cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embedding Case Studies within Experiments

Experimental research has received major new attention in the social sciences recently. This phenomenon has crossed disciplinary lines; economics has seen a surge of field experiments, particularly in the development subfield (Duflo et al. 2008), as well as laboratory experiments related to studies of decision-making with roots in game theory and behavioral economics (Camerer 2003). In political science, experiments have gone from a marginalized method to a major source of insight in studies of political communication (Druckman and Leeper 2012), ethnic politics (Wong 2005; Dunning and Nilekani 2013), conflict studies (McDermott et al. 2002), political mobilization (Green et al. 2013), clientelistic politics (Vicente and Wantchekon 2009; Gonzalez-Ocantos et al . 2012; De La O 2013), and more. This growth stands alongside well-established experimental traditions in psychology as well as related subfields in sociology. Furthermore, institutional developments such as the Time-Sharing Experiments in the Social Sciences program have made experimental research more accessible to political science and sociology researchers without the resources to run their own laboratories. This emergence of experiments as a major tool for social science research raises issues for multi-method research design. Experimental designs strive to reduce the number of assumptions needed to justify causal inference. Do experiments still benefit from multi-method designs incorporating case-study research? If so, how? This chapter argues that multi-method designs combining qualitative and experimental methods are unusually strong. While experiments depend on a different and narrower set of assumptions in comparison with regression-type designs, they still require assumptions about measurement, causal interconnections among cases, and experimental realism. Furthermore, while evidence regarding causal pathways between the treatment and the outcome is not required to make a causal inference using an experiment, it can vastly increase the social scientific value of experimental results, and qualitative research can contribute substantially to this objective. Experiments and the Potential-Outcomes Framework Experiments are important because they are a particularly strong tool for causal inference. Indeed, experiments are the paradigm of causal inference under the potential-outcomes framework. As explained in more detail in Chapter 2, the reason is that random assignment in combination with the law of large numbers makes the treatment and control group (or, in some experiments, the various treatment groups) credible counterfactuals for each other.
16 strains of Debaryomyces hansenii tested against Penicillium digitatum, a post harvest fungus, affecting citrus crops in Puerto Rico

Citrus crops contribute 11 million dollars to the Puerto Rican economy. Unfortunately, Penicillium spp. infects these crops causing a great economic loss. Debaryomyces hansenii, a marine halotolera...
Hydrodynamic force on a sphere normal to an obstacle due to a non-uniform flow

For a small sphere suspended in a background fluid flow near an obstacle, we calculate the hydrodynamic force on the sphere in the direction normal to the boundary of the obstacle. Using the Lorentz reciprocal theorem, we obtain analytical expressions for the normal force in the Stokes flow limit, valid for arbitrary separations of the particle from the obstacle, both for solid obstacles and those with free surfaces. The main effect of the boundary is to produce a normal force proportional to extensional flow gradients in the vicinity of the particle. The strength of this force is greatest when the separation between the surfaces of the particle and the obstacle is small relative to the particle size. While the magnitude of the force weakens for large separations between the sphere and the obstacle (decaying quadratically with separation distance), it can significantly modify Faxen’s law even at modestly large separation distances. In addition, we find a second force contribution due to the curvature of the background flow normal to the obstacle, which is also important when the sphere is close to the obstacle. The results of the theory are of importance to the dynamics of particles in confined geometries, whether bounded by a solid obstacle, the wall of a channel or a gas bubble.
Regulating Ridesharing Through Tort Law

As the sharing economy digs its heels in to the American mainstream, it turns the existing regulatory structure on its head. But the law needs to both facilitate innovation while balancing countervailing concerns like safety and cost allocation. While finding the best way to regulate ridesharing platforms is important, tort law plays a crucial, complementary role as well. On the regulation side, regulators need to craft meaningful rules that promote fairness across the industry – to both sharing economy actors and traditional enterprises. But comprehensive federal regulation under the new Trump administration seems like an unlikely solution. And local regulators run the risk of unnecessarily burdening the sharing economy through barriers to entry or other anti-competitive or onerous regulatory schemes. Tort law is thus a critical legal tool, and the main focus of this article. While regulations provide prospective limits that may stifle innovation, tort law, on the other hand, addresses retrospective harms and deters future bad conduct. Allowing tort law to provide solutions may be key to preventing over-regulation while still promoting fairness. Thus, while propositions to fix the regulatory piece of the puzzle certainly have merit, tort law is also an important aspect to consider. This article builds off of longstanding cases dealing with taxi or other transportation services and concludes that tort law is already able to handle the seemingly unique liability concerns arising from ridesharing platforms. In particular, it focuses on vicarious liability doctrines, like joint enterprise liability, as the means for achieving important regulatory goals through the tort system. By using tort law to address some of the concerns surrounding the sharing economy, important objectives can be achieved without risking over-regulation.
Statins for Neuroprotection After Acute Ischemic Stroke: ASSORTed Results But More Trials Needed.

