cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Typology of War Ethics

ABSTRACTInterdisciplinary communication on war is impeded by doctrinal gaps concerning its morality, immorality, and amorality. Much is written on ad bellum ethical standards for military force by states, mainly in the fields of international politics and religious studies. However, a necessary first step in comparing these different approaches to war ethics with each other is to develop a system for classifying them. The classification system offered in this paper places war ethics on a grid with two scales. One axis of the grid ranges from permissiveness to restrictiveness. The other axis ranges from regard for self to regard for others. Twelve forms of war ethics are assigned points within the grid, including pacifism, just war, holy war, UN Charter obligations, several variants of realism, cost–benefit analysis, isolationism, and various ideological war ethics such as communist and fascist approaches. In doing so, this paper lays the groundwork for “quantifying” war ethics, to enable measurements of t...
Habitat fragmentation, low seed germination rates, and herbivory impede conservation efforts for a prairie relict wildflower1

Fire exclusion, agriculture, and the extirpation of large herbivores have contributed to the loss of early successional plant communities and species across the southeast USA. Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum (Alexander) G.L. Nesom), a wildflower endemic to the southeast Piedmont, is one species that is thought to have experienced a notable decline. To document the status of S. georgianum in an area in which Piedmont prairie plant communities were historically present (Clemson Experimental Forest, Central, SC), we inventoried patches and flowers and collected seeds for a germination study. We found 37 patches across this 7,082-ha forested landscape, with an average of 25 flowers/patch. Seed germination rates were low, averaging 11%. In addition to fragmentation and low seed-germination rates, camera traps suggest herbivory from eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus J.A. Allen) further constrains the population. We conclude that forest management that creates, maintains, and connects early successional habitat is crucial in the conservation of S. georgianum.
Personality and Normal Aging

At first glance, a chapter on theories of personality and aging may seem misplaced in a text on geriatric neuropsychology. Cognition, after all, represents the construct of particular interest for clinical and experimental investigation within neuropsychology. We are developing an ever growing understanding of the age-related effects on various cognitive processes such as attention and concentration, sensorimotor integration, visual perception and construction, new learning and memory, language, novel problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility. We are attuned to the potential age-related effects associated with the psychometric evaluation of cognitive processes. Although extensive age-related norms for many of our clinical measures of cognitive functioning are still lacking, it is an issue that is well recognized and directly addressed in the literature. There are ongoing efforts to provide age-appropriate norms or other correction procedures that can be applied to our cognitive data. We are also in an exciting era where neuroanatomical and neuropsychological correlates are more readily available, even to the day-to-day clinician. Procedures such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and electroencephalogram (EEG)/event-related potentials (ERP) have not only given us the opportunity to understand the structural and functional processes of neuropathological conditions, but have also allowed us to investigate the relationship between brain structure, brain function, and cognition among normal, non-brain-injured individuals.
A “Preview” of Three-Dimensional Shock-Wave/ Turbulent Boundary-Layer Interactions

The interaction of a shock wave with a turbulent boundary layer can drastically change aerodynamic loads, alter combustion processes, and produce intense local heating, buffeting, and loss of control. Shock-wave/ boundary-layer interactions have therefore been the subject of extensive research. For the two-dimensional case, numerous mean flow data sets exist, over a wide range of Mach and Reynolds numbers, and for a number of flows detailed turbulence measurements have become available. Recently, the unsteady nature of many two-dimensional interactions has also received considerable attention.
A Crucial Role for Side-Chain Conformation in the Versatile Charge Selectivity of Cys-Loop Receptors

Abstract Whether synaptic transmission is excitatory or inhibitory depends, to a large extent, on whether the ion channels that open upon binding the released neurotransmitter conduct cations or anions. The mechanistic basis of the opposite charge selectivities of Cys-loop receptors has only recently begun to emerge. It is now clear that ionized side chains—whether pore-facing or buried—in the first α-helical turn of the second transmembrane segments underlie this phenomenon and that the electrostatics of backbone atoms are not critically involved. Moreover, on the basis of electrophysiological observations, it has recently been suggested that not only the sign of charged side chains but also their conformation are crucial determinants of cation-anion selectivity. To challenge these ideas with the chemical and structural rigor that electrophysiological observations naturally lack, we performed molecular dynamics, Brownian dynamics, and electrostatics calculations of ion permeation. To this end, we used structural models of the open-channel conformation of the α1 glutamate-gated Cl− channel and the α1 glycine receptor. Our results provided full support to the notion that the conformation of charged sides chains matters for charge selectivity. Indeed, whereas some rotamers of the buried arginines at position 0′ conferred high selectivity for anions, others supported the permeation of cations and anions at similar rates or even allowed the faster permeation of cations. Furthermore, we found that modeling glutamates at position −1′ of the anion-selective α1 glycine receptor open-state structure—instead of the five native alanines—switches charge selectivity also in a conformation-dependent manner, with some glutamate rotamers being much more effective at conferring selectivity for cations than others. Regarding pore size, we found that the mere expansion of the pore has only a minimal impact on cation-anion selectivity. Overall, these results bring to light the previously unappreciated impact of side-chain conformation on charge selectivity in Cys-loop receptors.
Whole genome sequencing reveals novel IGHMBP2 variant leading to unique cryptic splice-site and Charcot-Marie-Tooth phenotype with early onset symptoms.

