cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Warburg effect linked to cognitive-executive deficits in FMR1 premutation

A 55-200 CGG repeat expansion in the 5'-UTR of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene is known as a premutation. Some carriers are affected by the neurodegenerative disorder fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), primary ovarian insufficiency, and neurobehavioral impairments. Based on the mitochondrial dysfunction observed in fibroblasts and brain samples from carriers, as well as in neurons and brains from a mouse model of the premutation, we evaluated the presence of the Warburg effect in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 30 premutation carriers with either a rebalance of the metabolism [increasing glycolysis while decreasing oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos)] or a metabolic amplification (increasing glycolysis while maintaining/increasing oxphos). Deficits in oxphos-more pronounced in FXTAS-affected subjects-were accompanied by a shift toward glycolysis, suggesting increased glycolysis despite aerobic conditions. Differential proteomics extended these findings, unveiling a decreased antioxidant response, translation, and disrupted extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton organization with activation of prosenescence pathways. Lower bioenergetics segregated with increased incidence of low executive function, tremors, below-average IQ, and FXTAS. The combination of functional and proteomic data unveiled new mechanisms related to energy production in the premutation, showing the potential of being applicable to other psychiatric disorders to identify endophenotype-specific responses relevant to neurobiology.-Napoli, E., Song, G., Schneider, A., Hagerman, R., Eldeeb, M. A. A. A., Azarang, A., Tassone, F., Giulivi, C. Warburg effect linked to cognitive-executive deficits in FMR1 premutation.
Time-Dependent Projection-Operator Techniques in Quantum Optics

We wish to describe the applications in quantum optics of a systematic approach to the analysis of coupled systems. This approach enables one to treat the coupled systems on an equal footing without assuming that any part of the system is large and reservoir-like. In the Schrodinger picture this approach leads to a description of the system in terms of exact generalized master equations (ME’s) which are obtained by operating on the quantum Liouville equation with a time-dependent projection operator (TDPO).
A MILP-based distribution optimal power flow model for microgrid operation

This paper proposes a distribution optimal power flow (D-OPF) model for the operation of microgrids. The proposed model minimizes not only the operating cost, including fuel cost, purchasing cost and demand charge, but also several performance indices, including voltage deviation, network power loss and power factor. It co-optimizes the real and reactive power form distributed generators (DGs) and batteries considering their capacity and power factor limits. The D-OPF is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). Numerical simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Avoiding phagocytosis-related artifact in myeloid derived suppressor cell T-lymphocyte suppression assays

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have garnered much attention in recent years as a potential target for altering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in a variety of solid tumor types. The ability to accurately assess the immunosuppressive capacity of MDSCs is fundamental to the development of therapeutic approaches aimed at disabling these immunosuppressive functions. In this article we provide evidence that the use of CD3/28 coated microbeads leads to artefactual T-lymphocyte suppression due to sequestration of beads by MDSCs isolated from the spleens of wild-type mice bearing subcutaneous syngeneic, carcinogen-induced oral cavity carcinomas. Mechanisms of this finding may include early MDSC death and acquisition of phagocytic capacity. These artefactual findings were avoided by eliminating the use of microbeads and instead using plate bound CD3/28 antibody as the T-lymphocyte stimulus. We propose model-specific validation of microbead-based MDSC assays, or use of an alternative stimulation approach such as plate bound CD3/28 antibodies.
Abstract 2081: The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) functions to downregulate the transcription of MGMT gene in human glioblastoma cells

The O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene located at chromosome 10q26 encodes a DNA repair protein that abrogates the therapeutic effects of alkylating agents by preventing the formation of mutagenic lesions or cytotoxic DNA crosslinks. MGMT is highly expressed in human gliomas and its transcriptional regulation has emerged as a major translational focal point in neuro-oncology, because the epigenetic silencing of the MGMT gene which occurs in a subset of these malignancies confers improved treatment responses to both chemo and radiation therapies. While the promoter methylation and its contribution to glioma therapy has been much studied, the regulation of MGMT transcription per se, proteins accessory to the process and the chromatin structure thereof are not well understood. The CCCTC-binding transcription factor (CTCF) is one such multifunctional protein involved not only in DNA methylation but also with transcriptional activation/repression, and induction of short or long range chromatin looping. CTCF, an 11 zinc-finger containing protein is more frequently known for its insulating effects by binding diverse nucleotide sequences and restricting the function of transcriptional enhancers. Our bioinformatic analysis of the human MGMT gene showed an unusually high (7-10 sites) congregation of CTCF-binding sites distal to the promoter in human cancer cell lines. Given these considerations, we used CTCF siRNA to eliminate the transcription factor in two MGMT-proficient GBM cell lines (SF180 and GBM10). A specific reduction of CTCF protein by individual and pooled siRNAs was consistently accompanied by increased MGMT protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, the DNA repair activity of MGMT was increased by 50%, which correlated with a proportional reduction of the CTCF protein in siRNA-exposed cells. Currently, we are investigating the effect of CTCF on MGMT reactivation in cells with methylation, MGMT promoter activity in CTCF silenced cells and the effect of enforced CTCF expression on MGMT transcription. Our results for the first time highlight the involvement of multivalent CTCF in MGMT expression. Since CTCF is tightly linked with DNA methylation, further studies should reveal its role in silencing of MGMT in human GBMs (supported by CPRIT RP130266 and NIH RO3CA125872 grants to KSS). Citation Format: Kalkunte S. Srivenugopal, Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Obaide. The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) functions to downregulate the transcription of MGMT gene in human glioblastoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2081. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2081
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ).

