cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outside Information and the Monopoly Power of a Public Bureau: An Empirical Analysis

A central proposition of the Niskanen model of bureaucracy is the assumption that bureau sponsors possess little or no information on the bureau's true production and cost functions. While this assumption has been challenged by several authors, no empirical test of its importance has been offered. This article explores the way the institutional setting can affect the cost information available to sponsors and, in turn, how this information flow affects the efficiency of bureau production. The empirical analysis finds that when a local bureau sells a portion of its output to nontrustees at a per unit price (via the Lakewood Plan), cost information is then provided to its own trustees. This information appears to alter the bargaining power of the bureau.
A note on Hausa plurals

In their presentation of three-dimensional phonology, Halle and Vergnaud [1980, 1981] propose that Hausa singular nouns are morphologically complex like the plural forms, composed of a stem plus a singular suffix. This paper argues that this analysis is incorrect. but that the proposal that singular nouns are morphologically complex is not necessary to demonstrate the usefulness of an autosegmental analysis. Among the arguments presented is a claim that palatalization of coronal obstruents in Hausa is a cyclic rule, but one applying only to derived words, not stems. It is further demonstrated that Hausa makes use of rules which in parallel fashion delete syllable nuclei occurring directly preceding syllable nuclei, and syllable appendices occurring directly preceding syllable appendices. Thus, the two approaches of autosegmental phonology and lexical phonology work together to account for the facts of the Hausa nominal forms in question.
Abstract 54: Tissue Oxygenation Using Fractional Hypoxia Correlates Inversely With Blood Flow in Human Renovascular Disease (RVD) and Essential Hypertension (EH)

Determinants of Intra-renal oxygenation in human RVD are poorly understood. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI measures deoxyhemoglobin (R2*) to determine cortical and medullary R2* which have focal variations and gradients. We hypothesized that tissue fractional hypoxia (% of axial kidney area with R2*>30s -1 ) would correlate better with tissue perfusion, renal blood flow (RBF), and O2 consumption than using regions of interest (ROI). METHODS: Inpatient studies were performed in EH (n=68 kidneys), and high-grade RVD (n=18 kidneys, 71±5.5% occlusion) before and 3 months after stents. All were treated with ACE/ARB Rx and thiazides during 150 mEq/d Na+ intake. BOLD MR images were obtained at 3T before and after furosemide (20mg IV), and axial images analyzed to estimate R2* levels above 30s -1 (fractional hypoxia) over the entire kidney section. Maximal R2* levels using regions of interest (ROIs) also were determined. Single-kidney cortical and medullary RBF (ml/min) perfusion (ml/min/cc) were determined by MDCT. Results: RBF was lower in kidneys with untreated RVD than EH (285.6±141 vs. 399±159 ml/min p Conclusions: These data demonstrate for the first time that fractional hypoxia in the kidney is directly related to chronically reduced blood flow and cortical perfusion in human RVD, whereas selective ROI-based measures identified only minor changes in peak R2* gradients between cortex and medulla. The reversibility of fractional hypoxia after stenting supports the use of this new method to identify critical renovascular lesions.
Perspective Displays for Air Traffic Control: Display of Terrain and Weather

In two experiments, 3-dimensional (3D) perspective displays were compared with 2D planar displays for depicting information relevant to two domains that have important 3D components: representation of terrain and of weather. In experiment 1, nine pilots and seven air traffic control (ATC) specialists performed a series of tasks requiring judgments of the trajectory of a lost aircraft (or one requesting assistance) relative to terrain features that were either generic, or simulated the topography around the Las Vegas region. The results revealed a general equivalence of performance between the planar and 3D formats, although there was a tendency on some tasks for lateral judgments to be degraded with the 3D display relative to the planar display. This difference was only shown for the ATC subjects, who had considerable prior experience with the planar format. For both groups, a counterbalanced design allowed us to note an asymmetric transfer effect, such that prior training on the 3D format led to better s...
Making moves: Transitioning R-EPOCH to the ambulatory setting:

PurposeAmbulatory administration of chemotherapy provides benefit to patients and institutions alike. We hypothesized that transitioning rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (R-EPOCH) from an inpatient to ambulatory setting would reduce inpatient bed days and overall healthcare costs. The purpose of this effort was to create a guideline that would transition R-EPOCH to the ambulatory setting. To assess institutional benefit, we assessed inpatient bed days saved and financial impact.MethodsA single center, retrospective analysis of inpatient R-EPOCH administration from January 2013 to December 2015 defined the need for medication use guidelines for ambulatory R-EPOCH administration. While this guideline targeted a reduction in inpatient bed days, it also created desired staff-and-patient education on R-EPOCH. Multidisciplinary collaboration enabled this comprehensive approach to outpatient chemotherapy administration.ResultsThe 42 patients included received 147 cycle...
Effects of 3D Printing and Design Software on Students’ Interests, Motivation, Mathematical and Technical Skills

