cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compliance and determinants of US-listed foreign firms’ 20-F filings under the new Securities and Exchange Commission accelerated deadline

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accelerated deadline on foreign firms, and the 20-F filing practices and factors relating to the filing lags. Design/methodology/approach – The authors identified 338 firms that file 20-F reports with the SEC during the period of 2010 and 2011. The authors then used multivariate regressions to examine the effects of the shortened deadline on foreign firms’ filing practices and the factors associated with these practices. In the regression models, the authors also control for other firm characteristics that have shown to affect the filing lags of US firms such as firm performance, size, mergers and restructures, audit firm, compliance with internal control requirements under Sarbanes Oxley Act, internal control weaknesses, going concern audit opinion and operating complexity. Findings – Based on a sample of 338 US-listed foreign firms, the results indicate that there is a significant reductio...
Studies of Prototype High-Gain Microchannel Plate Photomultiliers

The characteristics of new prototype high gain photomultipliers having two microchannel plates in cascade for electron multiplication have been investigated. Measurements are given of the gain, dark current, quantum efficiency, anode pulse linearity, electron transit time, single and multiphotoelectron time spreads, and pulse height resolution of LEP PM137 8/II and PM137 7/I photomultipliers. The gain as a function of transverse magnetic field has been measured and is discussed. Emphasis is put on the determination of optimum photomultiplier operating conditions, particularly with respect to their pulse height resolution capability. Photomultiplier characteristics as a function of input pulse repetition frequency have been also investigated and discussed.
William Faulkner Does Christopher Marlowe: Textual Similarities of Courtship in A ROSE FOR EMILY and THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE

Speculation about the source, meaning, and significance of the title “A Rose for Emily” has been fierce, as critics, like detectives on the trail of an unsolved murder case, have continued to look ...
Cation-induced quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence in triton X-100 subchloroplast particles.

Abstract Cations were found to regulate excitation energy transfer within individual photosystems as indicated by cation-induced decreases in chlorophyll a fluorescence observed in both Photosystem II (TSF-II) and Photosystem I (TSF-I) Triton X-100 subchloroplast particles. For TSF-II particles, the maximal decrease was about 30%, with half-maximal decreases occurring at 4.8 m m for monovalent cations and 0.14 m m for divalent cations. Fluorescence emission spectra obtained at 77 °K showed that the decreases occurred in the 685-nm emission band. These results suggest that cations create quenching centers in the antenna of Photosystem II. For TSF-I particles, the maximal decrease was 64–70%, with half-maximal effects occurring at 3.8 and 0.1 m m for NaCl and CaCl2, respectively. At 77 °K, the greatest change occurred in the 676-nm emission band, corresponding to the light-harvesting antenna of the Photosystem I particles. The decrease in chlorophyll a fluorescence was accompanied by an increase in the quantum yield for Photosystem I photochemistry, indicating that cations promote the transfer of excitation energy within Photosystem I from the light-harvesting chlorophyll a molecules to P700. The fluorescence changes were not accompanied by structural changes for either TSF-I or TSF-II particles, as indicated by 0 ° light scattering.
Characterization of tau proteins in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line

Here we report three experimental paradigms in which tau proteins are differentially localized and expressed in human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y. We found that in undifferentiated cells, tau proteins were predominantly localized in the nucleus. Western blot analysis of nuclear extracts revealed, among the others, a high molecular weight tau isoform and evaluation of tau mRNA levels showed a single tau isoform. After differentiation, tau immunoreactivity was detected only in cytosol and along neuritic processes. The high molecular weight tau isoform disappeared and an additional tau mRNA species was detected. Treatment of differentiated cells with doxorubicin or okadaic acid resulted in an increase of tau immunoreactivity and in a subsequent cell loss. Our results indicate that both subcellular localization and pattern of expression of tau proteins vary depending on the developmental and functional state of the cells, thus suggesting different roles in cell function.
Rapid Laboratory Calibration of Time Domain Reflectometry Using Upward Infiltration

We propose an upward infiltration method to calibrate a time domain reflectometry (TDR) system. The method is rapid, allows the soil to remain unchanged during the experiment, and provides hundreds of data points. Three experiments were conducted using 18.7-cm-long probes in soils of three textures (nine experiments total). Calibrations also were performed by packing soil cores with soil at progressively higher water contents. The data from the two methods were fitted using regression techniques to two published models of the dielectric constant-water content relationship. The results show that the calibration curves of all three soils, fitted simultaneously to replicate experiments, were similar in shape and statistically the same. A single calibration curve, fitted simultaneously to the replicate experiments of the three soils, was compared with Topps equation and was statistically the same. The results support the conclusion that the upward infiltration method provides a fast and repeatable calibration method, consistent with conventional calibration.
Identifying the Best Scenario for Using Schematic Organizers as Integration Tools for Alcohol-Related Information.

