cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Segmentation of images from an acoustic lens sonar

The Dual-Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON) is a high frequency (1.0 or 1.8 MHz), high resolution underwater imaging device. An important stage in the classification and identification of objects resting on the seabed is the estimation of object height and width. These estimates can be made based on the acoustic shadow cast by such objects when illuminated by high frequency active sonar pings. Several data sets have been obtained with a DIDSON mounted on the front of an autonomous undersea vehicle in a forward looking configuration. These data sets contain multiple views of some bottom-resting targets. The pre-processing steps necessary for segmentation of DIDSON images are described. The data are then analyzed, concentrating on the segmentation of shadow regions for follow-on estimation of target dimensions. Segmentation algorithms often depend on assumptions about the statistics of shadow and non-shadow regions in the images. These statistics are examined for other collected data sets, and their effect on segmentation algorithms is discussed
“Antojolías”: los modos de consagración en el campo de la bibliotecología y ciencia de la información internacionales

The "anthologies" as "antojolias", because ironically these supposed anthologies of some literary genre or whatever, reflected rather the "antojitos" of those responsible for the supposed compilations of notable works that for some particular reason were compiled. Collecting means also paying homage, making them visible, making them "authorities", which in Pierre Bourdieu's words (1983a), would be to give them the competence to speak of, and be spoken in, a concrete scientific practice. For example, in the field of library science and information science (BCI).
The Normative Case for Normative Grand Juries

The contemporary criminal justice system disposes of order-maintenance cases without much of any substantive litigation or public influence or oversight. Rather, these prosecutions are typically products of professional decision-making and are resolved by summary guilty pleas. This is no new insight. Indeed, a number of scholars have offered a range of reforms to address the perceived problems of assembly-line criminal justice. Inordinately, however, these adjudicative reforms tend to focus on the wrong question - the question of legal guilt. Instead, the issue with many order-maintenance prosecutions is not that the charges lack legal merit, but that the charges are equitably unfounded. Thus, the more appropriate focus of reform efforts is on the nontransparent discretionary charging decision. In this essay, which I prepared for a conference on community prosecution and defense, I propose a different kind of public participation in criminal justice. What I have in mind is a misdemeanor grand jury that would address only the normative - or extralegal - question of whether a public-order charge is equitably appropriate in the first instance. In offering this proposal, I do not claim that lay intuition is decidedly superior to professional perspective, only that some lay involvement is better than none when it comes to resolving equitable charging questions in normatively borderline cases. And, significantly, such a proposal is also consistent with the grand jury’s traditional role as the robust, transparently democratic, and decidedly equitable voice of the people in the charging process. Of course, questions remain over how to structure an efficient lay equitable screen that minimizes dangers of arbitrary or discriminatory decision-making. However, the possibilities for effective reform at least deserve exploration, and that is all I intend to do here. In any event, I offer this rough-and-ready proposal not as a universal solution, but as a potentially attractive option for prosecution offices that are committed already to the community-justice enterprise.
Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) syndrome: consequences of defective high-affinity thiamine transport

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) syndrome (OMIM 249270) comprises a distinctive triad of clinical features: megaloblastic anemia with ringed sideroblasts, diabetes mellitus, and progressive sensorineural deafness. It is an autosomal recessive disorder reported in fewer than 30 families (Raz et al. 2000). In addition to the cardinal triad of anemia, deafness, and diabetes, other manifestations, including optic atrophy, cardiomyopathy, and stroke-like episodes, have been described in several kindreds. In all cases, pharmacological doses of thiamine [20–60 fold higher than the 1.5 mg/day suggested as the U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA)] improves the anemia substantially. Some improvement in the diabetic state has also been noted (Borgna-Pignatti et al. 1989; Rindi et al. 1992; Mandel et al. 1993; Valerio et al. 1998).
Clinical utility of the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment-Brief (UPSA-B) in adults living with HIV: Associations with neuropsychological impairment and patient-reported everyday functioning difficulties.

