cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Evolution of Retail Institutions: A Case Study of the Guatemalan Retail Sector:

This article traces the evolution of the Guatemalan retail sector after implementation of import substitution policies. The retail sector's productivity and performance are evaluated in the context of economic growth and development. The model builds on the literature on retail productivity to identify workable measures of factors that affect productivity.
Elementary Extensions of Countable Models of Set Theory

We prove the following extension of a result of Keisler and Morley. Suppose is a countable model of ZFC and c is an uncountable regular cardinal in . Then there exists an elementary extension of which fixes all ordinals below c , enlarges c , and either (i) contains or (ii) does not contain a least new ordinal. Related results are discussed.
Environmental Discourses and Rhetoric in the Conceptual Space of Architectural Education

This paper aims to investigate the current state and potential opportunity of strategic environmental discourses and rhetoric in architectural education. Because there is limited research completed on this specific focus, a grounded theory approach was used. In-depth interviews were held with twelve purposefully selected participants, each of whom are prevalently perceived as leaders in incorporating sustainability topics into architectural education. Through a cyclical coding process, larger themes about integrating environmental topics in formal architectural education emerged, with the importance of discourse and rhetoric as one of the primary sub-themes. Different discourses, emphasis on specific terminology, and the implications of each in the conceptual space of architectural educational are explored in the context of both program- and university-level structures. Breaking down the current environmental discourses in these specific contexts offers insight into opportunities to streamline the inclusion of sustainability themes in architectural education. This study concludes with possible avenues for further research regarding environmental discourse and rhetoric in architectural education, and suggestions for application in programs.
A simple estimation of the growth rate and equilibrium size of bedforms created by a turbulent wall jet

A simple procedure for predicting the time evolution and equilibrium size of the two dimensional bedform created by a turbulent wall jet is presented. The model applies to a planar jet discharging ...
A direct method for minimizing the roundoff noise in digital filter design

The authors consider the problem of reducing the effects of roundoff noise and coefficient sensitivity in digital filters when implemented with fixed point arithmetic. The minimum roundoff noise and minimum sensitivity structures have generally many more coefficients than the other canonical structures. A direct method is provided for constructing a reduced sensitivity and roundoff noise state space realization of a digital filter with a saving of 1/2n(n-1) multiplies over the optimal structures. The method avoids expensive transformation of the original realization to the balanced form as well as iterative algorithms of constrained and unconstrained noise minimization. A systolic array implementation is also presented. >
Stimulated scattering in fluids

Abstract A review and summary of the experimental results obtained in this laboratory on stimulated scattering is presented. Stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering with optical mixing give information on molecular vibrational frequencies and hypersonic sound speeds. Stimulated Rayleigh and thermal Rayleigh scattering give information about molecular re-orientation and thermalization times.
Ignition in the supersonic hydrogen/air mixing layer with reduced reaction mechanisms

Asymptotic analysis of ignition within the supersonic hydrogen/air mixing layer is performed using reduced mechanisms. Two distinct reduced mechanisms for the high-temperature and the low-temperature regimes are used depending on the characteristic temperature of the reaction zone relative to the crossover temperature at which the reaction rates of the H + 02 branching and termination steps are equal. Each regime further requires two distinct analyses for the hot-stream and the viscous-heating cases, depending on the relative dominance of external and internal ignition energy sources. These four cases are analysed separately, and it is shown that the present analysis successfully describes the ignition process by exhibiting turning point or thermal runaway behaviour in the low-temperature regime, and radical branching followed by thermal runaway in the high-temperature regime. Results for the predicted ignition distances are then mapped out over the entire range of the parameters, showing consistent behaviour with the previous one-step model analysis. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that ignition in the low-temperature regime is controlled by a larger activation energy process, so that the ignition distance is more sensitive to its characteristic temperature than that in the high-temperature regime. The ignition distance is also found to vary non-monotonically with the system pressure in the manner of the well-known hydrogen/oxygen explosion limits, thereby further substantiating the importance of chemical chain mechanisms in this class of chemically reacting boundary layer flows.
RepFrag: a graph based method for finding repeats and transposons from fragmented genomes