See related article, p 3057 The pivotal SPARCL trial (Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels) randomized clinical trial demonstrated that atorvastatin 80 mg daily begun at 1 to 6 months after the index event in patients with noncardioembolic transient ischemic attack, and nonsevere ischemic stroke was effective and safe for the prevention of recurrent stroke and major cardiovascular events.1 But in addition to their benefits for vascular prevention, might statins also enhance neuroprotection or promote stroke recovery in the acute setting? Experimental studies in animal models have reported that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) reduce infarct volumes and stroke severity.2 Potentially beneficial nonlipid lowering (pleiotropic) effects of statins include actions on the vascular wall (induction of angiogenesis, upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase), improved cerebral blood flow, enhanced neural repair, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.2,3 Observational studies and meta-analyses have reported that statin use either immediately before or shortly after stroke onset is associated with improved functional outcome and lower fatality at early follow-up.4 However, no matter how tempting, inferences about therapeutic efficacy cannot be made from observational studies because of …
APOE allele frequencies in suspected non-amyloid pathophysiology (SNAP) and the prodromal stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

Biomarker definitions for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have identified individuals with neurodegeneration (ND+) without β-amyloidosis (Aβ-) and labeled them with suspected non-AD pathophysiology (SNAP). We evaluated Apolipoprotein E (APOE) e2 and e4 allele frequencies across biomarker definitions—Aβ-/ND- (n = 268), Aβ+/ND- (n = 236), Aβ-/ND+ or SNAP (n = 78), Aβ+/ND+ (n = 204)—hypothesizing that SNAP would have an APOE profile comparable to Aβ-/ND-. Using AD Neuroimaging Initiative data (n = 786, 72±7 years, 48% female), amyloid status (Aβ+ or Aβ-) was defined by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ-42 levels, and neurodegeneration status (ND+ or ND-) was defined by hippocampal volume from MRI. Binary logistic regression related biomarker status to APOE e2 and e4 allele carrier status, adjusting for age, sex, education, and cognitive diagnosis. Compared to the biomarker negative (Aβ-/ND-) participants, higher proportions of e4 and lower proportions of e2 carriers were observed among Aβ+/ND- (e4: OR = 6.23, p 0.30). In supplemental analyses, comparable results were observed when coding SNAP using amyloid imaging and when using CSF tau levels. In contrast to APOE, a polygenic risk score for AD that excluded APOE did not show an association with amyloidosis or neurodegeneration (p-values>0.15), but did show an association with SNAP defined using CSF tau (β = 0.004, p = 0.02). Thus, in a population with low levels of cerebrovascular disease and a lower prevalence of SNAP than the general population, APOE and known genetic drivers of AD do not appear to contribute to the neurodegeneration observed in SNAP. Additional work in population based samples is needed to better elucidate the genetic contributors to various etiological drivers of SNAP.
Alteration in cell wall composition and structure in viroid-infected cells

The isolated walls from CEV (citrus exocortis viroid) infected cells have a higher proportion of arabinosyl and galactosyl residues and a lower proportion of xylosyl, mannosyl and glucosyl residues, as well as proteins, than do corresponding walls from healthy cells. These differences become more significant at the early stationary phase of growth. Three kinds of arabinosyl residues and hydroxyproline, indicators of wall extensin, were consistently higher in the walls of CEV-infectcd than in those of healthy tomato cells. It is proposed that arabinogalactans, comprising an undetermined proportion of wall extensin and non-extensin components, are significantly accumulated in the walls of CEV-infected cells to an extent which may impair the wall loosening process. In addition to the implied accumulation of extensin, a greater content of 3-linked glucosyl (2,4,6-tri-O-methyl- D -glucose) residues were detected in the isolated walls of CEV-infected than in those of healthy tomato cells. This change correlates with the specific β-1,3-endoglucanase effect for improved release of protoplasts from CEV-infected, suspension-cultured tomato cells. These composition characteristics may be correlated with fundamental distinctions associated with expansive cell growth and cell surface properties that exist between healthy and CEV-containing tissues.
Impact of information feedback in continuous combinatorial auctions: an experimental study of economic performance

Advancements in information technology offer opportunities for designing and deploying innovative market mechanisms that can improve the allocation and procurement processes of businesses. For example, combinatorial auctions--in which bidders can bid on combinations of goods--have been shown to increase the economic efficiency of a trade when goods have complementarities. However, the lack of real-time decision support tools for bidders has prevented this mechanism from reaching its full potential. With the objective of facilitating bidder participation in combinatorial auctions, this study, using recent research in real-time bidder support metrics, discusses several novel feedback schemes that can aid bidders in formulating combinatorial bids in real-time. The feedback schemes allow us to conduct continuous combinatorial auctions, where bidders can submit bids at any time. Using laboratory experiments with two different setups, we compare the economic performance of the continuous mechanism under three progressively advanced levels of feedback. Our findings indicate that information feedback plays a major role in influencing the economic outcomes of combinatorial auctions. We compare several important bid characteristics to explain the observed differences in aggregate measures. This study advances the ongoing research on combinatorial auctions by developing continuous auctions that differentiate themselves from earlier combinatorial auction mechanisms by facilitating free-flowing participation of bidders and providing exact prices of bundles on demand in real time. For practitioners, the study provides insights on how the nature of feedback can influence the economic outcomes of a complex trading mechanism.
Logic of Domains

