cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B35: Alternate receptor tyrosine kinases provide protection from FGFR inhibition in HNSCC cells as identified by genome-wide shRNA screening

The efficacy of many biologically targeted cancer therapies is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance. Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) patients show only a 4–10% response to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, gefitinib and erlotinib, despite EGFR over-expression in over 90% of tumors. Our lab has previously shown that gefitinib insensitive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines exhibit dominant autocrine fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling. RNAi-based loss-of-function screens are an important tool to identify synthetic lethal interactions between the inhibition of two genes in order to efficiently identify functional survival mechanisms and potent drug combinations. We deployed a whole genome screen to identify genes whose knockdown potentiated the inhibitory effect of the FGFR inhibitor, AZ12908010, in HNSCC cell lines. We found that multiple alternate receptors provided protection from FGFR inhibition in these cell lines, including the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2) and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (Met). We validated the results of the screen by showing that specific knockdown of either ErbB2 or Met in combination with FGFR inhibitor treatment led to increased inhibition of growth relative to FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment alone. These results were confirmed using specific small molecule inhibitors of either ErbB2 or Met. The combination therapies did not lead to greater inhibition of growth in the cell lines where ErbB2 and Met were not identified as synthetic lethal with FGFR. We extended the study to find that the combination of knockdown of either ErbB2 or Met with FGFR inhibition decreased the growth of additional cell lines, indicating that the combination therapies could be broadly applicable. These results reveal a role for alternate RTKs in maintaining pro-growth and survival signaling in HNSCC cells in the setting of FGFR inhibition. Thus, improved therapies for HNSCC patients could involve rationally designed combinations of TKIs targeting FGFR and either ErbB family members or Met.
TerpyridineCuII Polycarboxylate Crystal Reorganization to One- and Two-Dimensional Nanostructures: Crystal Disassembly and Reassembly

Treatment of poly(terpyridineCu II -3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate) with (Cu(MeCN)4(PF6)) under aqueous basic conditions afforded a new one-dimensional comblike structure with no added Cu; whereas under neutral conditions, a two-dimensional gridlike architecture was formed with newly incorporated metal.
Dilute nitride-based III-V heterostructures for unhindered carrier transport in quantum-confined p-i-n solar cells

Successions of dilute nitride-based III-V semiconductor staircase like superlattice structures are incorporated in the intrinsic region of common III-V p-i-n solar cells. The choices of material system and energy band design are tuned towards facilitating the collection of all photo-generated carriers while minimizing recombination losses. Band structure calculations including strain effects, band anti-crossing models and transfer matrix methods are used to theoretically demonstrate optimum conditions for enhanced vertical transport. High electron quantum tunneling escape probability, together with a free movement of quasi-3 D holes, is predicted here to result in enhanced PV device performance. Furthermore, the increase in electron effective mass due to the incorporation of N translates in enhanced absorptive properties, ideal for PV application.
Heparin prevents antiphospholipid antibody–induced fetal loss by inhibiting complement activation

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by thrombosis and recurrent pregnancy loss in the presence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies and is generally treated with anticoagulation therapy. Because complement activation is essential and causative in aPL antibody-induced fetal injury, we hypothesized that heparin protects pregnant APS patients from complications through inhibition of complement. Treatment with heparin (unfractionated or low molecular weight) prevented complement activation in vivo and in vitro and protected mice from pregnancy complications induced by aPL antibodies. Neither fondaparinux nor hirudin, other anticoagulants, inhibited the generation of complement split products or prevented pregnancy loss, demonstrating that anticoagulation therapy is insufficient protection against APS-associated miscarriage. Our data indicate that heparins prevent obstetrical complications in women with APS because they block activation of complement induced by aPL antibodies targeted to decidual tissues, rather than by their anticoagulant effects.
Reexamining the Clinical Response to Denial in Alcoholics

ABSTRACT Denial is viewed as a major obstacle in the successful treatment of alcoholism. The authors suggest several reasons for the treatment problems related to denial in alcoholics. First is the current unidimensional approach to conceptualizing denial. Second is the failure to take into account all potential causes for the denial during the assessment and screening process. Third is the lack of comprehensive intervention strategies that incorporate all components of denial. Utilizing the new theoretical model of denial discussed in this article would lead to an expansion of interdisciplinary approaches and the potential for improving the success rate associated with alcoholism treatment.
Temporal Difference Approach to Coordinated Motion Control of Cooperating Two Link Robots