Growing sequencing and assembly efforts have been met by the advances in high throughput machines. However, the presence of massive amounts of repeats and transposons complicates the assembly process. Given a library of possible repeats, this paper considers the problem of identifying repeats and transposons in the fragments (also called reads) generated from sequencing machines. This is a difficult problem as the locations of the fragments on the complete genome are not known. Furthermore, due to insertion, deletion and other evolutionary factors, different copies of repeats can diverge from each other. The presence of transposons, (also called jumping genes) makes the problem even harder as they can split other repeats and make them diverge from the actual repeats.We develop a graph based method named RepFrag which can efficiently identify repeats in a given set of fragments. We first align the fragments to the repeats in the given repeat library. We model the alignments as the vertices in the graphs. We create edges between two vertices if they can jointly express a potential repeat better. We traverse the paths in this graph to find a path that has a high potential of representing a complete repeat. We mask the aligned regions on the fragments corresponding to the vertices on that path. Using the unaligned regions, we create a new fragment and align it with the repeats. We modify the existing graphs based on the new alignments, if there are any. We iterate this process of path selection and modification of graph until no promising path remains.We compared the performance of our method to that of Repeat-Masker on 30 different fragment datasets generated from five different chromosomes of Arabidopsis Thaliana for varying coverage values and fragment lengths. On average RepFrag had a 35% better true positive-false positive ratio. RepFrag was 7.3 times faster than RepeatMasker on the average. Thus, our results suggest that, our method improves significantly over RepeatMasker in terms of speed and accuracy.
First and Second Trimester Evaluation of Risk for Fetal Aneuploidy: The Secondary Outcomes of the FASTER Trial

The FASTER Trial was a multicenter National Institute of Child Health and Human Development sponsored study of Down syndrome screening in a large unselected obstetric population using first and second trimester maternal serum markers and first trimester nuchal translucency sonography. The following paper will describe the FASTER Trial. It will review the outcomes of pregnancies complicated by cystic hygroma and the FASTER Trial's findings regarding first trimester nasal bone ultrasonography and screening for aneuploidy. Although the study's first and foremost goal was to compare various first and second trimester methods of screening for Down syndrome, the FASTER Trial has revealed a wealth of information not only on screening for aneuploidy but also on other obstetric issues.
Optimization of capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fiber stationary phase extractions of proteins from MALDI-MS suppressing media

Solid phase extraction (SPE) is an essential component in many proteomic analyses involving matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry detection (MALDI-MS). Parametric variables affecting the efficiency of protein extractions from buffer (Tris–HCl) and urine media using a capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fiber stationary phase in a tip-based format are evaluated. Proteins are immobilized on to polypropylene (PP) C-CP fibers and eluted in organic solvents conducive to high analytical performance using a simple benchtop centrifuge to drive the fluids. Experimental variables, including elution solvent strength, aqueous wash volume, the interactive aspects of fiber tip length (2.5–10 mm), and loading and elution volumes, were evaluated to gain insights into fundamental processes and to optimize protein recoveries/analytical signals. Based on the MALDI-MS responses of the test proteins cytochrome c, lysozyme, and myoglobin, the optimized elution solvent was determined to be a 60 : 40 ACN–H2O mixture with 0.07% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). It was determined that different aqueous wash volumes were required to flush test solution remnants, depending on the buffer concentration, concluding that a 100 μL wash was effective at concentrations of up to 1 M. Fiber tip length was explored to determine the limits of loading volume/protein mass for each bed size while efficiently extracting from the buffer environment. Interestingly, the shortest C-CP fiber tips provided the best efficiency, isolating nanogram levels of protein from 1 μL aliquots of sample. After optimization, a proof of practice experiment was performed to extract the three-protein suite (<5 μM of each) from a synthetic urine matrix. The previously undetected proteins could be readily distinguished with high spectral clarity due to the SPE procedure utilizing C-CP fiber packed micropipette tips.
Multiple host proteins that function in phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate metabolism are recruited to the chlamydial inclusion.

Chlamydiae replicate within a nonacidified vacuole, termed an inclusion. As obligate intracellular bacteria, chlamydiae actively modify their vacuole to exploit host signaling and trafficking pathways. Recently, we demonstrated that several Rab GTPases are actively targeted to the inclusion. To define the biological roles of inclusion localized Rab GTPases, we have begun to identify inclusion-localized Rab effectors. Here we demonstrate that oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe protein 1 (OCRL1), a Golgi complex-localized phosphatidylinositol (PI)-5-phosphatase that binds to multiple Rab GTPases, localizes to chlamydial inclusions. By examining the intracellular localization of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins that bind to unique phosphoinositide species, we also demonstrate that phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P), the product of OCRL1, is present at the inclusion membrane. Furthermore, two additional host proteins, Arf1, which together with PI4P mediates the recruitment of PI4P-binding proteins to the Golgi complex, and PI4KIIα, a major producer of Golgi complex-localized PI4P, also localize to chlamydial inclusions. Depletion of OCRL1, Arf1, or PI4KIIα by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreases inclusion formation and the production of infectious progeny. Infectivity is further decreased in cells simultaneously depleted for all three host proteins, suggesting partially overlapping functions in infected cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that Chlamydia species create a unique replication-competent vacuolar environment by modulating both the Rab GTPase and the PI composition of the chlamydial inclusion.
Anion exchanged polymerized ionic liquids: High free volume single ion conductors

