cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elimination of germ-line tandemly repeated sequences from the somatic genome of the ciliate Oxytricha fallax.

The ciliated protozoa exhibit nuclear dimorphism. The genome of the somatic macronucleus arises from the germ-line genome of the micronucleus following conjugation. We have studied the fates of highly repetitious sequences in this process. Two cloned, tandemly repeated sequences from the micronucleus of Oxytricha fallax were used as probes in hybridizations to micronuclear and macronuclear DNA. The results of these experiments show: (1) the cloned repeats are members of two apparently unrelated repetitious sequence families, which each appear to comprise a few percent of the micronuclear genome, and (2) the amount of either family in the macronuclei from which our DNA was prepared is about 1/15 that found in an equal number of diploid micronuclei. Most, if not all, of the apparent macronuclear copies of these repeats can be accounted for by micronuclear contamination, which strongly suggests that these sequences are eliminated from the macronuclei and have no vegetiative function.
The Modernity of Power in the Chinese Socialist Order

The Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949 introduced a major historical disjunction in Chinese society, in its political-economic structure, in its social organization and institutions, in cultural and discursive practices, and therefore in the way that power operates through them. This article will explore some of the ways in which the reordering of power relations, operating through the state apparatus in the new society (in urban contexts), exhibits some key features of modernity, while at the same time it also represents an extension of power mechanisms already present in the Chinese cultural repertoire. The Chinese socialist state did not arise ex nihilo, nor merely with the introduction of Western, Japanese, and Russian Marxism. Chinese civilization has had a long tradition of the centralized state, going back at least as far as the establishment of its first unified empire in 221 B.C. out of the breakdown of Zhou dynasty feudalism. Yet never before, even in the history of a society that was one of the original models for the "Asiatic mode of production," did the state assume so much responsibility for administering not only economic production and distribution, but also social reproduction and the government of everyday life, as with the discourse and practice of state socialism. How is this new, or renewed, state power exercised in society? Several forms of power have been proposed for socialism: exploitation, despotism, totalitarianism. Arguments that socialism is a form of state capitalism imply that there is a continuation of capitalist exploitation by a new ruling class of bureaucrats who extract surplus labor. That exploitation is the dominant mode of power in state socialist societies has been easily demolished by critics who point out that societies where there is an absence of private property, a radical reduction of market mechanisms, "a dissolution of the institutional separation between economy and state," and an underemphasis on economic rationality can hardly be described as capitalist (Feher, Heller, and Markus 1983:22-37). In the case of China, countless ideological campaigns and political study sessions for laborers and cadres alike, and policies of permanent and overemployment of labor in industry certainly did not contribute to productive efficiency and profit maximization so highly valued by capitalist rationality. Despotism (Oriental, bureaucratic) has also been featured as the hallmark of power in socialism. This is the thesis that socialism amounts to an "Asiatic res
CONSTABLE: A SIMPLE ONE-DIMENSIONAL CLIMATE MODEL FOR CLIMATOLOGISTS IN GEOGRAPHY

A one-dimensional global climate model is constructed from both the basic energy balance equation for the earth-atmosphere system and the planetary boundary layer equations of motion. The theoretically based model accurately simulates many features of the present climate system and appears useful in evaluating various climatic change mechanisms. The simplicity of this process-response model increases its educational and research applicability for climatologists in geography.
The diagnosis and management of lymphocytic hypophysitis

Although a relatively rare phenomenon, lymphocytic hypophysitis can represent a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This condition was initially thought to be an autoimmune phenomenon occurring primarily in women in the postpartum state. It is now recognized as a disorder that can affect both men and women over a rather large age range, from young adults to the elderly, and may be linked to a number of autoimmune phenomena. We have reviewed the literature on lymphocytic hypophysitis, and added the detailed analysis of seven cases of presumed lymphocytic hypophysitis from our own experience. The case studies demonstrate the wide spectrum of manifestations of this disorder, the differential diagnosis and the rationale and the nuances of treatment. Diagnostic studies, including laboratory evaluation and the characteristic MRIs, are reviewed. The histopathology and results of special stains are also presented, emphasizing the characteristic pathologic findings in this spectrum of pituitary disease. Our experience and that of others demonstrates that this condition has a characteristic presentation - that is, headache, hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus. When significant mass effect is present, suprasellar and parasellar extension may produce visual loss and/or diplopia. Treatment strategies and outcomes are given for each of the seven patients. Corticosteroids are recommended as first-line management, and are usually successful. Relapses requiring additional therapy, however, are not uncommon. In such cases, trans-sphenoidal surgery, other more aggressive forms of medical therapy and rarely, radiosurgery can also be employed. Lymphocytic hypophysitis is a challenging entity. With accurate diagnosis and sequential, expertly managed therapeutic measures, it can be controlled. Continued surveillance of the patients is essential, as relapses may occur.
Dipole Orientation Distributions in Langmuir−Blodgett Films by Planar Waveguide Linear Dichroism and Fluorescence Anisotropy

