cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory X and Y

Theory X and theory Y delineates management views regarding employees' orientation to work. Theory X views employees as lazy, not interested in doing a good job and having little interest in the organizations goals. Consequently, management must closely monitor employees' in order to ensure that the work is carried out. On the other hand, theory Y stipulates that employees' have a desire to do a good job and are interested in the organizational goals so much so that they want to be involved in organizational decision making and utilize their skills and responsibility in order to see it succeed. As a result, the task of management is to encourage growth, provide direction and create conditions associated with greater empowerment and decentralization. Keywords: theory X; theory Y; management; responsibility; participation
Data Integration for Visualization Systems

This paper discusses integration issues and metadata requirements exposed by integrating independently developed molecular simulation codes into a single package. We discuss the use of a structured data model as compared to programming language data structures for data integration. As an example we consider the architecture of a commercially available simulation and visualization system for quantum chemistry. The system architecture currently uses a fairly low level approach to integration using a physical integration scheme much like CDF or HDF. Extensions and trade-offs in moving towards a more structured model are presented. We also present requirements for metadata in scientific data systems. Issues of theory dependencies and implementation dependencies must be addressed when integrating scientific data systems. We argue that appropriate treatment of metadata such as theory dependencies and implementation dependencies is critical to the long term success and extensibility of scientific data systems.
Did α-Synuclein and Glucocerebrosidase Coevolve? Implications for Parkinson’s Disease

Mutations in the GBA1 gene are associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease, and the protein produced by the gene, glucocerebrosidase, interacts with α-synuclein, the protein at the center of the disease etiology. One possibility is that the mutations disrupt a beneficial interaction between the proteins, and a beneficial interaction would imply that the proteins have coevolved. To explore this possibility, a correlated mutation analysis has been performed for all 72 vertebrate species where complete sequences of α-synuclein and glucocerebrosidase are known. The most highly correlated pair of residue variations is α-synuclein A53T and glucocerebrosidase G115E. Intriguingly, the A53T mutation is a Parkinson's disease risk factor in humans, suggesting the pathology associated with this mutation and interaction with glucocerebrosidase might be connected. Correlations with β-synuclein are also evaluated. To assess the impact of lowered species number on accuracy, intra and inter-chain correlations are also calculated for hemoglobin, using mutual information Z-value and direct coupling analyses.
A travelling wave fault location combined method based on fault characteristic frequency band

When fault occurred in power grid, the fault location method based on aerial mode velocity and zero mode velocity of travelling wave will reduce the accuracy of location, because that the zero mode velocity vary with the variance of frequency. To solve this problem, a combined method for fault location based on fault characteristic frequency is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the method analyzes the frequency characteristic of zero mode and aerial mode velocity. Secondly, it calculates the similarity index of initial wave and reflect wave under each frequency band. And then choose the frequency band with biggest similarity index as the characteristic frequency band. Then calculate the zero mode velocity in the band to do the fault location preliminary and correct the fault location using aerial model velocity finally. PSCAD/EMTDC simulation is built under different fault conditions. And the result illustrates the accuracy and reliability of the method.
Age-Dependent Changes in the Regulation of Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase in the Rat Brain and in a Glial Cell Line

Publisher Summary This chapter pertains to some investigations on the role of four factors—namely, (1) concentration of glucocorticoids, (2) receptor activity and nuclear binding of the hormone, (3) RNA synthesis, and (4) protein synthesis in age-dependent changes of glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) concentration and inducibility in vivo and in glial cell cultures. Enzyme activity does represent enzyme concentration because, as McGinnis and de Vellis showed by immunochemical methods, GPDH in induced and basal states are identical enzymes. GPDH induction resides probably in glial cells for the following reasons. Firstly, it occurs in all brain regions, a characteristic somewhat inconsistent with the extreme diversity of types of neurons, and, therefore, more consistent with the probable uniformity of astrocytes. Similarly, S-100 protein, a brain-specific protein and a putative glial marker, is found only in tumors of glial cells. Thirdly, the developmental pattern of GPDH resembles that of two glial markers, S-100 protein and carbonic anhydrase. Finally, GPDH induction has only been observed in astrocytoma cell lines.
Deletion of Rac in Mature Osteoclasts Causes Osteopetrosis, an Age-Dependent Change in Osteoclast Number, and a Reduced Number of Osteoblasts In Vivo