179Background: GISTs arise from interstitial cells of Cajal anywhere within the gastrointestinal tract, but those of the esophagus and GEJ are exceedingly rare ( < 1% of cases). Our aim was to characterize clinicopathological features and outcomes of esophageal and GEJ GISTs and compare survival with a population-based registry (SEER). Methods: 28 cases were identified using the Mayo Clinic Cancer Registry from 1997 to 2016, and 378 cases from the SEER 18 registry from 2000 to 2013. Mayo cases were re-reviewed by Mayo pathologists. We analyzed patient characteristics, tumor location, TNM staging, mitotic index, molecular diagnostics, IHC staining, and histomorphology. JMP software was used to calculate time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) utilizing Kaplan-Meier and log-rank. Results: At Mayo, 60% of tumors arose in the distal esophagus. Mean tumor size was 5.73 cm. 42% of cases were low grade. None had nodal involvement. Five cases were metastatic at diagnosis, all to the liver. 86.7% had sp...
Strict conditional accounts of counterfactuals

von Fintel (Curr Stud Linguist Ser 36:123–152, 2001) and Gillies (Linguist Philos 30(3): 329–360, 2007) have proposed a dynamic strict conditional account of counterfactuals as an alternative to the standard variably strict account due to Stalnaker (Studies in logical theory, Blackwell, London, 1968) and Lewis (Counterfactuals, Blackwell, London, 1973). Von Fintel’s view is motivated largely by so-called reverse Sobel sequences, about which the standard view seems to make the wrong predictions. (The other major motivation is data surrounding so-called negative polarity items, which I do not discuss here.) More recently Moss (Nous 46(3):561–586, 2012) has offered a pragmatic/epistemic explanation that purports to explain the data without requiring abandonment of the standard view. So far the small amount of subsequent literature has focused primarily on the original class of cases motivating the strict conditional view. What is needed in the debate is an examination of the predictions of the dynamic strict conditional account for a broader range of data. I undertake this task here, presenting a slew of cases that are problematic for the strict conditional view but not for Moss’s view, and considering some possible responses. Ultimately I take my contribution to constitute a significant blow to the dynamic strict conditional view, though not a decisive verdict against it.
Precise and Reliable Activation of Cortex with Micro-coils

The optimization of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) will require the delivery of feedback signals to the somatosensory and/or proprioceptive cortices of the device user. Ultimately, the precision and reliability with which such signals can be delivered will underlie the quality and consistency of the information that can be conveyed. Unfortunately, the use of implantable micro-electrodes to deliver electrical signals directly into cortex has several fundamental limitations that limit their efficacy and can reduce their consistency over time. Magnetic stimulation from micro-coils overcomes these limitations, and so here, we describe the development of a cortically-implantable micro-coil and review some of the advantages of this approach.
Rephrasing the Lyric Subject: Keats’s Dialectical Soul-Making

This essay brings together Keats’s theory of soul-making with his prosody in order to argue for the continued use and usefulness of the concept of lyric subjectivity. Given the instability and recent disfavor imputed to both of these terms (lyric and subject), this might seem a problematic endeavor. Yet I argue, along with Keats, that the process of constructing a soul is not only ineluctably wrapped up with the process of poetic production and reception, but also inextricably tied to the process of first imagining and then constructing new forms of sociality and subjectivity. Through an examination of M. H. Abrams’s theory of the “greater romantic lyric,” I show how a specific form of dialecticism has been read back over the entire canon of romantic and post-romantic poetry, with, as writers associated with the Historical Poetics group have pointed out, deleterious effects. Applying the post-Marxist dialectical theories of the Russian Formalists to targeted close readings of Keats’s poems and letters, I ...
Dorsal Plate Fixation for Distal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis of the Fingers and Thumb

