cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arsenite induces apoptosis in human mesenchymal stem cells by altering Bcl-2 family proteins and by activating intrinsic pathway

Purpose: Environmental exposure to arsenic is an important public health issue. The effects of arsenic on different tissues and organs have been intensively studied. However, the effects of arsenic on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have not been reported. This study is designed to investigate the cell death process caused by arsenite and its related underlying mechanisms on MSCs. The rationale is that absorbed arsenic in the blood circulation can reach to the bone marrow and may affect the cell survival of MSCs. Methods: MSCs of passage 1 were purchased from Tulane University, grown till 70% confluency level and plated according to the experimental requirements followed by treatment with arsenite at various concentrations and time points. Arsenite (iAs{sup III}) induced cytotoxic effects were confirmed by cell viability and cell cycle analysis. For the presence of canonic apoptosis markers; DNA damage, exposure of intramembrane phosphotidylserine, protein and m-RNA expression levels were analyzed. Results: iAs{sup III} induced growth inhibition, G2-M arrest and apoptotic cell death in MSCs, the apoptosis induced by iAs{sup III} in the cultured MSCs was, via altering Bcl-2 family proteins and by involving intrinsic pathway. Conclusion: iAs{sup III} can induce apoptosis in bone marrow-derived MSCs via Bcl-2 familymore » proteins, regulating intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Due to the multipotency of MSC, acting as progenitor cells for a variety of connective tissues including bone, adipose, cartilage and muscle, these effects of arsenic may be important in assessing the health risk of the arsenic compounds and understanding the mechanisms of arsenic-induced harmful effects.« less
Apportionment Cycles as Natural Experiments

Although there are compelling theoretical reasons to believe that unequal political representation in a legislature leads to an unequal distribution of funds, testing such theories empirically is challenging because it is difficult to separate the effects of representation from the effects of either population levels or changes. We leverage the natural experiment generated by infrequent and discrete census apportionment cycles to estimate the distributional effects of malapportionment in the U.S. House of Representatives. We find that changes in representation cause changes in the distribution of federal outlays to the states. Our method is exportable to any democratic system in which reapportionments are regular, infrequent, and nonstrategic.
Native American childhood obesity prevention interventions: a systematic review

Native American populations are at higher risk for becoming obese and suffering from obesity-related illness compared with other populations. Concurrently, prevention methods have not been successful with this group, especially intervention attempts aimed at children, which have been few and ineffective. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness and methodologies of childhood obesity prevention interventions targeting Native American youth, and to make recommendations to future researchers and practitioners. Seven databases (Medline, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, ERIC, Health Source Nursing, PsychINFO, and Sport Discus) were utilized to retrieve articles, using four sets of keywords; 1. Children AND Obesity AND Native American AND Program; 2. Children AND Obesity AND Native American AND Intervention; 3. Children AND Obesity AND Indian AND Program; and 4. Children AND Obesity AND Indian AND Intervention. Overall, six articles were found and evaluated for salient findings an...
Subtraction sialography: An improved and simplified technique

Abstract A new method of subtraction sialography employing a serialographic cassette tunnel film changer is described. This method, which can be used in any x-ray department, offers high-quality radiographs with excellent detail.
Subcellular localization of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) in rat kidney and liver.

The subcellualr localization of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (cisplatin), an anticancer agent, was analyzed in rat kidney and compared to that in liver over a period of 72 hr. Male F-344 rats were given a dose of cisplatin (7 mg/kg), ip, and five subcellular fractions were isolated by differential centrifugation. Based on atomic absorption spectrometry of platinum, it was found that the kidney accumulated a greater concentration of cisplatin with a longer biological half-life than the liver. On a subcellular level, cisplatin showed a significantly high affinity for nuclei and microsomes in the kidney but not in the liver. At 24 hr, platinum concentrations were 550 ng/mg protein in the nuclear fraction (14% of total platinum) and 420 ng/mg protein in the microsomal fraction in the kidney. The cytosol contained the largest quantity of platinum (∼70%) in the kidney, of which about 40% was precipitable by trichloroacetic acid. However, the specific concentration of platinum in the acid precipitate of the cytosol was less than that of nuclei or microsomes in the kidney. Renal mitochondria and plasma membranes were associated with low concentrations of platinum. These results suggest that nuclei and microsomes may be primary target sites for cisplatin in the kidney.
Genetic engineering of fatty acid chain length in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Renewable diesel surrogates made from shorter chain length fatty acids have improved cold flow properties. Acyl-ACP thioesterases specific for shorter chain length fatty acids are therefore of considerable interest in the genetic engineering of biofuel producing organisms, both for their ability to increase the production of shorter fatty acids, and for their involvement in fatty acid secretion in bacterial systems. Here we show that the heterologous expression of two thioesterases, biased towards the production of lauric (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0), causes increased accumulation of shorter chain length fatty acids in the eukaryotic microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Accumulation of shorter chain length fatty acids corresponds to transgene transcript levels. We achieved levels of C12:0 of up to 6.2% of total fatty acids and C14:0 of up to 15% by weight. Unlike observations in cyanobacteria, no significant secretion of fatty acids was observed. Instead, we found that 75–90% of the shorter chain length fatty acids produced was incorporated into triacylglycerols. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of thioesterases is a valid way to improve the biofuel production phenotype of eukaryotic microalgae.
Effects of (CO2 + HCO3-) on electrical conductance in cortical thick ascending limbs

