cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dealer market structure, outside competition, and the bid-ask spread

Abstract We investigate the linkages between the number of dealers making markets in a security, the extent of outside (or nondealer) competition, and the market bid ask spread for NASDAQ NMS stocks. The investigation is guided by a model that emphasizes dealers' interactions as their inventories change, and predicts that the extent of outside competition limits the bid-ask spread and the number of dealers. We hypothesize that the extent of outside market making capital in a stock is related to that stock's institutional holdings. Evidence shows that the extent of institutional holdings relative to trading volume proxies for outside competition. For stocks with little outside competition, the spread is large even though the number of dealers is also larger than for comparable stocks. The component of the spread related to outside market making capital is economically significant (about 1 2 to 1 percent of price). The composition of volume as to trade size and trade frequency, which is related to the level of institutional holdings, also influences the spread.
Hypotonic solution increases the slowly activating potassium current IsK expressed in Xenopus oocytes

A slowly activating potassium current was expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of RNA transcribed from a rat kidney cDNA clone. Hypotonic solutions (160 mOsmol/l; control was 220 mOsmol/l) increased the current by increasing the rate of activation and by decreasing the depolarization needed to activate the current. This effect of hypotonicity was not observed in calcium-free solution, but was unaffected by staurosporine or the calmodulin antagonist W7. Cytochalasin D reduced the current and prevented the increase by hypotonic solution. The results suggest that the increase in this potassium current by hypotonic solution might result from calcium entry and changes in the actin network.
Metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic sphincterotomy for the treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis

Metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic sphincterotomy for the treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis
Reimagining the Self-Made Man: Myth, Risk, and the Pokerization of America

This article takes a rhetorical approach to the rise of gambling in America, and in particular the growth of the game of poker, as a means to explore larger changes to America's collective consciousness that have resulted in an increased acceptance of gambling. I contend that the rise of the risk society has resulted in significant alterations to the mythology that binds Americans together. I establish this claim through the exploration of ESPN's coverage of the 2003 World Series of Poker and its use of the myth of the self-made man. I conclude that gambling works both to critique and reinterpret the myth of the self-made man by putting emphasis on the importance of luck and risk management and deemphasizing the importance of the Protestant ethic, as understood through social and individual virtue. Professional poker players can thus be viewed as entrepreneurial role models for a new, risk-based, society.
Understanding the Random Effect on Victimization Distributions: A Statistical Analysis of Random Repeat Victimizations

Abstract The notion of repeat victimization has been a growing interest of crime prevention policies and portrayed as a practical solution to prevent crimes. One stochastic characteristic of repeat victimization, however, has not been fully considered in understanding the distribution of victimizations: random repeat victimization, which indicates a concentration of victimizations solely by chance. This lack of consideration has resulted in misleading interpretations of victimization data and erroneous arguments. Through simulating the 2008–2009 British Crime Survey and employing mathematical demonstrations, this study investigates the statistical characteristics of random repeat victimization and reviews the arguments of previous studies on repeat victimization.
Role of expressive behaviour for robots that learn from people

Robotics has traditionally focused on developing intelligent machines that can manipulate and interact with objects. The promise of personal robots, however, challenges researchers to develop socially intelligent robots that can collaborate with people to do things. In the future, robots are envisioned to assist people with a wide range of activities such as domestic chores, helping elders to live independently longer, serving a therapeutic role to help children with autism, assisting people undergoing physical rehabilitation and much more. Many of these activities shall require robots to learn new tasks, skills and individual preferences while ‘on the job’ from people with little expertise in the underlying technology. This paper identifies four key challenges in developing social robots that can learn from natural interpersonal interaction. The author highlights the important role that expressive behaviour plays in this process, drawing on examples from the past 8 years of her research group, the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab.
The effect of preincubation of HeLa cell nuclei with ATP on the degradation of mononucleosomal DNA by micrococcal nuclease

HeLa cell nuclei with DNA labeled with [3H] thymidine have been preincubated under varying conditions and then incubated with micrococcal nuclease. Aliquots, removed at increasing times, were analyzed for mononucleosomal size DNA and for acid-soluble DNA, the ratios were plotted and a slope was determined. Preincubation with ATP and a regenerating system increased the slope 2 fold. Optimum ATP concentrations were above 0.25 mM. The ATP effect was reversed by novobiocin. No inhibition of the ATP effect was observed with nalidixic acid, coumermycin, oxolinic acid, VM-26, aphidicolin, or 3 amino-benzamide. NAD or cAMP or cGMP had no effect with or without ATP. Other nucleoside triphosphates could substitute to varying degrees for ATP as could ATP analogues. Nuclei from log phase cells showed no ATP effect, but log phase cells, partially depleted of ATP by incubation with deoxyglucose, showed the effect. The effect was lost in nuclei on long-term storage. No evidence was found for differential degradation of core histones, histone H-1 or DNA, and there was no evidence of nucleosome sliding.
The Emergency Medicine Subinternship—A Standard Experience for Medical Students?

