cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exon2 of HIV-2 Tat Contributes to transactivation of the HIV-2 LTR by increasing binding affinity to HIV-2 TAR RNA

Human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) express related Tat proteins that are encoded in two exons. Tat proteins bind directly to the TAR RNA element contained in the 5' ends of viral transcripts and thereby stimulate transcription through an as yet unidentified mechanism. We have investigated the functional significance of exon2 of the HIV-2 Tat protein by examining properties of proteins consisting of exon1 alone or exon1 + 2. In transactivation assays in vivo, exon2 modestly increased HIV-2 Tat stimulation of transcription from the HIV-2 long terminal repeat (LTR) but had no effect on transcription from the HIV-1 LTR. In HeLa cells, exon2 increased transactivation of the HIV-2 LTR by approximately three-fold, while in COS and Jurkat cells this value was less than two-fold. In binding assays in vitro, exon2 increased the binding affinity of the HIV-2 Tat protein to HIV-2 TAR RNA. Results with GAL4 fusion proteins and a synthetic promoter containing GAL4 DNA binding sites indicated that exon2 does not contribute to the HIV-2 Tat activation domain. These observations suggest that exon2 of HIV-2 Tat contributes to transactivation of the HIV-2 LTR by increasing the binding affinity to HIV-2 TAR RNA.
Prediction of downhole circulating and shut-in temperatures

Abstract An accurate prediction of downhole circulating temperatures during geothermal well drilling is needed for cement slurry and mud design. At present, API correlations are used to predict bottom-hole circulating temperatures for geothermal wells. Presented in this paper are field data which show that the API predictions overestimate the bottom-hole circulating temperatures for wells with high geothermal gradients. New empirical relationships are suggested to predict downhole circulating temperatures for deep, high temperature wells. Also, an analytical formula for predicting downhole shut-in temperature is presented.
Fluoroquinolone susceptibility in Mycobacterium tuberculosis after pre-diagnosis exposure to older- versus newer-generation fluoroquinolones

Abstract Fluoroquinolone exposure before tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is common. We anticipated that exposure to older-generation fluoroquinolones is associated with greater fluoroquinolone MICs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis than exposure to newer agents. A nested case–control study was performed among newly diagnosed TB patients reported to the Tennessee Department of Health (January 2002–December 2009). Each fluoroquinolone-resistant case ( n = 25) was matched to two fluoroquinolone-susceptible controls ( n = 50). Ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were classified as older-generation fluoroquinolones; levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin were considered newer agents. There was no difference between median ofloxacin MIC for isolates from 9 patients exposed only to older fluoroquinolones, 25 exposed only to newer fluoroquinolones, 6 exposed to both and 35 fluoroquinolone-unexposed patients (Kruskal–Wallis, P = 0.35). Using multivariate proportional odds logistic regression adjusting for age and sex, duration of exposure to newer fluoroquinolones was independently associated with higher MIC (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.22–2.64), but duration of exposure to older fluoroquinolones was not (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.50–1.78). Isolates from patients exposed only to newer fluoroquinolones tended to have mutations at gyrA codons 90, 91 or 94 more frequently than those exposed only to older fluoroquinolones (44% vs. 11%). We were surprised to find that duration of exposure to newer fluoroquinolones, but not older ones, was independently associated with higher ofloxacin MIC. This suggests that the mutant selection window lower boundary is likely to have clinical relevance; caution is warranted when newer fluoroquinolones are prescribed to patients with TB risk factors.
Square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry of lead and cadmium at cylindrical graphite fiber microelectrodes with in situ plated mercury films

Abstract Square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) at a cylindrical, 8-μm graphite fiber microelectrode with an in situ plated thin mercury film was investigated in oxygen-free and air-saturated solutions containing high and low concentrations of a supporting electrolyte. Owing to the non-planar (cylindrical) diffusion-enhanced mass transport at the microelectrode surface, very high steady-state current densities were observed at the microelectrode, e.g. 1.2 mA 1 mmol −1 cm −2 for a −1.0 V reduction of 0.59 mM Hg(II) in 0.1 M acetate buffer. To obtain such high current densities at a conventional rotating disk electrode (RDE), the RDE must be rotated ar 1600 rpm. Because of the high speed and background rejection features of square-wave voltammetry, SWASV measurements (without background subtraction) of lead and cadmium at the in situ mercury-plated microelectrodes are not affected by the presence of dissolved oxygen, despite a high yield of oxygen diffusion to the microelectrode. Enhanced SWASV peaks were recorded for lead and cadmium in millimolar solutions of supporting electrolytes. In a non-deaerated and quiescent solution of 0.84 mM acetate buffer, for example, the method yielded a detection limit of 5 × 10 −10 M for each metal. This represents a very impressive sensitivity of the method, especially when one considers the very small dimensions of the microelectrode, the absence of solution stirring and purging and the relatively short deposition time used (2 min). In addition to improved sensitivity, SWASV at in situ mercury-plated microelectrodes offers other advantages over the commonly used anodic stripping methods such as differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, particularly in terms of speed, convenience and applicability. Because of the elimination of both the oxygen removal step and solution stirring, and because of the use of the very fast stripping technique, the method is significantly faster and technically simpler, and thus more convenient for analysis. Also, because of the incorporation of cylindrical microelectrodes, the method does not require high concentrations of supporting electrolytes or sophisticated instrumentation, and can be applied for the analysis of microvolume samples.
The effect of sales promotion on post-promotion brand preference: A meta-analysis

