cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E. Franklin Frazier Reconsidered

THIS ARTICLE CALLS FOR A RECONSIDERATION of the life, work, and contributions of E. Franklin Frazier (1894-1962), Afro-American intellectual, sociologist, and activist. Why a reconsideration and what needs to be reconsidered? Some time in the early 1920s, shortly after Frazier had moved to Atlanta to teach sociology at Morehouse College, he wrote a bitter essay about life on the southern side of what he called the "Styxian Potomac," a region characterized by "Jim Crow, Disenfranchisement, Lawlessness, White Supremacy, Religious Intolerance, Peonage, and Anti-Evolutionism or Respectable Ignorance...." To Frazier, one of the most terrifying aspects of the institutionalized racism he found so deeply entrenched in the South was the monolithic, one dimensional reduction of Afro-American people to "saints or stones."1 Neither lynching nor impoverishment nor job discrimination but rather "the denial of personal? ity to the Negro," he wrote in his first article for Du Bois' Crisis in 1924, was "the greatest crime of the age" (Frazier, 1924: 213). It is ironic that since his death in 1962, Frazier has similarly been subjected to assessments which generally deny the complexity and contradictions of his life's work. On the one hand, his posthumous association with the Moynihan Report (published three years after his death) stamped him with a pejorative image in progressive intellectual and political circles. Accepting at face value the derisive nomination of Frazier as "Father of the Moynihan Report," several commentators then set out to trace this tendency back to Frazier's alleged cooptation by the University of Chicago when he went there in the late 1920s to complete a doctoral degree in sociology. According to this view, Chicago was the site of Frazier's original sin which, despite his best efforts and good intentions, he was never able to expiate. By the time of his death, the prevail
Strain-Tunable Chemiresistor

We have developed a resistance-based chemical sensor (chemiresistor) for volatile organic compounds whose sensitivity can be reversibly increased over a range of nearly 2 decades by the application of tensile strain. This polymer-based sensor is comprised of Au-plated magnetic particles structured into conducting chains by the application of a magnetic field during the curing of the prepolymer resin. The resistance of this field-structured composite increases when an analyte vapor swells the polymer and reduces the contact pressure between particles. We have found that applying a tensile strain increases both the sensor resistance and sensitivity, as defined by its relative resistance change. This increase in sensitivity is a smooth, continuous function of the applied strain, and the effect is fully reversible. Sensitivity tuning enables the response curve of the sensor to be dynamically optimized for sensing analytes over a wide concentration range.
An upper bound on structurally stable linear regulation of a parameter-dependent family of control systems

Abstract We investigate the use of a linear compensator to regulate a parameter-dependent control system. This system may be linear or nonlinear. Our goal is to design a compensator that will ensure stable regulation over a wide range of parameter values. This paper reports a fundamental limitation on achieving this aim. In particular, we show that systems with a special, unregulatable, structure form hypersurfaces on the open-loop equilibrium manifold. Such systems include, but are not restricted to, those with transmission zeros at the origin. These surfaces partition the open-loop equilibrium manifold into disjoint open sets. We show that a linear compensator designed to regulate a system in some such partition must fail to regulate almost all systems in an adjacent partition. Therefore, by consideration of the open-loop system only, we derive upper bounds on the robustness of any linear regulator. We discuss some other qualitative aspects of the closed-loop dynamics.
Magnetic shielding for sensitive detectors

Abstract This paper describes the design and test of shielding for a superconducting magnet. The magnet is part of an Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR) for the Submillimeter and Far Infrared Experiment (SAFIRE), a payload on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). SAFIRE will use superconducting detectors which must be shielded from the magnet cooling system. Because the detectors use Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs), the field at the detector package must remain at or below the 10−7 T level while the detectors are operating. We discuss laboratory tests of the passive shielding and simulations using Poisson group programs.
s-RNA synthesis. IV. The effect of inorganic pyrophosphate and a method for the extraction of s-RNA.

Abstract The effect of inorganic pyrophosphate on the incorporation of adenosine triphosphate and of cytidine triphosphate into soluble ribonucleic acid has been studied. It has been found that inorganic pyrophosphate will pyrophosphorolyze soluble ribonucleic acid liberating ribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates. This effect is predominantly on the end of the soluble ribonucleic acid molecule. Pyrophosphorolysis of the soluble ribonucleic acid in this manner has made possible tentative identification of adenylic acid as the fourth ribonucleotide of the terminal sequence of soluble ribonucleic acid. A method for the salt-alcohol extraction of soluble ribonucleic acid also is presented.
Fecal microbiota transplant for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection after peripheral autologous stem cell transplant for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Fecal microbiota transplant for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection after peripheral autologous stem cell transplant for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
The effects of chromium on NiAl intermetallic alloys: Part I. microstructures and mechanical properties

