cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FairTorrent: a deficit-based distributed algorithm to ensure fairness in peer-to-peer systems

Peer-to-peer file-sharing applications suffer from a fundamental problem of unfairness. Free-riders cause slower download times for others by contributing little or no upload bandwidth while consuming much download bandwidth. Previous attempts to address this fair bandwidth allocation problem suffer from slow peer discovery, inaccurate predictions of neighboring peers' bandwidth allocations, underutilization of bandwidth, and complex parameter tuning. We present FairTorrent, a new deficit-based distributed algorithm that accurately rewards peers in accordance with their contribution. A FairTorrent peer simply uploads the next data block to a peer to whom it owes the most data as measured by a deficit counter. FairTorrent is resilient to exploitation by free-riders and strategic peers, is simple to implement, requires no bandwidth overallocation, no prediction of peers' rates, no centralized control, and no parameter tuning. We implemented FairTorrent in a BitTorrent client without modifications to the BitTorrent protocol and evaluated its performance against other widely used BitTorrent clients. Our results show that FairTorrent provides up to two orders of magnitude better fairness, up to five times better download times for contributing peers, and 60%-100% better performance on average in live BitTorrent swarms.
New video pupillometer

An instrument is developed to measure pupil diameter from both eyes in the dark. Each eye is monitored with a small IR video camera and pupil diameters are calculated from the video signal at a rate of 60 Hz. A processing circuit, designed around a video digitizer, a digital logic circuit, and a microcomputer, extracts pupil diameter from each video frame in real time. This circuit also highlights the detected outline of the pupil on a monitored video image of each eye. Diameters are exported to a host computer that displays, graphs, analyzes, and stores them as pupillograms. The host computer controls pupil measurements and can turn on a yellow light emitting diode mounted just above each video camera to excite the pupillary light reflex. We present examples of pupillograms to illustrate how this instrument is used to measure the pupillary light reflex and pupil motility in the dark.
Estradiol protects against β-amyloid (25–35)-induced toxicity in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells

Estrogen-replacement therapy has been associated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and improved cognition in several small open clinical trials. We assessed the possibility that estrogens may reduce toxicity of β-amyloid (Aβ) by testing the effects of β-estradiol on the toxicity of the neurotoxic fragment of β-amyloid (Aβ 25–35) in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Aβ 25–35 caused a dose-dependent death in SK-N-SH cells with a LD50 of 28.9 μM. In cultures simultaneously exposed to 20 μM Aβ and 17 β-estradiol (2 nM), Aβ-induced toxicity was reduced by 83 and 51% in two separate studies. Further studies show that 0.2 nM 17 β-estradiol was as effective as the 2 nM concentration. 17 a-Estradiol (2 nM) conferred neuroprotection equivalent to that of 17 β-estradiol. These data support the hypothesis that estrogens reduce β-amyloid toxicity and this may help explain the beneficial effects of estrogens in AD.
Mathematical Modeling of Melanopsin's Light Response in ipRGCs and Hek Cells

Melanopsin is an unusual vertebrate photopigment that, in mammals, is expressed in a small subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), whose signaling has been implicated in non-image forming vision, regulating such functions as circadian rhythms, pupillary light response, and sleep. The biochemical cascade underlying the light response in ipRGCs has not yet been fully elucidated, but is hypothesized to involve Gq pathway. We present both a deterministic and a stochastic model of the hypothesized melanopsin phototranduction cascade. Both models qualitatively reproduce experimental results under several different conditions. The models allow us to probe various mechanisms in the phototransduction cascade in a way that is currently experimentally not feasible.
Temperature effects on S1 →S0/S1 →T1 branching ratio in radiationless transitions of N-heterocyclic compounds

Abstract In both protic and aprotic solvents, the fluorescence and triplet formation yields of quinoline and isoquinoline decrease with increasing temperature. This is interpreted in terms of an increased S1 → S0 internal conversion rate, resulting from thermal populations of low frequency out-of-plane vibrations, coupling the lowest energy nππ* and Ππ* singlet states. The temperature sensitivity of the radiationless decay rate is predicted to be common for N-heterocyclic compunds with closely spaced, lowest energy, nππ* and ππ* states.
Variations in 238U/235U in uranium ore deposits: Isotopic signatures of the U reduction process?

