cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Self- and Mutual-Exciting Model for Discrete-Time Data: Case Study on Online Money Market Fund

This paper proposes a novel self- and mutual-exciting stochastic model to capture two essential features underlying a general type of discrete-time event data motivated by the practice: the dependence on the past event arrivals and associated sizes (i.e., self-exciting) and the behavioral interdependence between multiple activities (i.e., mutual-exciting). Despite the technical challenges in capturing these two features under a general discrete-time framework, we are able to fully characterize the probability distribution for the proposed model (i.e., the closed-form characteristic functions), theoretically quantify customer performance measures, and establish efficient maximum likelihood estimation. To illustrate the applicability of our model and validate its performance, we calibrate it with a customer deposit and withdrawal data set from one leading online money market fund. We analytically quantify the churn probability and expected activity level of customers as an illustration of performance measures and then compare our model with classic time-series and machine-learning models and show that our model can achieve high prediction accuracy. The theoretical tractability and predictive accuracy of the proposed framework enable us to build optimization models to improve firm performance, and we illustrate one application through a personalized interest-rate optimization problem. On a broader note, our model framework is generally applicable to characterize any discrete-time event data with self and mutual excitation in nature and to inform optimal policies for decision-makers.
Recommendations for Community Colleges in a Post-COVID-19 World: What Worked, What Did Not and Assorted Commentary on Lessons Learned in One Community College

Northwestern Connecticut Community College is a small rural community college that quickly pivoted to offering almost all classes and services over video conferencing and other online means because...
Some Rival Reasons Theories

Reasons may be divided (among other ways) into the agent-dependent and the agent-independent, or into the agent-relative and the agent-neutral, or into the universally applicable and the specially applicable. Although these divisions may appear to be equivalent, we shall see that they are not.
GMC oxidoreductases: A newly defined family of homologous proteins with diverse catalytic activities☆

Abstract Sequence comparison of Drosophila melanogaster glucose dehydrogenase, Escherichia coli choline dehydrogenase, Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase and Hansenula polymorpha methanol oxidase indicates that these four diverse flavoproteins are homologous, defining a new family of proteins named the GMC Oxidoreductases. These enzymes contain a canonical ADP-binding βαβ-fold close to their amino termini as found in other flavoenzymes. This domain is encoded by a single exon of the D. melanogaster glucose dehydrogenase gene.
Structure Prediction of Membrane Proteins

Membrane proteins play a central role in many cellular and physiological processes. It is estimated that integral membrane proteins make up about 20–30% of the proteome (Krogh et al., 2001b; Stevens and Arkin, 2000; von Heijne, 1999). They are essential mediators of material and information transfer across cell membranes. Their functions include active and passive transport of molecules into and out of cells and organelles; transduction of energy among various forms (light, electrical, and chemical energy); as well as reception and transduction of chemical and electrical signals across membranes (Avdonin, 2005; Bockaert et al., 2002; Pahl, 1999; Rehling et al., 2004; Stack et al., 1995). Identifying these transmembrane (TM) proteins and deciphering their molecular mechanisms, then, is of great importance, particularly as applied to biomedicine. Membrane proteins are the targets of a large number of pharmacologically and toxicologically active substances, and are directly involved in their uptake, metabolism, and clearance (Bettler et al., 1998; Cohen, 2002; Heusser and Jardieu, 1997; Tibes et al., 2005; Xu et al., 2005). Despite the importance of membrane proteins, the knowledge of their high-resolution structures and mechanisms of action has lagged far behind in comparison to that of water-soluble proteins: less than 1% of all three-dimensional structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank are of membrane proteins. This unfortunate disparity stems from difficulties in overexpression and the crystallization of membrane proteins (Grisshammer and Tate, 1995; Michel, 1991).
Prediction in geomorphology

Widespread availability of computational power and the ability to acquire voluminous data have the potential to improve the accuracy and relevance of geomorphic prediction, although such improvement is by no means guaranteed. A mix of fast and slow geomorphic processes, unknown initial and forcing conditions, unresolved heterogeneities, and unanticipated, typically nonlinear mechanisms make prediction difficult and problems of scale paramount. A variety of approaches to formulating geomorphic models exist, reflecting the diversity of modeler's backgrounds and goals and our incomplete understanding of many earth surface processes. Progress is facilitated by a continuing dialog among those pursuing different approaches to making and testing predictions. This paper provides a synopsis of contributions to a volume that focuses on the broader objectives, methods, and testing of geomorphic models. Why do we model and to what purpose? How do we formulate and test models? How do we evaluate whether a model has predictive capability or any utility at all? Is prediction even necessary? Despite the diverse approaches to making predictions in geomorphology, common themes in the volume highlight the need for models that unambiguously link cause and effect, the importance of rigorous and flexible model tests, and the utility of models in focusing and organizing understanding and expressing concepts in unambiguous and testable ways.
A Multi-Agent Systems Approach to Microeconomic Foundations of Macro