Objective: To determine whether emer- gency medicine (EM)-bound and non-EM-bound sen- ior medical students on the EM subinternship have a uniform experience with respect to number and acuity of patients seen and procedures performed. Methods: Prospective observational analysis of pa- tient diagnosis and procedures recorded in logs by students at a public teaching hospital over 12 consec- utive months. Logs were reviewed blindly and as- signed an acuity level based on predetermined crite- ria. Preselected procedures were categorized as general or surgical and tallied. Identity, specialty choice, gender, and month of rotation for each student were identified. Results: Seventy of 74 students com- pleted logs. On average, 34 EM-bound students saw 59.82 patients (95% CI = 55.19 to 64.45) and per- formed 10.58 procedures (95% CI = 8.62 to 12.56); 36 non-EM-bound students saw 51.17 patients (95% CI = 47.41 to 54.90) and performed 8.33 procedures (95% CI = 6.81 to 9.84). Univariate analysis showed EM- bound students saw more patients than non-EM- bound students, performed more surgical procedures, and saw higher-acuity patients (p = 0.004; 0.009; 0.016). Multivariate analyses controlled for EM spe- cialty, gender, and month. Significant effects for EM specialty were found (ordinary least squares) for number of patients, procedures, and surgical proce- dures (p = 0.013; 0.048; 0.011). Logistic regression ex- plaining acuity level showed EM specialty and gender were significant (p = 0.010; 0.038). Conclusions: In an EM subinternship, experience was variable be- tween EM-bound and non-EM-bound students. Male students saw lower-acuity patients. The EM-bound students saw more patients, higher-acuity patients, and performed more procedures than non-EM-bound cohorts. Emergency medicine educators responsible for medical education should be aware of these dif- ferences. Key words: Emergency medicine; medical student; clerkship; undergraduate medical education; education; career choice. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2001; 8:253-258
QoS-aware software components

The next generation of complex software systems will be highly distributed, component-based, and service-oriented. They will need to operate in unattended mode, possibly in hostile environments, and they'll be composed of many "replaceable" components discoverable at runtime. Moreover, they will have to run on a multitude of unknown and heterogeneous hardware and network platforms. Three major requirements for such systems are performance, availability, and security. Performance requirements imply that these systems must be adaptable and self-configurable to changes in workload intensity. Availability and security requirements suggest that these systems also must adapt and reconfigure themselves to withstand attacks and failures. This paper focuses specifically on QoS requirements for performance and describes the framework for QoS-aware distributed applications.
Live births, cesarean sections and the development of menstrual abnormalities

Abstract Objectives To examine the relationship between number of livebirths and cesarean sections on the development of menstrual abnormalities. Methods The effect of number of livebirths and cesarean sections on menstrual abnormalities in the late reproductive period was evaluated using data from the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles. Results There were 298 women with no livebirths and 606 women with livebirths of which 184 had a history of cesarean section. Among all women, increasing number of livebirths was associated with an increasing trend in reported heavy menses, prolonged flow > 6 days, and a decreasing trend in reported dysmenorrhea. This effect was amplified among women with a history of cesarean section. Conclusions Increasing number of livebirths is associated with heavy and prolonged menstrual flow during the late reproductive period. This association is particularly stronger in women with a history of cesarean section.
Transient effectiveness of vitamin D2 therapy in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients.

Abstract Background The effectiveness of current treatment recommendations for vitamin D insufficiency in children with CF is unknown. Therefore, we assessed the effectiveness of vitamin D2 50,000 IU once daily for 28 days for vitamin D insufficiency. Methods Retrospective chart review of pediatric CF patients from 2006–2008. Vitamin D2 50,000 IU daily for 28 days was given to patients with 25-OHD Results One hundred forty-seven levels from 97 individuals were assessed. Success of treatment was 54% (n = 80/147). Seventeen of 39 patients (43%) followed for an additional 6–18 months were able to maintain levels of ≥ 30 ng/mL. Conclusions Vitamin D2 50,000 IU daily for 28 days was effective in correcting vitamin D insufficiency in approximately 50% of subjects. However, almost half of successfully treated patients were unable to maintain normal 25-OHD levels > 6 months after completion of therapy, implying that this effect is transient.
Symptom Patterns in Hyperkinetic, Neurotic, and Normal Children.