The goal of the present study was to examine scenarios for using two schematic organizers--schematic knowledge maps and conceptual matrices--in integrating episodic and semantic knowledge about alcohol. Seventy students from undergraduate general psychology classes participated for course credit. Participants were assigned to either a schematic organizer group or an essay writing group. These groups were subdivided further into two treatment sequences: episodic/semantic and semantic/episodic. The episodic activity required participants to complete materials using their own alcohol-related experiences, whereas the semantic activity required participants to annotate expert materials. Assessment measures used were consumer-satisfaction questionnaires and free-recall tests. While no preferences were established for any one scenario, the episodic activities were rated higher than the semantic activities regardless of integration sequence. The semantic/episodic integration scenario did produce higher recall scores for the expert information. Language: en
Adherent octacalciumphosphate coating on titanium alloy using modulated electrochemical deposition method.

Our aims in this study were (1) to develop an electrochemical method of depositing adherent octacalciumphosphate (OCP) and other calcium phosphate coatings on titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) substrates of different shapes and surface preparations, (2) to determine the properties of the coating (composition, morphology, thickness, dissolution), and (3) to observe transformation of OCP to carbonatehydroxyapatite (CHA) in simulated body fluid (SBF). Titanium (Ti)-alloy plates, tensile bars with four types of surfaces (grit-blasted with apatitic abrasive, chemically textured, arc-deposited, and Co-Cr-beaded) and dissolution cylinders were electrochemically coated with the use of modulated pulse time electric fields programmed with a custom-made dual microprocessor. Modulated electrochemical deposition (MECD) was carried out with pH and temperature conditions favorable for OCP formation. Coatings were characterized using X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy, tensile strength tests, and solubility tests. XRD and FT-IR analyses showed that pure, uniform OCP coatings were produced on Ti6Al4V surfaces with coating-to-substrate tensile strengths greater than 7,000 psi. Coatings on Ti arc-deposited surfaces, chemically textured surfaces, and Co-Cr-beaded surfaces all gave tensile strengths ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 psi, with no coating shadows in the crevices. Dissolution of OCP coating in 100 mL of 0.1 M Tris buffer solution was determined from the amount of calcium (Ca) released onto the buffer, which was 7.7 +/- 1.0 ppm Ca at pH 7.3 after 4 h, and 22 -/+ 1.4 ppm Ca at pH 3 after 2 h. We found that OCP crystal size can be controlled by the current density and relative pulse time modulation. Our study demonstrated the following: (1) Highly adherent calcium phosphate (e.g., OCP) coating of uniform compositions (e.g., OCP) on Ti-alloy substrates can be obtained at low temperatures with the use of MECD by optimizing pulse time modulation of the electric field, reaction pH, temperature, and electrolyte composition; and (2) OCP readily transforms to CHA when exposed to SBF.
Moral hazard in work organizations: A comment on Gaynor, Eswaran and Kotwal, and Holmström

A key question in the economics of organization is whether it is possible to induce a group of employees to produce some quota of labor desired by the director of their organization. Holmstrom (1982) argued that it is possible to achieve the desired result via a simple incentive scheme. The essence of the scheme is to pay the employees only if they reach the quota; if they fail, the director is allowed to take what they have produced and use it for his own compensation. In response, Eswaran and Kotwal (1984) pointed out that because the director's compensation is smaller if the employees succeed in reaching the quota than if they fail, he has an incentive to bribe an employee to shirk, thus guaranteeing that the quota is not reached. The director, in other words, is subject to moral hazard. In a recent issue of Public Choice, Gaynor (1989) criticized the Eswaran-Kotwal argument by suggesting that it is possible to design incentive schemes which eliminate the director's moral hazard problem. In this note, we defend the Eswaran-Kotwal argument, and raise further questions about the assumptions upon which Holmstrom's incentive scheme is based.
Extending Den Hartog’s Vibration Absorber Technique to Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Systems

The most common method to design tuned dynamic vibration absorbers is still that of Den Hartog, based on the principle of invariant points. However, this method is optimal only when attaching the absorber to a single-degree-of-freedom undamped main system. In the present paper, an extension of the classical Den Hartog approach to a multi-degree-of-freedom undamped main system is presented. The Sherman-Morrison matrix inversion theorem is used to obtain an expression that leads to invariant points for a multi-degree-of-freedom undamped main system. Using this expression, an analytical solution for the optimal damper value of the absorber is derived. Also, the effect of location of the absorber in the multi-degree-of-freedom system and the effect of the absorber on neighboring modes are discussed.
Inhibitor of vesicular stomatitis virus transcriptase in purified virions