Rac1 and Rac2 are thought to have important roles in osteoclasts. Therefore, mice with deletion of both Rac1 and Rac2 in mature osteoclasts (DKO) were generated by crossing Rac1(flox/flox) mice with mice expressing Cre in the cathepsin K locus and then mating these animals with Rac2(-/-) mice. DKO mice had markedly impaired tooth eruption. Bone mineral density (BMD) was increased 21% to 33% in 4- to 6-week-old DKO mice at all sites when measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and serum cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTx) was reduced by 52%. The amount of metaphyseal trabecular bone was markedly increased in DKO mice, but the cortices were very thin. Spinal trabecular bone mass was increased. Histomorphometry revealed significant reductions in both osteoclast and osteoblast number and function in 4- to 6-week-old DKO animals. In 14- to 16-week-old animals, osteoclast number was increased, although bone density was further increased. DKO osteoclasts had severely impaired actin ring formation, an impaired ability to generate acid, and reduced resorptive activity in vitro. In addition, their life span ex vivo was reduced. DKO osteoblasts expressed normal differentiation markers except for the expression of osterix, which was reduced. The DKO osteoblasts mineralized normally in vitro, indicating that the in vivo defect in osteoblast function was not cell autonomous. Confocal imaging demonstrated focal disruption of the osteocytic dendritic network in DKO cortical bone. Despite these changes, DKO animals had a normal response to treatment with once-daily parathyroid hormone (PTH). We conclude that Rac1 and Rac2 have critical roles in skeletal metabolism.
Spectroscopic insight into spillover

Abstract Most of the early papers on spillover documented the phenomena associated with spillover, i.e., enhanced adsorption, products of reactions with the support or species adsorbed on the support, and reactions taking place on the activated support. Soon, however, several of the myriad of spectroscopic tools available to study catalytic solid surfaces began to provide detailed insight into the surface species present and the mechanisms by which they were reacting. The use of these spectroscopic investigations continues to provide insight; however, there is still considerable work that needs to be done. We know more about what happens as a result of spillover, i.e., the phenomena, than we know about the species spiltover and the surface reaction mechanism. This paper assesses the spectroscopic studies of spillover as they provide insight into reactions between the spiltover species with the surface adsorbing the spillover, between the spiltover species and other species adsorbed on the accepting surface, and those spectroscopic studies that have given insight into the nature of the spiltover species. In conclusion future spectroscopic studies are proposed.
Decision Making Under Various Types of Uncertainties

We present a general way to select an optimal alternative when there is some uncertainty about the state of the world. It is shown how this method can be applied whatever the uncertainty representation used to model the information about the state of nature: probability distribution, fuzzy set, possibility distribution, a Dempster--Shafer belief structure, or a fuzzy Dempster--Shafer structure. In this general formulation, we show the role of the OWA operators to model the decision maker's attitude.
Interpreting Thomas Kuhn as a Response-Dependence Theorist

Abstract Thomas Kuhn is the most famous historian and philosopher of science of the last century. He is also among the most controversial. Since Kuhn’s death, his corpus has been interpreted, systematized, and defended. Here I add to this endeavor in a novel way by arguing that Kuhn can be interpreted as a global response-dependence theorist. He can be understood as connecting all concepts and terms in an a priori manner to responses of suitably situated subjects to objects in the world. Further, I claim, this interpretation is useful for three reasons. First, it allows us to systematize and defend Kuhn’s views. We can therefore better appreciate him as a thinker in his own right. Second, it deepens our understanding of both the uniqueness of Kuhn’s views and the continuity of those views with those of others. We can therefore better appreciate his place in history. And third, as I explain in the paper, my interpretation affords us the only example of an ethnocentric global response-dependence theory. We ...
Time-delayed effects of climate variation on host-parasite dynamics

Parasites are ubiquitous, but widely neglected, components of food webs. Because of their trophic position, parasites may have major direct and indirect effects on community structure. Because the magnitude of these effects is likely to depend on parasite density, this study was undertaken to explore temporal patterns in the density of parasites and the processes responsible for those patterns. Parasitism by Howardula nematodes was monitored in four species of mycophagous Drosophila (D. falleni, D. neotestacea, D. putrida, and D. recens) that were sampled monthly from 1984 through 1998 near Rochester, New York, USA. Adult flies were collected by sweep netting over naturally occurring mushrooms or commercial Agaricus bisporus mushrooms that had been set out as baits. These adults were then dissected to determine whether they were parasitized by Howardula nematodes. The prevalence of parasitism varied substantially among species, being greatest in D. neotestacea (23.0% infected) and least in D. recens (4.8%). Parasitism was greatest in the spring and fall, and least in midsummer. Prevalence of parasitism covaried significantly through time among the three principal host species, D. falleni, D. neotestacea, and D. putrida, in part because the different species often breed in the same individual mushrooms, the site where nematode transmission from adult flies to larvae occurs. The mean prevalence of parasitism across these three species at the end of the season (September) was significantly correlated with the total precipitation from May through August. The mean prevalence of parasitism in the spring collections was significantly correlated with the mean prevalence the previous fall, because flies overwinter as adults. Consequently, the mean prevalence of parasitism in spring was highly correlated with May through August precipitation the previous year. It is hypothesized that rainfall, which stimulates the production of mushrooms (the flies' breeding sites), interacts with density-dependent nematode transmission to in- fluence the prevalence of parasitism in these populations.
Anisotropic spontaneous magnetization in gallium iron oxide