The ability to measure 238U/235U to high precision presents an important new opportunity to study the fate and transport of uranium in the environment. The ratio of 238U/235U was determined by multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer in six uranium ore samples representing two different classes of deposits. Significant offsets in 238U/235U are observed between uranium ores precipitated from groundwaters at low temperature versus hydrothermal deposits precipitated at high temperatures, reinforcing an observation made previously but lacking the needed precision. Specifically, tabular sandstone-type uranium deposits were found to be depleted in 235U, with a total offset between low-temperature deposits and higher temperature deposits of ≈1.0‰. We attribute this offset to reflect a temperature-dependent fractionation related to the nuclear field shift effect during chemical reduction of uranium in ambient temperature groundwaters.
A comparison of the metabolism of bicarbonate 14C and acetate 1-14C and the variability of species lipid compositions in reef corals

Branching heads of symbiotic corals were pulse labeled with either 14C-acetate or 14C-bicarbonate for 1.33 h and the distribution and loss of label was then followed for 16d. The patterns of incorporation and washout were similar for both tracers. Non-solvent-extractable radioactivity (1/3 of the total) was divided into a CaCO3 and an organic fraction, both of which exhibited small if any decrease in radioactivity over 16d. In contrast, total solvent extractable (lipid) radioactivity (2/3 of the total) decreased during the washout period with the first half-life for bicarbonate at 2 d, the second at 4 d and the third could not be measured because of the persistence of a constant amount of radioactivity (18% of Day 1 value) from Day 8 to 16. Of the total retained activity, the zooxanthellae fraction contained between 8–18% from Day 1 to 5. The percentage of total animal (host) radioactivity in lipids rose from 35–40% at 0 time after tracer exposure to 70–90% at 60 min. The majority of 14C fixed into lipids was recovered in the fatty acyl moieties and not in the glycerol moiety as had been previously reported a number of times. These studies suggest that photosynthetically fixed carbon is immediately synthesized into lipid, which is translocated to the host. Analyses of the fatty acid compositions of triacylglycerols (TG) and wax esters (WE) of 40 species of coral from a small patch reef were made. In aposymbiotic species the absence of zooxanthellae appeared to be correlated with higher levels of total lipid, lower percentages of saturated fatty acids and lower TG/WE ratios than in species with symbionts.
The hydrogen atom positions in face centered cubic nickel hydride

Abstract Neutron diffraction observations on the nickel-nickel hydride system show that the hydrogen atoms occupy the octahedral sites of the face centered cubic lattice. The hydrogen to nickel atom ratio in the hydride phase was found to be 0·6 ± 0·1. In these respects nickel and palladium behave similarly. The systems differ, however, in the one important detail that the palladium hydride is stable at room temperature whereas the nickel hydride is unstable.
P‐3: Evaluation of Rendering Algorithms for Presenting Layered Information on Holographic Displays

This paper proposes evaluation of rendering methods for holographic display allowing a viewer to use monocular information to selectively focus on parts of the display volume. We describe an experiment for comparatively evaluating human performance across different holographic rendering methods, by requiring the identification of overlapping letters separated in depth.
Performance of Individuals and Groups in Sensemaking of Information from Computer Decision Aiding Systems

This study presents preliminary results of a comparison of the manner in which individuals and a group of decision makers make sense of computer-aided information. Experiments were conducted to analyze the differences between individuals and a group of sense makers with respect to their perceptions of decision aiding information using Weick's sensemaking dimensions. The group of decision makers tended to grasp situations in more detail, use consensus in validating computer-aided information, adapt to new information more readily, and pay more attention to automation reliability. On the other hand, the individuals tended to assimilate decision-aided information into practice and to use cues from automation, and pay attention to the practical use of automated information.
Local endocrine, paracrine and redox signaling networks impact estrogen and androgen crosstalk in the prostate cancer microenvironment

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is essential for the initial development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) as well as the growth and survival of castration-resistant tumors. However, AR action may be opposed by estrogen receptor beta (ERs) that responds to androgen metabolites produced in the prostate. The balance between the activity of these two receptors is not only influenced by the steroidogenic capacity of the prostatic microenvironment but also by its redox status and local paracrine signals such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-s). In this review, we highlight the studies that revealed select roles for AR and ERs in distinct compartments of the prostate cancer microenvironment. We also discuss new work that identified stromal-epithelial crosstalk through TGF-s1 signaling that drives the production of reactive oxygen species in stromal cells thereby selectively limiting the anti-tumor activity of ERs in cancer cells. Therefore, any new therapeutic approaches that seek to limit AR but enhance ERs activity in PCa, must take into account potential adaptive changes in the tumor microenvironment that utilize paracrine signals and altered redox balance to divert local androgen metabolites towards AR at the expense of ERs.
Optical image processing by matched amplification.

An image-processing technique, which we call matched amplification, is proposed and demonstrated. Analogous to the well-known technique of matched filtering, matched amplification manipulates an input image at its Fourier plane by using a Fourier transform of a reference image. In matched amplification, however, the Fourier components of the input image that match those of the reference image are amplified rather than attenuated as in the case of matched filtering. Owing to this amplification process, matched amplification is advantageous for applications that require cascadability, high energy efficiency of the processed image, or large intensity dynamic range of the input image. We show experimental results using photorefractive two-beam coupling in BaTiO3 as the coherent amplification stage.
Structure of the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 6α and Its Interaction with DNA