Effects of (CO 2 + HCO 3 - ) on electrical conductance in cortical thick ascending limbs. These experiments in isolated mouse cortical thick ascending limbs (cTALH) provide information about: the relative contributions of cellular and paracellular pathways to the transepithelial electrical conductance G e (mS cm -2 ); the effects of (CO 2 + HCO 3 - ) on G e ; the ratio of net K + secretion (J K net ) to net Cl - absorption (J Cl net ); and the K + requirement for apical membrane furosemide–sensitive NaCl entry. The combination of luminal Ba ++ , zero K + reduced G e ; at 5mM luminal Ba ++ , the residual conductance was about 75% of the control G e . The Ba ++ -insensitive G e of 73.1 ± 6.4mS cm -2 was only slightly greater than the shunt conductance of 57mS cm -2 computed from the sum of the dissipative bath to lumen fluxes of 22 Na + and 36 Cl - . Moreover, luminal 5mM Ba ++ , zero K + had no effect on the Na + /Cl - permselectivity ratio of the paracellular pathway. Thus, Ba ++ blockaded transcellular conductance by blocking apical membrane K + channels. The combination of (CO 2 + HCO 3 - ) in external solutions increased G e solely by augmenting the Ba ++ -sensitive, that is, transcellular, component of G e . Finally, in paired experiments, the ratio JK net /J Cl net was 0.27 ± 0.05; and both V e , the spontaneous transepithelial voltage (mV), and the equivalent short circuit current J e (pEq sec -1 cm -2 ) were reduced dramatically by luminal K + omission. Thus, apical membranes of the cTALH appear to contain a pathway for net K + secretion, and apical membrane NaCl entry may involve co-transport with K + . Transcellular conductance contributes at least 25% to the total G e , and the combination (CO 2 + HCO 3 - ) augments transcellular conductance.
Assessing Methods for Developing Phosphorus Desorption Isotherms from Soils using Anion Exchange Membranes

Developing desorption isotherms for inorganic phosphorus (P) is a time-consuming and non-standardized procedure. Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have been successfully used in studies of P desorption kinetics and total membrane-desorbable P, but rarely have they been used for developing P desorption isotherms. Our study had two objectives: (1) to evaluate the suitability of using multiple strips of AEMs (termed the Multiple AEM Method) to develop P desorption isotherms; and (2) to compare the Multiple AEM Method with a sequential-extraction approach using AEMs (termed the Sequential AEM Method) to determine if the manner in which AEMs were used would influence the slope of the desorption isotherm, i.e. the partition coefficient. Both methods yielded well-defined, but numerically different desorption isotherms for all levels of sorbed P. However, estimated K d values among methods were equivalent in the low and medium levels of P sorbed. The Multiple AEM method was quicker than the Sequential AEM method, but both gave similar K d values in an agriculturally significant range of soil solution concentrations. These methods should be tested on a range of soil type to determine their suitability in developing P desorption isotherms and to move toward method standardization for desorption isotherms.
Submillimeter wave absorption of n-type InSb at low temperatures

The absorption coefficient of two high-purity n-InSb samples is measured in the 10-40 per cm range using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The absorption coefficient spectrum is presented for both samples at 4.2 K. It is also shown for the lower resistance sample cooled to 2.2 K and heated by dc bias to elevated electron gas temperatures of 7.5 and 17.9 K. ac Drude theory gives rather poor agreement with experiment at 2.2 and 4.2 K but does much better when the sample electron gas is heated. In contrast, a simple quantum mechanical theory of absorption based on inverse Bremsstrahlung yields promising agreement at the lower temperatures although its applicability is questionable. The non-Drudian absorption is shown to have a favorable effect on the performance of InSb hot-electron bolometers.
TAKING THEORIES SERIOUSLY

This paper defends scientific realism, the doctrine that we should interpret theories as being just as ontologically committing as beliefs at the observational level. I examine the character of observation to show that the difference in interpretation suggested by anti-realists is unwarranted. Second, I discuss Wilfrid Sellars' approach to the issue. Finally, I provide a detailed study of recent work by Bas van Fraassen. While van Fraassen's work is the focus of the paper, the conclusions are far broader: That a wide family of anti-realist views (of which van Fraassen's is only one) is problematic and unmotivated and hence to be rejected.
Single-enzyme-based amperometric assay for phosphate ion.