I SFP Domains.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Prerequisites.- 3 A Representation of SFP.- 4 A Logic of SFP.- 5 A Mu-Calculus.- II Stable Domains.- 6 Categories.- 7 A Representation of DI.- 8 Stable Neighborhoods.- 9 Disjunctive Logics.- 10 Research Topics.
Compatibility Studies in Hydrangea

Abstract Improvement in cold-hardiness is needed in bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Potential sources of cold-hardiness for enhancing the usefulness of this popular shrub include panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata), smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens), and oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia). The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of creating hybrids between these three species and H. macrophylla. In addition, self-compatibility of each of the species was evaluated to determine the need for emasculation when making controlled pollinations. Numerous cultivars of the species were utilized in both the self-pollination and interspecific hybridization studies. Number of flowers self-pollinated ranged from 1000 in H. arborescens to 3000 in H. quercifolia. Viable seeds were obtained from all species except H. arborescens. All five of H. quercifolia, 9 of the 18 H. paniculata, and 1 of the 8 H. macrophylla self progeny obtained survived. Emasculation of Hydrangea flowers to be used i...
Alaskan Berry Extracts Promote Dermal Wound Repair Through Modulation of Bioenergetics and Integrin Signaling

Various wild berry species endemic to Alaska and the circumpolar North that exhibit unique medicinal properties have long been appreciated by indigenous Arctic communities. Traditional use of Alaskan berry preparations in the treatment of skin wounds is recorded but has not been scientifically evaluated. Alaskan wild berries feature diverse phytochemical compositions that contain a variety of bioactive polyphenols exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, making them ideal for wound healing interventions and natural anti-aging cosmeceutical formulations. Given increasing interest in identifying biologically active plant constituents for wound care and cosmeceutical applications, the objective of this study was to screen several wild berry species endemic to Alaska and the circumpolar Artic for wound healing and in the crude, polyphenol-enriched, and further fractionated extracts of: Empetrum nigrum (crowberry), Vaccinium uliginosum (bog blueberry), and V. vitis-idaea (low-bush cranberry or lingonberry). A cell migration assay with human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) was performed to model promotion of wound closure, revealing that bog blueberry extract most actively promoted migration, whereas divergent effects observed with other berry extracts were related to compositional disparities. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory response variables measured in RAW 264.7 macrophages [reactive oxygen species (ROS), NO production, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression] were suppressed by most extracts/fractions, but especially bog blueberry and proanthocyanidin (PAC) fractions. Wild berry germplasm contained abundant complex flavonoid structures such as PAC and anthocyanins (ANCs), associated with enhanced repair and inflammatory resolution in these models. Next, underlying mechanisms by which PACs and bioactive metabolites (B2 dimer and epicatechin) could influence wound repair and tissue regeneration were examined. PAC metabolites promoted scratch-wound closure and appeared to exert the highest impacts on early stages of wound healing through stimulating mitochondrial bioenergetics (basal respiration, ATP production, and maximum respiratory capacity) and upregulating expression of important extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (integrin-s1 and collagen type I α2 chain). Targeting cellular bioenergetics and integrin-mediated cell-ECM signaling with bioactives from Alaskan wild berries shows considerable therapeutic promise to treat chronic skin wounds and inflammatory skin disorders, as well as more generally to support regenerative healing responses and restore function in a variety of tissue and organ settings after injury or aging.
United & divided : distinctions in polarization between political elites and the public

This study examines the extent and nature of partisan polarization in American politics since 1992. I assess polarization among political elites using DW-NOMINATE data, rhetorical and policy analyses of party platforms, and a summary of literature regarding media impact on polarization. I assess polarization among average Americans using mostly data from the time series American National Election Studies surveys, with some additional data from Gallup, PEW Research, and other literature. For both, I measure polarization using standard deviation scores and sorting using the difference between the mean scores of Republicans and Democrats. I also distinguish between cognitive polarization (based on policy opinions, e.g. issue positions) and social polarization (based on emotional attachments, e.g. feeling thermometer scores). My analysis shows that there has been significant polarization and sorting among political elites and average Americans, and that the nature of polarization among average Americans is complex. For average Americans, increases in sorting are 2 to 9 times greater than increases in polarization, and increases in social polarization are 2 to 3 times greater than increases in cognitive polarization. Sorting that began following the 1960s Civil Rights Movement seems to be the driving force of this polarization. The overall impact on American politics of this level and type of sorting and polarization seems to be negative, and these trends are unlikely to end without significant political realignment.
No Magic Pills: A Burkean View on the Ambiguity of Mild Depression

