cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A TORC2–Akt Feed-Forward Topology Underlies HER3 Resiliency in HER2-Amplified Cancers

The requisite role of HER3 in HER2-amplified cancers is beyond what would be expected as a dimerization partner or effector substrate and it exhibits a substantial degree of resiliency that mitigates the effects of HER2-inhibitor therapies. To better understand the roots of this resiliency, we conducted an in-depth chemical-genetic interrogation of the signaling network downstream of HER3. A unique attribute of these tumors is the deregulation of TORC2. The upstream signals that ordinarily maintain TORC2 signaling are lost in these tumors, and instead TORC2 is driven by Akt. We find that in these cancers HER3 functions as a buffering arm of an Akt-TORC2 feed-forward loop that functions as a self-perpetuating module. This network topology alters the role of HER3 from a conditionally engaged ligand-driven upstream physiologic signaling input to an essential component of a concentric signaling throughput highly competent at preservation of homeostasis. The competence of this signaling topology is evident in its response to perturbation at any of its nodes. Thus, a critical pathophysiologic event in the evolution of HER2-amplified cancers is the loss of the input signals that normally drive TORC2 signaling, repositioning it under Akt dependency, and fundamentally altering the role of HER3. This reprogramming of the downstream network topology is a key aspect in the pathogenesis of HER2-amplified cancers and constitutes a formidable barrier in the targeted therapy of these cancers.
Stabilized Vegas

We show that the current TCP Vegas algorithm can become unstable in the presence of network delay and propose a modification that stabilizes it. The stabilized Vegas remains completely source-based and can be implemented without any network support. We suggest an incremental deployment strategy for stabilized Vegas when the network contains a mix of links, some with active queue management and some without.
Splitting of the locomotor activity rhythm in rats by exposure to continuous light.

Female rats exposed to low intensities (0.1–1.5 lx) of continuous light (LL), displayed regular estrous cycles and free-running circadian rhythms of locomotor activity. In most rats, as the intensity of LL was increased to >2.0 lx, components within the active portion (α) of the locomotor rhythm remained synchronized as the periodicity of the rhythm lengthened. However, in a few rats agr split into two components; one of which free-ran with a period shorter than 24 h, while the other free-ran with a period longer than 24 h. As soon as the two components became maximally separated they spontaneously rejoined. In most rats, estrous cycles ceased shortly after the intensity of LL was increased to >2.0 lx even though the locomotor activity rhythm retained its unsplit free-running nature. These observations suggest that the multiple oscillators that control the rhythms of locomotor activity and the estrous cycle are normally coupled to one another. In certain intensities of LL, these oscillators uncouple and free-run with different periodicities, a condition which causes estrous cycles to cease and sometimes produces a split locomotor activity rhythm. circadian rhythm; oscillators; estrous cycle Submitted on November 9, 1981 Accepted on October 11, 1982
Preliminary Recommendations for Handling and Lifting Materials in Underground Low-Coal Mines

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed preliminary recommendations for handling materials in low-seam coal mines in an effort to reduce the incidence and cost of low-back pain in underground coal mines. Three main approaches to reducing back injuries are discussed: a) research and development of task specific materials-handling hardware that would reduce the number of manual lifts in underground coal mines, b) examining the supply-handling systems currently in use at low-seam coal mines through task analysis, and c) examining the lifting capacity of low-seam coal miners in the restricted postures that must be used in underground mines. Bureau of Mines research findings and recommendations are presented and discussed.
49 ESTROGEN MODULATES NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTAXIS ACTIVITY OF RAT AORTIC SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS TREATED WITH TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR α

Introduction Inflammation plays an important role in pathogenesis of vascular disease. Estrogen (17β-estradiol, E2) negatively modulates neointima formation in response to vascular injury, in part by attenuating expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and migration of leukocytes (primarily neutrophils and monocyte/macrophages) into injured vessels. Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-2 is a potent chemokine that causes neutrophil recruitment and provokes neutrophil activation in vitro. This study tested the hypothesis that activated rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC) express CINC-2 and induce neutrophil migration in vitro, and that E2 inhibits these processes by an estrogen receptor (ER) dependent mechanism. Methods Quiescent cultured RASMCs were pretreated with E2 or vehicle for 24 hours before tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was added. After 6 hours of treatment, total RNA was extracted from cells using TRIzol reagent, and SYBR green real-time RT-PCR was used to detect expression of CINC-2 mRNA. Conditioned media was collected and concentrated to measure CINC-2 protein level by ELISA. To assess neutrophil chemotactic activity of conditioned media, in vitro chemotaxis assays were performed using differentiated HL-60 cells in a 96-well modified Boyden chamber appropriate for the evaluation of leukocyte chemotaxis. The nonselective ER antagonist ICI-182780 was given to cells 2 hours prior to E2 incubation to study the mechanism of E2 effect. Results Steady state of CINC-2 mRNA was undetectable in unstimulated RASMCs; TNF-α (0.1 ng/mL to 2.5 ng/mL) dose dependently stimulated CINC-2 mRNA expression, and E2 pretreatment significantly reduced TNF-α-stimulated CINC-2 expression (by 30%). ICI-182780 completely blocked the E2 effect, indicating ER dependence. ELISA confirmed increased of CINC-2 protein in conditioned media from RASMCs stimulated with TNF-α and E2-induced inhibition of CINC-2 expression. Conditioned media from RASMCs treated with TNF-α produced a 2-fold increase in migration of differentiated HL-60 cells compared to conditioned media from vehicle treated cells. E2 treatment markedly inhibited this effect. Conclusion This study suggested that the vasoprotective effects of E2 in injured arteries may be mediated, at least in part, by an inhibitory effect on expression of the neutrophil chemoattactant CINC-2 in injured arterial SMCs, with resultant attenuation of neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory damage to the blood vessel.
Ultrasound Identification of Impalpable Testicle Tumor

