brainstem compression. The tumor control rate was 100 % for meningioma and 97% for vestibular schwannomas (although 5% required an additional procedure such as a ventriculoperitoneal shunt). In patients with vestibular schwannoma, serviceable hearing was preserved in 72.0%. Balance improved in 31.9%, remained unchanged in 56.5%, and deteriorated in 11.6% of patients who had imbalance at presentation. Balance improved significantly in patients who had less tumormore » compression (p = 0.0357) after radiosurgery. Symptoms improved in 43.2% of patients with meningioma. Conclusion: Radiosurgery is a minimally invasive option for patients with benign basal tumors that indent or distort the brainstem. A high tumor growth control rate and satisfactory rate of neurological preservation and symptom control can be obtained with radiosurgery.« less
STABILITY ANALYSIS OF RESIDUAL-AFFECTED HCCI USING CONVEX OPTIMIZATION

Residual-affected homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is a promising methodology for simultaneously reducing emissions and fuel consumption. However, the process relies on cycle-to-cycle coupling between subsequent engine cycles through the exhaust gas temperature, resulting in sections of the state space which are unstable. This paper exploits a previously validated control model of HCCI to analytically determine the area of the state space which is stable to perturbation of either combustion timing or in-cylinder pressure. As efforts to control and expand the operating range of HCCI continue, analytical stability tools like that developed here will likely play an increasingly important role.
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Reveals that Serca Dimerizes and Forms a Complex with Phospholamban in a 2:1 Stoichiometry

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) has been proposed to form functional dimers in vitro. In order to investigate whether SERCA forms homo-dimers in live cells, we fused canine SERCA2a to cerulean (Cer) or yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), and quantified SERCA-SERCA interactions by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). SERCA-SERCA FRET efficiency was dependent on the labeling position of the fluorescent protein tags, with the highest FRET efficiency achieved when the respective fluorescent proteins were fused to SERCA N-termini. FRET was reduced by competition with unlabeled SERCA, suggesting that the observed FRET was due to specific protein-protein interactions. Progressive photobleaching of YFP showed that Cer intensity increased linearly with decreasing YFP intensity, suggesting that the stoichiometry of the SERCA complex is a dimer. In contrast, a control experiment with phospholamban (PLB) oligomer showed a non-linear YFP/Cer relationship, consistent with its well-known pentameric stoichiometry. We also investigated whether SERCA dimers could interact with PLB, the regulatory binding partner of SERCA. Interestingly, while average maximal FRET was 28% between SERCA and PLB, fluorescence lifetime measurements revealed two different lifetimes, consistent with two different populations of FRET donors. One population showed very low FRET, while the other population exhibited high FRET- approximately double the measured average maximal FRET efficiency. The data are consistent with a single PLB bound to each SERCA homo-dimer; in this regulatory complex one SERCA protomer is in close proximity to PLB, while the other is too far away to participate in FRET with PLB.
Limits to Wind Power Utilization.

As wind energy receives increasing attention it is important to understand the noneconomic factors limiting the total power that can be extracted from the wind. These factors are examined here with a macroscopic approach. An upper global limit of 1.3 x 10(14) watts is arrived at with a sublimit of 2 x 10(12) watts for the continental United States. Some general conclusions are also reached regarding the sites that would have to be utilized to achieve these levels. Even within these limits, wind energy is seen to offer a potential far larger than many other self-renewing energy sources.
Reliability of a PV-module integrated inverter (PV-MII): A usage model approach