This article examines the rhetorical productivity of ambiguity in the context of a loosely-defined mood disorder formally known as dysthymia, referred to colloquially as mild depression. First, the...
Abuse in Childhood and Risk for Sleep Disruption in Adulthood in the Black Women's Health Study

Abstract Objective To investigate the association of early life abuse with sleep disruption risk in adulthood among U.S. Black women. Methods We analyzed data from the Black Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort study. In 2005, 29,998 women completed a self-administered questionnaire on early-life experiences of abuse (child and teen) and exposure to danger at any life stage. Participants reported on their sleep quality (snoring and diagnosed sleep apnea) in 2001, whether their “sleep was restless” in 2005, and their average sleep duration in 2009. We used log-binomial regression models to derive risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of child/teen abuse and danger at any life stage with snoring, diagnosis of sleep apnea, restless sleep, and short sleep duration. Results Nearly 50% of participants reported one or more measure of sleep disruption in adulthood. Higher severity of physical abuse was associated with increased risk of sleep disruption and higher severity of sexual abuse was associated with increased risk for most sleep disruptions. The RR comparing child/teen physical and sexual abuse relative to no abuse was highest for diagnosed sleep apnea (2.03, 95% CI: 1.70, 2.41). Feeling in danger at any life stage (child, teen, adult, past year) was generally associated with greater increases in risk of sleep disruption among women with a history of early life abuse than among women without such a history. Conclusions Our findings suggest that abuse as a child and/or teen is related to disrupted sleep in adulthood.
An accelerated, weekend-based, prolonged exposure therapy program for veterans and service members with posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract Accelerated models of care may be one solution to the problem of underutilization of mental health treatment in veterans. We report on a novel implementation of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy in a four-day, weekend-based intensive outpatient treatment program. Seventeen military veterans and service members (Mage = 45.23, SDage = 10.18; 76.47% male) completed the program. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were targeted in five separate cohorts. Given that this was an uncontrolled pilot study, we assessed patient satisfaction and treatment completion. In a completers analysis, PTSD and depression symptoms decreased significantly from pre- to posttreatment (p's
Kicking Ash: Who (or What) Is Winning the

US coal-fired generating capacity has shed nearly 25% of its footprint between 2011 and 2018. Multiple factors—regulation, natural gas prices, renewable energy adoption, and environmental activism—have each been lauded by various stakeholders for this trend. To improve our understanding of this environmental technology transition, it is important to determine the extent to which each of these factors has accelerated coal unit retirements. We do so in this study through an accelerated failure time model that utilizes data on US coal-fired generating units from 2008 through 2016. Our findings indicate that environmental regulation, reduced volatility in natural gas prices, increased utilization of renewable capacity, and the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign have all accelerated coal unit retirements. We do not, however, find evidence that natural gas price levels or the penetration of wind and solar capacity have accelerated coal unit retirements. Among the significant drivers, we estimate that the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign has had the greatest effect per unit, reducing expected operating life by an average of 24.4 months. However, among these factors, federal regulation has effected the greatest number of coal units, and thus had the greatest aggregate impact on coal retirements. In post hoc analysis, we estimate that 40% of the generation that had been provided by retired coal-fired units spilled over to surviving coal-fired units. However, the 60% that was displaced from the coal fleet resulted in a 103.6 to 178.2 million metric ton reduction in CO2 emissions each year.
Pumping iron in the kidney

Iron balance is tightly controlled to provide adequate amounts of this essential nutrient, but to limit the adverse effects of excess iron. Key mediators of systemic iron homeostasis are the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin and its receptor, the iron export protein ferroportin. A new study by Mohammad et al. demonstrates the functional role of the hepcidin-ferroportin axis in the kidney, and how this contributes to kidney iron levels and the systemic iron economy.
Ecosystem Science: The Continuing Evolution of Our Discipline

Abstract Ecosystem science is a young field that is still evolving rapidly. This chapter provides a few examples of how ecosystem science is changing and is likely to change in the future. The chapter briefly considers how ecosystem science may change in response to advances in technology, the need to understand and manage the effects of humans on ecosystems, changes in society, and conceptual advances in the way that scientists think about ecosystems.
Resisting Privilege: Effects of a White Privilege Message Intervention and Conservative Media Use on Freedom Threat and Racial Attitudes

Identifying ways to effectively communicate about racial/ethnic disparities is a place where communication scholars can make vital contributions. Yet, existing studies on this subject are scarce. B...
On the Number of Rules and Conditions in Mining Data with Attribute-Concept Values and “Do Not Care” Conditions