Author(s): Moore, Raeanne C; Paolillo, Emily W; Heaton, Anne; Fazeli, Pariya L; Jeste, Dilip V; Moore, David J | Abstract: ObjectiveRequiring only 10-15 minutes to complete, the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B) has high clinical utility as a brief measure of functional capacity. This study aimed to validate the UPSA-B in adults living with HIV/AIDS (HIV+), and identify whether the UPSA-B can be used as an indicator of functional dependence in this population.MethodOne hundred and three HIV+ adults and 91 HIV- adults completed a comprehensive neuropsychological and neuromedical battery, including a self-report measure of functional status (IADL Dependence vs. IADL Independence), an objective measure of functional capacity (UPSA-B), and a self-report measure of mood states including a subscale related to cognitive difficulties (Profile of Mood States [POMS]-Confusion/Bewilderment subscale).ResultsHIV+ participants had significantly lower UPSA-B scores than their HIV- counterparts (p = 0.02), although this fell to a trend (p = 0.08) when including covariates. Among the HIV+ group, higher UPSA-B scores were related to better neuropsychological ability, but unrelated to self-reported functional independence. Conversely, UPSA-B scores were unrelated to participant-reported cognitive difficulties on the POMS Confusion/Bewilderment subscale. An ROC curve was generated to determine the optimal UPSA-B value for discriminating between normal neuropsychological functioning versus neuropsychological impairment, with results indicating an optimal cutoff of 79. The UPSA-B identified HIV+ persons with cognitive impairment with 70.9% accuracy.ConclusionsThe UPSA-B was able to differentiate neuropsychological impairment from no impairment among HIV+ participants and holds promise as a clinical screening tool in this population. However, indicators of functional disability among adults living with HIV is still not well understood and is likely multifactorial in nature. These data highlight the complex interplay between objective functional capacity, neurocognitive ability, subjective cognitive symptoms, and functional dependence.
Reinventing the wheel: comparison of two wheel cage styles for assessing mouse voluntary running activity.

The results of this study highlight that mice will run different distances per day and average speed based on the inherent resistance present in the switch mechanism used to record data. Rapid chan...
Absence of interaction between porcine endogenous retrovirus and porcine cytomegalovirus in pig-to-baboon renal xenotransplantation in vivo.

Background Studies of xenotransplantation from swine have identified porcine viruses as potential barriers to clinical trials. The biology of these viruses has not been extensively investigated in the in vivo xeno-environment. Enhancement of viral gene expression by viral and cellular factors acting in trans has been demonstrated for certain viruses, including bidirectional interactions between human herpesviruses and endogenous (HERV) and exogenous (HIV) retroviruses. Both porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) and porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infections have been identified in xenografts from swine. PERV receptors exist on human cells with productive infection in vitro in permissive human target cell lines. PCMV is largely species-specific with infection restricted to the xenograft in pig-to-baboon transplants. It is unknown whether coinfection by PCMV affects the replication of PERV within xenograft tissues which might have implications for the risk of retroviral infection in the human host. Methods A series of 11 functioning, life-supporting pig-to-baboon kidney xenografts from PERV-positive miniature swine were studied with and without PCMV co-infection. Frozen biopsy samples were analyzed using quantitative, real-time PCR with internal controls. Results PERV replication was not altered in the presence of PCMV coinfection (P = .70). The absence of variation with coinfection was confirmed when PERV quantitation was expressed relative to simultaneous cellular GAPDH levels with or without PCMV coinfection (P = .59). Conclusions PCMV coinfection does not alter the replication of PERV in life-supporting renal xenotransplantation in vivo in baboons.
Monoubiquitinated γ-H2AX: Abundant product and specific biomarker for non-apoptotic DNA double-strand breaks

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a highly toxic form of DNA damage produced by a number of carcinogens, drugs, and metabolic abnormalities. Involvement of DSBs in many pathologies has led to frequent measurements of these lesions, primarily via biodosimetry of S139-phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX). However, γ-H2AX is also induced by some non-DSB conditions and abundantly formed in apoptosis, raising concerns about the overestimation of potential genotoxic agents and accuracy of DSB assessments. DSB-triggered γ-H2AX undergoes RNF168-mediated K13/K15 monoubiquitination, which is rarely analyzed in DSB/genotoxicity studies. Here we identified critical methodological factors that are necessary for the efficient detection of mono- (ub1) and diubiquitinated (ub2) γ-H2AX. Using optimized technical conditions, we found that γ-H2AX-ub1 was a predominant form of γ-H2AX in three primary human cell lines containing mechanistically distinct types of DSBs. Replication stress-associated DSBs also triggered extensive formation of γ-H2AX-ub1. For DSBs induced by oxidative damage or topoisomerase II, both γ-H2AX and γ-H2AX-ub1 showed dose-dependent increases whereas γ-H2AX-ub2 plateaued at low levels of breaks. Despite abundance of γ-H2AX, γ-H2AX-ub1,2 formation was blocked in apoptosis, which was associated with proteolytic cleavage of RNF168. Chromatin damage also caused only the production of γ-H2AX but not its ub1,2 forms. Our results revealed a major contribution of ubiquitinated forms to the overall γ-H2AX response and demonstrated the specificity of monoubiquitinated γ-H2AX as a biodosimeter of non-apoptotic DSBs.
Novel Cycling Assays for cADPR and NAADP