A method to determine the orientation distribution of fluorescent molecules in a thin, substrate-supported film is described. Attenuated total reflection spectrometry on the surface of a planar waveguide is used to measure absorption LD, from which the mean dipole tilt angle in the film is obtained. Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy is measured in a total internal reflection geometry on a film supported on fused silica but prepared under otherwise identical conditions. The angular distribution about the mean can be recovered from the anisotropy measurement by modeling the distribution as a probability density that is specified by two adjustable parameters. The method was tested on Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) films of arachidic acid doped with the fluorescent amphiphiles DiI and BODIPY. In the DiI-doped films, the mean tilt angle was 75° from the surface normal. Assuming a Gaussian distribution, the standard deviation was 12°, indicating a high degree of macroscopic order. In the BODIPY-doped films the distr...
Hippocampal α- and β-adrenergic receptors: comparison of [3H]dihydroalprenolol and [3H]WB 4101 binding with noradrenergic innervation in the rat

Abstract The relationship of α- and β-adrenergic receptors to the noradrenergic innervation of the rat hippocampal formation was studied with histofluorescent, biochemical, and radioligand binding methods. The dentate gyrus received a major portion of the innervation and contained twice the norepinephrine content of the hippocampal gyrus. However, the density of β-adrenergic receptors, determined by [3H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding, was approximately equal in both gyri. By contrast, a presumed α-adrenergic binding site was relatively concentrated in the dentate gyrus, roughly correlating with the distribution of the noradrenergic innervation. Although a significant concentration of β-adrenergic receptors in the pyramidal cell layer had been suggested in previous studies with fluorescent analogs of propranolol, direct microchemical measurements of [3H]DHA binding in stratum pyramidalis and stratum radiatum showed that β-adrenergic receptors were uniformly distributed in the hippocampal gyrus. These data, demonstrating a ubiquitous distribution of β-adrenergic binding in a brain region with a well-defined noradrenergic input, suggest that a portion, perhaps a majority, of β-adrenergic receptors are not associated with noradrenergic nerve terminals.
Current-voltage characteristics of diodes with and without light

Solutions of transport-, continuity-, and Poisson-equations for pn-junction devices are analyzed. For asymmetrically doped heterojunctions the resulting current-voltage characteristics can be derived in analytical form. For homojunctions the different contributions to the current and the essential regions for the electrochemical potential drop are identified from computed solutions which can be obtained from a mixed boundary value problem using a four-dimensional iteration routine. Losungen der Transport-, Kontinuitats- and Poissongleichungen fur pn-Ubergange werden analysiert. Fur unsymmetrisch dotierte Heteroubergange kann die Strom-Spannungscharakteristik in geschlossener Form angegeben werden. Fur Homoubergange werden die verschiedenen Beitrage zum Strom und die wesentlichen Gebiete des elektrochemischen Potentialabfalls in numerischen Losungskurven identifiziert, die aus einem gemischten Grenzwertproblem nach vierdimensionaler Iteration erhalten wurden.
Magneto-dielectrics in electromagnetics: concept and applications

In this paper, the unique features of periodic magneto-dielectric meta-materials in electromagnetics are addressed. These materials, which are arranged in periodic configurations, are applied for the design of novel EM structures with applications in the VHF-UHF bands. The utility of these materials is demonstrated by considering two challenging problems, namely, design of miniaturized electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structures and antennas in the VHF-UHF bands. A woodpile EBG made up of magneto-dielectric material is proposed. It is shown that the magneto-dielectric woodpile not only exhibits band-gap rejection values much higher than the ordinary dielectric woodpile, but also for the same physical dimensions it shows a rejection band at a much lower frequency. The higher rejection is a result of higher effective impedance contrasts between consecutive layers of the magneto-dielectric woodpile structure. Composite magneto-dielectrics are also shown to provide certain advantages when used as substrates for planar antennas. These substrates are used to miniaturize antennas while maintaining a relatively high bandwidth and efficiency. An artificial anisotropic meta-substrate having /spl mu//sub r/>/spl epsiv//sub r/, made up of layered magneto-dielectric and dielectric materials is designed to maximize the bandwidth of a miniaturized patch antenna. Analytical and numerical approaches, based on the anisotropic effective medium theory (AEMT) and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique, are applied to carry out the analyzes and fully characterize the performance of finite and infinite periodic magneto-dielectric meta-materials integrated into the EBG and antenna designs.
Tracking cardiac electrical instability by computing interlead heterogeneity of T-wave morphology

Oscillations in T-wave morphology, particularly T-wave alternans (TWA), have been fundamentally linked to increased susceptibility to ventricular fibrillation (VF). We investigated whether the esca...
Secondary metabolic gene cluster silencing in Aspergillus nidulans

