cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pseudo basic steps: bound improvement guarantees from Lagrangian decomposition in convex disjunctive programming

An elementary, but fundamental, operation in disjunctive programming is a basic step, which is the intersection of two disjunctions to form a new disjunction. Basic steps bring a disjunctive set in regular form closer to its disjunctive normal form and, in turn, produce relaxations that are at least as tight. An open question is: What are guaranteed bounds on the improvement from a basic step? In this paper, using properties of a convex disjunctive program’s hull reformulation and multipliers from Lagrangian decomposition, we introduce an operation called a pseudo basic step and use it to provide provable bounds on this improvement along with techniques to exploit this information when solving a disjunctive program as a convex MINLP. Numerical examples illustrate the practical benefits of these bounds. In particular, on a set of K-means clustering instances, we make significant bound improvements relative to state-of-the-art commercial mixed-integer programming solvers.
Four-jet impingement: Noise characteristics and simplified acoustic model

Abstract The noise generation mechanisms for four directly impinging supersonic jets are investigated employing implicit large eddy simulations with a higher-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme. Although these types of impinging jet configurations have been used in many experiments, a detailed investigation of the noise generation mechanisms has not been conducted before. The flow field is highly complex and contains a wide range of temporal and spatial scales relevant for noise generation. Proper orthogonal decomposition is utilized to characterize the unsteady nature of the flow field involving unsteady shock oscillations, large coherent turbulent flow structures, and the sporadic appearance of vortical flow structures in the center of the four-jet impingement region. The causality method based on Lighthills acoustic analogy is applied to link fluctuations of flow quantities inside the source region to the acoustic pressure in the far field. It will be demonstrated that the entropy fluctuation term plays a vital role in the noise generation process. Consequently, the understanding of the noise generation mechanisms is employed to develop a simplified acoustic model of the four-jet impingement device by utilizing the equivalent source method. Finally, three linear acoustic four-jet impingement models of the four-jet impingement device are used as broadband noise sources inside an engine nacelle and the acoustic scattering results are validated against far-field acoustic experimental data.
Low Time Complexity Collision Avoidance Method for Autonomous Mobile Robots

In this paper we present a fast and reliable method of obstacle avoidance for ground mobile robots both for outdoor and indoor navigation. The method compromises two contradictory approaches: non-complex implementation and human-like smooth steering. The method is applicable in any mobile robotic system regardless of used sensors. All calculations are done on virtual representation of surroundings, where the information about obstacles and a free space is presented in a unified way. The method results in a smooth movement, but is also equipped with a reactive calculation path that handles dangerous and damage-prone situations. The total calculation time for a desktop computer for presented method is 5[ms], resulting in real-time behavior of an algorithm.
Class II and IV HDACs function as inhibitors of osteoclast differentiation

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are negative regulators of transcription and have been shown to regulate specific changes in gene expression. In vertebrates, eighteen HDACs have thus far been identified and subdivided into four classes (I-IV). Key roles for several HDACs in bone development and biology have been elucidated through in vitro and in vivo models. By comparison, there is a paucity of data on the roles of individual HDACs in osteoclast formation and function. In this study, we investigated the gene expression patterns and the effects of suppressing individual class II (Hdac4, 5, 6, 9, and 10) and class IV (Hdac11) HDACs during osteoclast differentiation. We demonstrated that HDAC class II and IV members are differentially expressed during osteoclast differentiation. Additionally, individual shRNA-mediated suppression of Hdac4, 5, 9, 10 and 11 expression resulted in increased multinucleated osteoclast size and demineralization activity, with little to no change in the overall number of multinucleated osteoclasts formed compared with control shRNA-treated cells. We also detected increased expression of genes highly expressed in osteoclasts, including c-Fos, Nfatc1, Dc-stamp and Cathepsin K. These observations indicate that HDACs cooperatively regulate shared targets in a non-redundant manner.
Patent Scenarios for the Mississippi River

When considering patents, one may automatically recall some type of thing. Throughout the last six centuries of Western technological progress the conflation of manufacturing, mechanization, and pa...
A review of the literature on the environmental impacts of marine fish cage culture.

