cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Target Detection in Abruptly Non-Stationary Doppler-Spread Clutter

This paper addresses the problem of target detection in the presence of Doppler spread clutter which is neither stationary during a coherent integration time (CIT) interval nor across different range bins. This phenomenology occurs, for example, in over-the-horizon skywave HF radar where propagation through moving ionospheric inhomogeneities spreads the surface clutter and the clutter statistics can change quite abruptly during a CIT and across range bins. In these cases, the performance of conventional adaptive techniques suffers from a lack of adequate training data. The method proposed here breaks the full CIT into smaller sub-CIT's which are then extrapolated using low order AR models. The Doppler spread clutter is thus effectively modeled as an abruptly time varying autoregressive (ATVAR) process. Subsequent Doppler processing and coherent combining of the extrapolated sub-CIT's is then performed with improved signal-to-clutter gain since only a small proportion of the sub-CIT's are corrupted by abrupt non-stationary behavior. Moreover, nearly full coherent signal gain against noise is maintained. Initial processing on experimental radar clutter data with injection of a simulated target illustrates that this approach can provide an SCNR improvement of more than 5 dB compared to conventional Doppler processing.
A loss-event driven scalable fluid simulation method for high-speed networks

Increase of size and bandwidth of computer network posed a research challenge to evaluate proposed TCP/IP protocol and corresponding queuing policies in this scenario. Simulation provides an easier and cheaper method to evaluate TCP proposals and queuing disciplines as compared to experiment with real hardware. In this paper, problem associated with scalability of current simulation method for high-speed network case is discussed. Hence, we present a scalable time-adaptive numerical simulation driven by loss events to represent dynamics of high-speed networks using fluid-based models. The new method uses a loss event to dynamically adjust the size of a time step for a numerical solver which solves a system of differential equations representing dynamics of protocols and nodes' behaviors. A numerical analysis of the proposed protocol is discussed. A simple simulation of high-speed TCP variants is presented using our method. The simulation results and analysis show that the time-adaptive method reduces computational time while achieving the same accuracy compared to that of a fixed step-size method.
Outcome of patients experiencing cardiac arrest with carbon monoxide poisoning treated with hyperbaric oxygen

Abstract Study Objective: We sought to examine the outcome of a subgroup of patients with extreme carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, specifically those discovered in cardiac arrest, resuscitated, and subsequently treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO 2 ). Opinions of hyperbaric medicine physicians regarding the treatment of such patients were also sought. Methods: Records of patients treated with HBO 2 for acute CO poisoning at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle from September 1987 to August 2000 were reviewed. Those who were resuscitated from cardiac arrest in the field before HBO 2 treatment were selected for detailed analysis. Patient demographic data and information regarding circumstances of the poisoning, resuscitation, HBO 2 treatment, and subsequent course were extracted and collated. In addition, a postal survey of medical directors of North American HBO 2 treatment facilities regarding opinions about the management and outcome of such patients was performed. Results: A total of 18 patients were treated with HBO 2 after resuscitation from CO-associated cardiac arrest. They included 10 female and 8 male patients ranging in age from 3 to 72 years. Sources of CO included house fires (10 patients) and automobile exhaust (8 patients). Patient carboxyhemoglobin levels averaged 31.7%±11.0% (mean±SD), and arterial pH averaged 7.14±0.19. Presenting cardiac rhythm was a bradydysrhythmia in 10 of 18 patients. HBO 2 treatment was administered an average of 4.3 hours after poisoning (≤3 hours in 10 patients and ≤6 hours in 15 patients). Despite this, all 18 patients died during their hospitalizations. Medical directors of hyperbaric treatment facilities estimated a 74% likelihood of survival for a hypothetical patient with this presentation. Conclusion: In this consecutive case series, cardiac arrest complicating CO poisoning was uniformly fatal, despite administration of HBO 2 therapy after initial resuscitation. Survey results suggest that physician education regarding this subset of CO-poisoned patients is needed. The prognosis of this condition should be considered when making triage and treatment decisions for patients poisoned to this severity. [Hampson NB, Zmaeff JL. Outcome of patients experiencing cardiac arrest with carbon monoxide poisoning treated with hyperbaric oxygen. Ann Emerg Med. July 2001;38:36-41.]
Function of NKT cells, potential anti-HIV effector cells, are improved by beginning HAART during acute HIV-1 infection

NKT cells are a subset of lymphocytes that share features of T cells and NK cells and bridge the innate and adaptive immune responses. They are able to be infected by HIV, but their function in HIV-infected individuals is not known. NKT cell percentage and function was measured in individuals with acute HIV infection before and 1 year into highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). This study demonstrates that percentages of both CD161+ NKT cells and CD161+, CD4+ NKT cells decline within the first few months after HIV-1 infection, but initiating therapy during the acute infection period can prevent a further decline in these NKT cell subsets during the first year. NKT cell function is also impaired during early HIV infection, but significantly improved by effective treatment with HAART. Finally, preservation of NKT cell function may be important in HIV-infected individuals, as NKT cells display an anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro, mediated by IFN-gamma secretion.
Direct simulation monte carlo modeling of ionized metal physical vapor deposition for semiconductor processing

