cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cockpit management attitudes

Distinctions are drawn between personality traits and attitudes. The stability of the personality and the malleability of attitudes are stressed. These concepts are related to pilot performance, especially in the areas of crew coordination and cockpit resource management. Airline pilots were administered a Cockpit Management Attitudes questionnaire; empirical data from that survey are reported and implications of the data for training in crew coordination are discussed.
The role of organics in metallic passivation.

Organic substances are known to affect electrochemical reactions. The passivation characteristics of iron have been shown to be drastically altered in the presence of certain ions. Since passivation must occur to preserve the physical integrity of some materials in vivo, a study was initiated to determine the effect of alanine, bovine plasma albumin, and cystine on this phenomenon for nickel and copper. The procedure was as follows: (1) potential pH diagrams which show stable metal-containing forms with respect to pH and electrical potential were constructed to interpret anodic dissolution data; (2) measurements were made to determine potential ranges in which organic adsorption occurs; and (3) data on electrical potential of the metal and associated current were taken for construction of anodic dissolution curves. The results showed that the presence of cystine inhibited the passivation of nickel and improved the passivation tendency of copper. The other organic substances had little or no effect on passivation. A possible mechanism for these effects is proposed. Further, the results showed a relationship between the onset of passivation and the potentials where metal-containing solid substances become thermodynamically stable, as determined from the potential pH diagrams.
Skull-stripping with deformable organisms

Segmenting brain from non-brain tissue within magnetic resonance (MR) images of the human head, also known as skull-stripping, is a critical processing step in the analysis of neuroimaging data. Though many algorithms have been developed to address this problem, challenges remain. In this paper, we apply the “deformable organism” framework to the skull-stripping problem. Within this framework, deformable models are equipped with higher-level control mechanisms based on the principles of artificial life, including sensing, reactive behavior, knowledge representation, and proactive planning. Our new deformable organisms are governed by a high-level plan aimed at the fully-automated segmentation of various parts of the head in MR imagery, and they are able to cooperate in computing a robust and accurate segmentation. We applied our segmentation approach to a test set of human MRI data using manual delineations of the data as a reference “gold standard.” We compare these results with results from three widely used methods using set-similarity metrics.
Pulmonary lesions in dogs with experimental and naturally occurring toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmagondii has been recognized as a cause of disease for several decades in human beings and many animal species. The clinical signs of both experimental and naturally occurring toxoplasmosis in the dog often indicate a severe involvement of the respiratory system. MELLO~~ described pulmonary hyperemia and focal pneumonia in the initial report of naturally occurring canine toxoplasmosis. Subsequently, numerous reports of canine toxoplasmosis have appeared in the literature. Pulmonary lesions reported in dogs with the naturally occurring disease include miliary necrosis and fibrin exudation, fibrinous pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, focal pneumonia, focal granulomas, enlarged bronchial lymph nodes, and T. gondii in lung smears. COHRS and CARS TENS EN^ reported a severe dyspnea in experimentally infected dogs. The most striking and frequently encountered lesions were found in the lungs and consisted of focal necrosis and fibrinous pneumonia. VALL~E et al.36 described a bronchopneumonia with focal necrosis in young dogs experimentally infected with T. gondii by intratracheal and intraperitoneal routes. The objectives of ths investigation were to: (1) describe the lesions produced by T. gondii in the lungs of dogs, (2) compare the disease induced by respiratory exposure to that following other routes of infection and (3) compare naturally occurring toxoplasmosis with the experimental infection.
Vps41p function in the alkaline phosphatase pathway requires homo-oligomerization and interaction with AP-3 through two distinct domains.

Transport of proteins through the ALP (alkaline phosphatase) pathway to the vacuole requires the function of the AP-3 adaptor complex and Vps41p. However, unlike other adaptor protein–dependent pathways, the ALP pathway has not been shown to require additional accessory proteins or coat proteins, such as membrane recruitment factors or clathrin. Two independent genetic approaches have been used to identify new mutants that affect transport through the ALP pathway. These screens yielded new mutants in both VPS41 and the four AP-3 subunit genes. Two new VPS41 alleles exhibited phenotypes distinct from null mutants of VPS41, which are defective in vacuolar morphology and protein transport through both the ALP and CPY sorting pathways. The new alleles displayed severe ALP sorting defects, normal vacuolar morphology, and defects in ALP vesicle formation at the Golgi complex. Sequencing analysis of these VPS41 alleles revealed mutations encoding amino acid changes in two distinct domains of Vps41p: a conserved N-terminal domain and a C-terminal clathrin heavy-chain repeat (CHCR) domain. We demonstrate that the N-terminus of Vps41p is required for binding to AP-3, whereas the C-terminal CHCR domain directs homo-oligomerization of Vps41p. These data indicate that a homo-oligomeric form of Vps41p is required for the formation of ALP containing vesicles at the Golgi complex via interactions with AP-3.
BF-1 Interferes with Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling by Associating with Smad Partners

