cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weather-limited in-band full-duplex transceiver model for free-space optical communication

Free-space optical (FSO) communication has gained popularity for wireless applications over legacy radio frequency for advantages such as unlicensed operation, spatial reuse, and security. Even though FSO communication can achieve high bit rates, range limitation due to strong attenuation and weather dependency has always restricted its practical applications to controlled settings such as building-to-building communication. Futuristic mobile and secure ad hoc FSO network applications such as smart cars and air-subsea links need more efficient and autonomous link acquisition capabilities, which can be enabled by in-band full-duplex (IBFD) operation. We proposed an IBFD-FSO transceiver prototype consisting of off-the-shelf components to demonstrate the concept of IBFD operation by the isolation technique. We also developed a laser-based IBFD-FSO link model by incorporating an atmospheric attenuation model and self-interference cancellation model. We found that, for clear weather, the maximum achievable link range using commercially available components can be up to 120 m. We also determined weather-dependent performance of the FSO link in terms of visibility and transmit power.
Clicker training does not enhance learning in mixed-breed shelter puppies (Canis familiaris)

Abstract Clicker training has been a popular form of training for decades and is used in zoos, aquariums, and shelters. Only a handful of studies have investigated the efficacy of the clicker-training method itself despite its widespread popularity. In the first study, we used 30 shelter puppies, naive to training, that were split into three different groups: clicker + primary reinforcement, vocal praise + primary reinforcement, and primary reinforcement alone. Each puppy was then trained to perform a “stay” command using seven shaping approximation steps. Puppies had 50 trials to get as far as they could in the shaping plan. We found that puppies in the primary reinforcement–alone group significantly outperformed puppies in the clicker + primary reinforcement group (P = 0.004). A second experiment was conducted to see if the type of behavior trained would influence the efficacy of the clicker use. For the second experiment, we trained a wave, a behavior that required multiple topographical steps. We used 60 shelter puppies, naive to training, and split them into the same three groups (clicker + primary reinforcement, vocal praise + primary reinforcement, and primary reinforcement alone). No significant differences were found between conditions (P > 0.05) when training the wave behavior. These results suggest that different reinforcement strategies may be more or less effective depending on the type of behavior trained; however, we did not find evidence that the addition of a clicker or verbal cue enhanced training performance in either condition compared with using primary reinforcement alone. More research is needed to determine if clickers may have other benefits beyond basic training progression.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Emergencies: Inpatient Administration, Assessment, and Management

ABSTRACT Objective Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a genetically modified cellular therapy approved for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia and B-cell lymphoma. This therapy requires patients to remain hospitalized for at least 7 days to monitor for two black-box warnings: cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Both toxicities require astute monitoring and early treatment to prevent complication. Data Source We use a case study to illustrate the assessment and toxicity management of a patient receiving CAR T-cell therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at an academic medical center. Conclusion Cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity are two common, potentially life-threatening toxicities that can be reversed with early nursing identification and treatment using evidence-based interventions. Implications for Nursing Practice Objective assessment and consensus grading is essential for identification and management of CAR T-cell toxicities.
A generalized Bayesian approach for prediction of strength and elastic properties of rock

Abstract Rock mass elastic and strength properties are needed for calculation of deformation and determination of stability of underground structures. Most available models for prediction of rock mass properties are site-specific, are deterministic, and cannot properly propagate uncertainty in reliability analysis of underground structures. A generalized Bayesian approach is used to develop probabilistic predictive models for the rock mass properties. A set of training and testing databases for rock mass deformation modulus, unconfined compressive strength, and Poisson's ratio based on point load strength index, water content, and geological strength index are also developed. Evaluation of the existing models using our databases show rather large mean absolute percentage errors. Our models, calibrated using training databases, (i) are probabilistic and include model parameter statistics needed for uncertainty propagation in reliability analysis, (ii) are rock-specific, (iii) show smaller prediction errors compared to existing models, and (iv) can be updated as new information become available.
Gender Representation and Organizational Size: Examining Opportunities for Members’ Involvement in Membership Organizations

Members are the most important stakeholders in membership organizations; their involvement can enhance organizational effectiveness, accountability, and legitimacy. Previous literature, however, has primarily explored these concepts by focusing on staff involvement or client participation. This paper examines the determinants of members’ involvement in membership organizations using cross-sectional data from Lebanese membership organizations. Primary findings suggest that members’ participation and involvement is affected by the gender of leadership, internal fiscal capacity, and the size of the organization; small organizations, those led by women, and organizations with greater internal fiscal capacity are more likely to have greater participation by members.
BMP-7 Attenuates Inflammation-Induced Pyroptosis and Improves Cardiac Repair in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

