cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Śūnya, Śūnyatā, and Reality in Modern Physics

Quantum mechanics (QM) is the physics of atoms and their constituents. Under reductionism, QM should provide the solid reality for our world, as Einstein insisted. Instead, quantum properties depend strongly on their observer; they are empty (śūnya) until co-dependently created. So physics provides a time-dependent, co-emergent reality (which I designate realitty) reminiscent of śūnyatā.
Numerical Investigation of Uplift Behavior of Circular Plate Anchors in Uniform Sand

AbstractEmbedded plates provide an attractive anchorage alternative for mooring floating structures owing to their light weight and high efficiency. They can be installed through a variety of means...
Sustainable Development and Quality of Life

Awareness of the need for sustainable development is increasing throughout the world. The goals of sustainable development, oriented around the “three E’s”—environmental protection, economic growth, and social equity, also correlate with quality of life considerations. Quality of life addresses peoples’ perceptions of their position in life in relation to their culture, values, and expectations. Using measures such as the life satisfaction rating and the human development index, both available from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a positive correlation between self-assessed well-being and overall life satisfaction becomes evident. The UNDP also provides an environmental performance index which likewise correlates with well-being. These correlations appear at both national- and city-specific scales. Achieving progress in quality of life through sustainable development, particularly at the city level, requires careful planning that is both place and culture specific and that involves community and citizen input. Improving quality of life and meeting the needs of the present through sustainable development will help ensure greater likelihood of likewise accommodating the needs of future generations.
Co-constructing uniqueness: An interpersonal process promoting dialogue

ABSTRACTIn this essay, we trace the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of dialogic interpersonal communication that facilitate the link between quality of communication and quality of life...
When What is Useful is Not Necessarily True: The Underappreciated Conceptual Scheme

A major emphasis of research in informing science and its contributing disciplines is the development of theory. As it is most commonly used, the term theory refers to our attempt to describe—in symbolic terms—some underlying truth. Through developing such descriptions, we seek to improve our understanding of phenomena that occur in the natural or social world and, perhaps, enhance our ability to make predictions of such phenomena. Theory creation and validation, however, are not the only possible goals for research. It is also possible for research to focus on establishing conceptual schemes. These schemes are models that can be used to think about the same types of phenomena described by theory, but are not assumed to be representations of truth. Instead, conceptual schemes are evaluated based upon their usefulness to a client. This research essay proposes that, as the complexity of the environments we seek to understand and control grows, the goals of “truth” and “usefulness” tend to diverge. Where this occurs, an obsession with truth can lead to research impotence: we are motivated to validate truths that are already widely accepted, our theory becomes too convoluted to be applied or communicated, and we are prone to becoming infatuated with the nobility of our quest—while others outside of our tight circle cease to care about our activities. Where our goal is usefulness, in contrast, we are far less to likely to be seduced by our research. A good conceptual scheme: a) is interesting, meaning it conveys something novel to the client, b) is simple enough to be communicated effectively, and c) recognizes its own limitations. This essay therefore proposes that we widen our research objectives to include the development of conceptual schemes and establish standards for the rigorous evaluation of such schemes. Evaluation is critical because conceptual schemes are actually intended for use; a bad one can do far more damage than bad theory that lies fallow and unapplied.
Application of the ORBEYE three-dimensional exoscope for microsurgical procedures.

Background Advances in digital imaging, screen technology, and optics have led to the development of extracorporeal telescopes, also known as exoscopes, as alternatives to surgical loupes (SLs) and traditional operating microscopes (OMs) for surgical magnification. Theoretical advantages of the exoscope over conventional devices include improved surgeon ergonomics; superior three-dimensional, high-definition optics; and greater ease-of-use. The ORBEYE exoscope, in particular, has demonstrated early efficacy in the surgical arena. The purpose of this study was to compare the ORBEYE with conventional microscopy. Methods In this case-control pilot study, we compared the ORBEYE (n = 22) with conventional microscopy (n = 27) across 49 consecutive microsurgical cases during a 6-week period. Both visualization methods consisted of breast, and head and neck cases, while the ORBEYE was also used for extremity and lymphedema microsurgical cases. The ORBEYE was utilized during flap dissection and microvascular anastomosis. Baseline demographics, operative time, ischemia time, and intra- and postoperative microvascular complications were examined and compared. Attending surgeons completed an ergonomics and performance survey postoperatively comparing the ORBEYE with their previous use of SL/OM using a 5-point Likert scale. Results There was no difference in operative time (507 ± 132 min vs. 522 ± 139, p = .714), ischemia time (77.9 ± 31.4 min vs. 77.5 ± 36.0, p = .972), or microsurgical complications (0% vs. 4%, p = 1) between the ORBEYE and conventional microscopy groups. In a survey administered immediately postoperatively, surgeons reported favorable ergonomics, excellent image quality, and ease of equipment manipulation using the exoscope. Conclusions The ORBEYE is an effective microsurgical tool and may be considered as an alternative to conventional optical magnification technology.
Abstract ES4-1: Adaptive Resistance to Hormonal Therapy