VESICULAR stomatitis virus (VSV) particles contain an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase which gives rise in vitro to RNA molecules of the same size and polarity as the mRNA found in vivo1–3. It is not clear which structural protein(s) represents the enzymatic activity. Only five proteins (L, G, N, MS, and M, with possibly some additional minor constituents) are detected in the virions4, and several studies have suggested that neither the G protein (glycoprotein surface spike) nor the M protein (membrane protein), nor even associated membrane lipids are necessary for transcriptase activity5–7.
Ecological effects on estimates of effective population size in an annual plant

Effective population size (Ne) is a critical indicator of the vulnerability of a population to allele loss via genetic drift, and it can also be used to assess the evolutionary potential of a population. While some plant conservation plans have focused on outcrossing through cross-pollination as a way to increase estimated Ne, variance in reproductive output determined by ecological factors such as competition can also strongly affect estimated Ne. We examined the effects of intraspecific and interspecific competition, stressful soils, and local adaptation on estimates of Ne in an annual plant species. While ecological influences on plant growth rate variance have been predicted to influence estimates of Ne/N, we found a significant effect on the estimate of Ne/N, but no significant ecological effects on growth rate variance. Lower survivorship on stressful soil was the most important effect reducing estimates of Ne/N. If stochastic mortality is greater in environments that are abiotically stressful, then populations in these stressful environments may be slower to adapt because of lower census sizes and reduction of Ne/N. In populations of conservation concern, increasing survivorship may be of greater benefit for maximizing Ne than the reduction of variability in reproductive output among surviving adults.
Molecular Simulation of a Dichain Surfactant/Water/Carbon Dioxide System. 2. Self-Assembly and Aggregation Dynamics

We report on the aggregation dynamics of the dichain surfactant [(C7F15)(C7H15)CHSO4-Na+] + water + carbon dioxide (solvent) system described in our preceding paper. Our results indicate that the aggregation process follows a two-step mechanism: hydration of anionic headgroups and Na+ counterions followed by aggregation of hydrated surfactant molecules. The kinetics of aggregation is consistent with the Smolouchowski theory of diffusion-limited aggregation, though on a much faster time scale compared to aggregation observed in aqueous surfactant systems. This is attributed to the fact that the intermolecular interactions responsible for aggregation in the system under investigation are electrostatic in nature and the carbon dioxide permits faster diffusion of surfactant molecules than water. The surfactant tails forming the corona of the aggregates provide steric stabilization of the aggregates thereby reducing the rate of aggregation.
Opioid-induced abnormal pain sensitivity

Opioid analgesics are effective for treating many pain conditions. Opioid analgesic tolerance is a pharmacologic phenomenon that could affect the clinical use of opioid analgesics. Recent studies have shown that neural plasticity associated with the development of opioid tolerance may activate a pronociceptive mechanism that could counteract the analgesic effects of opioids. Thus, exposure to opioids could lead to two seemingly unrelated cellular processes (ie, the development of opioid tolerance and opioid-induced pain sensitivity). Their converging effects may be part of the mechanisms leading to the reduced opioid analgesic efficacy in chronic opioid therapy.
Nuclear energy conversion with stacks of graphene nanocapacitors

The efficiency of conventional techniques used to harvest energy in nuclear reactors lies around 35%. This limit exists, because the nuclear energy is converted to electrical energy via heat engines. We study an alternative approach where the kinetic energy of nuclear reaction products is directly converted into electric energy in a stack of charged capacitors with a gap size of 500 nm and graphene electrodes. Graphene is expected to be chemically and mechanically stable in high-radiation environments, because its tensile strength of 130 GPa is very large, about 100 times larger than most metals. The dielectric strength of such nanocapacitors exceeds 1 GV/m, because avalanching is suppressed at small gap sizes. In a 1 GV/m electric field charged nuclear reaction products, such as 5.6 MeV alpha particles, come to rest in of a stack with 5000 nanocapacitors. We show that during the deceleration process more than 90% of kinetic energy of charged nuclear reaction products is converted to electric energy and stored as electric energy in the stack. Each stack is 2.5-mm thick and produces a high-voltage DC current. A device with a 1-Ci241Am source is expected to generate 22 mW of electric power.
Leadership effects on student achievement and sustained school success

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of leadership on student achievement and sustained school success, especially in challenging, high‐poverty schools.Design/methodology/approach – The paper combines a review of the leadership literature with findings drawn from longitudinal studies of the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP).Findings – Direction setting, developing people and redesigning the organization were practices common to successful principals in all contexts, including those in challenging, high‐poverty schools. How these practices manifested varied in relation to national context and tradition. Distributed teacher leadership and professional self‐renewal emerged as processes central to sustaining success, and, in at least one US case, a change in organizational governance was necessary to allow these processes to continue over time.Originality/value – The paper adds to the literature on leadership effects on student achievement and sustaining sc...
A Selected Review of Risk Models: One Hit, Multihit, Multistage, Probit, Weibull, and Pharmacokinetic:

This paper provides some of the underlying mathematical derivations for the one-hit, multihit, multistage, Weibull, and pharmacokinetic risk models. Our purposes are to remove for the nonmathematician some of the mystery as to the derivation of the formulas for each particular risk model and to discuss some of the assumptions contained in the risk models. Confidence limits and maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters are not discussed, since they are not pertinent to our objectives. Rai and Van Ryzin(1) have outlined these procedures in sufficient detail.
Circuit for the electromanipulation of plant protoplasts.