Background Rare variants (RV) in immunoglobulin mu-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2) [OMIM 600502] can cause an autosomal recessive type of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease [OMIM 616155], an inherited peripheral neuropathy. Over 40 different genes are associated with CMT, with different possible inheritance patterns. Methods and results An 11-year-old female with motor delays was found to have distal atrophy, weakness, and areflexia without bulbar or sensory findings. Her clinical evaluation was unrevealing. Whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed a maternally inherited IGHMBP2 RV (c.1730T>C) predicted to be pathogenic, but no variant on the other allele was identified. Deletion and duplication analysis was negative. She was referred to the Undiagnosed Disease Network (UDN) for further evaluation. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed the previously identified IGHMBP2 RV and identified a paternally inherited non-coding IGHMBP2 RV. This was predicted to activate a cryptic splice site perturbing IGHMBP2 splicing. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was consistent with activation of the cryptic splice site. The abnormal transcript was shown to undergo nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), resulting in halpoinsufficiency. Conclusion This case demonstrates the deficiencies of WES and traditional molecular analyses and highlights the advantages of utilization of WGS and functional studies.
The Nature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Pathological Worry: Current Evidence and Conceptual Models:

Objective:To examine the nature and conceptualization of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and chronic worry as well as data bearing on the validity of GAD as a distinct diagnosis.Method:Narrative...
Cannabis legalization: progress in harm reduction approaches for substance use and misuse.

The use of psychoactive substances, including cannabis, has accompanied the development of civilization (1). (In the context of this paper, “psychoactive substances” refers specifically to substanc...
Public Ethical Discourses and the Diversity of Cultures, Religions and Subjectivity in History: Can We Agree on Anything?

Ethics deals with how we make decisions and the actions we perform. In decision-making, one weighs the pros and the cons of any course of action. Besides the realm of the private, there are ethical issues regularly dealt with in public discourses. Human identity in most instances is a cultural and religious construct. Our socio-historical background as human beings is constitutive of our identity and also informs our ethical decision making. In this essay, I argue for a possibility of positively incorporating ideas from world religions and diverse cultures into public ethical discourses. Since world religions are about people, it is possible to appropriate humanity as understood in religions in the development of ethics. Hence, I present religions as practically relevant in the analysis of public ethical issues. Public ethical discourses are viewed as inclusive of history, religion, and culture. Further, the work of the philosopher Paul Ricoeur is presented as a way of reconciling subjectivity and objectivity in history and ethics. This essay is an analysis on ways in which the debate on ethical issues can incorporate all the voices in a society without excluding anyone while avoiding ideological extremism.
PREDICTORS OF CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN THE NHLBI HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY REGISTRY (HCMR)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common morbidity associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Prior studies have focused on AF incidence. In HCMR, we have focused on predictors of clinically significant AF episodes defined as; 1) requiring electrical cardioversion or catheter ablation 2)
Computational evaluation of an optimum leading-edge slat deflection angle for dynamic stall control in a novel urban-scale vertical axis wind turbine for low wind speed operation

Abstract This paper explores passive flow control via leading-edge (LE) slats to reduce the dynamic stall (DS) phenomenon and related blade-wake interaction in an H-Darrieus type vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) operating under low wind speed conditions. A comprehensive 2D unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) assessment has been carried out for the non-slatted baseline rotor and the advance slatted rotor (ASR) configurations. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) approach with k-ω shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model and sliding mesh technique have been applied in Ansys Fluent. Optimum slat deflection angle δ has been evaluated using the single-blade oscillatory case with and without the LE slats. Results indicate a reduction in optimum δ from 16° at rated wind speed of 10 ms−1 to 12° for low wind speed operation at 5 ms−1. A significant increase in the maximum coefficient of lift CL,max by approximately 32% and a delay in stall angle of attack αmax by 3° is obtained with ASR configuration compared to the baseline. Further assessment of the ASR configuration on the three-blade rotatory case demonstrates an increase in the power coefficient CP by approximately 15% at the rated tip-speed ratio λ compared to the baseline.
Cryosols in a Changing Climate

The high-latitude and high-elevation cryosols are experiencing some of the greatest warming over the past several decades of anywhere on Earth. This has resulted in increases in active-layer thickness in low Arctic and alpine cryosols and an increase in permafrost temperatures. There have already been reports of changes in soil properties and processes and continued changes can be expected.
High precision predictions for exclusive V H production at the LHC

