cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The diphtheria toxin channel-forming T domain translocates its own NH2-terminal region across planar bilayers.

The T domain of diphtheria toxin, which extends from residue 202 to 378, causes the translocation of the catalytic A fragment (residues 1–201) across endosomal membranes and also forms ion-conducting channels in planar phospholipid bilayers. The carboxy terminal 57-amino acid segment (322–378) in the T domain is all that is required to form these channels, but its ability to do so is greatly augmented by the portion of the T domain upstream from this. In this work, we show that in association with channel formation by the T domain, its NH2 terminus, as well as some or all of the adjacent hydrophilic 63 amino acid segment, cross the lipid bilayer. The phenomenon that enabled us to demonstrate that the NH2-terminal region of the T domain was translocated across the membrane was the rapid closure of channels at cis negative voltages when the T domain contained a histidine tag at its NH2 terminus. The inhibition of this effect by trans nickel, and by trans streptavidin when the histidine tag sequence was biotinylated, clearly established that the histidine tag was present on the trans side of the membrane. Furthermore, the inhibition of rapid channel closure by trans trypsin, combined with mutagenesis to localize the trypsin site, indicated that some portion of the 63 amino acid NH2-terminal segment of the T domain was also translocated to the trans side of the membrane. If the NH2 terminus was forced to remain on the cis side, by streptavidin binding to the biotinylated histidine tag sequence, channel formation was severely disrupted. Thus, normal channel formation by the T domain requires that its NH2 terminus be translocated across the membrane from the cis to the trans side, even though the NH2 terminus is >100 residues removed from the channel-forming part of the molecule.
Preparation and evaluation of a novel star-shaped polyacid-constructed dental glass–ionomer system

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize novel star-shaped poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid)s via chain-transfer radical polymerization technique, use these polyacids to formulate the resin-modified glass–ionomer cements, and evaluate the mechanical strengths of the formed cements Materials and methods The star-shaped poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid)s were synthesized via a chain-transfer radical polymerization reaction using a newly synthesized star-shaped chain-transfer agent. The effects of MW, GM-tethering ratio, P/L ratio and aging on the compressive properties of the formed experimental cements were studied. Compressive, diametral tensile as well as flexural strengths were evaluated and compared to those of Fuji II and Fuji II LC cements. Results The star-shaped polyacids showed significantly lower viscosities in water as compared to their linear counterparts. The cements formulated with these novel polyacids showed significantly improved mechanical strengths i.e., 49% in yield strength, 41% in modulus, 25% in CS, 20% in DTS and 36% in FS, higher than commercial Fuji II LC. After aging in water for 30 days, the compressive strengths of the experimental cements were significantly changed with an increase of 29% in YS, 19% in modulus as well as 23% in CS and a decrease of 5% in toughness, indicating that aging in water enhances the salt-bridge formation and increases brittleness. Conclusions A novel light-cured glass–ionomer cement system composed of the star-shaped poly(carboxylic acid)s has been developed via a cost-effective and time-efficient chain-transfer radical polymerization.
Association Between Habitat Characteristics, Human Activities, and Anuran Species in a Wetland Agricultural Landscape

Abstract I conducted anuran vocalization surveys in cranberry bogs, drainage ditches, and reservoirs of three active and three abandoned cranberry farms in the New Jersey Pinelands to examine the distribution of four anuran species in three consecutive years. I then applied a multinomial model to quantify their calling intensity and assess the influence of cranberry cultivation activities on each anuran species. I discovered that four species naturally inhabiting the Pinelands exhibited varied responses to cranberry cultivation. The responses ranged from positive to negative depending on the life history characteristics, disturbance tolerance, and especially the breeding season of the species in question. Green frogs (Lithobates (=Rana) clamitans) showed a high abundance in the bog habitats of active farms, where they exhibited prolonged courtship calls in late summer. Fowler's Toads (Anaxyrus (=Bufo) fowleri) exhibited high abundance in the ditches of active farms and the reservoirs of abandoned farms. O...
Suppression Subtractive Hybridization to Identify Gene Expressions in Variant and Classic Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), a clinically aggressive cancer, accounts for approximately 25% of primary lung cancers. We carried out suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), a PCR-based method for cDNA subtraction, between the human classic, NCI-H69 and variant, more aggressive NCI-N417 SCLC cell lines to isolate and characterize variable expression of genes, which may be responsible for differential degree of tumorigenicity of SCLC. Using NCI-N417 as a tester, we obtained 28 differentially expressed cDNA clones from a total of 60 arbitrarily picked clones. Among the 28 cDNA clones, 4 were unknown genes, 2 were fatty acid binding protein (FABP) with specific identification of mRNA for mammary-derived growth inhibitor (MDGI), 1 was human alpha-enolase, 4 were ribosomal proteins, 2 were structural genes, vimentin and moesin (membrane-organizing extension spike protein), and 9 were homologous with murine leukemia viruses, whereas 2 others had enhanced expression in NCI-H69 and A549 cell lines, and 4 were cell surface proteins and murine type C retrovirus. Expression of FABP/MDGI was significantly high in NCI-H417, which may influence mitosis and cell growth as implicated in other tissues, contrary to the conclusion drawn for the role of MDGI in human breast cancer. Higher expression of ribosomal proteins in NCI-N417 compared to NCI-H69 may have a role in differential tumorigenicity and metastatic ability. Further, we obtained 14 differentially expressed cDNA clones by reversing the tester and driver, using NCI-H69 as a tester. Of these 14 differential cDNAs, 5 were unknown genes, 2 were specific for keratins, others had similarities with protease inhibitor, human BAC clone, Alu RNA binding protein, and tumor expression-enhanced gene. Characterization of these differentially expressed cDNA clones will provide useful information in understanding of the genes responsible for differential tumorigenicity of SCLC.
Cophylogeny of Quill Mites from the Genus Syringophilopsis (Acari: Syringophilidae) and their North American Passerine Hosts