Abstract The effects of Cr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of NiAl have been characterized. It is shown that Cr is an efficient solid solution strengthener in NiAl, effectively tripling the 0·2% yield strength at the 1 at. % level; this is also its maximum solubility. The presence of Cr also increases the BDTT of NiAl by approximately 150K and reduces the already limited ductility to essentially zero. Larger alloying additions produce fine α-Cr precipitation. However, the associated hardening contribution due to precipitation is relatively minor compared with solid solution effects. Independently of Cr content, stoichiometric deviation was observed to produce significant increases in strength and BDTT. It is shown that hardening due to both intrinsic and extrinsic substitutional defects is ultimately a function of the solubility, site preference, and alloying strategy (e.g., a particular Ni/Al ratio, or Cr substituted solely for either Ni or Al) of the Cr addition.
Group Membership as a Predictor of Service Use-Related Behaviors for Persons “on the Streets”:

Objective: Although there is a consensus in ethnographic and service-related research that groups have an impact on service use among persons “on the streets,” to date there have been no studies di...
Inhibition of 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl-induced fetal cleft palate and immunotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice by 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl

Abstract 3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (pentaCB) caused a dose-dependent induction of fetal cleft palate in offspring from pregnant C57BL/6 mice exposed to a single dose (783 or 1044 μg/kg) of this compound on gestation and 10. In contrast 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexaCB did not cause cleft palate at a dose 271 mg/kg and, in pregnant mice cotreated with 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexaCB (271 mg/kg) plus 783 or 1044 μg/kg 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentaCB, fetal cleft plane formation was significantly inhibited. 3,3′,4,4′-PentaCB (6 μg/kg) also inhibited the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response and serum IgM levels in C57BL/6 mice treated with the T cell-independent antigen trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaacharide. At doses as high as 72 mg/kg, 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexaCB was not immunotoxic; however, in mice cotreated with a immunotoxic dose of 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentaCB plus different doses of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexaCB (18, 36 and 72 mg/kg), there was a dose-dependent inhibition of 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentaCB-induced immunotoxicity. These non-additive (antagonistic) interactions of prototypical polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners may be an important consideration in development of a toxic equivalency factor approach for hazard and risk assessment of PCB mixtures.
Relativistic Distorted-Wave Collision Strengths and Oscillator Strengths for All Possible n = 2 - n = 3 Transitions in B-Like Ions

Relativistic distorted-wave collision strengths have been calculated for the over 4000n= 2–n= 3 transitions in the 46 C-like ions with nuclear charge numberZin the range 9 ≤Z≤ 54, but in the interest of brevity the results are given here for only the three valuesZ= 12, 26, and 54. The calculations were made for the six final, or scattered, electron energiesE′ = 0.008, 0.04, 0.12, 0.28, 0.60, and 1.20, whereE′ is in units ofZeff2rydbergs withZeff= Z− 4.17. In addition, the transition energies and electric dipole oscillator strengths are given. To our knowledge the present work is the first publication of the results of fully relativistic calculations of the collision strengths for excitation of highly charged C-like ions to then= 3 levels.
Soft Spectrum Sensing and Power Adaptation in Multiband Cognitive Radios

We consider joint optimization of spectrum sensing, channel access and power allocation in a multi-band cognitive radio network. Instead of making hard binary decisions as in traditional hypothesis testing spectrum sensing schemes, a soft spectrum sensing concept using the continuous-valued sensing test statistics is considered. The channel access decision about whether to access the channel or not is relaxed into allowing the secondary user to access channels with some probability. This joint optimization problem is aimed at maximizing the secondary users' sum throughput while keeping the interference to primary users under a specified threshold. The problem is shown to be a convex optimization problem and the Lagrangian dual method is employed to obtain the optimal solution. Two heuristic algorithms are also proposed to reduce the complexity while achieving a near optimal performance. Simulation results show that our soft sensing based algorithm significantly outperforms traditional hard decision sensing algorithms.
Emerging molecular classification in renal cell carcinoma: implications for drug development

In the past decade, progress has been made in the development of targeted therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, as multiple therapeutic choices become available to clinicians, we currently lack effective indicators that allow physicians to choose the best treatment option for specific patients. For approved targeted therapies, potential molecules that could indicate drug effectiveness in a specific tumor follow naturally from both the therapeutic mechanism and the previously elucidated tumor biology. However, in advanced RCC, the use of these molecules as biomarkers for treatment selection has shown equivocal results and requires further investigation. In addition to looking at specific molecular targets, subclassification of tumors based on their molecular characteristics may also allow stratification of patients based on therapeutic benefits, providing information for treatment selection. Furthermore, the continued development of such tumor classification schemes will hopefully uncover other molecular targets that warrant development as future RCC therapies. The use of molecular classification of patients’ tumors for treatment selection will provide the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of currently available therapies for advanced RCC and to judiciously pursue promising options for future RCC therapies.
Fluorescence line narrowing and decay dynamics in sol–gel glasses containing Eu3+