We present a resummation-improved prediction for pp → VH + 0 jets at the Large Hadron Collider. We focus on highly-boosted final states in the presence of jet veto to suppress the tt¯ background. In this case, conventional fixed-order calculations are plagued by the existence of large Sudakov logarithms αnslogm(pvetoT/Q) for Q ~ mV + mH which lead to unreliable predictions as well as large theoretical uncertainties, and thus limit the accuracy when comparing experimental measurements to the Standard Model. In this work, we show that the resummation of Sudakov logarithms beyond the next-to-next-to-leading-log accuracy, combined with the next-to-next-to-leading order calculation, reduces the scale uncertainty and stabilizes the perturbative expansion in the region where the vector bosons carry large transverse momentum. Thus, our result improves the precision with which Higgs properties can be determined from LHC measurements using boosted Higgs techniques.
The SCFMet30 ubiquitin ligase senses cellular redox state to regulate the transcription of sulfur metabolism genes

SUMMARY In yeast, control of sulfur amino acid metabolism relies upon Met4, a transcription factor which activates the expression of a network of enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of cysteine and methionine. In times of sulfur abundance, the activity of Met4 is repressed via ubiquitination by the SCFMet30 E3 ubiquitin ligase, but the mechanism by which the F-box protein Met30 senses sulfur status to tune its E3 ligase activity remains unresolved. Here, using a combination of genetics and biochemistry, we show that Met30 utilizes exquisitely redox-sensitive cysteine residues in its WD-40 repeat region to sense the availability of sulfur metabolites in the cell. Oxidation of these cysteine residues in response to sulfur starvation inhibits binding and ubiquitination of Met4, leading to induction of sulfur metabolism genes. Our findings reveal how SCFMet30 dynamically senses redox cues to regulate synthesis of these special amino acids, and further highlight the mechanistic diversity in E3 ligase-substrate relationships.
Presumptions of Worth and Pedagogical Imperatives

John Tillson’s thoughtful essay covers tremendous ground in limited space. Tillson does a terrific job highlighting many of the central concerns of religious education both in British and U.S. contexts. The thrust of his argument questions the point of pursuing open-ended discussions on matters that are settled, or as he says, “dead options.” As I understand him, Tillson’s point is that to the degree that an issue is truly open-ended, then Michael Hand’s notion of nondirective instruction, instruction where the goal is consideration of a range of views, is appropriate. Tillson, however, doubts that many religious claims are in fact truly open-ended. Therefore, our choices, he says, are all “unattractive.” According to Tillson, in considering all kinds of religious views and claims we (a) run the risk of having to remain non-committal on matters like holocaust denial or young earth creationism; (b) must also include discussions of atheist and agnostic claims, as well as flying spaghetti monster claims, which (c) inevitably leads to figuring out what to remove from the curriculum in order to make space for all of these open-ended discussions. Instead, he concludes, religious education is best if limited to a survey of the history of religions and perhaps the cultural contributions of religions over time.
Die politischen Parteien II: Mehrheitswahl und Parteienkonkurrenz

Eine britische Generalwahl, die in Einerwahlkreisen nach dem Grund­satz der relativen Mehrheit gefuhrt wird, kann Ergebnisse zeitigen, die den durch die Wahl kundzumachenden Wahlerwillen verzerren und damit den Grundsatz demokratischer Reprasentation im Parlament verfalschen. Zumindest mathematisch ist es moglich, das, wenn drei Parteien sich um alle Sitze bewerben, eine von ihnen mehr Stimmen erzielt, als jede der beiden anderen und doch kein einziges Mandat im Unterhaus heimbringt, dann namlich, wenn alle drei Parteien national ungefahr gleich stark und gleichmasig verteilt sind und die eine Partei immer an zweiter Stelle liegt, wahrend jede der beiden anderen Parteien ab­wechselnd jeweils mit einer Nasenlange gewinnt, oder aber als dritte nachhinkt Solche extremen Falle sind naturgemas schon durch die wahlgeographischen Gegebenheiten ausgeschlossen, wonach jede der beiden Alternierungsparteien (und auch die Liberalen als Drittpartei) in gewissen Gegenden eine massierte Anhangerschaft besitzen. Wenn man aber die von den Parteien erzielten Prozentsatze an Wahlerstimmen im ganzen Land mit den Zahlen ihrer tatsachlich erlangten Parlamentssitze vergleicht, weichen die Ergebnisse von der nach dem Verhaltnis von Gesamtstimmen und Parlamentssitzen an sich zu erwartenden Proportionalitat mit solcher Regelhaftigkeit ab, das man darin fast ein „Gesetz der Diskrepanzen“ erblicken mochte.
A New Change of Variables for Efficient BRDF Representation

