cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential Pathways of Exposure for DDE and Mirex and Reported Health Problems in Mexican-American Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Children Residing in Texas

A pilot study was conducted to measure past organochlorine pesticide (OCP) exposure in 36 children/adolescents (14 males, 22 females) of migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFs). We administered a questionnaire to the mothers that provided sociodemographic, medical information, and a set of questions regarding possible pathways of exposure (in utero, through breast-feeding, going to the fields with parents, working in the fields). Each participant donated a blood sample. Two OCPs, Mirex [1.7 parts per billion (ppb) and 1,1-dichloro-2, 2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) 1.6 ppb] were detected in our study, although these chemicals had been banned in the U.S. since the 1970s (USEPA 1992]. The detected Mirex levels in our study were far higher than the average population standard provided by the referent laboratory [< 0.03 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or ppb; non-detectable). Age, body mass index, country of origin, breast-feeding, fieldwork, and frequency of illness were associated with OCP exposure. Thes...
Ossicular reconstruction with titanium prosthesis.

Objectives To evaluate the results when using titanium total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) or partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) in chronic ear disease. Study Design Retrospective chart review was performed. Methods Sixty-eight ossicular procedures using a titanium TORP (n = 30) or PORP (n = 38) were performed at a tertiary referral center between December 1999 and June 2002. The ossiculoplasty was performed either alone or in combination with other chronic ear surgery. Cartilage grafts were used universally. Nineteen percent were primary operations, and 6% were planned second stages. The majority were revision procedures. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 2.5 years. Results The prosthesis is easy to insert, well tolerated, and has a low extrusion rate. Average air-bone gap (ABG) improvement was 13 dB with closure of the ABG to within 20 dB in 57% of cases. Hearing results were better for primary versus revision cases for PORPs versus TORPs and for intact canal wall (ICW) procedures versus canal wall-down (CWD) procedures. Conclusion Titanium is a satisfactory material for use in ossicular reconstruction because of its ease of insertion, tissue tolerance, and low rate of extrusion. Caution is advised when selecting candidates for this procedure during revision surgery, especially if the canal wall and stapes superstructure are absent.
Community Living Skills Assessment Inventory: An Instrument to Facilitate Deinstitutionalization of the Severely Developmentally Disabled

nity Living Skills Assessment Inventory, for measuring functional living skills in their ecological context necessary for successful adaptation to alternative placements in the community is described. The inventory can be used with all institutionalized mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed, multihandicapped, and other developmentally disabled individuals. Procedures for administering, scaring, and interpreting this instrument are presented. The primary purpose of the inventory is to determine the discrepancy between a handicapped individual's functional level of skill and those expected by a potentially appropriate alternative placement facility to develop training objectives which minimize these discrepancies. A variety of other uses of the inventory are discussed.
Do topical antibiotics provide improved prophylaxis against bacterial growth in the presence of polypropylene mesh

BACKGROUND : Herniorrhaphies using a foreign body such as mesh can become infected. An experiment was performed in rabbits to compare three methods of antibiotic treatment to prevent the growth of bacteria in mesh-containing wounds. METHODS : This experiment compared preoperative intravenous antibiotics (cefazolin), topical antibiotics applied intraoperatively (bacitracin), and their combination in preventing the quantitative growth of bacteria in a subcutaneous wound containing a polypropylene mesh inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. The bacteria were inoculated in doses sufficient to deliberately cause the growth of 130.0 ± 56.4 x 10 4 bacteria per gram of tissue in saline-treated control animals. Quantitative cultures of the mesh and surrounding tissues were obtained 5 days after insertion of the mesh and inoculation of the wound. RESULTS : Experimental data showed that treatment with systemic intravenous antibiotics, topical powdered antibiotics, or their combination all statistically significantly decreased the quantitative cultures grown from the inoculated tissues as compared with saline-treated controls (P <0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in quantitative growth among the three methods of antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS : Antibiotics reduced the quantitative growth of bacteria in tissues excised from wounds inoculated with bacteria. However, preoperative intravenous antibiotics, topical powdered antibiotics, and their combination all were equally effective.
Aphasic Sentence Comprehension as a Resource Deficit: A Computational Approach

This article describes a new computational model of aphasic sentence comprehension. The model is based on the premise that all aphasics, however different, share a common deficit which determines a considerable amount of the individual variation observed in their sentence comprehension performance. This common deficit is construed as a pathological reduction in the activation resources of a working memory system that subserves sentence comprehension (Miyake, Carpenter, & Just, 1994). To test the theoretical feasibility of the resource reduction hypothesis, a new computer model of aphasic sentence comprehension was developed and tested. We describe the model as well as some initial simulation results, indicating that the model can account for some of the sentence complexity and severity effects that have been reported in the aphasia literature.
Simulation of high energy beam focusing by a plasma

