cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Quenching of Phototransduction BINDING COMPETITION BETWEEN ARRESTIN AND TRANSDUCIN FOR PHOSPHORHODOPSIN

Quenching of phototransduction in retinal rod cells involves phosphorylation of photoactivated rhodopsin by the enzyme rhodopsin kinase followed by binding of the protein arrestin. Although it has been proposed that the mechanism of arrestin quenching of visual transduction is via steric exclusion of transducin binding to phosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (P-Rh*), direct evidence for this mechanism is lacking. In this study, we investigated both the role of rhodopsin phosphorylation in modulating its interaction with arrestin and transducin and the proposed binding competition between arrestin and transducin for P-Rh*. While the β-adrenergic receptor kinase promotes significant arrestin binding to rhodopsin at a phosphorylation stoichiometry of ≥2 mol/mol, rhodopsin kinase promotes arrestin binding at a stoichiometry of ∼0.9 mol/mol. Moreover, while β-adrenergic receptor kinase phosphorylation of rhodopsin only modestly decreases transducin binding and activation, rhodopsin kinase phosphorylation of rhodopsin significantly decreases transducin binding and activation. Finally, arrestin competes effectively with transducin for binding to P-Rh* (50% inhibition at ∼1:1 molar ratio of arrestin:transducin) but has no effect on transducin binding to nonphosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (Rh*), paralleling the functional inhibition by arrestin on P-Rh*-stimulated transducin activation (50% inhibition at ∼1.7:1 molar ratio of arrestin:transducin). These results demonstrate that a major role of rhodopsin phosphorylation is to promote high-affinity arrestin binding and decrease transducin binding thus allowing arrestin to effectively compete with transducin for binding to photoactivated rhodopsin.
Synthesis and subcellular localization of the murine coronavirus nucleocapsid protein

The synthesis and processing of the nucleocapsid protein (pp60) of the JHM strain of murine coronaviruses were examined. Pulse-chase experiments showed that pp60 was synthesized initially as a protein of approximately 57,000 in molecular weight (p57). Immunoprecipitation using mouse anti-JHMV antiserum indicated that p57 was virus specific. Immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibodies specific for pp60 showed that p57 was antigenically related to pp60 and was not phosphorylated, while the intracellular protein that comigrated with the virion nucleocapsid protein, pp60, was phosphorylated. The p57 was found exclusively in the cytosol while the majority of pp60 was associated with the membrane fraction but pp60 was not an integral membrane protein.
The effect of morphine on 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and metabolism in the striatum, and several discrete hypothalamic regions of the rat brain.

The effects of morphine on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis (accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan following inhibition of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase) and metabolism (concentration of 5-HT and its primary metabolite, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid [5-HIAA]) were determined in discrete nuclei of the rat brain using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection (LCEC). Morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) increased 5-HT synthesis in the medial preoptic (MPO), suprachiasmatic (SCN) and arcuate (AN) nuclei as well as the striatum (ST) 1 hour following its administration. 5-HT synthesis in the median eminence (ME) was not affected at any time examined. A lower dose of morphine (5 mg/kg) also stimulated 5-HT synthesis in the AN. Although steady state concentrations of 5-HT were not greatly affected by morphine administration, the concentration of 5-HIAA in the AN, MPO, and ST increased following morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c, 1 hour). The increase in 5-HT synthesis observed in the MPO, SCN, AN, and ST 1 hour following morphine involved the activation of opiate receptors as administration of an opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, blocked this effect. These results, indicate that morphine causes an increase in 5-HT synthesis and metabolism via an opiate receptor-mediated mechanism in the AN, MPO, SCN, and ST but not in the ME.
3-(Imidazolyl methyl)-3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-6-yl)methyl ethers: a novel series of mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators.

Abstract The synthesis and structure–activity relationship (SAR) of a novel series of 3-(imidazolyl methyl)-3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-6-yl)methyl ethers, derived from a high throughput screening (HTS), are described. Subsequent optimization led to identification of potent, metabolically stable and orally available mGluR2 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs).
Generation of Liapunov Functions Using Auxiliary Invariant Systems

Abstract A method of generating Liapunov functions is presented, using auxiliary systems which are not exact differentials. If the auxiliary system satisfies a set of integrability conditions, then it may be integrated by using its property of invariance under an infinitesimal transformation. The use of a table of invariant functional differential equations is suggested as a practical method of determining the invariance of such differential equations. For an nth order system, the method of auxiliary invariant system requires 1 2 (n-1) (n-2) constraint equations, whereas other methods using exact auxiliary system require 1 2 n(n-1) constraint equations. The method is illustrated with second- and third-order examples.
Theoretical perspectives of perceived control in older adults: a selective review of the literature.