We describe an idea for making decomposition of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions into basis functions more efficient, by performing a change-of-variables transformation on the BRDFs. In particular, we propose a reparameterization of the BRDF as a function of the halfangle (i.e. the angle halfway between the directions of incidence and reflection) and a difference angle instead of the usual parameterization in terms of angles of incidence and reflection. Because features in common BRDFs, including specular and retroreflective peaks, are aligned with the transformed coordinate axes, the change of basis reduces storage requirements for a large class of BRDFs. We present results derived from analytic BRDFs and measured data.
Kinetic analysis of dynamics of muscle function.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the kinetic analysis of dynamics of muscle function. Characterizing the dynamics of contraction is a key to understanding the muscle function. Apart from its own intrinsic value, this is where new insights gained from single molecule and solution studies are integrated at the level of the fully organized and functional system. Semiquantitative methods of analyzing tension transients persist in the literature, making it difficult to contrast and compare otherwise important and insightful contributions to the field. The problem is particularly acute, because of the multidisciplinary nature of muscle research. Distinct from reactions in solution, kinetic phases in muscle fibers arise from two quite different sources: (1) perturbation of the contractile cycle (tension generation and the cyclic hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the actomyosin ATPase) and (2) perturbation of the viscoelastic properties of the muscle proteins, processes defined as largely independent of the structural changes, associated with the cross-bridge cycle.
Decline in smoking during pregnancy in New York City, 1995-2005.

Objectives The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between 46 states and four major tobacco companies increased tobacco control funding and restricted tobacco marketing. In 2002, New York City (NYC) began a comprehensive tobacco control program that raised the price of cigarettes, banned indoor workplace smoking, and increased access to cessation treatment. We examined the temporal pattern of smoking during pregnancy, including ethnic variation in smoking prevalence, relative to the implementation of the MSA and NYC's comprehensive tobacco control program using birth certificate data. Methods Using multiple logistic regression, we analyzed NYC birth certificate data to examine prenatal smoking during three time periods: 1995-1998 (pre-MSA), 1999-2002 (post-MSA, pre-NYC tobacco control), and 2003-2005 (post-MSA, post-tobacco control). Results Overall, 3.0% of 1,136,437 births included were to smoking mothers. The proportion of smoking mothers declined from 4.5% in 1995-1998 to 1.7% in 2003-2005. Compared with non-Hispanic white women, African American women had 2.46 increased odds (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.36, 2.55) of smoking during 1995-1998, and 3.63 increased odds (95% CI 3.39, 3.88) of smoking during 2003-2005, despite an absolute reduction in smoking from 10.4% to 5.0%. Puerto Rican women also smoked considerably more than non-Hispanic white women. Conclusions These findings document a striking temporal decline in prenatal smoking in NYC concurrent with changing tobacco control policies. Targeted efforts may be required to address the increasing disparity in prenatal smoking between non-Hispanic white and African American and Puerto Rican women.
Root traits contributing to drought tolerance of synthetic hexaploid wheat in a greenhouse study

Drought stress imposes major limits on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and is predicted to increase in frequency due to climate change. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) to improve productivity of winter wheat under drought stress. Six SHW lines and four winter wheat cultivars from the U.S. Great Plains were evaluated in 1 m × 10 cm plastic tubes under drought-stressed and well-watered conditions in a greenhouse study. Root morphology, biomass, stomatal attributes, plant water relations, and the response of these traits to drought stress were measured. Traits significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with a drought tolerance index included root biomass in the bottom third of the tubes, length of the longest root, stomatal conductance, and production of small diameter roots. Plasticity for root biomass allocation to greater depths showed a strong association with maintenance of plant water status. Synthetic line SYN-201 ranked highest for deep root biomass and length of the longest root under stress, and demonstrated plasticity by shifting root biomass production from the upper third to the bottom third of the tubes when stressed. Digital analysis of root morphology indicated that SYN-201, SYN-290, and cultivar Byrd produced large amounts of small diameter roots at depth. SYN-396 showed high stomatal density and reduced stomatal aperture while maintaining leaf growth when stressed despite a lack of deep roots. Trait variation in the SHW lines may contribute beneficial drought tolerance to Great Plains-adapted cultivars through introgression of novel allelic diversity.
Interpretation of an Aeromagnetic Strip across the Northwestern United States

This report discusses the results of aeromagnetic survey bounded by latitudes 45°30′ N. and 47°00′ N. and extending from the Rocky Mountains, to approximately 120 mi offshore in the Pacific Ocean. East of the Rocky Mountains, a larger area has been surveyed in the Great Plains bounded approximately by latitudes 44°50′ N. and 48°10′ N. and by longitudes 104°W. and 110°W. Throughout the area of the survey, the magnetic map is marked by conspicuous northeast and northwest anomaly trends, lineaments, and breaks in the anomaly pattern. Their regional distribution, over-all magnetic character, and geologic evidence suggest that they are major structural features in the basement rocks. The close correspondence of structural and geologic features in younger rocks with these basement magnetic and structural trends suggest that basement trends controlled or at least greatly influenced intrusion, deposition, and structural history of younger rocks. In some cases, evidence suggests that basement structures have been reactivated during later tectonic activity. Perhaps even more striking than the northeast- and northwest-trending features are large east-west magnetic discontinuities which, in some cases, extend completely across the strip to the edge of the shelf, and which, in some cases, can be correlated with large-scale discontinuities dating back to the Precambrian.
Identification of individual CD34+lin− daughter cells that retain multilineage differentiation potential after one division

