cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Connectionist Architecture For Matching 3-D Models To Moving Edge Features

Autonomous mobile robots must be capable of real-time recognition of moving objects in a time-varying scene. The motion of rigid objects can be analyzed in terms of edge features undergo-ing translation and rotation in the two-dimensional image. These features could be manipulated to match a fixed 3-D model. However, in a goal-driven system, where a priori knowledge of the 3-D model exists, it is more natural to manipulate the model before matching it to the edge features. We could speed up the 3-D to 2-D matching process by precomputing a range of possible orientations for the 3-D model. The difficulty is that one cannot predict all of the possible global changes of an object as it is moving in the scene. Our solution is to constrain the problem by looking at local changes that result from moving edge-features. The concept is borrowed from natural vision, where the visual field is divided into small regions and each region is analyzed by a column of orientation sensitive line segment operators. Each orientation operator has a preset maximal sensitivity to lines of a specific angle. Initially we assume that the 3-D model of a moving object has already been given. As an object rotates in the scene, the result is a spatial sequence of edges that activates adjacent columns. Heuristics to speed-up the matching of a 3-D model to a rotating or translating object can be derived from the local communication between neighboring columns of the moving edge features. The distance between successively activated columns can be used to measure how smoothly the edge features are undergoing motion. A slow moving object will produce a response in only a few successively adjacent columns and be interpreted as stepping slowly across the scene. A rapidly translating or rotating object will activate widely separated columns and be processed as undergoing discontinuous jumps. Similarly, in humans, when the velocity of key features in the visual field are either too low or too high, objects are perceived to be jumping instead of undergoing smooth motion [1].
Synthesis of small polynucleotide chains in thymine-depleted bacteria.

Abstract Bacteria that are depleted of intracellular thymidine nucleotide pools incorporate [ 3 H]thymine at full specific activity, allowing the detection of early intermediates in DNA replication. A short pulse of [ 3 H]thymine is incorporated almost exclusively into very small DNA chains which, during further incorporation of thymine, are converted into larger chains and high molecular weight DNA. The synthesis of these small DNA chains depends on the products of dna genes B , E and G . Analysis of the DNA by gel filtration on Sepharose 2B revealed an abundance of extremely short DNA chains while the frequency of larger chains decreased exponentially with increasing size. This size distribution of small DNA chains suggests a mechanism of DNA replication in which larger chains (Okazaki pieces, Okazaki et al. , 1968 a ) arise through joining of extremely short polynucleotide chains in a process resembling crystallization rather than unidirectional chain elongation.
Conjugates of ursodeoxycholate protect against cytotoxicity of more hydrophobic bile salts : in vitro studies in rat hepatocytes and human erythrocytes

Intraduodenal infusion of hydrophobic bile salts to bile-fistula rats leads within hours to severe hepatocellular necrosis and cholestasis; simultaneous administration of conjugates of ursodeoxycholate, either intraduodenally or intravenously, reduces or prevents liver injury. To evaluate the short-term protective effects of ursodeoxycholate at the cellular level, we incubated primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes or freshly isolated washed human erythrocytes for 1 to 240 min with varying defined concentrations of different bile salts in the presence or absence of ursodeoxycholate. Cytolysis was quantified by measuring the release into the medium of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase (hepatocytes) or hemoglobin (erythrocytes). In both systems, cytolysis increased sigmoidally with increasing bile salt concentration, and the relative toxicity of different bile salts proceeded in the following order: tauroursodeoxycholate was less toxic than taurocholate, which was less toxic than taurodeoxycholate. Taurochenodeoxycholate was more toxic to erythrocytes than taurodeoxycholate; the two were equally toxic to rat hepatocytes. Unconjugated bile salts were more toxic than their conjugates. The addition of tauroursodeoxycholate to taurochenodeoxycholate or taurodeoxycholate led to time-dependent and concentration-dependent reduction or elimination of the toxicity of the more hydrophobic component. Protection was evident within minutes. With respect to hemolysis, at pH 8.5 glyco was less protective than tauroursodeoxycholate, and free ursodeoxycholate was only minimally protective. We conclude that the hepatocytotoxicity of hydrophobic bile salts at millimolar concentrations is markedly reduced in the presence of tauroursodeoxycholate. Conjugates of ursodeoxycholate also prevented disruption of erythrocytes by bile salts, suggesting that protection does not depend on liver-specific pathways of bile salt uptake, compartmentation, transport or metabolism. We hypothesize that ursodeoxycholate interferes with solubilization of membranes by bile salts; in vivo, ursodeoxycholate may improve cholestatic liver disease by reducing the toxicity of endogenous bile salts at the luminal surface of the canalicular plasma membrane. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;14:920–926).
Interaction of Filamin A with the Insulin Receptor Alters Insulin-dependent Activation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway

The biological actions of insulin are associated with a rapid reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton within cells in culture. Even though this event requires the participation of actin-binding proteins, the effect of filamin A (FLNa) on insulin-mediated signaling events is still unknown. We report here that human melanoma M2 cells lacking FLNa expression exhibited normal insulin receptor (IR) signaling, whereas FLNa-expressing A7 cells were unable to elicit insulin-dependent Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and p42/44 MAPK activation despite no significant defect in IR-stimulated phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 or activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT cascade. Insulin-dependent translocation of Shc, SOS1, and MAPK to lipid raft microdomains was markedly attenuated by FLNa expression. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments and in vitro binding assays demonstrated that FLNa binds constitutively to IR and that neither insulin nor depolymerization of actin by cytochalasin D affected this interaction. The colocalization of endogenous FLNa with IR was detected at the surface of HepG2 cells. Ectopic expression of a C-terminal fragment of FLNa (FLNaCT) in HepG2 cells blocked the endogenous IR-FLNa interaction and potentiated insulin-stimulated MAPK phosphorylation and transactivation of Elk-1 compared with vector-transfected cells. Expression of FLNaCT had no major effect on insulin-induced phosphorylation of the IR, insulin receptor substrate-1, or AKT, but it elicited changes in actin cytoskeletal structure and ruffle formation in HepG2 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that FLNa interacts constitutively with the IR to exert an inhibitory tone along the MAPK activation pathway.
The Changing Nature of Private Engagement in Public Education: For-Profit and Nonprofit Organizations and Educational Reform

Recent years have seen a shifting landscape around private engagement in K-12 public education, one that involves a reorientation of education policy and practice around the principles of the marketplace. In this article, we examine the roles of both not-for-profit and for-profit agencies, as distinct from government agencies, in this movement. Past research has generally focused on subsets of these private actors (i.e., for-profit firms, charter management organizations, or alternative preparers of educators for public schools). We try to look more broadly in order to examine how private actors and the roles of those players in K-12 education are changing, both in terms of the scope of their engagement and the extent to which their role increasingly involves areas at the core of educational practice. In doing so, we consider some of the reasons for these changes, including the influence of federal policy, markets as drivers, and the broader political context. We conclude by raising questions for future r...
Sexual Orientation Change Efforts in Men: A Client Perspective

This study concerned the psychological and social characteristics of 117 men dissatisfied with their same-sex attraction who had pursued sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). We specifically ex...
Characterization of DMSO Coordination to Palladium(II) in Solution and Insights into the Aerobic Oxidation Catalyst, Pd(DMSO)2(TFA)2

Recent studies have shown that Pd(DMSO)2(TFA)2 (TFA = trifluoroacetate) is an effective catalyst for a number of different aerobic oxidation reactions. Here, we provide insights into the coordination of DMSO to palladium(II) in both the solid state and in solution. A crystal structure of Pd(DMSO)2(TFA)2 confirms that the solid-state structure of this species has one O-bound and one S-bound DMSO ligand, and a crystallographically characterized mono-DMSO complex, trans-Pd(DMSO)(OH2)(TFA)2, exhibits an S-bound DMSO ligand. 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopic studies show that, in EtOAc and THF-d8, Pd(DMSO)2(TFA)2 consists of an equilibrium mixture of Pd(S-DMSO)(O-DMSO)(TFA)2 and Pd(S-DMSO)2(TFA)2. The O-bound DMSO is determined to be more labile than the S-bound DMSO ligand, and both DMSO ligands are more labile in THF relative to EtOAc as the solvent. DMSO coordination to PdII is substantially less favorable when the TFA ligands are replaced with acetate. An analogous carboxylate ligand effect is observed in the c...
Closed-loop phase-contrast adaptive optics system using liquid crystal phase modulators: experimental results

Focal plane filters are being used to implement wave front sensors in high-resolution adaptive optics systems. We present experimental results obtained with a closed-loop adaptive optics system that uses a differential phase- contrast focal plane filter. The differential filter in our system is implemented using an electrically-addressed liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (LCSLM) operated in a phase-mostly mode. Two additional phase-mostly LCSLM devices are used in our experiment. One is used as a phase screen to introduce simulated turbulence into the propagating input beam, and the other is used as the wave front corrector driven by closed-loop feedback signals from the phase- contrast wave front sensor. This paper describes the system implementation and presents some preliminary experimental results.
Role of various water clusters in IR absorption in the 8–14-μm window region

A controversy exists over the cause of the IR absorption in the 8–14-μm wavelength window region. One explanation for the continuum absorption is to consider the accumulation of the far wings of strong water monomer absorption lines. On the other hand, other researchers believe that the IR absorption originates from the water dimer complex. Some other researchers claim that either water clusters of larger size or hydrated aerosols are responsible for the continuum absorption. Here we explore the hitherto less-understood systems of water clusters, both homomolecular and heteromolecular, including the water dimer, to enhance our knowledge of the cause of the IR absorption. The present study indicates that homomolecular water clusters larger than the dimer are not responsible for the continuum absorption.
Characterization of the expression, localization, and secretion of PANDER in α-cells