Se presenta una revision compresiva de la literatura relacionada con los impactos ambientales producidos por el cultivo de peces marinos en jaulas. Es poca la investigacion que se ha realizado sobre este tipo de impacto en ambientes tropicales, por lo que se presentan resultados de estudios realizados sobre el cultivo de salmon en zonas templadas. Los temas incluyen: a) aspectos relacionados con la eutroficacion de las areas costeras b) informacion sobre los regimenes de alimentacion y la produccion de desechos en el cultivo de salmon, c) caracteristicas y extension de los impactos observados sobre las comunidades del fondo del mar, d) Posibles efectos en comunidades locales de peces, y e) preocupaciones relacionadas con el uso de sustancias quimicas en el cultivo intensivo de peces. Con base en la literatura revisada se formulan sugerencias para el desarrollo de modelos tendientes a representar y pronosticar impactos derivados del cultivo de peces en jaulas. Tambien se hacen recomendaciones para futuros trabajos de investigacion en este tema.
Autoimmunity and Sinus Disease

Sinus disease is most commonly seen in ANCA-associated vasculitis. There are rare reports of sinus disease in other rheumatologic conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. The pathogenesis of sinus disease in this group of disorders is probably related to immunologic dysfunction that may involve T- and B-cell regulation, apoptosis, and the inflammasome. The relative roles of genetics and the environment in the pathogenesis of sinus disease in vasculitides are unclear. The treatment of sinus disease in these disorders usually is part of the overall treatment of the disease and may include corticosteroids, disease-modifying agents, biologic modulators, and other immunosuppressive drugs. The prognosis of sinus disease in these conditions usually follows the course of the overall illness.
Variations in ppGpp levels in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides during adaptation to decreased light intensity.

The guanosine nucleotides ppGpp and pppGpp have been found in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas spheroides supporting a suggestion that these are ubiquitous compounds in bacteria. ppGpp levels undergo an abrupt rise coincident with the cessation of RNA accumulation which occurs in this bacterium following a down-shift in incident light intensity. An abrupt decrease in the rate of [3H] uridine uptake into acid-precipitable material characteristic of light shift-down is also coincident with the rise in ppGpp levels. A regulatory role for this nucleotide in R. spheroides similar to that proposed in other bacteria is suggested.
Insulin resistance disrupts cell integrity, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory signaling in lymphatic endothelium

Objective Lymphatic vessel dysfunction and increased lymph leakage have been directly associated with several metabolic diseases. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms causing lymphatic dysfunction have not been determined. Aberrant insulin signaling affects the metabolic function of cells and consequently impairs tissue function. We hypothesized that insulin resistance in LECs decreases eNOS activity, disrupts barrier integrity increases permeability, and activates mitochondrial dysfunction and pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. Methods LECs were treated with insulin and/or glucose to determine the mechanisms leading to insulin resistance. Results Acute insulin treatment increased eNOS phosphorylation and NO production in LECs via activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Prolonged hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia induced insulin resistance in LECs. Insulin-resistant LECs produced less NO due to a decrease in eNOS phosphorylation and showed a significant decrease in impedance across an LEC monolayer that was associated with disruption in the adherence junctional proteins. Additionally, insulin resistance in LECs impaired mitochondrial function by decreasing basal-, maximal-, and ATP-linked OCRs and activated NF-κB nuclear translocation coupled with increased pro-inflammatory signaling. Conclusion Our data provide the first evidence that insulin resistance disrupts endothelial barrier integrity, decreases eNOS phosphorylation and mitochondrial function, and activates inflammation in LECs.
Evaluation of a web-based fall prevention program among people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background Falls are common and impactful in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) but currently there is no accepted standard of care for fall prevention in MS. Evidence supports that the in-person, group-based, Free from Falls (FFF) program is associated with both immediate and six-month sustained improvements in mobility and balance and a reduction in falls, but program attendance is limited by access to the class at a given time and location and by the cost and availability of trained facilitators. Therefore, we developed and evaluated an online, web-based version of FFF, Free from Falls Online (FFFO). Methods Thirty people with MS who reported falling at least twice in the previous two months were randomized to FFFO or to a control group. FFFO consists of eight weekly sessions, each with an instructional and exercise component. Subjects in the control group were given a brochure on minimizing fall risk, a letter was sent to their treating physician informing them that the subject reported falling, and these subjects were invited to use the FFFO program at study completion. Outcomes included baseline demographics, falls prospectively reported for the eight weeks of intervention and the following three months, and a program satisfaction survey for the active group. Regression models were used to test for associations between treatment group and fall incidence. Results Subjects’ mean age was 55.8 years, 70% were female, 73% had progressive MS, median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 6.0, and subjects reported a median of two falls in the month prior to study enrollment. Although, in general, regression models demonstrated trends that those in the intervention group were less likely to fall than those in the control group, statistical significance was only achieved (p = 0.0038) with a post hoc model evaluating the relationship between the square of days and the probability of not falling. This model supported that those in the intervention group were slightly less likely to fall than those in the control group. This difference was most prominent in the first month of the study, less prominent in the following month, and not sustained three months following the intervention. User experience with FFFO was overall positive, with over 75% reporting the web-based program easy to learn and to use, 85% reporting the program was easy to follow, 62% reporting the material to be useful, and 77% finding the exercises to be a useful component of the program. Conclusion This study supports the viability of online delivery of self-management strategies in MS, suggests that FFFO may help prevent falls in people with MS, and provides the preliminary data needed to verify the findings of this pilot study of FFFO with a fully powered randomized controlled trial in people with MS.
Barriers to Securing Industry Internships in Computing

