cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Verification of customizable blockchain consensus rule using a formal method

This paper proposes a formal approach for verifying a customizable consensus rule used in a blockchain protocol. Hyperledger Fabric supports an application-specific, customizable consensus rule called endorsement policy to support diverse blockchain applications. However, this makes it difficult to ensure the properties such as Byzantine fault tolerance.The proposed method has the following features: (i) A dedicated model format is defined to enable a user to concisely describe the requirements characteristic to a blockchain network. (ii) The number of states of a model is reduced by (ii-a) eliminating the behavior of the platform from the model, (ii-b) describing the state space constraints in linear arithmetic, and (ii-c) applying an SMT (satisfiability modulo theory) solver. This paper demonstrates that the method supports the modeling of a collusion by nodes governed by a same organization, which is a typical threat when participating organizations do not trust each other. Also, the verification time is measured to find that the method is scalable to approximately 100 nodes.
Resident Engagement in a Wellness Program in a Large Academic Residency: A Follow-Up After Two Years of Wellness

INTRODUCTION The rate of burnout among residents has reached an alarming level and negatively impacts learning, attrition, and patient care. We implemented a comprehensive Surgery Resident Wellness Program in a large academic program and aimed to assess the degree this initiative improved resident burnout based on validated burnout and well-being models utilizing voluntary surveys. Materials and Methods A voluntary survey was sent to surgical residents and included the Maslach Burnout Inventory and The Psychological General Well-Being Index. These were graded according to the respective validated scale for each test. The survey was administered prior to establishing a wellness program, and at 6 month- and 24 month-intervals following its establishment. These data were analyzed using univariate analysis based on survey data from each of the time points. RESULTS The survey had a 51% response rate. The baseline, 6-month, and 24-month mean scores for MBI personal accomplishment were 32.80, 32.91, and 35.57, emotional exhaustion was 23.48, 23.0, and 24.42, and depersonalization were 10.94, 9.54, and 11.11. Resident burnout was present in 16 of 31 (51.61%), 14 of 33 (42.42%), and 12 of 27 (44.44%) residents at each time point. The rate of change in resident burnout was –17.8% at 6 months and -13.9% at 24 months. The averaged PGWBI global scores were 66, 73, and 83 among the participants who took the survey at each time interval. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion Implementation of a structured wellness program was associated with a decrease in resident burnout and an increase in overall resident wellness.
Philanthropy in India's High Technology Communities and the Complex Search for Social Innovation

When we consider philanthropy in India or elsewhere in South Asia, or for that matter, in some other Asian nations as well, we tend to think of older traditions: direct charitable giving from the rich to the poor, destitute, and sick; offerings at Hindu temples or to Hindu religious groups for relief, education, or health care; even zakat and other forms of required Muslim giving. In more recent times, we focus on the twentieth century’s leading industrial families of India, such as the Tatas, the Birlas, and others. They have, for the most part, used traditional forms of philanthropy—individual giving and family foundations—to build institutions of higher education, hospitals and others institutions.
Competitive Bidding in Drug Procurement: Evidence from China

We study the impact of competitive bidding in the procurement of off-patent drugs. In 2019, China introduced competitive bidding with a quantity guarantee for thirty-one molecules in nine provinces. Using a difference-in-difference design, we show that the program reduced drug prices by 47.4%. Generic drug companies won the majority of the bids and on average cut prices by 59.4%. Losing branded drug companies cut prices by 7.5%. We develop a model of demand and supply to quantify the trade-off between lower prices and choice distortions. We find that com- petitive bidding increases consumer welfare if policymakers consider brand preferences welfare irrelevant.
A fatal logical flaw in anthropic principle design arguments

L'A. traite du principe anthropique et cherche a montrer que l'argument, de type teleologique, echoue a etablir l'existence de Dieu car il est logiquement incoherent.
A Nonstandard Analysis Approach to Fourier Analysis

Publisher Summary The chapter explores the nonstandard analysis that provides a useful tool to discretus certain parts of Fourier analysis. For instance, it is discussed that certain results of the theory of Fourier series such as Parseval's formula and the Hausdorff–Young inequalities can be directly obtained from their discrete analogs. The interesting feature of such a derivation, in the case of Parseval's formula, is that its validity can be shown without having to establish first that the trigonometric system is complete. The chapter describes the theory of harmonic analysis of finite commutative groups and concludes with a discussion of the special star-finite circle group and its properties.
Party Influence in a Bicameral Setting, 1880-1945

This paper demonstrates how considering the contributions of both chambers is essential to theories of policy development and the impact of new policy outcomes. I use regular appropriation bills to measure the influence of bicameralism on how the government funds policy outcomes. The results presented in this paper support the argument that bicameralism produces more stable policy outcomes. Even when one chamber pushes for an extreme policy change from the current status quo, what becomes law is conditioned on the existing threat of a filibuster. Therefore, based on how much the Senate must concede to the preferences of the minority party we can measure how closely the final appropriation reflects the contribution of each chamber.
Handbook on International Corporate Governance: Country Analyses