In this paper we discuss two interpretations of missing attribute values: attribute-concept values and “do not care” conditions. Experiments were conducted on eight kinds of data sets, using three types of probabilistic approximations: singleton, subset and concept. Rules were induced by the MLEM2 rule induction system. Our main objective was to test which interpretation of missing attribute values provides simpler rule sets in terms of the number of rules and the total number of conditions. Our main result is that experimental evidence exists showing rule sets induced from data sets with attribute-concept values are simpler than the rule sets induced from “do not care” conditions.
Visual kin recognition in chimpanzees

The ability to distinguish between members of one's own species has greatly assisted the evolution of sociality in mammals, leading to individualized relationships and cooperative networks. Because kin selection is important for the evolution of complex societies, other advantages must derive from the ability to distinguish kin from non-kin1. Taking advantage of the chimpanzee's face-recognition abilities and computer skills2,3, we presented five subjects with the task of matching digitized portraits of unfamiliar females with their offspring. We find that chimpanzees can match the faces of mothers and sons, but not mothers and daughters, providing evidence for a mechanism of kin recognition in primates that is independent of previous experience with the individuals in question.
Transforming activity of a 16-amino-acid segment of the bovine papillomavirus E5 protein linked to random sequences of hydrophobic amino acids.

Abstract The 44-amino-acid E5 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 1 is the smallest transforming protein yet described. Previous results from our laboratory indicate that a hydrophobic core and specific carboxyl-terminal amino acids are required for the E5 protein to exert its transforming function. In this study, additional substitution mutations were generated in the E5 gene to determine the minimal amino acid sequence requirements for focus formation in mouse C127 cells. In most cases examined, substitution of the hydrophobic middle third of the E5 protein with unrelated hydrophobic sequences severely inhibited transforming activity. However, we have identified one hydrophobic amino acid sequence apparently unrelated to the wild-type one that can replace the middle third of the wild-type E5 protein without affecting the ability of the protein to stably transform cells or interact with cell membranes. Furthermore, a mutant E5 protein in which only the carboxyl-terminal 16 amino acids of the protein have been derived from E5 sequences retains transforming activity. Since several residues in the carboxyl-terminal portion of the E5 protein can be freely substituted with different amino acids (B. H. Horwitz, A. L. Burkhardt, R. Schlegel, and D. DiMaio, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:4071-4078, 1988), the results reported here imply that much of the specific information necessary for cell transformation can be supplied by a subset of the carboxyl-terminal 16 amino acids of this protein.
Metallic Superlattices: Structural and Elastic Properties

The fabrication and structural characterization of metallic superlattices is discussed. Methods to determine the elastic properties of these materials (which can only be prepared as thin films) are reviewed and the results obtained using various techniques are summarized. Contrary to theoretical expectation, the elastic properties are found to depend on the modulation wavelength.
Estimating rates of debris flow entrainment from ground vibrations

Debris flows generate seismic waves as they travel downslope and can become more dangerous as they entrain sediment along their path. We present field observations that show a systematic relation between the magnitude of seismic waves and the amount of erodible sediment beneath the flow. Specifically, we observe that a debris flow traveling along a channel filled initially with sediment 0.34 m thick generates about 2 orders of magnitude less spectral power than a similar-sized flow over the same channel without sediment fill. We adapt a model from fluvial seismology to explain this observation and then invert it to estimate the level of bed sediment (and rate of entrainment) beneath a passing series of surges. Our estimates compare favorably with previous direct measurements of entrainment rates at the site, suggesting the approach may be a new indirect way to obtain rare field constraints needed to test models of debris flow entrainment.
Homebuilt: How to Assemble an Electronic Door Lock

We have machines to brew our coffee, turn on the air conditioner, and wash our laundry. Why then, do we not have machines to lock and unlock our front doors automatically? This thought pervaded my mind as I had to unlock not one, not two, but three doors multiple times per day at my student dorm.
Bcl-2 / Bcl-xL mediate ROS production in pancreatic cancer cells leading to the inhibition of apoptosis

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 4581 Background and Aims: The inhibition of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins is a novel strategy for cancer treatment. Two inhibitors of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, BH3I-2’ and HA-14, have recently become available and were shown to induce death in several different cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer (PaCa) cells are notoriously resistant to apoptosis and overexpress both Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL on apoptosis in PaCa cells and elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods: Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were inhibited pharmacologically by BH3I-2’ and HA-14, or by siRNA silencing in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells. We measured apoptosis with Cell Death ELISA and Annexin V/PI staining using flow cytometry ; cytochrome c release by Western blot; reactive oxygen species (ROS), with the fluorescent dye DCF. Mitochondria were isolated from PaCa cells by differential centrifugation. In isolated mitochondria, we measured the effects of BH3I-2’ and HA-14 on ΔΨm, respiration and ROS using, TPP+ and Clark electrodes and the fluorescent dye Amplex-Red, respectively. Results: Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors and the siRNA silencing of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL both induced apoptosis effectively. The inhibitors induced apoptosis in the range of concentrations (25-100 μM) at which they inhibited Bcl-2/Bcl-xL activities, as measured by fluorescence polarization assay. At the molecular level, inhibiting Bcl-2/Bcl-xL stimulated cytochrome c release and inhibited mitochondrial ROS production, resulting in a decrease in intracellular ROS. The observed stimulation of cytochrome c release, a key mediator of apoptosis, represents one mechanism through which the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition induces apoptosis in PaCa cells. Another mechanism whereby Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition induces death responses could be through inhibition of ROS. Indeed, we recently showed that ROS play a pro-survival role in PaCa cells by activating anti-apoptotic pathways such as PI3K/Akt. ROS are also known to mediate proliferation of cancer cells. Conclusions: Bcl-2/Bcl-xL promote survival of pancreatic cancer cells at least in part by their ability to increase ROS production. The ROS, in turn, promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis.
Women’s Speech in the Age of Shakespeare