In the present study, we investigated a novel signaling target in diabetic cardiomyopathy where inflammation induces caspase-1-dependent cell death, pyroptosis, involving Nek7-GBP5 activators to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, destabilizes cardiac structure and neovascularization. Furthermore, we explored the therapeutic ability of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) to attenuate these adverse effects. C57BL/6J mice (n = 16 mice/group) were divided into: control (200 mg/kg, 0.9% saline intraperitoneal injection, i.p.); Streptozotocin (STZ) and STZ-BMP-7 groups (STZ, 200 mg/kg, i.p. injection). After 6 weeks, heart function was examined with echocardiography, and mice were sacrificed. Immunostaining, Western blotting, H&E, and Masson’s trichrome staining was performed on heart tissues. STZ-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy significantly increased inflammasome formation (TLR4, NLRP3, Nek7, and GBP5), pyroptosis markers (caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), MMP9, and infiltration of monocytes (CD14), macrophage (iNOS), and dendritic cells (CD11b and CD11c) (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) dysfunction (c-Kit/FLk-1, CD31), adverse cardiac remodeling, and reduction in left ventricular (LV) heart function were observed in STZ versus control (p < 0.05). Treatment with BMP-7 significantly reduced inflammasome formation, pyroptosis, and inflammatory cytokines and infiltrated inflammatory cells. In addition, BMP-7 treatment enhanced EPC markers and neovascularization and subsequently improved cardiac remodeling in a diabetic heart. Moreover, a significant improvement in LV heart function was achieved after BMP-7 administration relative to diabetic mice (p < 0.05). In conclusion, BMP-7 attenuated inflammation-induced pyroptosis, adverse cardiac remodeling, and improved heart function via the TLR4-NLRP3 inflammasome complex activated by novel signaling Nek7/GBP5. Our BMP-7 pre-clinical studies of mice could have significant potential as a future therapy for diabetic patients.
Cost-Effectiveness Analytic Comparison of Neuroimaging Follow-Up Strategies After Pipeline Embolization Device Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

Background Flow diversion via a Pipeline embolization device (PED [Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland]) is one of the established modalities for the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms that require a robust follow-up regimen. However, to date, no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal imaging modality and timing intervals for such a strategy. We studied the cost-effectiveness of different neuroimaging follow-up strategies after flow diversion with the PED. Methods A decision-analytical study using Markov modeling was performed to compare 5 commonly used multistep follow-up strategies with different combinations of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): 1) DSA at 6 months and MRA at 12 and 24 months; 2) DSA at 6, 12, and 24 months; 3) MRA at 6, 12, and 24 months; 4) DSA at 6 and 12 months and MRA at 24 months; and 5) DSA at 12 months and MRA at 24 months. The input parameters were mainly collected from the latest meta-analysis, and 1-way, 2-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of our model. Results Strategy 5, incorporating DSA at 12 months and MRA at 24 months, was the most cost-effective strategy for >99% of the 10,000 iterations in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/quality-adjusted life-year. The result remained robust in the 1- and 2-way sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Given the current data, delayed imaging follow-up at 1 year with DSA and 2 years with MRA after PED treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is more cost-effective than early follow-up at 6 months.
Cutoff Threshold Decisions for Classification Algorithms with Risk Aversion

Classification algorithms predict the class membership of an unknown record. Methods such as logistic regression or the naive Bayes algorithm produce a score related to the likelihood that a record...
Biological Homogeneity or Heterogeneity

The diagnosis of infantile autism is sometimes used as if it refers to a specific disease (e.g., Rimland, 1964) which might have a single identifiable etiology both in psychophysiological and pathological terms. However, it appears unlikely that autism will prove to be a biologically homogeneous condition. Already there is a long list of organic brain syndromes which have been reported to occur in association with autism. These include the sequelae of prenatal and perinatal complications (Taft & Goldfarb, 1964), neonatal conditions such as retrolental fibroplasia which may be associated with brain damage (Keeler, 1958), infantile spasms (Creak, 1963; Kolvin et al., 1971; Menolascino, 1965; Schain & Yannet, 1960; Taft & Cohen, 1971), cerebral lipoidosis (Creak, 1963), and metabolic conditions such as phenylketonuria (Wing, 1966; Sorosky et al., 1968; Anthony, 1962), Addison’s disease (Money et al., 1971), and celiac disease (Goodwin & Goodwin, 1969; Goodwin et al., 1971), as well as infectious conditions such as congenital rubella (Wing, 1969; Chess, 1971).
A Method for the Description of Minutia Pairs in Epidermal Ridge Patterns

A descriptive method is presented that allows documentation of minutia configurations in epidermal ridge patterns. The method incorporates the basic features relevant to fingerprint comparison: minutia types, orientations, and relative positions. Provision is also made for the ambiguities in minutia type which are an inevitable feature of any fingerprint comparison process. A descriptive method incorporating these features is needed to study systematically the variation of epidermal ridge minutiae and to test the existing hypotheses regarding the frequencies of occurrence of specific minutia configurations.
Influence of multiple interfaces on oxygen ionic conductivity in gadolinia-doped single crystal oxide electrolyte multi-layer nano films

