cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effects of marijuana abuse and HIV infection on neural activation during a cognitive interference task.

Marijuana use, which is disproportionately prevalent among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, can alter activity in fronto-parietal regions during cognitively demanding tasks. While HIV is also associated with altered neural activation, it is not known how marijuana may further affect brain function in this population. Our study examined the independent and additive effects of HIV infection and regular marijuana use on neural activation during a cognitive interference task. The sample included 93 adults who differed on marijuana (MJ) and HIV statuses (20 MJ+/HIV+, 19 MJ+/HIV-, 29 MJ-/HIV+, 25 MJ-/HIV-). Participants completed a counting Stroop task during a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Main and interactive effects on neural activation during interference versus neutral blocks were examined using a mixed-effects analysis. The sample showed the expected Stroop effect for both speed and accuracy. There were main effects of MJ in the right and left inferior parietal lobules, with the left cluster extending into the posterior middle temporal gyrus and a main effect of HIV in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. There was an interaction in the left fronto-insular cortex, such that the MJ+/HIV+ group had the largest increase in activation compared with other groups. Among MJ+, signal change in this cluster correlated positively with cumulative years of regular marijuana use. These results suggest that comorbid HIV and marijuana use is associated with complex neural alterations in multiple brain regions during cognitive interference. Follow-up research is needed to determine how marijuana-related characteristics may moderate HIV neurologic disease and impact real-world functioning.
Guest Editorial: Reflections on the Ethics of Web Archiving

Attempts to capture and preserve freely available online information are almost as old as the web itself with some of the first crawls of the web conducted by Alexa Internet in the mid-1990s. Natio...
Techno-economic analysis of the production process of structural bio-adhesive derived from glycerol

Abstract With increasing environmental concerns with respect to the petroleum-based adhesive production process, bio-based adhesive has been explored as a promising replacement. The purpose of this paper was to explore the economic feasibility of structural bio-adhesives made from glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production. SuperPro Designer software was employed to perform the techno-economic analysis. Several key parameters were analyzed, such as total capital investment, annual operating costs and revenues. It was found that the unit production cost of structural bio-adhesives ($2.45/kg) was compatible with that in the current market. Three different scenarios were built to investigate the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario associated with this production process. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the key parameters significantly influencing the economic result. In this study, material cost was determined to be the most significant factor throughout the production process. Discounted cash flow analysis was conducted to explore the influence of the time value of money. The minimum selling price obtained was $3.11/kg for this bioadhesive production process. Underlying issues and areas needed for improvement were also discussed in this study.
Individual Differences in Self-Talk Frequency: Social Isolation and Cognitive Disruption.

Despite the popularity of research on intrapersonal communication across many disciplines, there has been little attention devoted to the factors that might account for individual differences in talking to oneself. In this paper, I explore two possible explanations for who people might differ in the frequency of their self-talk. According to the “social isolation” hypothesis, spending more time alone or having socially-isolating experiences will be associated with increased self-talk. According to the “cognitive disruption” hypothesis, having self-related experiences that are cognitively disruptive will be associated with increased self-talk frequency. Several studies using the Self-Talk Scale (Brinthaupt, Hein, & Kramer, 2009) are pertinent to these hypotheses. Results indicate moderate support for the social isolation hypothesis and strong support for the cognitive disruption hypothesis. I conclude the paper with a wide range of implications for future research on individual differences in self-talk and other kinds of intrapersonal communication.
Non-Parametric Transformation Networks for Learning General Invariances from Data.

ConvNets, through their architecture, only enforce invariance to translation. In this paper, we introduce a new class of deep convolutional architectures called Non-Parametric Transformation Networks (NPTNs) which can learn general invariances and symmetries directly from data. NPTNs are a natural generalization of ConvNets and can be optimized directly using gradient descent. Unlike almost all previous works in deep architectures, they make no assumption regarding the structure of the invariances present in the data and in that aspect are flexible and powerful. We also model ConvNets and NPTNs under a unified framework called Transformation Networks (TN), which yields a better understanding of the connection between the two. We demonstrate the efficacy of NPTNs on data such as MNIST with extreme transformations and CIFAR10 where they outperform baselines, and further outperform several recent algorithms on ETH-80. They do so while having the same number of parameters. We also show that they are more effective than ConvNets in modelling symmetries and invariances from data, without the explicit knowledge of the added arbitrary nuisance transformations. Finally, we replace ConvNets with NPTNs within Capsule Networks and show that this enables Capsule Nets to perform even better.
Technological Frames and User Innovation: Exploring Technological Change in Community Moderation Teams

