cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Behavioral Principle for Travelers in an Urban Networks

A new hypothesis on traveler behavior in a network is described which is based on empirical findings in the theory of travel budgets. It is translated into an assignment principle for characterizing the distribution of travelers, as well as the demand and mode split. A numerical technique is proposed, and it is applied to several examples to illustrate qualitative features. The new hypothesis is significant because it considers all travel decisions-whether or not to travel, where to go, and what mode to use-in a single, unified way. The feedback from travel time and money costs on links and modes to traveler behavior is explicitly considered.
Hydrocarbon carotenoid profiles of palm oil processed fractions.

Analysis by gradient-elution normal phase open column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (confirmation by two to three peaks), including calculation of peak ratios, tentatively revealed seven previously unreported hydrocarbon carotenoids in palm oil fractions. They were phytoene, phytofluene, ξ-carotene,α-zeacarotene, β-zeacarotene, neurosporene and δ-carotene. In addi-tion, the presence ofα-,β- andδ-carotenes and lycopene was confirmed. The carotenoid profiles of crude palm oil, crude palm olein and filtered palm olein were similar; carotenoids in these fractions totalled 700-800 ppm. Carotenoids were not found in refined, filtered and deodorized palm olein, while palm kernel oil contained 0.3 ppm ofα-zeacarotene. The yield of hydrocarbon carotenoids was 30% lower in the absence of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene.
Synthesis, spinning, and properties of very high molecular weight poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) for high performance precursors for carbon fiber *

In this paper, synthesis of very high molecular weight (VHMW) polyacrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate (PAN-co-MA) polymers with weight average molecular weights of at least 1.7 million g/mole were repeatedly achieved on a laboratory scale using emulsion polymerization. The development of a hybrid dry-jet gel solution spinning technique for the VHMW PAN-co-MA enabled continuous spinning of 100 filament count tows, 100s of meters in length. Single filaments were analyzed and tested for tensile performance. Experimentally, the hybrid spinning method coupled with VHMW polymers produced precursor fibers with excellent tensile properties, averaging 954 MPa in strength and 15.9 GPa in elastic modulus (N ¼ 296), with small filament diameters (5 mm). Results indicate a strong correlation between decreasing filament diameter, facilitated by high molecular weight polymer, and exponentially increasing tensile properties, using a hybrid dry-jet gel spinning process.
Suppressors of the temperature sensitivity of DNA polymerase alpha mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have isolated two high copy, allele-specific suppressors of the temperature sensitivity of mutations in POL1, the gene that encodes the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase α in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Both genes, PSP1 and PSP2, also partially suppressed a mutation in POL3 which encodes DNA polymerase δ, and both also affected a mutation in CDC6, which acts in initiation of DNA replication. Suppression was not general, since ts mutations in several genes unrelated to replication were not affected. PSP1 was partially effective on low-copy-number vectors, while PSP2 required high copy numbers. The presence of suppressing plasmids did not alter the steady-state level of Pol1 protein, so suppression does not appear to be due to an increase in production or stability of Pol1p. Deletion of either PSP gene or both in combination resulted in apparently normal viable cells. While neither gene is homologous to genes with known functions, PSP1 and PSP2 both have unusual amino acid compositions: PSP1 is rich in asparagine and glutamine, while PSP2 is rich in asparagine and contains “RGG” motifs that have been associated with RNA-binding proteins. We also describe a transposon-mediated strategy that should be generally effective for rapid characterization of multicopy suppressors.
Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with oral bisphosphonate exposure: clinical course and outcomes.

Purpose To characterize the spectrum and outcomes of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) occurring with oral bisphosphonate therapy. Materials and Methods We assembled a retrospective cohort of patients who had developed oral BRONJ according to the 2009 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons criteria and received care within Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, during 2004 to 2011. Patients with intravenous bisphosphonate exposure were excluded. The demographic factors, comorbidities, pharmacologic exposure, maxillofacial findings, and outcomes were ascertained from the clinical and radiologic records. Results We identified 30 cases of oral BRONJ (median age 77 years, 87% women). All had received oral bisphosphonate for osteoporosis/osteopenia (median duration 4.4 years, interquartile range 1.9 to 6.6). More than one half (57%) had comorbidities or relevant drug exposure, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, glucocorticoid therapy, and disease-modifying antirheumatic medications. Extractions preceded BRONJ in 17 patients and trauma in 3; 10 developed BRONJ spontaneously. Overall, 83% had healed within 3 to 52 months, although the relative rate of healing varied by antecedent factor and/or the presence of comorbid conditions/exposures. Nearly all patients with trauma-related and spontaneous BRONJ healed within 1 year (median 7.0 and 7.5 months, respectively) compared with those developing BRONJ after extraction, in whom the median time to healing was 18 months ( P P = .0002) and a longer median time to healing (20 months) than patients without comorbidities (7.5 months). Conclusions We found that postextraction patients and those with comorbid conditions/exposures showed refractory BRONJ with prolonged healing times. Practitioners should be aware that the BRONJ clinical course and outcome varies depending on the antecedent factor and comorbidity status.
The Effects of the Fourth Amendment: An Economic Analysis