The benefit of sales promotions is that they induce choice. However, this benefit may be offset by undermining preference for the brand when it is no longer promoted. Despite the fact that sales promotions have long been employed in marketing practice and researched academically, a clear understanding of the impact of sales promotion on post-promotion brand preference continues to evade brand managers and marketing scholars alike. This manuscript attempts to provide insight on the effects of sales promotions on brand preference by integrating results from 51 studies on the subject. Our meta-analysis suggests that, on average, sales promotions do not affect post-promotion brand preference. However, depending upon characteristic of the sales promotion and the promoted product, promotions can either increase or decrease preference for a brand. The empirical results provide insights for crafting promotion strategy and for understanding the process by which promotions influence brand preference.
Overlapping transcription units in Drosophila: sequence and structure of the Cs gene.

The Cs gene lies between the functionally and evolutionarily related dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) and l(2) amd loci of Drosophila. The Cs and Ddc genes overlap at their 3′ ends, implying that the transcription termination signals of these genes are polar, since each gene's primary transcript contains the complement of the other gene's transcription termination signals. The mature transcripts of the Cs and Ddc genes are complementary for a short distance and the primary transcripts may be complementary over thousands of base pairs. Despite intensive mutagenesis in this region, no mutations affecting the Cs transcript have been recovered although over 90 alleles of the two flanking genes (Ddc and l(2) amd) have been identified. Unlike the flanking Ddc and l(2) amd genes, the structure of the Cs gene and the temporal and tissue specificity of Cs expression are inconsistent with any structural or functional relatedness to the Ddc gene family. The internal structure of the Cs transcript is unlike that of most protein coding genes; it contains several open reading frames which are not situated favorably for efficient translation of the Cs message. This unusual internal structure may be the basis of the observed mutational silence of the Cs locus.
Abstract 2455: The fjord region (±)-anti-dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-dihydrodiol-13,14-epoxides ((±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE), is a powerful and specific inducer of squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity of mice

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the sixth most common malignancy, represents a major international public health problem. The vast majority of HNSCC occurs in the oral cavity. Cancer of the mouth strikes about 30,000 Americans each year and less than 50% of patients survive 5 years after diagnosis. Tobacco and alcohol use are considered major causative agents. Current preclinical animal models to study oral carcinogenesis do not accurately mimic the biology of this disease in humans. We have developed a new mouse model by the application of the fjord region diol epoxide, (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE, a metabolite of the tobacco constituent dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), to the oral cavity, and we showed for the first time that it is a powerful and specific inducer of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in both tongue and oral tissues. Briefly, two groups of B6C3F1 mice (20/group) received doses of (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE (6, and 3 nmol) administered into the oral cavity; additional groups received the vehicle or left untreated as controls, 3 time a week for 38 weeks. Mice were sacrificed one year after the first carcinogen administration. The high dose induced 74 % and 100 % OSCC in the tongue and oral tissues, respectively; the corresponding values at the lower dose were 45 % and 89 %. Consistent with the carcinogenicity, we demonstrated powerful mutagenicity in CII gene in big blue mice and the mutation spectra in both tongue and oral tissues revealed similarity in the profiles between DB[a,l]PDE, and that of p53 mutations found in human OSCC. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE resulted in overexpression of p53 protein in malignant tissues compared to normal oral tissues and tongues. Collectively, we developed a non-surgical whole animal model which is the first to demonstrate the remarkable carcinogenicity and specificity of (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE in the oral cavity; this model is an appropriate platform for further exploring the genetic and epigenetic alterations that can truly account for the development of OSCC on humans. In addition, this model can be employed to study efficacies of novel cancer chemopreventive agents. Supported by NCI grant no. R01 CA 100924. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2455.
Inheritance of dicrotophos resistance in greenhouse whitefly

We studied inheritance of resistance to dicrotophos in greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae). Compared with females from a field-collected susceptible strains (S), females from a resistant strain (R) of T. vaporariorum derived from heavily treated cotton fields had a 28-fold greater LC 50 to dicrotophos in laboratory bioassays. Concentration-mortality lines obtained from female progeny of reciprocal F 1 crosses (R?XS? and S?XR? ) were similar, suggesting that inheritance of dicrotophos resistance was autosomal and not influenced by maternal effects. Responses of F 1 female progeny were similar to those of the parental S strain, indicating that the resistance was partially recessive (degree of dominance, D, was -0.61). Mortality observed in female progeny obtained from a backcross (F 1 ?XR?) corresponded more closely to expectations derived from polygenic models than to expectations from a monogenic model. The estimated number of effective factors (sensu Lande, 1981) contributing equally to resistance was three.
Acute inhalation of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane alters visual evoked potentials and signal detection behavior in rats.