To perform complex manufacturing operations, two or more manipulators are made to work in concert. When robots work independently of other robots, small errors made (e.g., due to inaccuracies in modeling of the manipulator) by individual robots may be acceptable. However, when robots work together, then high precision is required. This calls for the use of adaptive controllers in order to minimize errors. This paper discusses the application of Temporal Difference Learning (TDL) method, wherein stiffness of manipulator is adapted based on the feedback obtained from force/torque sensors. In order to accomplish this, simulation was carried out by adding feedback (force and change of force) to controllers, so that required trajectory could be adhered. Normally this error (deviation from required trajectory) occurs due to non-availability of the correct values of stiffness of the system. Stiffness of system is difficult to calculate due to inherent complexities in formulating an accurate dynamic model of system. Variation in parameters, for example change of friction due to aging, change of moment of inertia due to changes in payload position and orientation, significantly affect the dynamic model of manipulator. One of the ways to achieve compliance is by updating the dynamic model of the system. The other way is to use the external control loop which provide manipulator with set-points such that the desired compliance can be achieved [1]. This paper demonstrates the appropriateness of TDL method in updating the dynamic model of the system. This updated model is then used to calculate the torques of the joints. As the process of learning converges, the function learned represents a nearly perfect model of the stiffness of the system.© 2002 ASME
Combined Analytical and Phonon‐Tracking Approaches to Model Thermal Conductivity of Etched and Annealed Nanoporous Silicon

A combination of analytical and phonon-tracking approaches is proposed to predict thermal conductivity of porous nanostructured thick materials. The analytical approach derives the thermal conductivity as function of the intrinsic properties of the material and properties characterizing the phonon interaction with pore walls.
Determination of the Failure Mode and the Rupture Pressure in a Mechanically Damaged Pipeline

The following case study outlines metallurgical, finite element, and fracture mechanics analyses conducted to determine the cause of a pipeline rupture that resulted from prior external damage. Metallurgical and fractographic analyses indicated that the rupture initiated from a shear crack caused by mechanical damage, and that the fracture mode was overload; no indication of progressive growth was observed. Stress and fracture mechanics analysis indicated that the pipe ruptured at a pressure below the maximum allowable operating pressure.
Remembering Les Morris

Leslie Ronald Morris (born 1935, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania) died on December 8, 2008, at home in Buffalo, New York. A lifelong librarian, Director of Libraries at Niagara University (1985–2000), and ...
Quasi-liquid states observed on ion beam microtextured surfaces

Liquid-like properties have been observed on surface structures developed by means of ion beam microtexturing. The structures include cones, pyramids, or wavelike formations. The observed liquid-like effects are drips and ripples on the sides of cones, droplet formation, the apparent flow and coalescence of closely packed structures, wetting angle and other surface tension effects, and the bending of cones by additional heating. The bulk temperatures are in the range of 50-600 C. These effects are seen to some extent on Cu, Al, Au, Pb, and Ni substrates.
Diagnosis of central nervous system Toxoplasma gondii from the cerebrospinal fluid in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The cytologic diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) Toxoplasma gondii was established from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who presented with obstructive hydrocephalus and progressive obtundation. Free extracellular tachyzoites, phagocytized tachyzoites, and cyst forms were identified with Wright staining of cytocentrifuge preparations. Diagnosis was confirmed with indirect immunofluorescent antibody studies. Initial CSF examination was remarkable for low cellularity (24 wbc/mm3) with 42% neutrophils and 58% mononuclear cells on differential examination. Subsequent differential counts of CSF showed persistence of a mixed inflammatory pattern until day 10 at which time a mononuclear pleocytosis was observed. Cerebrosphinal chemistries were notable for a low glucose (20 mg/dl), which persisted for 10 days. The cytocentrifuge Wright stain preparation was found to be superior to routine millipore filter Papanicolaou stain preparation for the identification of free tachyzoites and is recommended in the setting of immunodeficient patients with suspected CNS roxoplasmosis. Diag Cytopathol 1987;3:148–151.
Exposure to cockroach allergen in the home is associated with incident doctor-diagnosed asthma and recurrent wheezing.