While recurrences are delayed by the use of endocrine therapy (ET), resistance can evolve with the development of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in about one-fourth of ER-positive patients. MBC is incurable with a median 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. We know that ET resistance can result from an adaptive process in which escape survival mechanisms are used to evade treatment. One of the best-characterized ET resistance mechanisms is transcriptional activation of growth factor receptor (GFR) signaling, and subsequent estrogen-independent activation of ER via “cross-talk” with downstream signaling from GFRs. We will discuss distinct mechanisms of ligand-independent activation of ER discovered using transcriptional profiling of metastatic, ET-resistant tumors. It is now estimated that ~20% of therapy-resistant MBCs contain ESR1 mutations. Recent data has also shown that mutations in the MAPK/RAS pathway and transcription factor regulatory programs (for example, MYC) only account for an additional 22% of recurrent breast tumors. Thus, acquired mutations alone do not account for the majority of ET resistance mechanisms in MBC. ER-positive breast cancer cell lines display profound transcriptional variability at the single cell level associated with the acquisition of therapy resistance. Recently, bulk and single cell RNA sequencing was used on sequential samples from patients with ER-positive, ET-resistant patients and identified RNA expression patterns that represented different cellular phenotypes, including an increased epithelial mesenchymal transition state that could provide a selective advantage for selective phenotypic subclones to dominate. We will focus our discussion of transcriptional reprograming as a major mechanism of ET resistance. Citation Format: S Fuqua. Adaptive Resistance to Hormonal Therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr ES4-1.
Feasibility study evaluating arrhythmogenesis and cardiac damage after heart-base irradiation in mice: A brief communication

Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a potential cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs undergoing thoracic irradiation. Arrhythmias and sudden death have been documented in dogs undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy for heart base tumours. A study was proposed to interrogate the effect of different stereotactic-like radiation prescriptions on RIHD development, including arrhythmogenesis and classical histological endpoints in a mouse model. A pilot study was performed initially. The heart base of CD1 (n = 3) and C57Bl/6J (n = 3) female mice were irradiated (12 Gy × 3, daily) with a clinical linear accelerator. No significant adverse effects were noted and each mouse survived the entire subsequent 3-month observation period. At various time points, no arrhythmias were identified on ECG analysis. Cardiac histology (haematoxylin and eosin, and picrosirius red staining) was performed at 3 months. In a single CD1 mouse and two C57BI/6J mice, multifocal, minimal, peri-vascular lymphoplasmacytic inflammation was noted within the irradiated proximal heart. In one mouse of each strain, a small, single focus of fibrinoid vascular necrosis was observed. Overall, there was no significant myocardial necrosis, atrophy or inflammation. Picrosirius red staining revealed no evidence of fibrosis in any mouse. Dosimetric verification indicated that the irradiation was successful and delivered as planned, with an average predicted-to-measured dose-difference within 5%. While this study did not demonstrate significant arrhythmogenesis, certain modifications of the experimental mouse irradiation procedures are discussed which may enable more translationally relevant modelling of the canine cardiac response to SBRT-like irradiation.
Association of Genetic Variants at TRPC6 With Chemotherapy-Related Heart Failure

Background: Our previous GWAS identified genetic variants at six novel loci that were associated with a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), p < 1 × 10-5 in 1,191 early breast cancer patients from the N9831 clinical trial of chemotherapy plus trastuzumab. In this study we sought replication of these loci. Methods: We tested the top loci from the GWAS for association with chemotherapy-related heart failure (CRHF) using 26 CRHF cases from N9831 and 984 patients from the Mayo Clinic Biobank which included CRHF cases (N = 12) and control groups of patients treated with anthracycline +/- trastuzumab without HF (N = 282) and patients with HF that were never treated with anthracycline or trastuzumab (N = 690). We further examined associated loci in the context of gene expression and rare coding variants using a TWAS approach in heart left ventricle and Sanger sequencing, respectively. Doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and cardiomyopathy was modeled in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells and a mouse model, respectively, that were pre-treated with GsMTx-4, an inhibitor of TRPC6. Results: TRPC6 5' flanking variant rs57242572-T was significantly more frequent in cases compared to controls, p = 0.031, and rs61918162-T showed a trend for association, p = 0.065. The rs61918162 T-allele was associated with higher TRPC6 expression in the heart left ventricle. We identified a single TRPC6 rare missense variant (rs767086724, N338S, prevalence 0.0025% in GnomAD) in one of 38 patients (2.6%) with CRHF. Pre-treatment of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells with GsMTx4 significantly reduced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Similarly, mice treated with GsMTx4 had significantly improved doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction. Conclusions: Genetic variants that are associated with increased TRPC6 expression in the heart and rare TRPC6 missense variants may be clinically useful as risk factors for CRHF. GsMTx-4 may be a cardioprotective agent in patients with TRPC6 risk variants. Replication of the genetic associations in larger well-characterized samples and functional studies are required.
Danish and British dementia ITM2b/BRI2 mutations reduce BRI2 protein stability and impair glutamatergic synaptic transmission.

