cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer dynamics: theories, methods, and emerging directions

Consumer attitudes and behaviors are fundamentally dynamic processes; thus, understanding consumer dynamics is crucial for truly understanding consumer behaviors and for firms to formulate appropriate actions. Recent history in empirical marketing research has enjoyed increasingly richer consumer data as the result of technology and firms’ conscious data collection efforts. Richer data, in turn, have propelled the development and application of quantitative methods in modeling consumer dynamics, and have contributed to the understanding of complex dynamic behaviors across many domains. In this paper, we discuss the sources of consumer dynamics and how our understanding in this area has improved over the past four decades. Accordingly, we discuss several commonly used empirical methods for conducting dynamics research. Finally, as the data evolution continues into new forms and new environments, we identify cutting-edge trends and domains, and offer directions for advancing the understanding of consumer dynamics in these emerging areas.
The Impact on Student Achievement of Replacing Principals in District of Columbia Public Schools

The 2007 Public Education Reform Amendment Act led to 39 percent of the principals in District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) being dismissed before the start of the 2008–09 school year, and add...
Effect of Changes in Response Options on Reported Pregnancy Intentions: A Natural Experiment in the United States.

ObjectivesThe Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with state health departments, is the largest state-l...
A Human-Derived, Collagen-Rich Hydrogel Augments Wound Healing in a Diabetic Animal Model.

BACKGROUND Application of collagen products to wounds has been shown to improve wound healing. Using a collagen-based hydrogel (cHG) capable of cellular support previously developed by our laboratory, we hypothesize that our hydrogel will increase the speed of wound healing by providing a 3-dimensional framework for cellular support, increasing angiogenesis and cell-proliferation at the wound bed. METHODS Two, 10-mm excisional wounds were created over the dorsum of 12 male, genetically modified Zucker diabetic rats. Wounds were splinted open to limit healing by wound contracture. One wound was treated with an occlusive dressing (OD), whereas the adjacent wound was treated with an OD plus cHG. Occlusive dressings were changed every other day. Hydrogel was applied on day 2 and every 4 days after until complete wound closure. Rate of wound closure was monitored with digital photography every other day. Wounds were harvested at days 10 and 16 for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS Wound closure was significantly faster in cHG-treated wounds compared with OD-treated wounds. By day 10, cHG-treated wounds achieved 63% wound closure, compared with 55% wound closure in OD-treated wounds (P < 0.05). By day 16, cHG-treated wounds achieved 84% wound closure, compared with 68% wound closure in OD-treated wounds (P < 0.05).Histologically, wound depth was not different between the cHG and OD groups on days 10 and 16. However, wound length was significantly less in the cHG group compared with the OD group (P < 0.05) consistent with digital photographic analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis for RECA-1 demonstrated that blood vessel density in the wound bed was 2.3 times higher in the cHG group compared with the OD group (P = 0.01) on day 16. Cell proliferation was 3.8 times higher in the cHG group versus the OD group (P < 0.05) on day 10. CONCLUSIONS Collagen-based hydrogel-treated wounds demonstrated significantly improved healing compared with control. The thermoresponsive feature of collagen hydrogel and its structural stability at body temperature demonstrate promising clinical potential as a vehicle for the delivery of therapeutic cells to the wound bed.
SGLT2 Inhibitors: Emerging Roles in the Protection Against Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease Among Diabetic Patients

Purpose of Review Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent disease with the severe clinical implications including myocardial infarction, stroke, and kidney disease. Therapies focusing on glycemic control in T2DM such as biguanides, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, and insulin-based regimens have largely failed to substantially improve cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. We review the recent findings on sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors which have shown to have beneficial cardiovascular and kidney-related effects.
CCL3 contributes to secondary damage after spinal cord injury.

Secondary damage after spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by a cascade of events including hemorrhage, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation which increase the lesion size which can influence the functional impairment. Thus, identifying specific mechanisms attributed to secondary injury is critical in minimizing tissue damage and improving neurological outcome. In this work, we are investigating the role of CCL3 (macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α, MIP-1α), a chemokine involved in the recruitment of inflammatory cells, which plays an important role in inflammatory conditions of the central and peripheral nervous system. A mouse model of lower thoracic (T11) spinal cord contusion injury was used. We assessed expression levels of CCL3 and its receptors on the mRNA and protein level and analyzed changes in locomotor recovery and the inflammatory response in the injured spinal cord of wild-type and CCL3−/− mice. The expression of CCL3 and its receptors was increased after thoracic contusion SCI in mice. We then examined the role of CCL3 after SCI and its direct influence on the inflammatory response, locomotor recovery and lesion size using CCL3−/− mice. CCL3−/− mice showed mild but significant improvement of locomotor recovery, a smaller lesion size and reduced neuronal damage compared to wild-type controls. In addition, neutrophil numbers as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, known to play a deleterious role after SCI, were markedly reduced in the absence of CCL3. We have identified CCL3 as a potential target to modulate the inflammatory response and secondary damage after SCI. Collectively, this study shows that CCL3 contributes to progressive tissue damage and functional impairment during secondary injury after SCI.
Bariatric surgery stirs symbionts to counteract diabesity by CA(7)Sting a liver-generated bile acid into the mix.