Abstract Background: Indoor inhaled allergens have been repeatedly demonstrated to worsen asthma in sensitized individuals, but their role in incident asthma is more controversial. Objective: We investigated the relationship between exposure to allergens (dust mite, cat, and cockroach) measured in the home and incident doctor-diagnosed asthma and recurrent wheezing in children born to parents with asthma, allergies, or both. Methods: From an ongoing longitudinal family and birth cohort study, we identified 222 siblings (median age, 2.87 years) of the index children. Allergen levels in the home were measured from dust samples obtained at the beginning of the study. Incident doctor-diagnosed asthma and recurrent wheezing were determined from questionnaires administered at 14 months and 22 months after the initial questionnaire. Results: Thirteen (5.9%) children were reported to have incident asthma, twenty (9.0%) children had recurrent asthmatic wheezing, and 18 (8.1%) had recurrent wheezing without asthma. Compared with children living in homes with Bla g 1 or 2 levels of less than 0.05 U/g, children exposed to Bla g 1 or 2 levels of 0.05 to less than 2 U/g had a relative risk for incident asthma of 8.27 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-66.04), whereas children exposed to Bla g 1 or 2 levels of 2 U/g or greater had a relative risk for incident asthma of 35.87 (95% confidence interval, 4.49-286.62). Cockroach allergen exposure was likewise a significant predictor for recurrent asthmatic wheezing. Neither dust mite nor cat allergen levels were significantly associated with either outcome. These findings remained after control for several covariates. Conclusion: Exposure to cockroach allergen early in life may contribute to the development of asthma in susceptible children. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:41-7.)
Technology-driven limits on DVFS controllability of multiple voltage-frequency island designs: a system-level perspective

In this paper, we consider the case of network-on-chip (NoC) based multiple-processor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs) implemented using multiple voltage and frequency islands (VFIs) that rely on fine-grained dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) for run-time control of the system power dissipation. Specifically, we present a framework to compute theoretical bounds on the performance of DVFS controllers for such systems under the impact of three important technology driven constraints: (i) reliability and temperature driven upper limits on the maximum supply voltage; (ii) inductive noise driven constraints on the maximum rate of change of voltage/frequency; and (iii) increasing manufacturing process variations. Our experimental results show that, for the benchmarks considered, any DVFS control algorithm will lose up to 87% performance, measured in terms of the number of steps required to reach a reference steady state, in the presence of maximum frequency and maximum frequency increment constraints. In addition, increasing process variations can lead to up to 60% of fabricated chips being unable to meet the specified DVFS control specifications, irrespective of the DVFS algorithm used.
Throughput-optimal number of relays in delay-bounded multi-hop ALOHA networks

This reported work addresses the throughput of an ALOHA-based Poisson-distributed multi-hop wireless network which is subject to a delay constraint in packet delivery. An exact expression and also a tight approximation are derived, based on the Central Limit Theorem, for the end-to-end multi-hop throughput. The result also determines the throughput-maximising number of relays to be used between each source-destination pair.
The antiimplantation effect of the polyethylene IUD in the rat

Abstract The present study was designed to determine how effective a polyethylene device (10–15 mm long) was in preventing implantation of rat blastocysts when it was placed in different locations of the uterine horn. Adult Holtzman rats had the device placed in the cervical half or ovarian half of one uterine horn three weeks prior to mating and were killed on days 7–9 of pregnancy. Although implantation did not occur in that portion of a rat uterine horn in contact with the polyethylene IUD, implantation could occur above or below the device. More animals had implantation sites when the IUD was located at the cervical half than at the ovarian portion of the horn. It is not clear why this occurs; one possibility is considered. A comparison of the composition of several devices as to their effectiveness in suppressing implantation is also considered.
Design and application of a robotic vehicle driving package for the HMMWV: Demo I to Project Mustang

In 1994/95, the Project Mustang unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) was used in two field training exercises to introduce soldiers at Ft. Hood, Texas, to the capabilities of developmental UGVs. The UGV used in these exercises was a high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) platform, mounted with a mission payload to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA), and a robotic vehicle driving package (RVDP) to perform path retrace (called retrotraverse) and teleoperation. The mission scenario at Ft. Hood had a soldier manually deploy the UGV to the mission site and set up the RSTA mission payload. Retrotraverse was then used to assist in retrieval of the UGV at the conclusion of the mission. This paper describes the design and application of the RVDP, used to control the driving of the HMMWV, from initial development in 1990/92 for Demo I to Project Mustang in 1994/95.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Age and diet affect the composition of porcine colonic mucins.