An amperometric assay for phosphate ion, using a single enzymatic process, has been developed. The enzyme used was pyruvate oxidase, which catalyzes the oxidation of pyruvate in the presence of oxygen and phosphate ion. The products of the enzymatic reaction are acetyl phosphate, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide. The latter was monitored by means of a hydrogen peroxide electrode and an oxidase meter. Phosphate ion in the concentration range of 50–500 μM can be measured within 4 min. Anions, such as pyrophosphate, sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and acetate, gave only marginal responses.
Optimized target localization in stereotactic radiosurgery using real-time digital portal images

This paper presents a method for optimized estimation of target localization in stereotactic radiosurgery using real-time digital portal images. The positions of the two radiation sources and the two projection planes in radiosurgery can be chosen arbitrarily. The reconstruction of the target is characterized as a non-linear multi-variable optimization problem, which minimizes the difference between the actual target and the reconstructed target. This optimization problem is solved by the Gaussian least square differential correction (GLSDC) method. Due to the digitized errors and input data errors, the algorithm defines an indirect reference factor (the shortest distance between two x-rays pointing onto the target) as an indication of the accuracy of the method. Our experimental results show that the reference factor is less than 1.0 mm for the correct data entry. The proposed algorithm provides a method that supports on-line target localization which can be done directly on the digital portal imaging device.
Distributed Actuation and Shape Control of Ionic Polymer Metal Composites

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) present great potential as future actuators and sensors in a variety of fields including aerospace and biomedical engineering. The benefits of using IPMCs are based on the material's large bending deformation capabilities, low power consumption, light weight and compact size. However, before this novel material can be exploited, a better understanding of its electromechanical properties and a higher level of controllability must be obtained. This paper presents the results of experimental research with these goals in mind. The actuation of these electro active polymers is achieved by using geometrically defined actuation points on the polymer's surface. The input voltage is spatially controlled to achieve faster response times as well as increased control of the shape of the polymer's surface. The experimental work is carried out under a constant humidity and uses vision based sensing to detect the various shapes generated by these electro active polymers. The experimental outcomes are compared against a dynamical model. The results demonstrate the ability for increased control of the shape generated by the surface. A good match of the dynamical model to predict the displacement of the polymer at instances in time is found. In addition, the proposed approach improves the response time of an IPMC through the application of distributed voltage sources over the surface of the material.© 2006 ASME
GLC Determination of S-2-(3-tert-Butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-3-cyanopyridine in Human Plasma

S-2-(3-tert-Butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-3-cyanopyridine was recovered (∼90%) from human plasma and detected by conversion to a diheptafluorobutyryl derivative for electron-capture GLC. A homolog served as an internal standard. The method measures plasma drug concentrations at the 5-ng/ml level and is suitable for plasma analysis from humans who receive a therapeutic oral dose.
An almost all result on q1q2-c(mod q)

In this paper, we consider the congruence equation \({q_1 q_2 \equiv c ({\rm mod}\, q)}\) with \({a < q_1 \leq a+q^{1/2+\epsilon}}\) and \({b < q_2 \leq b+q^{1/2+\epsilon}}\) and show that it has solution for almost all a and b. Then we apply it to a question of Fujii and Kitaoka as well as generalize it to more variables. At the end, we present a new way to attack the above congruence equation question through higher moments.
861 VALPROIC ACID (DIPROPYLACETIC ACID)-AN INHIBITOR OF BRANCHED CHAIN FATTY ACID DEHYDROGENASE

Sodium valproate, a new anticonvulsive agent, has been noted to produce hyperglycinemia and hyperglycinuria. Measurement of free short chain fatty acids in patients receiving this drug demonstrate elevations of isobutyric, 2-methyl butyric, and isovaleric acids but not butyric acid. Thus, this drug appears to be an acylCoA dehydrogenase inhibitor. However, unlike hypoglycin, it appears to have a greater effect on branched chain than straight chain fatty acids. Since this drug appears to produce a secondary “hyperglycinemia syndrome”, it may provide a model for studying some aspects of diseases of branched chain amino acid metabolism which are associated with altered glycine metabolism.
Adolescent psychopathy features: 6-year temporal stability and the prediction of externalizing symptoms during the transition to adulthood.