Abstract The volatile organic compound 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (TMP, “isooctane”) is a constituent of gasoline for which the current health effects data are insufficient to permit the US Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a risk assessment. The potential neurological impairment from acute inhalation exposure to TMP was evaluated in adult male Long–Evans rats using both electrophysiological and behavioral assessments. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded from rats viewing modulated visual patterns (0.16 cycles per degree visual angle (cpd), 60% contrast, 4.55 Hz appear/disappear). Rats (n = 7–10/dose) were exposed to TMP vapors in concentrations of 0, 500, or 1000 ppm for 60-min. A VEP was recorded before exposure and at 10 min intervals during exposure and also for 60 min after exposure terminated. The spectral amplitude of the frequency-double component (F2) was significantly reduced after exposure to TMP. In behavioral assessments, rats (n = 14) performed an appetitively motivated visual signal detection task while breathing 0, 500, 1500, 1000, 2000, or 2500 ppm TMP for 62 min. Slight reductions in accuracy of performance were observed at the 2500 ppm concentration. Concentrations of TMP in the brain were estimated using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to be less than 0.2 mM after 62 min at 2500 ppm. Together these data demonstrate that TMP, like other volatile organic substances, impairs neurological function during acute inhalation exposure and that the small magnitude of the observed effects is consistent with the low concentrations of this hydrocarbon that were estimated to reach the CNS.
Probability Methods for the Convergence of Finite Difference Approximations to Partial Differential Equations.

Abstract : The paper applies some results on weak convergence of probability measures to the problem of convergence of finite difference approximations to a broad class of degenerate elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations. The equations are of type which arise in stochastic control theory and, generally, have only weak solutions. Interest in the problem stems from interest in stochastic control theory, and in numerical methods for the solution of stochastic control problems. The results are of interest in stochastic control theory and in numerical analysis. Some conditions are stated, the problem is discussed along with its probabilistic interpretation. (Author)
Monocular rotary nystagmus.

The effect of afferent impulses from the extraocular muscles on the activities of neurons in visual cortex area 17 was studied in adult cats anesthetized with nitrous oxide. The neurons responding continually to visual stimulation (sustained cells) of the left eye showed no response whatsoever to stretch stimulation of the right extraocular muscles or oculomotor nerve stimulation. Of the neurons responding transiently to visual stimulation (transient cells), some showed suppression of responses to visual stimulation and subsequently gave spike discharges when the extraocular muscle was stretched simultaneously with visual stimulation, and others responded to single stimulations of the oculomotor nerve as well. This effect makes an object clear just after completion of the saccadic eye movement and will be of help in the fixation reflex.
Low body mass index is associated with increased waitlist mortality among children listed for heart transplant

Background In adults, low body mass index (BMI) and high BMI have been associated with increased mortality after heart transplantation. Studies of BMI in children with heart failure have had inconsistent results. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database has 4,035 listings for primary, isolated heart transplant in patients 3 to 18 years old (1995–2012). BMI percentile-for-age (BMI%) was calculated, and patients were stratified based on BMI% into 4 groups: underweight (BMI% n = 701 [17.4%]), normal weight (BMI% 5–84, n = 2,321 [57.5%]), overweight (BMI% 85–94, n = 440 [10.9%]), or obese (BMI% ≥95, n = 573 [14.2%]). Outcomes of patients on the waitlist and after transplantation were assessed. Results Unadjusted early waitlist mortality was highest in underweight patients (16.7%) compared with normal-weight (11.4%), overweight (10.9%), and obese (12.9%) patients ( p = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, underweight patients had elevated risk-adjusted waitlist mortality (odds ratio = 1.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.0–2.2). Unadjusted post-transplant mortality did not differ across BMI% groups (underweight, 5.7%; normal weight, 5.4%; overweight, 5.5%; obese, 5.8%), but obese patients had borderline higher risk-adjusted post-transplant mortality (odds ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.0–3.0). Change in BMI% while waiting did not affect post-transplant mortality. Conclusions Children listed for heart transplant are commonly either underweight or obese. Underweight patients have high risk-adjusted mortality before transplantation, whereas obese patients have borderline higher adjusted post-transplant mortality.
Processes controlling upper-ocean heat content in Drake Passage