Obesity and diabetes are major health challenges for the 21st century. Effective treatments affect nutrient signaling along the gut microbiome-bile acid axis. In this issue of Cell, Chaudhari et al. demonstrate that a gut microbial secondary bile acid stimulates hepatic synthesis of a sulfated bile acid with anti-diabetic properties.
Unified Models for Coupled Inductors Applied to Multiphase PWM Converters

Circuit models for multiphase coupled inductors are summarized, compared, and unified. Multiwinding magnetic structures are classified into parallel-coupled structures and series-coupled structures. For parallel-coupled structures used for multiphase inductors, the relationships between: 1) inductance-matrix models, 2) extended cantilever models, 3) magnetic-circuit models, 4) multiwinding transformer models, 5) gyrator-capacitor models, and 6) inductance-dual models are examined and discussed. These models represent identical physical relationships in the multiphase coupled inductors, but emphasize different physical aspects and offer distinct design insights. The circuit duality between the series-coupled structure and the parallel-coupled structure is explored. Design equations for interleaved multiphase buck converters based on these models are streamlined and summarized, and a simplified equation showing the relationships between current ripple with and without coupling is presented. The models and design equations are verified through theoretical derivation, SPICE simulation, and experimental measurements.
High-Brightness RF Linear Accelerators

Soon after electrons and ions were discovered, production of practical generators of particle beams began, and a succession of machines were invented that could produce more energetic and more intense beams. Progress on the energy frontier is often charted from the 1930s in the form of the Livingston Chart, Fig. 1, showing that particle accelerator energy has increased by a factor of about 25 every 10 years. The corresponding cost per million electron volts has decreased by about a factor of 16 per decade (Lawson, 1982). The physics principles on which all of these devices work were deduced long ago; the energy increase were possible because of cost reductions from thorough exploitation of parameters, engineering perfection, systems integration, and advanced manufacturing methods (Voss, 1982).
Three-dimensional fabrication of miniature electron optics

Publisher Summary Microfabrication techniques have advanced to the point where conductors, semi-conductors, and insulators can be positioned in complex three-dimensional arrangements with very high precision. This is equivalent to a conventional machinist's operating miniature milling machines and lathes with micron-sized bits. This flexible machining capability allows electric and magnetic fields to be created that can accelerate, focus, steer, and/or align charged particles, because the fields occupy a volume of space rather than simply existing next to a surface. Specific fabrication techniques developed at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) include stacking silicon chips with Pyrex fibers, selective anodic bonding (slicing), and using a LIGA lathe. These techniques are being used to integrate charged-particle sources, electrodes, and detectors into various miniature instruments, including a subcentimeter scanning electron microscope (SEM), a 10 cm time-of-flight mass spectrometer, a 10 cm nuclear magnetic resonance instrument, and a 5 m linear accelerator/ undulator capable of producing hard X-rays.
Rigidity in Packer-Feedlot Relationships

Concentration in beef packing has risen dramatically in the past 25 years. We develop measures used to describe feedlot-packer relations: (1) a statistic based on the proportion of its sales a feedlot makes to a given packer, and (2) a measure of the switching behavior of feedlots. The measures are calculated using a confidential data set from the USDA Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration. Relationships are found to be both exclusive and stable. Causes for this rigidity are then examined using regression analysis. Transaction costs are shown to help explain why this market differs from a perfectly competitive one.
Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, and Dimethyldicarbonate

Sorbic acid is a short-chained unsaturated fatty acid widely used in the wine and food industry as a chemical preservative. Because sorbic acid is not readily soluble, it is usually sold as the soluble salt, potassium sorbate. Effective primarily as a fungistat, sorbic acid is added to sweet wines. Although a generally effective inhibitor of fermentative yeasts, sorbic acid has little inhibitory activity toward lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, or oxidative film forming yeast.
Lymphotoxin is expressed as a heteromeric complex with a distinct 33-kDa glycoprotein on the surface of an activated human T cell hybridoma.

