cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative effect of counterpulsation and bypass on left ventricular myocardial oxygen consumption and dynamics before and after coronary occlusion

Abstract In this preparation counterpulsation effect was found equivalent to 42 ± 7 per cent of complete left ventricular bypass before, and 46 ± 9 per cent post-coronary occlusion. We conclude that counterpulsation is effective mainly by reducing a major determinant of myocardial oxygen consumption, i.e., afterload, whereas left ventricular bypass by reducing primarily preload results in secondary afterload reduction when peripheral resistance is unchanged. At the higher left ventricular bypass levels, reduction of myocardial oxygen consumption is far greater than during balloon counterpulsation. Acute functional loss of myocardium does not alter the effect of these assist methods regarding the reduction of myocardial oxygen consumption. Whether selection of either method for clinical application should be made only on the basis of its capability for reduction of myocardial oxygen consumption remains to be justified by conclusive demonstration of beneficial effect of reduction of myocardial oxygen consumption in the specific circulatory disorders.
Rheological behavior of coextruded multilayer architectures

Utilizing a thermoplastic extrusion process, a multilayered architecture was fabricated. Thermoplastic blends of 55 vol% X7R dielectric and 50 vol% nickel powder were prepared by high shear mixing. Sheets pressed from this material were cut, stacked, and laminated to produce multilayered blocks. The blocks were extruded through a slotted spinneret to reduce layer thickness. The relation between viscosity and shear rate is relatively well understood for two- or three-layered polymer coextrusion. This behavior has not been studied for heavily loaded multi-component systems, such as might be used for MLCCs and other multilayered devices. A correlation was observed between the flow behavior during extrusion and that observed during mixing. Results show how control of the rheological behavior of highly loaded systems can control extrusion defects.
Structure-based analysis of HU-DNA binding.

Abstract HU and IHF are prokaryotic proteins that induce very large bends in DNA. They are present in high concentrations in the bacterial nucleoid and aid in chromosomal compaction. They also function as regulatory cofactors in many processes, such as site-specific recombination and the initiation of replication and transcription. HU and IHF have become paradigms for understanding DNA bending and indirect readout of sequence. While IHF shows significant sequence specificity, HU binds preferentially to certain damaged or distorted DNAs. However, none of the structurally diverse HU substrates previously studied in vitro is identical with the distorted substrates in the recently published Anabaena HU(AHU)–DNA cocrystal structures. Here, we report binding affinities for AHU and the DNA in the cocrystal structures. The binding free energies for formation of these AHU–DNA complexes range from ∼10–14.5 kcal/mol, representing Kd values in the nanomolar to low picomolar range, and a maximum stabilization of at least ∼6.3 kcal/mol relative to complexes with undistorted, non-specific DNA. We investigated IHF binding and found that appropriate structural distortions can greatly enhance its affinity. On the basis of the coupling of structural and relevant binding data, we estimate the amount of conformational strain in an IHF-mediated DNA kink that is relieved by a nick (at least 0.76 kcal/mol) and pinpoint the location of the strain. We show that AHU has a sequence preference for an A+T-rich region in the center of its DNA-binding site, correlating with an unusually narrow minor groove. This is similar to sequence preferences shown by the eukaryotic nucleosome.
Rotational velocities of newly discovered, low-mass members of the Alpha Persei cluster

About 30 new, low-mass members of the young open cluster Alpha Persei are identified via a proper-motion study and subsequent photometric and spectroscopic observations. Membership in the cluster is confirmed for a number of the fainter proper-motion candidates from Heckman, Dieckvoss, and Kox (1956). Coordinates, finding charts, BVRI photometry, and rotational velocities are provided for most of the stars. At least two of the stars show peculiar H-alpha emission profiles, with weak but very broad emission wings, and relatively narrow absorption reversals. The rotational velocity distribution for low-mass stars in the Alpha Per cluster are compared with recently derived rotational velocity distributions for T Tauri stars, placing strong constraints on the mechanisms for angular momentum loss during pre-main-sequence evolution.
The significance of multiple detoxification pathways for reactive metabolites in the toxicity of 1,1-dichloroethylene