Management of technological change in organizations is one of the most enduring topics in the literature on computer-supported cooperative work. The successful navigation of technological change is both more challenging and more critical in online communities that are entirely mediated by technology than it is in traditional organizations. This paper presents an analysis of 14 in-depth interviews with moderators of subcommunities of one technological platform (Reddit) that added communities on a new technological platform (Discord). Moderation teams experienced several problems related to moderating content at scale as well as a disconnect between the affordances of Discord and their assumptions based on their experiences on Reddit. We found that moderation teams used Discord's API to create scripts and bots that augmented Discord to make the platform work more like tools on Reddit. These tools were particularly important in communities struggling with scale. Our findings suggest that increasingly widespread end user programming allow users of social computing systems to innovate and deploy solutions to unanticipated design problems by transforming new technological platforms to align with their past expectations.
Interactive Visualization of Time-Varying Hyperspectral Plant Images for High-Throughput Phenotyping

Analysis of hyperspectral images is of great importance in many scientific disciplines. Obtaining the spectral and spatial information simultaneously from time-varying hyperspectral images is a challenging task due to their high dimensionality. In this paper, we design an interface that allows users to study hyperspectral images interactively and obtain spectral features and enhanced images at the same time. The image fusion results change dynamically with the regions of interest selected by users and convey both the spatial and spectral information. We show the usefulness of our approach using time-varying hyperspectral plant images. We compare our method with existing hyperspectral image analysis techniques. Our evaluation indicates that our interface can help users determine important bands, identify regions of interest, and generate image fusion results for time-varying hyperspectral plant images.
Dispersion of Surrogate LWR Fuel Experiments Under LOCA Conditions

In this study a series of experiments were performed subjecting surrogate nuclear fuel rods to high-pressure transients to induce fuel dispersion representative of the expected conditions of a fuel...
Plastic stress distribution method for predicting interaction strength of steel-concrete composite cross sections

Abstract Steel-concrete composite columns are efficient structural members that possess significant strength, stiffness, and ductility. Accurate methods of assessing the strength of these members are necessary to realize their benefits. Several design codes rely on the plastic stress distribution method for computing the cross-sectional strength of composite columns subjected to axial compression and flexural bending. However, there has been limited validation of this method over the wide range of material properties, cross-sectional geometries, and loading conditions to which it is permitted to be applied. This paper presents a study of the behavior of short composite columns and methods of evaluating their strength. The use of the plastic stress distribution method and the strain compatibility method to evaluate the strength of composite columns is validated against detailed fiber cross section analyses and published experimental data. The results of this study indicate that the plastic stress distribution method can yield significantly unconservative strength predictions, especially for encased composite members with high steel yield strengths and high steel ratios. Motivated by these results, a simple modification factor which can be applied to the results of the plastic stress distribution method to achieve greater accuracy was derived. This modification factor is suitable for use in design practice and enables better predictions of the strength of short composite columns.
Understanding End-of-Life Preferences: Predicting Life-Prolonging Treatment Preferences Among Community-Dwelling Older Americans

Abstract Objectives To determine how demographic, socioeconomic, health, and psychosocial factors predict preferences to accept life-prolonging treatments (LPTs) at the end of life (EOL). Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older Americans (N = 1648). Acceptance of LPT was defined as wanting to receive all LPTs in the hypothetical event of severe disability or severe chronic pain at the EOL. Participants with a durable power of attorney, living will, or who discussed EOL with family were determined to have expressed their EOL preferences. The primary analysis used survey-weighted logistic regression to measure the association between older adult characteristics and acceptance of LPT. Secondarily, the associations between LPT preferences and health outcomes were measured using regression models. Results Approximately 31% of older adults would accept LPT. Nonwhite race/ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% CI 0.41, 0.70; white vs. nonwhite), self-realization (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.01, 1.79), attendance of religious services (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.07, 1.94), and expression of preferences (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.40, 0.72) were associated with acceptance of LPT. LPT preferences were not independently associated with mortality or disability. Conclusions Approximately one-third of older Americans would accept LPT in the setting of severe disability or severe chronic pain at the EOL. Adults who discussed their EOL preferences were more likely to reject LPT. Conversely, minorities were more likely to accept LPT. Sociodemographics, physical capacity, and health status were poor predictors of acceptance of LPT. A better understanding of the complexities of LPT preferences is important to ensuring patient-centered care.
Attainment of rigorous thermodynamic consistency and surface tension in single-component pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann models via a customized equation of state.

The lack of thermodynamic consistency is a well-recognized problem in the single-component pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann models which prevents them from replicating accurate liquid and vapor phase densities; i.e., current models remain unable to exactly match coexisting density values predicted by the associated thermodynamic model. Most of the previous efforts had attempted to solve this problem by introducing tuning parameters, whose determination required empirical trial and error until acceptable thermodynamic consistency was achieved. In this study, we show that the problem can be alternatively solved by properly designing customized equations of state (EOSs) that replace any cubic EOS of choice during the computation of effective mass used in Shan-Chen forces. A two-parameter cubic-shaped customized EOS is introduced. Contrary to previous efforts, customization parameters in the new EOS are nonempirical and are rather derived from solving the integral mechanical stability equation, which neglects the need for any type of tuning for the attainment of rigorous thermodynamic consistency. The proposed approach reduces the errors of the coexisting densities and saturated pressure in the simulation to a maximum of $0.01%$ within the liquid-vapor density ratio range from $O(1)$ to $O({10}^{4})$, which had not been achieved in any of the previous tuning-based efforts. A straightforward way for achieving the desired surface tension via the customized EOS is also provided.
In situ monitoring of electrical and optoelectronic properties of suspended graphene ribbons during laser-induced morphological changes