Abstract In this study, we investigate the isolated effect of anion type on the chemical, thermal, and conductive properties of imidazolium-based polymerized ionic liquids (PILs). PILs with various anions at constant average chain length were prepared by ion exchange with a water-soluble PIL precursor, (poly(1-[(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-3-butylimidazolium bromide) (poly(MEBIm–Br)). NMR, IR, and elemental analysis confirm that anion exchange of ploy(MEBIm–Br) with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (TFSI), tetrafluoroborate (BF4), trifluoromethanesulfonate (Tf), and hexafluorophosphate (PF6) in water resulted in nearly fully exchanged PILs. As a function of anion type, the glass transition temperature plays a dominant role, but not the sole role in determining ion conductivity. Other factors affecting ionic conductivity include the size and symmetry of the anion and dissociation energy of the ion pair. Both the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) and Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equations were employed to investigate the temperature dependent ionic conductivities. The C 1 g (9.03) and C 2 g (168 K) values obtained from the WLF regression of these PILs greatly deviate from the classical WLF values originally obtained from the mechanical relaxation of uncharged polymers ( C 1 g = 17.44, C 2 g = 51.6 K) and the WLF values obtained from the conductive properties of other polymer electrolytes. This suggests that the fractional free volume (f (Tg) = B/(2.303 C 1 g )) and Vogel temperature (T0 = Tg − C 2 g ) are strong functions of ion concentration, where high free volume allows for ion mobility at temperatures farther below the glass transition temperature of the polymer.
Transport measurements in granular niobium nitride cermet films

We have studied normal-state and superconducting transport properties in a granular cermet consisting of B1-structure NbN grains in a boron nitride insulating matrix. By varying the volume fraction of the two components we produced films (20--70 nm in thickness) that exhibited transport behavior in either of two distinct and mutually exclusive classes: ''insulating'' films with rho--exp(-a/T/sup 1/2/) which never went superconducting, and ''superconducting'' films with rho--ln(T) from room temperature down to the superconducting transition. This latter logarithmic temperature dependence for the resistivity is also observed at low temperature when superconductivity is suppressed in high magnetic fields. Broad superconducting transitions are observed with a strong compositional dependence of the mean field critical temperature, T/sub c//sub 0/. The Kosterlitz-Thouless two-dimensional (2D) topological phase transition at T/sub 2D/ is observed in the superconducting samples both by the power-law behavior in current-voltage characteristics and by pure flux flow transport in high magnetic fields.
Multiple daily fractionation radiotherapy schedules in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the number one worldwide cancer killer, and in spite of therapeutic advances, the overall impact on survival has remained very modest. For both small and non-small-cell lung cancer, treatment trends have shifted toward combined-modality approaches, chemotherapy for the control of systemic micrometastases, and radiotherapy for intrathoracic control. However, on both counts, rates of failure remain unacceptably high, and several novel strategies are currently being explored. The use of altered fractionation, including multiple daily fractions, reflects one approach for modifying radiotherapy. The two most common approaches are hyperfractionation and acceleration, the former designed to reduce late normal tissue toxicities and the latter to counteract accelerated tumor repopulation. Recent randomized trials suggest that such approaches may result not only in lowered rates of intrathoracic failure but also in improved survival.
Female Symbols of Resistance in Chinese Wartime Spoken Drama

Ironically, 1937, the year that the Sino-Japanese War broke out, was also celebrated as "The Year of Spoken Drama" (huaju nian) in China (Xiju shidai, 1937; A Ying, 1937: 243). It was a year of chaos and paralysis, but it was also a year that profoundly changed the course and nature of modern Chinese drama. Chinese spoken drama (huaju, literally meaning "speaking play," a name used to distinguish it from traditional operas), a genre born out of the influence of Western drama, constituted an integral part of the New Culture Movement. It began when the Spring Willow Society (Chunliu she), formed by a group of young Chinese theater enthusiasts (Zeng Xiaogu [?-?], Li Shutong [18801942], Ouyang Yuqian [1889-1962]), staged Chahua nu (an adaption from La dame aux camelias by Dumasfils) and Black Slave's Cry to Heaven (Heinuyutian lu, based on the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe) in Tokyo in 1907 (Ouyang, 1958: 13-47). But despite the pioneering efforts of Ouyang Yuqian, Tian Han (1898-1968), and Hong Shen (18941955), in the 1920s this new-style drama remained very much amateurish, with few professionals, a small number of dramatic
Numerical modeling of tidal and wind-driven circulation in the Meso-American barrier reef lagoon, Western Caribbean