Abstract Chlorinated ethylenes are metabolized to reactive epoxidic intermediates. Epoxides are detoxified in vivo by reaction with glutathione (GSH) or by enzymatic hydration which can be inhibited by various competitive epoxidic substrates. In an attempt to quantitatively describe the contribution of these two pathways to detoxification of metabolites of 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), we studied the ability of pretreatment with various epoxides or with the sulfhydryl depleting agent, diethylmaleate (DEM), to (1) increase the acute oral and inhalation toxicity of 1,1-DCE, (2) deplete hepatic-GSH levels, and (3) diminish the rate of metabolism of 1,1-DCE in vivo in fasted, male rats. Seven epoxides were used: trichloropropane oxide (TCPO), styrene oxide (SO), cyclohexene oxide (CHO), 2,3-epoxypropan-1-ol (2,3-EP), epichlorhydrin (EPI), epoxypropane (EP), and butadiene monoxide (BMO). BMO, SO, 2,3-EP, CHO, and DEM caused virtually total depletion of hepatic-GSH for over 2 hr. The rank order for the ability of these chemicals to decrease the 2 hr LC50 of 1,1-DCE was: 2,3-EP > DEM > EPI > SO > BMO > CHO. As measured by gas uptake procedures, CHO, BMO, SO, and DEM inhibited the rate of 1,1-DCE metabolism. The product (rate of metabolism at the LC50) × (duration of the LC50 exposure) is the inhalation LQ50; it is that quantity of metabolite on a per weight basis formed in a 2-hr exposure which killed half the exposed animals. The rank order of these chemicals in terms of their ability to decrease the LQ50 was DEM > CHO > 2,3-EP > SO > BMO > EPI. When the extent of inhibition of 1,1-DCE metabolism was taken into account, the exacerbation of 1,1-DCE toxicity by these competitive epoxide substrates was found to be related to their ability to decrease hepatic GSH. Specific, epoxide-hydrating pathways appear to be of minimal significance in the metabolism of reactive intermediates of 1,1-DCE.
A Tale of Metabolites: The Cross-Talk between Chromatin and Energy Metabolism

Mitochondrial metabolism influences histone and DNA modifications by retrograde signaling and activation of transcriptional programs. Considering the high number of putative sites for acetylation and methylation in chromatin, we propose in this perspective article that epigenetic modifications might impinge on cellular metabolism by affecting the pool of acetyl-CoA and S -adenosylmethionine. Cancer Discov; 3(5); 497–501. ©2013 AACR .
Current status of clinical breath analysis

Clinical breath analysis remains in its infancy, despite the fact that its potential has been recognized for centuries and that blood, urine, and other bodily fluids and tissues are routinely analyzed to diagnose disease or to monitor therapy. This review discusses the present status of clinical breath analysis and suggests reasons why breath analysis has not received similar widespread clinical use. Currently, a number of marker molecules have been identified in breath that could be used to identify disease, disease progression, or to monitor therapeutic intervention and this list is expected increase dramatically since the analysis of breath is ideally suited for population-based studies in the developed and underdeveloped world. Recent advances in analytical instrumentation have suggested that the use of exhaled breath in medicine should now be re-examined. In particular, the availability of real-time, portable monitors will represent a breakthrough for clinical diagnosis. Progress in clinical breath analysis will require collaboration amongst device makers, experts in breath analysis, and clinicians.
Bad Samaritans, Aftertastes, and the Problem of Evil

The paper argues first that, by not rescuing innocents in certain ways (e.g., deflecting the path of bullets), God violates a weak Bad Samaritan principle that few would deny. This ‘Bad Samaritan argument’ appears to block the traditional free will defense to the problem of evil, since respecting the principle does not violate or show lack of respect for free will. Second, the paper articulates a version of the traditional argument from evil, the ‘Aftertaste argument’, that appears to close some of the traditional loopholes in the argument from evil, such as the ‘greater good from evil’ defense.
Direct and indirect measurement of total body water in the growing beagle.

SummaryTotal body water (TBW) was measured by tritium and desiccation in 43 beagles between 0.2 and 13 kg body weight. With desiccation, TBW increased at a single rate of 0.521 liters/kg body weight while with tritium there were two rates of increase, 0.738 liters/kg between a body weight of 0.2 and 3.5 kg and 0.552 liters/kg above a body weight of 3.5 kg. Above 3.5 kg, tritium measured a mean volume 1 liter larger than desiccation (p<.001). The TBW measured by tritium was 84% of the body weight at birth and decreased at a rate of 2.6%/kg, while with desiccation the TBW was 68% at birth and decreased at a rate of 2.0%/kg. The rate of decrease between methods was not statistically different; the mean difference between them was 13.8% (p<.001). On a fat-free wet weight basis there was no significant difference between the rates of decrease, but tritium measured a 15.6% larger volume than desiccation (p<.001).
Simulated Two-dimensional Red Blood Cell Motion, Deformation, and Partitioning in Microvessel Bifurcations

Movement, deformation, and partitioning of mammalian red blood cells (RBCs) in diverging microvessel bifurcations are simulated using a two-dimensional, flexible-particle model. A set of viscoelastic elements represents the RBC membrane and the cytoplasm. Motion of isolated cells is considered, neglecting cell-to-cell interactions. Center-of-mass trajectories deviate from background flow streamlines due to migration of flexible cells towards the mother vessel centerline upstream of the bifurcation and due to flow perturbations caused by cell obstruction in the neighborhood of the bifurcation. RBC partitioning in the bifurcation is predicted by determining the RBC fraction entering each branch, for a given partition of total flow and for a given upstream distribution of RBCs. Typically, RBCs preferentially enter the higher-flow branch, leading to unequal discharge hematocrits in the downstream branches. This effect is increased by migration toward the centerline but decreased by the effects of obstruction. It is stronger for flexible cells than for rigid circular particles of corresponding size, and decreases with increasing parent vessel diameter. For unequally sized daughter vessels, partitioning is asymmetric, with RBCs tending to enter the smaller vessel. Partitioning is not significantly affected by branching angles. Model predictions are consistent with previous experimental results.
Modeling wetland change along the United States Atlantic Coast