We characterized the membrane-associated form of lymphotoxin (surface LT) on the activated II-23.D7 T cell hybridoma. Antibodies to rLT precipitated both surface LT and a distinct 33-kDa glycoprotein (p33). Because p33 and surface LT were antigenically unrelated, their coprecipitation suggested a physical association of p33 and surface LT on the membrane. Pulse-chase analysis indicated that LT and p33 associate with each other early in the LT biosynthetic pathway, precluding the possibility that LT is secreted and bound to p33 or a surface receptor. Furthermore, no p33 was associated with the secreted form of LT. Isoelectric focusing of surface LT and p33 under nondenaturing and denaturing conditions confirmed that surface LT and p33 existed as a complex. Treatment of cells with a high concentration of salt or with acid indicated that surface LT is a peripheral membrane protein. Although secreted LT is a homologous trimer, protein cross-linking studies revealed that surface LT existed as a monomer associated with a dimer of p33. Together the results demonstrate a novel mechanism for stable membrane expression of LT by activated T cells.
SIRIUS XML IR System at INEX 2006: Approximate Matching of Structure and Textual Content

In this paper we report on the retrieval approach taken by the VALORIA laboratory of the University of South-Brittany while participating at INEX 2006 ad-hoc track with the SIRIUS XML IR system. SIRIUS retrieves relevant XML elements by approximate matching both the content and the structure of the XML documents. A weighted editing distance on XML paths is used to approximately match the documents structure while the IDF of the researched terms are used to rank the textual content of the retrieved elements. We briefly describe the approach and the extensions made to the SIRIUS XML IR system to address each of the four subtasks of the INEX 2006 ad-hoc track. Finally we present and analyze the SIRIUS retrieval evaluation results. SIRIUS runs were ranked on the 1st position out of 77 submitted runs for the Best In Context task and obtained several top ten results for both the Focused and All In Context tasks.
Butyrate-induced changes in nuclease sensitivity of chromatin cannot be correlated with transcriptional activation.

Abstract We examined in the H4IIE rat hepatoma cell line the relationship between butyrate-induced changes in the nuclease sensitivity of chromatin and changes in transcriptional activity of specific genes. The butyrate-inducible metallothionein I (MT-I) gene underwent a dramatic increase in DNase I sensitivity after 3 h of butyrate treatment. However, genes not transcribed in H4IIE cells underwent the same changes in DNase I sensitivity. Thus, butyrate-induced increases in DNase I sensitivity are not sufficient for the transcriptional activation of a gene. Butyrate treatment has also been reported to alter the sensitivity of sequences to micrococcal nuclease (MNase) in a manner reflecting their tissue-specific expression. Butyrate exposure caused increased digestion of the MT-I gene by MNase. However, butyrate-induced MNase sensitivity also occurred for genes which are neither transcribed in untreated cells nor butyrate inducible. Moreover, cadmium, a potent transcriptional activator of the MT-I gene, does not alter the sensitivity of the MT-I gene to MNase. Thus, the butyrate-induced alterations in MNase sensitivity are neither sufficient for, necessary for, nor indicative of transcriptional activation.
Neurochemical analysis of rat strain differences in the startle gating-disruptive effects of dopamine agonists.

Abstract The disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) in rats by dopamine (DA) agonists is used to study the neural basis of strain differences in dopaminergic function. We reported that, compared to Long–Evans (LEH) rats, Sprague–Dawley (SDH) rats are more sensitive to the PPI-disruptive effects of the direct D1/D2 agonist apomorphine (APO) and the indirect DA agonist d-amphetamine (AMPH). This strain difference is heritable, with PPI drug sensitivity following a generational pattern (SDH>N2>F1>LEH) suggestive of additive effects of multiple genes. Here, we assessed the neurochemical bases for these heritable strain differences by measuring tissue levels of dopamine, serotonin (5HT) and their respective metabolites in several forebrain regions after vehicle, APO or AMPH administration. SDH rats were more sensitive than LEH rats to the PPI-disruptive effects of both APO (0.5 mg/kg) and AMPH (4.5 mg/kg). Several significant SDH vs. LEH strain differences in regional neurochemical levels were detected, as were drug effects on these chemicals. However, SDH, LEH and F1 rats did not exhibit differential drug sensitivity in any neurochemical indices measures. These findings suggest that inherited differences in the dopaminergic regulation of sensorimotor gating do not likely reflect differences in presynaptic forebrain dopaminergic or serotonergic processes.
Full-face nonablative dermal remodeling with a 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser.

Background.Full-face laser-induced dermal remodeling has traditionally involved ablative methods with their associated complications and limitations. Rhytide improvement requires, among other things, dermal collagen remodeling. Such remodeling has been shown to occur without the requirement of epide
Radio advertising information strategy: differences between services and products

Discusses how basic differences between services and products may affect advertising strategy and tactics. Examines a large number of broadcast radio adverts to study the information strategy used in service and product advertisements. Posits that the information commonly used in adverts for services and products was found to differ sharply. Presents one rationale for these information differences using concepts from the services literature. Offers suggestions for improving broadcast advertising effectiveness for service marketers.
Abstract 2872: Induction of autophagy in hypoxic HT29 cells requires functional JNK1

