cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A semidefinite programming method for moment approximation in stochastic differential algebraic systems

This paper presents a continuous-time semidefinite-programming method for bounding statistics of stochastic processes governed by stochastic differential-algebraic equations with trigonometric and polynomial nonlinearities. Upper and lower bounds on the moments are then computed by solving linear optimal control problems for an auxiliary linear control system in which the states and inputs are systematically constructed vectors of mixed algebraic-trigonometric moments. Numerical simulations demonstrate how the method can be applied to solve moment-closure problems in representative systems described by stochastic differential algebraic equation models.
High-Resolution Methods and Adaptive Refinement for Tsunami Propagation and Inundation

We describe the extension of high resolution finite volume methods and adaptive refinement for the shallow water equations in the context of tsunami modeling. Godunov-type methods have been used extensively for modeling the shallow water equations in many contexts, however, tsunami modeling presents some unique challenges that must be overcome. We describe some of the specific difficulties associated with tsunami modeling, and summarize some numerical approaches that we have used to overcome these challenges. For instance, we have developed a well-balanced Riemann solver that is appropriate in the deep ocean regime as well as robust in near-shore and dry regions. Additionally, we have extended adaptive refinement algorithms to this application. We briefly describe some of the modifications necessary for using these adaptive methods for tsunami modeling.
Determination of acid end group in Polybutylene Terepthalate using Fourier Transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics

Abstract A robust quantitative method for the determination of acid end group (AEG) in Polybutylene Terepthalate (PBT) pellets using near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and chemometrics is presented in this paper. A set of 66 calibration samples were used to develop a multivariate calibration model based on partial least-squares (PLS) regression. The AEG in the calibration samples varied from normalized concentration of 20–90 meq/kg. To minimize non-chemical spectral variations, the acquired NIR spectra were preprocessed using standard normal variate (SNV). Spectral range selection was explored in order to identify optimal spectral regions that were required to generate a robust PLS regression model for AEG. The performance of the optimized PLS model was evaluated on a set of 219 independent validation samples. The optimized calibration models exhibited RMSEP of 2.87 meq/kg.
MOANA: Modeling and Analyzing I/O Variability in Parallel System Experimental Design

Exponential increases in complexity and scale make variability a growing threat to sustaining HPC performance at exascale. Performance variability in HPC I/O is common, acute, and formidable. We take the first step towards comprehensively studying linear and nonlinear approaches to modeling HPC I/O system variability in an effort to demonstrate that variability is often a predictable artifact of system design. Using over 8 months of data collection on 6 identical systems, we propose and validate a modeling and analysis approach (MOANA) that predicts HPC I/O variability for thousands of software and hardware configurations on highly parallel shared-memory systems. Our findings indicate nonlinear approaches to I/O variability prediction are an order of magnitude more accurate than linear regression techniques. We demonstrate the use of MOANA to accurately predict the confidence intervals of unmeasured I/O system configurations for a given number of repeat runs – enabling users to quantitatively balance experiment duration with statistical confidence.
Adsorption of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to resistant and susceptible plant tissues and to nonbiological surfaces

We labelled cells of tumorigenic and nontumorigenic strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens with [ 35 S]methionine. The bacteria then were used in binding assays with discs from susceptible potato tubers and from resistant monocotyledon tissues. Approximately 5 × 10 5 cells of tumorigenic strain ACH5 bound to each potato tuber disc. Adsorption of nontumorigenic Agrobacterium strains and of control bacteria ( Rhizobium fredii and Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria ) to potato was statistically indistinguishable from that of strain ACH5. Cells of strain ACH5 bound to tissue discs from all three monocotyledons. The number of bacteria that bound to discs from rhizomes of Smilax bona-nox was more than 10 times the number that bound to potato. Hydrophilic nonbiological surfaces adsorbed more Agrobacterium cells than did hydrophobic surfaces at pH 4·5 and 7·2. Bacterial binding to hydrophilic surfaces was much greater at pH 4·5 than at pH 7·2 or 9·5. Zeta potential measurements were used to measure the effect of pH on the surface charge characteristics of the bacteria. The isoelectric point of cells of strain ACH5 in distilled water was about 2·9.
Immunolocalization of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter in bovine ciliary epithelium.