Aim. This paper is a report of a theoretically based review of literature exploring the concept of perceived control in relation to older adults. Background. Perceived control is a cognitive attribute that is a precursor to function, a mediator between social support and psychological wellbeing, and instrumental for effective disease self-management. It has been defined from several theoretical perspectives with either a global or a specific focus. Methods. A review of literature was conducted. Articles were abstracted into a table in order to compare the purpose, theoretical framework, definition of perceived control, scope of application of perceived control, research questions, subjects, methods, instruments and findings across studies. The articles were sorted by theoretical framework for analyses among and between theoretical frameworks. Results. Twenty papers published between 1995 and 2005, listed in CINAHL or Medline, with the words ‘perceived control’ in the title, and which included older adults as at least half of the sample and used one of five predominant theoretical frameworks were included in a review of the literature. In this review, perceived control is defined within the theories of social learning, self-efficacy, planned behaviour, the lifespan theory of control, and from a person–environment framework. There is little consensus among researchers as to the definition of perceived control. Conclusion. Lack of consensus on the theoretical underpinnings and variability in definition of perceived control exist. The mechanisms through which perceived control develops and is exercised are also in dispute. Nevertheless, there is general agreement that high perceived control is important for wellbeing in older adults.
The energetics of shedding: Energy content of snake skin

Abstract 1. 1. The weight and energy content of sloughed skins of 92 individual snakes of 22 different species in three families were measured. 2. 2. Weight and total energy content of shed skins were highly correlated with body weight. 3. 3. The heat of combustion (kJ/g) of sloughed skins varied significantly among families and was higher in species having unkeeled scales than in those with keeled scales. 4. 4. The presence of keels significantly affected weight of skins, even when skin weight is adjusted for covariance with body weight. 5. 5. Neither body weight nor ambient temperature significantly affected the heat of combustion of sloughed skins. 6. 6. The energy content of shed skin, expressed as a proportion of daily metabolism, decreased with ambient temperature, but the effect is minimized in large snakes. 7. 7. Small snakes expended relatively less energy in sloughed skins than large snakes when the expenditure is expressed in terms of total daily metabolized energy.
Identifying best practices, opportunities and barriers in meeting planning for Generation Y

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify best practices, opportunities and barriers when planning virtual and hybrid meetings for a Generation Y audience (1979–2000). Using a modified Delphi technique, an expert panel of meeting professionals completed four rounds of the Delphi to determine group common consent. The panel of experts who participated had planned traditional, virtual and hybrid meetings for associations, corporations and/or government groups. Resulting recommendations for best practices for virtual meetings included offering shorter sessions to remote participants and providing easy to use technology; opportunities included gamification and interactive components; and barriers included perception of effectiveness and attendees preoccupation with technology. For hybrid meetings, best practices included adding social networking components, and providing positive feedback to participants; opportunities included incorporating interactive components and including challenging but solvable games; and barriers included perception of fun and keeping material challenging enough.
A simple model and experiments for adsorption‐desorption hysteresis: Water vapor on silica gel

A simple model is proposed for the evaluation of the primary and secondary adsorption and desorption processes for hysteresis-dependent sorption systems. The model is based on the use of pore blocking interpretation of hysteresis in an interconnected network of pores. The model is simple to use and requires only the primary adsorption and primary desorption isotherms to predict all secondary desorption curves covering the hysteresis loop (appearing in the range of relative pressure 0.3-0.7) was measured for water vapor on silica gel at 25[degree]C. The usefulness of the model is supported by its agreement with experimental data.
The active learning continuum: Choosing activities to engage students in the classroom

We believe that all instructors should find ways to include meaningful active learning approaches in their classes. This chapter provides a framework for choosing active learning strategies that take into account course objectives, teaching styles, and students' level of experience.
A pseudo-elastic material damage model, part II: Application to the scaling of specimen size, material behavior and loading rate

Abstract The interpretation and utility of reduced scale testing requires an understanding of the factors which affect test specimen behavior. Specimen size, material toughness and load increment size influence the extent of nonlinear load-displacement response, material inhomogeneity within the specimen and the amount of stable crack growth. A consistent, rational methodology is presented from which reduced scale testing programs may be constructed and interpreted. A finite element simulation for each of twenty-seven uniaxial tensile specimens is used to illustrate the methodology. Cumulative material damage and stable crack growth are monitored using the strain energy density criterion. From the results of the simulation, the linear behavior of the strain energy density factor S with respect to crack length a is shown. The influence of size, material and rate are reduced to translations and rotations of the S versus a representation, producing a valuable tool for both design and analysis.
The 15N(p, α)12C reaction with polarized protons from 0.34 to 1.21 MeV

