cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transposon-mediated, cell type-specific transcription factor recording in the mouse brain

Transcription factors (TFs) play a central role in the regulation of gene expression, controlling fundamental cellular processes such as fate decisions and activity-dependent transcription. Recent efforts to profile TF genome occupancy in a variety of cell lines and tissues have illuminated the diversity of TF binding amongst cell types, however there remains a gap in our understanding of cell type-specific TF regulation in complex, heterogenous tissues, such as the mammalian brain. Widely-used, bulk level TF profiling methods (e.g. ChIP-seq) yield only an averaged picture of TF binding across all cell types present within a harvested tissue, so it is challenging or impossible to determine how a TF might bind different regions of the genome in different cell types, or even to identify its binding events at all in less abundant cell types. Thus, there remains a need for a method to selectively profile TF occupancy in specific cell types in in vivo model systems. Here we present a versatile methodology, FLEX calling cards, for in vivo, cell type-specific TF occupancy recording. In this method, the TF of interest is fused to a hyperactive piggyBac transposase (hypPB), and this bipartite gene is delivered, along with donor transposons, to mouse tissue via a Cre-dependent adeno-associated virus (AAV). The fusion protein is conditionally expressed in Cre expressing cells where it inserts transposon calling cards near to TF binding sites. These transposons permanently mark TF binding events and can be mapped to the genome using high-throughput sequencing. Alternatively, unfused hypPB interacts with and records the occupancy of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) domain protein, Brd4, allowing for cell type-specific super enhancer profiling, which we validate by identifying several new astrocyte-specific small enhancers. Finally, by continually inserting transposons while expressed and active, FLEX calling cards integrates TF binding events across time, allowing for the detection of transient or infrequent TF binding events. To demonstrate the FLEX calling card method, we first show that calling card reagents can be efficiently delivered to the mouse brain with AAV and that transposon insertion profiles report TF occupancy. Then, using a Cre-dependent hypPB virus, we show utility of this tool in defining cell type-specific super enhancer profiles in multiple cell types of the brain. Finally, we demonstrate utility of FLEX calling cards in longitudinal, integrative recording of the promoter-associated TF, SP1, providing a historical record of SP1 occupancy across time. This approach will enable important cell type-specific studies of TF-mediated gene regulation in the brain and may yield valuable insights into brain development, homeostasis, and disease.
Ethical implications of using biobanks and population databases for genetic suicide research

This article provides a review of the ethical considerations that drive research policy and practice related to the genetic study of suicide. As the tenth cause of death worldwide, suicide constitutes a substantial public health concern. Biometrical studies and population-based molecular genetic studies provide compelling evidence of the utility of investigating genetic underpinnings of suicide. International, federal, and institutional policies regulating research are explored through the lenses of the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Trapped between the Common Rule’s definition of human subjects, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s protected information, suicide decedent data occupy an ethical gray area fraught with jurisdictional, legal, and social implications. Two avenues of research, biobanks and psychological autopsies, provide tangible application for the ethical principles examining the risks to participants and their families. Additionally, studies surveying public opinion about research methods, especially broad consent, are explored. Our approach of applying the four ethical principles to policy, sample collection, data storage, and secondary research applications can also be applied to genetic research with other populations. We conclude that broad consent for secondary research, as well as next-of-kin at the time of autopsy, serve to satisfy privacy and confidentiality under the ethical principle of autonomy. We recommend ongoing ethical evaluation of research policy and practice.
Cardiac conditioning and extinction in Macaca mulatta during block of the CR by cardiac pacing.

Previous work has shown that behavior acquisition within the Pavlovian paradigm occurs in the absence of responding,i.e., when conditional and unconditional responses are blocked during training. The parallel question of extinction under response blocking has received less attention. The experiments reported here find that a cardiac CR can be conditioned and extinguished even when rate changes are prevented by cardiac pacing during acquisition and extinction procedures. This finding suggests that the cardiac CR is established independently of peripheral innervations, and that “feedback” from the changing response is not necessary for Pavlovian learning of this sort to occur.
PrivateJobMatch: a privacy-oriented deferred multi-match recommender system for stable employment

Coordination failure reduces match quality among employers and candidates in the job market, resulting in a large number of unfilled positions and/or unstable, short-term employment. Centralized job search engines provide a platform that connects directly employers with job-seekers. However, they require users to disclose a significant amount of personal data, i.e., build a user profile, in order to provide meaningful recommendations. In this paper, we present PrivateJobMatch - a privacy-oriented deferred multi-match recommender system - which generates stable pairings while requiring users to provide only a partial ranking of their preferences. PrivateJobMatch explores a series of adaptations of the game-theoretic Gale-Shapley deferred acceptance algorithm which combine the flexibility of decentralized markets with the intelligence of centralized matching. We identify the shortcomings of the original algorithm when applied to a job market and propose novel solutions that rely on machine learning techniques. Experimental results on real and synthetic data confirm the benefits of the proposed algorithms across several quality measures. Over the past year, we have implemented a PrivateJobMatch prototype and deployed it in an active job market economy. Using the gathered real-user preference data, we find that the match recommendations are superior to a typical decentralized job market---while requiring only a partial ranking of the user preferences.
Transatlantic landscapes: environmental awareness, literature, and the arts: edited by José Manuel Marrero Henríquez, Madrid, Instituto Franklin de Estudios Norteamericanos, 2016, 239 pp., €15.00, ISBN 978-84-16978-05-2

