cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinoid Isomers Differ in the Ability to Induce Release of SMRT Corepressor from Retinoic Acid Receptor-α *

Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-regulated transcription factors that modulate the expression of specific target genes in response to the binding of small, hydrophobic hormone ligands. Many nuclear hormone receptors, such as the retinoic acid receptors, can both repress and activate target gene expression; these bimodal transcription properties are mediated by the ability of these receptors to tether auxiliary factors, denoted corepressors and coactivators. Corepressors are typically bound by receptors in the absence of cognate hormone, whereas binding of an appropriate hormone agonist induces an allosteric alteration in the receptor resulting in release of the corepressor and recruitment of coactivator. Structural analysis indicates that there is a close induced fit between the hormone ligand and the receptor polypeptide chain. This observation suggests that different ligands, once bound, may confer distinct conformations on the receptor that may invoke, in turn, distinct functional consequences. We report here that different retinoids do differ in the ability to release corepressor once bound to retinoic acid receptor and suggest that these differences in corepressor release may manifest as differences in transcriptional regulation.
Affective responses as guides to category-based inferences

Initial nonconscious affective reactions to a target individual may influence a perceiver's selection from among descriptively plausible categories with which to organize his impression of the target. Specifically, a perceiver may be more likely to employ a category that is consistent, in affective tone, with the tone of his affective reaction. Subjects in two studies were exposed to photographs of faces of target individuals. Degree of preference for the faces was manipulated, outside of subjects' awareness, by varying the state of pupillary dilation. Participants in Study One reported that verbal descriptions that characterized positively (compared to negatively) evaluated category prototypes were more likely to be descriptive of targets with dilated pupils. Similarly, participants judged descriptions that characterized negatively (compared to positively) evaluated prototypes as more likely to be descriptive of targets with constricted pupils. In Study Two, subjects' recall of personality descriptions that were (evaluatively) inconsistent with their initial affective response to the target was superior to their recall of descriptions that were (evaluatively) consistent with the tone of their initial response. The data are interpreted as evidence for the importance of nonconscious affective reactions in guiding the process of impression formation.
Testosterone induction of song in photosensitive and photorefractory male sparrows.

Song in male songbirds is activated by the sex steroid testosterone (T). Using male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), we compared effects of T in the normal spring state of photosensitivity (i.e., when the pituitary-gonadal axis is sensitive to stimulation by increasing daylength) and in the late summer-early fall state of photorefractoriness (i.e., when they are insensitive to increasing daylength). Photosensitive males experienced short days for 8 weeks and then long days for another 22 weeks to induce photorefractoriness. T implants were given to the birds twice, first when on short days and photosensitive, and second when on long days and photorefractory. Song rates were compared among 5 conditions: (1) photosensitive, short days, low T titers; (2) photosensitive, short days, high T titers; (3) photosensitive, long days, high T titers; (4) photorefractory, long days, low T titers; and (5) photorefractory, long days, high T titers. Plasma levels of T were monitored throughout the experiment by radioimmunoassay. T was equally effective in inducing song in both the photosensitive and photorefractory conditions. Thus, no seasonal change was found in the sensitivity to hormone action of the neural target sites mediating this behavior in song sparrows. Photosensitive birds sang at a higher rate when on long days than when on short days, however, even though there was no concomitant increase in plasma levels of T. This finding suggests that environmental factors can alter the expression of song activated by similar levels of T.
Decentering Language in World-System Inquiry.

Decentrigi la lingvon en mondsistema esploradoLa artikolo esploras la evoluigon de, kaj la reagon al, mondsistema teorio en lingvopolitikaj studoj. Malakceptante nacifunkciajn klarigojn pri la internacia uzo de la angla, franca, rusa kaj aliaj lingvoj ligitaj al evoluantaj landoj, certaj fakuloj pri lingvopolitiko proponas la nocion "lingva imperiismo". Lokante siajn argumentojn en mondsisteman teorion, tiuj fakuloj sugestas, ke hegomoniaj "kernaj" grupoj antaŭenigas la proprajn lingvojn en "periferiaj" medioj per programoj de edukada helpo. La rezulta utiligo de kernaj lingvoj ce la periferio faciligas la internacian moviĝon de reala kaj simbola kapitalo kaj la starigon kaj konservadon de rilatoj favoraj al la kernaj grupoj.Fakuloj kritikis la aperon de mondsistema teorio en lingvopolitikajn studojn el diversaj epistemologiaj vidpunktoj. Iuj kritikantoj esprimas antaŭvideblan maltrankvilon pri la komplika kaj kontraŭdira karaktero de mondsistema esplorado. Aliaj kritikas al la determinismon de mondsistema teorio: klopodante pusi lingvan imperiismon en universalan teorion de la lingvo en internaciaj strukturaj rilatoj, mondsistemistoj preteratentas multajn okazojn kie hegemoniaj kernaj grupoj alvokis indigenajn aŭ triajn lingvojn cele al manipulado de rilatoj kun periferiaj grupoj. Etikedante ĉi-lastan "lingva pragmatismo', la artikolo rekomendas novan taskon de lingva imperiismo kaj plian atenton en lingvopolitika esplorado al la faktoroj, kiuj kondicigas lingvajn preferojn en hegemonia edukhelpa programado.
Ionospheric response to traveling convection twin vortices