The second edition of this major Handbook provides a thoroughly revised and extensive analysis of the development of corporate governance across a broad range of countries including Australia, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and the UK. Additional coverage in this second edition includes Brazil, Hungary, Malaysia, and Norway. The Handbook reveals that whilst the stage in the corporate governance life cycle may vary from country to country, there are certain core features that emerge such as the importance of transparency, disclosure, accountability of directors and protection of minority shareholders' rights. With contributions by leading academics and practitioners in the field of corporate governance, the Handbook on International Corporate Governance provides a comprehensive insight into the evolution of corporate governance in countries with diverse cultural, economic and legal systems.
Full information and state feedback H/sup infinity / control

Some of the results given by J.C. Doyle et al. (IEEE Trans. Automatic Control, Vol.34, No.8, p.831-47, (1989)) are clarified, some new interpretations are given, and all suboptimal H/sub infinity / controllers for the full information (FI) and state feedback control problems are parameterized. The question of when this FI H/sub infinity / control problem can or cannot be given a differential-game saddle point interpretation is also addressed. >
B-cell immunophenotyping

Publisher Summary B-lymphocytes provide the humoral (antibody-mediated) arm of the adaptive immune system. Like all leukocytes, B cells develop from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is a tissue where B cells of all developmental stages can be isolated. Although controversy surrounds the phenotype of the earliest committed B cell, good marker combinations for the identification of most of the later developmental stages of B cells are available. A single six- to eight-color staining combination allows the near-complete delineation of B-cell development from the pro-B-cell stage to the fully mature B cells. Immunohistologically, the cells might form antibody-producing foci (APF) at the edges of the T- and B-cell zones in secondary lymphoid tissues at early times after infection or immunization, or they form germinal centers (GCs) within B-cell follicles. The exact molecular events that determine if a B cell will form an APF or GC are unknown. B cells recognize native unprocessed antigen via their antigen-specific receptor. This can be exploited for the identification of antigen-specific B cells by flow cytometry. Many available markers can be used in conjunction with multicolor flow cytometry to evaluate B-cell developmental stages in the bone marrow and mature B-cell subset in peripheral tissues of mice and similarly of humans.
A thermometer for fast response in cryogenic flow

The measurement of transient temperatures in cryogenic fluid flow requires a highly sensitive, intrinsically fast sensor that is in good thermal contact with the fluid but in poor thermal contact with the solid walls confining the fluid. A resistance thermometer made from a 1 µm thick silicon layer on a 125 µm thick sapphire substrate has a calculated intrinsic response time of about 10 ns at 4 K, and its sensitivity is comparable to germanium or carbon thermometers in the range of 1 – 80 K. This paper describes a novel construction method to mount the small silicon-on-sapphire thermometer in an oscillating fluid flow. The large surface area of the thermometer provides good thermal contact with the fluid, while the suspension ensures poor thermal contact with the holder, maintains its fast response time, and withstands high velocities and frequencies of fluid oscillation. A self-heating response time of 300 ns was measured at 4 K in liquid and gaseous helium. Repeatability of the thermometer is ± 10 mK at 4 K. Examples of the performance of this thermometer for helium gas oscillations in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 12 kHz are given.
Local property tax differences and business real estate values

This article posits a model of the effect of differences in changes in local property tax rates on changes in the business real estate tax base. It is also hypothesized that changes in the tax base influence changes in the property tax rate. Empirical findings for metropolitan Chicago are that both differences in property tax changes and levels have large effects on the growth of the value of business real estate. Also, changes in the property tax rate are found to depend upon changes in the tax base as well as the property tax level and its previous change.
A Review of: “From Betty Crocker to Feminist Food Studies: Critical Perspectives on Women and Food”

In their preface to this wonderful volume, the editors tell us of their frustration with the way that gender has been largely left out of so much of Food Studies, and the way that food has been lef...
An Allosteric Interaction Links USP7 to Deubiquitination and Chromatin Targeting of UHRF1

The protein stability and chromatin functions of UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domains, 1) are regulated in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. We report a structural characterization of the complex between UHRF1 and the deubiquitinase USP7. The first two UBL domains of USP7 bind to the polybasic region (PBR) of UHRF1, and this interaction is required for the USP7-mediated deubiquitination of UHRF1. Importantly, we find that the USP7-binding site of the UHRF1 PBR overlaps with the region engaging in an intramolecular interaction with the N-terminal tandem Tudor domain (TTD). We show that the USP7-UHRF1 interaction perturbs the TTD-PBR interaction of UHRF1, thereby shifting the conformation of UHRF1 from a TTD-"occluded" state to a state open for multivalent histone binding. Consistently, introduction of a USP7-interaction-defective mutation to UHRF1 significantly reduces its chromatin association. Together, these results link USP7 interaction to the dynamic deubiquitination and chromatin association of UHRF1.
Psychiatric study of mentally retarded children of preschool age; preliminary report.