Mutations in integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2b/BRI2) gene cause familial British and Danish dementia (FBD and FDD), autosomal dominant disorders characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration. Two pathogenic mechanisms, which may not be mutually exclusive, have been proposed for FDD and FBD: 1) loss of BRI2 function; 2) accumulation of amyloidogenic mutant BRI2-derived peptides, but the mechanistic details remain unclear. We have previously reported a physiological role of BRI2 in excitatory synaptic transmission at both presynaptic termini and postsynaptic termini. To test whether pathogenic ITM2b mutations affect these physiological BRI2 functions, we analyzed glutamatergic transmission in FDD and FBD knock-in mice, which carry pathogenic FDD and FBD mutations into the mouse endogenous Itm2b gene. We show that in both mutant lines, spontaneous glutamate release and AMPAR-mediated responses are decreased, while short-term synaptic facilitation is increased, effects similar to those observed in Itm2bKO mice. In vivo and in vitro studies show that both pathogenic mutations alter maturation of BRI2 resulting in reduced levels of functional mature BRI2 protein at synapses. Collectively, the data show that FDD and FBD mutations cause a reduction of BRI2 levels and function at synapses, which results in reduced glutamatergic transmission. Notably, other genes mutated in Familial dementia, such as APP, PSEN1/PSEN2, are implicated in glutamatergic synaptic transmission, a function that is altered by pathogenic mutations. Thus, defects in excitatory neurotransmitter release may represent a general and convergent mechanism leading to neurodegeneration. Targeting these dysfunction may offer a unique disease modifying method of therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders.
Social and Institutional Innovations

In this chapter and the next I focus on how we overcome the social and ecological barriers outlined in the previous chapter. Which innovations enable us to manage for landscape change despite high inertia? We must innovate because many practices and principles guiding us in the past will not suffice to managing landscapes for change. In the chapter I review the social and institutional innovations that may allow us to overcome barriers to managing for change. These innovations are a necessary precondition before management action can be implemented at the scale of a STES.
Assessment of malreduction standards for the syndesmosis in bilateral CT scans of uninjured ankles

Aims Malreduction of the syndesmosis has been reported in up to 52% of patients after fixation of ankle fractures. Multiple radiological parameters are used to define malreduction; there has been l...
Data Processing Technology of Power Grid Measurement Based on Error Correction

This paper deduces the basic formula of the measured data, obtains the formula of the static data expressed by the measured data, and analyzes the principle of the random error of parameter estimation caused by the measured data. Then through the method of mean value error correction, the mean value verification and matching transformation of the measured data are carried out, and the simulation results show that the proposed method can accurately complete the estimation of power line parameters.
The distributional properties of exemplars affect category learning and generalization

What we learn about the world is affected by the input we receive. Many extant category learning studies use uniform distributions as input in which each exemplar in a category is presented the same number of times. Another common assumption on input used in previous studies is that exemplars from the same category form a roughly normal distribution. However, recent corpus studies suggest that real-world category input tends to be organized around skewed distributions. We conducted three experiments to examine the distributional properties of the input on category learning and generalization. Across all studies, skewed input distributions resulted in broader generalization than normal input distributions. Uniform distributions also resulted in broader generalization than normal input distributions. Our results not only suggest that current category learning theories may underestimate category generalization but also challenge current theories to explain category learning in the real world with skewed, instead of the normal or uniform distributions often used in experimental studies.
Cytomegalovirus-Associated Autoantibody against TAF9 Protein in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Evidence indicates a causal link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and the triggering of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Animal studies have revealed that CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) induces autoantibodies against nuclear materials and causes the autoantibody attack of glomeruli. IgG eluted from the glomeruli of CMVpp65-peptide-immunized mice exhibited cross-reactivity against dsDNA and TATA-box-binding protein associated factor 9 (TAF9). Whether the elevation of anti-TAF9 IgG is associated with anti-CMV reactivity in human lupus remains unclear. Methods: The sera from patients with rheumatic diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), gout, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Sjogren syndrome (SS) were examined using ELISA for antibodies of CMV, CMVpp65, and TAF9. Results: In total, 83.8% of the rheumatic patients had acquired CMV infections. The SLE patients had a high prevalence of anti-CMV IgM. The highest seropositivity rates for anti-HCMVpp65 and anti-TAF9 IgG were observed in the SLE patients. Purified anti-CMVpp65 IgG from CMVpp65/TAF9 dual-positive SLE sera reacted to both TAF9 and dsDNA. An increased prevalence of proteinuria and low hemoglobin levels were found in CMV IgG- and CMVpp65 IgG-positive SLE patients. Conclusions: This observation suggests that immunity to CMVpp65 is associated with cross-reactivity with TAF9 and dsDNA and that it is involved in the development of clinical manifestations in SLE.
The Spatial Extent of Attention During Driving