Examinations of the representations of women’s speech in early modern England aim to understand more fully the various ways in which speaking women were categorized into appropriate and inappropriate, licit and illicit categories. Scholarship in the field reveals that early modern texts, including Shakespeare’s plays, record for us depictions of women negotiating these boundaries. At the same time, understanding the operation of these prescriptions against women’s speech in early modern society and the examples of women’s responses to these expectations enriches our understanding of the cultural contexts for Shakespeare’s plays today.
Inactive renin and prostaglandin E2 production in hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism.

To ascertain whether inactive renin (IR) might predominate in the syndrome of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism (HH) and whether the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a potent stimulus for renin release, might be decreased, we measured PRA, active renin (AR), and IR by the acid activation method and urinary PGE2 in 10 patients with HH. In contrast to uniformly low levels of PRA (0.6 ± 0.2 ng/ml-h) and AR (2.7 ± 0.6), IR was either normal or elevated (14.7 ± 2.2 in HH; 11.8 ± 1.1 in 28 normal subjects) and the IR to AR ratio was markedly increased (8.5 ± 2.0 vs. 3.4 ± 0.5; P < 0.05). Urinary PGE2 was decreased in 4 patients but was in the normal range in 5 other patients with HH. In 16 human volunteers, PG inhibition with indomethacin led to a significant decrease in AR (P < 0.05) but not in IR, and the IR to AR ratio increased 2-fold (P < 0.02). The data suggest that HH is a disease involving the defective conversion of IR to AR rather than impaired total renin production. In some patients, PG deficien...
Studies in lower bounding probability of evidence using the Markov inequality

Computing the probability of evidence even with known error bounds is NP-hard. In this paper we address this hard problem by settling on an easier problem. We propose an approximation which provides high confidence lower bounds on probability of evidence but does not have any guarantees in terms of relative or absolute error. Our proposed approximation is a randomized importance sampling scheme that uses the Markov inequality. However, a straight-forward application of the Markov inequality may lead to poor lower bounds. We therefore propose several heuristic measures to improve its performance in practice. Empirical evaluation of our scheme with state-of-the-art lower bounding schemes reveals the promise of our approach.
Vulnerability of freshwater resources to climate change in the tropical Pacific region

El Nino events and associated droughts adversely affect freshwater resources on islands in the tropical Pacific region. Particularly vulnerable are low-lying atolls because rainwater collection is the main freshwater source on such islands. During El Nino-related droughts, water can be drawn only from the limited freshwater lenses beneath the islands. If drought conditions such as these intensify, the depletion of freshwater resources could affect the habitability of atolls. Average climate change inthe Pacific region from increased anthropogenic carbon dioxide in a global coupled climate model resembles present-day El Nino conditions as well as the decadal time-scale sea surface temperature and precipitation anomalies observed during the 1980s and early 1990s. These anomalies are a consequence of greater warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific than over the western Pacific warm pool with increased carbon dioxide in the climate model. Attendant increases in precipitation in the central equatorial Pacific are also accompanied by precipitation decreases in the northern and southern tropical Pacific (roughly 5 °N to 15 °N and 5°S to 15°S), as well as in the Australasian and eastern Indian Ocean regions. Associated effects in the midlatitude North Pacific also resemble El Nino conditions and the decadal time-scale signals from the 1980s. Future possible increases of drought conditions in certain tropical Pacific regions, as indicated by the climate model results, could limit the sustainability of atoll populations in those regions, causing migration and increased urbanization, with all the attendant problems, on larger high islands with more stable water supplies.
Differences between basic research and the validation of specific measures: A reply to Weinstein; et al.

