cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mouse ERG K(+) channel clones reveal differences in protein trafficking and function.

Background The mouse ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene 1a ( mERG1a, mKCNH2 ) encodes mERG K+ channels in mouse cardiomyocytes. The mERG channels and their human analogue, hERG channels, conduct IKr. Mutations in hERG channels reduce IKr to cause congenital long‐QT syndrome type 2, mostly by decreasing surface membrane expression of trafficking‐deficient channels. Three cDNA sequences were originally reported for mERG channels that differ by 1 to 4 amino acid residues (mERG‐London, mERG‐Waterston, and mERG‐Nie). We characterized these mERG channels to test the postulation that they would differ in their protein trafficking and biophysical function, based on previous findings in long‐QT syndrome type 2. Methods and Results The 3 mERG and hERG channels were expressed in HEK293 cells and neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and were studied using Western blot and whole‐cell patch clamp. We then compared our findings with the recent sequencing results in the Welcome Trust Sanger Institute Mouse Genomes Project (WTSIMGP). Conclusions First, the mERG‐London channel with amino acid substitutions in regions of highly ordered structure is trafficking deficient and undergoes temperature‐dependent and pharmacological correction of its trafficking deficiency. Second, the voltage dependence of channel gating would be different for the 3 mERG channels. Third, compared with the WTSIMGP data set, the mERG‐Nie clone is likely to represent the wild‐type mouse sequence and physiology. Fourth, the WTSIMGP analysis suggests that substrain‐specific sequence differences in mERG are a common finding in mice. These findings with mERG channels support previous findings with hERG channel structure–function analyses in long‐QT syndrome type 2, in which sequence changes in regions of highly ordered structure are likely to result in abnormal protein trafficking.
Evidence for two-step regulation of pheromone biosynthesis by the pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide in the moth Heliothis virescens.

The control of pheromone biosynthesis by the neuropeptide PBAN was investigated in the moth Heliothis virescens. When decapitated females were injected with [2-14C] acetate, females co-injected with PBAN produced significantly greater quantities of radiolabeled fatty acids in their pheromone gland than females co-injected with saline. This indicates that PBAN controls an enzyme involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, probably acetyl CoA carboxylase. Decapitated females injected with PBAN showed a rapid increase in native pheromone, and a slower increase in the pheromone precursor, (Z)-11-hexadecenoate. Total native palmitate and stearate (both pheromone intermediates) showed a significant decrease after PBAN injection, before their titers were later restored to initial levels. In contrast, the acyl-CoA thioesters of these two saturated fatty acids increased during the period when their total titers decreased. When a mixture of labeled palmitic and heptadecanoic (an acid that cannot be converted to pheromone) acids was applied to the gland, PBAN-injected females produced greater quantities of labeled pheromone and precursor than did saline-injected ones. The two acids showed similar time-course patterns, with no difference in total titers of each of the respective acids between saline- and PBAN-injected females. When labeled heptadecanoic acid was applied to the gland alone, there was no difference in titers of either total heptadecanoate or of heptadecanoyl-CoA between PBAN- and saline-injected females, suggesting that PBAN does not directly control the storage or liberation of fatty acids in the gland, at least for this fatty acid. Overall, these data indicate that PBAN also controls a later step involved in pheromone biosynthesis, perhaps the reduction of acyl-CoA moieties. The control by PBAN of two enzymes, near the beginning and end of the pheromone biosynthetic process, would seem to allow for more efficient utilization of fatty acids and pheromone than control of only one enzyme. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 64:120–130, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Review Essay: Is Homo Economics Extinct?

The classical view of “rational man” as the unit of analysis for economic behavior and marketplace exchange has been changed by the late twentieth century with the help of behavioral economics that considers predictable irrationality as a normal mode of behavior. Instead of revising neoclassical economics to fit contemporary economic crises, it is recommended to follow Adam Smith's original concerns for the social setting of individual behavior and to treat economic crises with pragmatic flexibility rather than with dogmatic ideology.
Personality profiles of police candidates

Recently, Eber (1991) reported on several large-scale studies of law enforcement candidates. The main measures were the two parts of the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (Krug, Cattell, & IPAT, 1980). Part I consists of the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire Scales, while Part II is devoted to 12 measures of psychopathology. The most striking finding was a clear personality profile characterized by a strong pattern of self-discipline or Control, Tough Poise, and low Anxiety. Our study hypothesis was that several police personality profiles would be found. This conjecture was tested on the 16PF scores of two samples of 275 police candidates by means of the Ward (1963) hierarchical clustering procedure and the Milligan/Sokal (1980) nonhierarchical K-means cluster procedures. Three distinct score profiles were isolated in both samples.
Synthesis and crystal structures of the chromium(II) and chromium(III) hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes trans-Cr(hfac)2(thf)2 and Cr(hfac)3