Abstract The novel islet-specific protein PANcreatic DERived Factor (PANDER; FAM3B) has been extensively characterized with respect to the β-cell, and these studies suggest a potential function for PANDER in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Little is known regarding PANDER in pancreatic α-cells, which are critically involved in maintaining euglycemia. Here we present the first report elucidating the expression and regulation of PANDER within the α-cell. Pander mRNA and protein are detected in α-cells, with primary localization to a glucagon-negative granular cytosolic compartment. PANDER secretion from α-cells is nutritionally and hormonally regulated by l -arginine and insulin, demonstrating similarities and differences with glucagon. Signaling via the insulin receptor (IR) through the PI3K and Akt/PKB node is required for insulin-stimulated PANDER release. The separate localization of PANDER and glucagon is consistent with their differential regulation, and the effect of insulin suggests a paracrine/endocrine effect on PANDER release. This provides further insight into the potential glucose-regulatory role of PANDER.
Modulating the mechanical properties of self-assembled peptide hydrogels via native chemical ligation

Abstract Hydrogels produced from self-assembling peptides and peptide derivatives are being investigated as synthetic extracellular matrices for defined cell culture substrates and scaffolds for regenerative medicine. In many cases, however, they are less stiff than the tissues and extracellular matrices they are intended to mimic, and they are prone to cohesive failure. We employed native chemical ligation to produce peptide bonds between the termini of fibrillized β-sheet peptides to increase gel stiffness in a chemically specific manner while maintaining the morphology of the self-assembled fibrils. Polymerization, fibril structure, and mechanical properties were measured by SDS–PAGE, mass spectrometry, TEM, circular dichroism, and oscillating rheometry; and cellular responses to matrix stiffening were investigated in cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Ligation led to a fivefold increase in storage modulus and a significant enhancement of HUVEC proliferation and expression of CD31 on the surface of the gels. The approach was also orthogonal to the inclusion of unprotected RGD-functionalized self-assembling peptides, which further increased proliferation. This strategy broadens the utility of self-assembled peptide materials for applications that require enhancement or modulation of matrix mechanical properties by providing a chemoselective means for doing so without significantly disrupting the gels' fibrillar structure.
Trace-Driven Memory Access Pattern Recognition in Computational Kernels

Classifying memory access patterns is paramount to the selection of the right set of optimizations and determination of the parallelization strategy. Static analyses suffer from ambiguities present in source code, which modern compilation techniques, such as profile-guided optimization, alleviate by observing runtime behavior and feeding back into the compilation flow. This paper discusses a dynamic analysis technique for recognizing memory access patterns, with application to the stencils domain, and presents our design and C++ implementation using the memory-tracing tool Gleipnir. Finally, we evaluate and discuss the performance and matching capability of our classifiers in the context of the Polybench scientific benchmark suite, which includes both stencil and matrix computations.
Status of the endorectal ileal pullthrough procedure for ulcerative colitis and polyposis.

Since 1977, 174 patients with ulcerative colitis and 16 with polyposis underwent colectomy with endorectal ileal pullthrough in two stages with a temporary ileostomy. Five had an S, three a J, and 15 had no reservoir (NR); 97 had a lateral reservoir (LR) constructed at the second, and 70 at the first operation. Ten patients with NR and one with JR were converted to LR because of unacceptable stool frequency. Three patients with SR and seven of 178 LR patients (3.9 per cent) returned to a permanent ileostomy or Kock pouch. More than 65 per cent of complications occurred in the first 50 patients. Late reservoir shortening was necessary in 36 patients. Of the last 115 patients, 112 are functioning well with a mean of six bowel movements. per 24 hours. The endorectal ileal pullthrough with reservoir provides a good option to the standard proctocolectomy for patients with ulcerative colitis or polyposis. In our experience, a short rectal muscle cuff (<5 cm), removal of all rectal mucosa to the dentate line, and construction of a short LR (<15 cm) at the first operation produces the fewest complications and the best results. The majority of complications, including pouchitis, can be either avoided or corrected surgically.
Range-intensity histogram for segmenting LADAR images

Abstract We discuss a segmentation and preliminary recognition scheme for integrated sensory data. We perform pixel-level fusion of range and reflectance (intensity) data from a laser radar (ladar) sensor by constructing range-based intensity histograms containing the sum of intensity values of all pixels at regular range intervals. The ranges at which peaks occur in the histogram are hypothesized as ranges at which an object of interest might be present in the input scene. Likely objects are then segmented and subsequently identified using a nearest neighbor classifier.
Language, Globalization, and the Triumph of Popular Demand: The Discourse of Populism in American Prestige Press Coverage of the Global Hegemony of English