The winged-helix (WH) BF-1 gene, which encodes brain factor 1 (BF-1) (also known as foxg1), is essential for the proliferation of the progenitor cells of the cerebral cortex. Here we show that BF-1-deficient telencephalic progenitor cells are more apt to leave the cell cycle in response to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and activin. We found that ectopic expression of BF-1 in vitro inhibits TGF-β mediated growth inhibition and transcriptional activation. Surprisingly, we found that the ability of BF-1 to function as a TGF-β antagonist does not require its DNA binding activity. Therefore, we investigated whether BF-1 can inhibit Smad-dependent transcriptional responses by interacting with Smads or Smad binding partners. We found that BF-1 does not interact with Smads. Because the identities of the Smad partners mediating growth inhibition by TGF-β are not clearly established, we examined a model reporter system which is known to be activated by activin and TGF-β through Smads and the WH factor FAST-2. We demonstrate that BF-1 associates with FAST-2. This interaction is dependent on the same region of protein which mediates its ability to interfere with the antiproliferative activity of TGF-β and with TGF-β-dependent transcriptional activation. Furthermore, the interaction of FAST-2 with BF-1 is mediated by the same domain which is required for FAST-2 to interact with Smad2. We propose a model in which BF-1 interferes with transcriptional responses to TGF-β by interacting with FAST-2 or with other DNA binding proteins which function as Smad2 partners and which have a common mode of interaction with Smad2.
1A-3 Sum Frequency Imaging During Vibro-acoustography of Tissue

Vibro-acoustography is an imaging method that uses the radiation force of two interfering ultrasound beams of slightly different frequency to probe an object. An image is formed using the resulting low-frequency acoustic emission from the object's vibration at the difference frequency. A previously unstudied information signal is present during vibro-acoustography, which is formed by the sum frequency of the two beams. This study explored the feasibility of imaging tissue at the sum frequency while concurrently forming the low-frequency vibro-acoustic image, thereby increasing the amount of information acquired during a single scan. Vibro-acoustic and sum frequency images were acquired from a commercial breast phantom and excised human prostate and thyroid tissues. The sum frequency image produces a high-resolution C-scan of the tissue with the usual speckle artifact and is relatively similar to images at the 2nd harmonic frequency of the driving beams. Summing all three images together reduces speckle and improves image contrast
Algebraic treatment of effective supersymmetry

Miyazawa's supersymmetric generalization of the approximateSU 6 symmetry of hadrons, namelyU 6/21, is shown to arise within the frame of the standard theory of quarks interacting through gluons. The supersymmetry is found to hold in the same approximation for whichSU 6 is a good symmetry, provided a diquark structure emerges through an effective string interaction. The spin independence of the confining force of the strong-coupling regime then explains the near parallelism of the leading Regge trajectories for baryons and mesons. Symmetry breaking is due to mass differences of the constituents and spin-dependent forces caused by gluon exchange. TheU 6/21 algebra is also shown to be embedded in a larger octonionic algebra which puts mesons and baryons, exotic mesons, quarks and diquarks in the same multiplet. The experimental evidence for the existence of qq and $$qq\overline {qq} $$ systems is briefly discussed.
DHEA action is mediated by multiple receptors and metabolites.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a C-19 adrenal steroid and the most abundant circulating hormone in humans. Since circulating levels decline in late adulthood, treatment of humans with DHEA has been suggested to have beneficial health effects. Although the mechanism of action is unknown, DHEA may be metabolized to active metabolites that exert their physiological effects by receptor-mediated processes and cell signaling pathways. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanistic processes of DHEA action. Since DHEA may exert its pleotropic effects by being metabolized to biologically active species, a GC/MS method was developed to quantify the liver microsomal metabolism of DHEA of various species and identify the P450 enzymes responsible for metabolism. 16alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA were formed in rat, hamster, pig and human. CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 formed 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA, 16alpha-hydroxy-DHEA, and the unique human metabolite, 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA, while the fetal enzyme CYP3A7 formed only 16alpha-hydroxy and 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA. By using this method to examine the metabolite profiles of various P450s, the developmental expression patterns of the human cytochrome P4503A forms could be classified and therefore have significant clinical relevance. Nuclear receptors transduce the effects of hormones into transcriptional responses. DHEA and metabolites were screened in a cell-based assay to determine the interaction with estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta). DHEA, DHEA-S, and androstendiol activated ERalpha, while DHEA, 7-oxo-DHEA, androstenedione and androstenediol activated ERbeta demonstrating ER is activated directly by DHEA and some metabolites. These and other studies from our laboratory demonstrate that DHEA is metabolized into various monohydroxylated metabolites. DHEA and metabolites directly activate ER as well as the pregnane X receptor (PXR). Additionally, DHEA has been shown to activate another nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) "in vivo." This research suggests that DHEA action is mediated by multiple receptors and metabolites with various biological activities, comprising of a complex mode of action of DHEA.
"Animal protein factor" and vitamin B12 in the nutrition of animals.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on “animal protein factor” and the role of vitamin B 12 in the nutrition of animals. Vitamin B 12 is a chemically and physically characterized cobalt coordination compound, which has been isolated from liver and from the culture medium of certain molds. It is the antipernicious anemia substance of liver and also plays the role of a nutritional essential for certain microorganisms, for birds and for mammals. Three different forms of such a Co coordination compound (B 12 , B 12a , B 12b ) have been found that have B 12 activity. There are many present indications that crystalline B 12 possesses all the activity that is connoted by animal protein factor as represented by liver, liver extract, fish meal, fish solubles, etc. This is based largely on curative experiments. There are also indications from other lines of experimentation that whole liver and a Streptomyces aureofaciens preparation contain materials that are not B 12 but have activity that may come under a heading of “animal protein factor” activity. With regard to the relation of B 12 to metabolic processes, it is established that the requirement or effectiveness of B 12 varies with the protein intake and similar relations to fat are indicated.
Interpixel crosstalk in a 3D-integrated active pixel sensor for x-ray detection