This paper proposes a new methodology for calculating the mean time between failure (MTBF) of a photovoltaic module-integrated or module-attached inverter (PV-MII). Based on a stress-factor approach, the technique invokes the usage model for the inverter to determine the statistical distribution of thermal and electrical stresses for the electrical components. The salient feature of the proposed methodology takes into account the operating environment volatility of the module-integrated (MI) electronics to calculate the MTBF of the MII. This leads to more realistic assessment of reliability than if a single worst-case operating point were used. Measured data (temperature and insolation level) is used to experimentally verify the efficacy of the proposed methodology. The results confirm that the electrolytic capacitor is the most vulnerable component with the lowest MTBF, but more importantly provide a quantified assessment of realistic MTBF under expected operating conditions rather than extrapolating a conclusion based upon a single worst-case operating point, which may have a low probability of occurrence.
Langmuir probe surveys of an arcjet exhaust

Electrostatic (Langmuir) probes of both spherical and cylindrical geometry have been used to obtain electron number density and temperature in the exhaust of a laboratory arcjet. The arcjet thruster operated on nitrogen and hydrogen mixtures to simulate fully decomposed hydrazine in a vacuum environment with background pressures less than 0.05 Pa. The exhaust appears to be only slightly ionized (less than 1 percent) with local plasma potentials near facility ground. The current-voltage characteristics of the probes indicate a Maxwellian temperature distribution. Plume data are presented as a function of arcjet operating conditions and also position in the exhaust.
Career Plateauing: Implications for Career Development Specialists:

While career plateauing is a major challenge facing contemporary organizations, possible solutions are available. The career development specialist possessing a variety of skills geared toward both proaction and reaction can be instrumental in designing interventions which minimize the negative impact of plateauing. While career plateauing can be a devastating problem for many high achieving, self-sacrificing baby boomers, for others it may present an opportunity to escape the internal pressures for “success.” Much of what happens to a plateaued employee is determined by the resources possessed by the employee as well as the organization's response to the employee. The activities of the career development specialist constitute much of what is considered the organization's response. A career plateau may mark the beginning of a period characterized by frustration and depression or it may present the opportunity for a new challenge or reappraisal of life direction and goals.
Nocturnal ACTH, cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin secretion in prepubertal depression

ABSTRACT Objective To examine nocturnal secretion of adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin in 38 medically healthy children with prepubertal major depression compared with 28 medically and psychiatrically healthy control children. Method Prior to sampling, subjects underwent an “adaptation night” with the intravenous catheter in place and electroencephalographic (EEG) electrodes for standard all-night polysomnogram. On the following night, plasma samples were obtained every 20 minutes through an indwelling catheter. Hormonal concentrations were measured by specific radioimmunoassay and aligned by EEG-confirmed sleep onset. Areas under the curve were calculated for total secretion and compared using analysis of variance. Results Prepubertal depressed children had lower cortisol secretion during the first 4 hours after sleep onset compared with controls. Adrenocorticotropin, prolactin, and growth hormone secretion did not differ between groups. Examination of clinical characteristics in depressed children revealed lower nocturnal adrenocorticotropin concentrations in depressed inpatients versus depressed outpatients and in depressed sexually abused versus depressed nonabused children. A significant sex by diagnosis effect revealed lower growth hormone secretion in depressed females compared with depressed males. Conclusions In contrast to neuroendocrine challenge studies in these same subjects, nocturnal neuroendocrine measures did not reveal any of the expected group differences. These results emphasize the contrasts between unstimulated and challenge studies of neuroendocrine secretion and of the importance of considering clinical characteristics and maturation influences in biological studies of prepubertal depression.
Cloning of the pea cdc2 homologue by efficient immunological screening of PCR products