In contrast to most primary metabolism genes, the genes involved in secondary metabolism and certain nutrient utilization pathways are clustered in fungi. Recently a nuclear protein, LaeA, was found to be required for the transcription of several secondary metabolite gene clusters in Aspergillus nidulans. Here we show that LaeA regulation does not extend to nutrient utilization or the spoC1 sporulation clusters. One of the secondary metabolite clusters regulated by LaeA contains the positive regulatory (i.e. aflR) and biosynthetic genes required for biosynthesis of sterigmatocystin (ST), a carcinogenic toxin. Analysis of ST gene cluster expression indicates LaeA regulation of the cluster is location specific as transcription of genes bordering the ST cluster are unaffected in a DeltalaeA mutant and placement of a primary metabolic gene, argB, in the ST cluster resulted in argB silencing in the DeltalaeA background. ST cluster gene expression was remediated when an additional copy of aflR was placed outside of the cluster but not when placed in the cluster. Site-specific mutation of an s-adenosyl methionine (AdoMet) binding site in LaeA generated a DeltalaeA phenotype suggesting the protein to be a methyltransferase.
Can We Design an Optimal Constitution? Of Structural Ambiguity and Rights Clarity

The design of new constitutions is fraught with challenges on both issues of structural design and individual rights. As both a descriptive and normative matter it is exceedingly difficult to believe that one structural solution will fit all cases. The high variation in nation size, economic development, and ethnic division can easily tilt the balance for or against a Presidential or Parliamentary system, and even within these two broad classes the differences in constitutional structure are both large and hard to measure. The only confident claim is that some system of separation of powers coupled with checks and balances is needed. Deciding which system, however, is far harder. In contrast, that same level of doubt does not arise in connection with the correct specification of individual right. Strong systems of negative rights on matters of liberty, property, religion, and speech are preferable across a wide range of social organizations. On the other hand, any effort to create systems of positive entitlements will fail because of the negative effects that they have on wealth creation and the inability to define or limit the scope of the relevant entitlements.
Instability of Pt ∕ C Electrocatalysts in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells A Mechanistic Investigation

Equilibrium concentrations of dissolved platinum species from a Pt/C electrocatalyst sample in 0.5 M H2SO4 at 80°C were found to increase with applied potential from 0.9 to 1.1 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode. In addition, platinum surface area loss for a short-stack of proton exchange membrane fuel cells PEMFCs operated at open-circuit voltage 0.95 V was shown to be higher than another operated under load 0.75 V. Both findings suggest that the formation of soluble platinum species such as Pt 2+ plays an important role in platinum surface loss in PEMFC electrodes. As accelerated platinum surface area loss in the cathode from 63 to 23 m 2 /gPt in 100 h was observed upon potential cycling, a cycled membrane electrode assembly MEA cathode was examined in detail by incidence angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy TEM to reveal processes responsible for observed platinum loss. In this study, TEM data and analyses of Pt/C catalyst and cross-sectional MEA cathode samples unambiguously confirmed that coarsening of platinum particles occurred via two different processes: i Ostwald ripening on carbon at the nanometer scale, which is responsible for platinum particle coarsening from 3t o6 nm on carbon, and ii migration of soluble platinum species in the ionomer phase at the micrometer scale, chemical reduction of these species by crossover H2 molecules, and precipitation of platinum particles in the cathode ionomer phase, which reduces the weight of platinum on carbon. It was estimated that each process contributed to 50% of the overall platinum area loss of the potential cycled electrode.
Increased expression of CGRP in sensory afferents of arthritic mice : effect of genetic deletion of the vanilloid receptor TRPV1

Abstract The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), expressed by nociceptive sensory afferents in joints, is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of arthritis. Capsaicin causes neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to release CGRP from their central and/or peripheral axons, suggesting a functional link between CGRP and the capsaicin receptor TRPV1. The expression of both TRPV1 and CGRP have been reported to increase in several models of arthritis but the specific involvement of TRPV1-expressing articular afferents that can release CGRP remains unclear. We here wanted to ascertain whether the increase in the number of CGRP-positive primary afferents during arthritis may be affected by genetic deletion of TRPV1. For this, we quantified the expression of CGRP in primary afferent neurons in DRG in wild type mice (WT) vs. TRPV1-KO mice with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA), using immunohistochemistry. We found that the fraction of DRG neurons that were immunopositive for CGRP (1) was higher in naive TRPV1-KO mice than in naive WT mice, (2) increased progressively 3–21 days after induction of AIA, and (3) this increase was bilateral but significantly greater on the complete Freund’s adjuvant-injected side than on the incomplete Freund’s adjuvant-injected side in TRPV1-KO mice. The increased expression of CGRP in AIA may reflect a phenotypic switch of primary afferents from non-peptidergic to peptidergic and the larger increase in TRPV1-KO mice may represent a plastic change to compensate for the missing receptor in a major sensory circuit.
Soil characteristics of Rocky Mountain National Park grasslands invaded by Melilotus officinalis and M. alba