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF-6) belongs to the family of One Cut transcription factors (also known as OC-1) and is essential for the development of the mouse pancreas, gall bladder, and the interhepatic bile ducts. HNF-6 binds to DNA as a monomer utilizing a single cut domain and a divergent homeodomain motif located at its C terminus. Here, we have used NMR methods to determine the solution structures of the 162 amino acid residue DNA-binding domain of the HNF-6α protein. The resulting overall structure of HNF-6α has two different distinct domains: the Cut domain and the Homeodomain connected by a long flexible linker. Our NMR structure shows that the Cut domain folds into a topology homologous to the POU DNA-binding domain, even though the sequences of these two protein families do not show homology. The DNA contact sequence of the HNF-6α was mapped with chemical shift perturbation methods. Our data also show that a proposed CREB-binding protein histone acetyltransferase protein-recruiting sequence, LSDLL, forms a helix and is involved in the hydrophobic core of the Cut domain. The structure implies that this sequence has to undergo structural changes when it interacts with CREB-binding protein.
Sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1) polymorphism and milk fatty acid composition

Milk is known to contain high concentrations of saturated fatty acids-such as palmitic (16:0), myristic (14:0), and lauric (12:0) acids-that can raise plasma cholesterol in humans, making their presence in milk undesirable. The main objective of our candidate gene study was to develop genetic markers that can be used to improve the healthfulness of bovine milk. The sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1) known to regulate the transcription of lipogenic genes together with SREBF chaperone and insulin induced gene 1 were the candidate genes. The results showed significant association of the overall SREBF1 haplotypes with milk production and variations in lauric (12:0) and myristic (14:0) acid concentrations in milk. Haplotype H1 of SREBF1 was the most desirable to improve milk healthfulness because it was significantly associated with lower lauric (12:0) and myristic (14:0) acid concentrations compared with haplotype H3 of SREBF1, and lower lauric acid (12:0) concentration compared with haplotype H2 of SREBF1. Haplotype H1 of SREBF1, however, was significantly associated with lower milk production compared with haplotype H3 of SREBF1. We did not detect any significant associations between genetic polymorphisms in insulin induced gene 1 (INSIG1) and SREBF chaperone and milk fatty acid composition. In conclusion, genetic polymorphisms in SREBF1 can be used to develop genetic tools for the selection of animals producing milk with healthier fatty acid composition.
Fuzzy confidence intervals in a theory of economic rationality

Abstract This paper discusses the treatment of uncertainty as it appears in economic affairs. A focal theory of rational behavior under uncertainty is proposed and an empirical implication is pointed out in industrial economics. The central formal concept is the fuzzy confidence interval.
Combining micron-size glass spheres with silver nanoparticles to produce extraordinary field enhancements for surface-enhanced raman scattering applications

Using Mie theory and a T-matrix method, we have studied the interaction of light with a micron-size glass sphere and a dimer of silver nanoparticles in order to assess the feasibility of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) that combined dielectric hot spots with plasmon excitation. We show that when light interacts with glass spheres, there is a robust hot spot on the surface in the forward direction with dimensions of a few hundred nanometers both parallel and perpendicular to the surface. For a glass sphere in vacuum with a refractive index of 1.9 and a radius of 4 μm, we find that the electric field enhancement at this hot spot is |E| 2 = 500. If a dimer of silver particles (spheres of radius 30 nm placed 2 nm apart) is placed at this hot spot, the peak near-field between the nanoparticles is found to be |E| 2 = 7x10 6 . This enhancement factor, which is approximately the product of the dimer-only enhancement factor (∼104) and the hot spot enhancement, is comparable to the largest field enhancements that we have obtained with other nanoparticle structures. It is large enough that the observation of single molecule SERS might be possible with this structure.
Light Scattering through the Isotropic-Cholesteric Phase Transition of a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal

We have measured the Rayleigh intensity and linewidth in cholesteryl oleyl carbonate continuously through the cholesteric-isotropic phase transition. Above the phase transition the intensity data do not agree with the theory of de Gennes; we also do not observe the instability of the isotropic phase predicted by de Gennes. At the phase transition we observe two exponentials simultaneously which we associate with order-parameter and director fluctuations.
How physicians perceive hospitalist services after implementation: anticipation vs reality.

Objective To determine whether internists' attitudes toward the hospitalist model change after implementation of a new inpatient service. Design Cross-sectional surveys performed in 1998 and 2000. Setting Tertiary care hospital in Boston, Mass. Subjects A total of 236 internal medicine board-certified physicians affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Main Outcome Measures Responses to survey items regarding attitude toward inpatient care and the hospitalist model. We used multivariable models to determine factors associated with physician responses. Results Of physicians surveyed in 2000, 236 (69%) responded; 145 (61%) had also responded in 1998. The mean (SD) age of respondents was 46.4 (10.8) years; 157 (66.5%) were male; and 146 (61.9%) were primary care providers. In 2000, more physicians agreed that "caring for inpatients is an inefficient use of my time" (P Conclusions Following experience with a hospitalist system, physician attitude, including concerns regarding career satisfaction and relationships with patients, toward a voluntary hospitalist model improved. Future research should investigate whether the hospitalist model affects patient satisfaction and quality of care.
The thermodynamics of extraction of U(VI) and Th(IV) from nitric acid by neutral phosphorus-based organic compounds☆