We describe an ultrasound technique that accurately detected an occult testicular primary in a young man with a large retroperitoneal seminoma. A simple water bath system and commonly available ultrasound equipment are used to provide high resolution scans and excellent patient acceptance.
CNS effects on cardiomyoplasty in goats: Preliminary study

Following cardiomyoplasty, the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle contracts in response to both pacemaker and central nervous system (CNS) derived action potentials. To evaluate the effect of this dual stimulation on cardiac function, six goats (56 kg to 80 kg) underwent treadmill tests 4 to 5 months after surgery. Sonomicrometer crystals were used to measure changes in the left ventricular short-axis dimension (LVSAD) and regional length changes in the LD muscle. Pacing mediated stimulation resulted in 17 +/- 4% fractional shortening of the muscle pedicle lasting 400 +/- 17 msec. Walking at speeds of 0.8 and 2.4 km/hr produced muscle contractions of variable duration and intensity. LVSAD was decreased by both pacing (14%) and walking (up to 10%). Pacing in combination with walking caused erratic muscle contractions with concomitant changes in LVSAD suggestive of impaired ventricular filling. No arrhythmias were noted during exercise.
Mathematics and Economics: A Reality Check

Economics (and by extension finance) is arguably one of the most mathematical fields of research. However, economists’ choice of math may be inadequate to model the complexity of social institutions.In a constructive spirit, this note offers some advice on how students could increase their chances of having a successful career in 21st century finance. Practitioners seeking to enhance their skillset may also draw some ideas.
Taurine Regulation of Voltage-Gated Channels in Retinal Neurons

Taurine activates not only Cl−-permeable ionotropic receptors but also receptors that mediate metabotropic responses. The metabotropic property of taurine was revealed in electrophysiological recordings obtained after fully blocking Cl−-permeable receptors with an inhibitory “cocktail” consisting of picrotoxin, SR95531, and strychnine. We found that taurine’s metabotropic effects regulate voltage-gated channels in retinal neurons. After applying the inhibitory cocktail, taurine enhanced delayed outward rectifier K+ channels preferentially in Off-bipolar cells, and the effect was completely blocked by the specific PKC inhibitor, GF109203X. Additionally, taurine also acted through a metabotropic pathway to suppress both L- and N-type Ca2+ channels in retinal neurons, which were insensitive to the potent GABAB receptor inhibitor, CGP55845. This study reinforces our previous finding that taurine in physiological concentrations produces a multiplicity of metabotropic effects that precisely govern the integration of signals being transmitted from the retina to the brain.
A comparative study: classification vs. user-based collaborative filtering for clinical prediction.

Recommender systems have shown tremendous value for the prediction of personalized item recommendations for individuals in a variety of settings (e.g., marketing, e-commerce, etc.). User-based collaborative filtering is a popular recommender system, which leverages an individuals’ prior satisfaction with items, as well as the satisfaction of individuals that are “similar”. Recently, there have been applications of collaborative filtering based recommender systems for clinical risk prediction. In these applications, individuals represent patients, and items represent clinical data, which includes an outcome. Application of recommender systems to a problem of this type requires the recasting a supervised learning problem as unsupervised. The rationale is that patients with similar clinical features carry a similar disease risk. As the “Big Data” era progresses, it is likely that approaches of this type will be reached for as biomedical data continues to grow in both size and complexity (e.g., electronic health records). In the present study, we set out to understand and assess the performance of recommender systems in a controlled yet realistic setting. User-based collaborative filtering recommender systems are compared to logistic regression and random forests with different types of imputation and varying amounts of missingness on four different publicly available medical data sets: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2011-2012 on Obesity), Study to Understand Prognoses Preferences Outcomes and Risks of Treatment (SUPPORT), chronic kidney disease, and dermatology data. We also examined performance using simulated data with observations that are Missing At Random (MAR) or Missing Completely At Random (MCAR) under various degrees of missingness and levels of class imbalance in the response variable. Our results demonstrate that user-based collaborative filtering is consistently inferior to logistic regression and random forests with different imputations on real and simulated data. The results warrant caution for the collaborative filtering for the purpose of clinical risk prediction when traditional classification is feasible and practical. CF may not be desirable in datasets where classification is an acceptable alternative. We describe some natural applications related to “Big Data” where CF would be preferred and conclude with some insights as to why caution may be warranted in this context.
Prototipos cerámicos – diseño, computación y fabricación digital

