cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of the Trimeric AcrB Transporter Protein Inferred From a B-Factor Analysis of the Crystal Structure

The Escherichia coli AcrB multidrug transporter recognizes a wide range of toxic chemicals and actively extrudes them from cells. The molecular basis of multidrug transport in AcrB remains unknown. Herein, we describe normal mode analyses to study important regions for drug recognition and extrusion in this transporter. Based on the X-ray structure of AcrB, an elastic network model has been able to correct errors arising from crystal imperfection in the experimental B-factors. The results allow us to understand the functional dynamics of this membrane protein. It is expected that this technique can be applied to other membrane proteins with known structures.
What input-language is the best choice for high level synthesis (HLS)?

As of 2010, over 30 of the world's top semiconductor / systems companies have adopted HLS. In 2009, SOCs tape-outs containing IPs developed using HLS exceeded 50 for the first time. Now that the practicality and value of HLS is established, engineers are turning to the question of "what input-language works best?" The answer is critical because it drives key decisions regarding the tool/methodology infrastructure companies will create around this new flow. ANSI-C/C++ advocates cite ease-of-learning, simulation speed. SystemC advocates make similar claims, and point to SystemC's hardware-oriented features. Proponents of BSV (Bluespec SystemVerilog) claim that language enhances architectural transparency and control. To maximize the benefits of HLS, companies must consider many factors and tradeoffs.
Quantity of Information and Information Display Type as Predictors of Consumer Choice of Product Brands

Research has shown that consumers like large quantities of product information and believe that it helps them to make better purchase decisions. In light of this finding, it is quite possible that consumers might make brand choice decisions based on the amount of information provided. In cases where brands differ in amount of information, consumers may choose those brands that provide the most information. This article reports the results of exploratory research designed to examine this question as well as the effects of two information display types on brand choice in situations of varying information quantity. The findings revealed evidence to support the hypothesized consumer preference for high-information brands over low-information brands. The magnitude of the effect was also found to differ by type of information display.
Differential Expression and Localization of IGF-I and IGF Binding Proteins in Inflamed Rat Colon

Recent studies indicate increased insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) expression and altered expression of IGF binding proteins (IGFBP) in the bowel during experimental colitis. This study analyzes the cellular sites of altered IGF-I and IGFBP-expression in large bowel of rats with experimental colitis. Colitis was induced by colonic instillation of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic (TNB) acid in ethanol. Animals were sacrificed at 7 days after induction of colitis. Cryostat sections of colon from TNB-treated and control rats were hybridized with 35S-labeled antisense probes for IGF-I, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5. IGF-I mRNA was up-regulated in lamina propria cells, submucosa and smooth muscle of inflamed colon. IGFBP-3 mRNA was localized to lamina propria and was down-regulated in inflamed colon. IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 mRNAs were both up-regulated in inflamed colon. IGFBP-4 mRNA was increased in lamina propria, submucosa and smooth muscle, whereas IGFBP-5 mRNA was increased in smooth muscle. Increased IGF-I expression in mesenchymal layers of colon during experimental colitis supports the hypothesis that IGF-I contributes to hyperplasia and fibrosis in response to inflammation. Altered expression of IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 in specific bowel layers during colitis suggests that they play a role in modulating IGF-I action.
Rice fissuring response to high drying and tempering temperatures

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of drying and tempering treatments on rice kernel fissuring at temperatures above and below the glass transition temperature (Tg). This information was correlated with head rice yield (HRY) data to determine optimum drying and tempering strategies to maximize milling quality and kernel physical integrity. Samples were dried under three different drying air conditions for various durations and then tempered for various durations at the temperature of the drying air. Results showed that the percentage of fissured kernels decreased with increasing tempering duration for typical drying durations (i.e., 3–5% points moisture content reduction in one pass). Some samples still had many fissured kernels after extended tempering, yet had a high HRY, equivalent to the control sample. This indicates that the tempering duration required for preventing kernel fissuring might be longer than the tempering duration required for maintaining a high HRY. 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Using the Conant Method to Discover and Model Human-Machine Structures

The term Mental Model has been used to account for human performance in a variety of domains. Cross disciplinary interpretations of the term have appeared incompatible with each other, threatening to render it vacuous. Moray (1988, 1990, 1991, in press) proposes lattice theory as a comprehensive formalism of the structure of Mental Models, assimilating the apparently disparate interpretations. To date, there has been little objective, quantitative support for mental models of complex human-machine systems. The Conant (1972, 1976, 1988) Method of Extended Dependency Analysis (EDA) suggests a viable quantitative means of discovering human-machine structures, a crucial step toward an empirical validation of the Mental Models concept. Results of a process control experiment suggest that a complex system can be reduced to a manageable number of key variables. Further, successful operators identify these variables and demonstrate patterns of information flow which exploit crucial system relationships.
Poly[(μ3‐n‐hexa­ne‐1,6‐dicarboxyl­ato)dysprosium(III)]

The structure of the title dysprosium coordination polymer, [Dy(C9H16O8)]n, consists of Dy2O16 dimers linked by adipate bridges to form a two-dimensional layered structure. Furthermore, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link these layers into a three-dimensional network.
Heterotrimeric kinesin II is the microtubule motor protein responsible for pigment dispersion in Xenopus melanophores.