Traveling convection twin vortices have been observed for several years. At ionospheric altitudes, the twin vortices correspond to spatially localized, transient structures embedded in a large-scale background convection pattern. The convection vortices are typically observed in the morning and evening regions. They are aligned predominantly in the east-west direction and have a horizontal extent of from 500–1000 km. Associated with the twin vortices are enhanced electric fields, particle precipitation, and an upward/downward field-aligned current pair. Once formed, the twin vortex structures propagate in the tailward direction at speeds of several km/s, but they weaken as they propagate and only last for about 10–20 minutes. Because these convection structures might have a significant effect on the localized ionosphere, the USU ionospheric model was used to calculate the response of the ionosphere to “representative” traveling convection twin vortices for a range of background conditions. The ionospheric response includes localized temperature enhancements, ion composition changes, non-Maxwellian ion distributions, and plasma upwelling events. The response is transient and the magnitude of the response depends on the background ionospheric conditions and on the characteristics of the twin vortices.
fB and the heavy-light spectrum from NRQCD

The present status of lattice calculations of the B spectrum and fB, using NRQCD for the b quark, is discussed.
Technology transfer/pollution prevention

Abstract The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that many of the serious environmental problems facing this country will not be solved through the use of traditional end-of-the-pipe controls, therefore we have initiated program plans/activities to emphasize technology transfer and pollution prevention. The Technology Transfer mission is to achieve improved environmental results by creating a climate that fosters cooperative approaches for solving environmental problems, building the knowledge and skills needed to take positive action, and expanding the use of technology transfer through technical assistance, training, and focused information dissemination. As a part of this program, Region 6 established the Environmental Institute for Technology Transfer in cooperation with the University of Texas at Arlington. We have initiated a very pro-active strategy to work with academia, industry, and State/local governments to establish communication links to foster and facilitate the transfer of information on new technology. The prevention of waste rather than the control of pollution already generated is recognized as the most environmentally responsible approach. Toward this end we have initiated cooperative efforts with industry and academia to look at several management approaches that can provide an effective alternative to the traditional regulation of pollution at the end-of-the-pipe. The alternative approaches include: reduction at source; recovery and reuse; recycling; treatment and disposal.
Role of EGF Receptor Activation in Angiotensin II–Induced Renal Epithelial Cell Hypertrophy

For determination of the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of epithelial cell hypertrophy by angiotensin II (Ang II), a well-characterized porcine renal proximal tubular cell line LLCPKcl4, which does not express endogenous Ang II receptor subtypes, was transfected with cDNA encoding Ang II subtype 1 receptor (AT1R/Cl4). Ang II transactivated the EGF receptor (EGFR) in these AT1R/Cl4 cells, which was blocked by the selective AT1R antagonist losartan but not by the selective AT2R antagonist PD123319. Ang II did not transactivate EGFR in empty vector-transfected LLCPKcl4 cells (Vector/Cl4). Ang II elicited release of soluble heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) from AT1R/Cl4 cells, and Ang II-induced EGFR activation was prevented by pretreatment with the specific HB-EGF inhibitor CRM197 or the metalloproteinase inhibitors batimastat or phenanthroline, none of which had any effect on EGFR activation by exogenously administered EGF. Ang II stimulated protein synthesis and cell hypertrophy in AT1R/Cl4 cells without increasing cell number, and signaling studies revealed that Ang II stimulated phosphorylation of the 40S ribosomal protein S6 and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1, the two downstream target proteins of the mammalian target of rapamycin, which is a central regulator of protein synthesis and cell size. Ang II-induced mammalian target of rapamycin activation, [3H]leucine incorporation, and cellular hypertrophy were inhibited by pretreatment with either batimastat or CRM197 or by pretreatment with rapamycin or the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1478. Ang II also stimulated Smad 2/3 phosphorylation, which was blocked by a selective TGF-beta receptor I kinase inhibitor but not by CRM197. With blockade of TGF-beta receptor, Ang II-mediated hypertrophy was converted into cell proliferation, which was blocked by CRM197. In summary, this is the first demonstration that HB-EGF shedding-dependent EGFR transactivation, along with activation of TGF-beta signaling pathways, mediates Ang II-induced renal tubular epithelial cell hypertrophy.
Action of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis δ-endotoxin on the ultrastructure of the house fly larva neuromuscular system in vitro