Abstract An electric circuit for plant protoplast manipulation is described. The circuit used readily available materials and was designed for use in teaching. This integrated circuit can be placed in a single small box with controls for (a) the aligning voltage, (b) the aligning frequency, (c) the pulse voltage, and (d) the pulse timing. The circuit can be supplied by any suitable source of dc power and can be easily altered for individual requirements. The circuit, as presented here, can be assembled for less than $250.
Evaluation of urban photochemical models for regulatory use

Abstract There has been an increasing recognition of the need to evaluate, systematically and quantitatively, the performance of air quality models used for regulatory purposes. However, previous evaluations of urban photochemical models have not tested the ability of the model to predict the change in ozone that will result from a given change in emissions, a necessary feature for a model to be used for regulatory purposes. Instead, the evaluations have tested the models' ability to reproduce ozone production for a variety of meteorological conditions. This paper presents an evaluation of the Urban Airshed Model based on Denver, Colorado data that includes both changes in daily maximum ozone due to changes in meteorology, and changes in daily maximum ozone due to changes in emissions. It is shown that the emissions change testing produces an assessment of the Urban Airshed Model that is fairly independent of the one based on meteorological change. Important inferences about model performance do not carry over from one case to the other. Thus, an emissions change testing should be included in assessing whether an urban photochemical model is good enough for regulatory use.
Carving up word meaning: Portioning and grinding

Abstract Two eye-tracking experiments investigated the processing of mass nouns used as count nouns and count nouns used as mass nouns. Following Copestake and Briscoe (1995) , the basic or underived sense of a word was treated as the input to a derivational rule (“grinding” or “portioning”) which produced the derived sense as output. It was hypothesized that in the absence of biasing evidence readers would immediately assign the underived sense, resulting in difficulty if this sense proved to be incorrect. In Experiment 1, which examined the portioning of mass nouns (as in She wanted beers), a small and early penalty was observed on the target noun for mass nouns appearing in a count noun context. In Experiment 2, in addition to an early (first-pass regression) effect, a much later appearing penalty was observed for count nouns appearing in a mass noun context (as in She wanted banana). The results are taken to support the hypothesis of immediate commitment to the underived sense of polysemous words when the two senses are related by a derivational rule and they are contrasted with the processing profile observed for other types of polysemous words.
Use of ultra-high-resolution data for temporal bone dissection simulation.

Objectives For the past 5 years, our group has been developing a virtual temporal bone dissection environment for training otologic surgeons. Throughout the course of our development, a recurring challenge is the acquisition of high-resolution, multimodal, and multi-scale data sets that are used for the visual as well as haptic (sense of touch) display. This study presents several new techniques in temporal bone imaging and their use as data for surgical simulation. Methods At our institution (OSU), we are fortunate to have a high-field (8 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research magnet that provides an order of magnitude higher resolution compared to clinical 1.5T MRI scanners. Magnetic resonance imaging has traditionally been superb at delineating soft tissue structure, and certainly, the 8T unit does indeed do this at a resolution of 100-200 μm 3 . To delineate the bony structure of the mastoid and middle ear, computed tomography (CT) has traditionally been used because of the high signal-to-noise ratio delineating bone signal from air and soft tissue. We have partnered with researchers at other institutions (CCF) to make use of a “microCT” that provides a resolution of 214 × 214 × 390 micrometers of bony structure. Results This report provides a description of the 2 methodologies and presentation of the striking image data capable of being generated. See images presented. Conclusions Using these 2 new and innovative imaging modalities, we provide an order of magnitude greater resolution to the visual and haptic display in our temporal bone dissection simulation environment.
Calreticulin inhibits repetitive intracellular Ca2+ waves

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-mediated calcium (Ca2+) signaling is subject to cytosolic and luminal regulatory mechanisms. In Xenopus oocytes, Ca(2+)-sensitive gating of the IP3 receptor (IP3R) produces repetitive waves of Ca2+ release. We examined the role of the luminal Ca(2+)-binding protein calreticulin (CRT) in IP3-mediated Ca2+ signaling by using Ca2+ wave activity as a sensitive Ca2+ release assay. Overexpression of CRT inhibited repetitive IP3-induced Ca2+ waves. Deletion mutagenesis demonstrated that CRT inhibition was mediated by the high affinity-low capacity Ca(2+)-binding domain, which contributes little to Ca2+ storage. This novel function of CRT in intracellular Ca2+ signaling may be regulated by Ca2+ occupancy of the high affinity binding site.
Spatial distribution and population composition of the brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, and its implications for social organization