Technology is changing the way students learn in amazing ways. Researchers found that student-centered, technology-integrated learning environments help to produce students who are better able to think critically, solve problems, collaborate with others, and engage deeply in the learning process. In addition, the emergence of technology-rich classrooms helps diverse learners understand conceptual ideas and apply those ideas and skills to real-life. When teachers know how to effectively use the unique features of technologies, they can address the varying cognitive strengths and needs of different students. Because understanding the impact of technology and finding the best ways to integrate technology into the classroom is critical, an investigation was conducted to determine whether the use of 3D printers and 3D design software in a summer camp setting had a positive effect on student’s motivation, interests, mathematical and real-life skills.
Analyzing the structure of macromolecules in their native cellular environment using hydroxyl radical footprinting.

Hydroxyl radical footprinting (HRF) has been successfully used to study the structure of both nucleic acids and proteins. The method utilizes hydroxyl radicals to oxidize solvent accessible sites in macromolecules. In recent years, the method has shown some utility for live cell analysis. In this review, we will survey the current state of the field for footprinting macromolecules in living cells. The field is relatively new, particularly for protein studies, with only a few publications on the development and application of HRF on live cells. DNA–protein interaction sites and information on the secondary and tertiary structure of RNA has been characterized. In addition, the conformational changes of membrane-spanning channels upon opening and activation have also been studied by in-cell HRF. In this review, we highlight examples of these applications.
Thrombin as a Target

Thrombin (factor IIa) is a Na+-dependent serine protease that has important procoagulant and anticoagulant roles in hemostasis …
Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) promoters for green tissue-specific expression of the MYB4 transcription factor for reduced-recalcitrance transgenic switchgrass

Genetic engineering of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for reduced cell wall recalcitrance and improved biofuel production has been a long pursued goal. Up to now, constitutive promoters have been used to direct the expression of cell wall biosynthesis genes toward attaining that goal. While generally sufficient to gauge a transgene’s effects in the heterologous host, constitutive overexpression often leads to undesirable plant phenotypic effects. Green tissue-specific promoters from switchgrass are potentially valuable to directly alter cell wall traits exclusively in harvestable aboveground biomass while not changing root phenotypes. We identified and functionally characterized three switchgrass green tissue-specific promoters and assessed marker gene expression patterns and intensity in stably transformed rice (Oryza sativa L.), and then used them to direct the expression of the switchgrass MYB4 (PvMYB4) transcription factor gene in transgenic switchgrass to endow reduced recalcitrance in aboveground biomass. These promoters correspond to photosynthesis-related light-harvesting complex II chlorophyll-a/b binding gene (PvLhcb), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PvPEPC), and the photosystem II 10 kDa R subunit (PvPsbR). Real-time RT-PCR analysis detected their strong expression in the aboveground tissues including leaf blades, leaf sheaths, internodes, inflorescences, and nodes of switchgrass, which was tightly up-regulated by light. Stable transgenic rice expressing the GUS reporter under the control of each promoter (756–2005 bp in length) further confirmed their strong expression patterns in leaves and stems. With the exception of the serial promoter deletions of PvLhcb, all GUS marker patterns under the control of each 5′-end serial promoter deletion were not different from that conveyed by their respective promoters. All of the shortest promoter fragments (199–275 bp in length) conveyed strong green tissue-specific GUS expression in transgenic rice. PvMYB4 is a master repressor of lignin biosynthesis. The green tissue-specific expression of PvMYB4 via each promoter in transgenic switchgrass led to significant gains in saccharification efficiency, decreased lignin, and decreased S/G lignin ratios. In contrast to constitutive overexpression of PvMYB4, which negatively impacts switchgrass root growth, plant growth was not compromised in green tissue-expressed PvMYB4 switchgrass plants in the current study. Each of the newly described green tissue-specific promoters from switchgrass has utility to change cell wall biosynthesis exclusively in aboveground harvestable biomass without altering root systems. The truncated green tissue promoters are very short and should be useful for targeted expression in a number of monocots to improve shoot traits while restricting gene expression from roots. Green tissue-specific expression of PvMYB4 is an effective strategy for improvement of transgenic feedstocks.
Evolutionary Consequences of Mass Extinctions