A homologue of the ubiquitous eukaryotic cell cycle regulatory gene,cdc2, has been cloned fromPisum sativum, the garden pea. A novel immunological strategy was devised and implemented for screening PCR products generated by degenerate oligonucleotide primers. We used PCR to construct a deletion derivative of anEscherichia coli expression plasmid carrying theSchizosaccharomyces pombe cdc2 gene. The deleted segment encoded the domain recognized by monoclonal antibody MAb-J4, a reagent which also detects a single protein in extracts of all plant species we have examined. PCR products, generated by appropriatecdc2 primers, were ligated into new restriction sites flanking the deletion, reconstituting the deleted epitope. This strategy, first validated on a cloned yeastcdc2 template as control, was applied to the highly efficient cloning of a cDNA segment comprising 60% of the peacdc2 homologue. DNA sequencing revealed strong amino acid sequence conservation among thecdc2 gene products from pea, yeast and animal cells. Genomic Southern analysis indicated that thecdc2 gene occurs as a single copy in pea. An additionalcdc2-like clone was recovered which displays amino acid sequence similarity with that of peacdc2. The reported cloning and screening strategy, though limited by the availability of appropriate immunological reagents, provides not only an efficient means of screening heterogeneous PCR products generated by degenerate probes and/or low stringency PCR, but also product verification by immunological criteria.
The Impact of Sleep Duration on Adolescent Development: A Genetically Informed Analysis of Identical Twin Pairs

Recent work provides evidence that reduced sleep duration has detrimental effects on a range of developmentally related outcomes during adolescence. Yet, the potential confounding influence of genetic and shared environmental effects has not been sufficiently addressed. This study addresses this issue by analyzing cross-sectional data from the twin sub-sample of the first wave of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health [N ≈ 287 MZ (monozygotic) twin pairs; 50 % male; 22 % Black; mean age = 15.75]. Associations between sleep duration (measured through two different strategies, one tapping number of hours slept at night and the other measuring weeknight bedtimes) and seven outcomes (self-control, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, body mass index, violent delinquency, non-violent delinquency, and drug use) were estimated. Consistent with prior research, associations between sleep duration and several outcomes were statistically significant when using standard social science analytic methods. Yet, when employing a methodology that accounts for genetic and shared environmental influences, some of these associations were reduced to non-significance. Still, two consistent associations remained in that participants who reported sleeping fewer hours at night (or who reported later bedtimes) exhibited lower levels of self-control and more depressive symptoms. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Performance differences between stuttering and nonstuttering subjects on a sound fusion task

Abstract This study investigated the possibility that there are central auditory level processing differences between stutterers and nonstutterers. The experimental subjects were eight male and three female stutterers ranging in age from 20–45 yr, with a mean age of 31.2 yr. The control group consisted of the same number of males and females, ranging in age from 20–45 yr, with a mean age of 30.1 yr. Each subject participated in a sound fusion task under three variable conditions: 1) group performance (nonstutterers vs. stutterers); 2) ears (right vs. left); and 3) lead-time presentation (0–100 msec). Statistically significant differences were found for lead-time presentation.
Effective curve registration using a novel solution method for overdetermined systems of polynomial equations

We propose a new method for registering a cloud of points in 2D onto a planar curve. This method does not require the knowledge of an initial guess for the position of the point cloud and proceeds without having to order, smooth out or otherwise process the points of the query point cloud in any way. The method consists in representing the planar curve by an algebraic curve, and in fitting the algebraic curve to the points of the point cloud by solving a corresponding over-constrained system of polynomial equations. The solution of this system is obtained using a new solution method for polynomial systems of equations, which we introduce in this paper. This solution method, which can be seen as an extension of the pseudo-inverse approach to solving linear systems of equations, naturally handles over-contrained systems of equations in a robust fashion.
The management of respiratory infections during pregnancy

Respiratory infections that complicate pregnancy are encountered frequently, and they encompass a broad range of disorders. Although respiratory infections usually are not seen more commonly in pregnancy, they often result in greater morbidity and mortality secondary to the physiologic adaptations that occur during pregnancy. Pregnant patients who have one of these disorders require higher level of surveillance and intervention.
Changes in crash risk following re-timing of traffic signal change intervals