Single-crystal multi-layered thin films of pure and gadolinia-doped ceria and zirconia were heteroepitaxially grown on sapphire (0001) substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. The growth of these films was monitored using in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). In addition, the ex-situ characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) along with ion channeling were used to further characterize these films. The electrical conductivity in these films was measured using a four-probe van der Pauw technique. Oxygen ionic conductivity at low temperatures appeared to be higher in the four-layer film compared to two-layer film.
UPTAKE OF FAT BY PHAGOCYTIC CELLS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF PHAGOCYTOSIS. I. RABBIT POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES.

Abstract 1. 1. The object of this investigation was to examine the ability of polymorphonuclear leukccytes obtained from peritoneal exudates produced in rabbits to incorporate complex lipids in vitro and in particular, to assess the role of phagocytosis in the uptake of fat by this phagocytic cell. 2. 2. Uptake was studied of three kinds of isotopically labeled complsx lipids: (a) commercially obtained [ 1- 14 C]triglycerides , (b) biosynthetically prepared mixed [ 1- 14 C]phospholipids ], (c) I-14C-labeled chylomicra collected by cannulation of the thoracic duct in humans fed a radioactive ([I-14C]palmitic acid) fat meal. 3. 3. Radioactivity was found associated with the leukocytes during incubation with each of these labeled compounds. However, this association appeared largely independent of time of incubation and the metabolic activity of the cells. In addition the labeled fat was not broken down to an appreciable extent. 4. 4. These findings are consistent with the conclusion that the glycerol esters studied adhere to the surface of the leukocytes without gaining access to the metabolic pathways concerned with breakdown of lipids. 5. 5. A comparison was also made of uptake of the three complex lipid species by resting leukocytes and by cells actively engaged in phagocytosis of heat-killed bacteria. During phagocytosis there was also minimal or no metabolic utilization of the labeled lipid. 6. 6. In contrast to marked stimulation of O2 uptake by leukocytes in the presence of bacteria, a suspension of chylomicra had no detectable influence on respiration. 7. 7. In view of the previous demonstration of avid incorporation of free fatty acids, these results indicate that incorporation of lipid by the leukocytes is selective and apparently restricted to free fatty acids. 8. 8. It is concluded that phagocytosis is of little or no quantitative importance in the uptake of fat by this phagocytic cell.
Colonies of Cliff Swallows on Highway Bridges: A Source of Escherichia coli in Surface Waters1

Sejkora, Patrick, Mary Jo Kirisits, and Michael Barrett, 2011. Colonies of Cliff Swallows on Highway Bridges: A Source of Escherichia coli in Surface Waters. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(6):1275–1284. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00566.x Abstract: Animals, such as birds, are a source of fecal indicator bacteria and pathogens in the environment. Our objective was to determine whether a colony of cliff swallows nesting underneath a bridge would yield a measurable increase in fecal indicator bacteria (specifically Escherichia coli) in the underlying creek. When the swallows were absent, dry-weather concentrations of E. coli upstream and downstream of the bridge (in Austin, Texas) were below the Texas contact recreation criteria. When the swallows were present, dry-weather geometric-mean E. coli concentrations increased significantly from upstream (43 most probable number [MPN]/100 ml) to downstream (106 MPN/100 ml) of the bridge. One exceedance and one near-exceedance of the Texas single-sample contact recreation criterion were observed during the swallows’ nesting phase. When the swallows were present, the downstream E. coli geometric-mean concentration in storm events (875 MPN/100 ml) was significantly higher than the upstream concentration (356 MPN/100 ml), suggesting that runoff flushes swallow feces from the ground into the creek. Although the loading of E. coli from cliff swallows nesting under bridges can be significant (e.g., dry-weather loading of 3.1 × 108 MPN/day/nest), the zoonotic potential of the cliff swallow must be examined to determine the risk to human health from contact recreation in waters contaminated with cliff swallow feces.
A Visualization and Explanation Tool for Debugging ECA Rules in Active Databases

Using ECA rules in active database systems for real-life applications involves implementing, debugging, and maintaining large numbers of rules. Experience in developing large production rule systems has amply demonstrated the need for understanding the behavior of rules especially when their execution is non-deterministic. Availability of rules in active database systems and their semantics creates additional complexity for both modeling and verifying the correctness of such systems. As part of Sentinel — an Object-Oriented Active DBMS, we have developed a visualization tool to help understand the behavior of rules defined as part of an active database application. This is especially important in active databases as rules are invoked (as a side effect) based on event occurrences (both primitive and composite) and are executed concurrently based on user-provided priority information. In this paper, we describe the rationale for the development of the tool, how it has been implemented exploiting the architecture of Sentinel, functionality of the resulting tool, and show several screen dumps to provide a feel for the information presented by the visualization tool.
The cell cycle of the pseudostratified ventricular epithelium of the embryonic murine cerebral wall