Abstract Anisotropy torque and magnetization measurements show that in gallium iron oxide the fractional anisotropy of the spontaneous magnetization is unusually large (e.g., 0.55 in the bc plane at 294°K) and does not tend toward zero at 0°K.
Ion beam induced mixing in thin film ceramic-ceramic systems

Abstract Thin stoichiometric sputtered films of selected ceramic nitride (TiN, Si3N4) and carbide (SiC, ZrC) and oxide (WO3, VO2) films deposited on single crystal ceramic substrates were subjected to heavy ion bombardment with either Kr, Xe or Au ions in an attempt to induce atomic mixing at the film substrate interface. The amount of mixing if any was evaluated by RBS-C and AES. No significant mixing was observed in any of the systems containing ZrC. Analysis of the interface indicated dose dependent mixing in Si3N4/SiC system. In oxide-oxide systems, small amount of mixing at the interface together with surface sputtering resulted in the modification of optical transmission of the system. This mixing however, was insufficient to induce any modification in the electrochromic behavior of the oxide film.
Analyzing Text Complexity in Political Science Research

This article analyzes the text complexity of political science research. Using automated text analysis, we examine the text complexity of a sample of articles from three leading generalist journals and four leading subfield journals. We also examine changes in text complexity across time by analyzing a sample of articles from the discipline’s flagship journal during a 100-year span. Although it is not surprising that a typical political science article is difficult to read, it is accessible to intelligent lay readers. We found little difference in text complexity across time or subfield.
Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence for the complete coding region of human UMP synthase.

Abstract The last two steps in the de novo biosynthesis of UMP are catalyzed by orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT; orotidine-5'-phosphate:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase; EC 2.4.2.10) and orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (orotidine-5'-phosphate carboxy-lyase; EC 4.1.1.23). In mammals these two activities are found in a single, bifunctional protein called UMP synthase. A human T-lymphoblastic cell cDNA library constructed in lambda gt10 was screened with a UMP synthase-specific rat cDNA probe. Human UMP synthase cDNAs were isolated and then used to select UMP synthase gene fragments. The complete coding sequence of the mRNA for UMP synthase was determined by analysis of overlapping cDNA and genomic fragments. One of the cDNAs appears to have been synthesized from an incompletely or alternatively processed form of the UMP synthase mRNA. This cDNA lacks a poly(A) tail and has an extended 3'-nontranslated region that hybridizes with larger forms of the UMP synthase mRNA. The UMP synthase protein is composed of 480 amino acids with a molecular weight of 52,199. The two activities of UMP synthase reside in distinct domains encoded by the 3' and 5' halves of the mRNA. The COOH-terminal 258 amino acids of the human UMP synthase protein contain the orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase catalytic domain. This region is highly homologous to the mouse orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase sequence. The NH2-terminal 214 amino acids contain the OPRT domain. There is amino acid homology between this protein domain and specific regions of the Escherichia coli OPRT. The human OPRT domain also contains the putative catalytic site common to other human phosphoribosyltransferases.
TREATMENT RESISTANT HYPERTENSION IN A COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTICE NETWORK

Treatment resistant hypertension (TRH) is defined by blood pressure (BP) uncontrolled on ≥3 or controlled on ≥4 BP medications including a diuretic at optimal doses. The prevalence of TRH is uncertain. Electronic record data were analyzed from >200 OQUIN practices in the Southeast US. From 2007
Contemplating public policy in HIV/AIDS online content, then where is the technology spirit?

Adaptive structuration theory (AST) has long been an accepted framework for investigating structures within technological artifacts and work environments. Information systems, organization science and communication scholars have prefaced AST context in terms of collaborative, group decision support systems. The social structures, however, can be characterized by features of rules, resources and capabilities along with a communicative spirit. Spirit is said to enable the user to better understand and interpret the meaning of a technology. Our research varies from the traditional focus of AST studies given that our context is not in single, for-profit organization with a common corporate mission or objective. Rather, we concentrate on the HIV/AIDS pandemic among Black women and the spirit communicated to this population by a principal government healthcare website. By interacting with a group of healthcare experts and practitioners during a 14-month period, we sought to understand the site's meaning and indications as its mission is to disseminate HIV/AIDS and other pertinent medical information. Further, our findings suggest that AST is a research framework that functions as a source for the notion of spirit. The (un)intended spirit inscribed on information and communication technologies (ICT) may be (ex)inclusive with regard to the population or society it intends to serve. Hence, grassroots approaches and audiences can, in fact, offer effective insight into user-centered designs focused on educational and prevention content among those most affected and infected by chronic diseases, such as HIV.
Wolves trigger a trophic cascade to berries as alternative food for grizzly bears

This is a Forum article in response to: Barber-Meyer, S. (2015) Trophic cascades from wolves to grizzly bears or changing abundance of bears and alternate foods? Journal of Animal Ecology, 83, doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12338. We used multiple data sets and study areas as well as several lines of evidence to investigate potential trophic linkages in Yellowstone National Park. Our results suggest that a trophic cascade from wolves to elk to berry production to berry consumption by grizzly bears may now be underway in the Park.
Preconcentration of plutonium and americium using the Actinide-CUTM Resin for human tissue analysis