In Transatlantic Landscapes, Professor Jose Manuel Marrero Henriquez, a poet and a leading scholar of the Interdisciplinary Environmental Humanities Research Group in Spain, brings together Ibero-A...
Heme Impairs Alveolar Epithelial Sodium Channels Post Toxic Gas Inhalation

ABSTRACT We previously reported that cell-free heme (CFH) is increased in the plasma of patients with acute and chronic lung injury and causes pulmonary edema in animal model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) post inhalation of halogen gas. However, the mechanisms by which CFH causes pulmonary edema are unclear. Herein we report for the first time the presence of CFH and chlorinated lipids (formed by the interaction of halogen gas, Cl2, with plasmalogens) in the plasma of patients and mice exposed to Cl2 gas. Ex vivo incubation of red blood cells (RBC) with halogenated lipids caused oxidative damage to RBC cytoskeletal protein spectrin, resulting in hemolysis and release of CFH. A single intramuscular injection of the heme-scavenging protein hemopexin (4 µg/kg body weight) in mice, one hour post halogen exposure, reversed RBC fragility and decreased CFH levels to those of air controls. Patch clamp and short circuit current measurements revealed that CFH inhibited the activity of amiloride-sensitive (ENaC) and cation sodium (Na+) channels in mouse alveolar cells and trans-epithelial Na+ transport across human airway cells with EC50 of 125 nM and 500 nM, respectively. Molecular modeling identified 22 putative heme-docking sites on ENaC (energy of binding range: 86-1563 kJ/mol) with at least 2 sites within its narrow transmembrane pore, potentially capable of blocking Na+ transport across the channel. In conclusion, results suggested that CFH mediated inhibition of ENaC activity may be responsible for pulmonary edema post inhalation injury.
The Two-Envelope Problem for General Distributions

The 2-envelope problem is a classical probability conundrum. Two players each receive an envelope: one containing the amount X and the other 2X. By turns, each player may either keep the amount received or switch envelopes. The conundrum is that if a player assumes the envelopes are equally likely, it is always best to switch, which seems paradoxical. However, having observed one value, the problem becomes essentially one of hypothesis testing based on a single observation, and the conditional probabilities will generally fail to be equally likely. Thus, the player must condition on the observed value, making the problem one of standard statistical inference, and not paradoxical. Here we take a general nonparametric approach and consider finding the envelope containing the larger value of the expectation of any specified function, v(x). The basic result is that if v(x) is bounded, then there is a randomized rule under which the success probability for choosing the larger envelope is greater than 1/2, uniformly over the set of all distribution pairs. Other criteria are considered and counterexamples are presented to show that more general conditions will not provide success probabilities greater than 1/2.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of TAS4 and MYBA7 loci in grapevine rootstock 101-14

Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa and is vectored by xylem sap-sucking insects, whereas Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV) causes Red Blotch Disease and is transmitted in the laboratory by alfalfa leafhopper Spissistilus festinus. The significance of anthocyanin accumulations in distinct tissues of grapevine by these pathogens is unknown, but vector feeding preferences and olfactory cues from host anthocyanins may be important for these disease etiologies. Phosphate, sugar, and UV light are known to regulate anthocyanin accumulation via miR828 and Trans-Acting Small-interfering locus4 (TAS4), specifically in grape by production of phased TAS4a/b/c small-interfering RNAs that are differentially expressed and target MYBA5/6/7 transcription factor transcripts for post-transcriptional slicing and antisense-mediated silencing. To generate materials that can critically test these genes' functions in PD and GRBV disease symptoms, we produced transgenic grape plants targeting TAS4b and MYBA7 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We obtained five MYBA7 lines all with bi-allelic editing events and no off-targets detected at genomic loci with homology to the guide sequence. We obtained two independent edited TAS4b lines; one bi-allelic, the other heterozygous while both had fortuitous evidences of bi-allelic TAS4a off-target editing events at the paralogous locus. No visible anthocyanin accumulation phenotypes were observed in regenerated plants, possibly due to the presence of genetically redundant TAS4c and MYBA5/6 loci or absence of inductive environmental stress conditions. The editing events encompass single base insertions and di/trinucleotide deletions of Vvi-TAS4a/b and Vvi-MYBA7 at expected positions 3 nt upstream from the guideRNA proximal adjacent motifs NGG. We also identified evidences of homologous recombinations of TAS4a with TAS4b at the TAS4a off-target in one of the TAS4b lines, resulting in a chimeric locus with a bi-allelic polymorphism, supporting independent recombination events in transgenic plants associated with apparent high Cas9 activities. The lack of obvious visible pigment phenotypes in edited plants precluded pathogen challenge tests of the role of anthocyanins in host PD and GRBV resistance/tolerance mechanisms. Nonetheless, we demonstrate successful genome-editing of non-coding RNA and MYB transcription factor loci which can serve future characterizations of the functions of TAS4a/b/c and MYBA7 in developmental, physiological, and environmental biotic/abiotic stress response pathways important for value-added nutraceutical synthesis and pathogen responses of winegrape.
Do Sounder Banks Make Calmer Waters? The Link between Bank Regulations and Capital Flow Waves