Ionized Metal Physical Vapor Deposition (IMPVD) is widely used for producing barrier coatings and seed layers in micro-electronics fabrication. One such implementation is the hollow cathode magnetron (HCM) in which high plasma densities at low pressures (≪ a few mTorr) are produced to create highly ionized metal fluxes to the substrate. Modeling such devices is challenging due to their high plasma density, reactive environments and low pressures that place them in a quasi-molecular flow regime. Although hybrid techniques have been developed to extend continuum techniques to lower pressures to model HCMs1, more kinetic centric techniques are likely required to fully resolve the problem.
What to do with chronically sick animals? Pastoralists’ management strategies in the far north region of Cameroon

While the goal of African pastoralists is health and longevity of herd and household, some of their management strategies appear to counter this long-term goal. Pastoralists in the far north region of Cameroon, for example, do not always remove chronically sick animals from their herds, even though chronic diseases, such as brucellosis, are contagious and have the potential to cause fertility problems in the herd. We used ethnographic and epidemiologic methods to understand why pastoralists do not remove chronically sick animals and whether their management strategies have an impact on herd fertility. We used semi-structured interviews to collect data on pastoralists' understandings of disease and its impacts on fertility as well as data on herd management. We compared these data with disease prevalence and herd fertility data to measure the effect of management strategies on herd fertility. We found that the percentage of chronically sick animals in a herd negatively correlated with herd fertility, but this was not true for the prevalence of brucellosis. Thus, preliminary examination of disease costs and benefits suggests that herders' decisions to keep sick animals in their herds may lower herd fertility, but this is not due to brucellosis alone. The results of this study underline the complexity of infectious disease ecology in pastoral systems and the need for holistic and comprehensive studies of the ecology of infectious diseases in pastoral systems.
AFFORESTATION OF BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY: STATUS AND TRENDS

The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) originally supported at least 10 million ha of bottomland hardwood (BLH) forests. Many of these forests were wetlands and provided a diversity of values that were not recognized fully until at least one-half of the original forested area had been converted primarily to row-crop agriculture. Efforts to restore these forests have expanded in proportion to growing recognition of their unique values. This paper provides a summary resulting from a survey of BLH afforestation by all agencies and private entities in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, the three states in the LMAV with the most restoration activity and, more specifically, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, and state wildlife management agencies, the three entities responsible for approximately 95% of the afforestation in this region. There is a promising trend in the annual increase of BLH afforestation across the LMAV. Approximately 71,000 ha have been planted with BLH species through 1998; however, this represents <1% of the BLH forests that have been lost, and afforestation does not ensure restoration of all ecological functions. No clear choice between planting stocks (bareroot seedlings or direct seeding) or among planting seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer) is prevalent among those involved in BLH afforestation. Much of the early afforestation used oaks (Quercus spp.) to accelerate replacement of mast-bearing species. Recently, mixtures of species have been incorporated into afforestation regimes. More light-seeded species and a more diverse component of oak species have been planted to mimic a more natural regeneration process. Successful widescale afforestation is a critical link in restoration of functional BLH ecosystems in this region.
The conserved GTPase LepA contributes mainly to translation initiation in Escherichia coli

LepA is a paralog of EF-G found in all bacteria. Deletion of lepA confers no obvious growth defect in Escherichia coli, and the physiological role of LepA remains unknown. Here, we identify nine strains (ΔdksA, ΔmolR1, ΔrsgA, ΔtatB, ΔtonB, ΔtolR, ΔubiF, ΔubiG or ΔubiH) in which ΔlepA confers a synthetic growth phenotype. These strains are compromised for gene regulation, ribosome assembly, transport and/or respiration, indicating that LepA contributes to these functions in some way. We also use ribosome profiling to deduce the effects of LepA on translation. We find that loss of LepA alters the average ribosome density (ARD) for hundreds of mRNA coding regions in the cell, substantially reducing ARD in many cases. By contrast, only subtle and codon-specific changes in ribosome distribution along mRNA are seen. These data suggest that LepA contributes mainly to the initiation phase of translation. Consistent with this interpretation, the effect of LepA on ARD is related to the sequence of the Shine-Dalgarno region. Global perturbation of gene expression in the ΔlepA mutant likely explains most of its phenotypes.
ANALYTICALLY BASED APPROACH TO RUTTING PREDICTION