Abstract Treatment of a tetrahydrofuran solution of CrCl2(thf) with Na(hfac), hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate, followed by crystallization from diethyl ether, affords the six-coordinate chromium(II) complex Cr(hfac)2(thf)2. The crystal structures of Cr(hfac)2(thf)2 and the chromium(III) complex Cr(hfac)3 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Cr(hfac)2(thf)2 adopts a trans octahedral geometry, in which the Cr–O(hfac) and Cr–O(thf) distances are 1.936(3) and 2.019(6) A, respectively. Cr(hfac)3 is an octahedral compound with a Cr–O distance of 1.943(5) A. Structural comparisons with related molecules are given.
Measuring sparsity in spatially interconnected systems

The goal of this paper is to develop a mathematical framework to measure sparsity of state feedback controllers for spatially interconnected systems. We introduce a new algebra of infinite-dimensional matrices equipped with a matrix quasi-norm which is defined using lq quasi-norm for 0 <; q ≤ 1. When q = 0, the value of the matrix quasi-norm is equal to the maximum number of nonzero entries in rows or columns of a matrix. When 0 <; q ≤ 1, the proposed matrix algebra forms a mathematical object so called q-Banach algebra, which is not a Banach algebra. We show that this matrix algebra is inverse-closed. Moreover, we prove that the unique solutions of Lyapunov and Riccati equations belong to this matrix algebra. We show that there exists a nonzero q for which the value of the matrix quasi-norm reflects a reasonable estimate for sparsity of a spatially decaying matrix.
Optimality and scalability study of existing placement algorithms

Placement is an important step in the overall IC design process in DSM technologies, as it defines the on-chip interconnects, which have become the bottleneck in determining circuit performance. The rapidly increasing design complexity, combined with the demand for the capability of handling nearly flattened designs for physical hierarchy generation, poses significant challenges to existing placement algorithms. There are very few studies on understanding the optimality and scalability of placement algorithms, due to the limited sizes of existing benchmarks and limited knowledge of optimal solutions. The contribution of this paper includes two parts: (1) we implemented an algorithm for generating synthetic benchmarks that have known optimal wirelengths and can match any given net distribution vector; (2) using benchmarks of 10K to 2M placeable modules with known optimal solutions, we studied the optimality and scalability of three state-of-the-art placers, Dragon (M. Wang et al, Proc. Int. Conf. on CAD, pp. 260-264, 2000), Capo (A.E. Caldwell et al, Proc. Design Automation Conf., pp. 477-482, 2000), mPL (K. Sze, 2002) from academia, and one leading edge industrial placer, QPlace from Cadence. For the first time our study reveals the gap between the results produced by these tools versus true optimal solutions. The wirelengths produced by these tools are 1.66 to 2.53 times the optimal in the worst cases, and are 1.46 to 2.38 times the optimal on the average. As for scalability, the average solution quality of each tool deteriorates by an additional 4% to 25% when the problem size increases by a factor of 10. These results indicate significant room for improvement in existing placement algorithms.
Recent results of the Guide-2 telescope testbed for the SIM-Lite mission

The Space Interferometry Mission Planet Quest Lite (SIM-Lite) is a new mission concept to perform micro-arcsecond narrow-angle astrometry to search approximately 50 nearby stars for Earth-like planets, and also to perform a global astrometry. The SIM-Lite consists of two Michelson interferometers and one telescope. The main six-meter baseline science interferometer observes a target star and a set of reference stars. The four-meter baseline interferometer (Guide-1) monitors the attitude of the instrument in the direction of a target star. A new Guide-2 telescope (G2T) tracks a bright star to monitor the attitude of the instrument in the other two orthogonal directions. In the current mission concept, the G2T consists of a 30 cm siderostat and a 30 cm confocal telescope, similar to other four telescopes used in the science and Guide-1 interferometers. A testbed has been built to demonstrate the G2T feasibility for SIM-Lite mission. Recent results show that field-independent, star-tracking capability of the system is less than 30 mas after the SIM narrow angle analysis.
Observations: milestones for combined training programs-innovation or burden?