Research in ceramic material systems at Harvard University has introduced a range of novel applications which combine digital manufacturing technologies and robotics with imaginative design and engineering methods. Prototypes showcase the new performative qualities of ceramics and the integration of this material in today’s construction culture. Work ranges from daylight control systems to structural applications and a robotic tile placement system. Emphasis is on integrating novel technologies with tried and true manufacturing methods. The paper describes two distinct studies – one on 3D print-ing of ceramics, the other on structural use of large format thin tiles.
Nowhere Man: Evgeny Onegin and the Politics of Reflection in Nineteenth-Century Russia

Abstract In the opera that bears his name, Evgeny Onegin often seems remarkably inconsequential, a “superfluous man” among Russian society and nearly such in his own tale. Critics from Hermann Laroche to Catherine Clement have lamented not only the triviality of Evgeny9s character but the flavorlessness of his music—a deficiency cast into relief by the compelling and pervasive musical presence of Tatiana, the too-eventual object of Evgeny9s affections. This imbalance, a departure from Pushkin (whose Tatiana is ever sketchily drawn, and indeed almost mute), has often been attributed to Chaikovsky9s well-publicized emotional identification with his heroine. Onegin9s blankness thus becomes the product of a composerly flaw: Chaikovsky9s inability to portray convincingly in music a character dissimilar to his own. But the Evgeny Onegin Chaikovsky inherited was not only Pushkin9s. It was a cultural palimpsest, a text written on and written over by virtually every major intellectual figure in nineteenth-century Russia. By the time Chaikovsky got his hands on them, Pushkin9s heroes were entangled in some of the century9s most urgent debates: about the ethics of action versus reflection, the slippage between public and private identities. This article traces the constructions of Evgeny and Tatiana in a series of nineteenth- century readings of Evgeny Onegin , examining the ways in which the opera responds to and transforms key questions from the reception history of the novel. Among the texts considered are works by Herzen, Belinsky, and Dostoevsky, whose (in)famous “Pushkin Speech” was the opera9s nearexact contemporary. From these readings, and the myriad images of Evgeny and Tatiana they present, emerge insights into a broader discourse about the nature of subjectivity in Europe9s only autocracy.
CBSD Support Tools

IN any particular case of software development, introducing ‘components’ and CBSD has an importance that falls on a spectrum from ‘trivial’ to ‘central.’ As with any software technology, it is always possible to “write FORTRAN” while ostensibly using a new technology. Components can be used as if they were nothing more than FORTRAN library subroutines. At the other extreme, a development project may attempt to make essential use of a component model, relying on middleware to implement essential parts of the system, so that the project could not be carried out in any other way. This section explores the role that supporting tools play in shaping development.
Flexible transparent aerogels as window retrofitting films and optical elements with tunable birefringence

Abstract Experimental realization of optically transparent, mechanically robust and flexible aerogels has been a longstanding challenge, which limits their practical applications in energy-saving devices, such as thermally insulating films for enhancing energy efficiency of windows. The poor transparency precluded even hypothetical consideration of the possibility of birefringent aerogels. We develop birefringent and optically isotropic aerogels that combine properties of thermal super-insulation, mechanical robustness and flexibility, and transparency to visible-spectrum light. This unusual combination of physical properties is achieved by combining liquid crystalline self-organization of cellulose nanofibers with polysiloxane cross-linking and control of the nanoscale porosity to form hybrid organic-inorganic mesostructured aerogels. Potential applications of these inexpensive materials range from single pane window retrofitting to smart fabrics.
20. Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Cancer