This paper tests if prudential and macroprudential regulations have meaningfully reduced the incidence of capital flow "waves," that is, of sudden stops and surges of capital flows from abroad. The results support other work documenting changes since 2008 in how global factors affect capital flows but provide mixed evidence on how regulations have affected the incidence of sharp capital flow movements. Regulations that strengthen banks (such as higher capital-asset ratios) meaningfully reduce the incidence of surges, but tighter macroprudential regulations appear to have done little to reduce the incidence of capital flow waves—and are even correlated with an increased risk of sudden stops. This may reflect their limited use to date, or how they interact with different types of capital flows. Macroprudential regulations may have reduced the volume and volatility of bank flows but shifted financial intermediation outside the regulated sector and thereby increased the volatility of debt and equity flows. These reforms could still provide important benefits, however, in terms of building the resilience of banks and thereby mitigating the negative effects of capital flow waves on the broader economy. Even if the waters are not much calmer, the waves should do less damage.
Detecting GNSS spoofing of ADS-B equipped aircraft using INS

In this paper, we develop a novel method to detect Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) spoofing for an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated [18] all civil aircraft to be ADS-B Out equipped by January 1, 2020. The ADS-B Out broadcast sent to Air Traffic Control (ATC) consists of the aircraft's position, velocity, and other aircraft-specific information, all of which being unencrypted, poses a serious integrity threat. With readily available ADS-B trackers [19], [20], a spoofer can accurately track an aircraft to generate a spoofed trajectory that can go undetected [11]. We propose a novel method to modulate the ADS-B Out position broadcast such that a spoofed trajectory generated using the modulated ADS-B will be detectable by comparing Inertial Navigation System (INS) positions against those obtained using the spoofed GNSS signal. The amplitude of ADS-B modulation is selected to exceed the nominal INS error covariance so that spoofing is observable. In this work, we analytically quantify the magnitude of ADS-B modulation that will be sufficient for spoofing detection. During scenarios of GNSS signal jamming and spoofing, reauthentication of a reacquired GNSS signal is necessary to maintain integrity. During a GNSS outage, given enough time, the INS solution drift will grow large enough such that the spoofed GNSS solution might be within the INS error covariance envelope and go undetected. For GNSS outage scenarios we propose continuous modulation of ADS-B position and analytically quantify the magnitude such that spoofing of the GNSS signal is detectable after signal is re-acquired.
Biphasic response of T cell activation to substrate stiffness.

Abstract T cell activation is sensitive to the mechanical properties of an activating substrate. However, there are also contrasting results on how substrate stiffness affects T cell activation, including differences between T cells of mouse and human origin. Towards reconciling these differences, this report examines the response of primary human T cells to polyacrylamide gels with stiffness between 5 and 110 kPa presenting activating antibodies to CD3 and CD28 . T cell proliferation and IL-2 secretion exhibited a biphasic functional response to substrate stiffness, which can be shifted by changing density of activating antibodies and abrogated by inhibition of cellular contractility . T cell morphology was modulated by stiffness at early time points. RNA-seq indicates that T cells show differing monotonic trends in upregulated genes and pathways towards both ends of the stiffness spectrum. These studies provide a framework of T cell mechanosensing and suggest an effect of ligand density that may reconcile different, contrasting patterns of stiffness sensing seen in previous studies.
Functional network connectivity during Jazz improvisation.

One of the most complex forms of creativity is musical improvisation where new music is produced in real time. Brain behavior during music production has several dimensions depending on the conditions of the performance. The expression of creativity is suspected to be different whether novel ideas must be externalized using a musical instrument or can be imagined internally. This study explores whole brain functional network connectivity from fMRI data during jazz music improvisation compared against a baseline of prelearned score performance. Given that creativity might be affected by external execution, another dimension where musicians imagine or vocalize the music was also tested. We found improvisation was associated with a state of weak connectivity necessary for attenuated executive control network recruitment associated with a feeling of “flow” allowing unhindered musical creation. In addition, elicited connectivity for sensorimotor and executive control networks is not different whether musicians imagine or externalize (through vocalization) musical performance.
Interactions of E. coli with cylindrical micro-pillars of different geometric modifications.