This paper is part of a broader project that attempts to gener- ate microfoundations for macroeconomics as an emergent property of complex systems. The multi-agents systems approach is seen to produce realistic macro properties from a primitive set of agents that search for satisfactory activities, "jobs", in an informationally constrained, computationally noisy environment. There is frictional and structural unemployment, inflation, excess capacity, fi- nancial instability along with the possibility of relatively smooth expansion. There is no Phillips curve but an inegalitarian distribution of income emerges as fundamental property of the system.
Protective Immunity against Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Is Associated with STAT1-Mediated Classical Macrophage Activation

Experimental pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection in BALB/c mice is associated with polarized Th2-type cytokine production, alternative macrophage activation, and severe bronchopneumonia. In contrast, pulmonary infection with a C. neoformans strain that secretes IFN-γ, H99γ, elicits Th1-type cytokine production and classical macrophage activation. Additionally, mice infected with H99γ resolve the acute infection and are subsequently protected against challenge with wild-type C. neoformans. The present study characterizes macrophage activation during the protective response to wild-type C. neoformans in mice previously immunized with H99γ. We observed increased pulmonary Th1-type cytokine production in lung homogenates and classical macrophage activation as evidenced by enhanced expression of inducible NO synthase in the lungs of H99γ-immunized mice compared with mice given a nonprotective immunization with heat-killed C. neoformans (HKCn). Furthermore, macrophages isolated from H99γ-immunized mice on day 7 postchallenge and cultured in vitro were fungistatic against C. neoformans, whereas cryptococcal growth was uncontrolled within macrophages from HKCn-immunized mice. Th2-type cytokine production and induction of alternatively activated macrophages were also observed in lungs of HKCn-immunized mice during rechallenge. Gene expression arrays showed that classical macrophage activation during challenge infection in H99γ-immunized mice was associated with induction of the transcription factor STAT1 and its downstream targets IFN regulatory factor-1, suppressor of cytokine signaling-1, CXCL9, and CXCL10. These studies demonstrate that protective responses to C. neoformans challenge in immunized mice include classical macrophage activation and enhanced macrophage fungistasis of C. neoformans yeasts. Finally, the classical activation phenotype of protective anticryptococcal macrophages is likely mediated via STAT1 signal transduction pathways.
MEASURE OF K-SHELL INTERNAL CONVERSION COEFFICIENTS WITH A COINCIDENCE SCINTILLATION SPECTROMETER

The $K$-shell internal conversion coefficients of gamma rays from ${\mathrm{Te}}^{123}$, ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{153}$, ${\mathrm{Hf}}^{181}$, and ${\mathrm{Os}}^{191}$ have been measured using a coincidence scintillation spectrometer employing NaI and anthracene phosphors as detectors. In several cases an unambiguous classification of the transition as to multipole order and character is possible. The results indicate that the 159-kev gamma ray from ${\mathrm{Te}}^{123}$ is predominantly $M1$, the 70-kev gamma ray from ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{153}$ is a mixture of $E2+M1$, the 132-kev gamma ray from ${\mathrm{Hf}}^{181}$ is predominantly $E2$, the 135-kev gamma ray from ${\mathrm{Hf}}^{181}$ is predominantly $M1$, the 345-kev and 480-kev gamma rays from ${\mathrm{Hf}}^{181}$ are a mixture of either $E2+M1$ or $E1+M2$, and the 129-kev gamma ray from ${\mathrm{Os}}^{191}$ is a mixture of either $E2+M1$ or $E1+M2$.
Wide field-of-view on-chip Talbot fluorescence microscopy for longitudinal cell culture monitoring from within the incubator.

Time-lapse or longitudinal fluorescence microscopy is broadly used in cell biology. However, current available time-lapse fluorescence microscopy systems are bulky and costly. The limited field-of-view (FOV) associated with the microscope objective necessitates mechanical scanning if a larger FOV is required. Here we demonstrate a wide FOV time-lapse fluorescence self-imaging Petri dish system, termed the Talbot Fluorescence ePetri, which addresses these issues. This system’s imaging is accomplished through the use of the Fluorescence Talbot Microscopy (FTM). By incorporating a microfluidic perfusion subsystem onto the platform, we can image cell cultures directly from within an incubator. Our prototype has a resolution limit of 1.2 μm and an FOV of 13 mm^2. As demonstration, we obtained time-lapse images of HeLa cells expressing H2B-eGFP. We also employed the system to analyze the cells’ dynamic response to an anticancer drug, camptothecin (CPT). This method can provide a compact and simple solution for automated fluorescence imaging of cell cultures in incubators.
Contributions of object- and space-based mechanisms to line bisection errors.