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has adopted strategic priorities to (a) foster innovation and improvement in the learning environment; (b) increase the accreditation emphasis on educational outcomes; (c) increase efficiency and reduce burden in accreditation; and (d) improve communication and collaboration with key external stakeholders.”1 The Milestone Project is intended to advance these priorities.2 We suggest that b and d are true, but perhaps a and c are false, at least for combined training programs. The recent adaption of the Milestones shows great promise for thoughtful, quality evaluation of residents across all disciplines. The emphasis on the gradual increase in autonomy and outcome-driven skills is a fundamental shift toward the authentic evaluation of trainees. The Milestones also strike a balance between simple Likert scores and narrative-based evaluations, and Milestones also addresses a fundamental question: Can our trainees function independently? To date, there are 20 combined specialties, representing 187 programs and nearly 2000 residents.3 The largest of these programs are the combined internal medicine-pediatrics programs with 80 programs and more than 1400 trainees (table).3 TABLE ACGME Accredited Combined Specialty Residency Programsa Because the 6 core competencies are the same across specialties, the Milestones echo similar themes. However, the uniqueness of specific Milestones poses challenges for combined training programs. Simply stated, the challenge for combined training programs is how can we accurately, authentically measure these Milestones without the checklists becoming another empty Likert-scale exercise? Does the volume of distinct and nonparallel Milestones, each with well-crafted goals, cause the overall assessment to become too complex? If the aim of the Milestones is to contribute to better assessment, does their rigid language, sheer number, and misalignment pose an administrative burden on combined programs that may stifle innovation? Thoughtful Clinical Competency Committees likely will find their way through the Milestones, and the administrative burden may perhaps decrease with time, as the specifics will become second nature to residency program leaders. However, we are concerned that the demand of the Milestones on combined programs may be a more convoluted tracking standard. Authentic evaluation remains elusive, and yet, there is no substitute for direct, immediate, ongoing feedback and reflection from a supervisor to a trainee. This entails sustained commitment from the supervisor, trainee, and training program. The Milestones get us part of the way. As we move forward with their use, we must be careful not to let complexity get in the way.
Closed-form expressions for water retention and conductivity data

Closed-form expressions for quantifying the unsaturated soil hydraulic properties are widely used in computer programs to model subsurface flow and transport in porous media and to investigate indirect methods for estimating these properties. For example, water retention data, which relate soil-water pressure head (h) and effective water saturation (Se), are frequently used to predict the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K). However, the suitability of different functions to describe unsaturated hydraulic data has rarely been investigated comprehensively. We attempted to fit 14 retention and 11 conductivity functions to 903 sets of water retention and hydraulic conductivity data measured on soil and rock samples or horizons reported in the unsaturated hydraulic database UNSODA. Some of the best mean values for r2 and MSE for fitting Se (h) data were obtained with the retention functions reported by van Genuchten (1980), Globus (1987), and Hutson and Cass (1987). A function reported by Gardner (1958) could describe K(h) data quite well whereas functions reported by Brooks and Corey (1964) and van Genuchten (1980), which are respectively based on the conductivity models by Burdine and Mualem, yielded a relatively good description of K (Se) data.
Ethical pluralism, pragmatism, and sustainability in conservation practice

Conservation organizations are asked to be responsive to a number of ethical obligations beyond that of the conservation of biodiversity: the reduction of poverty, the imperative of social justice and cultural integrity, and the improvement in human livelihoods. Yet how a conservation project is designed and structured can negatively impact people’s access to resources, privilege one group of people over another, or protect some species at a cost to others. Ideological conflict among nature protectionists, advocates for indigenous people, those promoting a pro-poor agenda, and those seeking to move conservation into the economic mainstream has characterized the conservation debate. I argue that in practice, most conservation programs should adopt a pluralistic and pragmatic approach, adopting multiple goals and making decisions on the basis of what works. Choosing among approaches requires an appreciation of trade-offs, and consideration of biological, social, and cultural values. Ultimately conservation approaches must be sustainable – ecologically, culturally, socially, economically and politically – otherwise they will fail both practically and ethically.
3D Face Recognition Under Isometric Expression Deformations

In this paper, 3D face recognition under isometric deformation (induced by facial expressions) is considered. The main objective is to employ the shape descriptors that are invariant to (isometric) deformations to provide an efficient face recognition algorithm. Two methods of the correspondence are utilized for automatic landmark assignment to the query face. One is based on the conventional iterative closest point (ICP) method and another is based upon the geometrical/topological features of the human face. The shape descriptor is chosen to be the well-known geodesic distance (GD) measure. The recognition task is performed on SHREC08 database for both correspondence methods and the effect of feature (GD) vector size as well as landmark positions on the recognition accuracy were argued.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
ADDITIVE AND NONADDITIVE EFFECTS OF HERBIVORY AND COMPETITION ON TREE SEEDLING MORTALITY, GROWTH, AND ALLOCATION