Abstract Fluorescence line narrowing and emission decay measurements on Eu3+ doped sol–gel glasses have been used to investigate and compare local Eu3+ environments in binary SiO2–TiO2 glasses, SiO2 glasses containing Al3+, and SiO2 glasses without co-dopant. In particular, clustering of rare-earth ions and the effects of annealing temperature on residual hydroxide concentration are studied. The Al and Ti co-doped samples show pronounced line-narrowing implying little energy migration among Eu3+ ions. The 5D0–7FJ fluorescence decays are faster in the Ti glasses.
Intracerebroventricular Injection of Fructose Stimulates Feeding in Rats

2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) inhibits glycolysis and stimulates food intake. Previous work suggests that fructose may attenuate the hyperglycemic and hypothermic effects of 2DG. The current study examined the effect of intracerebroventricular fructose on 2DG-induced feeding. We found that concentrated fructose injected into the cerebroventricles enhanced food intake both in the presence and absence of 2DG. On the other hand, similar concentrations of glucose suppressed 2DG-induced food intake. These data suggest differences in metabolism of glucose and fructose and may provide insight into the metabolic steps monitored by brain glucoreceptors to control food intake.
Behavioral time budget and periodicity exhibited byMicroplitis croceipes in field cages withHeliothis virescens on spring host plants

Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) females were observed between 06:00 and 20:00 hours in cages containing spring host plants infested withHeliothis virescens (F.), tobacco budworm, larvae, Cages containedGeranium dissectum L. andTrifolium incarnatum L. in plantings of equal area, each infested with 50H. virescens larvae. A time budget for the various behaviors exhibited by the wasps was obtained. In order of decreasing time spent,M. croceipes females were observed to exhibit standing still, searching on plant surface, preening, oriented flight, general flight, and walking. The proportion of time spent preening increased over the day. Oriented flight, general flight, searching, and walking peaked in the morning between 09:00 and 12:00 hours. Oriented flight, general flight, and walking showed minor increases in the afternoon.Microplitis croceipes females spent significantly more time preening, orienting to, and walking and searching on clover than on geranium. However, there was no difference in time spent standing still on geranium or clover. Significance of these findings for development of effective augmentative release strategies is discussed.
cis-Diaquabis(2,2'-bipyrimidine-N,N')cobalt(II) Diperchlorate Dihydrate, [Co(C8H6N4)2(H2 O)2](ClO4)2.2H2O

The complex cation has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry with cobalt bonded to two bidentate bpm ligands, and two water molecules in cis positions. The structure has crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry.
A meta-classifier for detecting prostate cancer by quantitative integration of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging

Recently, in vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) have emerged as promising new modalities to aid in prostate cancer (CaP) detection. MRI provides anatomic and structural information of the prostate while MRS provides functional data pertaining to biochemical concentrations of metabolites such as creatine, choline and citrate. We have previously presented a hierarchical clustering scheme for CaP detection on in vivo prostate MRS and have recently developed a computer-aided method for CaP detection on in vivo prostate MRI. In this paper we present a novel scheme to develop a meta-classifier to detect CaP in vivo via quantitative integration of multimodal prostate MRS and MRI by use of non-linear dimensionality reduction (NLDR) methods including spectral clustering and locally linear embedding (LLE). Quantitative integration of multimodal image data (MRI and PET) involves the concatenation of image intensities following image registration. However multimodal data integration is non-trivial when the individual modalities include spectral and image intensity data. We propose a data combination solution wherein we project the feature spaces (image intensities and spectral data) associated with each of the modalities into a lower dimensional embedding space via NLDR. NLDR methods preserve the relationships between the objects in the original high dimensional space when projecting them into the reduced low dimensional space. Since the original spectral and image intensity data are divorced from their original physical meaning in the reduced dimensional space, data at the same spatial location can be integrated by concatenating the respective embedding vectors. Unsupervised consensus clustering is then used to partition objects into different classes in the combined MRS and MRI embedding space. Quantitative results of our multimodal computer-aided diagnosis scheme on 16 sets of patient data obtained from the ACRIN trial, for which corresponding histological ground truth for spatial extent of CaP is known, show a marginally higher sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value compared to corresponding CAD results with the individual modalities.
The structural basis of transfer RNA mimicry and conformational plasticity by a viral RNA.