Abstract As an aid in waterfowl habitat conservation planning, we predicted change in wetland area between the 1950s and 1970s and the 1970s to 1990s along the United States Atlantic Coast. We developed zero-inflation models using logistic regression to predict occurrence and linear regression to predict area for six wetland classes: estuarine emergent, lacustrine, and palustrine emergent, forested, scrub-shrub, and unconsolidated bottom. A prediction grid of 10.36 km 2 cells was established for the study area. We predicted wetland class area for cells for four decades: 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Wetland occurrence and area measurements from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wetlands Status and Trends Study (WST) sample plots served as response variables. Spatial structure in the WST data was preserved by interpolating residuals at plot locations and summing predicted residuals and predicted wetland area for each cell. Wetland changes reflect conversion both to and from upland as well as to and from other wetland classes. We predicted a 30.7 thousand ha decline in estuarine emergents in the study area from the 1950s to 1970s, but an increase of 0.9 thousand ha between the 1970s and 1990s. Predicted lacustrine area increased 161.6 thousand ha from the 1950s to 1970s, but declined 5.4 thousand ha from the 1970s to the 1990s. A loss of 731.4 thousand and 189.9 thousand ha of palustrine emergents was predicted from the 1950s to 1970s and from the 1970s to 1990s, respectively. Palustrine forested was predicted to have declined by 536.5 thousand ha between the 1950s and 1970s and 985.8 thousand ha between the 1970s and 1990s. Palustrine scrub-shrub was predicted to have declined 562.6 thousand ha between the 1950s and 1970s, but increased 119.2 thousand ha between the 1970s and 1990s. Finally, palustrine unconsolidated bottom wetlands were predicted to have increased 159.2 and 142.8 thousand ha between the 1950s and 1970s and 1970s and 1990s, respectively. Predictions were most reliable for estuarine emergent, lacustrine, and palustrine forested classes, probably due to the restricted distribution and relative constancy of the estuarine emergent and lacustrine classes. Reliable palustrine forested predictions were likely due to the association of this class with watercourses and the relationship between the predictor variables and lotic habitats. Predictor variables were likely less relevant for palustrine emergent, scrub-shrub, and unconsolidated bottom, where model fit was poorer. Human activities such as agriculture and forestry probably contributed to the poorer model fit for these classes.
Socioeconomic status, child enrichment factors, and cognitive performance among preschool-age children: results from the Follow-Up of Growth and Development Experiences study.

Abstract Lower cognitive performance is associated with poorer health and functioning throughout the lifespan and disproportionately affects children from lower socioeconomic status (SES) populations. Previous studies reporting positive associations between child home enrichment and cognitive performance generally had a limited distribution of SES. We evaluated the associations of SES and child enrichment with cognitive performance in a population with a wide range of SES, particularly whether enrichment attenuates associations with SES. Children were sampled from a case–control study of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) conducted in a public hospital serving a low SES population (final n = 198) and a private hospital serving a middle-to-high SES population (final n = 253). SES (maternal education and income) and perinatal factors (SGA, maternal smoking and drinking) were obtained from maternal birth interview. Five child home enrichment factors (e.g. books in home) and preschool attendance were obtained from follow-up interview at age 4.5 years. Cognitive performance was assessed with the Differential Ability Scales (DAS), a standardized psychometric test administered at follow-up. SES and enrichment scores were created by combining individual factors. Analyses were adjusted for perinatal factors. Children from the public birth hospital had a significantly lower mean DAS general cognitive ability (GCA) score than children born at the private birth hospital (adjusted mean difference −21.4, 95% CI: −24.0, −18.7); this was substantially attenuated by adjustment for individual SES, child enrichment factors, and preschool attendance (adjusted mean difference −5.1, 95% CI: −9.5, −0.7). Individual-level SES score was associated with DAS score, beyond the general SES effect associated with hospital of birth. Adjustment for preschool attendance and home enrichment score attenuated the association between individual SES score and adjusted mean DAS-GCA among children born at both of the hospitals. The effect of being in the lower compared to the middle tertile of SES score was reduced by approximately a quarter; the effect of being in the upper compared to the middle tertile of SES score was reduced by nearly half, but this comparison was possible only for children born at the private hospital. A child's individual SES was associated with cognitive performance within advantaged and disadvantaged populations. Child enrichment was associated with better cognitive performance and attenuated the SES influence. Health care providers should reinforce guidelines for home enrichment and refer children with delays to early intervention and education, particularly children from disadvantaged populations.
Paroxysmal atrioventricular block: Are phase 3 and phase 4 block mechanisms or misnomers?