Arthrodesis is generally the most accepted surgical option for treatment of degenerative and traumatic conditions involving the distal interphalangeal joint of the fingers or the interphalangeal joint of the thumb. Ideal position of arthrodesis is thought to be slightly flexed to improve power, fine pinch, and grip. Different techniques have been described for distal finger joint arthrodesis, with most surgeons using straight intramedullary implants that obligate the joint to be positioned in neutral extension. In this article, we describe the operative technique to perform a distal finger joint arthrodesis in slight flexion using dorsal plate fixation. We also discuss a case of a patient with distal finger joint arthrodesis.
Pathobiology of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common, highly morbid (and often fatal) critical illness characterized by the sudden onset of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. ARDS can occur in response to a direct pulmonary insult (e.g., pneumonia) or an indirect, systemic inflammatory condition (e.g., nonpulmonary sepsis). Forty years of intense investigation into the mechanisms underlying ARDS have fueled a revolution in the practice of critical care medicine, yielding improvements in supportive care such as lung-protective modes of ventilation. Despite these advances, there remains no clinically efficacious therapy targeted against ARDS pathophysiology. The failure to identify an efficacious mechanistic intervention in lung injury may arise from the incredible complexity of interrelated pathophysiological processes dynamically occurring within the injured alveolus. Increasing attention has thus been paid to determining the processes of ARDS recovery, in the hope that endogenous mechanisms of injury resolution could be therapeutically exploited.
National Food and Nutrition Planning and Policies: Some Cautionary Comments

The comments that I have been invited to offer on the presentations made this morning will to some extent reinforce certain points made by my colleagues on this Panel. I fear, however, that what I have to say may dismay some of the planners, nutrition scientists, government officials and others assembled in this hall.
Solar System Plasmadynamics and Space Weather

This paper describes progress in computational plasmadynamics applied to the prediction of “space weather” - the study of how conditions on the sun lead to transients in the solar wind, which in turn affect Earth’s magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere. The progress is based on advances in algorithms, parallel computing, and a software framework that couples the multi-physics and multi-scale modules necessary to model this challenging and important problem.
Extraction of Time-Varying Spatiotemporal Networks Using Parameter-Tuned Constrained IVA

Dynamic functional connectivity analysis is an effective way to capture the networks that are functionally associated and continuously changing over the scanning period. However, these methods mostly analyze the dynamic associations across the activation patterns of the spatial networks while assuming that the spatial networks are stationary. Hence, a model that allows for the variability in both domains and reduces the assumptions imposed on the data provides an effective way for extracting spatiotemporal networks. Independent vector analysis (IVA) is a joint blind source separation technique that allows for estimation of spatial and temporal features while successfully preserving variability. However, its performance is affected for higher number of datasets. Hence, we develop an effective two-stage method to extract time-varying spatial and temporal features using IVA, mitigating the problems with higher number of datasets while preserving the variability across subjects and time. The first stage is used to extract reference signals using group-independent component analysis (GICA) that are used in a parameter-tuned constrained IVA framework to estimate time-varying representations of these signals by preserving the variability through tuning the constraint parameter. This approach effectively captures variability across time from a large-scale resting-state fMRI data acquired from healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia and identifies more functionally relevant connections that are significantly different among healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia, compared with the widely used GICA method alone.
Gastrointestinal Helminths of Ruthven's Anole, Anolis bonairensis (Squamata: Dactyloidae), from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

Twenty-three dactyloid anoles (Ruthven's anole, Anolis bonairensis) from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, were examined for gastrointestinal helminths. Four species of Nematoda were found: Parapharyngodon cubensis, Oswal-docruzia lenteixeirai, Spauligodon bonairensis, and Acuariidae gen. sp. (larva in cyst). Acuariidae gen. sp. had the largest number of individuals (63) and the highest prevalence (39.1%). Anolis bonairensis represents a new host record for each helminth. Anolis bonairensis is parasitized by generalist helminths that also infect other lizards.
Abstract 2183: Protective autophagy elicited by RAF®MEK®ERK inhibition suggests a treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was responsible for ~43,000 deaths in the USA in 2017 and is the epitome of a recalcitrant cancer driven by an, as yet, pharmacologically intractable oncoprotein, KRAS. Although the clinical picture remains grim, the mechanisms by which key alterations in tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes contribute to PDA have been dissected. Downstream of KRAS, the RAF→MEK→ERK signaling pathway plays a central role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. However, to date, pharmacological inhibition of this pathway has provided no clinical benefit to PDA patients. Here we show that inhibition of KRAS→RAF→MEK→ERK signaling in PDA cell lines elicits autophagy, a process of cellular recycling that protects pancreatic cancer cells from the potentially cytotoxic effects of KRAS pathway inhibition. Furthermore, combined inhibition of MEK1/2 plus autophagy displays synergistic anti-proliferative effects against PDA cell lines in vitro, and promotes regression of xenografted patient-derived PDA tumors in mice. Finally, treatment of a PDA patient with the combination of trametinib plus hydroxychloroquine resulted in a partial, but nonetheless striking disease response. These data suggest that this combination therapy may represent a novel strategy to target RAS-driven cancers such as PDA. Citation Format: Conan G. Kinsey, Soledad A. Camolotto, Amelie M. Boespflug, Katrin P. Guillen, Mona Foth, Amanda Truong, Sophia S. Schuman, Jill E. Shea, Michael T. Seipp, Jeffrey T. Yap, Lance D. Burrell, David H. Lum, Jonathan R. Whisenant, G. Weldon Gilcrease, Courtney C. Cavalieri, Kaitrin M. Rehbein, Stephanie L. Cutler, Kajsa E. Affolter, Alana L. Welm, Bryan E. Welm, Courtney L. Scaife, Eric L. Snyder, Martin McMahon. Protective autophagy elicited by RAF®MEK®ERK inhibition suggests a treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2183.
Teaching AVR Assembly by Building an Arduino Arcade Machine