RNA molecules can perform multiple functions, which can be driven by different conformational states; here, the crystal structure of the transfer-RNA-like structure of the turnip yellow mosaic virus is solved, providing insight into the structural basis of RNA multifunctionality. More than forty years ago it was observed that some viral RNA genomes are aminoacylated at their 3′ ends during infection. The sequences that allow this modification are known as tRNA-like structures (TLSs) and they are regarded as prototypes of molecular mimicry and RNA multifunctionality. Here Jeffrey Kieft and colleagues solve the crystal structure of the TLS from turnip yellow mosaic virus. The TLS architecture allows it to fold and unfold readily, in contrast to the more rigid tRNA. And the structure has two faces: one mimics tRNA and the other diverges from tRNA. RNA is arguably the most functionally diverse biological macromolecule. In some cases a single discrete RNA sequence performs multiple roles, and this can be conferred by a complex three-dimensional structure. Such multifunctionality can also be driven or enhanced by the ability of a given RNA to assume different conformational (and therefore functional) states1. Despite its biological importance, a detailed structural understanding of the paradigm of RNA structure-driven multifunctionality is lacking. To address this gap it is useful to study examples from single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses, a prototype being the tRNA-like structure (TLS) found at the 3′ end of the turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV). This TLS not only acts like a tRNA to drive aminoacylation of the viral genomic (g)RNA2,3,4, but also interacts with other structures in the 3′ untranslated region of the gRNA5, contains the promoter for negative-strand synthesis, and influences several infection-critical processes6. TLS RNA can provide a glimpse into the structural basis of RNA multifunctionality and plasticity, but for decades its high-resolution structure has remained elusive. Here we present the crystal structure of the complete TYMV TLS to 2.0 A resolution. Globally, the RNA adopts a shape that mimics tRNA, but it uses a very different set of intramolecular interactions to achieve this shape. These interactions also allow the TLS to readily switch conformations. In addition, the TLS structure is ‘two faced’: one face closely mimics tRNA and drives aminoacylation, the other face diverges from tRNA and enables additional functionality. The TLS is thus structured to perform several functions and interact with diverse binding partners, and we demonstrate its ability to specifically bind to ribosomes.
Direct observation of a novel perturbed oxyferrous catalytic intermediate during reduced putidaredoxin-initiated turnover of cytochrome P-450-CAM: probing the effector role of putidaredoxin in catalysis.

The single turnover of (1R)(+)-camphor-bound oxyferrous cytochrome P450-CAM with one equivalent of dithionite-reduced putidaredoxin (Pdx) was monitored for the appearance of transient intermediates at 3 °C by double mixing rapid scanning stopped-flow spectroscopy. With excess camphor, three successive species were observed after generating oxyferrous P450-CAM and reacting versus reduced Pdx: a perturbed oxyferrous derivative, a species that was a mixture of high and low spin Fe(III), and high spin ferric camphor-bound enzyme. The rates of the first two steps, ∼140 and ∼85 s-1, were assigned to formation of the perturbed oxyferrous intermediate and to electron transfer from reduced Pdx, respectively. In the presence of stoichiometric substrate, three phases with similar rates were seen even though the final state is low spin ferric P450-CAM. This is consistent with substrate being hydroxylated during the reaction. The single turnover reaction initiated by adding dioxygen to a preformed reduced P450-CAM·Pdx complex with excess camphor also led to phases with similar rates. It is proposed that formation of the perturbed oxyferrous intermediate reflects alteration of H-bonding to the proximal Cys, increasing the reduction potential of the oxyferrous state and triggering electron transfer from reduced Pdx. This species may be a direct spectral signature of the effector role of Pdx on P450-CAM reactivity (i.e. during catalysis). The substrate-free oxyferrous enzyme also reacted readily with reduced Pdx, showing that the inability of substrate-free P450-CAM to accept electrons from reduced Pdx and function as an NADH oxidase is completely due to the incapacity of reduced Pdx to deliver the first but not the second electron.
Correlation of C-start behaviors with neural activity recorded from the hindbrain in free-swimming goldfish (Carassius auratus).

SUMMARY Startle behaviors in teleost fishes are well suited for investigations of mechanisms of sensorimotor integration because the behavior is quantifiable and much of the underlying circuitry has been identified. The teleost C-start is triggered by an action potential in one of the two Mauthner (M) cells. To correlate C-start behavior with electrophysiology, extracellular recordings were obtained from the surface of the medulla oblongata in the hindbrain, close to the M-axons, in freely swimming goldfish monitored using high-speed video. The recordings included action potentials generated by the two M-axons, as well as neighboring axons in the dorsal medial longitudinal fasciculus. Axonal backfills indicated that the latter originate from identifiable reticulospinal somata in rhombomeres 2-8 and local interneurons. Diverse auditory and visual stimuli evoked behaviors with kinematics characteristic of the C-start, and the amplitude of the first component of the hindbrain field potential correlated with the C-start direction. The onset of the field potential preceded that of the simultaneously recorded trunk EMG and movement initiation by 1.08±0.04 and 8.13±0.17 ms, respectively. A subsequent longer latency field potential was predictive of a counterturn. These results indicate that characteristic features of the C-start can be extracted from the neural activity of the M-cell and a population of other reticulospinal neurons in free-swimming goldfish.
Spatial graph grammars for graphical user interfaces