A study is made of the focusing of a high-energy electron beam and a positron beam by means of a plasma. The simulation is done using the code CONDOR. Results are presented of simulation and simple model calculations. The authors demonstrate the focusing of the beams. >
Influence of Top-Structure Form of Tower Crane on the Factor for Hoisting a Grounded Load

Tower crane is a kind of construction machinery which be widely used in building, bridge, electric power construction. The factor for hoisting a grounded load is one of main factors for dynamic analysis and structure design of tower crane. Different structural forms of tower crane have different effects on the factor for hoisting a grounded load. The finite element models of QTZ125 tower crane with different top-structure form are build and the first six order inherent frequencies and vibration modes are analyzed. Then the factors for hoisting a grounded load at lifting velocity of 0.2~0.5m/s under lifting operation condition are calculated. Based on the results, the influence of the different top-structure of the tower crane to the dynamic characteristic and the factor for hoisting a grounded load is prominent, and the factor for hoisting a grounded load of support-rod type tower crane is less than the tower-cap type tower crane.
Rigorous approach to the development of knowledge-based systems

Knowledge-based systems have often been criticized for the limited theoretical base on which they are constructed. The partially valid view, held by many, is that systems are often constructed in an ad hoc, individual way, which leads to unmaintainable, unreliable, and unrigorous systems. This holds even though there have been several attempts at producing development methodologies to assist the knowledge engineer in the construction process1-7. A large contributing reason for the limited applicability of these methodologies is that they often too closely follow the waterfall model approach used for the development of conventional software systems8. This approach forces developers to make large jumps in the system state during development, which is not necessarily the most conductive way to model the domain accurately. The paper therefore aims to introduce a new alternative approach that shows the benefits of taking a software engineering philosophy towards the development of knowledge-based systems. The methodology breaks down the process of creating a knowledge-based system into constituent parts and discusses ways of creating rigorous specifications for those parts, as applicable. This includes specifying the knowledge base, the representation, the control architecture, etc., thus promoting quality systems that are better specified, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
Habitat used by Macrhybopsis chubs associated with channel modifying structures in a large regulated river: implications for river modification†

We examined use of channel modifying structures (CMS; e.g., engineered rock dikes, channel sandbars) and their associated smaller spatial-scale habitats (SSH) on lower Missouri River, USA, by speckled chub (Macrhybopsis aestivalis), sicklefin chub (M. meeki) and sturgeon chub (M. gelida) from June through October, 2006 to identify important habitat characteristics that could aid conservation. We sampled chubs primarily in six CMS types: L-dikes, wing-dikes, kicker dikes, rootless dikes, channel sandbars and bank-lines. Ninety-three per cent of chubs were collected from L-dikes, wing-dikes and channel sandbars. Unidentifiable Macrhybopsis chubs (UHY) were less than 35-mm TL, were collected early in the sampling season and were most associated with L-dikes where mean bottom current velocity was slow (0.07 m/s). Chubs large enough to be identified to species were associated with large channel sandbars where mean bottom current velocity was faster (0.34 m/s). Chubs from wing-dikes were more abundant in shallow water ( 1.2 m deep), open-water areas (p= 0.007). Month accounted for 54% and CMS with SSH 18% of explained variation in chub species distribution and abundance. Our results demonstrate that CMS in the contemporary lower Missouri River channel provide multiple habitats for multiple life-stages of Macrhybopsis chubs (e.g., nursery and post-nursery habitats). L- and wing-dikes may provide surrogate nursery habitats for chubs where in-channel slow-velocity areas were lost after river channelization. Managing CMS to address life history stages and an ecologically appropriate proportion and distribution of dike to channel sandbar habitats may be critical for conservation of native Macrhybopsis chubs in lower Missouri River. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical Assessment of Interstory Drift Measurements

Interstory drift, the relative translational displacement between two consecutive floors, is an important engineering demand parameter and indicator of structural performance. The structural engineering community would benefit well from accurate measurements of interstory drift, especially where structures undergo inelastic deformation. Unfortunately, the most common method for obtaining interstory drift, double integration of measured acceleration, is problematic. Several issues associated with this method (e.g., signal processing steps and sparse instrumentation) are illustrated using data from shake table studies and two extensively instrumented buildings. Some alternative contact and noncontact methods for obtaining interstory drift are then presented.
Modeling of patterned mixed-conducting electrodes and the importance of sheet resistance at small feature sizes