ABSTRACT: Colonic mucins may serve as a defense mechanism by binding bacterial, viral, or dietary lectins, thereby preventing them from attaching to the intestinal epithelium. Presumably, the composition of the mucins would be responsible for this phenomenon, and the composition of mucins from mature mammals would be the most effective in binding lectins. To determine whether differences in diet and/or age affect the composition of colonic mucins, we scraped fresh colonic mucosae from pigs at 0 (n = 3), 7 (n = 3), 21 (n = 3), and 180 (n = 3) d of age and purified the mucins from these mucosal scrapings. Mucins were purified by ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease digestion, high-performance size-exclusion chromatography, and cesium chloride density-gradient ultracentrifugation. The 180-d-old pig was considered mature. No changes were observed in any of the variables analyzed in the 7-d-old animals. No changes were observed in quantities of galactosamine and galactose. The amounts of fucose and glucosamine increased by 165 and 37%, respectively, (p < 0.05) from d 0 to d 21 in the sow-fed animals, at which time fucose and glucosamine content were 48 and 22% greater, respectively, than in the 21-d-old, artificially fed group (p < 0.05). A further significant increase in fucose content was observed in the mucins from mature animals. The sulfate content in the 21-d-old, sow-fed animals was significantly lower than in both the newborn and the 21-d-old artificially fed animals. The sulfate content in all three of these groups, however, was significantly higher than that observed in the mucins of mature animals. At 21 d of age, the protein content was significantly lower than at birth for both diet groups but significantly higher than in the mucins of mature pigs. The evidence indicates that the composition of colonic mucins in 21-d-old sow-fed pigs was more mature than that in the artificially fed counterparts, with respect to fucose, glucosamine, and sulfate. Therefore, if a mature mucin composition is, in fact, a more effective defense against intestinal infection, young breast-fed animals may have an advantage over young artificially fed animals.
Estimation of modulus of elasticity of plastics and wood plastic composites using a Taber stiffness tester

This study measured the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of various plastics and composite materials with a Taber stiffness tester as an alternative to conventional universal testing machines. The proposed approach presents an expedited means to assess MOE for a wide range of plastics and wood plastic composites (WPCs) with various shapes. The Taber stiffness units and the geometry of the samples acted as the basis for the calculation of the MOE. The results showed a high correlation between the MOE calculated from Taber units and that obtained on a universal testing machine (Instron). Concurrently, Taber units showed the potential to assess stiffness of samples with irregular shapes, such as in the case of extruded rods, which exhibit this characteristic.
Large-scale microwave cavity search for dark-matter axions

We have built and operated a large-scale axion detector, based on a method originally proposed by Sikivie, to search for halo axions. The apparatus consists of a cylindrical tunable high-Q microwave cavity threaded axially by a static high magnetic field. This field stimulates axions that enter the cavity to convert into single microwave photons. The conversion is resonantly enhanced when the cavity resonant frequency is near the axion rest mass energy. The experiment is cooled to 1.5 K and the electromagnetic power spectrum emitted by the cavity is measured by an ultra-low-noise microwave receiver. The axion would be detected as excess power in a narrow line within the cavity resonance. The apparatus has achieved a power sensitivity better than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}23} \mathrm{W}$ in the mass range $2.9--3.3 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}.$ For the first time the rf cavity technique has explored plausible axion models, assuming axions make up a significant fraction of the local halo density. The experiment continues to operate and will explore a large part of the mass in the range of $1--10 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$ in the near future. An upgrade of the experiment is planned with dc superconducting quantum interference device microwave amplifiers operating at a lower physical temperature. This next generation detector would be sensitive to even more weakly coupled axions contributing only fractionally to the local halo density.
Regional distribution of calcium channel ligand (1,4-dihydropyridine) binding sites and 45Ca2+ uptake processes in rat brain.

Abstract The binding of nimodipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel antagonist, and of Bay K 8644, a Ca2+ channel activator, was measured in several regions of rat brain and compared to the distribution of K+ depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake into synaptosomes. The maximum binding densities (Bmax) of [3H]nimodipine and [3H]Bay K 8644 were not significantly different one from the other, but differed according to brain region with binding being highest in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, intermediate in the caudate nucleus and cerebral cortex (various regions), and lowest in the cerebellum [563 to 107 fmol/mg protein (mean)]. The KD values, [ 3 H ] nimodipine = 1.8 × 10 −10 M (mean) and [ 3 H ] Bay K 8644 = 1.4 × 10 −9 M ( mean ) , did not differ according to region. Depolarizationinduced 45Ca2+ uptake in synaptosomes occurred as fast (1 sec) and slow (10 sec) components distinguished by their selective occurrence in choline-containing and pre-depolarized preparations respectively. Distribution of the fast component of uptake paralleled that of [3H]nimodipine binding, being least in the cerebellum and greatest in the hippocampus and cortex, but the magnitude of the slow phase of 45Ca2+ uptake did not vary in the three brain regions studied.
Influence of slip on vortex-induced motion of a superhydrophobic cylinder

Abstract The partial slip boundary condition produced by a superhydrophobic surface in the Cassie state has been shown capable of reducing skin friction drag as well as influencing the flow around coated bodies including cylinders and spheres. In this paper, we investigated how the changes in vortex shedding and separation previously observed on superhydrophobic cylinders affects the rms lift force and the resulting oscillations induced on an elastically mounted cylinder. Two hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene cylinders were studied. The first was smooth and the second was roughened to make it superhydrophobic and to induce slip. The presence of slip was found to decrease rms lift and amplitude of the oscillating cylinder by up to 15% with no measurable impact on drag or the natural frequency of the elastically mounted system. We show that the observed reductions are a direct result of reduced fluid forcing on the superhydrophobic cylinder.
Computer-aided design of pipelined and multiclocked microarchitectures

Abstract The paper presents dagar , a computer-aided microarchitecture synthesis system. dagar takes an algorithmic description of a digital system, and outputs a microarchitecture consisting of a control unit and a data path. This microarchitecture is a realization of the digital system described by the algorithm. dagar designs data paths with multiclocked and pipelined functional units.
The Building Representative and the Educational Administrator: Conflicting or Cooperative Role Processes?