Melanophores move pigment organelles (melanosomes) from the cell center to the periphery and vice-versa. These bidirectional movements require cytoplasmic microtubules and microfilaments and depend on the function of microtubule motors and a myosin. Earlier we found that melanosomes purified from Xenopus melanophores contain the plus end microtubule motor kinesin II, indicating that it may be involved in dispersion (Rogers, S.L., I.S. Tint, P.C. Fanapour, and V.I. Gelfand. 1997. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 94: 3720-3725). Here, we generated a dominant-negative construct encoding green fluorescent protein fused to the stalk-tail region of Xenopus kinesin-like protein 3 (Xklp3), the 95-kD motor subunit of Xenopus kinesin II, and introduced it into melanophores. Overexpression of the fusion protein inhibited pigment dispersion but had no effect on aggregation. To control for the specificity of this effect, we studied the kinesin-dependent movement of lysosomes. Neither dispersion of lysosomes in acidic conditions nor their clustering under alkaline conditions was affected by the mutant Xklp3. Furthermore, microinjection of melanophores with SUK4, a function-blocking kinesin antibody, inhibited dispersion of lysosomes but had no effect on melanosome transport. We conclude that melanosome dispersion is powered by kinesin II and not by conventional kinesin. This paper demonstrates that kinesin II moves membrane-bound organelles.
Quantum Phase Slips in Superconducting Nanowires

We have measured the resistance vs temperature of more than 20 superconducting nanowires with nominal widths ranging from 10 to 22 nm and lengths from 100 nm to 1 μm. With decreasing cross-sectional areas, the wires display increasingly broad resistive transitions. The data are in very good agreement with a model that includes both thermally activated phase slips close to Tc and quantum phase slips (QPS) at low temperatures, but disagree with an earlier model based on a critical value of Rn/Rq. Our measurements provide strong evidence for QPS in thin superconducting wires.
Meeting 2020 Workforce Goals: The Role of Industry–College Collaboration and Goals for Instructional Design

Since the 1990s, federal programs for workforce training have aimed to transform the role of community colleges from narrow contract training to a broader role that encompasses strategic instructional program planning and innovation to support lifelong learning for a changing workforce and economic development (Jacobs & Teahen, 1996). Yet, to date, there has been no study of how this changing role has affected the ways community colleges and their industry partners collaborate. With rising pressure from policy makers to accelerate training to help American workers to adjust to rapid change in the workforce, it is critical to understand the cross-organizational dynamics of these collaborations.
The effect of substrate temperature on the properties of nanostructured silicon carbide films deposited by hypersonic plasma particle deposition

Nanostructured silicon carbide films have been deposited on molybdenum substrates by hypersonic plasma particle deposition. In this process a thermal plasma with injected reactants (SiCl4 and CH4) is expanded through a nozzle leading to the nucleation of ultrafine particles. Particles entrained in the supersonic flow are then inertially deposited in vacuum onto a temperature-controlled substrate, leading to the formation of a consolidated film. In the experiments reported, the deposition substrate temperature Ts has ranged from 250°C to 700°C, and the effect of Ts on film morphology, composition, and mechanical properties has been studied. Examination of the films by scanning electron microscopy has shown that the grain sizes in the films did not vary significantly with Ts. Micro-X-ray diffraction analysis of the deposits has shown that amorphous films are deposited at low Ts, while crystalline films are formed at high Ts. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry has indicated that the films are largely stoichiometric silicon carbide with small amounts of chlorine. The chlorine content decreases from 8% to 1.5% when the deposition temperature is raised from 450°C to 700°C. Nanoindentation and microindentation tests have been performed on as-deposited films to measure hardness, Young's modulus and to evaluate adhesion strength. The tests show that film adhesion, hardness and Young's modulus increase with increasing Ts. These results taken together demonstrate that in HPPD, as in vapor deposition processes, the substrate temperature may be used to control film properties, and that better quality films are obtained at higher substrate temperatures, i.e. Ts≈700°C.
José Luis Cuevas and the ‘New’ Latin American Artist

Jose Luis Cuevas emerged in the mid-1950s as an independent artist who refused to subordinate his art to imposed standards and expectations. In his conflict with the artistic establishment he was defended by prominent critics and other artists of like mind and received crucial support from foreign sources, including the critic Marta Traba and curator Jose Gomez Sicre. He was heralded as an exemplar of the liberal spirit in Latin American art, and his frequent travels and personal associations placed him on an international stage. The present study of Cuevas’s activities from the mid-fifties through the early sixties considers him as a paradigmatic case of the “new” Latin American artist and as an agent in the process of dissolving barriers between the national artistic cultures of the region.
Nitric oxide conduction by the brain aquaporin AQP4