Abstract The action of the alkali-solubilized crystal toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis on the ultrastructure of larval house fly neuromuscular system in vitro has been studied. Although B. thuringiensis israelensis at a concentration of 4 μg/ml did not have a detectable effect upon the fine structure of nerve terminals, it caused severe damage to the body wall musculature. Myotoxic effects of B. thuringiensis israelensis were observed as early as 5 min after the treatment when the basement membrane appeared to have separated from myofibrils. Subsequently, mitochondria were damaged and the muscle contained vacuoles which increased in size and number with progressive poisoning. Thirty minutes after B. thuringiensis israelensis -treatment the structural integrity of the muscle was completely damaged. The toxin also damaged the muscle-associated epidermal cells. Among the various components of the skeletal neuromuscular system, viz., nerve terminals, the muscle, and epidermal cells, the muscle was found to be most susceptible to the action of the toxin. The relevance of these results to the mode of action of B. thuringiensis israelensis is discussed.
Vision in goldfish following bilateral tectal ablation

Abstract Visual sensitivity of optic tectum-ablated goldfish was investigated using a classical conditioning technique. Intact fish were screened to obtain individuals which showed suppression of breathing movements in response to the visual conditioned stimulus (CS) in the presence or absence of adapting illumination. Following bilateral optic tectum ablation, responding was blocked in light-adapted but not dark-adapted fish. Response threshold testing revealed no significant postoperative changes in visual sensitivity. Small remnants of tectal tissue containing cellular elements of the periventricular gray zone and optic axon terminals were detected in some ablates but there was no evident relationship to response threshold. Optic nerve crush blocked responding in ablates and recovery occurred within 2–3 weeks postaxotomy confirming that the response was mediated by retinal as opposed to extraretinal photostimulation. The experiments support the findings by others that tectum ablation results in decreased visual sensitivity and that conditioned visual responding can be obtained. However, we find no support for the suggestion that visual sensitivity in the ablates depends on functional recovery of regenerating optic axons which innervate non-tectal visual nuclei. Instead, the results indicate that the normal retinal projections to the non-tectal nuclei can mediate visual responding and, in addition, that postoperative conditioning experience facilitates recovery of response in ablates which initially appear to be blind to the CS.
Commercial MPP networks: Time for optics?

Today's commercial MPP machines do not employ optics within their interconnection networks. In this paper we identify several recent trends in MPP networks and attempt to predict how these trends will affect the incorporation of optical interconnect technologies in the near future. We also recognize that successful commercial systems tend to change in an evolutionary fashion, and some possible evolutionary scenarios are discussed.
Visualizing the fourth dimension using geometry and light

Techniques for visualizing mathematical objects in four-dimensional (4D) space that exploit four-dimensional lighting effects are explored. The geometry of image production, stereography, and shadows in 4D is analyzed. Alternatives for smooth and specular shaded rendering of curves, surfaces, and solids in 4D are examined and a new approach that systematically converts curves or surfaces into uniquely renderable solids in 4D space by attaching spheres or circles to each point is proposed. Analogs of 3D shading methods are used to produce volume renderings that distinguish objects whose 3D projections from 4D are identical. Analyzing the procedures needed to justify and evaluate a system as this for teaching humans to 'see' in four dimensions leads to the proposal of a generally applicable four-step visualization paradigm. >
Processing of proopiomelanocortin by insulin secretory granule proinsulin processing endopeptidases.

A lysed preparation of isolated insulin secretory granules efficiently cleaved murine proopiomelanocortin (mPOMC) at physiologically important Lys-Arg processing sites. This processing was mostly attributed to an activity that co-eluted with the proinsulin processing type-II endopeptidase from anion exchange chromatography (Lys-Arg-directed; Davidson, H. W., Rhodes, C. J., and Hutton, J. C. (1988) Nature 333, 93-96). The principal peptide hormone products generated by the insulin secretory granule lysate were identified by specific radioimmunoassay and NH2-terminal microsequencing analysis of high performance liquid chromatography-separated products as alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, corticotropin-like intermediate, gamma-lipotropin, beta-endorphin-(1-31), 18-kDa NH2-terminal fragment and, to a lesser extent, adrenocorticotrophin and beta-lipotropin. This processing had an acidic pH optimum (pH 5-5.5) and was Ca(2+)-dependent (K0.5 activation = 5-80 microM). With increasing Ca2+ concentrations there was an increase in the extent to which mPOMC was processed. The in vitro processing of mPOMC by the insulin secretory granule endopeptidase activity reported here is in excellent agreement with the in vivo processing of this prohormone by a combination of PC2 and PC3, candidates of prohormone endpeptidase, in gene transfer studies with cells that express the regulated secretory pathway (Thomas, L., Leduc, R., Thorne, B. A., Smeekens, S. S., Steiner, D. F., and Thomas, G. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 5297-5301).
Application of High-Speed Wind Tunnel Control Based on PID Neural Network