Abstract In two experiments, normal adults divided a horizontal line segment and an equal spatial interval that did not contain a line into eight equal-appearing segments by means of successive bisections. In the first experiment, subjects' average initial bisections erred to the left of objective center for both stimuli. Their subsequent bisections produced similar errors for the line-present stimulus, as the bisection of each progressively smaller line segment was placed to the left of true center. However, this pattern did not occur when bisecting the empty interval. The finding that the presence of a line influences bisection errors implicates an ‘object-based’ mechanism in the genesis of line bisection errors and suggests that this mechanism varies in its operation with visual field location. In the second experiment, subjects successively bisected longer line and interval stimuli which were presented either centered on the subjects' midlines or displaced to the right or left. Bisections tended to be placed farther to the left for the left stimuli and farther to the right for the right stimuli, with little or no bias for the centrally located stimuli. Repeated measures with the centrally located stimulus demonstrated strong individual differences in bisection biases. Errors were also found to be correlated for the line-present and line-absent stimuli in both experiments, suggesting the additional contribution of a mechanism that is not object-based.
Characterization of a new adenovirus isolated from black-tailed deer in California

An adenovirus associated with systemic and localized vascular damage was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry in a newly recognized epizootic hemorrhagic disease in California black-tailed deer. In this study, we describe the cultural, physicochemical and serological characteristics of a virus isolated from lung using neonatal white-tail deer lung and turbinate cell cultures. The virus had the cultural, morphological and physicochemical characteristics of members of the Adenoviridae family. The virus would not replicate in low passage fetal bovine, caprine or ovine cells. Antiserum to the deer adenovirus, strain D94-2569, neutralized bovine adenovirus type-6 (BAdV-6), BAdV-7, and caprine adenovirus type-1 (GAdV-1). Antiserum to BAdV-6 did not neutralize the deer adenovirus but antiserum to BAdV-7 and GAdV-1 neutralized the deer adenovirus. Cross-neutralization with the other bovine, caprine and ovine adenovirus species was not observed. Restriction endonuclease patterns generated for the deer adenovirus were unique compared to those for the currently recognized bovine, caprine and ovine adenovirus types. Amino acid sequence alignments of the hexon gene from the deer adenovirus strain D94-2569 indicate that it is a member of the proposed new genus (Atadenovirus) of the Adenoviridae family. While closely related antigenically to BAdV-7 and GAdV-1, the deer adenovirus appears sufficiently distinct culturally and molecularly to justify consideration as a new adenovirus type.
Inelastic effects in the scattering of 4He by a graphite surface

Abstract Observations are presented which suggest that an appreciable amount of the scattering of 4He from graphite is inelastic. The evidence is in the form of deviations from expected elastic scattering behavior, and in inconsistencies with some predictions of elastic scattering theory. Some of the work reported here was done with a liquid helium cooled nozzle beam. This allows beam energies as low as 3 meV and below, a factor of about 5 lower than previously used in atom-surface scattering.
B-decay signatures of warped top-condensation

Abstract We point out that the light radion ϕ in a recently proposed Warped Top-Condensation Model (WTCM), can provide distinct signatures in b → s ϕ , where the on-shell ϕ can decay with displaced vertices. We find that some of the parameter space of these models is constrained by B -meson and astrophysical data. Future B -decay measurements can lead to the discovery of the WTCM.
A Sequential Model of R&D Investment Over an Unbounded Time Horizon

A Markov model of sequential R&D investment, where successful firms are assumed to have an advantage in related follow-on R&D, is formulated and a solution approach is given. Under this assumption, profit maximizing firms must consider the effect of R&D investments on their future market position as well as the direct monetary returns from innovation. Under certain conditions, free entry is shown to lead to excessive competition and overinvestment by the firms. This market failure can be corrected through a three-part policy of restricted patent lives, subsidies to firms for consecutive successes, and entry taxes. In addition to these policy conclusions, the modeling and solution approaches presented here provide a framework for further research efforts to incorporate market position into project selection and budget allocation models.
In silico discovery of transcription regulatory elements in Plasmodium falciparum