The interaction between simulated cotyledon herbivory and interspecific competition was studied in a greenhouse experiment using two species of trees, Acer rubrum and Quercus palustris, which commonly invade abandoned agricultural fields. Herbivory treatments were applied as a gradient of cotyledon removal for A. rubrum with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of cotyledon tissue removed. Cotyledons from Q. palustris were clipped and removed (control, early, and late removal) to create a gradient of seed reserve availability. The competition treatment consisted of plugs of old-field vegetation that filled the pots with perennial cover. Mortality of seedlings was higher with competition. There was a significant interaction between herbivory and competition with the highest mortality occurring with competition at the highest intensity of herbivory in both species. Herbivory reduced biomass for Q. palustris only, while competition reduced biomass in both species. Neither species showed an interaction between herbivory and competition for growth. There was a significant interaction between herbivory and competition on allocation patterns for both species, with greater allocation to roots with competition at the highest intensity of herbivory. This study demonstrates the potential for cotyledon herbivory and competition to interact, altering the invasion of tree seedlings into abandoned agricultural land.
Clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular cytogenetic assessment of CD4-/CD8-γδ T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia

γδ T-cell large granular lymphocytic (T-LGL) leukemia of the CD4-/CD8- subtype is rare, and data are limited in the literature. This study evaluated the clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular cytogenetic features of 7 cases of CD4-/CD8- γδ T-LGL leukemia. Although this variant shares several clinical and morphologic features with the more common T-LGL leukemias, the incidences of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and pure red cell aplasia are higher. Another striking feature observed in our study was the lack of increased large granular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in the majority of cases despite prominent bone marrow or splenic involvement. CD4-/CD8- γδ T-LGL leukemia also displays an immunophenotype and pattern of splenic involvement overlapping with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. Clinically, this variant of T-LGL leukemia shows an overall indolent course, but treatment is often required in the initial stages of the disease. Awareness of these features is important for early recognition and accurate diagnosis of patients with CD4-/CD8- γδ T-LGL leukemia.
Presidential Address: Maps in the Mind and the Mobility of Asia

A MAP IS A PECULIAR KIND OF VISUAL TEXT. It seems a mere instrument of utility, showing us where to go and how to put things in place. Invisible ingredients, however, render every map a Pandora’s box. Emotions are undoubtedly the most potent of all of the invisible elements in maps. The cartographic passions that make the headlines may be national ones, but in cities, towns, and villages, people have strong feelings about local maps. Street gangs, real estate developers, insurance companies, zoning boards, planners, and electorates invest maps with local politics. Landowners love their property lines. Universities map their campus identity. The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) signifies itself succinctly in its logo, a map of Asia. Such territorial attachments and many others have striking similarities: they infuse boundaries with iconic significance, tinged with feelings of security, belonging, possessiveness, enclosure, entitlement, and exclusion. Equally invisible in maps are social relations of mapping that produce maps and authorize their interpretation. The most influential mapmakers today work in national institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities. State-authorized mapping is so ubiquitous that most governments do not regulate most map making, but almost everyone draws official lines on maps by habit anyway, in accordance with cartographic regimentation that is so invisible, pervasive, and widely accepted that few people ever
Microclimate and ecological threshold responses in a warming and wetting experiment following whole tree harvest

Ecosystem climate manipulation experiments (ECMEs) are a key tool for predicting the effects of climate change on ecosystems. However, the strength of inferences drawn from these experiments depends on whether the manipulated conditions mimic future climate changes. While ECMEs have examined mean temperature and moisture conditions, ecosystem processes may respond more to microclimatic thresholds (e.g., freeze–thaw events). We reported the mean and microclimatic thresholds from a post-clearcut ECME in a temperate, mixed deciduous forest. Target treatments were ambient, warmed (+∼2 °C), wetted (+∼20 % precipitation), and warmed + wetted. Wetted treatments increased mean monthly precipitation by 23 %, but did not change the amount of time the soil water potential was below the permanent wilting point. Relative to ambient, warmed treatments increased the mean temperatures of the surface and soil by 1.8 and 2.5 °C, respectively. Warming decreased the number of soil freeze–thaw events and increased the number of growing degree days, frost-free days, and amount of time leaf surface temperatures were in the optimal photosynthetic range. Our results showed that, even when ECMEs mimic mean predicted climate conditions, their effect on microclimatic thresholds can be variable. We suggest that measuring these and other microclimatic thresholds will be essential for interpreting ECME results and assessing their value in predicting ecosystem responses to future climate change.
Magnetic levitation hardware-in-the-loop and MATLAB-based experiments for reinforcement of neural network control concepts

This paper discusses the use of a real-time digital control environment with a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) magnetic levitation (Maglev) device for modeling and controls education, with emphasis on neural network (NN) feedforward control. Many educational advantages are realized for the students if a single environment is used for simulation, hardware implementation, and verification as compared with multienvironment settings. This real-time environment requires two personal computers (host and target) employed to control an HIL system. It requires software tools by MathWorks, Inc., a C++ compiler, an off-the-shelf data acquisition card, and the HIL (a nonlinear, open-loop, unstable, and time-varying, custom-built Maglev device) to be controlled. This environment provides for experimentation, such as data collection for system identification using NNs and their implementation as static nonlinear feedforward controllers. In addition, this environment was used to implement and demonstrate NNs with real-time dynamic weight tuning and controller performance comparison under various inputs or changes in the HIL device dynamics, as shown in the presented examples. The educational features of this environment were verified in a classroom setting in a graduate-level NN class. The presented environment is applicable to senior or graduate level (introductory intelligent and digital control) or a general introductory course on NNs with applications.
Real-time illumination compensation for face processing in video surveillance