Aim Invasion of nitrogen-fixing non-native plant species may alter soil resources and impact native plant communities. Altered soils may be the driving mechanism that provides a suitable environment to facilitate future invasions and decrease native biodiversity. We hypothesized that Melilotus invasion would increase nitrogen availability and produce soil microclimate and biochemical changes, which could in turn alter plant species composition in a montane grassland community. Location Our research addressed the effects of white and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis and M. alba) invasion on soil characteristics and nitrogen processes in the montane grasslands in Rocky Mountain National Park. Methods We sampled soil in replicate sites of Melilotus-invaded and control (non-invaded) patches within disturbed areas in montane grassland habitats. Soil composites were analysed for available nitrogen, net nitrogen mineralization, moisture, carbon/nitrogen (C : N ratio), texture, organic matter and pH. Data were recorded at three sample dates during the growing seasons of 1998 and 1999. Results Contrary to our expectations, we observed lower nitrogen availability and mineralization in invaded patches, and differences in soil moisture content and soil C : N. Soil C : N ratios were higher in invaded plots, in spite of the fact that Melilotus had the lowest C : N ratios of other plant tissue analysed in this
Computational Repositioning of the Anticonvulsant Topiramate for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract for which there are few safe and effective therapeutic options for long-term treatment and disease maintenance. Here, we applied a computational approach to discover new drug therapies for IBD in silico, using publicly available molecular data reporting gene expression in IBD samples and 164 small-molecule drug compounds. Among the top compounds predicted to be therapeutic for IBD by our approach were prednisolone, a corticosteroid used to treat IBD, and topiramate, an anticonvulsant drug not previously described to have efficacy for IBD or any related disorders of inflammation or the gastrointestinal tract. Using a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)–induced rodent model of IBD, we experimentally validated our topiramate prediction in vivo. Oral administration of topiramate significantly reduced gross pathological signs and microscopic damage in primary affected colon tissue in the TNBS-induced rodent model of IBD. These findings suggest that topiramate might serve as a therapeutic option for IBD in humans and support the use of public molecular data and computational approaches to discover new therapeutic options for disease.
Invited commentary: needle exchange--no help for hepatitis?

In 1993, Heimer, Kaplan, and associates (1) showed a reduction in the proportion of human immunodeficiency virus (HTV)-infected syringes among those returned to the New Haven, Connecticut, needle exchange in the months following the opening of the program. This reduction suggested a decrease in the circulation time of used needles among injectors who use the exchange, and this decrease can in turn be modeled as corresponding to a reduction in the HTV seroconversion rate of 25-30 percent. This is still the only real estimate of the actual effect of a needle exchange on HTV seroconversion in a US population. The New Haven study was extremely influential in providing an intellectual underpinning to the rapidly expanding needle exchange movement, which began in the United States in the late 1980s. A second study providing support was Hagan and collaborators' casecontrol study of hepatitis in injectors in Tacoma, Washington State, which showed an apparent major reduction in clinical hepatitis attributable to exchange use (2). However, that study has now been directly contradicted by a new study, carried out by some of the same researchers, of hepatitis B and C seroconversion in Seattle, Washington, injectors, which is published in this issue (3). The new study by Hagan et al., a large cohort study, is the first prospective study of the effect of needle exchange on blood-borne infections in the United States; it shows no effect of needle exchange use on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversion. The study by Hagan et al. (3) comes on the heels of studies in Montreal and Vancouver, Canada (4, 5), which showed no effect of needle exchange use on seroconversion for HTV. (The HTV seroconversion rate
Infrared spectra and polymorphism of glycerol ether derivatives

Abstract The infrared spectra and the polymorphic forms of the α- and β-glycerol ethers, glycerol ether monoesters, and glycerol ether diesters were investigated. It was concluded from these studies that the α-ethers exist in at least two different crystalline forms, whereas the β-ethers exist in only one form. The stable A form of both isomers of the ethers probably has hexagonal packing of the side chains; however, the B form of the α-ethers may have triclinic packed chains. It was found that the α-monoesters β-ethers and the β-monoester α-ethers also exist in at least two crystalline forms. The lower melting form B of the β-monoester α-ether does not correspond in crystalline structure to the lower melting form B of the α-monoester β-ether. The results indicate that there are at least three or possibly four crystalline forms of dipalmitoyl-α-batyl alcohol. The data imply that form D of dipalmitoyl-α-batyl alcohol is converted to form A and also that form B is converted to form A. It was found that the β-ether diesters are stable at room temperature in probably an orthorhombic arrangement, whereas the α-ether diesters are stable only in a triclinic or hexagonal arrangement. A comparison of the polymorphic forms of glycerides and glycerol ether derivatives demonstrated that both classes of compounds exist in a large number of similar crystalline forms; however, the glycerol ether derivatives may also exist in forms which have not yet been reported for the glycerides.
The combined influence of multiple sex and growth hormones on risk of postmenopausal breast cancer: a nested case-control study