Exploring ways to tune and improve the performance of graphene is of paramount importance in creating functional graphene-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. Recent advancements have shown that altering the morphology of graphene can have a pronounced effect on its properties. Here, we present a practical and facile method to manipulate the morphology of a suspended graphene ribbon using a laser to locally induce heating while monitoring its electrical and optoelectronic properties in situ. Electrical measurements reveal that the conductance of suspended graphene transistors can be tuned by modifying its morphology. Additionally, scanning photocurrent measurements show that laser-induced folded graphene ribbons display significantly enhanced localized photocurrent responses in comparison with their flat counterparts. Moreover, the localization of the laser-induced heating allows for a series of folds to be induced along the entire graphene ribbon, creating targeted photocurrent enhancement. Through further investigations, it is revealed that the photo-thermoelectric effect is the primary mechanism for the increased photocurrent response of the device. Our experimental results explore the mechanisms and consequences of the folding process as well as provide a strategy to manipulate morphology and physical properties of graphene for future engineering of electronics and optoelectronics.
Detection of Bs→μ+μ− at the tevatron Run II and constraints on the SUSY parameter space

Abstract A measurement of the branching ratio for the rare decay mode B s → μ + μ − at the Tevatron is an opportunity to test various supersymmetric scenarios. We investigate the prospects for studying this mode in Run II and estimate that CDF would be sensitive to this decay for a branching ratio >1.2×10 −8 with 15 fb −1 (or, if a similar analysis holds for D0, >6.5×10 −9 for the combined data). We calculate the branching ratio in minimal supergravity (mSUGRA) parameter space, and find that tan β >30 can be probed. (This mSUGRA parameter space cannot be probed by direct production of SUSY particles at Run II.) Including other experimental constraints on the mSUGRA parameter space, one finds that CDF B s → μ + μ − measurements would be able to cover the full mSUGRA parameter space for tan β =50 if the muon g μ −2 anomaly exceeds ∼11×10 −10 , and about half the allowed parameter space for tan β =40. A large branching ratio >7(14)×10 −8 (feasible with only 2 fb −1 ) would be sufficient to exclude the mSUGRA model for tan β ⩽50(55). Dark matter neutralino–proton detection cross sections are examined in the allowed region, and should be large enough to be accessible to future planned experiments. Combined measurements of B s → μ + μ − , the Higgs mass m h and the muon g μ −2 anomaly would be sufficient to determine the μ >0 mSUGRA parameters (or show the model is inconsistent with the data). We also briefly discuss the B s → μ + μ − decay in R-parity violating models. There, for some models, the branching ratio can be large enough to be detected even for small tan β and large m 1/2 .
The Idea of the University as Incubator

We have been advised for some time now that, in order to withstand the economic, demographic, and other challenges they face, universities must continually innovate. Presidents and vice-chancellors...
The Impact of Curiosity on Counselors’ Social Justice Identity

The role of counselors has expanded to emphasize social justice principles and community action, encouraging social justice to become infused with counselor’s professional identity. As a result, counselor educators are examining strategies for promoting the social justice identity of students and new professionals. Curiosity has been positioned as theoretically related to the concept of social justice. The current study investigated the relationship between counselor curiosity with social justice identity across three domains (self-efficacy, interest, and commitment) in a sample of 124 counselors and counselor trainees. Results indicated that three types of curiosity (specific, diversive, and competence) predicted each domain of social justice identity. Strategies to incorporate counselor curiosity into social justice pedagogy are discussed.
Coded Intelligent Surface Design for Generalized Beamspace Modulation in Massive MIMO Communications Systems

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems have been proposed to support high rates in next-generation 5G and 6G wireless networks. Recently, index modulation (IM) techniques have attracted significant interest for their potential to meet strict energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE) requirements of these networks. As a form of an low-cost IM for uplink scenarios with mobile stations (MS), the generalized beamspace modulation (GBM) exploits lens antenna arrays for achieving substantially increased data rates with a very small number of radio-frequency chains. However, realizing low-cost and low-form factor antennas with versatile beamforming capabilities remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose reconfigurable metasurface (R-MTS) design to implement GBM for wireless communications. Our full-wave electromagnetic simulations demonstrate system feasibility to deploy arbitrary beam steering achieved with much lower hardware footprint than the lens arrays.
Prolactinoma extension as a contributing factor in dopamine agonist-induced CSF rhinorrhea: a systematic review of the literature.