CONNERS, C. KEITH. Symptom Patterns in Hyperkinetic, Neurotic, and Normal Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1970, 41, 667-682. Parent symptom ratings of 316 psychiatric clinic patients and 365 normal children were factor analyzed. Factor scores discriminate between patients and normals and between neurotic and hyperkinetic diagnostic groups, but the same basic factor structure appears in the groups. Age, social class, and race effects were slight. Symptom prevalence rates were higher in clinic patients than in a representative normal sample. It is concluded that there are few qualitative differences between normal and psychiatrically ill children, though they differ in the severity of symptomatology.
Synthesis, structure, properties and magnetic applications of carbon-coated nanocrystals produced by a carbon arc

Out of the fullerene field has grown the exciting potential for synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles of both scientific and technical interest. We employ a Kratschmer-Huffman carbon are method to synthesize carbon-coated elemental transition metal and alloy particles with nanocrystalline dimensions. These have included FeCx, Co[C] and Ni[C] ferromagnetic particles. Recently, SmCox[C] particles with nanocrystalline dimensions have been produced by this method starting with a Sm2Co7 metallic precursor. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy illustrate the phases present and the particle size distribution. Magnetic properties, as determined by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry are also reported. These include hysteretic, temperature and time-dependent magnetic responses and an inferred superparamagnetic response. A unifying theme in this research is the carbon are synthesis of materials with interesting magnetic properties and assessment of their use in xerography, magnetic resonance imaging, ferrofluids, data storage and magnetic inks.
A Topological Characterization of the Length of Paths.

Let T be a metrizable topological space. We speak of a universal functional of paths if with every path s in T a (finite or infinite) number λ s is associated. For any particular metrization of T the corresponding length of paths is an example of a non-negative universal functional. To different metrizations of T correspond, in general, different lengths. How are these lengths characterized among the non-negative universal functionals of paths? In other words, what properties of a functional λ are necessary and sufficient in order that there exist a metrization of T such that, for every path s, the corresponding length is equal to λ s? We widen the scope of the problem by admitting metrizations of T for which the distance is non-symmetric.
Measuring Material Microstructure Under Flow Using 1-2 Plane Flow-Small Angle Neutron Scattering

A new small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) sample environment optimized for studying the microstructure of complex fluids under simple shear flow is presented. The SANS shear cell consists of a concentric cylinder Couette geometry that is sealed and rotating about a horizontal axis so that the vorticity direction of the flow field is aligned with the neutron beam enabling scattering from the 1-2 plane of shear (velocity-velocity gradient, respectively). This approach is an advance over previous shear cell sample environments as there is a strong coupling between the bulk rheology and microstructural features in the 1-2 plane of shear. Flow-instabilities, such as shear banding, can also be studied by spatially resolved measurements. This is accomplished in this sample environment by using a narrow aperture for the neutron beam and scanning along the velocity gradient direction. Time resolved experiments, such as flow start-ups and large amplitude oscillatory shear flow are also possible by synchronization of the shear motion and time-resolved detection of scattered neutrons. Representative results using the methods outlined here demonstrate the useful nature of spatial resolution for measuring the microstructure of a wormlike micelle solution that exhibits shear banding, a phenomenon that can only be investigated by resolving the structure along the velocity gradient direction. Finally, potential improvements to the current design are discussed along with suggestions for supplementary experiments as motivation for future experiments on a broad range of complex fluids in a variety of shear motions.
Observations on cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. V. Developmental changes in the male genital system

In a review of the male genital tract in autopsied patients with cystic fibrosis, sections of the spermatic cord were available from 14 infants and children and 3 adults. The vas deferens appeared to be normally formed in 8 children, but it was atrophic in 2, replaced by smooth muscle in 2, and absent in the remaining 2 children. Normal development of the epididymal ducts was present in 13 of 19 infants and children; the other 6 had varying degrees of dilatation and atrophy; fibrotic ducts were present in the single available section of adult epididymis. These findings suggest that the transport duct system in affected males undergoes changes similar to those in the pancreas, salivary gland, and gallbladder and that male infertility in adults with cystic fibrosis is probably caused by degenerative lesions secondary to obstruction rather than by anomalous development of the genital tract.
Treasurer's guide to share‐based payment accounting

Treasurers, take note:The recent IASB standard and the revision of FASB Statement No. 123 will both significantly impact the way companies account for share-based payment in the future. The authors examine both standards to help corporate treasurers fully understand the effect on companies' financial statements and future cash flows. The authors also provide a handy list of proactive steps that treasurers can take now. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Depletion of PAK1 enhances Ubiquitin-mediated Survivin degradation in pancreatic β-cells

Functional β-cell mass deficiency in diabetes results from imbalanced β-cell death and replication, and decreased PAK1 protein levels in human islets from donors with type 2 diabetes implicates a possible role for PAK1 in maintaining β-cell mass. Here, we aim to address the linkage between PAK1 and Survivin, a protein essential for β-cell replication. PAK1 knockout (KO) mouse islets exhibited decreased expression of Survivin protein. MIN6 β-cells with siRNA-mediated suppression of PAK1 also had decreased Survivin protein and exhibited an increased level of ubiquitinated-Survivin. However, no significant changes in Survivin mRNA were found in islets from PAK1 KO mice and PAK1-depleted MIN6 β-cells. The decreased Survivin level in MIN6 cells subjected to hyperglycemic stress was prevented by expression of exogenous PAK1. Moreover, overexpressing Survivin restored proliferation of β-cells that was impaired by the loss of PAK1. These data implicate a role for PAK1 in regulating Survivin protein stability in the β-cell and suggest PAK1 as a potential molecular target for the restoration of β-cell mass.
Jemezius, a new omomyid primate from the early Eocene of northwestern New Mexico