The sheet resistance of patterned electrodes was modeled and corrected using a finite volume technique. Results show that the sheet resistance of patterned electrodes may dramatically reduce the utilization or the performance of the electrodes when the feature size (e.g., thickness or width) is sufficiently small. Further, the utilization of a patterned electrode with a given geometry can be estimated, which may be used for correcting the sheet resistance effect on electrode performance. These results are important not only to fundamental study of electrode reaction mechanisms and kinetics but also to better design of porous mixed-conducting electrodes for solid oxide fuel cells.
Storage Stability of a Processed Ginger Paste

A processed paste was prepared from fresh ginger so that a convenient, shelf-stable product with the odor characteristics of fresh ginger could be manufactured from ginger produced in excess of fresh market demand. The paste was sampled periodically for color by Hunter YI index, odor by trained panel and (6)-gingerol (the major pungent component) by HPLC. This product was found to have a fair shelf-life under refrigeration, but degradation of color, odor and (6)-gingerol made the paste unacceptable after 8 wk storage at 25°C or 37°C.
Eastern Long Island dynamic voltage stability

Hitherto, the voltage stability of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) system has been evaluated utilizing steady-state power flow programs. However, time domain simulations of LIPA system demonstrated significant differences in post-disturbance voltage recovery of transmission system voltages between models with static and complex load compositions. This is mainly due to the predominant residential loads in eastern Long Island, which is heavily dominated by motor loads. LIPA established transient voltage recovery criterion and proposed a dynamic reactive support system project to enhance the dynamic voltage stability of eastern Long Island. LIPA has been a pioneer in the Northeast in efforts to identify and address the conditions leading to fault-induced voltage collapse. This paper summarizes the identification of dynamic voltage stability issues, the need for reactive compensation to enhance the reliability of LIPA system and the call for industry wide time domain voltage stability assessments with dynamic load models.
F-theory and experiment

There is currently a wide gulf between string theory and experiment. This is compounded by the existence of a ‘landscape’ of solutions to the string theory equations of motion, many of which are in gross violation of experimental constraints. To make contact with experiment, it is then necessary to impose some additional criteria to find potentially realistic solutions. In this article we show that requiring that the forces of the Standard Model unify, while remaining decoupled from gravity, imposes sharp restrictions. A promising class of string based models which meet both these criteria are known as F-theory GUTs. We review the main ingredients of these constructions, and how they make contact with experiment.
Localization of Anionic Phospholipids in Escherichia coli Cells

Cardiolipin (CL) is an anionic phospholipid with a characteristically large curvature and is of growing interest for two primary reasons: (i) it binds to and regulates many peripheral membrane proteins in bacteria and mitochondria, and (ii) it is distributed asymmetrically in rod-shaped cells and is concentrated at the poles and division septum. Despite the growing number of studies of CL, its function in bacteria remains unknown. 10-N-Nonyl acridine orange (NAO) is widely used to image CL in bacteria and mitochondria, as its interaction with CL is reported to produce a characteristic red-shifted fluorescence emission. Using a suite of biophysical techniques, we quantitatively studied the interaction of NAO with anionic phospholipids under physiologically relevant conditions. We found that NAO is promiscuous in its binding and has photophysical properties that are largely insensitive to the structure of diverse anionic phospholipids to which it binds. Being unable to rely solely on NAO to characterize the localization of CL in Escherichia coli cells, we instead used quantitative fluorescence microscopy, mass spectrometry, and mutants deficient in specific classes of anionic phospholipids. We found CL and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) concentrated in the polar regions of E. coli cell membranes; depletion of CL by genetic approaches increased the concentration of PG at the poles. Previous studies suggested that some CL-binding proteins also have a high affinity for PG and display a pattern of cellular localization that is not influenced by depletion of CL. Framed within the context of these previous experiments, our results suggest that PG may play an essential role in bacterial physiology by maintaining the anionic character of polar membranes.
Successful pregnancy, delivery and puerperium in a heart transplant patient with previous peripartum cardiomyopathy

A 25-year-old female who had orthotopic cardiac transplantation for peripartum cardiomyopathy, became pregnant and had a successful pregnancy and delivery, and remains asymptomatic after 2 years of follow-up.
Marriage This Term: On Liberty and the 'New Equal Protection'

The story of equal protection’s demise is a familiar one. It has been decades since any new group has been afforded heightened scrutiny. Even for established protected groups, retrenchment in applicable standards has devitalized meaningful equal protection coverage. As a result, scholars such as Kenji Yoshino have contended that we are at “the end of equality doctrine as we have known it” — that we are, in effect, in a post–equal protection era. In this new era, there are minimal opportunities for securing protections under the Equal Protection Clause, and the liberty protections of the Due Process Clause have superseded equality as the primary engine of constitutional change. Yoshino names this new era the “new equal protection” and suggests that subordinated groups focus their efforts on liberty — rather than equality — in seeking civil rights protections. This Essay suggests that reports of equal protection’s demise — and of liberty’s ascendancy — may be premature. Using the LGB marriage rights movement as a focal point — and in particular the six cases pending certiorari review at the Supreme Court this term — this Essay explores the possibility that full equal protection inclusion for new groups remains plausible, and that, indeed, the LGB rights movement may be on the cusp of securing such inclusion. The Essay discusses the implications of this possibility for Yoshino’s framework and, in particular, the strategic risks that may attach to relying on liberty-based arguments for a group that is on the cusp of achieving formal equality.
Charge Separation in Model Compounds for Photosynthesis