Abstract Understanding the behavior of bacteria at the proximity of different surfaces is of great importance and interest. Despite recent exciting progress in geometric control of bacterial behavior around surfaces, a detailed comparison on the interaction of bacteria with cylindrical surfaces of different geometric modifications is still missing. Here, we investigated how bacteria interacted with cylindrical micro-pillars and modified cylindrical micro-pillars with sprocket, gear, and flower-like wall surface features. Using phase-contrast microscopy, we examined the motion of bacteria around the micro-pillars, and observed different responses of bacteria to each geometric modification. In addition, we extracted the trajectories of the bacteria and characterized several parameters (instantaneous velocity v, change of direction δ , approaching angle ϕ ) to quantitatively compare the effects of the geometric modifications on the micro-pillars. We found that sharp spikes showed the largest effect, compared to smooth surface, convex and concave ripples. Lastly, we carried out numerical simulations, which explained the experimental observations and showed that the observed effects were due to the geometric modifications.
A Quantitative Histological Analysis of the Bladder in Classical Bladder Exstrophy in Various Stages of Reconstruction Utilizing Color Morphometry

Purpose The use of color image analysis to evaluate the contribution of collagen and smooth muscle in a given organ has been well described. We have recently reported on the subtypes of collagen found in normal neonatal bladders and in bladders of newborn exstrophy patients. Much debate continues in the Pediatric Urologic literature regarding the quality of the bladder in exstrophy patients. Despite what is believed to be adequate reconstruction in the exstrophy or epispadias patient, some children fail to attain a capacity required for the development of a satisfactory continence interval. The authors attempt to quantify using color morphometry, the relative amounts of collagen and smooth muscle in the exstrophic bladder at various stages of reconstruction and in newborn normal bladders
Total Laryngectomy Versus Larynx Preservation for T4a Larynx Cancer: Patterns of Care and Survival Outcomes

Purpose To examine practice patterns and compare survival outcomes between total laryngectomy (TL) and larynx preservation chemoradiation (LP-CRT) in the setting of T4a larynx cancer, using a large national cancer registry. Methods and Materials Using the National Cancer Database, we identified 969 patients from 2003 to 2006 with T4a squamous cell larynx cancer receiving definitive treatment with either initial TL plus adjuvant therapy or LP-CRT. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess predictors of undergoing surgery. Survival outcomes were compared using Kaplan-Meier and propensity score–adjusted and inverse probability of treatment–weighted Cox proportional hazards methods. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for unmeasured confounders. Results A total of 616 patients (64%) received LP-CRT, and 353 (36%) received TL. On multivariable logistic regression, patients with advanced nodal disease were less likely to receive TL (N2 vs N0, 26.6% vs 43.4%, odds ratio [OR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-0.73; N3 vs N0, 19.1% vs 43.4%, OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.77), whereas patients treated in high case-volume facilities were more likely to receive TL (46.1% vs 31.5%, OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.27-2.48). Median survival for TL versus LP was 61 versus 39 months ( P Conclusions Most patients with T4a larynx cancer receive LP-CRT, despite guidelines suggesting TL as the preferred initial approach. Patients receiving LP-CRT had more advanced nodal disease and worse overall survival. Previous studies of (non-T4a) locally advanced larynx cancer showing no difference in survival between LP-CRT and TL may not apply to T4a disease, and patients should be counseled accordingly.
Control of cerebral metabolite levels. I. Amino acid uptake and levels in various species.

Abstract This study confirmed previous work which indicated that steady-state uptake levels of amino acids in brain slices are primarily regulated by influx and efflux. To determine whether such fluxes also have a controlling role in living brain, levels of brain amino acids from various animals were compared with the uptake of the same amino acids by brain slices. For these studies, brains of newborn and adult mouse and adult rat, guinea pig, hen, and frog were used. In the composition of the cerebral amino acid pool, differences were found between newborn and adult mice, with adult brain containing lower levels of most amino acids except glutamic acid and its related compounds. There was great similarity in the composition of the free amino acid pool of the brain in all species, glutamic acid being the highest in all brains, followed by taurine; compounds at high level were high in all species, and those at low level were low in all the brains examined. There was also similarity between the various species in the uptake of amino acid by brain slices. In each species the order of uptake was phenylalanine Brain slice uptake and physiological brain levels showed parallelism in that amino acids at high levels in the living brain were usually taken up by slices to a higher degree than amino acids at low levels in the brain. In a comparison of newborn and adult mice, and in a comparison of adults of the various species, physiological brain concentrations and uptake by slices were not parallel in all cases, and it was concluded that although factors that can be measured in slices play an important role, the level of amino acids in the living brain is determined by other mechanisms as well as by those that determined the steady-state uptake levels of amino acids in brain slices.
Statistics for Environmental Toxicity