This is a preliminary report of a proposed 3-year project for the study and treatment of a group of 8 mentally retarded preschool children. It represents the combined efforts of a clinic team, consisting of psychiatrist, pediatrician, psychologist, social workers, and nursery school teachers. The aim is to determine whether psychogenic factors are responsible for all or part of the retardation and if they are, whether the child can be helped to function at a normal on a higher level. The children selected for this study have no demonstrable organic basis for the retardation, and are free from familial tendency toward mental deficiency. We have excluded from this project children ordinarily classified as "schizophrenic," yet most of our children reveal some schizoid features in varying intensity. Our preliminary findings would tend to corroborate the impressions of other workers in the field that many children who are labelled "mentally deficient" fit more correctly into a borderline psychotic group. Seven of the eight children in this study belong in this group although mental retardation was the main criterion for selection. After 1 year of preliminary study it is our impression that psychogenic factors exist in these cases. Progress reports will be published in the second and third years of study of this group with publication of a follow-up study of all of the children and their siblings. The topics to be covered in these reports will include details of case histories with emphasis on personality dynamics, and the special therapeutic techniques developed to meet the unique needs of these children. With the aid of a clinical team approach, those children in our group who attended regularly revealed changes of a positive nature, reflected in the attainment of skills more appropriate to their age bevel. We agree with Kanner that "Every person of a lower than average I. Q. has obtained a right to be studied with full attention to the genetic, physical, cultural, socio-economic, educational and emotional determinants...." If psychiatry can make a positive contribution to the understanding and treatment of mentally retarded children, it should be instituted at a very early age, as soon as there is any suspicion of retardation. In the hope that the problem will correct itself spontaneously, parents and physicians tend to postpone such study until the child has reached school age. In line with modern trends toward prevention, further and more intensive investigation of this problem at the preschool level might avoid problems later in life for the child and for the family. It is possible that such studies might reduce to a measurable degree the population of our institutions for the mentally defective child.
Predictors of Future Antihypertensive Use in Patients With Mildly Elevated Blood Pressure

We prospectively identified predictors of future antihypertensive use in untreated persons age 18-65 years who had elevated diastolic blood pressures of 90-104 mm Hg or systolic blood pressures of at least 140 mm Hg. Data were derived from two independent cohorts completing household surveys conducted in 1981-1984 and 8 years later, as part of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program. Demographics, self-reported health behaviors and beliefs, and physiologic measurements were obtained. Drug use was determined through structured interviews. Analysis of covariance and logistic regression were performed. In the 492 subjects, independent baseline predictors of future antihypertensive use (p<0.05) included female gender, older age, diastolic blood pressure elevation, self-perceived high blood pressure, and self-reported salt limitation. Antihypertensive use for previously untreated mild hypertension is diverse. Older women with diastolic elevations who are health conscious are most likely to be treated. (Pharmacotherapy 1995 ;15(3) :272-278)
Thermodynamics of Charge-Density Waves in Quasi One-Dimensional Conductors

Simple methods are described to evaluate quantitatively the influence of charge-density-wave fluctuations on the thermodynamics of quasi one-dimensional conductors, and are applied to experimental data for ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.3}$Mo${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. These fluctuations are found to affect strongly the magnetic susceptibility and electronic entropy and heat capacity over a large temperature range.
The effective molarity of the substrate phosphoryl group in the transition state for yeast OMP decarboxylase.

Abstract The second order rate constant ( k cat / K m ) for decarboxylation of orotidine by yeast OMP decarboxylase (ODCase), measured by trapping 14 CO 2 released during the reaction, is 2 × 10 −4 M −1 s −1 . This very low activity may be compared with a value of 3 × 10 7 M −1 s −1 for the action of yeast OMP decarboxylase on the normal substrate OMP. Both activities are strongly inhibited by 6-hydroxy UMP (BMP), and abrogated by mutation of Asp-96 to alanine. These results, in conjunction with the binding affinity of inorganic phosphate as a competitive inhibitor ( K i = 7 × 10 −4 M), imply an effective concentration of 1.1 × 10 9 M for the substrate phosphoryl group in stabilizing the transition state for enzymatic decarboxylation of OMP. The observed difference in rate (1.5 × 10 11 -fold) is the largest effect of a simple substituent that appears to have been reported for an enzyme reaction.
O PROFETA AMERICANO: A INFLUÊNCIA DO PROFÉTICO EM MARTIN LUTHER KING JRO PROFETA AMERICANO: A INFLUÊNCIA DO PROFÉTICO EM MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

The foundations of U.S. civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr.’s thought are as varied and diverse as his vision for a new American society. As a Baptist minister his ideas were of course shaped by the Christian ideals of that faith. He was also influenced, however, by religious and secular ideals from other traditions. In this article I discuss the effect of the work of the Jewish theologian and social philosopher Martin Buber on King’s philosophy. In particular, I examine how Buber’s notion of “the other” crept into King’s theories on social change and nonviolent action. This influence, while noted by King himself, is not often discussed in the context of where King’s mature philosophical vision came from. Consequently, an examination of this connection is vital to understanding both the genesis and importance of King’s thought.
Temporal aspects of the regulation of corpus luteum function by luteinizing hormone, prolactin and placental luteotrophin during the first half of pregnancy in the rat.