The traditional PID control in nonlinear system such as high-speed wind tunnel has limitations, and the range of using is limited. The BP neural network has been widely applied to the optimization of the PID controller parameter adjustment. The PID neural network control system is introduced in the conventional PID control, which has advantages such as simple structure, physical meaning clear parameters, but also has a neural network of parallel structure and the function of learning and memory and nonlinear mapping capability. The controller uses BP (error back propagation) algorithm to correct connection weights, through on-line training and learning and make objective function to achieve optimal value. This improvement scheme can not only improve algorithm in the training process, and the convergence speed in the wind tunnel, the control valve control system response speed, high precision, meet the steady-state real-time control requirements.
Population variation and differences in serum leptin independent of adiposity: a comparison of Ache Amerindian men of Paraguay and lean American male distance runners

Background Serum leptin variation is commonly associated with fat percentage (%), body mass index (BMI), and activity. In this investigation, we report population differences in mean leptin levels in healthy men as well as associations with fat % and BMI that are independent of these factors and reflect likely variation resulting from chronic environmental conditions.
Templated DNA ligation with thiol chemistry

We describe two DNA-templated ligation strategies: native chemical ligation (NCL), and thiol-disulfide exchange. Both systems result in successful ligation in the presence of a DNA template. The stability of the product from the NCL reaction relies on exogenous thiol, while the thiol-disulfide reaction proceeds in a catalyst-free manner.
PCM-1, A 228-kD centrosome autoantigen with a distinct cell cycle distribution

We report the identification and primary sequence of PCM-1, a 228-kD centrosomal protein that exhibits a distinct cell cycle-dependent association with the centrosome complex. Immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against recombinant PCM-1 demonstrated that PCM-1 is tightly associated with the centrosome complex through G1, S, and a portion of G2. However, late in G2, as cells prepare for mitosis, PCM-1 dissociates from the centrosome and then remains dispersed throughout the cell during mitosis before re-associating with the centrosomes in the G1 phase progeny cells. These results demonstrate that the pericentriolar material is a dynamic substance whose composition can fluctuate during the cell cycle.
Social Context and Inter-Group Political Attitudes: Experiments in Group Conflict Theory

Previous studies of group conflict theory look at the relationship between racial balance in a particular area (precinct, county, etc.) and racial attitudes or political behaviour within that area. While of value, there are significant methodological disadvantages to this approach. Here, I address those problems using public opinion experiments in which I ask respondents whether they would allocate political goods proportionally given different (randomly assigned) hypothetical racial environments. The experiment yields confirmatory results, with non-blacks more likely to support proportionality in less black than heavily black environments. In a second experiment, I find that the same relationship is much weaker when the variations in population are non-racial. Finally, I show that the relationship also holds for blacks and argue that this is theoretically consistent.
Color, Flavor, Texture, and Nutritional Quality of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables: Desirable Levels, Instrumental and Sensory Measurement, and the Effects of Processing

The color, flavor, texture, and the nutritional value of fresh-cut fruit and vegetable products are factors critical to consumer acceptance and the success of these products. In this chapter, desirable and undesirable quality attributes of fresh-cut fruit and vegetable products are reviewed. Both instrumental and sensory measurements for determining these critical quality attributes are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of sensory and instrumental quality measurements are described. A review of typical unit operations involved in the production of fresh-cut products is presented. The effects of fresh-cut processing techniques and treatments on sensory quality, including the appearance, texture, flavor (taste and aroma) of vegetables, and fruits are detailed.
Functional analysis of Drosophila β1,4-N-acetlygalactosaminyltransferases

Members of the mammalian {szligbeta}1,4-galactosyltransferase family are among the best studied glycosyltransferases, but the requirements for all members of this family within an animal have not previously been determined. Here, we describe analysis of two Drosophila genes, {szligbeta}4GalNAcTA (CG8536) and {szligbeta}4GalNAcTB (CG14517), that are homologous to mammalian {szligbeta}1,4-galactosyltransferases. Like their mammalian homologs, these glycosyltransferases use N-acetylglucosamine as an acceptor substrate. However, they transfer N-acetylgalactosamine rather than galactose. This activity, together with amino acid sequence similarity, places them among a group of recently identified invertebrate {szligbeta}1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases. To investigate the biological functions of these genes, null mutations were generated by imprecise excision of a transposable element ({szligbeta}4GalNAcTA) or by gene-targeted homologous recombination ({szligbeta}4GalNAcTB). Flies mutant for {szligbeta}4GalNAcTA are viable and fertile but display behavioral phenotypes suggestive of essential roles for GalNAc-{szligbeta}1,4-GlcNAc containing glycoconjugates in neuronal and/or muscular function. {szligbeta}4GalNAcTB mutants are viable and display no evident morphological or behavioral phenotypes. Flies doubly mutant for both genes display only the behavioral phenotypes associated with mutation of {szligbeta}4GalNAcTA. Thus Drosophila homologs of the mammalian {szligbeta}4GalT family are essential for neuromuscular physiology or development but are not otherwise required for viability, fertility, or external morphology.
Simple plane wave implementation for photonic crystal calculations