Species of Syringophilopsis quill mites are found in the flight feathers of passerine birds. A phylogeny of species from this genus infecting North American passerines was inferred from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene and the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA gene. Based on the large genetic distance among lineages, the genus appears to be composed of several cryptic species. A reconciliation analysis of these mites and their avian hosts indicates a limited, but significant, degree of cophylogeny. However, strict cospeciation is not found to be occurring in this system.
High-resolution carbon mapping on the million-hectare Island of Hawaii

Current markets and international agreements for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) rely on carbon (C) monitoring techniques. Combining field measurements, airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-based observations, and satellite-based imagery, we developed a 30-meter-resolution map of aboveground C density spanning 40 vegetation types found on the million-hectare Island of Hawaii. We estimate a total of 28.3 teragrams of C sequestered in aboveground woody vegetation on the island, which is 56% lower than Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that do not resolve C variation at fine spatial scales. The approach reveals fundamental ecological controls over C storage, including climate, introduced species, and land-use change, and provides a fourfold decrease in regional costs of C measurement over field sampling alone.
Urologist Practice Styles in the Initial Evaluation of Elderly Men With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES To investigate the degree to which expenditures on symptom evaluations vary among urologists and the factors associated with such variation. As the medical and surgical specialists for men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), urologists provide testing to evaluate symptoms and determine therapy. METHODS We developed a cohort of men with an initial urologist visit for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from a 5% sample of Medicare patients (1999-2007) and established a physician level factor, practice style, as a function of average per patient expenditures. We then determined which AUA BPH guideline elements explained variation in quantity and expenditures for BPH testing, and also examined the impact of patient and physician factors on practice style. RESULTS A nearly 15-fold variation in urologists' average per-patient expenditures existed ($35 to $527 per month; Median $92). Practice styles were associated with physician (P < .01 all examined variables) and patient (P < .01 for comorbidity, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status) factors. Guideline recommended care was provided at lower rates by the lowest expenditure urologists compared with middle- to highest-intensity urologists (P < .01). Practice style variations were attributable mainly to differences in tests characterized by the guidelines as optional and not-recommended (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Expenditures for BPH evaluations vary substantially by geography, practice setting, and experience and are accounted for largely by differences in the use of optional and not-routinely recommended tests. Greater standardization could enhance patient care and reduce health care costs.
Simultaneous detection of five major serotypes of Avian coronavirus by a multiplex microsphere-based assay:

Avian coronavirus (commonly known as Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)) is of major economic importance to commercial chicken producers worldwide. Due to the existence of multiple serotypes and variants of the virus that do not cross- protect, it is important to diagnose circulating serotypes and choose the right vaccine type for successful protection. In an effort to improve conventional diagnostic tests, a microsphere-based assay was developed and evaluated for simultaneous detection of the most common IBV vaccine serotypes in the United States: Arkansas (Ark), Connecticut (Conn), Massachusetts (Mass), Delaware (DE072), and Georgia 98 (GA98). The analytical specificity and sensitivity, and diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, were evaluated. The microsphere-based assay was highly specific to designated serotypes and generated reproducible data. Comparing the microsphere-based assay to nucleotide sequencing, the 2 methods agreed more than 93% (kappa value > .77). In addition, the microsphere-based assay could detect coinfections in clinical samples. The results demonstrate the utility of the microsphere-based assay as a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool with the potential for high throughput diagnosis.
Gamma-ray transitions in 32S following proton capture by 31P