Environmental toxicity refers to the impact of a hazard or stressor at all levels of biological organization. This impact can range from molecular and cellular levels to whole organism, population, ecosystem, or landscape levels. The statistical methods employed to examine these impacts will reflect the spectrum of the level of organization and the measurements taken at this level. The methods associated with this spectrum are described and illustrated in this article. Keywords: ecosystem level; genomics; measurement scale; regression; effect concentrations; NOEC
Effect of Whole Body X-Irradiation of Rats on Net Synthesis of Albumin, Fibrinogen, α1-Acid Glycoprotein, and α2-Globulin (Acute Phase Globulin) by the Isolated, Perfused Rat Liver

Abstract Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to whole body x-irradiation. One hour after 900 r and 2000 r and 2, 4, and 6 days after 900 r, their livers were perfused for 6 hours with defibrinated rabbit blood, with l-lysine-1-14C and 250 mg of glucose infused for the first 4 hours. Net synthesis of several specific plasma proteins was estimated by serological measurements of changes in their concentration in perfusate. Net synthesis of albumin was decreased a maximum of 25% 4 to 6 days after 900 r, which was essentially the same as that evidenced by livers from unirradiated rats fasted for 5 days. Net synthesis of fibrinogen, estimated by chemical as well as serological measurements, was about 1.5 times the normal rate 4 days after 900 r. Net synthesis of α1-acid glycoprotein was increased at 2, 4, and 6 days after 900 r, with approximately 5 times the normal rate at 4 days. Although α2 (acute phase)-globulin was present at low concentration in the plasma of some irradiated rats at the time of hepatectomy, no evidence was obtained for net synthesis of this protein during perfusion of their livers. Based on the premise that the half-lives of the messenger RNA for rat albumin and fibrinogen are less than 3 hours, our observation that 900 r and 2000 r of whole body x-irradiation failed to suppress synthesis of these proteins is interpreted to mean that x-irradiation in these doses does not damage the DNA of intact rats enough to interfere significantly with transcription of these species of messenger RNA. Perfusions of livers from irradiated rats did not differ from controls with regard to bile secretion, net changes in urea and α-amino acid nitrogen, oxidation of l-lysine-1-14C to 14CO2, or incorporation of 14C-lysine into plasma proteins other than albumin and fibrinogen.
The Green Eating Project: Web-based intervention to promote environmentally conscious eating behaviors

The food system has been cited as unsustainable due to the reliance on natural resources and contribution to global pollution. Technological advances will play a major role in mitigating these negative consequences but consumers will also play a role through food choices. Green Eating (GE) is the concept of practicing more environmentally conscious eating behaviors and is currently defined as: eating locally grown foods, limited amounts of processed/fast foods, eating meatless meals at least one day per week, choosing organic foods as much as possible, and only taking what you plan on eating. Little research exists investigating college student perspectives’ of environmentally conscious food choices and few interventions exist motivating college students to adopt environmentally conscious eating behaviors. The objectives of these studies were to identify perceived benefits, barriers, and motivators of GE in college students and use that information to develop a web-based intervention to motivate college students to adopt GE behaviors. Four focus groups were conducted consisting of a sample of college females (n=20), stratified by stage of change (SOC) for GE into precontemplation/contemplation (PC) and action/maintenance (AM). Two focus groups were conducted per stage group. Questions included their perceived definition, benefits, barriers, and motivators of GE. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim to identify themes based on the questions. A majority of students discussed similar concepts as found in the definition for GE such as: choosing organic foods and shopping at farmers’ markets but only a few students mentioned consuming less meat and reducing food waste. Students mentioned improving health and supporting the local community as benefits of GE. Most barriers of GE differed by group with PC discussing a lack of knowledge and additional cost. Social pressure when eating with family or friends was one major barrier common between the two groups. A web-based intervention program (GE Project) was developed to motivate college students to adopt GE behaviors. The design was quasi-experimental as various general education classes were randomized into experimental (n=716) or control (n=575) group. The program was five weeks in duration and consisted of four modules based on GE concepts: an introduction to GE, local eating, reducing food waste, and choosing environmentally friendly proteins. Participants completed baseline (experimental: n=257; control: n=367) and post (experimental: n=198; control: n=304) assessments of the GE survey consisting of behaviors and various Transtheoretical Model concepts associated with motivating behavior change such as stage of change (SOC), decisional balance (DB) with factors split into pros and cons, and self-efficacy (SE) with factors split into school and home. Participants also completed knowledge items to demonstrate learning module content. The study was effective in significantly increasing GE behaviors, DB pros, SE school, and knowledge in experimental compared…
Los hongos de Colombia - IV. Bisporella Triseptata and its allies in Colombia