Involvement of aquaporins in gas conduction across the membrane and the physiological significance of this process have attracted marked attention from both experimental and theoretical studies. Previous work demonstrated that AQP1 is permeable to both CO2 and O2. Here we employ various simulation techniques to examine the permeability of the brain aquaporin AQP4 to NO and O2 and to describe energetics and pathways associated with these phenomena. The energy barrier to NO and O2 permeation through AQP4 central pore is found to be only ∼3 kcal mol−1. The results suggest that the central pore of AQP4, similar to that of AQP1, can indeed conduct gas molecules. Interestingly, despite a longer and narrower central pore, AQP4 appears to provide an energetically more favorable permeation pathway for gas molecules than AQP1, mainly due to the different orientation of its charged residues near the pore entrance. Although the low barrier against gas permeation through AQP4 indicates that it can participate in gas conduction across the cellular membrane, physiological relevance of the phenomenon remains to be established experimentally, particularly since pure lipid bilayers appear to present a more favorable pathway for gas conduction across the membrane. With an energy well of −1.8 kcal mol−1, the central pore of AQP4 may also act as a reservoir for NO molecules to accumulate in the membrane. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Optical parametric generation and amplification in barium borate and lithium triborate crystals

A picosecond, widely tunable, optical parametric generator–amplifier system can be constructed with barium borate and lithium triborate crystals pumped by third- or second-harmonic output of an active–passive mode-locked Nd:YAG laser. A tunable output of several hundred mirojoules per pulse with a conversion efficiency as high as 30% has been obtained. The tuning range covers from 0.4 to 2.0 or from 0.6 to 2.5 μm and can be extended by sum- and difference-frequency generation to near 0.2 μm in the UV and to near 8 μm in the IR. The output linewidth can be narrowed to near the transform limit with the help of frequency selection by a grating.
Non-equilibrium Grain Boundary Wetting in Cu–Ag Alloys Containing W Nanoparticles

Adding nanoparticles to soft matter and liquids is known to provide remarkable control in the processing of novel materials. Here, we demonstrate a similar potential in crystalline solids. Specifically, we show that the addition of a high density of W nanoparticles dramatically alters the coarsening behavior of precipitate-hardened Cu–Ag alloys. First, the nanoparticles suppress precipitate growth, but far more surprisingly, they induce non-equilibrium Ag wetting layers on grain boundaries. This observation is explained using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, which show that caging of Ag precipitates by the W nanoparticles suppresses their growth and drives the formation of wetting layers.
Expression and function of a recombinant endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in porcine coronary arteries

Objectives: Direct gene transfer of exogenous nitric oxide synthase, with the subsequent increase in nitric oxide production, could represent a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of vascular proliferative disorders. The goal of the present study was to determine if porcine coronary arteries could be transduced with an adenoviral vector encoding endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Ad.CMVeNOS) resulting in functional expression. Methods and Results: Segments of porcine right coronary artery were exposed for 1 h at 37°C to either replication-deficient adenovirus encoding bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Ad.CMVeNOS, 5×109 pfu/ml) or control adenovirus encoding Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (Ad.CMVLacZ, 5×109 pfu/ml). Immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody specific for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) demonstrated recombinant gene expression in both the endothelial and adventitial layers of Ad.CMVeNOS transduced coronaries with only endogenous NOS confirmed in the endothelium of Ad.CMVLacZ arteries. Coronary arteries transduced with Ad.CMVeNOS yielded 517±110 (mean±S.E.M.) nM/ng nitrite while vessels transduced with Ad.CMVLacZ yielded 126±84 nM/ng ( P <0.05, n = 6). Isometric tension recording, following prostaglandin F2α constriction, documented a reduced tension in Ad.CMVeNOS transduced coronaries, compared to matched Ad.CMVLacZ coronaries (6.10±1.08 g vs. 8.45±1.19 g, respectively, P = 0.05, n = 8). This tension differential was eliminated with prior incubation in N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA, 10−4 M). The EC50 for calcium ionophore relaxation of Ad.CMVeNOS coronary arteries was reduced compared to Ad.CMVLacZ (−7.90±0.03 logM vs. −7.26±0.11 logM, respectively, P <0.05, n = 8). Conclusions: These studies demonstrate successful transfer of endothelial nitric oxide synthase into porcine coronary arteries as verified by histochemical localization of recombinant protein with an increase of nitric oxide release as demonstrated by enhanced nitrite production and an alteration in vasomotor function.
Fractal engine: an affine video processor core for multimedia applications