MIT Lincoln Laboratories and MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research have developed an active pixel sensor for use as a photon counting device for imaging spectroscopy in the soft X-ray band. A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) readout circuit was integrated with a high-resistivity silicon diode detector array using a per-pixel 3D integration technique developed at Lincoln Laboratory. We have tested these devices at 5.9 keV and 1.5 keV. Here we examine the interpixel cross-talk measured with 5.9 keV X-rays.
SAFEgress: a flexible platform to study the effect of human and social behaviors on egress performance

Studies of past emergency events have revealed that occupant behavior, local geometry, and environmental constraints affect crowd movement and govern evacuation. Occupants' social characteristics and the unique layout of buildings should be considered to ensure that egress systems can handle evacuee behavior. This paper describes an agent-based egress simulation tool, SAFEgress, which is designed to incorporate human and social behaviors during evacuations. Simulation results on two scenarios are presented. The first scenario illustrates the effects of the exiting strategies adopted by occupants on evacuation. The second scenario shows the influence of social group behavior on evacuations. By assuming different behaviors using this prototype, engineers, designers, and facility managers can study the important human factors during an emergency situation and thereby improve the design of safe egress systems and procedures.
Acquired acanthosis nigricans with tripe palms in a patient with interstitial lung disease

Tripe palms [(TP); acral acanthosis nigricans (AN)], is a rare cutaneous syndrome in which the palms develop velvety thickening and rugosity that creates an exaggeration or distortion of dermatoglyphics, resembling boiled tripe. In more than 90% of patients, TP is associated with malignancy, predominantly pulmonary and gastric carcinomas.1 However, in approximately 6% to 10% of patients with TP, no associated malignancy is found.1 We report a case of TP associated only with interstitial lung disease (ILD), specifically idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and no associated malignancy.
A model of life history strategies of chaparral shrubs in relation to fire frequency

A model was developed which represents the dynamics of fire adapted plants which have strong seed dormancy. This class of plants is unusual in that their population density continually decreases between fires since recruitment only occurs following a disturbance; normally fire.
Chiral recognition mechanism of acyloin-containing chiral solutes by amylose tris[(S)-α-methylbenzylcarbamate].

Although polysaccharide sorbents have been widely used for chiral separations, the recognition mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we focus on one important commercial sorbent, amylose tris[(S)-α-methylbenzylcarbamate] (AS) sorbent. Four solutes containing acyloin, O═C—C—OH, which has a hydroxyl group in the α-position of a carbonyl group, were studied: ethyl lactate (EL), methyl mandelate (MM), benzoin (B), and pantolactone (PL). The observed retention factors (kR and kS) and enantioselectivities (α = kR/ kS) were determined in n-hexane and in hexane–isopropanol (IPA) solutions. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) simulations of the interactions of these solutes with the side chains of the polymer led to a general hypothesis for the chiral recognition mechanism for these solutes: A strong H-bond forms as the primary (or “leading”) nonenantioselective interaction (or “anchor” point) between the solute OH group of each enantiomer and the sorbent C═O group. A...
Effects of Vitamin G Deficiency and Diphtheria Toxin on Cellular Blood Constituents of Guinea Pig.