The Meso-American Barrier Reef System (MBRS) is the second longest reef system in the world and the longest in the western hemisphere. Several promontories along the Belize barrier reef, including Gladden Spit, are known to attract large numbers of groupers and snappers, among other fishes, for spawning during set times of the year, mostly January-June. The fertilized eggs are buoyed to the surface and then transported by wave drift and wind-driven currents. Analysis of the circulation patterns within the lagoon is laying the groundwork for a better understanding of the transport of eggs, larvae, nutrients, pollutant, and sediment, which in turn will help coastal managers to conserve critical habitats. The numerical model implemented for the analysis of the circulation in the MBRS lagoon is the Surfacewater Modeling System (SMS v 8.0). Five simulation cases were executed, each 35 days long, to analyze the circulation within the lagoon under varying hydrometeorological conditions. The results from the five simulations show that the circulation in the MBRS lagoon is driven by trade winds, mostly trade winds, modified by tides, with little residual flow due to runoff. Under the influence of the trades, strong flows occur near Gladden Spit, initially westward into the lagoon and then southward.
Behind the Curve: Globalization and International Terrorism

tween the evolving changes of globalization, the inherent weaknesses of the Arab region, and the inadequate American response to both ensures that terrorism will continue to be the most serious threat to U.S. and Western interests in the twenty-arst century. There has been little creative thinking, however, about how to confront the growing terrorist backlash that has been unleashed. Terrorism is a complicated, eclectic phenomenon, requiring a sophisticated strategy oriented toward inouencing its means and ends over the long term. Few members of the U.S. policymaking and academic communities, however, have the political capital, intellectual background, or inclination to work together to forge an effective, sustained response. Instead, the tendency has been to fall back on established bureaucratic mind-sets and prevailing theoretical paradigms that have little relevance for the changes in international security that became obvious after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. The current wave of international terrorism, characterized by unpredictable and unprecedented threats from nonstate actors, not only is a reaction to globalization but is facilitated by it; the U.S. response to this reality has been reactive and anachronistic. The combined focus of the United States on statecentric threats and its attempt to cast twenty-arst-century terrorism into familiar strategic terms avoids and often undermines effective responses to this nonstate phenomenon. The increasing threat of globalized terrorism must be met with oexible, multifaceted responses that deliberately and effectively exploit avenues of globalization in return; this, however, is not happening. Behind the Curve
A novel melanoma therapy stirs up a storm: ipilimumab-induced thyrotoxicosis.

Ipilimumab, a novel therapy for metastatic melanoma, inhibits cytotoxic T-lymphocyte apoptosis, causing both antitumor activity and significant autoimmunity, including autoimmune thyroiditis. Steroids are frequently used in treatment of immune-related adverse events; however, a concern regarding the property of steroids to reduce therapeutic antitumor response exists. This study describes the first reported case of ipilimumab-associated thyroid storm and implicates iopanoic acid as an alternative therapy for immune-mediated adverse effects. An 88-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma presented with fatigue, anorexia, decreased functional status, and intermittent diarrhea for several months, shortly after initiation of ipilimumab – a recombinant human monoclonal antibody to the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4). On arrival, she was febrile, tachycardic, and hypertensive with a wide pulse pressure, yet non-toxic appearing. She had diffuse, non-tender thyromegaly. An electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed supraventricular tachycardia. Blood, urine, and stool cultures were collected, and empiric antibiotics were started. A computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest was negative for pulmonary embolism or pneumonia, but confirmed a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland, which prompted thyroid function testing. TSH was decreased at 0.16 μIU/ml (normal 0.3–4.7); free tri-iodothyronine (T3) was markedly elevated at 1031 pg/dl (normal 249–405), as was free thyroxine (T4) at 5.6 ng/dl (normal 0.8–1.6). With iopanoic acid and methimazole therapy, she markedly improved within 48 h, which could be attributed to lowering of serum T3 with iopanoic acid rather than to any effect of the methimazole. Ipilimumab is a cause of overt thyrotoxicosis and its immune-mediated adverse effects can be treated with iopanoic acid, a potent inhibitor of T4-to-T3 conversion. Learning points While ipilimumab more commonly causes autoimmune thyroiditis, it can also cause thyroid storm and clinicians should include thyroid storm in their differential diagnosis for patients who present with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Immune-related adverse reactions usually occur after 1–3 months of ipilimumab and baseline thyroid function testing should be completed before initiation with ipilimumab. Conflicting data exist on the use of prednisone for treatment of CTLA4 adverse effects and its attenuation of ipilimumab's antitumor effect. Iopanoic acid may be considered as an alternative therapy in this setting.
Forecast horizons for the discounted dynamic lot-size problem allowing speculative motive

This article considers the dynamic lot-size problem under discounting, allowing speculative motive for holding inventory. A variable rolling-horizon procedure is presented, which, under certain regularity conditions, is guaranteed to generate an infinite-horizon optimal-production plan. We also discuss a fixed rolling-horizon procedure which provides a production plan that achieves an infinite-horizon cost within a user-specified tolerance ϵ of optimality. The fixed-horizon length T* needed in this procedure is given in terms of a closed-form formula that is independent of specific forecasted demands. We also present computational results for problems with a range of cost parameters and demand characteristics.
Effect of small-scale baryon inhomogeneity on cosmic nucleosynthesis.