Paroxysmal atrioventricular block (PAVB), defined as the sudden and unexpected repetitive block of the atrial impulse on its way to the ventricles, is an important etiology of syncope primarily caused by the delayed emergence of an adequate escape rhythm.1 The majority of cases of PAVB develop in conjunction with increased rate of the atrial input to the atrioventricular (AV) conduction system, that is, TD-PAVB.2,3 On the other hand, there are published examples in which PAVB was initiated by a supraventricular pause.1,4–6 These cases have been labeled as either “bradycardia- dependent PAVB” or “phase 4 PAVB.” However, as demonstrated below, they are more accurately described as “pause-dependent PAVB” (PD-PAVB). In an unpublished series of 42 cases seen by one of us (NE-S), tachycardia-dependent PAVB (TD-PAVB) occurred in 37 patients (88%), while PD-PAVB occurred in the remaining five patients (12%). In many of these patients, the presenting symptoms were presyncope or syncope, depending on the duration of ventricular asystole. Yet in a few patients the early emergence of a stable escape rhythm prevented the development of significant symptoms. Although PAVB is a serious arrhythmia, its association with sudden cardiac death in some cases is difficult to ascertain. In a study of 22 patients with syncope, an implantable loop recorder revealed episodes of PAVB in association with syncope in 17 patients.7 None of these patients suffered injury attributable to syncopal relapse, and a majority of patients eventually received a permanent pacemaker. However, in some patients, syncope associated with PAVB can result in serious injury.
Progress in Development of Trolley-Coach Overhead Reflected in Higher Service Standards

The expansion of trolley coach operation to include 50 transit systems in the United States and Canada has been greatly helped by the progress made in the development of overhead distribution materials. Beginning with the installation of the first transit-type trolley coaches in Salt Lake City in 1928, the inadequacy and limitations of the earlier designs of equipment were recognized. Since 1928 it has been necessary to add many new devices and redesign many old devices to provide better reliability and permit of greater flexibility of operation. The development of trolley-coach overhead materials has been concentrated mainly on 1. Current collection 2. Hangers and insulation 3. Curve materials 4. Turnouts and crossovers The improved current collection equipment incorporating the carbon-insert shoe has been responsible for the reduction of wear on fittings and trolley wire. The carbon-insert shoe has also been responsible for the complete elimination of trolley-wire lubrication formerly required for the all-metallic shoe collector. Improvements in insulated hangers have resulted in a more dependable distribution system and have been responsible for the elimination of considerable secondary insulation formerly inserted in the supporting span wire between positive and negative trolley wires.
Positive stable laws and the mass distribution of planetesimals

Abstract The mass distribution of planetesimals undergoes evolution because small planetesimals accrete into larger ones and because large planetesimals break into smaller ones by collision. The mass distribution that results from accretion can be described asymptotically by one of the positive stable laws of probability theory since accretion is a strictly additive process. Certain properties of stable laws and random sums of independent, identically distributed random variables are reviewed. It is shown that, under certain assumptions about the initial distribution, the processes of accretion and collision will produce a distribution of mass that follows an inverse power law with the index 2/3.
Limitations on linear multistep methods for structural dynamics

When solving the equations of structural dynamics using direct time integration methods, algorithmic damping is useful to control spurious high-frequency oscillations. Ideally, an algorithm should possess asymptotic annihilation of the high-frequency response, i.e. spurious oscillations are eliminated after one time step. Numerous one-step algorithms, spectrally equivalent to linear multistep (LMS) methods, have been developed which include controlled numerical dissipation. This paper proves that the only unconditionally stable, second-order accurate, 3-step LMS method possessing asymptotic annihilation is Houbolt's method, which is known to be overly dissipative in the low-frequency regime. Thus, using LMS methods, obtaining asymptotic annihilation with little low-frequency dissipation requires at least a 4-step method.
Adaptive high-definition imaging

Adaptive high-definition imaging (HDI) is a data-adaptive approach to SAR image reconstruction based on superresolution techniques originally developed for passive sensor arrays. The problem at hand is the detection and recognition of ground-based targets in a clutter-dominated environment via UHF and L-Band foliage-penetrating SAR. Unfortunately, the resolution achieved in conventionally generated images is limited due to longer wavelengths and smaller bandwidths, as compared to high- resolution X- and Ka-Band SAR. A comparison of imaging techniques is presented, including conventional imaging, a 2D technique based on the MLM (Capon) algorithm, and a 2D version of the MUSIC algorithm. Results are presented for Wideband Rail SAR measurements of reflectors both in and out of foliage, demonstrating resolution improvement and clutter rejection. Also, results of processing data from an airborne wideband UHF SAR further demonstrate significant rejection of clutter which promises significant improvements in false-alarm performance.
Subchronic toxicology of diethystilbestrol in the mouse.