[1] A 16 year record of expendable bathythermograph transects across Drake Passage is used to examine variability in upper-ocean heat content that is not associated with the annual cycle. Links between upper-ocean heat content and anomalous heat fluxes, winds, two large-scale climate indices, and mesoscale eddies and meanders are examined. Results suggest that interannual variations in surface heat fluxes explain ∼5 to 10% of the variance in upper-ocean heat content. Anomalous surface heat fluxes are linked to meridional wind anomalies upstream of Drake Passage, which in turn are linked to forcing by El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). ENSO and SAM are correlated with upper-ocean heat content at near-zero lags, and statistically significant correlations occur at longer time lags as well. The impact of mesoscale eddies and meanders on upper-ocean heat content is explored with the use of a tracked eddy database. An empirical relationship is constructed relating upper-ocean heat content anomalies to eddy length scales and amplitudes. Eddies and meanders are estimated to account for more than one third of the nonannual cycle variance in Drake Passage upper-ocean heat content.
Distributed cooperative transmission with unreliable and untrustworthy relay channels

Cooperative transmission is an emerging wireless communication technique that improves wireless channel capacity through multiuser cooperation in the physical layer. It is expected to have a profound impact on network performance and design. However, cooperative transmission can be vulnerable to selfish behaviors and malicious attacks, especially in its current design. In this paper, we investigate two fundamental questions Does cooperative transmission provide new opportunities to malicious parties to undermine the network performance? Are there new ways to defend wireless networks through physical layer cooperation? Particularly, we study the security vulnerabilities of the traditional cooperative transmission schemes and show the performance degradation resulting from the misbehaviors of relay nodes. Then, we design a trust-assisted cooperative scheme that can detect attacks and has self-healing capability. The proposed scheme performs much better than the traditional schemes when there are malicious/selfish nodes or severe channel estimation errors. Finally, we investigate the advantage of cooperative transmission in terms of defending against jamming attacks. A reduction in link outage probability is achieved.
Children's achievement and self-evaluations in mathematics: A longitudinal study.

This study consisted of a longitudinal analysis of children's achievement and self-perceptions of ability in mathematics across Grades 2, 5, and 10. Structural modeling with LISREL was used to estimate the reciprocal relationship between constructs measured by computational and problem-solving tests and self-rating scales. Results showed that between Grades 2 and 5 mathematics achievement is causally related to self-ratings of ability. There was evidence that between Grades 5 and 10 the strength of this causal relationship diminishes. The importance of this developmental finding derives from the fact that theorists' generalizations about achievement and self'Concept often have not been sensitive to the factor of age. During neither time span did selfperceptions >have any significant causal influence on later achievement. The accuracy of children's self-ratings, as assessed by correlations with actual achievement, increased between Grades 2 and 5; there was no appreciable change after that. Math achievement showed very high stability from year to year, whereas stability of self-ratings was considerably less. Numerous studies have demonstrated a moderately strong concurrent relationship between children's academic achievement and their self-concept of ability (for reviews, see Bloom, 1976; Hansford & Hattie, 1982;
Surgical repair of rectovaginal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease

Abstract Objectives To report surgical outcomes of patients who underwent rectovaginal fistula (RVF) repair with a history of Crohn's disease utilizing several reconstructive techniques. Study design Retrospective case series of women ( n =6) with Crohn's disease surgically treated with either vaginal or rectal advancement flaps. Demographic information and data specific to Crohn's disease at the time of surgery were collected. In addition, operative reports and postoperative follow-up visits were reviewed. Results During the study period, six women with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and RVF underwent surgical management. Five patients had a vaginal advancement flap (VAF) by Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and one patient was treated by the rectal advancement flap by Colorectal Surgery. The failure rate in our study population was 33% (2/6). Of note, two of the patients who had a successful VAF had a previous failure after RAF. In addition, four patients who had a repair via the transvaginal approach had a concomitant pedicled flap procedure (i.e. Martius or gracilis flap). The average follow-up for all our patients was 5 months (+/− 6.5 months). No patients failed if they received a VAF with a concomitant flap procedure. Conclusions This case series illustrates several techniques utilized for the repair of RVF in patients with Crohn's disease. The use of a bulbocavernosus flap during the primary repair of RVF in this patient population may be considered to bolster the rectovaginal septum.
Tailored drug release profiles from bioerodible polyanhydride microspheres

The fabrication, morphological characterization, and drug release kinetics from microspheres of three bioerodible polyanhydrides, poly[1,6-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)hexane] (poly(CPH)), poly(sebacic anhydride) (poly(SA)), and the copolymer poly(CPH-co-SA) 50:50 (CPH:SA 50:50) are reported. Tailored release profiles of a burst followed by zero-order release are obtained by appropriately combining the microspheres in 'cocktails.'.
Improving osteoblast growth through BMP-7 short peptides