Abstract Recently collected omomyid primate fossils from the early Eocene Regina Member, San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico, add significant new information to our knowledge of the family in the southern part of the Rocky Mountain region during Wasatchian time. A total of seven specimens represent at least two omomyid species on the basis of size alone, but only the larger of these species, here described as Jemezius szalayi , gen. et sp. nov., is currently known from sufficient material to permit an adequate taxonomic assignment. Jemezius possesses several traits in common with Uintanius that clearly reflect a close phylogenetic relationship between these genera, but lacks the specialized premolar hypertrophy characteristic of that genus. The presence of uintaniinin omomyids in New Mexico during the middle Wasatchian, well before their first appearance in Wyoming during Bridgerian time, supports the hypothesis that several of the exotic mammals that first appear in Wyoming near the Wasatchian-Bridgerian boundary may be immigrant taxa from the south.
Fitness Landscape Transformation through a Single Amino Acid Change in the Rho Terminator

Regulatory networks allow organisms to match adaptive behavior to the complex and dynamic contingencies of their native habitats. Upon a sudden transition to a novel environment, the mismatch between the native behavior and the new niche provides selective pressure for adaptive evolution through mutations in elements that control gene expression. In the case of core components of cellular regulation and metabolism, with broad control over diverse biological processes, such mutations may have substantial pleiotropic consequences. Through extensive phenotypic analyses, we have characterized the systems-level consequences of one such mutation (rho*) in the global transcriptional terminator Rho of Escherichia coli. We find that a single amino acid change in Rho results in a massive change in the fitness landscape of the cell, with widely discrepant fitness consequences of identical single locus perturbations in rho* versus rho WT backgrounds. Our observations reveal the extent to which a single regulatory mutation can transform the entire fitness landscape of the cell, causing a massive change in the interpretation of individual mutations and altering the evolutionary trajectories which may be accessible to a bacterial population.
Pyrrolnitrin production by Burkholderia cepacia and biocontrol of Rhizoctonia stem rot of poinsettia

Abstract Pyrrolnitrin production by Burkholderia cepacia strain 5.5B was closely related to suppression of stem rot of poinsettia caused by Rhizoctonia solani . Selected strains RR 13-1 and UV 19-4, which produced significantly less pyrrolnitrin than the parent strain 5.5B, lost the ability to control stem rot completely. Selected strain RR 21-2 produced the same level of pyrrolnitrin as strain 5.5B and was as effective as strain 5.5B in stem rot control. The effect of medium type and initial pH of medium on pyrrolnitrin production by B. cepacia was investigated to improve efficacy of biocontrol. More pyrrolnitrin was accumulated when the initial pH was adjusted to 5.8 than 6.8. With an initial pH of 5.8, strains of B. cepacia produced more pyrrolnitrin in a nutrient broth medium than in a minimum salts medium. Pyrrolnitrin was the major factor in biocontrol of Rhizoctonia stem rot of poinsettia by B. cepacia . Improvement in biocontrol efficacy may be possible by adjusting culture conditions to optimize pyrrolnitrin production.
Predicting the Risk of Lyme Disease: Habitat Suitability for Ixodes scapularis in the North Central United States

The distribution and abundance of Ixodes scapularis were studied in Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and portions of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by inspecting small mammals for ticks and by collecting questing ticks at 138 locations in state parks and natural areas. Environmental data were gathered at a local level (i.e., micro and meso levels), and a geographic information system (GIS) was used with several digitized coverages of environmental data to create a habitat profile for each site and a grid map for Wisconsin and Illinois. Results showed that the presence and abundance of I. scapularis varied, even when the host population was adequate. Tick presence was positively associated with deciduous, dry to mesic forests and alfisol-type soils of sandy or loam-sand textures overlying sedimentary rock. Tick absence was associated with grasslands, conifer forests, wet to wet/mesic forests, acidic soils of low fertility and a clay soil texture, and Precambrian bedrock. We performed a discriminant analysis to determine environmental differences between positive and negative tick sites and a regression equation to examine the probability of I. scapularis presence per grid. Both analyses indicated that soil order and land cover were the dominant contributors to tick presence. We then constructed a risk map indicating suitable habitats within areas where I. scapularis is already established. The risk map also shows areas of high probability the tick will become established if introduced. Thus, this risk analysis has both explanatory power and predictive capability.
The Rationality of U.S. Regulation of the Broadcast Spectrum in the 1934 Communications Act