Introduction: Sex and growth hormones are positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of multiple hormones simultaneously. Methods: We considered the roles of estrone, estradiol, estrone sulfate, testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate and prolactin and, secondarily, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and c-peptide in postmenopausal breast cancer risk among 265 cases and 541 controls in the prospective Nurses’ Health Study. We created several hormone scores, including ranking women by the number of hormones above the age- and batch-adjusted geometric mean and weighting hormone values by their individual associations with breast cancer risk. Results: Women in the top versus bottom quintile of individual estrogen or androgen levels had approximately a doubling of postmenopausal breast cancer risk. Having seven or eight compared to zero hormones above the geometric mean level was associated with total (RR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.3 to 5.7, P trend < 0.001) and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (RR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.3 to 9.4, P trend < 0.001) breast cancer risk. When comparing the top versus bottom quintiles of the score weighted by individual hormone associations, the RR for total breast cancer was 3.0 (95% CI = 1.8 to 5.0, P trend < 0.001) and the RR for ER-positive disease was 3.9 (95% CI = 2.0 to 7.5, P trend < 0.001). The risk further increased when IGF-1 and c-peptide were included in the scores. The results did not change with adjustment for body mass index.
Implementation techniques for efficient data-flow analysis of large programs

Many software engineering tools such as program slicers must perform data-flow analysis in order to extract necessary information from the program source. These tools typically borrow much of their implementation from optimizing compilers. However, since these tools are expected to analyze programs in their entirety, rather than functions in isolation, the time and space performance of the dataflow analyses are of major concern. We present techniques that reduce the time and space required to perform dataflow analysis of large programs. We have used these techniques to implement an efficient program slicing tool for C programs and have computed slices of programs with more than 100,000 lines of code.
Early Asterozoan (Echinodermata) Diversification: A Paleontologic Quandary

The Asterozoa as traditionally recognized is monophyletic, although ancestry within the Echinodermata is unknown. The asterozoan class Somasteroidea is most readily recognized by presence of series of simple ossicles termed virgals that extend laterally from each ambulacral ossicle. Virgal series reduction to two or three together with ossicular specializations provide apomorphies of the class Stenuroidea (new ranking). Both asteroid-like and ophiuroid-like configurations as well as expressions less suggestive of those of the surviving classes emerged within stenuroids during an early period of diversification. The classes Ophiuroidea and Asteroidea are separate lineages marked by virgal series reduction to a single ossicle and other ambulacral column specializations. It is uncertain whether one or both surviving classes were derived directly from somasteroids or originated through stenuroids. All three of the derived asterozoan classes can be argued to be either monophyletic and thereby justifying class status, or alternatively either paraphyletic or polyphyletic and thereby indicative of multiple plesions; here, monophyletic class-level status is favored for all three.
Innovations in 3D printing: a 3D overview from optics to organs

3D printing is a method of manufacturing in which materials, such as plastic or metal, are deposited onto one another in layers to produce a three dimensional object, such as a pair of eye glasses or other 3D objects. This process contrasts with traditional ink-based printers which produce a two dimensional object (ink on paper). To date, 3D printing has primarily been used in engineering to create engineering prototypes. However, recent advances in printing materials have now enabled 3D printers to make objects that are comparable with traditionally manufactured items. In contrast with conventional printers, 3D printing has the potential to enable mass customisation of goods on a large scale and has relevance in medicine including ophthalmology. 3D printing has already been proved viable in several medical applications including the manufacture of eyeglasses, custom prosthetic devices and dental implants. In this review, we discuss the potential for 3D printing to revolutionise manufacturing in the same way as the printing press revolutionised conventional printing. The applications and limitations of 3D printing are discussed; the production process is demonstrated by producing a set of eyeglass frames from 3D blueprints.
Progress in spatial robot juggling

The authors review their progress to date in eliciting dynamically dexterous behaviors from a 3-d.o.f. direct drive robot manipulator whose real-time stereo cameras provide 60 Hz sampled images of multiple freely falling bodies in highly structured lighting conditions. At present, the robot is capable of forcing a single ping-pong ball into a specified steady-state (near) periodic vertical motion by repeated controlled impacts with a rigid paddle. The robot sustains the steady-state behavior over long periods (typically many thousands of impacts) and is capable of recovering from significant unexpected adversarial perturbations of the ball's flight phase. Gain tuning experiments corroborate the authors' contention that the stability mechanism underlying the robot's reliability can be attributed to the same nonlinear dynamics responsible for analogous behavior in a previous 1-d.o.f. robot. >
A Non-Iterative Approach to Reconstruct Face Templates from Match Scores