We develop an economic model of crime and search that allows us to analyze the effects of the Fourth Amendment's exclusionary rule on crime and privacy. We find that the rule always increases crime but has two opposing effects on searches. It directly reduces searches by reducing the chances that they lead to successful conviction, but it also indirectly increases them by increasing crime. If its indirect effect dominates, the rule actually increases searches and has an ambiguous effect on wrongful searches. If its direct effect dominates, it reduces wrongful searches, thereby protecting privacy. Its direct effect is more likely to dominate the greater is the number of police officers per capita, the lower is the police's incentive to simply close cases and the more accountable the police are for their mistakes. Police accountability also increases crime but unambiguously reduces wrongful searches. We also explore the effects of long-term progress in search technology on crime and privacy.
Temporal onset of synapsin I gene expression coincides with neuronal differentiation during the development of the nervous system

Synapsin I is the best characterized member of a family of nerve terminal-specific phosphoproteins implicated in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. During development, the expression of synapsin I correlates temporally and topographically with synapse formation, and recent physiological studies (Lu et al. [1992] Neuron 8:521-529.) have suggested that synapsin I may participate in the functional maturation of synapses. To better understand the temporal relationship between synapsin I gene expression and particular cellular events during neuronal development, we have used in situ hybridization histochemistry to localize synapsin I mRNA throughout the rat central and peripheral nervous systems during embryonic and postnatal development. From the earliest embryonic time points assayed (E12), the expression of the synapsin I gene was detectable in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. While, in general, levels of synapsin I mRNAs were high in utero, synapsin I cDNA probes revealed specific patterns of hybridization in different regions of the embryonic nervous system. To determine precisely the temporal onset of expression of the synapsin I gene during neuronal development, we examined in detail the appearance of synapsin I mRNA during the well characterized postnatal development of granule cells of the rat cerebellum and hippocampus. In both regions, the onset of synapsin I gene expression correlated with the period of stem cell commitment to terminal differentiation. Finally, our data demonstrate that, in a second phase, synapsin I gene expression increases to a maximum for a given neuronal population during a particular phase of differentiation, i.e., synaptogenesis.
Linearization of holomorphic germs with quasi-parabolic fixed points

Let f be a germ of a holomorphic diffeomorphism of with the origin O being a quasi-parabolic fixed point, i.e. the spectrum of dfO consists of 1 and e2iπθj with . We show that f is locally holomorphically conjugated to its linear part, if f is of some particular form and its eigenvalues satisfy certain arithmetic conditions. When the spectrum of dfO does not consist of any 1’s, this is the classical result of Siegel [C. L. Siegel. Iteration of analytic functions. Ann. of Math.43 (1942), 607–612] and Brjuno [A. D. Brjuno. Analytic form of differential equations. Trans. Moscow Math. Soc.25 (1971), 131–288; 26 (1972), 199–239].
The orienting reflex during waking and sleeping

Abstract A 3 sec tone was presented at 30–45 sec intervals to seventeen subjects before sleep and during all night sleep sessions. For twelve of these subjects, 20 tones were presented during a day-awake session. The following components of the orienting reflex to the tone were measured: EEG, heart rate, respiration rate, electro-dermal, and finger plethysmogram. All measures habituated during the awake sessions. With sleep onset there was a return of the OR for all variables, but the magnitude of the restored OR differed for each variable. There was little, if any, habituation of the OR during sleep. While the smallest OR response was generally during 1-REM, heart rate was a striking exception. The presence of a stimulus-evoked K complex was associated with increased responsiveness in all autonomic variables, but presence of eye movement bursts was associated with decreased cardiovascular response to the tone.
Direct INDO/SCI method for excited state calculations.

Intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) is the most commonly utilized semiempirical technique for performing excited state calculations on large organic systems such as organic semiconductors and fluorescent dyes. The calculations are typically done at the singles-configuration interaction (SCI) level. Direct methods provide a more efficient means of performing configuration interaction (CI) calculations, and the computational trade offs associated with various approaches to direct-CI theory have been well characterized for ab initio Hamiltonians and high-order CI. However, the INDO and SCI approximations lead to a new set of trade offs. In particular, application of the electron-electron interactions in the atomic basis leads to savings in computational time that scale as the number of atomic orbitals, which for a large organic system can be two to three orders of magnitude. These savings are largest when only a few low-lying excited states are generated and when a full SCI basis, which includes excitations between all filled and empty molecular orbitals, is used. In addition, substantial memory savings are achieved in the direct method by avoiding the evaluation of the two electron integrals in the molecular orbital basis. The method is demonstrated by calculating the absorption spectrum of a poly(paraphenylenevinylene) oligomer containing 16 phenyl rings.
Glioblastoma multiforme after microsurgery for acoustic neuroma without radiotherapy: limitations of the Cahan criteria.