Abstract There is a need to determine whether culture conditions may exist which favor solely proliferative self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells as opposed to proliferation with differentiation. A key to answering this is the ability to detect self-renewal in vitro. We have previously reported that TPO and FLT-3L can interact to promote doubling and phenotypic self-renewal of single cord blood CD34+Thy 1+lin− (lin−) cells and this cell fate/phenotype decision can be detected s early as the first cell division. To determine if individual daughter cells that remained lin− after 1 division still retained lymphoid/myeloid differentiation potential, single cell micromanipulation of doublets was performed. CB lin− cells were plated in Terasaki plates containing FLT3L+TPO. Each well was monitored daily for evidence of cell division. When a division was detected the cell doublet was stained for phenotype assessment and daughter cells that remained lin− were separated by micromanipulation and placed in different wells on AFT024 stroma with IL-7, SCF, FLT-3L. After 28 days, wells in which the single cell had proliferated were stained with FITC and PE-conjugated antibodies against lymphoid (CD2/3, CD16, CD19, CD56) and myeloid (CD13, CD15, CD33) specific markers to identify which cells of the doublet had multi-lineage differentiation potential. In preliminary experiments, with 783 single cells, 52% of the cells that divided, over 7 days, remained lin− (405 doublets). Of the 810 total cells, 73.5% of those were successfully separated and transferred to stroma. Staining, revealed that 27 doublets (90%) had at least 1 daughter cell that generated progeny with both L/M markers, and that 23% of the doublets separated had both daughters capable of generating L/M positive progeny. This assay may be useful to improve in vitro stem cell expansion conditions by identifying which single cells with retained phenotype can generate progeny with multilineage potential.
Weight Ratio between the Infratentorial and Supratentorial Portions of the Central Nervous System

The ratio (infratentorial weight × 100)/total brain weight is easily calculated and is significant in evaluating both development and disease of the central nervous system, particularly cerebral cortical atrophy. This determination can also be of value in the study of other diseases. The study shows that carcinoma may cause loss of cerebral tissue by unknown remote factors.
Stock returns, real activity, and money: Causality testing using a multiple hypothesis testing approach

There is considerble debate concerning the dynamic relationship among stock returns and real activity. Two explanations that have received particular attention are those of the proxy hypothesis and the reverse causality explanation. The principle distinguishing feature between these two explanations concerns whether or not inflation merely proxies for some underlying relation among stock returns and real activity. The purpose of this article is to re-examine the evidence within the context of multiple time-series models. Our re-examination is motivated by some new developments in the area of causality testing employing Vector Autoregressive Moving Average (VARMA) models. These new developments have focused on the issue of causality testing when the hypotheses are not completely nested (as in VARMA models, by construction), and the potential bias that may arise by the inference procedure employed. Thus, this article carefully selects an inference procedure which permits one to infer the direction of potential bias and finds that the results of previous work are sensitive to the inference procedure employed. Controlling for this bias, we report that the evidence favors the proxy hypothesis.
Systems-Level Lipid Analysis Methodologies for Qualitative and Quantitative Investigation of Lipid Signaling Events During Wound Healing.

Objective: Accumulating evidence implicates a prominent role for lipid signaling molecules in the regulation of wound healing. These lipids regulate hemostasis, onset and resolution of inflammation, migration and proliferation cells, angiogenesis, epithelialization, and remodeling of collagen. The objective of this overview is to demonstrate the applicability of systems level lipid analyses to identify and quantify lipid involved in events leading to wound healing. Approach: Current advances in liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry have provided the means for carrying out quantitative and qualitative analysis of lipids at a systems level. This emerging field is collectively referred to as lipidomics and its potential in wound healing research is largely ignored. Results: While comprehensive applications of lipidomics in wound healing are limited, studies carried out by the authors as well as others demonstrate distinct changes in the lipidome during the wound healing process. Innovatio...
Ligand-independent higher-order multimerization of CXCR4, a G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor involved in targeted metastasis