A simple implementation of plane wave method is presented for modeling photonic crystals with arbitrary shaped ‘atoms’. The Fourier transform for a single ‘atom’ is first calculated either by analytical Fourier transform or numerical FFT, then the shift property is used to obtain the Fourier transform for any arbitrary supercell consisting of a finite number of ‘atoms’. To ensure accurate results, generally, two iterating processes including the plane wave iteration and grid resolution iteration must converge. Analysis shows that using analytical Fourier transform when available can improve accuracy and avoid the grid resolution iteration. It converges to the accurate results quickly using a small number of plane waves. Coordinate conversion is used to treat non-orthogonal unit cell with non-regular ‘atom’ and then is treated by standard numerical FFT. MATLAB source code for the implementation requires about less than 150 statements, and is freely available at http://www.lions.odu.edu/~sguox002.
Ageism Within Feminism

Recently there has been a heightened interest in linking feminist theory and nursing science. However, neither feminists nor feminist nursing scholars have included aging women in their analyses. This paper analyzes liberal, radical and socialist feminist theories and discusses the gap within all three vis-a-vis aging women. A case is presented for including aging women within feminist thinking and recommendations for incorporating feminist theory and aging within the science of nursing are explicated.
Evaluation of Systematically Derived Neutron Kinetics Models

A variational principle made stationary by the solution of the two-group, three-dimensional, time-dependent matrix equations and adjoint matrix equations embodied in the nodal code QUANDRY is used to derive a number of more approximate neutron kinetics models varying from point kinetics to a group-dependent, one-dimensional scheme. Numerical tests of the accuracy of these models substantiate the value of using adjoint weighted kinetics parameters. They also suggest that using unity weighted parameters (while not acceptable for all cases) is usually preferable to Galerkin weighting, and that certain one-dimensional models are actually inferior to the adjoint-weighted, point kinetics scheme.
Estimation of image motion parameters using the EM algorithm

Image motion estimation has long been under investigation in many fields. Application exist in the areas of data compression, filtering, spatiotemporal interpolation and sampling. We develop and present a new iterative scheme, based on the expectation maximization technique, to find the maximum-likelihood estimate of image motion parameters in noisy images. The focus is on image motion coefficient estimation from noisy measurements.
Pharmacogenetics of outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acquired genetic characteristics of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells are used to individualize therapy, whereas germ line genetic characteristics generally are not. We determined whether ALL outcome was related to 16 genetic polymorphisms affecting the pharmacodynamics of antileukemic agents. Of 246 children, 116 were treated on the lower-risk (LR) and 130 on the higher-risk (HR) arms of a St Jude protocol. Patients in the HR group with the glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1) non-null genotype had greater risk of hematologic relapse (P = .03), which was further increased by the thymidylate synthetase (TYMS) 3/3 genotype (P = .03). These genotypes remained predictive in multivariate analyses (P < .001 and .003, respectively). No genotypes were predictive in the LR arm. Expression of these 2 genes in ALL blasts was lower in those with low-activity genotypes. For central nervous system relapse, among the HR group, the vitamin D receptor start site (P = .02) and intron 8 genotypes (P = .04) predisposed, whereas for LR patients the TYMS 3/3 genotype predisposed (P = .04). The GSTM1 non-null and TYMS 3/3 genotypes are plausibly linked to drug resistance. Polymorphisms interact to influence antileukemic outcome and represent determinants of response that can be used to optimize therapy.
Postantibiotic Effects of Gatifloxacin against Gram-Positive and -Negative Organisms

Gatifloxacin pneumococcal, staphylococcal and enterococcal postantibiotic effects (PAEs) were 0.5 to 4.0 h, respectively. For Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PAEs were 2.2 to 4.8 h. Pneumococcal, staphylococcal, and enterococcal postantibiotic sub-MIC effects (PA-SMEs) (four times the MICs) were 3.7 to 8.6, 2.3 to 3.8, and 1.6 h, respectively, and E. coli and P. aeruginosa PA-SMEs were ≥9.6 and 4.4 h, respectively.
Radon and Lung Cancer

Radon, an inert gas released during the decay of uranium-238, is ubiquitous in indoor and outdoor air and contaminates many underground mines. Extensive epidemiologic evidence from studies of underground miners and complementary animal data have documented that radon causes lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers. Radon must also be considered a potentially important cause of lung cancer for the general population, which is exposed through contamination of indoor air by radon from soil, water, and building materials. This review describes radon's sources, levels in U.S. homes, dosimetry, the epidemiologic evidence from studies of miners and the general population, and the principal, recent risk assessments.
A generalized likelihood ratio formula: Arbitrary noise statistics for doubly composite hypotheses (Corresp.)