Weinstein, Drozdenko, and Weinstein (1984) take exception to my cautionary note regarding physiological measures of advertising response generally, and more specifically, my comments regarding Brain Wave Analysis. I clarify the intent of my original note and suggest caution remains the appropriate approach to the use of such measures for the specific purpose of evaluating advertising effectiveness. I suggest Weinstein, et al. fail to understand the distinction between basic research and validation of a specific measure for a specific purpose.
Spectral evidence for SO2 frost or adsorbate on Io's surface

The infrared reflection spectrum of Io matches that from an SO2 frost grown in the laboratory.
Atomic Profiles and Electrical Characteristics of Very High Energy (8–20 MeV) Si Implants in GaAs

High energy Si implantation into GaAs is of interest for the fabrication of fully implanted, monolithic microwave integrated circuits. Atomic concentration profiles of 8, 12, 16, and 20 MeV Si have been measured using SIMS. The range and shape parameters have been determined for each energy. The theoretical atomic concentration profile for 12 MeV Si calculated using TRIM-88 corresponded to the SIMS experimental profile. No redistribution of the Si was observed for either furnace anneal, 825° C, 15 min, or rapid thermal anneal, 1000°C, 10 s. The activation of the Si improved when co-implanted with S. The co-implanted carrier concentration profiles did not show dopant diffusion. Peak carrier concentration of 2×10 18 /cm 3 was obtained with a Si and S dose of 1.5×10 4 /cm 2 , each.
A Reliability Treatment Applied to an Analysis of Optimal Generation Plant Size

This paper describes the methodology and initial application of techniques which directly assess optimal generating plant size within the context of power system planning. The contemporary issue motivating this work is the question of optimal coal plant size, in which the economy of scale of large units is potentially offset by the higher per-kilowatt reliability contribution of smaller plants.
Convergence Tests for the Piecewise Parabolic Method and Navier—Stokes Solutions for Homogeneous Compressible Turbulence

The need to simulate fully developed turbulence with wide range of scales led us to use the Piecewise Parabolic Method (PPM) to solve the Euler equations of motions. To obtain data for 3-D homogeneous compressible decaying turbulence numerical simulations were performed on computational meshes of up to 10243 zones. These data were compared with data obtained by solving the Navier?Stokes (NS) equations. Results of studying the kinetic energy, enstrophy, and the energy power spectra with different resolutions are presented for both the PPM and NS data. The results of the comparison show convergence of the PPM and NS solutions to the same limit.
Hard Scattering with Exclusive Reactions: π − p Elastic Scattering and ρ -Meson Production

Initial results are presented from an experiment designed to test the dynamics of large-angle exclusive scattering. Cross sections are given for two reactions near 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} c.m., ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p(\mathrm{elastic})$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$, where $t=\ensuremath{-}8.9$ Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{2}$/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$ for 9.9-GeV/c incident pions. The ratio of $\frac{{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p}{\mathrm{elastic}}$ is large, $\frac{2}{3}$, and remarkably similar to measurements for small-angle scattering.
Fracture mechanism maps in unirradiated and irradiated metals and alloys

This paper presents a methodology for computing a fracture mechanism map in two-dimensional space of tensile stress and temperature using physically-based constitutive equations. Four principal fracture mechanisms were considered: cleavage fracture, low temperature ductile fracture, transgranular creep fracture, and intergranular creep fracture. The methodology was applied to calculate fracture mechanism maps for several selected reactor materials, CuCrZr, 316 type stainless steel, F82H ferritic-martensitic steel, V4Cr4Ti and Mo. The calculated fracture maps are in good agreement with empirical maps obtained from experimental observations. The fracture mechanism maps of unirradiated metals and alloys were modified to include radiation hardening effects on cleavage fracture and high temperature helium embrittlement. Future refinement of fracture mechanism maps is discussed.
Structural components of sea urchin sperm nuclei

The sea urchin sperm nucleus rapidly loses its conoid morphology and becomes more voluminous and spherical upon its entry into the egg cytoplasm during fertilization. This investigation has attempted to determine what are the structural constraints placed upon the sperm nucleus, so that further investigations might determine the egg cytoplasmic factors that are responsible for modifying nuclear morphology. Isolated sperm nuclei were subjected to various extraction procedures in order to remove the majority of the proteins (histones) and also the DNA; subsequently, the residual structures were processed for and examined by electron microscopy. The data presented in this investigation demonstrate the removal of the sperm nuclear histones plus other nonhistone proteins has no effect on the conoid morphology of the sperm nucleus, yet this protein removal has a profound effect on the structure of the nuclear chromatin. It is also shown that removal of the majority of the nuclear DNA has no effect on the shape of the sperm nucleus. These results indicate that there are other components (possibly a nuclear matrix) associated with the sperm nucleus that are responsible for maintaining its conoid morphology.
On the nature of active sites in Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts for NOx abatement