Neurons destined for the cerebral neocortex are formed in the pseudostratified ventricular epithelium (PVE) lining the ventricular cavity of the developing cerebral wall. The present study, based upon cumulative S-phase labeling with bromodeoxyuridine, is an analysis of cell cycle parameters of the PVE. It is undertaken in the dorsomedial cerebral wall of mouse embryos from the eleventh to the seventeenth gestational day (E11-E17, day of conception = E0) corresponding to the complete period of neuronogenesis. The growth fraction (fraction of cells in the population which is proliferating) is virtually 1.0 from E11 through E16. The length of the cell cycle increases from 8.1 to 18.4 hr, which corresponds to a sequence of 11 integer cell cycles over the course of neuronal cytogenesis in mice. The increase in the length of the cell cycle is due essentially to a fourfold increase in the length of G1 phase which is the only phase of the cell cycle which varies systematically. Thus, the G1 phase is most likely to be the phase of the cell cycle which is modulated by extrinsically and intrinsically acting mechanisms involved in the regulation of neuronal cytogenesis.
Ethical Artificial Intelligence.

This book-length article combines several peer reviewed papers and new material to analyze the issues of ethical artificial intelligence (AI). The behavior of future AI systems can be described by mathematical equations, which are adapted to analyze possible unintended AI behaviors and ways that AI designs can avoid them. This article makes the case for utility-maximizing agents and for avoiding infinite sets in agent definitions. It shows how to avoid agent self-delusion using model-based utility functions and how to avoid agents that corrupt their reward generators (sometimes called "perverse instantiation") using utility functions that evaluate outcomes at one point in time from the perspective of humans at a different point in time. It argues that agents can avoid unintended instrumental actions (sometimes called "basic AI drives" or "instrumental goals") by accurately learning human values. This article defines a self-modeling agent framework and shows how it can avoid problems of resource limits, being predicted by other agents, and inconsistency between the agent's utility function and its definition (one version of this problem is sometimes called "motivated value selection"). This article also discusses how future AI will differ from current AI, the politics of AI, and the ultimate use of AI to help understand the nature of the universe and our place in it.
Maritime terror in Europe and the Mediterranean.

The problem of maritime terrorism is examined from a regional perspective, that of Europe and the Mediterranean. The sources that give rise to the threat are discussed, as are the nature, techniques and targets of the terrorist activities. Suggestions for controlling the problem are offered, including both practical and legal considerations.
Remote IT education for senior citizens

Information technologies (IT) have great potential to improve the everyday lives of senior citizens, but their lack of skills prevents them from exploiting the possibilities. Skilled seniors can effectively teach unskilled seniors based on their deep understanding of the barriers and needs of their generation, but skilled seniors are scarce. Distant learning methods could be a solution, but their unfamiliarity with IT and strong preference for face-to-face learning are challenges. To make the distant course closer to the face-to-face experience, we developed a remote education system with real-time gesture visualization integrated with multiple audio and video streams between the teachers and learners. In this paper, we will introduce our remote course system and the course design, and then report results of the trial remote course approach.
Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes of the Treatment of Immature Permanent Teeth by Revascularization or Apexification: A Pilot Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction:Thisretrospective cohort studycompared clinical and radiographic outcomes of endodontic treatment performed in immature nonvital permanent teeth by apexification (calcium hydroxide or apical barrier with mineral trioxide aggregate) versus revascularization. Methods: A comprehensive chart review was performed to obtain a cohort of previously completed cases with recalls. Clinical and radiographic data were collected for 31 treated teeth (19 revascularization and 12 apexification) with an average follow-up time of 17 months and a recall rate of 63%. Tooth survival, success rate, and adverse events were analyzed. Changes in radiographic root length, width, and area were quantified. Results: The majority of treated teeth survived throughout the study period, with 30 of 31 (97%) teeth surviving (18/19 [95%] revascularization and 12/12 apexification). Most cases were also clinically successful, with 27 of 31 (87%) meeting criteria for success (15/19 [78%] revascularization and 12/12 apexification; nonsignificant difference). A greater incidence of adverse events was observed in the revascularization group (8/19 [42%] vs 1/12 [11%] in apexification) (risk ratio = 5.1; P = .04; 95% confidence interval, 0.719‐35.48). Although more revascularization cases than apexification cases showed an increase in radiographic root area and width, the effect was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In this study, revascularization was not superior to other apexification techniques in either clinical or radiographic outcomes. Studies with large subject cohorts and long follow-up periods are needed to evaluate outcomes of revascularization and apexification while accounting for important covariants relevant to clinical success. (J Endod 2014;40:1063‐1070)
Microstructures of Cu-rich Amalgams after Corrosion

In vitro corrosion of Cu-rich amalgams resulted in selective attack of the η' phase. Copper was removed, and SnO2 products were found in pores and along matrix grain boundaries. The corrosion process greatly accelerated the γ 1→β1 transformation.
Hydrostatic pressure reversibly blocks membrane control of ciliary motility in Paramecium.