This article zeroes in on “the American situation” with respect to the global hegemony of English. It does so by way of textual analysis of a number of articles taken from a pool of 275 American prestige press accounts of the global spread of English. Drawing parallels between prestige press and some academic accounts of culture and globalization, the article critically engages instances of a pervasive populist individualist ideology expressed via what the author calls the discourse of populism.
Family Behavior: Implications for Health Benefits Transfer from Adults to Children

An approach to transfer adult health benefit estimates to children is developed from a consensus model of family behavior in which parents employ protective goods to reduce a health risk that they and their children face. The model is estimated using national survey data on parents’ perceptions of skin cancer risks and their actual use of sun protection products in order to test the equilibrium condition that the parent’s marginal rate of substitution between equal percentage reductions in her child’s and her own risk equates to unity. Empirical results are consistent with this prediction. This finding suggests that the consensus model provides a useful basis to transfer adult health benefit estimates to children.
Knock-down of RGS4 and β tubulin in CHO cells expressing the human MT1 melatonin receptor prevents melatonin-induced receptor desensitization

Previously, it has been shown that chronic melatonin exposure in MT1-CHO cells results in receptor desensitization while at the same time producing drastic morphological changes. The addition of a depolymerizing agent during the melatonin pretreatment period prevents MT1 receptor desensitization and the changes in cellular morphology. The lack of morphological change in the presence of a depolymerizing agent is easily explained by the inability of the microtubules to polymerize, however, the prevention of receptor desensitization is a little more complex and may involve G-protein activation. The goal of this study was to determine whether melatonin-induced MT1 receptor desensitization is regulated by proteins known to regulate G-protein activation states, beta-tubulin and RGS4,using anti sense knockdown approaches. The expression of RGS4 mRNA in CHO cells was confirmed using RT PCR and successful knockdown of each was confirmed by western blot analysis or quantitative PCR. Pretreatment of MT1-CHO cells, transfected with the nonsense probes and exposed to melatonin, resulted in a desensitization of the receptor, an increase in forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, an increase in 2-[125I]-iodomelatonin binding and no change in the affinity of melatonin for the MT1 receptor. However, knockdown of either beta-tubulin or RGS4 in MT1-CHO cells followed by pretreatment with melatonin attenuated the desensitization of melatonin receptors, decreased total 2-[125I]-iodomelatonin binding, and did not affect neither the forskolin response nor the affinity of melatonin for the MT1 receptor. Perhaps RGS4 and beta-tubulin modulate Galpha-GDP and Galpha-GTP states thus modulating MT1 melatonin receptor function.
Endoscopically identified well-differentiated rectal carcinoid tumors: impact of tumor size on the natural history and outcomes

Background There is a paucity of data pertaining to the natural history and outcomes of patients with well-differentiated rectal carcinoids. Objective To correlate endoscopic size with the natural history and outcome. Design Retrospective study. Setting Single tertiary referral center. Patients Eighty-seven patients with endoscopically identified well-differentiated rectal carcinoid tumors. Intervention Colonoscopy. Main Outcome Measurements Prevalence of metastasis at diagnosis, disease progression, and survival. Results Metastasis was present at diagnosis in 3%, 66%, and 73% of tumors measuring ≤10 mm, 11 to 19 mm, and ≥20 mm, respectively. Metastasis was predicted with 100% sensitivity and 87% specificity using an endoscopic lesion size ≥9 mm. In patients without identified metastasis, 64% were identified during screening colonoscopy. Within this select cohort, subsequent metastasis was discovered only at distant extra pelvic sites, in 1.6%, 50%, and 100% of patients with tumors initially measuring ≤10 mm, 11 to 19 mm, and ≥20 mm, respectively. The carcinoid related 5- and 10-year survival rates for locally confined disease were 96%. The corresponding survival rates for local and advanced metastatic disease were 60% and 35%, respectively. Limitations Subjective estimation of tumor size, mitotic index or Ki-67 labeling index not reported, and lack of formal and standardized baseline staging algorithm and surveillance program. Conclusions The clinical behavior of 11- to 19-mm tumors appears to mimic that of larger (>20 mm) lesions with respect to the presence of metastasis at diagnosis and disease progression. Therefore, if local therapy is contemplated, we propose to make a distinction between ≤10-mm and 11- to 19-mm tumors, favoring an aggressive staging and management protocol for 11- to 19-mm carcinoid tumors.
New frontiers in the treatment of liposarcoma, a therapeutically resistant malignant cohort