The Federal Radio Commission regulated radio broadcasting, 1927–1934. With the passage of the Communications Act of 1934, the 1927 Radio Act (enabling the Commission) was re-enacted in whole. This congressional endorsement yields key evidence as to what policy outcomes were intended, differentiating competing theories for the origins of spectrum allocation law: Coase (J Law Econ 2(1):1–40, 1959), emphasizing policy error; Hazlett (J Law Econ 33:133–175, 1990), focusing on “franchise rents” in a public choice framework; and the “public interest” hypothesis, reconstructed by Moss and Fein (J Policy Hist 15(4):389–416, 2003). Congress’ revealed preferences prove consistent with the franchise rents theory, while contradicting the other two.
Summer Reading: Predicting Adolescent Word Learning from Aptitude, Time Spent Reading, and Text Type

Mostly low-income African American and Hispanic teens (N = 192) were tested in (a) passage comprehension, (b) vocabulary ability, (c) cloze task performance, and (d) listening comprehension in the spring and vocabulary in the fall. Students were surveyed about reading (a) narrative, (b) expository, (c) teen culture, and (d) online texts. Interaction terms created by the product of cloze task scores with the time and frequency of student narrative and expository reading were both significant predictors of fall vocabulary. Online reading was popular but did not predict vocabulary gains. Teen culture reading predicted vocabulary loss. Text type and student profiles both play a role in predicting fall vocabulary scores from summer reading.
Coronary Artery Calcification in Older Adults to Age 99 Prevalence and Risk Factors

Background Coronary artery calcification has been proposed as a noninvasive method to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the prevalence and risk factors for coronary artery calcification in populations >65 years have not been well studied. Methods and Results Electron beam tomography was performed to assess coronary artery calcium (CAC) in 614 older adults aged, on average, 80 years (range, 67 to 99 years); 367 (60%) were women, and 143 (23%) were black. Calcium scores ranged from 0 to 5459. Median scores were 622 for men and 205 for women. Scores increased by age and were lower in blacks than in whites. Nine percent of subjects (n=57) had no CAC, and 31% (n=190) had a score lower than 100. A history of CVD was associated with calcium score. Age, male sex, white race, CVD, triglyceride level, pack-years of smoking, and asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were independently associated with CAC score in the fourth quartile. Conclusions A wide range of CAC...
Evolving Symmetry for Modular System Design

Symmetry is useful as a constraint in designing complex systems such as distributed controllers for multilegged robots. However, it is often difficult to determine which symmetries are appropriate. It is therefore desirable to design such systems automatically, e.g., by utilizing evolutionary algorithms that produce symmetry through developmental mechanisms. The success of these algorithms depends on how well they explore the space of valid symmetries. This paper presents an approach called evolution of network symmetry and modularity (ENSO) that utilizes group theory to search the space of symmetries effectively. This approach was evaluated by evolving neural network controllers for a quadruped robot in physically realistic simulations. On flat ground, the resulting controllers are as fast as those having hand-designed symmetry, and significantly faster than those without symmetry. On inclined ground, where the appropriate symmetries are difficult to determine manually, ENSO produced significantly faster gaits that also generalize better than those of other approaches. On robots with a more complicated structure including knee joints, ENSO resulted in more regular gaits than the other approaches. These results suggest that ENSO is a promising approach for evolving complex systems with modularity and symmetry.
Continuous Background Update and Object Detection with Non-static Cameras

Detecting moving objects is an important part of tracking. Most of the previous work on moving object detection concentrates on fixed cameras. Methods using moving cameras seldom deal with the problem of robustly and continuously updating the background model during all times including the periods when the camera is not static. We propose a method to build and continuously update a background model, and to detect foreground objects not only when the camera is static but also when it is zooming in/out or panning/tilting. For instance, the model built for the zoomed in (out) portion of a video is warped to the reference frame of the model of the zoomed out (in) portion to immediately incorporate changes that occurred in the background, such as objects that are placed or removed. This way, changes are incorporated to the model without requiring a learning period each time camera zooms in/out. This method addresses the problems of detecting moving objects during the zooming in and zooming out periods, detecting objects that are placed in the scene while the camera is non-static and gradually incorporating an overall illumination change to the scene model. We present different experiments covering three different scenarios to demonstrate the success of the proposed method in addressing these issues.
Sustainable Communication and the Dominant Social Paradigm: Can They Be Integrated?