This paper describes a series of homework assignments, labs, and a project developed to teach AVR assembly language as part of a sophomore-level Computer Organization course. At the culmination of this module, students built a handheld arcade machine out of an Arduino Uno and programmed it, in assembly language, to play the classic game of Breakout on an LED matrix display. While completing this project students learned most of the fundamentals of low-level programming, including registers, bit operators, control flow, stack handling, subroutine calls, hardware interrupts, delay loops and instruction timing, and communicating with I/O. This project was assigned to three classes of students in the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019.
Characterizing Posterior Neck Masses: A Single-Institution Retrospective and Systematic Review.

Objective:Posterior neck masses are a relatively poorly characterized entity. The authors attempt to further characterize the anatomy and pathology of the posterior neck by way of a combined single...
GPU-Accelerated Decoding of Integer Lists

An inverted index is the basic data structure used in most current large-scale information retrieval systems. It can be modeled as a collection of sorted sequences of integers. Many compression techniques for inverted indexes have been studied in the past, with some of them reaching tremendous decompression speeds through the use of SIMD instructions available on modern CPUs. While there has been some work on query processing algorithms for Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), little of it has focused on how to efficiently access compressed index structures, and we see some potential for significant improvements in decompression speed. In this paper, we describe and implement two encoding schemes for index decompression on GPU architectures. Their format and decoding algorithm is adapted from existing CPU-based compression methods to exploit the execution model and memory hierarchy offered by GPUs. We show that our solutions, GPU-BP and GPU-VByte, achieve significant speedups over their already carefully optimized CPU counterparts.
Predictors and outcomes of atrial tachyarrhythmia among patients with implantable defibrillators

Background Atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) are common among heart failure (HF) patients. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess predictors for the development of new ATA and its components (atrial fibrillation/flutter [AF], supraventricular tachycardia [SVT]), and their association with subsequent clinical outcomes. Methods We assessed predictors for first and recurrent ATA, AF, and SVT among 1500 patients in MADIT-RIT (Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial–Reduce Inappropriate Therapy). We also investigated the association of new ATA, AF, or SVT with subsequent ventricular arrhythmia (VA), adverse events (HF hospitalization, syncope, or death), or death by time-dependent analysis. Results During 17 months of follow-up, 286 patients (19%) developed new ATA, of whom 92 (6%) had AF and 194 (12%) had SVT. Younger age (≤65 years), diastolic blood pressure ≥72 mm Hg, heart rate ≥63 bpm, absence of diabetes, and prior atrial arrhythmia were independent predictors of ATA. Prior atrial arrhythmia was the only predictor of AF (hazard ratio 3.14; P 2-fold increased risk for the development of subsequent VA (HR 2.21; P = .012l and HR 2.15; P Conclusion Among MADIT-RIT patients, younger age, absence of diabetes, higher blood pressure, higher heart rate, and prior atrial arrhythmia predicted device-detected ATA. Both AF and SVT were associated with increased risk for subsequent VA and adverse events. Aggressive management should be considered in HF patients who develop new-onset, device-detected ATA to improve clinical outcomes.
A mitochondrial root to accelerated ageing and frailty.

A discovery metabolomic study was performed in a large cohort of adults to identify circulating biomarkers of frailty. The study found that carnitine and vitamin E pathways were dysregulated in frail compared with non-frail participants. These findings point to dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism as a potential root of age-related frailty.
Performance Evaluation of Different Feature Encoding Schemes on Cybersecurity Logs

Many cybersecurity logs contain a substantial volume of textual data regarding security events. This data needs to be converted to numerical types before any machine learning (ML) algorithms can be applied. Feature encoding is the process of transforming textual data into numerical values so they may be applied to ML algorithms, resulting in improved model accuracy. Researchers have used many approaches to convert textual data into numerical values such as, “Label Encoding” “One Hot Encoding” and “Binary Encoding”. These approaches are useful encoding schemes for dealing with large scale text data. We examine the application of these methods to cybersecurity datasets to determine which encoding scheme performs the best when used with a classification ML algorithm in identifying intrusion detections. Experimental results show that label encoding performed the best, whereas one hot encoding was least effective.
Syntactic complexity measures: variation by genre, grade-level, students’ writing abilities, and writing quality