Abstract A polarized beam was used to measure angular distributions of the analyzing power of the 15 N(p, α)C reaction at 0.34 MeV and at five energies from 0.92 to 1.21 MeV. The analyzing power can be fitted with associated Legendre polynomials, P 1 1 and P 1 2 sufficing to describe the results except near 1.2 MeV where P 3 1 is also required. Polarization excitation functions were measured throughout the entire energy range at angles where the polynomials P 1 2 and P 1 3 are zero. A polarization contour map is given.
Extremely stretchable supercapacitors based on buckled single-walled carbon nanotube macro-films

Flexible and stretchable electronics have attracted extensive attention and research efforts recently. As an indispensible component, energy storage device that is able to bear large mechanical strain and be integrated with the stretchable electronics makes the whole system stretchable. Here we report reversibly stretchable supercapacitors using buckled single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) macro-films as the electrodes, which have controllable wavy geometries and show extremely high mechanical stretchability with the utility of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the elastomeric substrates. The stretchable supercapacitors exhibit very stable capacitance under cyclic stretching and releasing, and comparable energy and power densities with those using pristine SWNT macro-films as electrodes.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Teaching Each Other to Teach

Academia talks a good game about valuing classroom charisma, but the real focus for professors remains on research production and publication. How, then, are graduate students to learn how to teach? Students share their experiences in wading into the deep end of the lecture hall.
Detection of mitochondrial fission with orientation-dependent optical Fourier filters.

We utilize a recently developed optical imaging method based on Fourier processing with Gabor-like filters to detect changes in light scattering resulting from alterations in mitochondrial structure in endothelial cells undergoing apoptosis. Imaging based on Gabor filters shows a significant decrease in the orientation of subcellular organelles at 60 to 100 minutes following apoptosis induction and concomitant with mitochondrial fragmentation observed by fluorescence. The optical scatter changes can be detected at low resolution at the whole cell level. At high resolution, we combine fluorescence imaging of the mitochondria with optical Fourier-based imaging to demonstrate that the dynamic decrease in organelle orientation measured by optical Gabor filtering is spatially associated with fluorescent mitochondria and remains largely absent from nonfluorescent subcellular regions. These results provide strong evidence that the optical Gabor responses track mitochondrial fission during apoptosis and can be used to provide label-free, rapid monitoring of this morphological process within single cells. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
A rapid biuret assay for protein of whole fatty tissues

A rapid biuret procedure is described which avoids the turbidity that occurs with protein analysis of intact fatty tissues. Recovery is complete and absorbancy linear with both concentration of the soluble crystalline serum albumin standard and the volume of homogenate of a variety of tissues. This method has been used successfully for the determination of protein concentrations of homogenates of whole rat heart, liver, kidney, brain, lung, and the following muscles: gastrocnemius, interior and exterior obliques, red and white vastus lateralis, and soleus.
The French Creoles of Trinidad and the Limits of the Francophone

This article is framed by the argument that, for all its justified condemnation of the closed nature of traditional French studies, the realm of Francophone studies constructs its own barriers and its own conventions of what constitutes Francophone writing. The influence of postcolonial theory on the field, it is argued, has focused interest almost exclusively on the literature of the colonized and the repressed in neocolonial and postcolonial situations. The influence of conventional French studies has, moreover, led most Francophone scholars to work on areas where France and French language retain an important presence. While not denying the necessity of this dual focus, the article proposes that attention be paid to areas where French colonial presence was interrupted or subsumed by that of another colonial power. The body of the article considers the history and cultural legacy of the French Creoles of Trinidad as an example of a Francophone group that wielded considerable influence in the nineteenth century, but which has now all but disappeared. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the study of such forgotten pockets of Francophone literature is one way of ensuring a creative discordance within the realm of Francophone studies.
Development of totally implantable electromechanical artificial heart systems: Baylor ventricular assist system.

: An implantable electromechanical ventricular assist system (VAS) intended for permanent use has been developed. It consists of a conically shaped pumping chamber, a polyolefin (Hexsyn) rubber diaphragm attached to a conically shaped pusher-plate, and a compact roller-screw actuator. Design stroke volume is 63 ml. The device weighs 620 g, and has a total volume of 348 mi. The pump can provide 8 Limin flow against 120 mm Hg afterload with a preload of 10 mm Hg. The inner surfaces are biolized by dry gelatin coating, with inflow and outflow ports accommodating tissue valves. Three subacute in vivo validation studies have been conducted in calves up to two weeks. The entire system functioned satisfactorily in both the filliempty and the fixed-rate modes. There was no thromboembolic complication without anticoagulation. The pump showed reasonable anatomical fit inside the left thorax. This VAS is compact, efficient, quiet, and easy to control.
Molecular beam mass spectrometry for studying the fundamental chemistry of flames