Dopamine agonist-induced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is an uncommon treatment-related complication arising in 6.1% of prolactinoma patients treated with dopamine agonists. Locally invasive...
Long-Term Outcomes of Operatively Treated Medial Epicondyle Fractures in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients

Purpose Medial epicondyle fractures are among the most common pediatric elbow injuries. The management of these fractures continues to be debated. To better understand patient results with operative fixation, we reviewed the outcomes of operatively treated medial epicondyle fractures. Methods A retrospective review was performed to identify all patients less than 18 years of age at the time of injury who were treated surgically for medial epicondyle fractures. Outcomes were assessed based on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity and Pain Interference domains, Visual Analog Scale for pain, subjective range of motion, ulnar nerve function, and requirement for secondary surgery. Results We identified a cohort of 95 patients treated for a medial epicondyle fracture with open reduction and screw fixation. Of these, 39 patients with a mean age of 12.2 years (SD, 2.2 years; range, 7.6–16.0 years) at surgery were assessed for an average follow-up of 6.3 years (SD, 3.2 years; range, 2.2–13.9 years). Outcome measures and pain scores were excellent. The mean PROMIS Upper Extremity score was 56.9, the mean Pain Interference score was 38.5, and the mean Visual Analog Scale score was 0.4.Sixteen patients (41%) required secondary surgery for symptomatic hardware removal. Seven patients (18%) developed sensory complaints and 2 (5%) developed motor complaints consistent with ulnar nerve irritability. Three patients (8%) reported dissatisfaction with elbow range of motion. Patients who required secondary surgeries had higher (worse) PROMIS Pain Interference scores. Conclusions At an average of 6.3 years after surgery, the clinical outcomes for medial epicondyle fracture were excellent. While operative treatment for medial epicondyle fractures in children leads to excellent clinical outcomes, patients and surgeons should be aware of high rates of hardware removal. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV
4 Creating a Book and Performing It: The “Yao lüe” Chapter of the Huainanzi as a Western Han Fu

Despite Major's stylistic observations, the Huainanzi remains primarily discussed in terms of intellectual history while only limited attention is given to its language and rhetorical force. To begin with, Liu An's court produced a large and wide-ranging body of prose and poetic writings encompassing diverse fields of knowledge and philosophical thought. More specifically, the Hanshu "Monograph on Arts and Writings" credits Liu An with no fewer than eighty-two "poetic expositions" and his retainers with another forty-four; by comparison, the retrospectively most celebrated author of Liu An's time, Sima Xiangru (179-117 BCE), has twenty-nine pieces listed under his name. The summary of this chapter "Seasonal Rules" is composed in a rather different poetic form, namely, the classic tetrasyllabic meter associated with the Shijing but now actualized in Han language. While the summary is longer than the one for "Heavenly Patterns", its introductory and closing formulae serve similarly as framing devices. Keywords: Hanshu ; Huainanzi ; Liu An; Shijing ; Sima Xiangru; Western Han language
Abstract #LB-209: The HDAC inhibitor belinostat downregulates survivin in the FET colon cancer cell line by a TGF\#946; signaling dependent mechanism

Survivin is a member of the IAP family and is ubiquitously expressed in tumor cells. This \#8220;cancer specific\#8221; gene also functions to promote angiogenesis, cell division and is a marker of poor prognosis. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) induce apoptosis and re-expression of epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes (TSG) in cancer cells. In association with increased expression of the TSG transforming growth factor \#946; receptor II (TGFsRII) induced by the HDACi belinostat, we have observed decreased survivin expression. HDACi are in clinical trial. Identification of the targets and molecular mechanisms involved in their effects will identify both the therapeutically important HDAC\#8217;s and the most effective combination therapies. Therefore, we are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in survivin downregulation by the HDACi belinostat in the FET colon carcinoma cell line. We have identified two mechanisms involved in the belinostat induced repression of survivin. Firstly, at early time points following belinostat treatment (0-4h), the survivin protein half life is significantly decreased. The proteasome is involved in this increased degradation as determined by the use of MG132 and lactacystin. Significantly, the decrease in survivin half life is delayed in FET cells stably transfected with dominant negative TGFsRII. Secondly, at late time points (24-72h) following treatment with belinostat, the level of survivin mRNA is decreased. The transcriptional activity of the survivin promoter construct p1430-luciferase stably transfected into FET cells is similarly decreased 48h post treatment. This suppression of transcriptional activity by belinostat also demonstrates some dependence on TGF\#946; signaling. At pharmacologically low doses of belinostat, blocking the TGF\#946; pathway by the ALK5i inhibitor or using FET cells stably transfected with dominant negative TGFsRII partially rescued survivin transcription. We also treated FET Smad 2 knockdown cells with belinostat and found that survivin downregulation by belinostat was partially rescued. DNA fragmentation assay revealed that belinostat induced cell death is through the activation of caspase 3 and 9 and blocking the TGF\#946; pathway reduced cell death. Similar results were obtained with the HDACi trichostatin A. Belinostat also induced expression of epigenetically silenced TGFsRII in the MCF7L breast cancer cell line which resulted in TGF\#946; mediated survivin repression. Therefore, induction of TGFsRII with concomitant survivin repression may represent significant mechanisms in the anti-cancer effects of this drug. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr LB-209.
The ATP–cytokine–adenosine hypothesis: How the brain translates past activity into sleep