In a graphical user interface, physical layout and abstract structure are two important aspects of a graph. This article proposes a new graph grammar formalism which integrates both the spatial and structural specification mechanisms in a single framework. This formalism is equipped with a parser that performs in polynomial time with an improved parsing complexity over its nonspatial predecessor, that is, the Reserved Graph Grammar. With the extended expressive power, the formalism is suitable for many user interface applications. The article presents its application in adaptive Web design and presentation.
Rainbow holographic interferometry

Abstract A one-step rainbow holographic process is applied to holographic interferometry. Experimental demonstrations of double exposure and time-average interferograms are included. Comparison is made with the conventional holographic process. We found that the rainbow process provides better equality and less speckle noise.
A LA TERCERA SE GANA: THE VALIDATION OF BENZINGIA (ORCHIDACEAE: ZYGOPETALINAE)

When Benzingia was first proposed in 1989, the protologue included two species (Benzingia hirtzii sp. nov. and B. estradae comb. nov.), which required two separate Latin descriptions or diagnoses (generic and specific) for Benzingia and B. hirtzii. The author, however, provided only a descriptio generico-specifica. Therefore, the generic name, the new species, and the proposed combination were not validly published. An attempt to validate the genus and the two species was made by Dodson and Romero in 1995, but it also failed because it did not include separate Latin descriptions for the genus and the proposed type species. Seven species names referred to Benzingia in the meantime are also invalid. All the ten relevant names are here validated (the generic name, the new species, and eight new combinations).
The Synaptic Cell Adhesion Molecule, SynCAM1, Mediates Astrocyte-to-Astrocyte and Astrocyte-to-GnRH Neuron Adhesiveness in the Mouse Hypothalamus

We previously identified synaptic cell adhesion molecule 1 (SynCAM1) as a component of a genetic network involved in the hypothalamic control of female puberty. Although it is well established that SynCAM1 is a synaptic adhesion molecule, its contribution to hypothalamic function is unknown. Here we show that, in addition to the expected neuronal localization illustrated by its presence in GnRH neurons, SynCAM1 is expressed in hypothalamic astrocytes. Cell adhesion assays indicated that SynCAM is recognized by both GnRH neurons and astrocytes as an adhesive partner and promotes cell-cell adhesiveness via homophilic, extracellular domain-mediated interactions. Alternative splicing of the SynCAM1 primary mRNA transcript yields four mRNAs encoding membrane-spanning SynCAM1 isoforms. Variants 1 and 4 are predicted to be both N and O glycosylated. Hypothalamic astrocytes and GnRH-producing GT1-7 cells express mainly isoform 4 mRNA, and sequential N- and O-deglycosylation of proteins extracted from these cells yields progressively smaller SynCAM1 species, indicating that isoform 4 is the predominant SynCAM1 variant expressed in astrocytes and GT1-7 cells. Neither cell type expresses the products of two other SynCAM genes (SynCAM2 and SynCAM3), suggesting that SynCAM-mediated astrocyte-astrocyte and astrocyte-GnRH neuron adhesiveness is mostly mediated by SynCAM1 homophilic interactions. When erbB4 receptor function is disrupted in astrocytes, via transgenic expression of a dominant-negative erbB4 receptor form, SynCAM1-mediated adhesiveness is severely compromised. Conversely, SynCAM1 adhesive behavior is rapidly, but transiently, enhanced in astrocytes by ligand-dependent activation of erbB4 receptors, suggesting that erbB4-mediated events affecting SynCAM1 function contribute to regulate astrocyte adhesive communication.
Bilateral implantation in children with cochleovestibular nerve hypoplasia

To report on the outcomes of sequential bilateral cochlear implantation (CI) in children with inner ear malformation. The study design is a retrospective case study. The setting is a tertiary reference center. Two children presenting a profound bilateral congenital hearing loss with bilateral hypoplasia of the cochleovestibular nerves and hypoplasic external semicircular canal had a cochlear implant at respectively 16 months and 33 months. A second implant was proposed at respectively 17 and 20 months after the first implant. The main outcome measures are audiometry, perceptive results in closed and open set words (CSW and OSW) and oral production at follow-up. The first cochlear implant gave respectively mean thresholds at 60 dB and 70 dB. Bilateral CI showed mean threshold at respectively 40 dB and 55 dB. In case 1, perceptive assessment was 83% and 70% in respectively CSW and OSW with oral production and comprehension of sentences after 1 year follow-up. In case 2, the perceptive assessment showed no perceptive or linguistic evolution at 6 months follow-up. In cochleovestibular nerve hypoplasia, bilateral implantation could be discussed in cases of limited result after unilateral implant.
It's Not Who You Are but Who You're with: Self-Confidence in Achievement Settings