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL BACKGROUND: Hypoxic HT29 colon cancer cell lines exhibit higher sensitivity to oxaliplatin when SEK1 function is impaired and higher resistance when MKK7 is down regulated (which in turn, cause more profound inhibition of JNK activation). We observed differential effects of JNK1/JNK2 modulation on oxaliplatin sensitivity of hypoxic HT29 cells to oxaliplatin treatment that implied a pro-survival function for JNK1. Further, we have shown that both oxaliplatin- and hypoxia-induced autophagy in these cells is diminished in the presence of JNK inhibitor SP600125, and that the cells are sensitized thereby. PURPOSE: Here we investigate further how modulation of signaling through JNK influences autophagy in hypoxic HT29 cells treated with oxaliplatin, and expand the cellular model to additional colon cancer cell lines. We created a panel of HT29-derived cell lines stably expressing dominant negative constructs for SEK1 (HTS13), MKK7 (HTM9), JNK1 (HTJ1.3) and JNK2 (HTJ2.2). We also utilized 6 colon cancer cell lines (HCT116, LoVo, RKO1, SW480, DLD1 and HCT15) in which a dominant negative construct for JNK1 was introduced by viral delivery. RESULTS: Our data demonstrate that in HTJ1.3 cells, hypoxic induction of autophagy is impaired. Silencing of JNK2 in these cells by viral delivery of shRNA does not affect either autophagy induction, or sensitivity to oxaliplatin. Downregulation of up-stream activators of JNK, as in the dnSEK1 or dnMKK7 derivatives, similarly does not affect autophagy induction, while still demonstrating differential effects on activation of JNK isoforms and its major target, c-Jun. Finally, we show that colon cancer cell lines differ in their ability initiate autophagy under hypoxia. Correspondingly, the introduction of dominant negative JNK1 causes some enhancement of oxaliplatin cytotoxicity in LoVo, RKO1 and HCT15 cell lines, which all demonstrate a greater propensity to autophagy under these circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that JNK1 plays a central role in autophagy induction under hypoxic conditions. Knockdown of JNK1 renders HT29 cells more sensitive to hypoxia due to impaired autophagy induction, and JNK2 is unable to substitute for JNK1 under these conditions. Our results also imply involvement of alternative JNK1 activators in autophagy induction by hypoxia. Finally, induction of autophagy and enhancement of oxaliplatin cytotoxicity, by this mechanism, appear to be model-specific in colon cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2872. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2872
WE‐E‐BRB‐08: Motion and Delivery Management with Novel 4D‐Optimization

Purpose: Intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) has the ability to deliver highly conformal dose distributions to tumors of complex shapes. However, motion uncertainties can substantially degrade the quality of an otherwise optimized treatment plan. We present a novel 4D‐optimization technique that exploits time effects and provides plans which are robust against tumor motion and warrant deliverability.Method and Materials: Our 4D‐optimization technique takes all registered breathing phases into account. All 4D CT data are conformally registered. To account for lung tissue inhomogeneities, we use Monte Carlo dose calculations. The 4D‐optimization method seeks to minimize the overall dose subject to i) lower bounds for tumor voxels and ii) upper bounds for remaining voxels, and iii) closeness of the beamlet intensities for neighboring phases. Results: Based on a clinical lungcancer case, our 4D‐optimization method delivers robust plans that significantly outperform the gating‐based optimal plans both in terms of target coverage as well as OAR sparing. In fact, the EUD to the PTV deviates only by 0.1% from the prescribed dose for our 4D method, whereas the gated EUD deviates by 2%. Moreover, since the 4D‐robust plan is quasi‐static and can be delivered over all breathing phases, it warrants for a reduction in delivery errors and is less sensitive to motion uncertainties. Note that gating is quite sensitive to the choice of the gated phase and, thus, requires enlarged margins. Furthermore, due to reduced number of segments needed, we report an increase in delivery efficiency. Conclusion: Our proposed 4D optimization methoddelivers plans that are robust against motion uncertainties. Moreover, the plan is also inherently robust against sequencing and delivery errors. Therefore, it allows to reduce margins on the ITV. The method outperforms gating both in dose coverage as well as delivery robustness and increases the delivery efficiency.
Small local governments and information management

Abstract During the past 10 years a revolution in computer technology has produced small, powerful, inexpensive computing devices that are easy to use and can be applied to a wide range of local government activities. Additionally, user-friendly generic and packaged software is becoming available for use with many governmental functions. Small local governments (cities under 50,000 and counties under 100,000) are adopting computer technology at rates higher than a decade ago. However, they lag behind both larger governments and businesses in computer adoption. Nevertheless, if procurement trends continue and announced plans come to fruition, local government could become a substantial market for computer technology. Most small governmental computers are used for automation of basic “housekeeping” activities such as financial management, word processing, and record keeping, which is highly consistent with larger government and business uses of computers.
Photochemically catalyzed generation of site-specific 8-nitroguanine adducts in DNA by the reaction of long-lived neutral guanine radicals with nitrogen dioxide

A novel photochemical approach is described for synthesizing site-specific 8-nitro-2‘-deoxyguanosine (8-nitro-dG) adducts DNA. The method is based on the bimolecular reaction of a neutral, deproton...
Reagentless functionalization of gold nanoparticles via a 3 + 2 Huisgen cycloaddition.