During the combined mycological explorations of Colombia by the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales (Bogota), Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (Bogota) and The New York Botanical Garden, many new and interesting fungi have been discovered. Among these, several collections of an apparently rare and poorly known species of Bisporella Sacc. were made, which are worthy of report.
Improved polymer nanocomposite dielectric breakdown performance through barium titanate to epoxy interface control

Abstract A composite approach to dielectric design has the potential to provide improved permittivity as well as high breakdown strength and thus afford greater electrical energy storage density. Interfacial coupling is an effective approach to improve the polymer-particle composite dielectric film resistance to charge flow and dielectric breakdown. A bi-functional interfacial coupling agent added to the inorganic oxide particles’ surface assists dispersion into the thermosetting epoxy polymer matrix and upon composite cure reacts covalently with the polymer matrix. The composite then retains the glass transition temperature of pure polymer, provides a reduced Maxwell–Wagner relaxation of the polymer-particle composite, and attains a reduced sensitivity to dielectric breakdown compared to particle epoxy composites that lack interfacial coupling between the composite filler and polymer matrix. Besides an improved permittivity, the breakdown strength and thus energy density of a covalent interface nanoparticle barium titanate in epoxy composite dielectric film, at a 5 vol.% particle concentration, was significantly improved compared to a pure polymer dielectric film. The interfacially bonded, dielectric composite film had a permittivity ∼6.3 and at a 30 μm thickness achieved a calculated energy density of 4.6 J/cm3.
Diversifying the health professions: a model program.

OBJECTIVE To describe a university-based mentoring program in the food and nutritional sciences that addresses the need for multicultural professionals in allied health fields. METHODS The conceptual model for the program includes inputs (goals, resources), transformational process (professional development, social support and recognition) and outcomes (student participation, graduation and placement rates). Outcome data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Between 1993 and 2001, 49 students completed the program, 43 (88%) graduated, 23 were placed in graduate or professional schools, and 21 obtained professional positions. CONCLUSION This mentoring model resulted in multicultural students who successfully entered health professions.
Polymer-based composites for RFI/EMI/ applications

A conductive polymer composite of 2.4 mm thickness has been measured at a frequency range of 100 MHz to 18 GHz. This sample was measured for its EMI and EMC characteristics for use in electromagnetic shielding applications. It was shown that this thin sample achieved high transmission loss over a broad frequency range.
Characterisation of variability in highway pavement materials and construction

Pavement materials and construction (M&C) are inherently variable. Unavoidable inhomogeneous materials, inconsistent construction methods and equipment, and changing weather conditions during construction, among other factors, result in M&C variability. Motivated by the need to provide realistic inputs to pavement quality assurance programs, design procedures and reliability analysis, this paper presents the results of an investigation of variability in key acceptance quality characteristics (AQCs) for both hot-mix asphalt (HMA) and Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements using empirical data (field and laboratory test results from recently completed construction projects). Variability is measured at three levels: within-lot, within-project and within-state. The variability values found in this study are compared with the variability values reported about 17 years ago. The results showed that major progress had been made over the past two decades in reducing variability in pavement M&C.
Agentic Personality Characteristics and Coping: Their Relation to Trait Anxiety in College Students

Anxiety and its disorders, often present before adulthood, have high personal and societal costs for men and women. This study tested a mediation model in which 3 forms of coping mediate the relation of 3 agentic personality characteristics (i.e., traits associated with the belief that people can effectively exercise control over their lives) to lower levels of anxiety within 1 subgroup of young adults (i.e., college students). The agentic personality characteristics were (a) hardiness, (b) personal growth initiative, and (c) coping self-efficacy. The forms of dispositional coping were (a) problem-focused, (b) emotion-focused, and (c) avoidant. Results suggest that agentic personality characteristics differentially relate to forms of coping and trait anxiety. In addition, coping appears to fully mediate the relations of the personality characteristics to anxiety. The results imply that agentic personality characteristics and coping are important in decreasing and/or protecting against anxiety, in part because of how they relate to forms of coping, and suggest the need for more research.
Constrained radiative transfer inversions for vegetation moisture retrievals in grasslands

The retrieval of Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) over fire prone grasslands is important for fire risk and drought assessment. Radiative transfer (RT) model based inversion of measured reflectances for retrievals of LFMC offers a promising method for estimating LFMC. This paper evaluates the extent to which inverse RT model based LFMC retrievals over grasslands can be improved by the use of prior information on soil moisture and LAI. However due to the uncertainty in the procedures used in obtaining the pre-retrieval information about LAI and soil moisture, the prior information is more likely to be in terms of an expected range for LAI and soil moisture rather than exact values. This study uses simulations from coupled soil-leaf-canopy radiative transfer models to investigate the extent to which such categorical prior information may reduce the uncertainty in LFMC retrievals. Results show that under the experimental conditions used in this study, prior information on LAI and soil moisture improves LFMC estimation on the average by about 2.3 to 3.4% (absolute LFMC) depending on the quality and accuracy of the prior information. This can be equivalent to a relative improvement of about 18-27%. This can be significant, since at the dry conditions represented by this study, when fire spread is highly sensitive to LFMC, such improvements in LFMC could considerably improve fire spread predictions and aid fire management decision making. Uncertainty analysis in terms of prediction intervals and standard deviation of errors also show that improvements are significant.
GENEROSITY: VARIATIONS ON A THEME FROM ARISTOTLE TO LEVINAS