The present study examined the limits of spatial attention during driving using a dual-task performance paradigm. Drivers were asked to follow a lead vehicle that varied in speed while also detecting a light change in an array located above the roadway. Reaction time increased and accuracy decreased as a function of the horizontal location of the light change and the distance, from the driver, of the light change. In addition, RMS error in car following increased immediately following the light change. These results demonstrate that when drivers attend to a centrally located task, their ability to respond to other events varies as a function of horizontal visual angle and distance in the scene.
Joining, Affiliation, and Learning

The goal of this chapter is to: Emphasize the importance to the transition process of a leader who conveys a committed and personal involvement with the values and needs of the organization and its members.
An analysis of demographic data and educational experiences that predict student success on the funeral service National Board Examination

Using graduate surveys, which ascertained demographic data and educational experiences of the graduates, funeral service National Board Examination (NBE) scores, program curricula, and annual accreditation reports, this study investigated the relationship between educational experiences of funeral service graduates and their corresponding NBE scores. The sample consisted of 213 graduates of accredited programs who graduated and completed the NBE during 2009. The sample was evaluated to insure it was a representative sample of the population. In addition to descriptive statistics, comparative analyses and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine differences between values of variables under investigation and to determine if any variables (educational experiences) could predict success on the NBE. The study discovered that various educational experiences within this vocational program were not consistently offered to students among the accredited programs. The study also found significant differences between NBE scores of online and on-campus graduates. Finally, in keeping with other studies related to indicators of success on national licensing examinations, the study concluded the best predictor of success on the NBE was the graduates GPA during the program of study.
Pathologic physiology and chemotherapy of Plasmodium berghei: IX. Gastric secretion and the influence of 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (WR 14, 997 or cycloleucine)☆

Abstract This agent, originally introduced as an antineoplastic agent, is currently being considered as an antimalarial drug. WR 14, 997 can suppress parasitemia in mice infected with strains of Plasmodium berghei (both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant). This is one of the least toxic compounds as compared with other new antimalarials. WR 14, 997 depresses the effective refractory period of the isolated rat atrial muscle but in a dose ten times that of quinidine. This compound can reduce the appetite of the rat and the hyperacidity of its gastric secretion in response to histamine.
Benchmarks for antibiotic use and cost in long-term care.

Objectives: To evaluate previously described antibiotic use and cost indicators in community nursing homes to determine whether they may be useful as benchmarks and to evaluate the association between functional status, infection occurrence, and antibiotic use. Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting: Eleven proprietary long-term care facilities owned by one company. Participants: Only facility-specific cumulative data were used. Measurements: Antibiotic use and cost indicators (incidence of antibiotic use, antibiotic utilization ratio, cost of antibiotics per resident care day (RCD), and cost per antibiotic day), infection rates, and functional status as measured using the case-mix index (CMI) of the Resource Utilization Groups II system. Mean yearly values for each measure were calculated for each facility. Results: There was significant variation in all of the antibiotic indicators between the 11 nursing homes, but there was no correlation between mean facility CMI and infection rate. However, there was a trend toward a significant correlation between mean facility CMI and mean facility incidence of antibiotic use, antibiotic utilization rate, and cost per RCD. Variation in mean facility infection rate explained 66% of the variation in mean facility incidence of antibiotic use (P<.001). In a multivariate analysis, mean facility infection rate (P=.003) and mean facility CMI (P=.046) were predictors of mean incidence of antibiotic use and explained 83% of the variation in dependent variable. Conclusion: The significant variation in mean antibiotic use and cost indicators between the 11 study facilities suggests that these indicators may be useful as benchmarks for quality-improvement efforts. For the first time, objective evidence is provided demonstrating the influence of functional status on antibiotic use in the nursing home setting.
Ecology of Micrococcus radiodurans