The advances in VLSI technology, high-speed processor designs, Internet/Intranet implementations, broadband networks (ATM and ISDN), and compression standards (JPEG, MPEG, H.261, H.263, and G.273) are leading to the popularity of multimedia applications. Examples include video over the Internet, interactive TV, distance learning, telemedicine, and digital libraries. Visual media processing poses challenges from several perspectives, specifically from the points of view of real-time implementation and scalability. We first present an overview and categorization of the various architectural approaches for multimedia processing. The fundamental operations involved in a majority of visual processing tasks are then derived. We propose an affine transform-processor-core-based video processor architecture called the fractal engine that is capable of implementing the basic visual processing operations. The fractal engine is an open architecture, and is designed to be modular and scalable, and therefore has the potential to satisfy the heterogeneous computing requirements of the different media types in multimedia processing. Details of the individual modules of the fractal engine as well the implementation of the architecture in VHDL are also presented.
User research and testing of FRBR prototype systems

This study is part of a three-year ongoing IMLS-funded project on the research and development of FRBR-based retrieval systems to support user tasks and to facilitate effective information seeking. The major focus of this study is on user research and testing of current FRBR prototype systems. A sample of three such FRBR prototypes are evaluated and compared by 72 users from both public and academic library settings. This user study will help identify useful options for FRBR implementation and contribute toward the development of more effective FRBR systems in the future. The findings of this study will also reveal current FRBR implementation issues and possible solutions from users' perspectives.
Cues, context, and long-term memory: the role of the retrosplenial cortex in spatial cognition

Spatial navigation requires representations of landmarks and other navigation cues. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is anatomically positioned between limbic areas important for memory formation, such as the hippocampus and the anterior thalamus, and cortical regions along the dorsal stream known to contribute importantly to long-term spatial representation, such as the posterior parietal cortex. Damage to the RSC severely impairs allocentric representations of the environment, including the ability to derive navigational information from landmarks. The specific deficits seen in tests of human and rodent navigation suggest that the RSC supports allocentric representation by processing the stable features of the environment and the spatial relationships among them. In addition to spatial cognition, the RSC plays a key role in contextual and episodic memory. The RSC also contributes importantly to the acquisition and consolidation of long-term spatial and contextual memory through its interactions with the hippocampus. Within this framework, the RSC plays a dual role as part of the feedforward network providing sensory and mnemonic input to the hippocampus and as a target of the hippocampal-dependent systems consolidation of long-term memory.
Upregulation of eNOS in pregnant ovine uterine arteries by chronic hypoxia.

We tested the hypothesis that chronic high-altitude (3,820 m) hypoxia during pregnancy was associated with the upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) protein and mRNA in ovin...
Temporal Relation between Ixodes scapularis Abundance and Risk for Lyme Disease Associated with Erythema Migrans

Understanding the role that nymphal and female ticks, Ixodes scapularis, have in the epidemiology of Lyme disease is essential to the development of successful prevention programs. In this study, the authors sought to evaluate the seasonal and annual relations between tick densities and patients > or = 16 years of age diagnosed with erythema migrans (EM), the rash associated with early Lyme disease. Ticks were collected weekly by drag sampling throughout most of the year from 1991 to 1996 in Westchester County, New York. The number of EM cases was based on patients diagnosed at the Westchester County Medical Center using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria. No patients with EM were diagnosed from January through April, when only adult ticks were active. Correlation analysis between monthly tick densities and EM incidence was significant for nymphs (r = 0.87, p 0.05). There was a strong, although not significant, correlation between peak annual number of patients with EM and peak nymphal tick abundance (r = 0.76, p = 0.08). These data indicate that bites from adult I. scapularis only rarely result in Lyme disease, and that annual nymphal tick abundance determines exposure. This suggests that annual fluctuations in Lyme disease case numbers are largely due to natural changes in tick abundance and, therefore, that control of nymphal I. scapularis should be a major component of Lyme disease prevention efforts.
Estrogen for dementia-related aggression in elderly men

OBJECTIVE:To report the use of conjugated estrogens for aggression in two elderly men with dementia and to review the available literature relating to estrogen use for aggression in the elderly.CASE SUMMARIES:Case 1. A 78-year-old white man had probable Alzheimer dementia and aggression (verbal and physical) that was nonresponsive to antipsychotic, antidepressant, and mood stabilizer therapy. However, conjugated estrogens 1.875 mg/d reduced his physical aggression, as evidenced by a 75% decline in aggressive episodes, per 24-hour nursing reports and progress notes. Case 2. A 78-year-old African-American man with vascular dementia, physical aggression, and sexual inappropriateness was unsuccessfully managed with several antipsychotic and benzodiazepine trials. He did, however, exhibit a decline in physical and sexual aggression by 80%, as well as a 55% reduction in sexual comments, after daily treatment with conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg. Estrogen was well tolerated by both patients.DATA SOURCES:MEDLINE (J...
Regulation of adipocyte gene expression by retinoic acid and hormones: Effects on the gene encoding cellular retinol-binding protein