This study examined the effects of two social cues on women's and men's self-confidence: the sex and performance of another in an achievement setting. Before trying to solve 60 anagrams, women expected to perform more poorly than men. In addition, both sexes expected to perform more poorly when paired with a male confederate than when paired with a female confederate. The effect of the partner's sex showed up in anagram performance: people with a female partner solved more anagrams than people with a male partner. The effect of subject's sex on performance was unexpected: women solved more anagrams than men. After the task, sex differences in self-confidence disappeared; neither sex of subject nor sex of partner influenced self-confidence. The partner's performance, however, had a strong effect on everyone: people were less self-confident if they had worked with a high-scoring partner. The pattern of results suggests that sex-of-subject differences in self-confidence, while important, are less powerful than the effects wielded by the sex of others in achievement settings.
Microbial communities and their relevance for ecosystem models: Decomposition as a case study

Soil microbial communities are so vastly diverse that complex interactions, which alter ecosystem functions, may occur among microbial species and functional groups. In this review, we explore the empirical evidence for situations when shifts in the community structure of microbes would elicit a change in ecosystem process rates, specifically decomposition, even when microbial biomass remains constant. In particular, we are interested in a subset of these scenarios in which knowledge of microbial community structure would improve model predictions for ecosystem functions. Results from microcosm and field studies indicate that microbial species diversity, functional group diversity, and community composition can all influence ecosystem process rates. The underlying mechanisms that may elicit changes in ecosystem functions from shifts in microbial community structure include evolutionary constraints on microbial trait adaptation, trait correlations, dispersal limitation, and species interactions. The extent of microbial diversity in soils is not known, so it is presently not possible to model all scenarios of microbial community structure shifts. However, by incorporating documented patterns in functional groups that are relevant for a particular ecosystem process and potential relationships between microbial phylogeny and function, the predictive power of process models will be significantly improved. The inclusion of this information into process models is critical for predicting and understanding how ecosystem functions may shift in response to global change.
The Origins and Drivers of Insulin Resistance

Obesity-induced insulin resistance is the major determinant of metabolic syndrome, which precedes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is thus the driving force behind the emerging diabetes epidemic. The precise causes of insulin resistance are varied, and the relative importance of each is a matter of ongoing research. Here, we offer a Perspective on the heterogeneous etiology of insulin resistance, focusing in particular on the role of inflammation, lipid metabolism, and the gastrointestinal microbiota.
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS BASED ON AN INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING ADVISER PERCEPTION

An instrument is described for measuring the degree to which an adviser perceives' his advisees' attitudes. Its application requires each of n advisees to respond to a form consisting of c items. For each item, the adviser is instructed to respond as he thinks the particular advisee under consideration did. If Xij = jth advisee's response to the ith item, and if Yij = adviser's estimate of Xij, then θij = | Xij – Yij | is a reasonable measure of response discrepancy. Since the distribution of θij for a given patient response Xij = x depends on x, an ‘equitable’ comparison between two advisers must take into account differences in the distributions of advisee responses. A ‘standardized’ perception score is developed which reflects the fractional gain in perception from its worst possible value, conditional on the observed set of advisee responses. A method for testing the null hypothesis that two advisers are equally perceptive is given and a numerical example is included which illustrates the necessity for standardizing.
Effect of advanced cycle breeding on genetic diversity in barley breeding germplasm

Plant breeding that emphasizes crosses among elite parents in a closed population (advanced cycle breeding) is presumed to decrease genetic diversity. To assess the effect of plant breeding on allelic diversity, we evaluated regional ancestors, parental lines, and cultivar candidates from the University of Minnesota six-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding program between 1958 and 1998 using pedigree information, 70 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and a gene specific marker. Pedigree and SSR allelic diversity indices revealed a decrease in genetic diversity, from an average of 5.89 alleles per locus in the ancestors group to 2.34 alleles per locus in the fourth decade of breeding. A correspondence analysis showed differentiation in the germplasm with time. At specific loci, we detected both reductions and no change in the number of alleles over time. Several marker loci that demonstrated a reduction in number of alleles were associated with major loci for disease resistance or malting quality and were presumably under selection during breeding. Assessment of locus-specific allelic variation across the genome in breeding germplasm should identify both the regions of the genome that should be conserved and the regions of the genome where there are opportunities to introgress new allelic diversity without disrupting desirable gene complexes.
The role of hydrogen peroxide in endothelial proliferative responses.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a recently recognized second messenger regulating proliferation in mammalian cells. Endothelial cells possess NADPH oxidases, which produce the H202 precursor superoxide (.O2-) in response to receptor-mediated signaling. Multiple physiologic agents have been shown to stimulate endothelial cells to produce .O2-/H2O2, including growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta1, and alterations in biomechanical forces, such as shear stress and cyclic strain. Downstream effects of these stimuli can often be inhibited by scavenging H2O2. Low concentrations of H2O2 stimulate proliferation or enhanced survival in a wide variety of cell types. Also, low concentrations of H2O2 stimulate endothelial migration as well as tube formation in an in vitro model of angiogenesis. Although low concentrations of H2O2 have been shown to be involved in numerous signal transduction pathways and to independently stimulate mitogenesis, there has been little information presented on precisely how mammalian cells respond biochemically to these low concentrations of H2O2. Recently a functional proteomics approach has been utilized to identify proteins responsive to low concentrations of H2O2 in human endothelial cells.
Structural Analysis of Mg2+ and Ca2+ Binding, Myristoylation, and Dimerization of the Neuronal Calcium Sensor and Visinin-like Protein 1 (VILIP-1)

Visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1) belongs to the neuronal calcium sensor family of Ca(2+)-myristoyl switch proteins that regulate signal transduction in the brain and retina. Here we analyze Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) binding, characterize metal-induced conformational changes, and determine structural effects of myristoylation and dimerization. Mg(2+) binds functionally to VILIP-1 at EF3 (ΔH = +1.8 kcal/mol and K(D) = 20 μM). Unmyristoylated VILIP-1 binds two Ca(2+) sequentially at EF2 and EF3 (K(EF3) = 0.1 μM and K(EF2) = 1-4 μM), whereas myristoylated VILIP-1 binds two Ca(2+) with lower affinity (K(D) = 1.2 μM) and positive cooperativity (Hill slope = 1.5). NMR assignments and structural analysis indicate that Ca(2+)-free VILIP-1 contains a sequestered myristoyl group like that of recoverin. NMR resonances of the attached myristate exhibit Ca(2+)-dependent chemical shifts and NOE patterns consistent with Ca(2+)-induced extrusion of the myristate. VILIP-1 forms a dimer in solution independent of Ca(2+) and myristoylation. The dimerization site is composed of residues in EF4 and the loop region between EF3 and EF4, confirmed by mutagenesis. We present the structure of the VILIP-1 dimer and a Ca(2+)-myristoyl switch to provide structural insights into Ca(2+)-induced trafficking of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Intelligent Software Agents: Sensor Integration and Response

Abstract In a post Macondo world the buzzwords are Integrity Management and Incident Response Management. The twin processes are not new but the opportunity to link the two is novel. Intelligent software agents can be used with sensor networks in distributed and centralized computing systems to enhance real-time monitoring of system integrity as well as manage the follow-on incident response to changing, and potentially hazardous, environmental conditions. The software components are embedded at the sensor network nodes in surveillance systems used for monitoring unusual events. When an event occurs, the software agents establish a new concept of operation at the sensing node, post the event status to a blackboard for software agents at other nodes to see , and then react quickly and efficiently to monitor the scale of the event. The technology addresses a current challenge in sensor networks that prevents a rapid and efficient response when a sensor measurement indicates that an event has occurred. By using intelligent software agents - which can be stationary or mobile, interact socially, and adapt to changing situations - the technology offers features that are particularly important when systems need to adapt to active circumstances. For example, when a release is detected, more » the local software agent collaborates with other agents at the node to exercise the appropriate operation, such as: targeted detection, increased detection frequency, decreased detection frequency for other non-alarming sensors, and determination of environmental conditions so that adjacent nodes can be informed that an event is occurring and when it will arrive. The software agents at the nodes can also post the data in a targeted manner, so that agents at other nodes and the command center can exercise appropriate operations to recalibrate the overall sensor network and associated intelligence systems. The paper describes the concepts and provides examples of real-world implementations including the Threat Detection and Analysis System (TDAS) at the International Port of Memphis and the Biological Warning and Incident Characterization System (BWIC) Environmental Monitoring (EM) Component. Technologies developed for these 24/7 operational systems have applications for improved real-time system integrity awareness as well as provide incident response (as needed) for production and field applications. « less
Approximating Value Functions for Controlled Degenerate Diffusion Processes by Using Piece-Wise Constant Policies

It is shown that value functions for controlled degenerate diffusion processes can be approximated with error of order $h^{1/3}$ by using policies which are constant on intervals $[kh^{2},(k+1)h^{2})$.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate stimulates smooth muscle cell differentiation and proliferation by activating separate serum response factor co-factors.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a lipid agonist that regulates smooth muscle cell (SMC) and endothelial cell functions by activating several members of the S1P subfamily of G-protein-coupled Edg receptors. We have shown previously that SMC differentiation is regulated by RhoA-dependent activation of serum response factor (SRF). Because S1P is a strong activator of RhoA, we hypothesized that S1P would stimulate SMC differentiation. Treatment of primary rat aortic SMC cells with S1P activated RhoA as measured by precipitation with a glutathione S-transferase-rhotekin fusion protein. In SMC and 10T½ cells, S1P treatment up-regulated the activities of several transiently transfected SMC-specific promoters, and these effects were inhibited by the Rho-kinase inhibitor, Y-27632. S1P also increased smooth muscle α-actin protein levels in SMC but had no effect on SRF binding to the smooth muscle α-actin CArG B element. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR showed that S1P treatment of SMC or 10T½ cells did not increase the mRNA level of either of the recently identified SRF co-factors, myocardin or myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A). MRTF-A protein was expressed highly in SMC and 10T½ cultures, and importantly the effects of S1P were inhibited by a dominant negative form of MRTF-A indicating that S1P may regulate the transcriptional activity of MRTF-A. Indeed, S1P treatment increased the nuclear localization of FLAG-MRTF-A, and the effect of MRTF-A overexpression on smooth muscle α-actin promoter activity was inhibited by dominant negative RhoA. S1P also stimulated SMC growth by activating the early growth response gene, c-fos. This effect was not attenuated by Y-27632 but could be inhibited by the MEK inhibitor, UO126. S1P enhanced SMC growth through ERK-mediated phosphorylation of the SRF co-factor, Elk-1, as measured by gel shift and Elk-1 activation assays. Taken together these results demonstrate that S1P activates multiple signaling pathways in SMC and regulates proliferation by ERK-dependent activation of Elk-1 and differentiation by RhoA-dependent activation of MRTF-A.
Analysis of new mid-atomic number precursor wire array experiments on the 1-MA pulsed power generator at UNR