A hydrostatic pressure of only 68 atmospheres prevented swimming Paramecium caudatum from "avoiding" or reversing direction; 170 atmospheres stopped or decreased forward velocity by more than 75 percent. A decompression of 40 atmospheres invoked a single reversal, even at ,80 atmospheres. In contrast, 170 atmospheres did not significantly affect swimming behavior of paramecium "models" that were reactivated in a solution containing adenosine triphosphate and magnesium ions after their membrane had been disrupted by Triton X-100.
Proximate composition and amino acid and mineral contents of Mormordica charantia L. pericarp and seeds at different maturity stages

Abstract The three maturity stages found in the pericarp and seeds of bitter melon ( Momordica charantia ) were investigated for their variations in proximate composition, amino acid profiles, and mineral contents. Moisture, starch, and total dietary fibre contents of pericarp, from all maturity stages (immature, mature and ripe), were significantly higher ( P value P value
The origin and characterization of conformational heterogeneity in adsorbed polymer layers

The equilibration of polymer conformations tends to be sluggish in polymer layers adsorbed onto highly attractive substrates, so the structure of these layers must be understood in terms of the layer growth process rather than equilibrium theory. Initially adsorbed chains adopt a highly flattened configuration while the chains which arrive later must adapt their configurations to the increasingly limited space available for adsorption. Thus, the chains adsorbed in the late stage of deposition are more tenuously attached to the surface. This type of non-equilibrium growth process is studied for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) adsorbed on oxidized silicon where the segmental attraction is strong (/segment) and for polystyrene (PS) adsorbed on oxidized silicon from a carbon tetrachloride solution where the segmental attraction is relatively weak (/segment). Measurements were based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection (FTIR - ATR). In both cases, the chains arriving first adsorbed more tightly, became flattened (as measured by the dichroic ratio), and occupied a disproportionately large fraction of the surface. This non-uniform structure persisted indefinitely for the strongly adsorbed PMMA chains, while the PS chains exhibited a gradual evolution, presumably reflecting an equilibration of the adsorbed layer occurring after long times. On the theoretical side, the initial heterogeneity of these adsorbed polymer layers is modelled using a random sequential adsorption (RSA) model where the size of the adsorbing species is allowed to adapt to the surface space available at the time of adsorption. The inhomogeneity in the size of adsorbing species (hemispheres) in this model is similar to the distribution of chain contacts in our measurements on adsorbed polymer layers. Owing to extensive variance around the mean, conformations having the mean number of chain contacts are least probable, which contrasts starkly with expectations based on equilibrium adsorption theory.
Daily cycles in coastal dunes

Abstract Daily cycles of summer sea breezes produce distinctive cyclic foreset deposits in dune sands of the Texas and Oregon coasts. In both areas the winds are strong enough to transport sand only during part of the day, reach a peak during the afternoon, and vary little in direction during the period of sand transport. Cyclicity in the foreset deposits is made evident by variations in the type of sedimentary structure, the texture, and the heavy-mineral content of the sand. Some of the cyclic deposits are made up entirely of one basic type of structure, in which the character of the structure varies cyclically; for example, the angle of climb in a climbing-wind-ripple structure may vary cyclically. Other cyclic deposits are characterized by alternations of two or more structural types. Variations in the concentration of fine-grained heavy minerals, which account for the most striking cyclicity, arise mainly because of segregation on wind-rippled depositional surfaces: where the ripples climb at low angles, the coarsegrained light minerals, which accumulate preferentially on ripple crests, tend to be excluded from the local deposit. Daily cyclic deposits are thickest and best developed on small dunes and are least recognizable near the bases of large dunes.
Noise rejection for two time-based multi-output modal analysis techniques

Modal analysis is a well-developed field with many applications. In particular, forced response multi-output approaches are well suited for system identification and online damage detection because they use the natural excitations the system undergoes during its normal operation. In this work, two of these approaches, smooth orthogonal decomposition (SOD) and direct system parameter identification (DSPI), are analyzed, compared, and improved upon. SOD was originally developed as a tool for detecting features of chaotic dynamical systems. Recently, it has been used as a time-based multi-output modal analysis approach. SOD has been demonstrated to work for the free vibration case and for random excitations. DSPI was developed as a time-based multi-input multi-output approach. When the inputs are not measured, DSPI is very similar to SOD and can handle both free vibrations and random excitations. However, if the inputs are measured or known DSPI can also handle arbitrary excitations. To improve the performance of these two methods when used with noisy data, novel noise filtering algorithms are proposed. Numerical simulations are performed to compare the two methods and to show the effectiveness of the filtering algorithms in improving frequency and mode shape extraction.
Rational isomorphisms between K -theories and cohomology theories