An analytically based (mechanistic-empirical) procedure was conducted to estimate the development of rutting in asphalt pavements as a function of both traffic loading and environment as defined by pavement temperatures. The procedure uses permanent strain determined for a representative asphalt concrete mix as a function of load repetitions, shear stress, and elastic shear strain. It combines multilayer elastic analysis for determining key shear stresses and strains in the asphalt concrete resulting from traffic loading to be used in the permanent strain expression with a time-hardening procedure for the accumulation of permanent strain as a function of both traffic loading and environment. The WesTrack test sections were used to calibrate the methodology, with results of rutting predictions evaluated for four different test sections from that experiment. Based on the results of the regression analyses, an expression can be used to determine coefficients for use in the permanent strain expression that re...
Serologic profiling of Haemophilus parasuis–vaccinated sows and their litters using a novel oligopeptide permease A enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reveals unexpected patterns of serological response and maternal antibody transfer

Haemophilus parasuis is an economically important swine pathogen with 15 recognized serovars. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed that detects serum antibodies to the oligopeptide permease A (OppA) polypeptide membrane protein present in the reference strains for 13 of the H. parasuis serovars. Using the OppA-ELISA, H. parasuis serologic profiles were assessed on 2 swine farms, with seroconversion defined as an OppA-ELISA sample-to-positive (S/P) ratio ≥0.5. Ten gilts from each farm were vaccinated for H. parasuis using either a live avirulent culture vaccine (farm 1) or an inactivated autogenous vaccine (farm 2). Seroconversion occurred in 100% of farm 1 gilts and 90% of farm 2 gilts, with a mean S/P ratio (MSPR) of 3.36 and 1.43, respectively. The OppA-ELISA MSPRs were determined for 2 piglets, 1 male and 1 female, randomly selected from 10 first-parity (P1), 10 second-parity (P2), and 10 third-parity (P3) litters farrowed by respective vaccinated gilts on each farm. On both farms, postfarrowing MSPRs and rate of seropositivity were highest in P1 versus P2 and P3 dams. Parity 1 piglets had higher MSPRs and rates of seropositivity versus later parities, with the difference being significant (P < 0.05) on farm 2. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of nasal swabs indicated that 100% of farm 1 piglets and 47-84%, depending on parity, of farm 2 piglets were H. parasuis-colonized at weaning. The results indicated that H. parasuis vaccination of gilts will not maintain serologic responses in the OppA-ELISA over their reproductive lifetimes, and that maternally derived antibodies do not prevent H. parasuis colonization of piglets.
Polyspectral analysis of mixed processes and coupled harmonics

Polyspectral analysis of processes with mixed spectra is considered, and scaled polyperiodograms are introduced to clarify issues related to stationarity, ergodicity, and suppression of additive stationary noise in harmonic retrieval problems. Spectral and polyspectral approaches are capable of retrieving (un)coupled harmonics, not only when the harmonics have constant amplitudes, but also when they are observed in nonzero mean multiplicative noise. Fourier series polyspectra and asymptotic properties of scaled polyperiodograms provide general tools for higher order analysis of time series with mixed spectra. A single record phase coupling detector is derived to obviate the assumption of independent multiple records required by existing methods. The novelties are illustrated by simulation examples.
Rethinking banking supervision in the EU

As the long-standing attempt to create an integrated European banking market is showing signs of success, the costs and benefits of the traditional reliance on national banking supervision—and the (de)merits of alternative arrangements—are receiving attention in a lively literature involving both practitioners and academics. While it is too early to draw conclusions, the current episode of financial distress will shed light on some of the issues involved. The fundamental question is straightforward. Should the growing importance of banks that are multinational not only in terms of their asset base but also in their outlook and business models lead to a fundamental restructuring of supervisory arrangements? Or does the current system, combining reliance on national (mainly home) supervisors with minimum standards, mutual recognition and increasing coordination and information exchange across member-states remain preferable for the time being? If not, what are the alternatives, and the criteria on which decisions should be made? A growing theoretical literature explores the implications of alternative regulatory and supervisory arrangements taking account of the interaction between institutional features, informational issues and incentives structures, inter alia. This literature, exploring implications for both financial stability and efficiency, has yielded valuable insights into the tradeoffs involved in choosing between alternative IEEP (2008) 4:357–361 DOI 10.1007/s10368-007-0097-1
A Matter of Trust: From Social Preferences to the Strategic Adherence to Social Norms

In a mathematical analysis of the trust game, we show that utility‐maximizing trustees should establish equal payoffs or return nothing depending on the strength of their social preferences (benevolence and inequality aversion). Trustors may invest any amount depending on their social preferences and their expectations regarding the trustees’ preferences. For both types of player, empirical distributions of transfers are rather flat, however, and players’ morality, but not their rationality, is judged in proportion to the money transferred. This pattern of findings suggests that people are primarily motivated by self‐interest, and that they adhere to relevant social norms inasmuch as they can enhance their self‐image or reputation as a moral person.
Effects of Piperonyl Butoxide on the Metabolism of DEF S,S,S-Tributyl Phosphorotrithioate) in Fingerling Channel Catfish