Industry internships offer CS students an opportunity to explore computing disciplines, evaluate self-interests, understand professional expectations, and secure future employment. However, less than 60% of CS students pursue an internship before graduation. We have a limited knowledge of why students do not participate in industry internships and the impediments they face to secure an internship position. This paper presents findings from our multi-institutional study aimed at understanding the barriers CS students face to secure an industry internship. We discuss these barriers through the lens of agency from Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory and the Social Cognitive Career Theory. We surveyed 302 CS undergraduate students who did not intern across two universities in the United States and used thematic analysis on the open-ended survey responses. We found four themes: low self-efficacy, actions, alternate priority, and application process challenges. These themes suggest that CS students who do not intern self-evaluate them as not qualified, are applying but not securing an internship position due to lack of preparation or reliance on coursework, lack the knowledge pertinent to the internship recruitment process, and are not applying for internship positions due to alternate priorities or less developed agentic resources. This paper contributes to the fields' growing knowledge of CS students professional development. This knowledge has the potential to develop strategic support programs to increase students' competitiveness to secure internships as well as full-time employment.
Inverted papilloma is associated with greater radiographic inflammatory disease than other sinonasal malignancy.

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of inverted papilloma (IP) has not been fully elucidated. However, chronic paranasal sinus inflammation has been anecdotally observed in sites distant from tumor obstruction in IP patients, suggesting an association between inflammation and IP tumorigenesis. This study assesses the association between sinonasal inflammation found in IP and compares this to the level of inflammation observed in other sinonasal tumors. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed identifying patients with unilateral IP. Pertinent clinical data was obtained and comparative analysis of preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging and histopathology was performed. A sample of unilateral, sinonasal, non-IP and non-squamous cell tumors was used as the control. The Lund-Mackay scoring system was used to assess radiologic sinonasal inflammation both ipsilateral and contralateral to the tumor. RESULTS Seventy-one patients were included; 58.9% of patients with IP had evidence of contralateral sinusitis at the time of presentation. In the control group, 26.7% had evidence of contralateral inflammation. When comparing contralateral sinus inflammation between the 2 study groups, the IP patients had significantly higher Lund-Mackay scores than the control group (1.9 vs 0.26, p < 0.001). When comparing ipsilateral sinus inflammation, no significant difference was found in Lund-Mackay scores (5.44 vs 4.00, p < 0.184). CONCLUSION In this study, unilateral IPs were associated with a higher level of contralateral sinonasal inflammation when compared to control. This suggests that IP may be associated with inflammation that is independent of obstruction by the tumor. Further studies are needed to better understand the temporal relationship between chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis.
Post-extrasystolic potentiation as a predictor of premature ventricular contraction-cardiomyopathy in an animal model.

AIMS High premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) burden does not always predict the development of PVC-cardiomyopathy (CM). We sought to evaluate post-extrasystolic potentiation (PESP) of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to predict the severity of PVC-CM in an animal model. METHODS AND RESULTS Right ventricular apical bigeminal PVCs were introduced for 12 weeks in 11 canines to induce PVC-CM. Echocardiograms were performed to obtain LVEF without ectopy (Echo-1) and during PVCs (200 and 350 ms coupling intervals, Echo-2, and Echo-3, respectively), and premature atrial contractions (PACs) (Echo-4) at baseline and after 12 weeks of bigeminal PVCs. PESP was calculated as delta-LVEF between the sinus beat post-ectopy LVEF (Echo-2, -3, and -4, respectively) and LVEF without PVC (Echo-1) at baseline and 12 weeks of high PVC burden. A hyperdynamic LV function (LVEF > 70%) was noted in all animals only with early-coupled PVCs (LVEF at 200 ms: 74.4 ± 6%) at baseline. While PVC PESP at 200 ms had a strong significant correlation with the final 12-week LVEF (R = 0.8, P = 0.003), PVC PESP at 350 ms and PAC PESP had a positive but non-significant correlation (R = 0.53, P = 0.09, and R = 0.29, P = 0.34, respectively). Premature ventricular contraction PESP at 350 ms was significantly higher after PVC-CM had developed (delta-LVEF baseline 2.7 ± 2.9% vs. 12 weeks 18.6 ± 12.3% P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Bigeminal early-coupled PVCs cause hyperdynamic left ventricular function in the structurally normal canine heart due to PESP. The degree of PESP at baseline is inversely proportional to the PVC-CM severity at 12 weeks and maybe a predictor of PVC-CM as it may assess the myocardial adaptation reserve to PVCs.
Adult Lymphoma-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Clinical Case Series in a Predominantly Hispanic Cohort