Purpose Recent evidence suggests that Na-K-Cl cotransport plays a major role in blood-to-aqueous anion transport across the ciliary body epithelium. The present study was undertaken to determine the location of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter in fixed sections of bovine eye. Methods Sections of paraformaldehyde-fixed adult and calf bovine eyes were treated with a monoclonal antibody to mammalian Na-K-Cl cotransporter and a fluorescent secondary antibody and examined under a fluorescent microscope. Na-K-Cl cotransporter protein was detected on immunoblots of dissected tissue and purified nonpigmented ciliary epithelial (NPE) and pigmented ciliary epithelial (PE) cells. Results Cotransporter immunofluorescence was most intense along the basolateral surfaces of the PE cells. Anterior pars plicata possessed the greatest PE immunofluorescence, and this diminished posteriorly toward the pars plana. Quantitation of immunofluorescence images indicated 7- to 10-fold more cotransporter protein in pars plicata PE than in pars plana PE. Diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence was seen in the NPE cells, which was also brightest in anterior pars plicata. Immunoblots of separated PE and NPE cells from anterior pars plicata showed that PE contain four times more 170-kDa cotransporter protein than NPE. This confirmed fluorescence quantitation estimates. Cotransporter was barely detectable in cells isolated from pars plana in either cell layer. Immunoblots of the Na,K-ATPase catalytic (alpha) subunit in separated NPE and PE cells showed that NPE cells possessed approximately eight times more alpha subunit protein than PE. Immunofluorescence indicated a similar distribution of alpha subunits and indicated a basolateral membrane location for the subunit on both cell types. Na-K-Cl cotransporter fluorescence patterns showed more variability in adult animals than in calves, which may be related to aging and/or disease. Distinctive patterns of cotransporter fluorescence were also seen in the cornea, iris, and retina. Conclusions Localization of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter to the plasma membrane on the blood side of the ciliary epithelium tight junctions supports a role for the Na-K-Cl cotransporter in ciliary epithelium as a chloride entry mechanism involved in blood-to-aqueous chloride transport. The concentration of Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunits on NPE basolateral membranes could provide net Na(+) efflux into the aqueous humor.
A Potential Role for Oxygen Radicals in Mineral Dust-Induced Lung Injury: Lessons from Lung Injury from Hyperoxia

There is considerable interest currently in determining the contribution of toxic oxygen metabolites (commonly called “oxygen radicals”) to the development of lung injury. As requested, the purpose of this article will be twofold. First, we will briefly present a summary of our research about the potential contributions of O2 radicals to the development of lung injury from hyperoxia. Second, we will propose a number of possibilities for the involvement of O2 radicals in the pathogenesis of lung injuries from inhaled mineral dusts. The latter is wholly speculative and should be considered in the context of the other research presented in this book and elsewhere.
Comment on Article by Anderson and Seltzer

Yet, in discussing this important principle, Anderson and Seltzer gratuitously raise doubts about the Census Bureau’s former leaders, by conflating the lack of a coherent, organized official record with conspiracy motives. As I understand from colleagues, the Census Bureau archives from that era, as well as many other agencies’ archives, are not as comprehensive or organized as historians may prefer. Many of the materials in the Census Bureau’s records for this time were gathered from the personal files collected over the years by Philip Hauser, who served as Deputy Director.
Plant density estimation and weeds mapping on row crops at emergence using low altitude UAS imagery

Plant density estimation during the emergence phase is critical for early-season decision making. Estimation of both crop and weed density is critical for addressing early season issues. Mapping of weeds in crops at any stage can be useful; however, early competition from weeds is frequently most detrimental to yield. The objectives of this study were to develop a set of algorithms that accurately estimated the crop and weed density at emergence from sUAS imagery, and to do so using methods which were operationally feasible on production-field scale. The areas of interest were Mississippi cotton fields, where weeds were present. The imagery was collected using the standard integrated camera on a DJI Phantom 4 Pro quadcopter. A Hough transform-based approach for density estimation of crop and weed was used. The detection process began by extracting all plants from the soil background based on visible atmospherically resistant index values, and further discriminated between crop and weed using Hough line transform, followed by connected component analysis. The algorithm development utilized five subsets of image data collected, where overall accuracy was 83%. The algorithm was applied to a different production cotton field in the following year. Overall accuracy remained the same; however, commission error was reduced. The addition of near infrared reflectance could improve accuracies as many errors were due to a lack of “greenness” in plants, which is the primary factor in assigning visible atmospherically resistant index values.
Let’s agree to disagree? The impact of perceptual gap of work environment on self-directed behavior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and understand the dynamics among perceptual gap of work environment between a supervisor and subordinates; personal psychological capital; self-directed behavior in a non-Western manufacturing work context. Design/methodology/approach This study investigated 288 dyadic relationships between supervisors and subordinates from 43 technical teams that came from six different large automotive part manufacturing companies in South Korea. Sobel test technique was mainly used to examine the effects of the perceptual difference of work environment. Findings The results indicated that the supervisor’s perceptual gap of work environment from subordinates had a negative association with their self-directed behavior, B = 0.233, SE = 0.103, p = 0.023. On the other hand, the negative effect of supervisor’s perceptual gap showed the competitive mediation effect through an indirect path to the positive psychological capital (PsyCap), Sobel B = 0.126, SE = 0.061, p = 0.037. This finding showed that providing a high level of autonomous work environment is not sufficient to get employees to show a high level of self-directed behavior if the perceptual gap is not well managed. Originality/value Adding to the existing research that studies self-directed behavior or proactive behavior in the Western high-tech or service work context, this study extended our understanding about the impact of the perceptual gap of work environment in the hierarchical and highly standardized non-Western manufacturing context.
R Packages for Item Response Theory Analysis: Descriptions and Features