This study investigated the 6-year stability and predictive validity of adolescent psychopathy features during the transition to young adulthood. It represents one of the longest outcome studies of youth psychopathy to date, and therefore addresses a primary criticism of the research area (i.e., lack of demonstrated associations between child and adult psychopathy features). Recruited participants were 475 males enrolled in the Minnesota Twin and Family Study who had completed a research-based measure of psychopathy features consisting of separate emotional detachment (or affective) and antisocial tendencies (or behavioral) subscales. These psychopathy features and various externalizing symptoms (i.e., conduct problems, impulsivity, and substance use disorder) were assessed through rating scales and structured diagnostic interview at an intake assessment (ages 16–18) and 6-year follow-up. Consistent with prediction, adolescent psychopathy features displayed moderate stability across the transition from adolescence to adulthood [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) = 0.40–0.41]. The antisocial tendencies subscale was uniquely related to most externalizing symptoms both in adolescence and in adulthood, whereas the emotional detachment subscale showed appropriate discriminant validity in its lack of association with externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that psychopathy features are relatively stable from adolescence to adulthood and provide possible insights into the development and maintenance of externalizing difficulties during the adult transition. Aggr. Behav. 33:1–11, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Trends in a decade of drug abuse presentation to an inner city ED

Temporal factors on the periodic presentations has been described for many diseased states (ie, asthma, seizures, coronary attacks). We now report an analysis of factors that could affect the periodic character regarding emergency department (ED) presentation of drugs of abuse. All drugs presentations consistent with the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reporting program from January 1988 through December 1997 were categorized. Data collection was based on daily chart review of ED medical records from Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital (Chicago, IL). Data were computer analyzed using SPSS and Pharmfit programs and analyzed for time, age, disposition, sex, and reasons for presentation and taking the drugs. During the above period, the Rush ED saw 369,770 patients of which 2,561 (0.7%) presented with a drug-related problem. The average age of men was 33. 7 + 0.29 and women 30.5 + 0.37 years. One hundred thirty-nine patients (5.4%) were under 17 years of age whereas only 72 patients (2.8%) were over 55 years of age. Cocaine was the most common drug presentation with a total of 859 visits. Seven hundred sixty-one (29. 7%) presented with an unexpected reaction, 754 (29.4%) experienced an over dosage, 135 (5.3%) had a drug withdrawal, 546 (21.3%) experienced chronic effects, 1,380 (53.9%) were drug dependent, 218 (8.5%) were suicide attempts, and the remaining 2.7% were unknown. There were 1,078 (42.2%) patients who were treated and released, 1, 394 (54.6%) who were admitted into the hospital, 74 (2.9%) left against medical advice whereas 9 patients (0.4%) died. Peak time for presentation was 5:03 PM (P =.00002). Suicide intent presentations were more likely to be women (P <.0001), older (P <.001), and present at a later time that of recreational drug use (acrophase 18:49 versus 16:39; P =.00011). Almost 90% of patients presenting to our urban ED over past 10 years with drug-related problems arrive because of drug abuse or dependency issues. ED staff should be most prepared to deal with these issues in the late afternoon.
Numeric Investigation of Fluid Solid Interaction on Wind Turbine Blade

The current work is focused on numeric investigation of aerodynamic load developed on a wind turbine blade and its effects on aeroelastic characteristics of a wind turbine blade. In order to do that proper turbulent model along with appropriate assumptions need to be determined. Geometry is modeled with actual blade data for both twist and tapper. Blade tip is not considered during the modeling. Validation is done by NREL phase VI wind turbine blade data as well as other published data. Finally the aerodynamic load obtained from the CFD simulation is transferred to perform the structural analysis. It has been found that the load distribution along the blade span is not linear. It varies with the span length and it also varies along the chord of the blade airfoil. Due to this varying load the stresses developed in the blade is dissimilar which dictates the skin thickness of the blade and the shape of the spur inside the blade. It has also been observed that the aerodynamic characteristics such as lift coefficient (CL) and pressure coefficient (CP) changes with the deflection of the blade which affects the power output of the wind turbine.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
“The US is an Arctic Nation”: policy, implementation and US icebreaking capabilities in a changing Arctic

This paper summarizes research on US Arctic policy implementation; specifically, the US Coast Guard’s implementation of security and environment-related goals that require polar icebreaking capacity. Although the US has relatively clearly stated its objectives in the region, resources have not been provided to enable the realization of those goals, particularly in the case of the Coast Guard. The discrepancy between stated US policy goals and implementation action in the case at hand raises broader questions about Arctic foreign policy. This article will examine various influences shaping Arctic policy implementation by using Graham Allison’s model of cognitive lenses. It will strive to identify the factors that have impeded successful implementation and suggest pathways for the US to move forward in strengthening its ability to respond to the changing dynamics of the Arctic. As access increases in the polar region, rhetoric about presence will have to be translated into action, and in the current budget ...
Wild horses and the political ecology of nature restoration in the Missouri Ozarks

Abstract From 1990 to 1996, the National Park Service and residents living near the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in south-central Missouri clashed over the federal agency’s intention to remove 25–30 wild horses from the protected area. The struggle was carried out in various legal and legislative arenas, the media, and in community protests and meetings. The dispute ended only with Congressional approval of the 1996 Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act, which included an amendment ordering an end to any removal efforts. This article focuses on the contested social constructions of the horses themselves. To government scientists and managers, the animals represented a feral and exotic species with no legitimate place in agency-mandated ecosystem management and restoration scenarios. To many local members of the Missouri Wild Horse League, which contested the removal, the horses had critical historical and cultural importance as icons of regional identity, history and personal experience, and as core symbols of communities increasingly politically and economically marginalized. Local disputes with environmental groups and agencies concerned with Ozark ecosystem preservation and restoration have become more pronounced and numerous over the past two decades. This article approaches citizen opposition to environmental agendas not as an anti-environmental movement, but as a contemporary effort of marginalized groups to identify sources of economic, political, and social loss, and symbols of local identity and power. The wild horse issue reveals wider structural divides, and thus speaks to the question of which social groups shall have the power to impose their visions of the landscape and political economy.
Electroporation of the vasculature and the lung.