Abstract In summary, it is possible to measure the concentration profiles of radical as well as stable species in flames using molecular beam sampling techniques. It has been demonstrated that perturbation to the flame by sampling probes that permit detection of highly reactive species can be made acceptably small. If the studies are carried out at low pressure and/or burning velocity so that additional spatial resolution is achieved, this data can be of sufficiently high precision and accuracy to permit meaningful quantitative rate calculations. If the elementrary reactions in the flame have been identified, specific rate coefficients can be extracted. If the mechanisms are not known, the overall rate data may be used as a basis upon which to make judgment regarding proposed mechanisms.
Identification by deletion analysis of an inducible protein required for plasmid pSC101-mediated tetracycline resistance.

Abstract Plasmids containing small deletions within a tetracycline (Tc) resistance gene(s) of plasmid pHA121 were isolated. Plasmid pHA121 was formed by ligating the EcoRI-digested Tc resistance plasmid pSC101 and similarly digested mini-ColE1 plasmid pHA105. The DNA deletion plasmids were constructed by digesting plasmid pHA121 DNA with the restriction endonucleases BamH1 and Sal1 and, in addition, λ exonuclease. Two plasmids, designated pJT131 and pJT133, had small deletions of approximately 0.64 to 0.8 kb and a comparison of the radioactive polypeptides synthesized in plasmid-containing minicells revealed that a 34-kdal polypeptide was not specified by either pJT131 or pJT133. We conclude that the 34-kdal polypeptide is required for the expression of Tc resistance and that its structural gene probably maps in the deleted region of pSC101 DNA.
Effects of dietary boron supplementation on laying hens

1. The effects of dietary boron on egg production and on the ultimate shear force, stress, and fracture energy of the tibia, femur, humerus, and radius from White Leghorn laying hens were investigated. 2. The shear force, stress, and fracture energy of the bones were not affected by increasing dietary concentrations of boron. 3. Egg production, food consumption and body weight were suppressed at a dietary boron concentration of 400 mg/kg. 4. Boron concentrations increased significantly in all tissue samples tested in birds given 400 mg/kg dietary boron.
Apparent violation of the principle of equivalence and killing horizons

By means of the principle of equivalence the qualitative behavior of the Schwarzschild horizon about a uniformly accelerating particle was deduced. This result is confirmed for an exact solution of a uniformly accelerating object in the limit of small accelerations. For large accelerations the Schwarzschild horizon appears to violate the qualitative behavior established via the principle of equivalence. When similar arguments are extended to an observable such as the red shift between two observers, there is no departure from the results expected from the principle of equivalence. The resolution of the paradox is brought about by a compensating effect due to the Rindler horizon.
Intentionality and the markedness model in literary codeswitching

Abstract Myers-Scotton's Markedness model (1983, inter alia) and face-action theory (Brown and Levinson, 1987) provide the theoretical framework for examining the motivations for codeswitching (CS) by low-status individuals in their interactions with high-status individuals from outside their social group. The data are taken from dialogue in three dramatic works by Luis Valdez. This paper shows that low-status individuals with few opportunites for upward mobility use marked CS as a face-threatening strategy. In their interactions with powerful members of a dominant social group, these individuals resort to CS as a way to express their interactional power and seize control of the interaction. Marked choices may serve an additional function: In symmetrical relationships, a marked choice may act as the means to defuse a potentially threatening situation. In addition, the analysis suggests that speakers project their intentions through ostensive communicative acts, and listeners infer speakers' intentions as part of their communicative competence. The data show that a spekaer's intentions are made manifest not necessarily by the referential meaning of an utterance, but by the code the speaker selects. The intention is derived from the extent to which it deviates from the established unmarked setting for the interaction.
Planar fiber optic acoustic sensors

Piezoactivity in polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF2) has been successfully utilized as the transduction mechanism for achieving flexible acoustic sensors. The small electric output of the piezoactive polymers, however, must be amplified at the wet end and is subject to electromagnetic interference.
Renin Secretion: An Anatomical Basis for Tubular Control

By means of electron microscopy of serial sections and three-dimensional reconstruction of the juxtaglomerular apparatus a quantitative study has been made of the distribution of the areas of contact between the tubular and vascular components. Of the two arterioles the efferent is the only one consistently in contact with the distal tubule. The extraglomerular mesangium is also in contact with the distal tubule in all the apparatuses examined. Two morphologically distinct types of contact are described; one is thought to be permanent and the other reversible. An analysis of the cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus for their position, granularity, and contact has revealed that the majority of granular cells are not in contact with the distal tubule. The anatomical findings are integrated in a model of the control of renin secretion based on variations in contact between the elements of the juxtaglomerular apparatus.
Requirement for p85α regulatory subunit of class IA PI3K in myeloproliferative disease driven by an activation loop mutant of KIT