Syntactic complexity has been recognized as an important construct in writing research, and for the past five decades, many syntactic complexity measures (SCMs) have been examined in numerous studies. This systematic review is the first study of its kind to synthesize 36 studies spanning from 1970 to 2019 by identifying and cataloging all SCMs examined during this period. An analysis was performed on how the use of SCMs varied by genre, grade level, students’ writing ability, and writing quality. Five online databases (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, and PsycARTICLES) were searched. A total of 48 SCMs were grouped into six categories: T-units and sentences, clauses, phrases, words, combined measures, and other measures. Most studies examined three common SCMs: mean T-unit length, mean number of words per clause, and mean number of clauses per T-unit. The argumentative genre had the highest values for T-unit length and mean number of clauses per T-unit, which could indicate greater sentence complexity. Higher-grade-level students generally construct sentences that are syntactically complex, but comparison between studies was difficult because different studies investigated different SCMs. Although students with higher writing abilities generally construct sentences that are syntactically more complex compared to students with lower writing abilities, the findings are not conclusive, as only a few studies examined this relationship. A similarly inconclusive relationship was found between syntactic complexity and writing quality because only a few studies examined this relationship. More research is needed to examine the relationship between SCMs, writing quality, and genre.
The Differential Relationship between Self-Control and Peer Influences over Time: Toward an Integrative Model of Offending Using a Dual-Systems Approach:

The purpose of this study is to explore an alternative approach to unravel how both self-control and peer influence relate to offending. Deriving from a dual-systems framework, this study hypothesi...
OpenISS IoT Camera Simulation Environment for Real-time IoT Forensics and Incident Response

Today when the number of computing systems participating in IoT is growing exponentially, the task to keep these systems secure becomes critical. One challenge is regular upgrade of IoT systems firmware to keep them up-to-date with already discovered and exploitable vulnerabilities. The other challenge is to protect the rest of the IoT ecosystem from already infected IoT devices. In this project we developed a network proxy testbed setup to be placed in-between an IoT system and the Internet – called PiNalyzer. PiNalyzer is designed to be trained to classify ingress/egress traffic and take actions to protect both: the IoT system behind it from malicious traffic from the outside; and the the rest of the network from the IoT system itself if it were compromised.
Addressing stress in dogs in shelters through a novel visual and auditory enrichment device

Abstract Dogs experience both acute and chronic stress when living in animal shelters. Current best practices recommend a variety of techniques for reducing stress such as enhanced human interactions including play or training, novel feeding strategies, increased exercise/group play, and, when possible, group housing. Auditory stimulation in the form of bio-acoustically designed music has shown a stress-relieving effect in dogs experiencing chronic stress such as those living in a kennel. However, there is little research looking at the effect of visual stimulation on stress in shelter-living dogs. Using a two-group (treatment, control) experimental design, the current study examined the effect of auditory and visual content intended to reduce stress, measured by salivary cortisol and behavior, in shelter dogs. The content was delivered through an in-kennel pet videophone unit. Forty-seven dogs were enrolled at one shelter in the United States. While there were no significant differences in pre- and post-test salivary cortisol levels by experimental group (P > 0.05), dogs in the treatment group spent significantly less time in the back of the kennel (P = 0.046) than did dogs in the control group. In addition, two behaviors differed by experimental group at the P
Chemical and hydrological controls on salt accumulation in irrigated soils of southwestern U.S

Abstract Soil salinization is a global problem affecting approximately 10% of agricultural soils, particularly in irrigated aridlands. This study quantified salt-loading by flood irrigation and soil fertilizers/amendments versus atmospheric deposition, studied controls of solute transport and salt buildup, and evaluated the effectiveness of gypsum application in improving soil sodicity in the arid southwestern United States. Study sites include one natural site and two agricultural sites in fields of dominant crops of the region, a pecan orchard and an alfalfa field near El Paso, Texas. The salt-loading rate in agricultural soils was dominated by the quantity and quality of irrigation waters rather than by dust. Salt loadings by irrigation waters were estimated ~ 306 g Na+ m−2 yr−1, 129 g Ca2+ m−2 yr−1, 361 g Cl− m−2 yr−1, 419 g SO42− m−2 yr−1, and 284 g HCO3− m−2 yr−1, followed by soil amendments. Whereas dust and fertilizer loadings were negligible in agricultural soils. Soil texture variability physically governs water movement and solute transport; coarser soils retained significantly less water than finer soils upon irrigation (p
The Yin and Yang of Corporations and Democracy