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for carcinoma provides many of the known benefits of minimally invasive surgery for properly selected patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. This is a technically demanding operation requiring a significant learning curve; however, by following appropriate steps incorporating the oncologic principles of open approaches, an equivalent cancer operation can be achieved. Preoperative workup should include an upper endoscopy with biopsy and endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and for nonearly-stage cancers (uT3 or N+ or more advanced) positron emission tomography and diagnostic laparoscopy with cytology of peritoneal fluid. For appropriate candidates, a laparoscopic total gastrectomy is offered. This operation consists of retraction of the left lobe of the liver, entry into the lesser sac with omentectomy, and lymphadenectomy of the station 1–11 lymph nodes, including transection at the origin of the right gastroepiploic vessels, right gastric vessels, left gastric vessels, and short gastric vessels. Transection of the esophagus is followed by reconstruction via a linear-stapled or EEA-stapled anastomosis to a Roux-en-Y limb created to be approximately 55–65 cm in length. Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for carcinoma provides equivalent oncologic results with a safe operation that offers many of the advantages of the minimally invasive approach and possibly fewer complications. The learning curve is significant at about 50 cases, and optimally such cases should be done at a high-volume gastric cancer center by a surgeon with advanced minimally invasive surgical skills.
TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Pharmacotherapy with levodopa for Parkinson's disease provides symptomatic benefit, but fluctuations in (or loss of) response may eventually occur. Dopamine agonists are also helpful and, when taken with low doses of levodopa, often provide sustained benefit with fewer side effects; novel agonists and new methods for their administration are therefore under study. Other therapeutic strategies are being explored, including the use of type B monoamine oxidase inhibitors to reduce the metabolic breakdown of dopamine, catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors to retard the breakdown of levodopa, norepinephrine precursors to compensate for deficiency of this neurotransmitter, glutamate antagonists to counteract the effects of the subthalamic nucleus, and various neurotrophic factors to influence dopaminergic nigrostriatal cells. Surgical procedures involving pallidotomy are sometimes helpful. Those involving cerebral transplantation of adrenal medullary or fetal mesencephalic tissue have yielded mixed results; benefits may relate to the presence of growth factors in the transplanted tissue. The transplantation of genetically engineered cell lines will probably become the optimal transplantation procedure. The cause of Parkinson's disease may relate to oxidant stress and the generation of free radicals. It is not clear whether treatment with selegiline hydrochloride (a type B monoamine oxidase inhibitor) delays the progression of Parkinson's disease, because the drug also exerts a mild symptomatic effect. Daily treatment with vitamin E (a scavenger of free radicals) does not influence disease progression, perhaps because of limited penetration into the brain.
Neural Fuzzy Intelligent Agents

An intelligent agent must both learn what a user likes or dislikes and search databases on behalf of the user. A neural fuzzy system can learn an agent profile of a user when it samples user question-answer data. A fuzzy system uses if-then rules to store and compress the agent’s knowledge of the user’s likes and dislikes. A neural system uses training data to form and tune the rules. The profile is a preference map or a bumpy utility surface defined over the space of search objects. Rules define fuzzy patches that cover the surface bumps as learning unfolds and as the fuzzy agent system gives a finer approximation of the profile. The agent system searches for preferred objects with the learned profile and with a new fuzzy measure of similarity. The appendix derives the supervised learning law that tunes this matching measure with fresh sample data. We test the fuzzy agent profile system on object spaces of flowers and sunsets and test the fuzzy agent matching system on an object space of sunset images. Rule explosion and data acquisition impose fundamental limits on the system designs as they do for all fuzzy systems.
Characterizing Antecedent Conditions Prior to Annual Maximum Flood Events in a High-Elevation Watershed Using Self-Organizing Maps

AbstractFlood frequency estimates are required for many water management and design engineering projects, including dam safety risk management activities. Most studies assume that annual or peak-ov...
Pre-\((\omega)\)separation axioms

In this paper we use the notion of \((\omega)\) preopen sets to introduce and study pre-separation axioms in an\((\omega)\)topological space.
Frictionless decompression in minimum time of Bose-Einstein condensates in the Thomas-Fermi regime

In this paper we study a fast adiabatic-like expansion of a one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in the Thomas-Fermi regime confined in a harmonic potential, using the theory of time-optimal control. We find that under reasonable assumptions suggested by the experimental setup, the minimum-time expansion occurs when the frequency of the potential changes in a bang-bang form between the permitted values. We calculate the necessary expansion time and compare it with that obtained using the state-of-the-art inverse engineering method under the same constraints. We also show that this minimum time scales logarithmically with the expansion factor for large values of the latter. This work is expected to find applications in areas where efficient manipulation of a BEC is of utmost importance, for example, in atom interferometry with a BEC.
Renault Valladolid and Palencia

In this chapter, chronicles Renault of France’s two car assembly complexes in Spain. It begins with a brief review of the French automaker’s joint venture plant with Fabricacion de Automoviles SA in Valladolid, followed by a section chronicling the expansion of the complex to add bodywork and engine plants, and then a second assembly hall. The discussion then turns to Renault’s building of an additional assembly works 30 minutes north of Valladolid in Palencia Province in 1978. Thereafter, sections review the progress of these factories through 2016 and offer commentary regarding Renault’s near-term future in Spain.
Global Trend in Artificial Intelligence-Based Publications in Radiology From 2000 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the global trend in artificial intelligence (AI)-based research productivity involving radiology and its subspecialty disciplines. CONCLUSION. Th...
Coexistence of urogenital malformations in a female fetus with de novo 15q24 microdeletion and a literature review.