Osteoblasts are mononuclear cells that are responsible for bone formation and mineralization of an osteoid matrix. Osteoblasts arise when osteoprogenitor cells are induced to differentiate under the influence of growth factors, particularly bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). So BMPs are very important for the regeneration of bone and cartilage. Especially, BMP-2 and BMP-7 are the most commonly used growth factors to improve osteoblast functions. However, the precise receptor-binding region for promoting osteoblast growth in BMPs has not been identified. Many researchers try to use short peptides to improve the growth of osteoblasts instead of the entire BMP molecule. Here, we report that some short peptides, according to residues 101~130 of the BMP-7 sequence, increase the growth of osteoblasts. As a result, peptide-b (KPSSAPTQLN) was known to increase the number of osteoblasts, as well as improve their shape.
Lopez Has Some Merit

In United States v. Lopez the Supreme Court struck down the Gun Free School Zones Act on the ground that the law making it a federal crime to possess a gun in or near a school exceeded the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause. This article argues that the real significance of Lopez is symbolic, as a decision recognizing and reiterating the proposition that the Constitution creates “federalism,” a system in which the Federal Government has limited and enumerated powers, while the States alone enjoy traditional police powers.
Defining protein expression in the urothelium: a problem of more than transitional interest.

The transitional epithelium of the bladder, the urothelium, is a challenging tissue to study due to its fragility, complex cellular makeup, stratified composition, and intimate connections to both neural and connective tissue elements. With the increasing focus on the urothelium as a mechanosensory tissue with complex autocrine and paracrine signaling activities, there have arisen a number of unresolved controversies in the urothelial literature regarding whether certain important sensory and signaling proteins are expressed by the urothelium. Prominent examples of this include the transient receptor potential (TRP) family member TRPV1 and the purinergic receptor P2X3. The problem is more than one of scientific bookkeeping since studies utilizing genetic models (primarily knockout mice) claim additional credibility for urothelial functions when phenotypes are discovered. Furthermore, both of the above-mentioned receptors are important therapeutic targets for various bladder disorders including inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The reasons for the confusion about urothelial expression are manifold, but they likely include low expression levels in some cases, poor specificity of antibodies (sometimes lacking adequate controls), the presence of nonurothelial cells resident within the urothelium, and the fact that the urothelium is particularly prone to aspecific adsorption of antibodies. In this review, we attempt to summarize some of the pitfalls with currently accepted practices in this regard, as well as to describe a set of guidelines which will improve the reliability of conclusions related to urothelial expression. It is hoped that this will be of value to investigators studying the urothelium, to those attempting to interpret conflicts in the literature, and hopefully also those charged with reviewing unpublished work. These recommendations will outline a set of “baseline” and “best practice” guidelines by which both researchers and reviewers will be able to evaluate the evidence presented.
DNA methylation of stress-related genes and LINE-1 repetitive elements across the healthy human placenta

Objectives DNA methylation is known to play a critical role in regulating development of placental morphology and physiology. The methylation of genes mediated by glucocorticoid hormones may be particularly vulnerable to intrauterine stress in the placenta. However little is known about DNA methylation of stress-related genes within a healthy placenta, and particularly whether methylation occurs uniformly across different regions of the placenta, which is a critical question for researchers seeking to analyze methylation patterns. We examined DNA methylation across four regions of the placenta to evaluate methylation levels of stress-related genes within a healthy placenta, and to evaluate whether methylation patterns vary by sampling location.
An evaluation of nickel toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia magna in a contaminated stream and in laboratory tests

Seven-day tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia were used to document ambient toxicity in two industrially contaminated streams in southeastern Tennessee. Low survival of Ceriodaphnia dubia was linked to concentrations of Ni (74-200 μg/L) below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water quality criteria. A toxicity identification evaluation consisting of Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, and Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) toxicity tests with Ni, chemical analyses, and experiments with a Ni-selective resin were used to show that Ni was the primary toxicant in one of the streams. Nickel nitrate and Ni chloride were both extremely toxic to Ceriodaphnia dubia but were not very toxic to Pimephales promelas: Ni at a concentration of 7.5 μg/L (water hardness, 40 mg/L as CaCO3) was lethal to Ceriodaphnia dubia within 7 d, but 16 mg/L Ni did not reduce survival or growth of Pimephales promelas. When dilution water with a hardness of 177 mg/L was used, 15.0 μg/L killed all the Ceriodaphnia dubia in 7 d (no reduction in survival or fecundity occurred in 7.5 μg/L). Daphnia magna was less sensitive than Ceriodaphnia dubia to Ni: A concentration of 40 μg/L significantly reduced fecundity but not survival in 21 d. In stream water containing 49 μg/L Ni (hardness, 656 mg/L), 100% mortality of Ceriodaphnia dubia occurred in 7 d, but 70% of the Daphnia magna survived for 14 d. When the Ni in the stream water was reduced to 10 μg/L with the resin, 60% of the Ceriodaphnia dubia lived for 7 d and all the animals reproduced; survival and reproduction of Daphnia magna remained high for all 14 d. Thus, in both ambient water and pure chemical tests, Ceriodaphnia dubia was found to be much more sensitive to Ni than Daphnia magna. Experiments with 63Ni showed that both species accumulated similar amounts of Ni, so the difference in toxicity was not a result of Ni uptake. The high sensitivity of Ceriodaphnia dubia to Ni and the lower than expected reduction in Ni toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia with increasing hardness have important implications for effluent and ambient testing and toxicity reduction efforts.
The Bayes Point Machine for computer-user frustration detection via pressuremouse