Gamma-ray spectra, angular distributions and coincidence spectra have been studied in the reaction 8up(p, 7) 32S at bombarding energies of 355, 440 and 540 keV. Several cascades have been identified and branching ratios have been measured. The spins and parities of the 9.39, 9.29, 9.21 and 4.70 MeV levels in 3zS are found to be 2 c-), 1 +, (1 +) and 1 +, respectively. An extensive study of the reaction 31p(p, ~)32 S at the two lowest proton resonance energies was recently published by Nelson, Carlson and Schlenker 1). At about the same time, an oral report 2) on the same reaction including the third resonance was given by the present authors. As the two accounts differed in several respects, we have extended our investigations with particular attention to the analysis of the gamma-ray spectra and to the elimination of systematic errors in the angular distribution measure- ments. We have verified the spin assignments of Nelson, Carlson and Schlenker for the 9.21 and 9.29 MeV levels, and made a new assignment for the 9.39 MeV level. The gamma-ray decay, particularly at the second proton resonance, is considerably more complex than previously reported. In particular, one of the angular correlation measurements made by Nelson, Carlson and Schlenker must be re-interpreted, such that the spin value of 1 + which they reported for the 4.47 MeV state should instead be attributed to the 4.70 MeV state in 32S.
Leadership Does Not Equal What Leaders Do

In this article I propose that in order to better understand leadership, people need to concentrate on the relationship that exists between leaders and followers, so they, both leaders and followers, can lead. This perspective of leadership is different from most of the literature on this subject which focuses, for the most part, on teaching managers, CEO's, administrators, and individuals on how to become a leader. In this article I articulate an understanding of leadership as: (a) the change that both leaders and followers intend, (b) the values of both leaders and followers that come into play, and (c) the influence that both leaders and followers bring into the relationship.
Adsorption density calculations from in situ FT-IR/IRS data at dilute surfactant concentrations

Adsorption densities of the surfactant oleate at the surface of a fluorite crystal have been calculated from in situ FT-IR internal reflection spectroscopic (IRS) data at very low surfactant concentrations. For the first time, a complete adsorption isotherm (5 × 10−7 to 5 × 10−4 M) has been calculated from the in situ spectral data with the use of internal reflection theory. It was found that monolayer coverage occurred at very low surfactant concentrations (<10−5 M), while at higher bulk concentrations, adsorption consists of multilayers of what appears to be surface-precipitated calcium dioleate. Calculated absorption densities by this in situ method agree quite well with those found previously by more traditional experimental techniques. These results provide considerable confidence that quantitative in situ FT-IR/IRS analysis of surfactant adsorption at the surface of reactive internal reflection elements is possible.
Stent Revascularization Restores Cortical Blood Flow and Reverses Tissue Hypoxia in Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis but Fails to Reverse Inflammatory Pathways or Glomerular Filtration Rate

Background— Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is known to reduce renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and amplify kidney hypoxia, but the relationships between these factors and tubulointerstitial injury in the poststenotic kidney are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of renal revascularization in ARAS on renal tissue hypoxia and renal injury. Methods and Results— Inpatient studies were performed in patients with ARAS (n=17; >60% occlusion) before and 3 months after stent revascularization, or in patients with essential hypertension (n=32), during fixed Na+ intake and angiotensin converting enzyme/angiotensin receptors blockers Rx. Single kidney cortical, medullary perfusion, and renal blood flow were measured using multidetector computed tomography, and GFR by iothalamate clearance. Tissue deoxyhemoglobin levels ( R 2*) were measured by blood oxygen level–dependent MRI at 3T, as was fractional kidney hypoxia (percentage of axial area with R 2*>30/s). In addition, we measured renal vein levels of neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Pre-stent single kidney renal blood flow, perfusion, and GFR were reduced in the poststenotic kidney. Renal vein neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin, tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and fractional hypoxia were higher in untreated ARAS than in essential hypertension. After stent revascularization, fractional hypoxia fell ( P <0.002) with increased cortical perfusion and blood flow, whereas GFR and neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α remained unchanged. Conclusions— These data demonstrate that despite reversal of renal hypoxia and partial restoration of renal blood flow after revascularization, inflammatory cytokines and injury biomarkers remained elevated and GFR failed to recover in ARAS. Restoration of vessel patency alone failed to reverse tubulointerstitial damage and partly explains the limited clinical benefit of renal stenting. These results identify potential therapeutic targets for recovery of kidney function in renovascular disease.
Factors Influencing Evaporation from Sample Cups, and Assessment of Their Effect on Analytical Error