Electroporation has proven to be a highly effective technique for the in vivo delivery of genes to a number of solid tissues. In most of the reported methods, DNA is injected into the target tissue and electrodes are placed directly on or in the tissue for application of the electric field. While this works well for solid tissues, there are many tissues and organs that are not amenable to such an approach. In this review I will focus on the development of electroporation protocols for two such tissues: the vasculature and the lung. Several methods for in vivo electroporation of the vasculature have been developed in recent years that deliver DNA to vessel segments from either the inside or outside of the vessel. The advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed, as are the applications for which they have been used. In more recent work, our laboratory has developed a novel method to deliver genes to the rodent lung that results in high level, uniform, gene expression throughout all cell types of the lung. Most importantly, this technique is safe, and causes no inflammatory response or alterations in normal physiology of the organs. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the utility of electroporation for gene transfer to noninjectible tissues.
The Bakonjo‐Baamba and Uganda: Colonial and postcolonial integration and ethnocide

Since the colonial days of the nineteenth century, there has been an extended campaign by regionally dominant peoples to integrate and assimilate the Bakonjo and Baamba peoples of the Ruwemori Mountains of Uganda. The Bakonjo and Baamba’ have reacted to this statist policy with a variety of responses ranging from resistance to cooperation. This article discusses the interaction of Uganda with the Bakonjo and Baamba—the struggle between an indigenous people seeking autonomy and a state attempting to usurp indigenous political power in the context of a broad “nation‐building” process and sometimes under the pretext of a national security crisis. An examination of the historical background, precolonial political structure, and stages of colonial conquest in the Ruwenzori Mountains serves to illustrate the long‐term relationship that has resulted in the steady erosion of Bakonjo‐Baamba identity and power.
Transmission of Gall-Diseases of Cacao, Mango, and Pigeon Pea

‘CUSHION-GALL’ disease of cacao is widely distributed throughout South America1 and has been reported also from Ghana2 and Nigeria and Ceylon3. The disease has been found in most old cacao plantings in British Guiana, in the ‘green-point’ form, and was recorded and described by A. W. Bartlett4 as long ago as 1905, although his report was only rediscovered in 1959. The presence of the ‘flowery’ type has yet to be confirmed.
Communicative Use of Language and Syllabus Design

The ability of a learner to use the target language with relative fluency in simulated speech transactions is recognized as an important objective for today's American foreign language classroom. The adoption of that goal requires, in addition to modifications of classroom practices and the teaching environment, a thorough revision of present syllabus-design practices. A teaching syllabus is defined as the selection and ordering of the subject matter to be taught. Current syllabuses are based on linguistic features that bear no direct relationship to either learner processes or units of which communicative transactions are composed. The optimal pedagogical syllabus should lead the learner to participate in the largest number of communicative transactions in the shortest period of time. In the absence of knowledge about psycholinguistic processes that guide foreign language learners and about the organization and structure of speech acts, it is difficult to abandon linguistic features in the design of syllabuses. Four new orientations may be followed that lead more directly to language use than do monolithic and paradigm-oriented linguistic features: (1) frequency and utility indexes, (2) intralinguistic analysis, (3) language acquistion and processing universals, and (4) observation of second language learners. Syllabuses stressing the ability to use a language rather than knowledge of its structure should be guided also by the following principles: (1) drastic reduction of the number of features introduced, (2) the use of cyclical rather than linear ordering, (3) reduction of the complexity of the material presented (shorter utterances and use of analytical devices instead of inflectional material), (4) reduction of variants and alternants, and (5) tolerance of learner errors.
SPACE- AND COHORT-DEPENDENT LONGEVITY IN ADULT LIRIOMYZA TRIFOLII (BURGESS) (DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE) MASS-REARING CULTURES