Abstract The extraction of Th(IV) and U(VI) from dilute nitric acid solution by several neutral phosphorus-based extractants has been studied as a function of temperature in the range of 0–50°C. From the variation of the distribution ratio ( K d ) with temperature the thermodynamic quantities gDG, ΔH and ΔS have been calculated for these extractions. The results of this study indicate that the steric bulk of the extractant plays a major role in determining how well Th(IV) is extracted. The size of the extractant appears to be of little or no importance in the extraction of U(VI). Similarly, the basicity of the extractant is of lesser importance in the extraction of uranyl ion relative to thorium ion.
Homeostasis in synchronous distributed computation, a formal view

Abstract Our objective is to introduce and illustrate a few basic notions upon which a mathematics of distributed computation can begin to develop. The central issue, as we see it, concerns the existence of a distributed, locally determined, global dynamics which responds homeostatically to a changing environment. This paper contains two elementary examples of such systems expressed in terms of our basic notions. A simple theorem characterizing the existence of such systems in a special case is proved. The theorem, the examples, and the associated discussion demonstrate the utility of our formalism.
Nonlinear processes in spatial-frequency channel models of perceived texture segregation: effects of sign and amount of contrast

Observers rated the degree of segregation between two textures, each composed of the same two element types but in differing arrangements (a checkerboard arrangement in the middle region of the pattern and a striped arrangement in the top and bottom regions). The two element types in a given pattern were either both solid squares or both center-surround elements. In center-surround elements the average luminance equaled the background luminance. The two elements types were identical in size but differed in sign and/or amount of contrast. Discrepancies between the observers' ratings of perceived segregation and the predictions of simple (linear) spatial-frequency and orientation channels models of texture segregation suggested adding nonlinear processes to the model. Complex channels (a rectification-type nonlinearity between two linear-filtering stages) can explain why some patterns made of center-surround elements segregate even though there is little energy at the spatial frequencies that differentiate the two textures. Complex channels cannot, however, explain the very poor segregation of "same-sign-of-contrast" patterns (where the luminances of the two element types were both far above or both far below the background). This second result might arise from a local nonlinearity preceding the channels and might be ascribed to retinal light adaptation except that it occurs at contrasts less than or equal to 25%! Alternatively, it might arise from normalization, which may result from intracortical inhibition. Some preliminary quantitative predictions were computed from two models, one incorporating complex channels and an early local nonlinearity, the other complex channels and normalization. With suitable choices of parameters, either model could account for the results.
Integrating Stability Estimation into Quality of Service Routing in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

One of the notoriously difficult problems in quality of service (QoS) routing in mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET) is to ensure that the established path for a connection does not break before the end of the data transmission. This paper addresses the issue of reducing path breakage during data transmission, even if geographic location information is not available. Using delay-constrained QoS routing as an example, we propose a novel algorithm that we call ticket-based probing with stability estimation (TBP-SE) as an enhancement for the multi-path distributed QoS routing scheme proposed in Chen, S et al. (1999). Models are created to estimate relative link and path stability. During path discovery, the estimated relative stability is used to direct tickets along paths featuring high stability. Among multiple detected paths, the one with the highest relative stability is selected. Through extensive simulations, we show that our algorithm significantly improves the stability of established paths in terms of average relative path stability, path breakage speed, and percentage of data transmissions completed before path breakage
History of preterm birth and subsequent cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

A history of preterm birth (PTB) may be an important lifetime risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. We identified all peer-reviewed journal articles that met study criteria (English language, human studies, female, and adults ≥19 years old), that were found in the PubMed/MEDLINE databases, and that were published between Jan. 1, 1995, and Sept. 17, 2012. We summarized 10 studies that assessed the association between having a history of PTB and subsequent CVD morbidity or death. Compared with women who had term deliveries, women with any history of PTB had increased risk of CVD morbidity (variously defined; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] ranged from 1.2–2.9; 2 studies), ischemic heart disease (aHR, 1.3–2.1; 3 studies), stroke (aHR, 1.7; 1 study), and atherosclerosis (aHR, 4.1; 1 study). Four of 5 studies that examined death showed that women with a history of PTB have twice the risk of CVD death compared with women who had term births. Two studies reported statistically significant higher risk of CVD–related morbidity and death outcomes (variously defined) among women with ≥2 pregnancies that ended in PTBs compared with women who had at least 2 births but which ended in only 1 PTB. Future research is needed to understand the potential impact of enhanced monitoring of CVD risk factors in women with a history of PTB on risk of future CVD risk.
Structural-functional correlates of reversible myocardial anoxia.