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interleukin-1 beta (IL1), and other cytokines are involved in non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) regulation under physiological and inflammatory conditions. Brain levels of IL1 and TNF increase with prolonged wakefulness. Injection of exogenous IL1 or TNF, mimicking sleep loss, induces sleepiness, excess sleep, fatigue, poor cognition, and enhanced sensitivity to pain. These symptoms characterize the syndrome associated with sleep loss. Extracellular ATP released during neuro- and glio-transmission, acting via purine P2 receptors on glia, releases IL1 and TNF. This extracellular ATP mechanism may provide an index of activity used by the brain to keep track of prior wakefulness. Prolonged wakefulness is associated with enhanced neuronal activity. TNF and IL1, in turn, act on neurons to change their intrinsic properties and sensitivities to neurotransmitters and neuromodulators such as adenosine and glutamate. Such actions change network input–output properties (i.e. state shift). State oscillations, for instance, occur within cortical columns and are responsive to TNF. Sleep is thus viewed as a local usedependent process regulated in part by cytokines. Further, state oscillations are viewed as a fundamental process of any neuronal/glia network. To investigate these hypotheses we developed an in vitro neuronal/glia culture system exhibiting field potential oscillations and have mathematically modeled the local use-dependent view of sleep initiation. These views have profound implications for sleep pathologies and function.
Securing social difference: Militarization and sexual violence in an Afro-Nicaraguan community

Renewed violence in Nicaragua in the aftermath of the 1980s Contra War is tied to the drug trade, drug war militarization, and the rise of the postwar security state. State sexual violence in an Afro-Nicaraguan community under counternarcotics military occupation vividly demonstrates this linkage. I argue that state sexual violence in this case has served as a mechanism for asserting mestizo state sovereignty in a minoritized security zone. The forms of racial and patriarchal power that enabled the violence permeate the social body and structure political life in Nicaragua, and their diffuse nature has made it difficult for local people to find political redress for the abuses of state power that occurred in their community. Politically engaged feminist ethnography can illuminate the relationship between state security projects, preexisting social hierarchies, and endemic forms of insecurity and violence that remain difficult to politicize in postwar Central America.
Polymer reinforced silica aerogels: effects of dimethyldiethoxysilane and bis(trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine as silane precursors

This study evaluated the effectiveness of dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES) precursor in improving the elastic recovery behavior of silica aerogels reinforced with epoxy through amine sites on the silica surface. In the study, two aminosilanes – 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and bis(trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine (BTMSPA) – were considered as reactive sites for cross-linking with epoxy. Because of the way the samples were formulated, BTMSPA offered half the number of amine sites compared to APTES at the same level of substitution. Replacing tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with at least 15 mol% DMDES reduced the number of silicon–oxygen bonds in the aerogel networks and resulted in improved elastic recovery, but up to an order of magnitude lower compressive modulus. BTMSPA aerogels demonstrated strong elastic response without DMDES, with some samples showing near complete recovery. However, these aerogels offered lower modulus than APTES aerogels.
Paleomagnetism of Palawan, Philippines

Abstract Paleomagnetic studies have been carried out on Palawan and on the island of Busuanga to the north. Results from the Cretaceous Espina Basalts of the Calatuigas Ophiolite in the South Palawan Block (SPB) pass a fold test, yield normal and reversed directions with a magnetic intensity and AF demagnetization characteristics consistent with a primary TRM. The mean direction is 293.9° and an inclination of 5.8°, with a k of 37.7 and an α 95 of 12.6°. This suggests that these ophiolites have moved northward and rotated counterclockwise by 66°±+13° with respect to the geocentric axial dipole (GAD) field. It also suggests that they were obducted from the south. Paleomagnetic directions from the Jurassic Busuanga Cherts and the Cretaceous Guinlo Formation from the island of Busuanga in the North Palawan Block (NPB) and from the Guinlo on the main island of Palawan are similar, fail regional fold tests, and have AF demagnetization characteristics consistent with secondary magnetization. Their inclinations are statistically indistinguishable at a 95% significance level, but variation in declination suggests differential local rotation about a vertical axis. The paleolatitude is comparable to that of regions of pervasive Cretaceous remagnetization in the South China borderland and may reflect similar remagnetization, consistent with the NPB’s proposed South China origin.
Topoi and the problem of invention

Rhetorical invention should focus on topoi which allow learners and users to acquire knowledge and categorize experience for communication and to facilitate the recurrence of experience in communication. Special problems: (1) maintaining a balance between the philosophical and the practical; (2) pinning down . the relationships between mental processes typical of rhetorical activity (explaining and arguing) and of poetic activity (imagining) and (3) distinguishing between topics intended primarily to prompt recall and those intended to prompt originality of utterance and argument. Perelman's New Rhetoric is offered as an example of (1) the author presents his topical scheme in illustration of (3).
Role of gizzard myosin light chains in calcium binding.