The well known isomorphism relating the rational algebraic K-theory groups and the rational motivic cohomology groups of a smooth variety over a field of characteristic 0 is shown to be realized by a map (the “Segre map”) of infinite loop spaces. Moreover, the associated Chern character map on rational homotopy groups is shown to be a ring isomorphism. A technique is introduced that establishes a useful general criterion for a natural transformation of functors on quasi-projective complex varieties to induce a homotopy equivalence of semi-topological singular complexes. Since semi-topological K-theory and morphic cohomology can be formulated as the semi-topological singular complexes associated to algebraic K-theory and motivic cohomology, this criterion provides a rational isomorphism between the semi-topological K-theory groups and the morphic cohomology groups of a smooth complex variety. Consequences include a Riemann-Roch theorem for the Chern character on semi-topological K-theory and an interpretation of the “topological filtration” on singular cohomology groups in K-theoretic terms.
Glycosylation influences gating and pH sensitivity of I(sK).

The KvLQT1 and minK subunits that coassemble to form I sK channels, contain potential N-glycosylation sites. To examine the role of glycosylation in channel function, a Chinese hamster ovary cell line deficient in glycosylation (Lec-1) and its parental cell line (Pro-5) were transiently transfected with human KvLQT1 (hKvLQT1) cDNA, alone and in combination with the rat (rminK) or human minK (hminK) cDNA. Functional KvLQT1 and I sK currents were expressed in both cell lines, although amplitudes were larger in Pro-5 than Lec-1 cells transfected with hKvLQT1 and hKvLQT1/hminK. For I sK , but not KvLQT1, the voltage-dependence of activation was shifted to more positive voltages and the activation kinetics were slower in the Lec-1 compared to the Pro-5 cells. The effect of extracellular acidification on recombinant KvLQT1 and I sK currents was investigated in Pro-5 and Lec-1 cells. Changing external pH (pH o ) from 7.4 to 6.0 significantly decreased the amplitude and increased the half-activation voltage (V 1/2) of KvLQT1 currents in Pro-5 and Lec-1 cells. In Pro-5 cells, decreasing pH o reduced I sK amplitude without increasing V 1/2, whether rminK or hminK was coexpressed with hKvLQT. In contrast, changing pH o from 7.4 to 6.0 did not significantly change I sK amplitude in Lec-1 cells. Thus, oligosaccharides attached to the minK subunit affect not only the gating properties, but also the pH sensitivity of I sK .
Progestin effects on long-term growth, death, and Bcl-xL in breast cancer cells.

The effect of progestins on proliferation of breast cancer has been a controversial area. We have consistently reported progestin stimulation of proliferation in the progesterone receptor-rich human breast cancer cell line T47D. Other authors, under other conditions, have agreed that progestins stimulate, but for just one turn of the cell cycle. To our knowledge, this is the first in vitro report to show progestin stimulation of human breast cancer cell growth for multiple, probably unlimited, cell cycles, while control cells are dying. This is accompanied by progestin up-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-xL, no effect on the proapoptotic protein bax, and, surprisingly, diminution of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. Thus, progestins both serve as survival factors and stimulate proliferation, implying a possible similar role in breast cancer patients. The data support the notion that many patients may benefit more from combined antiprogestin-antiestrogen therapy than from antiestrogen alone, and suggest bcl-x(L) as a possible target for breast cancer therapy.
Haploinsufficiency of the arginine–vasopressin gene is associated with poor spatial working memory performance in rats

Behavioral pharmacological studies have implicated a role for the neurophysin arginine-vasopressin in learning and memory. Vasopressin, and its analogues, can produce either improvements or impairments in mnemonic functions, effects that depend upon the agent administered, the memory process measured and the task employed. As recent data have implicated vasopressin in regulating the cognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex, we sought to determine whether changes in vasopressinergic tone would affect a form of memory that is dependent upon this brain region. To that end, we used a genetic approach to examine how haploinsufficiency of the vasopressin gene affects working memory performance. Specifically, we tested a naturally occurring null-mutant rat on an operant delayed-non-match-to-position task. Male and female heterozygous and wild-type rats were trained to perform this working memory task, and the effects of varying the delay across which they had to maintain task information were systematically varied. Although vasopressin-deficient rats omitted fewer trials and completed trials more quickly, they exhibited delay-dependent deficits of choice accuracy. The genotype effects were not modified by sex. Collectively, these data indicate that even partial vasopressin deficiency can trigger deficits of spatial working memory performance and add to the growing body of results supporting a regulatory control of neocortical-dependent cognitive functions by this neurohormone.
The continent ileostomy: a collective review.