About 45 R packages to analyze data using item response theory (IRT) have been developed over the last decade. This article introduces these 45 R packages with their descriptions and features. It a...
Zero-Bias High-Speed Evanescently Coupled Waveguide Type-II UTC Photodiode

We demonstrate GaAs 0.5 Sb 0.5 /In 0.53 Al y Ga 0.47-y As uni-traveling carrier (UTC) waveguide photodiodes with high bandwidth of up to 66 GHz at zero bias and over 100 GHz bandwidth under low bias condition.
“he who made the Lamb”: Catechistic Subversion of Children’s Literature in Blake’s Songs

William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience employed catechistic structures frequently found in eighteenth-century children’s literature; however, this appropriation by Blake provokes ques...
Surgical drain placement in distal pancreatectomy is associated with an increased incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula and higher readmission rates.

Background Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) can result in significant morbidity after distal pancreatectomy (DP). It is common practice to place prophylactic surgical drains during DP to monitor and minimize POPF complications; however, their use is controversial. Objective The aim of this study is to determine if drainage helps to prevent adverse outcomes and decrease the need for additional interventions after DP. Methods All patients who underwent DP without vascular resection were identified in the 2014 Targeted Pancreatectomy American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File. Patients undergoing emergency procedures, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) 5, or diagnosed with preoperative sepsis were excluded. Univariate and multiple variable analyses were performed to evaluate postoperative outcomes based on use of surgical drain. Results A total of 1158 patients (age median: 62; interquartile range: 16; female 58.6%) underwent elective DP with 85.1% (n = 985) having drain placed at time of operation. Laparoscopic technique was used in the majority of patients (54.1%, n = 619). POPF occurred in 201 patients (17.5%). Additional percutaneous drain was required in 106 patients (9.2%). POPF was higher in surgical drain group, 19.4% vs 6.9% (P .05). However, readmission was higher in the surgical drain group, 17.8% vs 10.4% (odds ratio [OR]: 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-3.1; P = .018). After adjusting for age, ASA, and operative time, readmission remained higher in the surgical drain group (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.2; P = .016). Conclusion The use of surgical drainage during DP was associated with increased incidence of readmission and POPF. Drainage showed no effect on outcomes of postoperative sepsis, shock, major complications, reoperation, and 30-day mortality. Based on these results, routine prophylactic drainage should be reconsidered for patients undergoing DP.
Flatland, lineland and dotland

Correlated real-space imaging and optical measurements of twisted MoSe2/WSe2 bilayers reveal strain-induced modulations of the moire potential landscape, tuning arrays of 0D traps into 1D stripes and leading to substantial changes in the optical response of the heterostructures.
Uncertainty quantification for multi-scan registration

A fundamental problem in scan-based 3D reconstruction is to align the depth scans under different camera poses into the same coordinate system. While there are abundant algorithms on aligning depth scans, few methods have focused on assessing the quality of a solution. This quality checking problem is vital, as we need to determine whether the current scans are sufficient or not and where to install additional scans to improve the reconstruction. On the other hand, this problem is fundamentally challenging because the underlying ground-truth is generally unavailable, and it is challenging to predict alignment errors such as global drifts manually. In this paper, we introduce a local uncertainty framework for geometric alignment algorithms. Our approach enjoys several appealing properties, such as it does not require re-sampling the input, no need for the underlying ground-truth, informative, and high computational efficiency. We apply this framework to two multi-scan alignment formulations, one minimizes geometric distances between pairs of scans, and another simultaneously aligns the input scans with a deforming model. The output of our approach can be seamlessly integrated with view selection, enabling uncertainty-aware view planning. Experimental results and user studies justify the effectiveness of our approach on both synthetic and real datasets.
Measurement of the Higgs Boson Fiducial Inclusive and Differential Cross Sections in the \(H\rightarrow \gamma \gamma \) Channel

Following the discovery of the Higgs boson in July 2012 by ATLAS [1] and CMS [2], several studies were performed using Run-1 and Run-2 data in order to characterize the newly discovered particle.
The cultural dimensions of the coronavirus crisis: soft power revisited

For many people around the world, the scale of the coronavirus crisis called to patterns of escalating cultural problems and polarization we have faced. This article looks at the cultural and power...
Molecular Evolution: A Brief Introduction