A relationship between the likelihood ratio and a generalized causal conditional mean estimator is presented for the doubly composite hypotheses problem. The observation statistics are arbitrary and need not be Gaussian. The relationship parallelsthe well-known relationship for the Gaussian noise and composite signal hypothesis case, and the likelihood ratio can still be viewed as an estimator-correlator operation.
Gradient techniques for voiced/unvoiced speech signal representation using mixed transforms

A technique is proposed for signal representation using partial sets of different transforms which are not, in general, orthogonal with respect to each other. First, the residual error, which is the difference between the original signal and the reconstructed signal, is properly formulated. Then, two gradient techniques are developed to minimize this error and maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructed signal using a given total number of transform components in the constrained representation. Sample results using this approach for representing speech signals employing the mixed Fourier/Walsh and Fourier/Haar are given to illustrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the technique. >
VolpexMPI: An MPI Library for Execution of Parallel Applications on Volatile Nodes

The objective of this research is to convert ordinary idle PCs into virtual clusters for executing parallel applications. The paper introduces VolpexMPI that is designed to enable seamless forward application progress in the presence of frequent node failures as well as dynamically changing networks speeds and node execution speeds. Process replication is employed to provide robustness in such volatile environments. The central challenge in VolpexMPI design is to efficiently and automatically manage dynamically varying number of process replicas in different states of execution progress. The key fault tolerance technique employed is fully distributed sender based logging. The paper presents the design and a prototype implementation of VolpexMPI. Preliminary results validate that the overhead of providing robustness is modest for applications having a favorable ratio of communication to computation and a low degree of communication.
Evaluation of a Potential Clinical Interaction between Ceftriaxone and Calcium

In April 2009, the FDA retracted a warning asserting that ceftriaxone and intravenous calcium products should not be coadministered to any patient to prevent precipitation events leading to end-organ damage. Following that announcement, we sought to evaluate if the retraction was justified. A search of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System was conducted to identify any ceftriaxone-calcium interactions that resulted in serious adverse drug events. Ceftazidime-calcium was used as a comparator agent. One hundred four events with ceftriaxone-calcium and 99 events with ceftazidime-calcium were identified. Adverse drug events were recorded according to the listed description of drug involvement (primary or secondary suspect) and were interpreted as probable, possible, unlikely, or unrelated. For ceftriaxone-calcium-related adverse events, 7.7% and 20.2% of the events were classified as probable and possible for embolism, respectively. Ceftazidime-calcium resulted in fewer probable embolic events (4%) but more possible embolic events (30.3%). Among cases that considered ceftriaxone or ceftazidime and calcium as the primary or secondary drug, one case was classified as a probable embolic event. That patient received ceftriaxone-calcium and died, although an attribution of causality was not possible. Our analysis suggests a lack of support for the occurrence of ceftriaxone-calcium precipitation events in adults. The results of the current analysis reinforce the revised FDA recommendations suggesting that patients >28 days old may receive ceftriaxone and calcium sequentially and provide a transparent and reproducible methodology for such evaluations.
A Vehicle Roll-Stability Indicator Incorporating Roll-Center Movements

In the development of active-passive roll control systems, a vehicle model that can represent realistic roll behavior is essential for predicting the impending rollover and for accurately applying the control force to avoid vehicle rollover. The vehicle roll center is a key parameter that influences the vehicle roll dynamics. Since the roll center movement becomes important as the vehicle roll angle increases, it is desirable to include this effect in the roll control system. This paper proposes a dynamic roll stability indicator (RSI) incorporating roll center movement that generates rollover threshold in terms of lateral acceleration. A robust parameter identification algorithm using a disturbance observer is designed to estimate the lateral and vertical roll center movements. These estimates are later used in the RSI to update the rollover threshold. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulations, and its performance is compared with other rollover warning algorithms.
Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa to Grapevines by Homalodisca coagulata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Abstract Pierce’s disease (PD) of grapevines is caused by a xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Wells, Raju, Hung, Weisburg, Mandelco-Paul, and Brenner) that is transmitted to plants by xylem sap-feeding insects. The introduction of the sharpshooter leafhopper Homalodisca coagulata (Say) into California has initiated new PD epidemics in southern California. In laboratory experiments, the major characteristics of H. coagulata’s transmission of X. fastidiosa to grapevines were the same as reported for other vectors: short or absent latent period; nymphs transmitted but lost infectivity after molting and regained infectivity after feeding on infected plants; and infectivity persisted in adults. Adult H. coagulata acquired and inoculated X. fastidiosa in <1 h of access time on a plant. Inoculation rates increased with access time, but acquisition efficiency (20% per individual) did not increase significantly beyond 6-h access. Estimated inoculation efficiency per individual per day was 19.6, 17.9, and...
Impact of Thelohania solenopsae (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae) on polygyne colonies of red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Abstract Three studies were conducted to assess the effects of the entomopathogen Thelohania solenopsae on polygynous, red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, colonies. A total of 57 of 122 queens (46.7%) from nine, field-collected, polygyne, S. invicta colonies, was infected with T. solenopsae. Infection rate of queens for each colony ranged from 25 to 75%. Laboratory colonies of polygyne S. invicta, with three to 12 queens, were inoculated and infected with T. solenopsae. Brood levels in all infected colonies declined to 0 after 26–52 wk. Brood did not reappear in any of the colonies after 3–11 wk, even though in two of the eight infected colonies, five fertile queens that were uninfected were recovered. Thus, polygyne, S. invicta colonies infected with T. solenopsae, which were confined and isolated under laboratory conditions, did not recover. Field plots that contained polygynous S. invicta colonies, which were infected with T. solenopsae, were monitored over a 2-yr period. Infection rates i...
Vibrational Studies of X-Ray Molecular Form Factors and Intensities