Face processing under illumination variations from video has long been considered as an important and still challenging research issue in video surveillance. In this paper, we propose a real-time pre-processing system to compensate illumination for face processing by using scene lighting modeling. Our contribution lies in the system capability of accommodating multiple local light sources and efficient lighting matching mechanism. Furthermore it can enhance the performance of face processing under both non-standard global and local illumination condition while still maintaining reasonable computing burden for real-time video surveillance. By verifications from face detection results with customized test video clips and public face detection database, the performance of our system outperforms other illumination compensation techniques. This performance improvement in turn will benefit the following face recognition or tracking.
Effects of pinealectomy on baseline sleep and response to sleep deprivation.

Study objectives: We have previously reported that older (24 mo.) Fischer rats manifest a diminished post-sleep deprivation increase in NREM and REM sleep. In order to examine whether this decline reflects an age-related change in pineal function, we are now reporting on baseline and recovery sleep parameters in pinealectomized 3-, 12-, and 24-month old rats following 24 hours of sleep deprivation using the disk-over-water method. Design: Three independent age groups; within each group there were sequential measures of sleep under baseline conditions and during recovery from sleep deprivation. Setting: The Sleep Research Laboratory at the University of Chicago Participants: 56 male Fisher (F344) rats Interventions: 24 hours of total sleep deprivation using the disk-over-water method Measurements: Sleep staging of EEG and EMG, and power spectral analysis of the EEG Results: Pinealectomized (pinex) rats did not differ from sham-operated (sham) rats in total sleep, REM sleep, super-modal high-amplitude NREM sleep (HS2), a measure of NREM EEG delta power, or circadian rhythm amplitude. In the pinex rats, there was a modest (2.5%) age-independent increase in NREM sleep (p<0.02). The pinex rats of all ages failed to manifest the increase in NREM sleep during recovery seen in the sham-operated animals (p<0.04). Conclusions: We found no evidence that altered pineal function is responsible for age-related changes in baseline sleep in the rat. These data also suggest that, independent of age, normal pineal function may be relevant to the ability to generate increased NREM sleep in response to prior sleep deprivation.
Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Inhibition of Suckling-Induced Prolactin Release in the Lactating Rat

To study effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the regulation of prolactin (PRL) release, a chronic cannula was placed in the right atrium of postpartum lactating rats. Two or more days later their pups were removed for 6-8 hours. A blood sample was drawn from the mother just prior to reintroducing the pups, for determination of basal levels of plasma PRL. A second sample was drawn following 30 min of continuous suckling. THC (1.25 or 4.0 mg/Kg) or vehicle was then injected intravenously and blood samples obtained 30, 60, 120 min later. Relative to vehicle-injected controls, both doses of THC significantly reduced plasma PRL levels and disrupted all components of maternal behavior. These findings indicate that THC inhibits suckling-induced PRL release in the postpartum rat.
The Response of Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate to Exogenous Testosterone

AbstractIn a retrospective review the response of 67 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate to the administration of exogenous testosterone was analyzed. Among 52 patients in whom objective and/or subjective responses were evaluable 45 experienced unfavorable responses. There was prompt regression of most unfavorable responses with testosterone withdrawal. The duration of treatment required to evoke an unfavorable response was related to the clinical status of the patient. Twenty-five per cent of patients with symptomatic metastases who had received no prior treatment, 36 per cent in symptomatic remission after endocrine therapy and 94 per cent with symptomatic relapse after endocrine therapy experienced unfavorable responses within 30 days of treatment. No patient had objective evidence of tumor regression during testosterone therapy but 7 patients, 6 with remission and 1 untreated, experienced symptomatic benefit. We conclude that the response of patients with metastatic prostate cancer...
The Effects of Benefit and Feature-Based Assortment Structures on Similarity Perceptions and Strength of Preference

Retailers can structure their assortments in a nearly infinite number of ways. Our research studies the effects of two prevalent assortment structures – those which group items according to features and those which group items according to benefits. We show that relative to feature-based structures, benefit-based structures heighten perceptions of similarity among items in an assortment. These effects have important implications for consumers’ strength of preference: when choosing from benefit as opposed to feature-based structures consumers pick lower priced items and deem their top choices more similarly satisfying. We also identify assortment and consumer factors that moderate these effects: high correspondence of features to benefits in the underlying assortment and whether consumers hold a shopping goal which maps onto a benefit-based structure. Either situation will attenuate the effects of different assortment structures on perceived similarity and strength of preference.
Targeted Petroleomics: Analytical Investigation of Macondo Well Oil Oxidation Products from Pensacola Beach