More than I million motor vehicle crashes occur annually at signalized intersections in the USA. The principal method used to prevent crashes associated with routine changes in signal indications is employment of a traffic signal change interval--a brief yellow and all-red period that follows the green indication. No universal practice exists for selecting the duration of change intervals, and little is known about the influence of the duration of the change interval on crash risk. The purpose of this study was to estimate potential crash effects of modifying the duration of traffic signal change intervals to conform with values associated with a proposed recommended practice published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. A sample of 122 intersections was identified and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Of 51 eligible experimental sites, 40 (78%) needed signal timing changes. For the 3-year period following implementation of signal timing changes, there was an 8% reduction in reportable crashes at experimental sites relative to those occurring at control sites (P = 0.08). For injury crashes, a 12% reduction at experimental sites relative to those occurring at control sites was found (P = 0.03). Pedestrian and bicycle crashes at experimental sites decreased 37% (P = 0.03) relative to controls. Given these results and the relatively low cost of re-timing traffic signals, modifying the duration of traffic signal change intervals to conform with values associated with the Institute of Transportation Engineers' proposed recommended practice should be strongly considered by transportation agencies to reduce the frequency of urban motor vehicle crashes.
Preparation and 13C NMR characterization of γ,γ′-disubstituted allyllithium compounds

Abstract Two γ,γ′-disubstituted derivatives of allyllithium have been prepared by the classical transmetallation route between phenyllithium and allyltriphenyltin derivatives. These compounds substituted with methyl and ethyl groups or methyl and neopentyl groups in the γ-position were studied by 13 C NMR in diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran. The results are compared with those previously reported for monosubstitution. Charge distributions are not greatly different but the trans configuration is more stable in the disubstituted derivatives.
Estimating the size of a population from a single sample: Methodology and practical issues☆

Abstract In contrast to classical capture recapture methods, the single-sample method of Laska, Meisner, and Siegel (1988) (LMS) enables estimation of the size of a population, N ∗ , on the basis of a single survey. For example, it may be desired to estimate the unduplicated number of individuals served by a mental health center during the last year on the basis of a 1-week sample. The time since each of the sampled individuals last engaged in the activity that defines the population is ascertained. The LMS estimator of N ∗ and its unbiasedness property are motivated in a simple way, and an improved LMS estimator is introduced if additional information is available. An empirical assessment of the procedure is made using mental health service data for which the true population size is known. The performance of the extended LMS estimator is a substantial improvement over the standard LMS estimator.
Phase equilibria in the Ni-Al-Ti system at 1173 k

The phase equilibria at 1173 K have been determined in the Ni-AI-Ti system for Al contents less than 50 at. pct. The extent of theH (Ni2AlTi) phase field has been established as well as the extent of solubility in the binary compounds γ (Ni3Al), ν(Ni3Ti), β2(NiTi), NiTi2, and ζ(AlTi3). Substantial differences were found between the phase equilibria determined in this study and previous studies, in part due to the large solubility of Al in NiTi2.
A re-interpretation of the NMR spectra of some 1-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-oxo-3-azocine carboxylic acid derivatives

Abstract It is shown that the title compound, as well as related compounds, give temperature dependent chemical shifts owing to population changes between rapidly equilibrating rotamers, and not as a result of dynamic NMR effects.
FRAppE: detecting malicious facebook applications

With 20 million installs a day, third-party apps are a major reason for the popularity and addictiveness of Facebook. Unfortunately, hackers have realized the potential of using apps for spreading malware and spam. The problem is already significant, as we find that at least 13% of apps in our dataset are malicious. So far, the research community has focused on detecting malicious posts and campaigns.In this paper, we ask the question: given a Facebook application, can we determine if it is malicious? Our key contribution is in developing FRAppE---Facebook's Rigorous Application Evaluator---arguably the first tool focused on detecting malicious apps on Facebook. To develop FRAppE, we use information gathered by observing the posting behavior of 111K Facebook apps seen across 2.2 million users on Facebook. First, we identify a set of features that help us distinguish malicious apps from benign ones. For example, we find that malicious apps often share names with other apps, and they typically request fewer permissions than benign apps.Second, leveraging these distinguishing features, we show that FRAppE can detect malicious apps with 99.5% accuracy, with no false positives and a low false negative rate (4.1%). Finally, we explore the ecosystem of malicious Facebook apps and identify mechanisms that these apps use to propagate. Interestingly, we find that many apps collude and support each other; in our dataset, we find 1,584 apps enabling the viral propagation of 3,723 other apps through their posts. Long-term, we see FRAppE as a step towards creating an independent watchdog for app assessment and ranking, so as to warn Facebook users before installing apps.
The Tension between Fire Risk and Carbon Storage: Evaluating U.S. Carbon and Fire Management Strategies through Ecosystem Models