With the sequence of the Plasmodium falciparum genome and several global mRNA and protein life cycle expression profiling projects now completed, elucidating the underlying networks of transcriptional control important for the progression of the parasite life cycle is highly pertinent to the development of new anti-malarials. To date, relatively little is known regarding the specific mechanisms the parasite employs to regulate gene expression at the mRNA level, with studies of the P. falciparum genome sequence having revealed few cis-regulatory elements and associated transcription factors. Although it is possible the parasite may evoke mechanisms of transcriptional control drastically different from those used by other eukaryotic organisms, the extreme AT-rich nature of P. falciparum intergenic regions (~90% AT) presents significant challenges to in silico cis-regulatory element discovery. We have developed an algorithm called Gene Enrichment Motif Searching (GEMS) that uses a hypergeometric-based scoring function and a position-weight matrix optimization routine to identify with high-confidence regulatory elements in the nucleotide-biased and repeat sequence-rich P. falciparum genome. When applied to promoter regions of genes contained within 21 co-expression gene clusters generated from P. falciparum life cycle microarray data using the semi-supervised clustering algorithm Ontology-based Pattern Identification, GEMS identified 34 putative cis-regulatory elements associated with a variety of parasite processes including sexual development, cell invasion, antigenic variation and protein biosynthesis. Among these candidates were novel motifs, as well as many of the elements for which biological experimental evidence already exists in the Plasmodium literature. To provide evidence for the biological relevance of a cell invasion-related element predicted by GEMS, reporter gene and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were conducted. This GEMS analysis demonstrates that in silico regulatory element discovery can be successfully applied to challenging repeat-sequence-rich, base-biased genomes such as that of P. falciparum. The fact that regulatory elements were predicted from a diverse range of functional gene clusters supports the hypothesis that cis-regulatory elements play a role in the transcriptional control of many P. falciparum biological processes. The putative regulatory elements described represent promising candidates for future biological investigation into the underlying transcriptional control mechanisms of gene regulation in malaria parasites.
Embryonic cell lineages in the nervous system of the Glossiphoniid leech Helobdella triserialis

Abstract The lines of descent of cells of the nervous system of the leech Helobdella triserialis have been ascertained by injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a tracer into identified cells of early embryos. Such experiments show that the nervous system of the leech has several discrete embryological origins. Some of the neurons on one side of each of the segmental ganglia derive from a single cell, the ipsilateral N ectoteloblast. Other neurons derive from a different precursor cell, the ipsilateral OPQ cell that gives rise to the O, P, and Q ectoteloblasts. The positions within the ganglion of neuronal populations derived from each of these sources are relatively invariant from segment to segment and from specimen to specimen. Other nerve cord cells derive from the mesoteloblast M; of these four per segment appear to be the precursors of the muscle cells of the connective. The A, B, or C macromeres contribute cells to the supraesophageal ganglion. In preparations in which an N ectoteloblast was injected with HRP after production of its bandlet of n stem cells had begun, the boundary between unstained (rostral) and stained (caudal) tissues can fall within a ganglion or between ganglia. This suggests that each hemiganglion contains the descendants of more than one, and probably two, n stem cells.
Ethanol-enhanced cytotoxicity of alkylating agents.

Background: Although ethanol itself is not genotoxic, chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of neoplastic disease. The mechanism by which ethanol exerts a cocarcinogenic effect is not well established, and the aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to ethanol increased the cytotoxicity of known carcinogens. Methods: To assess cell survival, the ability of Chinese hamster A10 cells, which express alcohol dehydrogenase, to form colonies was determined after exposure to ethanol and other substances, including both genotoxicants and non–DNA-reactive cytotoxic agents. Results: 1-Methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) is an alkylating agent that forms covalent bonds with DNA. The cytotoxicity of MNNG at concentrations of 0.17 to 0.68 μM was markedly enhanced when cells were also treated with 50 mM ethanol. When combined with 0.34 μM MNNG, concentrations of ethanol as low as 2 mM exacerbated the toxicity of this alkylating agent. When these experiments were repeated in the presence of 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, pretreatment with ethanol did not affect the toxicity of MNNG. When ethanol treatment was combined with exposure to other carcinogens, as well as agents that do not directly damage DNA, the cytotoxicity of the DNA-reactive agents 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, mitomycin C, and 6-chloro-9-(3-[2-chloroethyl]aminopropylamino)-2-methoxyacridine was modestly enhanced, and that of a second alkylating agent, ethyl methanesulfonate, was markedly increased. Conclusions: The results are consistent with impairment of DNA repair processes, particularly base excision repair, by acetaldehyde, as a mechanism by which ethanol increases the genotoxicity of certain genotoxic agents.
Surgical Management of Tumors Invading the Superior Vena Cava

Determining the appropriate surgical treatment for anterior mediastinal malignancies, especially those invading the superior vena cava, present a unique problem for thoracic surgeons. Various surgical methods can be applied to resect tumors that have invaded the superior vena cava without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The type of procedure used varies according to the size of the tumor and extent of invasion into adjacent structures. This can involve treatment ranging from a simple resection with primary repair to using a vascular shunt and graft interposition. We present a range of methods to approach surgical resection of tumors that have invaded the superior vena cava.
Vascular inflammatory, oxidative and protease-based processes: implications for neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease

A substantial literature demonstrates activation of inflammatory processes in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain and an association between inflammation and oxidative stress. We have shown that brain microvessels from AD patients express high levels of inflammatory proteins and that these proteins evoke release of the neurotoxic protease thrombin from brain endothelial cells. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of inflammatory proteins on brain endothelial cell reactive oxygen species generation, protease release and cell apoptosis. Also, the effects of inflammatory proteins on neuronal reactive oxygen species generation, injury and apoptosis were assessed. Treatment of cultured brain endothelial cells with inflammatory proteins (LPS, IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.01) in intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species by 1 h. Inflammatory proteins also caused release of tissue plasminogen activator and increased apoptosis by 24 h in these cells. In cultured neurons, inflammatory proteins caused an increase in reactive oxygen species, membrane fluidity, and apoptosis by 24 h, as detected by fluorescent microscopy. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that vascular inflammatory, oxidative and protease-based processes contribute to neuronal cell death, and suggest that therapies targeted at these mediators and processes could be effective in AD.
The interovarian progesterone gradient: a spatial and temporal regulator of folliculogenesis in the primate ovarian cycle