The central event in photosynthesis is the conversion of excitation energy arising from the absorption of light into chemical potential energy in the form of charge separation. The entity responsible for this conversion, the reaction center, consists of small organic molecules such as chlorophylls, quinones and carotenoid polyenes embedded in a protein matrix. The protein is in turn incorporated into the photosynthetic membrane. Excitation of the reaction center pigments may either be direct, or via singlet energy transfer from antenna pigments. The excited reaction center pigment donates an electron to a nearby acceptor to generate a high energy charge separated state.
A Semi-Automated Extraction and Spotting System for Drug Analysis by TLC I. Procedure for Analysis of the Major Metabolite of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Urine

A procedure is described for the detection and quantitative analysis of the major metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol in urine. Following alkaline hydrolysis of the conjugate, the metabolite is extracted, eluted, and spotted on a high performance silica gel thin layer chromatographic plate using a semi-automatic apparatus. The method has an average recovery of 95.9% and an average precision of 6.3%. A study of 32 drugs and metabolites showed no interferences. The method has a visual detection limit at 100% reliability of 2 ng/ml using 2 mL of spiked urine. It was 100% accurate at detecting authentic samples which were positive by the Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique. There was a good correlation between urine samples analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy and the TLC procedure. The method is suitable for the simultaneous analysis of 60 samples.
Cardiac Surgery in Special Populations, Part 3: Patients With Cognitive Dysfunction

Patients with cognitive dysfunction, usually Down's syndrome, frequently require corrective cardiac surgery for congenital cardiac anomalies. The most common cardiac anomalies in Down's syndrome are patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular canal defects, and Tetralogy of Fallot. This article, the third and last in a series, discusses the physiology of the defects and the nursing care required for comprehensive care of the patient with delayed development.
High-Technology Cultures and Management Silicon Valley and Route 128

This article extends the concept of corporate culture to the level of industry culture and examines regional influences on management practices in Silicon Valley and Route 128. In-depth interviews with CEOs and executives in mature electronics firms were conducted. Results from the data indicate that these high-technology cultures and related management practices differ significantly and are influenced by particular regional characteristics. Conceptual and consulting implications are discussed.
Cingulo-opercular Network Efficiency Mediates the Association Between Psychotic-like Experiences and Cognitive Ability in the General Population

Abstract Background Psychosis is hypothesized to occur on a spectrum between psychotic disorders and health in individuals. In the middle of the spectrum are individuals who endorse psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) that may not affect daily functioning or cause distress. Individuals with PLEs show alterations in both cognitive ability and functional connectivity of several brain networks, but the relationship among PLEs, cognition, and functional networks remains poorly understood. Methods We analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, a range of neuropsychological tasks, and questions from the Achenbach Adult Self-Report in 468 individuals from the Human Connectome Project. We aimed to determine whether the global efficiency of specific functional brain networks supporting higher-order cognition (the frontoparietal network, cingulo-opercular network [CON], and default mode network [DMN]) was associated with PLEs and cognitive ability in a nonpsychiatric sample. Results A total of 21.6% of individuals in our sample endorsed at least one PLE. The PLEs were significantly negatively associated with higher-order cognitive ability, CON global efficiency, and DMN global efficiency, but not crystallized knowledge. Higher-order cognition was significantly positively associated with CON global efficiency at a significance level of p n = 405), the participation coefficient of the right anterior insula (a hub within the CON). Conclusions These findings suggest that CON integrity may represent a shared mechanism that confers risk for psychotic experiences and the cognitive deficits observed across the psychosis spectrum.
The Puzzle of Polarization: Why a “Moderate” American Public Elects Extreme Officeholders

The American public is often portrayed as collectively moderate and increasingly alienated by the trend toward greater elite polarization. However, this ostensible mass preference for political centrism does not lead to particularly strong levels of electoral support for moderate incumbents in Congress. In fact, moderates in both the House and the Senate have become less likely to win reelection since the 1970s. I explore several possible explanations for this trend, concluding that reforms designed to increase the supply of moderate candidates, even if successful, are unlikely to reverse the trend towards greater polarization.
The Selection and Design of Multiple-Species Habitat Preserves.