Union building representatives and principals: conflict or congruence? The data say the latter is true.
Manufacture of mescal in sonora, Mexico

Mescal, the popular liquor of Mexico, is a brandy distilled from the fermented mash of the cooked stems of certain wild and cultivated agaves native to the arid and semiarid regions of Mexico and the American Southwest. The most famous mescal (also spelled mezeal or mexcal) is tequila, the generic name for mescal made in or near the town of Tequila, Jalisco (Crist, 1940; Helbig, 1960). Although tequila and mezcal de Oaxaca (known for the agave moth grub suspended in the liquor of some bottles) are made legally, most mescal is bootlegged. The state of Sonora is particularly renowned for its bacanora, a bootleg mescal made in the region of the town of Bacanora from wild Agave pacifica (Fig. 1). In Sonora, the drinking and making of mescal is not only traditional and common, but expected behavior of men living in the scattered ranches and small riverine agricultural villages. In many years, the sale of mescal accounts for much of the income for many poor rural Sonoran households, especially when droughts limit the success of farming and ranching. In some small villages, nearly a quarter of the households make and sell mescal. Owen (1959, p. 28) reported that 13 of 59 households in Meresichic made and sold mescal in the late 1950s. Although largely the liquor of the Sonoran lower classes, mescal bacanora is commonly consumed at upper-class social affairs in major cities, not only because it is a source of regional pride, but because its flavor and proof are superior to some of Mexico's finest tequilas. Indeed, aficionados of mescal often spend long hours discussing its merits and even its healthful properties. Unlike tequila, which is made from cultivated Agave tequilana, Sonoran mescal is made predominantly from 2 wild agaves: Agave pacifica (maguey) and Agave palmeri (lechuguilla). The former, most preferred for mescal, is abundant in the coastal thorn and short-tree forests of southern Sonora, while the latter is common in the oak woodland and grama grassland communities of northern Sonora (Gentry, 1972). The word mescal is derived from the Nahautl words metl (the general word for agaves) and ixcalli (a word meaning cooked or baked) and refers not only to mescal liquor but to the agaves themselves (Bruman, 1940, p. 11). According to Bruman (1940, p. 7), the baked hearts of certain agaves were the most important aboriginal food in arid and semiarid Mexico and the American Southwest before the development of agriculture. Agaves served a considerable variety of purposes: as food, ceremonial objects, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages, fiber, and medicine (Castetter et al., 1938). Glyphs of agaves and agave products in the Aztec codices point clearly to the traditional economic and social significance of these singularly American plants in Mexico (Gongalves de Lima, 1956; Bottorff de Barrios, 1971, pp. 10-21). Lumholtz (1902, I, p. 256) reported that the Huichol
F2BFLY: an on-chip free-space optical network with wavelength-switching

The increasing number of cores in contemporary and future many-core processors will continue to demand high through-put, scalable, and energy efficient on-chip interconnection networks. To overcome the intrinsic inefficiency of electrical interconnects, researchers have leveraged recent developments in chip photonics to design novel optical network-on-chip (NoC). However, existing optical NoCs are mostly based on passively switched, channel-guided optical interconnect in which large amount of power is wasted in heating the micro-rings and maintaining the optical signal integrity.In this paper we present an optical NoC based on free-space optical interconnect in which optical signals emitted from the transmitter is propagated in the free space in the package. With lower attenuation and no coupling effects, free-space optical interconnects have less overheads to maintain the signal integrity, and no energy waste for heating micro-rings. In addition, we propose a novel cost-effective wavelength-switching method where a refractive grating layer directs optical signals in different wavelengths to different photodetectors without collision. Based on the above interconnect and switching technologies, we propose free flattened butterfly (F2BFLY) NoC which features both high-radix network and dense free-space optical interconnects to improve the performance while reducing the power. Our experiment results, comparing F2BFLY with state-of-the-art electrical and optical on-chip networks, show that it is a highly competitive interconnect substrate for many-core architectures.
The Effect of Season of Maturity of the Laying Hen on Subsequent Egg Size at Periodic Intervals in the Laying Cycle