In 1948 Cahan and others reported 11 cases of sarcoma that arose in radiated bone, mostly in children treated for tuberculosis. They studied only cases that met certain inclusion criteria: 1) there must have been histologic or radiographic evidence of the nonmalignant nature of the initial condition; 2) the sarcoma that arose must have arisen in the area included in the radiotherapeutic beam; 3) there must have been a relatively long, asymptomatic period of latency between radiation and development of the sarcoma; and 4) the sarcoma must be proved histologically. Since Cahan’s report, these criteria have often been cited as requirements for considering a case to represent radiationinduced malignancy. Since the 1980s there has been considerable interest in stereotactic radiosurgery and other forms of focused radiation therapy for nonmalignant conditions. One of the concerns raised by radiation treatments for acoustic neuroma, which has somewhat limited their use, is the potential for radiation to induce other intracranial tumors, including malignancies. Because such cases are rare, it has been difficult to establish a reliable estimate of their occurrence to guide selection of treatment and patient counseling. We report a case that we feel should be taken into consideration when estimating the risk of radiation-induced malignancy. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. A 58-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of increasing ataxia for the past two weeks. She also noted numbness and tingling in the right face and body, diplopia, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting for the same period. On the morning of admission she experienced a severe pressure headache at the right mastoid process, which spread to include the left side within a few hours. The past medical history was significant for microsurgical excision of a right acoustic neuroma two years previously. This was conducted as a two-stage procedure at another center. A few months postoperatively she received an osseointegrated implant for single-sided deafness. The patient’s family history was negative for cancer, schwan-
Separation and detection of oxidation products in Neurolite raw material

Abstract N,N′-1,2-Ethylenediylbis- l -cysteine dietyl ester (ECD) is a chiral compound and is a key component of Neurolite, a brain imaging agent. In order for the material to be used in the manufacture of Neurolite, it must meet optical rotation and other purity specifications. The optical rotation of ECD is affected by the presence of oxidation-related impurities of the parent material. Prior to this work, the optical rotation was used as a gross indication of these impurities. During product development, information regarding the impurity profile became necessary in order to understand and monitor ECD degradation. A gradient elution high-performance liquid chromatographic method compatible with liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry was developed and optimized using Drylab G software. System suitability of the method was assessed by adding l -methionine ethyl ester and acetophenone to the ECD standard as resolution markers. Comparison of the resolution between each marker and ECD with previous measures of resolution ensures sufficient zone capacity to resolve all potential impurities.
Pineal N-acetyltransferase in chickens: Rhythm persists in constant darkness

The daily rhythm in an enzyme, pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity was studied in chickens kept in conditions of constant dark. The rhythm persisted and had a period length of approximately 24 hours which are characteristics of truly circadian rhythms. The detailed documentation of the rhythm (Fig. 1) shows the shape of the oscillation and clear anticipation of the time of lights on. Both the rise and fall of the rhythm occur without stimulation by light or dark.
Reliability and Validity of the Rational Behavior Inventory with a Clinical Population.

Administered to mental health outpatients (N = 75) who were receiving Psychotherapy the Rational Behavior Inventory as well as several other scales of psychological adjustment prior to their first therapy session. Their therapists also completed several of these scales on their clients. This procedure was repeated for a subsample upon termination of treatment. Correlations were computed among measures, and t-tests were conducted between pre- and posttreatment scores. Significant correlations were found between all measures in the expected directions, and significant pre- to post-scale differences were identified consistent with the expected effects of treatment. These results are interpreted as initial evidence for the Rational Behavior Inventory's reliability and validity with a clinical group. Future research is suggested to examine the Rational Behavior Inventory's relationship to other measures of cognitive dysfunction.
Research in medical economics: A patchwork approach or a systematic plan?

Economists seem to be studying every nook and cranny of the field of medical care, from cost‐benefit analyses of medical technology to economies of scale in hospital size, the utilisation of non‐physician personnel to render care, the effects of pre‐paid financing and care systems, and so on, across an apparently highly divergent range of concerns. Obviously, what these studies have in common is their general subject, ‘medical care financing delivery, and utilisation’, But do they represent only a patchwork approach to understanding the economic features of the ‘real’ system of producing and consuming medical care, or are they somehow systematically, if not always clearly, related to each other? It is argued here that what seems to be a random, unrelated set of studies are indeed closely unified: and together they comprise an integrated analysis of the broad sector of medical care economics.
Genetic ecotoxicology IV: survival and DNA strand breakage is dependent on genotype in radionuclide-exposed mosquitofish