Regeneration of biometric templates from match scores has security and privacy implications related to any biometric based authentication system. In this paper, we propose a novel non-iterative scheme to reconstruct face templates from match scores. We use an affine transformation of the images to approximate the behavior of the given face recognition system based on an independent set of face templates termed as break-in set. Selected templates from the break-in set are matched only once with the enrolled template of the target account and match scores are recorded. These scores are then embedded in the approximating affine space along with break-in set templates to compute the co-ordinates of the target template. The inverse transformation is used to reconstruct the original target template. We present the reconstruction of templates for three different face recognition algorithms: Bayesian intrapersonal/extrapersonal classifier, Elastic Bunch Graph Matching (EBGM) Algorithm and baseline algorithm used in Face Recognition Grand Challenge (2005). We also report the initial result to break an users account using the reconstructed template for Bayesian algorithm. Bayesian algorithm was set to operate at 0.1% False Acceptance Rate and 98% True Acceptance Rate with 100 enrollments. We observed that with proposed scheme, at most 600 attempts is required to achieve a 0.99 probability of break-in the Bayesian face recognition algorithm.
Protein Scaffold-Activated Protein Trans-Splicing in Mammalian Cells

Conditional protein splicing is a powerful biotechnological tool that can be used to rapidly and post-translationally control the activity of a given protein. Here we demonstrate a novel conditional splicing system in which a genetically encoded protein scaffold induces the splicing and activation of an enzyme in mammalian cells. In this system the protein scaffold binds to two inactive split intein/enzyme extein protein fragments leading to intein fragment complementation, splicing, and activation of the firefly luciferase enzyme. We first demonstrate the ability of antiparallel coiled-coils (CCs) to mediate splicing between two intein fragments, effectively creating two new split inteins. We then generate and test two versions of the scaffold-induced splicing system using two pairs of CCs. Finally, we optimize the linker lengths of the proteins in the system and demonstrate 13-fold activation of luciferase by the scaffold compared to the activity of negative controls. Our protein scaffold-triggered conditional splicing system is an effective strategy to control enzyme activity using a protein input, enabling enhanced genetic control over protein splicing and the potential creation of splicing-based protein sensors and autoregulatory systems.
Weakly 3-Connected Graphs

A 3-connected graph $G$ is weakly 3-connected if, for every edge $e$ of $G$, at most one of $G\backslash e$ and $G/e$ is 3-connected. The main result of this paper is that any weakly 3-connected graph can be reduced to $K_4$ by a sequence of simple operations. This extends a result of Dawes [5] on minimally 3-connected graphs.
The bipolar assembly domain of the mitotic motor kinesin-5

An outstanding unresolved question is how does the mitotic spindle utilize microtubules and mitotic motors to coordinate accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis? This process depends upon the mitotic motor, kinesin-5, whose unique bipolar architecture, with pairs of motor domains lying at opposite ends of a central rod, allows it to crosslink microtubules within the mitotic spindle and to coordinate their relative sliding during spindle assembly, maintenance and elongation. The structural basis of kinesin-5's bipolarity is, however, unknown, as protein asymmetry has so far precluded its crystallization. Here we use electron microscopy of single molecules of kinesin-5 and its subfragments, combined with hydrodynamic analysis plus mass spectrometry, circular dichroism and site-directed spin label electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, to show how a staggered antiparallel coiled-coil 'BASS' (bipolar assembly) domain directs the assembly of four kinesin-5 polypeptides into bipolar minifilaments.
The karstlands of Antigua, their land use and conservation

The northeastern 110 km2, or nearly 40%, of Antigua is underlain by impure limestones of the Oligocene-aged Antigua Formation, on which has developed a subdued karst landscape consisting essentially of shallow enclosed depressions (dolines), intermittently active stream valleys and widely scattered residual hills. The dispersed dolines are broad, shallow and clustered, especially in the central and southeastern sections of the limestone belt, where they attain densities of 7/km2. The widely spaced residual hills attain heights of up to 40 m and localized densities of over 4/km2. Five main valley systems up to 6 km in length traverse the limestone in a broadly northeast direction, carrying both autogenic drainage from within the karst area and allogenic drainage from the non-carbonate Central Plain. Karst and cave development has been constrained by the low purity of the limestones. Of the four types of carbonate islands identified within the Carbonate Island Karst Model, Antigua most closely resembles the Composite Island type. The karst has been much influenced by human activities, particularly agriculture and quarrying, and is now a focus of the burgeoning tourism industry. Virtually none of the karst is designated as protected areas, but several sites warrant protection, and several conservation strategies have been suggested.
High-Power Picosecond Molecular Fragmentation and Rapid C-X Radical Formation