Abstract Seven laying trials, each 400 days duration, were conducted in successive calendar years in a manner that resulted in each trial being initiated two calendar months later each year. At least 2400 laying hens were involved in each trial. Egg size determinations were made daily or weekly for the duration of each trial and other performance criteria were also obtained. Laying hens which reached maturity (24 weeks of age) during the fall or early winter months attained larger egg size earlier in the production cycle and maintained this size advantage throughout the trial year. However, those hens which reached maturity in the spring and early summer months produced a higher percentage of small and medium eggs both initially and for the duration of the production cycle. This higher production of medium and small eggs occurred in the summer months when the greatest price spread between large and medium eggs also occurs. Neither bird size at maturity nor rate of production appeared to be contributing factors to the seasonal difference in egg size.
Photoperiod control of reproductive development in the male Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).

The Djungarian or Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is a seasonally breeding rodent in which maturation of gonadal function depends upon the photoperiod during rearing. It was hypothesized that the ability of short days to block testicular growth resulted from insufficient gonadotropin secretion during critical stages of development. This question was studied by measurement of serum concentrations of FSH, LH, PRL, and androgens by RIA systems validated for use in this species. Males reared from birth in long (16 h of light, 8 h of darkness) or short (10 h of light, 14 h of darkness) photoperiods were killed at 5- to 10-day intervals between 5 and 60 days of age. Regardless of photoperiod before 15 days of age, body and testes weights similarly increased. Serum concentrations of FSH and PRL gradually increased during this age period, although PRL concentrations were statistically higher in males under long days compared to those under short days. Circulating serum LH and androgen levels were high before...
Modular verification of Ada library units

Modular verification of Ada library units enables programmers to write and verify small program units and to compose them with minimal additional effort into larger correct programs. Penelope is a prototype verification environment for Ada that supports separate verification of program units and their composition. The authors have extended Penelope to enable verification of larger Ada programs, consisting of multiple compilation units. They discuss two major issues that arise from the composition of program modules. The first is ensuring that the composition itself is correct, that is, that assumptions made by one module about another indeed hold. The elaboration of Ada packages poses new problems, which are described along with the solution adopted. A novel technique for reducing the amount of annotation required from the user is described. The second issue is maintaining consistency between the various modules without incurring excessive overhead. The way in which a set of modules is kept consistent depends on the structure of the language. The method, called separate verification, is closely modeled on the technique of separate compilation used in Ada. How Ada techniques can be adapted for a verification environment is discussed. >
Getting New Deal History Wrong

Jefferson Cowie and Nick Salvatore have written an ambitious and provocative essay. Ranging across more than a hundred years of history in less than half as many manuscript pages, it seeks to unlock deep secrets of the American past. The New Deal, Cowie and Salvatore argue, constitutes a lone “long exception” in a history otherwise determined by “a deep and abiding individualism” so definitive of U.S. political culture that it dooms any radical rupture in advance. Presenting themselves as realists, Cowie and Salvatore claim that their interpretation of the long sweep of national history “can provide a more stable intellectual foundation on which to build discussions of present and future politics.” I disagree, and the reasons why matter.
The Vascular Smooth Muscle Type I Angiotensin II Receptor mRNA Is Destabilized by Cyclic AMP-Elevating Agents

Although processes involved in mRNA degradation play a significant role in dictating steady state mRNA levels, the influence of cell surface signaling on mRNA stability control is understood incompletely. In this study, the effects of cAMP-elevating agents on type I angiotensin II receptor (AT1-R) mRNA levels were assessed in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). AT1-R mRNA levels are rapidly reduced by forskolin treatment, in which the maximal effect yields an 80% reduction in AT1-R mRNA levels after 6 hr of treatment. The rate of AT1-R mRNA decay in response to forskolin is greater than its apparent intrinsic decay, as assessed in the presence of the transcriptional inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, suggesting forskolin treatment destabilizes the AT1-R mRNA. Nuclear run-on analysis indicates forskolin treatment does not affect transcription of the AT1-R gene in VSMCs, implying induced AT1-R mRNA destabilization accounts for the entire effect of forskolin in decreasing AT1-R mRNA levels. Dose-effect studies that assessed AT1-R mRNA levels and cAMP production were conducted using forskolin and the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol as agonists. Isoproterenol is almost 3 orders of magnitude more potent at eliciting the reduction in AT1-receptor mRNA levels than it is at stimulating cAMP production. Similarly, forskolin elicits reductions in AT1-R mRNA, which occur at concentrations that fail to elicit a detectable production of cAMP. However, protein kinase A activity is stimulated maximally by isoproterenol and forskolin concentrations that do not stimulate detectable cAMP production. These data provide evidence that the mechanism for down-regulation of AT1-R mRNA levels by cAMP-elevating agents in VSMCs occurs via a PKA-regulated mRNA destabilization pathway.
Gas exchange and hydraulic properties in the crowns of two tree species in a Panamanian moist forest