We studied sample evaporation and its effect on analytical error. Several factors influencing evaporative loss have been identified and measured: environmental, instrumental, and operational factors, and the chemical and physical properties of the sample and its container. Such losses from several different types of sample cups have been measured, either chemically or gravimetrically, and compared with those calculated by using a model that allows evaporative loss from a cup of known geometry to be predicted under various environmental conditions. We discuss some steps that may be taken to minimize evaporative loss and give an example to demonstrate that analytical error from this source can be decreased to a routine 1-2% or less by selecting a particular cup design.
Measuring Illegal Activity and the Effects of Regulatory Innovation: Tax Evasion and the Dyeing of Untaxed Diesel

This article examines tax evasion in the diesel fuel market. Diesel fuel used for on‐road purposes is taxed, while other uses are untaxed, creating an incentive for firms and individuals to evade on‐road diesel taxes by purchasing untaxed diesel fuel and then using it for on‐road use. We examine the effects of a federal regulatory innovation in October 1993, the addition of red dye to untaxed diesel fuel at the point of distribution, which significantly lowered the cost of regulatory enforcement. We find that sales of diesel fuel rose 26 percent following the regulatory change, while sales of heating oil, which is an untaxed perfect substitute, fell by a similar amount. The effect on sales was higher in states with higher tax rates and in states likely to have higher audit costs. We also find evidence that heating oil sales were less responsive to demand factors, such as temperature, prior to the dye program, indicating that a significant fraction of predye sales was illegitimate. Furthermore, we find a p...
Sparse expression bases in cancer reveal tumor drivers

We define a new category of candidate tumor drivers in cancer genome evolution: ‘selected expression regulators’ (SERs)‐‐genes driving dysregulated transcriptional programs in cancer evolution. The SERs are identified from genome-wide tumor expression data with a novel method, namely SPARROW (SPARse selected expRessiOn regulators identified With penalized regression). SPARROW uncovers a previously unknown connection between cancer expression variation and driver events, by using a novel sparse regression technique. Our results indicate that SPARROW is a powerful complementary approach to identify candidate genes containing driver events that are hard to detect from sequence data, due to a large number of passenger mutations and lack of comprehensive sequence information from a sufficiently large number of samples. SERs identified by SPARROW reveal known driver mutations in multiple human cancers, along with known cancer-associated processes and survivalassociated genes, better than popular methods for inferring gene expression networks. We demonstrate that when applied to acute myeloid leukemia expression data, SPARROW identifies an apoptotic biomarker (PYCARD) for an investigational drug obatoclax. The PYCARD and obatoclax association is validated in 30 AML patient samples.
General solutions of a penny-shaped crack in a piezoelectric material under opening mode loading

The effect of a penny-shaped crack on the deformation of an infinite piezoelectric material of the hexagonal crystal class 6 mm subjected to mode I electrical and mechanical loading has been studied using the theory of linear piezoelectricity and applying appropriate boundary conditions. Depending on material properties of piezoelectric materials, four different closed-form solutions to the fields of displacement, stresses, electric field and electric displacement are obtained, from which the dependence of stress intensity factor and electrical displacement intensity factor on the external loading is calculated. By including the contribution of electrostatic energy to the calculation of energy release rate, it is found that the energy release rate is a nonlinear function of the external loading if the electric field inside the crack is not zero at the crack tip. For piezoelectric materials subjected to tensile stress and electric field parallel to the poled direction, the stress intensity factor and electrical displacement intensity factor are independent of the applied electric field, while the electric field intensity inside the crack is a function of the applied stress and electric field. Depending on the direction of the applied electric field related to the poled direction, the electric field can display the shielding effect on the propagation of the crack. Such a result may be used to explain some nonlinear phenomena observed in the fracture mechanics of piezoelectric materials.
Some Generalizations to the Parabola

Let us summarize the principal results of the a=1 theory of trapezoidal maps before discussing some of the implications. for other functions with which MSS-sequences are associated.
Sergeev, E. (2013). The Great Game 1856–1907: Russo–British Relations in Central and East Asia

Evgeny Sergeev has provided a new interpretation of the “Great Game”—a chapter of Anglo–Russian rivalry played out in central Asia at the turn of the last century. It is one of the first to be writ...
Guidelines for Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Environmental Analysis of High-Performance Buildings

Building Information Modeling (BIM) efficiently integrates environmental analysis into the design and delivery of high-performance buildings. Building Energy Modeling (BEM), a subset of BIM, employs various simulation tools for predicting the environmental performance of buildings. As the demand for high-performance buildings has increased, BEM has facilitated the delivery of buildings that meet expected performance requirements. The research objectives were to: 1) evaluate various BEM tools, and 2) develop guidelines for using BEM tools in design and delivery of high-performance buildings. Twelve BEM tools were evaluated using four criteria: interoperability, user-friendliness, available inputs, and available outputs. The top three programs (Autodesk Ecotect, Autodesk Green Building Studio, and IES ) were selected based on this evaluation. Each of these selected BEM tools was used in the case study to simulate energy consumption, daylighting performance, and natural ventilation for two buildings, one LEED certified and one non-LEED certified. The results of the case study were used to compare the environmental performance of the two buildings and to develop guidelines for using BEM tools to analyze building environmental performance.
Fluorescent scanning laser ophthalmoscopy for cellular resolution in vivo mouse retinal imaging: benefits and drawbacks of implementing adaptive optics

Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (SLO) utilizes the eye’s cornea and lens as the imaging objective. Thus, in a perfect eye the Numerical Aperture (NA) defined by the eye’s fully dilated pupil would limit the resolution that can be achieved. However, the eye’s ocular aberrations “blur the image”, thereby limiting the pupil size and NA for aberrationless SLO imaging. By combining SLO with Adaptive Optics (AO), AO-SLO systems can correct for ocular aberrations even over large pupil sizes and allow diffraction limited resolution in both axial and lateral directions. Here, we evaluate the effects of ocular aberrations on the performance of mouse retinal imaging with SLO and AO-SLO systems. To achieve this we first measured the RMS error of the wavefront aberrations in two populations of mice of different ages. Then, we simulated the imaging PSF and resulting lateral resolution that could be achieved with varied input beam diameter (NA) at the mouse pupil, assuming the presence of ocular aberrations (simulation of SLO imaging) and no aberrations (simulation of perfect AO-SLO imaging). The SLO system performance along with different imaging beam sizes was further assessed by computing the PSF Strehl Ratio. Finally, the advantages and limitations of SLO and AO-SLO retinal imaging in mice are discussed based on presented results.
Some Problems Concerning Contraction Mappings

Assume that (M,ρ) is a metric space, α ∈ [0,1), and T is a transformation of M into itself.
Rooney and the Rocketman

One of the many memorable though puzzling moments in Gravity's Rainbow occurs while Slothrop, in the guise of "Rocketman," is retrieving a package of hashish from the site of the 1945 Potsdam summit conference. Looking up, Slothrop/Rocketman freezes as he recognizes, the narrator comments, "well, this may sound odd, but it's Mickey Rooney." As Siothrop recovers his prize and takes off, Rooney--who "will repress the fact that he ever saw Slothrop"--is left behind, "with his elbows on that railing, still watching" (382). This fictional encounter raises two questions: what significance, if any, are we to attach to it, and what inspired Pynchon to use Mickey Rooney, of all people? The answers to these questions turn out to be interrelated, and so they provide yet another example of how Pynchon manipulates historical "reality" and American mythologies within the fictional worlds he creates.
The Electrical State of the Atmosphere and its Effects on Cloud Microphysics

The subject of cloud electricity is quite massive and complex in its own right, and has in addition many controversial aspects. Consequently, we shall make no attempt here to provide a comprehensive treatment of the entire subject; rather, we shall restrict ourselves primarily to summaries of some observed electrical properties of clouds and the particles contained within them, and to a consideration of the effects these electrical properties have on various microphysical processes. To a lesser extent we shall also consider concurrently the question of how the various types of clouds and cloud particles acquire their characteristic states of electrification. The topics of lightning, current budgets, and measurement techniques are omitted altogether.
Intersectional institutions Representing women and ethnic minorities in the British Labour Party

The political representation of women and ethnic minorities has received growing attention among political parties around the world. Focusing on the British case, we map data and debates concerning...
Frequency of Eating Out at Both Fast-Food and Sit-Down Restaurants Was Associated With High Body Mass Index in Non-Large Metropolitan Communities in Midwest

Purpose:We investigated the associations between frequency of eating at fast-food, fast-casual, all-you-can-eat, and sit-down restaurants and the body mass index (BMI) in non-large metro Wisconsin ...
A Landscape-Scale Assessment of Above- and Belowground Primary Production in Coastal Wetlands: Implications for Climate Change-Induced Community Shifts

Above- and belowground production in coastal wetlands are important contributors to carbon accumulation and ecosystem sustainability. As sea level rises, we can expect shifts to more salt-tolerant communities, which may alter these ecosystem functions and services. Although the direct influence of salinity on species-level primary production has been documented, we lack an understanding of the landscape-level response of coastal wetlands to increasing salinity. What are the indirect effects of sea-level rise, i.e., how does primary production vary across a landscape gradient of increasing salinity that incorporates changes in wetland type? This is the first study to measure both above- and belowground production in four wetland types that span an entire coastal gradient from fresh to saline wetlands. We hypothesized that increasing salinity would limit rates of primary production, and saline marshes would have lower rates of above- and belowground production than fresher marshes. However, along the Northern Gulf of Mexico Coast in Louisiana, USA, we found that aboveground production was highest in brackish marshes, compared with fresh, intermediate, and saline marshes, and belowground production was similar among all wetland types along the salinity gradient. Multiple regression analysis indicated that salinity was the only significant predictor of production, and its influence was dependent upon wetland type. We concluded that (1) salinity had a negative effect on production within wetland type, and this relationship was strongest in the fresh marsh (0–2 PSU) and (2) along the overall landscape gradient, production was maintained by mechanisms at the scale of wetland type, which were likely related to plant energetics. Regardless of wetland type, we found that belowground production was significantly greater than aboveground production. Additionally, inter-annual variation, associated with severe drought conditions, was observed exclusively for belowground production, which may be a more sensitive indicator of ecosystem health than aboveground production.
Service strategy to improve operational capabilities in the public sector