Background 15q24 microdeletion is a relatively new syndrome caused by nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between low-copy repeats (LCRs) in the 15q24 chromosome region. This syndrome is characterized by a spectrum of clinical symptoms including global developmental delay, intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, and congenital malformations of the extremities, eye, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, and genitalia. Method Molecular cytogenetic analysis was performed using whole genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray analysis. Autopsy examination including gross and microscopic examination were performed. In addition, a thorough review of the literature on 15q24 microdeletion was completed and summarized in table format. Result Molecular cytogenetic analysis revealed a 3.88 MB interstitial deletion within 15q24.1 to 15q24.3 (74,353,735-78,228,485 bp) in our case. Autopsy examination showed congenital malformations within the genitourinary system and genitalia, including left kidney agenesis and uterus didelphys. After thorough literature review, we found a series of midline defects associated with 15q24 microdeletion syndrome. Conclusion We report the first case of coexistence of urogenital abnormalities, including left kidney agenesis and uterus didelphys, with 15q24 microdeletion syndrome, which is also associated with midline defects secondary to abnormal development. Since 15q24 microdeletion syndrome is a relatively new entity, fully characterizing its variation and severity requires additional examination of the genetics, molecular profile and structural and functional abnormalities in affected patients. Due to the limited data in the literature, statistical analysis of abnormalities in each organ system is not possible. However, we can predict that novel genetic pathways involving cell migration, adhesion, apoptosis, and embryo development might be discovered with the advanced study of 15q24 microdeletion syndrome.
Inhibitory efect of Survivin small hairpin RNA on the growth of U251 cells via transferring receptor-mediated deliver

Objective To construct expressing vector of small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting Survivin, and investigate the effect of Survivin shRNA on the growth of glioma cell line U251. Methods Oligonucleotides for short hairpin expression targeting Survivin mRNA were inserted into pGCSilencer vector. Recombinant expression vector was identified by enzyme cutting and sequencing analysis. Survivin shRNA was transfected into U251 cells via transferrin-polyethylenimine. Transfected cells were visualized under the inverted fluorescent microscopy and then assayed by the flow cytometry. The expression levels of Survivin mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)and Western blotting method respectively. Cytotoxic effects were measured by MTr method. Results The insertion sequence was correctly identified. The RT-PCR and Western blotting method assay revealed that the expression levels of Survivin mRNA and protein in U251 cells were decreased significandy after Survivin shRNA treatment,P ＜0. 05. The growth of U251 cells was significantly inhibited at the 48th, 72nd and 96th h after the treatment with Survivin shRNA as compared with that after treatment with control shRNA and untreated U251 cells, respectively,P ＜ 0.05. Conclusion Survivin shRNA expression vectors can effectively inhibit the growth of U251 cells. Key words: Small hairpin RNA; Transferrin receptor; Survivin; Cell growth; Glioma
Strain Induced Enhanced Photodetector based on Few-layered MoTe2

Here, we demonstrate a strain-induced enhanced photodetector based on a few-layered MoTe2 integrating onto a non-planarized silicon photonic platform. The photodetector shows high photo responsivity (~0.5 A/W) as compared to planarized photodetector at 1550 nm.
The Role of Moderating Factors in User Technology Acceptance

Along with increasing investments in new technologies, user technology acceptance becomes a frequently studied topic in the information systems discipline. The last two decades have seen user acceptance models being proposed, tested, reﬁned, extended and uniﬁed. These models have contributed to our understanding of user technology acceptance factors and their relationships. Yet they have also presented two limitations: the relatively low explanatory power and inconsistent inﬂuences of the factors across studies. Several researchers have recently started to examine the potential moderating effects that may overcome these limitations. However, studies in this direction are far from being conclusive. This study attempts to provide a systematic analysis of the explanatory and situational limitations of existing technology acceptance studies. Ten moderating factors are identiﬁed and categorized into three groups: organizational factors, technological factors and individual factors. An integrative model is subsequently established, followed by corresponding propositions pertaining to the moderating factors.
Biomarker approach harnessed in trials of personalized medicine for bladder cancer.

A multi-arm clinical trial reports results of testing a strategy for the treatment of bladder cancer that uses standard immunotherapy plus biomarker assessment and targeted therapies.
Transition to second generation cellulosic biofuel production systems reveals limited negative impacts on the soil microbial community structure.