An ecological study of Micrococcus radiodurans indicated that microorganisms possessing the same morphological and radiation-resistance characteristics as that organism could be isolated from ground beef and from pork sausage. Further studies showed that such organisms also could be isolated from beef hides and from water from a creek adjacent to the packing plant from which the meat samples were obtained. Similar microorganisms were not isolated, however, from a limited number of samples of soil, hay, and fecal material. The use of high levels of gamma-radiation in the initial isolation procedures proved to be advantageous in inactivating most of the other microflora and facilitating the isolation of M. radiodurans. Control experiments indicated that M. radiodurans did not compete well with the microflora present in ground meat, soil, and beef hides. Preincubation before irradiation of meat and soil samples or enrichment culture techniques did not enhance the isolation of M. radiodurans. The presence of M. radiodurans in creek water suggested one possible source of this organism.
In vivo T2 relaxation time measurement with echo-time averaging

to estimate metabolite T2 relaxation times from TE-averaged 1 H MRS data. Spectral simulations are used to validate the proposed TE-averaging methods for estimating methyl proton T2 relaxation times for N-acetyl aspartate, total creatine, and choline-containing compounds. The utility of the technique and its reproducibility are demonstrated using data obtained in vivo from the posterior-occipital cortex of 10 healthy control subjects. Compared with standard methods, distinct advantages of this approach include built-in macromolecule resonance attenuation, in vivo T2 estimates closer to reported values when maximum TE ≈T2, and the potential for T2 calculation of metabolite resonances otherwise inseparable in standard 1 H MRS spectra recorded in vivo. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vanadate stimulates adenylate cyclase via the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein by a mechanism differing from that of fluoride

Abstract Vanadate stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in turkey erythrocyte membranes. The maximal stimulation is 7-fold over basal at 3 mM vanadate; higher concentrations are inhibitory. A suboptimal concentration of fluoride (1 mM) together with vanadate (3 mM) activates adenylate cyclase in a non-additive manner; cyclase activation by optimal fluoride (10 mM) is inhibited by vanadate (3 mM). There is no stimulation by vanadate of adenylate cyclase activity (measured either with Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ ) in CYC − S49 lymphoma cell membranes. Vanadate (3 mM) shows no effect on binding of β-adrenergic agonists or antagonists to the [ 3 H](−)-dihydroalprenolol binding site in turkey erythrocyte membranes. These results suggest that the effect of vanadate on adenylate cyclase is mediated through the nucleotide regulatory protein and may act by a mechanism similar to fluoride. However, in cholera toxin-treated membranes as well as in GDP-β-S plus isoproterenol-treated membranes, fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is significantly reduced, but vanadate stimulation is not. Our results suggest that although the actions of vanadate and fluoride in adenylate cyclase may each involve the nucleotide regulatory unit, the exact mechanisms of activation by the two anions differ.
The effect of the sampling interface on spatial distributions of barium ions and atoms in an inductively coupled plasma ion source

Abstract Planar laser-induced fluorescence was used to examine the effect of the sampling cone on analyte atom and ion distributions in the inductively coupled plasma used as an ion source for elemental mass spectrometry. Comparisons of planar laser-induced fluorescence images in the presence and absence of the sampling interface reveal that the insertion of the sampling cone into the plasma dramatically lowers singly-charged ion densities in the 1–2 mm region immediately upstream from the sampling cone, but increases densities in the region between 2 mm and 10 mm upstream from the sampling cone. Some of the drops in densities near the sampling cone can be attributed to acceleration of the plasma through the pumped sampling orifice. A shift in equilibrium between doubly and singly charged barium ions caused by cooling of the plasma is proposed to account for the increases in densities of Ba + in the upstream region.
Course, severity, and treatment of substance abuse among women versus men

Objective: To assess the course and severity of substance-related disorder (SRD) in relation to gender. Design: Retrospective data on course were obtained for several indices of substance use, abus...
Popper Functions, Uniform Distributions and Infinite Sequences of Heads

Popper functions allow one to take conditional probabilities as primitive instead of deriving them from unconditional probabilities via the ratio formula P(A|B)=P(A∩B)/P(B). A major advantage of this approach is it allows one to condition on events of zero probability. I will show that under plausible symmetry conditions, Popper functions often fail to do what they were supposed to do. For instance, suppose we want to define the Popper function for an isometrically invariant case in two dimensions and hence require the Popper function to be rotationally invariant and defined on pairs of sets from some algebra that contains at least all countable subsets. Then it turns out that the Popper function trivializes for all finite sets: P(A|B)=1 for all A (including $A=\varnothing $ ) if B is finite. Likewise, Popper functions invariant under all sequence reflections can’t be defined in a way that models a bidirectionally infinite sequence of independent coin tosses.
Slaty cleavage unrelated to tectonic dewatering: The Siamo and Michigamme slates revisited