The relationship between marketing and the environment has been examined since the early 1970s but began to focus on advertising in the early 1990s. Environmentally related ads were frequently analyzed for content, and then a framework for green advertising was developed, expanding the domain of inquiry to the level of paradigms. This article expands on both of these areas of research by examining both green advertising and sustainable communication and positioning them within the dominant social paradigm of western industrial society. It is argued that achieving sustainable consumption is problematic for both areas because their goal contradicts the basic elements of the paradigm. For meaningful change to occur over time, it is necessary to develop the theory of sustainable communication further and expand knowledge of the functioning of the dominant social paradigm of western industrial societies.
Spatial restriction of PDK1 activation cascades by anchoring to mAKAPα

Summary The muscle A-kinase anchoring protein (mAKAP) tethers cAMP-dependent enzymes to perinuclear membranes of cardiomyocytes. We now demonstrate that two alternatively spliced forms of mAKAP are expressed: mAKAPα and mAKAPβ. The longer form, mAKAPα, is preferentially expressed in the brain. mAKAPβ is a shorter form of the anchoring protein that lacks the first 244 amino acids and is preferentially expressed in the heart. The unique amino terminus of mAKAPα can spatially restrict the activity of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1). Biochemical and genetic analyses demonstrate that simultaneous recruitment of PDK1 and ERK onto mAKAPα facilitates activation and release of the downstream target p90RSK. The assembly of tissue-specific signaling complexes provides an efficient mechanism to integrate and relay lipid-mediated and mitogenic activated signals to the nucleus.
The Nestlings Why Young Adults Stay at Home Longer: The Italian Case

The available data concerning the prolongation of youth suggest that there are big differences between the habits of young people in Italy and those abroad. Generally speaking, young people outside of Italy, before forming their own family, leave their nuclear family of origin and go to live alone or experiment with ways of living with others that only later may lead to marriage. But in Italy, the past decade has been characterized by a very low percentage of types of households other than those of the family of origin. As a result, the quota of young people who live with their families is the highest in the West. The peculiarity of Italian young adults is that of leaving home only to marry; the elongation of youth in Italy essentially means young people tending to prolong their stay with their family of origin.
Development of Multiplex Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase PCR Assays for Detecting Eight Medically Important Flaviviruses in Mosquitoes

A multiplex real-time reverse transcriptase PCR has been developed for the rapid detection and identification of eight medically important flaviviruses from laboratory-reared, virus-infected mosquito pools. The method used involves the gene-specific amplification of yellow fever virus (YFV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1 to 4 (DENV-1 to DENV-4, respectively) by use of the flavivirus consensus amplimers located at the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain of nonstructural protein 5. Virus-specific amplicons were detected by four newly characterized TaqMan fluorogenic probes (probes specific for YFV, JEV, WNV, and SLEV) and four previously published probes specific for DENV-1 to -4 (L. J. Chien, T. L. Liao, P. Y. Shu, J. H. Huang, D. J. Gubler, and G. J. Chang, J. Clin. Microbiol. 44:1295-1304, 2006). This assay had a specificity of 100% and various sensitivities of at least 3.5 PFU/ml for YFV, 2.0 PFU/ml for JEV, 10.0 PFU/ml for WNV, and 10.0 PFU/ml for SLEV. Additionally, we have developed an in vitro transcription system to generate RNase-resistant RNA templates for each of these eight viruses. These templates can be incorporated into the assay as RNA copy number controls and/or as external controls for RNA-spiked mosquito pools for quality assurance purposes. Although further study with mosquitoes collected in the field is needed, the incorporation of this assay into mosquito surveillance could be used as an early-warning system for the detection of medically important flaviviruses, particularly when the cocirculation of multiple viruses in the same region is suspected.
Policy gradients in linearly-solvable MDPs

We present policy gradient results within the framework of linearly-solvable MDPs. For the first time, compatible function approximators and natural policy gradients are obtained by estimating the cost-to-go function, rather than the (much larger) state-action advantage function as is necessary in traditional MDPs. We also develop the first compatible function approximators and natural policy gradients for continuous-time stochastic systems.
Stability of Silicon Microelectromechanical Systems Resonant Thermometers

The frequency stability of single-crystal silicon microelectromechanical systems resonators encapsulated with epitaxial polysilicon (epi-seal) is investigated. As silicon resonators have significant temperature dependence, the inherent frequency stability of the resonators is masked by temperature-induced noise. Using two resonators side-by-side and assuming identical temperatures and fluctuations, temperature effects are eliminated, resulting in the two resonators tracking each other within ±10 ppb, or 3 × 10-4 °C, over a month. Power and thermal cycling the resonators produced no observable effects on the resonant frequency. This result indicates that silicon resonators make excellent on-chip thermometers, or high stability timing references if temperature is compensated well.
Test structures for automated contactless inline wafer inspection

Simple but unique and space-saving microelectronic test structures were designed to afford automated inline contactless wafer inspection in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for rapid electrical defect-monitoring in the voltage contrast (VC) mode, along with in situ defect-isolation and -characterization capabilities. Such an automated technique can support accelerated yield learning on sub-0.25 /spl mu/m-rule designs as the defects get below the optical resolutions. The system is also capable of the traditional visual inspection in the secondary-electron emission mode, affording the determination of the transfer coefficients between optical inspection and electrical faults.
Biology and Therapeutic Advances for Pediatric Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Survival for these patients was poor with the use of surgery and/or radiotherapy. The introduction of multi-agent chemotherapy dramatically improved the outcome for these patients and the majority of modern series report 3-year disease-free survival of 60%-70%. This paper describes current strategies for treating patients with osteosarcoma as well as review of the clinical features, radiologic and diagnostic work-up, and pathology. The authors review the state of the art management for patients with osteosarcoma in North America and Europe including the use of limb-salvage procedures and reconstruction as well as discuss the etiologic and biologic factors associated with tumor development. Therapy-related sequelae and future directions in the biology and therapy for these patients are also discussed.
Equivalent mixed-mode characteristic impedances for differential signal vias