An important criterion for a second messenger is that its cellular concentrations must be responsive to the first messenger. It is thus crucial that specific and sensitive assays for cADPR and NAADP be widely available for monitoring their endogenous levels under a variety of physiological conditions. The first assay for cADPR was a bioassay based on its Ca2+ releasing activity in sea urchin egg homogenates [1, 2]. Using this assay, it was demonstrated that cADPR was naturally occurring in many mammalian tissues [3]. Since then, a more sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for cADPR has also been developed [4, 5]. With these assays, the cellular levels of cADPR have been shown to be modulated by various surface receptor agonists, including abscisic acid [6], a plant hormone, a T-cell receptor antibody [7] and acetylcholine [8]. Intriguingly, cell permeant first messengers, such as nitric oxide [9, 10] and retinoic acid [4], metabolic factors, such as glucose [11], vitamin B12 [12], and even a physical stimulus, such as heat shock [13], can elevate cADPR levels, indicating cADPR is involved in a very broad spectrum of signaling functions.
Using Analogies as a Basis for Teaching Cognitive Readiness

We review research showing ways in which analogies can be used to teach in a manner that fosters cognitive readiness for transfer. Although analogies are important teaching tools, it is important for teachers to be aware of potential pitfalls. Limits in relevant knowledge and processing capacity increase the likelihood that learners fail to notice or benefit from analogies in teaching. The aim of the teacher should be to assist the learner in developing veridical causal models of the domain or deep understanding of content structures. Major strategies for using analogies effectively in teaching include guided comparison of examples, highlighting of relations by principles and visual diagrams, ordering examples to encourage progressive alignment, and focusing attention on subgoals. The benefits of relational instruction are most apparent when the learner is later faced with novel problems that require extension and adaptation of the earlier examples used in training. We provide a list of recommendations for analogy-based teaching practices that can be customized to different learning contexts and training needs.
Building a Vertical Cloud Architecture for Education

The vertical architecture proposed in this paper is known as V.I.C.E. which stands for Vertical Implementation of a Cloud for Education. It consists of a head node which will control the other nodes and handle the operations required to launch or terminate virtual machines(VMs), and five heterogeneous compute nodes on which virtual machines can be launched. The most important features of the architecture are its scalability and simplicity. A middleware is launched by the head node and gathers compute node information from a database and uses it to carry out operations. Users will access these operations through a web interface hiding most of the cloud architecture complexity. To add compute nodes one would simply attach machines to the local cloud cluster and add its information to the database on the head node making the entire architecture highly scalable. The goal of this research is to replace large costly computer labs with a vertical IaaS cloud architecture. This system would use thin clients to launch VMs from the cloud and allow students to a complete Operating System(OS) at a vastly reduced cost. More machines could also be added to the local cloud giving it the potential to support many more users.
Single-center, consecutive series study of the use of a novel platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) and beta-tricalcium phosphate in posterolateral lumbar fusion

To evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of the combination of platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and bone marrow aspirate (BMA) as a graft alternative in posterolateral lumbar fusion procedures. Researchers evaluated 50 consecutive patients undergoing one-level to three-level posterolateral lumbar fusion procedures, resulting in a total of 66 operated levels. The primary outcome was evidence of radiographic fusion at 1-year follow-up, assessed by three independent evaluators using the Lenke scoring system. Secondary outcomes included back and leg VAS scores, incidence of reoperations and complications, return-to-work status, and opioid use. At 1-year follow-up, radiographic fusion was observed in 92.4% (61/66) of operated levels. There was significant improvement in VAS scores for both back and leg pain (p < 0.05). Compared to baseline figures, the number of patients using opioid analgesics at 12-months decreased by 38%. The majority (31/50) of patients were retired, yet 68% of employed patients (n = 19) were able to return to work. No surgical site infections were noted, and no revision surgery at the operated level was required. This is the first report to analyze the combination of PRFM with β-TCP and BMA for PLF procedures. Our results indicate a rate of fusion similar to those reported using iliac crest bone graft (ICBG), while avoiding donor site morbidity related to ICBG harvesting such as hematoma, pain, and infection. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Using Earth Observations to Help Developing Countries Improve Access to Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy

In this review paper, the authors identify priority areas and opportunities for electric utilities in developing and emerging economies to incorporate Earth observation (EO) data into rural electrification planning, renewable energy resource assessment, distributed generation, grid operation and reliability, and disaster risk reduction and recovery efforts. Using a methodological framework, the authors conducted a comprehensive literature review of primary and gray literature. This paper reviews the many existing applications for EO data, such as the use of nighttime lights imagery for estimations of rural electrification, EO-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) products for vegetation monitoring for overhead transmission line management, solar radiance data for renewable energy project planning, and nowcasting for extreme weather events and other disaster monitoring. These and other applications can enhance energy security through improved access to modern and reliable electricity, renewable energy management, and disaster risk assessment in developing nations, paving the way for more sustainable social and economic development. Real-world examples of EO data use by utilities in developing and emerging economies, as well as barriers and opportunities for EO technology transfer, are discussed. Recommendations for stakeholder engagement, future EO training opportunities, and human capacity building are also presented.
“Really present to bless”: The sacrament of creation and a practical ethic of environmental care for the local church:

Anthropogenic climate change poses the greatest existential threat humans have ever faced as a species. Churches must find creative ways to confront this frightening new reality, but how are we to ...
Psychological adaptation and posttraumatic stress disorder among Syrian refugees in Germany: a mixed-methods study investigating environmental factors.