Abstract Fire risk and carbon storage are related environmental issues because fire reduction results in carbon storage through the buildup of woody vegetation, and stored carbon is a fuel for fires. The sustainability of the U.S. carbon sink and the extent of fire activity in the next 100 yr depend in part on the type and effectiveness of fire reduction employed. Previous studies have bracketed the range of dynamics from continued fire reduction to the complete failure of fire reduction activities. To improve these estimates, it is necessary to explicitly account for fire reduction in terrestrial models. A new fire reduction submodel that estimates the spatiotemporal pattern of reduction across the United States was developed using gridded data on biomass, climate, land-use, population, and economic factors. To the authors’ knowledge, it is the first large-scale, gridded fire model that explicitly accounts for fire reduction. The model was calibrated to 1° × 1° burned area statistics [Global Burnt Area 2...
Cannabis policies and user practices: market separation, price, potency, and accessibility in Amsterdam and San Francisco.

Abstract Background This paper explores user perceptions and practices in contrasting legal-policy milieux—Amsterdam ( de facto decriminalization) and San Francisco ( de jure criminalization) on four policy issues: sources of cannabis and separation of markets for it and other drugs; user perceptions of effects of price on consumption; effects of potency on consumption; and perceived risk of arrest and accessibility of cannabis. Methods Questions on these issues were added to surveys on career use patterns amongst representative samples of experienced cannabis users using comparable methods. Results Most San Francisco respondents obtained cannabis through friends who knew dealers, whereas most Amsterdam respondents obtained it from regulated shops. Only one in seven Amsterdam respondents but half the San Francisco respondents could obtain other drugs from their cannabis sources. Majorities under both systems had never found cannabis "too expensive." Amsterdam respondents preferred milder cannabis whilst San Francisco respondents preferred stronger; majorities in both cities reported self-titrating with potent cannabis. Risk and fear of arrest were higher in San Francisco, but most in both cities perceived arrest as unlikely. Estimated search times were somewhat longer in San Francisco, but a majority reported being able to access it within half a day. Conclusions There is substantial separation of markets in the Dutch system. Policies designed to increase cannabis prices appear unlikely to impact consumption. Decriminalization was associated with a preference for milder cannabis, but under both policy regimes most respondents self-titrated when using more potent strains. Criminalization was associated with somewhat higher risk and fear of arrest and somewhat longer search times, but these did not appear to significantly impede access for most respondents.
Generalization of de Bruijn's extension of Pólya's theorem to all characters

We generalize the de Bruijn extension of Polya's theorem to all characters of finite permutation groups and show that the de Bruijn theorem becomes a special case of our generalization when applied to the character of the totally symmetric representation./ab]
Factors Influencing Completion and Noncompletion of Community College Online Courses.