Differential signal via structures in multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs) and packages are studied using an equivalent coupled multi-conductor transmission-line model. Thus, easy-to-understand transmission-line concepts, such as mixed-mode characteristic impedances and propagation constants, can be used to characterize the performance of differential signal via structures in a signal path. The closed-form expressions of per-unit-length parameters in the equivalent coupled multi-conductor transmission-line model are derived based on a physics-based via circuit model with parallel-plane impedances and via-plate capacitances. Mode conversions are discussed for different via structures. Effects of geometrical parameters on equivalent differential via impedances are studied in the paper as well. The proposed method provides a straightforward approach to design differential via structures for better signal integrity.
Structural basis for ubiquitin-mediated antiviral signal activation by RIG-I

RIG-I protein recognizes viral duplex RNA with a 5′-triphosphate group, activating innate immune responses; a crystal structure of its tetrameric CARD signalling domain reveals that non-covalently linked ubiquitin chains stabilize the tetramer in a ‘lock-washer’ structure that serves as a signalling platform for the recruitment and activation of MAVS. The protein RIG-I recognizes viral RNA sequences, activating innate immune responses. This protein is known to make both covalent and non-covalent interactions with K63-linked ubiquitin chains. It has remained unclear, however, how these ubiquitin modifications regulate the activity of 2CARD, the signalling domain of RIG-I, to allow its release in response to viral RNA and subsequent interaction with the downstream signalling molecule MAVS. Sun Hur and colleagues now present the crystal structure of 2CARD tetramer bound by three K63-ubiquitin chains. They find that the non-covalently linked ubiquitin chains bridge adjacent subunits of 2CARD and the covalently linked chains further stabilize this tetramer, which resembles a 'lock-washer' with its surface serving as a signalling platform for recruitment and activation of MAVS. Ubiquitin (Ub) has important roles in a wide range of intracellular signalling pathways. In the conventional view, ubiquitin alters the signalling activity of the target protein through covalent modification, but accumulating evidence points to the emerging role of non-covalent interaction between ubiquitin and the target. In the innate immune signalling pathway of a viral RNA sensor, RIG-I, both covalent and non-covalent interactions with K63-linked ubiquitin chains (K63-Ub n ) were shown to occur in its signalling domain, a tandem caspase activation and recruitment domain (hereafter referred to as 2CARD)1,2. Non-covalent binding of K63-Ub n to 2CARD induces its tetramer formation, a requirement for downstream signal activation3. Here we report the crystal structure of the tetramer of human RIG-I 2CARD bound by three chains of K63-Ub2. 2CARD assembles into a helical tetramer resembling a ‘lock-washer’, in which the tetrameric surface serves as a signalling platform for recruitment and activation of the downstream signalling molecule, MAVS. Ubiquitin chains are bound along the outer rim of the helical trajectory, bridging adjacent subunits of 2CARD and stabilizing the 2CARD tetramer. The combination of structural and functional analyses reveals that binding avidity dictates the K63-linkage and chain-length specificity of 2CARD, and that covalent ubiquitin conjugation of 2CARD further stabilizes the Ub–2CARD interaction and thus the 2CARD tetramer. Our work provides unique insights into the novel types of ubiquitin-mediated signal-activation mechanism, and previously unexpected synergism between the covalent and non-covalent ubiquitin interaction modes.
Metronomic cyclophosphamide schedule-dependence of innate immune cell recruitment and tumor regression in an implanted glioma model

Metronomic cyclophosphamide (CPA) treatment activates robust innate anti-tumor immunity and induces major regression of large, implanted brain tumor xenografts when administered on an intermittent, every 6-day schedule, but not on a daily low-dose or a maximum-tolerated dose CPA schedule. Here, we used an implanted GL261 glioma model to compare five intermittent metronomic CPA schedules to elucidate the kinetics and schedule dependence of innate immune cell recruitment and tumor regression. Tumor-recruited natural killer cells induced by two every 6-day treatment cycles were significantly ablated 1 day after a third CPA treatment, but largely recovered several days later. Natural killer and other tumor-infiltrating innate immune cells peaked 12 days after the last CPA treatment on the every 6-day schedule, suggesting that drug-free intervals longer than 6 days may show increased efficacy. Metronomic CPA treatments spaced 9 or 12 days apart, or on an alternating 6 and 9 day schedule, induced extensive tumor regression, similar to the 6-day schedule; however, the tumor-infiltrating natural killer cell responses were not sustained, leading to rapid resumption of tumor growth after day 24, despite ongoing metronomic CPA treatment. Increasing the CPA dose prolonged the period of tumor regression on the every 9-day schedule, but natural killer cell activation was markedly decreased. Thus, while several intermittent metronomic CPA treatment schedules can activate innate immune cell recruitment leading to major tumor regression, sustained immune and anti-tumor responses are only achieved on the 6-day schedule. However, even with this schedule, some tumors eventually relapse, indicating a need for further improvements in this immunogenic metronomic therapy.
Artificial Intelligence, Expert Systems, and Productivity