Abstract A mild method for functionalization of gold nanoparticles is reported. The reactions of azide functionalized nanoparticles with propynoic acid derivatives provide triazole functionalized nanoparticles under very mild reaction conditions. Characterization of the nanoparticle-bound triazoles using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy indicates that both the 1,4 and 1,5 triazole regioisomers are formed on the nanoparticle surface.
Distinguishing the contributions of the perichondrium, cartilage, and vascular endothelium to skeletal development

During the initiation of endochondral ossification three events occur that are inextricably linked in time and space: chondrocytes undergo terminal differentiation and cell death, the skeletal vascular endothelium invades the hypertrophic cartilage matrix, and osteoblasts differentiate and begin to deposit a bony matrix. These developmental programs implicate three tissues, the cartilage, the perichondrium, and the vascular endothelium. Due to their intimate associations, the interactions among these three tissues are exceedingly difficult to distinguish and elucidate. We developed an ex vivo system to unlink the processes initiating endochondral ossification and establish more precisely the cellular and molecular contributions of the three tissues involved. In this ex vivo system, the renal capsule of adult mice was used as a host environment to grow skeletal elements. We first used a genetic strategy to follow the fate of cells derived from the perichondrium and from the vasculature. We found that the perichondrium, but not the host vasculature, is the source of both trabecular and cortical osteoblasts. Endothelial cells residing within the perichondrium are the first cells to participate in the invasion of the hypertrophic cartilage matrix, followed by endothelial cells derived from the host environment. We then combined these lineage analyses with a series of tissue manipulations to address how the absence of the perichondrium or the vascular endothelium affected skeletal development. We show that although the perichondrium influences the rate of chondrocytes maturation and hypertrophy, it is not essential for chondrocytes to undergo late hypertrophy. The perichondrium is crucial for the proper invasion of blood vessels into the hypertrophic cartilage and both the perichondrium and the vasculature are essential for endochondral ossification. Collectively, these studies clarify further the contributions of the cartilage, perichondrium, and vascular endothelium to long bone development.
Hyperasymptotics and the Linear Boundary Layer Problem: Why Asymptotic Series Diverge

The simplest problem with boundary layers, $\epsilon^{2} u_{xx} - u = - f(x)$, is used to illustrate (i) why the perturbation series in powers of $\epsilon$ is asymptotic but divergent, (ii) why the optimally truncated expansion is ``superasymptotic'' in the sense that that error is proportional to $\exp(- \mbox{[constant]} / \epsilon)$, and (iii) how to obtain an improved "hyperasymptotic" approximation.
Recovery of habituation in infants.

Abstract On the basis of studies of habituation in animals it was predicted that infants would exhibit habituation of fixation time to a visual stimulus and recovery of fixation time over time. Thirty-two 4-month-old infants were given 10 familiarization trials with one stimulus followed by a retention interval and then presentation of both the familiar and a novel stimulus. Males but not females habituated their fixation time over trials and differentiated between the novel and familiar stimuli when the posthabituation interval was 15 sec, but neither males nor females did so when the interval was 5 min. Evidence for recovery to the familiar stimulus over 5 min was inconclusive due to possible effects of situational fatigue. The results were interpreted in terms of Sokolov's neuronal model of memory.
Gardens or graveyards: Science education reform and school culture

This case study describes what happened when two lead teachers in a statewide reform project tried to change science teaching in their schools. Instead of using traditional criteria for leadership, we view their work in the context of their schools' cultures and use Rosenholtz's (1991) concepts of egalitarianism and isolation to analyze how those cultures contributed to and obstructed reform. Five themes illustrate this model of teacher leadership and the first stirrings of school change: reform as a “science look,” change through parental involvement, competing reforms, change through a “sideways door,” and change through public events. The study shows the importance of patience in reform implementation and the need for sensitive study of early change within school contexts. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 35: 757–775, 1998.
Development of CCDs for REXIS on OSIRIS-REx

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Strategic Astrophysics Technology Program (Grant NNX12AF22G)
MAPKAPK-2 is a critical signaling intermediate in NHE3 activation following Na+-glucose cotransport.