Various biological parameters of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) were investigated to maximize mass-rearing efficiency of this insect. Average percentage emergence from a cohort of uniformly aged pupae was 90.0% of which 37.0% were males. A significant difference in the among-day emergence sequences from a pupal cohort was detected with 77.5% of all females and 80.1% of all males emerging during the first 2 days of the emergence sequence. Adults emerging on day 3 within the emergence sequence lived significantly longer than did flies emerging on the other days within the sequence. Male flies lived an average of 9.9 days or 33.1% less than the 14.8-day average for female flies. Cage size was also found to influence adult longevity significantly with the greatest average longevity (20 days for females and 12 days for males) occurring in 385.6-cm3 cages. Emergence time within an emergence sequence and the physical size of an experimental unit are two previously experimentally undocumented sources of variation influencing longevity of Liriomyza. A significant nonlinear relationship between the number of flies leaving the rearing cages (as a result of normal rearing procedures) and the daily number of pupal L. trifolii added to each cage was detected. From these biological parameters, a birth and death rate simulation model was developed to predict adult population sizes of L. trifolii within a mass-rearing program. The gender-specific simulation model consisted of adult emergence (quantified in terms of the adult emergence sequence from a known number of pupae entered into each rearing culture), and adult death rate (quantified in terms of the survivorship of adults within the culture and the number of adults escaping from the culture). The adult population sizes predicted by the simulation model were not significantly different from the average population sizes observed from the rearing cages in validation studies utilizing normal mass-rearing practices. Use of this model should reduce the effort expended on maintaining host populations for commercial mass-production of natural enemies of L. trifolii.
Efficient Ranking from Pairwise Comparisons

The ranking of n objects based on pairwise comparisons is a core machine learning problem, arising in recommender systems, ad placement, player ranking, biological applications and others. In many practical situations the true pairwise comparisons cannot be actively measured, but a subset of all n(n-1)/2 comparisons is passively and noisily observed. Optimization algorithms (e.g., the SVM) could be used to predict a ranking with fixed expected Kendall tau distance, while achieving an Ω (n) lower bound on the corresponding sample complexity. However, due to their centralized structure they are difficult to extend to online or distributed settings. In this paper we show that much simpler algorithms can match the same Ω (n) lower bound in expectation. Furthermore, if an average of O(n log(n)) binary comparisons are measured, then one algorithm recovers the true ranking in a uniform sense, while the other predicts the ranking more accurately near the top than the bottom. We discuss extensions to online and distributed ranking, with benefits over traditional alternatives.
Distributed hierarchical decision fusion with cluster validity

The decision problem that arises in complex engineering problems where many separate sensors have to be used in parallel to measure a large set of objects, such as target detection/recognition, is addressed. A distributed hierarchical decision fusion method based on the validity of fuzzy clustering is proposed. Each sensor makes a local decision using a fuzzy clustering method and sends its decision about the number of clusters and the validity of the decision about the number of clusters and the validity of the decision, measured using a well-defined criterion, to the central station. The central station fuses the decisions collected from each sensor and makes a team decision optimizing all the local decisions. After clustering based on the optimal feature, the process is repeated until all object are properly classified. The result is a hierarchical decision tree that represents a description of a set of a priori unknown objects. This method has been applied to scenes where each object appears in a specified region. >
Social Context and Problem Factors among Youth with Juvenile Justice Involvement Histories

Youth with juvenile justice histories often reside in poorly resourced communities and report high rates of depression, gang involved networks, and STI-sexual related risk behaviors, compared to their counterparts. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social context (i.e., a combined index score comprised of living in public housing, being a recipient of free school lunch and witnessing community violence) and risk factors that are disproportionately worse for juvenile justice youth such as depression, gang involved networks and STI sexual risk behaviors. Data were collected from a sample of detained youth ages 14 to 16 (N=489). Questions assessed demographics, social context, depression, gang-involved networks and STI risk behaviors. Multiple logistic regression models, controlling for age, gender, race, school enrollment and family social support, indicated that participants who reported poorer social context had a 2 times higher odds of reporting being depressed; 3 times higher odds of being in a gang; 3 times higher odds of personally knowing a gang member; and 2 times higher odds of having engaged in STI-risk behaviors. These results provide significant information that can help service providers target certain profiles of youth with juvenile justice histories for early intervention initiatives. Language: en
Proton-coupled sugar transport in the prototypical major facilitator superfamily protein XylE

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) is the largest collection of structurally related membrane proteins that transport a wide array of substrates. The proton-coupled sugar transporter XylE is the first member of the MFS that has been structurally characterized in multiple transporting conformations, including both the outward and inward-facing states. Here we report the crystal structure of XylE in a new inward-facing open conformation, allowing us to visualize the rocker-switch movement of the N-domain against the C-domain during the transport cycle. Using molecular dynamics simulation, and functional transport assays, we describe the movement of XylE that facilitates sugar translocation across a lipid membrane and identify the likely candidate proton-coupling residues as the conserved Asp27 and Arg133. This study addresses the structural basis for proton-coupled substrate transport and release mechanism for the sugar porter family of proteins.
Assembling the Past: Studies in the Professionalization of Archaeology, edited by Alice B Kehoe and Mary Beth Emmerichs, 1999