Objective Oncogenic activation loop mutations of KIT are observed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD); however, the signaling pathways that contribute to transformation via these mutations in vivo are not known. Previous studies have demonstrated hyperactivation of p85α regulatory subunit of class IA phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) in cell lines expressing the activation loop mutant of KIT (KITD816V [human] and KITD814V [murine]). Although p85α is hyperphosphorylated and constitutively bound to KITD814V in cell-line models; the physiologic significance of this biochemical phenomenon in KITD814V-induced transformation is not known. Materials and Methods Here, we describe the generation of a new mouse model to study KITD814V-induced transformation in myeloid cells as opposed to previously described models that primarily result in the generation of disease resembling acute lymphocytic leukemia. Results Our results show that transplantation of KITD814V expressing bone marrow cells from C57/BL6 strain of mice into syngeneic recipients results in a fatal MPD. Importantly, in this model, transplantation of KITD814V expressing p85α-deficient bone marrow cells rescues the MPD phenotype. Conclusions Our results describe the generation of a new murine transplant model to study KITD814V-induced transformation and identify p85α as potential therapeutic target for the treatment of KITD814V-bearing diseases.
Er3+ in Sc2O3 and Y2O3: Spectroscopy to elucidate laser behavior

Abstract Er:Sc 2 O 3 exhibits spectroscopic properties that give surprising cryogenic laser behavior (particularly broad zero-line absorption, and a switch to a shorter laser wavelength for temperatures above 110 K). We find that spectroscopic comparison of this material with Er:Y 2 O 3 clarifies the subtle features responsible for this laser behavior.
The Economics of Integrated Depression Care: The University of Michigan Study

A goal of the Robert Wood Johnson Depression and Primary Care Initiative at the University of Michigan is to create and implement the clinical care and financial systems necessary to enable links between primary care and mental health specialty depression care. This paper describes the economic issues related to resources required, the mechanisms to distribute those resources, and the support that must be garnered from stakeholders. By systematic measurement and application, we assess the cost, price and selected consequences of these efforts. The study illustrates the need for both centralized and distributed capacity and support for innovative models of care.
Stylized rendering of 3D scanned real world environments

This paper presents an interactive non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) system that stylizes and renders outdoor scenes captured by 3D laser scanning. In order to deal with the large size, complexity and inherent incompleteness of data obtained from outdoor scans, our system represents outdoor scenes using points instead of traditional polygons. Algorithms are then developed to extract, stylize and render features from this point representation. In addition to conveying various NPR styles, our system also promises consistency in animation by maintaining stroke coherence and density. We achieve NPR of large data at interactive rates by designing novel data structures and algorithms as well as leveraging new features of commodity graphics hardware.
Introduction: The Internet in Everyday Life

The increasing presence of the Internet in our everyday life raises important questions about what it means for access to resources, social interaction, and commitment to local community. This spec...
New method to remove the electronic noise for absolutely calibrating low gain photomultiplier tubes with a higher precision

Abstract A new method to remove the electronic noise in order to absolutely calibrate low gain photomultiplier tubes with a higher precision is proposed and validated with experiments using a digitizer-based data acquisition system. This method utilizes the fall time difference between the electronic noise (about 0.5 ns) and the real PMT signal (about 2.4 ns for Hamamatsu H10570 PMT assembly). Using this technique along with a convolution algorithm, the electronic noise and the real signals are separated very well, even including the very small signals heavily influenced by the electronic noise. One application that this method allows is for us to explore the energy relationship for gamma sensing in Cherenkov radiators while maintaining the fastest possible timing performance and high dynamic range.
A Comparison of Warm Asphalt Binder Aging with Laboratory Aging Procedures

Warm asphalt has been gaining increasing popularity in recent years; however there are several characteristics about warm asphalt that are still unknown. While several studies have been conducted to study the performance of warm asphalt mixtures, aging characteristics of warm mix asphalt (WMA) binders are not known in great detail. This paper presents the results of a limited study to evaluate the aging characteristics of two WMA binders artificially aged in the rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and the pressure aging vessel and comparing them with binder extracted from freshly prepared and artificially aged warm asphalt mixtures. RTFO aging was performed at 163°C and a lower temperature to simulate warm asphalt aging. Tests on binders aged in the laboratory and binders extracted from freshly mixed and aged mixtures indicated that the WMA binders extracted from WMA mixtures had significantly lower viscosities and G∗/sin δ compared to binders extracted from hot mix asphalt (HMA) and binders aged in the RTFO at 163°C (325°F). This indicates that the lower mixing and compaction temperatures reduce the aging of the warm asphalt binders. Also, binders extracted from WMA had significantly lower creep stiffness values and significantly higher m-values compared to warm asphalt binders aged in the RTFO at 163°C (325°F) and binders extracted from HMA. Binders containing WMA additives did not have higher G∗ sin δ values, indicating that the warm asphalt additives do not negatively affect the fatigue properties of the binders. Gel permeation chromatography analysis indicated that the addition of the warm asphalt additives did not have any significant effect on the %LMS of the binders used in this study.
Culture and Negotiation in Militarized Interstate Disputes