Through a 16-mo mark–recapture trap study, I examined aspects of spatial distribution and population composition in the brown mouse lemur, Microcebus rufus, a 42 g nocturnal strepsirhine. The study took place in the rainforest of Ranomafana National Park in southeastern Madagascar. Sherman live traps were set monthly for a variable number of nights in a quasi-grid 50 m apart. Captured individuals were marked for future identification and released at site of capture. More males than females were captured overall (102 versus 72) and at 83% of trap sites. Trap sex ratio fluctuated significantly over the course of the study. It was particularly male-biased between June and August (3.9:1), when more previously uncaptured males than females (14 versus 6) entered the trap population. Some of these males remained in the trap population. Although the average number of individuals captured was not significantly different between the first four and last four months of the study, the composition of the population changed. The female population, however, changed less: 28.9% of all females captured in the first four months of the study were recaptured in the last four months, compared to 9.7% of males. It is suggested that the pattern of appearance of new individuals and disappearance of others, both predominantly male, may indicate migratory activity. Furthermore, an average of eight individuals were captured at each trap site (∼ 70% of traps captured more than five), suggesting a high degree of spatial overlap. The average number of male and female individuals captured in each trap (5.5 males versus 2.5 females), the average number of trap sites at which males and females were captured (3.6 versus 2.4), and the average number of captures for males and females (9.8 versus 5.7) all differed significantly between the sexes. Am. J. Primatol. 51:61–78, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Incidence of Hearing Decline in the Elderly

Pure-tone audiometry was done on 1475 persons on two occasions 6 years apart by the same audiologist in the same facility. The age of the subjects ranged from 58 to 88 years at the initial testing and 63 to 95 at the second. The average 6-year threshold change ranged from 1 to 8 dB at 250-6 kHz and 10-15 dB at 8 kHz. The differences in thresholds fell into two patterns, one for low frequencies (250-1 kHz) and the other for high frequencies (4-8 kHz). For the lows, thresholds worsened at an increasing rate with increasing age independent of the initial hearing level, and women's thresholds worsened more than men's. For the highs, the rate of threshold change decreased with age and with the initial threshold at rates that did not differ between genders. Using a change in PTA (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) of greater than 10 dB as a criterion, significant worsening occurred in the right ear in 8.5%, in the left ear in 13.5%, and in both ears of 4.1% of the subjects over the 6 year period. The rate of significant worsening increased with age. Although hearing loss increased with age, age alone accounted for less than 10% of the variance. Therefore, factors that co-vary with age may be responsible. The difference in phenomena between the low frequencies and the highs suggests that two different processes are occurring. Hair-cell degeneration is the most likely cause for the change in the high frequencies. Strial atrophy or other intracochlear processes may be the cause of the low frequency changes.
The use of digoxin in infants and children.

Abstract 1. 1. Eighty-six children with congestive failure or arrhythmias were treated with digoxin. Two separate courses of therapy were given to 3 patients. 2. 2. Dosage for digitalization of patients up to 2 years of age was found to be approximately 0.04 mg. per pound of body weight in 24 hours. Children over 2 years of age required approximately 0.02 to 0.03 mg. per pound of body weight for digitalization. Maintenance in both groups could be achieved, generally, with the daily administration of one third of the digitalizing dose. 3. 3. Exceptions to this schedule made it mandatory that each patient's digitalization be individualized. 4. 4. Definite clinical or electrocardiographic evidences of toxicity were observed in 22 patients, in many of whom excessive dosage was deliberately given in an attempt to achieve therapeutic results. The toxicity was mild in most and reversible in all.
Reading the Clussifieds: Issues in Design and Content

This presentation examines the transactions involved in reading job advertisements appearing in the classified section of a newspaper. In particular, this study draws on concepts from cognitive psychology, linguistics, and literacy research with the aim of providing suggestions for designing more effective advertisements. In the research, job seekers read three classified advertisements and provided verbal protocols as they read. Analysis of these protocols reveals the critical importance of visual appearance. The first view of the advertisement, regardless of the content, is a major determiner as to whether the advertisement will be read or not. A second finding is that readers look for certain key pieces of information, which fit their “advertisement” schema. If this content is omitted or not topicalized or foregrounded, readers regard the advertisement negatively. It is thus important for advertisers to give prominence to key information by appropriate staging.
Cloning, characterization, and expression of a novel GDP dissociation inhibitor isoform from skeletal muscle