We mount eight pressure sensors on a computer mouse and collect mouse pressure signals from subjects who fill out web forms containing usability bugs. This approach is based on a hypothesis that subjects tend to apply excess pressure to the mouse after encountering frustrating events. We then train a Bayes Point Machine in an attempt to classify two regions of each user's behavior: mouse pressure where the form- filling process is proceeding smoothly, and mouse pressure following a usability bug. Different from current popular classifiers such as the Support Vector Machine, the Bayes Point Machine is a new classification technique rooted in the Bayesian theory. Trained with a new efficient Bayesian approximation algorithm, Expectation Propagation, the Bayes Point Machine achieves a person-dependent classification accuracy rate of 88%, which outperforms the Support Vector Machine in our experiments. The resulting system can be used for many applications in human-computer interaction including adaptive interface design.
Comparison of three descriptive analysis scaling methods for the sensory evaluation of noodles

. Unstructured line scales (ULS), semi-structured line scales (SLS), and category scales (CS) were compared in evaluating two samples of mungbean starch noodles. Results indicated that panelists discriminated better between noodle samples when ULS were used. When identical sets of descriptors were used, more terms were found to be discriminatory with ULS but a smaller group of descriptors was sufficient to discriminate between samples compared to those needed for SLS or CS. It was also found that the use of ULS was most reliable and most sensitive to product differences. Increased anchoring of the line scales with the intensity standards did not result in increased sensitivity and reliability of the scale. Results also showed that different scaling methods may be used in succession at intervals of at least 4 h by a trained panel in evaluating the sensory characteristics of noodles using descriptive analysis.
Stable individual differences in number discrimination in infancy

Previous studies have shown that as a group 6-month-old infants successfully discriminate numerical changes when the values differ by at least a 1:2 ratio but fail at a 2:3 ratio (e.g. 8 vs. 16 but not 8 vs. 12). However, no studies have yet examined individual differences in number discrimination in infancy. Using a novel numerical change detection paradigm, we present more direct evidence that infants’ numerical perception is ratio-dependent even within the range of discriminable ratios and thus adheres to Weber’s Law. Furthermore, we show that infants’ numerical discrimination at 6 months reliably predicts their numerical discrimination abilities but not visual short-term memory at 9 months. Thus, individual differences in numerical discrimination acuity may be stable within the first year of life and provide important avenues for future longitudinal research exploring the relationship between infant numerical discrimination and later developing math achievement.
Flaporhexis: rapid and effective technique to limit epithelial ingrowth after LASIK enhancement.

We describe a method of lifting and replacing the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap to reduce the incidence of epithelial ingrowth beneath the flap after LASIK enhancement. In the rapid flaporhexis technique, the flap edge is opened by 1 clock hour with a Sinskey hook and the flap is peeled back after the exposed edge is grasped with a forceps. When necessary, further blunt retraction of the flap is performed with a triangular polyvinyl acetate sponge. After ablation and before the flap is replaced, a triangular sponge is used to clear epithelial remnants from the interface. This method consistently produces a smooth epithelial dissection and decreases the possibility that epithelium is retained beneath the flap. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Quantitative analysis of resistance to natural killer attacks reveals stepwise killing kinetics

Molecular mechanisms can protect cancer cells from immune attacks. At the level of bulk tissue, these survival mechanisms are often indistinguishable and simply appear as reduced cell death. However, by tracking individual cell survival and death times, we found broad variation in the kinetics of immune evasion. In response to attacks by natural killer cells, we observed that some cancer lines exhibited exponential survival time distributions. Slowly killed cancer lines had reduced exponential rate constants. In contrast, a line engineered to express the serpin protein PI-9, which is known to promote resistance to immune killing, exhibited a markedly nonexponential survival time distribution. By following the histories of individual cancer cells with multiplexed reporters, we obtained evidence that two or more immune attacks are likely required to kill serpin-expressing cells. Thus, resistance is a finite and measurable quantity, with a distinct kinetic signature. A quantitative model based on independently measured parameters is consistent with our conclusions.
Bills as daggers? A test for sexually dimorphic weapons in a lekking hummingbird