The paper describes the research design and presents some preliminary findings from an extended investigation of the role played by cultural similarities and differences between participants in the evolution of militarized interstate disputes, particularly in the parties' uses of negotiation and negotiation outcomes. The authors employ three typologies of social culture, which are based on the works of Huntington, regional geographers, and the intercultural communication work of Hall and Hofstede, as well as indicators of shared democracy drawn from POLITY IV data. Negotiation descriptors have been generated from a random sample of 294 MIDs during the period between 1945 and 1992. The findings support the proposition that cultural similarities reduce the likelihood of MID involvement, increase the use of negotiation in MIDs, and improve the chances that negotiations will produce successful outcomes.
Reversal-bounded multipushdown machines

Several representations of the recursively enumerable (r.e.) sets are presented. The first states that every r.e. set is the homomorphic image of the intersection of two linear context-free languages. The second states that every r.e. set is accepted by an on-line Turing acceptor with two pushdown stores such that in every computation, each pushdown store can make at most one reversal (that is, one change from ''pushing'' to ''popping''). It is shown that this automata theoretic representation cannot be strengthened by restricting the acceptors to be deterministic multitape, nondeterministic one-tape, or nondeterministic multicounter acceptors. This provides evidence that reversal bounds are not a natural measure of computational complexity for multitape Turing acceptors.
Transfer and the organization of perceptual-motor space.

Three experiments are reported involving transfer of effects of different types of visual distortion: lateral displacement, linear extent, and visual rotation. Transfer between different body parts and between different dimensions of space occur but to varying degrees. These are interpreted in terms of their implications for understanding the organization of perceptual and perceptual-motor space.
WATER LEVEL AFFECTS GROWTH OF ENDANGERED NORTHEASTERN BULRUSH, SCIRPUS ANCISTROCHAETUS SCHUYLER

Abstract The effect of four static water levels (−5, 0, +5, and +10 cm in relation to the soil surface) and five sites (origin of parent plant) on growth of the federally endangered northeastern bulrush, Scirpus ancistrochaetus , was examined in a greenhouse experiment. Maximum live leaf height was not affected initially by water level. By mid-experiment, leaf height was greater at higher water levels but did not differ among treatment water levels by the close of the experiment. Final biomass did not differ among any treatment. The ratio of final root to shoot mass (R:S) decreased with an increase in water levels from 0 to 10 cm. The ratio of final live shoot mass to dead shoot mass (LS:DS) was affected by both water level and site. LS:DS was lower in the two higher water levels, suggesting a shorter leaf life span at these depths. Final LS:DS of plants from each site had a significant negative linear relationship with initial site plant mass, perhaps due to different developmental stages or ages of offshoots of plants collected from each site. Small differences in water depth were found to affect height, leaf life span, and R:S in this species while site-of-origin had little effect on growth under greenhouse conditions. Even moderate changes in water level therefore may be an important factor in growth of S. ancistrochaetus in the field and management decisions related to conservation of this species should take possible disturbances to the hydrologic regime under consideration.
Rural-Urban Differences in Environmental Knowledge and Actions

Abstract Greater awareness of between-group variation in environmental attitudes and knowledge will improve the quality of environmental education programs. The authors examined environmental characteristic differences between rural and urban residents, using telephone survey data from a sample of Kentucky River Basin residents. Although they expected that the more urban and metropolitan an individual, the greater would be the individual's environmental world view, concern, knowledge, and actions, they found no consistent differences by residence in these characteristics. They did find differences by education and income. They concluded that the success of environmental education depends on its participation in promoting equity in the general population.
Automated Cognitive Health Assessment Using Smart Home Monitoring of Complex Tasks

One of the many services that intelligent systems can provide is the automated assessment of resident well-being. We hypothesize that the functional health of individuals, or ability of individuals to perform activities independently without assistance, can be estimated by tracking their activities using smart home technologies. In this paper, we introduce a machine-learning-based method to assess activity quality in smart homes. To validate our approach, we quantify activity quality for 179 volunteer participants who performed a complex, interweaved set of activities in our smart home apartment. We compare our automated assessment of task quality with direct observation scores. We also assess the ability of machine-learning techniques to predict the cognitive health of the participants based on these automated scores. We believe that this capability is an important step in understanding everyday functional health of individuals in their home environments.
MRI, MDCT features, and clinical outcome of extremity leiomyosarcomas: experience in 47 patients