Clastic dikes in slate in the Precambrian Michigamme and Siamo Formations of northern Michigan have been described as being parallel to slaty cleavage; this relationship was then used to support the hypothesis that the cleavage formed in response to tectonic dewatering. Careful measurement of cleavage and dike attitudes at the two previously studied localities demonstrates that the dikes are not parallel with cleavage. The dikes and other soft-sediment structures in these rocks are cut by the cleavage and were deformed by the strain that accompanied cleavage formation. In addition, it appears that deformed calcareous concretions in the Michigamme Formation were spheroids variably flattened in bedding when tectonic deformation began. As a result, the ab plane of many ellipsoidal concretions does not coincide with cleavage. Considering all of the data, there is no evidence in these rocks or anywhere else that tectonic dewatering has been a significant factor in the formation of regional slaty cleavage.
Equivalency of the Dubinin–Polanyi equations and the QM based sorption isotherm equation. B. Simulations of heterogeneous surfaces

Abstract In part A, it was demonstrated that the most widely used sets of the Dubinin–Polanyi (DP) isotherm equations may be derived from an isotherm equation that has its basis in the simple quantum mechanical assumptions. These derivable isotherms include the Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR), the Dubinin–Astakhov (DA) and the Dubinin–Radushkevich–Kaganer (DRK) equations. Assuming no other energy distributions than that obtained in the QM treatment, the DR, DA and DRK equations were found to be valid within a specified error and pressure range. In this part, heterogeneous adsorption will be simulated to demonstrate the possibility of a wider range of validity, especially in the very low pressure ranges. With a logarithm-normal adsorption energy distribution of σ =0.25 (corresponding to about 2 kJ mol −1 for liquid N 2 adsorption on ceramics), the range of validity in coverage increases to an amazing factor of about 10 10 . Such a distribution also reveals the low pressure equivalence of the Freundlich isotherm, the QM and the DP formulations.
Using members' dues for political purposes: The "paycheck protection" movement

Both sides in the paycheck protection debate can make substantive, as opposed to political, arguments to support their positions. Supporters of paycheck protection measures argue that many workers disagree with the political positions their unions take, a point that is borne out by the scholarly research on members' attitudes towards politics. They contend that workers should have “the basic right to choose if and how their money is spent on political causes” (Kamburowski, 1998, p. 2). They further argue that ultimately it is an issue of fairness and choice and that “compelling workers to support causes they do not believe [in] violates the fundamental tenets of a free country” (Kamburowski, p. 2).
Detecting and georegistering moving ground targets in airborne quickSAR via keystoning and multiple-phase center interferometry

SAR images experience significant range walk and, without some form of motion compensation, can be quite blurred. The MITRE-developed Keystone formatting simultaneously and automatically compensates for range walk due to the radial velocity component of each moving target, independent of the number of targets or the value of each target's radial velocity with respect to the ground. Target radial motion also causes moving targets in synthetic aperture radar images to appear at locations offset from their true instantaneous locations on the ground. In a multichannel radar, the interferometric phase values associated with all nonmoving points on the ground appear as a continuum of phase differences while the moving targets appear as interferometric phase discontinuities. By multiple threshold comparisons and grouping of pixels within the intensity and the phase images, we show that it is possible to reliably detect and accurately georegister moving targets within short-duration SAR (QuickSAR) images.
Optimal Hedging Under Price, Quantity and Exchange Rate Uncertainty

: This paper derives an optimal hedging strategy for a primary producer under price, quantity and exchange rate uncertainty. In this model, it is assumed that the producer is a mean-variance maximizer with an exponential utility function. The derived optimal hedge ratio for the commodity is proportional to the coefficient of the commodity futures prices bias in a linear regression where revenue uncertainty is the dependent variable. This ratio differs from the result that would have been obtained under price-quantity uncertainty when revenues are significantly correlated with the exchange rate variability, thereby suggesting that the foreign exchange risk is relevant only when the commodity exposure is unhedged. The model is empirically tested using Cote-d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria as cocoa producers and the US Dollar and the French Franc as currencies of numeraire to hedge UK Pound revenues. The resulting cocoa hedge ratios range from 78 to 57 percent. For Ghana and the Cote-d'Ivoire, there is little correlation between revenue and exchange rate variability. Therefore, the cocoa ratio is not significantly affected by the introduction of this additional source of uncertainty and the currency ratio in the joint hedge is trivial for both the dollar and the franc. Nigeria's revenues are correlated to the dollar and the cocoa ratio is de facto lowered by the currency effect in a joint cocoa-dollar hedge. Resume: Cet article presente un modele de couverture optimale a terme contre les risques conjoints de prix, de quantite et de change pour un producteur de matieres premieres dont l'objectif est de maximiser ses revenus. Le taux de couverture optimal est proportionnel au coeficent obtenu dans une regression simple des revenus ou le biais des prix a terme est la variable independente. Ce taux ne direre de celui obtenu dans un modele d'incertitude prix-quantite que lorsque l'incertitude de quantite est correlee a celle de change. Ceci suggere a contrario qu'une couverture optimale du risque des prix de matieres premieres permet en meme temps de parer au risque de change.
AMPA Receptor Trafficking in Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Functional Molecules and Signaling Cascades