ConclusionsAccompanying the anemia of scurvy in guinea pigs there was a progressive decrease in both hemoglobin and erythrocytes and a slight increase in leucocytes.Guinea pigs receiving 3.0 mg of vitamin C per day and given subcutaneous injections of diphtheria toxin showed less disturbance in their blood cell count than similarly injected animals receiving 0.5 mg or less of the vitamin per day. The changes in the low-vitamin, toxin-injected groups were characterized by chromatophilia, aniso-cytosis and poikilocytosis.
Detections of Four Blood-borne Diseases Among Blood Donors in Pixian County of Chengdu,2004-2009

Objective To analyze the detection of HbsAg,anti-HCV,syphilis antibody and HIV antibody among blood donors in Pixian and provide scientific evidence for improving blood quality and ensuring the blood safety.Methods The analysis on the blood donors' detection data in Pixian from 2004 to 2009 was conducted.Results HbsAg,anti-HCV,syphilis antibody and HIV antibody were detected from 1307 blood donors respectively,the total detection rate was 3.31%.HbsAg was detected from 498 blood donors(1.26%),anti-HCV was detected from 354 blood donors(0,90%),syphilis antibody was detected 300 blood donors(0.76%)and HIV antibody was detected from 155 blood donors(0.39%).The detection rate of the four blood-borne diseases in Pixan declined by 2.47% in 2009 compared with that in 2004(χ2=34.10,P0.01),and the detection rate of HbsAg and anti-HCV declined by 1.21%(χ2=24.97,P0.01)and 1.53%(χ2=42.35,P0.01)respectively.The detection rate of syphilis antibody declined by 0.77% in 2008 compared with that in 2004(χ2=18.21,P0.01),but the detection rate of HIV antibodyincreased slightly.Conclusion The overall detection rate of the four blood-borne diseases declined year by year in Pixian,the detection rate of HIV antibody increased slightly.
Povidone Iodine Ointment Application to the Vaccination Site Does Not Alter Immunoglobulin G Antibody Response to Smallpox Vaccine

Abstract U.S. military personnel deployed to high-risk areas receive the live vaccinia virus (VACV) smallpox vaccine ACAM2000. VACV shedding from the vaccination site can result in autoinoculation and contact transmission. We previously found that the application of povidone iodine ointment (PIO) to the scarification site reduced viral shedding without altering the antibody response, as measured by plaque reduction neutralization or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In this study, we used protein microarray assays to measure the amount of immunoglobulin G antibody bound to (1) ACAM2000 itself and (2) individual VACV antigens that are present within ACAM2000. We assessed antibody binding in sera from primary smallpox vaccinees who applied PIO to the scarification site beginning on day 7 (PIO group) and from those who did not apply PIO (control group). In both cohorts, the postvaccination antibody response—in terms of antibody binding, both to ACAM2000 and to 11 individual VACV antigens—was significantly ...
New Developments in Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Regeneration

Increased interest and progress have been widespread in the field of plant tissue culture in recent years. Although much of this effort preceded recent excitement about “genetic engineering,” this field has been significantly stimulated by the broad interest in new biotechnology. This presentation could be devoted to anyone of at least five areas of tissue culture and plant regeneration. It could, for example be devoted to plants which produce secondary products. These are of interest because they are the source of valuable chemicals, often important in medicine. It might also be a discussion focused on recent studies in model systems like tobacco, carrot, petunia, and a few other plant species in which much fundamental information has been generated over the years in plant tissue culture. Thirdly, it could be focused on crop plants. Increased efforts to develop cell and tissue culture systems to manipulate valuable agricultural crops have coincided with the increased interest in new biotechnology in general. A fourth area could focus on plants which have relatively well developed genetic systems. Some obvious candidates include: corn, tomato, barley, wheat and a few others. Lastly, a fifth possibility could be the horticulture/floriculture industry where tissue culture and plant regeneration have become commercially valuable tools for plant propagation, disease control, and germplasm preservation.
Legal Status and Health Care: Mexican-Origin Children in California, 2001-2014.

Using restricted data from the 2001–2014 California Health Interview Surveys, this research illuminates the role of legal status in health care among Mexican-origin children. The first objective is to provide a population-level overview of trends in health care access and utilization, along with the legal statuses of parents and children. The second objective is to examine the nature of associations between children’s health care and legal status over time. We identify specific status-based distinctions that matter and investigate how their importance is changing. Despite the continuing significance of child nativity for health care, the descriptive analysis shows that the proportion of Mexican-origin children who are foreign born is declining. This trend suggests a potentially greater role of parental legal status in children’s health care. Logistic regression analyses demonstrate that the importance of parental legal status varies with the health care indicator examined and the inclusion of child nativity in models. Moreover, variation in some aspects of children’s health care coalesced more around parents’ citizenship than documentation status in the past. With one exception, the salience of such distinctions has dissipated over time.
Magnets Based Upon Electron-Transfer Salts

Since the discovery a decade ago, numerous examples of magnets prepared from molecules have been synthesized and characterized [1,2]. Utilization of molecules and/or molecular ions instead of atom/ions should enable (a) the modulation of the magnetic properties by organic-synthesis methodologies, (b) the improvement of commercially useful magnetic properties, (c) the combination of magnetic properties with other physical properties (e. g., mechanical, electrical, and/or optical), and (d) the employment of energy efficient low-temperature fabrication methods.
RNAi Screening of the Glucose-Regulated Chaperones in Cancer with Self-Assembled siRNA Nanostructures