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a systemic inflammation disorder secondary to immune dysregulation. Patients may present with fevers, splenomegaly, bone marrow failure and hemophagocytosis, among other clinical and laboratory findings. Lymphoma-associated HLH (LA-HLH) is a puzzling diagnosis given both conditions overlapping presentation. There are currently no established treatment guidelines for LA-HLH. We conducted a retrospective search of the tumor registry and pathology database at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital using Pathology Laboratory Information System (LIS) and natural language search. We identified adult patients with a combined diagnosis of lymphoma and HLH between January 2008 and July 2018. Data from nine LA-HLH patients were identified and reviewed. The median age was 53 years (range 19 - 73), with 78% of cases of Hispanic origin. Lymphoma subtypes consisted of six T-cell/NK-cell neoplasms: two peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), not otherwise specified (NOS); two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ extranodal NK-/T-cell lymphomas; one EBV+, CD8+, PTCL, NOS; one EBV+, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder-anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anaplastic lymphoma kinase negative (PTLD ALCL ALK-); and three B-cell neoplasms: one EBV+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); two DLBCL, NOS. HLH and lymphoma were diagnosed simultaneously in six out of nine cases. Hemophagocytosis phenomena were demonstrated in seven out of nine cases. Treatment consisted of combined HLH and lymphoma therapies in four cases, while lymphoma-directed therapy was applied to four patients; another case was treated with a modified version of the HLH-1994 protocol. Overall, a total of five cases were exposed to HLH-directed regimens (HLH-1994/2004). Three patients had refractory LA-HLH and entered hospice care, whereas another three cases succumbed to treatment-related complications. Of the seven cases that were evaluable for lymphoma response, four cases (57%) achieved complete response (CR), and three of them (43%) were alive with no evidence of recurrence at 10, 16 and 52 months as of the last contact. Herein, we describe our unique experience of an LA-HLH case series in a predominantly Hispanic population in South Florida. The diagnosis is challenging, often delayed, and the prognosis is dismal in refractory cases despite currently available rescue therapies. Furthermore, we describe for the first time the association between HLH and PTLD ALCL.
Does Choice Cause an Illusion of Control

Previous research suggests that choice causes an illusion of control-that it makes people feel more likely to achieve preferable outcomes, even when they are selecting among options that are functionally identical (e.g., lottery tickets with an identical chance of winning). This research has been widely accepted as evidence that choice can have significant welfare effects, even when it confers no actual control. In this article, we report the results of 17 experiments that examined whether choice truly causes an illusion of control (N = 10,825 online and laboratory participants). We found that choice rarely makes people feel more likely to achieve preferable outcomes-unless it makes the preferable outcomes actually more likely-and when it does, it is not because choice causes an illusion but because choice reflects some participants' preexisting (illusory) beliefs that the functionally identical options are not identical. Overall, choice does not seem to cause an illusion of control.
Characteristics, clinical care, and disposition barriers for mental health patients boarding in the emergency department.

Abstract Background and objectives Lack of mental health resources, such as inpatient psychiatric beds, has increased frequency and duration of boarding for mental health patients presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs). The purpose of this study is to describe characteristics of mental health patients with an ED length of stay of one week or longer and to identify barriers to their disposition. Methods This study was conducted in an academic ED in which emergency psychiatric evaluations and care are provided by a Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) team contained within the Department of Emergency Medicine. Prolonged boarding was defined as an ED length of stay of 7 days or more. Pediatric, adult, and geriatric mental health patients with prolonged ED boarding from January 1 to August 31, 2019 were included. This study includes prospective data collection of the boarding group and retrospective identification and data collection of a comparison group of non-barding patients over the same 8-month period to compare patient characteristics and outcomes for each group. Results Between January 1 and August 31, 2019, the PES team completed 2,745 new assessments of mental health patients, of whom 39 met criteria for prolonged ED boarding. The following characteristics were associated with boarding: child (8%), male (64%), having Medicaid (49%) or both Medicaid and Medicare (18%), and having either a neurodevelopmental (15%) or neurocognitive disorder (15%) with a median stay of 18 days. Barriers to discharge included being declined from all state inpatient psychiatric hospitals (69%), declined from community living environments (21%), or declined from both (10%). The most common ED non-boarding patients were: Caucasian (64%), have a diagnosis of unspecified mental disorder (including suicidal ideation) or other specified mental disorder (59%) and have private insurance (42%) with a median stay of 1 day. Conclusion In this study of mental health patients with prolonged ED stays, the primary barrier to disposition was the lack of patient acceptance to inpatient psychiatric hospitals, community settings, or other housing. Early identification of potential prolonged boarding, quality treatment and care for those patients, and effective case management, may resolve the ongoing challenges of boarding within the ED.
Abstract WP380: Simulation Based Acute Stroke Responders Training Improves Door-to-Thrombolytic Time