Intact rats were injected once, subcutaneously, with either 1.0 mg of ergocornine, free base (ECO), to prevent prolactin release, or an equine antiserum to bovine LH (LH-AS), to neutralize endogenous LH, on one of the days between days 6 and 12 of pregnancy. ECO treatment was uniformly abortifacient on day 6, only slightly less so on day 7, and was ineffective at 0400 hr or later on day 8. LH-AS treatment on day 6 or 7 induced abortion in very few rats; at 0400 hr on day 8, it induced abortion in 92%, and at 1200 or 1600 hr on day 8 or at 1200 hr on day 10, in 100% of the rats; when given on day 12, it was again ineffective. ECO did not depress serum LH or FSH levels, but abolished the nocturnal surge of prolactin; ECOinduced abortions could be prevented by treatment with prolactin but not with LH. Absorption of the LH-AS with LH, but not with either FSH or bovine serum abolished its abortifacient effect. A severe fall in the serum progesterone level occurred within 12 to 48 hr after treatment with either...
Effects of an Oxidation Catalytic Converter and a Biodiesel Fuel on the Chemical, Mutagenic, and Particle Size Characteristics of Emissions from a Diesel Engine

This study was conducted to obtain additional information on exhaust emissions with potential health importance from an indirect injection diesel engine, typical of those in use in underground mines, when operated using a soy-derived, fatty-acid mono-ester (or biodiesel) fuel and an oxidation catalytic converter (OCC). Compared to emis sions with the diesel fuel without the OCC, use of the diesel (D2) and biodiesel fuel with the OCC had similar reductions (50−80%) in total particulate matter (TPM). The solid portion of the TPM was lowered with the biodiesel fuel. Particle-associated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and 1-nitropyrene emissions were lower with use of the biodiesel fuel as compared to the D2 fuel, with or without the OCC. Vapor-phase PAH emissions were reduced (up to 90%) when the OCC was used with either fuel. Use of the OCC resulted in over 50% reductions in both particle and vapor-phase-associated mutagenic activity with both fuels. No vapor-phase-associated mutagenic activity was detecte...
Effects of temperature and molecular interactions on the vibrational infrared spectra of phospholipid vesicles.

Abstract Infrared spectra were obtained as a function of temperature for a variety of phospholipid/water bilayer assemblies (80% water by weight) in the 3000-950 cm−1 region. Spectral band-maximum frequency parameters were defined for the 2900 cm−1 hydrocarbon chain methylene symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations. Temperature shifts for these band-maximum frequencies provided convenient probes for monitoring the phase transition behavior of both multilamellar liposomes and small diameter single-shell vesiclesof dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine/water dispersions. As examples of the effects of bilayer lipid/cholesterol/water (3 : 1 mol ratio) and lipid/cholesterol/amphotericin B/water (3 : 1 : 0.1 mol ratios) vesicles were examined using the methylene stretching frequency indices. In comparison to the pure vesicle form, the transition width of the lipid/cholesterol system increased by nearly a factor of two (to 8°C) while the phase transition temperature remained approximately the same (41° C). For the lipid/cholesterol/amphotericin B system, the phase transition temperature increased by about 4.5° C (to 45.5°C) with the transition width increasing by nearly a factor of four ( to ≈ 15° C ) above that of the pure vesicles. The lipid/cholesterol/amphotericin B data were interpreted as reflecting the formation below 38°C of a cholesterol/amphotericin B complex whose dissociation at higher temperature (38–60°C range) significantly broades the gel-liquid crystalline phase transition.
Intracellular turnover of stable and labile soluble liver proteins.

Abstract The cytosol proteins of mouse or rat liver were separated on the basis of charge and characterized with respect to molecular size, turnover in vivo , and several chemical properties. The basic proteins, which were synthesized and degraded slower than acidic proteins, were generally smaller, as multimers and subunits, than the acidic proteins. Charge and size, therefore, did not appear to be independent characteristics for soluble liver proteins. The amino acid composition of the smaller, basic, stable proteins was very similar to that of the larger, acidic, labile proteins. The charge differences between these two protein fractions could be attributed to the ratio of acidic to basic amino acid residues rather than to carbohydrate, nucleic acid, or phosphate content. The percentage of hydrophobic amino acid residues in the two protein fractions was the same. The acidic labile proteins were more vulnerable to proteolysis and associated with the lysosomal-mitochondrial fractions somewhat more extensively in vitro than the basic, stable proteins. These studies indicate that the information determining the half-lives of soluble enzymes is in the protein moiety of those enzymes and that the factors that correlate with turnover may not be independent variables for soluble mammalian proteins.
Advances in applications of radar micro-Doppler signatures