Multiple-species habitat conservation plans (MSHCPs) are designed to eliminate project-by-project review and minimize species-by-species conflicts; but these one-time, short-term processes invariably compress the divergent expectations of interest groups into an exercise driven by economic, amenity, and aesthetic values rather than scientific values. Participants may define an MSHCP as an exchange of habitat preserves for federal permits to take populations of endangered animals and plants, but the outcome is typically driven by overarching arguments over land development and suburban sprawl. Existing land uses also constrain the size, shape, and linkages among wildlife habitats, leading to a divergence of MSHCPs from the scientific preserve selection and design literature. Problems created by constraints to preserve configuration (e.g., land costs, fragmentation, pre-existing amounts of edge, lack of connectivity) must be resolved by long-term, post facto management. To date, estimates of preserve persistence have not been used in MSHCPs. Rather than focus on map-based exercises of preserve elements, it may be more productive to set goals for the persistence of species (states) and ecosystems (processes) within the preserves-accepting that preserve configurations and arrays will be defined by the landscape and politics of suburban areas and that long-term management will provide the primary means of maintaining biodiversity along the wildland/urban interface.
Controlled islanding to prevent cascade outages using constrained spectral k-embedded clustering

Controlled islanding scheme is frequently considered as the final solution to retain power system operation under cascading event outages which can lead to a major blackout. The islanding scheme can improve the power system transient stability by preserving stable areas from further outages as well as reducing the complexity and overall time required for restoration process. In this paper a constrained spectral k-embedded clustering method is defined to determine an islanding scheme with minimal active power flow disruption, while addressing generator's coherency problem. The proposed spectral clustering method uses k-medoids algorithm which is more accurate and computationally efficient than conventional k-means algorithm. The proposed scheme is tested using the IEEE 9-, IEEE39- and IEEE 118-bus test systems. Simulation results show effectiveness of the proposed methodology in creation of stable islands and prevention of system blackouts.
Performance of PROMIS Instruments in Patients With Shoulder Instability

Background:Shoulder instability is a relatively common condition occurring in 2% of the population. PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System) was developed by the National Institutes of Health in an effort to advance patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments by developing question banks for major health domains.Purpose:To compare PROMIS instruments to current PRO instruments in patients who would be undergoing operative intervention for recurrent shoulder instability.Study Design:Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A total of 74 patients with a primary diagnosis of shoulder instability who would be undergoing surgery were asked to fill out the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder assessment form (ASES), Marx shoulder activity scale (Marx), Short Form–36 Health Survey Physical Function subscale (SF-36 PF), Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI), PROMIS physical function computer adaptive test (PF CAT), and PROMIS upper extremity item bank (UE)....
Study of water use in agricultural landscapes at high spatiotemporal resulotion

A detailed spatially explicit evapotranspiration (ET) mapping at daily basis is of substantial benefit for agricultural water management. An integrated multi-sensor approach that combines the benefits of the high spatial resolution of Landsat and the high temporal resolution of MODIS and geostationary satellites to provide daily field-scale ET estimates is evaluated over two different agricultural landscapes. The ET data fusion methodology described here can provide detailed information about daily and seasonal water use patterns. This information can be of utility for irrigation managers at the scale of individual fields as well as for regional monitoring of water use toward allocation and conservation efforts.
Combination of an Integrin-Targeting NIR Tracer and an Ultrasensitive Spectroscopic Device for Intraoperative Detection of Head and Neck Tumor Margins and Metastatic Lymph Nodes

Despite major advances in targeted drug therapy and radiation therapy, surgery remains the most effective treatment for most solid tumors. The single most important predictor of patient survival is a complete surgical resection of the primary tumor, draining lymph nodes, and metastatic lesions. Presently, however, 20%–30% of patients with head and neck cancer who undergo surgery still leave the operating room without complete resection because of missed lesions. Thus, major opportunities exist to develop advanced imaging tracers and intraoperative instrumentation that would allow surgeons to visualize microscopic tumors during surgery. The cell adhesion molecule integrin αvβ3 is specifically expressed by tumor neovasculature and invading tumor cells, but not by quiescent vessels or normal cells. Here we report the combined use of an integrin-targeting near-infrared tracer (RGD-IRDye800CW) and a handheld spectroscopic device, an integrated point spectroscopy with wide-field imaging system, for highly sensitive detection of integrin overexpression on infiltrating cancer cells. By using an orthotopic head and neck cancer animal model, we show that this tracer–device combination allows intraoperative detection of not only invasive tumor margins but also metastatic lymph nodes. Correlated histological analysis further reveals that microscopic clusters of 50–100 tumor cells can be detected intraoperatively with high sensitivity and specificity, raising new possibilities in guiding surgical resection of microscopic tumors and metastatic lymph nodes.
Use-inspired basic research in medical image perception