Villus enterocyte nutrient absorption occurs via precisely orchestrated interactions among multiple transporters. For example, transport by the apical Na+-glucose cotransporter, SGLT1, triggers translocation of NHE3, Na+-H+ antiporter isoform 3, to the plasma membrane. This translocation requires activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Akt2, and ezrin. Akt2 directly phosphorylates ezrin, but the precise role of p38 MAPK in this process remains to be defined. Sequence analysis suggested that p38 MAPK could not directly phosphorylate Akt2. We hypothesized that MAPKAPK-2 might link p38 MAPK and Akt2 activation. MAPKAPK-2 was phosphorylated after initiation of Na+-glucose cotransport with kinetics that paralleled activation of p38 MAPK, Akt2, and ezrin. MAPKAPK-2, Akt2, and ezrin phosphorylation were all attenuated by p38 MAPK inhibition but were unaffected by dominant negative ezrin expression. Akt2 inhibition blocked ezrin but not p38 MAPK or MAPKAPK-2 phosphorylation, suggesting that MAPKAPK-2 could be an intermediate in p38 MAPK-dependent Akt2 activation. Consistent with this, MAP-KAPK-2 could phosphorylate an Akt2-derived peptide in vitro. siRNA-mediated MAPKAPK-2 knockdown inhibited phosphorylation of Akt2 and ezrin but not p38 MAPK. MAPKAPK-2 knockdown also blocked NHE3 translocation. Thus, MAP-KAPK-2 controls Akt2 phosphorylation. In so doing, MAP-KAPK-2 links p38 MAPK to Akt2, ezrin, and NHE3 activation after SGLT1-mediated transport.
A Spectrally Selective Shutter In Proximity To Focal Plane

This paper describes a repetitive spectrally selective shutter that can be installed between the optics and the focal plane to eliminate the requirement for covering the entire optical aperture with a large revolving filter. The optomechanical method used provides rapid "snap-shot" imagery by varying the tilt angle of one or two narrow-bandpass filters, v) that open aperture occurs only when their spectral transmission bands coincide. An optical design configuration allows the spectral shuttering to be performed in the same location normally designated for a chopper wheel. Under these conditions, spectral filter size needs only to encompass focal plane dimensions, rather than match optical aperture diameter as previously required. Ray trace diagrams and graphic plots of transmission versus time and angle are presented which analytically predict the effectiveness of this technique. These results are further substantiated by experimental data obtained in the laboratory. In addition, geometrical, dimensional, and material requirements for optimum two-filter performance are analyzed in detail, together with allowable tolerances.
Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Di- and trisubstituted Ureas from Thiophenoxy Carbamate Resins

The microwave-assisted, parallel synthesis of di- and trisubstituted ureas is described. Microwave irradiation provides a significant rate enhancement to the in situ thermolytic cleavage of isocyanates from polymer-supported carbamates. The method is amenable to library production and the target ureas are generally obtained in good purities (>80%).
Predicting Position on Teaching Creationism (Instead of Evolution) in Public Schools

ABSTRACT The federal government has repeatedly denied the introduction of creationism into public schools as it is a direct violation of the separation of church and state. Little is known about those who would opt to eliminate evolution in scientific curriculum altogether. The authors examined this more extreme anti-evolution perspective in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults ( N = 2,000). A binary logistic regression model involving 11 relevant predictors revealed that the most important predictor of support for the teaching of creationism-only education in public schools was low educational attainment, which yielded a stronger magnitude of effect than did belief in God or importance of religion. Results are interpreted and discussed in the context of implications for educational policy and science curriculum in public schools.
The use of microcomputers in accounting education

Abstract Developments in the microcomputer industry promise to revolutionize American business. Recent projections show 1983 retail sales to be almost 8 billion dollars. Four years ago Brigham Young University began using microcomputers to assist in accounting education. This article explains how the micro is used in a variety of undergraduate and graduate classes and for administrative purposes. The micro is a very powerful tool that has many future uses in accounting education. Examples include: accounting and data base packages and as an auditing or research tool. The use of the micro, however, is not without problems. For example: funding, training, student assistance, and quality teaching materials. Accounting educators must train their students in the use of the microcomputer since failure to do so would result in their missing one of the most significant trends in American business.
Translation Initiation and Ribosomal Biogenesis: Involvement of a Putative rRNA Helicase and RPL46

Cold-sensitive mutations in the SPB genes (spb1-spb7) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae suppress the inhibition of translation initiation resulting from deletion of the poly(A)-binding protein gene (PAB1). The SPB4 protein belongs to a family of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent RNA helicases. The aberrant production of 25S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) occurring in spb4-1 mutants or the deletion of SPB2 (RPL46) permits the deletion of PAB1. These data suggest that mutations affecting different steps of 60S subunit formation can allow PAB-independent translation, and they indicate that further characterization of the spb mutations could lend insight into the biogenesis of the ribosome.
A predictable real-time kernel for distributed multisensor systems

The authors present a real-time kernel developed to support a distributed multisensor system encountered in robotics applications. To ensure predictability, the kernel provides services with bounded worst-case execution times. In addition, the kernel allows the programmer to specify timing constraints for process execution and interprocess communication. The kernel uses these timing constraints both for scheduling processes and for scheduling communications. To illustrate the kernel, the authors describe a multisensor system being developed on their distributed real-time system. They present the measured performance of kernel primitives along with conclusions and remarks regarding distributed real-time systems. >
The effect of environmental temperature and average dose rate of microwave radiation on the oxygen-consumption rate of mice.