A method for the preconcentration of Am and Pu from human tissue solutions (liver, lung, bone etc) using the Actinide-CU Resin (ElChroM Industries) has been developed for their alpha-spectrometric determination. With near 100% recoveries were obtained by preconcentration, subsequent decomposition methods for eluent were developed. Good agreement for Pu and Am determination with the USTUR anion-exchange/solvent extraction method was demonstrated using previously analyzed human tissue solutions and NIST SRMs. The advantages of the preconcentration method applied to human tissue analysis are simplicity of operation, shorter analysis time compared to anion exchange/solvent extraction methods, and capacity to analyze large tissue samples (up to 15 g bone ash per analysis and 500 g soft tissue).
The association of maternal floor infarction of the placenta with adverse perinatal outcome

Maternal floor infarction of the placenta is a relatively rare disorder that on gross examination is characterized by a thickened gray-yellow maternal floor of the placenta with histologic evidence of massive fibrin deposition involving the decidua basalis and the contiguous villi. This lesion has been associated with fetal death, preterm delivery, and intrauterine growth retardation and is thought to be recurrent. Sixty cases of maternal floor infarction were identified in 48 women. Fetal death occurred in 24 of the 60 cases (40%). Preterm birth occurred in 21 of 36 (58.3%) live-born infants, and 19 of the 35 (54.2%) live-born infants for whom a birth weight was known had evidence of intrauterine growth retardation. Among the 41 multiparous patients in our series there were five documented recurrences (12.2%). Review of the past reproductive history of these 48 patients (196 pregnancies) demonstrated a significant incidence of fetal death (24.1%), intrauterine growth retardation (31.3%), and preterm death (35.4%). The association of fetal death and maternal floor infarction emphasizes the importance of a placental examination with all cases of fetal death and infants with intrauterine growth retardation. Given the risk of recurrence, the identification of maternal floor infarction should alert the clinician to the potential for growth retardation, preterm birth, and fetal death in subsequent pregnancies.
Algorithms for Calculation between Blood Oxygen Saturation and Oxygen Tension in Some Mammals

SUMMARY Constants were determined which enable calculation of blood oxygen saturation (S) from oxygen tension (PO 2 ) for the blood of man, dog, cat, cow, pig, sheep, rabbit and guinea pig using (i) a two-constant cubic equation of the form S / (1 – S) = A 1 PO 2 + A 3 PO 3 2 and (ii) a two-constant logarithmic equation of the form In (S / (1 – S)) = B 0 + B 1 (In PO 2 ) 1.78 This equation may easily be inverted to allow calculation of PO 2 from S from: In PO 2 = (C 0 + C 1 In (S / (1 – S)) 1/1.78 The logarithmic equation was more accurate over the range of PO 2 in all species other than sheep over the range of PO 2 examined, and was more accurate for calculation of PO 2 from S in all species.
A nonsense test of structural meaning

There is a need for group tests of control over language structure. In an attempt to serve this need, a paper-and-pencil nonsense-word test was devised to measure ability to obtain meaning from sentence structure. It was used to explore the respective roles of lexicon and structure in the reading of normally hearing and deaf children. The test was based on structural clues to meaning described by C. C. Fries (1952) . It was given to normally hearing and deaf children 13–15 years of age. The children were also given tests of vocabulary and paragraph comprehension. Relations between the nonsense-test sections and the two reading tests were investigated and comparisons made between the normally hearing and deaf Ss. The results indicate that paper-and-pencil nonsense-word tests can be used with large groups of children in their early teens. Sections of the nonsense test correlated as highly with paragraph comprehension as did the vocabulary test for both groups of Ss.
Attitudes toward authority and mental health in adolescent college students.

In all instances, those subjects holding negative perceptions of authority scored in less favorable mental health directions. The author cautions, however, that “in potentially ‘creative’ college students, such negative attitudes (perhaps even negative behavior) may not be as ominous from the mental health/personality development point of view” as might otherwise be the case.
Rapid arrest of axon elongation by brefeldin A: a role for the small GTP-binding protein ARF in neuronal growth cones.

Members of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family of small guanosine triphosphate–binding proteins play an essential role in membrane trafficking which subserves constitutive protein transport along exocytic and endocytic pathways within eukaryotic cell bodies. In growing neurons, membrane trafficking within motile growth cones distant from the cell body underlies the rapid plasmalemmal expansion which subserves axon elongation. We report here that ARF is a constituent of axonal growth cones, and that application of brefeldin A to neurons in culture produces a rapid arrest of axon extension that can be ascribed to inhibition of ARF function in growth cones. Our findings demonstrate a role for ARF in growth cones that is coupled tightly to the rapid growth of neuronal processes characteristic of developmental and regenerative axon elongation, and indicate that ARF participates not only in constitutive membrane traffic within the cell body, but also in membrane dynamics within growing axon endings. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 38: 105–115, 1999
Stimulation of endogenous follicle-stimulating hormone release during estrus by exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone at proestrus in the phenobarbital-blocked rat.