The adipogenic origin-derived liposarcoma (LPS) family is the most common soft tissue sarcoma histological subtype. This group is composed of three categories as per the 2002 WHO guidelines: (1) well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS/DDLPS); (2) myxoid and round cell liposarcoma (MLS and RCL); and (3) pleomorphic liposarcoma (PLS). While clustered together, these histological subtypes are widely diverse in their clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics. In general, surgery still remains the mainstay of LPS therapy and the only approach offering the potential of cure. Effective therapeutic strategies for locally advanced and metastatic disease are currently lacking and are crucially needed. With the current gradually increasing knowledge of LPS genetic- and epigenetic-associated deregulations, the ultimate goal is to develop drugs that can specifically eliminate LPS cells while sparing normal tissues. This tumor-tailored target-orientated approach will hopefully result in a significant improvement in the outcome of patients suffering from these poor prognosis malignancies.
Finite temperature theory for the attenuation of quasi-particle excitations in real metals

Abstract The finite temperature generalization of the Quinn, Adler theory for the decay rate of electronic excitations in a normal Fermion system is presented. The theory is developed in terms of quasi-particle parameters and without restriction to a particular approximation, such as RPA, for the dielectric response of the system. The relations derived are pertinent to the lifetime problem in real solids; in particular, local field effects are rigorously taken into account.
Challenges in Segmentation of Human Forms in Outdoor Video

Most gait and activity recognition algorithms rely on the use of silhouettes as the low-level representation. However, the detection of good silhouettes is still an open problem, particularly for sequences that are taken outdoors. Illumination conditions, compression artifacts, and low number of pixels on the subject, contribute to the difficulty. Presently, these issues are either ignored by using indoor data or addressed, on a case by case basis, by employing, essentially, a "bag of tricks" based approach. We argue for a more formal approach, based on generic shape and motion models to handle a variety of these problems, under the umbrella of one formalism. We present an HMM-based Eigen Stance model, built based on manually created silhouettes from 71 individuals. The population HMM helps map a frame in any given sequence to a stance and the appearance based Eigen-Stance model is used to reconstruct the computed silhouette in that frame. We quantify the performance in terms of signal based criteria of missed detection and false positive prediction rate. We also show results on three different databases.
Root anatomical phenes associated with water acquisition from drying soil: targets for crop improvement

Several root anatomical phenes affect water acquisition from drying soil, and may therefore have utility in breeding more drought-tolerant crops. Anatomical phenes that reduce the metabolic cost of the root cortex (‘cortical burden’) improve soil exploration and therefore water acquisition from drying soil. The best evidence for this is for root cortical aerenchyma; cortical cell file number and cortical senescence may also be useful in this context. Variation in the number and diameter of xylem vessels strongly affects axial water conductance. Reduced axial conductance may be useful in conserving soil water so that a crop may complete its life cycle under terminal drought. Variation in the suberization and lignification of the endodermis and exodermis affects radial water conductance, and may therefore be important in reducing water loss from mature roots into dry soil. Rhizosheaths may protect the water status of young root tissue. Root hairs and larger diameter root tips improve root penetration of hard, drying soil. Many of these phenes show substantial genotypic variation. The utility of these phenes for water acquisition has only rarely been validated, and may have strong interactions with the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil water availability, and with root architecture and other aspects of the root phenotype. This complexity calls for structural–functional plant modelling and 3D imaging methods. Root anatomical phenes represent a promising yet underexplored and untapped source of crop breeding targets.
Simulation framework for training chest tube insertion using virtual reality and force feedback

Most virtual reality simulators are designed for complex medical procedures, such as laparoscopic surgery. While important, these simulators are of use for only a subset of specialized doctors. There is a need for simulators that train clinicians to perform more common procedures, such as chest tube insertion, which all medical students must learn. This work describes the design of a virtual reality simulator that utilizes force feedback devices (SensAble OMNIs) to train the cognitive and motor tasks that underlie the chest tube insertion procedure. The simulator's design is focused upon the delivering the examination context rather than emphasizing the material interaction algorithm that governs force feedback. The resultant framework is designed to address issues with current teaching practices. In particular, the design incorporates elements of good teaching style, including repetition, feedback and assessment. Also introduced are two concepts (the grouping and presentation of cognitive tasks in blocks; navigation and status aids) to help trainees more readily learn the examination's numerous steps. The simulated training environment includes a pre-simulation test, vitals monitor, virtual operating room environment, and post performance report.
SAMs and Protein Adsorption Studies for the Calibration of Miniaturized Quartz Crystal Microbalance Arrays

We report the design and fabrication of a micromachined quartz crystal balance (QCM) array for self assembled monolayers (SAMs) and protein adsorption studies. The microQCM was fabricated using recently developed inductively coupled plasma etching process for quartz to realize resonators with 60 mum thickness and electrode diameters of 0.5 mm. The reduction in the thickness and lateral pixel size has resulted in a sensitivity improvement by factor of 1364 over a commercially available macro-sized QCM. In both rigid and viscoelastic film adsorption limits, we find the microQCM to exhibit three times greater sensitivity than the predicted value when operated at the third overtone. These results show that the micromachined QCM in array format is a very sensitive gravimetric sensor capable of mass resolutions into the femtograms range.
Global Processing-Time Coefficients Characterize Individual and Group Differences in Cognitive Speed