After the spontaneous demise of the corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle, either ovary may support the next ovulation. Conversely, after luteectomy in monkeys, the subsequent ovulation usually occurs on the contralateral ovary (incidence, ∼90%). Since progesterone may have an intraovarian role in the regulation of folliculogenesis, we wondered whether, after luteectomy, the time course and locus for selection of the dominant follicle is regulated by extraluteal intraovarian progesterone, and if this extraluteal progesterone secretion may be hCG responsive. To study these ideas, cycling rhesus monkeys (N = 15) underwent luteectomy 17–19 days after the onset of menses. Bilateral ovarian venous sera were collected (day 2, 4, or 6 postluteectomy), in each instance, a single day after one hCG (100 IU) injection. In addition, daily collections of peripheral sera were analyzed for LH, FSH, 17β-estradiol, and progesterone concentrations by RIA. Repeat laparotomies performed in the subsequent luteal phase conf...
Evaluation of Moisture Content in Insulation of Windings of Power Transformers with Respect to Dielectric Characteristics

Main concepts of the method of computational evaluation of moisture content in solid insulation of power transformers by with the use of results of measurement of dielectric characteristics are presented.
Spacetime of supermassive U(1)-gauge cosmic strings

We investigate numerically the spacetime geometry in the presence of an infinitely long, straight, static, U(1)-gauge cosmic string formed during phase transitions at energy scales larger than the grand-unified-theory scale. As the energy scale of symmetry breaking increases, we find that at radial infinity the geometry around a string changes from Minkowskian minus a wedge to an analog of a Kasner spacetime. The geometry transition occurs at {Delta}{phi}=2{pi}, where the deficit angle {Delta}{phi} is defined in the sense of comparison with flat spacetime in the absence of the string. Phase transitions producing such supermassive strings should occur before inflation to avoid contradictions with current observations.
Potassium-proton symport in Neurospora: kinetic control by pH and membrane potential.

Active transport of potassium in K+-starved Neurospora was previously shown to resemble closely potassium uptake in yeast, Chlorella, and higher plants, for which K+ pumps or K+/H+-ATPases had been proposed. For Neurospora, however, potassium-proton cotransport was demonstrated to operate, with a coupling ratio of 1 H+ to 1 K+ taken inward so that K+, but not H+, moves against its electrochemical gradient (Rodriguez-Navarro et al., J. Gen. Physiol. 87:649-674). In the present experiments, the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of K+-H+ cotransport in spherical cells of Neurospora has been studied with a voltage-clamp technique, using difference-current methods to dissect it from other ion-transport processes in the Neurospora plasma membrane. Addition of 5-200 microM K+ to the bathing medium causes 10-150 mV depolarization of the unclamped membrane, and yields a sigmoid I-V curve with a steep slope (maximal conductance of 10-30 microS/cm2) for voltages of -300 to -100 mV, i.e., in the normal physiologic range. Outside that range the apparent I-V curve of the K+-H+ symport saturates for both hyperpolarization and depolarization. It fails to cross the voltage axis at its predicted reversal potential, however, an effect which can be attributed to failure of the I-V difference method under reversing conditions. In the absence of voltage clamping, inhibitors-such as cyanide or vanadate-which block the primary proton pump in Neurospora also promptly inhibit K+ transport and K+-H+ currents. But when voltage clamping is used to offset the depolarizing effects of pump blockade, the inhibitors have no immediate effect on K+-H+ currents. Thus, the inhibition of K+ transport usually observed with these agents reflects the kinetic effect of membrane depolarization rather than any direct chemical action or the cotransport system itself. Detailed study of the effects of [K+]o and pHo on the I-V curve for K+-H+ symport has revealed that increasing membrane potential systematically decreases the apparent affinity of the transporter for K+, but increases affinity for protons (Km range: for [K+]o, 15-45 microM; for [H+]o, 10-35 nM). This behavior is consistent with two distinct reaction-kinetic models, in which (i) a neutral carrier binds K+ first and H+ last in the forward direction of transport, or (ii) a negatively charged carrier (-2) binds H+ first and K+ last.
The kinetics of calcium deficient and stoichiometric hydroxyapatite formation from CaHPO4·2H2O and Ca4(PO4)2O