ABSTRACTBackground: Considering the exposure to potentially traumatic events among the growing refugee population worldwide, there is an urgent need to better understand potential risk and protecti...
Post-translational protein modifications in schizophrenia.

Research investigating the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has not yet precisely defined the molecular phenotype of this disorder. Many studies have investigated cellular dysfunction by examining expression levels of molecular targets in postmortem patient brain; however, inconsistencies between transcript and protein measures in schizophrenia are common in the field and represent a challenge to the identification of a unified model of schizophrenia pathogenesis. In humans, >4800 unique proteins are expressed, and the majority of these are modified by glycans and/or lipids. Estimates indicate ~70% of all eukaryotic proteins are modified by at least one type of glycosylation, while nearly 20% of all proteins are known to be lipid-modified. Protein post-translational modification (PTM) by glycosylation and lipidation rely on the spatiotemporal colocalization of enzyme, substrate, and glycan or lipid donor molecule and do not require an upstream “blueprint” or specialized processing machinery for synthesis. Glycan and lipid PTMs can thus facilitate cellular adaptation to environmental signals more rapidly than changes of gene or protein expression, and can significantly impact the localization, function, and interactions of modified substrates, though relatively few studies in schizophrenia have evaluated the PTM status of target proteins. A growing body of literature reports glycosylation and lipidation abnormalities in schizophrenia brain as well as in patient peripheral fluids. In this review, we explain the functional significance of key glycan and lipid PTMs and summarize current findings associated with abnormal glycosylation and lipidation in this illness.
Effect of Renal or Hepatic Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Intravenous Rivipansel

Two studies evaluated the effects of renal and hepatic impairment on pharmacokinetics and safety of rivipansel (NCT02813798, NCT02871570). A single intravenous 840-mg rivipansel dose was administered to subjects with renal impairment or normal renal function in study 1005 and subjects with moderate hepatic impairment or normal hepatic function in study 1006. Plasma (both studies) and urine (study 1005) samples were collected for 96 hours postdose. All subjects in studies 1005 (n = 28) and 1006 (n = 16) completed all study procedures. Rivipansel exposure (AUCinf ) was 47%, 124%, and 437% higher and total clearance 30%, 57%, and 82% lower in the mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment groups, respectively, than in the normal renal function group. Overall rivipansel exposure was 20% lower and total clearance 31% higher in the moderate hepatic impairment group than in the normal hepatic function group. Ten treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in studies 1005 and 1006; no event was considered treatment related. As expected, clearance of rivipansel decreased with increasing renal impairment. The difference observed between rivipansel pharmacokinetics in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment and subjects with normal hepatic function was not considered clinically significant. Single doses of rivipansel were well tolerated in subjects with either renal or hepatic impairment.
Effect of membrane pore structure on fouling behavior of glycoconjugate vaccines

Abstract Sterile filtration can be difficult when processing large glycoconjugate vaccines. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of three commercial 0.2 μm nominal pore size sterilizing grade membranes with very different morphology: Millipore Durapore® (homogeneous), Millipore Express® (asymmetric), and Sartopore® Platinum (dual layer) during sterile filtration of a glycoconjugate vaccine provided by Pfizer. The location of deposited glycoconjugate within the filters was examined by confocal microscopy. The greatest capacity was obtained with the asymmetric membrane due to its high permeability, while the lowest capacity was found with the two-layer membrane in which the fouling occurred at the entrance to the 0.2 μm layer. The pressure profiles during constant flux filtration were analyzed using a modified intermediate pore blockage model accounting for the fouled and unfouled regions within the filter, providing additional insights into the effects of membrane morphology on the fouling characteristics.
Fast Variability and mm/IR flares in GRMHD Models of Sgr A* from Strong-Field Gravitational Lensing

We explore the variability properties of long, high cadence GRMHD simulations across the electromagnetic spectrum using an efficient, GPU-based radiative transfer algorithm. We focus on both disk- and jet-dominated simulations with parameters that successfully reproduce the time-averaged spectral properties of Sgr A* and the size of its image at 1.3mm. We find that the disk-dominated models produce short timescale variability with amplitudes and power spectra that closely resemble those inferred observationally. In contrast, jet-dominated models generate only slow variability, at lower flux levels. Neither set of models show any X-ray flares, which most likely indicate that additional physics, such as particle acceleration mechanisms, need to be incorporated into the GRMHD simulations to account for them. The disk-dominated models show strong, short-lived mm/IR flares, with short (<~ 1hr) time lags between the mm and IR wavelengths, that arise from strong-field gravitational lensing of magnetic flux tubes near the horizon. Such events provide a natural explanation for the observed IR flares with no X-ray counterparts.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in New York City: A Population-Level Analysis of Linked Surveillance Data.