This journal is dedicated to “use-inspired basic research” where a problem in the world shapes the hypotheses for a study in the laboratory. This brief review presents several examples of “use-inspired basic research” in the area of medical image perception. These are cases where the field of radiology raises an interesting issue in visual cognition. Basic research on those issues may then lead to proposals to improve performance on clinical tasks in medical image perception. Of the six examples given here, the first three ask essentially perceptual questions: How can stereopsis improve medical image perception? How shall we assess the tradeoff between radiation dose and image quality? How does the choice of colors change the interpretation of medical images? The second three examples address attentional issues in those aspects of radiology that can be described as visual search problems: Can eye tracking help us understand errors in radiologic search? What happens if the number of targets in an image is unknown? What happens if, as in radiology screening programs, the target of search is very rare?
Co-optimizating multi-agent placement with task assignment and scheduling

To enable large-scale multi-agent coordination under temporal and spatial constraints, we formulate it as a multi-level optimization problem and develop a multi-abstraction search approach for cooptimizing agent placement with task assignment and scheduling. This approach begins with a highly abstract agent placement problem and the rapid computation of an initial solution, which is then improved upon using a hill climbing algorithm for a less abstract problem; finally, the solution is fine-tuned within the original problem space. Empirical results demonstrate that this multiabstraction approach significantly outperforms a conventional hill climbing algorithm and an approximate mixed-integer linear programming approach.
Pathology and Pathogenesis of Arenavirus Infections

In systemic virus infections, such as the arenavirus hemorrhagic fevers, pathologic and histopathologic examinations often contribute to the initial understanding of the nature of the disease, but definition of pathogenic mechanisms requires the addition of complementary techniques and experimental approaches – usually in animal models. The commonality of pathologic and histopathologic findings in cases of fatal arenavirus hemorrhagic fever suggests some common pathogenic mechanisms, but the differences reinforce the need for comprehensive study of each disease in naturally infected humans and in experimental animal models that mimic human infections.
Cybersecurity for Future Presidents: An Interdisciplinary Non-majors Course

We discuss the design and implementation of an interdisciplinary non-majors course Cybersecurity for future presidents, which broadens the types of computational courses available for non-majors. The goal of our course is to build awareness of cybersecurity issues and to promote thinking critically about them. Student debates on controversial cybersecurity issues facing society today motivate the technical and policy content. We present student assessment results, which demonstrate an increase of students' awareness, and outline directions for future course improvements.
Attachment and telomere length: more evidence for psychobiological connections between close relationships, health, and aging

Individuals with a history of poor interpersonal relationships are more likely to demonstrate negative health outcomes than those who have had high quality relationships. We sought to evaluate how attachment orientations, stress-induced respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and self-reported stress were associated with length of telomeres measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Participants (N = 213) completed self-report measures of attachment and stress. Measurement of RSA was conducted before and after a stressful task and a blood draw was completed for analysis of telomere length. Attachment orientations were not directly associated with telomere length; however, we found that high attachment anxiety was associated with shorter length of telomeres via high self-reported stress. Attachment avoidance was also associated with telomere length via self-reported stress, but only among those with high stress-induced RSA. Exploratory analyses of T cell subsets indicated that stress was most strongly associated with telomeres from CD8CD28+ cells in comparison to CD8CD28− and CD4 cells. Study findings indicate that attachment orientations are associated with telomere length via stress, providing novel insights into the mechanisms through which close relationships can impact health and aging.
American Military Culture and the Strategic Seduction of Remote Warfare

This essay endeavours to answer the question of why the US National Security establishment puts such ever-expanding faith in remotely piloted drones in a strategic bombing role in fighting twenty-f...
Using Trade Facilitation to Assist MSMEs in E-Commerce in Developing Countries