Hydraulic properties and gas exchange were measured in branches of two tropical tree species (Simarouba amara Aubl. and Tapirira guianensis Aubl.) in a moist lowland forest in Panama. Branch-level sapflow, leaf-level stomatal conductance, and water potential measurements, along with measurements of specific hydraulic conductivity of stems in crown tops, were used to relate hydraulic parameters to leaf conductance in two individuals of each species. Branches of the taller trees for each species (28 m, 31 m) showed much higher leaf-specific hydraulic conductance and leaf vapor-phase conductance than those of the smaller trees (18m, 23m). This was probably related to the leaf-to-sapwood area ratio in branches of taller trees, which was less than half that in branches of smaller trees. Dye staining showed evidence of massive cavitation in all trees, indicating that stomata do not control leaf water potential to prevent xylem cavitation in these species. Stomatal conductance of intact leaves also appeared to be insensitive to leaf area removal treatment of nearby foliage. Nevertheless, a simple mass-balance model of water flux combining hydraulic and vapor transport was in close agreement with observed maximal vapor-phase conductance in the four trees (r2=0.98, P=0.006). Our results suggest that the major organismal control over water flux in these species is by structural (leaf area) rather than physiological (stomatal) means.
Development and Validation of a Measure of Patients' Knowledge About Schizophrenia

The Knowledge About Schizophrenia Questionnaire (KASQ), a 25-item multiple-choice test, was developed to assess patients' knowledge about their illness and its management. A total of 136 inpatients participated in four studies, including one cross-validation study, to examine the reliability and validity of the KASQ. Reliability was assessed by measuring the test's precision, internal consistency, and stability of scores. Validity was investigated by comparing patients' scores before and after participation in an educational intervention, and by comparing these scores with those of a waiting-list control group. Results indicate that the KASQ has sound psychometric properties and support its use as an outcome measure.
Black + White = Black Hypodescent in Reflexive Categorization of Racially Ambiguous Faces

Historically, the principle of hypodescent specified that individuals with one Black and one White parent should be considered Black. Two experiments examined whether categorizations of racially ambiguous targets reflect this principle. Participants studied ambiguous target faces accompanied by profiles that either did or did not identify the targets as having multiracial backgrounds (biological, cultural, or both biological and cultural). Participants then completed a speeded dualcategorization task requiring Black/not Black and White/not White judgments (Experiments 1 and 2) and deliberate categorization tasks requiring participants to describe the races (Experiment 2) of target faces. When a target was known to have mixed-race ancestry, participants were more likely to rapidly categorize the target as Black (and not White); however, the same cues also increased deliberate categorizations of the targets as “multiracial.” These findings suggest that hypodescent still characterizes the automatic racial ca...
A community-based breast cancer screening program for medically underserved women: its effect on disease stage at diagnosis and on hazard of death

OBJECTIVE: Earlier studies by this research team found that medically underserved minority women in the Miami-Dade County area of the state of Florida, United States, were in need of breast cancer screening and that there were problems with availability, accessibility, and acceptability of services. In response, a community-based comprehensive breast cancer screening program called the Early Detection Program (EDP) was developed. The specific purpose of this study was to assess the effect that EDP participation had on stage at diagnosis and on hazard of death. METHODS: Existing data from the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS), a statewide cancer registry, were linked with data from the EDP. In December 1998 we assembled a multiethnic (African-American, black Hispanic, white Hispanic, and white non-Hispanic) retrospective cohort with the following inclusion criteria: all women aged 40 and older with breast cancer diagnosed and staged at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center (which is located in the city of Miami, Florida) from January 1987 through December 1997. EDP participants were medically underserved, that is, they resided in lower socioeconomic areas and/or had limited or no health insurance to cover medical costs. Subjects identified as EDP participants were compared to nonparticipants with respect to disease stage at diagnosis and hazard of death. Logistic regression and Cox regression models were used for analysis. RESULTS: EDP participants were 2.4 times as likely (95% confidence interval = 1.71 to 3.43) to present with a diagnosis of localized cancer as were nonparticipants, even after controlling for race and age at diagnosis. EDP participation was independently associated with both earlier diagnosis and reduced hazard of death. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in the EDP increases the likelihood of early detection of breast cancer and reduces the hazard of death for medically underserved women in the Miami-Dade County area of Florida. Interestingly, white Hispanics showed a better survival than did both African-Americans and white non-Hispanics. Our research also demonstrates the value of utilizing existing cancer registry data to evaluate a community-based program such as the EDP.
Travel and the Built Environment