Background: The evaluation of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients should be performed expeditiously. Our stroke program maintained our Target: Stroke Honor Roll status in 2014, however, door-to-ne...
Left main coronary artery compression in pulmonary hypertension.

Extrinsic compression of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) by a dilated pulmonary artery (PA) in the setting of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an increasingly recognized disease entity. LMCA compression has been associated with angina, arrhythmia, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death in patients with PAH. Recent studies suggest that at least 6% of patients with PAH have significant LMCA compression. Screening for LMCA compression can be achieved with computed coronary tomography angiography, with a particular emphasis on assessment of PA size and any associated downward displacement and reduced takeoff angle of the LMCA. Indeed, evidence of a dilated PA (>40 mm), a reduced LMCA takeoff angle (<60°), and/or LMCA stenosis on CCTA imaging should prompt further diagnostic evaluation. Coronary angiography in conjunction with intravascular imaging has proven effective in diagnosing LMCA compression and guiding subsequent treatment. While optimal medical therapy and surgical correction remain in the clinician's arsenal, percutaneous coronary intervention has emerged as an effective treatment for LMCA compression. Given the prevalence of LMCA compression, its associated morbidity, and mortality, and the wide array of successful treatment strategies, maintaining a high degree of suspicion for this condition, and understanding the potential treatment strategies is critical.
A second order yield-temperature relation for accurate inference of burn-averaged quantities in multi-species plasmas

Measured yields and ion temperatures inferred from the fusion product energy spectra can be used as metrics for the performance of an ICF implosion. This can be used to infer species separation, thermal decoupling, flows, or other effects that can cause the inferred ion temperatures to deviate from the true underlying thermal temperature and the yield ratio to deviate from the expected value. Direct inference of the impact of these effects on observed temperatures and yields can be difficult to uncover due to the underlying dependence on the shape and time evolution of the temperature and density profiles of the fusing plasma. Due to differences in the temperature dependence of the reactivities, different fusion products are emitted from different regions and times within the implosion. In order to properly account for this, a second-order analytical expression relating the apparent temperatures and yield ratios is developed. This expression can be coupled to models of yield and/or temperature altering effects to infer their burn-averaged impact on an implosion. The second-order expression shows significant improvement over lower-order expressions in synthetic data studies. Demonstrations of its applications to synthetic data coupled with models of ion thermal decoupling and radial flows are presented. In the case of thermal decoupling, both first and second-order expressions show reasonable levels of accuracy. To consistently infer the amplitude of radial flow with a <10% error, the second-order equation is required.
Examining the 21st century skillset perceptions of academy and comprehensive school students

Abstract We compared career academy students (n = 669) with traditional comprehensive school students (n = 614) on the perceptions of their 21 st century skillsets. Academy students, when compared with their traditional comprehensive school peers, reported that their schools significantly contributed more to their abilities to apply knowledge from their courses to a real-world context. Students from two of the three academies – that operated as magnet schools – reported that their schools significantly contributed more to their communication and critical thinking skills. Students from one of the three academies – with a 93 % Latinx and 90 % low-income student population – reported that their schools significantly contributed more to their intra- and interpersonal skills. Findings emphasize the nature of the curriculum and learning strategies that are beneficial for students in career academies as they use curriculum integration and work-based learning activities to increase the meaningfulness and relevancy of content.
A cooperative bat searching algorithm with application to model predictive control

In this paper, a cooperative bat searching algorithm (CBA) is proposed by using a communication topology to share information among all the bats in bat algorithm (BA). Inspired by the cooperation mechanism in the distributed control theory, a cooperative term is added to the original BA to accelerate the searching process. The convergence issue is rigorously studied for CBA by using the Jury’s test. Moreover, numerical evaluation is conducted to compare CBA with other variants of BA by solving fifteen benchmark functions from IEEE congress on evolutionary computation. The results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed CBA. As an application, CBA and binary CBA are equipped as the real-time optimizers in a networked model predictive control strategy to solve a balanced coordination problem. The proposed CBA showed competitive performance.
Inhibition of the lipoxin A4 and resolvin D1 receptor impairs host response to acute lung injury caused by pneumococcal pneumonia in mice.