Of the estimated 5 million barrels of crude oil released into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a fraction washed ashore onto sandy beaches from Louisiana to the Florida panhandle. Here, we compare the detailed molecular analysis of hydrocarbons in oiled sands from Pensacola Beach to the Macondo wellhead oil (MWO) by electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to identify major environmental transformation products of polar, high molecular weight (C>25) “heavy ends” (high-boiling species) inaccessible by gas chromatography. The petrogenic material isolated from the Pensacola Beach sand displays greater than 2-fold higher molecular complexity than the MWO constituents, most notably in oxygenated species absent in the parent MWO. Surprisingly, the diverse oxygenated hydrocarbons in the Pensacola Beach sediment extracts were dominant in all ionization modes investigated, (±) ESI and (±) APPI....
Determinants of enrollment in public incentive programs for forest management and their effect on future programs for woody bioenergy: evidence from Virginia and Texas

Several federal- and state-sponsored programs, including cost-sharing arrangements, tax incentives, and technical assistance programs, are available to forestland owners, aiming to encourage desire...
Appreciation and Understanding of Satire: Another Quasi-Experiment

To be persuasive, satiric messages' serious theses must be perceived; but many satires' theses are not perceived. The only psychological phenomena reported as related to such understanding of satire continue to be verbal intelligence (Scholastic Achievement Test) and dogmatism as measured by the short-form Rokeach F-scale ( 1 ) . Subsequent studies have not identified another variable related to the accurate perception of satirical theses. In the present study 85 undergraduates at The University of Georgia during the fall of 1995 responded to the Martin-Lefcourt Situational Humor Response Questionnaire ( 2 ) and then read nvo satires by Art Buchwald and one by Art Hoppe. For each satire the respondent chose from a list of five sentences the thesis inrended by the author. Each satire was also rated on a 7-step scale for "interestingness" and a six-step scale for "funniness." For groups who correctly identified 3 , 2 , 1, or 0 theses mean Humor Response scores were not significandy ddFerent by one-way analyses of variance.
Plasma phospholipide synthesis in the eviscerated rabbit.

SummaryIn the rabbit, plasma phospholipide synthesis continued at a reduced rate in absence of liver, intestine and spleen. Removal of kidney further reduced plasma phospholipide synthesis. The rate of synthesis of kidney, lung or muscle phospholipides from phosphate precursors does not appear to be altered by evisceration.
The Increasing Role of Animals in Support of Modern Lifestyles1

Abstract Animals will contribute more diversity of support and services to our future lifestyles than ever, while continuing to make the contributions we recognize at present. New and emerging animal contributions to society include biomonitoring of the environment, serving as bioreactors to produce unique proteins, assisting in bioremediation and recycling, supporting biomedical research, providing therapy for disadvantaged individuals, and aiding in maintenance of biodiversity. Paramount in allowing these contributions to be achieved is adequate funding at all levels of education and particularly funds for essential forms of creative animal research. This research and education process must encompass a holistic perspective to include technological development, economic enhancement, animal wellbeing, environmental compatibility, and the physical and mental health of society. The economic impact of research with livestock represents one of the most important investments for society, with a documented annual return of 47%. Although animal scientists and those industries closely associated with domestic animal activities consider these contributions to be obvious, we must be prepared to discuss these issues across society, at the political, regulatory, and social levels, to educate the primary benefactors: the general public.
Rigid proteins and softening of biological membranes-with application to HIV-induced cell membrane softening.

A key step in the HIV-infection process is the fusion of the virion membrane with the target cell membrane and the concomitant transfer of the viral RNA. Experimental evidence suggests that the fusion is preceded by considerable elastic softening of the cell membranes due to the insertion of fusion peptide in the membrane. What are the mechanisms underpinning the elastic softening of the membrane upon peptide insertion? A broader question may be posed: insertion of rigid proteins in soft membranes ought to stiffen the membranes not soften them. However, experimental observations perplexingly appear to show that rigid proteins may either soften or harden membranes even though conventional wisdom only suggests stiffening. In this work, we argue that regarding proteins as merely non-specific rigid inclusions is flawed and each protein has a unique mechanical signature dictated by its specific interfacial coupling to the surrounding membrane. Predicated on this hypothesis, we have carried out atomistic simulations to investigate peptide-membrane interactions. Together with a continuum model, we reconcile contrasting experimental data in the literature including the case of HIV-fusion peptide induced softening. We conclude that the structural rearrangements of the lipids around the inclusions cause the softening or stiffening of the biological membranes.
Study on Electronic Commerce Logistics Distribution Service Level and Client Relationship