We report the first high-power picosecond uv photofragmentation experiments on simple organic molecular gases. These studies extend into the picosecond realm the capability to resolve primary dissociative processes and rapid fragment formation, even at gas pressures approaching one atmosphere. We have examined the time dependence of characteristic visible emission from product species C2, CH, CN, and H upon irradiation of ketene, methane, nitro methane and carbon monoxide at pressures 10-500 torr. The excitation mechanism invokes multiphoton absorption and dielectric breakdown processes, a consequence of the high uv flux densities (>1011w/cm2) and pressures of our experiment. We find that the fragment distributions produced by this excitation are remarkably similar to those found by Ambartzumian et al. [l], who employed CO2 TEA laser multiphoton excitation at gas pressures of one torr or less. Rotationally-hot C2 diradicals, emitting the characteristic d3πg→a3πu Swan bands, are produced from ketene and from methane more rapidly than would be anticipated from thermalized collisions. For CO there is a different formation process yielding C2 Swan emission, with very different features of vibration-rotation distribution and of slow temporal development.
Extreme multimedia

Summary form only given. Recent availability of production-quality switched gigabit and 10 gigabit networks on an international scale has facilitated the emergence of extreme multimedia devices and applications. Digital cinema at four times HDTV resolution (4096 /spl times/ 2160) can now be streamed from Japan 15,000 kilometers over CineGrid gigabit networks. 100-megapixel tiled displays can be managed as large landscapes of information fed by up to 20 gigabits/second of data from Amsterdam. A 3D point-to-point life-size teleconferencing with no glasses or tracking encumbrances is eerily natural. Stereo HDTV from underwater reefs in Taiwan or robots at play in Korea, and live HDTV sent from smoker vents two miles under the surface of the ocean triply illustrate the extended reach of multimedia today. To protect content from disruption or theft, new prototype technology showed switches in Ottawa, Amsterdam, and Chicago transmitting twelve 800 megabit/second multimedia streams to San Diego with 256-bit AES encryption, in real-time, without any knowledge by the application. This keynote presents multimedia pushed to demonstrated limits at the extreme September iGrid2005 workshop at which 49 networked demonstrations from 20 countries took advantage of 100 gigabits of networking into San Diego from around the world, displayed on huge screens in the just-opened Calit2 building at UCSD. Credits and references are amply provided.
Bomb Radiocarbon and the Hawaiian Archipelago: Coral, Otoliths, and Seawater

Corals of the Hawaiian Archipelago are well situated in the North Pacific Gyre (NPG) to record how bomb-produced radiocarbon has been sequestered and transported by the sea. While this signal can be traced accurately through time in reef-building corals and used to infer oceanographic processes and determine the ages of marine organisms, a comprehensive and validated record has been lacking for the Hawaiian Archipelago. In this study, a coral core from Kure Atoll in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands was used to create a high-resolution bomb 14C record for the years 1939–2002, and was then used with other 14C measurements in fish otoliths and seawater to explore differences and similarities in the bomb 14C signal throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. The Kure Atoll sample series produced a well-defined bomb 14C curve that, with some exceptions, was similar to other coral 14C records from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Subtle differences in the coral 14C records across the region may be explained by the large-scale ocean circulation patterns and decadal cycles of the NPG. The most rapid increase of 14C, in the 1950s and 1960s, showed similar timing across the Hawaiian Archipelago and provides a robust basis for use of bomb 14C dating to obtain high-precision age determinations of marine organisms. Reference otoliths of juvenile fish demonstrated the use of the post-peak 14C decline period as a viable reference in the age validation of younger and more recently collected fishes, and effectively extended the utility of bomb 14C dating to the latest 30 yr.
Pharmacological Therapy of Cardiac Arrhythmias: Antiarrhythmic Agents, Beta Adrenoceptor Blocking Agents, and Digitalis Glycosides

The ideal approach to the management of cardiac rhythm disorders depends on the following: 1. Proper identification of the arrhythmia. 2. An understanding of the natural history of the arrhythmia in a particular patient. 3. An understanding of the multiple factors that may precipitate and maintain a cardiac rhythm disturbance in a particular patient. 4. An understanding of the pharmacology of the numerous antiarrhythmic drugs available. 5 An appropriate clinical assessment of the risk to the patient due to the cardiac arrhythmia versus the side effects that might ensue upon initiation of treatment with an antiarrhythmic drug.
‘One whole wound’: Virtus, Vulnerability, and the Emblazoned Male Body in Coriolanus

In Coriolanus, Shakespeare conducts a full-fledged critique of neo-Stoicism and martial virtus, exposing their inherent, destructive potential. Through this critique, Shakespeare examines the dangers, tensions, and anxieties resulting from the emergence of a ‘bounded’ or closed, impenetrable self to replace the earlier Galenic model of an open, porous body and its effects on ideals of masculinity. Shakespeare stages this shift in models of selfhood and masculine identity by foregrounding the bleeding male body as spectacle through the Ovidian figure of Marsyas as transfigured by later Christian iconography. The emblazoned body of Coriolanus demonstrates the clash between ideals of virtus and later representations of the body of Christ — the crisis of masculinity figured in shifting images of Jesus as the early medieval warrior to that of the bleeding, vulnerable male body in late medieval culture. As a walking contradiction, Coriolanus embodies this shift in clinging to his delusion that he is an autonomous being with complete self-control and immunity to pain and emotion, while simultaneously demonstrating that he is incapable of controlling self-destructive passions. Through the character of Coriolanus, Shakespeare opens up debates on the complex, often conflicting discourses of masculinity and representations of the male body that lie at the heart of Renaissance humanist ideals.
Does primary care diabetes management provided to Medicare patients differ between primary care physicians and nurse practitioners