The Assembling The Past volume, which focuses upon the issues of discrimination and marginalization in archaeology, is the delayed publication of two 1989 symposia dedicated to the history of archaeology - one in January of that year at the First Joint Archaeological Congress in Baltimore, chaired by Alice Kehoe and Jane Waldbaum, and the other in November at the 88th annual meetings of the American Anthropological Association, chaired by Nathan Reyman. Because of the time delay, in some cases the chapter authors have already published later papers, building on their presentations, so that the reader may already be familiar with part of the arguments presented. Nevertheless, I evaluate this work as a "must have" for any student of the history of Americanist archaeology.
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Suicidal Behavior, and Their Co-occurrence as Viewed Through the Lens of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide:

Suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors represent perplexing yet highly prevalent public health problems. Though the behaviors are differentiable, they frequently co-occur. The nature of the association between them, however, remains poorly understood. The interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005; Van Orden et al., 2010) offers one viable framework for enhancing our understanding in this domain. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature on nonsuicidal self-injury, its relation to suicidal behavior, and how the interpersonal theory of suicide conceptualizes this relationship. Alternative perspectives and future directions are also discussed.
Religious Reasons and Public Healthcare Deliberations

This paper critically explores the path of some of the controversies over public reason and religion through four distinct steps. The first part of this article considers the engagement of John Finnis and Robert P. George with John Rawls over the nature of public reason. The second part moves to the question of religion by looking at the engagement of Nicholas Wolterstorff with Rawls, Robert Audi, and others. Here the question turns specifically to religious reasons, and their permissible use by citizens in public debate and discourse. The third part engages Jurgen Habermas's argument that while citizens must be free to make religious arguments, still, there is an obligation of translation, and a motivational constraint on lawmakers. The final section argues that even though Habermas's proposal fails, nevertheless he recognizes a key difficulty for religious citizens in contemporary liberal polities. Restoration of a full role for religiously grounded justificatory reasons in public debate is one part of ...
The battlefield of rare diseases: where uncommon insights are common.

![Figure][1] William A. Gahl Evolution requires imperfect fidelity of replication, that is mutations, and these mistakes ultimately reveal the exquisite functionality of Nature. The rare diseases that populate our species represent the manifestations of Nature’s errors. Rare though they
When Missions, Markets, and Politics Collide: Values and Strategy in the Nonprofit Human Services:

This article explores the meaning of nonprofit strategy in the human services through an examination of the challenges facing nonprofit organizations working in the field of welfare-to-work transit...
Facebook for self-empowerment? A study of Facebook adoption in urban India

This article presents an ethnographic study of the adoption and use of Facebook among urban Indian youth from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Mobile-centric use of the Internet is widely prevalent here as general packet radio service (GPRS)-enabled mobile phones and data plans have become increasingly affordable. Less privileged youth are the lead adopters of these new technologies, and typically the first generation of Internet users, in their communities. My research uncovers their leisure-driven engagement with new media, seen through the lens of Facebook use, and the development-friendly outcomes that result from it. By examining the direct and indirect affordances of Facebook perceived by these youth, this article highlights how they swiftly negotiate social boundaries and technological hurdles, transitioning into legitimate members of a global community.
PGL-1, a Predicted RNA-Binding Component of Germ Granules, Is Essential for Fertility in C. elegans

Germ cells are distinct from somatic cells in their immortality, totipotency, and ability to undergo meiosis. Candidates for components that guide the unique germline program are the distinctive granules observed in germ cells of many species. We show that a component of germ granules is essential for fertility in C. elegans and that its primary function is in germline proliferation. This role has been revealed by molecular and genetic analyses of pgl-1. PGL-1 is a predicted RNA-binding protein that is present on germ granules at all stages of development. Elimination of PGL-1 results in defective germ granules and sterility. Interestingly, PGL-1 function is required for fertility only at elevated temperatures, suggesting that germline development is inherently sensitive to temperature.
Colligocineta furax Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov., an Ancistrocomid Ciliate (Holotricha: Thigmotricha) from the Sabellid Polychaete Laonome kröyeri Malmgren

SYNOPSIS. Colligocineta furax gen. nov., sp. nov., parasitizes the epithelial cells of the peristomial cirri of the sabellid polychaete Laonome kroyeri Malmgren. The material studied was dredged in West Sound of Orcas Island, San Juan Archipelago, Washington. In general, the pattern of ciliation of Colligocineta resembles that of Hypocomella and Heterocinetopsis. However, of the ten kineties which constitute the ciliary system, two from the extreme right side appear to be continuous with two from the left side. During division, the posterior part of the ciliary field is conferred upon the opisthe, and in the proter all of the ten kineties are for a time completely separate.
Personality measures in former heroin users receiving methadone or in protracted abstinence from opiates