Electronic commerce logistics distribution service level is uneven.It is a complex process that customer chooses satisfied logistics service provider.This paper constructs Agent-based calculation experiment to simulate the selection process of logistic service provider.It establishes the flow and the frame of electronic commerce logistics distribution performance level appraisal and provider selection.It also establishes the evaluating and selecting model based on multi-Agent with Swarm, and gives an example of relationship between logistics distribution service level and client size.
Fast and easy crowdsourced perceptual audio evaluation

Automated objective methods of audio evaluation are fast, cheap, and require little effort by the investigator. However, objective evaluation methods do not exist for the output of all audio processing algorithms, often have output that correlates poorly with human quality assessments, and require ground truth data in their calculation. Subjective human ratings of audio quality are the gold standard for many tasks, but are expensive, slow, and require a great deal of effort to recruit subjects and run listening tests. Moving listening tests from the lab to the micro-task labor market of Amazon Mechanical Turk speeds data collection and reduces investigator effort. However, it also reduces the amount of control investigators have over the testing environment, adding new variability and potential biases to the data. In this work, we compare multiple stimulus listening tests performed in a lab environment to multiple stimulus listening tests performed in web environment on a population drawn from Mechanical Turk.
Cancer therapy-related complications in the bowel and mesentery: an imaging perspective

Cancer therapy-induced complications in the bowel and mesentery are fairly common. It is important for clinicians to be aware of these complications and the agents most frequently implicated. Cancer therapy is rapidly evolving and often encompasses both classic cytotoxic drugs and newer molecular targeted agents. Drugs from both broad classes can have numerous adverse effects on the bowel and mesentery that can be detected on imaging. These adverse effects include ileus, various forms of enterocolitis, gastrointestinal perforation, pneumatosis intestinalis, secretory diarrhea, and sclerosing mesenteritis. These complications are diverse and range from relatively benign to life threatening. The management is also variable, but many of these conditions are easily controlled and reversed with supportive care and cessation of the particular cancer therapy. The objective of this pictorial essay is to demonstrate some of the more common cancer therapy-induced complications of the bowel and mesentery, with a focus on the radiographic findings.
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for treatment of severe hemolytic anemia attributable to hexokinase deficiency

To the editor: Hexokinase (HK) deficiency is a very rare inherited disorder of the Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway of erythrocytes where the predominant clinical presentation is congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. HK catalyzes the initial phosphorylation of glucose to glucose 6 phosphate
Gerson, Mystics, and Witches?

In 1423, John Gerson famously denounced ascetic women who claimed to receive divinely inspired visions with such vivid language that he has been credited with inspiring the anti-witch writings of John Nider, and then, through Nider, the Malleus Malefi carum.1 In his treatise titled De examinatione doctrinarum (On the examination of doctrine), Gerson denounced such women for attempting to address “great and wonderful” topics that exceeded their abilities, reporting the effects of brain lesions caused by epilepsy and melancholy as miracles, and claiming to speak directly for God through unmediated revelations. The men who were foolish enough to let themselves be taught by these women, he warned, nourished themselves in such a way that they might find themselves obeying the devil incarnate as they should obey their own superiors.2 In this and other warnings, which occur throughout Gerson’s writings, Gerson contributed to a discourse that thoroughly discredited the very notion of uneducated ascetic women’s ability to commune with the divine or their capacity to speak with any authority on contemporary intellectual or political matters.3
Decay dynamics of quantum emitters in epsilon-near-zero cavities

We investigate the decay dynamics of quantum emitters embedded in epsilon-near-zero-cavities. Owing to the excitation of geometry-invariant eigenmodes, deforming this class of cavities enables special decay dynamics qualitatively different from those observed in conventional cavities.
Dietary ecology of Pleistocene camelids: Influences of climate, environment, and sympatric taxa