This study evaluated the subchronic (14-day) toxicity of selected (0.2, 1.0, and 4.0 mg/kg) daily subcutaneous injections of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in female (C57Bl/6 × C3H)F1 mice. Parameters ob...
Normal and neoplastic urothelial stem cells: getting to the root of the problem

Most epithelial tissues contain self-renewing stem cells that mature into downstream progenies with increasingly limited differentiation potential. It is not surprising that cancers arising from such hierarchically organized epithelial tissues retain features of cellular differentiation. Accumulating evidence suggests that the urothelium of the urinary bladder is a hierarchically organized tissue, containing tissue-specific stem cells that are important for both normal homeostasis and injury response. The phenotypic and functional properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs; also known as tumour-initiating cells) from bladder cancer tissue have been studied in detail. Urothelial CSCs are not isolated by a 'one-marker-fits-all' approach; instead, various cell surface marker combinations (possibly reflecting the cell-of-origin) are used to isolate CSCs from distinct differentiation subtypes of urothelial carcinomas. Additional CSC markers, including cytokeratin 14 (CK14), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A1 (ALDH1A1), and tumour protein 63 (p63), have revealed prognostic value for urothelial carcinomas. Signalling pathways involved in normal stem cell self-renewal and differentiation are implicated in the malignant transformation of different subsets of urothelial carcinomas. Early expansion of primitive CK14+ cells--driven by genetic pathways such as STAT3--can lead to the development of carcinoma in situ, and CSC-enriched urothelial carcinomas are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Given that bladder CSCs are the proposed root of malignancy and drivers of cancer initiation and progression for urothelial carcinomas, these cells are ideal targets for anticancer therapies.
Twin Jet Effects on Noise of Round and Rectangular Jets: Experiment and Model

Many subsonic and supersonic aircraft concepts proposed by NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program have asymmetric, integrated propulsion systems. The asymmetries in the exhaust of these propulsion systems create an asymmetric acoustic field. The asymmetries investigated in the current study are from twin jets and rectangular nozzles. Each effect produces its own variation of the acoustic field. An empirical model was developed to predict the acoustic field variation from round twin jets with twin jet spacing from 2.6 to 5.6, where s is the center-to-center spacing over the jet diameter. The model includes parameters to account for the effects of twin jet spacing, jet static temperature ratio, flight Mach number, frequency, and observer angle (both polar and azimuthal angles). The model was then applied to twin 2:1 and 8:1 aspect ratio nozzles to determine the impact of jet aspect ratio. For the round and rectangular jets, the use of the model reduces the average magnitude of the error over all frequencies, observation angles, and jet spacings by approximately 0.5dB when compared against the assumption of adding two jets incoherently.
The Miracle of Minimal Foundationalism: Religious Experience and Justified Belief

Once we accept anyone's postulates he becomes our professor and our god: for his foundations he will grab territory so ample and so easy that, if he so wishes, he will drag us up to the clouds. MontaigneDuring the last fifteen years, the community of philosophers interested in religion has evinced a waxing concern with the justificatory value of religious experiences for theism. Two parallel but largely discrete debates have appeared in the literature.
Enhancing Capacity to Improve Student Learning

Professional development provides a means to build capacity among school personnel when it is delivered as part of a systematic, long-term approach to school and teacher improvement. This research examines a sustained, diocesan-wide professional development model, called the ACE Collaborative for Academic Excellence, that aims to build capacity for school improvement. It utilizes a framework modeled on the pillars of the Alliance for Catholic Education that targets three areas: teacher, group, and vision capacity. An analysis of participant survey data probes the extent to which teacher, group, and vision capacity are enhanced in this model and suggests several ways this professional development model and others can be strengthened to effect lasting change in Catholic schools.
Estimating inelastic sediment deformation from local site response simulations

Significant insight into the dynamic local site response of a horizontally layered sediment deposit to seismic excitation can be gained from numerical simulations. In this paper we use a nonlinear local site response analysis code SPECTRA to estimate the coseismic sediment deformation at a seismically active site in Lotung, Taiwan. We address some basic issues relevant for interpreting the simulation results, including the impact of noise and baseline offsets present in the input ground motion. We also consider the sensitivity of the predicted deformation responses to statistical variations of sediment constitutive properties. Finally, we apply a suite of hypothetical strong ground motions to the base of the sediment deposit to better understand the pattern of inelastic deformation likely to result from strong seismic shaking.
Morphologically docked synaptic vesicles are reduced in synaptotagmin mutants of Drosophila.