Mass extinctions are relatively brief, global excursions of extinction rates above normal, background levels for a number of higher taxa. At least five major mass extinctions have perturbed the Earth’s biota over the past 600 million years, but current research has so completely emphasized causal mechanisms that the biological nature of the victims and survivors, and other evolutionary aspects of extinctions, have been neglected. Paleontological analyses suggest that selectivity during mass extinctions may be qualitatively different from patterns of extinction and survival during background times. This apparent indifference to background-regime adaptation means that mass extinctions can play a profoundly disruptive role in the evolutionary process. Taxa and morphologies can be lost not because they were poorly adapted by the standards of background processes (which constitute the bulk of evolutionary time), but because they occurred in lineages lacking the environmental tolerances or geographic distributions necessary to survive the mass extinction regime. For reasons that are still not clear, mass extinctions seem preferentially to remove taxa that are endemic, large-bodied, or tropical. Despite this disruption of background processes, some evolutionary trends persist across mass extinction boundaries; such long-term survival may require the chance occurrence within a single lineage of traits that enhance survivorship under both background and mass extinction regimes. By removing or reducing dominant groups, mass extinctions provide opportunities for diversification of taxa that had been minor constituents of the pre-extinction biota, channeling evolution in directions not predictable from situations established during background times.
Old Mountains, Young Parks

Two hundred thousand villagers live around Laojun reserve. That means for every golden monkey I am supposed to be protecting, there are six hundred people!” Dr. Zhou Dequn, the TNC field manager who first warned me to check my American assumptions at the Chinese border, was pacing around his office in Lijiang.
Sperm counts and reproductive hormones in male marathoners and lean controls.

In women, chronic and intense endurance exercise is frequently associated with menstrual cycle alterations. In men, the effects of similar amounts of exercise are less well-studied. We tested the hypothesis that endurance exercise in men is also associated with alterations in reproductive function. We studied 12 marathon runners and 12 age-matched, lean controls; serum and semen samples were collected every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Sperm counts, sperm morphologies, and mean levels of testosterone (T), free T, sex hormone binding globulin, Cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone, and biologically active luteinizing hormone (LH) were similar in the two groups. Mean levels of immunologically active LH were somewhat higher in the marathoners. We conclude that this level of strenuous, long-term endurance exercise does not have major adverse effects on reproductive function in men.
From Darkness into Light: Hope for the Future of Women in Leadership in India

Every chapter in this book contains stories and facts that paint a dark picture for women in leadership in India. But they also contain examples of people, policies, and practices where there is hope for the future. In this chapter, I first focused on the many reasons why women face barriers to leadership and why they face a significant pay gap compared with men. I also compared the situation in India with the situation faced by women in other countries, primarily the USA: parenthood, occupational choice, discrimination, and sex bias. I then presented some avenues that present hope for Indian women, though the journey will be difficult: enact new laws and enforce existing laws, focus on youth, equalize college major and occupational choice, develop negotiating skills, demand family-friendly benefits, let employer self-interest take its course, and change the culture. For the light to shine, it will require the commitment and work of men and women.
Legislative Update: ABI Chapter 11 Survey Results

This article reports on responses from a survey sent to members of ABI's Business Reorganization Committee. The survey was designed to inform the ABI Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11. Committee members were surveyed over a two-week period in March 2014. The survey, which asked more than 20 questions, was completely anonymous.
An analysis of the normal acceleration sensitivity of contoured quartz resonators stiffened by identical top and bottom quartz cover plates supported by clips

A stiffened structure in which the active biconvex quartz resonator is sandwiched between identical top and bottom quartz cover plates to which it is attached by means of small sidewalls around the periphery is considered. The mounting clips are attached to the cover plates without touching the active plate. An analysis of the normal acceleration sensitivity of this configuration is performed. The variational principle for anisotropic static flexure in which all conditions arise as natural conditions is extended to include the influence of the cover plates, the active region, and the clips. The calculations reveal that increasing the thickness of the cover plates relative to the active plate reduces the normal acceleration sensitivity arising from either a misplacement of a clip or a mispositioning of the center of the mode shape. The influence of symmetric holes in the cover plates is included in the calculations. Results are presented for a range of thicknesses of cover plates relative to the active plate and hole size. >
Insomnia Symptoms and Suicide-Related Ideation in U.S. Army Service Members.

Background: Insomnia has been identified as a key risk factor for suicide, though most studies have been limited to global measures of these constructs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate...
Cerebral perfusion is associated with blast exposure in military personnel without moderate or severe TBI

Due to the use of improvised explosive devices, blast exposure and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have become hallmark injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Although the mechanisms of the effects of blast on human neurobiology remain active areas of investigation, research suggests that the cerebrovasculature may be particularly vulnerable to blast via molecular processes that impact cerebral blood flow. Given that recent work suggests that blast exposure, even without a subsequent TBI, may have negative consequences on brain structure and function, the current study sought to further understand the effects of blast exposure on perfusion. One hundred and eighty military personnel underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) imaging and completed diagnostic and clinical interviews. Whole-brain analyses revealed that with an increasing number of total blast exposures, there was significantly increased perfusion in the right middle/superior frontal gyri, supramarginal gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex as well as bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, insulae, middle/superior temporal gyri and occipital poles. Examination of other neurotrauma and clinical variables such as close-range blast exposures, mTBI, and PTSD yielded no significant effects. These results raise the possibility that perfusion may be an important neural marker of brain health in blast exposure.
Clinicopathological Features of Gastroesophageal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Gastroesophageal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a rare entity. Recent 2019 WHO classifications reflect our understanding of tumor biology, namely, that distinct molecular characteristics underline tumor behavior and prognosis. Here, we reviewed the evidence for linking molecular findings with the clinicopathological features and treatment of gastroesophageal NENs. Degree of differentiation and Ki-67 proliferation index are required for accurate classification of neuroendocrine tumors and carcinomas but not sufficient to distinguish between the two entities. Resection remains the mainstay treatment for early-stage gastroesophageal neuroendocrine tumors. Additional perioperative therapy may benefit mitotically active tumors. There is a role for somatostatin analogues, especially in the setting of metastatic and symptomatic disease. New radiolabeled somatostatin analogues, immunotherapy, and embolization offer multimodality treatments for distant metastases. We need to understand the specific underlying biology of the various subtypes of gastroesophageal NENs to provide tailored treatment.
Travels Across Othered Landscapes