Molecular evolution is an expansive and highly interdisciplinary field of research that investigates the evolution of biological molecules and molecular phenomena over time. A notable feature of the field is its ability to embrace and adapt to novel molecular methods, technology, and data while developing and applying a rigorous theoretical framework of population genetics to data interpretation. In the early days of molecular biology, as protein and DNA sequences began to accumulate, molecular evolutionary analyses contributed to the development of several fundamental concepts that remain impactful even after several decades. From preliminary comparisons of protein sequences from distantly related species emerged the idea of a constant molecular clock. In turn, this idea became one of the main inspirations for the neutral theory of molecular evolution, which provides the basis for widely used statistical approaches to test selection using molecular data, including genome sequences. The nearly neutral theory emphasizes that the evolutionary dynamics of many mutations are governed by genetic drift because their effects on fitness are borderline neutral, and this theory can explain many broad patterns of molecular evolution. As the field of molecular evolution embraces the so-called ‘omics’ era, these foundational ideas continue to provide guiding principles.
Bivalirudin and thrombolytic therapy: a novel successful treatment of severe aortic arch thrombosis in a term neonate.

An early-term infant with uncomplicated perinatal history was found to have a large thrombus in the aortic arch after he failed regular newborn critical congenital heart defect screen. He responded well to bivalirudin thrombolytic and tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) combination therapy, with a significant resolution of the thrombus. The infant tolerated hospital admission well with no significant complications. He was discharged home on daily aspirin at 2 weeks of life. To our knowledge, the combination therapy approach with bivalirudin and tPA is the first one reported in the literature in the neonatal age group.
Types of garlic and their anticancer and antioxidant activity: a review of the epidemiologic and experimental evidence

Garlic, an Allium vegetable, contains rich flavonoids organosulfur compounds (OSCs) that have potent anticancer properties. The aim of the review is to provide an overview of the different types of garlic, their active compounds, and the potential anticancer benefits with a focus on antioxidant activity. Animal and cell line studies have provided convincing evidence that garlic and its organosulfur compounds inhibit carcinogenesis through a number of events including induction of apoptosis, inhibiting cellular proliferation, scavenging radical oxygen species (ROS), increasing the activities of enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase, and reducing tumor size. Epidemiological studies showed compelling evidence that garlic consumption is associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer, but inconsistent evidence for stomach, breast, and prostate cancers. Studies also suggest that the presence and potency of garlic OSCs varies with respect to the preparation and form of garlic. Further epidemiological studies with information on garlic form consumed or preparation methods and molecular studies regarding its antioxidant mechanisms, such as increasing enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants levels, are warranted.
Fairness-aware Personalized Ranking Recommendation via Adversarial Learning.

Recommendation algorithms typically build models based on historical user-item interactions (e.g., clicks, likes, or ratings) to provide a personalized ranked list of items. These interactions are often distributed unevenly over different groups of items due to varying user preferences. However, we show that recommendation algorithms can inherit or even amplify this imbalanced distribution, leading to unfair recommendations to item groups. Concretely, we formalize the concepts of ranking-based statistical parity and equal opportunity as two measures of fairness in personalized ranking recommendation for item groups. Then, we empirically show that one of the most widely adopted algorithms -- Bayesian Personalized Ranking -- produces unfair recommendations, which motivates our effort to propose the novel fairness-aware personalized ranking model. The debiased model is able to improve the two proposed fairness metrics while preserving recommendation performance. Experiments on three public datasets show strong fairness improvement of the proposed model versus state-of-the-art alternatives. This is paper is an extended and reorganized version of our SIGIR 2020~\cite{zhu2020measuring} paper. In this paper, we re-frame the studied problem as `item recommendation fairness' in personalized ranking recommendation systems, and provide more details about the training process of the proposed model and details of experiment setup.
Future general purpose supercomputer architectures

The authors discuss the challenges facing designers of future general-purpose supercomputers, and describe architectural features and characteristics that may be used to meet these challenges. Balancing vector/scalar performance, vector performance, scalar processing, supporting scalability, large-scale memory systems, and high-performance I/O and networking are discussed. Performance trends and projections for general-purpose supercomputer systems are given.
Flow-cytometric analysis of membrane integrity of stallion sperm in the face of agglutination: the “zombie sperm” dilemma