Nerve terminal specializations include mechanisms for maintaining a subpopulation of vesicles in a docked, fusion-ready state. We have investigated the relationship between synaptotagmin and the number of morphologically docked vesicles by an electron microscopic analysis of Drosophila synaptotagmin ( syt ) mutants. The overall number of synaptic vesicles in a terminal was reduced, although each active zone continued to have a cluster of vesicles in its vicinity. In addition, there was an increase in the number of large vesicles near synapses. Examining the clusters, we found that the pool of synaptic vesicles immediately adjacent to the presynaptic membrane, the pool that includes the docked population, was reduced to 24 ± 5% (means ± SEM) of control in the syt null mutation. To separate contributions of overall vesicle depletion and increased spontaneous release from direct effects of synaptotagmin on morphological docking, we examined syt mutants in an altered genetic background. Recombining syt alleles onto a second chromosome bearing an as yet uncharacterized mutation resulted in the expected decrease in evoked release but suppressed the increase in spontaneous release frequency. Motor nerve terminals in this genotype contained more synaptic vesicles than control, yet the number of vesicles immediately adjacent to the presynaptic membrane near active zones was still reduced (33 ± 4% of control). Our findings demonstrate that there is a decrease in the number of morphologically docked vesicles seen in syt mutants. The decreases in docking and evoked release are independent of the increase in spontaneous release. These results support the hypothesis that synaptotagmin stabilizes the docked state.
Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Insecticide Residues on Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Geocoris punctipes (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Laboratory-reared predators, the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus (Say), and big-eyed bug Geocoris punctipes (Say), were exposed to 10 insecticides, including three newer insecticides with novel modes of action, using a residual insecticide bioassay. These species are important predators of several economic pests of cotton. Insecticides tested were: azinphos-methyl, imidacloprid, spinosad, tebufenozide, fipronil, endosulfan, chlorfenapyr, cyfluthrin, profenofos, and malathion. There was considerable variation in response between both species tested to the insecticides. Tebufenozide and cyfluthrin were significantly less toxic to male O. insidiosus than malathion. Tebufenozide was also significantly less toxic to female O. insidiosus than malathion. Imidacloprid, tebufenozide, and spinosad were significantly less toxic to male G. punctipes than chlorfenapyr, endosulfan, and fipronil. Spinosad, tebufenozide, and azinphos-methyl were significantly less toxic to female G. punctipes than fipronil and endosulfan. Fecundity of O. insidiosus was significantly greater in the spinosad treatment compared with other treatments including the control. Consumption of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), eggs by O. insidiosus was significantly lower in the fipronil, profenofos, and cyfluthrin treatments compared with other treatments including the control. Consumption of H. zea eggs by G. punctipes was significantly lower in the malathion, profenofos, endosulfan, fipronil, azinphos-methyl, and imidacloprid treatments compared with the control. Egg consumption by G. punctipes was not significantly different in the tebufenozide treatment compared with the control. The lower toxicity of spinosad to G. punctipes is consistent with other reports. Based on these results, the following insecticides are not compatible with integrated pest management of cotton pests: malathion, endosulfan, profenofos, fipronil, and cyfluthrin; while imidacloprid, tebufenozide, azinphos-methyl, and spinosad should provide pest control while sparing beneficial species.
Linear Measurement and Linear Measurement Estimation Skills in Apparel Design

This study investigated whether training provided in apparel design classes improves ability to estimate and measure full-scale lines, if these abilities are correlated, and if students’ ability to measure is better than their ability to estimate dimensions of full-scale lines. Beginning students (n = 37) were enrolled in the first fashion production class; advanced students (n = 78) were enrolled in classes for which the first class was a prerequisite. Students completed the 30-item Estimate of Linear Measurements of Full-Scale Lines; then measured the 30 lines with a ruler (Physical Measurement Test). On average, participants scored around 50% on both tests. Beginning students scored lower on both tests than advanced students. The tests were not significantly correlated. Students scored higher on the measurement test than the estimation test. Training provided in apparel design classes appeared to contribute to skill in estimating dimensions of, and physically measuring, full-scale lines.
Recent translational research: computational studies of breast cancer

The combination of mathematics – queen of sciences – and the general utility of computers has been used to make important inroads into insight-providing breast cancer research and clinical aids. These developments are in two broad areas. First, they provide useful prognostic guidelines for individual patients based on historic evidence. Second, by suggesting numeric tumor growth laws that are correlated to clinical parameters, they permit development of biologically relevant theories and comparison with patient data to help us understand complex biologic processes. These latter studies have produced many new ideas that are testable in clinical trials. In this review we discuss these developments from a clinical perspective, and ask whether and how they translate into useful tools for patient treatment.
Rat Rev-erbA alpha, an orphan receptor related to thyroid hormone receptor, binds to specific thyroid hormone response elements.