In anticipation of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), several developing country Members submitted proposals reflecting concerns related with e-commerce and the continued involvement of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in cross-border e-commerce. Some developing countries perceive the booming significance of MSMEs as an opportunity to further enhance their economic relevance by incorporating them into e-commerce. The increase of MSMEs in e-commerce has also been reflected by the International Trade Centre (ITC). In one of the ITCâ€™s most recent surveys conducted on 2262 firms, the statistics indicated that of the firms that engage solely in cross-border e-commerce, 82% are MSMEs. Notwithstanding these significant changes on the ground, Members have differed significantly in their views since 1998 concerning the e-commerce agenda. This has created considerable inroads in defining what e-commerce is as well as the rules that should regulate e-commerce. More recently, the e-commerce dialogue has reflected concerns on how the WTO could potentially deal with the rapid inclusion of MSMEs in the market through e-commerce. Although all companies face red tape in cross-border trade, due to size and financial constraints, MSMEs in developing countries face the most challenges in cross-border e-commerce. Many of these problems are related to the cross-border delivery of goods, the after-sales services as well as limited cross-border de minimis exemptions that discourages MSMEs from e-trading. Therefore, several Members consider that it is vital to continue to work on trade facilitation matters, especially those that are forward looking and can better assist MSMEs to better integrate into the e-commerce world. This article adopts two specific discussion points based on the proposals submitted by different Members for the WTO MC11 suggesting ways to move forward. First, using case studies from different countries, the article will focus on some of the challenges faced by MSMEs in developing countries, such as inefficient customs administration which is a result of issues related to cross-border trade. Part of this discussion will also assess how developing countries can use the recently agreed TFA to address these issues. The second part of the article will focus on how current provisions in the TFA as well as other forward looking trade facilitation efforts that are not reflected in the agreement, can help MSMEs to benefit from cross-border e-commerce. In relation to this part of the discussion, an exploration of the possibilities of technical assistance and capacity building that is e-commerce relevant would thus be necessary. Finally the article will conclude, highlighting limitations associated with the recommendations given.
Apoptosis and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Self-Assembly and the Initiation of Apoptosis by Plasma Membrane Receptor Cross-Linking

The discovery that (β-amyloid (Aβ) has a powerful biological activity in cultured neurons and other cells has greatly stimulated many new lines of investigation. Only a few years ago it was generally thought that Aβ itself was metabolically inert. It is now clear that Aβ places neurons at risk for injury, damages neuronal processes, and is one of the stimuli that initiates cell death by apoptosis. Aβ can also affect signal transduction processes in non-neuronal cells and thereby reprogram the microenvironment of the brain in the course of aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Proceedings of the nineteenth ACM symposium on Operating systems principles

Welcome to the 19th SOSP, and to the beautiful Adirondack mountains of New York State! Larry Peterson and his committee have put together a strong and varied technical program, showcasing the most significant and influential work in operating systems today. Other program highlights include the poster and work-in-progress sessions, the Anita Borg luncheon and the evening banquet on Monday, and the SIGOPS business meeting Tuesday evening. The banquet will include presentation of the third annual Mark Weiser award, and eulogies for Roger Needham and Anita Borg, both of whom were lost to us this year. The business meeting will include presentation of awards in the first-ever SIGOPS division of the ACM Student Research Competition (SRC).Entrants in the SRC include all the regular papers and posters on which a student is principal author. To help to put the competition on an equal footing, four poster finalists will be making formal presentations during the session on Monday afternoon. Many thanks to Kevin Jeffay and his subcommittee for organizing the poster session and judging the submissions, and to Ann Sobel for her help in bringing SIGOPS into the SRC.Continuing the tradition of past SOSPs, we have encouraged student attendance through reduced registration fees and a strong program of financial scholarships. Generous support for this program has come from Microsoft via the SRC, from the National Science Foundation (CISE CCR), from Hewlett-Packard Labs, and from SIGOPS itself. Thanks to Cary Gray and his scholarship committee (John Carter, Norm Hutchinson, Marc Shapiro, and Bob Wisniewski) for their outstanding work under very tight time constraints.
Stress and Social Behavior

Social behaviors can involve any intraspecies interactions and include communication, allo-grooming, aggression, mating behavior, and parental behavior. Stressors occur in a vast number of forms, including physical and psychological, and can either alter ongoing social behaviors in complex ways or trigger the emergence of social behaviors, such as alarm calling or aggression. Certain social behaviors, such as aggression, themselves can act as stressors, while other social behaviors can mitigate the impact of stressors. Both sex differences and individual differences can affect how social behaviors are modified by stress. An active area of research in behavioral neuroscience is to understand the highly complex interactions of stress and social behaviors.
Induction of Fetal Hemoglobin in Sickle Cell Disease

T HIS ISSUE OF BLOOD features a report by Atweh et al[1][1] on the induction of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) by pulse butyrate. This study is a solid addition to the recent and gratifying momentum in the development of effective therapy for sickle cell disease. Underlying this report is a series of novel
Immunochemistry of serum albumin—V: A time-dependent examination of the antibody response to bovine serum albumin by the activity of its third domain☆

Abstract Antisera against bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared in six rabbits. Serial bleedings were obtained from each rabbit at different times after immunization (from 3 to 398 days) and were kept and studied separately. The change of the reactivities of fragment 377–571, which corresponds to the last third of BSA, was investigated with the serial antisera from each rabbit. The inhibitory activity of fragment 377–571 exhibited a biphasic change with time after the first immunization and, in late antisera, this fragment inhibited by almost 90% the immunochemical reactivity of BSA. Immunoadsorbents of the fragment were studied with regard to their maximum ability to bind radioiodinated antibodies to albumin in two sets of serial bleedings from two individual rabbits. In immunoadsorbent studies the time-dependent changes of the immunochemical activity of this fragment were irregular and generally increased with time, but it did not bind all the BSA-antibodies, even in late antisera. The differences between the two methods are discussed. Thus, by using serial bleedings, we have shown time-dependent changes in the antigenic reactivity of fragment 377–571 and have been able to find a rational explanation for the discordant results from various laboratories obtained with unspecified pools of antisera.
Exchange, Identity Verification, and Social Bonds:

Although evidence reveals that the social exchange process and identity verification process each can produce social bonds, researchers have yet to examine their conjoined effects. In this paper, w...
Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors (Carcinoids)

The diagnosis of gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is being made with increased frequency likely as a result of more upper endoscopies being done for unrelated reasons. It is therefore vital that gastroenterologists become familiar with the basic work-up and management of patients found to have these tumors. This review describes the classification, pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment options of the different gastric NETs. In addition to the three traditional subtypes of gastric NETs, additional cases associated with achlorhydria and appropriate hypergastrinemia may exist. The management of gastric NETs between 1 and 2 cm in size remains controversial and needs to be individualized. Gastric NETs are uncommon but are now diagnosed more frequently. This review highlights the role of hypergastrinemia in their development and the controversies around their management.
Competition of Sorption and Degradation Reactions during Glyphosate Degradation by Ferrihydrite/δ-Manganese Oxide Composites

Ever since its introduction into the herbicidal industry in the 1970s, glyphosate has been a very effective weed control herbicide and its application has steadily increased; however, at the same t...
Arginine-enveloped virus inactivation and potential mechanisms.

Arginine synergistically inactivates enveloped viruses at a pH or temperature that does little harm to proteins, making it a desired process for therapeutic protein manufacturing. However, the mechanisms and optimal conditions for inactivation are not fully understood, and therefore, arginine viral inactivation is not used industrially. Optimal solution conditions for arginine viral inactivation found in the literature are high arginine concentrations (0.7-1 M), a time of 60 min, and a synergistic factor of high temperature (≥40°C), low pH (≤pH 4), or Tris buffer (5 mM). However, at optimal conditions full inactivation does not occur over all enveloped viruses. Enveloped viruses that are resistant to arginine often have increased protein stability or membrane stabilizing matrix proteins. Since arginine can interact with both proteins and lipids, interaction with either entity may be key to understanding the inactivation mechanism. Here, we propose three hypotheses for the mechanisms of arginine induced inactivation. Hypothesis 1 describes arginine-induced viral inactivation through inhibition of vital protein function. Hypothesis 2 describes how arginine destabilizes the viral membrane. Hypothesis 3 describes arginine forming pores in the virus membrane, accompanied by further viral damage from the synergistic factor. Once the mechanisms of arginine viral inactivation are understood, further enhancement by the addition of functional groups, charges, or additives may allow the inactivation of all enveloped viruses in mild conditions.
Influence of Age at Cochlear Implantation and Frequency-to-Place Mismatch on Early Speech Recognition in Adults:

ObjectiveDefault frequency filters of cochlear implant (CI) devices assign frequency information irrespective of intracochlear position, resulting in varying degrees of frequency-to-place mismatch....
Memories of a friend and colleague - Takashi Sugimura.

Takashi Sugimura, M.D., Honorary President of the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, and former President of The Japan Academy, is regarded by many as a pre-eminent contributor to the field of environmental genotoxicology. His pioneering spirit led to many key discoveries over a long and distinguished scientific career, including the first preclinical models for gastric cancer, identification of novel mutagens from cooked food, and the development of fundamental concepts in environmental chemical carcinogenesis. With his passing on September 6, 2020, many will reflect on the loss of an astute and engaging "Scientific Giant," who with warmth and good humor maintained lasting friendships both at home and abroad, beyond his many important scientific contributions.
Moral Norms, Adaptive Preferences, and Hedonic Psychology

In a series of important papers published roughly twenty years ago, Professor Robert Cooter developed a comprehensive economic theory of moral norms. He explained the value of those norms, described the process by which norms are adopted, and offered a set of predictions regarding the circumstances under which an individual will choose to adopt a particular moral norm. This brief Article applies behavioral law and economics and hedonic psychology to expand upon Professor Cooter’s path-breaking theory. In particular, understanding welfare in hedonic terms — rather than preference-satisfaction terms — suggests a multitude of further situations in which individuals will justifiably seek to internalize moral norms. The hedonic approach to welfare then further suggests an enhanced role for the government to play in encouraging the adoption of welfare-enhancing norms. Cooter’s theory, combined with modern understandings of welfare and human behavior, thus offers powerful predictive and prescriptive possibilities.