Aims The aim of this study was to answer the overall question: Does primary care diabetes management for Medicare patients differ in scope and outcomes by provider type (physician or nurse practitioner)? Background In the USA as well as globally, there is a pressing need to address high healthcare costs while improving healthcare outcomes. Primary health care is one area where healthcare reform has received considerable attention, in part because of continued projections of primary care physician shortages. Many argue that nurse practitioners are one solution to ease the consequences of the projected shortage of primary care physicians in the USA as well as other developed countries. Design Cross-sectional quantitative analysis of 2012 Medicare claims data. Methods A 5% Standard Analytic File of 2012 Medicare claims data for beneficiaries with Type 2 diabetes were analysed. A medical productivity index was used to stratify patients as healthiest and least healthy who were seen by either nurse practitioners only or primary care physicians exclusively. Included in the analyses were health services utilization, health outcomes and healthcare cost variables. Results The patients in the nurse practitioner only group, overall and stratified by medical productivity index status, had significantly improved outcomes compared with all primary care physician provider groups regarding healthcare services utilization, patient health outcomes and healthcare costs. Conclusions These findings inform current healthcare workforce conversations regarding healthcare quality, outcomes and costs. Our results suggest nurse practitioner engagement in chronic care patient management in primary care settings is associated with lower cost and better quality health care.
Modeling biosolids drying through a laminated hydrophobic membrane.

Abstract The adaptation of the membrane distillation process as a low-cost and sustainable approach to biosolids drying and stabilization is investigated, which may have application in container-based sanitation systems proposed in low-income urban regions. Three-layer laminated, breathable, hydrophobic membranes enclose the biosolids, facilitating drying but preventing transport of contaminants. The membranes used in this process are non-wetting with pore spaces that only allow vapor transport. Water vapor can be expelled due to a moderate vapor pressure gradient. Other constituents, including both particulate and dissolved matter are retained. The permeate, therefore, is expected to be of high purity and pathogen-free. This study presents experimental results showing usable rates of moisture transfer through the laminated hydrophobic membranes with temperature gradients, ΔT = −2 °C, corresponding to the condition that biosolids do not receive external heating in which laminate-enclosed biosolids are 2 °C cooler than outside, as well as conditions that samples are 2 °C and 10 °C warmer than the ambient temperature (ΔT = 2 and 10 °C, respectively). The conditions result in reduction in the moisture content of the laminate-enclosed biosolids from about 97% to 12–30% and the permeate is observed to be free of fecal coliforms, indicator organisms for pathogens. The initial constant-rate drying period is described well with a stagnant film model that accounts for different temperature gradients, laminate surface area, and ambient relative humidity. The proposed model may be used to assess the feasibility of incorporating laminated hydrophobic membranes to enhance biosolids drying in container-based sanitation systems as well as other applications.
Strategic human resource management, human capital and competitive advantage: is the field going in circles?

The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has been consistently used as a backdrop in strategic human resource management (SHRM) research and has the potential to bridge the ‘micro–macro’ divide. The tension between the SHRM and the strategic human capital literature, however, signifies that RBV has not reached its potential. In this paper, we begin with a brief review of the conceptual logic linking human resource management (HRM) practices and firm outcomes that aim at highlighting the different treatment of RBV in the SHRM and strategic human capital literatures. We then propose a conceptual model that suggests that HRM practices are not simple levers that enable firms to create sustainable competitive advantage, as most of the strategic human capital research postulates. On the contrary, we argue that HRM practices can contribute to a firm's sustainable competitive advantage not only by enhancing employees' ability, and offering motivation and opportunities, but also by shaping supply-side and demand-side mobility constraints.
Language Out of Place: Transgressive Semiotics and the Lived Experience of Race in Borderlands Education

ABSTRACTStudents’ talk about identity presents a challenge to teachers and researchers, as its social meaning is often ambiguous and indeterminate. This article adapts the concept of transgressive semiotics, originally developed in relation to linguistic landscapes, to explore moments when unexpected uses of language, involving some mismatch of speaker, utterance, and intention, were taken up in ways that offered profound insight into issues of racial identification and belonging in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Close analysis of interactional, observational, and interview data from a linguistic ethnographic study of a high school science classroom in southern Arizona shows that students monitored their own and others’ talk for out-of-place utterances, including stylized speech, errors, and gaffes. Students used these semiotic transgressions as opportunities to give voice to their lived experience of being Mexican in a social context characterized by widespread monitoring and surveillance.