BACKGROUND: New York City (NYC) was hard-hit by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and is also home to a large population of people with HIV (PWH). METHODS: We matched lab-confirmed COVID-19 case and death data reported to the NYC Health Department as of June 2, 2020, against the NYC HIV surveillance registry. We describe and compare the characteristics and COVID-19-related outcomes of PWH diagnosed with COVID-19 with all NYC PWH and with all New Yorkers diagnosed with COVID-19. RESULTS: Through June 2, 204,583 NYC COVID-19 cases were reported. The registry match identified 2,410 PWH with diagnosed COVID-19 eligible for analysis (1.06% of all COVID-19 cases). Compared with all NYC PWH and all New Yorkers diagnosed with COVID-19, a higher proportion of PWH with COVID-19 were older, male, Black or Latino, and living in high-poverty neighborhoods. At least one underlying condition was reported for 58.9% of PWH with COVID-19. Compared with all NYC COVID-19 cases, a higher proportion of PWH with COVID-19 experienced hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and/or death; most PWH who experienced poor COVID-19-related outcomes had CD4 <500 cells/µL. CONCLUSIONS: Given NYC HIV prevalence is 1.5%, PWH were not overrepresented among COVID-19 cases. However, compared with NYC COVID-19 cases overall, a greater proportion of PWH had adverse COVID-19-related outcomes, perhaps because of a higher prevalence of factors associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes. Given the pandemic's exacerbating effects on health inequities, HIV public health and clinical communities must strengthen services and support for people living with and affected by HIV.
Impact of antibiotic concentration gradients on nitrate reduction and antibiotic resistance in a microfluidic gradient chamber

In order to explore the impact of antibiotics on the bacterial metabolic cycling of nitrate within contaminated soil and groundwater environments, we compared the effects of polymyxin B (PMB) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) concentration gradients on the distribution and activity of a wild type (WT) and a flagella deficient mutant (Δflag) of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in a microfluidic gradient chamber (MGC). Complementary batch experiments were performed to measure bacteriostatic versus bactericidal concentrations of the two antibiotics, as well as their effect on nitrate reduction. Prior work demonstrated that PMB disrupts cell membranes while CIP inhibits DNA synthesis. Consistent with these modes of action, batch results from this work show that PMB is bactericidal at lower concentrations than CIP relative to their respective minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) (≥5× MICPMB vs. ≥20× MICCIP). Concentration gradients from 0 to 50× the MIC of both antibiotics were established in the MGC across a 2-cm interconnected pore network, with nutrients injected at both concentration boundaries. The WT cells could only access and reduce nitrate in regions of the MGC with PMB at <18× MICPMB, whereas this occurred with CIP up to 50× MICCIP; and cells extracted from these MGCs showed no antibiotic resistance. The distribution of Δflag cells was further limited to lower antibiotic concentrations (≤1× MICPMB, ≤43× MICCIP) due to inability of movement. These results indicate that S. oneidensis access and reduce nitrate in bactericidal regions via chemotactic migration without development of antibiotic resistance, and that this migration is inhibited by acutely lethal bactericidal levels of antibiotics.
Psychoanalysis Contrasted with Psychodynamic and Behavior Therapies

Gill’s chapter comparing psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and behavior therapies was a joy to read because of his clear definitions of each of them. He states that the central task of psychoanalysis is the analysis of the patient’s experience of the relationship with the analyst, in contrast to behavior therapy in which the goal is the direct alteration of the patient’s symptom or behavior. Psychodynamic therapy is defined as the exploration of the patient’s mental content that involves the analysis of contemporary relationships outside the therapy as well as analysis of the transference. The degree of the therapist’s activity also constitutes a crucial difference among the three. Whereas the psychodynamic therapies share the goal of examining the meaning of behavior, behavior therapy attempts to alter that behavior directly. Gill sees cognitive behavior therapy as “a hybrid” that attempts to integrate exploration of mental content and direct alteration of behavior.
18.1: Invited Paper: Flexibility Improvement of Foldable AMOLED with Touch Panel

The Flexible Universal Plane (FlexUP) technology was demonstrated with Polyimide (PI) substrate and a novel debonding method. Low Temperature Poly Silicon (LTPS) TFTs and OLEDs were developed along with the FlexUP technology, aiming to realize the foldability of AMOLED. With foldable AMOLED, the toughest challenge lies in the folding area with highly concentrated stress and fatigue which, when left unmanaged, will cause the product to fail. We have proposed several approaches to overcome these issues and have successfully demonstrated foldable AMOLED with touch panel modules at 5mm folding radius.
Arginyl Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Protein Transferase and Endogenous Acceptor Proteins in Cultured Mammalian Cells