The vibrational average of \(I_{e1}^{XR}\left( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{S};\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{Q}\right)\) is an observable. It is not clear that a corresponding vibrational average of \(F\left( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{S};\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{Q}\right)\) is an observable. Vibrationally averaged X-Ray and electron scattering intensities are determined theoretically for the diatomic molecules \({{N}_{2}}\left( {}^{I}\sum _{g}^{+} \right),CO\left( {}^{I}\sum _{g}^{+} \right),BF\left( {}^{I}\sum _{g}^{+} \right)\) and \(FH\left( {}^{I}\sum _{g}^{+} \right)\). These are averages for ground vibrational states. The intensifies are also modeled with generalized X-Ray scattering factors (pseudoatoms). It is found that anharmonic effects are about ten times larger than non-rigid effects. Generalized X-Ray scattering factors are extracted from \( \) and compared to the same functions from \(F\left( \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{S};\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{R}\right)\). If anharmonic terms are included in the pseudoatom model, then deconvolution is found to be excellent. Vibrational force constants for the above diatomics are determined from \(\left[2\left|2 \right. \right]\) rigid pseudoatoms. In all cases k e is too large (by as much as 58%). The \(\left\{{\partial {{f}_{a}}}/{\partial R}\; \right\}\) and \(\left\{ {\partial {{f}_{b}}}/{\partial R}\; \right\}\) nctions necessarily give the correct k e when included in the pseudo atom model.
Benchmarking—Current Availability, Possible New National Alternatives, and Making a Contribution to the Discussion

This chapter synthesizes the national discussion on other solutions to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), such as a national student record system, and complications. The authors will briefly examine the pros and cons of IPEDS while primarily focusing on national alternatives, as well providing specific examples for institutional researchers to make a contribution to the field.
Payment Card Regulation and the (Mis)Application of the Economics of Two-Sided Markets

Plastic payment cards are one of the great innovations of the twentieth century. Like the microchip, the personal computer, and the cellular telephone, payment cards have become ubiquitous after only a few decades of use, transforming the way business is conducted. Yet, payment card companies are increasingly under attack. In the United States, the industry has become an attractive target for the plaintiffs' bar. Merchants throughout the world recognize the benefits of plastic, but have turned to lawsuits and regulators to reduce the associated costs. Australia and other governments have actually imposed controls on the price that some card issuers can charge merchants. This article considers actions against payment card companies in light of the economics of two-sided markets. One side of the payment card market consists of the consumer and the card issuer, and the other consists of the acquirer (or an intermediary) and the merchant. For the system to function, consumers must carry cards and merchants must accept them. Neither side can be considered in isolation; rather, understanding the interrelation between the two is crucial. This two-sided feature dramatically expands the challenge for those attempting to formulate sensible regulations. Because participants on each side of the card transaction simultaneously generate costs and benefits for one another, pricing according to marginal costs (and other traditional measures of market efficiency) has little relevance. Unfortunately, most legal interventions in the payment card industry to date have ignored the dynamics of this two-sided market.
Architecture of the light-harvesting apparatus of the eustigmatophyte alga Nannochloropsis oceanica

We present proteomic, spectroscopic, and phylogenetic analysis of light-harvesting protein (Lhc) function in oleaginous Nannochloropsis oceanica (Eustigmatophyta, Stramenopila). N. oceanica utilizes Lhcs of multiple classes: Lhcr-type proteins (related to red algae LHCI), Lhcv (VCP) proteins (violaxanthin-containing Lhcs related to Lhcf/FCP proteins of diatoms), Lhcx proteins (related to Lhcx/LhcSR of diatoms and green algae), and Lhc proteins related to Red-CLH of Chromera velia. Altogether, 17 Lhc-type proteins of the 21 known from genomic data were found in our proteomic analyses. Besides Lhcr-type antennas, a RedCAP protein and a member of the Lhcx protein subfamily were found in association with Photosystem I. The free antenna fraction is formed by trimers of a mixture of Lhcs of varied origins (Lhcv, Lhcr, Lhcx, and relatives of Red-CLH). Despite possessing several proteins of the Red-CLH-type Lhc clade, N. oceanica is not capable of chromatic adaptation under the same conditions as the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum or C. velia. In addition, a naming scheme of Nannochloropsis Lhcs is proposed to facilitate further work.
Competing with Co-Created Products