Our laboratory has reported that adipose tissue and adipocytes are importantly involved in retinoid storage and metabolism. To gain further insight, we examined factors that may regulate CRBP mRNA levels in primary cultures of rat epididymal and murine BFC-1 beta adipocytes. Northern blot analysis revealed that retinoic acid is a potent inducer of CRBP mRNA, causing a 7.5-fold rise in mRNA levels in primary adipocytes and a 9.5-fold rise in BFC-1 beta adipocytes. This induction of CRBP mRNA was dose-dependent at retinoic acid concentrations ranging between 10(-8) and 10(-5) M. Retinoic acid induction of CRBP mRNA levels showed a short lag period (6 h) and reached a maximal level of induction by 12 h in BFC-1 beta adipocytes and by 48 h in primary epididymal adipocytes. Nuclear run-on transcription assays of retinoic acid-induced BFC-1 beta adipocytes indicated that the rate of CRBP gene transcription is enhanced 3.6- to 4.3-fold by retinoic acid. In contrast, dexamethasone markedly down-regulated CRBP expression in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging between 10(-9) and 10(-6) M. CRBP mRNA levels in primary and BFC-1 beta adipocytes declined, respectively, by 90% and 80% when adipocytes were exposed to 10(-6) M dexamethasone for 24 h. Studies of mRNA half-life indicated that dexamethasone acts to lessen CRBP expression through the specific destabilization of CRBP mRNA. Treatment of both primary and BFC-1 beta adipocytes with triiodothyronine alone had no effect on CRBP mRNA levels; however, when adipocytes were treated with a mixture of triiodothyronine and retinoic acid, the induction of CRBP mRNA levels by retinoic acid was reduced. In summary, these studies indicate that CRBP gene expression is regulated by retinoic acid, dexamethasone, and triiodothyronine; thus suggesting that retinol uptake, intracellular transport, and metabolism are dynamically regulated in adipocytes.
Hand injuries in children

Classic pitfalls in recognition of hand injuries and potential complications are described. Management of those injuries which can be treated by the pediatrician is discussed.
Love and the Physician: A Reply to Thomas Irons

In ‘Loving the Chronically 111 Child: A Pediatrician’s Perspective’ [4], Thomas Irons exhorts his fellow physicians to rededicate themselves to the traditional but endangered values of service and love for their patients. These values are symbolized by and embodied in the house call, the healing touch, the soothing voice, and the listening ear, activities and skills central to the practice of an earlier generation of physicians. Irons identifies a number of major obstacles preventing today’s physicians from achieving the ideals of service and love, including fragmentation in health care, limited access to care, paternalism, defensive medicine, retreat into science, and over-reliance on consultation. The latter four of these — paternalism, defensive medicine, retreat into science, and over-reliance on consultation — are described as attempts by the physician to avoid the vulnerability and pain which accompany identification with the patient and his suffering. I believe that physicians would do well to dedicate themselves to the ideals Irons has presented, and I agree that the obstacles he discusses seriously threaten the provision of compassionate care for chronically ill children.
Creating Citizenship in the Nineteenth-Century South

At the heart of Creating Citizenship in the Nineteenth-Century South are two straightforward questions with multiple complex answers: what is citizenship, and what did it mean to southerners in the...
Towards a Unified Theory of Knowledge Management (KM)

The Unified Theory of Knowledge Management (KM) answers decade long calls for a general model of KM by identifying one based on required KM competencies. Operationalized, KM is knowledge accumulating, organizing, using, reasoning about, representing, storing, and communicating knowledge. The authors conducted exploratory research using systems engineering requirements definition and grounded theory concepts to identify and relate terms in looking for commonality across KM generalizations. Observations led to examining educational objectives and guidelines which supported the need for KM and helped understand KM more generically through its competency requirements. This paper reviews the process that led to identifying the need for a KM competency term and how the three KM competencies were discovered. Included is a graphic showing integrated KM activities based on the sub-elements of two competencies, an illustrative list of KM mediums, and a discussion of how the theory can be validated and verified.
An Ad Hoc Method for Forecasting Series with Zero Values

Abstract When forecasting the demand for a product, it is sometimes necessary to model time series which are a mixture of zeros (i.e., no demand) and values much larger than zero. An ad hoc method is presented which consists of decomposing the original series into two series, one of which consists only of non-zero values, while the other is modeled as a Markov chain with states zero and one. The non-zero values are modeled as an ARIMA process. The Markov chain is classified using a statistical method due to Tong. These two series can then be used to generate an ensemble of forecasts for a given lead time, each with a specified probability of occurrence. Two illustrations of the method are made to series which represent market demand for steel.
Low temperature metal saturation of Hg1−xCdxTe(s)

The simultaneous fit to diverse phase diagram and thermodynamic data in the Hg-Cd-Te system using an associated solution model for the liquid phase is summarized. The calculated low temperature isotherms and solid isoconcentration lines near pure Hg are shown to agree well with experiment. The difference between the crystal temperature and the temperature of a Hg-reservoir required to give the mercury pressure for metal-saturation is tabulated for crystal temperatures of 250, 275, and 300°C and x-values between 0.1 and 0.9. The differences are all less than 0.6°C and at a given crystal temperature are smallest for x = 0.9.
Radiographic Results After Hallux Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis for Hallux Varus