Abstract Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts with high Fe loading (Fe/Al∼1) have been prepared by sublimation of FeCl3 onto H-ZSM-5 samples of different Si/Al ratios. They catalyze NOx reduction with hydrocarbons in an excess of O2 and H2O. TPR shows that the Fe in the zeolite cavities is different from Fe2O3 particles. Naked Fe3+ ions are absent; oxo-ions, which are equally well reducible by CO and H2, prevail. A minority of the Fe complexes lose oxygen upon mere heating to ∼500°C; some of the reduced sites are reoxidized only by N2O. The population of oxo-complexes that lose oxygen by heating depends on the Si/Al ratio, this dependence is in qualitative agreement with the model of (2+) charged binuclear ions [HO–Fe–O–Fe–OH]2+. Upon reacting with NO, the bridging O atom is transferred and NO2 is formed. This step is not rate limiting for active catalysts with high Al/Si ratio and high Fe loading, but it becomes critical with zeolites of low Al/Si ratio.
Cooperative behavior of emotionally disturbed boys as a function of contingent application of social approval

Twelve emotionally disturbed boys were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups across 12 activity group sessions. The male activity leader verbally approved all instances of cooperative behavior exhibited during a model building task by experimental subjects across the 12 sessions. An equal amount of approval was given to control subjects in each session, but only for instances of individual achievement. Two-factor analyses of variance indicated (a) a significant (p<0·01) increase in cooperation across sessions for experimental but not control subjects, (b) no change in level of non-cooperation across sessions for either group. One week after the 12th activity session dyads of experimental and control Ss participated in a new task (Madsen Board task) to assess generalization of cooperative behavior. T-tests indicated experimental Ss cooperated significantly more (p<0·01) than control Ss.
Segmentation and 3D visualization of high-resolution human brain cryosections

We present a semi-automatic technique for segmenting a large cryo-sliced human brain data set that contains 753 high resolution RGB color images. This human brain data set presents a number of unique challenges to segmentation and visualization due to its size (over 7 GB) as well as the fact that each image not only shows the current slice of the brain but also unsliced deeper layers of the brain. These challenges are not present in traditional MRI and CT data sets. We have found that segmenting this data set can be made easier by using the YIQ color model and morphology. We have used a hardware-assisted interactive volume renderer to evaluate our segmentation results.
Combining Cooperative Learning and Conflict Resolution Techniques to Teach Information Systems

Teaching Introduction to Management Information Systems (MIS) courses is a formidable challenge entailing coverage of a relatively large, ever-changing subject, as well as finding the right balance for an audience with different levels of knowledge. The literature suggests that cooperative learning, through which students work and learn together as teams, is a viable strategy for teaching MIS effectively. One strategy to support cooperative learning in an MIS class is teaching through case studies. In this article, the author proposes a method for teaching MIS within a cooperative learning environment in which students solve conflicts embedded in minicases.
Analysis Of Simulation Data Using Sandie

Sandie is a PC based system designed to perform many of the data analysis chores of simulators. We first show how Sandie is used to analyze input data and to fit theoretical distributions to empirical data. We then show how Sandie can be used to perform simple simulations. Finally, we show how to use Sandie to analyze output data. Special care was made in the development of Sandie to design an easy-to-use system that would serve as an aid in the development of an intuitive "sense of numbers". Pull down menus and a dynamic help-line constantly inform the user of all currently operative options.
Effect of yttrium additions on the oxidation of nickel

The oxidation of Ni, Ni-0.1 wt.% Y, and Ni-0.3 wt.% Y alloys was carried out in the temperature range 500–900°C at pO2= 1 atm.
Valley network-fed, open-basin lakes on Mars: Distribution and implications for Noachian surface and subsurface hydrology

Abstract A new catalog of 210 open-basin lakes (lakes with outlet valleys) fed by valley networks shows that they are widely distributed in the Noachian uplands of Mars. In order for an outlet valley to form, water must have ponded in the basin to at least the level of the outlet. We use this relationship and the present topography to directly estimate the minimum amount of water necessary to flood these basins in the past. The volumes derived for the largest lakes ( ∼ 3 × 10 4 to ∼ 2 × 10 5 km 3 ) are comparable to the largest lakes and small seas on modern Earth, such as the Caspian Sea, Black Sea, and Lake Baikal. We determine a variety of other morphometric properties of these lakes and their catchments (lake area, mean depth, volume, shoreline development, outlet elevation, and watershed area). Most candidate lakes have volumes proportional to and commensurate with their watershed area, consistent with precipitation as their primary source. However, other lakes have volumes that are anomalously large relative to their watershed areas, implying that groundwater may have been important in their filling. Candidate groundwater-sourced lakes are generally concentrated in the Arabia Terra region but also include the Eridania basin [Irwin, R.P., Howard, A.D., Maxwell, T.A., 2004a. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi: 10.1029/2004JE002287 . E12009; Irwin, R.P., Watters, T.R., Howard, A.D. Zimbelman, J.R., 2004b. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi: 10.1029/2004JE002248 . E09011] and several lakes near the dichotomy boundary. This areal distribution is broadly consistent with where groundwater should have reached the surface as predicted by current models. Both surface runoff and groundwater flow appear to have been important sources for lakes and lake chains, suggesting a vertically integrated hydrological system, the absence of a global cryosphere, and direct communication between the surface and subsurface hydrosphere of early Mars.