The present study was undertaken to investigate the significance of monooxygenases in bioactivation of DEF to a more effective anticholinesterase in fish. Channel catfish were exposed via the water column for 20 h to piperonyl butoxide (PBO) followed by a 4-h exposure to the organophosphate defolient DEF (concurrent with the PBO). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and aliesterases (ALiEs) activities were determined at 0 and 12 h after the exposure period. Inhibition of brain, liver, and plasma AChE activity by DEF was antagonized by PBO; muscle AChE was not inhibited by DEF. Piperonyl butoxide did not antagonize the inhibition of liver or plasma ALiEs by DEF. These results suggest that PBO retards the formation of the metabolite(s) of DEF that inhibit AChE, and that DEF is an effective inhibitor of ALiEs without metabolic activation.
Short communication: Effect of cross ventilation with or without evaporative pads on core body temperature and resting time of lactating cows.

A trial was performed to assess the effect of evaporative pads on core body temperature (CBT) and lying behavior of lactating Holstein cows housed in cross-ventilated freestall facilities in a humid environment. This trial was undertaken in 2 barns equipped with (EP) or without (NP) evaporative pads. Each facility had 4 pens, 1 baffle/pen, and a nominal width of 122 m. Stocking density was higher (123.4 vs. 113.1%) and freestalls were slightly shorter (2.3 vs. 2.4 m) and narrower (1.16 vs. 1.21 m) in EP compared with NP barns. In each pen, lying behavior of 20 cows was monitored using electronic data loggers that recorded at 1-min intervals. A subset (n=14) of these cows within each pen were also fitted with temperature loggers attached to blank controlled intravaginal drug release devices to determine CBT every 5 min. Ambient conditions were collected every 15 min. Individual cow lying duration and lying bouts were assessed for each cow, as well as time spent standing and CBT within the following categories: CBT 38.6, >38.9, >39.2, >39.4, and >39.7°C. These variables were analyzed using pen as the experimental unit, with cow and day as additional random effects. The average maximum ambient conditions over the 9 d were 25°C and 78.74% relative humidity. No differences were observed in lying duration and number of lying bouts over the 9-d period, with overall means of 696±31 min/d and 12.6±0.5 bouts/d. The EP cows spent 170 min/d longer with a CBT 39.2°C than did NP cows. Cooling with evaporative pads tended to increase time spent lying with a CBT >8.6°C and lying bouts/d for EP cows versus NP cows. Results from this trial show that even under mild heat stress, evaporative cooling in cross-ventilated facilities can decrease CBT and tended to increase lying time.
On a paper of Maurice Sion

Let M0 be the set of measures μ on the real line such that open sets are μ*-immeasurable. While attempting to find out whether a set μ*-measurable for all μ in Mo is mapped into a similar set by a continuous function of bounded variation, Maurice Sion develops a theory for what he calls variational measure (4). As an application of the theory, he gets conditions on a function f and a set of measures M in order that f map a set, which is μ*-measurable for all μ ∈ M, into a set of the same kind. In particular he proves for his class M2 (def. 2.5), the following theorem (4, § 8.11).
GETRAN: A Generic, Modularly Structured Computer Code for Simulation of Dynamic Behavior of Aero- and Power Generation Gas Turbine Engines

The design concept, the theoretical background essential for the development of the modularly structured simulation code GETRAN, and several critical simulation cases are presented in this paper. The code being developed under contract with NASA Lewis Research Center is capable of simulating the nonlinear dynamic behavior of single- and multi-spool core engines, turbofan engines, and power generation gas turbine engines under adverse dynamic operating conditions. The modules implemented into GETRAN correspond to components of existing and new generation aero- and stationary gas turbine engines with arbitrary configuration and arrangement. For precise simulation of turbine and compressor components, row-by-row diabatic and adiabatic calculation procedures are implemented that account for the specific turbine and compressor cascade, blade geometry, and characteristics. The nonlinear, dynamic behavior of the subject engine is calculated solving a number of systems of partial differential equations, which describe the unsteady behavior of each component individually. To unambiguously identify each differential equation system, special attention is paid to the addressing of each component. The code is capable of executing the simulation procedure at four levels which increase with the degree of complexity of the system and dynamic event. As representative simulations, four different transient cases with single- and multi-spool thrust and power generation engines were simulated. These transient cases vary from throttling the exit nozzle area, operation with fuel schedule, rotor speed control, to rotating stall and surge.© 1993 ASME
A Modular Method for Planning and Design of Power Networks

Based on the idea that taking the power demands from power supply regions as the foundation of the planning,according to specified conditions the regional power network to be planned is divided into several interdependent and mutual-independent sub-regional networks,the planning of sub-regional networks is designed in the bottom-up order,i.e.,the sub-regional network in the lowest voltage grade is planned firstly,then rest sub-regional networks in higher voltage grades are planned in the order of voltage grades from bottom to top and a modular method of network planning(MNP) is presented.Founded on the idea of regional power supply,MNP adopts the network planning scheme for typical power supply region,i.e.,the power supply mode,in the design of network planning two courses,namely the longitudinal combination and horizontal optimization,are involved.In view of the reproducibility and portability of power supply mode,the presented MNP method contributes to standardization of power network construction and by use of MNP both efficiency and quality of power network planning can be improved.
Iron chelation therapy and lung transplantation. Effects of deferoxamine on lung preservation in canine single lung transplantation.