Isothermal calorimetry was performed on intimate mixtures of CaHPO4·2H2O and Ca4(PO4)2O constituted at Ca/P molar ratios of 1.50 and 1.67 to form the hydroxyapatite compositions Ca9HPO4(PO4)5OH and Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, respectively, at complete reaction. The temperature range investigated was 15–70°C. The effects of the reaction temperature on the rates of heat evolution during hydroxyapatite formation were determined. Reactions were carried out utilizing a liquid-to-solids weight ratio of 1.0. A two-stage reaction mechanism was observed regardless of the Ca/P ratio as indicated by the presence of two reaction peaks in the plots of the rates of heat evolution against time. An Arrhenius relationship was found between the rate and temperature for each reaction stage for both compositions. Apparent activation energies of 120 and 90 kJ/mol (Ca/P=1.67) and 118 and 83 kJ/mol (Ca/P=1.50), respectively, were calculated for the first and second reaction peaks. An Arrhenius relationship was also found between the time of maximum rate and temperature. The following qualitative reaction mechanism is proposed for each of the two reaction stages for both compositions studied. The first stage involves the complete consumption of CaHPO4·2H2O and the partial consumption of Ca4(PO4)2O to form a noncrystalline calcium phosphate and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite. During the second stage the remaining Ca4(PO4)2O reacts with the noncrystalline calcium phosphate to form the final product, stoichiometric or calcium deficient hydroxyapatite.
Conflicts in the Caucasus and Their Resolution: A Framing Essay

An essay by an experienced scholar-practitioner of conflict resolution in the Caucasus examines the narratives of the interlocking conflicts involving Georgia. The author argues that more complex narratives are necessary for forging constructive paths toward conflict resolution. After outlining the stereotypical arguments presented by the different sides, the author urges a multi-track diplomacy that creates opportunities for the development of more complex narratives. Research, whether by conflict insiders or by external investigators, is presented as a potential contributor to the larger peace processes. In addition to comments on the three preceding articles in the symposium published in Eurasian Geography and Economics, the paper highlights the utility in understanding local context and complexities in order to create more inclusive and complex narratives that can support confidence-building activities and eventual progress on outstanding issues plaguing the conflict-affected populations in the region...
STUDIES IN THE ANATOMY AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE POLYGONACEOUS FLOWER

UP TO recent times the families of the angiosperms have been studied mainly from a taxonomic point of view. To some extent the morphological and anatomical aspects have been considered, but both of these mostly in a gross and external way. The observations made in such studies have been used extensively by different workers to organize a phylogenietic plan of development within the groups of flowering plants. For the most part, these observations have been incomplete and fragmentary, and interpretations of the known facts have been various. With some of the fundamental and critical facts lacking, the conclusions reached are subject to revision or verification. Much of the work does not have a firm foundation; too much has been based on hypothesis rather than on facts. If a more satisfactory phylogenetic picture of the flowering plants is to be gained, both the internal and external structure of the flowers must be studied. Not only should this study be made grossly, but also minutely. Especially is this true of the flower, the part of the plant which has been particularly emphasized in modern classification. It was not until a few years ago that much intensive work was done on internal floral morphology and anatomy. Van Tieghem, Henslow and a few others made a good start, but they were greatly handicapped in their work by crude equipment; their understanding was good but relatively rudimentary. With present-day equipment and methods, a more complete knowledge of the structure of plants can be worked out, and from the facts obtained, hypotheses, both old and new, can be substantiated or discarded. It was from this standpoint that the author began his work on the polygonaceous flower. Much work had been done on the Polygonaceae but little upon the floral anatomy. It is hoped that the facts revealed in the anatomical and morphological structure of the polygonaceous flower may prove valuable in determining the relationship of the group. FLORAL, STRUCTURE.-The Polygonaceae is generally considered to consist of about 30 genera, embracing roughly 700 species. For a family of such size and distribution, its members show unusual homogeneity in floral makeup, indicating a natural grouping. Most of the members of the group have perfect flowers, the dioecious condition appearing in a few genera only. The number of perianth parts can be used conveniently to subdivide the family into two main
A Comparison of the Cross-Sectional and Sequential Designs when Assessing Longitudinal Mediation

Mediational studies are often of interest in psychology because they explore the underlying relationship between 2 constructs. Previous research has shown that cross-sectional designs are prone to biased estimates of longitudinal mediation parameters. The sequential design has become a popular alternative to the cross-sectional design for assessing mediation. This design is a compromise between the cross-sectional and longitudinal designs because it incorporates time in the model but has only 1 measurement each of X, M, and Y. As such, this design follows the recommendation of the MacArthur group approach, which stresses the importance of multiple waves of data for studying mediation. These 2 designs were compared to see whether the sequential design assesses longitudinal mediation more accurately than the cross-sectional design. Specifically, analytic expressions are derived for the bias of estimated direct and indirect effects as calculated from the sequential design when the actual mediational process follows a longitudinal autoregressive model. It was found that, in general, the sequential design does not assess longitudinal mediation more accurately than the cross-sectional design. As a result, neither design can be depended on to assess longitudinal mediation accurately.
Changing Faculty Roles and Responsibilities: Expanding the Skill Set of Faculty Perspective From a Graduate Dean