Abstract This study investigated the differences between demographic, enrollment, academic, and self-directed learning characteristics of completers and noncompleters in online courses at one community college. The study also obtained students' self-reported reasons for not completing their coursework. No significant differences were found in the characteristics of age, gender, ethnicity, financial aid eligibility, grade point average, and total hours enrolled; significant differences were found in gender, academic readiness, and completers enrolled in more online courses than noncompleters.
Bacterial flagellin stimulates toll-like receptor 5—dependent defense against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infection

Treatment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections is limited by the paucity of effective antibiotics. Administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics promotes VRE colonization by down-regulating homeostatic innate immune defenses. Intestinal epithelial cells and Paneth cells express antimicrobial factors on direct or indirect stimulation of the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-myeloid differentiation factor 88-mediated pathway by microbe-derived molecules. Here, we demonstrate that the TLR5 agonist flagellin restores antibiotic-impaired innate immune defenses and restricts colonization with VRE. Flagellin stimulates the expression of RegIIIgamma, a secreted C-type lectin that kills gram-positive bacteria, including VRE. Systemic administration of flagellin induces RegIIIgamma expression in intestinal epithelial cells and Paneth cells along the entire length of the small intestine. Induction of RegIIIgamma requires TLR5 expression in hematopoietic cells and is dependent on interleukin 22 expression. Systemic administration of flagellin to antibiotic-treated mice dramatically reduces VRE colonization. By enhancing mucosal resistance to multidrug-resistant organisms, flagellin administration may provide a clinically useful approach to prevent infections in patients treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
The Transcription Factors HvABI5 and HvVP1 Are Required for the Abscisic Acid Induction of Gene Expression in Barley Aleurone Cells

The abscisic acid (ABA) response promoter complexes (ABRCs) of the HVA1 and HVA22 genes have been shown to confer ABA-induced gene expression in cereals. A barley basic domain/Leu zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, HvABI5, is able to recognize ABRCs in vitro in a sequence-specific manner and to transactivate ABRC–β-glucuronidase reporter genes when introduced to barley aleurone cells via particle bombardment. This transactivation is dependent on the presence of another transcription factor, HvVP1, and cannot be blocked by the negative regulator abi1-1. Using the double-stranded RNA interference technique, we show that HvABI5 and HvVP1 are necessary for the ABA induction of gene expression but have no effect on another hormone-regulated process, the gibberellin-induced and ABA-suppressed expression of α-amylase. Our work indicates that although other typical plant bZIP transcription factors may bind ABRCs in vitro, HvABI5 is related to a subfamily of bZIPs responsible for the ABA induction of gene expression. Furthermore, HvABI5 and HvVP1 are not involved in the ABA suppression of gene expression.
Towards macro- and micro-expression spotting in video using strain patterns

This paper presents a novel method for automatic spotting (temporal segmentation) of facial expressions in long videos comprising of continuous and changing expressions. The method utilizes the strain impacted on the facial skin due to the non-rigid motion caused during expressions. The strain magnitude is calculated using the central difference method over the robust and dense optical flow field of each subjects face. Testing has been done on 2 datasets (which includes 100 macro-expressions) and promising results have been obtained. The method is robust to several common drawbacks found in automatic facial expression segmentation including moderate in-plane and out-of-plane motion. Additionally, the method has also been modified to work with videos containing micro-expressions. Micro-expressions are detected utilizing their smaller spatial and temporal extent. A subject's face is divided in to sub-regions (mouth, cheeks, forehead, and eyes) and facial strain is calculated for each of these regions. Strain patterns in individual regions are used to identify subtle changes which facilitate the detection of micro-expressions.
T-Cell-Independent Humoral Immunity Is Sufficient for Protection against Fatal Intracellular Ehrlichia Infection