This essay uses the lens of teaching an undergraduate survey lecture course to explore ways to root pedagogy in the premise that architecture is not neutral. I argue that teaching difference and in...
DNA interstrand cross-links induced by the major oxidative adenine lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine.

Oxidative damage to DNA generates 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (oxoG) and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine (oxoA) as two major lesions. Despite the comparable prevalence of these lesions, the biological effects of oxoA remain poorly characterized. Here we report the discovery of a class of DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) involving oxidized nucleobases. Under oxidative conditions, oxoA, but not oxoG, readily reacts with an opposite base to produce ICLs, highlighting a latent alkylating nature of oxoA. Reactive halogen species, one-electron oxidants, and the myeloperoxidase/H2O2/Cl− system induce oxoA ICLs, suggesting that oxoA-mediated cross-links may arise endogenously. Nucleobase analog studies suggest C2-oxoA is covalently linked to N2-guanine and N3-adenine for the oxoA-G and oxoA-A ICLs, respectively. The oxoA ICLs presumably form via the oxidative activation of oxoA followed by the nucleophilic attack by an opposite base. Our findings provide insights into oxoA-mediated mutagenesis and contribute towards investigations of oxidative stress-induced ICLs and oxoA-based latent alkylating agents. 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine (oxoA) are generated upon oxidative damage to DNA, but the biological effects of oxoA are not well known. Here, the authors report that only oxoA forms DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) upon secondary oxidation and that these ICLs can be induced by reactive halogen species, one-electron oxidants and the myeloperoxidase/H2O2/Cl- system.
Predictors of inpatient admission for pediatric cancer patients visiting the emergency department.

e22019Background: Pediatric cancer patients represent a vulnerable cohort at risk of adverse outcomes after presenting to the emergency department (ED). Given the severity of cancer-related complic...
SEAT: Similarity Encoder by Adversarial Training for Detecting Model Extraction Attack Queries

Given black-box access to the prediction API, model extraction attacks can steal the functionality of models deployed in the cloud. In this paper, we introduce the SEAT detector, which detects black-box model extraction attacks so that the defender can terminate malicious accounts. SEAT has a similarity encoder trained by adversarial training. Using the similarity encoder, SEAT detects accounts that make queries that indicate a model extraction attack in progress and cancels these accounts. We evaluate our defense against existing model extraction attacks and against new adaptive attacks introduced in this paper. Our results show that even against adaptive attackers, SEAT increases the cost of model extraction attacks by 3.8 times to 16 times.
Concurrent pertussis and influenza A (H1N1) infections in a 28 day-old infant

Pediatric patients suffering from independent or concomitant influenza A (H1N1) and Bordetella pertussis infections pose a diagnostic dilemma and may benefit from time-sensitive treatment. We report a case of influenza A (H1N1) and B. Pertussis co-infection in a previously healthy 28 day-old infant.
The 46, 48Ti(p, α)43,45Sc reaction at intermediate energy

Abstract The 46, 48 Ti ( p , α) 43,45 Sc reaction has been studied at E p = 79.2 MeV. Differential cross sections and analyzing powers were measured for 12 levels in 43 Sc and 11 levels in 45 Sc. A striking j -transfer dependence is observed in the analyzing powers. The reaction is quite selective at this energy, populating the highest-spin states with the largest cross sections. DWBA calculations were performed for all states observed, and the results were found to represent the data for states of known J π quite well. Restrictions on the J π of a number of previously unidentified states were made. A semi-microscopic analysis, in which the form factors for the negative-parity states observed were derived from shell-model wave functions, produced fairly good agreement with the magnitudes of the cross sections for the known states, and resulted in further restrictions of possible J π for some levels.
Towards Universal Text Retrieval: Tipster Text Retrieval Research at New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University's Computing Research Lab has participated in research in all three phases of the US Government's Tipster program. Our work on information retrieval has focused on research and development of multilingual and cross-language approaches to automatic retrieval. The work on automatic systems has been supplemented by additional research into the role of the IR system user in interactive retrieval scenarios: monolingual, multilingual and cross-language. The combined efforts suggest that “universal” text retrieval, in which a user can find, access and use documents in the face of language differences and information overload, may be possible.
The role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and phosphatidic acid in the regulation of mammalian target of rapamycin following eccentric contractions.