Micro-Doppler signatures have been widely applied in civilian and military uses, In the paper, an overview of recent advances in extractions and applications of radar micro-Doppler signatures is presented, including recognition of space, air, and ground targets, combined micro-Doppler with range-Doppler features, through-wall micro-Doppler signatures, multistatic micro-Doppler signatures, decomposition of micro-Doppler signatures, and detection and extraction of micro motions in human body, such as heart beats and respirations.
Proteasome-Dependent Degradation of Guanosine 5′-Triphosphate Cyclohydrolase I Causes Tetrahydrobiopterin Deficiency in Diabetes Mellitus

Background— Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency is reported to uncouple the enzymatic activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in diabetes mellitus. The mechanism by which diabetes actually leads to BH4 deficiency remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that diabetes reduced BH4 by increasing 26S proteasome-dependent degradation of guanosine 5′-triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of BH4, in parallel with increased formation of both superoxide and peroxynitrite (ONOO−). Methods and Results— Exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to high glucose concentrations (30 mmol/L D-glucose) but not to high osmotic conditions (25 mmol/L L-glucose plus 5 mmol/L D-glucose) significantly lowered the levels of both GTPCH protein and BH4. In addition, high glucose increased both the 26S proteasome activity and the ubiquitination of GTPCH. Inhibition of the 26S proteasome with either MG132 or PR-11 prevented the high glucose–triggered reduction of GTPCH and BH4. Ex...
Market Structure Analysis: Hierarchical Clustering of Products Based on Substitution-In-Use:

In this paper, product usage data, employing a substitution-in-use criterion, are analyzed and shown to yield managerially useful product-market structures for financial services. These structures ...
Platelet-derived growth factor receptors: a therapeutic target in solid tumors.

Abstract Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was one of the first polypeptide growth factors identified that signals through a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor (PDGF-R) to stimulate various cellular functions including growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Since then, several related genes have been identified constituting a family of ligands (primarily PDGF A and B) and their cognate receptors (PDGF-R α and β). To date, PDGF expression has been shown in a number of different solid tumors, from glioblastomas to prostate carcinomas. In these various tumor types, the biologic role of PDGF signaling can vary from autocrine stimulation of cancer cell growth to more subtle paracrine interactions involving adjacent stroma and even angiogenesis. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (formerly STI571, [Gleevec]; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp, East Hanover, NJ) blocks activity of the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein, and was recently approved for several indications in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Imatinib mesylate is also a potent inhibitor of the PDGF-R kinase and is currently being evaluated for the treatment of PDGF-responsive tumors such as prostate cancer. More clinical trials that investigate both established clinical endpoints of response and benefit, as well as surrogate endpoints that may describe the biologic significance of PDGF-R inhibition in vivo are needed to expand the applications that target the PDGF axis.
Existence and uniqueness of solutions of semilinear stochastic infinite-dimensional differential systems with H-regular noise

Abstract Existence and uniqueness of approximate strong solutions of stochastic infinite-dimensional systems d u = [ A ( t ) u + B ( t , u ) ] d t + G ( t , u ) d W , u ( 0 , ⋅ ) = u 0 ∈ H , t ⩾ 0 with local Lipschitz-continuous, time-depending nonrandom operators A , B and G acting on a separable Hilbert space H are studied. For this purpose, some monotonicity conditions on those operators and an existing U-series expansion of the space–time Wiener process W (U-valued, U ⊆ H , U Hilbert space) with ∑ n = 1 + ∞ α n 2 + ∞ belonging to the trace of related covariance operator Q of W with local noise intensities α n 2 ∈ R 1 as eigenvalues of Q are exploited.
Conversion of Fly Ash into Mesoporous Aluminosilicate

Mesoporous aluminosilicate in the hexagonal phase (MCM-41) has been synthesized from fused fly ash solutions and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants. The authors provide direct evidence that an MCM-41 aluminosilicate with a homogeneous chemical composition of Si/Al = 13.4 can be prepared with cationic surfactant. Results indicate that coal combustion byproducts can be utilized for producing mesoporous molecular sieves even though they contain significant amounts of impurities.
Evolving Big Data Stream Classification with MapReduce

Big Data Stream mining has some inherent challenges which are not present in traditional data mining. Not only Big Data Stream receives large volume of data continuously, but also it may have different types of features. Moreover, the concepts and features tend to evolve throughout the stream. Traditional data mining techniques are not sufficient to address these challenges. In our current work, we have designed a multi-tiered ensemble based method HSMiner to address aforementioned challenges to label instances in an evolving Big Data Stream. However, this method requires building large number of AdaBoost ensembles for each of the numeric features after receiving each new data chunk which is very costly. Thus, HSMiner may face scalability issue in case of classifying Big Data Stream. To address this problem, we propose three approaches to build these large number of AdaBoost ensembles using MapReduce based parallelism. We compare each of these approaches from different aspects of design. We also empirically show that, these approaches are very useful for our base method to achieve significant scalability and speedup.
Involvement of p-OH-benzoyl-coenzyme A in the biosynthesis of ubiquinone-9 in the rat