The emerging field of RNA nanotechnology has been used to design well-programmed, self-assembled nanostructures for applications in chemistry, biology, and medicine. At the forefront of its utility in cancer is the unrestricted ability to self-assemble multiple siRNAs within a single nanostructure formulation for the RNAi screening of a wide range of oncogenes while potentiating the gene therapy of malignant tumors. In our RNAi nanotechnology approach, V- and Y-shape RNA templates were designed and constructed for the self-assembly of discrete, higher-ordered siRNA nanostructures targeting the oncogenic glucose regulated chaperones. The GRP78-targeting siRNAs self-assembled into genetically encoded spheres, triangles, squares, pentagons and hexagons of discrete sizes and shapes according to TEM imaging. Furthermore, gel electrophoresis, thermal denaturation, and CD spectroscopy validated the prerequisite siRNA hybrids for their RNAi application. In a 24 sample siRNA screen conducted within the AN3CA endom...
Temperature and Hydrology Affect Methane Emissions from Prairie Pothole Wetlands

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) in central North America consists of millions of depressional wetlands that each have considerable potential to emit methane (CH4). Changes in temperature and hydrology in the PPR from climate change may affect methane fluxes from these wetlands. To assess the potential effects of changes in climate on methane emissions, we examined the relationships between flux rates and temperature or water depth using six years of bi-weekly flux measurements during the snow-free period from six temporarily ponded and six permanently ponded wetlands in North Dakota, USA. Methane flux rates were among the highest reported for freshwater wetlands, and had considerable spatial and temporal variation. Methane flux rates increased with increasing temperature and water depth, and were especially high when conditions were warmer and wetter than average (163 ± 28 mg CH4 m−2 h−1) compared to warmer and drier (37 ± 7 mg CH4 m−2 h−1). Methane emission rates from permanent wetlands were less sensitive to changes in temperature and water depth compared to temporary wetlands, likely due to higher sulfate concentrations in permanent wetlands. While the predicted increase in temperature with climate change will likely increase methane emission rates from PPR wetlands, drier conditions could moderate these increases.
A new method to stabilize high frequency high gain CMOS LNA

A new technique to improve stability of high frequency high gain CMOS Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) has been introduced. A 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS LNA for WLAN 5.2 GHz is designed and its performance is compared to typical CMOS cascode LNA for the same frequency. New filter architecture at load has caused a sharp notch in "in-band" S12 of the LNA. This method significantly increases the stability of the LNA while benefits from the high forward gain (16.6 dB) and low noise figure (1.4 dB) of the cascode topology. New LNA shows input IP3 of 0.6dBm while consumes 9mA out of 1.8V supply voltage.
Above the Shots: An Oral History of the Kent State Shootings: Simpson, Craig S., and Gregory S. Wilson, Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press 272 pp., $28.95, ISBN 978-1-60635-291-5 Publication Date: May 2016

Craig Simpson, a librarian who managed the Kent State Shootings Oral History Project, and Gregory Wilson, a historian who specializes in Ohio history and public history, have collaborated to offer ...
Angiogenesis and its role in the behavior of astrocytic brain tumors.

Abstract Angiogenesis, the development of new vessels from a pre-existing vasculature, accompanies the growth and malignant transformation of astrocytic brain tumors. Neovascularization is essential for sustained tumor growth, and with increasing grade, astrocytic tumors undergo an, angiogenic switch, manifested by marked increases in vessel density and changes in vascular morphology. In the quiescent state, endogenous anti-angiogenic factors including endostatin, thrombospondin, and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) balance the actions of pro-angiogenic stimuli and restrain the angiogenic switch. Once activated, pro-angiogenic factors including most notably basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) incite robust astrocytoma neovascularization. Recent studies have also explored the expression patterns and functional importance of the angiopoietins, Tie2 and neuropilin receptors, and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF). Together these angiogenic factors have diverse actions on endothelium and perivascular supporting cells that engender tumor neovessels with a unique phenotype, distinct from normal vessels. Properties of the astrocytoma neovasculature contribute to tumor growth, malignant progression, invasion, hemorrhage, and edema formation. Thus, the mechanistic actions of angiogenic factors on cerebral microvessels and the nature of the resultant tumor neovasculature establish a framework for understanding many of the characteristic behaviors of astrocytoma tumors.
Advice for my chief resident

I have been privileged to have served as a division of rheumatology chief and/or program director for 18 years and as a department of medicine chair and medicine residency program director for another 22 years. During the latter, I collected and codified advice for my chief residents. Selected highlights are presented as follows.
A 3000 yr paleostorm record from St. Catherines Island, Georgia