Abstract Using the mammary artery-pedicle preparation, the structural-functional response of the canine myocardium to increasing periods of reversible normothermic anoxia was precisely defined. At 15 min there was complete return of structure and function. Sixty minutes of anoxia produced irreversible damage; 30 min resulted in changes that were largely reversible.
The Influence of High Environmental Temperature on Specific Gravity and Albumen Quality of Hen Eggs

Abstract BENNION and Warren (1933) showed that the components of the egg decreased in weight when hens were exposed to high environmental temperature. The shell and albumen decreased considerably more than the yolk in proportion to their weight which indicates that the oviduct may be more sensitive than the ovary to high environmental temperatures. Hunter, Van Wagenen and Hall (1934) reported that there was a seasonal trend in interior quality of hen’s eggs, showing a lowering of this quality beginning with March or April and continuing through the summer. Lorenz and Almquist (1936) showed that egg weight is decreased by increased air temperature during the formation of the egg, but the percentage of firm white and shell weight are not affected by the air temperature during this time. Knox and Godfrey (1938) reported a progressive decrease in thick albumen of eggs during the laying year. This suggested a decrease in albumen…
Interaction of 1-pyrenebutyrate with poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) and poly(vinylbenzoglyme) in water

Abstract Binding constants of 1-pyrenebutyrate (PB − , 1-pyrenecarboxylate and 1-pyrenevaleriate to the polysoap-type macromolecule poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) (P18C6) and the poly(vinylbenzoglyme) PVBG (a polystyrene with two CH 3 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 -substituents at the 3 and 4 position of each benzene ring) were determined spectrophotometrically ( λ m 342 nm for free PB − , 348 nm for polymer-bound PB − ). The binding appears to follow Langmuir adsorption behaviour. Interaction with P18C6 is enhanced on adding crown ether-complexable cations, which converts the neutral polymer into a polycation. The enhanced binding is chiefly caused by lower values of 1 n (minimum number of crown monomer units per bound PB − molecule). This decreases at 25°C from 1 n = 25 , for neutral P18C6, to 6.2 and 2.7 in the presence of 0.01 M CsCl and 0.1 M KCl, respectively. It is argued that the COO − substituent of bound PB − is probably located in the aqueous layer at the polymer-water interphase. Its presence close to the crown ligands enhances the binding of K + or Cs + cations to these ligands by forming crown-complexed ion pairs PB − , M + … P18C6. The typical excimer fluorescence emission peak of PB − is observed when P18C6 in 0.1 M KCl is saturated with PB − . Some of the binding measurements were carried out in ethanol-water mixtures.
Developing a common analytical framework for models, simulations, and data

DHS has recently established the Analytic Capability Development Working Group (ACDWG) whose aim is to reduce the lifecycle and capital investment costs of analytic efforts while continually enhancing the ability to inform decision-makers within mandated timeframes. Specifically, the working group is helping to develop a common analytic frameworks in order to address the challenges that users and developers of analytic tools face, including increasing awareness around existing analytical capabilities, spurring collaborations that reduce stove-piping and duplication of analytic effort, creating consistent, transparent, defensible, and shared knowledge, and streamlining development efforts at all levels. In this talk we discuss some of the challenges of developing a common analytic framework including models, simulations, and data.
Optimization of experimental design in fMRI: a general framework using a genetic algorithm

This article describes a method for selecting design parameters and a particular sequence of events in fMRI so as to maximize statistical power and psychological validity. Our approach uses a genetic algorithm (GA), a class of flexible search algorithms that optimize designs with respect to single or multiple measures of fitness. Two strengths of the GA framework are that (1) it operates with any sort of model, allowing for very specific parameterization of experimental conditions, including nonstandard trial types and experimentally observed scanner autocorrelation, and (2) it is flexible with respect to fitness criteria, allowing optimization over known or novel fitness measures. We describe how genetic algorithms may be applied to experimental design for fMRI, and we use the framework to explore the space of possible fMRI design parameters, with the goal of providing information about optimal design choices for several types of designs. In our simulations, we considered three fitness measures: contrast estimation efficiency, hemodynamic response estimation efficiency, and design counterbalancing. Although there are inherent trade-offs between these three fitness measures, GA optimization can produce designs that outperform random designs on all three criteria simultaneously.
The Analysis of Certain Major Classes of Upper Palaeolithic Tools: Aurignacian Scrapers.