Abstract Evidence is presented for the involvement of the coenzyme A derivative of p-OH-benzoate in ubiquinone-9 biosynthesis in the rat. Radioactivity from p-OH-benzoyl- 3 H coenzyme A was incorporated by rat liver mitochondria into 2-nonaprenyl-6methoxyphenol (2-NPMP), a known intermediate in the biosynthesis of ubiquinone-9 in the rat. The reaction demonstrated typical saturation kinetics with an apparent K m of 5 × 10 -5 M. Free coenzyme A stimulated the incorporation of p-OH-benzoate into 2-NPMP in mitochondria whereas other common thiols were inhibitory. Glycine appeared to divert the p-OH-benzoyl CoA toward p-OH-hippurate instead of 2-NPMP.
Strategy for studying nocturnal aerosol optical depth using artificial lights

In this concept study, we develop a strategy for the monitoring of nighttime aerosol particle optical properties over land using artificial lights on the earth's surface. We demonstrate the possibility of detecting significant aerosol events and deriving variations in aerosol optical depth using the operational linescan system (OLS) on defence meteorological satellite program (DMSP) platforms. Since the OLS instruments have no on-board calibration, only a qualitative study of the potential to estimate aerosol and cloud properties using city lights at night is shown in this paper. The technique is demonstrated using China and India as test regions. With the launch of the visible/infrared imager/radiometer suite (VIIRS) instrument on the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS) in the coming decade, fully quantitative retrieval of nighttime aerosol particle optical properties from space observations using such methods will become possible. Such work will benefit aerosol forecasting, safety of navigation, aerosol data assimilation and climate studies.
The Brain Prize 2014: complex human functions

Giacomo Rizzolatti, Stanislas Dehaene, and Trevor Robbins were recently awarded the 2014 Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize for their ‘pioneering research on higher brain mechanisms underpinning such complex human functions as literacy, numeracy, motivated behavior and social cognition, and for their effort to understand cognitive and behavioral disorders'. Why was their work highlighted? Is there anything that links together these seemingly disparate lines of research?
Skyline: a rapid prototyping driving simulator for user experience

This paper introduces Skyline, a user experience prototyping platform for automotive, developed in Intel Labs to enable rapid iterative development of in-vehicle experiences. The paper describes the hardware and software components of Skyline. It highlights the flexibility of the interior HMI configuration and the accessibility of the development platform, based on open source Web technologies such as JavaScript, CSS, Node.js and MQTT. The paper steps through the development and user testing processes for a cockpit experience with Skyline, illustrating the benefits of capturing early qualitative user feedback as support for rapid prototyping. Finally, the paper outlines the potential benefits of high fidelity assets developed on the platform for both industry and academia, and the enormous value that documented user experience HMI assets can have for in-vehicle feature productization and research.
The elongation-termination decision in transcription

At any template position, the decision to extend the transcript by one residue or to release the nascent RNA represents a kinetic competition between elongation and termination pathways. This competition is discussed in terms of alternative Eyring transition state barriers; changes in termination efficiency correspond to small changes in the relative heights of these barriers. Elongation complexes are stable at nonterminator positions; a model is presented to explain the destabilization of these complexes at intrinsic termination sites. Functionally analogous effects can operate at rho-dependent terminators. Mechanisms for modulation of termination efficiency by regulatory proteins are described.
A novel method for safe and accurate left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for research in rats.

Abstract Background Left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation has been commonly used in rats to induce left ventricular infarction for research purposes. However, LAD ligation is a very difficult procedure with high mortality rate in rats. We have developed a safe method of LAD ligation in rats with low mortality. Methods Thirty-six Sprague–Dawley male rats weighing 300–350 g were selected for LAD ligation for the induction of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The surgery was performed under general anesthesia. Left-sided thoracothomy was performed by cutting the fifth and sixth ribs. The pericardium was opened, and the heart exteriorized with a cardiac holder consisting of a plastic loop (1.5×2 cm). The LAD was localized 1–2 mm below the junction of pulmonary conus and the left atrial appendage. A 5.0 silk suture was used to ligate the LAD from the left border of the pulmonary conus to the right border of the left atrial appendage. The heart was returned back to the chest and the chest wall closed with presutured lopes of 4.0 silk. Results Mid-LAD ligation was successful in all rats, with less than 5% mortality. The entire surgery was performed in less than 15 min. This method is simple and can be learned in a short period of time. Rats survived the procedure with induction of congestive heart failure for up to 3 weeks of follow-up. Conclusions Using our method, LAD ligation can safely be performed in rats 1–2 mm below the junction of the pulmonary conus and the left atrial appendage, with a very low mortality rate.
Implementation of intelligent air conditioner for fine agriculture