Homeostatic synaptic plasticity is a negative-feedback response employed to compensate for functional disturbances in the nervous system. Typically, synaptic activity is strengthened when neuronal firing is chronically suppressed or weakened when neuronal activity is chronically elevated. At both the whole cell and entire network levels, activity manipulation leads to a global up- or downscaling of the transmission efficacy of all synapses. However, the homeostatic response can also be induced locally at subcellular regions or individual synapses. Homeostatic synaptic scaling is expressed mainly via the regulation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) trafficking and synaptic expression. Here we review the recently identified functional molecules and signaling pathways that are involved in homeostatic plasticity, especially the homeostatic regulation of AMPAR localization at excitatory synapses.
SOME COMMENTS ON THE PROPERTIES OF UNITARY TRANSFORMATIONS ON LINEAR SPACES HAVING AN INDEFINITE METRIC AND THE CONNECTION WITH THE THEORY OF SPIN

After a brief review of the history of the discovery of the spin, some fundamental properties of linear spaces having an indefinite metric are being discussed. The study starts with an elementary survey of the theory of matrices and their stability problem. It is emphasized that—by a similarity transformation—all matrices may be brought to classical canonical form characterized by the diagonal elements called eigenvalues, their multiplicities, their Jordan blocks, and their Segre characteristics. In connection with the reduced Cayley-Hamilton equation, the existence of the product projection operators and their main properties is briefly discussed. Particular attention is paid to the concept of a basis for the linear space and the associated metric matrix, which is self-adjoint and may be brought to diagonal form with the eigenvalues ± 1 by a unitary transformation, which reveals the indices of inertia, p and q. The Minkowski space having p = 3 and q = 1 is used as an example. After this introduction, some properties of linear operators defined on an indefinite space are discussed, and it is pointed out that self-adjoint operators and unitary operators may now have a rather peculiar and unexpected behavior, and the special Lorentz transformations are used as an example. It is then shown that these features are of essential importance in studying rotations as special cases of unitary transformations defined on an indefinite space. The rotations are here defined by means of their reduced Cayley-Hamilton equation, and their properties are studied by means of the associated product projection operators, which are idempotent, mutually exclusive, and form a resolution of the identity. In a previous article, it was shown that, in a positive definite space, there is a close connection between the requirement that all rotations around an external axis form a group and the existence of an anticommutator algebra leading to the concept of spinors. The rotations are expressed in the exponential form U=exp(iO), where O is a self-adjoint operator which is independent of any choice basis, coordinate system, etc., and which is, hence, a true invariant. It is shown that this approach may now be extended also to indefinite spaces and may lead to operators O which are both rotationally and relativistically invariant. In this connection, the full Lorentz transformations are given a particularly simple form. The article may be considered as a simple exercise in linear algebra, in which the mathematical connection between the concept of rotations and the existence of spinors is strongly emphasized. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Intracellular acidosis protects cultured hepatocytes from the toxic consequences of a loss of mitochondrial energization.

Abstract Cultured rat hepatocytes were treated with potassium cyanide, an inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase; valinomycin, a K+ ionophore; carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), a protonophore; and the ATP synthetase inhibitor oligomycin. The effect of these agents on the viability of the cells was related to changes in ATP content and the deenergization of the mitochondria. The ATP content was reduced by over 90% by each inhibitor. All of the agents except oligomycin killed the cells within 4 h. With the exception of oligomycin, the mitochondrial membrane potential as measured by the distribution of [3H]triphenylmethylphosphonium collapsed with each of the agents. Monensin, a H + Na + ionophore, potentiated the toxicity of cyanide and CCCP, whereas the toxicity of valinomycin was reduced. The effect of cyanide and monensin on the cytoplasmic pH of cultured hepatocytes was measured with the fluorescent probe, 2′,7′-biscarboxyethyl-5,6-carboxyfluorescein. Cyanide promptly acidified the cytosol, and the addition of 10 μ m monensin caused a rapid alkalinization of the cytosol. A reduction of pH of the culture medium from 7.4 to 6.6 and 6.0 prevented the cell killing both by cyanide alone and by cyanide in the presence of monensin. However, neither monensin nor extra-cellular acidosis had any effect on the loss of mitochondrial energization in the presence of cyanide. It is concluded that ATP depletion per se is insufficient to explain the cell killing with cyanide, CCCP, and valinomycin. Rather, cell killing is better correlated with a loss of mitochondrial energization. With cyanide an intracellular acidosis interferes with the mechanism that couples collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential to lethal cell injury.
Hemocytes from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta have distinct functions in phagocytosis of foreign particles and self dead cells.