Abstract The presence of arginyl-tRNA protein transferase has been shown in a variety of mammalian cells in culture. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis of the available endogenous acceptor proteins (proteins that can be arginylated at their amino terminus by this enzyme) reveals that there are at least two such proteins (designated Peaks I and II) with the same relative migration during electrophoresis in a variety of tissues. Analysis of baby hamster kidney cells (BHK), polyoma-transformed BHK, and herpes simplex-infected BHK showed Peak II, but in the general region of Peak I there were two peaks. Other peaks, which varied in migration and appearance, were also observed in the various cell preparations. The incorporation of labeled arginine was inhibited by ribonuclease, canavanine, hemoglobin, and hemin but not by puromycin nor cycloheximide. The specificity of the enzyme from different species for exogenous acceptor proteins of various species is reported.
Large-Scale Permutation Optimization with the Ordering Messy Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents a scaling analysis of the ordering messy genetic algorithm (OmeGA), a fast messy genetic algorithm that uses random keys to represent solutions. In experiments with hard permutation problems--so-called ordering deceptive problems--it is shown that the algorithm scales up as O(l1.4) with the problem length l ranging from 32 to 512. Moreover, the OmeGA performs efficiently with small populations thereby consuming little memory. Since the algorithm is independent of the structure of the building blocks, it outperforms the random key-based simple genetic algorithm (RKGA) for loosely coded problems.
The Impact on Auditor Judgments of CEO Influence on Audit Committee Independence and Management Incentives

Despite the importance of audit committee independence in ensuring the integrity of the financial reporting process, recent research suggests that even when audit committees meet regulatory independence requirements, certain factors, such as undue influence by the CEO over the selection of the audit committee, may diminish the ability of its members to be substantively independent. This study investigates whether auditors consider CEO influence over audit committee independence when making audit judgments where management’s incentives to manage earnings differ. In an experiment, we find that audit partners and managers waive a larger amount of a proposed audit adjustment when management’s incentives for earnings management are low than when incentives are high. However, when management incentives are high, auditors are less likely to waive as much of an adjustment when the CEO has less influence over the audit committee’s independence than when the CEO’s influence is greater. In all, the results support our expectations that auditors consider CEO influence on audit committee independence in the resolution of contentious accounting issues.
Brillouin induced mutually pumped phase conjugation in reflection geometry

We studied Brillouin induced mutually pumped phase conjugation (MPPC) in an electrostrictive Kerr medium in reflection geometry and obtained solutions illustrating that a weak beam can be phase-conjugated with reflectivities larger than unity. The technique works for a large dynamic range of input beam ratio as the intensity of the weak input beam is increased, while the intensity of the strong incoherent input beam is kept constant below the threshold value for self-SBS. >
The Brief Disclosure Intervention (BDI): Facilitating African Americans' Disclosure of HIV

HIV+ African Americans face many challenges that may be addressed by increased social support. This manuscript presents the Brief Disclosure Intervention and explores strategies to tailor the intervention to facilitate disclosure, increase social support, and ameliorate health disparities among HIV+ African Americans. The disclosure decision-making model served as the theoretical framework. HIV+ African Americans (N = 43) in New Jersey participatedinstructuredinterviewsat2timepointsandhalfreceivedtheintervention.The intervention group reported increased disclosure efficacy and decreased disclosure anxiety and worry. Qualitative themes for disclosure issues included distress in social network, concern for others, and institutional support. Implications for theory and research, use and tailoring of the intervention, and decreasing health disparities are discussed.
Human origins: Out of Africa

Our species, Homo sapiens, is highly autapomorphic (uniquely derived) among hominids in the structure of its skull and postcranial skeleton. It is also sharply distinguished from other organisms by its unique symbolic mode of cognition. The fossil and archaeological records combine to show fairly clearly that our physical and cognitive attributes both first appeared in Africa, but at different times. Essentially modern bony conformation was established in that continent by the 200–150 Ka range (a dating in good agreement with dates for the origin of H. sapiens derived from modern molecular diversity). The event concerned was apparently short-term because it is essentially unanticipated in the fossil record. In contrast, the first convincing stirrings of symbolic behavior are not currently detectable until (possibly well) after 100 Ka. The radical reorganization of gene expression that underwrote the distinctive physical appearance of H. sapiens was probably also responsible for the neural substrate that permits symbolic cognition. This exaptively acquired potential lay unexploited until it was “discovered” via a cultural stimulus, plausibly the invention of language. Modern humans appear to have definitively exited Africa to populate the rest of the globe only after both their physical and cognitive peculiarities had been acquired within that continent.
Monitoring the heat output of a wood stove

Etude comparative de la determination de la production de chaleur de poeles a bois radiants par la mesure de la temperature de surface et du flux thermique radiatif, montrant la superiorite de la methode de mesure de la temperature de surface
Estimating flowtimes and setting due-dates in complex production systems