Resistance exercise induces a hypertrophic response in skeletal muscle and recent studies have begun to shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in this process. For example, several studies indicate that signalling by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is necessary for a hypertrophic response. Furthermore, resistance exercise has been proposed to activate mTOR signalling through an upstream pathway involving the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (PKB); however, this hypothesis has not been thoroughly tested. To test this hypothesis, we first evaluated the temporal pattern of signalling through PI3K–PKB and mTOR following a bout of resistance exercise with eccentric contractions (EC). Our results indicated that the activation of signalling through PI3K–PKB is a transient event ( 12 h). Furthermore, inhibition of PI3K–PKB activity did not prevent the activation of mTOR signalling by ECs, indicating that PI3K–PKB is not part of the upstream regulatory pathway. These observations led us to investigate an alternative pathway for the activation of mTOR signalling involving the synthesis of phosphatidic acid (PA) by phospholipase D (PLD). Our results demonstrate that ECs induce a sustained elevation in [PA] and inhibiting the synthesis of PA by PLD prevented the activation of mTOR. Furthermore, we determined that similar to ECs, PA activates mTOR signalling through a PI3K–PKB-independent mechanism. Combined, the results of this study indicate that the activation of mTOR following eccentric contractions occurs through a PI3K–PKB-independent mechanism that requires PLD and PA.
Nitrogen limitation and nitrogen fixation during alkane biodegradation in a sandy soil

We investigated nutrient limitations during hydrocarbon degradation in a sandy soil and found that fixed nitrogen was initially a limiting nutrient but that N limitation could sometimes be overcome by N2 fixation. Hydrocarbon biodegradation was examined in an unsaturated sandy soil incubated aerobically at 20 degrees C with propane or butane and various added nutrients. Propane and butane degradation proceeded similarly during the first 3 months of incubation. That is, bacteria in soil amended with N oxidized these hydrocarbons more rapidly than in controls without nutrient additions or in soil with added phosphate or trace minerals. Both propane- and butane-amended soil apparently became N limited after the initial available inorganic N was utilized, as indicated by a decrease in the rates of hydrocarbon degradation. After 3 months, propane and butane degradation proceeded differently. Bacteria in propane-degrading soil apparently remained N limited because propane degradation rates stayed low unless more N was added. In contrast, bacteria in butane-degrading soil appeared to overcome their N limitation because butane degradation rates later increased regardless of whether more N was added. Analyses of total N and acetylene reduction assays supported this apparent surplus of N in butane-amended soil. Total N was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in soil incubated with butane and no N amendments than in soil incubated with propane, even when the latter was amended with N. Acetylene reduction occurred only in butane-amended soil. These results indicate that N2 fixation occurred in butane-amended soil but not in propane-amended soil.
Renal Cell Carcinoma Mimicking Igg4-Related Pseudotumor in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Context Autoimmune pancreatitis is classified into two distinct clinical profiles. Case report Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is considered to be a manifestation of a novel clinicopathological entity called IgG4 related sclerosing disease, diagnosed using the Mayo Clinic HISORt criteria. Extra-pancreatic manifestations can include involvement of bile ducts, salivary gland, lung nodules, thyroiditis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal masses, and retroperitoneal fibrosis. Type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis on the other hand is confirmed by histologically seen duct centric pancreatitis without elevation of IgG4 or involvement of other organs. In type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis, extrapancreatic manifestations like bile duct strictures, tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal nodules, retroperitoneal fibrosis respond to steroid therapy. Conclusion We present a case of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis in which the renal mass did not respond to steroid therapy and was later on found to be renal cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge this is only the third reported case of autoimmune pancreatitis in which the patient had renal cell carcinoma. Our case highlights the importance of close follow up of lesions that do not respond to steroid treatment which in this case proved to be renal cell cancer. Image: CT of the abdomen showing enlarged pancreas with loss of normal fatty lobulation.
A Shooting Approach to Suboptimal Control

The shooting method is used to solve the suboptimal control problem where the control history is assumed to be piecewise linear. Suboptimal solutions can be obtained without difficulty and can by increasing the number of nodes lead to accurate approximate controls and good starting multipliers for the regular shooting method. Optimal planar launch trajectories are presented for the Advanced Launch System.
Response to Vuori and Vuori's commentary on “Heuristics in the strategy context”