This paper traces the concept and phenomenon of generosity from Aristotle to Emannuel Levinas and beyond. The question motivating this investigation is: must the generous act be restricted by a rational calculation of correct, or prudent, giving? Answers to this question vary. Aristotle and Kant would answer in the affirmative, while Emerson and Levinas would (apparently) not. The bulk of this paper is dedicated to Levinas's characterization of excessive generosity as a condition for the fundamental ethical relation, namely, the generous welcome of the Other. I end by considering the phenomenon of generosity from the point of view of the mid-20 th century Mexican philosopher, Emilio Uranga.
A voltage contrast detector for electrical testing of multi-chip substrates

Abstract A voltage contrast detector successfully applied to high speed opens/shorts testing of 90 × 90 mm multi-chip substrates is described. In contrast to the chip testing environment where beam induced charging is primarily a problem to be avoided, beam induced charging is fundamental to the substrate test method. As such the charging process must be well controlled, both in terms of the potential to which conductors are charged and the degree to which charging is confined to the intended conductor. The role of the detector in both aspects of charging control is described.
Petrochemical constraints for dual origin of garnet peridotites from the Dabie‐Sulu UHP terrane, eastern‐central China

Garnet peridotites occur as lenses, blocks or layers within granulite–amphibolite facies gneiss in the Dabie-Sulu ultra-high-pressure (UHP) terrane and contain coesite-bearing eclogite. Two distinct types of garnet peridotite were identified based on mode of occurrence and petrochemical characteristics. Type A mantle-derived peridotites originated from either: (1) the mantle wedge above a subduction zone, (2) the footwall mantle of the subducted slab, or (3) were ancient mantle fragments emplaced at crustal depths prior to UHP metamorphism, whereas type B crustal peridotite and pyroxenite are a portion of mafic–ultramafic complexes that were intruded into the continental crust as magmas prior to subduction. Most type A peridotites were derived from a depleted mantle and exhibit petrochemical characteristics of mantle rocks; however, Sr and Nd isotope compositions of some peridotites have been modified by crustal contamination during subduction and/or exhumation. Type B peridotite and pyroxenite show cumulate structure, and some have experienced crustal metasomatism and contamination documented by high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.707–0.708), low eNd(t) values (−6 to −9) and low δ18O values of minerals (+2.92 to +4.52). Garnet peridotites of both types experienced multi-stage recrystallization; some of them record prograde histories. High-P–T estimates (760–970 °C and 4.0–6.5±0.2 GPa) of peak metamorphism indicate that both mantle-derived and crustal ultramafic rocks were subducted to profound depths >100 km (the deepest may be ≥180–200 km) and experienced UHP metamorphism in a subduction zone with an extremely low geothermal gradient of <5 °C km−1.
Knowledge Management Benchmarks

Knowledge Management is now one of the major driving forces of organizational change and wealth creation. This paper reviews some of the major concepts and approaches as discussed at a recent international congress on the subject. Beginning with an examination of some of the factors propelling the global knowledge economy, the paper then explores knowledge‐based organizational strategy, illustrated by a number of case studies from leading practitioners, including British Petroleum, Glaxo Wellcome, ICL, Nokia Telecommunications, the UK Post Office and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. The concept of intellectual capital lies at the heart of Knowledge Management. Some companies define intellectual capital in terms of value creation, for others it is value extraction. The two different approaches, illustrated by Skandia and the Dow Chemical Company, are reviewed, along with a new tool for measuring intellectual capital.
Effect of mixed LiBOB and LiPF6 salts on electrochemical and thermal properties in LiMn2O4 batteries

Abstract The effects of mixed LiBOB and LiPF 6 salts as electrolyte for lithium ion batteries are investigated by electrochemical testing and thermal stability analysis. Elevated temperature cycle, specific power, DCIR and EIS tests reveal that mixed salts electrolyte has a distinct effect on cycle life and effectively stabilize impedance increase, as optimum concentration of LiBOB is between 0.1 and 0.25 M. Fading mechanism analyses demonstrate that the mixed salts system could decrease Mn dissolution and LiBOB decomposition at elevated temperature application. Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) shows that the thermal stability of mixed salts electrolyte is also acceptable. In short, the mixed salts of LiBOB and LiPF 6 provide a possible solution to improve the instability of LiMn 2 O 4 as cathode in lithium ion batteries at elevated temperature conditions and show a promising capability in high current discharge for high power application such as hybrid electrical vehicles.
Enhanced external counterpulsation as an adjunct to revascularization in unstable angina