The attributes to be defined in this paper have been designed to characterize the main areas of variation of those scrapers which have been termed ‘Aurignacian’ (de Sonneville-Bordes, 1960, 29), owing to their numerical pre-eminence in Aurignacian assemblages. These attributes were worked out primarily on the Aurignacian assemblages (Levels 6–14) from the Abri Pataud, Les Eyzies (Dordogne), although to test the general applicability of the method, samples from the Grand Abri de la Ferrassie and from the Abri Castanet (Musee des Eyzies) were also considered.As a group, Aurignacian scrapers may be distinguished from end-of-blade scrapers in that the majority of Aurignacian scrapers are manufactured on blanks produced by a non-blade technology. The term ‘Aurignacian scraper’ includes: (1) carinate scrapers (fig. 1), (2) nose-ended scrapers, (3) some shouldered scrapers (see p. 260) and (4) miscellaneous steep scrapers on flakes (fig. 2).
A major agonist-regulated capping activity in Dictyostelium is due to the capping protein, cap32/34

Stimulation of starved Dictyostelium amoebae with the chemoattractant cAMP produces a rapid increase in actin nucleation activity at 5 seconds which is cotemporal with an increase in actin assembly and a decrease in Ca(2+)-insensitive capping activity [1]. Further characterization of this capping activity, called aginactin, led to the isolation of an Hsc70 [2]. Here, we demonstrate that purified aginactin contains both Hsc70 and the heterodimeric barbed-end capping protein, cap32/34. Immunoprecipitation of cap32/34 from purified aginactin removes all capping activity while immunoprecipitation of Hsc70 does not, indicating that the capping activity of aginactin is an intrinsic property of cap32/34. Gel filtration and immunoprecipitation assays fail to demonstrate the existence of a stable, high affinity complex between Hsc70 and cap32/34 in either lysate supernatants or aginactin pools but indicate the presence of a transient, ATP-sensitive interaction in cell lysates. Reconstitution experiments with purified Hsc70 and cap32/34 demonstrate that Hsc70 neither stimulates nor inhibits the capping activity of native cap32/34. Furthermore, we measured a Kd of approx. 0.8 nM for the binding of cap32/34 to barbed ends of actin filaments in the absence or presence of Hsc70, in agreement with Kd values measured for purified capping protein from other sources. We conclude, therefore, that cap32/34 is responsible for the capping activity called aginactin and that Hsc70 is not a regulatory cofactor for cap32/34 in Dictyostelium but may function as a chaperone during assembly of the cap32/34 heterodimer.
Monitoring hand hygiene: Meaningless, harmful, or helpful?

Whereas monitoring adherence to hand hygiene (HH) guidelines is standard practice in most acute care facilities, practice improvement has been slow. In hospitals primarily concerned with reputation, incentives to report high HH rates may create negative consequences. Practice change will require increased staff engagement and more sustainable methods to monitor HH and provide feedback.
Group psychotherapy with mildly retarded, emotionally disturbed adolescents

Abstract With the current trend toward integration of retarded adolescents in regular school and vocational programs, behavioral and emotional difficulties of these adolescents in adjusting to more challenging environments are likely to increase. In order to support such efforts at “mainstreaming,”; treatment should be available for those adolescents who develop emotional problems. However, child clinical psychologists seem reluctant to use psychotherapeutic approaches with retarded adolescents which are known to be effective with adolescents of average intellectual ability. In our experience, group psychotherapy is a powerful therapeutic tool in aiding the adjustment of retarded adolescents to stressful social situations. In the following paper, we have outlined some of the major advantages of this approach and have discussed the specific demands made by group treatment of of retarded adolescents.
Thrombocytosis in dogs and cats: A retrospective study

A retrospective study was made of the clinical data in 118 dogs and 17 cats with thrombocytosis. The mean platelet count for dogs was 647 × 109/l and for cats was 767 × 109/l. There was no significant difference in platelet count based on species, age or sex. The most common disease categories associated with thrombocytosis were neoplasia (25%), gastrointestinal disorders (19%) and endocrine disorders (10%). The most common drug classes associated with thrombocytosis were corticosteroids and antineoplastic agents.
Network stability in longitudinal data: A case study from rural Malawi

This paper investigates the stability of egocentric informal conversational networks in rural Malawi by analyzing reinterview data collected by a longitudinal survey. Contrary to the findings of test–retest studies carried out in developed countries, in rural Malawi geographically and socially close networks are found to exhibit a low level of stability even over short periods of time. This is mainly attributed to the specific structure of the networks considered, and it is therefore recommended that the importance of measurement bias should not be overemphasized. It is also found that, despite the significant changes in the named partners, network size and reported actions of network partners are quite stable, thus suggesting a negligible impact of network instability for further analyses of these data.
Modeling of packed absorbers at unsteady state operation—IV

Abstract The use of field tests in the modeling of a packed absorber at unsteady state operation is demonstrated. Calculational procedures developed for this purpose are presented and demonstrated by means of numerical results.
O-002 Acute stroke treatment: without time limitations