These are perilous times for American democracy. Among the threats, many point to the power of corporations. This article examines that threat by considering a series of dualisms characterizing the relationship between corporations and democracy. This begins with a look at the anti- as well as the pro-democratic impacts of the earliest corporations and the paradoxes with respect to democracy created during the evolution of corporate law. The article then looks at internal corporate governance (so-called “corporate” or “shareholder democracy”) to show how, on the one hand, it contains features addressing some of the greatest current threats to American democracy, while, on the other hand, it operates as a fundamentally undemocratic vote buying system. This dualism in internal corporate governance, in turn, reflects a clash in the purpose for corporate or shareholder democracy: Is the purpose economic efficiency, or is it democratic legitimacy for those controlling the often-vast power of the corporation? Finally, this article addresses the dualism in the internal and external aspects of the relationship between corporations and democracy by situating the governance and impact of corporations within the broader democratic governance of society. Specifically, individuals in charge of corporations lack democratic consent and accountability for their decisions unless either internal corporate governance is consistent with democratic values; persons without voice through internal corporate governance can avoid the impact of such decisions by not dealing with the corporation; or democratically elected federal, state, and local governments can intervene when externalities and market failures render refusal to deal unrealistic. This, in turn, suggests the need to limit excessive political influence by those in charge of corporations or to reform the anti-democratic aspects of internal corporate governance.
The War of 1812: Conflict for a Continent

This book is a narrative history of the many dimensions of the War of 1812 - social, diplomatic, military and political - which places the war's origins and conduct in transatlantic perspective. The events of 1812–15 were shaped by the larger crisis of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. In synthesizing and reinterpreting scholarship on the war, Professor J. C. A. Stagg focuses on the war as a continental event, highlighting its centrality to Canadian nationalism and state development. The book introduces the war to students and general readers, concluding that it resulted in many ways from an emerging nation-state trying to contend with the effects of rival European nationalisms, both in Europe itself and in the Atlantic world.
Fuzzy hypercubes: a possibilistic inferencing paradigm

A robust and reliable learning and reasoning mechanism is addressed based upon fuzzy set theory and fuzzy associative memories. The mechanism stores an initial knowledge base via approximate learning and utilizes this information for decision-making systems via fuzzy inferencing. This fuzzy computer architecture, a fuzzy hypercube, processes all the rules in one clock period in parallel. Fuzzy hypercubes can be applied to control of a class of complex and highly nonlinear systems which suffer from vagueness or uncertainty. >
Logic programming as a paradigm for financial modeling

Logic programming is investigated as a vehicle for structuring and implementing decision support systems, with particular attention paid to those dealing with financial modeling. This approach to model building, analyzing, and interfacing is compared to currently popular paradigms such as spreadsheet systems and financial modeling languages. The logic programming approach is shown to subsume these in expressive power and permit the incorporation of important capabilities not currently available. Examples operationalizing some of the concepts using the logic programming language Prolog are given.
Design of RF integrated inductors by geometric scaling

This paper presents research related to the design and characterization of geometrically scaled monolithic RF inductors. The geometries of on chip passive RF components are scaled-up by a factor 'a'. The scaled model is characterized at a scaled-down frequency range by a factor '1/a'. The scattering parameters extracted from the scaled model reflect the behavior of the original on-chip model at the original frequency range. Two port scattering parameter measurement results of the scaled model show agreement with the simulated original model using an Electromagnetic (EM) simulator with good accuracy.
A spherical basis function neural network for pole-zero modeling of head-related transfer functions

This paper describes a neural network for approximating the parameters of a pole-zero model of the head-related transfer function (HRTF). The von Mises basis function (VMBF) is described whose response depends on spherical rather than Cartesian input coordinates. The VMBF neural network is ideally suited to the problem of learning a continuous mapping from spherical coordinates to acoustic parameters that specify sound source direction. A method for computing the common poles of a set of HRTFs is also discussed.
Technical Difficulties During the Training Phase for Tightrope® and Percutaneous Lateral Fabellar Suture Techniques for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair

Objective To compare level of difficulty, deviations from technical description and postoperative assessment during the training of veterinary students, small animal surgical residents, and a board certified surgeon for Tightrope® (TR) and percutaneous lateral fabella suture (pLFS) techniques for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair. Study Design Prospective study. Sample Population Cadaveric canine pelvic limbs (n = 32). Methods Sixteen 3rd year veterinary students, 6 small animal surgical residents and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons performed the TR and pLFS techniques on paired limbs. Perceived level of difficulty, duration of surgery, and technical deviations were assessed by questionnaire, radiographs, and dissection. Results were compared between techniques with McNemar's test. Results The TR procedure was perceived as more technically demanding than the pLFS by veterinary students and residents. Technical deviations were overall more common after TR than pLFS, and in limbs repaired by students, regardless of procedure. The most difficult aspect of the TR consists of the bone tunnels whereas for pLFS it was passing the suture around the femorofabellar ligament. The sensitivity of radiographs for detection of technical deviations was 39% after TR and 50% after pLFS. Conclusion Technical deviations are more common during the training phase of TR than pLFS, and the sensitivity of radiographs to detect those is low. Repeated practice on cadavers followed by dissection is recommended before use in patients.
Steve Jobs and the user psyche