Abstract Currently we lack knowledge on how the soil microbial community responds to the transition from traditional grain production to cellulosic feedstock production systems with residue removal for biofuel production. Implementation of second-generation biofuel production systems could create a challenge in meeting the goal of providing cellulose biomass if the processes impact soil's function as part of ecosystem services. Our goal was to assess the transition period as we move from a grain harvest system with residue return into biomass production systems with both residue and grain removal. The existing traditional systems were continuous corn (CC) and corn–soybean rotations (corn–soybean–corn (R1) or soybean–corn–soybean (R2)). The biomass production systems include a previously established mixed tall grass prairie dominated by big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii; PR) where the above ground biomass is now harvested when it had been previously burned, corn–soybean rotations transitioned to residue recovery based on: Miscanthus × giganteus (MS), dual-purpose sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; SG), upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum; c.v. Shawnee; SW) and a tilled continuous corn changed to continuous no-till corn (Zea mays; CR) with the residue removed. Over a three-year transition period, biological indicators of soil health included microbial biomass and community structure profile using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biochemical markers, and an assessment of the saprotrophic fungal diversity using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction amplified ITS rRNA genetic marker. Over the course of the transition, bacterial biomass dominated soils in the annual systems of CC, R1, R2, CR and SG, and the perennial system of MS. While fungal biomass dominated soils under PR. Fungal PLFA signatures and ITS-DGGE profiles demonstrated similarity between PR and the transitioned SW system, and to a lesser extent SG. In contrast, MS did not statistically alter the microbial biomass, community structure or fungal diversity away from patterns observed in the corn–soybean system. Our findings support microbial community stability and resilience as we found no negative impacts in any of the biomass recovery systems (PR, MS, SG, SW and CR) relative to the traditional systems (CC, R1 and R2), as indicated by measures of soil health. We did find that the selection of the plant types used in the biomass system could have a significant impact on the structure of both bacterial and fungal communities. With respect to soil health indicators including the fungal community, our findings suggest the dual-purpose SG system provides an encouraging alternative to continuous maize when considering plant biomass production. The selection of this dedicated perennial biomass system offers an avenue to enhance indicators of soil health and associated ecosystem services while supporting the bioenergy economy.
A molecular orbital approach to chemisorption: III. Atomic H and O on graphitic BN

Abstract The chemisorption behavior of a hydrogen atom and of an oxygen atom on graphitic boron nitride (BN) is calculated with the CNDO/2 molecular orbital procedure. The substrate BN representation is isoelectronic and isostructural to that used previously to study atomic adsorption on graphitic carbon, and thus allows an elementary quantum mechanical examination of adsorption site sensitivity to substrate composition. Calculated adsorbate-substrate charge transfer behavior again demonstrates the inadequacy of atomic electronegativity reasoning for chemisorption. A critique of the suitability of the CNDO/2 technique for chemisorption calculations is included.
Effect of Isotonic and Isometric Exercises on Heart Rate

Abstract Twelve subjects were used to determine the effect of isotonic and isometric exercises on heart rate using a military press in a sitting position. The isotonic exercise was performed for 45 sec. with one half of maximum resistance, and the isometric exercises were performed for 45 sec, with one half, two thirds, and maximum resistance. The results indicated that isometric exercise performed for 45 sec. with one half of maximum resistance could stimulate heart rate to the same extent that isotonic exercise could, using the same intensity and duration. The results also showed that increasing the load in isometric contraction resulted in a proportional increase in heart rate and that increasing the load to maximum isometric contraction resulted in a near twofold increase in heart rate.
Library Instruction in the Rearview Mirror

ABSTRACT This case study relates how librarians at Abilene Christian University used evidence-based practice to improve an information literacy unit integrated within a freshman seminar first-year experience. The article traces the development of the information literacy unit over an eight-year period. It presents the variety of approaches the library tried over time, analyzing strategies that were effective as well as those that were not, and chronicling what was changed with a special emphasis on rationales for the change. From these insights, the article presents key principles for a successful library program and illustrates evidence-based librarianship in action.
Physiological adaptations in response to environmental stress during an n(2)-fixing anabaena bloom.

Anabaena spiroides has the ability to maintain intense biomass production for extensive periods in the epilimnion of a small eutrophic lake characterized by conditions shown to cause photooxidative death in a number of other phytoplankton. By the enhancement of carotenoid synthesis chlorophyll a was protected from photooxidation and prevented from catalyzing other photooxidative reactions within the cells. By temporally separating CO2 and N2 fixation, maximum utilization of photosynthetically active radiation was achieved. Because CO2 fixation was more sensitive than N2 fixation to a high oxygen concentration, the former was maximized during morning hours, before the afternoon buildup of dissolved oxygen. The diurnal partitioning of carbon and N2 fixation has two additional advantages; possible competition for reductant-generating compounds is minimized, and adequate endogenous pools of carbon skeletons are assured to accept newly fixed ammonia. Hence, Anabaena, far from undergoing photooxidative death, appears to utilize a physiological strategy which allows optimization of radiant energy use for reductive processes and dominance of surface waters and shading of deeper phytoplankton during summer blooms.
Sports Facilities and the Property Tax