Resolution of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from pneumonia requires repair of the injured lung endothelium and alveolar epithelium, removal of neutrophils from the distal airspaces...
Toward a Decolonial Approach to Psychosocial Accompaniment from the “Outside”

Ecopsychosocial accompaniment can occur between members of a shared community or between member(s) of two or more different communities. When accompanists come from “outside,” there is danger of acting out colonial patterns of “helping” that culturally invade, depower, and disrespect those “inside.” A decolonial approach to accompaniment from the “outside” requires a fundamental re-orientation for those who have been born into and/or educated into white, economic, and/or social privilege. An ethical approach to mutual accompaniment requires critical reflection on one’s own positionality and its effects. It may require depowering and deprivileging oneself as much as possible in order to support the leadership and voices of those from within a community. This reorientation enables accompaniment to potentially become a mutual process of co-liberation that can over time transform into committed solidarity for more just relations.
Toward a Revision of the Bamboo Corals: Part 2, Untangling the Genus Lepidisis (Octocorallia: Isididae)

The genus Lepidisis was established by Verrill in 1883 for three species collected from the continental slope in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Over the intervening years, several species were assigned to this genus using conflicting characters taken from Verrill's original description. Using what remains of Verrill's syntype specimens and a new specimen collected from off of the coast of the New England region, USA, we show that Verrill made a serious mistake in his description of the type species, and that mistake has caused some of the confusion surrounding this genus. We redescribe the type species, then use that description to evaluate the other species currently assigned to the genus.
A Graphical Approch to the Determination of the Eccentricity and the Perigee Angle

SUMMARY A graphical method is presented for the determination of the eccentricity and perigee angle in the two-body problem for a given initial velocity and angle.
Native weeds and exotic plants: relationships to disturbance in mixed-grass prairie*

Disturbance frequently is implicated in the spread of invasive exotic plants. Disturbances may be broadly categorized as endogenous (e.g., digging by fossorial animals) or exogenous (e.g., construction and maintenance of roads and trails), just as weedy species may be native or exotic in origin. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare exotic and native weedy plant occurrence in and near three classes of disturbance – digging by prairie dogs (an endogenous disturbance to which native plants have had the opportunity to adapt), paved or gravel roads (an exogenous disturbance without natural precedent), and constructed trails (an exogenous disturbance with a natural precedent in trails created by movement of large mammals) – in three geographically separate national park units. I used plant survey data from the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Wind Cave National Park in the northern mixed-grass prairie of western North and South Dakota, USA, to characterize the distribution of weedy native and exotic plants with respect to the three disturbance classes as well as areas adjacent to them. There were differences both in the susceptibility of the disturbance classes to invasion and in the distributions of native weeds and exotic species among the disturbance classes. Both exotic and native weedy species richness were greatest in prairie dog towns and community composition there differed most from undisturbed areas. Exotic species were more likely to thrive near roadways, where native weedy species were infrequently encountered. Exotic species were more likely to have spread beyond the disturbed areas into native prairie than were weedy native species. The response of individual exotic plant species to the three types of disturbance was less consistent than that of native weedy species across the three park units.
BOREAS TE-18 Landsat TM Physical Classification Image of the SSA

The BOREAS TE-18 team focused its efforts on using remotely sensed data to characterize the successional and disturbance dynamics of the boreal forest for use in carbon modeling. The objective of this classification is to provide the BOREAS investigators with a data product that characterizes the land cover of the NSA. A Landsat-5 TM image from 21-Jun-1995 was used to derive the classification. A technique was implemented that uses reflectances of various land cover types along with a geometric optical canopy model to produce spectral trajectories. These trajectories are used in a way that is similar to training data to classify the image into the different land cover classes. The data are provided in a binary, image file format. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).
[3H](+)MK801 Radioligand Binding Assay at the N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate Receptor

The N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor is unusual in that it requires two endogenous agonists for activation. Thus, in addition to glutamate, the amino acid glycine (or possibly D-serine) is an essential co-agonist. This unit presents a radioligand binding protocol that detects ligand activity at the NMDA receptor-associated glycine site. This is a convenient approach that exploits the ability of NMDA receptor modulators to alter the kinetics of ligands that bind to the channel-blocking site of the NMDA receptor. This protocol takes advantage of one of the most potent and specific ligands that bind to this receptor, in this case [(3)H](+)MK801. Importantly, this assay can detect and differentiate agonists and antagonists that bind to the glycine site. A protocol for the measurement of glycine site activity with [(3)H](+)MK801 binding is provided, along with support protocols that provide information to aid in the design of assays of agonists and antagonists of the glycine site, and data analysis.
Material processing in electric and magnetic fields at microwave frequencies in a single mode cavity