We previously reported that administration of LHRH on proestrus restores the two phases of increased plasma FSH during the periovulatory FSH surge in plasma in phenobarbital- blocked rats. In this study, we determined if the LHRHinduced restoration of the second phase of the FSH surge, which occurs during late proestrus and the morning of estrus, might be mediated by pituitary LH and/or FSH release during proestrus. In phenobarbital-blocked animals, rat FSH or LH was injected between 1500–1800 h on proestrus. Blood was collected by decapitation or through indwelling atrial cannulae during proestrus and estrus for RIA of FSH and LH. After sc or iv injection of FSH, plasma FSH but not LH was elevated during the late afternoon and evening of proestrus and during the morning of estrus. The FSH elevations during estrus reflect endogenous FSH release as hypophysectomy before the injection of FSH blocked the response. Subcutaneous or iv injection of rat LH did not elevate plasma FSH acutely. After sc inection of...
Cocaine treatment in neonatal rats affects the adult behavioral response to amphetamine

Abstract This study investigated whether exposure to cocaine during critical periods of brain development alters the motor stimulating effects of amphetamine given in adulthood. Female rats received 50 mg/kg/day cocaine HCl SC or vehicle during either postnatal days 1–10 or 11–20. At 60–65 days of age, activity counts were collected over a 15-min baseline period. Subjects then received one of 3 doses (0, 0.1, 0.25 mg/kg) of d-amphetamine sulfate SC followed by a 90-min period of activity monitoring. Adult activity in 1–10-day cocaine-treated rats was different from vehicle-treated rats in response to 0.1 mg/kg amphetamine only. Adult activity in 11–20-day cocaine-treated rats was different from vehicle-treated rats in response to 0.25 mg/kg only. The observed differences represented an increase and decrease in activity, respectively. These alterations in amphetamine response may be related to the observed alterations in D-1 receptor concentrations as well as the altered rates of brain glucose metabolism we have observed in adult rats neonatally exposed to cocaine.
Treatment of word retrieval impairment in chronic Broca's aphasia

Background : The present study describes a treatment approach that was applied to improve word retrieval for an individual with chronic Broca's aphasia. The procedure combined elements of loose training with aspects of structured treatment. Treatment involved presentation of semantic cues according to semantic feature analysis [SFA] (Boyle & Coelho, 1995), as well as a forward chaining technique as in response elaboration training [RET] (Kearns, 1985). The technique was intended to elicit the targeted response by activating a semantic network without inhibiting related or creative responses. Aims : The purpose was to investigate whether the combined SFA-RET treatment approach would improve naming accuracy of object noun pictures. This study also focused on an issue related to degradation in word retrieval, but instead of frequency of occurrence the focus was familiarity. Familiarity was based on to how often the individual with aphasia encountered the object nouns in her everyday life. Methods & Procedure...
Setting a new benchmark

Boundaries are blurring in the scientific hierarchy, and nowhere more so than round the role of lab technician, says Lynn Dicks
FNR-dependent activation of the class II dmsA and narG promoters of Escherichia coli requires FNR-activating regions 1 and 3

In Escherichia coli, the anaerobic expression of genes encoding the nitrate (narGHJI) and dimethyl sulphoxide (dmsABC) terminal reductases is stimulated by the global anaerobic regulator FNR. The ability of FNR to activate transcription initiation has been proposed to be dependent on protein–protein interactions between RNA polymerase and two activating regions (AR) of FNR, FNR-AR1 and FNR-AR3. To further our understanding of the role of FNR-AR1 and FNR-AR3 in transcription activation, we measured the effects of FNR-AR mutants on expression of the narG and dmsA promoters, PnarG and PdmsA. All the FNR-AR1 (FNR-S73F, FNR-T118A, FNR-S187P), FNR-AR3 (FNR-G85A) and FNR-AR1-AR3 (FNR-G85A-S187P) mutants that were tested decreased expression from PnarG and PdmsAin vivo. Transcription assays of PdmsA also showed that the FNR-AR mutant proteins impaired transcription activation in vitro. Furthermore, DNase I footprinting analysis confirmed that this transcription defect was not a result of altered DNA-binding properties. The function of FNR-S187P and FNR-G85A was also measured in strains containing σ70 mutants (σ70-K593A, σ70-R596A and σ70-K597A) known to be impaired in FNR-dependent transcription activation. Of all of the combinations analysed, only FNR-G85 and σ70-K597 showed a genetic interaction, supporting the notion that FNR-AR3 and σ70 interact functionally in the process of transcription activation. Lastly, the transcription activation defect of the FNR-AR1 and FNR-AR3 mutants was greatly reduced when expression of PnarG was assayed in the presence of nitrate. As these growth conditions promote maximal activity of PnarG as a result of the combined function of NarL, IHF and FNR, these results suggest that the requirements for FNR-AR1 and FNR-AR3 are altered in the presence of additional activators.
Managing the Impact of Employee Turnover on Performance: The Role of Process Conformance