Abstract Western mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis ) were caged in situ in a radioactively-contaminated pond in order to determine if survival and amount of DNA strand breakage were dependent on genotype. Genotypes of fish were determined using the randomly amplified polymorphic (RAPD) technique, and DNA strand breakage was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis. This study is a continuation of research undertaken at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which examined the effects of radionuclide contamination on the population genetic structure of mosquitofish. The previous research found 17 RAPD markers that were present at a higher frequency in contaminated than in reference populations (`contaminant-indicative bands'), and fish from contaminated sites which possessed these markers had higher fecundity and fewer strand breaks than fish which did not. One of the contaminated populations (Pond 3513) was colonized from one of the reference populations (Crystal Springs) in 1977. In the present study, fish were obtained from Crystal Springs and an additional reference site, and caged in Pond 3513. The percent survival and amount of DNA strand breakage were then determined for fish with and without the contaminant-indicative markers. When Crystal Springs fish were caged in Pond 3513, it was found that the genotypic distribution of the survivors was more similar to the native Pond 3513 population than to the Crystal Springs population. Furthermore, for nine of the contaminant-indicative markers, the percent survival was greater for fish which possessed these markers than for fish which did not. For five of these markers, fish which possessed them had higher DNA integrity (fewer strand breaks) than fish which did not. These data indicate that probability of survival and degree of DNA strand breakage in radionuclide-exposed mosquitofish are dependent on RAPD genotype, and are consistent with the hypothesis that the contaminant-indicative RAPD bands are markers of loci which impart a selective advantage in radionuclide-contaminated environments.
THE MIDDLE SIZED FARMING OPERATION: A GOODS-AND-SERVICES FIRM?

Traditionally, the economics of farm number adjustments have been inferred from the relative positions of firms on a longrun average cost curve. The steep slope of the left portion of the commonly drawn curve suggests demise of the smaller units as fast as off-farm and inter-farm markets can absorb their labor and land resources. On the less steeply declining middle portion of the curve, insufficient volume of output (income) is suggested as a cause of firms quitting. The argument is supported by the fact that most empirical estimates do not show the long-run cost curve rising at large outputs. This places downward pressure on product prices, reducing per unit margins, and creating income problems for the middle group of firms. Adjustments in the farming sector are then viewed as constrained by the limitations of factor and product markets, as well as by values and traditions of farm people.
THE STRUCTURE OF MEN'S AND WOMEN'S FEMINIST ORIENTATIONS Feminist Identity and Feminist Opinion

This study considers two problems: the extent to which feminist opinions are distinct from feminist identity and the generalizability of these separate constructs across gender and time. Using pooled cross-sectional data from the six National Election Study surveys conducted from 1972 through 1992, the author employs a series of measurement and structural equation models to evaluate the validity and reliability of various feminist orientations and to estimate the relationships among feminist identity, feminist opinion, and individual characteristics associated with feminism. The results indicate that identity and opinion are separate but related constructs. This configuration generalizes across women and men and two decades of American electoral history.
Genomic organization and alternative splicing of the human and mouse RPTPρ genes

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase rho (RPTPρ, gene symbol PTPRT) is a member of the type IIB RPTP family. These transmembrane molecules have been linked to signal transduction, cell adhesion and neurite extension. The extracellular segment contains MAM, Ig-like and fibronectin type III domains, and the intracellular segment contains two phosphatase domains. The human RPTPρ gene is located on chromosome 20q12-13.1, and the mouse gene is located on a syntenic region of chromosome 2. RPTPρ expression is restricted to the central nervous system. The cloning of the mouse cDNA, identification of alternatively spliced exons, detection of an 8 kb 3'-UTR, and the genomic organization of human and mouse RPTPρ genes are described. The two genes are comprised of at least 33 exons. Both RPTPρ genes span over 1 Mbp and are the largest RPTP genes characterized. Exons encoding the extracellular segment through the intracellular juxtamembrane 'wedge' region are widely spaced, with introns ranging from 9.7 to 303.7 kb. In contrast, exons encoding the two phosphatase domains are more tightly clustered, with 15 exons spanning ∼ 60 kb, and introns ranging in size from 0.6 kb to 13.1 kb. Phase 0 introns predominate in the intracellular, and phase 1 in the extracellular segment. We report the first genomic characterization of a RPTP type IIB gene. Alternatively spliced variants may result in different RPTPρ isoforms. Our findings suggest that RPTPρ extracellular and intracellular segments originated as separate modular proteins that fused into a single transmembrane molecule during a later evolutionary period.
The Variation of Slat Noise with Mach and Reynolds Numbers

The slat noise from the 30P30N high-lift system has been computed using a computational fluid dynamics code in conjunction with a Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings solver. By varying the Mach number from 0.13 to 0.25, the noise was found to vary roughly with the 5th power of the speed. Slight changes in the behavior with directivity angle could easily account for the different speed dependencies reported in the literature. Varying the Reynolds number from 1.4 to 2.4 million resulted in almost no differences, and primarily served to demonstrate the repeatability of the results. However, changing the underlying hybrid Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes/Large-Eddy-Simulation turbulence model significantly altered the mean flow because of changes in the flap separation. However, the general trends observed in both the acoustics and near-field fluctuations were similar for both models.
Head Over the Heart or Heart Over the Head? Cognitive Experiential Self-Theory and Extralegal Heuristics in Juror Decision Making1