Summary form only given. In this presentation we report the effect of electric and magnetic fields at 2.45 GHz frequency on the heating behavior of variety of materials. The survey of variety of samples of metals, ceramics, composites and magnetic materials showed remarkable differences in their heating behaviors and microstructural developments. It was observed that ferrites, dielectric insulators such as BaTiO/sub 3/ or TiO/sub 2/, could be rendered non-crystalline (amorphous) in 5-30 seconds, without even melting, when processed in 2.45 GHz single mode cavity, at the magnetic node alone. The magnetic properties of these commercial materials can be controlled by exposure to these fields. Even Silicon metal also showed decrystallization but in E-field. The results establish conclusively that the magnetic field interaction causes variety of losses and dominates the heating of almost all materials and often produces unexpected results.
Cosolvency of dimethyl isosorbide for steroid solubility.

Dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), which is currently under investigation for its potential use as a pharmaceutical vehicle and drug permeation enhancer, is a water-miscible liquid with relatively low viscosity. The solubilization behavior of DMI as a cosolvent for nonpolar drugs was characterized via dielectric constant measurements of binary solvent systems containing DMI and either water, propylene glycol (PG), or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Evidence from the dielectric constant profiles and NMR studies suggest that DMI undergoes complexation with water and PG, but not with PEG, through hydrogen bonding interactions. The solvent complexation exhibited a major effect on the solubilities of prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone in the mixed solvent systems. Maximum solubility of each drug was found to occur near a DMI/water or DMI/PG concentration ratio of 1:2. In the DMI–PEG mixed system, while there is no apparent interaction between DMI and PEG molecules, the solubility of prednisone was found to increase with decreasing dielectric constant.
Transcriptional Terminators of RNA Polymerase II Are Associated with Yeast Replication Origins

The compact organization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome necessitates that non-coding regulatory sequences reside in close proximity to one another. Here we show there is an intimate association between transcription terminators and DNA replication origins. Four replication origins were analyzed in a reporter gene assay that detects sequences that direct 3' end formation of mRNA transcripts. All four replication origins function as orientation-independent transcription terminators in this system, producing truncated polyadenylated mRNAs. Despite this close association, the cis-acting elements that confer replication origin function are genetically separable from those required for transcription termination. Several models are explored in an attempt to address how and why the signals specifying transcription termination and replication initiation overlap.
In vitro studies on the reactivation by oximes of phosphylated acetylcholinesterase—I: On the reactions of P2S with various organophosphates and the properties of the resultant phosphylated oximes

The rates of formation and decomposition of a series of phosphylated oximes derived from P2S (2-hydroxy-iminomethyl-1-methylpyridinium methane-sulphonate) have been measured. The rates of inhibition of AChE by these phosphylated oximes and the parent (and related) organophosphates have also been measured. Possession of these rate data now permits a detailed analysis of the reactivation of phosphylated AChE by P2S to be made (see following paper).
Isolation and characterization of an elastinolytic proteinase from Aspergillus flavus.

An elastinolytic proteinase of Aspergillus flavus has been isolated to homogeneity, and its physical and biochemical properties have been characterized. Two purification protocols were compared; an initial step of ion-exchange chromatography was found to be equivalent to ammonium sulfate precipitation at neutral pH. A combination of gel filtration and adsorption chromatographies on the resultant crude enzyme produced highly purified elastase with yields of 5 to 10%. The enzyme is a 23-kilodalton protein with a pI of 7.6. The enzyme activity is markedly inhibited by numerous metal ions. Aspergillus elastase appears to be a metalloproteinase EC 3.4.24.X), as determined by its sensitivity to 1,10-phenanthroline.
Rethinking Decentralization: Assessing Challenges to a Popular Public Sector Reform

Summary Decentralization is among the most globally ubiquitous public sector reforms. In the past few decades, many countries have taken formal steps to empower local governments, typically with a mix of stated developmental and governance goals. Although decentralization receives much attention, our systematic practical knowledge about it remains limited, and it is fair to say that it often does not meet expectations. Even supporters have begun to express frustration, and references to stalled decentralization or even recentralization have emerged in both policy debates and in practice. This paper briefly recaps what decentralization was expected to achieve, broadly summarizes what we know about performance, and highlights factors that support and impede reform. It also discusses weaknesses and challenges in how decentralization has been conceived, analyzed, designed, and implemented. The core argument is that this type of reform is more diverse and complex than has conventionally been acknowledged and that more careful analysis and strategic action tailored to a specific country are needed to help to realize more effective and sustainable decentralization. The paper closes with thoughts about future directions for how we conceptualize and pragmatically approach this diverse and consequential reform. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Work-in-progress: Argument development for Ontario, Canada's Harmonized Sales Tax