Background Many new stroke trials are evaluating the utility of perfusion imaging for patient selection within certain time constraints. There is evidence that patients with a delayed (>12 h) clinical–diffusion mismatch have poor clinical outcomes. We present our experience utilizing perfusion imaging to triage patients for endovascular therapy irrespective of time constraints. Methods 53 patients were treated over the past 2 years utilizing presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), anatomic imaging and perfusion information. Patients were excluded if they had a hemorrhage or significant completed stroke (>1/3 middle cerebral artery territory volume) on CT or cerebral blood volume maps. If perfusion imaging was limited, as in some basilar occlusion cases, then the clinical examination (NIHSS) was used. The median time to treatment from symptom onset of the patient cohort was then determined and patients were divided into two groups. Clinical outcomes were then documented and subgroup analysis was performed. Results The mean time to treatment was 10.36 h and the median was 6.13 h (range 1.75–72 h), suggesting several patients were treated far beyond 6 h. Utilizing a 6 h time point to identify two separate groups yielded 26 patients treated before 6 h and 27 patients treated more than 6 h from symptom onset. Angiographically, TIMI2 or better flow was restored 96% of the time. Patient outcomes in those treated less than 6 h compared with more than 6 h showed modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0–2 in 36% and 37%, respectively, and mRS 0–3 in 56% and 52%, respectively. Conclusion Utilization of perfusion based techniques is a viable clinical strategy for identifying acute stroke patients for endovascular therapy. Clinical outcomes can be obtained that are similar to those of clinical trials, irrespective of time constraints in appropriately selected patients.
Effects of copper and cadmium on osmoregulation and oxygen consumption in two species of estuarine crabs

Green crabs (Carcinus maenas) and rock crabs (Cancer irroratus) were exposed to various concentrations of copper as cupric chloride (CuCl2 · 2 H2O), and cadmium as cadmium chloride (CdCl2 · 21/2 H2O) for 48 h. The exposures were conducted at 5 different salinities. At the end of each exposure period, tests of blood-serum osmolality and gill-tissue oxygen consumption were performed. Copper-exposed crabs exhibited loss of osmoregulatory function with increasing copper concentration until normally hyperosmotic serum became isosmotic with the surrounding medium. Cadmium elevated greencrab serum above its normal hyperosmotic state. Copper had no effect on gill-tissue oxygen consumption; however, cadmium reduced the rate of oxygen consumption in both species tested.
The NARCOMS Patient Registry: A Resource for Investigators

Patient registries facilitate research on populations affected by rare conditions or specific diseases. Data from the registries offer insight into diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and course of disease. Two well-established registries in neurology are the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patient Care Database and the Alzheimer's disease registry. There are several physiciandriven registries around the world that collect clinical data on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The New York State MS Consortium Registry gathers data on patients in the New York area, and the Multiple Sclerosis-Computed Stored Ambulatory Record (MS-COSTAR) and European Database for Multiple Sclerosis (EDMUS) compile clinical and research data in clinics throughout Europe and North America. The North American Research Consortium on MS (NARCOMS) has also established a registry for research on MS. The NARCOMS Patient Registry is unique in that it is patient-driven. Along with data on demographics, healthcare resources, disease status, therapies, and disability status, registrants provide a wide range of information related to their experience with multiple sclerosis.
Resource limitation of larval treehole mosquitoes subsisting on beech detritus.

Mechanisms of larval population regulation in the detritivorous treehole mosquito Aedes triseriatus were explored experimentally, using laboratory microcosms of the treehole ecosystem. Quantity of beech leaf litter strongly limited growth, survivorship, and development rates of larvae. Little support was found for the hypothesis that an excreted substance causes density—dependent responses of larval A. triseriatus populations. Such an effect, if it exists, is much weaker than resource limitation. See full-text article at JSTOR
Swimming Speed of a Pacific Bottlenose Porpoise

Four kinds of speed runs showed a Pacific bottlenose porpoise (Tursiops gilli) to have a top speed of 29.9 kilometers per hour (16.1 knots) for 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 21.9 kilometers per hour (11.8 knots) for 50 seconds. These results compare closely with highest predictions based upon rigid body drag calculations, the same power output per unit body weight as for athletes, and a propulsive efficiency of 85 percent.
Hunting the evasive solutions to medical impairment and highway crashes

Abstract Medical impairment, either alone or in combination with environmental stresses, is commonly a factor in highway crashes, especially serious ones. However, programs to identify and regulate drivers with medical conditions will affect only a portion of the problem because some of the medically impaired are pedestrians and others are involved in crashes during a first known clinical episode. Compulsory reporting by physicians of persons with medical conditions is warranted if several safeguards are incorporated into the reporting system and only if the primary responsibility for reporting rests with the driver himself. Also, the licensing agency must be willing to carry out in-person license renewal with vision examination before insisting on reporting by physicians.
Chemoproteomics quantifies complexity.

The affinities of small molecules for proteins in megadalton complexes can be measured by mass spectrometry.
A method for approximating the average intercorrelation coefficient by correlating the parts with the sum of the parts

It is noted that the average inter-item correlation, which represents the internal consistency of a test, yields a unique estimate of test reliability. A close approximation to this average is given by a formula which requires the correlation of each item with the total score and the standard deviation of each item. The formula is especially useful in those instances where the number of items is small and where the variation in item sigmas should not be neglected.
Hypoxia-induced tachypnea in carotid-deafferented cats.