Exempting facilities from property taxes is a common method of subsidizing major league sports. This study finds that full and partial exemptions for 62 of the 114 active facilities cost taxpayers $263 million in forgone revenue in fiscal year 2013. Over 30 years, the exemptions are expected to cost the 38 host cities roughly $4.8 billion. It is expected that some franchise owners make alternative payments such as PILOTs, possessory interest taxes, or lease excise taxes, and therefore these forgone revenue estimates only tell part of the property tax story.
Independent neural coding of reward and movement by pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus neurons in freely navigating rats

Phasic firing of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) is likely to be crucial for reward processing that guides learning. One of the key structures implicated in the regulation of this DA burst firing is the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg), which projects to both the VTA and SN. Different literatures suggest that the PPTg serves as a sensory-gating area for DA cells or it regulates voluntary movement. This study recorded PPTg single-unit activity as rats perform a spatial navigation task to examine the potential for both reward and movement contributions. PPTg cells showed significant changes in firing relative to reward acquisition, the velocity of movement across the maze and turning behaviors of the rats. Reward, but not movement, correlates were impacted by changes in context, and neither correlate type was affected by reward manipulations (e.g. changing the expected location of a reward). This suggests that the PPTg conjunctively codes both reward and behavioral information, and that the reward information is processed in a context-dependent manner. The distinct anatomical distribution of reward and movement cells emphasizes different models of synaptic control by PPTg of DA burst firing in the VTA and SN. Relevant to both VTA and SN learning systems, however, PPTg appears to serve as a sensory gating mechanism to facilitate reinforcement learning, while at the same time provides reinforcement-based guidance of ongoing goal-directed behaviors.
Transforming Global Commodity Chains: Actor Strategies, Regulation, and Competitive Relations in the Dutch Cut Flower Sector.

abstractBuyer-driven and producer-driven commodity chain governance typologies are helpful in characterizing the relationships between buyers and suppliers engaged in transnational economic activity. However, what is missing in Global Commodity Chain (GCC) and Global Value Chain (GVC) analyses is an explanation of how governance structures change over time. In this paper I suggest that the production system associated with particular commodities is not the only factor shaping commodity chain governance. Rather, I argue that actors’ strategies, regulation, and historical trajectories also influence and, in certain conjunctures, transform chain governance. Since regulations and actor strategies in competitive environments change over time, it follows that chain governance is dynamic. Drawing from the case of the Dutch cut flower agro-industry, the world’s leading supplier of cut flowers, I build on the GCC, GVC and Global Production Network (GPN) literatures to illustrate how actor strategies, regulation an...
Radiation sensitization of chinese hamster V79 cells by paclitaxel

Because paclitaxel has been reported to disrupt microtubules and block cells in G2/M of the cell cycle, the radiation response of Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to various paclitaxel concentrations and durations of exposure was evaluated. Parallel to clonogenic cell survival studies, paclitaxel-mediated perturbations on the cell cycle were also assessed by flow cytometry. While short-term incubation (0–6 hr) with 0.1, 1, or 10 μM paclitaxel caused a gradual accumulation of cells into G2/M, no radiosensitization was observed. Incubation with 0.05—1 μM paclitaxel for 12 hr followed by X-ray treatment resulted in radiosensitization (enhancement ratio at the 10% survival level = 1.7). Paclitaxel concentrations above 1 μM had similar effects on the cell cycle at lower concentrations, yet radiosensitization decreased such that at 10 μM no radiosensitization was observed. Likewise, no radiosensitization was observed for cells incubated for 24 hr with 0.1, 1 or 10 μM paclitaxel and irradiated. Cell cycle analysis indicated that cells receiving less than 0.25 μM paclitaxel for 12 hr were only transiently blocked in mitosis and then went on to complete mitosis; cells receiving greater than 0.25 μM paclitaxel for 12 hr or more became polyploid, i.e., cells moved into a semisynchronous tetraploid G1 state. (Cells irradiated at 24 hr had progressed to a tetraploid G2 state.) Taken as a whole, these results indicate that paclitaxel-mediated radiosensitization and cell cycle perturbation are both time and concentration dependent. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc1 .
Photoelectron Holography Of Platinum (111)

Platinum atoms near a (111) single-crystal face have been imaged using photoelectron holography. Electron angular intensity patterns were collected at equally spaced wavenumbers from 6 to 12{Angstrom}{sup {minus}1}. Images of atoms near expected atomic positions are obtained from single-wavenumber analyses over the range of the data set. Positions are detected further from the emitter than we have seen previously, and symmetry assumptions are not required. We have also adopted a three dimensional means of representing the data in order to help understand the results. Twin image suppression and artifact reduction in the holographically reconstructed data are set are obtained when images at different wavenumbers are correctly phase-summed. We are assessing the capability of the technique for rendering true three-dimensional structural information for unknown systems.
VDAC Regulation by Cytosolic Proteins