Objective: Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and detoxification to abstinence are among the most common treatment options for opiate-dependent patients. This paper compares personality traits in detoxified former heroin users and those on MMT in order to assess their relevance to treatment selection. Method: Twenty-six formerly heroin-dependent subjects receiving MMT (MM), 33 formerly heroin-dependent subjects withdrawn from MMT (MW), and 43 healthy controls were compared on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results: On the TCI, MM patients had higher novelty seeking and lower self-directedness scores than controls. Both MM and MW subjects scored higher than controls on multiple MCMI-II scales. MW but not MM subjects scored higher than controls on two Cluster A Scales and the delusional disorder scale. Conclusion: Schizophrenia-spectrum pathology in former opiate users may be greater than previously recognized and could potentially be relevant to treatment selection.
The regional extent of the ca. 600 Ma Virgilina deformation: Implications for stratigraphic correlation in the Carolina terrane

We present a regional stratigraphic and structural architecture of the southern Appalachian Carolina terrane, based on new field studies in central North Carolina. The Virgilina deformation is interpreted to be a regional feature. Stratigraphic units include an older (ca. 700 to 600 Ma), calc-alkalic volcanic (Hyco and Virgilina Formations) and intra-arc rift(?) epiclastic (Aaron Formation) sequence, folded and faulted by the Virgilina event. Unconformably overlying the older stratigraphy, there is a younger (ca. 600 to 540 Ma, bimodal volcanic-sedimentary sequence (Uwharrie Formation and Albemarle Group). Some present models imply that the effects of the Virgilina deformation are not wide-spread throughout the Carolina terrane. This misconception arose because the northern slate belt stratigraphy (Hyco, Aaron, and Virgilina Formations) was miscorrelated with central slate belt units (Uwharrie Formation and Albemarle Group). A re-evaluation of the physical stratigraphic similarities and temporal constraints of Ediacarian fauna in these units indicates that the two sequences are not equivalent. Stratigraphic and structural data from the study area document the Virgilina deformation and its associated unconformity in the central North Carolina portion of the Carolina terrane. Stratigraphic and map evidence indicates that the Uwharrie Formation unconformably overlies the Hyco Formation. The unconformity between the older and younger stratigraphic units is a boundary between discordances in lineations, fold axial traces, and fold tightness. The Virgilina deformation appears to be coeval with the Monian and Cadomian events of Europe and with the Pan-African orogeny of west Africa. The stratigraphic and tectonic sequence presented herein provides a terrane characterization for the Carolina terrane that may be of use in reassembling Avalon, if Avalon was ever a single entity.
Radioiodinated antibody targeting of the HER-2/neu oncoprotein

The HER-2/neu oncogene encodes a 185 kDa phosphoglycoprotein that is overexpressed in breast, ovarian and other cancers. Seven monoclonal antibodies reactive with oncoprotein were labeled with 131I. In vitro experiments with SKOv3 9002-18 cells determined binding affinity, internalization and degradation. The biodistribution of these antibodies in comparison to 125I-labeled nonspecific antibody was measured in athymic mice with SKOv3 9002-18 ovarian carcinoma xenografts. Antibody 520C9 exhibited the highest and most specific retention in tumor, peaking at 17.4 +/- 5.6% ID/g at 24 h.
A pitfall and solution in multi-class feature selection for text classification

Information Gain is a well-known and empirically proven method for high-dimensional feature selection. We found that it and other existing methods failed to produce good results on an industrial text classification problem. On investigating the root cause, we find that a large class of feature scoring methods suffers a pitfall: they can be blinded by a surplus of strongly predictive features for some classes, while largely ignoring features needed to discriminate difficult classes. In this paper we demonstrate this pitfall hurts performance even for a relatively uniform text classification task. Based on this understanding, we present solutions inspired by round-robin scheduling that avoid this pitfall, without resorting to costly wrapper methods. Empirical evaluation on 19 datasets shows substantial improvements.
Ion homeostasis, channels, and transporters: an update on cellular mechanisms

The steady-state maintenance of highly asymmetric concentrations of the major inorganic cations and anions is a major function of both plasma membranes and the membranes of intracellular organelles...
Neurobehavioral Comorbidities of Active Epilepsy

Eighty percent of children with active epilepsy in Sussex Schools, UK, who underwent psychological evaluation had a DSM-IV-TR behavioral disorder and/or cognitive impairment (IQ <85).
The effects of daily co-occurrence of affect on older adults’ reactivity to health stressors

Objectives: The present study examined age differences among older adults in the daily co-occurrence of affect and its potential role in buffering the negative effects of health stressors.Design: Participants were from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study and included 249 young-old adults (age = 60–79 years, M = 71.6) and 64 old-old adults (age = 80–89, M = 82.9) who completed questionnaires assessing stressors, physical health symptoms, and positive and negative affect for eight consecutive days.Results: An independent samples t-test showed young-old and old-old adults did not significantly differ in their mean levels of daily co-occurrence of affect. The between-person relationships among stressors, health and daily co-occurrence of affect revealed that neither stressors nor health were significantly related to daily co-occurrence of affect. However, results from a multilevel model revealed a three-way cross-level interaction (health stressor × age group × co-occurrence of affect) where old-old ad...