The contraction of molluscan and vertebrate smooth muscles is regulated by myosin. Although the myosin and its associated two subunits, the regulatory light chain and the essential light chain, constitute the Ca2+ regulatory system in both types of muscles, the mechanisms by which Ca2+ signal is transduced are quite different. In molluscan muscles, the direct binding of Ca2+ to the regulatory system triggers muscle contraction. In vertebrate smooth muscles, however, phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain is the major triggering mechanism. We measured Ca2+ binding in gizzard myosin and in hybrids of scallop myosin containing gizzard regulatory light chain or in hybrids of scallop regulatory domain containing gizzard essential light chain. Isolated chicken gizzard myosin did not bind Ca2+ in the range of pCa 8.0 to 5.0 in the presence of 2mM MgCl2, supporting the lack of the specific Ca2+-binding site in gizzard myosin. Phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain did not generate a specific Ca2+-binding site. The hybrid scallop myosin containing gizzard regulatory light chain showed a similar Ca2+ binding as native scallop myosin with a one to one stoichiometry of Ca2+ to myosin head saturating at about pCa 6.0 at pH 7.6. In contrast, the hybrid scallop regulatory domain containing gizzard essential light chain did not bind Ca2+ either at pCa 6.0 or at pCa 8.0. Control preparations reconstituted with scallop essential light chains bound 0.69 mol per mol Ca2+ at pCa 6.0 with no binding at pCa 8.0. These results indicate that the inability of gizzard essential light chain to form the specific Ca2+-binding site is a major reason for the lack of the specific Ca2+-binding site in gizzard myosin.
SIMULATION OF TWO DECENTRALIZED HOSPITAL FOOD RECONSTITUTION SYSTEMS1

A model to simulate the performance of two types of decentralized meal reconstitution systems for hospitals is presented. Time study data taken on integral heat and microwave systems are used to develop event times for the model. The results of a model validation procedure are included. Applications of the model to integral heat and microwave reconstitution systems are presented.
Process Modeling of CO2 Injection into Natural Gas Reservoirs for Carbon Sequestration and Enhanced Gas Recovery

Injection of CO2 into depleted natural gas reservoirs offers the potential to sequester carbon while simultaneously enhancing CH4 recovery. Enhanced CH4 recovery can partially offset the costs of CO2 injection. With the goal of analyzing the feasibility of carbon sequestration with enhanced gas recovery (CSEGR), we are investigating the physical processes associated with injecting CO2 into natural gas reservoirs. The properties of natural gas reservoirs and CO2 and CH4 appear to favor CSEGR. To simulate the processes of CSEGR, a module for the TOUGH2 reservoir simulator that includes water, brine, CO2, tracer, and CH4 in nonisothermal conditions has been developed. Simulations based on the Rio Vista Gas Field in the Central Valley of California are used to test the feasibility of CSEGR using CO2 separated from flue gas generated by the 680 MW Antioch gas-fired power plant. Model results show that CO2 injection allows additional CH4 to be produced during and after CO2 injection.
Affinity studies of human anti-MAG antibodies in neuropathy

Human IgM anti-myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) antibodies from patients with neuropathy bind to oligosaccharide determinants shared by MAG and several other glycoconjugates in peripheral nerve. The apparent affinities of human anti-MAG antibodies were determined by an ELISA system which measures free antibody concentration at equilibrium in solution. Intact MAG, which bears multiple antigenic oligosaccharides, and monovalent oligosaccharides generated by pronase digestion of MAG were used as antigen. The human antibodies bound to intact MAG with dissociation constants of between 2.5 x 10(-10) M and 2.1 x 10(-7) M, and to the monovalent oligosaccharides with up to 100-fold lower affinities. Reduction of the pentameric IgM to its monomeric counterpart reduced its affinity to intact MAG 5-fold, but its avidity for immobilized MAG was reduced 500-fold as determined by ELISA. These studies show that IgM Anti-MAG antibodies exhibit relatively low intrinsic affinities for the oligosaccharide antigen, but their affinities and avidities are significantly increased by the multivalent nature of the antibody-antigen interaction.
Bag cell-specific proteins and the humoral control of egg laying in Aplysia californica