CXCR4, a G-protein-coupled receptor of CXCL12/stromal cell-derived factor-1α, mediates a wide range of physiological and pathological processes, including the targeted metastasis of cancer cells. CXCR4 has been shown to homo-oligomerize in several experimental systems. However, it remains unclear with which domains CXCR4 interacts homotypically, and whether it dimerizes or forms a higher-order complex. To address these issues, we used bioluminescent resonance energy transfer and bimolecular fluorescence complementation analyses to measure the homotypic interactions of CXCR4 in living cells. Both assays indicated that CXCR4 interacts homotypically, which is consistent with previous studies. By studying CXCR4 mutants lacking various domains, we found that multiple transmembrane domains probably serve as potential molecular interaction surfaces for oligomerization. The relative contribution of the amino- or carboxy-termini to oligomerization was small. To differentiate between a dimer and a multimer consisting of more than two molecules, bioluminescent resonance energy transfer–bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis was conducted. It revealed that CXCR4 engages in higher-order oligomerization in a ligand-independent fashion. This is the first report providing direct experimental evidence for the higher-order multimerization of CXCR4 in vivo. We hypothesize that CXCR4 distributes to the cell surface as a multimer, in order to effectively sense, with increased avidity, the chemotaxis-inducing ligand in the microenvironment. Studying the structure and function of the oligomeric state of CXCR4 may lead us to develop novel CXCR4 inhibitors that disassemble the molecular cluster of CXCR4. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 95–102)
Adaptive output feedback actuator failure compensation for a class of non-linear systems

An adaptive compensation control scheme using output feedback is designed and analysed for a class of non-linear systems with state-dependent non-linearities in the presence of unknown actuator failures. For a linearly parameterized model of actuator failures with unknown failure values, time instants and pattern, a robust backstepping-based adaptive non-linear controller is employed to handle the system failure, parameter and dynamics uncertainties. Robust adaptive parameter update laws are derived to ensure closed-loop signal boundedness and small tracking errors, in general, and asymptotic regulation, in particular. An application to controlling the angle of attack of a non-linear hypersonic aircraft dynamic model in the presence of elevator segment failures is studied and simulation results show that the developed adaptive control scheme has desired actuator failure compensation performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Food habits and marine survival of juvenile Chinook and coho salmon from marine waters of Southeast Alaska

Little is known about the food habits of juvenile Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) salmon in marine environments of Alaska, or whether their diets may have contributed to extremely high marine survival rates for coho salmon from Southeast Alaska and much more modest survival rates for Southeast Alaskan Chinook salmon. To address these issues, we documented the spatial and temporal variability of diets of both species collected from marine waters of Southeast Alaska during summers of 1997–2000. Food habits were similar: major prey items of both species included fishes, crab larvae, hyperiid amphipods, insects, and euphausiids. Multivariate analyses of diet composition indicated that the most distinct groups were formed at the smallest spatial and temporal scales (the haul), although groups also formed at larger scales, such as by month or habitat type. Our expectations for how food habits would influence survival were only partially supported. As predicted, Southeast Alaskan coho salmon had more prey in their stomachs overall [1.8% of body weight (BW)] and proportionally far fewer empty stomachs (0.7%) than either Alaskan Chinook (1.4% BW, 5.1% empty) or coho salmon from other regions. However, contrary to our expectations, coho salmon diets contained surprisingly few fish (49% by weight). Apparently, Alaskan coho salmon achieved extremely high marine survival rates despite a diet consisting largely of small, less energetically-efficient crustacean prey. Our results suggest that diet quantity (how much is eaten) rather than diet quality (what is eaten) is important to marine survival.
ac losses in Nb3Ge composite tape conductors

Abstract ac losses of Nb 3 Ge tapes prepared by chemical vapour deposition have been measured between 4 and 16 K. Several tapes were observed to exhibit complete shielding of the normal substrate by the Nb 3 Ge coating, which is continuous around the tape circumference. These tapes had measured losses that were acceptably low for power transmission up to 14 K. Another class of tapes showed high losses characteristic of ohmic currents flowing through the normal substrates. Microscopic examination revealed continuous longitudinal edge cracks for these samples. A correlation observed between ‘edge cracking’ and Nb 3 Ge coat thickness is discussed in terms of the differential contraction from coating temperature between the Nb 3 Ge and the substrate in a completely enclosed geometry.
Position-specific induction of benzo(a)pyrene metabolism by 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital in mullet (Mugil cephalus), a marine fish.

Mullet (Mugil cephalus), a marine fish, were treated with 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital by i.p. injection and the effects on the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by isolated liver microsomes were evaluated. The most significant effect found in treated fish was an increase in the oxidation of benzo(a)pyrene at the bay region, a position-specific increase which was not reflected in an increase in the total activity. Comparison of metabolite patterns of the dihydrodiols of benzo(a)pyrene in the presence and absence of trichloropropene oxide showed that predicted inhibitions were observed in control as well as treated animals. No significant differences in metabolite patterns were found between the 3-methylcholanthrene- and phenobarbital-treated fish in either the presence or absence of trichloropropene oxide. Comparison is made to published data on similar position-specific effects observed in rats.
Efficient identification of Web communities