The roles and responsibilities of faculty in higher education continue to evolve. Although research and teaching have been perceived to be top priority, the skill set for faculty has expanded. Kennedy (1997) observed that academic freedom is widely shared value but that academic duty is mysterious. He identified the following as key components of academic duty: to teach, to mentor, to serve the university, to discover, to publish, to tell the truth, to reach beyond the walls, and even to change. As the context for higher education changes, preparing the future faculty becomes one of the most important responsibilities facing higher education today. National initiatives call for re-envisioning the doctoral degree, and the discipline of KPE must answer the call.
Future Considerations for Pharmacologic Adjuvants in Single-Injection Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

As the epidemics of obesity and diabetes expand, there are more patients with these disorders requiring elective surgery. For surgery on the extremities, peripheral nerve blocks have become a highly favorable anesthetic option when compared with general anesthesia. Peripheral blocks reduce respiratory and cardiac stresses, while potentially mitigating untreated peripheral pain that can foster physiologic conditions that increase risks for general health complications. However, local anesthetics are generally accepted to be a rare but possible cause of nerve damage, and there are no evidence-based recommendations for dosing local anesthetic nerve blocks in patients with diabetes. This is important because anesthesiologists do not want to potentially accelerate peripheral nerve dysfunction in diabetic patients at risk. This translational vignette (i) examines laboratory models of diabetes, (ii) summarizes the pharmacology of perineural adjuvants (epinephrine, clonidine, buprenorphine, midazolam, tramadol, and dexamethasone), and (iii) identifies areas that warrant further research to determine viability of monotherapy or combination therapy for peripheral nerve analgesia in diabetic patients. Conceivably, future translational research regarding peripheral nerve blocks in diabetic patients may logically include study of nontoxic injectable analgesic adjuvants, in combination, to provide desired analgesia, while possibly avoiding peripheral nerve toxicity that diabetic animal models have exhibited when exposed to traditional local anesthetics.
Language and Compiler Support for Adaptive Distributed Applications

Many distributed applications have to meet their performance or quality-of-service goals in environments where available resources change contantly. Important classes of distributed applications (including distributed multimedia codes, applications for mobile devices, and computational grid codes) use runtime adaptation in order to achieve their goals. The adaptation behavior in these applications is usually programmed in ad hoc code that is directly incorporated into the base application, resulting in systems that are complex to develop, maintain, modify, and debug. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to extract high-level information about adaptive behaviour using program analysis, even if there were compiler and runtime sytems that could exploit such information. The goal of our research is to develop compiler and programming language support to simplify the development and improve the performance of adaptive distribtued applications. We describe a simple set of language extensions for adaptive distributed applications, and discuss potential compiler techniqes to support such appliations. We also propose a task-graph-based framework that can be used to formalize the description of a wide range of adaptation operations.
Direct measurement of trans-Golgi pH in living cells and regulation by second messengers.

In the endocytic compartment, an acidic pH plays a key role in receptor and ligand sorting, vesicular transport, and protein degradation. In the secretory compartment, indirect estimates of trans-Golgi pH based on partitioning of weak bases and following viral infection suggest a mildly acidic pH of >6.0. We developed a liposome microinjection method to introduce fluorescent indicators into the aqueous compartment of trans-Golgi in living cells. In the presence of ATP and at 37°C, 70-nm diameter liposomes delivered their fluid-phase contents selectively into the trans-Golgi compartment as assessed by colocalization with the trans-Golgi stain N- {6-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]caproyl}-sphingosine (C6-NBD-ceramide). Liposome fusion was ATP- and temperature-dependent and blocked by N-ethylmaleimide but not by guanosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS). trans-Golgi pH in skin fibroblasts was 6.17 ± 0.02 (S.E., n = 174) as measured by ratio imaging confocal microscopy using fluorescein and rhodamine-based indicators and an in vivo calibration procedure. trans-Golgi pH increased to 6.8 ± 0.1 by cAMP agonists and to 6.5 ± 0.1 by protein kinase C activation. These results provide the first direct measurement of trans-Golgi pH in living cells and demonstrate pH regulation by second messengers.
Particle tracking in drug and gene delivery research: State-of-the-art applications and methods ☆

Particle tracking is a powerful microscopy technique to quantify the motion of individual particles at high spatial and temporal resolution in complex fluids and biological specimens. Particle tracking's applications and impact in drug and gene delivery research have greatly increased during the last decade. Thanks to advances in hardware and software, this technique is now more accessible than ever, and can be reliably automated to enable rapid processing of large data sets, thereby further enhancing the role that particle tracking will play in drug and gene delivery studies in the future. We begin this review by discussing particle tracking-based advances in characterizing extracellular and cellular barriers to therapeutic nanoparticles and in characterizing nanoparticle size and stability. To facilitate wider adoption of the technique, we then present a user-friendly review of state-of-the-art automated particle tracking algorithms and methods of analysis. We conclude by reviewing technological developments for next-generation particle tracking methods, and we survey future research directions in drug and gene delivery where particle tracking may be useful.
Anomalous travel times of teleseismic P-waves reflected under Arctic marine areas