The oxygen consumption rate of CF1 male mice was determined before, during, and after sham- and microwave-irradiation at environmental temperatures of 20° C, 24° C, 30° C, and 35° C, relative humidity of 55%, and air flow rate of 78 ml/min. Five forward power levels ranging from 0.09 to 3.3 W, which resulted in corresponding average dose rates ranging from 1.2 to 45.1 mW/g were used. The values of the oxygen consumption rate were converted to those of the specific metabolic rate (SMR). The result indicates that with high levels of microwave dosing (greater than 10 mW/g) the specific metabolic rate of mice decreased in some cases, in the environmental temperatures of 20° C and 24° C. However, the decreased SMR values were not lower than the SMR values of the sham-irradiated group in 30° C. In the case of 35° C, the high level dosing with microwave radiation caused increases in the SMR value over the sham value. A possible trend towards increased SMR value during and after irradiation with low level (1.6 mW/g) microwave radiation in the environmental temperatures of 24° C and 30° C suggests further experiments with low level microwave radiation to determine possible effects of low level microwave radiation in stimulating increases in specific metabolic rate.
Rethinking Cells to Society

It is an exciting time to be a developmental scientist. We have advanced theoretical frameworks and developed ground-breaking methods for addressing questions of interest, ranging literally from cells to society. We know more now than we have ever known about human development and the base of acquired knowledge is increasing exponentially. In this paper we share some thoughts about where we are in the science of human development, how we got there, what may be going wrong and what may be going right. Finally, we offer some thoughts about where we go from here to assure that in the future we achieve the best developmental science possible.
Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing with Sensory Testing (FEESST) in Healthy Controls

The purpose of this study was to introduce a new method of bedside assessment of both the motor and sensory components of swallowing called fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST). This approach combines the established bedside endoscopic swallowing evaluation with a more recently described technique that allows objective determination of laryngopharyngeal (LP) sensory discrimination thresholds by delivering air pulse stimuli to the mucosa innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve via a flexible endoscope. A prospective study was conducted of FEESST in 20 healthy control subjects, mean age of 34 +/- 11 years. LP sensory thresholds were defined as either normal ( 6.0 mmHg APP). Subsequent to LP sensory testing, food of varying consistencies, mixed with green food coloring, was given and attention was paid to spillage, laryngeal penetration, pharyngeal residue, aspiration, and reflux. Therapeutic maneuvers such as postural changes and airway protection techniques were performed on each subject to determine if the assessed swallowing parameters were affected by maneuvers. All patients completed the study; all had normal LP sensory discrimination thresholds (2.9 +/- 0.7 mmHg APP). There were no instances of spillage, laryngeal penetration, or aspiration. Two of 20 subjects had pharyngeal residue and 2 of 20 had reflux. Institution of therapeutic maneuvers resulted in a predictable change in the endoscopic view of the laryngopharyngeal anatomy. FEESST provides comprehensive, objective sensory and motor information about deglutition in the bedside setting and might have implications for the bedside diagnosis and management of patients with dysphagia.
Evaluation of microbore and packed capillary column chromatography with an ethylvinylbenzene—divinylbenzene polymeric packing material and supercritical ammonia as the mobile phase

Abstract An investigation into the use of ammonia as a mobile phase for high-resolution supercritical fluid chromatography was conducted. A highly cross-linked ethylvinylbenzene—divinylbenzene polymeric packing material (5-μm diameter) in microbore stainless-steel and nickel capillary tubing demonstrated reasonable efficiencies ( ca. 10 000–15 000 plates m −1 , after initial exposure to ammonia) without phase degradation as previously observed when using open-tubular capillary columns. However, ammonia treatment caused an initial rapid loss in efficiency ( ca. 42%) for reasons as yet undetermined. The polymeric packing materials were much more inert than conventional silica-based packing materials. Separations of polar drugs, underivatized amino acids and defoliant herbicides are shown.
Spacecraft Line-of-Sight Stabilization Using LWIR Earth Signature

The objective of this study is to investigate the potential of using the bright and nearuniform Earth thermal infrared (or long wavelength infrared, LWIR) signature as a stable reference for accurate (micro-rad or less) inertial pointing and tracking on-board an space vehicle, including the determination of the fundamental limits of applicability of the proposed method for space missions. We demonstrate sub-micro radian level pointing accuracy under a representative set of disturbances experienced by the spacecraft in orbit. I. Introduction n this paper we investigate the potential of using the bright and near-uniform Earth thermal infrared (or long wavelength infrared, LWIR) signature as a stable reference for accurate (micro-rad or less) inertial pointing and tracking of an optical communication beacon on-board an space vehicle, including the determination of the fundamental limits of applicability of the proposed method for space missions in LEO and deep space. In the thermal Infrared Earth’s emission appears relatively uniform and it is independent of the Sun Illumination. Therefore it can be used as a stable pointing reference. Up to the present time, when a space vehicle requires a reference signal for inertial pointing the choices are: a signal beacon from an Earth location, the Earth radiance in the visible, or a star tracker. However, limitations can arise from using the above techniques. For example, the signal beacon suffers from limited signal power (either in RF or optical) and will constrain the application to limited ranges, errors due to stray-light and centroiding limit the accuracy of a star tracker, and the spatial/temporal variability of the Earth’s albedo and its illumination by the Sun introduces limitations when used in the visible or near infrared. To by-pass these limitations, we consider to use the bright and near-uniform image of the Earth in the LWIR (8-13 ∝m), Fig. 1, to obtain a reference signal for inertial stabilization and pointing of a spacecraft platform. Advantages in using this approach are twofold: the radiance of Earth in the LWIR is not only much more uniform and with less variability compared to the one in the visible, as shown in Figure 1, but its radiance is near independent of the Sun illumination phase [1], with the consequence that the emission of the Earth in the thermal infrared is roughly
Ecology of yellowstone thermal effluent systems: Intersects of blue-green algae, grazing flies (Paracoenia, Ephydridae) and water mites (Partnuniella, Hydrachnellae)