Forty participants performed seven different information processing tasks (choice reaction time, letter classification, visual search, abstract matching, line-length discrimination, mental rotation, and mental paper-folding) Slow (top quartile) and fast (bottom quartile) processors were selected based on their mean z scores Response times (RTs) of the slow and fast groups in the 21 conditions of the seven tasks were linear functions of the mean RTs of the entire group (both r2s = 99) In addition, individuals' RTs were well described by linear functions (median r2 - 93) When tasks were ranked in order of complexity, the odd-even reliability of the ratio of an individual's RT to the average RT was 80, indicating that such ratios remain relatively stable across tasks Taken together, these findings indicate that the performance of an individual on diverse tasks can be predicted on the basis of a single processing-time coefficient Such coefficients may provide useful indices of the efficiency with which differ...
When Sexism and Feminism Collide The Sexual Harassment of Feminist Working Women

The current study examined how feminism relates to women’s experiences of sexual harassment—that is, unwanted sexual and sexist conduct in the workplace. We posited that feminism would have both costs (e.g., increasing exposure to harassment) and benefits (e.g., decreasing harassment-related outcomes). We assessed two indicators of feminism: self-identification as “feminist” and engagement in feminist activism. We also measured two subtypes of sexual harassment: sexual-advance and gender harassment. According to survey data from 424 working women, feminist identification predicted fewer gender harassment experiences; once harassed, however, feminist-identified women reported the greatest decrease in job satisfaction and increase in turnover intentions. In contrast, feminist activism related to greater experiences of both kinds of harassment, and activism attenuated some negative outcomes. We further found that (regardless of feminist identification or activism) women who had faced sexual-advance harassmen...
An empirical investigation of the effects of ethical climates on organizational corruption

This study investigates the effects of ethical climates on organizational corruption. Data from 200 employees from seven hospitals in Poland was used to test the specific relationships between the five empirically occurring ethical climate types (i.e. caring, instrumental, independence, law and code, and rules) and organizational corruption. Law and code climates were negatively associated with organizational corruption, while instrumental and caring climates were positively associated with organizational corruption.
Cumulative effects of dibutyl phthalate and diethylhexyl phthalate on male rat reproductive tract development: altered fetal steroid hormones and genes.

Exposure to plasticizers di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) during sexual differentiation causes male reproductive tract malformations in rats and rabbits. In the fetal male rat, these two phthalate esters decrease testosterone (T) production and insulin-like peptide 3 (insl3) gene expression, a hormone critical for gubernacular ligament development. We hypothesized that coadministered DBP and DEHP would act in a cumulative dose-additive fashion to induce reproductive malformations, inhibit fetal steroid hormone production, and suppress the expression of insl3 and genes responsible for steroid production. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged on gestation days (GD) 14–18 with vehicle control, 500 mg/kg DBP, 500 mg/kg DEHP, or a combination of DBP and DEHP (500 mg/kg each chemical; DBP + DEHP); the dose of each individual phthalate was one-half of the effective dose predicted to cause a 50% incidence of epididymal agenesis. In experiment one, adult male offspring were necropsied, and reproductive malformations and androgen-dependent organ weights were recorded. In experiment two, GD18 testes were incubated for T production and processed for gene expression by quantitative realtime PCR . The DBP + DEHP dose increased the incidence of many reproductive malformations by � 50%, including epididymal agenesis, and reduced androgen-dependent organ weights in cumulative, dose-additive manner. Fetal T and expression of insl3 and cyp11a were cumulatively decreased by the DBP + DEHP dose. These data indicate that individual phthalates with a similar mechanism of action, but with different active metabolites (monobutyl phthalate versus monoethylhexyl phthalate), can elicit doseadditive effects when administered as a mixture.
Noninvasive estimation of pulmonary artery diastolic pressure in patients with tricuspid regurgitation by Doppler echocardiography.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether Doppler echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular pressure at the time of pulmonary valve opening could predict pulmonary artery diastolic pressure. Background Doppler echocardiography has been used to estimate right ventricular systolic pressure noninvasively. Because right ventricular and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure are equal at the time of pulmonary valve opening, Doppler echocardiographic estimation of right ventricular pressure at this point might provide an estimate of pulmonary artery diastolic pressure. Methods We studied 31 patients who underwent right heart catheterization and had tricuspid regurgitation. Pulmonary flow velocity was recorded by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography, and tricuspid regurgitant velocity was recorded by continuous wave Doppler echocardiography. The time of pulmonary valve opening was determined as the onset of systolic flow in the pulmonary artery. Tricuspid velocity at the time of pulmonary valve opening was measured by superimposing the interval between the onset of the QRS complex on the ECG and the onset of pulmonary flow on the tricuspid regurgitant envelope. The tricuspid gradient at this instant was calculated from the measured tricuspid velocity using the Bernoulli equation. This gradient was compared to the pulmonary artery diastolic pressure obtained by right heart catheterization. Measurements and results The pressure gradient between the right atrium and right ventricle obtained at the time of pulmonary valve opening ranged from 9 to 31 mm Hg (mean, 19 ± 5) and correlated closely with invasively measured pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (range, 9 to 36 mm Hg; mean, 21 ± 7 mm Hg; r=0.92; SEE, 1.9 mm Hg). Conclusion Doppler echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular pressure at the time of pulmonary valve opening is a reliable noninvasive method for estimating pulmonary diastolic pressure.
METHODS FOR VALUING COUNTRYSIDE AMENITY: AN OVERVIEW