Reperfusion injury is a limiting factor in lung transplantation. Deferoxamine is an iron chelator that inhibits the formation of oxygen-derived free radicals. We investigated the effects of deferoxamine on posttransplantation lung function in a canine model of single lung transplantation. Twelve dogs underwent left lung transplantation after 20- to 24-hour hypothermic storage in a modified Euro-Collins solution. In six experiments donor and recipient received a 10 mg/kg dose of deferoxamine before harvest and transplantation, and 10 mg/kg was added to the preservation solution. Arterial oxygen tension, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, pulmonary vascular resistance, and dynamic lung compliance were measured. Data were recorded for 6 hours after ligation of the native pulmonary artery. At the end of the study the mean arterial oxygen tension was 175.1 mm Hg for the deferoxamine treated group versus 71.1 mm Hg for the control group (p
Von Klinischen MikroSystemen lernen: Aufbau und Bedeutung einer ergiebigen Informationsumgebung

Zwanzig der besten klinischen Einheiten der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika wurden von einer Forschergruppe des Center for Clinical Evaluation Sciences an der Dartmouth Medical School untersucht, um Erfolgseigenschaften dieser klinischen Mikro-systeme fur andere Versorgungseinheiten des Gesundheitswesens nutzbar zu machen. Aus der umfangreichen Dokumentation dieser qualitativen Analysen und der Wissenstransferma βnahmen in andere Mikrosysteme wird im Folgenden die Bedeutung eines systematischen und umfassenden Informationsmanagements fur klinische Mikrosysteme hervorgehoben.
Validation and Implementation of a Custom Next-Generation Sequencing Clinical Assay for Hematologic Malignancies

Targeted next-generation sequencing panels to identify genetic alterations in cancers are increasingly becoming an integral part of clinical practice. We report here the design, validation, and implementation of a comprehensive 95-gene next-generation sequencing panel targeted for hematologic malignancies that we named rapid heme panel. Rapid heme panel is amplicon based and covers hotspot regions of oncogenes and most of the coding regions of tumor suppressor genes. It is composed of 1330 amplicons and covers 175 kb of genomic sequence in total. Rapid heme panel's average coverage is 1500× with 95% concordance among a wide array of variants across a range of allele frequencies. Read count analyses that used rapid heme panel showed high concordance with karyotypic results when tumor content was >30%. The average turnaround time was 7 days over a 6-month span with an average volume of ≥40 specimens per week and a low sample fail rate (
Court-Involved Girls’ Perceptions of the Attainability of a Desired Possible Self and Its Connection to Past Adversity and Current Behavior

Identity-based motivation theory identifies individuals’ perceptions of attainable possible selves as the future-oriented component of self-concept that is a necessary first step in an adolescent’s...
Sfr1, a Tetrahymena thermophila Sfi1 repeat protein, modulates the production of cortical row basal bodies

ABSTRACT Basal bodies are essential microtubule-based structures that template, anchor, and orient cilia at the cell surface. Cilia act primarily in the generation of directional fluid flow and sensory reception, both of which are utilized for a broad spectrum of cellular processes. Although basal bodies contribute to vital cell functions, the molecular contributors of their assembly and maintenance are poorly understood. Previous studies of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila revealed important roles for two centrin family members in basal body assembly, separation of new basal bodies, and stability. Here, we characterize the basal body function of a centrin-binding protein, Sfr1, in Tetrahymena. Sfr1 is part of a large family of 13 proteins in Tetrahymena that contain Sfi1 repeats (SFRs), a motif originally identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sfi1 that binds centrin. Sfr1 is the only SFR protein in Tetrahymena that localizes to all cortical row and oral apparatus basal bodies. In addition, Sfr1 resides predominantly at the microtubule scaffold from the proximal cartwheel to the distal transition zone. Complete genomic knockout of SFR1 (sfr1Δ) causes a significant increase in both cortical row basal body density and the number of cortical rows, contributing to an overall overproduction of basal bodies. Reintroduction of Sfr1 into sfr1Δ mutant cells leads to a marked reduction of cortical row basal body density and the total number of cortical row basal bodies. Therefore, Sfr1 directly modulates cortical row basal body production. This study reveals an inhibitory role for Sfr1, and potentially centrins, in Tetrahymena basal body production. IMPORTANCE Basal bodies and centrioles are structurally similar and, when rendered dysfunctional as a result of improper assembly or maintenance, are associated with human diseases. Centrins are conserved and abundant components of both structures whose basal body and centriolar functions remain incompletely understood. Despite the extensive study of centrins in Tetrahymena thermophila, little is known about how centrin-binding proteins contribute to centrin’s roles in basal body assembly, stability, and orientation. The sole previous study of the large centrin-binding protein family in Tetrahymena revealed a role for Sfr13 in the stabilization and separation of basal bodies. In this study, we found that Sfr1 localizes to all Tetrahymena basal bodies and complete genetic deletion of SFR1 leads to overproduction of basal bodies. The uncovered inhibitory role of Sfr1 in basal body production suggests that centrin-binding proteins, as well as centrins, may influence basal body number both positively and negatively.
Nitrosomonas europaea cytochrome P460 is a direct link between nitrification and nitrous oxide emission