Abstract Cellular mechanisms for controlling membrane trafficking appear to involve small GTP-binding proteins such as the Rab proteins. Rab function is regulated by GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), which releases Rab proteins from membranes and inhibits GDP dissociation. Here we report the isolation of a full-length cDNA encoding a novel GDI isoform of 445 amino acids (GDI-2) with a deduced molecular weight of 50,649 from mouse skeletal muscle. Full-length and partial cDNA clones encoding a previously reported GDI protein (GDI-1) were also isolated from cDNA libraries prepared from rat brain and mouse skeletal muscle, respectively. The degree of deduced amino acid sequence identity between mouse GDI-2 and our mouse GDI-1 cDNA clone is 86%. Northern (RNA blot) analysis revealed that in human tissues, both GDI-1 and GDI-2 transcripts were abundant in brain, skeletal muscle, and pancreas but were weakly expressed in heart and liver. GDI-1 mRNA was expressed in kidney, whereas GDI-2 was almost absent, while in lung the relative amounts of these mRNA species were reversed. Specific antibodies against mouse GDI-1 and GDI-2 based on unique peptide sequences in the proteins were raised. Differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into highly insulin-responsive adipocytes was accompanied by large increases in both mRNA and protein levels of GDI-1 and GDI-2. GDI-1 and GDI-2 expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins were both able to solubilize the membrane-bound forms of Rab4 and Rab5 in a GDP/GTP-dependent manner. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the protein products of at least two genes regulate the membrane dynamics of Rab proteins in mice.
Identification of inducers of the Yersinia enterocolitica phage shock protein system and comparison to the regulation of the RpoE and Cpx extracytoplasmic stress responses.

Known inducers of the phage shock protein (Psp) system suggest that it is an extracytoplasmic stress response, as are the well-studied RpoE and Cpx systems. However, a random approach to identify conditions and proteins that induce the Psp system has not been attempted. It is also unknown whether the proteins or mutations that induce Psp are specific or if they also activate the RpoE and Cpx systems. This study addressed these issues for the Yersinia enterocolitica Psp system. Random transposon mutagenesis identified null mutations and overexpression mutations that increase Φ(pspA-lacZ) operon fusion expression. The results suggest that Psp may respond exclusively to extracytoplasmic stress. Null mutations affected glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase (glmS), which plays a role in cell envelope biosynthesis, and the F0F1 ATPase (atp operon). The screen also revealed that in addition to several secretins, the overexpression of three novel putative inner membrane proteins (IMPs) induced the Psp response. We also compared induction of the Y. enterocolitica Psp, RpoE, and Cpx responses. Overexpression of secretins or the three IMPs or the presence of an atpB null mutation only induced the Psp response. Similarly, known inducers of the RpoE and Cpx responses did not significantly induce the Psp response. Only the glmS null mutation induced all three responses. Therefore, Psp is induced distinctly from the RpoE and Cpx systems. The specific IMP inducers may be valuable tools to probe specific signal transduction events of the Psp response in future studies.
Ambulatory Physical Activity Patterns of College Students.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the ambulatory physical activity of a sample of college students. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in which students (N = 441; males: n = 204, age = 20.20 ± 1.99, BMI = 25.19 ± 4 kg/m2; females: n = 237, age = 19.92 ± 1.64, BMI = 22.91 ± 3.2 kg/m2) wore an accelerometer, with cycle mode enabled, during all waking hours for 7 consecutive days. The independent variables were day of the week and gender. The dependent variable was steps per day. Two-factor ANOVA, an independent t-test, and chi-squares were calculated. Results indicated that students averaged 11,473.87 ± 2,978.62 steps per day for the week. They were most active on weekdays, and less active on weekends. Mean steps per week, weekday, and weekend did not differ by gender. Further, the majority of the students (67.4%) were exceeding the 10,000 steps per day recommendation. These results can be useful to health educators and researchers seeking a description of ambulatory physica...
An approach for functional decomposition applied to state-based designs

This paper presents a new approach for functional decomposition of complex systems by applying and enhancing the concepts of clique-decomposition and superstate formation. This approach can be utilized by graphs and state-based software or hardware designs. This method extends the design flow process by automatically extracting states from an existing design and decomposing the states into submodules. The automatic state extraction can be performed either using an original tool or the existing Debussy nState tool. This method has been applied successfully to graphs and state-based Verilog programs, as illustrated by examples in this paper. Furthermore, the complexity analysis shows the underlying algorithm executes well.
Hatchability in relation to the fat content of the diet.