We consider the evolution of the nuclear abundances in a universe with inhomogeneities (induced by the quark-hadron phase transition) on a scale such that neutron diffusion is important before and during nucleosynthesis. We investigate a number of initial baryon density contrast ratios: R=10, 100, 1000; a number of high-density volume fractions: ${f}_{V}$=(1/4, (1/8, (1/16, and (1/64; and a number of geometries: planar, cylindrical with the higher density near the center, cylindrical with the higher density near the outer zone of computation (thin-walled tubes of higher density), spherical with the higher density near the center (isolated spherical regions of high density), and spherical with the higher density near the outer zones of the computation (a foam structure of high-density regions). We concentrate on three R=100 models. For a high-density [\ensuremath{\eta}=70\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}10}$\ensuremath{\equiv}${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{baryon}}$(now) =4.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}30}$ g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$] universe that would be closed for Hubble parameter ${H}_{0}$=50 km/sec Mpc, we find disagreement in all three isotopes ${(}^{2}$H, $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$) with observations, regardless of the scale ${r}_{i}$ of the inhomogeneity; for \ensuremath{\eta}=3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}10}$ and \ensuremath{\eta}=7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}10}$, ``low''- and ``high''-standard values (\ensuremath{\eta}=3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}10}$ corresponds in the homogeneous case to the absolute minimum of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ production), we find that for inhomogeneity distance scales typical of those expected at the quark-hadron transition, i.e., ${r}_{i}$\ensuremath{\lesssim}100 m, then $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{2}\mathrm{H}$ abundances remain in agreement with observational values, and $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ is also not much changed from its value in a homogeneous cosmology.
HYPERPHAGIA IN NEWBORNS WITHDRAWING FROM METHADONE 1875

Most known heroin dependent pregnant women in San Francisco are cared for in a single methadone maintenance program that favors high dose methadone in order to obviate illicit intravenous drug associated conditions and most of their infants are delivered at our institution. Many of the methadone withdrawing infants appear to have hyperphagia. We were concerned about potential problems that might result from hyperphagia. We reviewed charts on all newborns delivered at San Francisco General Hospital in the past three years and identified 43 newborns by history, urine toxicology, signs and symptoms as having methadone withdrawal. By chart review, we recorded maternal drug dose/day, infant oral intake per kg/day, Finnegan drug withdrawal scores, weight gain, and method of treating withdrawal. All infants were treated with phenobarbital, tincture of opium, and/or valium, singly or in combination. Defining hyperphagia as > 190 mL/Kg/d, 26% were hyperphagic by day 8, rising to a high of 76% by day 20, with 27% remaining hyperphagic by day 30. Hyperphagia was not clearly associated with maternal methadone dosage at time of delivery which ranged from 15 to 95 mg methadone/day (median 50 mg). Infants who were hyperphagic (max intake 290 mL/Kg/day) did not have clinical problems (vomiting, aspiration, diarrhea, distention, or necrotizing enterocolitis). Therefore, despite our initial concern, hyperphagia in a relatively large sample of methadone withdrawing newborns was not associated with complications.
Causal mechanisms of long waves

Abstract Previous research on the causes of economic growth maintains that long waves of economic development arise as a result of Schumpeterian innovation. This paper builds on this research by introducing four primary causal mechanisms for the long wave of economic development. The causal mechanisms are classified based on level of analysis. The paper argues that describing causal mechanisms by level of analysis allows researchers to more easily draw from various fields and establish needed consensus in long wave theory.
Comparison of protein structure in the crystal and in solution. VI. Volume change in the crystallization of horse methemoglobin.

The crystallization of horse methemoglobin was followed dilatometrically and found to be associated with a contraction of 21 ml. per mole of hemoglobin tetramer in 1·35 to 1·5 M -Na 2 SO 4 and with one of 42 ml. per mole in 1·8 M -(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . The absence of any substantial volume change suggests that both the conformation and the solvent surrounding the molecule are unaffected by crystallization.
The Sinorhizobium meliloti SyrM Regulon: Effects on Global Gene Expression Are Mediated by syrA and nodD3