Phagocytosis is an important innate immune response against microbial infections and an effective mechanism to eliminate apoptotic cells. In vertebrates, phagocytes such as macrophages and dendritic cells are involved in phagocytosis. We demonstrate here that insect hemocytes have distinct functions in phagocytosis of foreign particles and self dead cells. Plasmatocytes from the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta were major hemocytes involved in phagocytosis of non-self microsphere beads, whereas granulocytes were apparently the only hemocytes that phagocytose self dead cells. We also showed that M. sexta immulectin-2, a pattern recognition receptor that protects larvae from bacterial infection, has an opsonic activity in phagocytosis. Immulectin-2 bound to the surface of granulocytes from the naive larvae, but more immulectin-2 bound to plasmatocytes when larvae were injected with microsphere beads. Coupling of immulectin-2 onto microsphere beads enhanced in vitro phagocytosis of the beads. Our results suggest that insect hemocytes can have specialized functions similar to vertebrate phagocytes in phagocytosis, and pattern recognition receptors may function as opsonins to enhance phagocytosis.
The influences of goal-related actions and reward information on children's and adults' perceptions of effort expenditure and goal desire.

Abstract An action perception approach (i.e., Heider, 1958) was used to investigate the influences of qualitatively different goal-related actions on 2nd- and 5th-grade children's and college students' perceptions of actors' effort expenditure (i.e., trying) and goal desire (i.e., wanting). Actors performed three repetitive actions or three equifinal actions within 2 reward conditions (offer of reward or no reward, for attempting to attain a prosocial goal). At each age level, perceptions of effort and want varied significantly by goal-related actions, whereas reward information did not emerge as an influential factor in differentiating perceptions of effort and want. Age-related findings suggested that, compared with the college students, the children overattributed trying and wanting to the actors. In the repetitive-actions condition, both 2nd and 5th graders gave significantly higher effort and want ratings than college students did. In the equifinal-actions condition, 2nd and 5th graders gave signific...
Diversity and representation: The pedagogical challenge

(1993). Diversity and representation: The pedagogical challenge. Women & Performance: a journal of feminist theory: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 21-29.
Dining philosophers revisited

In 1965 Dijkstra posed and solved the Dining Philosophers problem. Since then the problem has become a classic test case for concurrency mechnisms and an example often discussed in operating systems courses. Two theorems prove the correctness of seatings where all philosophers always prefer to pick up a fork with a particular hand first. This note shows the subtlety required to solve the problem by showing that a recently published solution is incorrect. A correct solution is provided.
Model-Based Thermal Anomaly Detection in Cloud Datacenters

The growing importance, large scale, and high server density of high-performance computing datacenters make them prone to strategic attacks, misconfigurations, and failures (cooling as well as computing infrastructure). Such unexpected events lead to thermal anomalies - hotspots, fugues, and coldspots - which significantly impact the total cost of operation of datacenters. A model-based thermal anomaly detection mechanism, which compares expected (obtained using heat generation and extraction models) and observed thermal maps (obtained using thermal cameras) of datacenters is proposed. In addition, a Thermal Anomaly-aware Resource Allocation (TARA) scheme is designed to create time-varying thermal fingerprints of the datacenter so to maximize the accuracy and minimize the latency of the aforementioned model-based detection. TARA significantly improves the performance of model-based anomaly detection compared to state-of-the-art resource allocation schemes.
Multiplicity, stability and dynamics for isothermal autocatalytic reactions in CSTR

Abstract Multiplicity, stability and dynamics for autocatalytic reactions of the type A ⋯ → rR + ⋯ with overall rate expression r A = kC A m C R n in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) are studied. Exact multiplicity criteria are defined in the parameter space. Stability analysis shows that no periodic oscillation is possible for the system. When multiplicity occurs, some minimum of R present initially in the reactor is required in order for the high steady state to be achieved. Loci of transient extreme for product are also investigated. Multiplicity and uniqueness criteria are further compared with reported experimental data in literature.
The effect of column temperature changes on peak migration as a source of error in identification using GC data processing systems

Column temperature increments required for a change of the peak migration rate by a factor of two, over the 80–300°C range, are calculated from the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Peaks having migration rates between 1 and 0.05 are less influenced in their retention times by column temperature changes can theoretically predicted for peaks having lower migration rates. Only peaks with net retention times larger than about 10 minutes change the migration rate by the predicted percentage. The changing values of peak migration rate with column temperature are measured and calculated for rates between 0.47 and 0.16. In GC data processing systems the relative retnetion times are calculated and updated with respect to a standard component for peak identification. Changes of column temperature of one degree or more leads to systematic errors in the identification and quantitation of peaks with retention times reulting in migration rates between 1 and 0.05. Diagrams, required instrumentation and factors for correction of retention values in data processing systems are discussed.