The continent ileostomy has significantly improved the quality of life in selected patients. This procedure may be useful for patients who need total proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis or familial polyposis or who have complications from conventional ileostomies. It should be performed only by experienced intestinal surgeons who are willing to accept the long-term commitment of treating these patients and their numerous complications. It is recommended with cautious optimism for selected patients.
Permeability and surface area of the blood-nerve barrier in galactose intoxication

The blood-nerve movement of a small molecular weight non-electrolyte was studied in control and galactose-fed rats by measuring the permeability-surface area (PSA) product of the blood-nerve interface to [14C]mannitol in sciatic nerve using an in vivo injection method. PSA products were measured after 9 to 11 months of feeding control rats a diet containing 0% galactose and galactose-intoxicated rats a diet containing 40% galactose. Nerves of the galactose-fed group were hydrated as reflected by a significant increase in nerve water content and wet weight to dry weight ratio (both P < 0.05). Compared to controls, PSA products were increased by 51% (P < 0.01) in galactose-fed animals when referenced to nerve dry weight (13.59 ± 2.90 × 10−5ml/s/g dry wt. versus 8.99 ± 1.59 × 10−5ml/s/g dry wt.; mean ±S.D.; galactose vs. controls, respectively) or by 30% (P < 0.001) when referenced to nerve length (± 0.43 × 10−5ml/s/mm vs.1.87 ± 0.48 × 10−5ml/s/mm) but not when referenced to nerve wet weight. It is suggested that in galactose intoxication, where endoneurial volume changes reflect increases in nerve water content, PSA products are best normalized to dry weight or length, which are not affected by volume changes. Normalized to dry weight, the blood-nerve barrier surface area (i.e. vessels and perineurium) was determined by morphometric methods to be increased by 34% in the galactose-intoxicated group. Although this increase is consistent with the observed increase in PSA product, most of the increased surface area occurs in the perineurium, which is believed to have much less of a role than endoneurial vessels in blood-nerve transfer of hydrophilic non-electrolytes. However, endoneurial vessel tight junctional ‘area’ was calculated with morphometric methods to be increased by 53% in galactose-fed rats (P < 0.005). This increase,presumably due to endothelial cell proliferation, is sufficient to explain the increased PSA product.
Use of prior odds for missing persons identifications

Identification of missing persons from mass disasters is based on evaluation of a number of variables and observations regarding the combination of features derived from these variables. DNA typing now is playing a more prominent role in the identification of human remains, and particularly so for highly decomposed and fragmented remains. The strength of genetic associations, by either direct or kinship analyses, is often quantified by calculating a likelihood ratio. The likelihood ratio can be multiplied by prior odds based on nongenetic evidence to calculate the posterior odds, that is, by applying Bayes' Theorem, to arrive at a probability of identity. For the identification of human remains, the path creating the set and intersection of variables that contribute to the prior odds needs to be appreciated and well defined. Other than considering the total number of missing persons, the forensic DNA community has been silent on specifying the elements of prior odds computations. The variables include the number of missing individuals, eyewitness accounts, anthropological features, demographics and other identifying characteristics. The assumptions, supporting data and reasoning that are used to establish a prior probability that will be combined with the genetic data need to be considered and justified. Otherwise, data may be unintentionally or intentionally manipulated to achieve a probability of identity that cannot be supported and can thus misrepresent the uncertainty with associations. The forensic DNA community needs to develop guidelines for objectively computing prior odds.
The endothelin-A receptor subtype transduces the effects of the endothelins in the anterior pituitary gland.

Abstract All members of the mammalian endothelin family of peptides exert significant effects on prolactin and luteinizing hormone release from dispersed anterior pituitary cells in vitro. The rank order of potency for the prolactin inhibiting effects of the endothelins is ET-1=ET-2⪡ET-3. This suggests an involvement of the ET-A receptor subtype. The selective ET-A receptor antagonist BQ-123 antagonized the effects of the ETs in a competitive fashion with pA2 values of 6.1 (ET-1), 5.7 (ET-2) and 6.4 (ET-3), when added simultaneously with the ETs. This suggests the involvement of the ET-A receptor subtype in the actions of the ETs within the anterior pituitary gland.
Two distinct mutations in gyrA lead to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid resistance in Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni isolated from chickens and beef cattle

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify point mutations in the gyrA quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) of Campylobacter coli (n = 27) and Campylobacter jejuni (n = 26) that confer nalidixic acid (NAL) resistance without conferring resistance to ciprofloxacin (CIP). Methods and Results: Point mutations in the QRDR of gyrA from C. coli and C. jejuni isolates were identified by direct sequencing. All isolates (n = 14) with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ≥4 μg ml−1 for CIP and ≥32 μg ml−1 for NAL possessed a missense mutation leading to substitution of Ile for Thr at codon 86. Three isolates with a missense mutation leading to a Thr86Ala substitution had MICs <4 μg ml−1 for CIP and ≥32 μg ml−1 for NAL. Conclusions: These data confirm previous findings that Thr86Ile mutations confer resistance to both CIP and NAL. However, resistance to NAL alone was conferred by a single Thr86Ala mutation. Significance and Impact of the Study: Resistance to NAL alone arises independently from CIP resistance. In addition, the role of other previously described point mutations in quinolone resistance is discussed.
The distribution of clay minerals in the World Ocean