In Sinorhizobium meliloti, three NodD transcriptional regulators activate bacterial nodulation (nod) gene expression. NodD1 and NodD2 require plant compounds to activate nod genes. The NodD3 protein does not require exogenous compounds to activate nod gene expression; instead, another transcriptional regulator, SyrM, activates nodD3 expression. In addition, NodD3 can activate syrM expression. SyrM also activates expression of another gene, syrA, which when overexpressed causes a dramatic increase in exopolysaccharide production. In a previous study, we identified more than 200 genes with altered expression in a strain overexpressing nodD3. In this work, we define the transcriptomes of strains overexpressing syrM or syrA. The syrM, nodD3, and syrA overexpression transcriptomes share similar gene expression changes; analyses imply that nodD3 and syrA are the only targets directly activated by SyrM. We propose that most of the gene expression changes observed when nodD3 is overexpressed are due to NodD3 activation of syrM expression, which in turn stimulates SyrM activation of syrA expression. The subsequent increase in SyrA abundance results in broad changes in gene expression, most likely mediated by the ChvI-ExoS-ExoR regulatory circuit. IMPORTANCE Symbioses with bacteria are prevalent across the animal and plant kingdoms. Our system of study, the rhizobium-legume symbiosis (Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago spp.), involves specific host-microbe signaling, differentiation in both partners, and metabolic exchange of bacterial fixed nitrogen for host photosynthate. During this complex developmental process, both bacteria and plants undergo profound changes in gene expression. The S. meliloti SyrM-NodD3-SyrA and ChvI-ExoS-ExoR regulatory circuits affect gene expression and are important for optimal symbiosis. In this study, we defined the transcriptomes of S. meliloti overexpressing SyrM or SyrA. In addition to identifying new targets of the SyrM-NodD3-SyrA regulatory circuit, our work further suggests how it is linked to the ChvI-ExoS-ExoR regulatory circuit.
Postural hemodilution in nephrotic edema: A cause of spurious hemorrhage after renal biopsy

A patient with massive edema caused by nephrotic syndrome showed a nine-point decline in hematocrit after an otherwise uneventful renal biopsy. Investigation showed no evidence of hemorrhage. The decrease in hematocrit was shown to be dilutional, occurring as a result of reabsorption of edema fluid into the vascular space that occurred during the patient's prolonged recumbency after the biopsy. The phenomenon was later reproduced in this patient under study conditions. The implications of this phenomenon are discussed in light of the pathophysiology of edema formation in the nephrotic syndrome.
A novel rat dentin mRNA coding only for dentin sialoprotein

Dentin sialoprotein (DSP) is a major glycoprotein present in the mineralized dentin matrix that is expressed mainly by young and mature odontoblasts. Mutations in the DSP coding regions are linked to Dentinogenesis imperfecta I and II, indicating the importance of DSP in tooth formation. Previous studies have identified multiple mRNA transcripts in dentin that code for both DSP and phosphophoryns (PPs). Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to characterize these mRNA transcripts, we have identified a cDNA that codes for DSP, but not PP. This cDNA codes for a protein with 324 amino acids, 303 amino acids being identical to the published rat DSP sequence. However, the subsequent 21 amino acids are unique to this cDNA. Based on the coding sequence, the core protein is predicted to have a pI=4.24, a net charge of −34, and to contain four potential N-glycosylation sites and six potential sites for phosphorylation by casein kinase. That the corresponding mRNA was present in day 5 molar tooth germs was confirmed using RNA protection assays. These data, therefore, identify a novel transcript in rat tooth germs that codes only for DSP (designated as DSPII).
The meaning of microbial exposure, infection, colonisation, and disease in clinical practice

The basic lexicon of infectious diseases includes the terms exposure, infection, colonisation, and disease, which are used to describe the clinical states in which the presence of a microbe in a host is suspected or discovered. Therefore, the lexicon is used to articulate an implied association between a host and a microbe. However, since it is often difficult to use the available clinical and diagnostic tools to discriminate the different ways in which microbes can exist in a host, the lexicon is often used in an ambiguous and imprecise manner. Another factor contributing to imprecise use of the lexicon is that microbial factors are often held responsible for disease pathogenesis. This relegates the part that the host plays in microbial pathogenesis to an exception, which leads to the need for qualification and modification of the terminology of infectious diseases. Recently, we proposed the "damage-response framework" to incorporate the contributions of both the host and the microbe in microbial pathogenesis in a synthesis whereby host damage was used as the common denominator to describe the outcome of the host-microbe relation. In this article, we illustrate how the application of the damage-response framework to clinical infectious diseases can clarify and make more precise the terminology used to convey the outcome of microbial infection in clinical practice.
Scatterometer use for oil spill measurements

Our results show that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is detectable by ASCAT. We account for low wind speed oil look-alikes by comparing ASCAT measurements against NWP data. The estimated size and shape validates well with NOAA estimates for most of the spill. It is remarkable that a relatively coarse resolution spaceborne radar can map the oil spill - this method would not work as well for smaller oil spills or those spanning a shorter time period. This attests to how large of an impact the Deepwater Horizon oil spill made.
Immunohistochemical localization and mRNA expression of aquaporins in the macula utriculi of patients with Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuroma

Meniere’s disease is nearly invariably associated with endolymphatic hydrops (the net accumulation of water in the inner ear endolymphatic space). Vestibular maculae utriculi were acquired from patients undergoing surgery for Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuroma and from autopsy (subjects with normal hearing and balance). Quantitative immunostaining was conducted with antibodies against aquaporins (AQPs) 1, 4, and 6, Na+K+ATPase, Na+K+2Cl co-transporter (NKCC1), and α-syntrophin. mRNA was extracted from the surgically acquired utricles from subjects with Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuroma to conduct quantitative real-time reverse transcription with polymerase chain reaction for AQP1, AQP4, and AQP6. AQP1 immunoreactivity (−IR) was located in blood vessels and fibrocytes in the underlying stroma, without any apparent alteration in Meniere’s specimens when compared with acoustic neuroma and autopsy specimens. AQP4-IR localized to the epithelial basolateral supporting cells in Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma, and autopsy. In specimens from subjects with Meniere’s disease, AQP4-IR was significantly decreased compared with autopsy and acoustic neuroma specimens. AQP6-IR occurred in the sub-apical vestibular supporting cells in acoustic neuroma and autopsy samples. However, in Meniere’s disease specimens, AQP6-IR was significantly increased and diffusely redistributed throughout the supporting cell cytoplasm. Na+K+ATPase, NKCC1, and α-syntrophin were expressed within sensory epithelia and were unaltered in Meniere’s disease specimens. Expression of AQP1, AQP4, or AQP6 mRNA did not differ in vestibular endorgans from patients with Meniere’s disease. Changes in AQP4 (decreased) and AQP6 (increased) expression in Meniere’s disease specimens suggest that the supporting cell might be a cellular target.
Calcium antagonists: review and perspective on mechanism of action.

ature has for some reason invested calcium with a N unique and vital role in the regulation of cell processes. Certainly, its function in the structure and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system is well known. But the mechanisms by which calcium modulates all excitable and even some nonexcitable tissues remain among the most active areas of interest. In the case of muscle, the requirement of extracellular calcium for beat-to-beat contraction of the heart has been appreciated certainly for well over a century, and the need for intracellular calcium for normal behavior of both smooth and skeletal muscle has been known even longer. Thus, calcium, as the positively charged ion, as well as calcium as the element, is perhaps the key component in the maintenance of living organisms. Whereas other divalent cations and certain monovalent ions are important, it is calcium that links all processes of excitation, whether it be electrical or chemical in nature, to biologic events. In no system is the function of calcium ions more obvious than in excitation-contraction coupling in heart and skeletal muscle. For example, it takes about 0.6 second for the human heart to be depolarized, to contract, to relax and to recover for the next excitation event. There is no question but that the transient calcium surge across the cell membrane links these processes in a sequential manner so that the heart functions normally almost as if it were one large cell. In fact, the term “functional syncytium” is often used to describe cardiac contraction.
H ∞ controller synthesis for a physiological motor control system modeled with bond graphs

Physiological structures exhibit complex characteristics for postural stability and movement. These structures consist of muscles, muscle spindles, Gologi tendon organs and neural activation mechanism etc. In this paper physiological models are studied with bond graph modeling technique, which provides new prospective to study physiological components and combined musculoskeletal system via flow of power. The central nervous controller for muscle activation is designed and analyzed with Hinfin optimal controller. This controller design optimizes the output of the musculoskeletal structures in the presence of neural activity and disturbance torques to the joints. Simulation results are provided for the different physiological variables for postural stability of a single link biomechanical model with proprioceptive feedback and Hinfin controller design
The Content of Self- and Other-Concepts: A Network Perspective:

The predictive value of the network perspective on the content of person-concepts was investigated in two studies. A number of predictions were tested based on the positive relationship between person-concept feature centrality and accessibility derived from the network model. Consistent with a network account of person-concept feature centrality, it was expected that features spontaneously generated by subjects when asked to describe a particular person would be shown to be more accessible on independent indices of accessibility within the context of the same person relative to features that were freely generated for a different person target and nomothetic features. Study 1 attempted to demonstrate that yes-no person-referent descriptiveness judgments involving spontaneously generated features would be made more quickly relative to the other two categories of features. Utilizing an experience-sampling methodology, Study 2 attempted to show that spontaneously offered features would be applied more often ...
The Future of Chinese Management Research: Rigour and Relevance Redux

We use the parable of the blind men and the elephant to suggest that Barney and Zhang (2009) and Whetten (2009) analogously touch on only a part of the Chinese management research puzzle. Their analyses remind us of many attempts at anchoring the research purpose – etic versus emic approaches, exploration versus exploitation approaches, rigor versus relevance scenarios – touched on by the many commentators in this issue. We suggest researchers first answer the ‘purpose’ questions before embarking on the research design. The research design should fit the purpose of the knowledge, which is either to improve the performance of Chinese organizations (meeting the relevance criterion) or to replicate, extend or refine a theory developed in the US (meeting the rigour criterion). We believe the strength of applied management research allows us to create knowledge that can meet the criteria of both rigour and relevance. We support the use of academic international research teams and dialectic debate as tools to move the field of Chinese management research forward.
Use of PLDs to illustrate fundamental concepts in switching and logic