Cognitive experiential self-theory (CEST), which maintains that information can be processed in both an experiential (emotional) and a rational mode. Experiential processing fosters a reliance on heuristic cues. Previous research has demonstrated that juror verdicts are influenced by a variety of extralegal heuristics, including a defendant attractiveness cue. This research examined whether experiential processing would produce a defendant-attractiveness/leniency effect. Before awarding monetary damages in a civil trial, participants were motivated to think either rationally or experientially and were shown a photograph of either a high- or low-attractiveness defendant. Experiential mode participants awarded significantly lower damages to the plaintiff when the defendant was attractive, but the attractiveness-leniency effect was not operative for rational mode participants.
CLASS: constrained transcript assembly of RNA-seq reads.

RNA-seq has revolutionized our ability to survey the cellular transcriptome in great detail. However, while several approaches have been developed, the problem of assembling the short reads into full-length transcripts remains challenging. We developed a novel algorithm and software tool, CLASS (C onstraint-based L ocal A ssembly and S election of S plice variants), for accurately assembling splice variants using local read coverage patterns of RNA-seq reads, contiguity constraints from read pairs and spliced reads, and optionally information about gene structure extracted from cDNA sequence databases. The algorithmic underpinnings of CLASS are: i) a linear program to infer exons, ii) a compact splice graph representation of a gene and its splice variants, and iii) a transcript selection scheme that takes into account contiguity constraints and, where available, knowledge about gene structure. In comparisons against leading transcript assembly programs, CLASS is more accurate on both simulated and real reads and produces results that are easier to interpret when applied to large scale real data, and therefore is a promising analysis tool for next generation sequencing data. CLASS is available from http://sourceforge.net/projects/splicebox .
Energy optimization of bioethanol production via hydrolysis of switchgrass

In this work, we propose the optimal flowsheet for the production of bioethanol from switchgrass, via hydrolysis. A superstructure embedding a number of alternatives is proposed. Two technologies are considered for switchgrass pretreatment, dilute acid and ammonia fibre explosion (AFEX) so that the structure of the grass is broken down. Next, enzymatic hydrolysis follows any of the pretreaments to obtain fermentable sugars, mainly xylose and glucose. Ethanol is obtained by fermentation of the sugars. In order to obtain fuel quality ethanol, water must be removed from the water-ethanol mixture. A number of dehydration technologies is considered including rectification, adsorption in corn grits, molecular sieves and pervaporation. The problem is formulated as an MINLP. The superstructure is optimized by decomposing the MINLP for each of the pretreaments. Then, multieffect columns and heat integration are used to reduce the energy consumption and cooling needs. Finally, an economic evaluation is performed. The optimal flowsheet consists of using dilute acid hydrolysis followed by molecular sieves as dehydration technology, which requires less energy and cooling and yielding a promising production price of 0.8 $/gal.
A Logical Formulation of Probabilistic Spatial Databases

There are numerous applications where there: is uncertainty over space and time. Examples of such uncertainty arise in vehicle tracking systems where we are not always sure where a vehicle is now (or may be in the future), and cell and satellite phone applications where we are not sure exactly where a phone may be, and so on. In this paper, we propose the concept of a Spatial Probabilistic Temporal (SPOT) database that contains statements of the form "Object O is in spatial region R at some time / with some probability in the interval [L, U]." We define the syntax and a declarative semantics for SPOT databases based on a mix of logic and linear programming, as well as query algebra. We show alternative implementations of some of these query algebra operators when the SPOT database has a disjoint/less property. Though the declarative semantics of SPOT databases is rooted in linear programming, we have found very efficient algorithms that do not use linear programming methods. We report on experiments we have conducted that show that the system scales to large numbers of SPOT atoms, as well as to fairly fine temporal and spatial granularity.
Development of Nano-Micro-Macro-Structured Porous Nickel Electrodes for use in Supercapacitors

The extremely high surface areas required for supercapacitors has limited the use of metal based electrodes, despite the other advantages such electrodes might have. Self-assembling surfactants and block co-polymers can be used as templates to produce nanostructured thin films that readily give 60-140 fold increases in surface area on both planar and three-dimensional substrates. However, even when relatively high surface area porous metal substrates such as nickel foam are used as a starting point, the resultant material still has surface area density well short of that available in other types of materials. Micro-emulsions offer a method of generating microstructure that bridges the gap between the 100 micron scale structures of foamed metals and the 10-50 nm scale structure of self-assembling block co-polymers. Electrodeposition of nickel and cobalt from micro-emulsions of Tween surfactants gives rise to structure on the 0.1-10 micron length scale. The scale of the microstructure is strongly influenced by the metal ion concentration and the potential at which the electrodeposition. The nature of the metal ion also strongly effects the ease with which the microstructure can be generated and the distribution of the microstructured film on foamed nickel electrodes. For microstructured nickel films ten fold surface area increases can be achieved. The microstructured films are expected to be compatible with a number of the nanostructuring methods to yield cumulative surface area increases of 1000-2000 fold.
Genetic events that limit the efficacy of MEK and RTK inhibitor therapies in a mouse model of KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer

Mutated KRAS (KRAS*) is a fundamental driver in the majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). Using an inducible mouse model of KRAS*-driven PDAC, we compared KRAS* genetic extinction with pharmacologic inhibition of MEK1 in tumor spheres and in vivo. KRAS* ablation blocked proliferation and induced apoptosis, whereas MEK1 inhibition exerted cytostatic effects. Proteomic analysis evidenced that MEK1 inhibition was accompanied by a sustained activation of the PI3K-AKT-MTOR pathway and by the activation of AXL, PDGFRa, and HER1-2 receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) expressed in a large proportion of human PDAC samples analyzed. Although single inhibition of each RTK alone or plus MEK1 inhibitors was ineffective, a combination of inhibitors targeting all three coactivated RTKs and MEK1 was needed to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in both mouse and human low-passage PDAC cultures. Importantly, constitutive AKT activation, which may mimic the fraction of AKT2-amplified PDAC, was able to bypass the induction of apoptosis caused by KRAS* ablation, highlighting a potential inherent resistance mechanism that may inform the clinical application of MEK inhibitor therapy. This study suggests that combinatorial-targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer must be informed by the activation state of each putative driver in a given treatment context. In addition, our work may offer explanative and predictive power in understanding why inhibitors of EGFR signaling fail in PDAC treatment and how drug resistance mechanisms may arise in strategies to directly target KRAS.
Landscape Performance of Green Fountain Grass Alternatives Grown in Northern and Southern Florida

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. cultivar trials, ornamental, invasive, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Pennisetum messiacum, Pennisetum orientale, Pennisetum setaceum SUMMARY. Plant growth, visual quality, flowering, and seed production were assessed for 10 fountain grass (Pennisetum) cultivars planted in northern and southern Florida. All fountain grass cultivars except Rubrum Dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) and Red Buttons fountain grass (Pennisetum messiacum) achieved flower ratings of 3 to 5 in both locations during the first growing season. During the second growing season, chinese fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides), ‘Cassian’ chinese fountain grass (P. alopecuroides), ‘Hameln’ chinese fountain grass (P. alopecuroides), and ‘Red Buttons’ fountain grass flowered better in northern Florida, and green fountain grass (P. setaceum) and ‘Rubrum Dwarf’ fountain grass flowered better in southern Florida. Visual quality of chinese fountain grass and its cultivars generally declined in October without resuming growth through May. ‘Little Bunny’ chinese fountain grass (P. alopecuroides) and oriental pennisetum (Pennisetum orientale) declined dramatically during the first season and did not survive the 84-week study in northern or southern Florida. ‘Rubrum’ fountain grass (P. setaceum) and ‘Rubrum Dwarf’ fountain grass did not produce any seeds.
Initiation of anti-TNF therapy and the risk of optic neuritis: from the safety assessment of biologic ThERapy (SABER) Study

Purpose To evaluate the incidence of optic neuritis (ON) in patients using anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha therapy. Design Retrospective, population-based cohort study. Methods We identified new users of anti-TNF therapy (etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab) or nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during 2000–2007 from the following data sources: Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly, Tennessee Medicaid, and National Medicaid/Medicare. Within this cohort, we used validated algorithms to identify ON cases occurring after onset of new drug exposure. We then calculated and compared ON incidence rates between exposure groups. Results We identified 61 227 eligible inflammatory disease patients with either new anti-TNF or new nonbiologic DMARD use. Among this cohort, we found 3 ON cases among anti-TNF new users, occurring a median of 123 days (range, 37–221 days) after anti-TNF start. The crude incidence rate of ON across all disease indications among anti-TNF new users was 10.4 (95% CI 3.3–32.2) cases per 100 000 person-years. In a sensitivity analysis considering current or past anti-TNF or DMARD use, we identified a total of 6 ON cases: 3 among anti-TNF users and 3 among DMARD users. Crude ON rates were similar among anti-TNF and DMARD groups: 4.5 (95% CI 1.4–13.8) and 5.4 (95% CI 1.7–16.6) per 100 000 person-years, respectively. Conclusion Optic neuritis is rare among those who initiate anti-TNF therapy and occurs with similar frequency among those with nonbiologic DMARD exposure.
Lactoferrin Supplementation to Holstein Calves During the Preweaning and Postweaning Phases