While democratic governments are increasingly pressured (by social, political, or economic forces) to find new methods to create revenue that will enhance and/or maintain existing services, their ultimate challenge is to bring forward necessary taxation policies while minimizing the depletion of their political capital when these policies are unpopular with citizens. This challenge is particularly difficult in the case of democratic nations, as governments can be dissolved and political parties can fail to win the support of their constituents in the next election. One of the methods of taxation that is becoming increasingly popular is value-added taxation. To better understand how taxation messages are communicated, I will research selected instances of Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) taxation communication in Ontario (a form of value added taxation), specifically looking at the rhetorical appeals used in the communications and assessing the challenges and successes of the communications. I will use as communication examples a video, a press release, and a government web page. My goal is to discover how an effective argument is developed for taxation communication, from start to finish, and come away with an understanding of what is going on in the minds of those who shape taxation communication-and possibly those who receive it. The outcome of this research will inform the fields of technical communication, rhetoric, economics, and public sector communication. In this paper, I present information on in-progress research on argument development for Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax. A subsequent article on the results of the research is planned for submission to IPCC 2015.
Ligation of CD3 triggers transmembrane proximity between LFA‐1 and cortical microfilaments in a cytotoxic T cell clone derived from tumor infiltrating lymphocytes: A quantitative resonance energy transfer microscopy study

We have explored the transmembrane associations of leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) in response to T cell receptor ligation using resonance energy transfer (r.e.t.) microscopy to detect receptor to microfilament proximity. R.e.t. was detected using both imaging and photon counting techniques. T cells were labeled with fluorescein-conjugated F(ab')2 fragments of an anti—LFA-1 monoclonal antibody. Cells were incubated at 37°C on unmodified glass surfaces and surfaces coated with anti-CD3 or anti—H-9 antibodies. Microfilaments of fixed cells were labeled with rhodamine-phalloidin. R.e.t. was not affected on unmodified (blank) or irrelevant antibody-treated (H-9) surfaces. However, both fluorescence images and photon count rates were significantly enhanced when cells bound to anti-CD3-coated surfaces. This enhancement was not due to a general effect of T cell activation on transmembrane cytoskeletal proximity since CD45-phalloidin r.e.t. was not affected by CD3 ligation. These experiments provide direct physical evidence that ligation of the CD3 complex specifically increases the proximity of LFA-1 and microfilaments, which may be relevant to T cell mediated adherence reactions. © 1994 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Take me away: The relationship between escape drinking and attentional bias for alcohol-related cues

Previous research has indicated that implicit attentional bias to alcohol-related cues may serve as a cognitive measure of susceptibility to alcohol dependence. The primary goal of the current study was to examine whether college students who drink to escape dysphoric emotions or moods (i.e., escape drinkers) have stronger attentional biases for alcohol-related cues than non-escape drinkers. Additionally, because previous research has shown that presentation time and content of smoking-related stimuli moderates differences between smokers' and nonsmokers' reaction times, this study sought to determine whether these effects generalized to alcohol-related stimuli. Participants who were identified as either escape (n = 74) or non-escape drinkers (n = 48) completed a dot-probe task in which alcohol-related pictures that contained humans interacting with the alcohol-related cues (active) or alcohol-related cues alone (inactive) were presented along with matched control pictures. These stimuli were presented for either 500 ms or 2000 ms to determine whether attentional biases occur as a function of initial or maintained attention to the alcohol-related cues. Escape drinkers displayed a significantly stronger attentional bias for alcohol-related inactive cues at longer presentation times (i.e., 2000 ms) compared to non-escape drinkers. This bias was independent of alcohol dependence and family history of alcoholism. These results suggest that in addition to dependence and family history, escape drinking is an important factor to consider when examining attentional biases to alcohol-related cues.
Social Responsibilities of Business Managers

The authors contend that value systems and styles of social responsibility of managers have gone through three historical phases—Phase I, the profit maximizer style; Phase II, the trusteeship style...
The Revised ITPA: Its Reliability and Validity for Use with EMRs.

Abstract Twenty-one EMR subjects were administered the Revised ITPA twice, employing three month intervals. Six criterion instruments were also administered to explore concurrent validity. It was determined that the ITPA is a fairly stable instrument. A coefficient of at least .80 was obtained for six of the subtests; four others were above .70. Two of the subtests, Visual Reception and Sound Blending, appeared to lack sufficient stability to be used diagnostically and remedially. Validity of the subtests examined was neither confirmed nor disproven since in most cases there was more than one significant correlation between criterion tests and other ITPA subtests which the presence of a g factor and the heterogeneous nature of the sample might help to explain.