We examine the impact of employee turnover on operating performance in settings that require high levels of knowledge exploitation. Using 48 months of turnover data from U.S. stores of a major retail chain, we find that, on average, employee turnover is associated with decreased performance, as measured by profit margin and customer service. The effect of turnover on performance, however, is mitigated by the nature of management at the store level. The particular aspect of management on which we focus is process conformance---the extent to which managers aim to reduce variation in store operations in accordance with a set of prescribed standards for task performance. At high-process-conformance stores, managers use discipline in implementing standardized policies and procedures, whereas at low-process-conformance stores, managers tolerate deviations from these standards. We find that increasing turnover does not have a negative effect on store performance at high-process-conformance stores; at low-process-conformance stores, the negative effect of turnover is pronounced. Our results suggest that, in settings where performance depends on the repetition of known tasks, managers can reduce turnover's effect by imposing process discipline through standard operating procedures.
The effects of plant dispersion and prey density on parasitism rates in a naturally patchy habitat

Despite extensive research on parasitoid-prey interactions and especially the effects of heterogeneity in parasitism on stability, sources of heterogeneity other than prey density have been little investigated. This research examines parasitism rates by three parasitoid species in relationship to prey density and habitat spatial pattern. The herbivore Itame andersoni (Geometridae) inhabits a subdivided habitat created by patches of its host plant, Dryas drummondii, in the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska. Dryas colonizes glacial moraines and spreads clonally to form distinct patches. Habitat subdivision occurs both on the patch scale and on the larger spatial scale of sites due to patchy successional patterns. Itame is attacked by three parasitoids: an ichneumonid wasp (Campoletis sp.), a braconid wasp (Aleiodes n. sp.), and the tachinid fly (Phyrxe pecosensis). I performed a large survey study at five distinct sites and censused Itame density and parasitism rates in 206 plant patches for 1-3 years. Parasitism rates varied with both plant patch size and isolation and also between sites, and the highest rates of overall parasitism were in the smallest patches. However, the effects of both small- and large-scale heterogeneity on parasitism differed for the three parasitoid species. There was weak evidence that Itame density was positively correlated with parasitism for the braconid and tachinid at the patch scale, but density effects differed for different patch sizes, patch isolations, and sites. At the site scale, there was no evidence of positive, but some indication of negative density-dependent parasitism. These patterns do not appear to be driven by negative interactions between the three parasitoid species, but reflect, rather, individual differences in habitat use and response to prey density. Finally, there was no evidence that parasitism strongly impacted the population dynamics of Itame. These results demonstrate the importance of considering habitat pattern when examining spatial heterogeneity of parasitism and the impacts of parasitoids.
Novel endovascular treatment of blunt thoracic aortic trauma with a self-expanding stent lined with aortic extender cuffs.

We report the successful treatment of blunt thoracic aortic trauma with a self-expanding stent lined with commercially available aortic extender cuffs. A 24 × 70 mm Wallstent® was positioned distal to the left subclavian artery via a left femoral approach. The stent was then lined with three overlapping Gore Excluder® aortic extender cuffs. Intravascular ultrasound was performed pre- and postdeployment. The aortic pseudoaneurysm was successfully excluded. The self-expanding stent facilitated placement of the extender cuffs and improved the contact between the multiple cuffs. This technique could still have utility in emergency settings when approved thoracic endografts are available for this indication.
Idiosyncratic platelet responses to human tumour cells

Platelets are thought to be involved in two important steps in the dissemination of cancer: (1) in their interaction with cells released from the primary tumour to form a mixed platelet–tumour cell embolus and (2) in the subsequent attachment or entrapment of this embolus at the vessel wall and the resulting extravasation of the tumour cell and growth of the secondary tumour1. We have recently used the Baumgartner perfusion chamber2 to evaluate the attachment phase of platelet–tumour cell interactions at subendothelial surfaces3. We have found that tumour cells which caused platelet aggregation (Hut 20 line, large cell carcinoma of the lung) were incorporated into mixed platelet–tumour cell thrombi on basement membrane or collagen microfibrils, while those tumour cells that did not cause platelet aggregation (A549 line, epithelial lung carcinoma), were not incorporated in this way. We have now found differences between different donors in the ability of their platelets to aggregate in response to various human tumour cell lines. These different individual susceptibilities seem to be largely independent of the cell line involved and may have implications in the evaluation of mechanisms of human neo-plastic disease.
Throughput maximization of cooperative wireless mesh networks using directional antennas