To describe MRI, MDCT features, and clinical outcome of extremity leiomyosarcomas (LMS). In this IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study, we included 47 patients (23 women, 24 men; mean age: 55.3 years, range: 17–85 years) with pathologically confirmed extremity LMS seen at our adult tertiary cancer center between 2000 and 2012. MRI/MDCT of primary tumors in 23 patients and follow-up in all patients were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Primary tumors were distributed in bones (6 out of 47), deep soft tissues (24 out of 47), and superficial soft tissues (17 out of 47). On imaging (bone = 4, deep soft tissue = 11, superficial soft tissue = 8), compared with skeletal muscle, they were T1 iso-hypointense and T2 hyperintense. Bone LMS were metaphyseal tumors with cortical destruction (3 out of 4). Deep soft-tissue LMS were large with hemorrhage (7 out of 11) and necrosis (10 out of 11). Superficial soft-tissue LMS were relatively smaller, homogeneously enhancing (6 out of 8) tumors. Distant metastases developed in 32 out of 47 patients (bone LMS [6 out of 6], deep soft-tissue LMS [18 out of 24], superficial soft-tissue LMS [8 out of 17]), commonly to lung (29 out of 47) and bone (14 out of 47). At the time of writing, 22 out of 36 patients (bone LMS [4 out of 6], deep soft-tissue LMS [15 out of 24], superficial soft-tissue LMS [4 out of 17]) have died. There was no statistically significant correlation between metastatic disease and tumor size or grade. Extremity LMS arise in bones and in the deep and superficial soft tissues, frequently metastasize to the lungs, and have a poor prognosis. Superficial LMS tend to have a better prognosis than bone or deep soft-tissue LMS.
Undergraduates' Academic Reading Format Preferences and Behaviors

Abstract This study of undergraduates' academic reading format preferences and behaviors asks the questions: What are undergraduates' format preferences when engaging with their academic readings, electronic or print? What factors impact their preferences and behaviors? How do these factors influence their actions? Almost 400 students at the University of California, Los Angeles completed the online Academic Reading Questionnaire in spring 2014 by agreeing or disagreeing with statements about their format preferences when engaging with their academic texts, and the contextual factors that impact them. Results show overwhelmingly that they prefer print over electronic formats for learning purposes, but multiple factors such as accessibility, cost, complexity and importance of the reading to the course affect their actual behaviors. The findings are then considered within the larger picture of previous studies of presentation format preferences, and research comparing reading comprehension in electronic and print formats. Zipf's Principle of Least Effort and the concept of information economics are used to suggest a theoretical basis for why factors outside of comprehension and learning efficiency impact the students' actual behaviors.
Positive and Negative Affective Dysfunction in Psychopathology

Moods are a constant feature of human experience. Although we all experience good and bad moods, there are individual differences in the propensity to experience positive and negative feeling states. These individual differences are assessed as traits under the terms positive affectivity (PA) and negative affectivity (NA), respectively. Studying the relations between PA, NA, and psychopathology has provided a basic understanding of emotional dysfunction in a range of symptoms and disorders. A substantial body of evidence indicates that general NA is a core feature of many types of psychopathology. In contrast, the relations for general PA are more varied, as it correlates negatively with some disorders but positively with others. Additionally, some research has investigated how more specific components of PA and NA relate to psychological disorders and their symptoms. However, further research of this type is needed to improve our conceptualization of emotional dysfunction across disorders.
Racial and Ethnic Stereotypes and Bullying Victimization

Bullying is a serious problem within the U.S. school system. Prior research suggests that victimization is stratified by race and ethnicity. However, few studies consider factors that may moderate this relationship. This article extends research on this topic by considering whether stereotypes moderate bullying among racial and ethnic youth. Youth who violate stereotypes may experience derogatory treatment. This study examines whether violated racial and ethnicity stereotypes are linked to the victimization of racial and ethnic minorities. The study findings based on data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 indicate that stereotypes linked to family socioeconomic status (SES), test scores, and interscholastic sports participation moderate the relationship between bullying victimization and race and ethnicity. The implications for future research and policy implementation are discussed.
Average SNR of dual selection combining over correlated Nakagami-m fading channels

We investigate the effect of fading correlation and branch gain imbalance on the average output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in conjunction with dual selection combining (SC). In particular, starting with the moment generating function of the dual SC output SNR, we derive a closed-form expression for the average output SNR in the general case of correlated unbalanced Nakagami-m fading channels. We then show that the generic result can be further simplified for the special cases of Rayleigh fading, uncorrelated branches, and/or equal average SNRs. Because of their simple form, the given expressions readily allow numerical evaluation for cases of practical interest.
Determinants and Prognostic Significance of Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Criteria in Chronic Kidney Disease