The principal methods of valuing ‘non-market’ goods are presented and reviewed in terms of their basis in economic theory and their advantages and disadvantages in measuring the value of the rural environment. As a general rule, when assumptions are fewer, data requirements are greater but there may also be policy problems for which any one method is inappropriate. In particular, since countryside amenities may offer important intrinsic or non-use values, the contingent valuation technique, despite its weaknesses, may be preferred.
The heat-shock protein receptors: some answers and more questions

The existence of heat-shock protein (HSP) receptors on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) was hypothesized in 1994. The first such receptor, CD91 or LRP, was identified and characterized in 2000. The pace of attribution has quickened since and during the last three years alone, six putative HSP receptors have been identified. These include CD40, LOX-1, CD36, Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2), TLR-4 and SR-A. The literature on HSP receptors on APCs is critically examined in this review and future directions are imagined.
Supporting 3D route planning in indoor space based on the LEGO representation

With the prevalence of car navigation systems, indoor navigation systems are increasingly attracting attention in the indoor research area. However, the available models for indoor navigation suffer from the problems that architectural constraints are not considered, route planning is only based on 2D planes, users are represented as points without considering their volumes, and different requirements asked for by different users are ignored. Consequently, the routes provided by existing models may not be suitable for different kinds of users like pedestrians, persons in wheelchairs, and persons driving indoor autos. This paper proposes a cube-based model to compute feasible routes for different users according to their widths, heights, and special requirements (e.g., users in wheelchairs prefer the routes without stairs). In this model, an indoor space is first represented by multiple cubes with different types. Then, according to the heights and types of the cubes, possible passages with the maximum widths and heights are generated by merging cubes into large blocks. Based on these blocks, feasible routes are computed by checking the availability of the connectors between different blocks.
Flexural deformation temperature of amine‐cured polyglycidyl and poly‐2,3‐epoxybutyl derivatives of phenol

A number of polyglycidyl and poly-2,3-epoxybutyl derivatives of phenols were prepared. An attempt was made to correlate the flexural deformation temperatures of the amine cured polyepoxies with the following structural characteristics of the epoxy compounds: per cent oxirane, functionality, ring substituents other than epoxy (such as alkyl, alkenyl, aryl), and substitution of 2,3-epoxybutyl for glycidyl group.
Relationships between mercury body concentrations, standard metabolic rate, and body mass in eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) from three experimental populations

Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) were sampled from three experimental populations (two Hg-exposed pop- ulations and one reference population) to determine whether transgenerational exposure (lifelong exposure of multiple generations) to Hg adversely affects standard metabolic rate (SMR). Mosquitofish subjected to lifelong Hg exposure accumulated significant concentrations of Hg in their tissues compared to fish from the reference population (mean: 3.89-4.13 vs 0.08mHg/g wet mass, respectively). Less than 10% of the variability in Hg tissue concentrations could be explained by fish body mass, likely because of the short life span and/or dietary habits of this species. Despite the high body burdens of Hg in exposed fish, we found no significant difference in SMR among individuals from Hg-exposed or reference populations. Our findings contrast recent laboratory work describing elevated SMR in mosquitofish exposed to 100mg/L dissolved inorganic Hg for 48 h. To account for contrasting results between studies, we hypothesize that acute exposure to dissolved inorganic Hg damages gill epithelium, resulting in increased metabolic rate, but that lifelong Hg exposure via trophic uptake of methyl mercury does not affect fish respiratory structures. Alternative hypotheses include the possibility that G. holbrooki is a species that can tolerate high body burdens of Hg or that more than four years of genetic isolation during Hg exposure (8-12 generations) resulted in selection for Hg-tolerant or -resistant individuals.
Flexible relation: an approach for integrating data from multiple, possibly inconsistent databases