ABSTRACTPublic institutions, such as emergency services, face unique operational challenges because they do not have a clear profit motive, operate in a political system as opposed to a market system, and have a fragmented authority structure. This study applies traditional operations and service strategy theory to the not-for-profit, public sector context. Synthesizing research from these theoretical domains, a contingency framework is developed to determine the effect of environmental uncertainty and strategic choices on operational capabilities in emergency services under different governance structures. Operations strategy research traditionally uses survey-based measures, while emergency services research focuses on mathematical modeling techniques. In contrast, this study analyzes archival data with 9800 emergency incidents using hierarchical regression. The results support that in the public not-for-profit context, strategic choices mediate the impact of environmental uncertainty on operational cap...
III–V Semiconductor Photoelectrodes

Abstract In the past decades, great efforts have been made to develop efficient solar-to-fuel conversion devices using III–V semiconductors. In this chapter, a brief history of III–V photoelectrodes for photochemistry and their synthesis methods are firstly reviewed. Then, an important category of solar-energy-conversion devices, photoelectrochemical solar cells, constructed by III–V photoelectrodes in contact with redox couples is discussed. The discussion also includes up-to-date basic understanding of the interfacial photoelectrochemistry between semiconductors, redox, and catalysts with liquid electrolytes. Finally, fuel-forming photoelectrodes for hydrogen evolution, water oxidation, overall water splitting, and CO 2 reduction are summarized, with emphasis on the recently developed protective coating strategies.
Targeting Circulating Leukocytes and Pyroptosis During Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Improves Lung Preservation.

BackgroundThe role of the circulating leukocytes in lungs and their relationship with circulating proinflammatory cytokines during ischemia-reperfusion injury is not well understood. Using ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to investigate the pathophysiology of isolated lungs, we aimed to identify a ther
Synthesizing Species Trees from Unrooted Gene Trees: A Parameterized Approach

Synthesizing species trees from a collection of smaller gene trees is a widely used approach for inferring credible species tree estimates. While corresponding computational problems are typically NP-hard, several of these problems have been effectively addressed by using the parameterized Strict Consensus Approach. This approach is limited to gene trees that are rooted. In practice, however, most gene trees are unrooted, and it is often difficult, if not impossible, to identify accurate rootings. Here, we address this stringent limitation by proposing efficient algorithms that adopt the parameterized Strict Consensus Approach to handle unrooted gene trees. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of our algorithms in a comparative study using empirical and simulated data sets.
Assessment of test methods for evaluating effectiveness of cleaning flexible endoscopes.

Background Strict adherence to each step of reprocessing is imperative to removing potentially infectious agents. Multiple methods for verifying proper reprocessing exist; however, each presents challenges and limitations, and best practice within the industry has not been established. Our goal was to evaluate endoscope cleaning verification tests with particular interest in the evaluation of the manual cleaning step. The results of the cleaning verification tests were compared with microbial culturing to see if a positive cleaning verification test would be predictive of microbial growth. Methods This study was conducted at 2 high-volume endoscopy units within a multisite health care system. Each of the 90 endoscopes were tested for adenosine triphosphate, protein, microbial growth via agar plate, and rapid gram-negative culture via assay. The endoscopes were tested in 3 locations: the instrument channel, control knob, and elevator mechanism. Results This analysis showed substantial level of agreement between protein detection postmanual cleaning and protein detection post–high-level disinfection at the control head for scopes sampled sequentially. Conclusions This study suggests that if protein is detected postmanual cleaning, there is a significant likelihood that protein will also be detected post–high-level disinfection. It also infers that a cleaning verification test is not predictive of microbial growth.
Do Hindi speakers of English realize the acoustic cues for American English /v/ and /w/ contrast?