This chapter discusses the terms Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems before turning to a more general consideration of types of knowledge and their representation. Technology is leading us toward making knowledge algorithmic (procedural and ruleful). The implications of this development for productivity, especially as affected by resulting workforce attitudes, are likely to be monumental. Notably responsive will be not only blue-collar workers but also white-collar workers, whose stock-in-trade is symbolic manipulation. As technology becomes ever more facilitative of machine-based symbolic analysis and communication, traditional workforce roles, which hitherto were not threatened, inevitably will be affected. Nonetheless, in the near term, symbol systems (W. Sedelow & S. Sedelow, 1979, 1983) and the knowledge they represent pose formidable research and development challenges to technology-based productivity. Verbal symbol systems, with their ambiguities and vaguenesses, are especially difficult to manage in a multidomain-specific way; but there are promising approaches to these problems. Attention needs to be paid not only to such problem resolution but to the interfitting of Expert Systems, and Artificial Intelligence more generally, with Robotics.
Inhibitors of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Antidiabetic Therapy

Glucocorticoid action is mediated by glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which upon cortisol binding is activated and regulates the transcriptional expression of target genes and downstream physiological functions. 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) catalyzes the conversion of inactive cortisone to active cortisol. Since cortisol is also produced through biosynthesis in the adrenal glands, the total cortisol level in a given tissue is determined by both the circulating cortisol concentration and the local 11β-HSD1 activity. 11β-HSD1 is expressed in liver, adipose, brain, and placenta. Since it contributes to the local cortisol levels in these tissues, 11β-HSD1 plays a critical role in glucocorticoid action. The metabolic symptoms caused by glucocorticoid excess in Cushing’s syndrome overlap with the characteristics of the metabolic syndrome, suggesting that increased glucocorticoid activity may play a role in the etiology of the metabolic syndrome. Consistent with this notion, elevated adipose expression of 11β-HSD1 induced metabolic syndrome-like phenotypes in mice. Thus, 11β-HSD1 is a proposed therapeutic target to normalize glucocorticoid excess in a tissue-specific manner and mitigate obesity and insulin resistance. Selective inhibitors of 11β-HSD1 are under development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and other components of the metabolic syndrome.
Heinrich Events: Triggers of Ocean Circulation Change?

Six layers rich in ice-rafted debris and poor in foraminifera shells have been identified in sediments of last glacial age in the northern Atlantic (Heinrich, 1988; Broecker et al., 1990). Based on their geographic pattern and composition, these layers appear to be debris released during the melting of armadas of icebergs (Bond et al., 1992). Abundant limestone fragments in the ice-rafted debris and the exceptionally high 40K — 40Ar ages for the clay minerals point to Hudson Straits as the launching site. This interpretation is strengthened by the finding by Andrews and Tedesco (1992) of exceptionally thick Heinrich layers in cores from the Labrador Sea.
A prehospital screening tool utilizing end-tidal carbon dioxide predicts sepsis and severe sepsis

Abstract Objective To determine the utility of a prehospital sepsis screening protocol utilizing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO 2 ). Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study among sepsis alerts activated by emergency medical services during a 12 month period after the initiation of a new sepsis screening protocol utilizing ≥2 SIRS criteria and ETCO 2 levels of ≤25 mmHg in patients with suspected infection. The outcomes of those that met all criteria of the protocol were compared to those that did not. The main outcome was the diagnosis of sepsis and severe sepsis. Secondary outcomes included mortality and in-hospital lactate levels. Results Of 330 sepsis alerts activated, 183 met all protocol criteria and 147 did not. Sepsis alerts that followed the protocol were more frequently diagnosed with sepsis (78% vs 43%, P P P = .036). Low ETCO 2 levels were the strongest predictor of sepsis (area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.00; P P P = .005) among all prehospital variables. Sepsis alerts that followed the protocol had a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 81-95%), a specificity of 58% (95% CI 52-65%), and a negative predictive value of 93% (95% CI 87-97%) for severe sepsis. There were significant associations between prehospital ETCO 2 and serum bicarbonate levels (r = 0.415, P P P Conclusion A prehospital screening protocol utilizing SIRS criteria and ETCO 2 predicts sepsis and severe sepsis, which could potentially decrease time to therapeutic intervention.