In this work we address the problem of dealing with data inconsistencies while integrating data sets derived from multiple autonomous relational databases. The fundamental assumption in the classical relational model is that data is consistent and hence no support is provided for dealing with inconsistent data. Due to this limitation of the classical relational model, the semantics for detecting, representing, and manipulating inconsistent data have to be explicitly encoded in the applications by the application developer. In this paper, we propose the flexible relational model, which extends the classical relational model by providing support for inconsistent data. We present a flexible relation algebra, which provides semantics for database operations in the presence of potentially inconsistent data. Finally, we discuss issues raised for query optimization when the data may be inconsistent. >
Belief Fusion: Aggregating Pedigreed Belief States

We introduce a new operator – belief fusion – which aggregates the beliefs of two agents, each informed by a subset of sources ranked by reliability. In the process we define pedigreed belief states, which enrich standard belief states with the source of each piece of information. We note that the fusion operator satisfies the invariants of idempotence, associativity, and commutativity. As a result, it can be iterated without difficulty. We also define belief diffusion; whereas fusion generally produces a belief state with more information than is possessed by either of its two arguments, diffusion produces a state with less information. Fusion and diffusion are symmetric operators, and together define a distributive lattice. Finally, we show that AGM revision can be viewed as fusion between a novice and an expert.
Biopsy-proven adenoviral diarrhea responding to low-dose cidofovir

We present a case of diarrhea secondary to biopsy-proven adenovirus (ADV) infection after autologous peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma. The patient had a negative plasma polymerase chain reaction for ADV and a dramatic clinical response to low-dose cidofovir. To our knowledge, this is the first report in an adult hematopoietic stem cell recipient of the use of low-dose cidofovir to treat proven ADV gastrointestinal infection.
On Convergence of Fourier Modal Methods used for Computing Scattering from Metallic Binary Gratings

We show that the convergence problems in Fourier modal methods also arise from the square truncation of boundary matching conditions and that by seeking minimum least squared solution of rectangular truncation, convergence can be achieved.
Regulation of microglial phagocytosis and inflammatory gene expression by Gas6 acting on the Axl/Mer family of tyrosine kinases.

Removal of apoptotic cells is an essential process for normal development and tissue maintenance. Importantly, apoptotic cells stimulate their phagocytosis by macrophages while actively suppressing inflammatory responses. Growth arrest specific gene 6 (Gas6) is involved in this process, bridging phosphatidylserine residues on the surface of apoptotic cells to the Axl/Mer family of tyrosine kinases which stimulate phagocytosis. Animals with mutations or loss of these receptors exhibit phenotypes reflective of impaired phagocytosis and a hyperactive immune response. We report that Gas6 induces phagocytosis in microglia through a novel non-classical phagocytic mechanism. Gas6 stimulates a type-II-related phagocytic response, but requires Vav phosphorylation and Rac activation, distinguishing it from the classical type II mechanism. Importantly, Gas6 suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of the inflammatory molecules IL-1β and iNOS. Gas6 inhibited iNOS expression through suppression of promoter activity. The present data provide direct evidence for the role of Gas6 receptors in mediating an anti-inflammatory response to ligands found on apoptotic cells with the simultaneous stimulation of phagocytosis. These data provide a mechanistic explanation for the phenotype observed in animals lacking Axl/Mer receptors.
Hemodynamic effects of acute ethanol in young adults

Abstract In summary, we studied the hemodynamic effects of ethanol ingestion in young people at specific, predetermined ethanol levels of 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.075%. Our most important findings were a decrease in end-systolic wall stress (afterload) and a decrease in myocardial contractility with ingestion of ethanol at concentrations that would be found in social drinking.
Design Patterns and Cross-Domain Analogies in Biologically Inspired Sustainable Design

Sustainable design is as an important movement in design. Biologically inspired design is a major paradigm for sustainable design. In this paper, we analyze a corpus of biologically inspired design projects in terms of sustainability. We then describe a case study of analogical design of a fog harvesting net, and abstract from it the patterns of Hydrophobia and Hydrophilia. We indicate how these two function-mechanism design patterns occur in several design projects in our corpus. This analysis indicates how biologically inspired sustainable design can be analyzed in terms of cross-domain analogical transfer of design patterns.
Standard anticoagulation for mesenteric vein thrombosis, revealing a 'zebra' diagnosis: hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia--the dripping truth!

A 60-year-old man was treated in the hospital for mesenteric vein thrombosis and discharged home on anticoagulation. On warfarin the patient started to bleed profusely from the nose and tongue. He was evaluated by ENT (ears, nose and throat); a nasal endoscopy revealed several vascular ectasias. Subsequent detailed history and general physical examination established the diagnosis of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. On further evaluation, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations were diagnosed on imaging and treated by intervention radiology. In hindsight, the diagnosis could have been made in the general practitioner9s office with just a routine thorough history and a physical examination at a new patient visit. We report this case to stress upon the importance of vigilant clinical, medical and family history and a thorough examination to establish an early diagnosis of this not-so-rare entity.