The practice of firms co-creating products and services with their customers has a long history in business markets and, with advances in information technology, is now gaining increasing popularity in consumer markets as well. In this research we study the incentives of competing firms to co-create. We analyze the strategic choices of two competing downstream firms who simultaneously decide whether or not to co-create with an upstream supplier. Within this framework we incorporate, (1) endogenous pricing and effort choice by the upstream supplier and (2) endogenous pricing and effort choices by the downstream firms. Firms contemplating co-creation with a supplier are faced with a trade-off. On the one hand they can benefit from the supplier’s innovation efforts and therefore obtain a better product than they themselves could produce. On the other hand, they are confronted with the adverse effect of their own innovation efforts spilling over to their rivals via the supplier who would sell the co-created products to all firms. Our model captures this tension and offers several insights.First, we show that, when firms compete in the end-consumer market, the supplier can exert lower innovation effort when it co-creates with more firms. This result complements the existing literature that shows that, without competition between firms, a supplier is always better off and exerts more effort when it co-creates with more firms.Second, we show that in the co-creation environment, ex-ante symmetric firms may pursue asymmetric strategies in equilibrium. The asymmetric equilibrium, in which only one of the two firms co-creates with the supplier, is obtained when the degree of competition between the firms is moderate.Third, we find two types of asymmetric equilibria. For moderately low degrees of competition between firms, all parties prefer the asymmetric outcome. For moderately high degrees of competition, both firms prefer co-creation, but the supplier will refuse to co-create with one of them thereby enforcing the asymmetric outcome. Thus, a strategic supplier’s role is critical in that it expands the region where the asymmetric equilibrium obtains, beyond that preferred by the firms themselves.Finally, and counterintuitively, a higher degree of product fit for the rival can actually benefit the co-creating firm in the asymmetric outcome, even though it improves its rival’s product.
The Adaptive Multi-scale Simulation Infrastructure

The Adaptive Multi-scale Simulation Infrastructure (AMSI) is a set of libraries and tools developed to support the development, implementation, and execution of general multimodel simulations. Using a minimal set of simulation meta-data AMSI allows for minimally intrusive work to adapt existent single-scale simulations for use in multi-scale simulations. Support for dynamic runtime operations such as single- and multi-scale adaptive properties is a key focus of AMSI. Particular focus has been spent on the development on scale-sensitive load balancing operations to allow single-scale simulations incorporated into a multi-scale simulation using AMSI to use standard load-balancing operations without affecting the integrity of the overall multi-scale simulation.
Thirty-Day Perioperative Outcomes in Spinal Fusion by Specialty Within the NSQIP Database.

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database between 2005 and 2011. OBJECTIVE To determine whether differences exist in 30-day rate of return to the operating room, mortality, and other perioperative outcomes for spinal fusion by specialty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Although both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform spinal fusions, it is unclear whether surgeon specialty impacts perioperative outcomes. METHODS Unadjusted bivariate analysis was performed to determine whether outcomes differed by surgeon specialty. A Bonferroni correction was applied to account for multiple comparisons. For outcomes with a statistically significant association, further multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS A total of 9719 patients receiving a spinal fusion were identified. Of them, 54.0% had their operation completed by a neurosurgeon. Orthopedic surgeons had practices with a greater percentage of lumbar spine cases (76.0% vs. 65.0%, P < 0.001). There was not a statistically significant difference in the number of levels fused or operative technique used between specialties. There was no difference in the majority of perioperative outcomes between orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons including death, rate of return to the operating room, and other complications associated with significant morbidity. On unadjusted analysis, it was found that neurosurgeons were associated with a decreased incidence of operations requiring blood transfusion relative to orthopedic surgeons (8.3% vs. 14.6%, P < 0.001). This trend persisted on multivariate analysis controlling for preoperative hematocrit, history of bleeding disorder, anatomical location of the operation, number of levels fused, operative technique, demographics, and comorbidities (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.57). CONCLUSION Spine surgeons, regardless of specialty, seem to achieve equivalent outcomes on measured metrics of mortality, 30-day readmission, and surgical site infection. Observed differences in blood transfusion rates by specialty were noted, but the cause of this difference is unclear and warrants further investigation to assess the impact of this difference, if any, on patient outcomes and cost. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Model of the Biotic Potential of Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Adult Populations, and Its Use in Studying Population Dynamics

A model of the biotic potential of western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, adult populations was developed from data presented in the literature. Adult emergence, adult populations, and egg populations were measured in a total of five continuous cornfields in 1982 and 1983. The simulations made with the model suggested that the observed populations of WCR adults and eggs were far below their potential (one-third and one-fifth, respectively). With the use of the biotic-potential model, adult population sizes were simulated by using different mortality (including dispersal) regimes. The results of these simulations suggest that age structure may be important in determining the potential of WCR adult populations. A regime that allowed the earlier emerging adults to remain in the field for a longer period fit the observed adult and egg population data better.