The Hindi phonological inventory does not include a [v-w] contrast. In a perception study, Hindi speakers identified /v/ and /w/ in American English (AE) words with approximately 50% accuracy (Grover et al., 2016). The present study compares AE /v/ and /w/ productions in bilingual Hindi-English speakers’ with those of AE speakers’ in nonsense words. Two AE listeners annotated recordings of word-initial and word-medial tokens to label F2 onset and presence of frication. F2 onset frequency and F2 slope were calculated. Hindi speakers were divided into two groups, those with length of residence (LOR) in the US of more than five years, and those who reside in India. Results revealed a significant difference between the AE group and both Hindi groups for F2 onset frequency and F2 slope. There was no significant difference between Hindi groups. The AE group had frication for /v/ tokens, but not for /w/. Both Hindi groups produced frication at about the same rate for /v/ and /w/. The finding of no significant difference between the Hindi groups indicates that exposure to the /v/-/w/ contrast in the US did not improve Hindi speakers’ production. This further indicates a need to design targeted training for this contrast.
Methods of Analysing Binomial Data in a Two‐Factor Experiment Without Replication Compared by Computer Simulation

Four common methods of analysing percentage (attribute) data were compared for the case of a 3 × 3 analysis without replication. Data with no interaction, linear‐ × ‐linear, linear‐ × ‐quadratic and quadratic‐ × ‐quadratic interactions were sequentially generated and the effects of interaction, and form of interaction, on the power of the F‐test, χ2 and Friedman's non‐parametric procedure were determined. Three‐way χ2 and Tukey's test for non‐additivity were compared for their power for finding interactions of various forms. In all cases the χ2 test proved superior.
Conspicuous signal evolution in heterogeneous environments

A fundamental prediction of reproductive signal evolution is that selection should favor male courtship signals that are conspicuous with respect to the surrounding media. However, many species live in heterogeneous environments where spatiotemporal variability can degrade the efficacy of signals tuned to specific conditions. One rarely considered solution to this problem is to evolve generalized signals that can effectively transmit information under most of the conditions that are likely to be encountered. Here, I present results from a study of a freshwater fish, the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) that are consistent with the hypothesis that sexually dimorphic body coloration has been driven by selection for conspicuousness under multiple environmental conditions. In choice tests, females showed no bias favoring a conspicuous black stimulus in simulated oligotrophic stream conditions, but showed a strong and equal bias for the black phenotype in simulated dystrophic and eutrophic streams. These data indicate that the evolution of signals that maximize achromatic contrast with the surrounding environment may be an effective mechanism for maintaining conspicuousness in heterogeneous visual environments. The repeated evolution of black color signals by stream fishes may therefore represent a specific example of this general evolutionary mechanism. For active female mate choice to occur, a female must detect a male before she can choose him. Hypotheses of reproductive signal evolution based on male conspicuousness have primarily focused on the relationship between signal structure and a particular set of environmental parameters. However, many species live in environments that are variable. The results of mate-choice tests conducted in this study are consistent with the hypothesis that melanic reproductive color signaling in male brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) has evolved to maximize the likelihood of detection and approach by females in heterogeneous environments. These results extend our understanding of signal evolution based on transmission efficacy and may explain the repeated evolution of melanic body coloration (bars, patches, and full-body coloration) in freshwater fishes.
BINDING OF THE PROLINE-RICH REGION OF THE EPITHELIAL NA+ CHANNEL TO SH3 DOMAINS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SPECIFIC CELLULAR PROTEINS

The amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) is an important component of the Na(+)-reabsorption pathway in many epithelia. The identification of three subunits of ENaC (alpha, beta and gamma), as well as results from a number of functional and biochemical studies, suggests that functional Na+ channels are composed of a complex of proteins. To learn about possible interactions of the channel with other proteins, we studied the alpha-subunit of rat and human ENaC. We found that the proline-rich C-terminal domains of both rat and human alpha-ENaC, expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, bound to SH3 domains in vitro. A 116 kDa protein from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (H441) was specifically bound by the human alpha-ENaC C-terminal fusion protein and by a shorter 18-amino acid proline-rich peptide derived from the larger fusion protein. The 116 kDa protein was not glycosylated and was not phosphorylated on tyrosine or by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). A 134 kDa protein which was also bound by the human alpha-ENaC C-terminal fusion protein was a substrate for phosphorylation by PKA. These data suggest that the proline-rich C-terminal tail of alpha-ENaC may interact with other proteins that control its function, regulation or localization.
Abstract 3897: Pharmacogenomic landscape of long non-coding RNAs in human cancers