Problem: Localities and states are turning to land planning and urban design for help in reducing automobile use and related social and environmental costs. The effects of such strategies on travel demand have not been generalized in recent years from the multitude of available studies. Purpose: We conducted a meta-analysis of the built environment-travel literature existing at the end of 2009 in order to draw generalizable conclusions for practice. We aimed to quantify effect sizes, update earlier work, include additional outcome measures, and address the methodological issue of self-selection. Methods: We computed elasticities for individual studies and pooled them to produce weighted averages. Results and conclusions: Travel variables are generally inelastic with respect to change in measures of the built environment. Of the environmental variables considered here, none has a weighted average travel elasticity of absolute magnitude greater than 0.39, and most are much less. Still, the combined effect o...
THE EFFECTS OF CONSEQUENCE MANIPULATION DURING FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR MAINTAINED BY NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

Two distinct analytic methods have been used to identify the function of problem behavior. The antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) method (Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1982/1994) includes the delivery of consequences for problem behavior. The AB method (Carr & Durand, 1985) does not include consequence delivery, instead relying exclusively on antecedent conditions to evoke the behavior. The AB and ABC functional analysis methods were compared in this study with 4 children with developmental disabilities who engaged in task-related problem behavior. Results show that the ABC method identified an escape method for all four cases, whereas the AB method failed to identify a function for any case.
The effect of a quorum-quenching enzyme on leaf litter decomposition

Abstract There is much interest in the role of microbial community composition in determining ecosystem processes but the role of interactions within these communities has often been underrepresented. One interaction within microbial communities is quorum-sensing, a type of density-dependent cell-to-cell communication. Here we examine the potential of quorum-sensing effects on litter decomposition in two communities (Forest and Meadow) by adding an enzyme that reduces quorum-sensing. The source of the community and quorum-sensing interacted to determine cumulative litter decomposition. Within the meadow community, enzyme additions caused no effect on decomposition, but in the forest community, inhibition of quorum-sensing resulted in a 14–17% decrease in decomposition. We suggest that quorum-sensing, a community interaction, may be an important determinant of litter decomposition in forested systems.
Harvesting traffic-induced bridge vibrations

This paper demonstrates the harvesting of low-frequency and low-amplitude vibration energy from a suspension bridge. The performance of a Parametric Frequency Increased Generator (PFIG) [1] is evaluated at different locations along the bridge. Bridge vibrations have very low acceleration 0.1–1 m/s2 and variable frequency characteristics (1–40 Hz), making them very challenging to harvest. Field test results show consistent operation along the length of the bridge, producing 0.46–0.72 µW of continuous (average) power (peaks in the range of 30–100 µW), independent of the location of the harvester on the bridge, and without any modifications or tuning. These results pave the way for installing a network of wireless structural health monitoring sensors throughout the bridge without regard to the specific characteristics of the vibration at each location. The fabricated device has a volume of 43 cm3 (68 cm3 including casing).
An incentive-based method for hospital capacity management in a pandemic: the assignment approach

We consider a hospital capacity management problem that addresses the drastic surge of patient volume during a pandemic. This paper is novel in that it allows patients to choose hospitals on their own, whereas most literature assumes that patients will go to their assigned hospitals. We propose an incentive-based approach to help direct patients to alternative hospitals so that capacity shortages across all hospitals are balanced. Consequently, the hospital resources for the community as a whole are utilised most efficiently. The proposed approach is based on two assignment models. One is a (decentralised) equilibrium model for describing patients’ choice of hospital. The other is a (centralised) non-linear programming model for the health authority to maximise the resource utilisation of all the hospitals in the region. We show that when responding to incentive programmes at properly chosen hospitals, the patients’ choice of hospitals can match the one desired by the central health authority, i.e., the one that utilises the overall resources most efficiently. Numerical examples are used to illustrate our approach.
The role of Internet auctions in the expansion of B2B markets

Abstract In the wake of the advent of the World Wide Web, businesses are scrambling to take advantage of changes in their markets. While the consumer side of the Web explosion has been much touted, it is the business-to-business (B2B) market that has quietly surpassed expectations. An important business model that is responsible for this new market expansion is the Internet or Web auction. Businesses are adapting traditional auctions to the instantaneous “real-time” advantage of the Net to reach new markets that were previously cost-prohibitive by reducing transaction costs. Advantages such as the size and scope of the audience are giving Internet auctions a major role in the emerging global economy. This article examines the enormous impact of Internet auctions on B2B markets. We look at the kinds of auctions being conducted and their relevance to emerging business paradigms. We examine the circumstances under which you choose to conduct Web auctions and their impact on pricing mechanisms, information asymmetries, and channel relationships.