Throughput maximization is a key challenge to numerous applications in wireless mesh networks (WMNs). As a potential solution, cooperative communications, which may increase link capacity by exploiting spatial diversity, has attracted a lot of attention. However, if link scheduling is considered, this transmission mode may perform worse than direct transmission in terms of end-to-end throughput, since the sending/receiving of cooperative relays incurs extra interferences. In this paper, we propose to employ directional antennas to alleviate those negative effects and comprehensively investigate the throughput maximization problem in cooperative WMNs. Regarding the features of cooperative communications and antenna modes (omnidirectional antennas or directional ones), we extend the links into cooperative links/general links, form an antenna based cooperative (ABC) conflict graph to characterize the interference relationship among those extended links, and design beamforming strategies w.r.t. link scheduling. Given all ABC independent sets in this graph, we mathematically formulate the end-to-end throughput maximization problem under cross-layer constraints and solve it by linear programming. Our simulation results show that the end-to-end throughput of cooperative WMNs can be notably improved, when transmission selection and antenna mode selection are jointly considered.
INDONESIA: Implementing National Policies in a Decentralized Context: Special Purpose Programs to Protect the Poor 1

In the context of continuing adjustments in the economy, the Government of Indonesia proposes to bring energy prices closer to long run marginal cost, while adequately compensating the poor. We focus on the constraints on central government policy objectives towards the poor as decentralization takes effect. However, local governments currently lack credible social protection instruments and their objectives usually do not match those of the center, which imposes constraints on program designs. We discuss the suitability of a number of safety net mechanisms in a decentralized context and draw policy implications.
Merging agents and cloud services in industrial applications

A novel idea to combine agent technology and cloud computing for monitoring a plant floor system is presented. Cloud infrastructure has been leveraged as the main mechanism for hosting the data and processing needs of a modern industrial information system. The cloud offers unlimited storage and data processing in a near real-time fashion. This paper presents a software-as-a-service (SaaS) architecture for augmenting industrial plant-floor reporting capabilities. This reporting capability has been architected using networked agents, worker roles, and scripts for building a scalable data pipeline and analytics system.
Estrogen and Energy Balance

Estrogen is well known as a reproductive hormone but also has critical roles in energy balance. For example, reduction of estrogen levels in animal models causes obesity. In its “classical” signaling pathway, estrogen invokes its biological responses through its interaction with an intracellular estrogen receptor (ER)—which exists in ERα and ERβ isoforms—that then binds to estrogen response elements in DNA to regulate the transcription of target genes. Nonclassical signaling pathways also exist, which do not involve ER binding to estrogen response elements. Experiments with knockout mice have shown that ERα mediates estrogen’s actions on energy balance and body weight: Er α-null (but not Er β-null) mutant mice exhibit features of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity and altered glucose homeostasis. However, the mechanisms by which ERα signaling maintains normal energy balance have been uncertain. Well, until now. In a series of elegant experiments using Er α-null mutant mice and knockin mice expressing a mutant form of ERα that can only signal through the nonclassical pathway, Park et al. found that nonclassical ERα signaling was sufficient to restore metabolic parameters—including body weight, adiposity, locomoter activity, energy expenditure, and blood glucose and leptin concentrations—that are dysregulated in Er α-null mice back to normal or near-normal values. In particular, the “rescue” of body weight and metabolic function by nonclassical ERα signaling was mediated by normalization of energy expenditure, including voluntary locomotor activity, which is typically decreased in ERα-deficient states. The investigators also found that restoring nonclassical ERα signaling in the mice was sufficient to prevent the development of insulin resistance. Given the propensity of postmenopausal women to gain weight and develop type 2 diabetes, these studies in mice might be directly translatable to humans and suggest that nonclassical ERα signaling pathways may be important new drug targets for the treatment of metabolic disorders in estrogen-deficient states. C. J. Park et al ., Genetic rescue of nonclassical ERα signaling normalizes energy balance in obese Er α-null mutant mice. J. Clin. Invest. 18 January 2011 (10.1172/JCI41702). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/41702
Social Studies and Feminism

Abstract Although women's names and faces appear more often in today's social studies textbooks than in earlier ones, their genuine contributions to social life are still generally omitted. The next wave of feminism in education should be directed to the articulation of women's culture. This article explores some possibilities along these lines for social studies education
A hypothesis for the tissue specificity of nematode parasites

Abstract Rajan, T. V. 1998. Minireview: A hypothesis for the tissue specificity of nematode parasites. Experimental Parasitology 89, 140–142. Recent work from Riddle and coworkers has shown that in the free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, the decision to become a developmentally arrested, dispersal form known as the dauer (“enduring”) larva is controlled, at least in part, by transcription of a wild-type allele at the daf -7 locus. daf -7 mutants are “constitutive dauers.” Using this model as a general paradigm for nematode development, I propose that many nematode parasites behave as though they were daf -7 mutants. This will ensure developmental arrest at the L3 stage. I further propose that these organisms obtain the daf -7 gene product required for reentry into the developmental pathway from the mammalian host and that their tissue localization is dictated by the daf -7 homologue that is uniquely recognized by the cognate receptor.
Toward a turbulent constitutive relation