Sixty Holstein calves (30 bulls, 30 heifers) were used to examine the effects of supplemental lactoferrin on feed intake, growth, and health during the preweaning and postweaning periods. One of 3 levels of lactoferrin was supplemented from 3 to 56 d in either whole milk or water to produce 3 dietary treatments: 1) 0 g/d, 2) 0.5 g/d, and 3) 1 g/d. Whole milk (3.8 L/d) containing lactoferrin supplements was fed from bottles until weaning at 35 d. From d 36 to 56, lactoferrin supplements were added to water (15 to 25 mL) and fed from bottles. Lactoferrin supplementation had no effect on feed intake, body weight, average daily gain, heart girth, body temperature, fecal scores, respiratory scores, or haptoglobin concentrations. Calves were housed in individual pens in either an open-sided barn or hutches. Calves raised in the barn consumed more calf starter and therefore grew better than calves raised in hutches. Under the conditions of this study, lactoferrin supplementation was not beneficial. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of lactoferrin, and possible benefits during different feeding conditions or milk sources.
A five-phase reluctance motor with high specific torque

An alternative topology for a synchronous reluctance motor (SRM) is proposed utilizing a novel five-phase, concentrated winding, wye connected stator. The corresponding inverter requires only 10 transistors, each of which operates at a better switch utilization factor than a conventional three-phase, six-transistor bridge. Linear analysis is used to search for an optimum pole arc and the required third harmonic of current to be added to the fundamental current waveform. These results have been backed by a more detailed analysis using the finite-element approach. It is found out that an addition of 33% third harmonic results in 10% more torque even when saturation is properly taken into account. Also, lower flux density in the air gap leaves room for deeper slots and consequently more copper, resulting in a potential further improvement in future designs. >
Evaluation of variability and quality control procedures for a receptor-binding assay for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

The receptor-binding assay (RBA) method for determining saxatoxin (STX) and its numerous analogues, which cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans, was evaluated in a single laboratory study. Each step of the assay preparation procedure including the performance of the multi-detector TopCount® instrument was evaluated for its contribution to method variability. The overall inherent RBA variability was determined to be 17%. Variability within the 12 detectors was observed; however, there was no reproducible pattern in detector performance. This observed variability among detectors could be attributed to other factors, such as pipetting errors. In an attempt to reduce the number of plates rejected due to excessive variability in the method's quality control parameters, a statistical approach was evaluated using either Grubbs’ test or the Student's t-test for rejecting outliers in the measurement of triplicate wells. This approach improved the ratio of accepted versus rejected plates, saving cost ...
Strategies for Planned Project Acceleration

Departments of transportation in the United States are under increasing pressure to accelerate projects to meet user-defined constraints and reduce the inconvenience to the traveling public. Although there is information about acceleration projects in other industries, there has been little specifically aimed at highway projects. A domestic scan sponsored by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program was tasked with providing information in this area. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the resulting information into fundamentals that support successful planned accelerated highway project delivery. Case studies of how departments of transportation successfully accelerated the construction of four very different projects in California, Florida, and Texas serve as the basis for identifying these fundamentals. The fundamentals include upfront and detailed planning, designs that facilitate accelerated construction, a collaborative environment for project stakeholders, and incentives and disinc...
Clay minerals in the sediments of Lake Baikal; a useful climate proxy

Lake Baikal, in south-central Siberia, has been the focus of an international effort (the Baikal Drilling Project; BDP) to obtain continuous long cores (upwards of 100 m) from this unique rift-valley lake and to interpret the paleoclimatic history from various proxy data. As part of this effort, the clay minerals were examined by two research teams. A consistent clay-mineral assemblage, containing illite, inter- stratified illite-smectite, chlorite, and kaolinite as the major minerals, characterizes much of the modern sediments. The relative abundance of these minerals changes with depth in both short piston cores from various parts of the lake and in 100-m-long cores taken from the distal toe of the Selenga Delta (BDP-93). Independent analyses of the abun- dance changes and correlation with other data from the cores show that the clays are responding to two influences: (1) climatic fluctua- tions, particularly in the upper 40 m of the sedimentary record, which show the relative amount of illite-smectite (and sometimes kaolinite) increasing during warmer climate episodes, and (2) source-area chang- es, which are most evident below 40 m in the BDP-93 cores and mark a shift from an eastern (Buguldeika River) to a western (Selenga River) source. The clay-mineral-based climate fluctuations are correlative with the marine oxygen-isotope record through stage 7, and provide a relatively simple and cost-effective tool for gaining insight into the pa- leoclimate of this interior continental site.
Overcoming phase 1 delays: the critical component of obstetric fistula prevention programs in resource-poor countries

Background: An obstetric fistula is a traumatic childbirth injury that occurs when labor is obstructed and delivery is delayed. Prolonged obstructed labor leads to the destruction of the tissues that normally separate the bladder from the vagina and creates a passageway (fistula) through which urine leaks continuously. Women with a fistula become social outcasts. Universal high-quality maternity care has eliminated the obstetric fistula in wealthy countries, but millions of women in resource-poor nations still experience prolonged labor and tens of thousands of new fistula sufferers are added to the millions of pre-existing cases each year. This article discusses fistula prevention in developing countries, focusing on the factors which delay treatment of prolonged labor.
Bisphenol A and related endocrine disruptors.