We recently introduced a research program on how firms can effectively capture fleeting opportunities using heuristics. Heuristics, we advocate, are the essence of strategy, especially in unpredictable markets where opportunities are often numerous, fast moving, and uncertain. Our emphasis on heuristics invites comparison with prominent research programs in cognitive psychology. We address this opportunity by comparing our �simple rules� heuristics approach with �heuristics-and-biases� and �fast-and-frugal� heuristics research. Collectively, the three approaches offer a rich understanding of heuristics.
3,3’-Diindolylmethane attenuates LPS-mediated acute liver failure by regulating miRNAs to target IRAK4 and suppress Toll-like receptor signalling

Background and Purpose Acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe and potentially lethal clinical syndrome. 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a natural plant-derived compound with anti-cancer activities. Recently, DIM has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we tested the hypothesis that DIM would suppress endotoxin-induced ALF. Experimental Approach We investigated the therapeutic potential of DIM in a mouse model of D-galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS)-induced ALF. The efficacy of DIM treatment was assessed by survival, liver histopathology, serum levels of alanine transaminase, pro-inflammatory cytokines and number of activated liver macrophages. Effects of DIM on the expression of two miRNAs, 106a and 20b, and their predicted target gene were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Effects of DIM on the release of TNF-α from RAW264.7 macrophages transfected with mimics of these miRNAs and activated by LPS was assessed by elisa. Key Results DIM treatment protected mice from ALF symptoms and reduced the number of activated liver macrophages. DIM increased expression of miR-106a and miR-20b in liver mononuclear cells and decreased expression of their predicted target gene IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4), involved in signalling from Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). In vitro transfection of RAW264.7 cells using miRNA mimics of miR-106a and 20b decreased expression of IRAK4 and of TNF-α secretion, following LPS stimulation. Conclusions and Implications DIM attenuated GalN/LPS-induced ALF by regulating the expression of unique miRNAs that target key molecules in the TLR4 inflammatory pathway. DIM may represent a potential novel hepatoprotective agent.
Application of non-lethal stable isotope analysis to assess feeding patterns of juvenile pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus: a comparison of tissue types and sample preservation methods.

Summary Traditional techniques for stable isotope analysis (SIA) generally require sacrificing animals to collect tissue samples; this can be problematic when studying diets of endangered species such as the pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus. Our objectives were to (i) determine if pectoral fin tissue (non-lethal) could be a substitute for muscle tissue (lethal) in SIA of juvenile pallid sturgeon, and (ii) evaluate the influence of preservation techniques on stable isotope values. In the laboratory, individual juvenile pallid sturgeon were held for up to 186 day and fed chironomids, fish, or a commercially available pellet diet. Significant, positive relationships (r² ≥ 0.8) were observed between fin and muscle tissues for both δ15N and δ13C; in all samples isotopes were enriched in fins compared to muscle tissue. Chironomid and fish based diets of juvenile pallid sturgeon were distinguishable for fast growing fish (0.3 mm day−1) using stable δ15N and δ13C isotopes. Frozen and preserved fin tissue δ15N isotopes were strongly related (r2 = 0.89) but δ13C isotopes were weakly related (r2 = 0.16). Therefore, freezing is recommended for preservation of fin clips to avoid the confounding effect of enrichment by ethanol. This study demonstrates the utility of a non-lethal technique to assess time integrated food habits of juvenile pallid sturgeon and should be applicable to other threatened or endangered species.
Recent advances in the climate change biology literature: describing the whole elephant

Climate change biology is seeing a wave of new contributions, which are reviewed herein. Contributions treat shifts in phenology and distribution, and both document past and forecast future effects. However, many of the current wave of contributions are observational and correlational, and few are experimental in nature, and too often a conceptual framework in which to contextualize the results is lacking. An additional gap is the lack of effective cross-linking among areas of research, for example, connection of sea-level rise and climate change implications for distributions of species, or evolutionary adaptation studies with distributional shift studies. Although numerous important contributions have emerged in recent years, synthesis of this phenomenon and its consequences has not yet been achieved.  2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. WIREs Clim Change
Invited Review: From Diet to DNA: Dietary Patterning of Gene Expression

The role of molecular biology in understanding structure/function relationships as well as the influence of metabolic processes on host nutrition is becoming increasingly important. Not only is this field having a major effect in elucidating the detailed structure of nutritionally important enzymes but it is also allowing the nutrition scientist to study metabolic function and the significance of different pathways in whole animals. In this review, the use of gene transfer studies, in particular, the creation of transgenic animals to study mechanisms in which nutrients may regulate gene expression is discussed. Although these studies are presently quite specific, it is envisioned that these studies will ultimately lead to a better understanding of dietary host interactions, which may lead to the ability of the clinician to optimize dietary intake in order to more favorably modify metabolic disorders.
Using a Pan-Viral Microarray Assay (Virochip) to Screen Clinical Samples for Viral Pathogens