In an attempt to explain the failure of the various pure homogeneous strain experiments to reach equilibrium (and consequently to support the contention of Townsend of an equilibrium structure of the Reynolds stress dependent only on geometry), the nature of the general Reynolds stress-mean velocity relation is examined. It is shown that if homogeneous flows become asymptotically independent of initial conditions, and if the Reynolds stress bearing structure can be characterized by a single time scale (i.e.–at sufficiently high Reynolds number) then these flows behave like classical non-linear viscoelastic media, with the Reynolds stress structure dependent on the (strain-rate) (time scale) product. Thus, the existence of an equilibrium structure implies the existence of an equilibrium time scale and a universal value of the product. The ideas permitting Reynolds stress and mean velocity to be related are applied to the dissipative structure in homogeneous flows, and it is found that in such flow the time scale never ceases to grow, so that these flows can never reach an equilibrium structure. With the aid of an ad-hoc assumption these flows are examined in some detail, and the results of experiments are predicted with considerable accuracy. It is suggested that (inhomogeneous) flows having an equilibrium time scale may, in the homogeneous limit, be expected to display a universal structure. The small departure from universality induced by the large eddies associated with inhomogeneity may be adequately predicted by this same ad-hoc model.
Electrochemical and Structural Study of the Layered, “Li-Excess” Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Material Li[Li1/9Ni1/3Mn5/9]O2

The overcapacity mechanism and high voltage process of the Li-excess electrode material Li[Li1/9Ni1/3Mn5/9]O2 are studied by solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, combined with galvanostatic and potentiostatic intermittent titration electrochemical measurements. The cycling performance is improved noticeably when the material is cycled between potential windows of 5.3−2.5 V compared to 4.6−2.5 V. Diffraction data show that structural changes occur at high voltages, the solid-state NMR data of the same samples indicating that the high voltage processes above 4.4 V are associated with Li removal from the structure, in addition to electrolyte decomposition. The NMR spectra of the discharged samples show that cation rearrangements in the transition metal layers have occurred. The XAS spectra confirm that the Mn oxidation state remains unchanged at 4+, whereas Ni2+ is oxidized to Ni4+ on charging to 4.4 V, returning to Ni2+ on discharge, independen...
Elementary reactions of formyl (HCO) radical studied by laser photolysis—transient absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Several elementary reactions of formyl radical of combustion importance were studied using pulsed laser photolysis coupled to transient UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy: HCO → H + CO (1), HCO + HCO → products (2), and HCO + CH3 → products (3). One-pass UV absorption, multi-pass UV absorption as well as cavity ring-down spectroscopy in the red spectral region were used to monitor temporal profiles of HCO radical. Reaction (1) was studied over the buffer gas (He) pressure range 0.8–100 bar and the temperature range 498–769 K. Reactions (2a) , (2b) , (2c) , (3a) , (3b) as well as the UV absorption spectrum of HCO, were studied at 298 and 588 K, and the buffer gas (He) pressure of 1 bar. Pulsed laser photolysis (308, 320, and 193 nm) of acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and acetone was used to prepare mixtures of free radicals. The second-order rate constant of reaction (1) obtained from the data at 1 bar is: k1(He) = (0.8 ± 0.4) × 10−10exp(−(66.0 ± 3.4) kJ mol−1/RT) cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The HCO dissociation rate constants measured in this work are lower than those reported in the previous direct work. The difference is a factor of 2.2 at the highest temperature of the experiments and a factor of 3.5 at the low end. The experimental data indicate pressure dependence of the rate constant of dissociation of formyl radical 1, which was attributed to the early pressure fall-off expected based on the theory of isolated resonances. The UV absorption spectrum of HCO was revised. The maximum absorption cross-section of HCO is (7.3 ± 1.2) × 10−18 cm2 molecule−1 at 230 nm (temperature independent within the experimental error). The measured rate constants for reactions (2a) , (2b) , (2c) , (3a) , (3b) are: k2 = (3.6 ± 0.8) × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (298 K); k3 = (9.3 ± 2.3) × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1(298 and 588 K).
Concluding Dialogue: Challenging the Past, Grasping the Future

A dialogue between the outgoing and incoming directors of the Zygon Center for Religion and Science took place as part of the inaugural symposium. In their conversation they speak of the past and present challenges and goals of the Center, outline what is foremost in their minds, and offer glimpses into what they see as the Center's priorities for future work.
Softening patterns of post-cure heat-treated dental composites

Abstract The softening of post-cure, heat-treated dental composites in various solutions was evaluated by Knoop hardness measurements. The samples were heated at 120°C for 7 min immediately after curing and immersed in various solutions, water, ethanol, heptane and 0.1 N NaOH. Significant increases in hardness were observed for heated samples when compared to unheated samples. The various solutions softened both heated and unheated composites but heated samples were softened to a lesser degree. Plots of hardness of heated and unheated samples were nearly parallel, indicating that mechanisms such as penetration of the resin matrix, degradation of the silane coupling agent and fillers may be involved in the softening of both heated and unheated composites. Post-cure heat treatment improved the resistance to softening of dental composites.