The ability of the environmental xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) to increase uterine wet weight in the rodent remains controversial, and few studies have previously examined the effects of BPA on uterine morphology. Furthermore, it is not known whether BPA-induced uterotrophic effects are, similarly to <3-estradiol (E 2 ), mediated through the estrogen receptor (ER). In this study, we compared the effects of BPA on uterine wet weight and morphology to those of E 2 in the B6C3F1 ovariectomized mouse. To examine whether these effects were mediated through the ER, the antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (ICI) was co-administered with BPA or E 2 . We report that subcutaneous administration of BPA at doses between 0.8 and 8 mg/day over 4 days significantly increased mean uterine wet weights above those of vehicle (corn oil)-treated mice. The uterine weight data suggest that BPA acts as a partial agonist with an EC 50 of 0.72 mg/day compared to 19.4 ng/day for E 2 . BPA (2 mg/day) and E 2 (40 ng/day) induced a significant increase in luminal epithelial height and in the thickness of both the stromal and myometrial layers of the uterus. The effects of 40 ng E 2 /day on all endpoints studied were reversed by 20 μg ICI/ day. ICI at 200, but not 20 μg/day, was able to reverse the BPA (2 mg/day)-induced increase in both uterine wet weight and luminal epithelial height. ICI alone at 200 μg/day stimulated an increase in thickness of both the stroma and myometrium and did not reverse the effects of BPA (2 mg/day) on these layers. These results suggest that the BPA-induced increase in uterine wet weight and in luminal epithelial height in the ovariectomized B6C3F1 mouse are mediated by the ER.
Increase in proteinuria >200 mg/g after late rejection is associated with poor graft survival

Background. There is no information on the effects of proteinuria on outcomes following rejection. Methods. We addressed this question in a retrospective study of 925 kidney transplant recipients between January 2003 and December 2007. Selection criteria were based on (i) biopsy proven diagnosis of a first episode of acute rejection, and (ii) available data on urine protein to creatinine (UPC) ratios at baseline (lowest serum creatinine before biopsy), time of biopsy and 1 month after biopsy. We examined the effects of a change in UPC (ΔUPC = UPC 1 month after biopsy—baseline UPC) on outcomes. Results. We identified 82 patients with both acute rejection and available data on proteinuria. Mean time (±SE) to acute rejection was 19 ± 2.3 months, and patients were followed up for 38.7 ± 2.6 months after transplant. Median ΔUPC was 200 mg/g (95% confidence interval 0.00 to 0.300). Forty-two patients had a ΔUPC ≥200 (high proteinuria group). Baseline characteristics were similar between high and low proteinuria groups except for more induction therapy with interleukin-2 receptor blockade in the former (71 vs. 47%, P = 0.04). Patient with ΔUPC ≥200 had higher rates of graft loss (26 vs. 15%, P = 0.01) or combined graft loss or death (38 vs. 20%, P = 0.002 by log-rank). In univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, ΔUPC ≥200 mg/g, sirolimus therapy 1 month after rejection and re-transplant status were significant factors associated with death-censored graft loss (hazard ratio (HR) 4.4, 14.9 and 6.2, P ≤ 0.008) or combined graft loss or patient death (HR 3.8, 6.5 and 3.9, P ≤ 0.03). Conclusions. An increase in proteinuria ≥200 mg/g after late acute rejection is associated with poor graft and patient outcomes. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether post-rejection anti-proteinuric strategies improve outcomes.
Understanding the Role of Openness to Experience in Study Abroad Students

In this article, the authors report on a study of 59 undergraduate students who completed a survey assessing aspects of openness to experience, race and cultural understanding, and critical thinking before and after they studied abroad for 3 months. Results showed an increase in students’ knowledge of and ability to comprehend new cultures, particularly among those who initially indicated a low openness to experience. However, there was a decrease in critical thinking skills in students who reported high levels of openness, a finding that was contrary to our prediction and recent research. Possible explanations are discussed regarding the seeming lack of study abroad benefits among students who reported high levels of openness to experience.
Management Awareness And Strategies For The Contemporary African Manager Of Organizations

This paper addresses a topical issue: management awareness and strategies for the contemporary African manager. The overall aim of the work is to provide a framework for improved management practices for the manager and the intervener in both private and public sectors. This framework is not limited to the African manager but has a wider application for other managers of organizations. In pursuant of this objective, relevant key management concepts are explored and discussed bearing in mind that the subject of management is a dynamic and universal phenomenon. Emphasis is placed on the features of the endowed person and the potentials of the human being as the manager and as the most effective contributor to organizational life. The identified concepts and their properties are interwoven. Other highlights are: (i) the universality in the applications or practices of management; (ii) the peculiarity in the applications and practices of management in different environments or social settings; (iii) management practices, problems and prospects in the African settings (See Table I). Cases cited and examples drawn are meant inter alia to strengthen the objectives of the study.