Background:Hallux metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint arthrodesis for hallux varus is generally reserved for severe deformity, failed surgery or the development of osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine the radiologic results of arthrodesis of the hallux MP joint following treatment for hallux varus. Our hypothesis was that in the process of correcting the hallux valgus angle, the 1-2 intermetatarsal angle (1-2 IMA) and hallux valgus angle (HVA) will be improved due to correction of the deforming forces.Methods:A retrospective review was performed on 26 patients with 29 feet that had symptomatic hallux varus deformities treated with arthrodesis of the hallux MP joint between September 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012. The 1-2 IMA and HVA were measured on the preoperative and most recent postoperative films and compared. Twenty-nine patients were followed with postoperative weight-bearing radiographs. Two were men and 24 were women. Twelve were performed on the right foot, 17 on the left, incl...
Efficacy of a Third Request Letter in Mail Surveys of Professionals

By directing the type of appeal in the third request letter, researchers may motivate many nonrespondents to answer selected portions of the questionnaire. Regardless of the appeal employed in the ...
Intraoral Pseudo-Onion Bulb Intraneural Proliferations in a Patient with Hemimandibular Hyperplasia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

This report and review of the literature describes a case of benign intraoral lesions of perineurial origin in a patient with symptomatic hemimandibular hyperplasia causing partial denture soreness. Perineuriomas are a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor composed of perineurial cells. Intraoral perineuriomas are an extremely rare entity. Two main types of perineuriomas have been described: intraneural and extraneural perineuriomas. A third, similar entity, called an intraneural pseudoperineuriomatous proliferation, has recently been proposed in the literature as a separate and distinctive diagnosis. This report describes the histologic and clinical presentation of intraneural pseudoperineuriomatous proliferations in a patient with hemimandibular hyperplasia.
3-[(Z)-2-t-Butoxyethenyl]-4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone, an interesting byproduct obtained from reaction of 4-t-butoxy-2-butenoate with the alkoxide anion of methyl glycolate

Treatment of methyl 4-t-butoxy-2-butenoate (1) with the alkoxide anion of methyl glycolate gives, in addition to the previously reported (Fried, et al. [2]) 2,3-disubstituted-2,3-dihydro-4-furanone 2, an equivalent amount of the interestingly substituted 3-[(Z)-2-t-butoxyethenyl]-4-hydroxy-2(5H)furanone 3. Isolation, structure proof and possible mechanism of formation are presented
Discounts as a Barrier to Entry

Abstract To what extent can an incumbent manufacturer use discount contracts to foreclose efficient entry? We show that off-list-price rebates that do not commit buyers to unconditional transfers—like the rebates in EU Commission v. Michelin II, for instance—cannot be anticompetitive. This is true even in the presence of cost uncertainty, scale economies, or intense downstream competition, all three market settings where exclusion has been shown to emerge with exclusive dealing contracts. The difference stems from the fact that, unlike exclusive dealing provisions, rebates do not contractually commit retailers to exclusivity when signing the contract. (JEL D43, D86, K21, L13, L14, L42, L60)
Changes in body composition during reproduction and postnatal growth in the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

AbstractBody composition of little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus was quantified to evaluate the proximate costs of reproduction in a small temperate mammal. Changes in the major components of body composition (water, lean dry, and fat mass) during the breeding season were analyzed in adult females and in young during the postnatal growth period. Changes in body composition of reproductive females were small relative to their level of reproductive effort, suggesting that most of the increased costs of reproduction are not met by mobilizing body reserves. The reduction of lean dry and fat mass in adult females suggest that mineral and fat stores are mobilized to promote high postnatal growth rates in pups. Changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of adult females support the hypothesis that increased food intake and assimilation are the primary morphological and physiological responses to the increased energy demands of lactation. A two-week period of linear growth during the postnatal period when pups wer...
Reliability-Based Structural Design

Safety is described in terms of reliability or probability of survival for multimember multiload condition structures with loads and strengths as random variables. These include weakest link structures which fail if any member fails and fail-safe structures which survive even after the failure or yielding of some members. A proposed design method is to proportion member sizes with a mathematical programming approach to minimize weight subject to an overall probability of failure constraint. Examples presented include trusses designed by weakest link failure analysis and limit designed redundant or fail safe rigid frames. A sequence of numerical integrations evaluates the failure probability for any form of load and strength frequency distribution. Results show the optimum design versus allowable failure probability, coefficients of variation and frequency distribution for load and strength and the effect of failure mode correlation which is due to different members being affected by the same loading.
Fast and Robust Object Tracking with Adaptive Detection