We de ne a communit y on the web as a set of sites that have more links (in either direction) to members of the community than to non-members. Members of such a community can be eAEciently iden ti ed in a maximum ow / minim um cut framework, where the source is composed of known members, and the sink consists of well-kno wn non-members. A focused crawler that crawls to a xed depth can approximate community membership by augmenting the graph induced by the cra wl with links to a virtual sink node.The effectiveness of the approximation algorithm is demonstrated with several crawl results that iden tify hubs, authorities, w eb rings, and other link topologies that are useful but not easily categorized. Applications of our approach include focused cra wlers and search engines, automatic population of portal categories, and improved ltering.
Dependence of resistivity on the doping level of polycrystalline silicon

The electrical resistivity of polycrystalline silicon films has been studied as a function of doping concentration and heat treatment. The films were grown by the chemical vapor decomposition of silane on oxidized silicon wafers. The resistivity of the as−deposited films was widely scattered but independent of dopant atom concentration at the lightly doped levels and was strong function of dopant level in the more heavily doped regions. Postdeposition heat treatments in an oxidizing atmosphere remove scatter in the data. The resultant resistivity for dopant levels less than 1016 atoms/cm3 was approximately equal to that of intrinsic silicon. In the next 2 orders of magnitude increase in dopant level, the resistivity dropped 6 orders of magnitude. A model, based on high dopant atom segregation in the grain boundaries, is proposed to explain the results.
Optimization of CO2 arteriography based on flow regime maps of co-current gas-liquid pulsatile flow

ABSTRACT The intravascular use of CO2 as a contrast medium for diagnosis of vaso-occiusive disease has the potential of improvedsafety and reduced cost compared to conventional contrast solutions. Optimal imaging using any gaseous contrast medium isstrongly dependent on the fluid mechanics of pulsatile gas-liquid flow. Gas-liquid flow regimes can be designated by thevisually identifiable patterns of annular flow, stratified flow, intermittent flow, and dispersed bubble flow. This paperpresents an analytically developed flow regime map for gas-liquid pulsatile flow and preliminary experimental results testingthe flow regime map predictions. Preliminary experimental results confirm analytical predictions: (i) Use of CO2 forintravascular vaso-occlusive imaging under typical conditions may result in a periodic intermittent flow; (ii) Periodicintermittent flow is encountered at lower liquid and gas flow rates than is steady-state intermittent flow; (iii) Reliableprediction of the flow regime in coordination with precise C02 delivery can be used to prescribe a flow regime optimal forintravascular vaso-occlusive imaging.Keywords : arteriography, carbon dioxide, contrast solutions, flow regimes, fluid mechanics, multiphase, periodic flow,pulsatile, two-phase
Unusual activation of H2 by reduced cobalt complexes supported by a PNP pincer ligand

The reactivity of cobalt complexes supported by a PNP pincer ligand towards H2 varies depending on whether the N-donor atom is protonated; the synthesis of [(HPNP)CoCl(H)2] (2), [(PNP)CoH]2 (4), and the trihydride species [(HPNP)CoH3] (7) (HPNP = HN(CH2CH2PiPr2)2) are described.
Photoluminescence and PL-detected magnetic resonance of C60 and C70

The X-band photoluminescence detected magnetic resonance (PLDMR) of C60 and C70 films and molecules isolated in toluene/polystyrene glasses is described. Both fullerene glasses have a PLDMR due to a triplet exciton delocalized over the entire molecule. However, the PLDMR of 3C70 strikingly differs from that of 3C60 in both lineshape and dynamics. These differences are due to the much longer lifetime of 3C70 which is consequently phosphorescent. The PLDMR of films indicates that the delocalized triplet is distorted by intermolecular interactions and reveals a half-field resonance consistent with triplet-triplet fusion. In addition, a broad approximately 600 G wide triplet powder pattern at g approximately equals 2, its half-field resonance at g approximately equals 4, and a narrow PL-enhancing resonance at g equals 2.0017 and 2.0029 for C60 and C70, resp., are observed. This second triplet is believed to be localized on a pentagon or hexagon face adjacent to a neighboring molecule. A narrow (approximately 3.3 G wide) PL-enhancing resonance is attributed to recombination of long-lived charged polarons. The PLDMR of photooxidized and photopolymerized films of C60 and C70 is also described. Both processes quench the localized triplet, but PLDMR spectrum of photopolymerized C60 films reveal the presence of a third triplet exciton delocalized across several molecules.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
In vivo syntheses of phosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine in larvae of the dried-fruit moth.