To define the effect of sperm agglutination, associated with incubation under capacitating conditions, on accuracy of membrane assessment via flow cytometry and to develop methods to mitigate that effect. Sperm motility was measured by CASA. Sperm were stained with PI-PSA or a novel method, LD-PSA, using fixable live/dead stain and cell dissociation treatment, before flow-cytometric analysis. Using LD-PSA, acrosome reaction and plasma membrane status were determined in equine sperm treated with 10 μm A23187 for 10 min, followed by 0, 1, or 2 h incubation in capacitating conditions. Using PI-PSA, measured membrane integrity (MI; live sperm) was dramatically lower than was total motility (TMOT), indicating spurious results (“zombie sperm”). Sperm aggregates were largely of motile sperm. Loss of motility after A23187 treatment was associated with disaggregation and increased MI. On disaggregation using LD-PSA, MI rose, and MI then corresponded with TMOT. In equine sperm incubated after A23187 treatment, as the percentage of live acrosome-reacted sperm increased, TMOT decreased to near 0. Flow cytometry assesses only individualized sperm; thus, agglutination of viable sperm alters recorded membrane integrity. As viable sperm become immotile, they individualize; therefore, factors that decrease motility, such as A23187, result in increased measured MI. Disaggregation before assessment allows more accurate determination of sperm membrane status; in this case we documented a mismatch between motility and live acrosome-reacted equine sperm that may relate to the poor repeatability of A23187 treatment for equine IVF. These findings are of profound value to future studies on sperm capacitation.
Tibetan herbal pain-relieving plaster for low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Tibetan traditional medicine CheeZheng Pain-Relieving Plaster (CZPRP) is frequently used as an over-the-counter external analgesic for musculoskeletal pain; however, its evidence for low back pain (LBP) has not been evaluated. Aim of the study This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of CZPRP for both acute, subacute and chronic LBP through a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Materials and methods PubMed, CENTRAL, CNKI, CQVIP, and Wanfang databases were searched through April 20, 2020 for randomized controlled trials of CZPRP for LBP. Eligible comparators were placebo, active treatment, or usual care. Clinical outcomes included pain severity, lower back function score, pain-free rate, and adverse events (AEs). Qualitative evaluations were conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools. Quantitative analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Results This study includes 1674 LBP patients from nine clinical studies. Pooled analyses among subjects with acute LBP show 1) significant pain reductions (mean difference −0.84, 95% confidence interval[CI] −1.31, −0.37) in CZPRP plus diclofenac versus diclofenac, 2) significant improvements in lower back function (standard mean difference −1.50, 95% CI −2.16, −0.85) in CZPRP versus diclofenac, and 3) a higher pain-free rate in CZPRP alone (risk ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.16, 1.89; I2 = 61%) or CZPRP plus nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (risk ratio 1.66, 95% CI 1.14, 2.40; I2 = 0%) versus NSAIDs. However, in a heterogeneous population with mixed LBP subtypes, there was no significant difference in pain outcomes between CZPRP and diclofenac. Additionally, CZPRP use did not increase AEs compared with no CZPRP (p = 0.40). All nine studies are associated with moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusions The use of CZPRP is associated with improved acute LBP outcomes compared to diclofenac. However, due to the moderate to high risk of bias of the studies, future rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the effects of CZPRP for acute and chronic LBP.
Toxicity testing and endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Abstract Regulatory agencies around the world depend on standardized testing approaches to evaluate environmental chemicals for endocrine disrupting properties. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a two-tiered testing approach within its Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). The eleven Tier 1 and three Tier 2 EDSP assays can be used to identify chemicals that act as agonists or antagonists of estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, or thyroid hormone receptor, or chemicals that interfere with steroidogenesis. Additional assays have been developed in the context of Tox21, and others have been validated by the OECD. In spite of the availability of validated toxicity tests, problems have been identified with the approaches and methods used to identify endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This chapter will provide an overview of several of these issues including: (1) The way an EDC is defined by an agency impacts whether a specific test can be used to determine if a chemical is an EDC. This is especially important when considering which assays examine outcomes that are considered “adverse effects.” (2) Some assumptions about the validated studies used to identify EDCs may not be true (e.g., their reproducibility has been questioned). (3) Many of the validated assays are less sensitive than other methods that have not yet been validated. Ultimately, these and other problems contribute to the current landscape, where testing approaches have failed to protect the public from known EDCs. The chapter concludes with a review of approaches that have been taken to improve current guideline studies.
Enabling phase quantification of anhydrous cements via Raman imaging

Abstract The phase composition of Portland cements is typically determined using conventional techniques like X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Rietveld analysis, optical microscopy point counting, and electron microscopy. However, these techniques have several limitations that may affect their accuracy in certain sample-specific scenarios. Here, we report a highly accurate phase quantification of 11 different types of commercial, anhydrous cements using a new and complementary technique: Raman imaging. Specifically, for the 4 principal phases, composition from our extensive data (250,000 Raman spectra per sample, error 0.98, mean deviation
Genetic interplay between type II topoisomerase enzymes and chromosomal ccdAB toxin-antitoxin in E. coli