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are major contributors to the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O). It has been proposed that N2O is produced by reduction of NO. Here, we report that the enzyme cytochrome (cyt) P460 from the AOB Nitrosomonas europaea converts hydroxylamine (NH2OH) quantitatively to N2O under anaerobic conditions. Previous literature reported that this enzyme oxidizes NH2OH to nitrite ( N O 2 − ) under aerobic conditions. Although we observe N O 2 − formation under aerobic conditions, its concentration is not stoichiometric with the NH2OH concentration. By contrast, under anaerobic conditions, the enzyme uses 4 oxidizing equivalents (eq) to convert 2 eq of NH2OH to N2O. Enzyme kinetics coupled to UV/visible absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies support a mechanism in which an FeIII–NH2OH adduct of cyt P460 is oxidized to an {FeNO}6 unit. This species subsequently undergoes nucleophilic attack by a second equivalent of NH2OH, forming the N–N bond of N2O during a bimolecular, rate-determining step. We propose that N O 2 − results when nitric oxide (NO) dissociates from the {FeNO}6 intermediate and reacts with dioxygen. Thus, N O 2 − is not a direct product of cyt P460 activity. We hypothesize that the cyt P460 oxidation of NH2OH contributes to NO and N2O emissions from nitrifying microorganisms.
Coming Out of the ESL Ghetto: Promising Practices for Latino Immigrant Students and

In this paper, we suggest promising educational practices for secondary schools with large numbers of Latino immigrant students, who are increasingly left to languish socially and linguistically in an ESL ghetto, segregated from access to mainstream classes, including college preparatory courses, and unexposed to English speakers. We argue that segregation is based on the racist perception that because these students are brown-skinned, speak Spanish and are mainly immigrants, they donâ€™t deserve a quality education. To counter these perceptions, we suggest a number of steps schools can take to become more inclusive in ways that not only promote successful language and content learning, but also positive intergroup relations among immigrant and native born students. Our goal is to offer schools ways to ensure that English learners and immigrant students have the kinds of social and academic experiences in school that not only lead to graduation, but to higher education as well.
Editing VEGFR2 Blocks VEGF-Induced Activation of Akt and Tube Formation

Purpose Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) plays a key role in VEGF-induced angiogenesis. The goal of this project was to test the hypothesis that editing genomic VEGFR2 loci using the technology of clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated DNA endonuclease (Cas)9 in Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) was able to block VEGF-induced activation of Akt and tube formation. Methods Four 20 nucleotides for synthesizing single-guide RNAs based on human genomic VEGFR2 exon 3 loci were selected and cloned into a lentiCRISPR v2 vector, respectively. The DNA fragments from the genomic VEGFR2 exon 3 of transduced primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs) were analyzed by Sanger DNA sequencing, surveyor nuclease assay, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). In the transduced cells, expression of VEGFR2 and VEGF-stimulated signaling events (e.g., Akt phosphorylation) were determined by Western blot analyses; VEGF-induced cellular responses (proliferation, migration, and tube formation) were examined. Results In the VEGFR2-sgRNA/SpCas9-transduced HRECs, Sanger DNA sequencing indicated that there were mutations, and NGS demonstrated that there were 83.57% insertion and deletions in the genomic VEGFR2 locus; expression of VEGFR2 was depleted in the VEGFR2-sgRNA/SpCas9-transduced HRECs. In addition, there were lower levels of Akt phosphorylation in HRECs with VEGFR2-sgRNA/SpCas9 than those with LacZ-sgRNA/SpCas9, and there was less VEGF-stimulated Akt activation, proliferation, migration, or tube formation in the VEGFR2-depleted HRECs than those treated with aflibercept or ranibizumab. Conclusions The CRISPR-SpCas9 technology is a potential novel approach to prevention of pathologic angiogenesis.
Taxation of Carried Interests: The Reform that Did Not Happen