Much has been said about Steve Jobs's ability to anticipate what users would want. No one quite knows how he did it. Ubiquity's Peter Denning reflects on an interview with the Apple co-founder, which offers a glimpse into Jobs's process for understanding the user.
Predicting total energy expenditure from self-reported dietary records and physical characteristics in adult and elderly men and women.

Background Energy requirements and nutrient intakes are commonly estimated from self-reported dietary records, but such estimation has proven to be unreliable. When energy intakes determined from dietary records are compared with energy expenditures measured with the use of doubly labeled water, the former consistently underestimate energy requirements and have a high degree of variability. Objective The objective of this study was to reduce the bias and variability of self-reported dietary records through the use of stepwise multiple regression analysis to develop models that relate energy expenditure measured with the use of doubly labeled water to energy intake from dietary records, sex, and fat-free mass (or weight and height). Design Data from 54 healthy adult men and women were used to develop these models. Results Fat-free mass, energy intake, and sex accounted for 86% of the variability in energy expenditure, whereas energy intake, sex, height, and weight accounted for 83%. When the model relating fat-free mass, energy intake, and sex to energy expenditure was tested on published data, it reduced the bias and variability of self-reported dietary records from -17 +/- 27% to 3 +/- 16%. When the model relating energy intake, sex, weight, and height to energy expenditure was tested on published data, it reduced the bias and variability of self-reported dietary records from -19 +/- 25% to -0.3 +/- 19%. Conclusion Results from this study indicate that a simple relation can be used to correct self-reported dietary records to estimated energy requirements.
Gln3p Nuclear Localization and Interaction with Ure2p inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Gln3p is one of two well characterized GATA family transcriptional activation factors whose function is regulated by the nitrogen supply of the cell. When nitrogen is limiting, Gln3p and Gat1p are concentrated in the nucleus where they bind GATA sequences upstream of nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive genes and activate their transcription. Conversely, in excess nitrogen, these GATA sequences are unoccupied by Gln3p and Gat1p because these transcription activators are excluded from the nucleus. Ure2p binds to Gln3p and Gat1p and is required for NCR-sensitive transcription to be repressed and for nuclear exclusion of these transcription factors. Here we show the following. (i) Gln3p residues 344–365 are required for nuclear localization. (ii) Replacing Ser-344, Ser-347, and Ser-355 with alanines has minimal effects on GFP-Gln3p localization. However, replacing Gln3p Ser-344, Ser-347, and Ser-355 with aspartates results in significant loss of its ability to be concentrated in the nucleus. (iii) N and C termini of the Gln3p region required for it to complex with Ure2p and be excluded from the nucleus are between residues 1–103 and 301–365, respectively. (iv) N and C termini of the Ure2p region required for it to interact with Gln3p are situated between residues 101–151 and 330–346, respectively. (v) Loss of Ure2p residues participating in either dimer or prion formation diminishes its ability to carry out NCR-sensitive regulation of Gln3p activity.
Enhanced gold nanoshell scattering contrast in cervical tissue using angled fiber probes

Diffuse reflectance of cervical tissue treated with gold nanoshells is collected at 0 and 40 degrees, measured from the perpendicular to tissue surface. Between the two collection angles, the infused nanoshells exhibit much stronger scattering signals in contrast to the ordinary reflectance attributed to the naked tissue when the collection angle of the fiber probe is obliquely oriented at 40 degrees. At 0 deg. fiber angle, no significant differentiation is observed between naked and nanoshell-treated tissue samples. This result indicates a strong potential of combining angularly-variable reflectance spectroscopy and gold nanoshells in order to achieve synergistically enhanced scattering contrast in tissue.
Assessment of chemical contaminants in water and sediment samples from Degh Nala in the province of Punjab, Pakistan

Twenty water samples and 18 underlying sediment samples were collected near effluent discharges along 30 km of a surface stream, Degh Nala, Pakistan, which receives effluents from two major industrial areas. Water quality parameters were very poor, except for reference samples collected upstream from the industrial areas and from a freshwater canal into which the Nala flows. Mercury (Hg) concentrations were extremely high in waters (up to 72 mg/L) and sediments (up to 887 μg/g) from the upper reaches, and minor influxes from other sites maintained Hg at alarming levels. Concentrations of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane) and its metabolites were greater than 1.0 μg/g in two sediment samples. The acute toxicity of water samples to the freshwater planarian, Dugesia dorotocephala, was generally consistent with degree of contamination.
Efficacy of coronary venoplasty for left ventricular lead implantation.