Object detection and tracking is an important research topic in computer vision with numerous practical applications. Although great progress has been made both in object detection and tracking, it is still a big challenge in automatic real-time applications. In this paper, a fast and robust approach is proposed by integrating an adaptive object detection technique within a kernelized correlation filter (KCF) framework. The KCF tracker is automatically initialized via salient object detection and localization. An adaptive object detection strategy is proposed to refine the location and boundary of the object when the tracking confidence value is below a certain threshold. In addition, a reliable post-processing technique is designed to accurately localize the object from a saliency map. Extensive quantitative and qualitative experiments on the challenging datasets have been performed to verify the proposed approach, which also demonstrates that our approach greatly outperforms the stateof-the-art methods in terms of tracking speed and accuracy.
The Genomic Impact of DNA CpG Methylation on Gene Expression; Relationships in Prostate Cancer

The process of DNA CpG methylation has been extensively investigated for over 50 years and revealed associations between changing methylation status of CpG islands and gene expression. As a result, DNA CpG methylation is implicated in the control of gene expression in developmental and homeostasis processes, as well as being a cancer-driver mechanism. The development of genome-wide technologies and sophisticated statistical analytical approaches has ushered in an era of widespread analyses, for example in the cancer arena, of the relationships between altered DNA CpG methylation, gene expression, and tumor status. The remarkable increase in the volume of such genomic data, for example, through investigators from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), has allowed dissection of the relationships between DNA CpG methylation density and distribution, gene expression, and tumor outcome. In this manner, it is now possible to test that the genome-wide correlations are measurable between changes in DNA CpG methylation and gene expression. Perhaps surprisingly is that these associations can only be detected for hundreds, but not thousands, of genes, and the direction of the correlations are both positive and negative. This, perhaps, suggests that CpG methylation events in cancer systems can act as disease drivers but the effects are possibly more restricted than suspected. Additionally, the positive and negative correlations suggest direct and indirect events and an incomplete understanding. Within the prostate cancer TCGA cohort, we examined the relationships between expression of genes that control DNA methylation, known targets of DNA methylation and tumor status. This revealed that genes that control the synthesis of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) associate with altered expression of DNA methylation targets in a subset of aggressive tumors.
The Life Span Model of Suicide and Its Neurobiological Foundation.

The very incomprehensibility of the suicidal act, has been occupying the minds of researchers and health professionals for a long time. Several theories of suicide have been proposed since the beginning of the past century and a myriad of neurobiological studies have been conducted over the past two decades in order to elucidate its pathophysiology. Both neurobiology and psychological theories tend to work in parallel lines that need behavioral and empirical data respectively, to confirm their hypotheses. In this review, we are proposing a “Life Span Model of Suicide” with an attempt to integrate the “Stress-Diathesis Model” and the “Interpersonal Model of Suicide” into a neurobiological narrative and support it by providing a thorough compilation of related genetic, epigenetic, and gene expression findings. This proposed model comprises three layers, forming the capability of suicide: genetic factors as the predisposing Diathesis on one side and Stress, characterized by epigenetic marks on the other side, in between gene expression and gene function which are thought to be influenced by Diathesis and Stress components. The empirical evidence of this model is yet to be confirmed and further research, specifically epigenetic studies in particular are needed to support the presence of a life-long, evolving capability of suicide, and identify its neurobiological correlates.
Fragile phagocytes: FMRP positively regulates engulfment activity

Defective immune system function is implicated in autism spectrum disorders, including Fragile X syndrome. In this issue, O'Connor et al. (2017. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201607093) demonstrate that phagocytic activity of systemic immune cells is compromised in a Drosophila melanogaster model of Fragile X, highlighting intriguing new mechanistic connections between FMRP, innate immunity, and abnormal development.
Chapter 5 Concepts and Methods for A Dynamical Approach to Behavioral Coordination and Change

Abstract In order to understand how the newborn evolves over lifespan - the topic of developmental psychology -, this chapter presents a dynamic perspective that affords concepts, tools, and methods instrumental to identify generic mechanisms and principles leading to coordination and change in complex systems. The key concepts are so-called a) “intrinsic dynamics” that reflect spontaneous coordination tendencies of the individual at any point in time; b) “control parameter” that may affect changes in the intrinsic dynamics due to nonspecific extraneous influences (e.g., energetic); and c) “behavioral information” that captures specific influences (e.g., environmental, volitional). Behavioral stability and change on different time scales result from their interaction that may lead to competitive or cooperative dynamics. Several model systems of interlimb coordination in adults and infants are presented which capture essential features of biological systems, such as learning, synchronization, multistability, and adaptation. Thus, dynamical concepts such as bifurcation, loss of stability, symmetry breaking, appear to be some of the key notions of a general theory of development.
The British Empire through its citiesCities of Empire: The British Colonies and the Creation of the Urban World, Tristram Hunt : book review

Tristram Hunt's lively and readable Cities of Empire: The British Colonies and the Creation of the Urban World is a history of British imperialism told through its urban centres. Largely based on secondary sources, Hunt's individual chapters will not reveal anything new to the specialist. The contribution, rather, is in the connections and contrasts the author draws between each imperial site. As if in a relay race, each chapter illuminates a new imperial dynamic before passing the torch of empire to somewhere new.
Does Elevation Reduce Viewers’ Enjoyment of Media Violence?