Abstract In order to control the temperature and humidity of the greenhouse environment, an intelligent air conditioner based on an air conditioner, a ZigBee wireless sensor network (WSN) and a fuzzy controller is proposed, designed, and realized in this study. The valves in the intelligent air conditioner are controlled to allow it to operate in one of these four modes: dehumidifier, heater, cooler, and fan blower. The multi-point ZigBee WSN sensor nodes are used to measure the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse. The system uses PIC18F4520 microcontroller as its core to develop the fuzzy controller. Based on fuzzy inference system, the fuzzy controller processes and analyze the temperature and humidity data collected from the sensors imbedded in the air inlet of the air conditioner and from ZigBee WSN sensor nodes, determines the best operation mode, and issues control commands to maintain a suitable greenhouse environment. The test results show that the performance of the intelligent air conditioner closely matches the goal and satisfies the requirements preset by the operator. In addition, a graphical user interface (GUI) is designed to control and monitor the temperature and relative humidity in the greenhouse environment, and the Elipse Power Studio monitoring software is used to construct a monitor platform with internet browser capability.
Expression pattern of polyketide synthase-2 during sea urchin development.

Abstract Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are a large group of proteins responsible for the biosynthesis of polyketide compounds, which are mainly found in bacteria, fungi, and plants. Polyketides have a wide array of biological functions, including antibiotic, antifungal, predator defense, and light responses. In this study, we describe the developmental expression pattern of pks2 , one of two pks found in the sea urchin genome. Throughout development, pks2 expression was restricted to skeletogenic cells and their precursors. Pks2 was first detected during the blastula stage. The transcript level peaked at hatched blastula, when all skeletogenic cell precursors expressed pks2 . This was followed by a steady decline in expression in the skeletogenic cells on the aboral side of the embryo. By the prism stage, pks2 expression was limited to only 3–4 skeletogenic cells localized on the oral side.
THE USE OF HEATED EFFLUENTS FROM POWER PLANTS FOR THE WINTER PRODUCTION OF SOFT SHELL CRABS1

This research was conducted July, 1969 through February, 1970 at the P. H. Robinson Generating Station on Galveston Bay, Texas and deals with the potential of using heated water from an electric generating station for a soft shell, blue crab (Callinectessapidus) industry. In cost per kg the soft shell crab is one of the more valuable resources being fished along the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico. The lack of competition from a wild winter stock of soft shell blue crabs would add value to a winter fisheries. The presence of a large wild stock of hard shell blue crabs throughout the year could provide the industry with an inexpensive stocking source. Molting in the intake and discharge canals occured at temperatures between 15 and 35C; the majority of molting crabs were taken in the intake from July to the middle of October and from the discharge from the middle of October through February. Ten percent of the crabs taken after the initial drop below 15 C in the intake canal were soft while 24% of the crabs taken in the discharge canal during the same period of time were soft. The use of the intake canal waters during the warmest months, when discharge temperatures are too high for holding crabs, could make this a year round industry. Holding tanks for maintaining hard and peeler crabs could be moved from one canal to the other as water temperatures demanded.
Hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate in periportal and pericentral areas of the liver lobule

4-Methylumbelliferyl sulfate was used to characterize sulfatase activity in periportal and pericentral regions of the liver lobule in the perfused rat liver. Following infusion of 1.5 mM of this organic sulfatester, free 4-methylumbelliferone and 4-methylumbelliferyl glucuronide were formed at rates of 13 and 9 mumoles/g/h, respectively, in livers from fasted, phenobarbital-treated rats. 5-Pregnen-3 beta-ol, 20-one sulfate inhibited hydrolysis and metabolite production completely, whereas perfusion with nitrogen-saturated perfusate or FCCP decreased total metabolite formation by only 30%. 4-Methylumbelliferone formed from the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate was monitored with micro-light guides placed on periportal and pericentral areas of the liver lobule. Detection of the desulfated product was always greater in the downstream region, i.e., infusion of 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate produced a higher fluorescence signal in pericentral areas when perfusion was in the anterograde direction, while periportal areas demonstrated higher activity during perfusion in the retrograde direction. Perfusion with nitrogen-saturated perfusate abolished these differences. Taken together, these data suggest that uptake of organic sulfateesters is partially energy dependent, follows the hepatic oxygen gradient inversely, and is a major rate determinant for sulfatase activity in the liver.
Corrosion mechanisms of spent fuel under oxidizing conditions

The release of {sup 99}Tc can be used as a reliable marker for the extent of spent oxide fuel reaction under unsaturated high drip rate conditions at 90{degrees}C. Evidence from the leachate data and from scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) examination of reacted fuel samples is presented for radionuclide release, potential reaction pathways, and the formation of alteration products. In the ATM-103 fuel, 0.03 of the total inventory of {sup 99}Tc is release in 3.7 years under unsaturated and oxidizing conditions. Two reaction pathways that have been identified from SEM are (1) through-grain dissolution with subsequent formation of uranyl alteration products, and (2) grain-boundary dissolution. The major alteration product identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM, is Na-boltwoodite, Na[(UO{sub 2})(SiO{sub 3}OH)].H{sub 2}O, which is formed from sodium and silicon in the water leachant.
Metabolic and adipose risk factors for NIDDM and coronary disease in third-generation Japanese-American men and women with impaired glucose tolerance.