Background Optimal target vein selection for the pacing lead results in a better outcome, but left ventricular (LV) variability limits this selection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of coronary venoplasty for insertion of a LV lead. Methods and Results Transvenous LV lead placement was attempted in 208 consecutive patients from November 2002 to January 2007, with success in 206 patients (99%). Retrospective analysis of the cardiac resynchronization therapy system implantation showed that 4 of the 206 patients (1.9%) required coronary venoplasty for insertion of the pacing lead implant. Using coronary balloon angioplasty catheters of 2.5 mm (2 patients), 3.0 mm (1 patient) and 4.0 mm (1 patient), each target vein was dilated. Of 4 patients, stenoses in 3 were dilated by balloon angioplasty only. However, focal stenosis of 1 patient was not able to be dilated due to severe stenosis. Therefore, part of the lesion was sharpened by rotational atherectomy and the stenosis was successfully dilated. The LV pacing lead could then be inserted and no complications occurred. Conclusion Venoplasty for stenosis was effective in allowing deployment of a LV lead into a target vein in some patients. The safety and complications of the procedure remain unclear. (Circ J 2007; 71: 1442 - 1445)
Variation in the mechanical properties of tracheal tubes in the American cockroach

The insect cuticle serves the protective role of skin and the supportive role of the skeleton while being lightweight and flexible to facilitate flight. The smart design of the cuticle confers camouflage, thermo-regulation, communication, self-cleaning, and anti-wetting properties to insects. The mechanical behavior of the internal cuticle of the insect in tracheae remains largely unexplored due to their small size. In order to characterize the material properties of insect tracheae and understand their role during insect respiration, we conducted tensile tests on ring sections of tracheal tubes of American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana). A total of 33 ring specimens collected from 14 tracheae from the upper thorax of the insects were successfully tested. The ultimate tensile strength (22:6 13:3 MPa), ultimate strain (1:57 0:68%), elastic modulus (1740 840 MPa), and toughness (0:175 0:156 MJ m 3 ) were measured. We examined the high variance in mechanical properties statistically and demonstrated that ring sections excised from the same trachea exhibit comparable mechanical properties. Our results will form the basis for future studies aimed at determining the structure‐function relationship of insect tracheal tubes, ultimately inspiring the design of multi-functional materials and structures.
Ultrafast spectroscopy of photoactive biomolecules

Terahertz (THz) absorbance measurements as a function of confirmation for bacteriorhodopsin has been performed in the steady state demonstrating the dependence on protein conformation and mutation. We introduce a new technique for performing low time resolution visible pump/THz probe measurements relevant to biomolecular systems. We will discuss the experimental protocol required for these measurements and how the THz absorbance can be used as a characterization tool for technologically important biomolecules.
Renormalization-group theory for the propagation of a turbulent burst

We consider the propagation of a plane front separating a turbulent region of fluid from a quiescent region. Initially, the turbulent-energy distribution as a function of z, the displacement normal to the front, is assumed to be localized, and after a time t, general renormalization-group arguments show that there is a similarity solution of the form q(z,t)\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{t}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}(2/3+2\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}\mathrm{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}})}$f (${\mathit{zt}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}(2/3+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\beta}})}$, \ensuremath{\epsilon}), where \ensuremath{\alpha}\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{} and \ensuremath{\beta} are \ensuremath{\epsilon}-dependent anomalous dimensions, satisfying the scaling law \ensuremath{\alpha}\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}+\ensuremath{\beta}=0 and \ensuremath{\epsilon} is a measure of the dissipation. Using perturbation theory, we calculate values of \ensuremath{\alpha}\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{} and \ensuremath{\beta} to O(\ensuremath{\epsilon}), which are in good agreement with numerical calculations, and we explicitly verify the above scaling law and find the form of the scaling function f.
Formation of robust mesoscopic ring structures by self-assembly of SiCl3-terminated dendrimers

Robust sub-micrometer ring structures are easily prepared using SiCl3-terminated dendrimers.
Looking beyond reelection: Revising assumptions about the factors motivating congressional behavior

This paper challenges the assumption inherent in most models of legislative behavior — namely that congressmen are driven by the desire for reelection. I offer an alternative perspective: incumbents seek to maximize their discretionary investments and the income generated by the job. The only constraint on this behavior is that legislators provide a satisfactory level of constituency service — a product that I suggest entails slight opportunity, and few manufacturing, costs for congressmen, and one that is unlikely to lose its value with increased production. I also demonstrate that increases in salary and discretionary investments have lengthened congressional careers.