Abstract Fluoroquinolones are one of the most widely used class of antibiotics. They target two type II topoisomerase enzymes: gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Resistance to these drugs, which is largely caused by mutations in their target enzymes, is on the rise and becoming a serious public health risk. In this work, we analyze the sequences of 352 extraintestinal E. coli clinical isolates to gain insights into the selective pressures shaping the type II topoisomerase mutation landscape in E. coli. We identify both Quinolone Resistance-Determining Region (QRDR) and non-QRDR mutations, outline their mutation trajectories, and show that they are likely driven by different selective pressures. We confirm that ciprofloxacin resistance is specifically and strongly associated with QRDR mutations. By contrast, non-QRDR mutations are associated with the presence of the chromosomal version of ccdAB, a toxin-antitoxin operon, where the toxin CcdB is known to target gyrase. We also find that ccdAB and the evolution of QRDR mutation trajectories are partially incompatible. Finally, we identify partial deletions in CcdB and additional mutations that likely facilitate the compatibility between the presence of the ccdAB operon and QRDR mutations. These “permissive” mutations are all found in ParC (a topoisomerase IV subunit). This, and the fact that CcdB-selected mutations frequently map to topoisomerase IV, strongly suggests that this enzyme (in addition to gyrase) is likely a target for the toxin CcdB in E. coli, although an indirect effect on global supercoiling cannot be excluded. This work opens the door for the use of the presence of ccdB and of the proposed permissive mutations in the genome as genetic markers to assess the risk of quinolone resistance evolution and implies that certain strains may be genetically more refractory to evolving quinolone resistance through mutations in target enzymes.
Class, language, and American film comedy

This book examines the evolution of American film comedy through the lens of language and the portrayal of social class. Christopher Beach argues that class has been an important element in the development of sound comedy as a cinematic form. With the advent of sound in the late 1920s and early 1930s, filmmakers recognized that sound and narrative enlarged the semiotic and ideological potential of film. Analyzing the use of language in the films of the Marx Brothers, Frank Capra, Woody Allen and the Coen brothers, among others, Class, Language, and American Film Comedy traces the history of Hollywood from the 1930s to the present, while offering a new approach to the study of class and social relationships through linguistic analysis.
Do Accreditation Requirements Deter Curriculum Innovation? No!

The most commonly used and agreed upon definition of innovation is something new, a change, a challenge to the status quo. Innovation does not be have in a predictable fashion. It can have a moderate impact on routine or require radical, new behavior and patterns of reacting. Innovation can occur with the addition of a product or service, in how a product is produced, within an organization's structure, in deciding how incentives are managed, or as a byproduct of groups of individuals who create pro grams and conduct outcome research to assist the organization move closer to wards its goals and objectives. Innovation does not require brilliance, nor excessive resources. What innovation does require are new ways of accomplishing our goals. Light (1998) looks at innovation as a challenge to the prevailing wisdom, a view in keeping with Lawrence Lynn's, who believes innovation is "an original disruptive act" (1992). Innovation does not require the elimination of minimal standards; on the other hand, ordinary good practice need not be innovative. Based on a five-year review of 26 non profit and government organizations, Light's (1998) investigation offers sub stantial evidence to debunk the notion
Examining Perceptions of Networking among African American Women in Student Affairs

Since career networks offer access to upper level positions, being a part of one can offer opportunities and access to information, knowledge and referrals for career mobility. However, the duality of race and gender can create a distinctive challenge to gaining access to career networks, which are crucial components to rise to the upper level of leadership positions. The purpose of this article is to explore the perceptions of African American women in the field of student affairs regarding perceptions of career networking and mentoring on their career advancement and professional growth. Specific emphasis was also placed on their viewpoints describing how the formation of their career network facilitates access to resources, information, and career advancement. Implications and recommendations are provided for the development of programs and initiatives to advance African American women in student affairs.
North Carolina's Natural Heritage Program: a case for public-private cooperation.

Voluntary conservation programs are an effective tool for recognizing and preserving the value of special places on private forestlands. We evaluate private landowner participation in the Natural Heritage Program of NorthCarolina, finding that landowners are more likely to enroll land with high ecological significance in this voluntary program. Voluntary conservation is less likely on lands that are remote from threats such as roads, that have higher value in other uses, and that are near lands already conserved by the public.
Membrane expression of platelet calpain