Abstract The relative amounts of chlorite, montmorillonite, kaolinite and illite in the less than 2 micron size fraction of pelagic sediments are related to the sources and transport paths of solid phases from the continents to the oceans and to injections of volcanic materials to the marine environment. Three modes of entry of solid phases from the lands to the seas are considered: by glaciers, by rivers and by atmospheric winds. The compositions of the clay size fraction are also related to rates of accumulation of the non-biogenous phases.
Examination of Reptilian Erythrocytes as Models of the Progenitor of Mammalian Red Blood Cells

Among the reptile species examined, only loggerhead turtle RBC with their high capacity of anaerobic metabolism and low oxygen uptake possess all the suitable metabolic characteristics as a model for transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism of mammalian erythrocytes (RBC). Neither the alligator RBC, which lack a significant level of anaerobic metabolism, nor the savannah monitor lizard RBC with their higher level of temperature-dependent aerobic metabolism, possess all the characteristics suitable as a model for the metabolic evolution of mammalian RBC. In the formation of this metabolic model, no phylogenetic relationships are implied or inferred. The metabolic similarity of loggerhead turtle RBC to mammalian RBC is further indicated by the high activity of the pentose phosphate (PPO4) pathway, as evidenced by the low thermal sensitivity of their oxygen uptake and by their low 14C6O2/14C1O2 ratios. By comparison, although the 14C6O2/14C1O2 ratios of both alligator and monitor lizard RBC are low as compared to loggerhead turtle RBC, only alligator RBC share with loggerhead turtle RBC a low thermal sensitivity of their oxygen uptake. A comparison of hemoglobin concentrations relative to hematocrit for loggerhead turtle, alligator and monitor lizard RBC indicates that RBC hemoglobin concentrations are approximately the same for each of these species. Apart from this similarity, RBC from these three species of reptiles were differentiated in this study with respect to their density and osmotic fragility.
Relative effects of interferon on virus plaque formation.

SummaryAssays of interferon in chick cell cultures were performed using vaccinia, Semliki Forest and vesicular stomatitis viruses as challenge viruses. Vaccinia virus was found to be approximately 5.5 times more sensitive than vesicular stomatitis virus and 1.4 times more sensitive than Semliki Forest virus to the action of interferon under the conditions of the assays.
Use of video technology to teach individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review of the literature still needed

Abstracted from: Shukla-Mehta, S., Miller, T., & Callahyan, K. J. (2010). Evaluating the effectiveness of video instruction on social and communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorders: A review of the literature. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25, 23–36. Source of funding and disclosure of interest: The original authors reported that no financial support was received for the research and/or authorship of the article and that there were no conflicts of interest.
How Nitrogen Is Lost

As in the back garden, productivity in the ocean is often limited by the availability of nutrients, principally nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). On a global scale, the rates of nitrogen fixation (input) and nitrogen loss (output) are believed to be roughly equal. Both rates are, however, very uncertain. Nitrogen loss processes occur in subsurface water and sediments and depend on the supply of organic matter, derived from primary production in surface waters. Reports in the last few years have changed our understanding of the controls and pathways responsible for nitrogen loss.
A sequential logit model of the access effects of higher education institutions

Abstract Estimating the increase in aceess provided by higher education institutions is an important policy issue. In this paper we consider a model that allows similarity between institutions to enter the choice framework of potential students to analyze this issue. The results indicate that institutions regarded as close substitutes were most affected by establishment of a new school and that only about 20% of the students attending the new school would not have attended an existing institution.
Field evidence of the viscous sublayer in a tidally forced developing boundary layer

Field observations of boundary layer development within a tidally forced estuary revealed evidence of an observable viscous sublayer. Evidence is provided by several independent measures of the flow field, including hydrodynamic smoothness, an immobile bed, and characteristic velocity, constant stress, and higher-order moment structures. This investigation reports what may be the second comprehensive observation of the viscous sublayer in a marine environment, and what could be the first observation of a momentum balance that includes the viscous sublayer within a shallow estuarine environment. Hydrodynamic observations were made in a straight channel within the Great Bay Estuary of New Hampshire over a flat sandy mud with low water depth of 1.5 m at the sampling location. Beyond quantifying the role of the benthic boundary layer in nutrient dynamics, these observations are useful to provide insight into very near boundary stress estimates leading to incipient motion in estuarine and coastal environments.