Extensive efforts in recent large-scale drug screens have enabled identification of protein-coding genes (PCGs) as biomarkers for anti-cancer agent sensitivity, but information on the role of long-non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in drug response is sparse. Lower abundance, difficulty in expression profiling and limited functional knowledge have so far hindered global analysis of lncRNAs in drug screens. However, lncRNAs represent nearly 60% of the human genome (vs. 3% for PCGs) and contain a vast majority of pharmacogenomic SNPs. Thus, it is critically important to evaluate the role of lncRNAs in drug sensitivity. Here, we perform a comprehensive reanalysis of large-scale drug screens using novel computational methods to create a landscape of pharmacogenomic interactions of lncRNAs in human cancers. We developed an algorithm to accurately impute the lncRNA transcriptome using PCG expression. This approach allowed us to generate lncRNA transcriptome in high throughput drug screening data sets and enabled systematic evaluation of lncRNAs for hundreds of drugs. For example, we applied our method to the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) study, where sensitivity to 265 anti-cancer agents were quantified in 963 cancer cell lines. Sparse regression analysis showed lncRNA transcriptome were similar in accuracy at predicting drug response compared to PCGs (P = 0.9), indicating lncRNAs may be equally important biomarkers. Subsequently, we identified drug-specific lncRNA biomarkers using ANOVA while adjusting for tissue type. Our analysis recapitulated literature-verified lncRNAs associated with drug response, e.g. HOTAIR expression with cisplatin resistance (FDR We next identified lncRNAs that may serve as biomarkers for drug response while controlling for known cancer functional events. As an example, we analyzed EGFR-inhibitors (erlotinib, gefitinib, pelitinib) while controlling for EGFR somatic point mutations and amplification status and identified an anti-sense lncRNA overlapping UGT1A locus that may be a potential regulator of erlotinib metabolism. These findings reveal important lncRNAs that predict response independent of known cancer functional events and are currently being evaluated in non-small cell lung cancer patients. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis has generated unprecedented insights into the role of lncRNAs in anti-cancer drug response and will be an invaluable resource for researchers studying drug response in various cancer types. Citation Format: Aritro Nath, R. Stephanie Huang. Pharmacogenomic landscape of long non-coding RNAs in human cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3897.
Post-prison relationship dissolution and intimate partner violence: Separation-instigated violence or violence-instigated separation?

Prior work suggests that partner violence may occur in the context of relationship dissolution among couples in which the male partner is reentering from prison. Using longitudinal data from 666 re...
Single stream inertial focusing in low aspect-ratio triangular microchannels

A wide range of microfluidic devices for single stream focusing of cells and particles has emerged in recent years, based on both passive and active methods. Inertial microfluidics offers an attractive alternative to these methods, providing efficient and sheathless passive focusing of cells and beads. Nevertheless, in rectangular microchannels, the presence of multiple equilibrium positions necessitates complicated solutions involving manipulation of the 3D structure in order to achieve single stream flows. Here, we present a new approach to single-stream inertial focusing based on a triangular microchannel geometry. Changing the channel cross-sectional shape leads to asymmetry in the velocity profile, resulting in a size-dependent single stable equilibrium position near the channel apex. We demonstrate that soft lithography masters for such microchannels can be fabricated using PMMA through micromilling, and 15 μm diameter beads can be efficiently focused into a single stream. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm the focusing positions in the microchannel cross-section. We further integrated this device with a laser counting system to form a sheathless flow cytometer and demonstrated the counting of beads with an ∼326 s -1 throughput. The use of a triangular cross-section offers a number of benefits, including simplicity of the fundamental principle and geometry, control of design, a small footprint, and ease of integration, as well as high-precision single position focusing.
A natural experiment study of the effects of imprisonment on violence in the community

One of the goals of imprisonment is to reduce violence1. Although imprisonment has risen dramatically since the 1970s, its effects on future violent crime are poorly understood2. This study’s objective was to examine the effect of imprisonment on violent crime in the community among individuals on the policy margin between prison and probation sentences. Drawing on data from a population-based cohort of individuals convicted of a felony in Michigan between 2003 and 2006 (n = 111,110) and followed through June 2015, we compared the rates of commission of violent crime committed by individuals sentenced to prison with those of individuals sentenced to probation using a natural experiment based on the random assignment of judges to criminal cases. Being sentenced to prison had no significant effects on arrests or convictions for violent crimes after release from prison, but imprisonment modestly reduced the probability of violence if comparisons included the effects of incapacitation during imprisonment. These results suggest that for individuals on the current policy margin between prison and probation, imprisonment is an ineffective long-term intervention for violence prevention, as it has, on balance, no rehabilitative or deterrent effects after release. Using data from Michigan, Harding et al. find no evidence that prison sentences have an effect on arrests or convictions for violent crimes after release. Imprisonment modestly reduced violence if the analysis included imprisonment’s incapacitation effects.
On Taking from Others: History and Sensibility in Archaeologists’ Arguments for Treasure Trove Legislations

The Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 is understood as a landmark legislative victory in the preservation of South Asian material pasts. This paper presents a detailed archival history recounting h...