Abstract APPARENTLY there are no published data on the effect of the fat content of the diet of laying chickens on the hatchability of their eggs. In order to obtain information on this subject the writer conducted two experiments, in each of which diets of different fat content were fed to laying pullets and data were obtained on the time of occurrence of embryo mortality and on hatchability. The results of these experiments and the conclusions drawn from them are presented in this paper. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES The first experiment was started on October 18, 1939, and the second on November 6, 1940, For each experiment 200 White Leghorn pullets, hatched during the preceding spring, were carefully selected and distributed into eight groups. The distribution was so made that any effect the live weights of the individual pullets might have on feed consumption and egg production would be equalized among . . .
Characteristics of “Music Education” Videos Posted on YouTube:

This content analysis sought to determine information related to users uploading, general content, and specific characteristics of music education videos on YouTube. A total of 1,761 videos from a ...
Differential Expression and Evolution of the Arabidopsis CYP86A Subfamily

Some members of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) CYP86A and CYP94B cytochrome P450 monooxygenase subfamilies, which share some sequence homology with the animal and fungal fatty acid hydroxylases, have been functionally defined as fatty acid ω-hydroxylases. With these activities, these and other fatty acid hydroxylases have potential roles in the synthesis of cutin, production of signaling molecules, and prevention of accumulation of toxic levels of free fatty acids. The constitutive and stress-inducible patterns of the five Arabidopsis CYP86A subfamily members have been defined in 7-d-old seedlings and 1-month-old plant tissues grown under normal conditions, and 7-d-old seedlings treated with different hormones (indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, gibberellin, methyl jasmonic acid, brassinosteroid, salicylic acid), chemicals (clofibrate, 1-aminocyclopropane-1 carboxylic acid), or environmental stresses (cold, wounding, drought, mannitol, etiolation). Very distinct expression patterns exist for each of these fatty acid hydroxylases under normal growth conditions and in response to environmental and chemical stresses. Analysis of the promoter sequences for each of these genes with their expression patterns has highlighted a number of elements in current databases that potentially correlate with the responses of individual genes.
High average powers diode pumped slab laser

The authors have developed and tested stackable microchannel cooled laser bar diode pump packages suitable for direct pumping of slab lasers at high duty factor. A stack of 41 diode packages gives a pump array of 13.5 cm/sup 2/ and produces a peak power of 4000 W and an average power of 1000 W for an average irradiance of 75 W/cm/sup 2/. A high average power, total internal reflection face pumped Nd:YAG laser using 80 diode packages has been constructed. Preliminary testing of the slab laser using a 20% subset of diode packages arranged to pump a 4 mm*4 mm*80 mm volume of the slab has been completed. Seventy watts average power is obtained at 2.5 kHz pulse repetition rates and 100 mu s pulse widths. >
Some recent advances in our understanding of parasitic protozoa.

SYNOPSIS. Striking progress in our understanding of parasitic protozoa has been achieved thru the employment of advanced electron-microscopic, biochemical, immunologic, and cultivation methods. Some recent information gathered by means of these methods on trichomonad and trypanosomatid flagellates as well as on eimeriidian and plasmodiid haemosporiidian Sporozoa is discussed. It is emphasized that the parasitic protozoa when studied by the presently available sophisticated methods in the context of being parasites, not merely cells maintained on refined media, can aid us greatly in illuminating the highly complex functional aspects of host-parasite interactions.
A retrospective study on changes in residents' physical activities, social interactions, and neighborhood cohesion after moving to a walkable community☆

Abstract Objective This study is to examine changes in residents' physical activities, social interactions, and neighborhood cohesion after they moved to a walkable community in Austin, Texas. Methods Retrospective surveys (N = 449) were administered in 2013–2014 to collect pre- and post-move data about the outcome variables and relevant personal, social, and physical environmental factors. Walkability of each resident's pre-move community was measured using the Walk Score. T tests were used to examine the pre–post move differences in the outcomes in the whole sample and across sub-groups with different physical activity levels, neighborhood conditions, and neighborhood preferences before the move. Results After the move, total physical activity increased significantly in the whole sample and all sub-groups except those who were previously sufficiently active; lived in communities with high walkability, social interactions, or neighborhood cohesion; or had moderate preference for walkable neighborhoods. Walking in the community increased in the whole sample and all subgroups except those who were previously sufficiently active, moved from high-walkability communities, or had little to no preference for walkable neighborhoods. Social interactions and neighborhood cohesion increased significantly after the move in the whole sample and all sub-groups. Conclusion This study explored potential health benefits of a walkable community in promoting physically and socially active lifestyles, especially for populations at higher risk of obesity. The initial result is promising, suggesting the need for more work to further examine the relationships between health and community design using pre–post assessments.
The rate of translymphatic endothelial fluid movement in the canine kidney.