Abstract Tropical cyclones (hurricanes in the northern hemisphere) are amongst the most devastating of the world's natural disasters and cause billions of dollars in damage every year. Data on the likelihood of a coastal site being struck by a major hurricane strike can potentially aid in planning and mitigation efforts that could save money and lives. However, forecasting requires data that are currently insufficient for the Georgia Bight. This study provides information to enhance the paleohurricane record by analysis of a 467 cm thick vibracore raised from St. Catherines Island, GA. Sediment geochemistry and foraminiferal assemblages indicate deposits attributable to seven paleohurricane events, five of which were likely major hurricanes when they made landfall on St. Catherines. Magnitudes were estimated by comparison to the overwash deposit left by “The Sea Islands hurricane of 1893”, a major hurricane recorded by the recent sediment of St. Catherines Island. The St. Catherines record also shows a change in the activity levels on the Georgia coast with two distinct activity regimes over the past 3000 years.
Structural setting and evolution of the Mensa and Thunder Horse intraslope basins, northern deep-water Gulf of Mexico: A case study

The Mensa and Thunder Horse intraslope minibasins in southcentralMississippi Canyon, northern deep-water Gulf ofMexico, had a linked structural evolution from the Early Cretaceous through the late Miocene. Analysis of the two minibasins illustrates the complexities of deep-water sedimentation and salt tectonics in intraslope minibasins. This study is based on the integration of a 378-mi2 (979-km2) three-dimensional seismic data set,wire-line logs, and biostratigraphic data. These two minibasins comprise several structural features that affected their geologic evolution: basement faults, autochthonous salt, three allochthonous salt systems (top Barremian, top Cretaceous, and Neogene), a growth fault and raft system, three major turtle structures with associated extensive crestal faults, and strike-slip faults. Remnant allochthonous salt pillows are present above the 125 Ma horizon (approximate top Barremian system) and on the 66 Ma horizon (top Cretaceous system) throughout the Mensa minibasin, whereas the top Cretaceous allochthonous salt system is identified regionally by a salt weld in the Thunder Horse area. These allochthonous salt systems formed weld surfaces beneath the Mensa and Thunder Horse turtle structures. Structural features and associated minibasins evolved during several discrete intervals. From the Early Cretaceous through the latest Oligocene (125 to 24 Ma), an extensive allochthonous salt canopy was present within the Mensa and Thunder Horse minibasins. During this interval, sediments loaded the salt, forming thinwedge-and sheet-formdeposits in theMensa area and a thick, northwest-Trending trough in the ThunderHorse area. A secondary allochthonous salt system extruded at the Top Cretaceous level, as seen by remnant salt bodies. Salt withdrawal from these allochthonous salt systems provided accommodation for bowl-and trough-shaped external stratigraphic forms to develop during the Miocene. High sedimentation rates produced salt evacuation from these allochthonous salt systems and initiated diapirism that formed the Neogene allochthonous salt level. The prominent turtle structures in the two minibasins, critical to the formation of traps to the two major fields, developed at slightly different times: Thunder Horse at 14.35 and Mensa at 11.4 Ma. Copyright © 2017 The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
Gender and schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic illness that characteristically manifests itself from the early adult years throughout the entirety of life. Its symptoms are well known, its phenomenology has been exhaustively studied, and palliative treatments exist, although they rarely produce complete response. The pathophysiology and the etiology of the illness remain unknown. Clues to the basic understanding of schizophrenia are rare, but they do appear. Gender differences in schizophrenia have always been implicated in the challenge to clearly understand the disorder. Male and female schizophrenics display identical symptomatic features during acute illness, seemingly minimizing the relevance of gender issues. Within the last decade, however, more careful screening has revealed significant gender differences in schizophrenia: in age at onset, premorbid personality, subtype of schizophrenia, psychosocial function, and treatment response. Attention to these differences could be important to answer theoretical and therapeutic questions regarding the disorder.
Evaluating Sustainable Competitive Advantage

The author argues that, for companies to play a significant role in addressing environmental or social problems, they must first achieve sustained competitive advantage in the marketplace. And thus the source of a company's competitive advantage—and its ability to maintain that advantage over time—should be matters of great interest and concern for sustainability advocates as well as more traditional corporate investors and directors. But identifying and assessing the durability of corporate competitive advantage are difficult tasks, in part because conventional accounting-based information like reported sales and GAAP earnings often fails to provide a timely ref lection of fundamental changes in the competitive position of enterprises. Competitive advantage is created and sustained by companies that develop and make effective use of “strategic” valuecreating assets—assets that tend to be intangible, rare, and hard for others to replicate. Using examples such as the R&D pipelines of big pharma companies, and the customer franchises of producers of subscription-based products and services—and the underlying corporate capabilities responsible for generating such pipelines and franchises—the author emphasizes that the value of such corporate capabilities and assets does not show up on corporate balance sheets or income statements—or not at least without a significant lag. To help overcome this limitation of financial statements, the author recommends that corporate managements view their quarterly earnings conference calls with analysts and investors, as well as the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) section of the annual financial report, as opportunities to provide more information about their strategic assets. Such information should be designed to help investors understand the firm's competitive strengths (and vulnerabilities) by aiming to provide the following: an inventory of the company's strategic assets—for example, in the case of a biotech or pharma company, a detailed account and estimates of the projected value of its current product pipeline; a statement of the amounts of ongoing corporate investment in strategic assets, as reflected in RD a description of the company's efforts to protect the value of its strategic assets from possible infringement and imitation by competitors, from the disruption of such assets by innovation, or from the threat of new regulation; and a description of management's plan to use its strategic assets to create economic value.
O78 Membrane depolarization in motor nerves of critical ill patients is related to insulin resistance