Abstract. Media violence is often accompanied by moral disengagement cues that allow viewers to minimize the moral concerns that violence in real life typically evokes. What happens, however, when preceding media activate viewers’ moral emotions? Can the affective states associated with elevation decrease subsequent enjoyment of media violence? The current study examined these questions with a one-factor, between-subjects experiment that tested how prior exposure to eudaimonic media affects viewers’ violence enjoyment and prosocial attitudes. Feelings of meaningful affect elicited by eudaimonic media decreased viewers’ enjoyment of violent media and increased prosocial attitudes. Evidence for a boomerang effect through mixed affect and transportation was also found. The implications of these findings for media violence interventions and theory on enjoyment are discussed.
Guinea pig infection with the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract Rhodococcus equi is an opportunistic, intracellular pathogen that causes pyogranulomatous pneumonia in foals and immunocompromised people. Currently, there is no experimental model of R. equi pneumonia other than intra-bronchial experimental infection of foals with R. equi, which is labor-intensive and costly. This study’s objective was to develop a guinea pig (GP) model of R. equi pneumonia that would facilitate development of novel approaches for controlling and preventing this disease. Guinea pigs were infected with either 101, 102, 103, or 104 colony forming units (CFUs) of a virulent strain of R. equi using a Madison aerosol chamber, or 106 or 107 CFUs of this strain intratracheally. Animals were monitored daily for clinical signs of pneumonia, and were euthanized and necropsied on days 1, 3, 7, or 35 post-infection (PI). Lung homogenates were plated onto selective agar to determine bacterial load. No clinical signs of disease were observed regardless of the inoculum dose or infection method. No bacteria were recovered from GPs euthanized at 35 days PI. Histology and immunostaining of T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages in lungs showed that inflammatory responses in infected GPs were similarly unremarkable irrespective of dose or route of infection. Guinea pigs appear to be resistant to pulmonary infection with virulent R. equi even at doses that reliably produce clinical pneumonia in foals.
Effects of variation in coagulation and photochemistry parameters on the particle size distributions in the Venus clouds

This paper explores the effects that variation in the coalescence efficiency of the Venus cloud particles can have on the structure of the Venus cloud. It is motivated by the acknowledgment of uncertainties in the measured parameters—and the assumptions made to account for them—that define our present knowledge of the particle characteristics. Specifically, we explore the consequence of allowing the coalescence efficiency of supercooled sulfuric acid in the upper clouds to tend to zero. This produces a cloud that occasionally exhibits an enhancement of small particles at altitude (similar to the upper hazes observed by Pioneer Venus and subsequently shown to be somewhat transient). This simulated cloud occasionally exhibits a rapid growth of particle size near cloud base, exhibiting characteristics similar to those seen in the controversial Mode 3 particles. These results demonstrate that a subset of the variations observed as near-infrared opacity variations in the lower and middle clouds of Venus can be explained by microphysical, in addition to dynamical, variations. Furthermore, the existence of a population of particles exhibiting less efficient coalescence efficiencies would support the likelihood of conditions suitable for charge exchange, hence lightning, in the Venus clouds. We recommend future laboratory studies on the coalescence properties of sulfuric acid under the range of conditions experienced in the Venus clouds. We also recommend future in situ measurements to better characterize the properties of the cloud particles themselves, especially composition and particle habits (shapes).
Quartic Polynomials and the Golden Ratio

(2009). Quartic Polynomials and the Golden Ratio. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 197-201.
Angiosarcoma of the vulva

Objective: Angiosarcoma is a rare neoplasm typically presenting in the skin and superficial soft tissues, with an equal female-to-male ratio. We present a woman with recurrent vulvar lesions and a history of melanoma found to have angiosarcoma. Case: A 67-year-old woman presented with a seven month history of recurrent vulvar lesions with symptoms of discomfort and bleeding. The histopathological diagnosis revealed high-grade angiosarcoma. Computed tomographic imaging with contrast and positron emission tomography revealed disseminated disease. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation but died within one year of diagnosis. Conclusions: The prognosis for patients with angiosarcoma is generally poor, especially with disseminated disease. Early detection remains the key element in maximizing patient outcomes.
First-Order Proof Procedures

In this chapter we show how to extend Hilbert system, natural deduction, Gentzen sequent, tableau, and resolution proof procedures from propositional to first-order logic. We begin with tableaux and resolution, in versions that are best suited to hand work. In the next chapter, we revise these to a form that is better for computer implementation. As we observed in Section 5.3, we can confine ourselves to proving sentences, since validity of arbitrary formulas can be reduced to that of sentences. We begin with a tableau system in this section, treating resolution in the next.