Congress soon may revise the taxation of partnerships and their partners to treat as compensation income the returns to partners who contribute services to their venture. Under current law, the taxation of partnership income is determined not by reference to what the partners contribute to the venture but rather to the manner in which the partnership earns its profit.1 So, for example, if a partnership purchases capital assets and holds them for more than one year, any gain or loss then realized from the sale or exchange of those assets is includible by the partners as long-term capital gain.2 Similarly, inventory of the partnership is defined by reference to the business of the partnership (rather than to the businesses of its partners), and expenditures will be classified as “start-up costs” if the partnership enters a new trade or business even if one, two, or even all of its partners have actively conducted that trade or business for many years.3 The congressional interest in this technical nuance of partnership tax law flows directly from an article recently published by Professor Victor Fleischer.4 Professor Fleischer’s contribution to the literature does not rest on his recognition of this issue nor on his proposed revisions to the Internal Revenue Code; many have come before, with essentially the same arguments leading to the same proposed solutions.5 Rather, what
THE ALLURE OF DARK TIMES: MAX WEBER, POLITICS, AND THE CRISIS OF HISTORICISM

This article argues that realist invocations of Weber rely on an unrealistic reading of Weber's realism. In order to escape the allure of Weber's dramatic posture of crisis, we place his seminal lecture on “Politics as a Vocation” (1919) in its historical and philosophical context of a revolutionary conjuncture of dramatic proportions, compounded by a broader crisis of historicism. Weber's rhetoric, we argue, carries with it not only the emotion of crisis but is also the expression of a deeper intellectual impasse. The fatalistic despair of his position had already been detected by some of his closest contemporaries for whom Weber did not appear as a door-opener to a historically situated theory of political action but as a telling and intriguing impasse. Although the disastrous history of interwar Europe seems to confirm Weber's bleakest predictions, it would be perverse to elevate contingent failure to the level of retrospective vindication.
Extreme temperatures in Southeast Asia caused by El Niño and worsened by global warming

In April 2016, southeast Asia experienced surface air temperatures (SATs) that surpassed national records, exacerbated energy consumption, disrupted agriculture and caused severe human discomfort. Here we show using observations and an ensemble of global warming simulations the combined impact of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and long-term warming on regional SAT extremes. We find a robust relationship between ENSO and southeast Asian SATs wherein virtually all April extremes occur during El Nino years. We then quantify the relative contributions of long-term warming and the 2015-16 El Nino to the extreme April 2016 SATs. The results indicate that global warming increases the likelihood of record-breaking April extremes where we estimate that 29% of the 2016 anomaly was caused by warming and 49% by El Nino. These post-Nino Aprils can potentially be anticipated a few months in advance, and thus, help societies prepare for the projected continued increases in extremes.
Sulfate-reducing bacteria influence the nucleation and growth of mackinawite and greigite

Abstract Sedimentary iron sulfide minerals play a key role in maintaining the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere over geological timescales; they also record critical geochemical information that can be used to reconstruct paleo-environments. On modern Earth, sedimentary iron sulfide mineral formation takes places in low-temperature environments and requires the production of free sulfide by sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) under anoxic conditions. Yet, most of our knowledge on the properties and formation pathways of iron sulfide minerals, including pyrite, derives from experimental studies performed in abiotic conditions, and as such the role of biotic processes in the formation of sedimentary iron sulfide minerals is poorly understood. Here we investigate the role of SRM in the nucleation and growth of iron sulfide minerals in laboratory experiments. We set out to test the hypothesis that SRM can influence Fe-S mineralization in ways other than providing sulfide through the comparison of the physical properties of iron sulfide minerals precipitated in the presence and in the absence of the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio hydrothermalis AM13 under well-controlled conditions. X-ray diffraction and microscopy analyses reveal that iron sulfide minerals produced in the presence of SRM exhibit unique morphology and aggregate differently than abiotic minerals formed in media without cells. Specifically, mackinawite growth is favored in the presence of both live and dead SRM, when compared to the abiotic treatments tested. The cell surface of live and dead SRM, and the extracellular polymers produced by live cells, provide templates for the nucleation of mackinawite and favor mineral growth. The morphology of minerals is however different when live and dead cells are provided. The transformation of greigite from mackinawite occurred after several months of incubation only in the presence of live SRM, suggesting that SRM might accelerate the kinetics of greigite formation under strict anoxic conditions. Pyrite formation was not observed in any experiments. While SRM provide nearly all the sulfide to the Fe-S system at low temperatures, we also posit that SRM play an additional formative role in the size, morphology and potentially the mineralogy of iron sulfide minerals in sedimentary environments, therefore potentially influencing their reactivity. Attempting to reconstruct modern and ancient biogeochemical cycles based on the geochemistry of iron sulfide minerals formed under purely abiotic conditions should be therefore done with caution.
Analysis of Factors Related to the Sex Diversity of Orthopaedic Residency Programs in the United States.