Objectives Critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy (CIP/CIM) features depolarization of the resting membrane potential and reduced membrane excitability in motor nerve and muscle.1–3 Since CIP/CIM shows an increased Insulin resistance,4 and Insulin is one agonist of the Na-K-pump controlling resting membrane potential,5 we like to prove if Insulin resistance is correlated with motor nerve resting membrane polarisation in critical ill patients. Methods ICU patients were classified as ICU-control and CIM/CIP patients related to electrophysiological exam. Electrophysiological excitability studies recording the recovery-of-excitability at baseline and during Insulin clamp condition (euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp) were conducted, to prove resting membrane polarization at baseline and after high dosage of Insulin (steady state).6 Insulin sensitivity Index (ISI), as marker of Insulin resistance, was calculated during steady state condition. Results Two ICU-control and six CIM/CIP patients were enrolled. The resting membrane polarization during steady state condition was significantly correlated to ISI (R2 = 0.858; p = 0.001), where pronounced Insulin resistance correlates with pronounced membrane depolarization. Membrane repolarization after Insulin stimulation of Na-K-pump fails in CIM/CIP patients with severe Insulin resistance, compared to ICU control patients with a less severe Insulin resistance. Discussion Resting membrane depolarization in critically ill patients is correlated to Insulin resistance, where membrane repolarization induced by Insulin seems to fail in CIM/CIP patients showing the most severe Insulin resistance,4 but not in ICU-control patients. Conclusions Insulin resistance in critical ill patients, besides affecting glucose metabolism, also influences motor nerve dysfunction. Significance We prove the link between muscle dysfunction and disturbed Glucose metabolism in CIM/CIP patients.
Towards High Fidelity Network Emulation

Instantiating a distributed application that involves extensive inter-node communication onto a network is a challenging task. In this work, we focus on the special case of mapping a network emulation experiment onto a cluster comprising several (possibly heterogeneous) physical machines. We automatically profile the available physical machine resources, and use this information, together with the characteristics of the experimental topology, to determine an efficient mapping that preserves performance fidelity. We design an algorithm, which we call the "Waterfall" algorithm}, and integrate it into a complete framework for profiling and mapping. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework via simulations and two sets of Crossfire Distributed Denial of Service attack testbed experiments.
Synthesis of N = 8 Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons from Four Distinct Polydiacetylenes

We demonstrate a highly efficient thermal conversion of four differently substituted polydiacetylenes (PDAs 1 and 2a–c) into virtually indistinguishable N = 8 armchair graphene nanoribbons ([8]AGNR). PDAs 1 and 2a–c are themselves easily accessed through photochemically initiated topochemical polymerization of diynes 3 and 4a–c in the crystal. The clean, quantitative transformation of PDAs 1 and 2a–c into [8]AGNR occurs via a series of Hopf pericyclic reactions, followed by aromatization reactions of the annulated polycyclic aromatic intermediates, as well as homolytic bond fragmentation of the edge functional groups upon heating up to 600 °C under an inert atmosphere. We characterize the different steps of both processes using complementary spectroscopic techniques (CP/MAS 13C NMR, Raman, FT-IR, and XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). This novel approach to GNRs exploits the power of crystal engineering and solid-state reactions by targeting very large organic structures th...
A Comparative Study of Methods of Determining the Moisture Content of Cheddar Cheese: II. The Steam Oven Method at High Pressure and the Olive Oil Methods*

Summary A comparison was made between the steam oven method operating at approximately 85 pounds pressure; the regular olive oil method, in which 5 grams of cheese are placed in olive oil and heated to dryness directly over a small gas flame; and the modified olive oil in which sodium chloride is added to the cheese-olive oil mixture to prevent spattering and sticking of the cheese. The results showed the olive oil method to give values averaging approximately 0.35 per cent lower than the oven method, whereas the salt-olive oil procedure gave results which averaged within 0.1 per cent of those secured by the steam oven. Either of these oil methods appear to give results which, on the basis of these comparisons with the steam pressure oven method, would be accurate enough for all practical purposes. Further, the oil methods have the distinct advantage of requiring less time than the oven procedure, since the test may be completed within 20 to 30 minutes, especially when the modified procedure is followed. The modified oil method has greater applicability than the regular olive oil method since (a) it permits more rapid heating and drying due to the fact that the particles of cheese do not lump together, (b) it prevents the cheese from sticking to the bottom of the pan during the heating process, and (c) it has permitted practically all of the Cheddar cheese samples thus far encountered to be analyzed without experiencing the difficulty with spattering which occurs frequently with the regular oil method. However, during some recent trials, two samples of cheese did not lend themselves to moisture determination by the modified oil method because of spattering. Both of these samples were abnormally high in moisture which may account for their behavior. Although this and the previous paper have dealt with the use of olive oil in the open flame test, other oils with higher volatilization points may be superior to the olive oil for this method of moisture analysis. It was observed in the trials reported that some volatilization of the olive oil did occur during heating, resulting in the formation of a disagreeable odor. This slight volatilization, however, did not appear to have any appreciable influence on the moisture results. Several trials have since been carried out using cottonseed oil, and indications are that this oil may be superior to olive oil for the moisture test. It has a higher volatilization point and is considerably less expensive. Mineral oil is less satisfactory since it requires a relatively low temperature for volatilization.
Improved Stability and Performance of Visible Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting on Solution-Processed Organic Semiconductor Thin Films by Ultrathin Metal Oxide Passivation