This paper presents a methodology for estimating flowtimes and setting due-dates in complex production systems. This is accomplished by modeling flowtime estimation as a forecasting problem, and using the empirical distribution of forecast errors to set job due-dates in production settings with multiple workcenters, multiple servers, feedback queues, and machine breakdowns. Several due-date performance objectives are considered, including cost minimization, attainment of service level targets, and minimization of mean absolute lateness and mean squared lateness. Simulation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in comparison with both theoretical and empirical methods previously introduced in the literature.
CERAMIC PRODUCTION IN SAN MARCOS ACTEOPAN, PUEBLA, MEXICO

This article presents a study of ceramic production in San Marcos Acteopan, a small village in the southern part of the state of Puebla, Mexico. Field observation and interviews with the families of two potters document the different steps of the ceramic production process. The approach is ethnographic and aims at better understanding ancient ceramic production. Special emphasis is given to raw material acquisition and paste preparation to provide comparative data for analysis of archaeological material and clay preparation strategies. This study adopts the perspective of ceramic ecology, which situates the information on ceramic production in environmental and socioeconomic contexts.
UNSTEADY AERODYNAMICS OF A CHINED FOREBODY UNDERGOING FORCED PITCH OSCILLATIONS

A low-speed experimental study of the effects of an oscillatory pitching motion on the flowfield of a chined forebody has been performed. These tests were conducted in the University of Illinois low-speed (0240 ft/sec), low-turbulence (<0.1%), 3 by 4 ft, open circuit wind tunnel. The high fidelity, NC machined aluminum model was sting mounted and oscillated sinusoidally in pitch from 0° to 52° angle of attack without sideslip. The effects of reduced frequency were investigated by running a range of model oscillation frequency at a nominal Reynolds number, based on the 3-inch base diameter of the forebody, of 2.8xl05. The experiments cover a range of oscillation frequencies from 0 to 1 Hz, corresponding to reduced frequencies, based on the 10.5-inch length, of 0 to 0.0137. Surface pressures were measured at all conditions using an array of 91 static pressure taps. Normal force and pitching moment were determined by integrating these data. Surface oil and smoke flow visualization were utilized to determine the vortex system and help interpret the surface pressure data. Steady flow visualization revealed the importance of secondary boundary-layer separation on the leeward surface of the chined forebody. This separation was caused by a steep spanwise surface pressure gradient between the chine edge and the suction pressure peak associated with the primary vortex. Surface static pressure data indicated a hysteresis effect in the unsteady flowfield. Leeward surface static suction pressures built-up at lower angles-of-attack in the dynamic upstroke than in the steady case. The opposite was true in the dynamic downstroke. This hysteresis in leeward surface static pressures also resulted in a hysteresis in secondary boundary-layer separation, secondary vortex formation and the integrated forces and moments. These data showed increased lift in the upstroke and decreased lift in the downstroke, with negligible effects on the center-of-pressure.
Localized Chemical Wave Emission and Mode Switching in a Patterned Excitable Medium

(Received 22 November 2005; published 21 September 2006)Chemical waves are initiated from complex geometries in the excitable Belosouv-Zhabotinsky mediumusing a wet stamping technique. Because of the coupling between the system’s chemical kinetics andgeometry, waves are emitted only from selected locations. By varying the nature of the wave-triggeringreagent (here formaldehyde or methanol), it is possible to switch between two spatially distinct modes ofwave emission. The system’s dynamics is studied numerically, and the results of modeling agree withexperimental observations.
Jumping off of the Great Gatsby curve: how institutions facilitate entrepreneurship and intergenerational mobility

Income inequality is often attributed to declines in income mobility following the Great Gatsby curve, but this relationship is of secondary importance in determining the factors of income mobility if one considers that changing rules is more important than changing outcomes under defined rules. Rather, improvements in institutional quality are hypothesized to increase income mobility by allowing entrepreneurs the freedom to pursue their dreams. This paper is the first to empirically analyze the institutional determinants behind entrepreneurship, and their effect on income mobility. The findings from a cross-country analysis suggest that secure property rights and less corruption are associated with less income persistence, leading to higher income mobility, independent of the Great Gatsby effect. This suggests that reducing corruption and protection of property rights increase income mobility through the channels of entrepreneurship.
Imaging of Granulomatous Fibrosing Mediastinitis

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to review and illustrate the pathogenesis, natural history, imaging features, and treatment of granulomatous fibrosing mediastinitis. CONCLUSION. Granulomatous fibrosing mediastinitis is an infiltrative disorder characterized by encasement of the mediastinal viscera; in most cases in the United States, it represents an idiosyncratic immune response to histoplasma. Familiarity with the various imaging features of fibrosing mediastinitis is important for prompt and accurate diagnosis as well as for planning and guiding surgical and less-invasive treatments.
Approaches Toward Chemically Prepared Multiple Quantum Well Structures

An enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, has been predicted for Bi2 Te3 in the form of 2-dimensional quantum wells. A new approach to making multiple quantum well (MQW) structures for thermoelectric applications utilizing a chemical intercalation technique is proposed and investigated. It is proposed that by starting from Li intercalated Bi2 Te3 and Bi2 Se3, the layers of these materials can be separated by chemical means. The layers of Bi2 Te3 or Bi2 Se3 can then be restacked, by self-assembly, forming a non-periodic array of quantum wells. These chemically prepared MQWs are characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) at various stages in the sample preparation to assess the degree to which the actual samples match the proposal. Experimental measurements of the Seebeck coefficient ( S) and the electrical conductivity (σ) were performed over a range of temperatures for the initial bulk materials. It is found that some of the steps in the proposed fabrication have been achieved but still much improvement is needed before any practical thermoelectric 2D-system can be provided.
Photoreactive cardiolipin analogues

Abstract New photoreactive analogues of cardiolipin have been chemically synthesized. Photoreactive aryl azido acyl groups were placed at two different locations within the cardiolipin molecule: at the 2- sn position of the 2- sn glycerol of cardiolipin; at the 2- sn position of the 3- sn -phosphatidyl group; or at both locations to provide a dual labeled analogue. Thus three different cardiolipin analogues distinguished by the positions of the aryl azido acyl groups were prepared. Two different aryl azido acyl groups were employed in the above syntheses and the site of acylation was stereospecifically identified using several phospholipids of known specificity for cardiolipin. Acylation of cardiolipin with the symmetrical anhydride of either acyl aryl azido fatty acid analogue, 2-( N -4-azido-2-nitrophehyl) beta -alanine or 12-( N -4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)aminododecanoic acid provided 1-(3- sn -phosphatidyl)-2-(acyl aryl azido)-3-(3- sn -phosphatidyl)- sn -glycerol. Acylation of monolysocardiolipin (1-(3- sn -phosphatidyl)-3-(1-acyl-2- lyso -glycero(3)phospho)- sn -glycerol provided two products. 1-(3- sn -phosphatidyl)-3-(1-acyl-2-(acyl aryl azido)-glycero(3)phospho)- sn -glycerol and the doubly labeled 1-(3- sn -phosphatidyl)-2-(acyl aryl azido)-3-(1-acyl-2-(acyl aryl azido)glycero(3)phospho)- sn -glycerol. These are the first reported photoreactive analogues for cardiolipin. The analogues were positive effectors for cytochrome P -450 scc , and as shown by SDS-PAGE, they labeled the single subunit of cytochrome P -450 ssc and the smallest subunits of cytochrome c oxidase from beef heart.
Reconfigurable surface patterns on covalent adaptive network polymers using nanoimprint lithography

Abstract Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) are cross-linked polymers capable of relieving internal stresses by reconfiguring their network topology. Specifically, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) is a mechanism by which covalent bonds are exchanged to relieve internal stresses. While stress relaxation in such systems has been studied in bulk materials, here, we characterize the ability of RAFT-based CANs to undergo direct mechano-patterning of sub-micron surface topologies via nanoimprint lithography. The effects that different imprinting parameters and material properties have on the achievable surface pattern geometries are investigated, and we provide the first demonstration of permanent sub-micron surface reconfiguration on crosslinked polymers, which exhibit features orders of magnitude smaller than any previously published.
Reproducibility and effect of posture on impulse oscillation parameters in persons with spinal cord injury.

AbstractBackgroundThe impulse oscillation system (IOS) offers significant value in the assessment of airway dynamics in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) because of minimal patient effort but measurement reproducibility in SCI is unknown.ObjectiveTo evaluate between-day reproducibility and the effect of posture on airway resistance [respiratory resistances at 5 Hz (R5) and 20 Hz (R20)] in subjects with tetraplegia, paraplegia and able-bodied controls.MethodsTen subjects with tetraplegia, 10 subjects with paraplegia and 11 able-bodied individuals were evaluated using IOS. Three 30 second trials were obtained in each while in the seated and supine position on Day 1, and repeated on Day 2.ResultsThe within-day coefficient of variation (CV%) for R5 and R20 were comparable in the 3 study groups in the seated and supine positions. Compared to controls, the between-day CV% for the combined data was higher in subjects with tetraplegia and paraplegia for R5 seated, and was higher in subjects with tetraplegia f...
Potato storage factors of economic importance

There has been a marked increase in the length of time potatoes are stored. The cost of storing potatoes for longer periods of time has been controversial because of the lack of acceptable figures relating to the various factors involved. This paper summarizes the costs involved due to various storage environments and various storage periods. In addition to representative investment and operational costs, the costs of weight losses, quality changes, and peel and trim losses are presented.