Abstract Ventilation while breathing air and in response to hypoxia was studied in unanesthetized cats after carotid body chemo-deafferentation. Hypoxie exposure (FIo2 = 0.07–0.12) of chemo-deafferented animals rapidly produced a high frequency, low tidal volume tachypnea. Tachypneic breathing, although usually associated with an increased expired ventilation, was accompanied by an increase in paCO2. In contrast to intact cats, behavioral arousal during hypoxic exposure was not observed after chemo-deafferentation. The response to milder hypoxia (FIo2 = 0.14–0.16) occurred with an increased latency, and there resulted a less marked depression of tidal volume and stimulation of respiratory frequency. Elevation of PAco2 to 5 mm Hg above the resting value, by addition of CO1 to the inspired gas, prevented the appearance of tachypnea upon subsequent reduction of FIo2 from 0.21 to 0.07. Depletion of central catecholamine stores, by administration of reserpine, did not prevent the tachypneic response to hypoxia. Following administration of anesthesia (pentobarbital, 30 mg/kg, IP), hypoxic exposure (FIo2 = 0.10) led to depression of both respiratory frequency and tidal volume, resulting in apnea within 1.5 minutes. It is concluded that hypoxia (FIo2 = 0.07–0.16) acts, in a concentration-related manner, as a powerful stimulant to central respiratory frequency generation and as a depressant of the tidal volume in the unanesthetized cat.
Significance of conjugate folds and crenulations in the central Sierra Nevada, California

Conjugate folds and crenulations occur in various parts of the central Sierra Nevada. Analysis of individual conjugate folds shows that the principal directions of compression associated with these structures were reasonably constant over a large area during the conjugate folding. Analysis of the modal axial plane distribution of the accompanying crenulations and small folds produces comparable results, suggesting that the direction of maximum compression may be reliably determined from modal data. Both methods of analysis indicate that the axial planes of small folds and crenulations associated with the conjugate set have formed at a moderate angle (generally 40° to 60°) to P max . In morphology, the crenulations vary from isolated kinks to a crenulation cleavage. Locally this cleavage develops into a differentiated crenulation cleavage and in some outcrops takes on many of the characteristics of a penetrative slaty cleavage. These structures have formed at approximately 40° to 60° to P max . It is proposed that slaty cleavage can develop in two dynamic frameworks: (1) where slaty cleavage forms at 90° to P max , and (2) where cleavage forms at 40° to 60° to P max . Analysis of the direction of maximum compression shows that during the conjugate folding, P max was oriented approximately parallel to the structural grain of the Sierra Nevada. This implies a shift in P max of nearly 90° between development of the principal slaty cleavage and conjugate structures. Similar shifts in P max between development of slaty cleavage and conjugate folding are observed in other mountain belts. We propose a model that explains this shift in P max by suggesting that the formation of slaty cleavage and subsequent crenulations represents structures formed at different stages of development within a continuous process. This process involves compression normal to the mountain belt (formation of slaty cleavage), and as normal compression ceases, “elastic recovery“ becomes active, inducing shortening parallel to the belt (formation of conjugate crenulations). The model implies negligible time lapse between formation of slaty cleavage and subsequent crenulations.
Fast subword permutation instructions based on butterfly network

Many contemporary microprocessor architectures incorporate multimedia extensions to accelerate media-rich applications using subword arithmetic. While these extensions significantly improve the performance of most multimedia applications, the lack of subword rearrangement support potentially limits performance gain. Several means of adding architectural support for subword rearrangement were proposed and implemented but none of them provide a fully general solution. In this paper, a new class of permutation instructions based on the butterfly interconnection network is proposed to address the general subword rearrangement problem. It can be used to perform arbitrary permutation (without repetition) of n subwords within log n cycles regardless of the subword size. The instruction coding and the low-level implementation for the instructions are quite simple. An algorithm is also given to derive an instruction sequence for any arbitrary permutation.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
‘Not a drop for the settlers’: reimagining popular protest and anti-colonial nationalism in the Moroccan Protectorate

This article reevaluates the so-called Meknes water riots of 1937 as a way to understand how rural economic decline and the contest over natural resources during the Protectorate period sparked anti-colonial protest in Morocco. The ‘riots’ have long been considered an early example of Moroccans unifying under the banner of an emergent anti-colonial nationalism. This article argues, however, that the revolt cannot be adequately conceptualised as simply a reflection of the nationalist message based on the rehabilitation of the Alawi sultan and Islamic scriptural reform. When situated in the long-term transformations of the regional economy, urban infrastructure and local forms of religious power, the protest emerges as an organic and powerful attempt by Meknes residents to reclaim local sovereignty over natural resources that had been wrested away from their pre-Protectorate arbiters by the sultan's government and French forces. Popular action in Meknes took many forms based on a range of local logics that ...