One way in which secondary sexual traits can influence differential reproductive success is by playing a key role in the outcome of direct physical contests for mates. Here we describe an undocumented trait in a species of hummingbird with a lek mating system, the Long-billed hermit (LBH, Phaethornis longirostris). The trait under consideration is a dagger-like structure at the bill tip, which we hypothesize is a secondary sexual trait that functions as a sexually dimorphic weapon. We tested our hypothesis by examining 5 leks during 4 consecutive years, and by employing morphological analyses, performance experiments, and behavioral observations. We found that 1) adult male bill tips were longer and pointier than their counterparts in females and juvenile males, 2) juvenile males acquired dagger-like tips during their transition to adulthood, 3) variation in bill tip morphology reflected puncture capability, and 4) males with larger and pointier bill tips were more successful in achieving lek territory tenure. Our study provides the first evidence of sexually dimorphic weapons in bird bills and stands as one of the few examples of male weaponry in birds. Our results suggest a role of sexual selection on the evolution of overall bill morphology, an alternative hypothesis to the prevailing "ecological causation" explanation for bill sexual dimorphism in hummingbirds.
The Most Prolific Contributing Authors to the Leading Risk Management and Insurance Journals: 1984-2013

The Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) discipline has matured in recent years and has risen in prominence alongside the other major business disciplines, as evidenced by the growth in the number and stature of RMI journals. This study summarizes and recognizes the major contributing authors to three elite and seven high-impact RMI journals over the past 30 years (1984-2013), as well as over the most recent 10-year period. The authors listed in this study represent a very significant segment of the RMI academic community and are certainty worthy of appropriate recognition.
Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Including the Right to Development: Report of the Independent Expert on the Question of Human Rights and Extreme Poverty

Cash transfer programmes (CTPs) have been identified as effective tools for poverty eradication due to their capacity to reduce economic inequalities and break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Yet these programmes have seldom been discussed or analysed from a human rights perspective. In this report, the United Nations independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty recognizes that CTPs are a tool that can assist States in fulfilling their obligations under national, regional and international human rights law. The transfers may have an impact on the exercise of a number of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. In particular, CTPs have the potential to assist in the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and housing. Nonetheless, CTPs are not necessarily the most appropriate and effective means of tackling extreme poverty and protecting human rights in all contexts. CTPs should be seen as only one component of social assistance policies. As such, they must be integrated within social protection systems and grounded by solid legal and institutional frameworks framed by human rights standards and principles. This report aims to promote further analysis of the impact of CTPs on the fulfillment of the human rights of beneficiaries.
Violent Attacks and Damaged Victims An Exploration of the Rape Scripts of European American and African American U.S. College Women

Scripts are influential in shaping sexual behaviors. Prior studies have examined the influence of individuals’ rape scripts. However, these scripts have not been evaluated among diverse groups. The current study examined the rape scripts of African American (n = 72) and European American (n = 99) college women. Results supported three rape scripts: the “real rape,” the “party rape,” and the mismatched intentions rape, that were equally common. However, there were some differences, with African Americans’ narratives more often including active victim resistance and less often containing victim vulnerability themes. Societal and cultural influences on rape scripts are discussed.
A Strategy for the Syncope Workup

Without a carefully planned workup, time and money will be wasted before the patient receives appropriate therapy.
Effect of Starvation and Ageing on the Acid-Soluble Phosphate Components of the Liver

SummaryFasting causes a decrease in the total acid-soluble phosphate, adenosine triphosphate, and the glycerol phosphate fractions of the liver. With advancing age there is a shift of phosphate from the fraction containing phosphoglyceric acid to the fraction containing glycerol phosphate.
Turing's morphogens, two-factor systems and active transport.

It is shown that Turing’s theory of morphogenesis and Rashevsky’s two-factor models are closely related, both being instances of diffusion-reaction schemes. It is further shown that the morphogenetic character of such schemes invariably gives rise to an apparent active transport, and indeed that it is on this transport that the morphogenetic properties of reaction-diffusion models depends. Some relations between the above and two-factor descriptions of other biological processes are briefly discussed.
Macho obstacles to peace

How human misconceptions about the nature of power and weakness can nurture violent conflict.
Salient Issues in Comparing Performance of Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms

Numerous performance metrics have recently been developed to assist in evaluating the relative eectiveness of evolutionary multi-objective optimization (EMO) algorithms. Comparison of EMO algorithms is extremely challenging because performance metrics must account for both convergence (distance from true objective tradeos) and diversity (representation of full extent of objective tradeos). This paper demonstrates how to eectively compare the performance of dierent EMO implementations using two state-of-the-art performance metrics (-performance and the binary -indicator metric) and identifies some of the diculties that arise in assuring that the chosen metric is as informative as possible. Two EMO performance comparison case studies are presented: (i) a performance comparison on a suite of two-objective test functions and (ii) a performance comparison of a hydrologic model calibration problem. Results of the first case study indicate that the -performance metric can provide a great deal more runtime information concerning algorithm performance than the binary -indicator metric which only provides comparative information regarding final performance. Case study two demonstrates a dierent problem type whereby the computational constraints of the problem limit the ability of the -performance metric in providing sucient performance information. In this case, the binary -indicator metric is more robust at providing the most information concerning algorithm performance.
Universal scaling laws for homogeneous dislocation nucleation during nano-indentation

Abstract We perform atomistic simulations to study the mechanism of homogeneous dislocation nucleation in two dimensional (2D) hexagonal crystals during nanoindentation with a circular indenter of radius R. We study both a realistic embedded atom method (EAM) potential for Al in addition to simple pair-wise potentials: Lennard-Jones, Morse, and Hookean springs. The nucleation process is governed by the vanishing of the energy associated with a single energy eigenmode. The critical eigenmode, or dislocation embryo, is found to be localized along a line (or plane in 3D) of atoms with a lateral extent, ξ, at some depth, Y⁎, below the surface. For all interatomic potentials, the scaled critical load, F c / R , and scaled critical contact length, C c / R , decrease to R-independent values in the limit of large R. However, ξ / R and Y ⁎ / R display non-trivial scaling with R despite the R independence of F c / R and C c / R . We show that although both the interaction potential and the orientation of the lattice affect the prefactors in the scaling relations, all the scaling laws are robust. Furthermore, we show that a stability criterion proposed by Van Vliet et al. based on the minimum eigenvalue, Λ, of the local acoustic tensor predicts the location, orientation, and polarization of the dislocation embryo with a high degree of accuracy for all potentials and crystallographic orientations. However, we also show that, for all crystallographic orientations and interaction potentials, Λ erroneously indicates instability before the true instability occurs.
The Discussion about the Estimation Against the Hydrophobicity of Operational Composite Insulators

According to characteristics of hydrophobicity about operational insulators surface, the new ways have been bring forward after the analysis of limitation of the way from the standards. The first step before hydrophobicity measurement if you want to get real result should make the surface same as the surface of operational insulators; the results of static angle and dynamic contact angle measurement are discrete; the residual water drop after the receding contact angle test as a new way of hydrophobicity measurement can do some researches deeply; surface tension method isn't fit for the surface of operational insulators; Wettability Class is very popular way to hydrophobicity measurement while the hydrophobicity periodic change need to be care as wettability class using on line; the surface roughness can be taken as the basis for hydrophobicity measurement objectively; the new algorithm of irregular hydrophobicity on the whole composite insulator on the basis of the voltage distribution of surface electric potential and electric field.
Arthroscopic Shoulder Capsulorrhaphy Using Metal Staples

Staple capsulorrhaphy on the shoulder using a metal staple for traumatic anterior instability has the advantages of increased diagnostic accuracy, microdebridement of the pathology, accurate assessment of the glenohumeral ligament pathology, and selective repair of the ligament pathology. Although the same advantages should apply to staple capsulorrhaphy for traumatic posterior instability, our experience remains very limited. Staple capsulorrhaphy on the shoulder has multiple disadvantages, including being technically difficult with a slow learning curve, not being applicable to all unstable shoulders, an average failure rate of 12% that may be related to inadequate postoperative immobilization, no extra-articular reinforcement, and the use of a metal implant that may need to be removed at a second operation. Staple capsulorrhaphy is currently performed for traumatic anterior instability in the shoulder, with a selected repair of the pathology using a single, well-placed staple and prolonged postoperative immobilization. The design of the staple affords a simpler insertion technique than rivets, screws, and intra-articular sutures. The advent of a biodegradable staple should eliminate inherent problems of metal implants while preserving the advantages of this method.
Effect of Humidity on Fecundity and Egg Incubation of Frankliniella bispinosa and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Abstract Environmental factors are hypothesized to account for spatial and temporal differences in Florida in the abundance and distribution of the native thrips species Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan) and the invasive Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Laboratory experiments were conducted at a constant temperature of 23 ± 1 °C to investigate the effects of humidity on the fecundity and egg incubation of F. bispinosa and F. occidentalis. Adult thrips were allowed to oviposit on green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.; Fabaceae) pods. Eggs were maintained at relative humidity treatment levels of 40 ± 5, 55 ± 5, 70 ± 5, and 80 ± 5%. Fecundity and time of egg hatch were determined every 12 h. Results showed that F. bispinosa had a higher fecundity and a shorter time to egg hatch compared with F. occidentalis at higher humidity levels. These results partially explained patterns of abundance and distribution of F. bispinosa and F. occidentalis in Florida. When relative humidity was hi...