Wild members of Camelidae live in some of the most arid environments, including North Africa, Arabia, the Gobi Desert of China and Mongolia and high elevation environments in the Andes Mountains. A better understanding of the paleoecology of the three most abundant Pleistocene camelids (Camelops, Hemiauchenia, and Palaeolama) may clarify modern adaptations to arid environments. Mammalian tooth enamel δ13C values were used to compare diets of co-occurring species in California, Texas, and Florida and δ18O values were used to investigate climate. Carbon isotope analysis suggests Camelops was likely an opportunistic browser that consumed both C3 and C4 browse/CAM plants, potentially consuming C4 browse (e.g., saltbush). Hemiauchenia had an opportunistic and highly generalized diet, while Palaeolama was a specialized forest browser. Stable oxygen isotopes and aridity index values suggest that Ingleside was warmer than McKittrick Brea, but there are no significant differences in aridity between the two sites. Co-occurrence data from the Paleobiology Database suggest that Palaeolama was restricted to forested environments as it occurred with two browsers, Tapirus and Odocoileus, at 90.5% of all sites. Camelops and Hemiauchenia both co-occurred with a broader range of taxa, further suggesting these camelids lived in diverse habitats. The generalized diet of Hemiauchenia, the likely ancestor of modern South American camelids, allowed for the adaptations of extant Lama and Vicugna to survive in the arid environments of the Andes Mountains. Collectively, these data clarify the dietary ecology of extinct camelids and provide insight into the potential importance of generalist diets for increased resilience to changing environments and/or climates.
The Effect of the Pucker Sign on Outcomes of Type III Extension Supracondylar Fractures in Children.

BACKGROUND The pucker sign, also called skin tenting, indicates significant displacement of the supracondylar fracture and can be a cause for alarm. The purpose of this study is to compare a cohort of patients with type III supracondylar fractures presenting with a pucker sign to a group without a pucker sign by evaluating neurovascular injury at presentation, need for open reduction, persistent neurovascular injury, range of motion, and carrying angle at final follow-up. METHODS A retrospective review was performed for Gartland type III extension type supracondylar fractures. Those with a pucker sign were identified and evaluated. Type III supracondylar fractures with a pucker sign were compared with a similar cohort without a pucker sign. RESULTS In total, 12 patients with a pucker sign at an average age of 5.2 years were evaluated. A total of 11 patients (92%) had diminished or absent pulses, and 2 (17%) had weakness in the median nerve distribution. Nine (75%) patients in this group were transferred to the university hospital. Average time to surgery was 8.9 hours with an average operating time of 25.1 minutes. Open reduction was not needed in any case. At an average follow-up of 4.7 months no patients had persistent neurovascular compromise. Two patients lacked <5 degrees of extension and 1 lacked 10 degrees of extension. One patient lacked 10 degrees of flexion. No patients had a change in carrying angle difference compared with the contralateral side. No statistical differences were observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Pucker sign, in the context of a supracondylar fracture of the humerus, is a soft tissue defect with potential entrapment of median nerve and brachial artery. At a maximum time of 16 hours from injury to surgery we report excellent outcomes and no long-term complications. Using the techniques of gradual traction, and milking the soft tissue, the pucker sign can be eliminated. Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning were performed in all the cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III-retrospective comparative study.
Using an A-priori learnt motion model with particle filters for tracking a moving person by a linear infrared array network

An infrared sensor has been primarily used as a proximity sensor, its use being mostly limited because of imprecise measurements attributing to the non-linearity of the device as well as its dependence on the reflectivity of the surrounding objects. However, one cannot overlook the fact that these sensors are quite low-cost, can be easily mounted on small robotic systems and are computationally very efficient. In this paper, we try to use an infrared sensor array network to detect a person in its environment and also track the person. A traditional particle filter algorithm using a given motion model poses challenges for tracking a person using infrared sensors, primarily because the motion model might fail to keep up with complex dynamic changes in motion directions coupled with the fact that in the presence of noisy readings or missed detections from the infrared sensor data, small errors in position estimation could add up over time making the particle filter completely lose track of the person. In this paper, instead of using a fixed motion model, we propose to learn a motion model statistically from the initial target motion data and subsequently use this model with the particle filtering approach in order to track the person. In addition, the learnt motion model is regularly updated so as to support the particle filtering approach in establishing a more accurate track of the person.
Prelaunch antenna calibration of CubeSat MMW/SMMW radiometers with application to the PolarCube 3U temperature sounding radiometer mission

Radiometric sounding measurements used to provide data for weather prediction are strongly affected by the main-beam, ohmic, and spillover efficiencies of the optics, as well as inhomogeneities in the scene and background radiation fields. The interpretation of radiometric data is also affected by the accuracy with which these efficiencies can be determined. This necessitates design of highly precise antenna systems whose patterns are exactly known. Subtle changes in feedhorn design parameters, including changes that induce feedhorn mode phasing such as corrugation depth or step diameters, produce pattern changes at the reflector that are not captured by the widely used Gaussian approximation. To provide a more precise determination of the requisite efficiencies for radiometry, this study focuses on the rigorous and precise numerical analysis of the complex diffracted field produced by a feed at the focal point of a lens/reflector focussing element. The analysis leads to the determination of an optimal feed horn and lens/reflector geometry such that the main beam and spillover efficiencies of the system are maximized, and these and the ohmic efficiency are precisely known. The above analyses is applied to the antenna subsystem of the PolarCube 3U CubeSat payload which comprises a spinning offset paraboloidal main reflector and a stationary corrugated feed.