Although humoral immunity has been shown to contribute to host defense during intracellular bacterial infections, its role has generally been ancillary. Instead, CD4 T cells are often considered to play the dominant role in protective immunity via their production of type I cytokines. Our studies of highly pathogenic Ehrlichia bacteria isolated from Ixodes ovatus (IOE) reveal, however, that this paradigm is not always correct. Immunity to IOE infection can be induced by infection with a closely related weakly pathogenic ehrlichia, Ehrlichia muris. Type I cytokines (i.e., gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-12) were not necessary for E. muris-induced immunity. In contrast, humoral immunity was essential, as shown by the fact that E. muris-infected B-cell-deficient mice were not protected from IOE challenge and because E. muris immunization was effective in CD4-, CD8-, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-deficient mice. Immunity was unlikely due to nonspecific inflammation, as prior infection with Listeria monocytogenes did not induce immunity to IOE. Antisera from both wild-type and MHC-II-deficient mice provided at least partial resistance to challenge infection, and protection could also be achieved following transfer of total, but not B-cell-depleted, splenocytes obtained from E. muris-immunized mice. The titers of class-switched antibodies in immunized CD4 T-cell- and MHC class II-deficient mice, although lower than those observed in immunized wild-type mice, were significant, indicating that E. muris can induce class switch recombination in the absence of classical T-cell-mediated help. These studies highlight a major protective role for classical T-cell-independent humoral immunity during an intracellular bacterial infection.
Immunological relationships of a filterable agent causing a leukemia in adult mice. I. The neutralization of infectivity by specific antiserum.

The antigenic character of a filterable agent which induces leukemia in adult mice has been investigated. Mice and rabbits injected with filtrate yielded sera which specifically neutralized infectivity of the agent. Normal sera, sera from mice with other neoplasms—including leukemias from which no causative agent has as yet been obtained,—and sera from leukemic human beings contained no such neutralizing antibody. A formalinized vaccine prepared from filtrates of leukemic spleens induced a significant degree of immunity against the agent, approximately 80 per cent of the vaccinated mice being immune on challenge with it.
A study of two-phase service

Some problems in distributed system control, such as load balancing, routing, scheduling in a real-time environment, and reconfiguration require two-phase execution at a central server. That is, jobs come into the server which then probes the distributed system for status information. This is the first phase. The second phase consists of the server performing individual service on each job, e.g., deciding which processor to allocate that job to, or how to reconfigure the system in reaction to the incoming jobs. Here an analysis of such two-phase systems is provided.
Differentiation of Rat Oval Cells after Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α43

Peroxisome proliferators (PPs) act as nongenotoxic tumor promoters in rodents. Their hepatocarcinogenicity requires the presence of the PP-activated receptor α (PPARα); however, the exact role played by this transcription factor in the liver, more precisely in liver cell growth and differentiation, is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PPARα in oval cells, which are considered to be closely related to liver stem cells, act as bipotential progenitors for the two main hepatic lineages, and have been implicated as playing a role in several models of liver carcinogenesis. We studied the PPARα-mediated response of primary oval cells isolated from rats fed a choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented diet (CDE diet, a regimen commonly used for the induction of oval cell proliferation in rodents) with or without cotreatment with WY14,643, a prototype PPARα-activator. PPARα was expressed at relatively low levels in primary oval cells from rats fed the CDE diet alone. In vivo treatment with WY14,643 for 2–6 weeks induced, in the oval cells, the expression of PPARα as well as that of the PPARα-responsive genes encoding fatty acyl-CoA oxidase and cytochrome P450 4A1. Moreover, the oval cell response to WY14,643 was accompanied by an overall phenotypic modulation toward the hepatocyte lineage. In addition, the PPARα activator induced, among the oval cells, a subpopulation of transitional cells showing features of maturing hepatocytes expressing the oncofetal marker,α -fetoprotein. These results show that oval cells are responsive to PPs and strongly argue for a role of PPARα in the differentiation/maturation of rat oval cells. In the absence of the CDE diet regimen, 9-week treatment with WY14,643 lead to the appearance of a population of large-sized cells somewhat similar to the transitional cells. However, these cells showed little expression of markers of mature hepatocytes, consistent with a block during their maturation process, i.e., they are resistant to PPARα-mediated differentiation. Interestingly, the phenotype of these cells resembled that of the cells usually found in neoplastic foci induced by PPs. Our results, together with previous reports, suggest the involvement of oval cells in the hepatocarcinogenicity of PPs.
Aging phenotypes in cultured normal human mammary epithelial cells are correlated with decreased telomerase activity independent of telomere length