Abstract 1. 1. A gel electrophoresis analysis of water-soluble proteins in Aplysia californica revealed several nerve-specific proteins. 2. 2. One of these nerve-specific proteins was selected for more intensive study. This protein is located uniquely in the bag cell somas and the surrounding connective tissue sheath which contains the bag cell axons. 3. 3. The bag cell-specific protein was quickly destroyed by pronase, heat denatured and not detectably altered by DNase or RNase treatment. 4. 4. The neurosecretory nature of the bag cells and the significance of the bag cell-specific protein are discussed with relation to the humoral control of egg laying. 5. 5. The distribution of the active egg-laying agent is the same as that of the bag cell-specific protein. The active egg-laying agent was also destroyed by pronase and by heating.
Exploring Region of Interest (ROI) to Support Quality of Service in Unreliable Wireless Electronic Healthcare Communications

In this paper the authors propose a new Region of Interest (ROI) based approach to improve wireless electronic healthcare service quality. The major contribution of this research is the adaptability of the proposed approach with regards to channel information. In the proposed approach, important bit sequence in healthcare data (e.g., Electrocardiagram - ECG) is identified as interested region and extracted for unequal treatment in error-prone wireless communication channels. Specifically, variable bit-plane coding is applied to ECG samples in ROI and non-ROI. The fine-grained bit-plane coding in ROI provides more information precision of healthcare data, while the coarse-grained bit-plane coding in non-ROI saves more communication channel bandwidth. Simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach in reducing healthcare data errors with communication bandwidth constraint.
Intrakinetochore stretch is associated with changes in kinetochore phosphorylation and spindle assembly checkpoint activity

Cells have evolved a signaling pathway called the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) to increase the fidelity of chromosome segregation by generating a “wait anaphase” signal until all chromosomes are properly aligned within the mitotic spindle. It has been proposed that tension generated by the stretch of the centromeric chromatin of bioriented chromosomes stabilizes kinetochore microtubule attachments and turns off SAC activity. Although biorientation clearly causes stretching of the centromeric chromatin, it is unclear whether the kinetochore is also stretched. To test whether intrakinetochore stretch occurs and is involved in SAC regulation, we developed a Drosophila melanogaster S2 cell line expressing centromere identifier–mCherry and Ndc80–green fluorescent protein to mark the inner and outer kinetochore domains, respectively. We observed stretching within kinetochores of bioriented chromosomes by monitoring both inter- and intrakinetochore distances in live cell assays. This intrakinetochore stretch is largely independent of a 30-fold variation in centromere stretch. Furthermore, loss of intrakinetochore stretch is associated with enhancement of 3F3/2 phosphorylation and SAC activation.
Gamma-irradiation of individual cholesterol oxidation products

Cholesterol and seven of its oxidation products in aqueous suspensions of multilamellar vesicles or sonicated aqueous suspensions were subjected individually to γ-radiation (10 KGy) at 0–4°C in air, N2 or N2O. All compounds underwent some changes under the influence of radiation. β-Epoxide (cholesterol 5β,6β-epoxide) and, to a much lesser extent, α-epoxide (cholesterol 5α,6α-epoxide) were converted in low yield to 6-ketocholestanol (5α-cholestan-3β-ol-6-one). 7β-Hydroxycholesterol (cholest-5-ene-3β,7β-diol) and, to a lesser extent, 7α-hydroxycholesterol (cholest-5-ene-3β,7α-diol) gave low yields of 7-ketocholestanol (5α-cholestan-3β-ol-7-one). The latter compound also was obtained by irradiation of 7-ketocholesterol (cholest-5-ene-3β-ol-7-one). 6-Ketocholestanol and 7-ketocholestanol are potential biomarkers for irradiated meat and poultry.
Progress on HPCC and NII

In this issue we briefly touch on the continuing turmoil over NSF, ARPA, and HPCC, and the brighter news regarding the US National Information Infrastructure plan. We then describe funding opportunities from NSF, ARPA, the National Security Agency, the National Center for Automated Information Research, the Air Force, and NASA.
Histopathology of the Digestive Tissues and Whole-Body Anaerobic Bacteria Counts of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica, After Experimental Exposure to Anoxia

ABSTRACT The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is a sensitive bio-indicator of environmental changes ranging from tidal flux to heavy-metal pollution. Extreme fluctuations in dissolved oxygen levels are well documented in Mobile Bay, AL. Extended periods of low dissolved oxygen occurring during the summer months have been shown to cause oyster mortality. The current study examined the effects of anoxia on tubule morphology of the digestive gland in the Eastern oyster as well as the quantity and quality of whole-body anaerobic bacteria counts. Oysters were exposed to anoxic conditions (<0.1 mg/L O2) at 28°C in a laboratory setting and sampled at 0 h (preexposure), 24 h, 48 h, and 60 h, and after a 4-wk recovery interval. The whole-body anaerobic bacteria count for test oysters (Mean = 1.11 × 106 cfu/mL) from the 60-h interval was significantly higher than counts for the preexposure oysters, 24-h, and 48-h experimental intervals. The most common bacteria isolated were Clostridium sp. Histological exami...
Magnetic susceptibility of uranium monophosphide