Abstract The rate of fluid movement across the lymphatic endothelial wall, as measured in microliters per minute per square centimeter of endothelium, is estimated from published and unpublished data on the canine kidney. Published values for total renal lymph flow, derived by several different techniques, are reviewed and a mean value of 0.3 ml/min/100 g is taken as a reasonable working estimate. Morphologically the intrarenal lymphatic system is considered to consist of four types of lymphatics—intralobular, interlobular, arcuate, and interlobar—and the endothelial surface area of these is calculated by geometric formulas. Thus each of the four types of lymphatics is considered as a single cylinder having a radius equal to the mean radius of that type of lymphatic and a length equal to the total length of all lymphatics of that type. The convex surface area ( A c ) of interlobular and intralobular vessels is calculated by the formula A c = 2v r , where the radius ( r ) is measured in tissue sections and the volume ( v ) is derived from published volume density data. A c for arcuate and interlobar lymphatics is estimated by the formula A c = n (2 πrl ), where n is the number and r is the radius of these lymphatics, as obtained from tissue sections, and l is the average length of the associated arteries. By these methods, values of A c for intralobular, interlobular, arcuate, and interlobar lymphatics of 59, 87, 34, and 15 cm 2 , respectively, are calculated. All four types are considered, on ultrastructural evidence, to be vessels that participate in the transport of lymph. By dividing total renal lymph flow by the total lymphatic endothelial surface an approximate value of 1 μl/min/cm 2 is obtained for the average rate of fluid transfer across lymphatic endothelial cells in the control dog kidney.
Self-report stability for substance use over 10 years : data from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Study

In substance abuse research many study protocols require the recall and report of behavior from the distant past that may affect reliability. This study addresses the stability of substance use reports over a 10-year follow-up period. We reinterviewed 223 ECA subjects who reported baseline drug use. Reports from baseline to follow-up were categorized as either incident cases, agreements, or discrepancies. Different patterns were found for each substance group. The authors found that cannabis, cocaine, sedatives, and opiates had high agreement rates ranging from 82-86% and amphetamines had the lowest (73%). Implications for future drug research are discussed.
Asymptotic Behavior and Stability in Epidemic Models

Deterministic epidemic models of SIS and SIR type are considered where births and deaths occur at equal rates with all new-borns being susceptible. In an SIS model the effect of births and deaths is to raise the threshold which determines the number of infectives as time approaches infinity. The asymptotic behavior in an SIS model is also indicated when the contact rate is periodic and when carriers are present. Asymptotic stability regions are determined for the equilibrium points in a host and vector SIS model and in an SIR epidemic model.
Quickly routing searches without having to move content

A great deal of work has been done to improve peer-to-peer routing by strategically moving or replicating content. However, there are many applications for which a peer-to-peer architecture might be appropriate, but in which content movement is not feasible. We argue that even in such applications, progress can be made in developing techniques that ensure efficient searches. We present several such techniques. First, we show that organizing the network into a square-root topology, where peer degrees are proportional to the square root of the popularity of their content, provides much better performance than power-law networks. Second, we present routing optimizations based on the amount of content stored at peers, and tracking the “best” peers, that can further improve performance. These and other techniques can make searches efficient, even when content movement or replication is not feasible.
Germline BRCA1 Alterations in a Population-Based Series of Ovarian Cancer Cases

The objective of this study was to provide more accurate frequency estimates of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 ( BRCA1 ) germline alterations in the ovarian cancer population. To achieve this, we determined the prevalence of BRCA1 alterations in a population-based series of consecutive ovarian cancer cases. This is the first population-based ovarian cancer study reporting BRCA1 alterations derived from a comprehensive screen of the entire coding region. One hundred and seven ovarian cancer cases were analyzed for BRCA1 alterations using the RNase mismatch cleavage assay followed by direct sequencing. Two truncating mutations, 962del4 and 3600del11, were identified. Both patients had a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Several novel as well as previously reported uncharacterized variants were also identified, some of which were associated with a family history of cancer. The frequency distribution of common polymorphisms was determined in the 91 Caucasian cancer cases in this series and 24 sister controls using allele-specific amplification. The rare form of the Q356R polymorphism was significantly ( P = 0.03) associated with a family history of ovarian cancer, suggesting that this polymorphism may influence ovarian cancer risk. In summary, our data suggest a role for some uncharacterized variants and rare forms of polymorphisms in determining ovarian cancer risk, and highlight the necessity to screen for missense alterations as well as truncating mutations in this population.
PHYLOGENY OF VASCULAR PLANTS

▪ Abstract Morphological and molecular analyses resolve many aspects of vascular plant phylogeny, though others remain uncertain. Vascular plants are nested within bryophytes; lycopsids and zosterophylls are one branch of crown-group vascular plants, and euphyllophytes (Psilophyton, sphenopsids, ferns, seed plants) are the other. In Filicales, Osmundaceae are basal; water ferns and Polypodiaceae sensu lato are both monophyletic. Seed plants are nested within progymnosperms, and coniferophytes are nested within platyspermic seed ferns. Morphology indicates that angiosperms and Gnetales are related, but detailed scenarios depend on uncertain relationships of fossils; molecular data are inconsistent but indicate that both groups are monophyletic. Amborella, Nymphaeales, Austrobaileya, and Illiciales appear basal in angiosperms. Groups with tricolpate pollen form a clade (eudicots), with ranunculids and lower hamamelids basal. Most eudicots belong to the rosid and asterid lines, with higher hamamelids in the ...