Previous experiments on the 1-MA “Zebra” generator at UNR studied precursor plasmas with Ni-60 alloy (96% Cu) wire arrays1. Those precursor plasmas were shown to consistently have electron temperatures > 400 eV 1. New recent experiments performed on Zebra using cylindrical wire arrays (CWA) continue to emphasize stronger radiating precursor plasma but from other mid-atomic number wire arrays. Time-integrated spatially-resolved (TISR) and time-gated spatially-integrated (TGSI) x-ray spectral data, time-integrated and time-gated pinhole x-ray images, shadowgraphy, as well as optical streak camera images were obtained during the recent mid-atomic number (Cu, brass, and alumel) CWA experiments. Preliminary results on these CWA are consistent with previous Ni-60 results. Non-LTE kinetic models of Cu, Zn, and Ni have been applied to account for the L-shell radiation from precursor and main x-ray burst plasmas. The resulting plasma parameters from modeling of TGSI and TISR spectra together with analysis of corresponding images allow for the study of precursor plasma formation in time and in space, respectively.
CONSUMPTION AND EXPECTED ASSET RETURNS: AN UNOBSERVED-COMPONENT APPROACH

This paper proposes an unobserved-component approach to estimate expected returns on household assets and expected growth rates of excess consumption (consumption in excess of labor income) within a present-value model of consumption. The present-value model of consumption implies that the excess-consumptionâ€“assets ratio can be expressed as a function of the present discounted value of expected excess-consumption growth rate and expected asset returns. Because expected returns and expected excess-consumption growth rate are unobserved variables, we use an unobserved-component approach to extract them from the observed history of realized returns and excess-consumption growth rate. Our results suggest that both filtered returns and filtered excess-consumption growth rate are significant and better predictors of realized returns and realized excess-consumption growth rate than the one obtained by the lagged excess-consumptionâ€“assets ratio.
Side-lobe suppression by pattern multiplication

It is shown that the properties of the radiation patterns of broadside and end-fire line radiators can be used to minimize the side-lobe level of the radiation patterns of uniformly excited rectangular arrays.
A direct synthesis of 5-alkoxymethylfurfural ethers from fructose via sulfonic acid-functionalized ionic liquids

5-Alkoxymethylfurfural ethers are synthesized directly from fructose using ionic liquids (imidazolium propanesulfonic acids) and alcohols in a novel biphasic system.
Inter-annual variability in the interhemispheric atmospheric CO2 gradient: contributions from transport and the seasonal rectifier

The observed interhemispheric gradient in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) indicates the distribution of CO2 sources and sinks, and for recent decades is evidence of a Northern mid-latitudes sink, a tropical source and southern hemisphere sink. As such, the variability in the gradient also reflects how these fluxes vary with time. However, the variability in the gradient is sensitive to the network of stations used to calculate the gradient. Also, an important consideration when dealing with variability in atmospheric measurements is the contribution due to the variability in the atmospheric transport. Most previous studies have ignored transport variability. Using an atmospheric tracer transport model driven with analysed circulation products, we demonstrate here that the interannual variability in the interhemispheric gradient due to transport alone is significant when compared with the observations. Model experiments show that interannually varying transport combined with both cyclostationary terrestrial biosphere fluxes and time-constant fossil CO2 fluxes generates significant interannual variability, but that the component due to the interannually varying transport and the ocean CO2 fluxes is small. The key contributor to the transport generated interannual variability is due to the variability in the seasonal rectifier (the covariance between the seasonality in the terrestrial biosphere fluxes and atmospheric transport, which results in non-zero surface CO2 concentrations despite the fluxes balancing at each gridpoint). This study shows that the rectifier variability is complex, with different regions displaying different modes of variability. We also investigate the role of the Pearman Pump (gradient due to the seasonal covariance in the fluxes and cross-hemispheric transport) and show that while it appears to be a process occurring in the atmosphere, it is of second-order importance in forcing the interhemispheric gradient.