Background Shortening of telomeres, which are essential for maintenance of genomic integrity, is a mechanism commonly associated with the aging process. Here we ascertained whether changes in telomere lengths or telomerase activity correlated with age in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC), or with phenotypes of aging in breast. Accordingly, flow cytometry fluorescence in situ hybridization (flowFISH) was used to determine relative telomere lengths (RTL), and telomerase activity was measured by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP), in a collection of 41 primary HMEC strains established from women aged 16 to 91 years.
Success Factors for Destination Marketing Web Sites: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis

Destination marketing organizations invest considerable amounts of money in the development of Web sites as part of their overall promotion efforts. With increasing pressure on their budgets, it becomes ever more important for these organizations to assess the effectiveness of their Web sites, evaluate the return on their investments, and derive feedback on necessary improvements. Web site evaluation measures have been proposed in many ways and various contexts over the past decade. The study presented in this article used a qualitative meta-analysis methodology to synthesize the diverse findings. A unified framework of commonly used Web site success factors emerged from the analysis and included a total of nine factors: (1) information quality; (2) ease of use; (3) responsiveness; (4) security/privacy; (5) visual appearance; (6) trust; (7) interactivity; (8) personalization; and (9) fulfillment. Additional factors to further inform Web evaluation efforts were identified based on Werthner and Klein's dime...
Disruption of a Guard Cell–Expressed Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulatory Subunit, RCN1, Confers Abscisic Acid Insensitivity in Arabidopsis

Pharmacological studies have led to a model in which the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) may be positively transduced via protein phosphatases of the type 1 (PP1) or type 2A (PP2A) families. However, pharmacological evidence also exists that PP1s or PP2As may function as negative regulators of ABA signaling. Furthermore, recessive disruption mutants in protein phosphatases that function in ABA signal transduction have not yet been identified. A guard cell–expressed PP2A gene, RCN1, which had been characterized previously as a molecular component affecting auxin transport and gravity response, was isolated. A T-DNA disruption mutation in RCN1 confers recessive ABA insensitivity to Arabidopsis. The rcn1 mutation impairs ABA-induced stomatal closing and ABA activation of slow anion channels. Calcium imaging analyses show a reduced sensitivity of ABA-induced cytosolic calcium increases in rcn1, whereas mechanisms downstream of cytosolic calcium increases show wild-type responses, suggesting that RCN1 functions in ABA signal transduction upstream of cytosolic Ca2+ increases. Furthermore, rcn1 shows ABA insensitivity in ABA inhibition of seed germination and ABA-induced gene expression. The PP1 and PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid phenocopies the rcn1 phenotype in wild-type plants both in ABA-induced cytosolic calcium increases and in seed germination, and the wild-type RCN1 genomic DNA complements rcn1 phenotypes. These data show that RCN1 functions as a general positive transducer of early ABA signaling.
Fraley's Behaviorological Corrections: Throwing The Baby Out With The Bath Water

Fraley’ s (1994) comprehensive behavioral corrections proposal is discussed. While there are many thought-provoking and challenging ideas, this bold model is criticized in terms of its (1) central but arbitrary philosophical tenet that human worth is a function of a person’ s behavioral repertoire, (2) deliberate use of mechanistic language and conceptualizations that at best are socially unpalatable and at worst echo historical instances of oppression, and (3) reliance on questionable technological assumptions. These problems could be avoided with a more sensitive portrayal of the human organism and a more modest representation of the potency of behavioral engineering, both of which would likely increase the social influence of the overall proposal by permitting its many merits to be appreciated.
Mechanically compliant high contrast grating mirrors for radiation pressure cooling

We have developed micromechanical membranes with high reflectivity and low mass for optical cooling. By patterning silicon nitride membranes with grating structures we have achieved reflectivity of R = 99% and a quality factor of Q = 1.6×104.