The diagnosis of viral causes of many infectious diseases is difficult due to the inherent sequence diversity of viruses as well as the ongoing emergence of novel viral pathogens, such as SARS coronavirus and 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, that are not detectable by traditional methods. To address these challenges, we have previously developed and validated a pan-viral microarray platform called the Virochip with the capacity to detect all known viruses as well as novel variants on the basis of conserved sequence homology1. Using the Virochip, we have identified the full spectrum of viruses associated with respiratory infections, including cases of unexplained critical illness in hospitalized patients, with a sensitivity equivalent to or superior to conventional clinical testing2-5. The Virochip has also been used to identify novel viruses, including the SARS coronavirus6,7, a novel rhinovirus clade5, XMRV (a retrovirus linked to prostate cancer)8, avian bornavirus (the cause of a wasting disease in parrots)9, and a novel cardiovirus in children with respiratory and diarrheal illness10. The current version of the Virochip has been ported to an Agilent microarray platform and consists of ~36,000 probes derived from over ~1,500 viruses in GenBank as of December of 2009. Here we demonstrate the steps involved in processing a Virochip assay from start to finish (~24 hour turnaround time), including sample nucleic acid extraction, PCR amplification using random primers, fluorescent dye incorporation, and microarray hybridization, scanning, and analysis.
Control of Uncertain Systems: A Linear Programming Approach

In tackling the problem of robust controller design this volume brings together three branches of mathematics: operator theory, optimisation theory and algebraic theory of rational marix functions. Together, these techniques enable readers to capture the fundamental limitations of design in a quantitative way, and provide computable methods for analysis and synthesis of control systems.
Temperature sensitive nop2 alleles defective in synthesis of 25S rRNA and large ribosomal subunits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Using molecular genetic techniques, we have generated and characterized six temperature sensitive (ts) alleles of nop2. All failed to support growth at 37°C and one was also formamide sensitive (fs) and failed to grow on media containing 3% formamide. Conditional lethality is not due to rapid turnover of mutant Nop2p proteins at 37°C. Each allele contains between seven and 14 amino acid substitutions and one possesses a nonsense mutation near the C-terminus. Mapping experiments with one allele, nop2-4, revealed that a subset of the amino acid substitutions conferred the ts phenotype and that these mutations have an additive effect. All six mutants exhibited dramatic reductions in levels of 60S ribosome subunits under non-permissive conditions as well as some reduction at permissive temperature. Processing of 27S pre-rRNA to mature 25S rRNA was defective in all six mutants grown under non-permissive conditions. Levels of the 40S ribosomal subunit and 18S rRNA were not significantly affected. Amino acid substitutions in nop2 conditional alleles are discussed in the context of the hypothesis that Nop2p functions both as an RNA methyltransferase and a trans-acting factor in rRNA processing and large ribosomal subunit biogenesis.
The development of the concept of momentum in primary school children

Evidence favoring the conceptual sequence „momentumconservation of matterproportional use of mass and velocityvelocity” is presented. Theoretical issues can be resolved via well-designed research!
A Kabbalistic Perspective on Gender-Specific Commandments: on the Interplay of Symbols and Society

Unlike other symbol systems, whose precise influence on cultural mores is hard to pinpoint, Kabbalah's impact on mainstream Jewish culture can be traced, at least in the realm of practice, for this mystical theology and symbol system is rooted in law and expressed through ritual behavior.
Rethinking the digital divide

African-American students are all too aware that the digital divide is not merely about Internet access. Rather, it involves access to the social networks that ease the path to success in high-tech careers.
OUTCOME OF NEONATAL SYSTEMIC CANDIDIASIS

16 premature infants born between 1978 and 1982 were diagnosed as having systemic candidiasis and treated with Amphotericin B. 5 infants died and one was lost to follow up. The remaining 10 had a mean gestational age of 27 weeks and a mean birthweight of 900 grams. Candidiasis was diagnosed at a mean age of 11 weeks. 3 infants had meningitis. All were treated with total mean doses of 21.1 mg Amphotericin B and 2.3 gm 5FC for an average of 27.7 days. Complications of therapy included thrombocytopenia (2) and transient renal abnormalities (8). The 10 survivors were matched for age, race, sex, gestational age, birthweight, and family socioeconomic status with 10 control infants and re-evaluated at a mean age of 21 months. Development was measured with Bayley Scales and compared using a paired t test. Mean mental and motor scores were 92.6±21.2/91±22.2 for study infants and 89.8±12.5 /86.5±12.1 for controls (p=NS). This study suggests that neonatal candidiasis should be promptly treated because outcome may be good.
Context Matters: A Model of Family-Supportive Supervision & Work-Family Conflict

A long history of research has established that family-supportive supervision (FSS) reduces work-family conflict (WFC). However, the heterogeneity in the strength of these results across studies su...
Fate of the standard model with a heavy higgs particle