Since second-generation (Nisei) Japanese Americans are prone to develop the insulin resistance syndrome, younger third-generation (Sansei) Japanese Americans from a cross-sectional 10% volunteer sample of Sansei men (n = 115) and women (n = 115) 34 years or older in King County, Washington with normal glucose tolerance or IGT were examined for metabolic and adipose risk factors associated with this syndrome. After an overnight 10-h fast, blood samples were taken for measurement of glucose, insulin, C-pep-tide, lipids, and lipoproteins, followed by a 3-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test with blood samples taken for glucose, insulin, and C-peptide measurement. BMI (kg/m2), skinfolds, and body fat areas (by computed tomography) were measured. IGT was diagnosed in 19 % of the men and 31 % of the women. Men with IGT had more adiposity, both overall and in thoracic and visceral sites, had higher fasting plasma insulin and C-peptide, and tended to have higher fasting triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol than men with normal glucose tolerance. Women with IGT had more thoracic subcutaneous fat and intra-abdominal fat and lower fasting HDL cholesterol than women with normal glucose tolerance, and tended to have higher fasting triglyceride and LDL cholesterol. Women with IGT also had higher fasting plasma insulin than women with normal glucose tolerance but tended to be less hyperinsuli-naemic than men. Differences in fasting insulin, C-peptide, and lipids were best predicted by intra-abdominal fat. Thus metabolic (higher fasting insulin and a tendency to higher triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol) and adipose (visceral adiposity) risk factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome are identifiable among Sansei men and women with IGT, who may therefore be at increased risk of future development of NIDDM and CHD.
Rheology and gelation kinetics in laponite dispersions containing poly(ethylene oxide)

We report results on the rheology of a model polymer/clay system, laponite clay particles with added poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), focusing on the kinetics of gel formation and on molecular weight effects. We examined solutions at both pH = 7, where interparticle attractions are present and a networked gel is formed; and at pH = 10, where repulsive forces dominate and laponite forms a colloidal glass. We found that PEO of low to moderate molecular weight significantly slows down gelation and decreases the complex viscosity and elastic modulus of the dispersion by several orders of magnitude for both pH = 7 and 10. In the former case, adsorbed PEO likely forms a steric barrier to the formation of an attractive gel. In the latter case, we propose that free PEO chains in solution induce a depletion attraction between particles, preventing or slowing the formation of a colloidal glass. At higher molecular weights, PEO chains are long enough to bridge between particles and form an associative network, enhancing the viscosity and elastic modulus for both pH = 7 and 10. Finally, we have shown the critical molecular weight for transitioning between these two types of behavior scales with the interparticle distance. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 233–240, 2005
Motivations for citation: A comparison of self citation and citation to others

The citation motivations among 51 self citing authors in several natural science disciplines were investigated. Results of a survey on reasons for both self citation and citation to others show that there are very few differences in motivation, and that there are plausible intellectual grounds for those differences which are substantial. Analysis of exposure in text reveals virtually no differences between self citations and citations to others. Analysis of individual disciplines also uncover no substantive differences in either motivation or exposure in text.
MICROSCALE MODELING OF THE SEISMIC RESPONSE OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

This paper presents a microscale approach to analyze the seismic response of a spread footing system founded on a liquefiable granular soil deposit. The approach utilizes a three-dimensional transient fully-coupled hydromechanical model while taking into account the effects of soil-foundation interaction. The porous soil medium is modeled as a mixture of two interpenetrating phases, namely the fluid phase (water) and the particulate solid phase. The fluid is idealized as a continuum by using averaged Navier-Stokes equations that account for the presence of the solid particles. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is employed to model the assemblage of these particles. The interphase momentum transfer is modeled using an established relationship that accounts for the dynamic change in porosity. The spread footing is idealized as a rigid block and its motion is described by the resultant forces and moments acting upon it. A computational simulation is conducted to investigate the response of spread-footings on a saturated granular deposit when subjected to a dynamic excitation. Results of the conducted simulation showed that the foundation sustained excessive settlement as the ground shaking progressed. The conducted simulation appears to capture essential dynamic response patterns typically observed in such systems.
Long-wave infrared hyperspectral sensor design trade space

The design of infrared hyperspectral sensors for airborne applications demands components level performance trades to achieve system level performance objectives. Limitations to signal-to-noise ratio performance issues that are not present in the visible spectrum are manifest in the infrared region. This paper discusses the typical trade space that the designer must address to develop a long wave infrared hyperspectral sensor for airborne applications.