BACKGROUND Women are underrepresented as applicants to and trainees of orthopaedic surgery residencies. Factors that attract women to or deter them from orthopaedic surgery have been previously published; however, there has been no analysis of the programs that train high percentages of female residents and the factors that differentiate them from programs that have low percentages of women. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare these factors between programs with high and low percentages of female residents. METHODS Information on each orthopaedic surgery residency program listed in the American Medical Association (AMA) Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) was collected utilizing residency program web sites, an online survey distributed to residency program coordinators, and a follow-up telephone survey. These included data on resident and faculty demographic characteristics and residency program curriculum structure. The prevalence of factors in programs with the highest percentages of female residents was compared with those with lower percentages. RESULTS Data were obtained from 143 (97.3%) of 147 programs, with 3,406 residents identified. Only 485 residents (14.2%) were female. Programs with more female residents had more female faculty members per program (p = 0.001), a higher percentage of faculty who were female (p < 0.001), more female associate professors (p < 0.001), more women in leadership positions (p < 0.001), and a higher prevalence of women's sports medicine programs (p = 0.03); were more commonly listed in the Top 40 for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding (p = 0.03) and U.S. News & World Report rankings (p = 0.02); and were more likely to offer a research year (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS There are greater percentages of female residents at orthopaedic residency programs with more female faculty members, more women in leadership positions, a women's sports medicine program, and the option to do a research year. Departmental and national leaders may consider these factors when efforts are undertaken to enhance the recruitment of female applicants and improve female interest in orthopaedic surgery as a specialty.
Long term impact of CTLA4 blockade immunotherapy on regulatory and effector immune responses in patients with melanoma

We previously reported early on-treatment significant modulation in circulating regulatory T cell (Treg), myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and antigen-specific type I CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that correlated with clinical outcome in regionally advanced melanoma patients treated with neoadjuvant ipilimumab. Here, we investigated the long term immunologic impact of CTLA4 blockade. Patients were treated with ipilimumab given at 10 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks for 2 doses bracketing surgery. Blood specimens were collected at baseline and during treatment for up to 9 months. We tested immune responses at 3, 6, and 9 months utilizing multicolor flow cytometry. We compared frequencies of circulating Treg and MDSC on-study to baseline levels, as well as frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific to shared tumor-associated antigens (Gp-100, MART-1, NY-ESO-1). Levels of Treg significantly increased when measured at 6 weeks following ipilimumab but returned to baseline by 3 months, with no significant difference in Treg levels between relapsed and relapse-free groups at 3, 6 or 9 months. However, lower baseline levels of circulating Treg (CD4+CD25hi+CD39+) were significantly associated with better relapse free survival (RFS) (p = 0.04). Levels of circulating monocytic HLA-DR+/loCD14+ MDSC were lower at baseline in the relapse-free group and further decreased at 6 weeks, though the differences did not reach statistical significance including measurements at 3, 6 or 9 months. We detected evidence of type I (interferon-γ producing), activated (CD69+) CD4+ and CD8+ antigen-specific T cell immunity against cancer-testis (NY-ESO-1) as well as melanocytic lineage (MART-1, gp100) antigens in the absence of therapeutic vaccination. These responses were significantly boosted at 6 weeks and persisted at 3, 6 and 9 months following the initiation of ipilimumab. Lower Treg levels at baseline are significantly associated with RFS and increased Treg frequency after CTLA4 blockade was only transient. Lower MDSC was also associated with RFS and MDSC levels were further decreased after ipilimumab. Tumor specific effector immune responses are boosted with CTLA4 blockade and tend to be durable. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00972933
Expert Witness Testimony

As mentioned in Chapter 2, an expert witness has training and experience beyond that of ordinary human experience, and the expert witness is called upon in court to provide the judge and jury the benefit of his special training and experience so that the best possible judgment can be rendered. An expert witness is allowed to give his opinion in court concerning a matter within his area of expertise. In other words, an expert witness is permitted to use his special training and experience to make his own judgment concerning matters that fall within his area of expertise. Having made his judgment, the expert witness may then pass his personal judgment of the situation on to the judge and jury so that they can use his informed opinion to make their own decision concerning the guilt of the party accused of committing a criminal or civil wrong. That courts should grant such authority to expert witnesses is, in a way, astonishing. In order for an expert witness to function properly, as a teacher to the court, the court assumes that the privilege granted to an expert witness of offering his opinion is balanced by the responsibility of using his special knowledge to assess each question and situation with equanimity.
Systems: The Design of Multimedia Languages

The inherent complexity and size of many multimedia applications requires the introduction of proper software engineering techniques, languages, and tools for mastering the specification, the development process, and the dynamics characterizing their presentation. In Chapter 4, we described how visual languages can be extended in order to capture the dynamic behavior of multimedia objects [Chang96a].
Applications of Statistics to Applied Algorithm Design

The field of Applied Algorithm Design is concerned with applying the results and techniques of Analysis of Algorithms to the real problems faced by practitioners of computing. In this paper we will study the applications of probability and statistics to that endeavor from two viewpoints. First, we will study a general methodology for building efficient programs that employs the tools of data analysis and statistical inference, probabilistic analysis of algorithms, and simulation. Second, we will see how these techniques are used in a detailed study of an application involving the Traveling Salesman Problem, and in a brief overview of several other applications.