The travel-time residuals of teleseismic PP waves can indicate velocity anomalies near the reflection points. Deep structure can thus be inferred in areas which are not well observed by conventional techniques. In this paper, published data are used to examine parts of the Arctic Ocean, the adjacent shelves and Greenland.
The effects of religion and social support on self-esteem and depression among the suddenly bereaved

This study examines the effects of religion and of the quantity and quality of social support on self-esteem and depression among the suddenly bereaved. Data are collected from medical examiner records and mail-back surveys from family members of victims of suicides and accidental deaths in a large metropolitan area of the United States. Recursive models of church attendance and social support on well-being are estimated using generalized least squares. We find that religious participation significantly increases self-esteem, but has no significant effect on depression. The findings also indicate that frequency of contact with friends and relatives, confiding with friends and relatives, and quality of recieved expressive support independently predict both self-esteem and depression.
Surgery for metastatic disease.

Purpose of review Outcomes for children with cancer have steadily improved and the long-term survival for most early-stage childhood malignancies is now greater than 90%. On the contrary, the prognosis for children with metastatic cancer, though significantly improved from a generation ago, is generally still very disappointing. Surgery continues to play a role in the increasingly aggressive treatment of children with metastatic disease with the ultimate goal of prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Recent findings Most childhood tumors are relatively rare and are therefore studied using a multi-institutional cooperative group model that standardizes protocols and pools resources and data, accounting for the remarkable progress that has been made in the care of children with cancer. In some cases, this has also allowed us to recognize the utility of certain surgical therapies and the need to further study others. Summary Modern surgery and critical care allow us to consider offering children with metastatic disease more aggressive surgical options in circumstances where the data suggest the potential for long-term survival. In situations where data are lacking, children might be offered a surgical option as part of an ongoing trial.
274 EFFECT OF HOLDING ASPIRATED FLUID FROM IMMATURE EQUINE FOLLICLES ON OOCYTE MATURATION AND BLASTOCYST PRODUCTION AFTER INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration (TVA) is the most effective way to recover multiple immature oocytes from live mares. Because of the tight attachment of the equine immature oocyte to the follicle wall, TVA in this species is time consuming, taking up to 1 h per horse. Thus, it may be difficult to search follicular aspirates immediately after recovery. In 2009 in a series of 6 replicates, we observed a blastocyst development rate of 32% (13/41) after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of oocytes collected by TVA and held for ∼1.5 h at ambient temperature (26 to 32°C) before isolation from aspirated fluid (unpublished data). Therefore, in the present study we compared the effects of immediate oocyte isolation v. holding the follicular aspirate before oocyte isolation on oocyte maturation and blastocyst rates. Ten mares were used for this study; TVA was performed on each mare every 14 days, for 4 aspiration sessions per mare. Collected aspiration fluid was either processed immediately or held for 2 h at 32°C before processing. At each aspiration, one ovary was randomly assigned to each treatment [immediate (Imm) or 2-h holding (2-H)]. Follicle aspiration was performed as previously described (Jacobson et al. 2010 Theriogenology 73, 1116–1126) using M199 with Hank’s salts to flush the follicle lumen up to 8 times per follicle. Oocytes were recovered from the aspirates by filtration. Overall, 325 follicles were aspirated and 140 oocytes were obtained (43% recovery). The proportion of degenerating oocytes was not significantly different between treatments (1/68 and 0/72 for Imm and 2-H, respectively). Oocytes were held overnight in modified M199 as previously described (Choi et al. 2006 Theriogenology 66, 955–963) before maturation culture. After 30 h of maturation culture, there was no significant difference in maturation rates between treatments [75% (50/67) and 65% (46/71) for Imm and 2-H, respectively]. Fertilization was performed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and injected oocytes were cultured 7 to 10 days, as previously described (Choi et al. 2006). The rates of blastocyst development per injected oocyte were 23% (11/47) for Imm and 16% (7/44) for 2-H; these were not significantly different (P > 0.3). The reason for the discrepancy in blastocyst rates for held oocytes in this study (16%) compared with our 2009 observations (32%) is unclear; this could be a factor of the time held (∼1.5 v. 2 h), the temperature (26–32°C v. 32°C), or minor changes in protocol between the 2 years. From these results, we conclude that holding oocytes in the follicular aspirate for up to 2 h following collection may be performed when necessary without significantly affecting the rate of subsequent blastocyst development. This work was supported by the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, and by Ms. Kit Knotts.