Rat Rev-erbA alpha (rRev), which is related to thyroid hormone receptor (TR), is a conserved member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily whose physiological roles are unknown ("orphan" receptor). We studied DNA binding of rRev in vitro by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. A fusion protein was constructed, called NGR.Rev, containing part of the N terminus of the glucocorticoid receptor fused to nearly full-length rRev. Inasmuch as rRev and TR share homology in their DNA-binding domains, we tested binding to three different thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) in which the half-sites are arranged in different orientations. NGR.Rev bound direct repeats (DR4), but not palindromic (TREpal) or inverted palindromic (F2H) repeats. Also, transfection of CV1 cells with a reporter gene containing the luciferase gene under control of the inducible thymidine kinase promoter resulted in an increase in luciferase activity when NGR.Rev was cotransfected and when the thymidine kinase promoter contained DR4....
Technology Adoption with Uncertain Future Costs and Quality

In this paper we study the impact of uncertainty about future innovations in quality and costs on consumers' technology adoption decisions. We model the uncertainty in the technology's quality and costs as a Markov process and consider three models of the adoption decision. The first model assumes that consumers do a simple net present value (NPV) analysis that compares the NPV of adopting to that of not adopting, without considering the possibility of waiting. The second model is a stochastic dynamic program that considers the possibility of waiting and views the adoption decision as a one-time event, i.e., the consumer will only make a single purchase, the only question is when. The third model allows repeat purchases so the consumer may “upgrade” by purchasing new versions of the technology whenever it suits her. We study structural properties of these models, e.g., the following: What changes in qualities and costs will make the consumer better off? What changes will encourage adoption? We will see that the simple NPV and single-purchase model have many intuitive properties: with the right notion of improvements and reasonable assumptions about the technology changes, we find that improvements in the technology make the consumer better off and encourage adoption. Here improvements are defined using a partial order on quality and cost pairs. The results are more complicated in the repeat-purchase model. Under the same conditions on technology changes, technology improvements will make the consumer better off. However, except for special cases of transitions, these improvements may make the consumer better off and discourage adoption.
Thumb War: The Facebook 'Like' Button and Free Speech in the Era of Social Networking

Using the Eastern District Court of Virginia's decision in Bland v. Roberts, 857 F.Supp. 2d 599 (E.D. Va. 2012), as a jumping off point, this article posits that traditional First Amendment jurisprudence can and must be applied consistently to emerging technologies if free speech doctrine is to have any relevance in an era characterized by the widerspread adoption of social media. The article explores how citizens and governments, both foreign and domestic, have made Facebook the modern public square, and discusses how American courts have considered Facebook activity in terms of whether it constitutes speech, with courts coming down on both sides of the question. Finally, it argues that "Liking" something on Facebook is speech, contrary to the decision in Bland.
Growing Youth Growing Food: How Vegetable Gardening Influences Young People's Food Consciousness and Eating Habits

Much attention is currently being paid to rising rates of obesity, especially among youth. In this context, garden-based education can have a role in improving public health. A qualitative study conducted at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) Children's Garden provides supporting evidence for the claim that growing vegetables can improve the nutrition behavior of young gardeners. It finds that positive social interaction during gardening, harvesting, sharing, preparing, and eating produce may influence young people's food consciousness and eating habits. Recommendations are made for using the social interaction in garden-based learning settings to positively influence youth's food consciousness and nutrition.
Mobile manipulation: Encoding motion planning options using task motion multigraphs

This paper introduces the concept of a task motion multigraph, a data structure that can be used to reveal a difficulty specific to mobile manipulation: the possibility of planning in different state spaces in order to achieve the same goal. The different options reflect the mobile manipulator's ability to use different hardware components to perform a required task. For instance, a humanoid robot can open a door with its left arm or with its right arm. Thus, motion planning can be performed in the left arm's state space or in the right arm's state space. Given the specification of a task, it is shown how to encode the available motion planning options in a task motion multigraph. An algorithm that computes sequences of motion plans for mobile manipulators using the newly introduced notion is presented and evaluated. The algorithm makes use of information from the task motion multigraph to prioritize the spaces for which motion plans are computed. Experimental results show that reduced planning times can be obtained when considering the available planning options.
Stakeholder analysis for multi‐sector innovations

Business‐to‐business technology development firms face a unique set of challenges when participating in the opportunities made possible by emerging multi‐sector innovations. The greatest challenge involves the firm’s efforts to influence and shape the market in its favor. This requires strategies for dealing with numerous stakeholders – many with which the firm has had little experience. Because both the risks and pay‐offs are great, the firm needs an analytical and systematic process for stakeholder analysis to provide the basis for stakeholder management strategies. The case of one significant multi‐sector innovation – wireless technologies for integrated traffic management and emergency response – provides an illustrative context for demonstrating a five‐step process for stakeholder analysis.
Interactions between relay helix and Src homology 1 (SH1) domain helix drive the converter domain rotation during the recovery stroke of myosin II