Summary Background and objectives The diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has prognostic value in the general population. However, among those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the determinants of electrocardiographic (EKG) LVH and its prognostic value are not clear. Design, setting, participants, & measurements A cross-sectional study was performed among 387 consenting consecutive patients from a veterans hospital with a longitudinal follow-up. Results The overall prevalence of EKG-LVH by the Sokolow–Lyon criteria was 8% and by the Cornell voltage-duration product was 11%. Compared with non-CKD controls, CKD patients had unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for LVH by Cornell criteria of 2.52 (95% CI 1.18 to 5.42). Significance was lost after adjustment. The unadjusted OR for LVH by Sokolow–Lyon criteria was 2.24 (95% CI 0.95 to 5.33). This OR remained statistically insignificant after multivariate adjustment. Anemia, proteinuria, and 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP were associated with EKG-LVH regardless of diagnostic criteria. After a 7.5-year median follow-up, the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was not associated with EKG-LVH diagnosed by the Sokolow–Lyon criteria; however, multivariable adjustments made EKG-LVH significant. A statistically significant relationship was seen between mortality and Cornell criteria; however, multivariable adjustments made EKG-LVH nonsignificant. Conclusions The Sokolow–Lyon and Cornell EKG-LVH criteria cannot be used interchangeably to diagnose LVH or determine prognosis. Among those with CKD, ambulatory systolic BP predicts all-cause mortality. Moreover, the duration and severity of BP elevation presumably reflected in EKG-LVH diagnosed by Sokolow–Lyon criteria is also of prognostic significance; the Cornell criteria do not carry independent prognostic information.
Qualitative studies of the urinary gonadotropin excretion of twenty patients in remission from choriocarcinoma and related trophoblastic diseases.

The urinary extracts from 20 patients in complete remission from choriocarcinoma and related trophoblastic diseases were studied retrospectively in order to test the possibility of differentiating human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) from human pituitary gonadotropin (HPG) by bio-assay. The urines were extracted and concentrated by the kaolin-acetone technique, and assayed by the response of the testes and ventral prostate of immature hypophysectomized male rats to graded doses of the extract. The testis weights obtained by doses which produced ventral prostate weights of 25 mg (VP25) were compared for 2 urine specimens from each patient, one collected when the tumor was active and another when the patient was in clinical remission. In 17 out of 20 cases, the testis weights at VP25 of the post-remission urine were higher than those of the preremission urine. These differences were more striking among oophorectomized patients than among those with intact ovaries, but were statistically significant in both gr...
Differences in osteocyte and lacunar density between Black and White American women

We examined the differences in osteocyte and lacunar density between Black and White women, using previously obtained iliac bone biopsies from 34 healthy Black women, aged 21–70 years, and 94 White women, aged 20–73 years. For each subject, the density of osteocytes (Ot.N/B.Ar), empty lacunae (EL.N/B.Ar), and total lacunae (Tt.L.N/B.Ar) and the proportion of osteocyte-occupied lacunae (Ot. N/Tt.L.N) were separately measured in whole trabeculae, superficial bone (b25 μm from the bone surface), and deep bone (N45 μm from the bone surface). Compared with White women, Black women had higher values for osteocytes, empty lacunae, and total lacunae and lower values for percent occupied lacunae in superficial bone and whole trabeculae (P b 0.01 to b0.001). In deep bone there were more osteocytes and total lacunae in Black women, but the other measurements did not differ significantly between the two groups. As in White women, there were fewer osteocytes and total lacunae and more empty lacunae in deep than in superficial bone. The regressions of osteocyte and total lacunar density on age were not significant in Black women, but postmenopausal Black women had fewer osteocytes than premenopausal Black women, and percent occupied lacunae declined significantly with age in whole trabeculae and deep bone, which could only have resulted from osteocyte death. In contrast to White women, there was no inverse relationship between bone formation rate and osteocyte density in superficial bone and the observed bone formation rate was lower than predicted by osteocyte density. We conclude the following: (1) Cancellous bone is made with more osteocytes in Black than in White women, most likely because of diminished apoptosis of osteoblasts; this could contribute to increased bone strength in Black women. (2) In Black women, as in White women, there are fewer osteocytes and total lacunae and more empty lacunae in deep than in superficial bone. (3) There was moderate age-related loss of osteocytes in deep bone in Black women, indicating that osteocyte density depends more on the age of the bone than on the age of the subject. (4) The higher osteocyte density in Black women was not responsible for their lower bone formation rate.