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an effective noninvasive treatment for chronic stable angina. Despite intensive risk factor modification, a patient required two surgical coronary revascularizations and seven multivessel angioplasties over a 26-monfh period, demonstrating recurrent unstable angina and persistent thallium perfusion defects despite revascularization. Post EECP, angina was relieved, thallium defects were resolved, and the patient has remained asymptomatic for 36 months.
PPARγ‐mediated antineoplastic effect of NSAID sulindac on human oral squamous carcinoma cells

There is strong evidence that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) sulindac may exert a significant antineoplastic effect. The purpose of our study was to explore the effects of sulindac on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) cells and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The changes that sulindac treatment induced on growth, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution of human oral SCCa cell lines were assessed by cell growth and flow cytometry experiments. Utilizing quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, we determined the effect of sulindac treatment on mRNA and protein expression of different sulindac's targets. Also, PPARgamma expression was selectively targeted by antisense oligonucleotide treatment. Both sulfide and sulfone metabolites of sulindac, which differ in the ability to cause COX-2 inhibition, induced a significant dose- and time-dependent cell growth reduction accompanied by increase in apoptosis without concomitant cell cycle arrest. Sulindac treatment also caused upregulation of the protein and mRNA expression levels of COX-2 and PPARs. Treatment with antisense PPARgamma oligonucleotides abolished sulindac's growth inhibitory effect. Our results are consistent with a significant growth inhibitory effect of NSAID sulindac on human oral SCCa cells, which is mediated, at least partially, through induction of apoptosis. We suggest that upregulation of PPARgamma expression and activation may be, at least partially, responsible for sulindac's antiproliferative effect.
Europe’s REACH regulation - busting the 1 tonne myth, with a focus on articles

REACH is an acronym/anagram for the European regulation that addresses the classification, documentation, labeling, and related authority communications for chemical substances on their own, or in preparations or articles. It came into effect in June of 2007, and has several staged deadlines from now until 2018 and later. A common misconception about REACH is that it only applies to substances imported or manufactured in quantities exceeding 1 metric toni in a given year. Actually, REACH has criteria that apply even for quantities as small as 1 gram. This paper provides a brief overview of REACH, and some key high level concepts (particularly highlighting those that apply regardless of tonnage), and then delves into criteria that are applicable to hardware products; “articles” in the terminology of REACH.
The use of microprocessors in a timeshared computer facility for research, development, and teaching

The use of microprocessors in a timeshared computer facility at the Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, is described for applications in research, development, and teaching. Modes of usage are described, as are the advantages of microprocessor interfaces for on-line experimentation.
Dynamics of isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate in fathead minnows

Abstract The fate of a triaryl phosphate (ring-UL-14C-2-isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate) was examined in fathead minnows. Diphenyl phosphate was identified as a major metabolite in whole body fish samples. A significant portion of the radioactive residues appeared to be associated with biogenic compounds, indicating “in vivo” reactions of biochemicals with 14C-metabolites or 14C-ring cleavage of 2-isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate and subsquent incorporation into biochemical pathways.
Cell kinetics in normal and neoplastic mammary tissues by flow cytometric analyses

Abstract The cell cycle kinetics of normal mammary tissue and cancer mammary tissues were studied by flow cytometry to determine the effect of estrogen and progesterone and antiestrogens on proliferative activity. The proliferative activity was higher in rat mammary tissue during the estrus and pregnant stages compared to the nonestrus or lactational stages. Upon 5 days administration of estrogen and progesterone to the lactating animal, the low proliferative activity was increased to the values found in the pregnant stage. Steroidal effect on proliferative activity was also shown using organ cultures of normal rat tissues and the increase in proliferative activity can be reversed by the addition of 10(-6) M retinoic acid but not by retinyl acetate. In a human mammary tumor cell line (MCF-7), the cell kinetic activity was significantly depressed by antiestrogens (i.e., tamoxifen) as determined by both flow cytometry and tritiated thymidine uptake studies. Finally, a human tumor model system was developed with the MCF-7 cell line in estrogenized nude mice. Flow cytometry of the resulting tumor indicates a tetraploid tumor similar to the cell culture. Cell kinetic analysis of these nude mice tumor cells demonstrates the high proliferative activity of the estrogenized animals compared to the tamoxifen-treated animals. In conclusion, the use of flow cytometry to rapidly measure cell kinetic activity of mammary tissue has been demonstrated. The effects of estrogen or estrogen and progesterone hormones seem to increase the proliferative activity, while antiestrogens decrease this activity. Findings are observed in both in vivo and in vitro conditions or normal tissues, mammary cancer tissue, and cultured cells.