This paper discusses the application of programmable logic devices (PLDs) to enhance the understanding of digital design at the University of Akron. The Switching and Logic course has often been taught as a classical engineering class where students have little or no hands-on experience, and sometimes have difficulty in understanding the basic concept. With the availability of lower-cost, digital and logic components, and test equipment, this is changing. For freshman and sophomore engineering students taking an introduction to digital design, one must make sure that error in implementation such as wiring errors do not prevent the concept of design from getting through. To ease implementation problems at the university, programmable logic devices in the form of ICT PEELs/sup TM/ and PEEL/sup TM/ arrays are used with motherboard and daughter boards. The configuration tools are easy to use and available at no cost to the students for home use. Two and multilevel implementation are investigated for both combinational and sequential networks. The motherboard, daughter board combination was locally developed allowing their resources to closely track the accompanying laboratory exercises. By reducing wiring to a minimum laboratory, exercises can range from analysis to design and be accomplished in the allotted three-hour period. The overall effectiveness of this instructional model has been positive, and this continues to be used and expanded.
Predictive Validity of the Joint Risk Matrix With Juvenile Offenders A Focus on Gender and Race/Ethnicity

Actuarial risk assessment instruments promise to increase decision-making accuracy and equity in settings such as the juvenile justice system, but both aims presume high levels of predictive validi...
Limits and graph structure of available instruction-level parallelism

We reexamine the limits of parallelism available in programs, using run-time reconstruction of program data-flow graphs. While limits of parallelism have been examined in the context of superscalar and VLIW machines, we also wish to study the causes of observed parallelism by examining the structure of the reconstructed data-flow graph. One aspect of structure analysis that we focus on is the isolation of instructions involved only in address calculations. We examine how address calculations present in RISC instruction streams generated by optimizing compilers affect the shape of the data-flow graph and often significantly reduce available parallelism.
Smart grid cybersecurity exposure analysis and evalution framework

The complex system architecture required to support smart grid technology introduces an undetermined level of risk in power systems. Many current techniques to evaluate cyber specific risk fail to scale to such a large environment. While attack graphs and trees are frequently used to model system security, both approaches require the ability to predict potential attack vectors. Access graphs have been proposed to model trust between systems and also show how a compromised system can affect related systems. This paper introduces a framework for evaluating the security exposure of a large scale smart grid environment. The framework utilizes a model based on access graphs to determine the system's attack exposure. This method also implements quantitative metrics to evaluate acceptable exposure levels. This framework also introduces a method to analyze the impact a mitigating security control has on the resulting architecture.
Pyrolysis reaction networks for lignin model compounds: unraveling thermal deconstruction of β-O-4 and α-O-4 compounds

Although lignin is one of the main components of biomass, its pyrolysis chemistry is not well understood due to complex heterogeneity. To gain insights into this chemistry, the pyrolysis of seven lignin model compounds (five β-O-4 and two α-O-4 linked molecules) was investigated in a micropyrolyzer connected to GC-MS/FID. According to quantitative product mole balance for the reaction networks, concerted retro–ene fragmentation and homolytic dissociation were strongly suggested as the initial reaction step for β-O-4 compounds and α-O-4 compounds, respectively. The difference in reaction pathway between compounds with different linkages was believed to result from thermodynamics of the radical initiation. The rate constants for the different reaction pathways were predicted from ab initio density functional theory calculations and pre-exponential literature values. The computational findings were consistent with the experiment results, further supporting the different pyrolysis mechanisms for the β-ether linked and α-ether linked compounds. A combination of the two pathways from the dimeric model compounds was able to describe qualitatively the pyrolysis of a trimeric lignin model compound containing both β-O-4 and α-O-4 linkages.
Graft-versus-host disease in children after hematopoietic cell transplantation: potential clinical utility of biomarkers

Biomarkers may improve diagnosis and prognosis, monitoring of response to treatment, allowing for treatment that are customized to the patients, and overall leading to reduce healthcare costs. In the near future, biomarkers will be included in all clinical trials and decisions for a personalized medicine. The biomarker field
Evaluating Joint Life-Saving Activities under Uncertainty

Man’s increased awareness of and control over his own safety has introduced puzzling questions concerning the value of life. The common practice of comparing projects on the basis of cost per expected life saved has two major inadequacies. First, the value of a change in the risk of death may depend on the level of risk. Secondly, there may be strong interdependencies in the value of risk avoidance to the members of a group. An approach which combines the preferences of individuals for wealth and life-death consequences through a collective utility function is suggested to overcome these deficiencies. A concept of collective risk aversion is introduced to account for differences between collective and individual risk preferences.
NCAA May Use Bylaws to Manage Penn State and Syracuse Cases

In the wake of sexual abuse allegations against coaches at Penn State and Syracuse, both the criminal and civil legal systems will run their course. As investigations are led by law enforcement and school administrators, the NCAA has also officially launched an investigation. The NCAA can impose sanctions on Penn State and Syracuse based on bylaws governing the ethical and moral behavior of coaches.