Platelet calpain has many platelet substrates, including external membrane proteins. We thus investigated whether platelet calpain II was associated with platelet membranes in unstimulated and thrombin- activated platelets. A monospecific, goat polyclonal antibody was reared to purified platelet calpain II. Sixteen whole platelet lysates were found to contain 4.5 +/- 0.7 micrograms calpain antigen II per 10(8) platelets (mean +/- SEM) as determined by a competitive enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. Using the dipeptide fluorogenic substrate, Suc-Leu-Tyr-MCA, 17 human platelet lysates contained 3.6 +/- 0.4 micrograms calpain activity per 10(8) platelets. Platelet calpain II was associated with the Triton X-100 insoluble platelet cytoskeletons from both unstimulated and thrombin-activated platelets. When compared with the total cell content of platelet calpain II, calpain antigen (10% to 13%) and calpain activity (24% to 28%) was associated with platelet cytoskeletons in unstimulated and thrombin-activated platelets, respectively. On immunoblot, the heavy chain (80 Kd) of calpain II was detected in platelet cytoskeletons. Subcellular fractionation studies on both unstimulated and thrombin-activated platelets, revealed that half of the total platelet calpain II antigen was associated with cytosol, and the other half was associated with the membrane fraction. Platelet calpain II was not seen on the surface of unstimulated, paraformaldehyde fixed platelets by immunofluorescence. However, on thrombin-activated platelets, rim immunofluorescence was seen, indicating that activated platelets externalize their calpain. This observation was confirmed by the finding that about 2,000 molecules per platelet of an 125I-anti-calpain II Fab' specifically bound to thrombin-activated but not unstimulated platelets. Both dibucaine (1 mmol/L) and platelet activating factor (1.86 mumol/L) in the absence of external Ca++, but not collagen (5 micrograms/mL) or ionophore A23187 (2.5 mumol/L) in the absence of external Ca++, were also able to externalize platelet calpain II antigen, as indicated by a similar level of specific 125I-anti-calpain II Fab'-platelet binding. These combined studies indicate that platelet calpain II is a major protein, comprising 2% of total platelet protein, a substantial portion of which is membrane-associated. When platelets are activated by thrombin and platelet activating factor, calpain II antigen also becomes present on the external platelet surface.
Interplanetary medium data book, appendix

Computer generated listings of hourly average interplanetary plasma and magnetic field parameters are given. Parameters include proton temperature, proton density, bulk speed, an identifier of the source of the plasma data for the hour, average magnetic field magnitude and cartesian components of the magnetic field. Also included are longitude and latitude angles of the vector made up of the average field components, a vector standard deviation, and an identifier of the source of magnetic field data.
Identifying and managing inappropriate hospital utilization: a policy synthesis

Utilization review, the assessment of the appropriateness and efficiency of hospital care through review of the medical record, and utilization management, deliberate action by payers or hospital administrators to influence providers of hospital services to increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which services are provided, are valuable but relatively unfamiliar strategies for containing hospital costs. The purpose of this synthesis is to increase awareness of the scope of and potential for these approaches among health services managers and administrators, third-party payers, policy analysts, and health services researchers. The synthesis will assist the reader to trace the conceptual context and the historical development of utilization review from unstructured methods using individual physicians' professional judgment to structured methods using explicit criteria; to establish the context of utilization review and clarify its uses; to understand the concepts and tools used in assessing the efficiency of hospital use; and to select, design, and evaluate utilization review and utilization management programs. The extent of inappropriate (medical unnecessary) hospital utilization and the factors associated with it are described. Implications for managers, providers, and third-party payers in targeting utilization review and in designing and evaluating utilization management programs are discussed.
Location, location, location: regulation of breast cancer progression by the microenvironment.

The majority of human breast cancers arise from the transformation of epithelial cells. Numerous oncogenic events, including gene amplification, loss, and mutation, have been described that confer a growth-promoting advantage to breast tumors. A classic example of this is the identification of HER-2 amplification in a subset of breast tumors, and the successful use of anti-HER-2 directed therapy in prolonging the survival of patients with breast tumors that have HER-2 amplification. This example clearly highlights the importance of understanding the genetic changes in breast epithelial cells that are associated with breast cancer progression. However, the focus on breast epithelial cell transformation has resulted in the development of several cancer models that ignore another major regulator of breast cancer progression, namely the stroma and microenvironment. Several recent reports from both global gene expression studies and mouse models indicate that the microenvironment may be a critical modulator of breast cancer progression. Given that the microenvironment tends to be more genetically stable than breast tumor cells, it is possible that breast cancer therapies aimed at the microenvironment are less likely to develop acquired resistance. Herein I will briefly highlight several recent papers that show the importance of the microenvironment in regulation of breast cancer progression.
Application of Statistical Techniques and Neural Networks in Condition-Based Maintenance

In this paper, we have evaluated five prediction approaches from two disciplines for condition-based maintenance. It also includes a case study for vehicle tire pressure monitoring as an example application. Main focus of this paper is on two widely used areas in prediction: (i) statistics, (ii) neural networks. It is well known that these two areas have wide applications in forecasting. Statistical and neural network techniques are very powerful for predicting the future states based on current and previous states of the system or subsystem. Application of ARAR and Holt-Winters (HW) in CBM has been presented from the statistics point of view. On the other hand, application of focused time delay, linear predictor, and backpropagation neural network has also been presented to prove the robustness of statistical approaches. Paper presents detailed comparative simulation study to show the suitability and feasibility of all the techniques. We assumed that the sensors are directly mounted on tires externally and report the current tire pressure to control or analysis. The control unit performs tire pressure analysis and reports the decision to operator or intended group about current pressure as well as the impending pressure conditions. Finally, investigation ends with conclusion that HW is best suited among these five approaches for tire pressure prediction and could be useful to design a CBM application for any system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An 83 Ah Ni-H/sub 2/ battery for geosynchronous satellite applications