Voltage-dependent anion channel VDAC, positioned on the interface between mitochondria and the cytosol, is at the control point of mitochondria life and death. This large channel plays the role of a “switch” that defines in which direction mitochondria will go: to normal respiration or to suppression of mitochondria metabolism that leads to apoptosis and cell death. As the most abundant protein in the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM), VDAC is known to be responsible for ATP/ADP exchange and for the fluxes of other metabolites across MOM. It controls them by switching between the open and “closed” states that are virtually impermeable to ATP and ADP. This control has dual importance: in maintaining normal mitochondria respiration and in triggering apoptosis when cytochrome c and other apoptogenic factors are released from the intermembrane space into the cytosol. Emerging evidence indicates that VDAC closure promotes apoptotic signals without direct involvement of VDAC in the permeability transition pore or hypothetical Bax-containing cytochrome c permeable pores. Closure of VDAC induced by such dissimilar cytosolic proteins as pro-apoptotic tBid and dimeric tubulin is compared to show that the involved mechanisms are rather distinct. While tBid mostly modulates VDAC voltage gating, tubulin blocks the channel with the efficiency of blockage controlled by voltage. Tubulin strikingly increases voltage sensitivity of VDAC reconstituted into planar phospholipid membrane and could induce VDAC closure at < 10 mV transmembrane potentials. Experiments with isolated mitochondria confirm a tubulin-induced VDAC closure. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism of regulation of mitochondrial energetics, governed by VDAC and tubulin at the mitochondria-cytosol interface. Overall, we demonstrate that VDAC gating is not just an observation made under artificial conditions of channel reconstitution but is a major mechanism of MOM permeability control.
Factors Associated with Asthma Exacerbations During a Long-term Clinical Trial of Controller Medications in Children

Background Asthma exacerbations are a common cause of critical illness in children. Objective To determine factors associated with exacerbations in children with persistent asthma. Methods Regression modeling was used to identify historical, phenotypic, treatment, and time-dependent factors associated with the occurrence of exacerbations, defined by need for oral corticosteroids or emergency or hospital care in the 48-week Pediatric Asthma Controller Trial study. Children age 6 to 14 years with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma were randomized to receive either fluticasone propionate 100 μg twice daily (FP monotherapy), combination fluticasone 100 μg AM and salmeterol twice daily, or montelukast 5 mg once daily. Results Of the 285 participants randomized, 48% had 231 exacerbations. Using a multivariate analysis, which included numerous demographic, pulmonary, and inflammatory parameters, only a history of an asthma exacerbation requiring a systemic corticosteroid in the past year (odds ratio [OR], 2.10; P P = .005), season (spring, fall, or winter vs summer; P ≤ .001), and average seasonal 5% reduction in AM peak expiratory flow (OR, 1.21; P = .01) were each associated with exacerbations. Changes in worsening of symptoms, β-agonist use, and low peak expiratory flow track together before an exacerbation, but have poor positive predictive value of exacerbation. Conclusion Children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma with previous exacerbations are more likely to have a repeat exacerbation despite controller treatment. Inhaled corticosteroids are superior to montelukast at modifying the exacerbation risk. Available physiologic measures and biomarkers and diary card tracking are not reliable predictors of asthma exacerbations.
The thermal diffusivity of methane in the critical region

Abstract Rayleigh light scattering results of the thermal diffusivity of methane along the critical isochore at temperatures to within 0.001 K of the critical temperature are reported. The results, corrected to zero wave vector, are compared with values from an expression introduced previously. Agreement is within 10%. Some possible reasons for this discrepancy are given.
Peptidyl aldehydes as slow-binding inhibitors of dual-specificity phosphatases.

Abstract Peptidyl aldehydes were tested for inhibition of dual-specificity phosphatases VH1 and VHR. The most potent compound, cinnamaldehyde–Gly–Glu–Glu (Cinn–GEE), acted as a slow-binding inhibitor with KI* values of 18 and 288 μM against VH1 and VHR, respectively.
Epitaxial regrowth contacts for the nipi photovoltaic device

The simulation and fabrication of a multi-period GaAs n-type / intrinsic / p-type / intrinsic (nipi) doping superlattice solar cell has been demonstrated. A fabrication procedure has been developed using regrown contacts in wet etched V-grooves. Devices have been fabricated and characterized. Current-Voltage measurements in the dark and under one sun AM0 illumination were taken both experimentally and in simulation. Devices with epitaxial regrown contacts having a shunt resistance of 3.17 kΩ, demonstrates an improvement over prior work. Simulations show the potential for high current collection, with non anti-reflection coated AM0 results achieving 24.02 mA/cm2 short circuit current, due to a drift dominated current collection mechanism.