Abstract The magnetic susceptibility of uranium monophosphide has been measured from 300°K to 1.3°K. The measurements above 77°K are in agreement with previous reported measurements. From 26°K to 21°K the susceptibility decreases, levels off at a plateau from 23°K to 22°K, and then decreases sharply until the temperature reaches 21°K.
A Protein Phosphatase-1-binding Motif Identified by the Panning of a Random Peptide Display Library *

An unusually large number of regulatory or targeting proteins that bind to the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1 have been recently reported. This can be explained by their possession of a common protein motif that interacts with a binding site on protein phosphatase-1. The existence of such a motif was established by the panning of a random peptide library in which peptide sequences are displayed on the Escherichia coli bacterial flagellin protein for bacteria that bound to protein phosphatase-1. There were 79 isolates containing 46 unique sequences with the conserved motif VXF or VXW, where X was most frequently His or Arg. In addition, this sequence was commonly preceded by 2-5 basic residues and followed by 1 acidic residue. This study demonstrates that binding to protein phosphatase-1 can be conferred to a protein by the presentation of a peptide motif on a surface loop. This binding motif is found in a number of protein phosphatase-1-binding proteins.
History, theory, and international order: some lessons from the nineteenth century

International Relations scholars have drawn on history ever since the field first formed in the early twentieth century. They have trawled the beds of the past, far and near, to probe, substantiate, and analogize in the pursuit of theories about what have been taken to be the main pillars of contemporary international life: states and the institutions and systems that form around their interaction. Even if states as we now know them did not exist in a given period, one could still mine insights from the interaction of any relatively autonomous political units, from city-states to tribal bands.See, e.g., Marcus Fischer, ‘Feudal Europe, 800–1300: Communal Discourse and Conflictual Practices’, International Organization, 46 (1992), pp. 427–66; and Adam Watson, The Evolution of International Society (London, 1992).
Survival Benefit to Antipredator Behavior in the Amphipod Gammarus minus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Response to Injury-released Chemical Cues from Conspecifics and Heterospecifics

A wide range of aquatic taxa use environmental chemical cues for the assessment of predation risk. We examined whether Gammarus minus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) exhibit antipredator behavior in response to injury-released chemicals from conspecifics or heterospecifics (Crustacea: Isopoda). We then examined whether behavioral responses to these cues conferred survival benefits to the amphipods. In the first part of this study, we tested the behavioral response of G. minus to the following treatments: 1. water containing injury-released cues of conspecifics; 2. water containing injury-released cues of a sympatric isopod crustacean, Lirceus fontinalis; or 3. water containing no cues (control). Relative to the control, Gammarus responded to the conspecific cue by moving to the substratum and decreasing activity. In contrast, Gammarus responded to the heterospecific cue by moving up into the water column and increasing activity. In the second part of this study, we tested if the behavioral response to these cues confers a survival benefit to Gammarus when exposed to a predator. A green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) was retained behind a partition in the test tanks. Two minutes after the introduction of the chemical cues in the first test, the barrier was lifted and predation events recorded. Relative to the control, the time to the first attack increased for Gammarus exposed to conspecific cues and decreased for those exposed to heterospecific cues. These data indicate that Gammarus distinguish between chemical cues from conspecific and heterospecific crustaceans, and that the antipredator response to conspecific cues confers a fitness benefit (i.e. increased survival due to increased time to the first attack).
Personal Epistemology in Asia: Burgeoning Research and Future Directions

Understanding the beliefs that individuals have about knowledge and knowing, and how these conceptions relate to learning, has been a rapidly growing research field in the past two decades. Although the work on personal epistemology originated in the U.S. (Perry, 1970; Schommer, 1970), research in this area has grown extensively in Europe in the past decade, with significant influence by several very active teams of researchers (e.g., Braten, Stromo, Samuelstuen, 2008; Mason, Gavin, & Boldrin, 2008; Pieschl, Stahl, & Bromme, 2008), and the research has been spreading widely in other cultural contexts (Hofer, 2008). This special issue heralds the proliferation of such research in multiple Asian countries. A December 2009 conference on "Personal Epistemology and Learning" at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology suggests that these particular manuscripts represent a growing interest in this field throughout the region. It is a privilege and an honor to have both been invited to speak at that conference and to serve as a discussant on this impressive array of papers. My goal in this commentary is to look across these articles to see common themes and to help point out the way to future research. As Wong and Chai (2010) note on their introduction to this special issue, it is both "important and timely" for researchers to develop a deeper understanding of personal epistemology within the cultural context of Asian societies. Also important is the need to identify both the commonalities across cultures and the cultural variations, within Asia as well as between Asian countries and the other parts of the world. These ten papers represent six different cultural contexts, including Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, and China, and a broad range of research. Several key issues emerge in the collective reading of these papers and in surveying their contributions to the literature: definition and dimensionality of the construct, the measures and methods employed, the populations studied, the research questions and connections to other constructs, and cultural connections.