A 27 cell, 83 Ah nickel-hydrogen battery, designed, assembled, and qualified for a geosynchronous communication satellite, is described. The battery achieves a 44 Wh/kg energy density. Spacecraft operation requires a minimum 10 year life for the battery operating at 70% depth-of-discharge. Accelerated life tests verify that this requirement is achievable. The battery structural and thermal designs were also tested to prove that they can support the mission requirements under the anticipated conditions. An optimal battery charge management procedure under the spacecraft system and environmental constraints is arrived at to ensure that the battery will deliver the required power at the biannual eclipse seasons. Eclipse simulation tests verify this achievement. The battery is shown to have high capacity and high energy density and to be fully capable of fulfilling the mission requirements. >
Synchronous ultradian rhythms in adrenocortical secretion detected by microdialysis in awake rats

To establish whether adrenal corticosterone secretion is episodic and whether episodes are random or periodic events, adrenal extracellular fluid was sampled in awake rats by intra-adrenal microdialysis. Experiments conducted 1 or 2 days postsurgery between 1000 and 1830 h consisted of continuous collection of dialysate at intervals of 10 min. Pulses detected by PC-Pulsar had an interpulse interval of 54.1 +/- 4.5 and 51.3 +/- 5.0 min on days 1 and 2, respectively. Fourier analysis was used to determine whether significant periodicity was present. Six of seven of the day 1 animals had significant secretory rhythmicity, with a predominant periodicity at 60-80 min. In day 2 animals, in addition to a period near 50-80 min, a lower-frequency rhythm with a period near 213 min was identified. Autocorrelation analysis produced results qualitatively similar to Fourier analysis. Secretion rates were normalized based on maximal adrenal responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone and averaged at each time point. When the composite series was subjected to Fourier analysis, a significant rhythmicity (period 58 min) was still detectable in the day 1 animals. When composite data for the day 2 animals were analyzed, in addition to a component near 60-80 min, a lower frequency component near 320 min was present. The persistence of periodicity after time averaging suggests that corticosterone pulses are synchronized between animals. Cross-correlation analysis of individual pairs of data series supported synchronization in many cases. These results suggest that pulsatile secretion of corticosterone in rats has a primary periodicity near 60 min and is synchronized across animals. The mechanism responsible for this synchronization is unknown.
Data remanence effects on memory-based entropy collection for RFID systems

Random number generation is a fundamental security primitive. This relatively simple requirement is beyond the capacity of passive RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, however. A recent proposal, fingerprint extraction and random number generation in SRAM (FERNS), uses onboard RAM as a randomness source. Unfortunately, practical considerations prevent this approach from reaching its full potential. First, the amount of RAM available for utilization as a randomness generator may be severely restricted due to competition with other system functionalities. Second, RAM is subject to data remanence; there is a period after losing power during which stored data remains intact in memory. Thus, after memory has been used for entropy collection once it will require time without power before it can be reused. This may lead to unacceptable delays in a usable security application. In this paper, the practical considerations that must be taken into account when using RAM as an entropy source are demonstrated. The implementation of a true random number generator on Intel’s WISP (wireless identification and sensing platform) RFID tag is also presented, which is the first to the authors’ best knowledge. By relating this to the requirements of some popular RFID authentication protocols, the practicality of utilizing memory-based randomness techniques on resource-constrained devices is assessed.
Urokinase plasminogen activator is immunocytochemically detectable in squamous cell but not basal cell carcinomas

The presence of plasminogen activators (PA) in a variety of solid tumors appears to correlate, in a number of instances, with enhanced invasive or inetastatic capabilities. In the present study, we have immunocytochemically examined basal (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) comprising a spectrum of histologic subtypes for the presence of urokinase-type (uPA) and tissue-type (tPA) PA. Neither uPA nor tPA was noted in any BCC, whether of the nodular, infiltrative, morpheaform, or basosquamous variety. uPA but not tPA was seen in 12 of 16 SCC examined; the tumors lacking uPA were all histologically well differentiated. No relationship between uPA expression and depth of invasion was noted, and uPA was not preferentially expressed at tumor borders. We conclude that uPA Presence in SCC may relate to the degree of differentiation.
Surgical Approaches to Facial Nerve Deficits

The facial nerve is one of the most commonly injured cranial nerves. Once injured, the effects on form, function, and psyche are profound. We review the anatomy of the facial nerve from the brain stem to its terminal branches. We also discuss the physical exam findings of facial nerve injury at various levels. Finally, we describe various reconstructive options for reanimating the face and restoring both form and function.