Myosin motor protein exists in two alternative conformations, prerecovery state M* and postrecovery state M**, on adenosine triphosphate binding. The details of the M*-to-M** transition, known as the recovery stroke to reflect its role as the functional opposite of the force-generating power stroke, remain elusive. The defining feature of the postrecovery state is a kink in the relay helix, a key part of the protein involved in force generation. In this article, we determine the interactions that are responsible for the appearance of the kink. We design a series of computational models that contain three other segments, relay loop, converter domain, and Src homology 1 (SH1) domain helix, with which relay helix interacts and determine their structure in accurate replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent. By conducting an exhaustive combinatorial search among different models, we find that: (1) the converter domain must be attached to the relay helix during the transition, so it does not interfere with other parts of the protein and (2) the structure of the relay helix is controlled by SH1 helix. The kink is strongly coupled to the position of SH1 helix. It arises as a result of direct interactions between SH1 and the relay helix and leads to a rotation of the C-terminal part of the relay helix, which is subsequently transmitted to the converter domain.
Effect of noise on timing or data-pattern dependent delay variation when transmission-line effects are taken into account for on-chip wiring

The impact of data-pattern variation on timing for on-chip interconnect timing is investigated for typical local, global, and clock wiring. The validity of the methodology to combine noise and timing engines is benchmarked against accurate non-linear simulations with R(f)L(f)C circuit representation and recommendations for CAD tool development are given.
Ditching the pack: Digital media in the 2010 Brazilian congressional campaigns

Over the past decade Brazil has become well known for its open embrace of new media technologies. In tandem, an increasing number of Brazilian candidates have begun to use web and social media sites as an integral part of their overall campaign efforts. The present study is the first effort at large-scale modeling of these relationships in an emerging Latin American democracy. To explore the relationship between using digital media in a candidate’s political campaign strategy and voter support, I built an original dataset of the 2010 elections for the lower house of the Brazilian Congress. I investigate factors such as a candidate’s use of web and social networking sites in conjunction with other traditional influences such as candidate gender, age, incumbency, party affiliation, coalition membership and campaign spending. I demonstrate that having a robust web presence and using social media, holding other factors constant, can be a significant contribution to the popularity of a candidate on election da...
Challenging a Paradigm: the Role of DNA Homology in Tyrosine Recombinase Reactions

Summary: A classical feature of the tyrosine recombinase family of proteins catalyzing site-specific recombination, as exemplified by the phage lambda integrase and the Cre and Flp recombinases, is the ability to recombine substrates sharing very limited DNA sequence identity. Decades of research have established the importance of this short stretch of identity within the core regions of the substrates. Since then, several new enzymes that challenge this paradigm have been discovered and require the role of sequence identity in site-specific recombination to be reconsidered. The integrases of the conjugative transposons such as Tn916, Tn1545, and CTnDOT recombine substrates with heterologous core sequences. The integrase of the mobilizable transposon NBU1 performs recombination more efficiently with certain core mismatches. The integration of CTX phage and capture of gene cassettes by integrons also occur by altered mechanisms. In these systems, recombination occurs between mismatched sequences by a single strand exchange. In this review, we discuss literature that led to the formulation of the current strand-swapping isomerization model for tyrosine recombinases. The review then focuses on recent developments on the recombinases that challenged the paradigm that was derived from the studies of early systems.
Design of a novel MRI compatible manipulator for image guided prostate interventions

This paper reports a novel remotely actuated manipulator for access to prostate tissue under magnetic resonance imaging guidance (APT-MRI) device, designed for use in a standard high-field MRI scanner. The device provides three-dimensional MRI guided needle placement with millimeter accuracy under physician control. Procedures enabled by this device include MRI guided needle biopsy, fiducial marker placements, and therapy delivery. Its compact size allows for use in both standard cylindrical and open configuration MRI scanners. Preliminary in vivo canine experiments and first clinical trials are reported.
Organizational culture and personality type: relationship with person-organization fit and turnover intention

In the past two decades, researchers have implied organizational success was contingent on the compatibility between employees and organizations, known as person-organization (PO) fit. The lack of congruence between employees and their organizations may result in employee turnover. Although the body of literature in the human resources management and organizational development is vast, the hospitality literature demonstrates a need for further research in PO fit and employee turnover intention. The purpose of this research study was to assess several relationships pertaining to hotel organizational culture, employee personality types, PO fit, and turnover intention. Data were collected by using items from Dawson, Abbott and Shoemaker’s (2011) hospitality culture scale, Edward (1991), Cable and Judge (1996) and Piasentin and Chapman (2006) PO fit items, Roodt’s (2004) turnover intention scale and Porter’s (2005) strength deployment inventory. Lastly, demographic characteristic items were included. A response rate of 34% (N = 231) was received on a paper questionnaire sent to hourly and non-hourly employees from 14 upper-upscale hotels located throughout the southern region of California. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s coefficient correlation analysis, regression analysis, independent samples t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to answer five research questions. A correlation was found between hotel organizational culture and employee personality type [r (226) = .301, p < .001]. Multiple regression showed hotel organizational culture [t (225) = 15.448, p < .001] statistically significantly predicted PO Fit [F (1,224) = 238.635, p < .001]. Regression showed personality type [t (225) = 5.189, p < .001] statistically significantly predicted PO fit [F (1, 227) = 26.930, p < .001]. An inverse relationship was found between PO fit and employee turnover intention [r (226) = -.759, p <