Abstract The in vivo incorporation of injected 1,2- 14 C-choline chloride and ul - 14 C-ethanolamine into dried-fruit moth late instar larval phospholipids was investigated. The distribution of 14 C-label in the larval phospholipids indicated that ethanolamine and choline are metabolic precursors of phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl choline respectively. Furthermore, by the injection of methyl- 14 C- l -methionine the presence of a transmethylation system capable of methylating phosphatidyl ethanolamine to form phosphatidyl N-methylethano-lamine, phosphatidyl N,N′-dimethylethanolamine, and phosphatidyl choline was indicated.
In Situ Quartz Crystal Microbalance Studies of Nickel Hydrous Oxide Films in Alkaline Electrolytes

The microgravimetric characteristics of electrodeposited nickel and composite Ni/Co hydrous oxide films on Au electrodes in KOH electrolytes were examined in situ with a combination of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and voltammetric techniques. In the case of freshly prepared {alpha}-Ni(OH){sub 2} hydrous oxide films, denoted as {alpha}-Ni(OH){sub 2}(hyd), the mass increased during oxidation and then decreased upon subsequent reduction. As the redox cycling was continued, however, this behavior gradually reversed, i.e., the mass decreased upon oxidation and then increased following further reduction. This unique effect could be correlated with a shift in the position of the oxidation peak maximum (E{sub p}{sup ox}) in the voltammogram toward more positive potentials, which has been ascribed to the transformation of {alpha}-Ni(OH){sub 2}(hyd) into {beta}-Ni(OH){sub 2}(hyd). Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the mechanism of ionic charge transport in these two types of lattices is markedly different. In contrast, composite Ni/Co (9:1) hydrous oxide films displayed qualitatively the same behavior as pure freshly prepared Ni(OH){sub 2}(hyd) in the same alkaline media regardless of the extent of cycling. This observation provides evidence that the incorporation of cobalt into Ni(OH){sub 2}(hyd) modifies the structural properties of the lattice during the oxidation/reduction process.
Job and non‐job stressors and their moderators

Almost 4000 principal wage-earners were surveyed to assess the main and interactive effects of undesirable and desirable life-events, social support, and perceived and objective job security on psychological symptoms. Events and support were measured for both the job and non-job spheres. Three methods of analysis were used. Ordinary regression was used as a preliminary analysis and to provide comparison with the customary approach. A second analysis was based on dichotomizing the continuous symptom variable at a point approximating a ‘case’ vs. non-case distinction. The third analysis used a small panel to control for time 1 symptoms. The different methods produced somewhat different results but, in general, provided support for certain main effects including desirable life-events and job security but little or weak support for the moderating effects of such variables as social support.
Automatic Horizontal Communication in Management

Provides information on effective communication in management. Flow of information in a corporate setting; Concept of horizontal communication among employees; Discussion on management relations.
Attraction/repulsion between like charges and the spin of the classical mediating field

The question as to whether an even or odd spin of the mediating field results in an attractive or repulsive force between like sources is examined within the framework of classical theory. It is shown that the assertion holds in a Lorentz-invariant theory constructed in analogy with electrodynamics provided that the current does not depend on any intrinsic direction of the source. Counterexamples are presented to show that the connection does not exist when the current does depend on the intrinsic direction.
High performance liquid chromatographic assay for the quantitation of total glutathione in plasma

A simple and widely used homocysteine HPLC procedure was applied for the HPLC identification and quantitation of glutathione in plasma. The method, which utilizes SBDF as a derivatizing agent utilizes only 50 microl of sample volume. Linear quantitative response curve was generated for glutathione over a concentration range of 0.3125-62.50 micromol/l. Linear regression analysis of the standard curve exhibited correlation coefficient of 0.999. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) values were 5.0 and 15 pmol, respectively. Glutathione recovery using this method was nearly complete (above 96%). Intra-assay and inter-assay precision studies reflected a high level of reliability and reproducibility of the method. The applicability of the method for the quantitation of glutathione was demonstrated successfully using human and rat plasma samples.
Lebesgue logic for probabilistic reasoning and some applications to perception

Abstract Reasoning with probabilities is essential to many sciences, such as decision theory, expert systems, neural networks, pattern recognition, and perception in general. In this paper we explore a new logic of probabilities, the Lebesgue logic, in which are defined the logical relations ENTAILS, AND, OR, and NOT on collections of probability measures. In particular, given any two probability measures μ and v, the Lebesgue logic answers questions such as the following: Does μ entail v? What is the conjunction of μ and v, i.e., what is μ AND v? What is the disjunction of μ and v, i.e., what is μ OR v? What is the negation of μ? Several properties of the Lebesgue logic emerge. Among them are (1) the Lebesgue logic is not boolean, in general, but is "locally boolean," (2) the AND of the Lebesgue logic is a generalization of Bayes' rule; (3) one can define probability measures on the Lebesgue logic itself, thereby permitting the representation of probabilistic knowledge without requiring any commitment to a particular probability measure; and (4) many probabilistic inferences can be described as morphisms of the Lebesgue logic, i.e., as maps from one collection of probability measures to another, respecting the Lebesgue logics on both. We close by discussing a concrete problem to which the Lebesgue logic may find application; the problem of sensor fusion in vision and other perceptual modalities.