As subjects for ecosystem studies, thermal spring effluents offer the advantages of trophic diversity with taxonomic simplicity, ease of sampling, replicability, world-wide distribution and manipulability. The dominant primary producers (filamentous blue-green algae) are grazed by ephydrid flies. These in turn harbor larvae of the water mite Partnuniella. The high instrinic rate of increase of the fly enables it to exploit temporary cool spots in the mat. The lower fecundity and longer life cycle of the mite restrict its ability to exploit temporarily suitable habitat. Thus the intersect of mites with flies is a sensitive measure of stability in the algal mat. Springs with a variable-flow pattern and consequent mat instability had both a lower mean incidence of parasitism and a lower mean larval load per fly. The data support our hypothesis that the abundance and relative densities of organisms in higher trophic levels can be predicted from knowledge of the growth and stability patterns of the filamentous blue-green algal mat in thermal spring effluents.
Design for priority in queuing networks

The design procedure for the queuing network of a multiplexed communication link has been found based on priority requirement and the statistical nature and properties of messages transmitted through the information channels. The channel capacity of each channel sharing the link has also been found.
A method for the trace analysis of naptalam (N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid) in water.

A method for the trace analysis of naptalam, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid, in water is presented. Naptalam, a pre-emergent, broad-leaf, and grassy herbicide, is used with soybean, peanut, and vine crops. Tap and well water samples are extracted on a cyclohexyl solid phase extraction cartridge, eluted from the cartridge with methanol, and evaporated to dryness. The sample is esterified with diazoethane, evaporated to dryness, reconstituted with methanol, and converted to the stable N-1-naphthyl phthalimide in the gas chromatograph (GC) injector port for detection and quantitation using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. Sample injection technique and injector port temperature are critical to high derivatization yields. Confirmation of conversion to N-1-naphthyl phthalimide was made by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Spiking tests at levels of 3 to 100 μg/L showed good recovery.
Press Treatment of Islam: What Kind of Picture Do the Media Paint?

This research investigated portrayals of Muslims in the media, drawing upon an analysis of articles appearing in the Times of London, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and The Detroit Free ...
Rotary wave-ejector enhanced pulse detonation engine

The use of a non-steady ejector based on wave rotor technology is modeled for pulse detonation engine performance improvement and for compatibility with turbomachinery components in hybrid propulsion systems. The rotary wave ejector device integrates a pulse detonation process with an efficient momentum transfer process in specially shaped channels of a single wave-rotor component. In this paper, a quasi-one-dimensional numerical model is developed to help design the basic geometry and operating parameters of the device. The unsteady combustion and flow processes are simulated and compared with a baseline PDE without ejector enhancement. A preliminary performance assessment is presented for the wave ejector configuration, considering the effect of key geometric parameters, which are selected for high specific impulse. It is shown that the rotary wave ejector concept has significant potential for thrust augmentation relative to a basic pulse detonation engine.
Electron‐stimulated production of NO2(g) from O2 coadsorbed with NO on Pt(111)

Using laser resonance‐enhanced ionization spectroscopy, we have detected O(3PJ=2,1,0) and NO X 2Π3/2,1/2 (ν=5) above a 6–350 eV electron beam‐irradiated Pt(111) surface containing coadsorbed O2 and NO at 90 K. Both product yields have the same chemisorbed NO coverage dependence at saturation O2 precoverage as well as the same ≊10 eV excitation threshold. We conclude that both O(3PJ) and NO(ν=5) are laser‐induced photodissociation fragments of NO2(g). This is established by the observation of identical O(3P2) and NO(ν=5) time‐of‐flight distributions that correspond to NO2 desorption from the surface. The NO2(g) is probably the reaction product of a collision between an O atom (created by electron‐stimulated dissociation of adsorbed O2) and NO(a). We correlate the 10 eV NO2 production threshold with the dissociative ionization of the 3σg molecular bonding orbital of O2(a).