Solution-processable organic semiconductors have potentials as visible photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting photoelectrodes due to their tunable small band gap and electronic energy levels, but they are typically limited by poor stability and photocatalytic activity. Here, we demonstrate the direct visible PEC water oxidation on solution-processed organic semiconductor thin films with improved stability and performance by ultrathin metal oxide passivation layers. N-type fullerene-derivative thin films passivated by sub-2 nm ZnO via atomic layer deposition enabled the visible PEC water oxidation at wavelengths longer than 600 nm in harsh alkaline electrolyte environments with up to 30 μA/cm2 photocurrents at the thermodynamic water-oxidation equilibrium potential and the photoanode half-lifetime extended to ∼1000 s. The systematic investigation reveals the enhanced water oxidation catalytic activity afforded by ZnO passivation and the charge tunneling governing the hole transfer through passivation l...
Is EU Supranational Governance a Challenge to Liberal Constitutionalism

Does supranational governance present a challenge to liberal constitutionalism? More particularly, has the EU’s supranational form of governance fueled the rise of illiberal authoritarianism and undermined liberal constitutionalism? The paper begins by addressing two related empirical questions associated with this larger query: first, whether the Brexit vote reflected a rise in authoritarianism and a turn against liberal constitutionalism; and second whether the Euroscepticism to which the process of European integration has given rise has also contributed to the growth of the illiberal far-right across the EU and to the weakening of support for liberal constitutionalism. The third part addresses a broader and more conceptual question about the relationship between supranational governance and liberal constitutionalism, namely whether there is something either inherent or contingent in the structure and process of European integration and in the project of European supranational governance, which creates a challenge to liberal constitutionalism, and if so what kind of challenge.
Dealing with capital inflows: Mexico and Chile compared

Starting in the late 1980s, and as a response to the economic slowdown and the fall in interest rates in industrialized economies, private capital returned to Latin America. Tens of billions of dollars started pouring in, with the flow to some countries exceeding the records set during the petro-dollar euphoria of the late 1970s. Policy makers in Latin America welcomed this at first. Foreign capital could finance much needed imports and investment, reigniting growth after years of stagnation. Perhaps, thanks to the newly arrived dollars, the ‘lost decade’ of the 1980s would be finally over.
Continuum Theory of Dislocations and Plasticity

Dislocations as line imperfections in crystals have already found extensive use in the description and interpretation of the mechanical properties of materials. Very little work however has been done towards their application to problems in structural analysis and continuum mechanics. This paper summarizes the author’s previous work [1–6] and extends these ideas to the field of continuum plasticity.
Semiconductor Laser Diagnostics of Kinetic and Population Temperatures in High-Enthalpy Flows

Semiconductor (GaAlAs) diode lasers have been used to probe the 3s5S2° → 3p 5 P 3 (7772 A) excited state transition of atomic oxygen in a pressure-driven shock tube. Lineshape analyses of the measured spectral profiles enable the simultaneous and independent determination of kinetic and population temperatures. Measurements were made in the reflected-shock region with an initial gas mixture of 1.5% O2 and 98.5% Ar. The experimentally determined temperatures ranged from 6900 to 11400 K, and the pressure range was 0.27 – 1.37 atm. The measured kinetic and population temperatures were found to be in good agreement with each other.
Prostitution and AIDS

This chapter takes up one relationship between acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and prostitution. The role that prostitutes play in the epidemiology of AIDS is discussed. Various approaches taken to control AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are covered. The approach taken in Nevada, where prostitution is legal in some counties, is described as are current legislation efforts aimed at prostitutes.
A stereo vision system for an autonomous vehicle

Several techniques for use in a stereo vision system are described. These include a stereo camera model solver, a high resolution stereo correlator for producing accurate matches with accuracy and confidence estimates, a search technique for using the correlator to produce a dense sampling of matched points for a pair of pictures, and a ground surface finder for distinguishing the ground from objects, in the resulting three-dimensional data. Possible ways of using these techniques in an autonomous vehicle designed to explore its environment are discussed. An example is given showing the detection of objects from a stereo pair of pictures.