Abstract The breakdown of the standard electroweak model is investigated when the mass of the Higgs particle is comparable or larger than the weak interaction scale 1/√Gspf. The history of the problem is presented and theoretical motivations for an upper bound on the mass of the Higgs particle are discussed. For the non-perturbative study of the Higgs sector was describe a large scale computer stimulation of the effective action. For illustration, a sample calculation will be presented in then scalar φ4 model with spontaneous symmetry breaking. The Higgs sector with spontaneously broken O(4) symmetry is studied as a realistic application of the method. Our most important result is the determination of an upper bound Msph ≈ 550 GeV on the mass of the Higgs particle with a momentum cut-off 5π time larger than the Higgs mass.
Arrested Development of the Neonatal Kidney Following Chronic Ureteral Obstruction

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of growth-related peptides in the impairment of renal growth and development resulting from unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in the neonatal rat.Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent UUO or sham-operation in the first 48 hours of life, and kidneys were harvested 1 to 28 days later. Renal messenger RNA (mRNA) was quantitated for renin, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Renal interstitial volume was measured in Masson-trichrome-stained sections, and renin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SM actin) distribution were determined by immunocytochemistry.Results: The normal developmental increase in renal mass and DNA content were suppressed by ipsilateral UUO and increased in the intact opposite kidney. Renal interstitial volume was increased more than 10-fold by ipsilateral UUO. Unilateral ureteral obstruction resulted in a sustained increase in ipsilateral renal renin m...
Facilitating Pretrial Justice in New Orleans

New Orleans in 2011 finds itself facing many of the same problems New York City faced in 1961 when the founders of the Vera Institute of Justice launched the Manhattan Bail Project: Too many people are held in pretrial detention who could be released without risk to public safety; the reliance on bail results in disparate outcomes based on financial ability; and the unnecessary detention of thousands of defendants each year imposes excessive costs on the city government and taxpayers, as well as on those needlessly detained. Vera is now working with New Orleans stakeholders to develop a comprehensive pretrial services system. Following in the footsteps of the Manhattan Bail Project, the work will create a carefully conceived and locally sensitive pretrial services system, one that will result in a fairer and more efficient criminal justice system and a safer community.
Parenthood and adult criminal offending: The importance of relationship quality

Drawing on social control, social learning, and general strain theories, it was hypothesized that the quality of a parent-child relationship would be negatively related to adult crime. In addition, it was predicted that relationship quality would more strongly impact the criminal behavior of single parents, teenage parents, and those with prior criminal records. Data from the National Youth Survey were analyzed using a combination of probit and truncated regression. Results provided partial support for hypotheses.
Simulation of a flexible arm robot for space station applications

A Flexible Arm Robot (FAR), which could be attached to the Space Station, could be used for reaching many locations in the vicinity of the Space Stationwithout the need for astronauts in space suits to perform extravehicu lar activity. FAR is a tube-shaped robot consisting of many stacked segments which are individually controllable. Each segment has six degrees of freedom. Because this robot has many degrees of freedom, new algorithms were needed to control it.A graphical model and a mathe matical model (direct and inverse kinematics) of FAR have been developed. Based on these two models, a software package for simulating this Flexible Arm Robot on a computer system has been made. FAR and the two models are briefly described in this paper.
Tracheal aspirates in long-term mechanically ventilated patients : a human model of gram-negative infection and airway inflammation

It is well known that patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy have nearly universal airway colonization with Gram-negative organisms. However, useful parameters to objectively describe the airway inflammation associated with airway instrumentation and colonization have not been well defined. In our respiratory care unit, patients who are medically stable except for ventilator dependence are readily available for longitudinal assessment of airway secretions and therefore provide a unique population for studying airway inflammation and infection. To quantitate production of respiratory secretions, we instituted a uniform protocol of suctioning over a 6-h period. Further, we devised a method of dilution and homogenization of tracheal aspirates that permits reproducible intrasample total cell counts (coefficient of variation, 4.6%). With these techniques, patients were then studied serially over a 4- to 7-week period. Total cell count, inflammatory cell differential, and two indices of airway inflammation, human neutrophil elastase (HLE) and soluble-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) studied in the sol phase of secretions were monitored. The mean total cell count was 42.2×10 6 cells per gram of secretions when patients were clinically stable and not receiving antibiotics. The average differential was neutrophils 69.9%, macrophages 26.9%, and lymphocytes 2.8%. Mean active HLE was 35.6 pg/mL and mean sICAM-1 was 83 ng/mL. Six patients during the period of observation received intravenous oral or aerosolized antibiotics for tracheobronchitis. A threefold drop in volume of secretions was measured (p 6 /g of sputum to 54.9×10 6 and 72.2 to 54.9%, respectively. While these changes were not statistically significant, the absolute number of airway neutrophils over the 6 h decreased sevenfold (p
Design of potent dicyclic (4-10/5-8) gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists.

With the ultimate goal of identifying a consensus bioactive conformation of GnRH antagonists, the compatibility of a number of side chain to side chain bridges in bioactive analogues was systematic...